#and like izzy didn’t necessarily *want* to die

[marsixm]

big spoiler cw for the finale- i understand why a lot of people didnt feel like it made sense for how ed was acting during izzy’s death scene, like it didn’t feel earned or whatever bc they’d been at odds w each other since last season, but for me, and understand i’m not saying my personal experience making it make sense for me is trying to give undue writing cred or whatever, but i had a very difficult relationship with my very transphobic/bigoted mother. she made my life a nightmare a lot of the time. but i had to care for her in death. i had to watch her die for months. it was a waking nightmare, and it had a profound effect on me. it was complicated. it made my relationship to my memory of her very complicated. (and even if it hadnt been a months long ordeal i was caught in the middle of i’d probably still feel similarly) and that’s how ed dealing with izzy’s death feels to me. just like him having to kill his father, it was the right thing to do, but it still left him with difficult emotions. when ed says “you’re the only family i’ve got left” to izzy, after all the bullshit they put each other through, i get it.

#death cw #ofmd spoilers #also so i dont make multiple spoilery posts #i do also get why it feels weird to have him die after all that growth #but everyone grew and changed all season #and someone going away doesnt change that- ie look at buttons. he’s gone but it’s not negative #and like izzy didn’t necessarily *want* to die #but him dying a pirate’s death. on the ship. with the crew. injured in a scheme against the english. it was a better way for him to go #than being killed by ed while he was at his lowest #bc he’s right blackbeard was ed AND him. so blackbeard cant kill izzy. and izzy cant kill ed. bc ultimately neither of them would kill #*themselves. #also i liked the set up of him telling the prince that speech. saying it doesnt matter if we live or die. because piracy will live forever #it means when the prince shoots him it doesnt feel like a victory for the prince. he doesnt get to win that easily #also the prince character is fascinating as a foil for stede bc stede was also betrayed and injured by pirates #and even went home #but when he went back to normal life he told stories about how great pirates are. not try to kill them all #anyway thats my little thought for right now #and like i say im not giving undue writing cred but also id be surprised if this wasnt an experience ppl making the show- at least someone- #wasnt considering when they wrote this. like they have an established complex history that a couple months of fighting isnt gonna erase

[deramin2]

Izzy the Leather Daddy: Queering the Father Figure Lens

In Vanity Fair’s interview with David Jenkins, he says, “We felt like Izzy’s story had reached its conclusion, where we put him through enough. And then there was the realization that he is kind of a mentor to Blackbeard and that he is kind of a father figure to Blackbeard. It felt nice to have him die and have Blackbeard be upset by it, because Blackbeard killed his father. But this is a father figure that he’s losing that it’s hard for him; it's sad and he doesn't want him to go. Izzy has such a beautiful arc in season two; he does a lot of the things, has a lot of the breakthroughs that you want that character to have. It felt like: It’s time to give him a full meal. And it’s also a pirate show, so he’s got to die.”

That’s been taken to be in a very child-like way, but that's not the only type of daddy in queer culture. Let’s examine Izzy as Ed's leather daddy figure. A kink dynamic sense of a masculine authority figure with a tough and painful love and a man who wants to be driven to greatness by submission. Not necessarily sexually, though that was always possible, but a sort of roleplay dynamic they fell into that satisfied them. Their costumes are literally leather daddy kink subculture.

Ed does have daddy issues. He rejected his own father and his abuses with violence, but we also see that left a void. He’s sought out other older masculine authority figures who promised a sort of found family, but they’ve always been just as toxic and abusive as his own father. Like Hornigold who glorified toxic masculinity and twisted Ed into needing to create the Blackbeard persona to survive. Where the abuse of Hornigolds authority begat a brotherhood beteen those who survived it like Calico Jack (and many didn’t like Felix). Even pop-pop the fisherman treated Ed with violence and reproach when he clumsily sought to reform himself into a calmer life. The men he’s looked up to have treated him as inherently worthless unless he can prove his worth. They’ve fed his self-hatred to fuel ambition.

Izzy viewed the Blackbeard persona as a revered golden child it was an honor to serve under. Even when Ed made a mess of things, Izzy saw him as worthwhile cleaning up after and protecting. He pushed and challenged Ed to further greatness and while there was still a violence to it, Ed could feel like he was finally living up to an authoritative man’s respect.

Izzy pushed Ed to keep being Blackbeard too long and it had become an unhealthy dynamic. There are also tones of Izzy being like a toxic manager who pushes a rock star too far to secure his own place. They’re both dependent on each other, using each other, and are bonded by having been to hell and back together.

Stede offered Ed a new role to play. We saw that with the clothes swapping right from the start. Stede is also assertive and dominant but in a gentler way. Ed and Stede both started reshaping each other for new roles. And then Stede paniced and abandoned him like every other man he’s sought approval from.

This pushes Ed further into Izzy’s construction where Ed plays the monster in charge that Izzy wanted him to be. But it’s goes off the rails this time. The monster that comes out is The Kraken with Izzy cast as Ed’s father. Blackbeard nearly kills Izzy and leaves him forever changed. Izzy has to rebuild himself from the ruins Ed left him in emotionally and physically. This dynamic and role for Izzy is dead.

And with the death of that role, Izzy feels like he must die. He doesn’t see any place for himself in life disabled and fallen from Ed’s favor. He begs for it. He feels like being kept alive is a cruelty and doesn’t understand why the crew won’t let him go. He only survives Ed handing him the means for suicide by chance. He stays drunk as he heals to not feel.

But the crew love who he could be (if not who he’s been), and encourage him to make a new place and take on a new role. They make him a new leg out of the damaged ship and encourage him to be a unicorn, a legendary beast of his own (one whose arrival foretells death in some stories). It’s drag mother Wee John who gives Izzy another sense of himself by giving him a Look and a new role.

He watches Ed toss his leathers overboard and the next time they speak tells Ed to listen to it and find himself. Meanwhile Izzy grapples with who he is now. He tells Stede that he’s good for Ed, but also reminds him that when Izzy said he loved Ed, Ed shot him. Izzy’s really passing on the role here. He was Ed’s partner in these scenes but it’s not healthy and it needs to be Stede and his gentler ways, now. Izzy’s figured out that’s not his place anymore. I think he’s grappling with what that place is.

Talking to Banes, Izzy evokes the same sense of community among pirate crews that have drawn queer people together for centuries through good and bad. The sort of dynamics so present in queer theater and then films like The Boys in the Band (1968, 1970, 2020) and Love! Valour! Compassion! (1995, 1997), and Fire Island (2022). Groups that are bound as much by the ways they have been hurt and hurt each other as the ways they love each other. But always push each other to be better and they will always take care of each other in meaningful ways. They’re a family and they can nurture each other. They don’t need a tough love violent daddy keeping them in line. And in a sense it’s here that Izzy makes the leap Michael from The Boys in the Band or John Jeckyll from Love! Valour! Compassion! never could: he changed before it was too late, and everyone mourned him.

In the end Izzy represents everything that drove Ed to be Blackbeard. He was Ed’s mentor for that life. He represents the old guard of piracy and their toxic ways, and even though he’s unlearning them as a character, he’s also a symbol of all that. He ends up the only casualty in a raid Ed thought was a suicide mission. Stede’s way wins the day, but at the literal and symbolic cost of Izzy’s. The death of the mentor signifies the end of what they can teach you and the hero’s call to be your own person. In a way that honors the master but puts its own path, with the student eventually returning as a new teacher.

Queer media is often very cyclical. In season 1 Ed’s wheel of fate started high and crashed down. This season it’s been dragged through the mud with the weight of the world on it. Izzy is ultimately crushed under that wheel. But he looks up seeing Ed rising again into a new cycle unlike anything he’s had before. A cycle Izzy never quite achieved, but made peace with. And so he tells Ed to go and be happy and live. The best revenge on Banes he could get is to live and die free surrounded by love and loyalty.

In queer media you often see characters who are facing death become a sort of mentor figure. Setting their affairs in order and finishing their business, they end up trying to answer what was worth living for. Buzz Hauser and James Jeckyll in Love! Valour! Compassion! or Andrew Beckett  in Philadelphia (1993) or Kit Cowan in Spoiler Alert (2022). Queer media has such a rich legacy of stories where death is not a punishment but the great reckoning with oblivion we all face. The constant companion we all walk hand in hand with not knowing when it will yank us away. For people with dangerous lives often too soon. The construct of a good death where you’ve finished your business, learned your lessons, and said everything that needed to be said. Where maybe there was so much more to live for, but at least you got closure.

He was mourned by people who often see their community through funerals burying their friends. With shock and familiarity and holding themselves together because it will not help right now to fall apart. They honor what made him him in life, and their complicated relationship like Roach getting one more middle finger in with a sad smile before passing Izzy’s grave marker along. His memory passed between all of them. Spoken of both lovingly and honestly of his faults. Because he’s all of it. His beauty was in his fullness. And he outlasted many other pirates they’ve sailed with that lived just as hard.

Izzy represents the stakes they’re facing that they’ve miraculously been lucky enough to dodge at the last moment. Like Ivan’s off-screen death and many unnamed crew members, he represents how deadly this profession is. Izzy was always afraid Stede was going to get him killed, and he was right. But it was a heroic death for a greater cause instead of for ruthless plunder. Izzy came to believe in the pirates as a revolution, not just in varying stages of fucking each other over. And in that way carries on queer media traditions of a meaningful death as revolutionary.

#our flag means death #our flag means death spoilers #our flag means death meta #our flag means death season 2 #izzy hands #edward teach

[neurosiscocktail]

Finale Spoilers ahead-

Processing a lot of emotions about the season finale, and I unfortunately just didn’t like a lot of aspects about it. A lot of which is about Izzy’s death, but some of it is about Ed and Stede, and some of it is about the lack of resolution.

Izzy’s death really felt like the “we ‘redeemed’ the antagonist and now we don’t know what to do with his character so we give him a gut wrenching death” troupe. That may not have been the intent, because the writers of this show are great, and because they’re great I really expected someone to say “hey does this feel like we’re writing a troupe that hasn’t been meaningful since 1980” and no one did.

I really don’t feel like Izzy’s death was necessary or even necessarily meaningful. That being said, I’m not really that upset that he died beyond he was my favorite character and that is a bummer and a half. It has more to do with the situation-

1) why do muppet rules apply to everyone but Izzy? Like, yeah the “he’s the only real human in a show full of muppets” joke is funny, but Ed got bludgeoned with a cannonball and he is completely fine. Several members of the crew have survived and recovered from cartoonish injuries, but a gunshot wound takes out Izzy?

2) There was plenty of time in that scene for Izzy to get out of the way. Or take out the prince with him. I don’t really like the take that he didn’t because he was resigned or wanted to die. I feel like it takes away from the episodes we just had of him finding his place in the crew. Maybe that’s what the writers were going for, but it doesn’t sit right with me.

3) his death speech didn’t add much for me. There’s a saying that funerals are for the living, not the dead and in media I think death speeches often reflect that. They’re not usually about the person dying, but instead it’s about giving something to the protagonist. I don’t really think it did that. It felt like Izzy continued to take accountability for both his and Ed’s actions, which doesn’t actually help Ed grow from what happened. The speech pulled at my heart strings and I think I’m a lot of ways that had more to do with Con and Taika being phenomenal actors than it did with the writing itself.

4) his death speech kind of was rendered meaningless and doesn’t really add anything to the story. He uses his dying words to tell Ed that he can move on because he has a new family that loves him and then Ed and Stede stay on shore totally alone, so either Ed didn’t hear him, or what he said doesn’t have any relevance to protagonist decision and again, not my favorite writing choice.

5) Some people have brought up a very good point that if you stick with a popular interpretation of season 1, that Izzy was a representation of Ed’s old life and that the first season was about Ed needing to choose between the relative safety of Izzy- brutal, emotionally devastating Blackbeard or the unknown that is Stede- the chance for love, trying something new, etc, then it makes sense that Izzy had to die for that to happen. For Ed to really move on. However, and don’t get me wrong, I love my toxic codependent pirates, burying Izzy on land and then living on that land doesn’t really feel like letting go to me. It feels like an extension of their codependency

6) budget cuts meant less episodes. Which is a bummer and not the writers fault. However, it kind of felt like instead of cutting things they wanted to include, they tried to speed run a 10 episode season into 8 and the pacing felt very off.

7) I am including what I personally disliked here. Everything above was sort of issues I had with narration and writing, and this point is just kind of complaining about stuff I personally don’t like in writing. I am so tired of watching shows where they kill off queer characters who have a difficult time with self acceptance and opening themself up to love. I see it so often and find it exhausting. The death was painful and on purpose to be painful. His arc didn’t have to end with him dying. No one else’s , except arguably Buttons, did. And that doesn’t mean he NEEDED to live either, but it felt less like “this is what is best for Izzy’s arc” and more like “this will hurt the audience immensely and we want the finale to pack a big emotional punch” and to me that’s just… not a good enough reason. I know a lot of people don’t feel that way, and arguably the point of writing is to make your audience feel something, but it felt like it was there specifically to garner an emotional response, rather than any real necessity to the story. And I think I feel more strongly about it because again, whether intentional or not, I hate the killing your redeemed antagonists troupe. I guess they did succeed in making me feel something, so if the writers view that as the point of writing, they did what they meant to do and that’s a well written ending. To me, while Izzy’s death didn’t make a bad story out of his arc, I would argue it prevented it from being a great one and that’s kind of a bummer. I also think I unintentionally set the bar higher for the OFMD writers because they have shown better, and that may not be fair.

All that being said, I overall really enjoyed this season, and will watch season 3 if they get a third season. My opinions might change on my third, fourth, or fifth watch when I’m not feeling a lot of emotions about it. I think everyone should be kind to each other, the writers, and the actors in the show. I think sometimes we forget that when something like a season finale is polarizing.

#izzy hands #our flag means death #spoilers #ofmd spoilers #ofmd season 2 #edward teach #stede bonnet #israel hands #ofmd

[aith-art]

Yeehawgust 2023 - Day 7

Tall Handsome Stranger

“Hey, Jules. I hate to break this calm you’ve suddenly found. But we’ve got company.” Izzy’s voice was fraught with worry. His hand moving towards the echo device in his bag, hoping to digistruct a weapon. 

Jules surveyed their surroundings. A hand resting on the engraved 9mm on their hip. They knew there was no point using the sniper on their back if they were already caught. For a moment she saw nothing, and then from the bridge at the 188, a glint of a sniper's scope. The crunch of footsteps from behind them. Two sets. Moving steadily towards Jules and Izzy. Jules pulled out her pistol, and made it clear that they were placing it on the floor, followed by their Anti-Material Rifle and then a grenade Rifle. Izzy followed suit and placed his echo on the ground with the weapons. 

“We’re really gonna just surrender? We haven’t even tried fighting.” Izzy horsley whispered to Jules as the strangers footsteps came to a stop. Jules continued to face the trading stop, wanting to face the potential of death head on. Though they doubted that those who had captured them would kill them. The strangers’ tactics were too well thought out to be Vipers, or Feinds. A sniper was never the Legion's way to assassinate. These people could have been NCR, but Jules suspected they were bounty hunters. Which came with implications Jules didn’t necessarily agree with. 

Izzy, who had extensive experience working with, around, and against, bounty hunters had drawn the same conclusion. 

“Jules?” The stranger's voice was gentle, deep with hints of gravel from extensive desert travel, but it spoke their name like it was a delicate butterfly that they didn’t want to hurt. Slowly, Jules turned towards the stranger. Challenging the strangers soft look with one of cold, hard, taught resolve. 

Jules ignored his companions, challenging the one who had said their name. He was tall. Not that it was difficult to seem tall to Jules’ 5 foot 3 ass. When she looked at his face, they looked into the eyes of the man from the poster. Dark hair pulled back beneath a tattered old cowboy hat, beard shorter than that depicted in the poster. Wearing his NCR riot armour, coat and all, he could easily be mistaken for a ranger. Above his eyes, he had a scar Jules recognized all too well. A scar that Jules herself had. The reminder of a reckless decision. A scar given to them by the very gun Jules had just dropped. A reinforcement that Jules was not in their world. This was not their Mojave, it was his. 

The stranger took a second to look over Jules, this Jules. They weren’t the person he had run with. She had died. He was certain of it. The Jules that stood before him was younger, slightly shorter. Their hair, a more wild and frizzy, but shorter, version of what he remembered. If it wasn’t for the shape of their face, and something in their eyes that screamed they’d been through hell and back, he would have thought they were a sibling to Jules. Their entire outfit was different. A long tattered trench coat, a vest top that revealed the top of an autopsy scar. Jeans that were ripped and repaired all over. But the bag, the bag was the same. Almost. It was missing a patch, the brotherhood insignia. The one thing his Jules swore to never remove. 

As the first stranger started to tear up, Jules turned their attention to his companions. Only to stare into the dumbfounded face of Arcade Gannon. Looking exactly like he did when Jules had last seen him at the fort. Blonde windswept hair kept short. The same white lab coat. The same glasses. The same man. Except this Arcade thought Jules had died. Had seen Jules die. 

A whirring a beeping from behind him consumed both Jules’ and Izzy’s attention. A mechanical sphere, bigger than one of their heads, though not by much. With attachments and rods sticking out of it. Patched up with pre war licence plates. Izzy was fascinated by the mechanics of the small robot. While Jules smiled, looking at her oldest companion. The eyebot didn’t seem excited to see them as it had done in the past. With the heavy realisation that this wasn’t her ED-E, Jules let herself tear up, though only slightly. 

For a long time, no one spoke. Izzy understood it was a moment of remorse for everyone around him, and so took a step back and silently observed the others. Still he questioned the capabilities of the small robot but left questions for later. He recognised the stranger from the poster. More handsome in person. But definitely the one credited with killing their companion. 

“Jules, it’s. It’s really you?” The stranger, Leroy, questioned as he stepped towards Jules. “I. It can’t be.”

“Cause you killed me?” Jules was blunt. They knew this wasn’t their world. But the anger at it all, at whatever cosmic joke it was that had dragged themselves and Izzy into this Mojave. That anger was building up within them again. Holding their intellect and rationality hostage and leaving Jules with nothing but that anger. 

“What?” Leroy wasn’t as quick witted as Jules, but he was perceptive. Pointing to the paper balled up in Jules’ hand he commented “You found one of my posters.” 

Jules stared at him. Stared like it was high noon in a western township. They didn’t break or falter, neither of them did. Leroy took a step towards Jules, Jules moved two paces back. Moved away from their guns. Perhaps their rational thought had returned. Though it’s equally as likely they hadn’t noticed. 

Leroy stopped. Lowered his head, accepted defeat. 

He knew this wasn’t his Jules. He knew she was dead. He wanted to understand what was going on. But if this Jules couldn’t trust him, he’d have to gain their trust. He turned to Arcade and ED-E, “Can one of you get Boone. Tell him we’re all good.” ED-E bounced up and down, as if nodding in confirmation, before zooming towards the 188 trading post. Leroy turned to Jules and Izzy (who he couldn’t help but thinked look completely out of place in the Mojave, though he couldn’t work out why) and tried to start the process of gaining their trust. “So all this has been weird. We’re gonna look at setting down a camp in one of the buildings just a ways up from here. Feel free to join us. I find it’s always safer to travel with a group.” 

Izzy answered for the pair, “That sounds like a plan, we could use a rest and a catch up on who, what, wheres, and whens of everything. I’m Izzy, by the way.” 

Jules nudged Izzy’s elbow, “Maybe you need the whats, wheres, and whens. I just need the whos.” And after a moment. “And I suppose a good rest wouldn’t be a miss.” they turned to Leroy. “I don’t trust you. I’m not about to start trusting you. But I need somewhere to sleep that isn’t sand. So lead the way. Oh and if you cross us, I will kill you.” 

Leroy blinked for a second, absorbing what Jules had just said before nodding, turning and walking in the direction of Camp McCarran. Jules and Izzy picked up and equipped their weapons and echo device before following after. With Arcade bringing up the rear, strangely silent about the current turn of events.

#fallout #fallout new vegas #jules courier 6 #courier six #fallout nv #new vegas #fallout oc #self insert #yeehawgust 2023 #yeehawgust #icarus borderlands #borderlands #leroy Clayton NCR courier #ncr oc #ncr ending

[sapphicdalliances]

i genuinely feel like The Whole Point of Jin Guangyao's demise is that it was not justice. in-universe, it did not actually come about because of any of his deeds that we the modern audience would consider the most heinous. Nie Huaisang plotted against him because he killed Nie Mingjue specifically, and… like, Mingjue explicitly and with pre-meditation tried to kill Jin Guangyao three separate times, with the novel (my preferred text source) heavily implying he only started playing the evil music after that third time. this could very reasonably be argued to be self-defense.

i’m not necessarily interested in re-litigating which of JGY’s worst acts were, which ones were justified, which ones he maybe didn’t do, which ones were okay because they were sexy, how unforgivable any of them are, etc, but i think we can all agree that if he simply avoided killing NMJ, his other deeds would not instantly become fine. so NMJ is not the golden snitch of fucked-upness in his repertoire. it is far from The Worst Thing He’s Done.

but it is the reason that NHS hunted him.

JGY’s punishment was not about justice on a moral scale, but on a personal scale. (this is a narratively valid reason to destroy someone, btw. JGY clearly did not kill his own father because his dad was a graceless abusive imperialist sex offender and war profiteerer who ordered the slaughter of dozens of innocents and ruined countless lives. he killed JGS because JGS insulted his mother. so while i sincerely believe that NHS wanted personal vengeance, with moral justice being relatively unimportant to him, that’s not at all meant to be a criticism of him.)

to further cement it, the final blow dealt against JGY was explicitly for a deed he did not do. narratively, it would have been SO EASY to write him making a last desperate attempt to run and getting caught on a sword, or lunging for some final hostage and missing. this would be completely in line with his behaviour leading up to that point: the author created COUNTLESS opportunities for some hero or another to run him through when he was actively scheming and manipulating. but she deliberately didn’t.

she deliberately made JGY, a person who had committed so many vile deeds that anyone in the jianghu could accept his execution as just, die an unjust death, slaughtered for something he didn’t do.

(do you think the characters cared that JGY had killed some nameless working women, btw? even LXC was more concerned about his scumbag father. that time he slaughtered an entire family of civilians as enrichment for Xue Yang? to the best of my recollection, that wasn’t even brought up in the main book. that was just for us.)

i’m making this post because a lot of people have told me point blank that JGY “earned” his miserable ending by doing bad shit, that Jiang Cheng/JGY/LXC/whoever the person thinks is an antagonist because they were mean to wangxian were “punished” with horrible fates, and this is how MXTX is codifying who the villains and who the heroes are, and the story is actually explicitly about moral uprightness prevailing over repugnance. and i just think that’s kind of a lackluster reading for a text that’s so blatantly explained that in this universe, good or bad things will simply happen to people completely regardless of whether or not it’s fair.

friend izzy points out that in the world of MDZS, “justice only happens on a personal scale”. there is no societal change. there is no large-scale justice. guilt is basically determined whenever some powerful people get in a room together and agree on it. and neither of the protagonists actually bother to change this. WWX’s big heroic stand was to save a village of a few dozen family members and retreat from larger society completely. LWJ’s heroic deeds account to literally just vigilantism. and this is good. the Wen ghosts coming out of the blood pool said: that was enough. sizhui’s whole existence says: protecting a handful of “unimportant” people for a year was worthwhile.

(XXC, SL, Mianmian etc also just kind of peaced out and wandered around helping people on an individual basis. and since I’m being petty anyway, I’ll once again throw out the fact that the person who affected the largest-scale positive societal change was in fact JGY, whose watchtowers were repeatedly praised for saving countless civilian lives, by the narration and by WWX himself.)

NHS committed himself to vengeance, neglecting his duties to his sect, killing animals, catching Qin Su in it as collateral, endangering children, desecrating the grave of an innocent woman, traumatising Jin Ling and thrusting him into a massive power vacuum at age 14, and destablising the politics of the entire Jianghu because there was no other way to get the piece of justice he personally needed.

any family member of any of the 3,000 people that Wei Wuxian killed at Nevernight have exactly as much right to do to Wei Wuxian exactly what Huaisang did to Jin Guangyao.

but nobody in this story “got what they deserved”. they just got it.

#crossing fingers for no bad-faith engagements lol #but its ok this time im prepared for whatever consequences occur. #shut up phee #small polite murder man #mdzs #jin guangyao #long post

[distant-rose]

To be totally honest ... don't you think that Gambit and Rogue's final union was forced? Being a bit realistic, an on and off relationship (where they have always been) is nothing but toxic, right?

Anon, I don’t know what you’re looking for here by coming into my inbox and shitting on a relationship that I very clearly enjoy and somehow expecting me to agree with you. My opinions on Romy are very clear.

I don’t find Gambit and Rogue’s relationship to be forced at all, and out of all the X-Weddings that have happened over the past couple of years, they make the most sense. I mean, if we want to talk about forced, we can talk about Doug Ramsey and Bei Bloodmoon or Sam Guthrie and Izzy Kane. Those are forced. There’s no development.

Yes, Rogue and Gambit have a long history together (a little under 30 years to be exact) and it’s not always good, but literally, I would like you to point any romantic relationship in Marvel and tell me there aren’t toxic elements. Comics are super ridiculous and dramatic. I mean, look at Jean, Scott, and Emma. That’s just a crazy mess. Peter and MJ? WHERE TO BEGIN. How about getting their marriage erased by Mephisto?  Even, Reed and Sue have very problematic elements. Relationships and characters are left to the mercy of whoever is writing them. And a good majority of writers (who are male) are incapable of writing couples without unhealthy toxic drama.

On-and-off relationships aren’t necessarily always toxic and considering the amount of stress and strain heroes undergo in comics, I find it hardly surprising that they would be off-and-on, as are many couples, as they’re constantly revaluing their lives, their beliefs, and their choices. They’re constantly changing and discovering what their limits are.

However, I think Kelly Thompson did an amazing job reconciling them. She had them acknowledge their issues and work past them. It’s one of my favorite things about that comic. They didn’t gloss over or ignore the rough parts of their history together, but tackled it and allowed them to move on together. And the way they set up their marriage, I find to be in character. It didn’t seem like a “gotcha” subversion moment like a lot of surprises tend to be these days but felt organic and fully in character. I mean, a master thief stealing someone’s wedding venue on impulse? That’s Gambit. He’s an opportunistic romantic at his core. 

So, no, I don’t find them forced at all, but again, they’re left to the mercy of whoever is writing them and with the everchanging writing staff, I won’t be surprised if they’re broken up or made toxic again in the future. I mean, I’m not enjoying Tini Howard’s interpretation of Rogue and Gambit. It’s very clear she doesn’t know or truly understand the characters. However, Kelly Thompson’s Rogue and Gambit, I will die for.

#asks #anon #romy #OTP: home and harbor #rogue #gambit #remy lebeau #anna marie lebeau #I don't know what you were expecting #except for me to go feral #I will go down with this ship

[beclynn-herondale]

Inside TMI Gang's diaries part 5 1/2

(long post)

Clary: Dear diary, so the Clave didn't end up punishing me because I didn't technically break any rules when I brought Jace back, but some peeps are staring at me still and like bish you're making me uncomfortable, also I don't know where Jace is and I feel this deep emptiness without him. I decided I am gonna ask the Seelie Queen for help, and no brain you ain't stopping me k, Alec and Izzy will be with me on this and Simon. Also just wait Sebastian just wait, I am gonna show you who to truly be afraid of. But first coffee

*Later*

So shit happened, I went to the Seelie Queen and she asked me to steal these rings, but like I was like no, but I decided to take them for myself, anyway I saw Jace and Sebastian, and Jace looked completely fine, he looked happy, like nothing is even bothering him, and then i said I didn't get the rings, like a lier, and that night Jace broke into my bedroom and we kinda kissed, and I found out he is basically a puppet for Sebastian, and if you hurt or kill Sebastian you hurt or kill Jace, and just whatever life whatever, also Sebastian stabbed Luke and now Luke may die, my mom is taking us to Magnus' and now that we are here he called it saint Magnus' for wayword Shadowhunters, and me and my mom got into a fight, she said stuff about Jace and like that's the thing I am sensitive about, so I decided to tell Simon to meet me and I shall run away and save Jace, I am always gonna be the knight and him the Damsel. Also Simon is the best friend, now I gotta go kill my brother. Need some coffee first.

Possessed Jace: Dear diary, all is well in the day of being evil and running around with Sebastian, he is alright, anyway we are off to cause chaos, I want to try and take Clary with us tho. Also I am not sure but something weird may have happened between me and Sebastian the other night, I can't remember exactly, but it was weird.

*Later*

We broke into Clary's house and I tried to take her with us but Sebastian had to be unpleasant, he may be hungry, he gets hangry when he doesn't eat enough, I plan on coming back for Clary though, oh also Luke got hurt, that one feels bad. Oh and Clary did come back and she is with us now, I love her. Oh also Sebastian and me have gotten up to some stuff, he is a genius, and he is so evil, I love it.

Jace: I am gonna murder him, this bish is so stupid, oh shit wait is this me again? I feel like I am banging on a wall. Who says love that much?

Alec: Dear diary, a lot has happened, Jace is still kidnapped and the Clave didn't end up punishing Clary, thank the angel. I am sneaking behind Magnus' back and I hate it but what else am I supposed to do?, Clary wants to meet with the Seelie Queen and I have a bad feeling about it, she isn't trustworthy, but I guess we have no choice cause the Clave won't help much anymore. Izzy is ready to fight anyone. Magnus is still not sharing much and is avoiding topics, and he doesn't know about Camille. But Camille is the worst, how could Magnus ever have dated her, he's so good and hot, and kind and sexy, he's also giving and attractive, he's beautiful and has a beautiful soul.

*Later*

Still sneaking around, still hate being around Camille. Jace apparently was at the Institute with Sebastian and they were acting like buddies, Jace is my parabatai, Sebastian you little shit. And then Jace and Sebastian went to Clary's house and attacked so now Clary is here at Magnus' and so is Jocelyn. Life keeps getting weirder, and everything is going to hell, if Jace were here, he'd have a way to lighten the mood.

Magnus: Dear diary, breathe Magnus, breathe, thankfully Biscuit is fine, Blondie is still kidnapped. Izzy and Simon have tension between them and I want nothing to do with that drama, I know.i usually like drama but Shadowhunter drama is a mess. Camille is god knows where, probably being evil. Sebastian is still on the loose, probably being evil as well, no definitely being evil. Alec has been distant lately. Chairman Meow is a comfort as always. I am trying to track down blondie, but I have had no luck, Sebastian is good I'll give him that. The Clave is a pain in my ass as usual. And the Seelie Queen is a raging bish, some things never change.

*Later*

So. . . Apparently Sebastian and blondie were at the Institute and after that attacked Clary and Jocelyn in their house, Luke was injured and hopefully will be okay. As always, Saint Magnus' is where Jocelyn and Clary went to, I am like the safe haven for wayword Shadowhunters. Clary and Jocelyn just got into a fight, Mother and Daughter drama is never one you want to get into the middle of but Biscuit isn't necessarily in the wrong here. But I don't want people to explode on me and Jocelyn would so. . . Anyway, I suspect Izzy will be here soon and maybe Simon. Hopefully we'll figure out where Jace is somehow, everyone is miserable and I never noticed how much of a light he actually was until he was gone, and yes I am surprised by those words myself.

Izzy: Dear diary, life is only chaos and a mess as usual, I can't get Simon out of my head and I don't know why, I have never been this way with someone before, ahhhhhhhhh. Anyway the Clave didn't punish Clary so that's good, I would have fought them if they had tried anything. Jace is still missing and we still have no idea where he is, the Clave is deciding he isn't a priority anymore, and if not for me wanting to play it cool I would have thrown some unkind words, but I am also not surprised. But we'll find Jace and save him, I won't accept anything else, there is no way in hell I am losing another brother.

*Later*

Clary saw Jace and Sebastian at the Institute and then apparently they broke in her house, and tried to take her, and Clary says Jace wasn't Jace, that he believed Sebastian was right and I swear whatever Sebastian did to my bro, he is gonna pay for. Still can't stop thinking about Simon and I want to punch a tree, Jace would have said "What did the tree ever do to you" I miss that weirdo, I am heading over the Magnus' cause that's where Clary and Jocelyn are, Luke got hurt bad, hopefully things will be alright. Also Simon wasn't at his and Jordan's apartment, I got a little drunk and may have spilled some stuff to Jordan and I regret it. Anyway I am gonna try to get ahold of Simon and ask him to come, there's something about him that comforts me.

Simon: Dear diary, life as a teenager has been so hard, as usual, being a vampire still kinda sucks, my mom hates me, Jace is still missing, Clary and Izzy are both wrecks, and I just want a chiller times. There's something between Jordan and Maia but I be staying away, I have no idea what me and Izzy are relationship wise, Clary thankfully didn't get in trouble with the Clave. Sebastian is creepy af. I think I am gonna listen to mcr and be angst.

*Later*

Shit got very real again, apparently Jace and Sebastian attacked Clary at her house and Luke was hurt, also apparently you can't hurt or kill Sebastian with hurting or killing Jace, that's just amazing isn't it. Clary and Jocelyn are at Magnus', - although Clary isn't anymore, in fact she is right in front of me telling me her crazy plan to go after Jace, Jocelyn is gonna go mama bear on me, but I can't stop Clary that's never been an option with her, apparently we are gonna keep in contact with the faerie rings Clary secretly stole, it keeps getting worse, this is all gonna be bad. And to top it off I am ignoring Becky and she is gonna come after me if I don't respond soon, but how can I when there's so much. - later, Izzy wants me at Magnus' and I still don't know what we are, but I'll always be there for her, if she lets me.

Sebastian: Dear evil diary, I have to say I have been having a lot of fun, Jace thinks something weird happened between us the others night, and something did but he'll never know what ;), I plan to kidnap my sister and take her with us no matter what it takes, me and Jace have plans, evil plans. We are at the Institute for something, and after that when night comes we plan to find my sister, I know Jace won't do anything without her, she's the only thing that keeps him not fully in my control. Anyway I am to do evil.

*Later*

We broke into Clary's house and she was mad, like I thought you'd be happy to see your boyfriend who has been missing, little sister. But apparently not? And I tried to kill that werewolf but he may survive. Mother will pay. Jace says he's sure Clary will come, honestly his love and trust in her is strange and I do not understand it, father would be disgusted, but I need Jace and I want Clary as well, so I'll do what it takes. Evil is out.

Church: Dear cat diary, I am so fucking done, you have no idea how done I am, Herondale and Fairchild did stuff in the past that led to Herondale getting possessed. Jem you would know what to do, please save me. Herondale is probably gonna have something tragic again *sigh*, Fairchild isn't gonna sit by and do nothing, it isn't in her blood. Lightwood 1 is off and I don't know what it is but he has something, Lightwood 2 may well explode as and I wouldn't want to be in the middle of that, tho I would like to see her go off on the Clave *cat grins*, Sebastian is another evil guy, why do I bother to learn their names? Jem if you were here, Simon is idk, he is doing something, Magnus is Magnus, and I may try and visit Chairman Meow, seeing them may help my cat stress levels. Everything is shit, the world is going to shit, and my Jem isn't here to save me, and I want some frickin tuna.

Tagging @chibi-tsukiko , idk if you want to be tagged in this but I know you said to start tagging you 🙈

#inside tmi gangs diaries #clary fray #clary fairchild #jace herondale #jace lightwood herondale #clace #alec lightwood #alec lightwood bane #magnus bane #magnus lightwood bane #malec #isabelle lightwood #izzy lightwood #simon lewis #simon lovelace #sizzy #sebastian morgenstern #jonathan morgenstern #church the cat #tmi gang #tmi fam #tsc #the shadowhunters chronicles #tmi #the mortal instruments

[kyberphilosopher]

Tᴡᴏ Fɪɴɢᴇʀs

Word Count: 2056

Requested: yes. not my best work, but i think i’m satisfied with the result. i’d like to do more things like this. 

violence. graphic description of loss of limb. 

“The universe is made of five elements, and each of the five fingers is represented by one of these elements. The thumb represents the fire, as well as universal consciousness. The index finger represents air and individual consciousness. The middle finger represents akasha, or connection. The ring finger represents earth, and the little finger the element of water.

When these five elements are not in balance, we can experience disease in the body.”

.✫*ﾟ･ﾟ｡.★.*｡･ﾟ✫*.

Anakin gasps as he hits the ground. The blow knocks all the wind from his lungs, leaving him heaving and choking for air. The soreness creeps into his muscles suddenly and without warning. 

His left palm slams against the matted floor below him, tapping out. The slap rings out, but Anakin almost feels like you didn’t hear it. He hits the floor a second time, slightly softer with his urgency. 

“I’m out,” Anakin gasps. “I’m out!” 

“I know,” you say smugly. You stand tall above him as proof of who’s won this fight. It was just sparring, but that didn’t make the man feel any better. You weren’t necessarily more powerful than him, or a better Jedi. But you were more flexible and swift in combat, which made you a more challenging opponent with hand to hand sessions. 

Your hand drops down to the man, an offering to help him up. After raising his head just enough to observe it, he rolls his eyes. His left hand reaches up to clasp your own. For extra support, his right, metal one comes up as well. You grip both tightly, using your knees to bring him up. 

“You’re lucky we aren’t fighting for real,” you say as you heave the man up. 

Anakin gives a single, humorous huff. “You’d never fight me. We both know it.”

Then you looked into his eyes. A small, calm and loving smile formed on your lips, taking in the shape of his face. Bright blue orbs, slightly arched brows with a slit from his scar. Smooth skin, chapped and pink lips. He was the chosen one, the one who walked the sky. The most beautiful, important person in your life. Your colleague, your friend... your family. Your love. The one you would follow anywhere. 

“I guess you’re right,” you say simply, admiration glued to your eyes. “I would never fight you.”

.✫*ﾟ･ﾟ｡.★.*｡･ﾟ✫*.

Now it was your turn for your body to feel sore. 

It stemmed from your chest, at your most important organ. Your heart was buzzing between not beating at all and beating all too fast and hard. Your lungs were begging for a real breath of air, and try as you might to deliver it, it was difficult. Every intake of oxygen was agony, no matter how long ago you saw it as a blessing. Everything inside of you was falling apart, crumbling and crippling and hacking itself into millions of pieces. It hurt. 

You were leading your troops into battle over Saleucami. There was a few cruisers for support, firing at the opposes forces Separatist ships. Multicolored lasers everywhere, you and your men zipping about in your fighters. 

Flying was always fun for you. Anakin and yourself used to race in your off time, laughing when Obi-Wan fell behind. Anakin won too many times to count, you a close second. But this time flying wasn’t fun. Something went wrong. 

“I’m glad I have you,” you said over the coms, following your commander’s acts. Some daft droids were on your tail, being very persistent about following you before he shot them down. “You’re the best, Izzy,” you promised him. And normally, he would’ve said something back. But this time, all you heard was a quiet breath. 

Commander Izzy shot you out of the sky, taking out one of your engines. You clambered forward, bracing your head as you spiraled out of control. The smoke was filling your chamber fast, your fingers jamming in between panels and oozing with blood. The Clone shot at your fighter again for good measure. A few seconds later, you crashed through a ray shielded Separatist hanger and skidded across the ground. 

Order Sixty-Six had taken something from everyone. It took Cody from Obi-Wan. It took Padme’s will. Ahsoka was left with nothing but a shattered state of mind, and Rex not far behind her. Maul no longer had a sense of direction. The Jedi lost their troops, and their lives. The troops lost their family. The only Jedi who gained anything from the Order was Master Windu, who had earned the pleasure of being right in his final moments. But you had lost more than just one thing, or one person. 

The first thing you lost was two fingers. 

Your left pointer and middle were trapped in between a slot of two metal sheets. You could feel the wires under them. No matter how much they wiggled, they wouldn’t come free. They were burning, straining, losing blood and fast. The deep ruby color was coming down in thick streams as you grit your teeth, holding it at the wrist as you pulled and growled. 

The burning ceased with a pop. You didn’t have the time to scream or shout or bind the wound. Your memory was rather blurred, but you managed to roll out of your fighter just before it exploded into millions of pieces. Then you laid on the floor for a while, heaving as you clutched your left palm close to your chest and your veins froze over. The blood was pumping out of you in rivers and splotches and staining everything. The pain was immobilizing, but there was more to it. 

All you could think about was Anakin. You didn’t know why. His name just continued to drum over in your mind like a vibration. You could hear distant screams of friends and younglings. You could hear your own, future screams of agony. You could feel Obi-Wan’s tears drop down in heavy drips.  You could even smell the birth of a child, followed by another loss. 

.✫*ﾟ･ﾟ｡.★.*｡･ﾟ✫*.

Then, Order Sixty-Six took your loved ones. That’s why you are where you are now. 

The planets heat was licking your face furiously. Bubbles of lava exploded into bolts in the distance. You hadn’t believed it when you’d seen the giant, obsidian fortress looming into the sky, but now you were forced to. You hadn’t believed it when you’d heard Obi-Wan say the words, but now you were forced to. You hadn’t believed it when you felt it deep in your soul, when you had seen it all through his eyes. Now you were forced to. 

And it felt awful. 

It hurt like hell. It hurt worse than tearing your fingers apart. It hurt worse than the time you were speared through your shoulder. It hurt worse than losing Izzy. It hurt worse than watching Ahsoka walk away. It hurt worse than anything in the galaxy. It was more than just physical pain too- it was emotional, mental. Rooted deep down inside of you and gluing itself to your bloody tendons. But it was real. It was alive and clear as a Tatooine dawn. That was the worst part. 

“You turned her against me!” Anakin had yelled. His chest was raising with heavy breaths of rage, eyes flitting between Obi-Wan and yourself. Your own lungs felt like they were collapsing in time with his. 

Obi-Wan stood strong. “You have done that yourself,” he promised. Had air always been this difficult to not choke on?

“You will not take her from me!” Anakin seethed. His hair was glowing in the fiery light. Eyes were piercing and daring and troubling all the same, melted like a sickness. A Sith sickness. They met yours, and you know he feels vengeful and disappointed in you all the same. He’s wrong for it, but it stings nonetheless. 

“You came here to kill me!” he accuses. 

You give out a painful breath, trying not to let your eyes fill with tears. “I came here to save you!” you roared back over the lava. “To talk some sense into you!”

“You’re the one who needs some sense talked into you!” Anakin retorted angrily. His right hand drops to his saber at his side. This time it hurts your bones. “You’re traitors! The both of you are traitors!”

“Anakin do you hear yourself?!” Obi-Wan yelled. Anakin didn’t tear his eyes from yours. 

“Join me, or fight me.”

Was Anakin even Anakin anymore? Blinded by hatred and revenge and everything he’d sworn to destroy, he would kill you if he had to. He would kill everything you had once shared. Stories, truths, jokes, stares that lasted longer than they should’ve. He was going to let it die, and you with it. Maybe he even wanted to finish it himself. 

“I said I wouldn’t fight you,” you told him. “And I meant it.”

.✫*ﾟ･ﾟ｡.★.*｡･ﾟ✫*.

You never saw Anakin again. 

Obi-Wan and Anakin... Obi-Wan and Darth Vader slipped away from you in battle. They disappeared down a bridge and hallway, their blue beams clashing against each other over and over again. It was more than hard to watch. You were ashamed of yourself for not being able to fight him like Obi-Wan had, for lacking the strength or courage to do so. But Anakin was everything to you. You couldn’t find it within yourself to harm him, especially not after the promise you’d made to him so long ago. 

You took Padme back to the ship. Then you sat and waited, knowing someone was not coming back. Whether it was Anakin or Obi-Wan, you couldn’t say. But you could feel everything you chest fluttering. Every lightsaber swing from him, every beat of his heart. You could feel it like it was your own. 

And when he fell down into the fires of Mustafar, your whole body went aflame as well. Burn marks appeared like drawings on your skin, scarring you forever. 

Anakin didn’t come back. Anakin wouldn’t come back until years and years later, after even Obi-Wan’s death. If you lived to see it, he wouldn’t know. Once he became the metal man, his bond was separated from you. Anything you two might’ve had was gone, melting down in the lava as he had. 

The only time he’d see anything of yours again was about a month later, when a droid had brought him two skinny, long fingers as proof of your death. 

You’d begged him not to go down the path that he had chosen. He could remember your voice ringing in his mind with all the memories, dividing the man even further. But what was done was done. Darth Vader couldn’t have brought back the lives he’d taken. He couldn’t have asked Padme to forgive him, or Obi-Wan to help him. And he couldn’t ask you to kill him, because you’d made a vow to never strike him down out of pure love. 

You’d loved him more than anyone, and that’s how he knew. Padme had left him, and he struck her down. Obi-Wan had challenged him, and he dueled him out. But when Anakin had killed everyone, and left everything behind, you had stayed strong in your promise. Even when his actions had costed you part of your hand, you were true. 

That’s what broke his heart the most. 

At nights, when all in the galaxy is quiet and asleep except for Lord Vader himself, he opens up his hologram. Some nights he sees Padme. Some nights he sees Ahsoka. Most nights, he sees Obi-Wan. But then there’s nights where he forces himself to look at your face again, admit to you what he’s done. If you’re dead, he doesn’t know it. He just knows he can’t feel you anymore. 

He doesn’t know that you share his burns. He doesn’t know that you live in exile with only eight fingers. But he misses you. And when he returns to where he belongs, when Anakin returns to the light, he’ll tell you he’s sorry. He’ll tap out, one last time. 

.✫*ﾟ･ﾟ｡.★.*｡･ﾟ✫*.

Taglist: @omg-we-really-doo​ @imagines-im-obsessed-about​ @chokemeanakin​ @anakinswhore​ @haztory​ @fanficsforheartandsoul​ i think that’s everyone this time.

#anakin angst #anakin x reader #anakin skywalker #anakin skywalker angst #star wars #star wars x reader #star wars imagines #tcw imagines #twc angst #tcw x reader #star wars angst #darth vader x reader #angst #fanfiction #star wars fanfiction

[xxisxxisxxis]

Gateway Drug | Part Twenty-Seven

Table of Content or Part Twenty-Six

Pairing: Douglas Booth!Nikki Sixx x OC

Word Count: 2.3k

Warning(s): Language, Hints at drug use

A/N: This wasn't the entire chapter, however tumblr's being weird and won't even let me create a new draft right now let alone let me upload a 4,044 worded text post so I'll upload the second part of this asap (probably tomorrow of they get their shit fixed on here) and there will be another update Friday. Have a good night:)

Tag List: @unknownoblivion @sinningsixx @edwardtriggerhandzz @lemmyjelly @haileynicoleseavey17 @cierrasixx19 @oskea93 @mgkobsessed @vamprlestat @sharon6713 @itsametaphorbriansblog @miriampraez @allie-mcginn @rebeccaphillips14 @nicholeh7 @fandomshit6000 @lilmou5ie @tamedhearts @divaanya @kingbouji3 @evrsncnewyork @6ixx6ixx @ratedrkohardychick91 @floregrohlssard @oldschoolimagineblog @thanks2pete @abaldboi @swoopygorl @justjodeye @liith-ium @caos18blog @ytwahsog @shamlessobsessions @scarecrowmax @toadspleen @random-internet-user-4471 @solohqrry @loveofmyloif @sparxx27 @kaitieskidmore1 @xpoisonousrosesx @ijustwanttokiss70srogertaylor

LET ME KNOW IF YOU WANT TO BE TAGGED

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

I smooth my wavey hair down, taking the last giant velcrow roller out before putting my lipstick on and leaving the bathroom, looking for the car keys, unable to find them.

"Nikki, babe, where are the keys?" I call to him, looking in the kitchen and living room, heading to our bedroom.

He's passed out from a night of partying, Robbin still asleep on the floor.

"Baby." I lightly pat Nikki's face, not having the time to patiently shake him awake.

He groans, scrunching his face and rubbing his eyes.

"What is it?" He asks me, exhausted.

"Where are the car keys?"

"Mine or your's?" He questions, blinking at me to clear the sleep from his eyes.

"Your's. I can't drive mine until we get the driver's side window fixed, remember?"

"What? What happened to it?" He sits up and I raise my brows.

"Uh, well, you put your fist through it?" I remind him and he exhales.

"Oh...yeah." He replies. "They're in my pants pocket."

I don't give him time to reach for them himself.

My hand is in his pants pocket, grabbing his keys and pulling them out.

"Bye, love y-love, I'll see you when I get back." I stutter to cover my slip up, cutting myself off immediately before I can say, "love you", even though I've never called Nikki "love" before.

He doesn't notice it.

"See you when you get back." He mumbles once he's laying back down.

I slip my kitten heels on and head out.

"I love you" was one of the biggest Elephants in the room between Nikki and I.

We should have said it and we knew that, but we just didn't say it.

At first I was waiting for him to say it, then he never did...so I just decided it was something we wouldn't do.

Love's an action instead of an emotion, anyway, so I didn't think it was a big deal that neither of us had heard it from the other because we showed each other we loved each other in other ways...until we didn't anymore...and started keeping score, measuring who was winning by who was hurting who more, instead of trying to be better to each other.

I had to face that ugly reality when we were both screaming "I hate you" with Fred and Doc trying to break up one of our argument-turned-near-fist fights backstage at the last North American show of "Girls, Girls, Girls."

That was the night I got pregnant with my first son, Monroe, and the man barking about how much he hated me, isn't the father.

It's safe to say I won.

My heels click down the concrete stairs of the church as I walk to Nikki's black corvette after service is over, furrowing my brows the closer I get, seeing a white slip of paper tucked under the windsheild wiper.

I pluck the paper off and see it's a ticket for $350.00 with "BROKEN TAIL LIGHT" marked on it.

"My tail light isn't broken." I argue to myself, stepping around the back.

The entire left side set of lights are busted with signs of swapped paint where someone hit the car with their's and I open my mouth to speak but no words come out.

I stand and stare at the paper, then the busted light, tears oncoming the more I look at it.

Nikki is going to kill me.

I hear a car pull up behind me and park on the curb of the street but I don't pay any attention, too busy figuring out how to explain this.

"Hey, uh, Vivian?"

I turn to see Duff, wiping my eyes quickly.

"Duff?" I'm caught off guard by my recently new friend. "I've told you just call me 'Viv'." I tell him, sniffling and he furrows his brows, stopping in front of me where I'm now standing by the driver's door of the corvette.

"You alright?"

"Yeah." It's an obvious lie, a pathetic squeak leaving me.

"What's up?" He asks me and I lick my lips and sigh out.

"It's stupid." I mumble, rolling my eyes.

"What happened?"

I just hand him the ticket and he takes in a sharp breath, his brows shooting up.

"Jeezus." He lets out. "You just got this?"

"Yes." My voice cracks and he looks at me with sympathetic eyes.

"Viv, c'mon, it's not that bad. It'll be alright." He tries to reassure me.

"Oh, no, no, no...that's not all." I say, walking to the back and he follows me, not hiding the gasp that leaves his lips. Nikki is going to kill me."

There's a silent pause as I rest against the back of the corevette, crossing my arms, trying to figure out how I'm going to present the $350.00 ticket to my husband.

Duff leans against it beside me, avoiding the broken bits, thinking for a second, too, before reaching into his jacket pocket.

"Here." He grabs my hand, putting a wad of cash into it and I look at him, confused. "For the ticket." He explains and I shake my head.

"N-No. I can't take this from you, you need it." I argue, wiping more tears.

He goes to say something but I cut him short. "If you say that you don't need it, I'm going to hit you. You live in your car, Duff. You've been talking about getting a new place and this is part of the rent for an apartment." I point out, handing the cash back to him.

"Whatever you say." He shrugs, putting it back in his jacket.

We sit for a moment longer before he nudges me with his elbow.

"You hungry?" He asks and I tuck a strand of hair behind my ear.

"Stop offering to spend your money on me." I chuckle and he smiles.

"Actually, I know a place the both of us can eat and it would only cost the price of one beer." He tells me and I raise my brows.

It was the first of many Sunday lunches at this hotel a few blocks away that offered an "all you can eat" buffet if you just buy a bottle of beer.

I listen as Duff goes on about possible members of the potential band he wants to be a part of.

A drummer named Steven, who has a lot of extra drums in his kit than what's needed but he's a hell of a drummer.

A Johnny Thunders look alike-that isn't that great on a guitar but makes it sound cool anyway-that goes by the name Izzy.

And a kind of weird kid that apparantly has massive hair and is super shy but speaks a billion words a minute through his guitar: Slash.

"And Slash and Steven are buddies, but I don't know if they've ever met Izzy or not." He tells me, sipping the beer neither of us were carded for, even though we're only twenty.

"What style of singer do you have in mind?" I ask, taking a bite out of my mozerella stick.

"Someone who gets the punk scene, but not necessarily a punk singer." He tells me and I wrinkle my nose. "Don't do that." He points at me, knowing exactly what I'm about to say.

"Punk?"

"Don't say it like that." He laughs. "You don't like it because you don't understand it."

"I understand it and I respect it, I just don't..." I try to choose my words. "...I like some of it, but most of it I don't really care for."

"How the hell do you survive not liking punk? It's the biggest 'fuck you' to societal standards." He defends the genre.

"I like the Ramones, The Stooges, the New York Dolls." I tell him, even though they were all acquired tastes because I have to listen to them so much due to Nikki.

"What about The Sex Pistols?" Duff suggests.

"I did, until Sid killed Nancy." I shrug.

"Oh, c'mon, Viv, you really believe that propaganda bullshit made up by the conservative media to further their anti-punk/rock agenda and get a good check? He did not kill her." He argues.

"They'd been binging on all kinds of drugs for weeks. I'm not saying he meant to, maybe he was hallucinating and genuinely didn't realize it was her until it was too late, but he did it." I state.

"Nope."

"Oh, okay, so it was the body guard?"

"I think it was a double suicide attempt." He explains and I lean back. "His just didn't work."

"If it was a double suicide, why didn't he just use the knife she used and bleed to death like she did?" I question.

"Maybe he didn't want to be stabbed."

"If he was going to die, what would it matter?" I ask and he shakes his head a little with a small grin pulling at his lips.

"Hi, my name is Vivian Estine Sixx and I can argue with a brick wall for five hours straight." He mocks me and I cut my eyes at him.

We just stare at each other, and he attempts to take another drink of his beer while we have our staring contest, and the both of us crack up simultaneously, and he sprays beer through his lips and nose, further egging my laughter on.

I get home around four in the afternoon after spending three hours talking to Duff, and my stomach's sore from laughing so much.

"Viv?" Nikki calls from the bathroom and I walk in to see him teasing his hair.

He's shirtless, his black jeans are unbuttoned and unzipped, exposing some of his pubic hair and I lick my lips.

"Did you have fun?" He asks in a teasing tone, referring to the oh-so-wild church service I attend as much as I can, and I roll my eyes and lean against the sink beside him, crossing my arms.

"Yes, I did." I reply, not able to meet his eyes because I'm too focused on his exposed skin.

"What took you so long to get back?" He asks next.

I know, I know, "if it was innocent then there should be nothing to hide and you should be able to tell him you were with another man."

It wasn't Tommy, Mick, Robbin or Vince, and he never met Duff.

He didn't trust men he'd never met around me.

So if I would have told him, I would have never heard the end of it.

"Long sermon." I lie, and he looks at me and furrows his brows.

"Have you been crying? Your mascara's smudged." He tells me, his thumb swiping right under my bottom lash line to wipe away dried mascara and I'm suddenly hit with the realization that I have a $350.00 ticket.

"It was a good sermon." I say.

He finishes his hair, turning to look at me.

"Me and the guys are going to the Rainbow tonight." He tells me. "You're comin', right?"

"Yes." I nod, grinning.

"Good. I gotta go get the oil changed and I'll be back to pick you up." He steps out of the bathroom to go get dressed and I follow him.

Once he's got his t-shirt that has "FUCK" written across the front, he's pulling his jacket and boots on.

When he's gotten his boots on, he stands up from the matress of our bed, and I grab at the top of his jeans, pulling him closer to me, standing on my tip toes to press my lips to his.

He kisses me, his hands holding at either side of my jaw.

When we pull away, he smiles, kissing my cheek before grabbing his keys and leaving.

The second he's gone I'm darting to my purse, attempting to find the ticket, praying I didn't leave it in the car.

Once I see it's not in my purse, I let out a deep breath and worry that I've lost it.

"Damnit." I mumble, trying to remember the last place I had it. "The church parkinglot with Duff but..." I trail off, thinking of the possibility of it being left in the parkinglot and I groan out.

There's no way it's still there if that's where it got left.

I decide to figure it out later and go wash away my worn off makeup before reapplying it and changing clothes, waiting for Nikki to get back.

I'm finishing putting on ruby red lipstick when I hear the front door slam and I tense up and put the cap back on the tube before peeking my head out the door and seeing Nikki put his keys and a piece of paper on the counter, frustration taking a stance in his movements.

Pretending nothing's wrong, I walk out of the bathroom and across the floor to our bedroom to grab my purse and put my heels on.

Once they're on, I walk back into the kitchen smile at him.

"C'mon, babe." I nudge him as I walk past him to get to the door.

He grabs my arm, though, causing me to stop and he pulls me back, pushing me against the counter, trapping me when he puts his hands on the counter on either side of me and his face is centimeters from mine.

"You wouldn't know anything about the completely shattered tail light on my car, would you?" He asks me calmly.

"No?" I lie, trying to seem confused, but it's clear he's not buying it.

"Are you sure?"

"Yes."

He just stares at me and I slide my hands up and down his arms, smiling nervously.

"Can we go, now?" I ask, kissing his cheek.

"I spent $100.00 to get it fixed today." He explains. "Did you back into something or did someone hit the car?"

"I told you I didn't even know about it, babe." I argue calmly. "Can we leave and just go back and forth about this later? We're gonna be late."

He gives me one last stare before sighing out, letting me go and I make sure to beat him to the car by several strides, frantically searching for the ticket when I get in, not finding it, before he gets in beside me.

#nikki sixx #tommy lee #vince neil #mötley crüe #douglas booth #daniel webber #colson baker #the dirt #the dirt movie

[shhh-no-ones-home]

i love you periodically izzy stradlin x reader

+++++++++

Izzy being a soft boi™

Y'all have been dating for a short bit but are pretty comfortable with each other, clearly.

* - he takes good care of his gf during period sex ;)

Song: listen to your heart by the maine

+++++++++

I sat on the end of the bed in a ball. I was on the third day of my period and my cramps were at an all time high. I didn't think I could move, much less have the energy to call Izzy to help me. So I just sat in silence, face squished into the comforter and my hands gripped tightly around my abdomen. I was uncomfortable but I was close to sleep, then I heard footsteps coming down the hall.

"Izzy."

I said lazily. I heard the door creak.

"You okay babe?"

I didn't look at him. I was still face down.

"Cramps."

I flinched when his hand found its way gently to the small of my back.

"What do you want me to do baby?"

I tilted my head to look at him with one eye.

"Asprin?"

He nodded and walked into the bathroom, coming back with two pills and a cup of water. I sat up slowly, making a pained face and took it from him.

"They as bad as last time?"

After I swallowed I nodded at him.

"If not more, everything is squeezing and I wanna die."

I flopped back onto the bed and groaned at the movement being painful. I watched Izzy wiggle his legs between mine before leaning down over me, practically laying almost his whole weight on me. I looked down at him with a 'really?' face. He kissed my chest lightly and played with my shirt.

"Ya know, I read somewhere the other day that sex helps relieve cramps."

I raised my brow at him.

"Not that you necessarily wanna try that of course, it's up to you, you're the one in pain."

I let out a short laugh but groaned cause it hurt. I reached up and twirled a strand of his hair between my fingers.

"Izzy if you are willing to get yourself as well as a few towels covered in blood I am more than game if it will help get rid of my cramps."

He smiled at me and stood up.

"Great, I just bought a new box of condoms. and we can shower after to make you feel better too if you want."

I sat up slowly and nodded.

"Wanna grab some towels out of the hall closet? I gotta take my tampon out first."

He nodded once before padding down the hall as I waddled to the bathroom. When I was done I saw the blankets had been pulled back on one side of the bed and there were now a couple towels in their place. I looked at Izzy and smirked.

"You planning on making a big mess?"

He laughed nervously and scratched the back of his neck.

"You know me baby, we never know till we get started."

I walked over to him, placing my hands on his chest and kissing him lightly. His hands squeezed and massaged my hips as we slowly made out. It was sensual and calm, not like the last few times we had slept together. But he really did want to take care of me I guess. He picked me up gently and sat me on the bed, kneeling down between my legs and kissing up my clothed thighs.

"Lay back baby."

I did as told and breathed deeply. He slowly began unbuttoning my jeans and lifting my shirt a bit. I watched him as he sat up a little higher and came up to kiss across my stomach. I hummed and ran my hand through his soft black hair. He slowly creeped his hand up my shirt and cupped one of my breasts. I grabbed it before he could do anything though. I gave him a serious look.

"Be gentle, they hurt too."

He nodded and kissed my stomach again.

"I'll be as gentle as you want baby."

I sighed and laid my head back down, releasing his hand from my own. He ran his hand back down my torso and worked to remove my pants. I sat up to help him get mine and his off, discarding the rest of our clothes as well, and situating myself on the bed. I leaned forward and hugged my knees as Iz got the new box of condoms out of his bedside table and ripped it open, taking one out. He held it in his teeth as he climbed onto the bed and knelt in front of me. He sat back on his heels and kissed the top of my head.

"We're gonna try to make you feel better baby, I promise, and if this doesn't help we still have the shower."

I nodded and smiled.

"Not to say we wont need it after anyway."

He laughed at me before kissing me softly.

"That's just an added bonus."

I shook my head and sat up fully, still clutching my stomach.

"Let's get to it before it makes me sick."

"Of course."

I laid back and watched him rip the packet open and slide it onto his hardening member.

"You ready baby?"

I breathed out heavily.

"Yeah."

He leaned down and kissed me, his hand moving down between my legs to tease me. His finger circled my clit before he dipped it into my core. I inhaled sharply at the feeling and he paused, I breathed out.

"Keep going it's fine."

He gave me a knowing look.

"You sure? I don't wanna do this if it hurts."

I nodded quickly.

"Yeah, it's just the cramps, everythings a little tender."

He kissed my forehead, then my temple, then my cheek, down my jaw, and onto my neck.

"I'm gonna add another okay?"

I nodded and held onto his shoulders.

"Yeah."

He pushed another finger inside of me, letting me get used to the feeling and pumping them in and out of me as he kissed and sucked at my neck. When he removed his fingers he looked down and laughed, I blushed and covers my face as he wiped the blood off onto one of the towels. He used his other to pull my hands away from my face.

"Sorry."

I Said. He shook his head at me.

"Nothing to be sorry about, I knew what jt was getting into before we started."

I offered him a soft smile to which he accepted by kissing me. When he pulled away he rested his forehead on mine and looked in my eyes.

"You okay if I start?"

I bit my lip.

"Yeah."

I felt him run his member up my folds and against my clit before slowly pushing it into me. I hissed through my teeth at the feeling and he stopped halfway in.

"I'm not moving till you tell me it's okay."

I closed my eyes and breathed through the pain, letting out a couple deep audible breaths before giving him the okay.

"You can continue, just be slow."

He pecked my nose and smiled at me, I couldn't help but giggle at the goofy grin he had on his face. I stopped though when he started pushing in again, focusing on what he was doing and how it felt. When he was in all the way he stopped and let me adjust how I needed to. I ran my hands up and down his shoulders and back, him kissing across my neck and chest, even being so careful as to kiss and palm my breasts with the softest touch. As he pulled out of me I sighed, gasping when he pushed back into me. He looked back up at me.

"Keep going, I think if you get a decent pace it might help."

He nodded once.

"Okay, just, if anything starts to hurt too bad or is uncomfortable let me know, and I'll stop."

I squeezed his shoulder.

"Thank you Izzy, I will."

He offered a half smile and kissed me again. As he pulled out and pushed back in he went back to kissing my chest, neck, and breasts. He bit and nibbled around my collar bone but made sure to be extra gentle around my nipples, taking what I had said into consideration. As his pace grew I started to feel a little better in the cramps department, now being comfortable enough to wrap my legs around his waist for better penetration. I was a moaning mess under him and I could feel him breathing heavily against my neck, trying to subdue them by giving me hickies and love bites.

"God Izzy, keep going."

He rested his forehead against my shoulder.

"I don't think I'm gonna last much longer baby."

He brought his hand back down between my legs to circle my clit, sending shivers down my spine. Before I knew it he had cum and was trying to ride out his high, my orgasm coming after and making my whole body shake. When he pulled out he dropped down on top of me like he had done earlier after giving me the meds. Be both breathed together for a moment, his head rested gently on my chest and my hand in his now sweaty hair.

"I love you Izzy stradlin."

He looked up at me.

"You do?"

I laughed.

"Who else would have tried to take care of me like that, Jeff."

I winked at him when he sent me a look for using his real name, rather than his stage name.

"No one but me baby."

He groaned as he sat up, off me, and knelt between my legs again. He looked down at the stained towels under us before reaching over to the nightstand and getting a cigarette.

"Guess it's a good thing I grabbed more than one."

He winked at me as I sat up.

"Yeah but now I feel disgusting."

He slid the condom off and tossed it in the bin next to his bed.

"Guess it's a good thing we have a shower huh?"

I smacked his stomach and laughed at his reaction as he exhaled the smoke.

"And a washing machine, ya big dork."

#wattpad #x reader #izzy stradlin #imagines #one shots #guns n roses #gnr #smut #121

[axelsagewrites]

Isabelle*Lightwood’s

Ship(s): Isabelle X female!reader

Request:  Via Wattpad

Warnings:

 Masterlist HERE

Wattpad HERE

It's pride month so this month's posts are going to be LGBT themed

Her hair gleamed like a goddess and her smile was like sunlight that flowers craved to the human eye. When she laughed it felt like you’d went weightless on a roller coaster drop ride, loving the fear it brought like the idea of loving her. No matter what she said, snarky or sweet, it was the stuff to inspire poets. She was my perfect, the thing that would finally make me feel whole.

The half of the best friend necklace that hung around her neck broke me though. The one around mine solidified it. 

I'd known Isabelle since childhood, often talking about being parabatai. Every time I discouraged it, saying we could decide when we were older, and we didn’t need a rune to best friends. It was bad enough she was straight, and I’d fancied her for years but the idea of it being actually illegal was too much.

The shadowhunter community was very accepting, choosing to hide all their ‘problems’ in a plastic tub and bury beneath their flower beds. Apparently not being straight was one of these problems. How dare you like someone of the same gender! Even though it wasn’t your fault and oh yeah screw you.

I wasn’t necessarily in the closet though; I just never spoke about it. plus, in the New York Institute, there weren’t many boys my age, so it wasn’t surprising I didn’t like any of them. The only person I had told was Alec because, well that boys lets straight than a circle.

Alec and I were closet buddies and despite both of us being heavily friend zoned we could at least whine to one and other. Isabelle figured out Alec was gay, which wasn’t too difficult since boys can’t hide their, um feelings? Too well. She hadn’t figured me out because apparently kissing girls in the club is something drunk girls just kinda did? 

Although it wasn’t what I wanted I was sort of content. Isabelle had boyfriends and hookups but so would Jace, so Alec and I were able to rant about this whenever they were out. Then Clary came. 

I don’t dislike the girl, but she is inconvenient for many reasons. It’s made Alec all grumpy since Jace is in love and Alec can literally feel it because of their bond. Isabelle also likes to go on about that Simon kid and he’s always around because clary’s always around. It’s a hellish cycle.

However, the biggest issue is Clary and Isabelle’s friendship. For the past 5 years, Isabelle and I were the only girls our age who lived in this institute for more than a month. This meant Isabelle only knew what it would be like to be friends with a girl who was in love with her. 

We didn’t do the normal things girls would; talk a lot about boys, change in front of each other, check each other out before leaving to make sure we looked okay. I was in love with the girl, there was no way I was checking out her butt to make sure she hadn’t sat in something. Hell no. but this was never an issue because she had no comparison.

We’d talk about fighting techniques, books, famous shadowhunters, and how annoying Alec and Jace were and how we’d get them back. For fun, we’d throw darts, do trick shots, spar, or made up silly games. 

Clary came and was letting Isabelle do her hair, makeup, outfit, and would talk hot boys and relationships with each other. Clary wasn’t that girly, but it still messed it all up. Know we were talking about first crushes and kisses and I had no answer. 

Coming out felt like less of an option. I barely knew Clary, so I didn’t want to tell her and now Isabelle was wanting to have the ‘girl sleepovers’ mundane kids had in the movies Clary showed her. I didn’t want to make her uncomfortable.

Alec wasn’t having much fun either. Clary and Jace were a thing and Clary was beginning to catch on. Typically, Alec would train with Jace, but Clary kept pulling him in every other direction so when Alec came up to me and asked to spar I wasn’t surprised. Isabelle kept wanting to have Clary at all our training sessions so we could teach her and how could I argue with that?

As I held the punching bag Alec hit it with all the pit up anger he had, the chain holding it up clanging loudly with each hit. “A new girl shows up and you drop everything?” he ranted while punching. “Do you wanna know what he said when I complained he missed training today?” he stopped, panting. We switched positions and I nodded. “Get a girlfriend,” Alec held the bag for me.

I screwed my face up and not because of the stale smell of sweat off this training room. “That’s just idiotic,” I said as I hit the bag.

“Yeah well that’s the straights for you,” Alec rolled his eyes, “Crush aside, friend don’t ditch friends,”

“Tell me about it,” I muttered as my punches sped up.

Alec sighed “Isabelle?”

“Isabelle,” I confirmed, putting my back into the punches, “Her and Clary are always together. Doing girly things. It's bad enough but I don’t want to talk boys with them. It was fine before,” with every word the punches got faster.

“Slow down,” Alec said, and I did. He held the bag still, the metal chains finally quieting, “You’re gonna put a hole in it.”

“I know,” I sighed, taking the gloves off and throwing them down. “But I’m getting sick of this.

Everyone keeps asking if I’m seeing a guy or when will Mr right come along. My parents are actually concerned,”

“Ditto,” Alec groaned, “It’s so annoying. Its always brought up as if I’m just a piece of meat!” he said.

My eyebrow quirked up as I saw the irony “Alec, welcome to being a female.” Alec rolled his eyes and I punched his shoulder “I am not kidding. Whenever we go out guys are leering at me and Izzy on missions. We are used as bait Alec. Bait” it was true. Apparently dressing nice, as they called it, attracted demons but they forgot about all the sleazes.

“Sorry,” Alec said, dropping down onto a bench. I copied and took the water he handed me.

“I’ve got an idea…”

“So…you two are dating now?” Isabelle asked arms crossed staring at us with the look of ‘don’t you lie to me’.

Jace by Isabelle’s side seemed doubtful too, “Like dating dating?”

Alec and I looked at each other. “Yup,” Alec said before quickly wrapping his arm around my waist, pulling me into his side. “Right babe?”

The words felt like spitting glass, “Of course…babe,” okay I officially wanted to die.

Isabelle and Jace shared a look but Jace shrugged, “Well at least you finally took my advice. Sorry (Y/N) but I need to steal Alec, we’ve got a mission,” 

Alec almost jumped at the chance to go on a mission with him. Then it was just me and Izzy. “You’ve never mentioned liking him before,” Isabelle said, clearly not buying it.

I scoff, trying not to stutter, “He’s your brother. That’s just weird Izzy,”

“In fact,” she continued “You’ve never talked about guys. Ever. Whenever Clary brings it up-“

“Clary’s a brat, Izzy,” I cut her off. Isabelle’s mouth gaped for a moment before closing.

“Seriously she shows up and thinks she knows everything. She gets everything on a silver plate, and everyone babies her,”

“She’s new!” Isabelle has an incredulous look on her face “She’s trying to navigate a new world. Give her a break!” I couldn’t hold back an eye roll. “What has she actually done to you?”

“What has she done to you?” I snap. “Before we’d talk about normal things but knows it’s all boy this and boy that. And she’s far to comfortable around here. You don’t ask people to check you out before you go out. It’s weird,” I cross my arms. “Plus, she always brings that Simon kid around.

Isabelle’s face is distorted into one I’ve never seen aimed at me; anger. “Really? Maybe I like talking about boys and I like knowing I look alright before I go out. Oh, and I’ll have you know I like Simon. He’s one of the nicest guys I’ve ever spoken to,”

“I’m nice!” I almost yell, “You don’t talk to me anymore and I’m just as nice as Simon is. Oh, and I’m your best friend not that you seem to care,”

“Well you don’t seem so nice right now,” Isabelle says, crossing her arms, “In fact, you just seem jealous. I’m allowed to have other friends. If it bothered you that much you should’ve talked to me,”

“You’re always with Clary,” Mumbled, feeling defeated already.

“Woah you really are jealous. Is that why you’re with Alec now?” she asked. “You and I both know he’s gay. If I’m honest I was starting to think so were you,” 

There was no good way this conversation could go. The floor seemed to sway from under my feet and the lights seemed brighter than before. My heartbeat was loud like the chains from the punching bag. Clang clang clang.

If it wasn’t for the air whipping my face I wouldn’t have realised I was running, and it wasn’t till I stopped I felt the wetness on my cheeks. I opened the door to my room and quickly slammed it, ruining it to be locked. 

All I could do was pace till my feet were sore and I feared holes would burn in the carpet. I sank onto the floor, leaning against my bed. normally when I ran away from my feelings it wasn’t physically, 

When Isabelle knocked I didn’t get up. Her angelic voice couldn’t move me this time and was drowned out by fear. My parents, Isabelle, my higher-ups, they could all find out. Shadowhunters were still very backwards. 

We’d had the pleasure of meeting a warlock when Clary first came called Magnus who was obviously gay or bi or something and openly proud. With no shadowhunters to teach me, it had been him I’d gone to about it. he was surprised, to say the least, that I'd gone to him though apparently, his gaydar had been right.

Id texts him in a panic for his advice. Isabelle’s pounding on my door had stopped when I got the text back; tell her, the closet isn’t comfortable forever.

I read the text over and over again. I didn’t have to tell Isabelle I liked her, though she’d

probably guessed that. She must know now. she had to know, and I should be telling her.

My bones felt stiff as I stood but I persevered. I sighed, running my hands over my face. I looked up from my hands and my eyes fell on a photo frame on my bedside; Isabelle and I on my last birthday. She insisted on making my cake though even I couldn’t fake eat it. this could make or break that.

I opened the door without hesitation, figuring I'd at least have a breather before I saw her. But there she was, sat on the floor across from my door. When my door opens she sprang up, “(Y/N),” I couldn’t hold it back. I looked down and couldn’t help a couple tears, “Talk to me,” Isabelle put her hands on my shoulders and shivers went down my spine.

For once I didn’t want to see Isabelle’s face, but I looked up, “I-I.” I had to take a deep breath “I love you,”

Isabelle smiled a little “I love you too. You know I do,” without giving me a chance she hugged me.

“Not in the same way,” I mumbled but I knew she heard. 

She pulled back and looked me in the eyes. “What do you mean?”

“I don’t love you. I’m in love with you,” it was out there. There were no take backs.

Isabelle glanced down and I just felt my heart clench, “I-I-I know I’m not gay,” she started off, stuttering slightly, “but I have been with girls,” for this first time Isabelle blushed, “I just never really clicked with any but then again I never clicked with a guy either. But if I'd ever clicked with anyone, it’d be you,”

“You like me?” my words were slow and unsure.

“I think so?” hers were more like a question. “I’ve never really understood the romance part but when I’m with you, I feel safe. And I’d be lying if I said you weren’t hot,”

Okay, this time I blushed. A lot, “So…do you wanna try?”

She nodded “I do. Guess your switching lightwoods,” Isabelle joked, laughing at her own joke like usual.

I grinned a little, “Well you are much prettier than Alec.”

Isabelle grinned, “So maybe we should try well,” she motioned to my lips.

I nodded and we moved closer, bumping noses and tilting the wrong way. We laughed awkwardly but soon our lips met. it was slow, hesitant, and we were barely touching. Years of pent up feelings led me to stepping closer, making it harder, passionate. Soon it was fast and hard, and her hands were in my hair. 

Somehow I forgot to breathe, so we pulled apart as breathless as I get when Isabelle walks in the room. “So,” I said.

“So,” Isabelle copied. She looked up and down the corridor before saying, “Maybe we should try you know that again but,” she pointed past me, into my room, “in there?”

A grin overtook my face which soon etched onto Isabelle as well. My arms wrapped around her, leading her back into my room. The door shut tightly behind us and everything felt right.

#shadow #shadowhunters #shadowworld #shadowhunter cast #shadowhunters imagine #tmi #tmi imagine #the mortal instruments #the mortal instruments imagine #Isabelle Lightwood #isabellelightwood #isabelle lightwood imagine #gay #gay imagine #lgbt

[miazeklos]

So! Shadowhunters 3x12.

...but I’m gonna do my best to try. This one is shaping up to be mostly complaining, which I rarely if ever do, but there sure is a lot to say.

- Again, weird mood shifts. This plagued the last episode too, even more than it happened last season. One minute you’ve got Simon and Cain talking about their genuinely terrible experiences, then Маlес and fluffy dialogue, the next few scenes are of the main character being held hostage and then, immediately after, you’ve got Meliorn trying to organise a thrееsоmе while taking Simon to what’s potentially his death and literally the entire episode is like this. Pick a vibe and commit to it. - Speaking of Simon... I feel like the removal scene should’ve been longer if they wanted to have any suspense at all. Not necessarily more pain, but maybe they could have picked a more elaborate ritual or kept it as a cliffhanger for next episode, but it was over in less than a minute, which felt slightly underwhelming. - To be honest, due to the choppy montage of the episode, everything was like that. I couldn’t really get into anything that was happening outside of the main storyline (i.e. Clary and Jonathan and the three (3) people looking for her) and probably Cain’s story because there was too much going on in those two fields and nothing else seemed essential or like something to be invested in. - I do understand that the above point is so that they can cover all their main characters (with the exception of one, and guess who it is once again), but if that was the case, they could have raised the stakes. - No, really. This episode lacked suspense. We all know Simon isn’t gonna die and Magnus’s frenzy to get as much as possible out of mortal life should have either been expanded upon or left for a more Magnus-centred episode because it stood in the background of the main thing anyway. If they wanted an episode filler, they could’ve made the rescue scene last longer and! make it feel important! That way, it was a whole episode leading up to something that literally took like 30 seconds. - (Which is directly showed in the episode, because there was a heartfelt conversation and then, one single Clary mention later, Alec immediately dipped, which. Again. Raise the stakes or leave it be.) - I have many Thoughts about the way Jonathan is presented to the audience in different points of the narrative and the way that influences said audience re: people’s feelings for the characters, but it’ll require its own post, so. This is all I’m gonna say here. - Now! Let’s talk about the show’s treatment of the fair sех for a bit! Another thing I don’t usually do, but honestly, they outdid themselves this time. - We weren’t given any insight of Clary’s feelings about any of this at any point apart from her last moment with Jace. She spent the episode being hauled around by people without having any sort of outward reaction to it even when she thought she’d found a way out. That’s not how you write a Strong Female Character (TM) (or maybe it is, since it’s always like this). Like.. I don’t know, it just bothered me that at no point whatsoever do we get to see what she thinks or what she feels, because when they do rescue her, it’s quickly morphed into a Сlасе scene and talking about romantic getaways and how this is somehow better (???) than just... straight up going to Paris without being kidnapped and a bunch of people dying and her boyfriend thinking she’s dead for a solid week. - A dying person latching onto a former addict, making both of them suffer, does not a romantic scene make and the petals in the air were A Choice. - If the traveling apartment storyline is over now (and like this)... what are they going to fill the next 7 episodes with? In the books, it dragged on because the person runed alongside with Jonathan (in this case, Jace) was also thoroughly convinced that they were fighting for the same side. It makes sense to end it so early if they don’t have that happen here but, hey, a question - Why didn’t they have it happen here

Some good stuff that I did actually manage to dig out of this (mostly acting instead of writing, tbh):

- I liked the Cain reveal and his conversation with Simon. Again, the Lilith situation was not handled (I’m not saying handled well, because it wasn’t handled at all), but I’m going to have to live with that, because everything else was nice. - Also loved Luke and Jace’s interactions and, later on, when Alec and Magnus came in too, the entire planning of the mission. How everyone was so hopeful but also didn’t dare to hope for much. - Izzy in the moment precisely after Simon bit her and the resistance of feeling what she had before was a rather good representation of trying to avoid relapse with everything you have.

...And that’s about it. I saw the promo for next week; looks intriguing. Still can’t figure out what they’re gonna fill 7 episodes with. The finale is going to be a hot, steaming mess. Can’t wait.

#Shadowhunters #sh spoilers #episode recap #this is 900 words long #why can't I write this much fic in the early morning @ brain #anyway! #good chat #let's see if I can get another 40 min of sleep before I need to get up for work #bets are on no but I'm gonna do my best #also #all ships names are censored even if you can't see the difference so #don't @ me

[robertodacosta]

Wait when did izzy maybe die?

in guardians of the galaxy (2019) #1, izzy, along with the rest of the shi’ar imperial guard and nearly every other cosmic hero, was called to a meeting for the reading of thanos’ will. the meeting was attacked by the black order, and proxima midnight fired a weapon which created a black hole that everyone, bar the current gotg roster, was sucked into. silver surfer rescued the starjammers and a few others in silver surfer: black, and those who escaped the black hole have been shown to be collected by the church of universal truth as living fuel for their faith engine in the past two issues of gotg. but while izzy was shown being part of the group sucked into the black hole, we haven’t seen her since: not in silver surfer: black, when norrin saved some but not necessarily all of the heroes, or in the gotg annual focusing on cosmic heroes escaping the black hole, or in the faith engine itself. 

it’s entirely possible she’s alive, and we just didn’t see her rescue on panel! but, as of right now, she’s missing, presumed dead in a black hole. we know gladiator is alive thanks to the new mutants cover, so we know part of the imperial guard escaped, and izzy very well may have survived. but it’s also equally possible she died, and we won’t know until the new mutants reach chandilar to find sam. it just boils down to the fact that izzy is a character who fans and writers are not attached to, so cates likely doesn’t care to specify if she’s alive or dead, and hickman will do what he wants in new mutants, regardless, as he tends to do.

#hope this was helpful and not rambly but my brain is fried so i'm hoping for the best #.anon #answered #anon #.answered

[kinkymagnus]

thoughts on alec? since this is mainly a magnus blog i guess i'm curious.

kfjlkfgjd thanks for resending sorry tumblr’s a bitch ily

eh i feel like generally i talk mostly about magnus bc Every Other Blog (not literally obviously but like, in general) talks about Only Alec just like…..24/7

so while i like him fine, he’s like, mostly Magnus’s Love Interest on my blog lghjflgkhjfgh but honestly just generally while i do like him i honestly don’t find him that….interesting, individually, i guess? i mean he’s not quite boring, but he’s not a character i really relate to

so the reason i don’t really write alec-centric stuff is like. 1. i just don’t find him as interesting (although i’ve had a few ideas, they’ll likely never be published thanks to…) 2. Spite

aka the alec stans suck. the Alec Stans™ to be clear, the ones who suck, not everyone who likes alec. but like, yeah

anyway let’s not just talk salt and me being petty, despite alec being not my fave i can afford to answer one (1) ask without my entire blog crumbling down and revealing i’ve been an alec stan this whole time without me even knowing it

ok so alec headcanons i guess

1. alec was a chatty kid. not what you’d think, right? but then like, he was taking care of izzy, bc she’s his baby sister and Protective, and jace wasn’t really the type to listen to him. like, ever. alec would suddenly realize jace hadn’t been listening the whole time pretty much every time he tried to have a conversation with him or talk about things he was interested in, even when he listened when jace talked about his latest crush or whatever he was interested in. alec started abruptly going quiet before his sentence was finished, and jace didn’t seem to notice or was just like oh good you’re finally done talking, here’s what i was gonna say. eventually alec gives up. he still talks to izzy but she’s so little it’s a lot slower paced and he usually pays more attention to her than what he wants to say bc Baby Sister. by the time izzy’s old enough to like, properly, hold a conversation (she is also pretty chatty) alec’s already gone a lot quieter. by the time we see him, he basically doesn’t initiate conversation on things he’s interested in that aren’t work-related. he does still sometimes talk to izzy, but it’s hard to get the words out and get everything sounding right, so he gets annoyed with himself. it doesn’t come as easy anymore.

and not to show my magnus stan roots but magnus is kind of similar, albeit way less clear cut, he tends to ramble and talk a lot about his special interests only to shut himself up when he realizes he’s definitely boring whoever he’s talking to (he isn’t, necessarily, but after enough times being told to shut up when you get excited you believe everyone wants you to shut up.) and then he was trying to keep up the whole classy unaffected stylish “def not an adorkable disaster bi nerd, i am dangerous deadly unaffected lothario man who has never even heard of star trek or whatever” facade, and rambling about whatever interested him didn’t really fit that. so he retreated more into himself, too. he did have his friends to talk to, but catarina is so busy and he doesn’t want to bother her and raphael doesn’t want to hear his foolish old dad ramble on, does he, and ragnor–he’d always put up with magnus’s babble, and listened, but magnus felt like he was boring him and then ragnor was–well.

anyway so to united these, then, they met each other. and it takes a while, but they get comfortable with each other. magnus goes on a long ramble about a potion he’s been trying to get just right and then cuts himself off, embarrassed, and apologizes for probably boring alec, and alec’s like what? no, that was really interesting, i was listening, can you explain the thing with the mandrake root? and magnus is like…oh.. (also side note: magnus is incredibly cute when rambling about things he’s interested in, he waves his hands a lot and his eyes are all excited and warm and he’s so lively, and clearly passionate, that it’s engaging and pulls you in. like a really good professor. and sometimes he starts talking about something way above most people’s heads without realizing how Smart he is, but if you ask him to clarify he’s like, totally non-condescending and explains it in creative and understandable way????? sorry im in love with adhd magnus thanks to someone anyway)

and then vice versa, alec slowly feels more comfortable talking about things that interest him, like a book he’s been reading and how it’s so fucking stupid the heroine went for the “blonde bad boy” when he’s such a dick to her, or whatever, like it starts as an angry rant about something but before he can cut himself off he realizes magnus is listening. like, actually listening. and like, if it’s appropriate, magnus will ask questions, engage in what alec’s talking about, and alec finds himself getting better at putting to words what he means and magnus is never mean about it, always patient and understanding

2. as a kid alec read romance novels. cheesy shitty fun romance novels. especially the ones that are like, written by women (or better, queer people, but that’s later) and aren’t weird? you know what i mean? and he loved them. romance was something young alec dreamed of a lot, even if he tried to ignore how he preferred tall, dark, and handsome to the main character, or the kind man the heroine fell in love with to the heroine herself. he hid trashy romance novels like most teen boys his age (including jace) hid porn magazines or whatever. he eventually maybe found some queer lit, but he didn’t dare to bring those back to the institute, instead choosing to go to the library the few times he had free time to sneak out (aka when he wasn’t working, sleeping, training, or watching izzy and jaces’ backs when they snuck out to clubs and shit.

also: 3. also i stand by the fact that alec wasn’t in denial about being gay. he wasn’t repressed, he knew exactly what he wanted and who he was, he just didn’t think it was possible for him to be with a man and be happy. 

4. alec isn’t a sweet innocent baby boy!!!! he’s seen porn, he knows how sex works, he’s masturbated, and honestly i know the show said otherwise but i find it hard to believe he never once fooled around even a little bit. just a little bit. no actual dating? not hard to believe at all. even being a “virgin” despite how outdated and terrible the concept is, not unbelievable. plenty of “normal” people reach college-age without ever having had sex, let alone shadowhunters raised to be demon-fighting soldiers. but like. look. he has the Energy. alec….Alec Fucks. also just something about the whole like, his siblings are always sneaking off to clubs and he follows them to watch their backs (is this canon or just common fanon? i honestly don’t remember) just screams to me hey, he may or may not have made out with an adventurous seelie or a mundane with eyes. or maybe a blowjob or a handjob, who knows. i’m JUST SAYING. i know this isn’t canon but i don’t care. alec lightwood has seen a dick

5. alec is ridiculously protective of people he loves. especially family (both in the sense of literal family like izzy, and family in the sense of “making your own family” like magnus) like he’d kill for them, he’d die for them, he’d live forever for them,

6. alec can and will become immortal for magnus. and not just literally only for magnus, for himself as well–like he doesn’t have to spend the rest of his life being a tool for the clave, he can work for better relations between downworlders and shadowhunters, and like accords that aren’t shitty, and he can be more than just another soldier or even head of the institute, he can be more and have time to actually spend time on himself, like it doesn’t have to be training-work-protect his siblings-sleep-training, and then one day he gets married and has kids and dies. he can actually experience the world, do things he enjoys, spend time with his husband, and most of all, he can spend the rest of his life with magnus bane, the love of his life, his husband, someone he loves so much. he can make sure magnus’s heart doesn’t get broken again by falling in love only to lose him. they get their happy ending, you know???? we stan

7. alec would be a great dad i dont know what to tell you he just would be 

8. one of the first kinks alec realized he really had like. with magnus. was office sex. yes im a slut what about it

this is bc he was minding his own business, doing paperwork at his desk, and magnus maybe sent a flirty text and alec was like mm i want to fuck him right now. and then he was staring at his desk thinking mm i want to bend him over this desk, sweep all this paper off the desk and rip off his clothes, take off his panties last and then lick his pussy until he’s begging for me to fuck him then press his chest down against the desk and fuck him until he screams. maybe i could tie his wrists behind his back with a tie. like i’m his boss? oh my god magnus in a secretary outfit. shit. he gets no work done that day. it’s just a rabbit hole of one thought to another until he’s like. sitting there hard and unable to focus on his work bc the mental image of magnus bent over in a skirt over his desk keeps playing his mind and he doesn’t want to do this paperwork he’d much rather be doing his husband.

9. alec loves making out with magnus on the couch like they’re just chilling and watching a movie and cuddling and alec loves to pull magnus into his arms and just make out. like literally not even “this ends in sex and gets hot and heavy” literally just magnus in his arms. and they kiss a lot. it’s soft and warm and relaxing tbh

10. magnus!!! and alec!!! cuddling!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! they both love it!!!!!! they’re both lowkey touch-starved!!!!!!

11. alec’s a dom top and that’s that my dudes

#long post #alec lightwood #shadowhunters #malec #trans magnus bane #trans magnus smut #alec tag #:/

[likelovelikesuicide]

Prompt: Cornered (Malec 1.13)

(This is an extended scene from episode. 1.13 - and includes a scene of Magnus and Alec distracting each other while checking out Camille’s place)

1.13 (Malec) - Cornered

“I thought the underground parking was nice.” Simon whispers to Clary in hopes of breaking the awkward silence as they follow Izzy, Alec, and Magnus out of the elevator, and into Camille’s lavish apartment.

“Wow, you’ve got a lot of books,” Alec says, taking in an office that looks more like a library. All four walls are floor to ceiling shelves of books, making the search for one specific book a lot more daunting.

“I’ve got a lot of time on my hands,” Camille put in dismissively before turning her attention to a man entering the room who spoke only to her. “Welcome home Madam Belcourt.”

The small group moved around as Camille's acquaintance lavished her with regard. Alec remained next to Magnus and his sister, wide eyed as they surveyed their surroundings.

“This place creeps me out,” Izzy said from beside Magnus, looking around, her eyes as wide as Alec’s.

“Yeah, we should check the perimeter.” Alec suggests, still taking in the room, hyper aware of Magnus beside him.

“Good idea, if I know Camille, she’ll have a trick or three up her sleeve,” Magnus gestures Alec away, looking back at Izzy with a coy smile. He’d done his part to fulfill whatever deal Camille had made with Clary and Simon. He was anxious to put as much distance as possible between himself and her again.

Doing a quick sweep with his magic, Magnus scanned the loft. There were at least two dozen people milling about in the seven rooms around them, but he had no way of knowing if their alliance was with Camille or Valentine. Not that either option was preferable.

Alec stayed close as they made their way down an empty but overdone hallway, his bow in hand as they turned the first corner and found an open door to another of Camille's libraries.

“Seriously she’s got a lot of books.” Alec muses his eyes growing wider. Magnus can't help but huff in disdain. He knows Camille well enough to know that she hasn’t necessarily read all of the books on these shelves, but she’s a collector. Whether it be possessions or people, she always had to have the most, of everything.

“Alexander, I feel I should apologize for Camille’s behavior earlier.” Magnus started, his voice quiet. In truth, he felt terrible for letting Camille get the jump on him like that. He was distracted by his interest and involvement with the Shadowhunters. He should have registered that she would smell angel blood in the air for before he took notice. She had the perfect moment to interfere, an action that was very like her, he’d been a fool to fall for it. “We’ve known each other for many years and she's...?”

“Insane?” Alec offers, disinterested. Despite the fact that he didn’t know much about Camille, he knew enough to ascertain her intentions to be an instrument of trouble for anyone around her. While seeing her kiss Magnus had made his stomach flip horribly, he refused to give her the pleasure of knowing how much he wanted to slit an arrow through her cold dead heart.

“You caught that?” Magnus asks, his insecurity over-exacerbated by their current surroundings. He hadn’t been to this loft in many years, and he couldn’t help the twinge of change. It was a shame, really, he could swore his ex lover used to have good taste.

“She'd have to be to let you get away.” Alec says absentmindedly, his focus on sweeping their way through another empty hallway. Magnus freezes on the spot, desire and shock coursing through his veins. For his part, Alec didn’t seem to register what he’d said, but the words made Magnus’ heart skip a beat.

As Alec begins move towards the next room, he looks back, noting Magnus’ absence beside him.

With a sway in his step Magnus approaches Alec, his hands reaching for the young Shadowhunters broad chest, close enough to caress the labels of his leather jacket.

“You know, Alexander, there's only so many times I can reschedule dinner before the hostess gets suspicious.” Magnus says as he leans forward, too close but not close enough.

Alec has only a moment to wonder if Magnus was remembering their first, stolen kiss with as much clarity as he is, before they are both yanked apart, seraph blades lighting up against their throats. Unwilling to fight against their captures with the other in such immediate danger, they are pulled into another room where Valentine is waiting. His circle members holding each of the others at bay as their leader instructs Jace on his options.

The threat is simple. If Jace doesn’t follow him, they all die.

Alec knew his parabatai would shoulder this burden, label himself a traitor in the eyes of the Clave if it meant keeping his family safe. As he grabbed Clary before she could run headlong into a vanishing portal, he vowed to find a way to save his brother from the clutches of a madman. Then he’d find time to have that first date with Magnus.

#Malec #malec fanfic #Sh 1.13 Coda #Magnus Bane #alec lightwood #izzy lightwood #camille belcourt #Clary Fray #jace has too many last names #Shadowhunters #canon compliant #Shadowhunters s1 #Sh Fanfic #By Di #Missing Scenes Malec #Malec Prompts #TV!Malec

[royal-amberl]

Red Anniversary

What: James and Izzy’s wedding anniversary Who: Everyone and then some When: October 31, 2018

Izzy clinked her glass, getting the attention of everyone in the room. "Thank you everyone for coming to mine and James' anniversary. Only two people so unorthodox as we are would think to get married on Halloween. We didn't want to worry as much with the preparation as enjoying ourselves and the only rule I had for how those in attendance could show up was: nobody could come as a bride. I, myself, was dressed as the Bride of Frankenstein. Of course, this wasn't the wedding that the public saw. Only those who we felt comfortable with. To the world, we didn't get married for another couple of weeks. After we enjoyed our honeymoon. Anyway, James and I met years ago. It actually shocked both of our families that we were in love as being from another world, James was supposed to marry someone from his own world, not little ol' me who grew up in a small house with four sisters and we had to fight over the bathroom. But he did. We fell in love and not long after we even met, we had our first wedding. Between the two weddings, we began our family. When I found out I was going to be a mom--the first time--I was beyond ecstatic, as you can imagine. I was also terrified. I knew James wanted a family, but I was still terrified of telling him. Of course, as soon as the words escaped my lips, he had the biggest grin on his face. He put his hand on my belly, which didn't even have a bump yet, and just held us both. And when Alaska was born, she was the most precious thing in his life. Watching those two was just... amazing. It made me fall even more in love with him. Then we found out not long after that we were expecting, AGAIN. And Ian came along. By this time Alaska had definitely grown into her personality and was the one in charge of the house. Ian, on the other hand, was quite the opposite. He was very subdued and laid-back. Then Miles came along and he wanted to take care of everyone. Then the twins popped out, and they were each other's saving grace. They loved their older brothers and sister, but they were it for each other. They didn't do anything without the other. And finally, Sarah, my baby girl surprised us. We thought we were done with the twins, but then she graced us with her presence. My greatest gift in this world is being James' wife and my beautiful, amazing children's mother, including my adopted babies. Eli and Emily, since you two have come into our family; we've been so beyond blessed. I could not have asked for a better life." She looked around the room, smiling at her beautiful family (even Tristan who was dressed so gruesome) and all their friends.

James smiled at the woman by his side-- whom he had loved for the last 33 years. Everyone had wondered why he'd picked a commoner, someone who didn't have the money or title fit for a prince, but none of those things had ever really mattered to him, and they mattered even less when he met Isobel Serrano. James had been completely taken by the woman, and it hadn't taken long for him to ask for her hand in marriage. It was the best decision he'd ever made, still to this day. Raising his glass to his wife, he squeezed her hand affectionately, looking at her the same way he'd always had-- like a lovestruck puppy. In over thirty years, that hadn't changed-- his once black hair was now mostly gray, his face wrinkled from thirty years of smiles-- but the love was constant. "I won't even attempt to top that beautiful speech from my wife. All I will say is: Izzy, my queen, mother of my children, love of my life-- thank you for sharing a life with me. Thank you for giving me six beautiful children, for being a wonderful mother. They're all grown up now, so our work is mostly done, but everything they are, is thanks to you. I couldn't have asked for a better life-- and I can't wait to spend the next thirty years by your side." He brought Izzy's hand to his lips, giving her knuckles a gentle kiss, before turning to the room filled with their kids, family, and friends dressed up for Halloween. "And I want to thank you all for joining us. Enjoy the party, and Happy Halloween."

Phoebe Listening to the King and Queen's declaration of love caused Phoebe's throat to grow thick with emotion. It was so beautiful to see two people still enamored with one another as they were the day they first met. As the speeches continued, the conversations she'd had with Davina and Tristan were bouncing around in her head, echoing off the surface and refusing to shut up. Both of them were right; annoyingly so. The brunette let out a sigh, hoping that it would come off as dreamy rather than frustrated as she took a sip of her champagne. Once she started planning the wedding, then perhaps the niggling feeling would go away.

Will, dressed as Han Solo, watched his parents, envious of how in love they were. Not because he wasn't in love with someone-- he was just in love with someone he couldn't necessarily have. James and Izzy made it look so easy to just pick a person to be happy with, and maybe it could be, but he was conflicted. He was sure that he could have a content life with his fiance, Phoebe, if he wanted. But would they ever love each other? He didn't think so. He glanced around the large ballroom, searching for the blonde who was constantly on his mind, needing to talk to his best friend, but instead, found himself catching sight of Phoebe. He tore his gaze away, still wanting to find Amber, but she hadn't come to the party, apparently. So with a heavy sigh, he forced a smile and walked over to Phoebe. "Hello, Miss Calloway."

Phoebe Upon hearing her name, Phoebe's ears perked up. Before she even turned her head she made a silent wish for it to be Ian trying to get her attention, but quickly found him elsewhere in the crowd. The brunette bit down on her lip. She couldn't continue thinking like this; Phoebe willed herself to put a smile on her face and get it together. Her body did a 180, coming to face Will and although he hadn't been who she was hoping for, she was glad. They had to get to know each other better at some point. "Will," she replied with the same smile. "Call me Phoebe, please. Miss Calloway is so formal. --You parents are so charming. Those were lovely speeches."

Tris gave her baby sister a break before trying to scare her again, and decided to find her other favorite sibling to pester: Ian. She began walking very slowly behind him, allowing herself to go undetected. “Ian, why aren’t you off trying to woo, Phoebe? Especially after such a gooey speech like Mum and Dad made.” She rested her arm on his shoulder and looked over where her twin and the lady in question were conversing. “Never going to win her heart from the sidelines.”

Amber was hesitant on going to the party, she was never good at those kind of things, but Izzy and James were more like her own parents than her actual parents. She owed it to them. She decided to show up, dressed in a long black dress with a masquerade mask on. Her dress was form fitting, but not in a tacky way. She didn’t have time to get a real costume together and remembered her mask from the year before. When she entered the room, she didn’t realize she had been so late and missed the speech. She began looking around for someone to talk to, making sure to note where Zoey was. Even though she was considered off duty at such events, she always wanted to keep an eye on the little girl.

Miles wandered over to Amanda, nodding when he saw Davina grin and tap her friend. “Ladies, are you enjoying the party?” Davina chuckled and nodded in agreement before making some reason to leave them alone. Miles was appreciative of it, and smiled at Amanda. “Are you enjoying yourself? You look very beautiful tonight.” Miles was dressed as a pirate; he was never great at picking out costumes, but he was quite proud of how it had come together.

Davina left Amanda with her prince and as she had expected, she saw Phoebe with Will. She didn’t like being alone at these kinds of things, but she knew going into it that she was more than likely going to have to entertain herself. With a quick turn on her feet, she headed straight for the food table, not even allowing herself to feel self conscious. When she glanced up from the table, she noticed the only other person she really cared to see that night. She quickly put down the utensils in her hand, and made her way across the floor. She cleared her throat and waved at Eli. “Are you having fun?”

Will kept forgetting to call her by her first name-- yes it was formal, but he was so used to speaking to people he didn't know very well more formally and respectfully than he would speak to someone-- and he just didn't know Phoebe, despite being engaged for a few months now. Something just got in the way everytime they attempted to get to know each other better. But he was determined to try to make it work. "I apologize, I still have trouble not calling you that. --They're pretty much always like that. It's a little nauseating at times." He chuckled.

Ian had excused himself from the date he'd been set up with to grab himself a drink, and almost as soon as he took a sip, Tristan came up and began teasing him. As he glanced at her, he flinched, before letting out a groan. "What are you supposed to be? Are you why Sarah keeps shrieking like she's about to die?" He sighed, shaking his head. "I don't know what you're talking about, Tristan. I don't want to woo anyone, especially not when I have a date. And the person in question is the girl my brother is going to marry," he reminded her, glancing over to see the pair of them together. Despite what was coming out of his mouth, Ian could not help the pang of jealousy he suddenly felt, and he quickly did his best to hide any sign of it from his sister. "They look very happy together."

"It's really not a problem. I sometimes have to bit my tongue so I don't call you 'Your Highness'." Phoebe offered her fiancee an encouraging smile. She felt jittery around him, although Phoebe wasn't sure if that was a good or bad thing. They weren't the butterflies of burgeoning feelings that she found herself feeling each time she glanced towards Will's older brother. If anything, it was an aimless anxiety of not knowing what to do or how to act around her betrothed. She didn't know him as well as she wanted to. "I think it's sweet. You don't see two people in love like that nowadays."

Tris smiled. "I'm bloody Mary. Daughter of Henry the Eighth, I am, I am. --Yes, that would be why. It's kind of my job to torture her." She shrugged. As he began talking about all of the reasons she was wrong, she yawned, patting her hand against her mouth. "Blah, blah, blah. You are a terrible liar. Phoebe didn't fight me as much as you are." Tris looked over at the couple and shook her head. "They're trying to be, but failing. Besides, you're especially dense if you don't know that your own brother is already in love with someone else. They're just doing their 'duty'"

Leila didn't know a single person at the party-- her boss had convinced her to come along, to get to know the family they worked for, and Leila, wanting to seem like a trooper, had agreed. She'd put together a quick costume, complete with some cat ears and a mask, and had come along, and was now doing her best to mingle, though she felt like a bit of a wallflower. Needing some liquid courage, she went over to grab a drink, but not before running into a blonde in a mask. "--Oh, I'm so sorry. I haven't even had a drink yet," she murmured with a nervous laugh.

Amber felt someone run into her and turned around to face them. She didn't recognize the person, but that wasn't unusual since she didn't get to mingle very much, except at occasions like this. "No worries," she quickly replied. "I'm quite bad on my own feet as well. I really shouldn't be wearing a long skirt like this and heels, but it didn't seem right to wear any other kind of shoes. --I don't believe we've met before? If we have, I'm terribly sorry. I'm Amber Lucas. I work for the Conroy's." She extended her hand to the girl before her.

Amanda was talking to Davina when Miles came up, and of course she immediately started blushing when Davina pointed him out-- and promptly left Amanda alone with the prince. "I am having a good time, thank you-- are you having a good time?" she asked, turning an even brighter red when he complimented her. "Thank you, Miles. You look very handsome, if you don't mind my saying so. I like your costume, you look awesome." Amanda had decided on the angel costume after all-- her wings were majestic, with white and gold feathers, and her white gown hugged her in all the right places, but kept it appropriate so she felt comfortable. To complete her look was a gold leaf headband-- she thought it looked cooler than a cheap halo.

Elijah was working, but had dressed up for the occasion-- the Conroy's had insisted he be part of the celebration even if he didn't want to take the night off. He was standing off to the side, surveying the room, but he wasn't expecting any danger-- it was an anniversary party, not some big political thing he usually attended. He took a sip of water as his foot tapped along to the music, when he saw Davina come up to him. He immediately straightened up, giving the young woman a smile. "Hi. Well, I'm working, but yes. What about you?"

Miles was so used to being the one who always blushed at the drop of a hat, but when he saw Amanda's cheeks brighten, he noted how cute it was on her. He smiled warmly at her. "I'm glad to hear that." He nodded. "I am. I'm glad to see you here." He looked down and tugged gently on his vest. "Thank you, I tried me best. Arrgh." He did his best attempt at being a pirate, which was laughable. "I love your wings, they're very pretty."

Will nodded in agreement, awkwardly shifting his feet as he glanced around. "Definitely not. Their relationship is kind of one of a kind. No wonder all of us are kind of fucked up and strive for a love like theirs, you know?" He turned over to her, grimacing. "Not that we can't-- I just don't know you-- y'know?"

Phoebe reached out to give Will's hand a reassuring pat. "I get it." She was struggling with the reality of their arrangement, but it was probably much harder to fathom with parents who'd fallen in love against all odds. "It's not fucked up to want that kind of love. I do too. It's a hard thing to wrap your head around, but I'm going through it with you, y'know? I'm just as confused and unsure."

Davina didn't know what the hell she was doing. She was never good when it came to liking someone; in fact, other than one other guy when she was sixteen, she never really liked any guys. She was way out of her comfort zone. She realized he had stopped talking and cleared her throat. "I guess your job is really never over, right? Do you get any days off?" Oh, my gosh, Davina. "It seems like you would be exhausted otherwise. Since I know you also run when you have a chance. Not that I'm keeping tabs on you or anything, I just remember that day... --Anyway, yes, I'm having a good time. A very good time." She smiled and looked away, feeling her cheeks brighten.

Ian let out a laugh. "Ah, now I get it. Pretty cool costume. What about me, do you like my costume? I'm Westley from The Princess Bride." He gestured to his costume, pleased with himself and the costume he'd decided on. Rolling his eyes, Ian started to interrupt and deny, deny, deny again, but when he heard about Phoebe not fighting Tristan-- he stopped, looking at his sister, than over at Phoebe, and back at Tristan again. "What do you mean, she didn't fight you as much as I'm fighting you?" He looked over at the betrothed again, his heart pounding so hard he was starting to hear it in his ears. "Who's Will in love with? How do you even find this crap out?"

Leila chuckled, looking the blonde's costume over. "You look beautiful though, I wish I had come with something a little nicer. I just threw on a pair of ears and a mask, pretty much." Shaking her head, she took Amber's hand. "Nope, we haven't met. I'm Leila Buchanan, it's lovely to meet you, Amber. I'm actually going to be working for the Conroy's as well. Dr. Burke just hired me to join his practice.

Tris took in his costume. "Inconceivable! I like it. I can't give you crap about your costume, since I love that movie." Tristan placed her arms across her chest, pleased with how her little "slip-up" worked. What would these idiots do without her putting little bugs in their ears? "What do you care about what us gals chatted about? There's nothing going on. --Oh my good gravy. How am I the only one that knows anything that's going on? He's in love with Amber, you bonehead. They've been in love for like ever. And I thought I was bad at relationships."

Amanda let out a laugh as he impersonated a pirate. "And what is your name, Pirate? What's a scallywag like you doing at a party like this?" she asked him, playing along. "Thank you-- they're a bit heavy, but I do love how they look." She glanced around, before turning back to him, looking up at the prince. "Would you like to go outside, get some fresh air?"

Amber smiled. "Thank you. I just threw this on as well. I hadn't planned on coming, so I was in my pajamas. It's actually a little tight around my stomach; I probably should've gone with something else, but it's so pretty and the last time I wore it, it was fine. --It's lovely to meet you, too. Welcome to the family, I suppose. Dr. Burke is a lovely individual. I hope you enjoy it here, but I'm sure you will. The Conroy's are a great family."

Eli watched Davina as she rambled on, his lips turning up into a gentle smile. "I'm glad to hear that you're having a good time. And to answer your question: yes, I do get days off. I just like working. I actually wasn't supposed to work tonight, but I'm a bit of a workaholic." He took a sip of water, glancing around the party quickly, before turning back to her. "It sounds a little like you are keeping tabs on me, though. Which is alright. Because I've been keeping tabs on you, too," he murmured casually, taking another sip of water.

Miles grinned. "Shiver me timbers, you be a pirate ye self. I didn't actually give him a name, what do you think his name should be? --Yes, I would love that." He held out his arm for her, and smiled as he escorted her across the room. He was happy to have any time he could manage with her. Though he didn't know her very well, the more that he learned about her, the more he wanted to know.

Will shook his head. "It's a little fucked up, because now we're all expecting some big love story, and in reality, it might not happen." He gave her a sad smile. "I know you are. And I'm sorry I've been a bit.... absent, I guess. It's just hard to be around you, even though I should be doing the opposite and spending time with you to get to know you better."

Phoebe gave Will a sympathetic smile. "It is fucked up. Arranged marriages are archaic and the last thing I thought I'd find myself in." Selfishly, the brunette looked across the way, spotting Tristan talking to Ian. Her stomach dropped, thinking of the last conversation she'd had with her impending sister in law. "You don't have to apologize." If anything, Phoebe was understanding --sometimes too understanding for her own good. "It's kind of like when you're a kid and your parents tell you to do something; it suddenly becomes the last thing you want to do instead."

Davina felt her eyes widened to the size of saucers and she stared at him. "Oh, so you're that bush that keeps following me around. It all makes sense now. I always felt like someone was watching me. --I feel sorry for you, as that must be incredibly boring. I am definitely not the most interesting between me and Phoebe."

Ian "Finally, someone who get it. Someone asked me if I was a ninja. I almost commit murder tonight, Tris. We might have a body to bury by the end of the night." He stared at Tristan, realizing she'd tricked him into admitting he had a thing for his brother's fiance. The last thing he wanted was for anyone to find out, and now someone knew his secret, and he was sure Will would find out. "Tristan......." he stopped, shaking his head. "You're right, there's nothing going on." He watched Will and Phoebe, as she touched her brother's hand as they appeared to have a heart to heart, wishing that was him she was touching. "Amber? Lucas? Obviously I live under a rock because I don't know anything about this. I really don't pay attention to any of this, obviously."

Leila "Oh, really? Well, you look fantastic! You can't even tell it's tight or anything-- but is there anyway to loosen it up? So you don't end up passing out or anything." She smiled, silently thanking Amber for the welcome. "I appreciate that-- and they seem to be pretty great. I'm quite excited to start work on Monday. --What is it you do here at the castle?"

Tris laughed. "Yeah, I can't see you killing someone. You're right next to Miles on that list. The two most innocent Conroy's. I could see Sarah doing it before you." Tristan grinned so big that it only made her costume even more creepy. "I guess you wouldn't care that she told me how she has a crush on someone. I think it's me and she just didn't want to admit it because we were the ones talking. I mean, c'mon," she held out her arms and looked down her own body. "C'mon. I'm clearly the best of this family. I'll have to let her down easy, of course. Our love is forbidden. Taboo." She knocked her shoulder into Ian's. "But in all seriousness, if I would tell the person I like before it's too late. The ring in our world is a lot harder to get off once it's on." She watched him look at their brother and felt bad for him. Honestly, she felt bad for everyone. "Obviously. I guess I should tell you that Alaska is married now," she teased.

Amanda "That I be, but not as good a pirate as... ye?" she laughed, uncertain how to continue but amused with the conversation nonetheless. "Hmm, do how about Blue Eye Miles? Dreamy Blue Eye Miles. It might not be very threatening, but I personally think it's fitting." She was blushing again-- she found it hard not to around him. She took his arm, letting him whisk her away from the party, grateful to get some fresh air. "It looks like it might rain, but I don't mind-- do you?"

Will nodded in agreement with his betrothed. "They are. I didn't want to get engaged, but when you're told you have to marry an heiress, you do that." Will felt bad for the both of them, for the situation they were in-- they were both being forced to do something neither of them wanted-- at least, not with each other. He looked around, finding catching sight of Amber-- even in a mask, he'd know her anywhere. "Yeah, exactly. It makes you want to do the opposite. Like, being told to marry you makes me want to.... not do that," he admitted. "But I don't think we have a choice."

Eli "Yup, that would be me. I was hoping you wouldn't notice. I'm very bad at being a bush, apparently." He grinned cheekily, shaking his head. "On the contrary, I find you extremely interesting. I don't really notice Phoebe. No offense to her. But I've become quite taken with you. I hope that's alright. I know we don't know each other extremely well, but it's the truth."

Phoebe let out a small laugh at Will's bluntness. Luckily, they were both on the same page. Wedding planning would be a distraction, although she wasn't so inclined to think about it being her wedding. "I like to think there's always a choice. --I don't think it would hurt us to at least try, but it's not fair to force anything for the sake of fulfilling a duty. If your parents could fall in love all on their own regardless of social standing, they should extend the same courtesy to you."

Ian "Aren't most serial killers the most unassuming? I could be a killer. Doesn't mean I am, but I could. I am far from innocent. I am bad.... to the bone. Super bad." He snorted. "Sarah would definitely commit murder before either of us, for sure." Ian slapped his hand over his heart, letting out a loud breath. "Tristan. You're killing me here. She has a crush on someone? Who's not Will? --Okay, you're hilarious. Hilarious." He rolled his eyes, shaking his head at his sister. "I hate you. I love you, but I hate you. I'm not telling anyone anything. I can't. Even if she does have a thing for-- for me..... I could never do that. She's engaged to Will. Even if she doesn't love him.... I couldn't do that to him." He let out a soft laugh. "Ah, so that's why some weird guy has been hanging around her."

Will "They want that for us, of course, but it's a little more complicated. When my dad ascended the throne, it was a different time, less danger. No need for alliances and all the politics that came with the royal title. It's a bit different now. And it's not entirely up to my parents, either, they have advisors, and even if they want us to be happy, we all have to think of the crown, and the country." He shrugged. "So maybe we do have a choice, but what's the right choice?"

Phoebe "That's fair. Although, just to play Devil's Advocate, I'm curious as to what alliance they're seeking by marrying you off to an heiress. My father knows people, but he doesn't hold any power." Phoebe reached up to tuck a stray curl back into her meticulous hairstyle. "If we chose to do right by the country, we make the best of our situation and continue with a smile. If we chose to do right by ourselves, we follow our hearts.

Amber “I don’t think I’m going to pass out or anything, it just doesn’t fit as nicely as it did the last time I wore it.” Although she was not facing him, she had that sensation that someone was watching her. She ignored the feeling, not wanting to know who it was, even though she was sure she knew already. Instead, she turned her attention to Leila even more. “Oh - I am the nanny for Miss Zoey. She is the...” she paused, almost catching herself say ‘grandchild’. “She’s a the niece to the Queen. Her mother died and the Queen couldn’t let anything happen to her, so she has taken her on as though she was like her own.”

Miles was very happy to escape from the party. It wasn’t his kind of scene except when he had to. As Amanda began giving his costume names, he felt his cheeks heat up. Curse the Conroy gene! “Well, thank you. I am definitely not threatening, so it fits.” He looked up at the sky when she mentioned rain and crinkled his nose. “No, I don’t mind. I won’t melt if I get a little wet.” He fell silent for a moment before clearing his throat. “I was wondering, and please feel free to say no if you don’t want to, but I was hoping maybe I could take you on a date one day soon.”

Davina smiled at him, though she was extremely nervous still. “Maybe I’m just very observant or hopeful.” She shrugged, glad she was already wearing some blush on her cheeks so it wasn’t as noticeable when she blushed. She wasn’t sure what to think about his declaration, except giddy. “That’s quite alright with me, as I feel the same towards you.” She didn’t know where her sudden bravery came from, but she was happy it did. “And we should change the whole ‘not knowing each other well’ part.”

Tris laughed. “Oh, yes, you’re sooo bad.” She rolled her eyes and shook her head in annoyance. “Look, I’m done now. I told you more than I should have because I want all of you happy and if you don’t want to do anything, fine. I really do hope you guys have just crushes and nothing more, because once that ring is on her finger, you’ll have to see her with him all the time. Hugging, kissing, popping out some babies. And if you have deeper feelings, then that’s going to be hell for you. I don’t want you to feel regret and a longing for the rest of your life, any of you. So I pray it’s just a crush.” She let out a sigh and patted him on the shoulder. She began to say something else when she heard a glass shattering scream that came from behind the closed doors of the ballroom. “What the fuck was that?”

Leila smiled in quiet relief. "Good. I mean, good you're not going to pass out on me, not good that it doesn't fit. But really, you can't even tell." She lifted her mask over her forehead, her cheeks flushed a bit from having her face covered. "Hell, this thing is a lot more uncomfortable than I thought it'd be.... Oh, Zoey, I've heard about her from Dr. Burke. A very lively child, he mentioned. It's great they took her in-- they seem like really caring people. I feel lucky to be here." She reached out as a waiter passed, taking a water from a tray, and quickly downing it.

Amanda watched Miles, noting the way his cheeks flushed, and was grateful she wasn't the only one who's emotions showed on their face. "I think so too. You must be a very kind pirate." Amanda leaned against the balcony, turning to face him, suddenly speechless, caught off guard from his question. Not because she didn't want to go on a date with him, but because she very much did want to and had not been expecting him to ask. She'd been hoping he would, of course. But it was a surprise, nonetheless. "No, no-- I mean, yes. I would very much like to go on a date with you. I want to."

Will chuckled. "I'm pretty far down the line to the throne, so I don't think it really matters as much. You're wealthy enough to matter, despite not holding a title. Sometimes that's even better than power, to these people." He shrugged, offering a small smile. "What do you want to do, Phoebe?"

Eli's smile widened as he watched Davina, his heart beating rapidly despite appearing cool, calm, and collected. "You do? I'm very pleased to hear that. I was worried it might be one-sided. And I would very much like that. To change that, I mean. To get to know you better." He glanced around out of habit, before settling back at Davina in her devil costume. "After the party, would you like to go somewhere? We can leave the castle, or-- take a walk, or something."

Ian "That's the thing, Tris. It's already been hell for me, and I don't think I've seen them do any of those things, yet. I don't know if it's just a crush. What if it is, though? What if I break them up, and it just turns out to be a crush? Something we're just feeling because it's not okay, because we can't have each other, and then we act on it, and it turns out it was nothing? I would've broken them up for nothing. I don't know if I could risk that. And I don't know if I could do that to mom and dad, and definitely not to Will." Ian sighed heavily, confused and conflicted as he thought about the situation, and what they were supposed to do. He was noble, and wanted to do the right thing, and stealing away his brother's fiance, didn't seem like the right thing. His thoughts were interrupted by Tristan's outburst, and he realized he heard the screaming too, and turned to see Emily Donahue rush in, covered in blood, screaming before collapsing in the middle of the party.

Emily had to go to the bathroom and disappeared from the party, when she was washing her hands, she heard a lot of commotion from the other side of the door. She finished washing her hands and began walking to the door. As she approached, something fell against the door. She jumped back, barely missing being smacked in the face with the door and had a body fall on her. The older woman had been shot in the chest and was bleeding everywhere. Emily let out a scream and frantically moved out from under the woman. She ran as fast as she could down the hall, her feet sliding out from under her and causing her to fall on her hands. Quickly, she caught herself and launched herself at the door, yanking it open and appearing back in the ballroom. Her beautiful white dress was stained with the woman’s blood. “Th-There’s a lady. Sh-She d-died.” Although she hadn’t been harmed herself, Emily collapsed on the floor, passing out from what she had witnessed.

Phoebe felt conflicted. The majority of her wanted to follow her heart. However, she wasn't exactly all too sure if what she felt was remotely reciprocated by the other party. It was too much of a risk, and though she was okay with failing, the consequences and fall out would be incredibly great. "I--" Her decision was cut short by a blood curdling scream, followed by a small blonde covered in what Phoebe hoped was merely fake blood as part of a Halloween prank.

Amber started to reply to Leila when suddenly Emily collapsed near them. “What the heck?” Davina nodded, excitedly at his proposal and as she began to reply, she was cut off by the sound of a scream. Miles was grinning ear-to-ear and felt like he was on cloud nine, but before he could respond, he heard a loud commotion coming from inside. “Can you excuse me for a second? I want to finish this conversation, but it sounds like something happened. Stay right here.” He quickly ran back in, shocked by what he saw. Tris understood why her brother was having issues, but she knew it was more than just a crush even if they didn’t. Before she could reply, she saw the youngest Donahue fall down and quickly ran to her side.

Izzy heard all of the commotion and quickly made her way through the crowd. When she spotted Emily on the ground, she turned around to face the crowd. “Everyone, please remain calm. We will get to the bottom of this.” She made her way out of the room and quickly spotted the body of the woman Emily was speaking about. When she looked down the hall, she saw a person dressed in all black walking hastily towards her. She made her way back to the ballroom and shut the door, alerting the guards at the door to barricade the door. “Please remain calm, but try to stay away from any of the windows and doors until we have this all resolved!”

Will was going to ask Phoebe again, urge her to make a decision, when he heard the scream, and saw Emily run into the ballroom, covered in blood. His own blood drained from his face, as he looked around in shock, wondering if this was some elaborate joke, meant to be a prank. But as Emily collapsed, something told him it was not. And his mother rushing back into the ballroom confirmed it. He took Phoebe's hand and began tugging her away from the crowd-- but stopped when he caught sight of Amber not too far from where Emily had collapsed. "Phoebe, I need you to find somewhere to hide, okay? I'll be back." He didn't wait for a response, he pulled away and made his way to Amber, trying to push his way through everyone. Eli saw as his sister collapsed, and wanted to rush over to her, but he also wanted to protect Davina. He also had a duty to protect his king and queen. He pushed Davina into a corner. "Wait here, okay?" Ian watched as Tristan ran off to check on Emily, his love troubles far from his mind now-- he went to his mother's side, looking around. "Mom, where's Dad? You have to get out of here." He glanced around the room, watching as Will left Phoebe, and saw Miles come into the room from outside on the balcony. He didn't see Alaska, but she was probably off with Charles somewhere, and Sarah-- where had he seen Sarah last? When had he last seen his dad? "Mom????"

Amanda waited for Miles to reply, her stomach aflutter as she nervously looked up at him, wanting to cross the short distance between them and touch him. And she almost did, but was interrupted by a ruckus from inside the ballroom. Brows furrowing, she glanced back to Miles, nodding as he excused himself. She waited a moment, before deciding to go after him, entering the ballroom-- her mouth immediately dropping, her eyes widening as she saw what was going on. Leila looked over her shoulder as Emily collapsed, gasping in shock before immediately falling to her knees beside her and checking her vitals. "--She's breathing, she's alive-- I don't think this is her blood, Amber." She looked up, at the chaos around her, her heart beating so hard, she was sure she was going to keel over next. "What's going on?!"

Phoebe felt panic begin to rise in the center of her chest. Whatever was going on, it wasn't some practical joke in time for Halloween. Her breathing grew staggered as Will tugged her away from the scene to get her towards safety. "I... Yeah. Okay." The brunette's eyes frantically searched the space, attempting to seek out Ian, Amanda... Davina. Where was Davina? Luckily, she spotted her younger sister huddled in a corner. Gathering the elaborate skirts of her costume she rushed over to her younger sister and wrapped her up in her arms. "Thank god you're safe."

James was dancing with his granddaughter Zoey, or his niece, as most people knew her. His wife was off being the life of the party-- his blue eyes found her over and over again, smiling as he watched the love of his wife entertain their guests and spend time with their children. It was a wonderful night-- and he couldn't wait for it to end so he'd be alone again with his wife, and they could go off and have another honeymoon the next morning. "I can barely keep up with you, sweetheart," he told Zoey, chuckling as his granddaughter squealed as he twirled her around. He twirled her around again, and again, pausing when the doors of the ballroom swung open and his adopted daughter, Emily came in screaming, covered in blood. He glanced around, confused, watching as she collapsed. Izzy went out the door, then promptly came back in, and he watched her signal the guards frantically. "My love, find Miss Amber, and don't leave her side, understand?" he murmured softly as he kneeled at Zoey's height, watching her nod with wide eyes. "Go on, it'll be fine."

Amber nodded in agreement. “I don’t think it is, either. I have to find Zoey!” Amber began looking around frantically, trying to find the little girl in the middle of the crowd. If the people had actually listened to the Queen, then she would be able to find her. She spotted Will and pushed through to him. “Have you seen Zoey?! I can’t find her!” Davina nodded, her head still reeling as Eli pushed her in a corner. She didn’t know what to do, but she was afraid to move. She was so relieved when Phoebe found her; she buried her face into her sister’s shoulder and began crying. “What’s going on? Are we going to die here tonight?” Izzy “He was dancing with Zoey the last time I saw him, Ian. You have to go. I don’t know what’s going on, but I saw somebody out there, they killed someone. You have to make sure everyone is safe. Get them out of here. I’m not leaving until I know everyone is okay.” Quickly, she hugged her son, cradling his face in her hands. “You have to go, now,” she demanded.

Tris glanced up when she heard someone talking about the blood not being Emily’s. “No, and she wouldn’t do some kind of prank. My only guess is we’re under attack right now. We need to get her moved. Help me carry her?” She asked the woman before her. Miles spotted his dad and ran to his side. “Dad, what’s going on? Is someone really dead? We need to get you out of here!”

Will reached Amber, grateful to see she was okay-- he wanted to pull her into his arms and hold her and never let anyone or anything get to her-- but he'd have to wait until later. "I saw her with my dad a minute ago-- there she is!" He waved his niece over, grasping her hand. "Hey, Zoe-bug, we're going to play hide and seek, okay? You have to find the best hiding place with Amber, close your eyes, and don't come out until I find you, okay?" Elijah, as soon as Davina was out of the way, lined up with the other guards at the door of the ballroom, gun pointed, ready to protect everyone from whoever was outside the door. Ian stared at his mom, not quite registering what she was saying. "W-What?" He wrapped his arms around her, eyes clenching shut as he tightened his arms around her. "Mom, I am not leaving you." James, as soon as he saw Zoey had made it to Amber, was trying to get to his wife in the midst of all the chaos-- he could see her and Ian together, but he somehow kept getting further away, as if he was floating in the ocean, further and further away from land. His eyes wild with confusion, he saw his son Miles. "Son, we need to help everyone get out-- I need to get to your mother-- it's madness right now--"

Leila nodded, not recognizing that she was speaking to one of the princesses. "Yes, otherwise she might get trampled, and get really hurt," she replied. "You grab her legs, I'll take her arms-- carefully, we don't know if it's something internal, we could do more damage," she ordered. Amanda didn't understand what was happening-- but she saw Davina and Phoebe, and immediately started going towards them, and by some miracle, got to them. "What the hell's going on?!" She was usually calm and quiet, but the panic had immediately set in and she was scared.

Phoebe clung to her sister, stroking the back of her head as she began to cry. "I have no idea what's happening. But we sure as hell aren't going to die here tonight." Though she was visibly shaken, the brunette easily slipped into her role of older sister. She had to be strong for Davina, for their family, and ensure that the both of them got out of the ballroom in one piece. "We're going to find a way out."

Amber was so relieved when she saw Zoey. She sighed in relief and grabbed her hand, holding as tight as she could without hurting her. “Let’s find the best hiding spot!” She was trying so hard to keep her fear hidden and how scared she was to leave Will, but right now Zoey was her top priority. Before leaving, she hugged Will tight. “Please be careful. I love you.” She whispered before pulling out of the hug and runnning off with Zoey. Izzy looked at her son. “Ian, that is not a request. I’m telling you to make sure your siblings are okay. Get them out of here.” She didn’t want anything to happen to any of her babies, but she also had to do what she could to make sure everyone else would get out of there alive. “Do not worry about me, Ian. Just do what I tell you and get everyone to safety. I’ll be okay. I promise.” Miles didn’t know what was going on but he nodded. “Okay. I’ll take some people around the back. Mom’s up at the front.” He grabbed his dad’s hand and pulled him through the crowd until he could see a clearing near his mom. “Ian, I’m going to get some people out around the back.” Tris nodded and carefully picked up Emily’s legs. “Get out of our way, assholes!” She shouted when people were scrambling around them, not caring about keeping up a good representation. “You lead.” Davina nodded at her sister’s words, praying that she was right. She hated how she was crying as though that was going to help anything. When she saw Amanda, she quickly held out her free arm and hugged both of them so tight, not saying a word, just grateful they were both okay. She felt herself jump and squeal when she heard what sounded like a gunshot. “We need to get out of here, NOW.”

Phoebe almost immediately grabbed onto Amanda, holding both her and Davina tight. They were her family --and she was going to do whatever it took to protect them. The sound of a gun shot made her whole body jolt, her head perking up ever so slightly to try and see what was going on. Chaos seemed to be unfolding around them, so much so that her vision was blurry. Rather than dwell and worry, she took the initiative to try and get them to a safer spot. "Follow me." She squeezed both of them tight once more, then linked their arms in an attempt to navigate them towards a somewhat hidden door to get outside of the palace.

Will held Amber close, taking in the smell of her, the feel of her-- not knowing if it would be the last time. He nearly broke down then, but quickly hid any sign of emotion from his face as he pulled away. "I love you too, Bambi. And I love you, Zoey. I'll start counting, okay?" He watched as the pair went, and turned back to the madness around him, unsure of what to do. He had to find his family, first. Ian shook his head. "I can't leave you on your own. What kind of son would I be if I did?" He turned to see his brother, Miles, and sighed in relief to see their father was close behind. "Okay-- I'll stay with here with Mom and Dad-- have you seen Sarah?" James immediately went to Izzy, grasping her hand in his own, smiling despite the tears in his eyes. "I'm sorry it took so long to get to you, love. Our granddaughter is quite the dancer," he murmured with a sad smile. "Ian, Miles-- protect your sisters and help our guests-- I'll stay with your mother, we'll be fine."

Leila lifted Emily's limp body, grimacing from the weight-- she was a tiny thing, but Leila wasn't the strongest, either. But somehow, she managed, with Tristan's help. She led Tristan over to one side of the room, somehow holding up Emily's body with all the strength she had with one arm around the blonde, while she cleared a table off, glasses and food crashing to the ground around her feet-- but she didn't have time to think about that right now. "Here-- I can examine her better here--" She set Emily's head down immediately checked her pulse again, then her pupils, and surveyed her body for a source for blood, but as she had said earlier, the blood wasn't hers. "She's fine, she must've passed out from the fright she had." Amanda buried her face against Davina's shoulder as she grasped both sisters in her arms, grateful that they were okay. When she heard the gunshot, she yelped, clenching her eyes shut, not wanting to see who had been hurt-- she didn't think she could bear it. "I don't want to die," she mumbled tearfully, barely registering as she got up and began to follow her friends to an escape-- but she stopped, refusing to move another inch. "I can't-- Miles-- what if he's hurt???" she shook her head, pulling away from them. "Go on, I'll be right there, okay??" She turned around and ran right back into the chaos.

Davina nodded as her sister took charge. She followed behind, trying her best to keep from getting disconnected due to the people moving frantically around them. She saw the door her sister was heading for and felt a bit of relief. Maybe things would be okay after all. When Amanda pulled away from them, she tried to grab her. "Amanda, you can't!" She reached to take her hand, but Amanda was already out of reach. "No!" Izzy "Ian, you have to listen to me. I will not let anything happen to you. I won't let you be hurt in any way and the only way for me to do that is to get you out of here. We will be fine." She smiled sadly at James, wrapping her arm around his waist once he was in her grasp. Her eyes flickered back to Miles and Ian. "I love you both, so much. Please, go before anything happens. Make sure you find everyone. We'll find you as soon as we can." Although she said the words, she, herself did not believe them. She felt as though this was going to be the last time she saw them, but she would happily die in the place of them. She put one hand on each of their cheeks. "I'm not telling you again. Go." She gave Miles a warning look and he nodded, pulling Ian along with him. Once she saw them disappear, she looked back at James and hugged him tight. Miles pulled Ian away from their parents, hating to do it but knowing they had to do what they were told. "I haven't seen Sarah or Alaska." As they walked through the crowd, he saw Will and pulled Ian to him. "We have to find Sarah and Alaska, and make sure they're safe and out of here. He looked around and saw Tristan. "Tristan is over there with Emily. One of you needs to go over there and see if they need help." Tris carefully set Emily down and watched as Leila examined her. She felt a little relief when she said nothing was wrong, that she was just passed out. At least nobody else had died... yet. "Okay, anything I can do for her?"

Amanda looked around, trying to see Miles-- and she caught sight of him with his brother Ian, and their parents, the King and Queen. She was relieved to see they were all okay, but she was especially relieved that the prince wasn't hurt. She started to go to him, to tell him that Davina and Phoebe had found a way out, but before she could call out his name, she felt someone grab her from behind, holding her around her waist with one arm as they covered her mouth. She began fighting against whoever was holding her, feeling them drag her away from the party, further away from Miles and his family. She clawed at her abductor's hands, punched and kicked, all the while yelling at the top of her lungs despite them covering any sound she was making. And then, everything went black. Ian listened to his mother, watching her with wide, scared eyes-- because somehow, he knew they wouldn't be fine. "Mom...." He managed to gasp out, holding onto her hand as she caressed his cheek. He looked from her, to his dad, who was smiling at his sons through tear-filled eyes. Ian steeled himself, taking a deep breath, and willed himself to be strong, for his parents, and for his siblings. "Okay. Okay. We're going." He started to follow Miles, who was pulling him away from their parents. "I love you, Mom. And I love you, Dad. Everything is going to be fine. Stay safe." He forced a smile as the tears fell, taking a deep breath as he turned away from them. "I don't think I've seen Alaska in hours-- she must be with Charles." Will sighed in relief when he saw his brothers, throwing his arms around them and hugging them tight. "Amber has Zoey, they're hiding-- I'll go help Tris," he mumbled, pulling away from his siblings. "You guys look for Alaska and Sarah. Last I saw Alaska, she and Charles were heading outside-- maybe they went upstairs?" He left Ian and Miles to go his twin's side, seeing that she and a woman he didn't know were looking after Emily. "We need to get her out of her-- her brother's will freak if anything happens to her." Leila shook her head at Tristan, wiping off some blood she'd gotten on her hands. "If you have some smelling salts on you, that would help, but there's not much else-- unless you can grab something to cover her with, in case she goes into shock." She glanced up as a male approached them. "You could probably carry her out without dropping her, if you know a way out."

  Phoebe's feet felt as if they were flying as she attempted to move herself, Davina and Amanda closer towards safety. Her hazel eyes, wet with tears of fright, held a laser focus on the door that was just close enough, but each step felt like it was taking a year. "Amanda, we can't... You can't... Amanda!" Her fearful words hissed out as a tear dripped down her cheek. Her friend was too far gone both she and Davina were too close to safety. "Dav, you go. I'm going to go get her." She gave her sister a nudge to keep going. "I'll be right there."

Miles looked around, trying to spot one of his sisters, but instead spotted another brunette being attacked. "Amanda," he screamed as he tried to push his way to her. Even as they pulled her away, he fought to get to her. "Amanda!" He ran to where he had seen her but she was gone. He stopped and looked around, frantic as he tried to find her. Calling her name but not finding her. Davina stared at her sister, had it been a normal situation she would've laughed at the idea. "Phoebe, I'm not going anywhere without you and Amanda." She took hold of her sister and clung to her, but refused to stay behind. Tris looked at her brother. "You carry her. I'll clear the way." She began shoving her way through the room, making a path for them. Until the room went black. Someone had shut off the power and more gunshots began. The only light was from the bullets leaving the barrels for a quick second. Tristan let out a groan, feeling pain in her back, making her fall to the ground. Izzy held tight to James' arm when the lights went out. She wasn't fearful for what was going to happen to her, but her kids. She began silently crying. Then the moment she knew was coming happened. She felt a something against the back of her head and took a deep breath. There was a moment of pain followed by nothing. When the lights came back on, only a few minutes after they were cut, Izzy was laying on the ground in a puddle of her own blood.

Will gathered Emily up in his arms, charging after Tristan as she cleared a path for them-- but then the lights went out and they were clothed in darkness-- he stumbled, holding onto the unconscious young woman in his arms as he tried to find an exit. He heard his twin sister groan out in pain, and immediately began to yell for her. "TRISTAN!!!" he called out to her, but unable to see or hear her. The sound of gunshots filled the room, one hitting Will in the shoulder-- he gasped in pain, but forced himself to stay standing, to not drop Emily. "I'm gonna get you out of here, Em," he groaned out, promising her even though she couldn't hear him. James held onto his wife, struggling to see in the dark-- all he could see were the sparks from the gunshots, while the room was abuzz with screams. He could feel his wife began to shake as she silently cried, and he held on tighter to her, kissing her forehead. "I love you, Izzy," he murmured softly, feeling the force of someone hitting her from behind. He cried out, falling with his wife as she fell, holding onto her body as he felt her weaken. "Izzy," he cried softly, blindly reaching for her face in the dark, gently caressing her face. "What have they done?" he murmured, his heart breaking. But at least his attackers were kind enough to put him out of his misery; he felt the gun they held against his back, and the bullet that ripped through his heart, or what was left of it. He fell, holding his wife in his arms, struggling to breath. They were still covered in darkness, but he smiled as he looked up to see Izzy holding her hand out to him. "I couldn't let even death come between us, my love." he managed to murmur. He took her hand, his eyes closing as his body went limp beside his wife.

Phoebe Just as she took a step in the direction of Amanda, they room went black. She held onto Davina for dear life, pulling them both to the ground the moment she heard gun shots. The brunette did her best not to scream, although her throat grew tight and her eyes welled up with tears. "Love you, Dav," she murmured, hoping that in the darkness nobody could detect them. When the lights flickered back on, she felt frozen and unable to move, despite being close to their exit route. "We've got to... But Amanda..."

Tris was unable to move, even when the lights came back on. She tried, but her legs wouldn't cooperate. She began gnawing on her lip to keep from screaming out loud and despite her best attempt, tears rolled down her cheek. She finally couldn't help it any longer and yelped once more. Davina hugged her sister when she was finally able to see her, so thankful to still have her. "We'll find her." She sounded the most confident saying those few words than she had the entire night. "I promise, Phoebe. We'll find her."

#para:red anniversary