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petriichvrs · 4 years

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DAY SIX : one final word / a letter to noxtms.

dear : alyssa, amanda, atlas, bee, beth, birdie, blo, cherry, chris, daisy, dew, gabi, gia, hunter, j, la, lex, lucy, maeve, mozzie, nancy, plume, r, rosie, sam and last but never least, vicky.

here’s the thing. i try as much as possible to say how much i appreciate all of you having joined nox as often as i can, because i think as a person i have a tendency not to be entirely present of all the time, even while i seem it, and it’s important to me - as both admin and as someone who’s befriended what feels like everyone here - that you all know. the thing is, i’ve admined a lot of roleplays over the time i’ve been writing, some of them for longer than others, and i’ve met a bunch of you both in those groups and outside of them. i have a lot of experience, but i had never broken into the harry potter fandom ( in spite of it having formed such a key part of my childhood ) and i hadn’t realized that when i opened nox, i was going to discover such a community.

it’s really not me just saying it when i say that nox wouldn’t be NOXTMS without each and every one of you. i’m proud of the work i’ve put into the group and i accept however much i’m allowed to of the praise for it, but i’ve put maybe more into other groups and never had them feel the way that nox does. we’re all aware, obviously, it takes every writer in a group to make it something special, and i think that it’s every single one of you who has turned this group into my absolute favorite. there’s things in nox right now - like the marauders verse, but even just movie nights and a successful points system and little ic meetings - that i never could have done in another group because they just wouldn’t have worked, the combination wasn’t there, but i feel like... i struck gold with each of you, as members ? i feel like i got beyond LUCKY, and i have a tendency to over worry about nox, but you guys always make me feel a little bit safer in the knowledge that the group is okay, it’s doing good, and it’s everything i could have ever wanted.

i tried to find praise in other places for you all over the course of this meme, but i’m just going to go for one quick fire round. alyssa, you really are so fucking funny, and you created something really special with avalon and the king arthur myth thing she’s got going on. amanda, mary is the most thought out oc i’ve maybe ever seen and we might’ve had to wait a while for a ron, but he’s brilliant. atlas, you have a tendency to not see yourself the way you ought to, but heather and jo are two showstopping characters that we’re so lucky to have, and you yourself are a wonderful member who i’m so glad came back. bee, i’ve seen what you can do with harry elsewhere and i have you to thank for the fact nox even exists, really : you reminded me through your writing how much i love the world, and your takes on marietta and charlie are perfect. beth, lavender is such an unfairly hated character in canon, and she deserved someone like you picking her up and breathing fresh life into her, which you’re doing amazingly. birdie, for someone who likes to admit they haven’t done much in groups, you’ve really slotted yourself right in here, and i can’t pluck one character from your lineup - you do something admirable with all of them, and i really do hope you’ll RECONSIDER your stance on a fifth. blo... i love everything you do, i really always have, and your writing is a testament to just how talented you are, but i don’t know one person who puts as much continuous thought into their characters as you do, and it really shows.

cherry, i made a joke once about how if you could do something special with jughead jones i shouldn’t be shocked about what you can do with better source characters, but it’s not even a joke anymore... what you started with hermione you’re continuing with lucius and percy, and i love everything about them. chris, this is the second time you’ve joined nox as someone who doesn’t know much about it, but i’m so grateful you did it as my characters kid - i love when we get to play family dynamics most of all, and oriana is an absolute gem. daisy, chatting with you is a dream, and your mind is just... amazing - you do something with george that plays into my favorite sort of character tropes, and zephyrine is something so different and fun that i can’t wait to write with them too. dew, not just anyone would pick up gregory goyle and try and do something amazing with him, so i’ve been not-so-patiently waiting to toss everyone i’ve got at him since your intro. gabi, knox is one of my favorite ocs and for someone who only brought in an oc, to start with, you’ve managed to slot her in brilliantly. gia, what can i even say for you... as always you bring everything you have to the table, and i get to write not just connections that are genuinely FUN ( damien and niko, anybody? ) but also my favorite sort, which comprise of... family and friendships like molly / ginny & tonks / ginny with one of my favorite writers, yet again. hunter, i’m so glad i borderline peer pressured you into picking up pansy, because she’s been a joy to see in action, and a pretty great addition to your roster of characters - that already includes angelina and mason, two characters i love reading the replies of.

j, most astoria’s i’ve seen have gotten lost on the ‘draco’s dead wife’ thing and have forgotten to turn her into her own, unique character - the same can’t be said here, and astoria has fast become one of my favorite individual characters because you’re at her heart. la, i haven’t gotten to see enough of beatrix yet, but i think anyone who wants to play into an umbridge family is so brave and so talented, so i can’t wait to see and do more. lex... absolute love of my fuckin life ? not many people would join a group even though they don’t know much of the source material and absolutely immerse themself in it, but you’ve done this now... more than once- and each and every time, you manage to craft characters i really do ROOT for and love so much. please be fuckin nicer to yourself always, you’re so talented and i love you so much. lucy, gabrielle deserves to be given a character arc beyond ‘damsel in distress’, and so far, i’ve loved everything you’ve done with her. she’s a breath of fresh air on the dash and i think we’re lucky to have you ! maeve, LISTEN. LISTEN TO ME. I’M HOLDING YOUR FACE BETWEEN MY HANDS RIGHT NOW, BECAUSE THIS IS SO UNBELIEVABLY EMBARRASSING: YOU ARE SO TALENTED, YOU ARE SO IMPORTANT TO THE FUNDAMENTAL SOMETHING THAT MAKES UP WHAT NOX IS, YOU HAVE BROUGHT ME CHARACTERS I DIDN’T EVEN KNOW I NEEDED SO BADLY ( HELLO THEO N OLIVER ) AND I LOVE THEM SO MUCH, YOU’VE DONE SOMETHING SO WONDERFUL WITH EVERY PORTRAYAL AND YOUR AESTHETICS FOR DENNIS MADE ME CRY. mozzie, you are ALSO so fucking funny, and you are yet another writer that i feel.. so lucky has been drawn to nox - blaise and luna are fascinating characters in canon, sure, but you have done something so much BETTER with them here and i cannot stress that enough to you. nancy, selene is such a fun oc, and i really, really mean that. she’s something different to the status quo, and i feel blessed that i get to have as close a connection as i do with her.

plume, you yourself have been nothing short of the most lovely ooc presence, and i’m so glad that it’s someone like you who’s bringing parvati patil ( the noxtms variant ) to life, and so happy whenever i see her on the dash. r, i could go on for paragraphs on you alone - you were always one of my favorite writers in eq, and i was always so HOPEFUL you would finally cave and join nox. thank you for being here, and thank you for my daughter, thank you for my sister, thank you for these characters i love. rosie, you haven’t gotten a chance to even settle in yet, but that isn’t going to stop me from expressing how excited i am to have a bill weasley, finally, and to see what you do with him ! sam, the other love of my life... you don’t get enough CREDIT for just how brilliantly you’ve characterized viktor krum, especially, but you also don’t get enough for how you gave us the loveliest child of severus snape we could have ever asked for, and the hottest dowson i ever did see. you go through it far more than you should have to, but you’re such a talented writer and such a staunch friend who i feel lucky to have made. and vicky, once again : last in alphabetical order, but certainly not in my heart. did i expect in 2020 to bond with someone over buffy ? not even a little. but i really was so fuckin’ DELIGHTED to have something i could talk to you about cause you’re just... cool, vicky, you’re so so cool, and you’re so talented at seemingly... everything ? making gifs, being a pal, writing characters like dudley dursley but also somehow making alicia and penelope equally different and fascinating and cool ? have i said cool ? have i said it ENOUGH ?

i don’t want to be done, here, but i didn’t expect for this to take so many words, so i should probably wrap it up fairly snappily : thank you all so much for joining this group i love so much, and please know regardless of all else, i love everything you’re all DOING, and everything i see. i don’t say that enough, for certain, but i’m going to try and be better about it. beep beep, bitches : it’s my undying love and affection.

not to sound like severus snape but like. always,

rachel.

#nox.task #how am i meant to claim like .. points for this #this feels like something i cant claim points for

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aion-rsa · 4 years

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Ghosts Series 2: ‘They’re stuck in an existence they didn’t ask for… like all of us’

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The Ghosts creators have worked together for over a decade. To-date, the six-person team (Mat Baynton, Simon Farnaby, Martha Howe-Douglas, Jim Howick, Laurence Rickard and Ben Willbond) have written and performed in long-running children’s sketch comedy Horrible Histories, three series of fantasy sitcom Yonderland, feature film Bill, and two series of the supernatural BBC comedy Ghosts, with a third on the way.

Channelling Mrs Merton asking Debbie McGee what first attracted her to the millionaire Paul Daniels, I ask Baynton and Howick via Zoom what inspired the group to write Ghosts, a sitcom about a group of individuals who frequently drive each other nuts, trapped together for what may well be eternity?

Both laugh. “I’m sure we do drive each other nuts in many ways,” says Howick, “but the truth is, like the ghosts, what we always come back to in these episodes is that they love each other and don’t know what they would do without each other. I think that can be said for the group?” He looks to Baynton for confirmation and gets a happy nod.

Considering the well-documented fallings-out and imploding egos of other comedy gangs – the Pythons not least among them – this level of harmony over such a long period feels remarkable. What’s their secret? “I think we keep each other honest,” says Baynton. “There are certainly heated debates.”

Heated’s too strong a word, says Howick. “We only really fight for our opinion, we never fight each other.” On the rare occasion that there isn’t unanimity about a particular topic, there might be a locking of horns and a democratic vote, but real arguments don’t happen. “There’s no animosity or jealousy with each other’s independent careers,” he explains. “We are our most important project. We have no desire to work each other up. We’re all genuinely fond of each other.”

That much is clear watching them interact. The online BBC press launch for series two was punctuated by the group making each other laugh. Silly voices. Running jokes. At one point, to the absolutely delight of his colleagues, Simon Farnaby’s crotch moved unavoidably front and centre as he stood up in front of his webcam to adjust a window blind. The rapport is real.

Indeed, during UK lockdown, say Baynton and Howick, the group’s regular Zoom calls drafting Ghosts series three were a godsend. Aside from the boon of having regular work when so much of their industry was in uncertainty, being able to see friends for three hours on a Wednesday evening kept them sane.

“It’s been a tonic in an otherwise relatively difficult and quite miserable time to have been able to jump on Zoom and make each other laugh with ideas for these characters that we love,” says Baynton. Entertainingly, when the group splits off into writing pairs, each does impressions of the absent characters while drafting dialogue. “It’s funny,” remarks Howick. ‘When we come together as a six, if we’re trying to pitch a positive idea, it’s usually done in a [segues into the regional accent of his upbeat character] Pat voice. Or if it’s a melodramatic idea or if it’s over-the-top, it might be a [Baynton’s Romantic poet character] Thomas voice.”

Via video chat, it took a little longer for the group’s writing wheels to start turning. Ordinarily a new series would start with two weeks of the gang together in the same room. Stretching that to months of three-hour Zoom calls, fitted in amongst home schooling for the parents among them, was an adjustment. “The energy that you would bring to a room at 10 o’clock in the morning in an office wasn’t there,” says Howick. “You’d have to try and generate this feeling even though everyone was exhausted.”

Howick found himself seeking out frivolity to reach the right frame of mind. He played videogames. “If I sat and thought too hard about what was going on outside my door, it would make me really sad, and so in order to keep a vital part of me going, in order to meet with Mat and the others every Wednesday and keep that bright demeanour, it was good to do that.” The writing momentum started to return with the ease of lockdown, says Baynton. “The simple mental health-saving fact of being able to meet up with family in a garden helped a lot.”

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Trying to write comedy against a such a serious backdrop of world events also felt uncomfortable, says Baynton. “You feel like it’s almost… immoral is too strong a word, but when there are nurses and doctors and teachers and crucially important people doing the work they do… It felt like an elephant in the room to be tap tap tapping away at a story about another day at Button House and what the ghosts are up to.”

It helped to know how warmly Ghosts series one had been received by its many fans. “What’s touching is when we do get messages from fans who say how much the show means to them. I know how important comedy has been to me in my life, so if we can be that to other people, it doesn’t feel completely frivolous.”

Ghosts, with its colourful selection box of characters (there’s a caveman, a headless Elizabethan, a 17th century witch, an excitable Regency woman-child, an Edwardian snob, a WWII captain, a 1980s scout leader and a 1990s Tory politician) may look frivolous, but series one had moments of real pathos. Baynton is proud of the fact that the series doesn’t shy away from the bleaker side of its ‘dead people’ premise. “If you really interrogate the truth of it – these are people who lived, people who died, people who loved or were thwarted or killed or suffered injustices or never got to love the person that they admired…”

The original idea was for a much bigger cast of ghosts, with everybody playing multiple parts, Horrible Histories-style. It quickly became clear that the story needed to home in on a small ensemble, giving the gang what Howick calls “its own silhouette”. Had they stuck with the original plan, “It would have been like The Muppet Show,” he says. “Every week would only have scratched the surface.” Too many ghost characters would have diminished the show’s emerging premise, says Baynton, which is about “being stuck forever in a tedious and endlessly repetitive existence.”

A bit like lockdown, we joke. Exactly, says Baynton.

“We talk about this a lot. The way I see it is that their situation is just the same as a living person’s: they’re stuck, they’re in an existence they didn’t ask for, they don’t know why they’re there or what happens next. They know that there is a next ‘thing’ but whether they go to heaven, or hell, or something else, they don’t know. They’re just the same as people on earth.”

Howick agrees, “Their existence is very mortal in that respect.”

Writing about the afterlife, a sense of existential metaphor is unavoidable, says Baynton. “There is something deeply relatable about it, which is where sitcom will always thrive. You can’t really fail to connect with a story about a person who doesn’t know what to do with their time or who feels stuck. Regardless of class or job or circumstance, that is all of us.”

If the ghost characters are all of us, they’re also peculiar to their time period. The collision and unexpected blending of different social contexts is where much of the series’ comedy comes from. Howick compares the composition of the group to Blackadder Goes Forth, which kept “ranks of characters from different classes stuck together in a hell hole, cheating death every single week.”

The source of much of the comedy is thwarted status, says Baynton, “It’s the stuff of Alan Partridge and Hyacinth Bucket and Basil Fawlty… people who see themselves a certain way but who aren’t that way to the audience. Every single one of the ghosts is that to some extent. Anything that gave you status in life, you’re robbed of the second you die, so that’s already pretty funny in the sense of a captain who can’t lead, a wealthy woman who has no wealth, a politician who is not recognised as an authority, a poet who can’t pick up a pen, a Scoutmaster with no kids…”

“Not Scoutmaster!” interrupts Howick. “Adventure Club leader!” Before series one aired, they were instructed not to use the “Scouts” organisation name in scripts. “That was before they knew who Pat was going to be,” says Howick. Pat, for info, is a sweetie, and the Scouts should be proud to have him. He’s also a vibrant dancer, as series two, episode two shows.

“There’s a lot of dancing this series” says Howick. “Without giving too much away, there’s dancing in the last episode. I think Thomas’ best dance is at the end.”

Fans can expect more playfulness with series two. Now that the characters are established and the tone has been taken to heart, the team could afford to experiment a little more. “With series two, because the audience hopefully are with us at this point, we can throw different curveballs,” says Baynton.

“In that way that The Simpsons or those long-running American things, you can suddenly do one in black and white, as if it’s a Hitchcock thing. We’ve definitely had fun. There’s an episode later in the second series which is a format of its own. We’re thinking about those things for series three, being free to be really playful with it.”

There’s a Christmas special episode to come, “the last one ever to be filmed!” joked Farnaby at the press launch. The timing on series two’s filming was especially jammy, with only one day lost to the UK TV and film industry shutdown in March. They made the decision not to use supporting artists in the last scenes filmed, set in a Medieval plague village. The irony of having to tell actors they couldn’t come and play plague victims because there was an actual plague wasn’t lost on them, says Baynton.

Thomas gets a gun in series two, they tease, and we’ll find out how he met his end. “The burning question for fans of the show is how the characters died, and you will find out some in each series,” says Baynton. “There are some we’re holding onto for as long as we possibly can, but rest assured, they’re coming!”

cnx.cmd.push(function() { cnx({ playerId: "106e33c0-3911-473c-b599-b1426db57530", }).render("0270c398a82f44f49c23c16122516796"); });

Ghosts series 2 starts on BBC One at 8.30pm, with all six episodes available to stream afterwards on BBC iPlayer.

The post Ghosts Series 2: ‘They’re stuck in an existence they didn’t ask for… like all of us’ appeared first on Den of Geek.

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cilldaracailin · 4 years

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Now I’m Here

Hello my Tumblr Lovely’s! I am back once again with the next and final part to this story in the Robyn and Taron series! Thank you so much for all the wonderful comments, love and support for the story. You are all getting super gold glittery stars! Enjoy! I will post the next part in the series in the next week or so :) Suze xx

“Don't underestimate the power of friendship. Those bonds are tight stitches that close up the holes you might otherwise fall through.”

The rest of their night out had been perfect and once the music ended just after three thirty am, the chat and banter at the table lasted for another hour before those who were still straggling behind in the pub were kindly reminded that the pub shut at four.

The group stood outside laughing together for another half an hour before the cold ocean air started to swirl through them all and saying their goodbyes and with many hugs, each couple and person went their separate way but not without extra hugs for Robyn, all of Taron’s friends telling her she was more than welcome to come out with them any time she wanted.

Initially they had decided to grab a taxi back to Taron’s but after he decided he was hungry and wanted a bag of chips, taking their time, they walked back to his flat, munching on chips and laughing quietly with each other.

“I like your friends Taron.”

“Well you definitely made an impression on them chicken. Deian has already invited you back for Rachels thirtieth birthday.”

She laughed linking her arm with his. “I hope they go a little bit easier on you now that they have actually met me.”

“I can only hope. Maybe you would be willing to give me a lesson in smart comebacks so I can be prepared.”

“Whatever you need rocketman.”

They didn’t see their beds until near seven am that morning, Robyn first to wake at eleven. She made them some toast and brought the plate of buttered triangle slices and a large cup coffee to Taron in his room, who crawled under his duvet cover to try and get some more sleep.

“Come on rocketman, we are supposed to be having New Year’s Day dinner with your family at one.”

It was a struggle to get him out of his bed, Robyn threatening to throw water over his head, if he didn’t move, actually getting a glass and sprinkling him with some drips.

“Ugh so tired.” He complained looking down at his t-shirt that he had pulled on backwards. “Robynnnnn…” He whined. “Just five more minutes. I am so fucking tired.”

She smiled and stood beside him to help him right his t-shirt. “I know and no. You have already showered. No getting back into your bed.”

“How are you so bright and cheery?”

“Always am.” She grinned as he pulled his arms from his t-shirt and she twisted his top so the picture was on the front.

“Robyn come on. You were at the same night as me and only had an hours sleep more than me.” He slipped his arms into the arm holes of his t-shirt and pulled it down so it finally sat properly and the right way around. “I didn’t even drink that much and I have had two coffees and fuck my jaw hurts.” Taron plopped onto his bed and winced as he touched his jaw on the left side of his face.

“You were already tired Taron. Your Christmas is much busier than mine and while I could chill out on my couch for a few days, you have been seeing your friends and family and catching up with everyone before you have to fly back to New York. I can catch up with my friends and family whenever I want and let me look at your face.” She gently touched the blue bruising on his skin. “I hope that fades by the time you are back in New York or Matthew is never going to let me see you again.”

“I still have that arnica gel you gave me. I can use it on my face.” He turned to look at her. “Can’t we stay here and just watch TV?”

“And anger your mother? I don’t think so.”

“Rosie and Mari are going to expect so much from us.” He inwardly groaned. He wasn’t hungover at all, just extremely tired and his face ached from where he had been punched the night before and as much as he loved his sisters, he didn’t have the energy to put as much effort into doing something for them as they did with their tent.

“Ahh but I have already a plan for that.” She smiled as his eyes looked at her suspiciously. “This is where you say ‘Robyn what is your brilliant plan?’”

“Robyn what is your brilliant plan?” Asked Taron in that Irish accent he liked to use sometimes with her.

“Movie day.”

“Movie day?” He rubbed his eyes as he yawned a little. “Explain it to me a bit more Robyn. My brain is not functioning yet.”

“Pretty much what it is. A movie day. We make popcorn, sit on the couch and watch movies.”

“And you think my sisters are going to want to do that?”

“With you? And me? And if I still give them Elsa hair, then yes.”

“Well if you throw in the Elsa hair.”

“I am sure they were up late night and are just as tired as you. A movie day suits everyone. Probably even Tina and Guy. Think about it. Snuggling up in a duvet with some treats watching movies. It’s a perfect way to spend New Year’s Day.”

Rosie and Mari had been very open to the idea of a movie day and once they all had finished dinner and Robyn had plaited their hair, they sat nestled in-between Robyn and Taron on the couch with a duvet covering them, one for Taron and Rosie and one for Robyn and Mari, while Guy and Tina took the two single seaters. The girls had chosen Minions to watch and Taron had enjoyed watching and listening to Robyn as she laughed just as much as his sisters did at the silly antics of the yellow minions in the movie but as the time past, he could feel his eyes starting to close as he felt cosy and warm under the duvet and his head started to fall onto Rosie’s who sat beside him and she moaned that he was squishing her.

“Hey Rosie, switch with me.” Asked Robyn when she could see Taron’s body giving into the tiredness his felt, feeling sorry for little Rosie as Taron leant into her, the little girl much too small to take the weight of her brother’s body as he slumped against her.

Mari complained that Robyn was moving away from her but with some convincing she got the little girl to move and she now sat with Rosie against her right shoulder, while Mari’s head was on her lap and Taron’s head rested on her left shoulder, his whole body slouched down in the couch to make himself more comfortable as he slept. She had stripped herself of her knitted jumper before she moved and was very glad she did as all the Egerton children snuggled into her, the two girls engrossed in the movie, Taron dead to the world as he napped, she felt very warm and toasty. She carefully pulled the duvet down off herself and Taron, letting it fall to the floor, knowing that as he slept, Taron’s body temperature tended to rise a lot and she didn’t want him too warm as he dozed in his comfy jumper.

“He is always tired lately.” Commented Tina as she took the beautiful scene in front of her. Robyn had just become a natural part of her family now and she smiled as she watched her take care of the most precious people in her life. “The only time I haven’t seen him tired is when he came back to Aber from your home Robyn.”

Robyn looked to Tina and smiled a little. “He definitely caught up on a lot of the sleep those two weeks but to be fair on Taron, we were in pretty late this morning.”

“But yet you are fresh as a daisy.”

Robyn grinned. “I am able to function on little sleep and Taron’s job is a lot more demanding than mine and he has been much busier over Christmas too.”

“You don’t have any brothers or sister Robyn right?” Asked Guy.

“Yep. Just me and my parents, so our Christmas’s are probably a little less hectic than his.”

“So you are probably in your element now watching movies with Rosie and Mari.” Smiled Guy.

“Just a little bit. It’s nice to see what it would have been like to have siblings.” Robyn looked to Tina and Guy and could see the question on their face that they didn’t really want to ask but really wanted to know the answer too. “My mam had a lot of miscarriages before my parents actually managed to get pregnant with me and did try for another baby after but it just wasn’t meant to be. I don’t feel like I have ever missed out. My cousins live next door to me so I always felt like I had siblings. I have never felt lonely or anything and to be honest it was probably what helped me be so independent and not need to rely on anyone for anything.”

“You were probably lucky. Rosie and Mari act like little darlings but my God can they bicker.” Laughed Tina.

“But they will be best friends when they get older and they have the best big brother they could ask for.”

“You are so good to him Robyn.”

“He’s good to me too.”

“He had better be.”

Robyn heard the warning in Tina’s voice and knew she was thinking about what had happened in New York between them and with a firm tone in her voice, Robyn reassured her. “He is Tina.”

“So, you are actually going to bring him to a sporting event?” Asked Guy with a grin. “Not one for sport our Taron.”

Robyn laughed. “Me neither but because we played some hurling when he came to see me, I thought I would actually show him what hurling is like when played professionally. It’s just a friendly game but still will be a good day out.”

“And it’s in Dublin?”

“Yeah in Croke Park. The big sport stadium.” She could see the worry building in Tina’s eyes. “No one will know Tina or expect him there. It will be completely safe for him.”

“I don’t have to worry about that Robyn. I know he is completely safe in your hands.” Robyn was about to answer her back when Taron moved in his sleep and turned so he was curved a little more into her, his right arm now thrown across her stomach, Tina’s eyes glued to her son as he snuggled deeper into the woman who held him so tenderly in her arms. “So safe Robyn.”

Despite his nap after dinner, Taron was still exhausted and Robyn started to worry about him when he almost collapsed onto his bed when they were back at his flat four hours later. She knelt beside him and placed her hand on his forehead. “Do you feel ok?”

He smiled as her hand moved down his face and rested on his left cheek. “I don’t feel sick chicken. Just tired.”

“You have been saying that since I arrived yesterday.” She replied still concerned as he lay on his back with his eyes closed.

“We put a lot of extra hours in on set and I think I was only getting four or five hours sleep each night and I have had a good few late ones since I have been home too and now that I am actually not doing anything and not too busy, it’s hit me like a truck. I am not sick.” He opened he eyes and was met with that usual concern Robyn always had for him. “I promise chicken. Not sick.”

Still frowning Robyn put her hand on his forehead again but he lifted it off and sat up so he could kiss her cheek. “Carry on our movie marathon here? Maybe chuck in a head massage? Seeing as how they are free at the moment.” Taron laughed as Robyn picked up one of his pillows and gently hit him with it before he pulled it off her and hit her back.

“Yeah ok definitely not sick.” She agreed as he hit her again.

“So movies? And massages?” He grinned, settling back into his bed ready for a proper full night’s sleep. So far it had been a wonderful two days with his family and friends and he was very much looking forward to the two he got to spend in Ireland with Robyn.

It was definitely easier finding his way through Dublin airport when he had someone who knew where she was going to guide him and the journey out to the carpark was so much simpler then trying to get a bus. Robyn had parked her car in the short-term car park for the two nights that she was in Aberystwyth and it made their journey back to her house much quicker than waiting for a bus or train.

Taron sighed happily as Robyn let him into her house and she grinned as he went straight for her couch, jumping over it and into the corner, picking cwtch up and giving him a long cuddle.

“Hello my favourite dinosaur, my old buddy, old pal.”

“So I will bring in the bags then, yeah?” Questioned Robyn as she wheeled her case in and carried Taron’s duffle over her shoulder. “And make yourself at home.”

“Already have chicken, already have. Ahh I missed this couch.” Taron snuggled a little deeper into the corner of the grey L couch and kicking his boots off, threw his feet up onto the cushions. He grinned as Robyn walked over towards him and stood with her hands on her hips, tilting her head as she looked at him.

“Cosy Taron?” She asked grinning as he cuddled cwtch, his bruised face buried into his soft blue fur. Tina had frowned when she saw her son’s split lip but when she found out why he looked a little bit battered, she hugged him tight. His elbow was still a little stiff, sore and lightly bruised but he could bend and move it and some paracetamol it took away the slight ache.

“Ahh just perfect.” He sighed closing his eyes, burying his face deeper into cwtch.

“Should I sell off our tickets for the hurling match tomorrow and just spend our weekend here on the couch?”

“Well you know, if you want.” He laughed when a blue cushion hit face. “Hey watch it. I am already bruised.”

Robyn didn’t answer him but brought their luggage into her bedroom and into her closet. She left Taron’s duffle on the floor and lifted her case onto her bed so she could empty it out. The Care Bear Taron had given her was right on top and she took it out first and settled it on the pillows on her bed and as she make sure the rainbow bear was sitting properly, Taron walked in.

“You left me.”

“You looked like you were ready to have another nap.”

“I am all napped out. I had great sleep last night.”

“Yeah I know Taron. I was there.” She laughed. “I was just unpacking a little.”

“You weren’t lying about the Christmas trees were you?” Taron walked around her and over to where her white make up table was, a Christmas tree right beside it.

“Nope. Love them. Wait until it is dark and I turn on all the fairy lights.” Robyn really only wanted to take the Care Bear out from her case, so once she had done that, she dropped her case back in her closet. “You want something to drink?” She asked him, leaning on her closet door, finding it had to believe that Taron was back on her home. Watching him looking at the ornaments on her tree, it felt like he had never left.

“Tea?” He turned to her. “Maybe something yummy to eat from your fridge?”

“I am glad I kept some cookies behind. I knew you would ask for something sweet to eat.”

Ten minutes later, they were sitting at her breakfast bar, Taron with a cup of tea in his hands, Robyn making it exactly the way he liked it and was munching on a cookie.

“So were you given a break from your training because it is Christmas?” She asked him.

“Yeah a bit of one.” Grinned Taron, making a point of stuffing half the cookie into mouth, Robyn rolling her eyes at him.

“I was just thinking, I shouldn’t have made you tea.”

“Why not?”

“Because we are supposed to be going over to my mams for a chat and she will want to make you tea too.”

“I can drink another cup of tea chicken. Not the end of the world.”

At Robyn’s childhood home, as Lizzie went to re-fill his cup for the third time, Taron had to put his hand out to stop her. “Thank you but no. I am so full of tea, I am going to turn into a tea bag.”

Lizzie smiled and put the tea pot back on the table. “So, you two had a good time on New Year’s Eve?” She asked. “Maybe too good a time?” She added, looking to her daughter.

“It was a great night. I got to meet Taron’s friends.”

“No late night swims?” Asked Lizzie much to the shock of Taron causing the sip of tea he drank to go down the wrong way.

“Mam!” Scolded Robyn as she rubbed Taron’s back. “No swimming this time.”

“Just Taron falling over and hitting his face off the ground.” Taron quickly looked to Robyn after Lizzie had spoken.

“It was boys being boys Mam. Taron and Deian made a bet that the other couldn’t walk backwards down the prom and Taron proved he couldn’t when he tripped and fell.”

“Flat on my face, as you can see.” Smiled Taron touching his face. “And I will never live it down either. Robyn came to my rescue again though, patched me up.”

Lizzie wasn’t too sure if she believed what she was being told and easily picked up on the looks exchanged between the two so decided to drop the topic and move on. “So, are you looking forward to going to Croke Park tomorrow?” She asked instead.

“Very much so.” Taron nodded. “I am excited to see this game in play. I am not really into sports but I mean it’s just people hitting a ball back and forth, shouldn’t be that hard to follow.” Lizzie and Robyn laughed at his words, while Taron looked from one to the other. “What? What is that laugh for?”

As Taron sat in the stand in Croke Park, he realised why Robyn and her mam had been laughing. It was almost impossible to keep up with the game, it moved so fast and keeping sight of the ball was a lost cause for him. He was always one step behind and Robyn had started to cheer before he realised a team had scored or a free was given. He might have been at a loss with regards to the game but he was enjoying very much how Robyn was so engrossed in the action, shouting at the referee when she disagreed with a decision he made, or when he didn’t notice some underhanded moves between players.

“Jesus!” He cursed when the echo of the slam of two hurley sticks reached his ears, his eyes opening wide as the player with the broken hurley stick, still ran after the ball. “This game is dangerous.”

Robyn laughed at him as she sat back down on her chair, having gotten to her feet with the crowd as the referee blew the whistle when a fowl was made. “I told you that when we played.”

“Robyn we did not play. We just dabbled compared to this. You actually played this game? Competitively?”

“Only for a season.”

“And you haven’t broken a bone?”

She grinned. “No. Got a few bruises alright but that was about it.”

Taron shook his head and turned back to the game when an angry cheer went up around him. “So are we winning?” He asked her.

“By two points but it could all change.”

Taron turned back to the busy fast paced game and tried to keep up but he found it so hard to follow the ball. It didn’t mean he wasn’t having a good time. Robyn surprised him that morning with a sports jersey, in the maroon and white colours of county Galway, one of the teams playing in the game. She explained it was likely that the other team, Kilkenny in their yellow and black, would probably win but she had to support where cwtch came from. Taron happily pulled on the jersey over a long-sleeved white top, his heavy navy coat over that, his hat on his head. They took the train from Kilcreen to Dromcondra where the stadium was and walked the twenty minutes with the crowds to Croke Park. Taron kept close to Robyn as he followed her the whole way to their seats, smack bang in the middle of stadium on the lower stands, the most perfect view.

“My dad has connections.” She explained when he expressed his glee with the view. “Got me some good tickets.”

He had never once worried about being noticed and no one near or around him even looked at him twice, the Irish fans just seeing a man and woman together enjoying the game and it really helped him to relax and concentrate on the sport rather than being recognised. As Robyn jumped from her seat and celebrated with the other Galway fans around her, he got to his too.

“Something happen?” He asked her, trying to look on the field to see what had made the crowd react so happily.

“Galway scored a goal! We are winning by one point. Of course it doesn’t mean much with twenty minutes to go but it can give a team the motivation they need to win.”

The crowd stayed on their feet as the game got more heated and Taron was finally starting to understand what was going on with Robyn commentating beside him and he quickly found himself getting caught up in the excitement and now being able to follow the ball for himself, reacted the same as Robyn when a player from the opposing team scored a goal.

“How long left?” He asked her.

“About five minutes and extra time.”

“We’re not gonna win.”

“Scores happen so fast in this game and with the score being so close, it is too hard to call it. Unless Kilkenny get another goal, Galway could win it.”

It was a tense five minutes and the scores moved back and forth as each team hit the small leather ball over the bar of the goals and as the extra time started, the scores were even and a roar of cheers went up when a Galway player hit the ball fast and hard over the bar and it was quickly followed by another and as the referee blew the full time whistle, the stadium exploded in a huge cheer of claps and calls, the players on the field celebrating together at they won.

Taron clapped along with those around him, laughing as Robyn punched the air, even more so when she threw her arms around him for a hug, hugging her back.

“Well that was an experience.” He said as she let him go. “Those last twenty minutes though.”

She grinned. “I kinda get caught up in it.”

“I saw. It was interesting to watch. I thought you didn’t have a competitive side.”

“Like I said. I got caught up in it.”

“This was fun. I enjoyed this a lot. Once I understood what was going on.”

Robyn smiled. “Yeah hard to follow.”

“It’s just so fast. I finally get my eyes on the ball and it’s gone and I can’t find it again. I got there in the end though.”

“Maybe we should have started out smaller with a game in Kilcreen before Dublin.”

“Nah, I liked this. This was something I would never have done if I hadn’t of met you. I like doing these things with you. You always manage to bring me somewhere different. Like hurling or to choir.”

“How about going for a pint and some food now?” She asked, her question making Taron smile.

“That sounds amazing.”

“Not in Dublin though. Let’s head back to Kilcreen and go to one the pubs in the town.”

“Even better.”

Robyn took his hand and they walked together out of the stadium and back towards the train station. She made them take their time, as she knew there would be a rush for all the fans and supporters to get back to the train, so they slowly sauntered back towards the station, letting the crowds rush past them and fizzle out. It had been such a wonderfully relaxed day so far and she loved seeing Taron genuinely enjoying himself and smiling. Even with their slow walk back to get the train, every carriage was full and they ended up standing. Taron leant his back against the perspex that divided the end seats from the doors and as more passengers got on the train, Robyn found herself pushed up against him, her back against his chest and she grinned as he lazily dropped his arms around her shoulders, wrapping her in a little hug, her hands going to his.

“Thanks for getting the tickets.” He said into her ear.

“It was really my dad.” She replied, feeling Taron chuckle against her.

“Ok well thank your dad for me.”

“Will do.”

It was a very cosy train journey back to Kilcreen and as it was the last stop on the line, most of the passengers had already gotten off the train before they needed to so Taron and Robyn took a seat once they were vacated, Taron travelling backwards as he sat opposite Robyn. Once they arrived in Kilcreen, Taron again let Robyn guide him towards one of the pubs in the town, the one that had the seats outside it opposite the canal and they walked through the busy bar and towards the seating and tables at the back that were used for meals during the day. The took a two-seater table in a corner and after a glance at the menu ordered some food and a drink, Taron asking for pint of Guinness. Robyn rolled his eyes as the server brought the black and white ale over to him and his eyes glistened with delight.

“Such a tourist.” She said to him as he took a sip.

“So much better in Ireland than anywhere else.” He laughed wiping the foam from his top lip.

“So they say.”

“Oh it’s true.” He replied and took another long drink. “You won’t tell my trainer if I order another one, right?” He asked.

Robyn laughed at him. “I am not going to tell your trainer about any of the delicious food you have been eating or drinking.”

After their meal and another drink, they made their way back to Robyn’s, Taron feeling full and satisfied as he sat down in the corner of the couch, sighed happily. He closed his eyes and enjoyed the silence around him, taking in the quiet and calmness, the same that he had felt the last he was in Robyn’s home. He felt the couch sink as she sat beside him.

“Penny for your thoughts.”

“I just love how tranquil your home is. I can just sit and enjoy it without interruption.”

“Or taking your coat or hat off.”

Taron looked down and blushed and getting to his feet, zipped his coat open and took it off, throwing it down to the end of the couch along with his hat. “I’ve had such a good day Robyn. I love that when I come here, I just feel so serene and relaxed.”

“Maybe because it’s quiet here?”

Taron smiled. “Maybe but more so because you are here and being in your presence calms me.” He felt Robyn nudge him. “Yeah I know getting all soppy and you know this but when I come here, I really feel like I have rested and slept.”

“You have one more night of perfect sleep awaiting you tonight.”

Taron picked up cwtch. “I am bringing cwtch to sleep with me tonight.”

“Okie dokie. I have a new Care Bear. We are both sorted. Hey Taron, Taron! Don’t use cwtch as a weapon.”

Taron stopped hitting Robyn with the dinosaur. “Sorry cwtch.”

“Oh, sorry cwtch?” Robyn gently pushed him and got up from the couch. “Maybe you should bring cwtch back to Wales with you.”

Taron got to his knees, still holding cwtch and watched as she walked around the back of the couch. “Really?” He asked her, leaning over the back of the couch. “I could have your throw and cwtch in New York with me. He would love it.”

As quick as lightening, Robyn pulled the dinosaur from his hands. “You got my throw, you are not getting cwtch.” She said to him, walking into her bedroom.

“You gave me the throw for my birthday! I technically didn’t take it from you.” He shouted after her, grinning as cwtch came flying back towards him from around the corner. Laughing he snuggled back into the couch, taking a long breathe as his heart raced. He buried his face into the plush in his hands and closed his eyes to try and stop his thoughts from running away from him. He had been telling himself that he may have admitted his honest feelings to his mam and best friends but still refused to say anything to Robyn because more than ever and especially after New York, his friendship with her was more important than anything and precious to him.

“I will be checking your duffle when you go home Taron. You are not taking cwtch away from me.”

He laughed as she sat beside him. “I won’t take cwtch away from you. I would be worried what you might do to me if I did.”

“Good.” She stood up again to grab the TV controller from the coffee table and sat back down. “What you want to watch?”

“Anything.”

Robyn turned to look at him and not for the first time since they had been back together, her heart thumbed a little harder. Beautiful was not normally a word that was used to describe a man, but as Taron sat so casually still wearing the Galway jersey, cwtch on his lap, with his bruised face and wonderfully cheeky grin, it was what he was. Beautiful.

“What are you staring at?” He asked her.

“You’re pretty.” She answered honestly, knowing she just got caught ogling him.

“You’re adorable!” He laughed. “And even more so when you blush like that.” He chuckled and moved so he could swing his arms around her and pull her back into the couch with him. “Watch whatever you want chicken.”

Robyn flicked through the TV stations and settled on one of the Harry Potter films, dropping the controller onto the couch next to her left leg.

“So, when do you rehearsals start for RENT?” He asked her.

“We have a cast meeting on Monday and then proper rehearsals start Thursday with music. Thankfully there is not much dancing in this one so it’s mainly music and song rehearsals.”

“And how are you feeling about it all?”

“Really good at the moment, nervous but that’s always the way.”

“You will keep me a ticket?”

“You’ll keep a day free in your promotional tour for Kingsman?”

“My tour starts in early April and your show is?”

“The first week of April.”

“Well I am still waiting for confirmation for the actual start date of my press tour so hopefully it will be not too early in April and after the first weekend so our dates don’t clash and if not I will figure something out. I am coming to see the show.”

“Or you can watch it on DVD afterwards.”

“No Robyn. I am coming to see you on stage. I will work it out. I promise.”

Robyn didn’t want to remind him that sometimes because of his work, his promises were hard to keep so she just nodded and turned back to the TV, a yawn and stretch filling her whole body that came from nowhere.

“Well hello sleepy head.” He smiled her way, moving a little so her elbow dig missed him.

“Not all of us got a lot of naps these last few days.” She said through another yawn. “You’ve had one before we went out on New Year’s Eve, one at your mam’s house and one on the train to the airport. Me, I’ve had none. Zilch. Nada.”

“You are not really a nap person though.”

“Yeah ok I will give you that.”

“I am just pretty used to grabbing some sleep whenever and wherever I can, especially between scenes on set. Just second nature to me at this stage and you are knackered chicken.” He watched as she yawned again.

“Been a wonderful few days Taron but now as we sit, the tiredness kicks in.”

“It has been a wonderful few days and now it is your turn for a nap. Come here.” Without giving Robyn the chance to protest, he gently wrapped his right arm around her shoulders and guided towards his chest but kept going until her head was on his lap. “Stretch out Robyn. Do you want cwtch as a pillow?”

“No thanks rocketman. I am good.” Robyn moved to get a little more comfortable but sat up suddenly and looked to him. “Hold on.”

He watched confused as Robyn found a sudden lease of life and walked to her front door and he blinked when the whole house was plunged into darkness.

“Robyn!” He called out.

“Just give me two seconds. It will be worth it.”

Taron couldn’t see anything and before his eyes adjusted to the dark, a new light shone through Robyn’s home as the two Christmas trees lit up along with strings of multicoloured fairy light that hung across every wall, around the fish tank and over the piano. Taron looked around smiling as he began to understand Robyn’s absolute love for fairy lights.

“Want to take a guess at how many there are?” She asked him as she sat back beside him.

“I don’t think I could actually guess. A couple thousand?” He asked.

“And some. Just add to them every year.”

“So, you ready to take your nap now?” He asked. “Pity my throw is in New York. This is a perfect opportunity to use it.”

“Don’t need it.”

“No?” He questioned as he slipped his arm around her shoulders.

“Nope. You know you are always warm.”

“Always?” He grinned.

“Always.”

“So, we don’t need the blanket then. Now nap time.” Taron lightly pulled her down on his lap again and felt Robyn move her head a little until she got comfortable on his legs. “Can I take your clip out?” He asked her and once her nod gave him permission, he opened the slide that held her hair away from her face and once open, the loose strands cascaded down her right cheek and he quickly brushed them from her face.

“Way too long.” She said as she lifted her shoulders a little so he could pull her hair away so she wasn’t laying on it.

“Don’t even think about cutting it. My sisters would be devastated if your Rapunzel hair is gone. They have refused to get their hair cut since they have seen yours.” He ran his fingers through her hair and fished out the pink strands. “And they saw this when we went for dinner at my mam’s and now they want pink hair like Robyn’s.”

She chuckled, closing her eyes as Taron started to play with hair. “I actually have an appointment next weekend and despite what you say Taron, I am going to get at least two inches cut off.”

“Robyn…”

“It needs it. The ends are so bad.”

“What is your hairdresser going to say when they see this pink.”

“I don’t think she is going to be very impressed with me but oh well.”

Taron laughed at her couldn’t care less attitude and moving his right hand to the top of her head, lightly ran his fingers the whole length of her hair. “Just don’t cut it all off.”

“I won’t. I have been waiting for years for it to grow to this length. Just a trim of sorts.” She snuggled a little further into Taron’s thighs and closed her eyes as the tips of his fingers danced lightly on her scalp. She tucked her legs up a little into her chest and tentatively placed her left hand flat on Taron’s leg while her right rested under her chin. “Maybe you can leave yours grow out too?”

“You like my hair a bit long, don’t you?”

“Not going to lie to you but yes, yes I do.”

With a chuckle Taron, gathered Robyn’s hair in a bunch and held it in his right hand, while his left dipped into the curve of her neck and softly made lazy circles on her skin. He felt a shiver run through her. “Are you cold?” He asked her as he moved his hand from her neck and ran his hand up and down her left arm a few times.

“No Taron. I’m ok.”

“You sure.”

“Positive. Robyn sleep now.”

“You do that chicken.” Taron resumed his little kneading movements on the back of her neck, his hand moving up through her hair. “Sleep.”

Robyn smiled with her eyes closed as Taron tenderly returned the favour of the many head massages she had given him and begged her body not to shiver with delight again as his nimble fingers worked their way from her neck through her hair and to her forehead, treating her to the same focused and soothing motions he was used to getting. Robyn completely relaxed under his touch and as he added a little more pressure to her crown of her head, she took a long deep breathe, soaking up the heat from his legs and as the tiredness from their somewhat busy weekend, fully settled into her body, she fell into a calming and comforting sleep.

Taron’s hand moved to Robyn’s waist and let the motions of her breathing move his hand up and down. Taking a risky chance, Taron let his fingers slip under the tiniest part of her jersey that had ridden up and onto the skin that was a little exposed. Even though he had thought Robyn was cold, her bare skin was warm and so soft under his fingers. Deciding he had been lucky so far, he stroked the skin just above the waistband of her dark demin jeans and closing his eyes, sighed heavily. Every touch, every moment spent together with Robyn was so satisfying but so cruel at the same time and his pounding heart and sweaty palms only confirmed his ever-growing love for the sleeping woman in his arms.

#Taron Egerton #Taron Egerton Fanfiction #Taron Egerton Fiction #Taron Fiction #Love #Friendship #Support #Cuddles #Excitment #Spending Time Together #Learning New Things #Experiencing New Things #Family #Home #Robyn and Taron #Feelings

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lady-divine-writes · 4 years

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ACITW AU one-shot “Under the Fireworks” (Rated PG)

Summary: Every year since that first year, Kurt and his family join Sebastian and his family on the Smythe estate to watch the fireworks, but this year, Sebastian might have something different planned.

Read on AO3

“It might sound strange,” Sebastian says thoughtfully, in a way that sounds totally put on, “but I feel like we’ve done this before.” He flips his end of the aging plaid blanket – an heirloom of summers past - to help Kurt straighten out the wrinkles. The blanket domes upward as it catches the air, but when it settles down and he can finally see Kurt’s face, Sebastian snickers at the unamused stare aimed his way.

“That’s because we have,” Kurt says flatly, “for the last eight years, Bas, and you make that same stupid joke every…single…year.”

“Then you should have expected it,” Sebastian says superiorly, “so don’t look so put out, princess.” Sebastian kicks off his shoes carelessly, leaving them in a heap in the grass, and crawls across the blanket to where Kurt is carefully untying his own shoes and setting them aside. “Ouch! Fuck!” Sebastian groans, lifting up off his hip.

“What was that?” Kurt asks, irritated at what he assumes is another lame joke at his expense. Frowning, he cranes his head to catch a glimpse of where Sebastian is frantically rubbing his sore ass cheek. “Let me guess…you need me to kiss it and make it better?”

Kurt waits for Sebastian to go after the obvious bait he has dangled in front of his face, but Sebastian seems uncharacteristically flustered all of a sudden - his cheeks coloring beneath Kurt’s expectant glare.

“Uh…no...it's nothing,” Sebastian says, the reply clipped and plain and slightly uneasy. He readjusts his jeans and curls up beside a befuddled Kurt. “I must have sat on a rock or something.”

Kurt hears a muffled wave of laughter in the shadows nearby, and looks around at the other blankets spread out on the nearby. To their left is Charlotte and Gregory – Charlotte resting between her husband’s legs and looking at them with a fond, nostalgic smile while Gregory chuckles good-naturedly behind her. Beside them sits Julian and Cooper, who have apparently foregone the formalities of waiting for the fireworks to start and are now engaged in a heated make-out session in full view of God and country, blissfully unconcerned with the discomfort of the family surrounding them.

Of course, there really isn’t any discomfort. If there is one thing that Kurt realized about the Smythe family pretty much from the start is that beyond the gates of their extravagant estate, love is always welcome.

Ahead of them, Liv and Brian have set up a blanket with their three children – Charles, Georgia, and Brianna. The family was surprised when such an independent and career driven woman like Olivia had children so quickly after her marriage, but the five made such a perfect fit that after the initial shock no one ever found a reason to complain. Olivia, Brian, and their children were always so happy, almost Norman Rockwell-esque in the picture they made of familial perfection, that it made Sebastian sick to his stomach just looking at them.

At least, that’s what he made a point of telling Kurt, protesting his love for the three imps excessively even though when the children came to visit Sebastian could often be found throwing a football with Charles, reading to little Georgia, or resting on the couch with baby Brianna in his arms.

Sebastian is still Kurt’s snarky meerkat, but how much that meerkat has grown - from reprehensible rogue to an almost equally reprehensible but undeniable gentleman.

Over to their right sit Kurt’s father and Carole, huddled together for warmth beneath a crocheted blanket Kurt’s mother had made longer ago than he can remember. It’s nice to see it out and about, especially making an appearance at family functions like this one. It makes Kurt feel like she’s there with them. Kurt knows she would have loved the Smythes, and he’s more than certain that she and Charlotte and Olivia would all have been thick as thieves.

The years are not being kind to Kurt’s father, and he thanks the powers that be - whoever they are - for one more year they have together. Kurt looks over at his dad, resting against Carole’s shoulder, and when he catches his son’s worried gaze, Burt smiles.

It nearly brings a tear to Kurt’s eye.

The only empty space on the grass is the spot usually occupied by Finn and Rachel, but they spent this fourth of July in New York, and Kurt knows exactly why. Finn is a private man at heart, regardless of the gregarious and attention-seeking woman that he has for a girlfriend, so he chose to have a private moment alone with her on the day he wanted to ask her to be his wife.

Kurt sighs, thinking about how romantic it will be for her, on a blanket in Central Park, with the fireworks overhead, and Finn down on one knee, asking for her hand. Finn had promised to text Kurt the minute she said yes, and he can’t help but fidget, waiting for the text alert on his phone to chime.

“What is it, babe?” Sebastian asks when Kurt squirms for the fifteenth time. “Do you have ants in your pants or something?”

“No,” Kurt says, rolling his eyes but snuggling closer.

“Because the ants around here are ruthless,” Sebastian jokes. “We should probably take you upstairs and strip you down…”

Kurt doesn’t say a word. He reaches beneath his arm and pinches Sebastian on the flank, smirking at his yelp of pain.

“No, really, tell me how you really feel,” Sebastian grumbles, yearning to rub the spot but not wanting to move and dislodge Kurt from his side. Tonight is a night for being close, and he has no intention of letting Kurt get away.

Kurt sighs again and looks up into Sebastian’s eyes – soft and moss-green beneath the ambient light.

“I’m just thinking about Finn and Rachel,” Kurt admits, his voice wistful and dreamy, matching the expression on his face. Sebastian nods. He knows all about Frankenteen (or Frankenadult, he guesses, since they haven’t been teenagers for years…Sebastian is going to have to think up a new nickname he decides) and his plans to ask his hobbit girlfriend to marry him. He wants to laugh at the corn syrupiness of it all – the obnoxious sentiment that usually makes Sebastian want to hurl.

He would laugh, if his own plans weren’t exactly the same.

The first firework whistles its way into the night sky, exploding with a pop and a brilliant spray of white light. Kurt forgets about Finn and Rachel for the moment and stares star-struck at the gorgeous display, and this year’s display promises to be the most lavish ever, but several other pairs of eyes are pinned instead on Kurt and Sebastian’s blanket, where a shaking Sebastian fumbles in his back pocket for a tiny black box – a box that holds the culmination of the last eight years of their lives, years filled with insults and banter, difficult college years spent apart, a few not-so-serious breakups, one almost serious one, and then the utter and complete realization that there was nothing in the world that they wanted more than each other.

Kurt feels Sebastian move, feels him pull away and he holds his breath, a small smile slipping onto his lips as he dutifully keeps his eyes glued to the sky.

He bites his lip and waits because he knows.

Sebastian could never keep a secret, at least not from Kurt. Kurt knows everyone is watching them. He knows his dream of the last year and a half is about to come true.

After this evening, he’ll spend the night with Sebastian, celebrating the rest of their lives together, but first he’ll go to his bucket list and cross out a recent addition #247- get engaged to my boyfriend on a picnic blanket under the fireworks.

#acitw #acitw au #kurtbastian #sebkurt #sekurt #kurt hummel #sebastian smythe

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writethehousedown · 4 years

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Wrapped Up With You (Scyvie) - Peridot

A/N: Hey folks, merry Christmas! It’s been a while! I haven’t posted any fics in a few months but I got so inspired by this challenge that I’ve gotten back into writing! Here’s a little Scyvie fluff for y’all, I hope it gets you in the Christmas spirit! Big thank you to @artificialmeggie for being an amazing beta and for organising this entire thing, you’re a gem! You can find more of my writing over on AQ and you can give me any feedback either here or over at @artificialperidot. Hope you enjoy!

Yvie loved Christmas.

She loved the Christmas TV adverts, the cheesy Christmas cards with terrible puns, the ugly Christmas jumpers, she even loved the exhaustion of putting up the tree.

Christmas was undoubtedly her favourite season. It even beat Halloween for her, which was really saying something.

But if there was one thing Yvie just could not stand, it was wrapping presents.

And her hatred was slowly but surely turning her into more of a grinch.

Now, don’t get her wrong, she loved giving the presents. And she knew that it was what was inside the gift that really mattered. But she couldn’t help but feel inadequate when comparing her crumpled, disastrous wrapping to that of her girlfriend, Scarlet.

Scarlet’s presents were always a sight to behold. Beautiful, crisp neat wrapping paper folded around each gift; a colour-coded matching ribbon wrapped around and fashioned into a brilliant bow; a Christmas scent spritzed on the paper- chestnut or cinnamon or mint; and an extravagant tag, written in her best calligraphy, with her own original Christmas joke on each.

Scarlet’s presents weren’t just gifts; they were experiences.

Needless to say, Yvie was a little jealous.

Scarlet had always tried to help her, offering her wrapping suggestions and lending her bows and paper. Last year she even bought Yvie a few large gift bags to save her the trouble of wrapping all together. But, still, Yvie was adamant that she would wrap every single gift, no matter how horrible they looked, and the gift bags were left unopened.

But, this year, Yvie had a pretty important gift to give. And she was determined to make sure this one didn’t look like a piece of shit.

“So you’re telling me you’re actually going to let me help you wrap?” Scarlet beamed, squeezing her fists together like an excited little child. God, she was such a dork. A cute dork, though.

“Yes,” Yvie sighed, “but this is not an opportunity for you to wrap all my presents for me, okay?”

Scarlet jumped up and down, clapping her hands together with glee and producing a sort of enthusiastic squee. “This is going to be so much fun!”

With that, Scarlet shot up the stairs and returned with paper and boxes and tape and all bundled up in her arms, very nearly toppling over due to her lightning speed. Her arms overflowed with rolls of paper in golds and reds and greens, loose ribbons streaming out behind her. She dumped them all out on the table in front of them, before bolting back upstairs to her bedroom and coming back with a huge Santa sack, full to the brim with her unwrapped presents.

“Don’t get too excited,” Scarlet said matter-of-factly, “I made sure to take your presents out—no spoilers!”

Yvie shook her head in disbelief at the sheer enthusiasm of the girl. “Figures.”

“Well, what are you waiting for, Yves? Go get your presents!”

“We don’t have to do it right now, baby. There’s no rush.”

“Are you kidding me? There is a rush! We need to get started before you change your mind!” Scarlet playfully shook Yvie by her shoulder. “So hurry up, go get your gifts! There’s no time to lose!”

Yvie sighed and chuckled to herself before reluctantly heading to her bedroom to retrieve her presents, which she had ‘creatively’ hidden under her bed. She made sure to leave Scarlet’s gift, though—she’d have to face the struggle of wrapping that one alone.

By the time Yvie had made it back to the table, Scarlet had already began playing her infamous Christmas playlist, and was furiously sellotaping silver paper around a box whilst humming along to Wham’s ‘Last Christmas.’

“Took your time, I see,” she laughed.

Yvie rolled her eyes, but couldn’t help but allow a smirk to form on her lips. “Let’s get this over with then, Scar. Where do I even start?”

“Well, first thing’s first. Cut out your wrapping paper.”

“Bold of you to assume I have any wrapping paper,” Yvie replied. “I guess I’ll need to borrow some of yours.”

“Well… I suppose you could use some of the red, so long as you don’t use all of it.”

Scarlet reluctantly handed over a roll to Yvie, before immediately beginning to cut out some more paper for her next gift (which happened to be a fan that she’d picked out for her friend Katya).

“Wait,” Yvie called, “how do you know how much to cut? What’s too much, what’s too little?”

“Uh, I guess it’s just instinct. Look at what you’re trying to wrap and see how much paper would make sense.”

Yvie set down her jar of honey (a joke gift she had bought for Katya’s girlfriend, Trixie) in the middle of the paper, and quickly realised that it wasn’t as simple as Scarlet had suggested. Her first attempt was far too small—it barely even reach around one side of the gift, never mind the whole thing. Her next attempt was far too big, and once she taped down the first side and attempted to fold the corners down, loose paper was left around each edge, crumpling and creasing.

“You can trim some of that off,” Scarlet had suggested.

Well, Yvie discovered that this was no easy task either. With only a few snips of her scissors Yvie had transformed the paper from massively excessive to way too little. And, as she has already taped it down, there was no going back now. It was ruined.

Yvie tried to patch up the gaps in her wrapping with more scrap pieces of paper here and there, but no matter how hard she tried it still appeared to be a ragged, crumpled mess. Not even Scarlet’s signature bow and tag could help- she ended up tying her ribbon into impossibly tight knots rather than bows, and the only Christmas-themed pun she could come up with was something about a lesbian who ‘needs (s)no(w)man,’ which, admittedly, was pathetic at best.

Maybe the gift bags weren’t looking like such a bad option after all.

“It’s no use,” Yvie sighed in frustration. “I can’t do it.”

“Aw Yves, it’s okay! You know that it’s what’s on the inside that counts.”

“Easy for you to say, little miss ‘I can wrap,’” Yvie scoffed in a mocking tone. “Not everyone can be perfect like you.”

Scarlet bit her lip, and Yvie could tell from her puppy-dog eyes that she’d hurt her a little, even though her insult was pretty harmless.

“Oh Scar, I’m sorry baby. It’s a compliment, really. I think your wrapping is awesome.”

Scarlet perked up a little after that, her brief sadness disintegrating in favour of a small smile. “Thanks Yvie. And, for the record, there’s nothing wrong with your wrapping. It’s the thought that counts!”

Yvie chuckled, and planted a small kiss on Scarlet’s forehead. It was impossible not to find her positivity endearing.

“I guess you’re right,” she shrugged, tucking a stray lock of hair behind her ear. “Though as much as I’d love to wrap more presents with you, I don’t think I can take anymore. I think I’ll just give in and use gift bags instead.”

Scarlet smiled. “That’s okay, baby. I can finish mine up tomorrow.”

“Wanna cuddle and watch a Christmas movie with hot chocolate instead?” Yvie suggested.

“Hell yeah! Can we watch Home Alone?”

“Which one?”

Scarlet raised her eyebrow. “The first one, duh. The second one is okay too, but the others don’t count.”

“You read my mind exactly.”

***

On Christmas Eve night, Yvie snuck downstairs, arms bundled with wrapping paper and bows and scissors. She would wrap at least one present if it killed her. She was beyond the point of caring what it looked like, but she knew that she had to try her best.

For Scarlet.

***

When Christmas Day rolled around, Yvie was ready. She had her plan laid out and her gift wrapped, and she was ready to give it to Scarlet.

After the pair had opened all of the presents under the tree, Yvie produced a small envelope from her pocket, which she had attempted to wrap using the same red paper. In all honesty, it looked like a haphazard, crumpled mess; covered in rips, corners sticking out at all angles and an ungodly amount of crumpled sticky tape. It looked less like a gift and more like if someone had balled a sheet of paper to throw in the bin, to be frank. But, Yvie handed it over with a sense of pride nonetheless.

Despite the present’s appearance, Scarlet smiled at Yvie’s wrapping efforts (even though she questioned why she had even attempted to wrap an envelope in the first place.) Nevertheless, she tore off the paper, opened the envelope, and revealed a Christmas Card, with a photoshopped picture of Ross and Rachel wearing Santa hats, with Yvie’s face pasted over Ross’s and Scarlet’s on Rachel’s. She smirked and began to open the card, and, holding it up to her face, read the message that Yvie had scrawled aloud.

“To the love of my life,

Merry Christmas! Christmas has always been our favourite day, and this year I wanted to make it even more special. I couldn’t think of any good jokes to write on the tag, so I figured that instead I could make a Christmas wish….

Look down.”

Scarlet furrowed her brow in slight confusion, and pulled the card away from her face.

There she saw Yvie, down on one knee, with a perfectly wrapped small box perched on her hand. It was white with a gold ribbon and a gold tag to match, and looked just as though it had been wrapped by Scarlet herself. It was perfect.

Perhaps Yvie had picked up on some of Scarlet’s wrapping tips after all.

Scarlet’s jaw hung open and her eyes started to well up with tears. It didn’t take a genius to see where this was going.

“Read the tag,” Yvie said with a smile.

“My angel, I hope you’ll grant my Christmas wish,” Scarlet read, choking back a sob.

“Scarlet, I love you. I want to spend every Christmas with you until the end of time,” Yvie proclaimed, holding back her own tears. “Will you marry me, Scarlet?”

With that, Yvie opened the wrapped box to reveal a beautiful diamond ring, that shone as bright as the tears that reflected in Scarlet’s eye.

The ring was white gold. Just like the wrapping paper and ribbon.

With that, Scarlet let her floodgates open and uttered a stream of joyous ‘yeses’ through her tears, throwing her arms around Yvie’s neck at full throttle. Yvie stood up and held Scarlet tight, lifting her and whirling her around the room as her own tears began to stream, laughter and crying mingling into one concoction of joy.

They clung to each other for what felt like forever, emotions overcoming their words. It would be wrong to speak, to interrupt their feelings of true love with something so futile as words. There weren’t any words in the English language that could capture this feeling.

Yvie was positive that she would never let her go of Scarlet. Ever again.

“I love you so much, Yvie,” Scarlet was eventually able to murmur. “This was so perfect. You are perfect.”

“I love you too, Scarlet,” Yvie said, arms still entangled with hers. “You’re my best friend, and I never want to spend another Christmas without you.”

Scarlet reached her neck up and planted a deep, loving kiss on her lips. “You never will, Yvie.”

They stayed snuggled together on the sofa for a little while longer, each not quite ready to let go of the other yet. Scarlet tried on her ring which fit like a glove, and vowed that she would buy Yvie any ring that she wanted.

The two collided in another soft kiss, full of love and kindness and warmth. When they broke apart, Yvie looked down into Scarlet’s big, blue eyes that still had tears brimming their banks.

“Hey Scarlet?”

“Yeah Yvie?”

“You’re the best gift I’ve ever received.”

#rpdr fanfiction #scyvie #scarlet envy #yvie oddly #lesbian au #fluff #peridot #ficmas #day two: wrapping paper #submission

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oddcoupler222 · 5 years

Note

I think you've mentioned you've been reading more lesbian books that arent fanfic, any recommendations?

YOU BET YOUR ASS I DO

1. Behind the Green Curtain by Riley Lashea -

(legitimately the best romance I have ever, ever read. I recommend it to anyone who loves lesbian romance and if you follow me, I assume you do)

In which - Caton has a job that she doesn’t love but it pays the bills… And she has to put up with Jack, her sleazy as fuck boss. Her sleazy as fuck boss who then hires her for an obscene amount of money to be his wife, Amelia’s, personal assistant.

Caton intends to keep her head down. Just get the work done and make her money, ignoring how incredibly hot - and emotionally cold - Amelia is, but her attraction to her makes that very difficult.

Caton and Amelia embark on a torrid affair that starts with crazy hot but confusing sex, because Caton doesn’t understand where exactly she stands with Amelia. It gradually turns into one of the most meaningful/deep love stories guaranteed to hit you deep in the emotions.

Honestly. Read it. You won’t regret it. The only caveat I can think of is technically that there is adultery, but Jack is the biggest scumbag who has affairs of his own so.

2. All That Matters by Susan X Meagher -

Blair Spencer’s life seems to be going pretty well. She’s a highly successful real estate agent and is married to David, who respects that she is highly independent and likes to live her own life. The hitch in her life is that they are struggling to have a baby, and while she is all for adoption, David desperately wants a biological child.

They go to a practice that specializes in fertility, and while there she meets Kylie Mackenzie, a lesbian surgeon. Kylie is brilliant, funny, and beautiful, but remains single because she doesn’t want to settle for anything less than that passionate, all-consuming kind of love.

Realizing that they have a lot of interests in common after seeing each other out around town, Blair and Kylie strike up a friendship. Over the next months/year, Blair’s marriage starts to crumble and their friendship grows impossibly deeper, giving way to Kylie falling in love with her supposedly straight best friend and Blair learning about what it means to really fall in love.

It’s hard to describe without going into a ton of plot detail, but let me assure you that this is really the best best best friends to lovers journey and I guarantee it will move you.

3. Who’d Have Thought by G Benson - in case you’re looking for a fake romance, don’t you worry… I’ve got you

Hayden Perez is a nurse in New York, who - for a few reasons - is struggling to make ends meet. She comes across an ad late one night in which someone is offering 200,000 dollars to get married for a year, no questions asked. She does realize how crazy it sounds and doesn’t seriously want to do it… but the money is too good to turn her back on.

It gets especially difficult when it turns out that the person behind the offer is Samantha Thomson, a neurosurgeon who works at the same hospital, who comes off as cold and rude at work, and is someone she’s never especially liked.

Now she’s supposed to convince everyone, including her best friend, that she is so in love with a woman she notoriously has disliked, that she wants to rush into marriage with her - plus the fact that you know, she has to move in with and get married to said woman - should be no problem. At all.

The book I read that got me into the rabbit hole of lesbian romance novels! Two compelling leads and an engaging plot… it’s the best fake romance I’ve found. The biggest hang up I had going into it is that it is somewhat of an age gap which isn’t hugely my thing as you may know. But there’s no other power dynamic at play or anything and I can lose myself enough in the plot.

Those are my, in order, top 3 would recommend to anyone, lesbian romance novels.

and because I’m me, guess who is going to recommend even more!

- Damage Control by Jae -

The incredibly beautiful and talented Grace Durand is an America’s Sweetheart kind of actress. Which means it doesn’t bode well for her career when rumors flair up that she’s not exactly straight - which, she is (so she thinks).

In an effort to squash the rumors, she hires a new publicist, Lauren Pearce… without realizing that Lauren is a lesbian.

Lauren has been in/around Hollywood for her entire life and has seen it all and dealt with it all. At least, she thought she had, before she realizes Grace really is a sweetheart and suddenly she might be dealing with her own work life nightmare of falling for a client.

(Honestly, I’ve never been like blown away by a book by Jae, but I’ve read almost all of them because they are all very solid and engaging. So if a book by Jae appeals to you by the plot, I would definitely recommend it)

Just For Show, also by Jae -

Claire Renshaw, an anal retentive, compulsive yet amazingly successful couples therapist, seems to have everything going for her: a fiance that she’s been with for years and is almost done with her book about how to make it last as a couple… until her fiance breaks up with her at their engagement party, and she finds herself in a lurch with her book deal, because who wants to buy a book about making your relationship last from a couples therapist who can’t make her relationship last?

In comes out of work actress, Lana Henderson, who doesn’t realize until after her “audition” that she’d been auditioning for the role of Claire’s fiance. They couldn’t be more different, with Claire’s strict rules and serious demeanor and Lana’s more impulsive, cluttered lifestyle, but they just have to make it through until Claire’s book contact gets signed, and then they can go their separate ways. Unless opposites really do attract…

(not as great, imo, as a fake romance as Who’d Have Thought, but a light and entertaining read just the same)

- Scissor Link by Georgette Kaplan -

Wendy Cedar is an employee at Savin Aerospace with a massive crush on her boss, recent divorcee, Janet Lace. After Janet accidentally stumbles upon Wendy’s email about a sex dream she’s been having, she decides to see if the reality can live up to the fantasy. But when the relationship starts to be more than a kinky office romance, the two have to decide if they can make it as a couple or if they were better off as boss and employee.

(Plot-wise, this is admittedly not the most solid tale. It’s good! But could have been better. But honestly, Wendy as a character is hilarious and so engaging, it was easy to let go of any issues I had with anything else because she won me over completely)

- Love All by Rachel Spangler -

Throughout her long career, professional tennis player Jay Pierce has been burned by both players and the press. She’s learned the hard way that she can trust no one and nothing, especially her own judgment. So, when she starts one last career comeback, she knows the only hope she has to redeem her legacy is to go it alone.

Sadie Larsen knows virtually nothing about the world of professional tennis when her daughter, Destiny, breaks onto the women’s tour at the age of 17. She learned everything she needed to know about single parenting on her own, and she knows she can do the same now that the stakes are higher than ever—all she has to do is stay laser-focused on protecting her family of two.

Neither Jay nor Sadie expects the path ahead to be easy. Each believes she’s prepared to face every single challenge with the stony resolve of a woman who has been counted out and bet against her entire life. The only thing neither woman had counted on was each other.

As Jay and Destiny fight their battles on the court, Sadie and Jay fight their attraction off it. Can they survive the crushing crucible of competition, press pressure, and parenting, or will love all really mean no one goes home a winner?

(once again, much like Jae, most books by Rachel Spangler are pretty good. But this is by far the best I’ve found, and also the best sports related romance)

soooo, yeah! I have some other recs but these would be my top - especially the first 3. and especially the first 1.

#book recs #honestly let me know if you read any of these #ESPECIALLY behind the green curtain #behind the green curtain is criminally underrated in lesfic #and i love and adore it

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spinningsidetable · 5 years

Text

Gentleman 2/3

Pairing: Octavian/Leo Valdez (leotavian)

Warning/Genre: Genre/Warning: AU, No Godly Parents, Spy Shit, Action Movie Parody, Non-Linear Story Telling, Admittedly Unhealthy Relationship, Descriptions of Violence, Dubious Consent Smooching, Sexual Situations,“Humor”

Rating: Mature

Summary: Leo has worked for the Agency for awhile now, the guy in the chair helping Agents save the world and all that, but now it seems like an actual supervillain is enamored with him.

(Notes: Sexual situations in this chapter, which will probably get the story flagged by tumblr. or maybe it won’t care, and just continue to mark pictures of my geckos as porn.)

Leo blearily opened his eyes and found himself in a familiar room. White plaster walls, deep red accents, and ancient looking columns on the veranda overlooking a lush garden. It would put the hanging gardens of Babylon to shame, or so Octavian had told Leo once. Leo didn’t know anything about plants, or the outdoors, or what it had to do with that show Babylon 5. But, it was really pretty. The whole base had a classic feel to it, like you’d been removed out of time, or if you had been transported into a bad series on the unfortunately named History Channel. Octavian had a weird thing for age-old Roman things, like conquest and domination. It was partly why no one was entirely sure if his name was Octavian from birth or not. It could have just been a complicated reference to Caesar Augustus, founder of Rome. The current theories about Octavian’s motives were world domination, or at least the creation of a new military state, a New Rome, but it hadn’t ever been confirmed. No one had much on him to go off, no known history, no paper trails, nothing. Just a love of gladiator movies, very presumably BDSM, and apparently Babylon 5. “Ugh,” Leo groaned, turning to grab the aspirin and glass of water he knew would be on the side table. “I should just move some shit in, spare clothes, maybe a toothbrush. I seem to be here often enough…” “I agree, mi amor.” Octavian said, reading from a book at the foot of the bed. Leo also knew he’d be there. “In fact, I believe we should get married. We’ve been dating for quite some time, now. What kind of ring do you want? I have access to an asteroid.” “I’m sorry to break this to you, but we’re actually not dating at all. Not even a little bit. Also, I can’t physically give you any heirs.” Leo sighed, running a hand through his hair. It wasn’t as messy as it usually was, but Octavian usually brushed it while Leo was out for the count. Leo’d never admit Octavian speaking specifically Spanish did things to him. “That’s something crazy dictators want, right? Bunch of heirs?” “Mm, ignoring adoption or surrogates, all we’d just need a host uterus, artificial or otherwise. My people have developed a way to combine the DNA of two men or two women within an artificial egg.” Octavian turned the page, like he wasn’t a supervillain bent on world domination (presumably) “Granted, I don’t particularly care about any heirs. It is possible though.” “Wait,” Leo held up a hand, realization dawning on him. “…Did Larry and Mark finally have kids?” “Mhmm,” Octavian closed the book, looking up at Leo with a pleasant (non-manic) smile on his face. “They’re trying.” “Oh my god, I’m so happy for them!” Leo’d really gotten to know a few of his guards by now. “I’m still not marrying you though, you just blew a hole in an aircraft carrier. That being said, I do also want access to an asteroid, would I get half of it if we got married?” Octavian shrugged a shoulder, never concerned. “I have a sneaking suspicion the military industrial complex will recover, for now. However, I am glad to hear you’ve changed your mind about my so-called manipulation via…how did you put it, sweet talk? I’m glad to hear you think it’s sweet.” Leo faltered, pushing the blankets off and getting out of bed. Silk pajamas, always the best. “That’s…” Leo had forgotten about that. That was right. He remembered the looks on Reyna’s face, on Piper’s and Jason’s. “…If I agreed to marry you, but I promised to never tell you a single secret about the Agency, about Jason, or about anything that could in anyway help you with any of your plans…you’re telling me you’d…be okay with that?” “Oh, mo ghaol, I’ve never assumed you’d tell me anything. Have I ever asked? Threatened you? Hurt you in any way?” Octavian stood, and came to Leo’s side. He raised a hand to Leo’s face, fingers resting causally at Leo’s neck and thumb rubbing small circles into his cheek. “I adore you.” “Why, though?” Leo looked at the floor, away from Octavian’s face. “I’m just…” “Brilliant, smart, handsome, clever, funny, beautiful, talented…” Octavian finished for him, tone slightly chastising, but in a fond way. “Yes, I have no idea.” “I’m 5’2, I’m a tooth pick, I’ve got like a mole on my forehead I keep covered with hair because I’m a little scared it might be an absorbed twin, because it’s got like this massive whisker in it I pluck secretly. And then I say things like that when I’m nervous…” Octavian laughed, shaking his head. “Your size is convenient, cute even; you still have a good deal of upper body strength, your muscles are toned even if you’re slim. And, you have a beauty mark. You’re interesting, and funny. It’s not like I’m particularly muscular either. I think you called me a murderous scarecrow for half a year.” Leo groaned and flopped back down onto the bed, “I still have braces, Octavian!” “It’s respectable that you care about oral hygiene,” Octavian responded with a shrug, kneeling down to the ground between Leo’s legs. He looked like a knight, bowing before his king. “I understand why the Agency may think I have ulterior motives; admittedly, you would be a great target. But, like I said, I truly adore you solnyshka. In time, you’ll accept that, because I believe you already know deep down that I’m telling the truth.” The Brazilian government had apparently covered up the fact that they had recently discovered a massive underground temple. It was a lost holy place for numerous native Brazilian tribes, but the current regime didn’t want to award any more protection of land over to the native peoples. Why? Because of course they didn’t. That would mean they couldn’t strip it for resources, who cared about history, preservation, or other cultures in the face of cold hard cash? The Agency was tasked with keeping peace, and with further private exploration of the temple before the government got to work. The entire place was still majorly unknown, the exact size and scale was a mystery. No one was entirely sure who built it even. Leo and another tech Rachel, were the grunts that were sent down into the terrifying and dark abyss with just flashlights and backpacks. They’d spent a week developing an advanced mapping system, that could create a 3D rendering of any hidden passages and tunnels. But, they had to place a few probes in the temple first at strategic points for it to work, which meant having to be there in person first. Two Agents accompanied them, Agent di Angelo and Agent Levesque. They were apparently the only ones willing to go spelunking with the tech-y desk jockeys. Leo would have preferred Jason, but he knew the guy was terrified of enclosed spaces underground. These two didn’t seem to be bothered by it in the slightest. The two Agents hadn’t talked much at first, but eventually Levesque and Rachel got on like wildfire. Di Angelo wasn’t so friendly, and when it came time to split up, Leo was disappointed he got stuck with the angry emo Agent baby, instead of the stupidly hot spy lady. Agent di Angelo only got angrier for some reason when Leo said as much. They had been walking throughout the tunnels in the cavernous temple for about an hour, when Leo and his babysitter came across an old rope bridge to the other side of the cave system they were in. It was too big to jump across, but Leo needed to get to the other side to place a probe. “Hey, too spooky?” Leo grinned, turning to the Agent who grimaced at said nickname. “Have you ever heard why the lion crossed the bridge?” “What are you talking about- Hey!” Leo was already darting across the bridge, backwards, big hefty backpack and all. He could feel it creaking and cracking under his feet, but Leo made it safely. “To get to the other side! Get it?” Leo called over, cupping his hands around his mouth. Agent di Angelo flipped him off. “That’s not very professional! Come on! It’s totally safe!” The rope bridge promptly snapped and collapsed into the nothingness below. “I rescind that! Don’t do it!” Agent Angel whipped out a comm and seemed to be having a very tense conversation with someone on the other line as he paced back and forth, his light moving around the room. “Hey, it’s fine, buddy!” Leo yelled. “I’ll just go plant the other probe, while you get like a ladder or something! Not like anything else is down here! You know, besides snakes, and spiders, and scorpions and other totally natural things that could kill me!” An hour or two later and Leo was increasingly worried there really was nothing down here. The temple seemed to be built into an existing cave system, which could theoretically be hundreds of miles long. It was just endless amounts of rock and water dripping and bats and bugs. Leo was getting tired, and hungry, so when he heard voices and the reflections of light in the distance, he couldn’t help himself. He bolted towards the commotion, waving his flashlight. “HEY! I’m so glad you-“ Leo found himself in a large cave opening, surrounded by men and women in black attire, now all pointing guns at his face. Octavian stood in the middle, eyebrow raised, and a manic smile beginning to overtake his expression. “Oh boy. I am lost. I am but a poor lost…Brazilian person. I got a bit turned around back there, I’ll just…turn around and go the other way.” “Don’t shoot,” Octavian waved a hand. “I know this little vagalume.” As Octavian walked forward towards sweaty, filthy, gross covered Leo, and the crowds parted around Octavian like he was some kind of God. Supervillains sure knew how to make an impact. “My, my, why are you here, meu querido?” Octavian’s smile was dangerous, and the flashlight casting shadows just accentuated the madness. “The Agency must know something, if they’re willing to send you in.” “I, uh,” Leo was flustered, his sweat sticking his hair to his forehead. “…Searched my soul? And found you!” Octavian laughed, coming close enough to rest his hand on Leo’s cheek. “Well, you weren’t what we were looking for, but I can’t say I’m displeased.” He turned to the men closest to him, “leve-o de volta ao acampamento.” Leo yelped as he was grabbed and thrown over a shoulder. “What the fuck did you just say?! Octavian! Hey! Why are we in the one South American country I can’t speak the language of! Oi, hablar español por favor-” “I hate you, I hate you so much, oh my god.” Leo gasped, moving up and down, his hands clenched into the headboard behind Octavian’s stupid face. Leo was sweating so much, it was disgusting. Had he sweat this much the first time he had had sex? No, Leo was pretty sure he had gotten in the girl, whimpered, and collapsed to the side pretty much immediately. “Do you want to stop?” Octavian grinned up at him knowingly, his own hands on Leo’s lower hips stopped encouraging him. Leo’s thighs were burning, his abdominal muscles were tensed almost the entire time. He needed Octavian’s help to keep going, to keep moving. Leo was already shaky after extended foreplay, he had already spent holding himself up on his arms and knees as the villain decided to take his time and use his tongue. “I will actually kill you if you stop,” one of Leo’s hands left the headboard to dig into Octavian’s scalp and pull him forward for a messy kiss. The angle shifted Leo away from riding the cock inside him, to just rocking back and forth in a needy manner. He needed more momentum, the pressure was good, it was so good, but he needed more. It didn’t help that Octavian had a hand around his cock, with just enough pressure at the base of the shaft that Leo couldn’t find the release he was looking for. He wasn't stroking it, he wasn't doing anything that Leo needed. He was being an actual cocktease. “I will remove your windpipe I swear to god, I refuse to be a pump and dump,” Leo pulled away, nipping just slightly at Octavian’s lower lip. “Octavian, come on, estoy loco por ti, te necesito. Please?” Octavian’s eyes were normally very light blue, but right now Octavian’s pupils were blown wide and black. He flipped Leo over onto his back. “Anything for you, the entire world for you.” Maybe he was easy, Leo thought, sprawled out in bed that night. 16 kidnappings were all it took for him to go full Stockholm Syndrome. Octavian was asleep next to him, completely defenseless, if you didn’t count the armed guards outside and the whole island fortress thing. “Poor thing, wore himself out”, Leo whispered as he reached over and pushed a few pieces of hair away from the man’s forehead. Granted, Leo had fully passed the fuck out after their romp as well, he just woke up sooner. The benefits of horrific insomnia, not even 3 orgasms could keep him asleep for long. “Oh my god, I slept with a supervillain,” Leo flopped back down onto his pillow. The thread count on these sheets was ridiculous. “Repeatedly.” “Mm, was I at least a gentlemen?” Octavian’s voice was somewhat rough from sleep, and probably from the blowjob, but he was awake enough to throw and arm around Leo’s side and pull him close. “Very much so,” Leo whispered back, shoving his face into Octavian’s neck. “Maybe…I can be the…uh, gentleman next time?” Octavian had a great dick, just perfect. Hit all the spots. Looked good, felt fucking fantastic. But, he also was pretty in his own way, and had a nice ass. Leo wanted in it. “Whatever you wish, mi amor. I look forward to it.” Octavian pulled Leo in closely, kissing his forehead. He really was a gentleman. Octavian then swung a leg over Leo, and straddled his waist. “Wait, right now?” “We are going to fucking die!” Leo screamed at the scarecrow on stilts. “I refuse to die because a piece of anthropomorphized spaghetti with a God complex kidnapped me!” Octavian looked mildly annoyed at the insult, or maybe just the fact Leo had been yelling nonstop for about five minutes. Octavian rarely looked particularly bothered by anything Leo did or said, so he must have been fairly stressed out. “We’re not going to die from this,” Octavian glanced at his passenger, who hadn’t put down a small metal lighter. “We might die if you burn up all our oxygen, however.” Leo’s eyes narrowed, and he flicked the lighter shut. “Don’t talk to me like I’m stupid, Julius Caesar. Your navigation system is shot, your craft is taking on water, and the control panel is fucking glitching halfway to Siberia. You did this, this is your fault. I’m smaller than you, when we inevitably die horrifically here, I want to at least survive long enough to see you die first. You’ll need oxygen before I do.” “No,” Octavian corrected, clenching his jaw. “Your Agency did this by sabotaging my submersible, knowing fully well you were aboard. So much for loyalty.” Leo rolled his eyes, and threw his legs up on the console, as they were starting to get soggy. “No, they didn’t. I’m too valuable. They’d still be stuck with tech from the 50’s if it wasn’t for my ass. Say, how painful would it be to get eaten by sharks?” “Probably very,” Octavian grabbed one of Leo’s feet and tossed it off the machinery. “You know very little about the organization you work for, apparently. They track all assets.” “Uh, yeah, no shit. I removed that crap forever ago.” Leo gestured at a small scar on his arm. “So, again, back to being your fault. You, alone, used a submersible to kidnap me. In my fucking pajamas!” They were classic teenage mutant ninja turtles, Leo had told Octavian. “I thought it would be…” The madman, for once, appeared to be struggling to find the words. “Romantic. Moonlit dinner, with nothing but the ocean around us.” Leo looked in the back of the compartment, at the nearly cliché picnic box and bottle of wine. There were even fucking roses. “Goddammit. Move, you asshat.” Leo got out of his seat, and pushed Octavian to the edge of his own, sitting beside him. Octavian looked at him curiously, but Leo was already starting to fiddle with the console controls. It didn’t look like much was happening. “If we are to die here, then I can’t say I mind the company,” Octavian admitted, only to get flipped off. “…Leonardo was always my favorite ninja turtle.” Leo sat up sharply, looking directly at the man. “Where the fuck are you from?! I swear to Christ, how do you speak 500 languages, yet know TMNT? Ain’t no one in American public school systems do word good.” “Maybe I was raised by a giant rat in the New York city sewers?” Octavian offered, with a smirk. “Who knows. You know, I know some about your past. You were doing extremely advanced mathematics in elementary school. You make fun of my education, but you’re obviously brilliant yourself, in fields and ways much more advanced than I.” “I hate you, leave me alone, I’m working.” Leo’s face was slightly red as he grumbled but turned back to the display. “…I expect more than a picnic when I save your pasty white butt.” “Of course, mój drogi.” The water had gotten uncomfortably close to the electrical equipment, but it had only taken Leo a few minutes before the submersible was back in some amount of working order. It would still sink, it was taking on far too much water with no way of repairing physical damage like that, but at least now they could deploy the emergency raft. Within five minutes, they were sitting in a black and red raft. It wasn’t small or flimsy, thankfully. Leo had enough room to fully stretch out on the blanket that had been in the picnic basket. Octavian had made a call to his men, it was likely they’d be there within the hour, but for the time… Octavian laid down beside the shorter man, staring up at the stars. “I guess it is kind of romantic. Maybe not the impending threat of death so much, but it is pretty out here. There’s not as much pollution out here…the stars are really bright.” Leo pointed at a few, “do you know any constellations?” Octavian did, so instead of answering, sat up on his elbow and leaned over to kiss the mechanic. Leo jerked backwards, eyes wide. “What the hell, did you just kiss me?” Octavian kissed him again, before pulling back and looking mighty pleased with himself. “I hate you, that’s such a breach of my personal space, it is completely uncalled for.” Leo ranted before he was grabbing the back of Octavian’s head and pulling him in for another.

#fanfiction #mypjofanfiction #pjo fanfic #pjo Octavian #hoo octavian #octavian #Leo Valdez #leotavian

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rathertoofondofbooks · 5 years

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June was a month that was full of reading and blogging so I’m a happy blogger right now! I read 30 books. I was hoping to try and blog every day in June, which I didn’t manage but, having said that, I blogged 31 times over the month (a couple of days I had more than one post) so I’m really pleased with that.

Otherwise my highlight for June came on the penultimate day of the month when we finally got to pick up our new car! It’s highly unlikely that I’ll ever be able to drive again but our new car gives me and my husband more freedom as it has a hoist in the boot to life my mobility scooter/wheelchair. Also, because it’s an SUV the seats are higher and the doors open wider so it’s easier for me to get in and out of the car.

Here are the books I read in June:

I Know Who You Are by Alice Feeney

This thriller was really enjoyable but the final 20% or so just didn’t work for me. I do love Alice Feeney’s writing though so will be looking out for her other books in the future.

The Space Between Time by Charlie Laidlaw

This book was such a beautiful read. It got to me in a way that I wasn’t expecting and I loved that about it.

I Heart Hawaii by Lindsey Kelk

This was a wonderful ending to a fab series, it really did tie everything up in such a gorgeous way and I loved it!

The Sea Refuses No River by Bethany Rivers

This is a stunning poetry collection that explores grief after the death of a parent. I really connected to this one and recommend it.

Horizontal Collaboration by Navie and Carole Maurel

This graphic novel was such an interesting and engaging book, it really got under my skin in ways I didn’t expect it to so I really recommend it.

The Friend Who Lied by Rachel Amphlett

This was my first novel by this author and it definitely won’t be the last because I very much enjoyed it.

Girl in Snow by Danya Kukafka

I’d had an ARC of this on my TBR for over a year so I was glad to finally pick it up. It was a really gripping read so I’m really glad I read it.

Into the Wild by Jon Krakauer

I listened to the audio book on Scribd* and found it really interesting but the way the book was written wasn’t quite as engaging as I hoped it would be.

The Goldfinch by Donna Tartt

I finally read this book this month and I’m so happy that I did because I loved it! I’ve had the hardback of this on my TBR ever since it was first published but somehow hadn’t read it yet. It was my priority book from my 20 Books of Summer challenge and I loved every single second that I spent reading this one!

Daisy Jones and The Six by Taylor Jenkins Reid

I had an ARC of this but I decided to buy the audiobook as I’d heard it was good and I’m so glad I did. I completely and utterly adored this book, I think it’s going to be one of my favourite reads of the year. I highly recommend it, especially the audio!

Every Mother’s Nightmare by Mark Thomas

I knew this would be a difficult read because of the subject matter but in the end it was the endless grammar, punctuation and formatting errors that almost made me give up on this. I did finish it but I wouldn’t recommend it.

What Red Was by Rosie Price

This was an okay read for me. I enjoyed the first half but then it just started to drag a little. The writing is really good but there were too many storylines for the length of the novel. I would look out for more books by this author in the future though.

The Seven or Eight Deaths of Stella Fortuna by Juliet Grames

This was my second book for the 20 Books of Summer challenge and I adored it! It’s such a stunning novel and one that I keep finding myself thinking about.

The Lost Properties of Love by Sophie Ratcliffe

This book is part-fiction and part-memoir and I loved it. It’s such a beautiful novel and one that really made me think over things in my own life from a new perspective. I already know that I want to re-read this.

Nutshell by Ian McEwan

I really enjoyed this short novel about an unborn baby listening in to his mother and her boyfriend plotting the murder of his father! It’s reminded me how much I enjoy Ian McEwan’s writing.

An Anonymous Girl by Greer Hendricks and Sarah Pekkanen

I had an ARC of this but decided to listen to the audio and I’m so glad I did. I think the audio really added to this book and kept me engaged in the story all the way through.

After the End by Clare Mackintosh

This book is stunning! It’s such a heartbreaking read but it will also make you think. I loved this one and highly recommend it.

She’s Not There by Joy Fielding

I bought this book a while ago and have been so keen to read it so I’m glad to have got to it in June. It’s not a book that will really stay with me but I did really enjoy the time that I spent reading it.

The Swap by Fiona Mitchell

I enjoyed this book but it was lacking something for me. I think I just wanted a little bit more depth but that’s not to say that it wasn’t an enjoyable read.

Keep You Close by Karen Cleveland

I really enjoyed this spy thriller and pretty much read it in one sitting. It’s a great premise and it’s such a gripping story so I recommend it.

Last Seen Alive by Claire Douglas

I’ve had this book on my TBR ever since it was published so when I spotted the audio on my library BorrowBox app I decided to part-listen and part-read this book. I really did enjoy this book and now I’m even more excited to read the author’s new book!

Ghost Wall by Sarah Moss

I really enjoyed this book, I read it all in one sitting as it’s a short book and it had more of an impact on me than I was expecting.

The Perfect Betrayal by Lauren North

This is such a brilliant psychological thriller; it’s one of very, very few novels where I just didn’t work out what was going to happen. It’s a flawless thriller and I loved it. I highly recommend this one!

The Trouble With Goats and Sheep by Joanna Cannon

This is another book from my 20 Books of Summer challenge and I fell in love with this one. It’s such a gorgeous book and it’s one I’ll never forget! I did part-read and part-listen to this one (I listened on *Scribd) and the narrator, Paula Wilcox, is so perfect for this book.

Dead Mountain by Donnie Eichar

This is such a fascinating and intriguing book. I enjoyed seeing the process of how the author believes he may have solved the mystery of what happened to the hikers. I still feel like there’s something more to the story though so if anyone has any recommendations I’d love to hear them.

Furious Hours by Casey Cep

I found this book so interesting, it was such a good read. I was intrigued by the case that this book focuses on and also to learn more about Harper Lee. I will try and review this one soon but in the meantime I definitely recommend it.

Something To Tell You by Lucy Diamond

This is another book where I had a NetGalley copy but listened to it on audio. It’s such an engaging story that ends up being a really heart-warming read.

Hard Pushed by Leah Hazard

I found this book so interesting, it’s really eye-opening to read about what life is like for midwives. I’ll be reviewing this one soon.

Something to Live For by Richard Roper

I loved this novel! It’s such a moving and heart-warming book and it was such a tonic on a couple of days when I was feeling a bit low and unwell. I’ll be reviewing this one next week for the blog tour.

Me and the Table by Stephen Hendry

I downloaded the audio of this on a whim when I saw it in the BorrowBox app, and I’m so glad I did because it was a really enjoyable memoir.

*I’m a paid member of Scribd (as mentioned above) and they have given me a code that will allow you to sign up and get two months free (and I would get one month free). If you’d like to try them out here is the link. I love Scribd and highly recommend them.

June Blog Posts & Reviews:

I started off June by Wrapping-Up May! May was a great reading month so June had a lot to live up to, and as you can see from this post it managed it! My first review of June was Dead Inside by Noelle Holten, a brilliant new crime novel by a fab blogger and author! I then continued on with my occasional Mini review series with my thoughts on Ordinary People by Diana Evans, Salvage the Bones by Jesmyn Ward, The Furies by Katie Lowe, and Entanglement by Katy Mahood. I read the final book in the I Heart series I Heart Hawaii by Lindsey Kelk and managed to review it straight away for once! It was then time for This Week in Books 5 June . My next review was of an incredible novel that I read in one sitting The Flight of Cornelia Blackwood by Susan Elliot Wright. It was then my turn on the blog tour for We Never Said Goodbye by Helene Fermont and I shared my review. It was then time for my first Book Haul of the month!

In the second week of June I posted another selection of Mini reviews of Girl in Snow by Danya Kukafka, I Know Who You Are by Alice Feeney, The Golden Child by Wendy James, and Need to Know by Karen Cleveland. It was then time for my stop on the blog tour for A Modern Family by Helga Flatland, a book that left its mark on me and I’m sure it’ll be one of my books of the year! I also took part in the blog tour for The Space Between Time by Charlie Laidlaw, another fab book! I then decided to go back to WWW Wednesdays and shared my current and recent reads plus what I hoped to read next! My next review was of another incredible novel The Van Apfel Girls Are Gone by Felicity McLean, which I’m still finding myself thinking about weeks after reading it! Then it was time for another Book Haul!

In the third week of June I shared my review of The Friend Who Lied by Rachel Amphlett as part of the blog tour. It was my first book by the author and it definitely won’t be the last as I really enjoyed it. My next review was of the brilliant Sister of Mine by Laurie Petrou. Then it was time for my next WWW Wednesdays post! It was then my turn to share my review of the beautiful debut novel Death and Other Happy Endings by Melanie Cantor. My final review of this week was of the moving poetry collection The Sea Refuses No River by Bethany Rivers. Then it was time for another Book Haul (eek!).

In the last week of June I started by sharing another selection of Mini reviews of An Anonymous Girl by Greer Hendricks and Sarah Pekkanen, The Neighbour by Fiona Cummins, What Red Rose by Rosie Price, and Pieces of Her by Karin Slaughter. I then got to share my review of the stunning graphic novel Horizontal Collaboration by Navie and Carole Maurel. It was my turn on the blog tour for The Perfect Betrayal by Lauren North, this was one of the best psychological thrillers I’ve read in a long time as it completely blindsided me! I also shared my latest WWW Wednesdays post. I was delighted to share my thoughts on a gorgeous book that was part novel and part memoir The Lost Properties of Love by Sophie Ratcliffe. Up next came my review of spy thriller Keep You Close by Karen Cleveland and that was followed by my thoughts on the incredible After the End by Clare Mackintosh! I then shared another book haul and that was followed with the audio book tag!

The state of my TBR:

So I think I’m going to give up on tracking my TBR for the moment as it’s just completely out of control! I need to go through my books and have a sort out so once I’ve managed to get that done I may start tracking it again. I will be doing my mid-year book stats post later this week so my TBR will feature in that post. Eeeek!!

How was June for you? I hope you all had a good month and that you read lots of good books. Did you read many books? What was your favourite book of the month? Please tell me in the comments, I’d love to know. Also, if you have a blog please feel free to leave a link to your month’s wrap-up post and I’ll be sure to read and comment back. 🙂

That Was The Month That Was… June 2019! June was a month that was full of reading and blogging so I'm a happy blogger right now!

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erikanyanko · 6 years

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Hello @ anon, @maknagisa and everybody else and welcome to the Tedtalk where I’m going to talk about why Rachel and Joey should’ve ended up together (aka. Why Joey was probably the best person for Rachel)

Now once again, I am a ride-or-die anti Ross Geller and Rachel’s brief thing with Joey was obviously intended to draw out the whole will Rachel and Ross get back together foolishness. BUT I AM HERE TO TELL YOU WHY RACHEL AND JOEY SHOULD HAVE BEEN ENDGAME!

Let’s start from the beginning. From the moment Rachel entered the show in her white wedding dress, Ross immediately sees her as a romantic prospect. His middle school crush is revived and in hyper drive. Joey, of course, walks up to her with “how YOU doin” (Joey’s standard of greeting to every hot women ever, not specific to Rachel) The thing is, Joey’s relationship with Rachel is platonic right from the beginning.

They have a genuine friendship.

They give each other dating advice. Though sometimes Joey’s advice can be very VERY questionable, at the end of the day it’s with good intentions. Joey went out of his way to set Rachel up with date with men HE THINKS she’ll like.

He let her come to his acting gigs and flirt with soap opera actors.

There’s no jealousy. There’s no possessiveness. There’s no sabotage foolishness. Just a friend helping out another friend find their lobster.

I’ll admit that Joey has a lot of problems (but don’t we all) but some of his best qualities is that he is not only SUPPORTIVE but PROTECTIVE of his relationships with women. Whenever Rachel, Monica, or Pheobe are in trouble, you can bet that Joey will be there to help. He genuinely loves them and will do ANYTHING to make sure that they happy.

HE MAKES RACHEL LAUGH (OH MY GOD, RACHEL WAS THE BEST WHEN SHE WAS WITH JOEY)

But let’s talk about the BEST part about Joey falling in love with Rachel. First of all they had a genuine friendship. They were roommates. But best of all, HE FELL FOR HER WHEN SHE WAS PREGNANT. Joey, the unapologetic promiscuous actor (the “shallow” guy), realizes he feels something more for Rachel other than friendship while she’s pregnant.

PLUS, it happens the way real healthy relationships do, THEY START SPENDING MORE TIME WITH EACH OTHER. Joey LEARNED to see Rachel as something more than friend. She was ALWAYS a friend first. Which was NEV ER EVER EVER true for Ross. (This is why, in my opinion, “nice guys” are a lot more shadier than openly unapologetic flirts like Joey)

Joey takes Rachel out on the fake date because she’s pregnant and misses going on fancy dates. THAT’S WHEN IT HAPPENS. THAT’S WHEN IT CLICKS FOR HIM. When he tells Rachel that he likes her more than a friend, she turns him down. AND HE’S OKAY WITH IT. He NEVER blames her and he DOESN’T let it impact the dynamic of their shared friend group. Their friendship stays intact and they cause NO DRAMA.Their friends aren’t forced to choose sides ROSS GELLER WHAT’S GOOD.

I AM STILL PISSED with the cop-out ending that when they did get together SUDDENLY all their chemistry evaporated. EXCUUUUUSSSEEEE YOU, THEY COULD’VE MADE IT WORK. If the writers really tried and cared enough for their characters, they could’ve made an ABSOLUTELY FANTASTIC couple and a GENRE-DEFYING plot twist.

AND I’M JUST GETTING STARTED!

MY DUDES. MY. DUDES. It’s been 14 years, but there are nights when I just lay in bed and FUME that Rachel got off that FRICK FRACKLIN PLANE FOR ROSS. Ross trivialized her passions OVER AND OVER AND OVER AGAIN. In my opinion, Rachel’s career was always one of the highlights of her arc. Rachel was a spoiled privileged girl that never had to work a day in her life and then she hits rock bottom. She starts as a waitress and works her way to becoming a brilliant executive and super successful in ridiculously competitive field ON TOP OF BEING A SINGLE MOM.

AND IT WAS JOEY that got Rachel her first big break to get out of the coffee shop and into the fashion industry.

JOEY BRINGS OUT THE BEST IN RACHEL AND VISE VERSA. THEY MAKE EACH OTHER BETTER.

Reminder, Joey falls for Rachel when she’s PREGNANT. When he finds out that Rachel was looking for other apartments in order to get ready for the baby, what does Joey do? He BABYFIED THE APARTMENT JUST TO SHOW RACHEL THAT IT WASN’T A PROBLEM. He HAPPILY lets Rachel and Emma move back in with him DESPITE how much caring for Emma would disrupt his lifestyle.

The running joke about Joey bringing home terrible women ENDS AFTER RACHEL. Falling for Rachel LITERALLY teaches him that he wants something more than the chicks he used to pick up. He LEARNS! He starts loving Emma and stops being a terrible date punchline joke and TRIES to better himself.

AND HE’S GOOD FOR RACHEL.

LEMME TELL YOU, JOEY’S ROOMMATE RACHEL WAS MY FAVORITE RACHEL. SHE WAS AMAZING AF. ROCKING THE SHORT HAIR. PLAYING THE DRUMS. EATING SPAGHETTI OFF THE FLOOR. WATCHING CUJO. Joey teaches Rachel how to chill and not give a flying fuck. He brings out her fun side. She was cute. SHE WAS SILLY.

Her relationship with Ross was nothing but EXHAUSTING. Always fighting, constant jealousy and possessiveness, the DRAMA. Ross brought out the WORST in Rachel. She was snappy. She was harsh. She was uptight and it always felt like she could go off at any minute.

Think about it

Would you rather be with someone who you KNEW had sex with someone right after you told them that your relationship needed a break or with someone who respected your feelings and CONTINUED to treat you the same even after you turned them down?

Joey RESPECTED Rachel’s feelings.

Ross ONLY cared about HIS NEED to win every single time.

Not to mention, Ross thinks Rachel (and pretty much everyone in their friend group) is intellectually beneath him. (Which is why that “just a waitress” cuts SO DEEP) Joey just thinks she’s the best. Joey and Rachel giggling at “homoerectus” during Ross’s keynote speech is FUNNY. I laughed too. Who HASN’T laughed at a good old penis joke.

Rachel becoming Mrs. Geller is essentially a one-way ticket to a lifelong time of being treated like a child who doesn’t know any better. And this is NOT because Rachel isn’t smart. It’s because ROSS doesn’t think she’s smart. No matter how high she advances, to Ross she’ll always be that popular high school chick that he fell in love with.

The bottom line is, Ross never outgrew his teenage fantasy that was most likely an illusion from the very beginning (don’t get me started on how much of a creeper he was back in the day).

Whereas Joey fell in love with an intelligent, funny, strong, independent single mother he’d been friends with for a good 7 years and knew exactly who Rachel was inside and out.

“But Monica and Rachel can be sisters if she marries Ross”

There is NO ONE IN THE WHOLE UNIVERSE that loves Rachel more than Monica and vice versa. They NEVER needed Ross to become sisters. They already were from the very beginning.

Ross and Rachel were endgame because that’s how the sitcom plots goes. Not because they were RIGHT for each other. That’s where the show was always heading BUT JUST IMAGINE HOW FRIENDS COULD HAVE CHANGE SITCOM HISTORY IF RACHEL AND JOEY REALIZED THEY WERE EACH OTHER’S LOBSTER.

And that’s my Tedtalk

#friends #long post #I just have a lot of thoughts about rachel and joey

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donheisenberg · 6 years

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Top 20 TV Shows of 2017:

So this is the bit where I talk about how difficult it is to write a top 20 list because of peak TV, yada, yada, yada. If you are into TV criticism you have read it all before several over the last few years, the thing is while it might feel like a cliche it is totally true and with every year it become more true. Trying to watch everything out there is impossible and trying to then narrow down what you have watched to a list of 20 is almost as difficult. Every show on this list had an outstanding year as shown by some of the shows I left off of the list. In any other year the likes of Curb Your Enthusiasm and The Americans would be givens even if they just had middling seasons but not this year. It was truly a great year for TV and here are my top 20 shows of 2017.

Shows I Did Not Get Around to Watching/Completing That May Have Made My List: The Deuce The Handmaid’s Tail (to watch) Legion (to watch) Better Things Search Party Difficult People

Honorable Mention: Rick and Morty (season 3): Shout out to Review as well, which was excellent but just had to few episodes for me to really count it. In terms of Rick and Morty it was often in the news (or at least the twitter news) for the wrong reasons this year as a group of its fans decided to act like complete dickheads for a period of time. All of which deflected from the fact it had its best season ever. I’ve always had issues with the show and basically how pro-Rick and his asshole behavior Harmon and co seem to be and this year didn’t necessarily dissuade me of that but on a week to week basis it was crafting, ambitious and well thought out stories, at a rate the show had never before.

No 20: Fargo (season 3): As many observed this was not Fargo’s finest year and it maybe took a while to get going. It is also the case that 3 seasons in it is tougher for a show as idiosyncratic as this one to surprise us. When a seemingly major character dies in episode 1 it is less of a shock than it should be because that is what happened in season 1. Yet at the same time I so enjoyed this season and the performances by the likes of Carrie Coon (more on her later), Ewan MacGregor and David Thewlis and you still had episodes as excellent as The Law of Non-Contradiction.

No 19) Veep (season 6): Similar to Fargo this was a just slightly below average year for Veep, but even then the quality of the ensemble is so far above any other comedy out there and the quality of the writing/jokes/insults is again just of the highest order. There are few shows I enjoy more than Veep.

No 18) Master of None (Season 2): In my review I did write about how aspects of MON did frustrate me. For it’s social awareness, it is a show that wants me to desperately feel sorry for the man with seemingly the nicest/most privileged life in the world. The extent to which the show is essentially lifestyle porn at times can be a problem and the extent to which the show never questions Dev’s actions can also be a little off-putting. Yet having said that the good outweighs the bad and then some. The show crafts so many beautiful fully realized episodes and months after watching it is episodes like Thanksgiving that stick with me, more than the show’s flaws.

No 17) The Young Pope (Season 1): I’m not sure I get The Young Pope. I love it but I’m not sure I get it. Even in this age of weird TV there is something truly odd about this show. So difficult to write about because it does not conform to any conventions or labels and that’s why it makes this list. Having said all of this I’m not quite sure the show ever hit the heights of its pilot (even if it remained excellent throughout) and that’s why it is not a little bit higher.

No 16) Brockmire (Season 1): Brockmire is exactly the sort of gem that can get lost in this golden age, but for those few of us who did see it we know that it was one of the most raucous, hilarious and endearing comedies out there. I don’t know or care about baseball at all but I do love Brockmire and can’t wait til it comes back.

No 15) Brooklyn Nine Nine (season 4/5): Just as Brockmire can get lost in a sea of amazing shows, B99 is the sort of show that you can take for granted so easily but 5 seasons in and it is still full of heart and brilliant gags. More than that though this year on a couple of occasions we saw the show break-out of its comfort zone with episodes about Terry being racially profiled and more recently Rosa coming out to her less than progressive parents. Those episodes showcased a different side of the show and demonstrated how B99 is not just a great sitcom but an important one. Nine Nine!

No 14) Preacher (Season 2): Parts of season 2 of Preacher were as good as anything on TV. The opening scenes of the first two episodes, as well as standout episode Sokosha plus a whole host of other moments, showed how Preacher could execute some of the most ambitious TV out there to near perfection. It was not all perfect and the season might have benefited from being 10 episode long rather than 12 but nonetheless I love this show and it seems to only go in one direction. Bring on season 3.

No 13) GLOW (Season 1): GLOW was sort of the perfect summer show. It was funny and likable and so binge-able. Netflix makes a lot of deeply serialized shows, designed to be consumed in one sitting so as you find out what happens next. Glow was not that. What GLOW was, was a show that quickly established an ensemble of distinct and interesting characters who you wanted to spend time with and for that it was a standout show.

No 12) Better Call Saul (Season 3): It pains me to put BCS at number 12, in any other year this could be a contender for my number 1 spot but here it does quite make the top ten. Part of the reason why it is a little lower than you might have excepted is that at this stage I don’t have to tell anyone how good this show is. Into it’s third season and BCS was possibly better than ever. Certainly episodes like the chilling Lantern and in particular Chicanery mark series high points and some of the finest TV I’ve seen all year.

No 11) American Vandal (Season 1): American Vandal is a curious show. It is ostensibly a parody, yet by the time you finish it you look back and think that was funny but not funny enough to be making this list necessarily. What it was though was the most engrossing show of the year. And it all centred on the question “who drew the dicks?” Yet for the silliness of the premise I could not have been more intrigued. AV found new ground for the most tired of sub-genres, the mockumentary and in the process delivered an absurd but in many ways tragic story of a stupid but well meaning kid in high school whose life goes array for reasons that have little to do with him. Defining the pleasures of the show may not be straight, but boy was it insanely watchable-the Netflix model at its best.

No 10 )Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt (Season 3): Similar to B99, UKS is the sort of consistent joke machine that you can take for granted, and that many have, but for me this year there were few shows enjoyed nearly as much as it. I thought the show delivered its best season. The work of Ellie Kemper and in particular Titus Burgess can match any comedic performers on TV. Again though amidst all the laughs is a very human character study piece of an abuse victim and maybe where the show’s genius thoroughly lies is in the way the show balances these two sides of itself.

No 9) Crazy Ex-Girlfriend (Seasons 2/3): Rachel Bloom’s musical comedy/drama goes from strength to strength. Like many shows of this list it perfectly balances cartoonish sensibilities with discussions on mental health and never more so than in the first half of season 3. In addition to that though are the musical numbers. At times I’m just in awe of how spot on and clever their parodies, my favorite this year being “Let’s Generalize About Men” and for that it had to make my top ten.

No 8) Bojack Horseman (Season 4): In its 2nd and particularly 3rd seasons Bojack became a show that delivered some of the most outstanding individual episodes of television, possibly ever. Escape From LA, Fish Under Water and That’s Too Much Man are just incomparable half hours of TV. Season 4 did not deliver a single episode of quite that standard. What season 4 did do though is deliver quite possibly the show’s most consistent, revealing and hopefully season. Something we all needed at the end of the show’s previous season.

No 7) Catastrophe (Season 3): Okay it was only 6 episodes along, but I ask this question every year, is there a better written show on TV? There might be snappier dialogue out there, there might be more profound existential musings on some other show, but there is no show with more wonderfully naturalistic dialogue on now or possibly ever. Also there is not really a couple of TV I root for quite as much as Sharon and Rob and I really just want to watch the two of them on screen together as much as possible.Plus the final episode of season 3 was just the perfect send-off for Carrie Fisher and for that alone it deserves it place on my list.

No 6) Jane The Virgin (Season 3/4): Now four seasons in Jane the Virgin still has the power to surprise and hit me emotionally as much as just about any show on this list. I would go as far as to stay no episode of television this year hit me as hard as (spoilers) Michael’s death which was absolutely devestating. But when it comes to Jane the Virgin it is not just the big gut-punches that count, it is the smaller moments as well. The other scene that sticks with me most from its episodes this year is when Rogelio (often the show’s most comic presence) opens up to Xo about how he hasn’t been able to grieve properly for Michael, who was his best friend, because he knew he had to be strong for Jane while she was grieving. It is a comparatively small moment but every bit as resonant. I can take or leave all the intrigue concerning the Marbella but week after week the show delivers moments that really effect me, which even in this golden age can’t be said of too many show.

No 5) Twin Peaks (Season 3): It seems to me that Twin Peaks has either been number 1 or completely absent from every critics list. And I can understand both positions. Twin Peaks was fascinating in a way that television and art more generally rarely is. It was also incredibly and deliberately frustrating at times. I’m almost reluctant to point out how obviously frustrating parts of the revival were because I feel like I might be missing something. On the other hand because its Lynch and because he is a widely and rightly acknowledge genius I think some critics have been too forgiving of some pretty blatant narrative issues, that on another show they would have lambasted. Ultimately though it was the TV event of the year and nothing quite engaged me on a week to week basis like it did. More than anything though there were certain moments, particularly toward the end of the season, that were greater than anything else on TV this year. Moments I completely lost myself in, in ways that are quite difficult to explain and for that I won’t be forgetting the revival for a very long time.

No 4) Mr Robot (Season 3): If season 1 was clinically perfect, in a way no show since Breaking Bad has been, season 2 was an over-ambitious, definitely fascinating, mess. I was a bit of an apologist for the largely disliked second season-but even I was somewhat disappointed after the heights of season 1. Season 3 not only got the show back on track but it found a balance in the ensemble that neither season 1 (which was almost all Elliot) or season 2 (which felt like very little Elliot) had. It also starting making sense again and the show successfully battled the urge to be overly opaque or to have unnecessary twists. All of which meant that we got some of the show’s finest hours yet specifically the thrilling fifth and sixth episodes as well as the surprising and heart-warming eight hour, not to mention the finale which had a bit of everything. And for all its pessimism few shows made me happier this year, because I was so delighted to see this great show prove all the doubters wrong.

No 3) The Good Place (season 1/2): Michael Schur has secured himself a place in TV history with The Office, B99 and in particular Parks and Rec, already but with The Good Place he has gone one further. We all knew he could craft wonderfully funny and likable sitcoms, but here he has delivered a show as twisty and as engaged in huge philosophical issues as any prestige serialized drama. The Good Place is not necessarily a sad-com like many of the show’s on this list but it is possibly the most plot driven network sitcom ever. The thing is the plot has real stakes and is completely unpredictable as well. The huge twist at the end of season 1 showed that even in the age of Reddit you could pull out the rug from underneath your audience and I did not think that was possible. I don’t know how much longer they can continue it but as of now The Good Place is just about a perfect piece of television.

No 2) Halt and Catch Fire (Season 4): Without spoiling what is number 1 on my list, when it aired I thought nothing would come near it but Halt and Catch Fire came very very close. Back in its much derided first season Halt was a jukebox spitting one antihero cliche after another. In some ways it never strayed too far from the conventions of the antihero drama but what made it different was that at a certain point it just wasn’t about antiheroes. Sure all the characters were deeply flawed, none more so than Joe, but their constant strive for something more, for some kind of connection felt so human you could not help but love them. The final four episodes were TV drama at its best and when it ended I really struggled with the notion that I would not be spending more time with these characters, but if anything made it okay it was how well they stuck the landing. Speaking of which..

No 1) The Leftovers (Season 3): No show has ever made quite the impact in such a short space of time. The Leftovers conclude its mere 28 episode run this year, just 28 episodes yet about half of them are nothing short of masterpieces. That includes just about every episode in this final run. It’s tough in just a paragraph to breakdown what made The Leftovers such a transcendent piece of television-so to be glib I’ll say it took the ambition and phantasmagoria of Twin Peaks and combined it with the heart and focus on character of Halt and Catch Fire. LOST-one of my absolute favorite shows of all time-will define Lindelof’s career but The Leftovers is ultimately a more complete and mature piece of work. The writing, performances and direction coalesced to give us something often hilarious and surprising and always deeply powerful. There may never be a show like The Leftovers again and for those reasons it was always going to be my number 1.

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lazydaisygurl · 6 years

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Frasers. A Family.

I had some messy ideas about the apostle spoons from season 2 that Jamie gives Claire/Faith, and tied them together into this messy fanfic. This is my first attempt at fanfic. I am itching to put it somewhere - even if it never gets read by a single soul - so here it is. Also, theres a load of *book spoilers* in here so if your eyes are wandering over this, you have been warned. If someone is reading this, thank you, from the bottom of my wee heart.

I was brushing my hair after the day's work, taking account of our room as I did so, when my eyes found a box I knew wasn't there the night before… A box I thought I knew. I couldn’t recall how, or when I had last seen it, or what it held, or why I was so sure that I had seen it before, it looked so… familiar. I stopped my brushing, and that got Jamie's attention. Funny how marriage teaches you how much can be communicated through your partner's silence and stillness as much, if not more than their voice and actions. He stood up from the reading chair in the corner of our room and there was something odd in the look of his face, I couldn’t quite place the emotion it portrayed.

"We have Jenny to thank for yon wee box. She couldna bear the thought of leaving Scotland wi nothing.. Nothing to remember," he paused, and I could see how it pained him to know Scotland was behind him too, possibly forever, "but bringing something of Ian's hurt too much, so she packed this instead." My brain was catching up to what he was saying, the way he said it, and how his eyes changed from longing for a place to longing for a person. It was then that I knew what the box held.

A little uneasily, I opened the box, the crushed velvet still the brilliant maroon-magenta it was, like the color of a fresh picked radish, some parts lighter than others. The spoons shone in the candle light, bright brilliant silver as they has all those years ago. Apostle spoons, a christening gift for our first daughter. I put my glasses on and picked one up and instantly I was back in France - empty, and alone. I don’t know how long I stood there, not really there, feeling the pain France left me with, and the life France stole from me. I was brought back to the here and now when Jamie came close behind me, I could feel the heat of his body warming me, almost from the inside out. It was him who healed me, made me whole after, in our togetherness. He bent closer, his copper curls brushing my shoulder as he said, "Saint Peter," followed by his distinctive Scottish grunt, halfway between a laugh and an agreement. To what, I'm not sure. I made a mental note to ask him who bloody Saint Peter was, later though.

I turned to him to see that his slanted eyes were measuring my emotions, but also showing me some of his, and how it burdened him after all this time, too. "We wouldn't have Fergus, you know?" I whispered. "If we never went."

"Aye," his face broke slowly into a half smile, "Fergus."

"He still belongs with you… and with me," I meant it. Fergus was like a son to me, he had been from the day I first knew him.

"Aye, he does," Jamie spoke so softly I thought I imagined it. A time later he said, "and plenty o other folk."

I set the spoon back in its spot, and counted the rest. Eleven. There was still an indention in the velvet where the twelfth spoon should have been, like the box remembered its loss too. Number twelve never left our hearts, but it was physically not with us, much like the daughter of ours it represented. I took a deep breath, and he wrapped his arms around my waist. I pointed to the spoon I'd just put down and said "One for Bree," then pointed to the one next to it, "And one for Fergus."

He made that hmp noise again, and picked up where I left off "Marsali too eh?" nodding his chin at the third spoon.

"And Joan," I knew Jamie appreciated my recognition of his stepdaughter. Saying this brought on a twinge of… jealousy? To remember he was there for Joan in her younger years and not for Bree, I thought - no I knew - I was well over that, but the heart doesn’t forget easily.

That feeling quickly faded when Jamie said, "Rodger Mac," with a very distinct tone of longing for his son in law, they were more like friends, companions bound by horrific experiences, happy ones too. He was a son to the both of us.

I thought for a bit, staring at spoon number six, swaying in his arms, "Willie," I said, and it came out as more of an exhale than a word, but he heard me just fine. His son, my stepson at one brief point in my life, I guess that still applied. I turned my head to the side to look at him, and the love was so clear in his eyes.

He squeezed me tighter for a beat, "Well Sassenach, that’s an awful lot of barins. Recon we should add wee Ian to yon list." Ian, who left home to find adventure with Jamie. Ian, who sacrificed himself to Indians for the sake of Rodger. Ian, who we watched grow into the man he is today, all Scot under his tribal tattoos. He belonged with us too.

"Yes, Ian and Rachel," I could feel him nodding in agreement as I was thinking of the lesson I had given Rachel on martial activities. "Oh and Dottie!" She was the one who asked for the lesson after all. Sometime before their weddings, neither Rachel nor Dottie had their mothers with them - one dead and the other a sea away - so that left me to educate them on human sexuality. Since then, a kinship bloomed between us, the female kind of friendship where being shy is not a thing and seeking advice was common, in things to do with men and otherwise. Yes. I was a sort of mother to them - however unholy.

"Ye think so?" Jamie's eyebrows were pulled together in question at the mention of Dottie, "Well, she did learn a great lot from ye in the army tents, and I'm rather fond of a lassie who isna afraid to ask questions." And questions she asked.

He looked a little uneasy before he murmmered the last name I expected him to, "Malva Christie… Another lass unafraid to learn about yer wee herbs and knives."

"I- I… Suppose so," I was startled that he would even consider her, but began remembering her eagerness to learn, and help, and listen to me work. Yes. Malva Christie was a student of mine, a lost soul but she had no living mother in the time that I knew her. So that made her mine. And what is mine is Jamie's. It touched me that Jamie could see how much I had enjoyed Malva, and that he didn't let the messy end to her life and subsequent reprocussions of it on our lives get in the way of recognizing my relationship with her. "Okay, that makes eleven."

Hmp. "Denny," Jamie said with finality, "he saved your life Mo chridhe, without him ye wouldna be here, and I think ye taught him a bit in the way of healing, no?"

My heart was so full I thought it might pop. "Yes, Denny will do." He was the first doctor I had come across in this time that I would trust with my life - and I had to, I did. In him, I found a colleague who I rather enjoyed surprising with my creative ways at medicine. He always listened, and trusted me, even when I told him to pack my surgical wound with cheese. There was a boyish aura to him, and in being a sort of teacher to him, I could see how I would be a maternal figure to him.

"Well Sassenach," Jamie said while turning me to face him, "That makes twelve. They may no all have my blood, but they have me. My protection, a place to stay on a cold night, what's left o my riches, someone to listen, someone to help…"

"They have your love," I placed my hand over his heart, stopping his monologue. It was true.

"Aye, and yours," Jamie put his hand over my heart. He leaned close so that our foreheads touched. "We have a family Claire, we built this, ye ken?" there was a glow to him, to know that twelve people, at some point in their lives looked to Jamie as their father figure, or to me as a mother. The part of him that yearned to be a father for so many years felt fulfilled, I knew that to be true.

I kissed him, wordlessly thanking him for making a family with me, for me. I had never dreamed of a life like this - so full of people I cared for, so full of people that were… Mine. Ours. I was still kissing him, and smiled into the kiss as I felt rather than heard a hum deep in his throat. I pulled away, grinning into the face of the man that gave me so much.

"Family. I like the sound of that," I really did. "But you know I'd be happy with just you."

"Good thing Sassenach," he spoke into my ear, grazed it with his teeth, then kissed his way to the knot at the top of my shift, "as its just the two of us tonight."

The two of us became one, for the three hundred thousandth time in my life. Or so it felt that way. When we were done, he rolled us sideways so that we faced each other laying on the bed, my legs still wrapped around him, and he still inside of me. I didn't mind when he did this, but he usually only did so when he needed some sort of emotional balm. I stroked his back, the scars that marked him, the weight of him was so heavy on my leg under him, but I wasn't about to complain. He kissed me while we were still connected, still one, and held me for some time before slipping out and rolling onto his back. I laid on my back too and was rubbing my leg, trying to get some life back into it.

I could feel the pins and needles sensation slowly fading with the free rush of blood through my veins as Jamie asked, "Sassenach?"

"Mmm?" I shifted onto my side, propped up on my elbow to get a better look at him.

"Ye think we can still do… er.. Hmp," his ears were pink, and the flush was creeping over his chest and face as well. My mind went to the more elaborate Karma Sutra positions we had - in our younger years - been able to do, but age changes things, and there were a few that didn’t feel quite right anymore. But I was certain he was sated from our roll in the sheets just minutes ago, I could feel his seed slick between thighs. So no, he probably wasn't asking if we could try an old trick again. He cleared his throat before asking, "Do ye think we can still be like this… that we can… lie wi each other when we go to heaven?"

I thought for a moment, of Jesus H Roosevelt Christ and his take on the marital bed. It floored me that Jamie could still be so innocent, so pure. I took at shot at levity, "I think that we should be allowed to. If not, the, er… Other place sounds just as nice."

He laughed first, and I quickly joined. "I would follow ye to Judas himself, mo chridhe, so long as I could still fill ye with my cock, and hear yer wee noises. I can take ye to the edge, fling you over it and to see ye so bonnie and open to me and me alone… I dinna ken why but to see you so, to know that it was me who made you so, it makes everything better. Nothing hurts when I'm loving ye."

Not a bad way to live for eternity, I thought. He pulled me closer, my head now on his chest and his buried in my hair. We laid there in silence for a while, hands lazily exploring, then I remembered Saint Peter "Remind me again who Saint Peter was?"

"Mhm. Patron of fishermen." Thoughtfully he added, "he is no known for that ye ken, but for what the Lord asked him, O ye of little faith, why did you doubt?" My heart squeezed. "Ye doubted ye could have any barins at all Sassenach… and look at ye now, twelve of yer own."

"Twelve of our own."

#jamieclaire #outlander #outlander fanfic #jamie fraser #s x c #jamie fanfic #claire fanfic #sassenach fanfic #sassenach #welp here it is

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gadgetgirl71 · 3 years

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Top Ten Tuesday 23 February 2021

Welcome to this weeks Top Ten Tuesday. Originally created by The Broke & The Bookish, which is now hosted by Jana @ That Artsy Reader Girl. Each week it features a book or literary themed category. This weeks prompt is:

Books That Made Me Laugh Out Loud

(Claire @ Book Lovers Pizza)

Rachel’s Holiday

Synopsis: Here’s Rachel Walsh, twenty-seven and the miserable owner of size 8 feet. She has regular congress with Luke Costello, a man who wears his leather trousers tight. And she’s fond – some might say too fond – of recreational drugs. Until she finds herself being frogmarched to the Cloisters – Dublin’s answer to the Betty Ford Clinic. She’s outraged. Surely she’s not thin enough to be an addict? Heartsick and Luke-sick, she seeks redemption in the shape of Chris, a Man with a Past. A man who might be more trouble than he’s worth.

Can You Keep a Secret?

Synopsis: Emma is like every girl in the world. She has a few little secrets.

Secrets from her mother: 1. I lost my virginity in the spare bedroom to Danny Nussbaum while Mum and Dad were downstairs watching Ben Hur.

…From her boyfriend: 2. I’m a size twelve. Not a size eight, like Connor thinks. 3. I’ve always thought Connor looks a bit like Ken. As in Barbie and Ken.

…From her colleagues: 4. When Artemis really annoys me, I feed her plant orange juice. (Which is pretty much every day) 5. It was me who jammed the copier that time. In fact, all the times.

…Secrets she wouldn’t share with anyone in the world: 6. My G string is hurting me. 7. I faked my Maths GCSE grade on my CV. 8. I have no idea what NATO stands for. Or even what it is…

…until she spills them all to a stranger on a plane. At least, she thought he was a stranger…

Get You Kit Off

Synopsis: Formerly Sex, Lies & Llamas From the author of the Number 1 bestseller – No Bra Required & Guess Who I Pulled Last Night? I’ve read Nikki’s previous books and loved them so I was expecting great things from her again. Guess what? She’s delivered!! The combination of humour, thrills and classic girl might- or might not-get her man is a real winner. If chick-lit is your thing Nikki is the author you need to read. Just brilliant!! – Amazon Reviewer WOW!! I loved this book. I have to be honest and say I put off reading it after I’d bought it, I loved the other 2 books by this author but football is not my thing and I thought the football theme running through it may have spoilt it for me … how wrong was I !! I can’t recommend this book or this author highly enough, I couldn’t put my Kindle down – can’t wait for more stuff from Nikki Ashton!!! – Amazon Reviewer Molly Pearson doesn’t have children, but as the Player Liaison Manager for a premiership football club, she does have twenty-two professional footballers and one jealous fiance to take care of – which as far as she can see is quite similar. With having to deal with problems from players buying zoo animals as pets, to losing their false teeth and a whole lot more, Molly can’t wait for the season to end. But, her life becomes even more complicated, when the man who broke her heart six years earlier, comes back into her life. Hail the returning hero, Joe Bennett, now one of the best footballers in the world and the club’s most expensive signing. Every woman wants him, every man wants to be him, and he’s returned for one reason only – he wants Molly back. With engaging characters, Sex, Lies & Llamas, is a humorous, yet sometimes sad romance depicting the difficulty in always doing the right thing, especially when love is involved.

Someone Else’s Fairytale

Synopsis: Jason Vanderholt, Hollywood’s hottest actor, falls head over heels for every girl, Chloe Winters, who hasn’t gotten around to watching most of his movies. It’s the ideal fairytale… for most people. The last thing Chloe needs is public attention. It brings back dangers from the past that she’s worked her whole life to escape.

The Single Girl’s To-Do List

Synopsis: Rachel Summers loves a to-do list: • Boyfriend • Flat • Great job

NOT on the list: • Being dumped

Best friends Emelie and Matthew ride to her rescue with an entirely new kind of list – The Single Girl’s To-Do List. Rachel doesn’t know it, but it will take her on all kinds of wild adventures – and get her in some romantic pickles too. And then it won’t be a case of what but who she decides to tick off…

• Mr. bendy yoga instructor • Mr. teenage sweetheart • Mr. persistent ex • Mr. deeply unsuitable

The Single Girl’s To-Do List gives Rachel the perfect heartbreak cure – and proves love is out there if you’re willing to take a chance.

Wedding Tiers

Synopsis: The path of true love never runs smooth. But for some, it’s one seriously bumpy ride! A heartwarming new romantic comedy from the bestselling author of A WINTER’S TALE. Growing up in the beautiful Lancashire village of Neatslake, Josie Gray and her childhood sweetheart, Ben Richards, always dreamt of living a life of rural bliss. And when Josie inherits her beloved Grandmother’s cottage, it seems they might just have got what they wished for. Josie throws herself into her wedding cake business, whilst Ben gains increasing acclaim as an artist. But the tranquil village turns into a hive of activity when Josie’s childhood friend, Libby Martin – now a wealthy widow – returns to the village, planning a lavish wedding to rival any celeb bash. The day goes with a bang, and soon Libby and Josie are hard at work at their fledgling wedding business, hiring out Libby’s beautiful Elizabethan home for ceremonies, with Josie creating all manner of wonderful cakes. But amidst all this romance, Josie’s fairytale relationship with Ben turns into a nightmare, and she quickly becomes Love’s number one cynic – until charming wedding photographer Noah Sephton arrives in Neatslake with a very different outlook on love! Can this hopeless romantic persuade pessimistic Josie to give romance another try? Or will it be a case of always the cake maker, never the bride!? A charming, witty and feelgood novel, ideal for fans of Katie Fforde and Harriet Evans.

The Bette Davis Club

Synopsis: The morning of her niece’s wedding, Margo Just drinks a double martini and contemplates the many mistakes she’s made in her fifty-odd years of life. Spending three decades in love with a wonderful but unattainable man is pretty high up on her list of missteps, as is a long line of unsuccessful love affairs accompanied by a seemingly endless supply of delicious cocktails.

When the young bride flees—taking with her a family heirloom and leaving behind six hundred bewildered guests—her mother offers Margo fifty grand to retrieve her spoiled brat of a daughter and the invaluable property she stole. So, together with the bride’s jilted and justifiably crabby fiancé, Margo sets out in a borrowed 1955 red MG on a cross-country chase. Along the way, none of what she discovers will be quite what she expected. But it might be exactly what she’s been seeking all along.

From acclaimed humor writer Jane Lotter comes this madcap, laugh-out-loud adventure, The Bette Davis Club.

Revised edition: This edition of The Bette Davis Club includes editorial revisions.

13 Dates

Synopsis: When Noah Wilson first encounters the quirky, opinionated and very beautiful Angel Fallon, his world is turned upside down. It’s clear she’s not his normal type, but Noah can’t stop thinking about her—which doesn’t bode well for the blind date he’s already late for.

Convinced by his friend (and self-professed dating expert) Marlon that thirteen dates is all you need to fall in love, Noah decides to give it a try with Angel. They should be incompatible: she’s impulsive and he’s a planner; he wants to settle down and she doesn’t ‘do’ relationships—or anything, for that matter—the way Noah is used to. But there’s something about Angel, and Noah can’t shake the idea that all they need is twelve more dates.

Despite some near-disasters involving rock climbing, saddle sores and jellied eels, it seems his plan may actually work. But even if they do reach the magic number, can that really mean they’ll just fall into their happily-ever-after?

The Shelf

Synopsis: Everyone in Amy’s life seems to be getting married (or so Instagram tells her), and she feels like she’s falling behind.

So, when her boyfriend surprises her with a dream holiday to a mystery destination, she thinks this is it – he’s going to finally pop the Big Question. But the dream turns into a nightmare when she finds herself on the set of a Big Brother-style reality television show, The Shelf.

Along with five other women, Amy is dumped live on TV and must compete in a series of humiliating and obnoxious tasks in the hope of being crowned ‘The Keeper’. Will Amy’s time on the show make her realise there are worse things in life than being left on the shelf?

A funny, feminist and all-too-relatable novel about our obsession with coupling up, settling down and the battle we all have with accepting ourselves, The Shelf introduces the freshest new voice in women’s fiction.

The Wish List

Synopsis: Be careful what you wish for… Florence Fairfax isn’t lonely. She loves her job at the little bookshop in Chelsea and her cat, Marmalade, keeps her company at night. But everything changes when her stepsister, Mia, announces that she’s engaged to her boring golf-playing boyfriend. That’s when Florence meets Irish love coach, Gwendolyn. …because you just might get it! When Gwendolyn makes Florence write a wish list describing her perfect man, Florence refuses to take it seriously. Finding someone who likes cats, doesn’t wear pointy shoes and can overlook her ‘counting habit’? Impossible! Until, later that week, a handsome blond man asks for help in the bookshop… But is Rory the one, or is he simply too good to be true? Florence is about to find out that her criteria for finding Mr Right aren’t as important as she thought – and that perhaps her perfect man has been right there all along…

Until next week.

#JustForFun, #Top Ten Tuesday, #TopTenTuesday, #TTT

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