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valiantgladiatorpeanut · 2 years

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hollyharper · 3 years

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I think DC neds to do a five year time skip. Take their entire continuity and more it forward five years. Give us fans something new.

Maybe Bruce and Selina finally tied the knot, maybe they even have a little Helena Wayne. Their starting to train her to follow in their footsteps. Just have a bunch of sevens of the little three year old doing splits with her mom, learning how to analyze samples with her dad. Damien teaching her to fight. And of course, all the older siblings spoiling her rotten. Bruce is simply happy to spend time with his wife and kids. Selina still loves her cats. The house is over run with them, domestic and wild.

Dick and Babs should definitely be married. They have a two year old boy, James, after Barbara’s brother. Maybe even start with Barbara’s second pregnancy. This time a girl named Mary, after Dick’s mom. They have a large apartment in Blùdhavan. Dick is still Nightwing. Barbara struggles juggling her roles as his partner and wife, Batman, and The Bird’s Oracle, and being a mom. The Alfred Pennyworth foundation is thriving, and Babs resented reclaimed Gotham Clean Energy. Being the genius she is is Barbara refuses to send her kids to public school. Dick worries that adds to much extra stress to her life. She loves it. To thank her for all of her hard work, Dick brings home little gifts for her at least once a week. These presents range from chocolate bars to new computer equipment. As much as he loves when Babs cooks, Dick usually prepares their meals.

What would truly be a bomb, would be to put Jason in serious relationship. Personally, I would go with Helena Bertenilli. They started working together as partners. As they spent more time together, it became clear that they both were looking for a more intimate relationship. Their shared understanding of loss brought them closer together, until their relationship turned into lovers. Helen’s exceptional skill as a history teacher, earned her a place at Gotham High. Seeing Jason’s talent with kids, her confided him to get a teaching job as well. He mostly teaches P.E. at Gotham Academy, but also has a black smith class. He makes knives and sword son the weekend, and sells them to make money on the side. On the Battlefield, Huntress and Red Hood are inseparable, and on of the best teams Batman has. They both deeply love each other, but are afraid to talk about commitment.

Tim and Stephine are currently have issues. They’ve had an on and off relationship for the last year. Tim has entirely taken over running Wayne Enterprises. He works all day, and is out as Red Robin most of the night. His exhaustion puts a massive strain on their relationship. He feels bad about having so little time for Steph, and to show her how much he loves, her is planning to propose. Stephine feels neglected. As much as she loves Tim, his constant stress weighs on her. After talking with her mentors, she has decided that time apart would be good for both her and Tim, but she doesn’t know how to tell him. Steph has been job bouncing for awhile, another reason she’s cautious about leaving.

Cass is still Bruce’s angel child. She has little interest in dating. Her main focus is always the mission. Barbara believes she needs to get a job and stop relying on Bruce for funding. The only idea she even considered, was Helena’s suggestion to become a federal agent. Bruce strongly opposes the idea. After her father died, Cass has been trying to patch things up with her mom, who unsurprisingly wants Cass to join the League of Shadows.

At first, Damien was reluctant to accept Selina, though he would never admit, he was still hoping for his parents to work things out. When Bruce married Selina, it became clear Talia wasn’t coming back. Over time, she grew on him. Selina was the one to figure out that Damien missed his mother. After some negotiations, she convinced Bruce to invite Talia over for the holidays. It became an eagerly anticipated tradition for Damien. Talia as brings food and gifts for him. It’s the one time of year when Damian’s almost always smiles. Dami adores his little sister, and has even sworn to protect her at all costs. His relationship with Flatline died out very quickly after their meeting. Mostly, because of how immature they both were. Four years, and a sweet ex later, they meet once again on the field of battle. Again sparks flew, leading to a passionate reunion, and another hero and villain love story.

Jade and Lian were recently reunited. Their relationship is still on rocky ground, but Jade is determined to make up for the time she missed with her daughter. She makes every effort to connect with Lian, even while fighting shadows from her past. Every night, to two will sit on the roof outside of Lian’s window. Their shared interest in astronomy is a safe topic, one they touch on often. Lian wants a relationship with her mother, but is afraid Jade will leave again. Jade’s proud that her daughter took the name Cheshire Cat, and love watching her daughter in action, even though it’s usually from a distance.

Dinah and Oliver have been married for a few years. They found out pretty soon that they can’t have kids. After the news, Dinah went into depression. Their friends and family stepped up to help. Bruce tried to convince them to adopt. Neither want to, until they meet a feisty young girl named Kayleigh. Kayleigh is closed off, with deep wounds. She’s trying to become a vigilant in Star City. Her methods are overly violent. Oliver sees his younger self in her and brings her under his wing. Dinah takes a little to warm up to her. Kayleigh gives them both quite a bit of trouble, but their determined to read her. But Kayleigh’s secrets are something that could shatter their belief in her. She knows the day the find out, will be the last time she has anything close to a family.

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miracle-sham · 3 years

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Stitch Your Ragged Wings and Hope to Soar.

| {Jasonette July 2021, Week 1, Day 5: Fairytales} |

| The folk tales always speak of those destined for greatness. Heroes alongside their faithful dragons, fighting the ever turning tides against evil. But they're just that, folk tales. After all, what are the chances a border-town apprentice seamstress like Marinette, would ever be offered a different vocation by the recruitment guild. |

| Word Count: 3,428. |

| Warnings/Tags: Kingdom/Fantasy/No Miraculous/Dragon Riders Au, Minor Lila & Adrien salt, Canon Typical lies and manipulation from Lila, Explicit Language/Swearing, and Some Fluff. |

———

| A/N: First things first, the word 'Dragoon' will be used multiple times in this piece and it is spelled that way on purpose (see end notes for further explanation). Secondly, yep! It's a dragon riding/academy au. This is the first piece of the series, which I'm really excited for because I've spent ages worldbuilding for! And for anyone worried about salt mention, it is addressed in this piece but the tag is there because of canon-typical Lila manipulation and lies, plus no Miraculous means no reason for Adrien with his sheltered upbringing to realise she's lying. |

| Also side note, Don’t Like? Don’t Read. Also also, please do not criticise any of my writing. This was written for fun and receiving criticism, even in a compliment/criticism sandwich, is the exact opposite of fun. |

———

It's been a few days of tense stagecoach travel. And to be fair to Marinette, even she hadn't expected to be declared in the middle of the town square as showing aptitude for a position within the Justice League's armée volante—specifically the dragoon squadrons—thanks to the recruitment guild no less.

Unfortunately, Adrien and Lila had also shown an aptitude. Which, seeing as they all come from the same border-town of Paris, meant they were all trapped inside the same cramped coach space for the excruciating four days journey to reach Gotham Town; the place where they are being sent to attend the dragoon academy, which is technically outside the bounds of the town proper. Seeing as the Gotham Dragoon Academy and Somerset Dragon Range are on the opposite shores of the Gotham river to the town itself.

There's only another half-day until they reach the Mooney bridge and then the Somerset

Dragon Ranges. And luckily, Adrien and Lila have taken to sitting on the same bench, the one facing forwards. Leaving the opposite bench all for Marinette.

Not that having a whole bench to myself for this time will help with whether I can continue to survive as a captive audience for Lila. Marinette thinks to herself, rather disgruntled about this whole situation she's unwillingly ended up in. She was perfectly happily remaining an apprentice seamstress, sewing commissions for Jagged Stone, Clara Nightingale, and the rest of her famous or otherwise clientele, not that fate seemed to care though. Of course, a part of her stipulation she fought the recruiters for, is that along with her studies she can continue her commissions for current and prior clientele alone. Which is to say, better than being completely unable to continue her main hobby and form of stress relief.

The recruiters had also said that baking and cooking would be no problem to practice, as apparently there'll be free reign to "student kitchens" alongside cooking classes so any use of either skill will be "undoubtedly encouraged". Dangerous words, Marinette muses to herself once more, because if I get claimed by a dragon the first thing I'm doing is baking all the dragon dietary-safe treats I can!

“Marinette! What do you think?” Lila asks, voice as cloying as ever.

Marinette startles and half-heartedly smiles awkwardly across at her, “ah, I'm really sorry Lila! I got distracted wondering what kind all of our dragons might end up being and how they might look!” Not, I'm going to love mine regardless of appearance unlike you.

Smiling faux-sweetly, Lila shakes her head. “Don't worry Marinette, I was only saying how we're just like those local fairytales of your town! Three close-knit friends who become powerful and famous dragoon guardians and save the world from the evil destruction of Hawkmoth and his army of shadow dragons! Out of the three of us, I would be our leader, obviously. Since I'm the only one here descended from a dragoon guardian! My grandmother even gave me a token that once belonged to my dragoon guardian ancestor!”

“Wow, you've said it before but I still can't believe how incredible you are Lila! It's going to be amazing training besides you at the academy!” Adrien gushes, gazing at Lila with adoration.

Lila preens at his words. “Thank you, Adrien! But Marinette, since you mentioned what our dragons will be, did you know my ancestor's dragon was said to be the most beautiful of all the dragons in the Justice League squadrons! My ancestor's dragon had orange scales that glimmered red and yellow like flames, and pearlescent white scales along the underbelly. Oh, and the horns were pearlescent white too! Obviously, the dragon I'll get is sure to be a descendant of that dragon and just as beautiful.”

“Wow, no wonder your ancestor's dragon was the most beautiful, they sound absolutely gorgeous! What kind of dragon do you think I'll get, Lila?” Adrien asks, eyes shining with awe and curiosity.

She puts on a show of holding her chin and humming. “Hmm, probably a golden dragon, with shiny scales as bright as the sun!”

“I hope you're right!” Adrien chuckles, “the fairy tales really would be coming true if we both get the dragons you think we will! One with scales of fire, another with scales of gold!”

“It really would.” Marinette echoes weakly, not really believing in her own words.

Lila laughs, “awww don't sound so worried Marinette, your dragon will probably be a plain and drab dragon with some sort of shade of brown, or maybe even grey. But at least it won't be attention-grabbing. So you won't need to worry about people staring and judging or dragons-forbid trying to hurt you for having a prettier dragon than any nobles!”

Marinette smiles, though it turns out far more grimace-like than intended, whoops. “Yeah… that'd be awful. Haha, I'd be really lucky to get a dragon like you described for me, Lila.”

“Oh, I'm so glad you understand, Marinette! Then again, all three of us are besties so of course you'd understand!” Lila titters, crossing her fingers, “we're just like this!”

Screaming internally, Marinette nods and keeps smiling. Dragons-almighty, I'm at the end of my thread here. Hopefully, I'll be able to leave Lila's "friendship" behind at the academy without fear of mine and my parent's reputations being ruined by Lila's mother.

Her attention is briefly taken by the rolling view outside the stagecoach, unable to help herself she mumbles to herself, “the landscape here is so pretty.”

“It is pretty I guess, but not as pretty as my home country!” Lila pipes up, jumping on the new conversation—like a shadow dragon on a sheep.

Marinette shuts her eyes for a second and breathes deeply, chanting internally. The academy will be my fresh start.

———

The academy is not in fact Marinette's fresh start.

It is well past evenfall by the time their stagecoach passes through the gates of the imposing academy. It rounds a large fountain in the centre of the courtyard with a statue of a person encircled by a large dragon. However, due to the darkness and the movements of the stagecoach, any attempts at recognising whom the statue was dedicated after are thoroughly hampered. They roll to a stop before the great stone staircase—where a figure with a smaller giant rat-like creature beside them, is waiting at the top—which clearly leads to the grand front doors of the academy.

Even with the darkness obscuring the view, it's obvious that the academy is a repurposed castle. High stone walls with crenellations and littered towers, a main keep with a multitude of buildings surrounding the inner courtyard. And the most eye-catching of all, the shadowy draconic gargoyles that seem to cling and lurk upon every building.

It's impressive to say the least, certainly the most well-fortified building Marinette has ever stepped foot in her life. Impressive enough that it has her practically clawing to pull out a sketching journal and start creating. However, she's not stupid enough to do that within Lila's presence. No, that'd undoubtedly lead to honey-coated lies and being forced to listen to her prattle on about her wondrous skills and connections to the most prestigious fashion guild in the country.

Marinette startles as the stagecoach door is opened by a footman. She doesn't fuss as Lila exits first, followed by Adrien. As she steps outside last, she nods and smiles at the footman. Whispering as audibly as she can without the other two hearing, she adds, “thank you, sir.”

The footman simply glances at her attire and nods back stiffly.

In the time it's taken to all leave the stagecoach, the figure from the stairs has walked over—a woman with long blonde hair dressed in a casual black leather riding coat, and a not-dog following behind loyally. “Good evening, you must be the potential students from the town of Paris?”

Marinette hesitates for a second before nodding along with Adrien and Lila.

Lila takes a step forwards, towards the woman. “Yes, we are! I'm Lila Rossi.”

The woman nods slowly, “and the other two must be Adrien Agreste and Marinette Dupain-Cheng, correct?”

“That's correct!” Adrien responds with a bright smile.

Marinette nods and makes an affirmative squeak instead.

“Great.” The woman says, clapping her hands. “I'm Dinah Lance and I'll be one of your instructors during your attendance here. And this,” She pauses to point to the weird giant not-rat with its yellow flecked greyish-brown fur, “is Drake, he's my Ichneumon. You'll learn all about Ichneumon and why they're used within the dragoon squadron during your time here, so don't worry if you've never heard or seen of them before.”

Drake makes a high pitched trill and takes a few steps forward, sniffing the air in front of the three of them. Before scampering in a circle around Dinah Lance.

She smiles fondly at Drake before continuing. “Unfortunately it's a little late to give you the tour of the grounds now, so we'll cover that tomorrow. Tonight we'll guide you to the dining hall for a late night's meal since it's been a long journey for you three or so I've heard, and you must be starving. Then we'll discuss the main details of your attendance, and afterwards, we will show you to the temporary rooms you will be staying in, to begin with. Any questions?”

Lila rocks on the heels of her boots before shaking her head, “no, we've got no questions!”

Adrien copies with a shake of his head too.

Marinette opens her mouth to protest, were you waiting out in the cold for us long? Will the tour teach us about the different places within the academy? Will it take long? What do you mean by the main details? Why are we staying in temporary rooms to begin with? When do our lessons start? Do we need to purchase any uniforms or schooling supplies? When will we meet our dragons? Questions bubbling in her mind like a kettle over the fire, but closes her mouth just as quickly, as she catches a glare from Lila out of the corner of her eye. With that, she also briefly and nervously shakes her head. “N–no, no questions here either, Mlle Lance.”

Internally, Marinette hopes that display is enough to tide over Lila's irritation for now.

Mlle Lance glances over the three of them, seeming to stare at Marinette a little longer than the other two. “Well then, since there are no questions, let us head to the dining hall. And don't worry about your belongings, the footman will bring them to your lodgings.”

“Oh, Mlle Lance, I'd–uh… I'd rather not hassle the staff here, I can manage bringing my belongings up on my own.” Marinette admits, wringing her hands slightly.

Mlle Lance shakes her head, “that's very polite of you but I'm afraid, as you'll be having dinner and we'll be discussing details, it'll be a little while before you head to your temporary rooms. So it'll be far easier on both you and the staff here, if you allow them to do their job.”

“Okay…” Marinette relents easily, trying to ignore Lila rolling her eyes at her.

“If there are no more further questions, then follow after me please, the academy can be rather labyrinthine for those unfamiliar with its halls.” Mlle Lance instructs, already turning around and walking back towards the great stone staircase, Drake on her heels.

———

The journey through the hallways and various anterooms of the academy takes far longer than Marinette could have anticipated. On more than one occasion, she ends up falling behind due to getting distracted by the sheer amount of luxury, art, and finery everywhere. Forcing her to frantically scurry after Mlle Lance, Lila, and Adrien—all three who seem completely at home and unperturbed or uninterested by the décor, unlike her.

By the time they reach the large and ornately carved wooden doors leading to the dining hall, Marinette is flushed bright red from the embarrassment of having fallen behind so many times.

The heavy doors creak loudly as they slowly swing open at Mlle Lance's push, revealing a large dining hall—far larger than any Marinette has seen—with seemingly hundreds of wooden tables and benches. Startlingly enough, there's a boy already seated at one of the nearer benches—eating away at a trencher of hunter's stew.

No Ichneumon in sight, Marinette notes, a fellow student perhaps?

“Good evening, Jason, I wasn't expecting anyone else to be in here at the moment.” Mlle Lance greeted, nodding her head to him.

Jason squints at Mlle Lance and hunches his shoulders defensively. “B said I could grab food from here whenever I wanted.”

Mlle Lance smiles, “and that's perfectly fine. These are new arrivals, so I was just hoping to let them have some dinner without the usual chaos before going over the main details they'll need to know about attending here.” She paused for a moment. “You don't have to stay and listen if you don't want to, since you've heard this spiel many times now. But equally, feel free to stay, I'm sure it'd be nice for you and the new arrivals to get to know each other before meeting the rest of the class tomorrow.”

Jason slowly eyes Lila, Adrien, and Marinette. He places an arm in front of his trencher. “Might as well stay then I guess.”

Mlle Lance nods at him again before guiding the three of them over to the back of the dining hall where the kitchen was connected to. A few cooks were tending to various meals and pots of hunter's stew, as well as prepping trenchers or cleaning wooden bowls, and wood or horn spoons.

Marinette is still half processing everything so receiving a trencher full of hunter's stew from the cooks barely registers in her mind. And next thing she knows, she is seated next to Lila on the end of the bench and table next to Jason, with Mlle Lance sitting opposite her, Lila, and Adrien. The other two have already started tucking into the food, so cautiously Marinette takes a few sips of the stew broth with a horn spoon.

Mlle Lance clasps her hands together and rests them on the table. “Let's start with what you three already know regarding the dragoon squadrons and this academy.”

Pausing in his eating, Adrien grins. “This is the longest standing dragoon academy, and we'll be taught everything from dragon history, to the language of the dragons, to what is known of Hawkmoth and his shadow dragon army!”

“And,” Lila pipes up, “we'll pick our dragons that we'll train alongside and eventually become fully-fledged Dragoon Guardians with.”

Jason snorts, “sorry to break it you two but this isn't some fucking fairytale.”

Before Lila or Adrien could respond, Mlle Lance cleared her throat. “Right well firstly, Dragoon Guardians is somewhat of an archaic term I'm afraid. But you're not too far off with what you know.”

Rolling his eyes, Jason pretends to be suddenly interested in his trencher of stew.

Though, Marinette does catch him briefly glancing up at her with a curious but also disbelieving look in his eyes. She can't help but instinctively curl her shoulders in and make herself as small as possible.

“And Marinette, what do you know about the academy?” Mlle Lance adds.

Marinette hesitates, trembling slightly and licks her lips. “Uh, well I know roughly the same as Lila and Adrien, so nothing that hasn't been said already…”

She catches Jason squinting at her, and she curls up even more.

Mlle Lance nods thoughtfully, “to start with, Adrien, you are correct in that this is the longest standing dragoon academy. You're also correct that we teach our students dragon history—including the history of the dragoons—as well as teaching the language of the dragon. We also do teach regarding Hawkmoth and his shadow dragon army. However, that will be taught across multiple different subjects as it isn't quite as simple as it may currently seem to you.”

Adrien beams at having been mostly correct. “My father hoped I would be chosen to attend a dragoon academy so he made sure I was taught a general overview.”

“And that's more than most know to begin with, so well done.” Mlle Lance praises, before continuing. “However, Lila, here students do not pick their dragons. The process of meeting the dragon who will be raised and trained beside you, is not what most people think of when they first hear about dragoon human and dragon pairs meeting.”

Lila's lips twitch downwards in dissatisfaction and narrows her eyes slightly at Mlle Lance.

Before anything else can be said, Mlle Lance furrows her brows, “one moment students, a matter has just arisen that I need to quickly take care of.”

With that, she rises from the bench and strides out of the dining hall, shutting the door behind her as she exits.

As soon as the door shuts, Jason, with a concerned look on his face, gets up as well and walks the few steps over to Marinette's bench. Quietly, he asks, “Hey, you okay?”

Marinette swallows a breath of air thickly, and still visibly trembling, laughs nervously. “W-well I'm a little over-overwhelmed, I suppose… What with every—”

Only to slam her mouth shut as Lila wraps her arm around her shoulders, pulling her in close to her side.

“She's fine thank you,” Lila coos, “just not used to all the displays of wealth in the castle, here, isn't that right, Marinette.”

Marinette pales, eyes widening with panic and frantically nods her head. “Y-yep!”

Jason raises an eyebrow at Lila, unable to keep the slight sneer off his face as he turns ever so slightly to stare at her, “and you are?”

Lila perks up at his attention, flipping her hair back over her shoulder with one hand. “Didn't you hear Mlle Lance there, I'm Lila.” She smiles cloyingly at him and flutters her eyelashes. “I'm the daughter of a very important diplomat and one of my ancestors was an incredibly powerful Dragoon Guardian.”

Jason snorts, and rolls his eyes once more. “Right. Whatever.” He turns his attention back to Marinette and gives her a sharp nod. “What shit has the rich brat got hanging over your head?”

It clearly takes all of Lila's self-control to not immediately switch from her faux sweetness to fury. Her smile turns wooden and her gaze sharpens at Jason. “Excuse me?”

“You're excused,” Jason responds smugly.

“W-what do you mean?” Marinette asks, struggling to process the conversation after the slight cannonball that Jason just casually asked her.

He tilts his head at her, not unlike a bird. “She looks, sounds, and acts exactly like the kinda rich bastards that hold shit above kids who aren't rich, and you're clearly fucking petrified of her. So is she blackmailing you or something?”

Marinette mouths yes at him whilst shaking her head.

Jason raises an eyebrow at her for a second before shrugging with one shoulder, “alright.” He turns on his heel and heads back to his table and bench where his trencher of stew is waiting.

Lila gapes at him.

Adrien rises from his seat and stares at Jason, flabbergasted. “Aren't you going to apologise to Lila, now? You were wrong.”

Lifting his chin, Jason gives Adrien an unimpressed look then flips the bird at him. A few seconds pass before he shrugs and makes a non-committal noise of disinterest, then he starts spooning stew into his mouth.

Lila huffs and scowls at Jason. She turns to glare at Marinette, faux concern practically dripping from her words despite the evident fury on her face. “You should avoid him from now on, wouldn't want the teachers to think you're a delinquent and get kicked out before you even get to meet your dragon.”

Marinette nods slowly and keeps her attention very carefully on her food.

Her patience is rewarded as a few dozen seconds later, Lila loses interest in her and starts eating her trencher of stew whilst starting a new conversation with just Adrien.

Taking her chances, Marinette sneaks a glance up at Jason with a small smile on her lips.

To her surprise, he also happens to be looking over at her. He flashes her a cheeky grin, winks, before going back to eating.

Maybe, she muses to herself as her grin turns giddy, I was wrong about the academy not being my fresh start. Because this definitely feels like a fresh start now, it almost feels like I'm in a fairytale.

———

| Thank you for reading! I hope you enjoyed this little fic! Comments, likes, and reblogs are much appreciated! |

| The dragon riders are called Dragoons in reference to the mounted cavalry called Dragoons who used guns/firearms known as Dragons hence the name. And so I decided it only makes sense for these dragon riders to also be called Dragoons. Armée volante means flying army and was what the historical dragoons were sometimes known as, because of how mobile they were. |

| Ichneumon, also known as Echinemon in Medieval Zoology are enemies of dragons (and snakes and crocodiles in some accounts) and defeated them by covering themselves in armour made from mud before attacking. They are also one the only creatures (the other being weasels) that are immune to the Cockatrices' petrifying sight. |

| Fun fact: Trenchers are flat round (often stale) bread "plates" used during the medieval era. They are cut in half and sometimes the fluffy bread innards are scooped out (like pumpkins) so that the loaf's crust forms a bowl instead. Usually the bowls are used to hold stews or soups, though they were also used for non-liquid based food (which is why they later evolved into our modern day plates and cheese boards). |

| Also feel free to send me any comments with any questions you have regarding this fic, I'll be more than happy to answer! |

| @jasonette-july-event |

#Maribat #MLB x DC #DC x MLB #Jasonette #Jasonette July #Jasonette July 2021 #JasonetteJuly2021 #JasMari #MariJay #Marinette x Jason #Jason x Marinette #Jasonette July Week 1 #Jasonette July Day 5 #Jasonette July Fairytales #Stitch Your Ragged Wings and Hope to Soar #SYRWaHtS #Sham's Posts #Sham's Writing #Sham's Fics

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marvella15 · 4 years

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Astaire & Rogers Rewatch Part 10: The Barkleys of Broadway

• So here’s the story. Fred Astaire tried to retire. He’d been performing his entire life and he was ready to finally retire. In 1946, he did Blue Skies, which was meant to be his farewell picture. Then two years went by. Meanwhile, Gene Kelly was on the rise. He was booked to do a film with Judy Garland. Then he broke his ankle.

Kelly was extremely competitive and he and his wife often hosted volleyball games at their house. He either broke his ankle while playing or, as one story goes, he was so mad at having lost, he stamped his foot on the doorstep and injured himself.

• Kelly couldn’t do Easter Parade with Garland. So he called up Astaire and basically was like, please help me. Astaire agreed and had such a fabulous time with Garland and the film was such a success that the studio immediately wanted to pair them up again. But then, Garland’s health precluded her from doing The Barkleys of Broadway.

• So Astaire called up Ginger Rogers and said, hey how about we reunite for the first time on screen in ten years? And although she’d essentially stopped doing musicals at all, she agreed. And so we have The Barkleys of Broadway as the final Astaire/Rogers film and their only one in color.

• Our characters/actor: Josh Barkley (Fred Astaire), Dinah Barkley (Ginger Rogers), Ezra Miller (Oscar Levant), Jacques Barredout (Jacques François)

• Right off the bat, this movie makes a dumb decision. They put the credits over Astaire and Rogers dancing. (You can see this routine minus the credits as part of That’s Entertainment 3.)

• One of the critiques of this film is that Rogers was no longer the lithe young dancer from her and Astaire’s heyday. And to that I say: shut up. Heaven forbid she have, quite frankly, a healthier and stronger look to her than she did ten years prior when she was working herself to the bone and routinely losing 10-15 pounds from all of the dancing. I support her healthier look, lifestyle, and the ice cream she was surely enjoying from her custom home bar.

• The main tension of the story is that Josh is essentially credited with all of Dinah’s success because he “made her what she was.” This was a real-life argument reporters of the day made about the Astaire/Rogers partnership, casting her as the brainless actress whom Astaire molded into the perfect dance partner. Which is incorrect in every sense, as we’ve seen in these past nine films.

The bickering between the Barkleys is also likely poking fun at another frequent and false report about Astaire and Rogers, which is that they hated each other and regularly fought while making their films. They had their squabbles, of course, such as the feather dress affair, but from all first-hand accounts, they got along extremely well and spent most of their time during rehearsal and filming having an incredible amount of fun.

• I adore how they cuddle up in the car. There’s so little physical affection in Astaire/Rogers films outside of the dancing that every moment of it feels like a treat. It’s slightly ruined by a rough cut, which includes the magical appearance of a lit cigarette in Josh’s hand.

• Josh doesn’t fight fair at all. While Dinah insists on knowing what “detail” wasn’t perfect in the show, Josh doesn’t allow her to respond to his criticism. So she’s left simply to stew in anger and hurt feelings.

He does apologize to her soon after and they seem to make up. But as we know, the same issues will resurface again and again for them because if you don’t ever have a fair, honest conversation about your problems, they don’t ever go away.

• I have to point out how Astaire looks at her adoringly after Josh’s apology. I also love the way she hooks her fingers into the lapels of his suit. It’s a small gesture of affection only borne out of being comfortable with someone. I’d be surprised to learn that action was in the script.

• See, when you don’t have an actual conversation with your partner you end up freezing and starving out on the balcony at a party while a snobby, elitist playwright gives them the attention and thoughtful feedback they crave.

• Oscar Levant always plays a version of himself in every film and he does a great job of it. When you can play piano that well, there’s no need to do a lot of heavy lifting in your acting.

• Astaire and Rogers do a really fabulous job of portraying a married couple famous for their dancing but who are also major drama queens. For example, this line from Josh, “What with walking pneumonia and concussion a fine performance I’ll give tomorrow night.”

• Some light domestic violence humor here in 1949. 😒

• Dinah hums in pleasure after Josh surprises her with a kiss and I just can’t say for sure whether that’s acting or not…

• "You'd Be Hard to Replace" is another lovely song that I really enjoy hearing Astaire sing. I also really like how Rogers caresses his elbow when they hold each other’s arms. When he wraps her in his arms from behind, their hands knead one another’s.

They kiss again at the end of this song. There are so, so many kisses in this movie.

• "Bouncin' the Blues" is a great tap number and they both look excellent in it. The only thing that I find a tad grating is Astaire’s exclamations, which seem too manufactured (maybe because some of them are dubbed in?). Far better is the moment when they reach out to link hands and both look like they’re having a blast. For that instant, there’s a hint of that special Astaire/Rogers magic.

• The artwork in tribute to Josh and Dinah is atrocious, misogynistic, and rude. The artist calls her a ball of shapeless dough only formed into being by her husband, the frying pan.

• "My One and Only Highland Fling" is… an interesting choice. Was anyone looking for Astaire and Rogers to sing in Scottish accents or dance in kilts?? The kisses on the cheek are cute though and so is their interaction after the number in their dressing room.

• They look pretty fab while playing tennis during their weekend in the country. When they make plans to meet up for dinner, they say goodbye with kisses on the cheek. To me, those natural moments between them are the best parts of the movie.

• Omg I totally forgot about the part where Dinah pretends to be faint so Josh sends Ezra to bring her some brandy and Ezra returns with the ENTIRE drink tray with four massive bottles and glasses hahahaha

• Not to be outdone, Dinah hurriedly correcting Josh when he thinks she’s faint because she’s pregnant is also hilarious.

• Dinah does the worst possible job hiding her script from Josh. He’s angry for a lot of reasons but the note from Jacques, which implies an ongoing secret relationship between him and Dinah, is what really ticks Josh off.

• "Shoes with Wings On" is another example of Astaire’s continued interest in special effects. Green screen technology was used to make the shoes appear to dance on their own. The finished product was one of Astaire’s enduring creations and probably what The Barkleys of Broadway is best known for outside of being a reunion picture for Astaire and Rogers. He does a convincing job of making it seem as though his shoes are dancing despite his own ability or effort.

• Unsurprisingly, Jacques is revealed to be an even bigger pompous dick as a director than he’s been on social occasions. It’s also even more glaringly obvious that his intention the whole time has not been solely to nurture Dinah’s dramatic career but to steal her away from her husband.

• It was Rogers’ idea to have them dance to "They Can't Take That Away From Me" rather than a new original piece. Astaire didn’t like repeating himself, and that included songs from previous films, but he made an exception. It’s a nice dance and is certainly the closest thing this film has to offer of the OG Astaire and Rogers duets. But as I said in my Shall We Dance rewatch, it’s just not the same as if they’d danced to this song the first time around.

The use of the song made sense since Ira Gershwin was the lyricist for The Barkleys of Broadway.

• Considering it’s 1949, Dinah does a remarkable job of standing up for herself and getting to the root of the couple’s issues. He’s been taking her for granted and stifling her own creative interests and she’s been smothering her frustrations as best she can but they hit the breaking point. Something needs to change or their relationship can’t continue. But that doesn’t mean she’s happy about it.

• Dinah’s terrible acting in the play had to HAD TO be intentional on someone’s part but I can’t for the life of me think who or why.

• Love and support are what we all want from our partners. Dinah is still in love with Josh but it’s only once she knows that Josh has been helping her despite the fact that she ended their relationship and it didn’t benefit him at all that she goes back to him. Though, she does also take a bit of pleasure in making him agonize a little while.

I like the little whistle she does upon entering their apartment. It must be something they did to alert the other they’d come home. Wish we’d gotten to see it some other time in the movie.

• The truth is, Dinah and Josh enjoy being dramatic together and I get that. When you’re with the right person, it’s fun to play around.

• "Manhattan Down Beat" is wasted as an ending song. It could’ve been a good lively number, perhaps instead of "My One and Only Highland Fling.” I’d say that Astaire was just trying to avoid being in a top hat and tails more than necessary but he also reportedly hated being in silly costumes like the Scottish getup so 🤷‍♀️

• And that’s how the greatest on-screen dancing partnership ends. The Barkleys of Broadway is a more interesting and somewhat better film than The Story of Vernon and Irene Castle so it functions as a better finale for Astaire and Rogers. While their dancing isn’t quite the same, the chemistry between them is still very evident, which speaks to their enduring personal relationship. But that probably deserves its own post, which is what I’ll do next and how I’ll end this rewatch.

#fred astaire #ginger rogers #the barkleys of broadway #classic hollywood #old hollywood #astaire and rogers rewatch

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dilfdoctordoom · 4 years

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How did i not know Dinah Drake was cursed by a wizard?! It's so cool! I am also team Betteinelli. I wholeheartedly support Dr Mary Elizabeth Kane! She'd be an amazing doctor. She's probably good friends with all of exes. I do wonder what her and Beth's relationship was like. I love the Dinah head canons. I didn't know Dinah was trans in Bombshells. I've read it like 6 times and I've never noticed. Bette probably started multiple park wars with the Titans and the Bats. Also DInahbabs supremacy

It was an origin for her, like, decades ago & not a lot of people know about it, but I think it’s excellent & DC should bring it back right now. More people should be cursed by wizards, in my professional opinion.

Bettenelli has so many rights... the ship that we have only been fed CRUMBS of but, like, at least we got something, which is pretty much a miracle when it comes to Bette Kane.

Like, Bette’s got a degree in Sports Medicine before she moved back to Gotham to get yet another degree, even if that one was unspecified. She should be a doctor, it’s what she’d like, pull the trigger DC.

Bette and Beth seem to get along? At the very least, Bette was willing to fight the entire DEO for her cousin & she was. Not subtle about it.

Trans!Dinah was never outright stated, but she made a reference to it & you know what? That’s enough for me. She’s a trans bicon & I adore her.

Bette... Bette starts the prank wars, but she never lets anyone know she’s the cause. It’s simply impossible to pin it on her, she’s an evil mastermind.

DinahBabs? DinahBabs own my heart. I would die for these two ladies.

#q & a

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msbeccieboo · 5 years

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Arrow 8x01 Brain Dump

So that was....awesome! I’m in shock! Obviously there was a gaping chasm where our precious cupcake used to be, but that’s gonna be the new normal for this last run, so I’m gonna try to not dwell on that too much in these last few reviews. And apparently these aren’t getting any shorter, even without Felicity...

Oliver Jonas Queen: Paragon and bestest hero everrrr (suck it, Larry)

Our beautiful boy 😭😭😭 kicking the episode off with stunning recreations of the very beginnings of the show, first on Lian Yu, then returning to Moira was just *chef kiss*.

That Oliver is now able to relive these moments, really feeling the feelings and speaking the words that he was previously too broken to, upon his real return from the island, and expressing them to both himself and to those people he can no longer see in his reality, is just heart-breaking and tear-inducing and beautiful and satisfying and all of the feelings. He worked his arse of to get here and to experience it and he fucking well deserves it. Ugh I just made myself cry haha.

More under the cut...

Stephen’s acting was a beautiful thing to watch in this episode. Oliver’s scenes with all the returning guests were just so perfect; his emotions over seeing Tommy and Moira again 😭, then not-Felicity 😍💔 then Adrian 😂 were all perfect. The scene where he was trying to seek advice or validation from Moira over leaving his family for this mission (even though he couldn’t reveal why) was just heart-breaking. Then when he breaks down (along with us!) and tells Moira he’s sorry, it’s almost like he’s doubly apologising; to Moira for not better understanding her, now that he is a parent himself, and to Felicity, William and Mia, for having to leave them behind.

It was so sad seeing Oliver doubting himself throughout the episode. He tells Diggle that Earth 2 has so many more people alive without him having been there, and then when Moira astutely observes that he is a better man now than before he went on the Gambit, he replies he’s not so sure. How can he still not see this yet?? He’s clearly been away from Felicity for too long! By the end of the episode he seems to be making some headway, at least in realising that he doesn’t need to face this crisis alone, when he delivers an EPIC SPEECH to Tommy “because were only as good as the people in our lives. Every one of those losses brings with it a choice between darkness and light. Make the right choice.” YES MY BOY!!! I’m totally here for this whole season of Oliver going to other Earths, realising how awesome he is, then imparting this wisdom on everyone by delivering rousing speeches!! The Monitor said it himself in his voice-over, referring to Oliver “the highest [form of heroes] belong to those known as the paragons and they are the only hope of all creation.” YAAAASSSSS!!!! SUCK BALLS LARRY AND LARA!!!

Felicity/Olicity

Just because she’s not there, doesn’t mean she’ll be forgotten! I’m honestly so pleased that the show isn’t going to pretend Felicity doesn’t exist just because Emily left. Her absence is palpable, so the mentions and nods to her character throughout the episode (and the rest of the season, it seems) are very much welcomed!

The fake-out Felicity scene was beautifully done! From Oliver’s initially excited face and “it’s supposed to be red” 😭😭, his “good for her” when he found out that E2 Felicity is a badass mogul, to the OLICITY LOVE FERN on not-Felicity’s desk!!! Perfection!!

Source: eloquence-of-felicities

Ugh and the scene with Oliver staring lovingly at Felicity and Mia’s photo...HFDSKGHFKJGHDSFKS NOT OK!!! 😭😭😭😭

Source: olicitygifs

Diggle

The Diggle ‘reveal’ was nostalgic perfection:

My live reaction 😂😂

Can I just say that I loved that he’d spoken with Felicity about Oliver, and gone after him. OTA for life!! I’d hoped that that would be the case, but you never can tell with these writers in recent seasons 😬 Dig is a master at advice-giving, and getting Oliver to see the big picture. Oliver needs a friend in this endeavour, and neither Felicity nor Dig would have him doing it alone. Dig’s purpose throughout the whole episode was pretty much to tell Oliver that he’s not alone, his death is not necessarily unavoidable, that he NEEDS TO ACCEPT FRACKING HELP (”that’s the thing about being brothers; you never, ever have to ask”😭😭), and that the whole reason that E2 has gone to crap was because Oliver was not there to protect it!

In John Thomas Diggle we stan.

FTA

Our FTA babies were back, and in the lair!! AHKASFHDSDAKF!!! I loved the power struggle, with the team trying to find the right dynamic, before finally deciding to just make the Olicity baby the leader (duh), or moreover, Mia demanding that things be done her way from now on (apples, falling, tree?).

Source: oliverxfelicity

William’s little comedic moments just popped.

Source: olicitygifs

And then his delivery of a Felicity-worthy pep-talk to Mia had me falling infinitesimally more in love with him. This is the spin-off team we need to see!!

We finally met JJ Diggle who appears to be irredeemably (not likely) evil, and very handsome to boot, leading the Deathstroke Crew (baby Sara would have NEVER 😒😒). I was hoping for some Old Man Diggle, but alas we were not so lucky this week. Much as I actually LOVE the flash-forwards, I did feel like they were a little shoehorned in in this episode. There was so much to unpack in the present story, that I kind of just wanted that to continue?

Special Guests

From Moira’s first words I was crying.

Susanna Thompson continues to be outstanding as Moira, I love her! E2 Moira married Malcolm Merlyn, meaning we got John Barrowman back 😍😍, in a non-evil role (YAAASSSS!). Although there was no mention of Robert, given that we know on this Earth he returned from Lian Yu, and was later unmasked as the Green Arrow?? Anyway, this new Queen-Merlyn union officially made Oliver and Tommy brothers 😭😭 Oh btw.....TOOOOOMMMYYYYYYY!!!!!!!! AGSHAGFKJSAGFJKAG!!! Back, alive and kicking (literally) and gorgeous as ever. Ugh I just adore my Merlyn men 😍😍😍😍

Source: feilcityqueen

Tommy turning out to be the Dark Archer on this earth is all we had ever wanted to see!! Evil!Tommy is a thing of beautiful fanfiction dreams!! (I also lolled at the OTT, campy, cowering Malcolm, as Oliver realised it wasn’t him!) Not to mention this scene, that re-lit our Toliver flames in the most perfect way 🔥🔥

This moment was so good that I can just about forgive Oliver’s historically inaccurate non-shirtless state 😒😒 (strike 1)

In trying to track down the dwarf star shizzle at Queen-Merlyn Enterprises👀 , Oliver stumbles across the E2 GA who turns out to be ADRIAN CHASE!! YAAASSSS!!!! It was great to have him back, in the growly S1 Oliver-esque fashion! E2 GA also enjoys the salmon ladder....Stephen really played us all when he told us that we’d see the salmon ladder in episode 1 😡😡 (strike 2 Steve, you’re on your last warning!) I loved Oliver’s little inside joke with himself when he said to Adrian “maybe I’m just 10 steps ahead of you” lolololol!!

Thea OD’d on Vertigo and passed away on E2, which was sad, but meaningful, as it spear-headed Tommy’s war on The Glades, much like Rebecca’s murder did for Malcolm on Earth 1. (Psst, it’s ok though, our Speedy’s back in a few weeks).

Superfluous Cast

Rene and Dinah remain disloyal rats on this Earth, and with no Oliver to mentor them, they turn out evil as well as incompetent and we got to see them taken into custody at the end of the episode...wah-wah-wahhh!! I would definitely be happy with this nice small amount of relevance/screen time for them moving forwards, please and thank you. Let’s let our boys shine for the last few outings!

Black Siren’s presence in the episode was thankfully small, and although she was saved in the end, presumably to go on to help Oliver and Dig (she kinda owes them now), I’m hoping that we continue with this minimal exposure, because, as much as I enjoyed her last season, with no Felicity to make her likeable, I’m not feeling her. I also laughed for a disproportionately long amount of time that her ‘iconic’ Pretty Bird moment that we all heard about beforehand came from Adrian, not her ‘Ollie’ 😂😂

That ending

Following on from the press previews and interviews leading up to the episode, there were comments along the lines of Oliver suffering a devastating loss, and that the Arrowverse would never be the same etc etc, regarding the end of the episode. Well...I have to say I just wasn’t as ‘shooketh’ or as moved by the ending as the previews implied I would be 😬 I mean of course the ending was awful; a whole Earth was erased, and Oliver having to see Moira/Tommy die at the end (especially after managing to redeem Tommy) must have been devastating for him in the moment, but the thing is, I’m not all that invested in Earth 2, so the magnitude of it didn’t really affect me that much. Maybe I’m just a cold-hearted bitch my heart has simply been irrevocably broken by 7x22. Anyway, I’m sure Oliver will be back and fighting fit again next week 😂

When MG, Beth and even Stephen had been throwing around the dreaded term ‘love letter to the fans’ I was more than scared about this season 😬 but the episode really did play out that way in my eyes, something I’m hoping that they are able to continue over the few remaining episodes. So yes, I lost my shit and (begrudgingly) loved this episode 😂😂 It was easier to deal with the lack of Felicity when they had thrown the (brand new, super high-spec) kitchen sink of guest stars at the episode. So it will be interesting to see how we fare over the next few episodes, where the guest stars won’t be such scene-stealers.

Thank you to the amazing gif-makers 💗💗💗 It’s so wonderful to see beautiful new scenes again! Any uncredited gifs are mine.

#Arrow 8x01 #Arrow #Oliver Queen #Olicity #John Diggle #Tommy Merlyn #Arrow Season 8 #Arrow spoilers #beccie's brain

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modernsocialmediaau · 4 years

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miss movin’ on

February 27, 2015

It's the first official day of the Reflection Tour. It's been a month since they've started rehearsals and yet the girls still very unprepared. The pressure is truly on, this isn't another tour of opening for something up, instead its their first headlining tour. Moment before the meet and greet the girls are in their own universes doing whatever helps them calm down. Normani, Ally and Lauren are just leaving catering and heading to the meet and greet. Dinah has the fun job of finding Camila to take her to the meet and greet. Dinah isn't surprise to find the shorter girl fixing her to be sure she looks good.

" Girl you ready? " Dinah asks while Camila fixes her hair. Camila feels weird having it parted on the left or right, seeing that it's usually in the middle. While she fixes her hair Dinah repeatedly taps her foot outside the door louder and louder to get Camila's attention. She does get her attention but she gets a giggle.

" In a second, this doesn't just happened you know, " Camila jokes, walking out of the dressing room following Dinah to the meet and greet.

" Girl whatchu talkin about we got a whole team dedicated to help us with all......this. " she says making a circle around her face, and lightly tapping her chin indicating the perfection that is her hair and face.

" Hush up. " Camila giggles linking their forearms together trying to catch up to the other girls.

Camila still hasn't gotten use to the idea of screaming fans and adoring gifts, being a former fan girl she sympathizes with the fans.

" CAMILA! CAMILA! CAMILA! " some girls shout and she smile and waves at them

The girls start with a couple of acoustic performances, a few questions and then onto meet and greets. Their first fan is a girl named Emily who greets them in tears. She goes into Camilas arms for a hug and Camila being the sweetheart that she is, couldn't have been happier to squeeze her with love.

" O-my hands are shaking. " Emily said as she laughs hysterically not fully grasping the situation unfolding in front of her.

" It's alright we'll shake along with you, " Camila jokes and starts shaking while the other girls follow

" I love you so much, " she cries into her arms as they give her one of the warmest group hugs

" Oh we love you, " they surprisingly respond in unison.

" So what would like us to do babes? " Lauren asks smilingly wrapping her arm around Emily, making her almost faint. Anyone can tell she is weak in the knees. Lauren always has that affect on people.

" Can we pretend to make it rain? " she laughs at herself,

" With what tho? " Dinah asks

" Oh-uhm-I already prepared this. " she takes out fake money and shreds of green paper, " Ay! " we all cheer.

" Yes! Girl you are ready!! " Mani cheers as she evenly hands out the slips of paper or fake money

" We didn't choose the thug life the thug life choose us. " Camila says earning weird looks from Ally, Normani, and Dinah while Lauren and Emily laugh

" Ready 1,2,3 " the photographer and onto the next fans.

About 30 minutes within the meet and greet, Camila decides to act cute by holding Lauren's hands and let one of her legs pop out. As soon as that shutter clicks the screams got louder, a few aw's, and they start screaming a name everyone recognizes.

" CAMREN! CAMREN! CAMREN! " they continue to cheer after the two girls left Camila whispers to Lauren, " Camren? " Camila hasn't thought about this in a while, she simply can't remember. Lauren shifts uneasily away from Camila, which the younger found odd.

Camila looks at the others girls, Dinah gives her an I-got-no-clue, Ally gives her a sorry-I-don't-know-either, and Normani gives her nothing it's like she didn't hear the younger girl. Ever since the unspoken incident between the two girls, the other girls have tried to ignore it as much as Lauren and Camila have.

" Lauren? " Camila asks snapping her out of her thoughts

" Sorry Cam-Camila, " she stutters,

~~~

After the meet and greet Camila takes it upon herself to search up Camren. She knows its a ship name but who's... While the hairdresser fixes her hair she investigates on her phone. They're were Tumblr tags,

This memory has been so repressed that she forgot all about her crush on Lauren back in the old days.

Oh right.

Now she remembers, Camren. That same name that gave her hope, Camren. That idea of Lauren actually finally saying she loved her back, Camren. At the same time, the same lie that tore her down every single day of her life until she realized. Camren wasn't and will never be real.

" Lauren! " Camila says catching her attention. The older woman looks up from her phone and gives her a surprise look.

" Look, " she hands her the phone and watches as Lauren scrolls through the tag. Lauren knows this feeling all too well, after Camila's cold shoulder she often would look through this tag to remember how fun they were together.

" Weren't we cute? " Camila jokes trying to lightly tread over the subject. Seeing that Camren has been rather cruel to both of them.

For Camila, In the beginning it was hell because, she was in love with the green eyed girl, but she didn't know how to approach such a sensitive topic. And of course the fans started to notice which scared her even more, to the point where she stopped, because she feared of the delusional confrontation that Lauren might've come with if they'd kept going.

" Super " she says boringly. They both use to love the idea of their friendship, because it was just such a rare experience but, not now.

" Right, no wonder they were screaming that, " Camila laughs at herself while Lauren simply agrees, still holding something back,

" Are you okay? " Camila wonders

" Yea. " she fakes a smile

" You're a horrible liar, Are you sure? " Camila turn to her making the hairdresser a little annoyed. Camila apologizes and turns back around while still giving Lauren full eye contact through the mirror. Camila knows, she has no right talking to her as if icing her out never happened but that was the only way to get over her. The only way for her to move on, and the idea of her knowing that there was even a " her " to move on from, is unbearable for Camila.

" Yeah Camila, just tired you know, " Lauren fakes,

" It's the first day of tour, " Camila say making her lightly chuckle, taking themselves by surprise. Camila hasn't really heard her laugh or chuckle like that in a while.

" Well you know me, working hard or hardly working, " that was the last thing Lauren says before leaving hair and make up.

Camila simply nods trying to understand that they can no longer talk to each other how they use too.

As Lauren is walking out of the room, she feels anxiety coming on. She knows she's got to find Normani, she walks pass 5 dressing rooms 3 different hallways until she finally she's the tall dark skin goddess that is Normani.

" Normani! " Lauren screams making her jump and look at her worriedly

" What? Whats wrong? " she says while as they held each other's forearm dramatically

" Camila, she's-talking to me? " Lauren mutters, Lauren knows how crazy that sounds but the reason for this anxiety is that last time this happened things went too far. For one thing Lauren almost lost her mind trying to get answers as to what she did to Camila, making her ignore Lauren. Secondly, Lauren almost told her she loved her. Still love.

" Oh. " her eyes popped open and began to worry along with the raven hair girl. Normani's has been Lauren's rock through this whole experience she knows every single thing that has happened.

•••

" Alright girls can we run it from the top for Better Together? Make sure you're in sync and one with each other. " Sean snapped at the girls trying to bring them back. They were in the middle of rehearsing and putting together their opening act for Demi's Neon Lights Tour. Not only that, 2 weeks from now the tour starts and so does finishing their first official album, so everything is pretty hectic.

" Lauren? " Normani clapped getting her attention, Lauren was the only one left seeing that the rest of the girls were in their position. Lauren released a small huff and weak smile before running to her spot. She watched Normani give me a questioning smile, and Lauren just shook it off and got her head in the choreo.

After rehearsals the girls were cleaning up, seeing that Lauren didn't usually make a mess of things she finished rather quickly so she decided to talk to Camila.

" Hey Camz, " she lightly tapped her shoulder, Camila quickly shuttered away. Ouch. Lauren thought to herself.

" Hi Lauren, " she says coldly, Lauren shook it off and just continued to smile.

" The Notebook and Chill tonight? " She jokes hoping she'd finally crack a smile at her.

" I-uhhm-I can't--because I've-Uhm-I've got plans. " she struggled to finished.

" Oh, alright. " Lauren sighed almost reaching towards her for a hug goodbye.

" Yeah, maybe next time? " she let out a fake smile before walking away from their short and meaningless conversation. " Sure. " Lauren whispered. Lauren felt the formation of tears come but she doesn't let them out yet, not here not now. She let out a sniffle and quickly gathered the tears on her index finger letting them go, that's when she felt a familiar gesture of comfort. Which was Normani wrapping her arms around her and asking;

" Can you tell me now? I've watched the same thing unfold over 100 times in 3 months, maybe it's good to finally talk about it? "

Seeing the tour started here in LA the girls decided to simply stay until the start of tour. The girls stayed at their usual hotel with our usual sleeping arrangements only this time Normani and Lauren shared a room.

After the release of their EP and promo tour Camila's been so cold, it's like after they got signed they hung out less and less. And even if they did it wasn't for more than 5 hours, Lauren understands that she's got her own life outside of the band but this isn't how it use to be.

And at the mention of our ship name Carmen it's like she's disgusted, which doesn't make sense because they created Camren.

" What's going on Lo? " Mani wondered as they entered our hotel room. Lauren placed her bag down on the floor, and plopped down on her bed faced down. She let out a groan before she felt the tears fell and the song of sobs began.

" Lauren? " Normani questions lifting her shoulder and turning Lauren over, " Okay you're worrying me, please tell me what's wrong? " she then sits Lauren up and pulled her into a really really tight hug.

" Lauren please tell me what's wrong? I gave you space and waited for an explanation for but now I could careless. This isn't you, for the past 3 months I've watched you approach Camila then come back here and mope. Please tell me what's happening. " she practically begged making Lauren cry even more.

" I'll grab you some tissues and water and I'll be right back okay, " she stood up from my bed and walked away to grab what she said she would while Lauren grabbed the pillow behind her. She brought the pillow to her chest and watched Mani come walking back to her with the items.

Lauren used a couple of tissues to clear her nose and drank some water to wet her super dry throat.

" Lauren? " she asked once more. " Camila hates me. " Lauren states making her scoff not believing older girl, but seeing that Lauren started to cry again she knew it was serious.

" Where'd you get that idea? " she rubbed her shoulder and brought Laurens head on her shoulder.

" She won't talk to me, she won't even acknowledge my presence. " Lauren cried into her shoulder, " Shh...shh...that's a bit ridiculously isn't it? I mean you and Mila are like best friends. " she explained trying to convince Lauren other wise.

" Are we? "

•••

" Okay what about? I think we've established your love for her, " Normani jokes trying to lighten the mood

" Camren. She knows! Mani she knows! SHE'S FINALLY FIGURED IT OUT! "Lauren say almost breaking into tears shocking Normani. Her eyes widen and gives Lauren a quick hug before saying

" Hey, hey, hey listen to me let's go on the bus okay, " Normani drags Lauren out as tears began to pour. Normani makes sure that she's one facing the crowd while Lauren hides behind her.

They left the stadium and found their way to the bus, thankfully there was no one there. They walk to the back of the bus since they know that's where they would get the most privacy.

" Tell me what happened? " she asks sitting across from Lauren

" Didn't you hear her question earlier? "Lauren ask hugging my knees to my chest

" Yes, but I tried to act like I didn't hear it, and it hasn't really come up in months specially from her side. So it was weird," she answers

"Yea but now I'm getting flashbacks about those horrible months with her giving me such a cold shoulder. And now it's even worse because it's like she's trying to play some fucked up game. Where she'd gained my trust again, figure out what I'm hiding, then ice me out again because of said secret. " Lauren starts to get louder and paces around the room

" Hold-hol-hol-hol-hold one! Wait a minute! She doesn't actually know? " she interrupts me

" Well-no, " Lauren answers, Normani sighs loudly

" Listen to me honey, maybe she finally realized that what she did was wrong and she's just trying to rekindle your friendship okay. Just don't act suspicious during the subject, " She advised

" But that's what I'm worried about, what if she questions me about it. " I began to sob again. She stood up and walked to my side

" Don't give her a reason to read into it. Okay, don't give them a reason to think my that you know somethin-"

" But I do. " Lauren interrupts

" Yes and only you and I know about that. " she smiles comforting Lauren

" What if she finds out, I can't take another ice cold Camila. I like how everything is and I've accepted it. " Lauren explains while Normani sits sarcastically laughing, Lauren looks at her not getting what was so funny about what is said.

" Are you serious? " she stood back up

" What? "

" You like how everything is? Are you serious? HOW COULD YOU POSSIBLY ACCEPT SOMETHING SO UNNECESSARY! Listen to me you don't deserve this okay, she should have given you an explanation. I seriously thought that during that last month of Neons Lights Tour everything would be back normal again. I didn't think it could get any worse, never did I ever imagine that she could do it again. Not only that as soon as you almost confessed you love she wave around the idea of her and Austin. It's as if burning you twice wasn't enough for her. I love Mila as much as the next girl but that's not how she should've handle the situation. " she paced while Lauren disappointingly agrees

" I didn't think it would be this bad Mani, I really didn't. It's just a crush. " Lauren sobs

" I know, I know. But you still need to know the truth.This is how Camren should've been handled, not ignored." she caresses Laurens hair comforting the crying girl

" Well I can't tell her! You saw how she acted, about this Mani! " Lauren defends herself

" Alright I see your point? But it's just a crush and you're not a lesbian " Normani says

" Who isn't a lesbian? "Camila walks into the back scaring Mani and Lauren

" Uh, Rebel Wilson " Mani quickly answers, trying to cover Camila from seeing a post cry Lauren. Lauren quickly wipes her eyes and fans her face.

" Oh that's a bummer, " she smiles

" Hey are you okay? " she asks popping her head to the side to look past Mani. Mani moves to the side and looks at Lauren with an act-normal look before she exits to the bunks

" Yea just really nervous, " Lauren say caressing my hands

" Why? You've performed so many times before? " she laughs and sits down next to Lauren. Lauren shifts a little more to the left to get some space between them, but that only made Camila come closer.

Come on Lauren! Act normal! She thought to herself.

" Well it's our first official tour where it's just us, you know, " Lauren says looking at her

Lauren has seen a lot in her small life but nothing is as beautiful as Camilas. She found them to be so simple and cute that she could stare at them all day. Some might say that brown is plain and boring but not hers it's like every time Lauren look in them she can see all the amazing things she can do. Lauren's mom always said if you ever fall in love with somebody don't fall for their looks but fall for their eyes because the eyes are the only thing that lasts forever. They are so mesmerizing, and her hair her perfectly curly light colored hair falling on her shoulder we're just killers. For Lauren If looks could kill, she would be dead.

" Lo? " she surprisingly says, Lauren hasn't heard that in a while " Yea? " Lauren weakly smiles

" I said, it won't matter what happened we're all in this together. " she smiles holding Laurens hand.

" Right, well I have to get my make-up done again, so I'll see you later. " Lauren gets up from the couch and leaves the bus

When step step foot onto the pavement someone grabs her arm and pulls me to the front of the bus.

" Mani what the hell? " Lauren say

" What happened? " she asks eagerly

" Nothing, now seriously I have to get my make up done again. " Lauren plainly answered

She nods her head and they make their way back to their dressing room. This is going to be one long and interesting tour.

A/N Guys I hoped you liked the first chapter please vote and comment I'd love feedback questions anything.

Here are some helpful tips for the future: (•••): Flashback (---): Next Scene (*Words*): Phone Call

#Camren #Camren fanfic #Camila cabello #camilacabello #Lauren Jauregui #laurenjauregui #please don't be offended Lauren #Normani kordei #normanikordei #dinah jane #dinahjane #allybrooke #ally brooke #fanfic #lovestory #nonau #non au

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flvghtlessbvrds · 4 years

Photo

⧼ willa fitzgerald, cis!female, she/her / circle game by p!nk + flowers growing where they shouldn’t, neat planners, the comfort of being with family ⧽ ━━ let me tell you a thing or two about HALEY LAUREL LANCE QUEEN. the TWENTY-SIX year old daughter of OLIVER QUEEN & DINAH LANCE is a TA of ETHICS & MUSIC at paragon academy, and has sometimes been referred to as THE FINAL GIRL. they’ve always seemed very PERSEVERANT & IDEALISTIC, though i’ve heard that they can be pretty JUDGEMENTAL & BLUNT, too. it’s common knowledge that they have the power of the CANARY CRY; guess we shouldn’t get on their bad side, huh?

tw: injury

BIO:

Haley Laurel Lance-Queen was an accident. Ollie and Dinah had never had the most stable relationship and so they did not even know that Dinah was pregnant until she was badly injured when a mission went sideways and she wound up in a hospital room.

At this point the foetus was already quite badly damaged and it was made clear to Ollie and Dinah that the baby would likely not survive to term, and if it did then it would likely be severely impaired.

Against all odds Haley was born four weeks prematurely, and even more surprisingly that tiny baby lived despite all the odds stacked against her.

She was named after her godfather Hal Jordan who would go on to play an incredibly large role in her life.

Such a traumatic birth however did leave it’s scars. Haley is disabled having a condition called CEREBRAL PALSY meaning that her amount of movement she has in her legs was severely impaired, what little amount of walking she can do is incredibly painful, she’s been going to therapy to try to improve it.

You would think that Haley being born would have had a massive impact on Ollie and Dinah’s lives, that they would have gotten their act together. This did happen for a while but it wasn’t long before things fell apart again.

Her childhood was frustrating, as she never got to do a lot of the things her younger siblings got to enjoy, it was hard for her to even get up in the morning never mind learning martial arts or how to manage her powers.

As she got older however she grew more determined to win rather than lose. She practiced archery until her fingers burned, learnt how to do martial arts in her chair, until she was as good a fighter as her siblings, albeit with a few restrictions.

As a teenager Hals spent was very much a loner. She had to learn to fend for herself and be comfortable in her own company while Ollie and Dinah were busy being Ollie and Dinah. Something that culminated with Nora going to boarding school. Haley was around seventeen when she learnt she was better simply expecting nothing from her parents, although they both tried their best.

On the whole her unstable childhood, and not so great relationships as a teenager lead her to the belief that everybody leaves, with the exception of her siblings who she sees as her responsibility, it’s a viewpoint she hasn’t been able to shake even now.

At the age of nineteen she really didn’t know who she wanted to be, but at the age of twenty two she had become a TA at Paragon Academy, mainly to keep an eye on her siblings but she also found that she quite enjoyed teaching. Even if she’s a fan of the tough love approach in a lot of cases.

NOW:

Hals has been a TA for five years now and at this point and feels like she’s seen it all. as always her focus is on looking after nora and her students but i can also see her being drawn into the chaos if she gets a chance. chair or no chair she’s never really been one to sit back passively.

FACTS:

She’s a singer. There’s a small cafe in town were she sings sometimes but it’s something Hals likes to keep to herself.

Despite how much she’s tried to distance herself from the man she does have quite a few traits from Oliver; wanderlust, passion, impatience there are plenty of ways you could call her her father’s daughter.

Hals is a big plant lover (her succulent collection is impressive), she has a polaroid camera that roy gifted her for her twentieth birthday which she only trusts about three people with, and she keeps a planner almost obsessively.

CONNECTIONS:

OLIVER QUEEN: father // sperm donor // frustration :: Despite what the above might lead you to believe Haley does not hate her father rather instead it is the opposite. When she was a child she idolised him, it was just when she got older she became less and less blind to the mistakes he seems to make over and over again. she’s come to the conclusion that she doesn’t need him, but at the same time she knows if she needed her that she’d be there in second to help him clear up his mess.

DINAH LANCE: mother // idol :: When she was younger haley wanted nothing more than to be just like her mother from the jacket to the singing. she makes up a big part of of haley’s personality. even now the distance between them isn’t quite as large as between haley and ollie. she still blames both of them for leaving and what happened to both of her siblings but she had far more sympathy for Dinah than she’ll ever have for ollie and tries to keep her in the picture where she can.

HAL JORDAN: godfather // parental figure :: Hal is haley’s godparent, but really she classes him as a second father. He wasn’t around too much when she was a kid, he couldn’t have been thanks to the lantern ring he wears, but whenever he was he made sure to make a fuss of her, even now she makes sure to check in with him every once and a while.

NORA LANCE-QUEEN: little sister :: Haley has always adored her younger sister. Their age gap large enough that she also wanted to be someone she could lean on. Their relationship was not however always the best, Nora took great pleasure in the socialite lifestyle while haley herself had always tried to steer away from it. Then the incident happened and Nora was hurled into this whole other world and as much as Hals tried to be there for her sister another wedge was forced in between them. They’re in the same place now but things are still a little disjointed compared to before.

CLINT BARTON: understanding adult :: A disabled superhero isn’t that cool ?? teenage Hals certainly thinks so. The two of them have a very interesting dynamic in that they bonded over nothing more than arrows and now she turns up at his office with pizza every so often needing to vent.

EMMA FROST & SCOTT SUMMERS: teachers she works with :: despite her natural talent for music it’s ethics that Haley really has the passion to teach. as a result she has an enormous amount of respect for both Emma and Scott even if she tries to stay out of the way of their personal lives (even if she thinks they should get back together).

WANTED CONNECTION:

summer love: mamma mia style no strings attached romance? sign me up

more students: she’s a good teacher i swear

a girl squad: girls supporting girls whats not to love

all the friendships: (the more unlikely the better)

a disability support group thingy: idk but they’re around all these extra able people i bet it can be a lot

people from her past: (exes, once friends etc) just angst in general ok guys because hals really isn’t perfect

people she can look up to

league kids she feels responisble for

ta squad maybe???

#sidekick.intro

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smoaking-greenarrow · 5 years

Note

“In case you haven’t noticed, I am not most girls and I don’t need this. Or you. Or any of this.”

Arrow Out of Context Part 3

Read on AO3. #19

“He’s outside again,” Dinah growled, slamming the door to their dorm and throwing her bag onto the floor with force.

“What?” Felicity snapped, dropping her book and rolling out of bed. She slid across the floor in her fuzzy socks, skidding to a stop at the window. With her roommate hovering over her shoulder, Felicity pulled back the white curtain, peering out at the parking lot.

His headlights stood out in the mostly vacant space. The majority of the students weren’t back from winter break yet. But Felicity grabbed an early flight to Boston and Dinah drove up to keep her company. Thank god.

She recognized his car by the big ‘BC LACROSSE’ sticker on his back window.

“I’m going to kill him,” Dinah seethed. “Legitimate murder.”

“I’ll help you hide the body,” Felicity muttered back.

A moment later, he seemed to realize that he had their attention. Like the three nights prior, Felicity listened as the prick revved his engine before peeling out of the parking lot as if he was in the midst of a high speed chase. “Come on,” Dinah stood up, pulling her away from the window.

Felicity pushed her glasses up the bridge of her nose. “Where are we going?”

“Across the street.” Dinah answered as she tossed Felicity her boots.

“To public safety?” Their dorm was on the edge of campus, making for some eerie walks back to the building. But they also lived across the street from campus police, which definitely made Donna Smoak happy. “It’s winter break,” Felicity said, “are they even open?”

“Yup.”

She could tell that Dinah was furious. And Felicity knew that arguing would be a pointless battle. With a sigh, she slid on her boots, pulling her coat on over her sweater. They trekked across the street, and Felicity hung back as Dinah stormed into the tiny, too hot office that made her glasses fog up.

“My friend is being stalked,” she announced, her long ponytail swinging with confidence.

The guy sitting at the desk on the other side of the glass stared at her. And then he slid the window open. “What?”

“My friend Felicity here,” Dinah stepped up to the window, towering over the boy despite the counter between them. “We’ve had a creepy lacrosse player sitting outside our dorm for the last three nights.”

“How do you know he’s stalking you?”

Dinah glanced back at Felicity, surprisingly letting her answer. “Oh,” Felicity mumbled, “I went on a date with him last weekend. It didn’t work out, and I said no when he asked me out again. He was pretty butt-hurt about it.”

“And now he sits in the parking lot every night like a coward,” Dinah leaned towards the guy, and Felicity grabbed a hold of her jacket. He looked about their age, probably had the job through the school and was not paid nearly enough to deal with this. Felicity was certain that his job was to put parking tickets on peoples’ cars…not hunt down stalkers. “So what are you going to do about that?”

He blinked. “I can’t do anything about a guy sitting in the parking lot.” He said simply, unfazed.

Half-expecting Dinah to climb across the counter and claw his eyes out, Felicity was relieved when she simply narrowed her eyes, reading his name tag. “Rene,” she curled her nose. “You’re useless.”

In the next moment, Felicity was being dragged out the door. “New plan,” Dinah informed her, pulling her along as she marched down the street. She pulled out her cell phone.

Sara answered on the second ring. “We’ll be walking by your building in five. Be ready.” Dinah clipped into the phone before hanging up.

Sighing, Felicity followed along, listening to Dinah rant about how pointless on-campus officers were if they couldn’t help in a crisis. She was mad enough for the both of them. And Felicity was a little out of breath, trying to keep up with Dinah’s rage-induced pace.

When they got to Sara’s dorm, Dinah and Felicity explained that the lacrosse player had made his third show.

“Doesn’t he live on Blackthorne street? That green complex with the broken shutters.” Dinah demanded, setting her hands on her hips.

“I think so,” Sara answered.

“Wait, what?” Felicity stopped, her eyes widening. “No way. We’re not confronting him. I thought we were going to the diner for milkshakes. I did not sign up for this.”

Sara and Dinah shared a look. “We won’t confront him,” Sara shrugged. “but we’ll definitely make him pay.”

Felicity groaned, “guys, come on. I don’t want any trouble.”

“You can go back to the room and finish your book, Felicity,” Dinah said easily, expecting her to put up a fight. “I’m doing this with or without you. It’s my room too that this psycho keeps trying to creep on it.”

“I know, but I mean…”

“He’s been freaking us out for three days, Felicity.” Dinah shook her head. “I’ve had enough. That entitled asshole needs to learn how to deal with the word ‘no.’”

Sara looped her arm through Felicity’s, “no pressure,” she mumbled gently, “I wouldn’t blame you…but don’t you ever feel like doing something a little crazy? Especially if the scumbag deserves it? That 24 hour convenient store is still open…”

Groaning, Felicity threw her hands up. “Fine…do I even want to know what you’re thinking?”

Of course, her friends weren’t going to tell her. If they told her, they knew she’d back out. So, Felicity was left to wrestle her anxiety while they walked to the store. And then it piqued when Sara came back out, a dozen eggs in a bag. “Oh, no.” Felicity shook her head, “we’re not egging anything.”

“You can go home whenever you want, Felicity. No one is forcing you to be here,” Dinah sang, skipping down the street happily now that she was getting her own justice.

“Ugh,” Felicity whined, but she wanted some of the high Dinah and Sara were riding on. She could feel the excitement of doing something they probably shouldn’t. Even if the jerk deserved it. Letting that energy take over, Felicity followed her friends down the street, laughing as they danced towards the apartment building.

“There’s the beauty.” Dinah said as they turned onto his street. The first thing Felicity spotted was her stalker’s car. And Dinah’s eyes were on it, too.

Dinah checked her pockets, stalking across the parking lot like a badass while she pulled her pocket knife out. Without warning, she dragged the blade across the lacrosse player’s pretty black Porsche.

“Oh my god,” Felicity yelped.

Raising an eyebrow and grinning wickedly at her, Sara thrusted the eggs into her arms and then skipped off after Dinah. She pulled out a tube of lipstick and carefully climbed onto the hood. Leaning over, Sara wrote ‘back off’ in pretty, cursive letters. Then she held out the lipstick to Felicity. “Have something you’d like to say?”

Felicity bit her lip, hesitating before rolling her eyes and giving in. She grabbed the tube from Sara’s waiting hand and rounded the car. Climbing onto the hood of the car, Felicity giggled as she scrawled ‘Ten Second Trent’ on his windshield.

Dinah and Sara snorted with laughter, and they all tried to keep quiet as they discussed the possibility of Trenton’s stamina in bed.

None of them were keeping an eye out though, stupidly…and they were all bent over and wheezing with laughter when they heard a car door close.

Whipping around, Felicity, Dinah, and Sara all froze as a police office crossed his arms and leaned against his cruiser. “Good evening, ladies,” he greeted, raising his eyebrows as he read their messages to Trenton the Creep.

“On the count of three,” Sara mumbled under her breath. “Everyone run. Meet back in my room.”

As Sara began counting down, Felicity felt adrenaline coursing through her veins. The cop looked like some kind of young body builder. Surely, he’d catch at least one of them.

When Sara reached three, Dinah took off in one direction, and Sara took off in the other.

Felicity, on the other hand, froze.

The cop pushed off his cruiser, taking a step towards them, deciding which friend of hers to chase. His eyes flashed with irritation and maybe a little bit of excitement. He pointed a finger at her, “don’t move,” he sighed, taking a step in Sara’s direction.

Not knowing what else to do, Felicity gasped, stepping in his path with her heart racing in her chest. And then she was suddenly pulling her shirt up.

As her nipples met the cold air, she squeezed her eyes shut, her entire body stiff as the cop stopped. “Shit,” he huffed.

With the officer thoroughly distracted, she squinted one eye open to check on Dinah and Sara, seeing that they were no longer in sight.

Felicity brought her shirt back down. Covering herself up again, she slowly met his eyes. The cop’s mouth was a hard line, his eyes wide as he stared at her. “I–um–that’s a first.” he gestured his hand in the direction of her breasts, keeping his eyes on hers.

“Yeah, same.”

He bit his lip, the wheels in his head turning for a long moment. Then he sighed. “Look, just tell me this kid isn’t an ex-boyfriend of you or one of your friends.”

Felicity shook her head, crossing her arms over her chest. “Stalker lacrosse player.”

The cop’s eyes narrowed, “I’ll let this slide. Pretend I never saw you. Just…if he bothers you again, come down to the station and ask for Oliver Queen. Don’t provoke him or give him a reason to say he’s the victim here. Next time, you do it right.”

She stared at him, noticing how insanely attractive he was. More so than he’d been when she thought she was about to spend her life in prison. Oliver. “You’re just going to let me go? That’s it?”

She had no idea why she would push the issue. She was a genius, after all, and she should know when to keep her mouth shut.

Oliver’s lip twitched with a smile. “Yeah,”

“And this has nothing to do with the fact that you just saw my boobs?”

“Oh, it probably has a little to do with that…would you rather I question you?” He grinned now, an adorable dimple forming on his cheek. “Shouldn’t you be running off before I change my mind or something like that?”

“Right,” she nodded once, straightening her back and walking quickly past him, wishing she didn’t have to make the trek back alone. Trenton was already creepy enough, she didn’t want to know how he’d react to having his car vandalized. There wasn’t a chance in hell she’d stop until she got to the safety of Sara’s dorm.

“What’s your name?” Oliver asked, stepping towards her. Felicity turned to narrow her eyes at him, cocking her head to the side. He laughed, “I’m not trying to trick you into a confession…I’d just like to know your name.”

“Felicity.”

His smile surprised her. Sweet and kind. “Where are you headed, Felicity?”

“A few blocks north,” she answered, her voice suspicious.

“I’ll give you a ride.” Oliver offered. Her eyes narrowed even more. Now not only was he letting her walk away from a scene of a crime, but he was going to be the alibi for her escape?

Or maybe… “I’m not going to lead you to my friends.”

Oliver shook his head, laughing again. He opened the passenger door of his cruiser. “Between you and me, Felicity… I don’t care to arrest you or your friends. Some guys like that deserve the inconvenience of having to ask their daddy for a new car. Whatever that asshole did to scare you…he pissed you off enough to do that,” he gestured to the car, “and that tells me that he probably deserves a lot worse. I think we both know that.”

“But…you’re a police officer.”

“And I’m a good one,” he shrugged, nodding his head towards the waiting car. “Let me take you home, Felicity.”

Before she could answer, the door to Trenton’s building swung open and he came barreling out. Felicity instinctively stepped closer to Oliver, but Trenton’s attention was on his precious Porsche. “What the hell?” He seethed, rounding his car and looking it over.

When he glanced around the parking lot, he finally noticed them. Trenton blinked a few times, confused at the sight of her standing beside a police officer. But then he decided he didn’t care. Or his anger was too blinding to care. He wheeled towards her, his eyes wild as he pointed a finger at her. “You did this!”

People yelling always tended to make he cower, and she did exactly that. As Trenton moved closer, Oliver stepped between them, making him pause.

“I know it was you! You stupid bitch!”

The pure fury in his voice had her instantly stepping behind Oliver, whose back stiffened, his broad form standing tall between her and Trenton. At least the douchebag was smart enough to stop, especially when Oliver casually rested a hand on his gun, using his body to block Felicity from view. “Is there a problem here?”

“Yeah, you idiot! Do you see my car!? That bitch keyed my car!”

“Well, I didn’t see her do it,” Oliver said calmly. “You didn’t see her do it. From what I’ve gathered, this woman is just walking back from a friend’s house.”

“I don’t see anyone else here!” Trenton screamed. “She did it! I know she did!” He leaned around Oliver’s shoulder and met Felicity’s eyes. And they were raging, matching the malice in his next words. “I’ll kill you,” he seethed through his teeth, his temper blinding his common sense.

Clearing his throat, Oliver moved again, protecting her. “Is that a threat?” He asked, cocking his head to the side and placing a hand on Trenton’s chest.

Oliver stepped closer to Felicity, keeping her just behind his back and out of view from Trevor’s incensed gaze. “No,” Trenton grumbled, taking a deep, calming breath. “No, it wasn’t a threat, sir. But she wrecked my car and I intend to press charges.”

Jeesh. The guy’s anger dissipated quickly, changing into calculation and control.

“Why would she do that?” Oliver asked, his tone not letting on that he knew a damn thing. “Have you even met this woman before? Because all I see right now is a deranged man making threats against a woman’s life.”

Trenton huffed out a breath of annoyance, realizing that in order to get her into trouble for the damage to his car, he’d have to admit that he’d been sitting outside of her building in it for the past week.

“I’ve met her,” Trenton snapped. “Trust me, this is something she would do. She’s a crazy bitch.”

Oh, like hell.

The tension in Oliver’s shoulders returned, like he wanted to let go of his own temper, and Felicity watched as he deliberately bit it back. “Is there a reason she would want to write ‘back off’ on your window?” Oliver asked, his voice dropping. It was almost threatening. Challenging Trenton to keep this up.

“No,” she heard him respond. “No reason at all.”

She stared at Oliver’s back, listening to Trenton stomp off. As soon as she heard his door slam, knowing that he wasn’t going to come back at her, Oliver turned around. Felicity didn’t move, and he didn’t back up either, which left them just a foot apart. She had to lift her chin to look up at him. His breath was heavy, his shoulders still tense. “You…are a very strange cop.”

His eyes flickered away from her, and she watched with fascination while he took a deep breath, exhaling as he closed his eyes. Like he was trying to get control of his anger. It surprised her, since he’d been cool a cucumber while Trenton flew off the handle. His hands shook like a hot head waiting to smash his fist into something.

She’d dated one too many explosive personalities. She knew the signs. And she took a step back.

Sensing her retreat, Oliver’s eyes opened, and the look behind them was so raw, yet different. He was trying to calm down, but the anger rolling off of him wasn’t alarming. It almost made her feel safe in a way. “I’ll take you home,” he gritted out, nudging by her to open the passenger door of his cruiser.

Felicity crossed her arms, “thank you for letting my friends and I off the hook. And for stopping that psycho from hulking out. But I think I can walk.”

“You want to walk home?” Oliver raised his eyebrows, “after all of that? Do you really think that kid is going to go stew in his room until he calms down?”

As if on cue, Felicity glanced up at the apartment, and caught a glimpse of Trenton dropping the curtain as soon as she did. Okay, creepy. “I’m not afraid of him.” She flat out lied.

“That’s nice.” Oliver clipped, his tone harsh as his eyebrows shot up. “Get in the car, Felicity.”

Planting her feet, Felicity glared at him. “You don’t even know me. Don’t tell me what to do.”

His eyes narrowed, and she honestly had no idea where the fire was coming from. Probably Trenton’s fault. She knew she was lucky to not be in handcuffs, yet she didn’t do as the officer said. Maybe it was because he didn’t act like a typical officer.

“Fine,” Oliver hissed through his teeth, irritated at her stubbornness. “Please get in the car.”

“No.”

After a long moment of staring, Oliver growled. “Here’s what we’re going to do,” he snapped, slamming the door closed and marching back over to her. “I’m going to drive you back your place. You’re going to make sure that all your doors and windows are locked. Then I’m going to let the next guy on duty watch out for that stupid Porsche. And then,” he spoke lowly, commanding as he held her gaze. “And then tomorrow morning, I’m going to come pick you up, and we’re going to file a police report against this creep. And we’re going to make sure that he stays far the hell away from you and any other woman around here.”

With that speech, Felicity let out a deep breath, blinking back tears as she finally accepted how fracking overwhelming the last few minutes had been. She sidestepped Oliver, storming over to the cruiser and getting in.

He followed after her, a little slower, but she refused to look at him as he climbed in beside her. She didn’t speak as he pulled out of the parking lot, watching Trenton in the window again, glaring down at them. Oh, he’d be back. If she didn’t have a man in a uniform with a gun on his hip, Felicity felt certain that Trenton would’ve been much more violent. She shivered.

“Felicity,” Oliver grumbled her name as if she’d been getting on his nerves for years rather than minutes. “What is wrong with you? Most girls would be happy to accept a ride home after a lunatic screamed that he would kill her.”

“In case you haven’t noticed, I am not most girls and I don’t need this. Or you. Or any of this.” Her voice was shaking, and she was furious that she seemed doomed for the worst. Like she had a sticker on her forehead that said ‘if you’re really screwed up, I’m the girl for you!’

It was just her luck with men. She didn’t just end up with the typical, mindless frat boys. She ended up with the stalkers and the creeps. First it was Cooper with his manipulation, lying, and stealing her work. Now it was Trenton and his stalking, yelling, and threatening. How many more guys like that would she have to put up with? Maybe she was just a magnet for them. Her father certainly set the example.

Sniffling, Felicity realized a couple of traitorous tears had escaped and she quickly swiped them away, hoping Oliver Queen didn’t see.

He noticed.

And he glanced from her to the road and back. But he let her be, only speaking to whisper, “which way?” And she guided him through the streets until he pulled up in front of her building. She opened the door immediately, but he stopped her with a gentle hand on her arm. “Hey,” he said softly. “I know you don’t know me, but trust me when I say that I’m not going to let him hurt you.” His eyes darkened a bit, “I am not an enemy that Trenton wants to have.”

Not knowing what else to say, Felicity nodded. She believed it. But she couldn’t expect him to put himself in the middle of it. Cop or not.

“This isn’t your fault.” Oliver reminded her. Because unfortunately she needed it. “Guys like that…they’re ticking time bombs. And bombs need to be dismantled before they explode.” He gave her a reassuring smile, “I promise I’m pretty good at that.”

She nodded, letting herself be comforted by his words, eyes, smile, and the warm hand still on her arm. “Thank you.”

“I’ll see you tomorrow, okay?”

Felicity swallowed, nodding along as she got lost for a moment, confused by the concern in his eyes. The depth. “Okay,”

“Get some rest, Felicity,” he whispered, and this time the order was much less demanding. A suggestion.

Opening the door, Felicity got out and headed into her building. And he waited until the door locked behind her before he drove away.

#arrow #olicity #olicity fic #arrow out of context #arrow out of context season 3 #prompts #olicity fanfiction #au

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adamwatchesmovies · 5 years

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Child’s Play (1988)

Doubts about Child's Play had started creeping into my mind. Did I simply like the film because of its iconic killer? Having re-watched it again I believe that yes, it is legitimately good. A little rough around the edges here and there but overall entertaining for slasher fans.

With his dying breath, serial killer Charles Lee Ray (Brad Dourif) transfers his soul into a “Good Guy” doll, an electronic toy for children. When Karen Barclay (Catherine Hicks) buys the doll from a street peddler and gives it to her son Andy (Alex Vincent) for his birthday, “Chucky” enacts his revenge from beyond the grave and pins his crimes on the boy.

The premise is contrived and ridiculous and Child's Play misses a big opportunity by never even attempting to set up a mystery. I would’ve expected the reveal about Charles Lee Ray to come halfway into the film, something to make the audience go “Oh wow! So the kid was telling the truth?!” Some early scenes are shot in a way which suggests the mystery angle might've been considered. By making it clear the doll is evil immediately, the film builds a different kind of suspense. You know there's a bomb beneath the car seat. You hope the people sitting in the vehicle will discover it in time… but how could they? A talking doll turned serial killer? The only way they’d buy it is if it started walking and talking right in front of them. When Chucky does, it’s too late. He’s already brandishing a knife and plunging it in someone's chest.

What I like about the movie is the memorable slasher and the characters, who are pretty smart considering the circumstances they’re in. Once confronted with clear evidence that something about Chucky is amiss, people jump on-board. The doll's a memorable killer because of the contrast he brings. He’s a vicious, profanity-spewing strangler in the body of an adorable “friend to the end”. The climax in which he comes back over and over features spectacular special effects. I know people are in love with the sewn-up Chucky from Bride of Chucky and beyond, but check out what he looks like by the end of this picture. Now that’s scary.

The premise is 100% nuts, but the execution is strong. The bulk of this movie is about people trying to figure out what's going on while the killer sneakily gets his revenge. It’s not like Chucky terrorizes Andy, his mother, her best friend (Dinah Manoff as Maggie) or the detectives following the case (Chris Sarandon and Tommy Swerdlow) by forcing them inside an abandoned cabin and picks them off one-by-one. I’m not afraid of a pint-sized slasher, but suddenly discovering that an innocent object inside the house has been killing people, the thought of everyone around you believing you’re crazy, that your best friend is framing you, that’s legitimate material for a horror film. With the special effects being as good as they are, poor little Andy being as sweet and innocent as he is (you really want him to get out of this ok), and several memorable scenes throughout, I have no bones about giving Child’s Play a solid recommendation. (On Blu-ray, October 22, 2016)

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notspeedy-blog1 · 6 years

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–– task one.

STATUS: complete !

BASICS.

given / birth name: roy william harper jr.

nickname / preferred name: roy / roytoy.

alias(es): speedy, arsenal, red arrow.

birthdate / age: november 1st / twenty-five.

place of birth: united states. no exact whereabouts known.

current location: no fixed address, travelling between here, there and everywhere. wherever a job takes him. with his current observation of what’s going on with the jl, he’s mainly between nyc and gotham.

gender identity: cisgender male (he/him)

sexual / romantic orientation: biromantic / bisexual.

ethnicity / race / cultural heritage: caucasian. rasied as a traditional navajo and treated as a member of the tachini tribe by brave bow.

marital status: single.

occupation: mercenary.

religious beliefs: due to his upbringing, roy shares the same beliefs as the navajo. navajo spiritual practice is about restoring balance and harmony to a person's life to produce health.

CHARACTERISTICS.

height: 6’0. ( i’m ignoring canon telling me he’s 5’11. no he is not, dc. you’re all liars. )

weight: 195 lbs.

body type / build: relatively slim despite the muscle. he can eat anything and doesn’t seem to gain weight, which he can be pretty smug about from time to time. he’s like a stringbean but with added muscle basically.

eye color: emerald green.

hair color / texture: red, on the lighter side. surprisingly soft, despite being shoved under a hat so often. he’s growing it out for now, more to his n52 length. ( he looks cute okay just hear me out !! )

recognizable features / scars: armband tattoo on his right bicep symbolizing his belonging within the navajo nation, a few nondescript tattoos on his forearm ( red arrow, horizontal ) and chest ( date of his sobriety –– a year in –– in roman numerals. ) he only remembers getting the one on his chest, the forearm one's a mystery to him. he also has six bullet wound scars on his chest and a surgical scar running the length of his sternum.

speech patterns / accent: uses a lot of fillers ( uh, um etc. ) has a terrible habit of starting a sentence and not finishing it. sometimes he’ll do it on purpose if he knows it annoys people just because it’s amusing to him. general american accent.

languages spoken: english, diné / navajo.

powers / skills / abilities: archery ( he’s a marksman of incredible accuracy ), firearms, martial arts ( thanks to training from dinah and ollie ), investigation ( he possesses keen analytic skills and deductive ability ), he used to be a drummer in a band ( great frog...... name a more iconic band i dare you ), can use a wide range of weaponry and has strong leadership skills from experience of leading the titans and outsiders for a period of time.

overall health: since recovering from his heroin addiction, he’s been in good health. he makes a conscious effort to stay active and socialise. his mental health is better than it was but he still has off-days when he’ll isolate himself and coop himself up until it passes.

RELATIONSHIPS.

order of birth: first born / only child in terms of biological family.

number of siblings: one. not biologically related. mia dearden kinda counts so i’m putting her here too.

father’s status + relationship: deceased. he passed when roy was around two/three, so it’s hard to say. he adored roy wholeheartedly though, i’m sure of it. ( how can anyone not, honestly? ) his relationship with oliver queen is somewhat tense as per usual, but roy still looks up to him as a mentor and father figure. brave bow helped roy sharpen his archery skills and abilities as a talented marksman, which he’s eternally grateful for.

mother’s status + relationship: deceased. died during childbirth.

sibling status + relationship: roy sees connor as a brother and holds him in high regard. mia is like family to him too, he’s protective over her. a good older brother!

loyalty / affiliation: team arrow.

PERSONALITY.

MBTI: ENFJ

hobbies: inventing a wide range of arrows for all situations simply because he can, video games of any description ( hey gamers ), reading ( whenever he gets the time ), helping out at soup kitchens, drumming now and then ( he doesn’t wanna get rusty but there never seems to be much time nowadays ), working out ( helps keep his mind busy as well as his body! It’s a win/win. )

bad habits: going days without sleep voluntarily due to getting too into a project in one of his various workshops, acting on emotions rather than logic if the situation strikes a nerve, smoking when stressed.

three positive traits: dependable, trustworthy, shows initiative

three negative traits: impulsive, cocky, self-doubting.

moral alignment: chaotic good.

ASSOCIATIONS.

one song: i wanna get better — bleachers.

one fear: disappointing those closest to him + relapsing. ( the two are practically synonymous for him. )

one strength: his trust in others.

one object: his dorky trucker hat(s). dweeb.

one place: the reservation he grew up upon.

one food: he’s a sucker for cheeseburgers of any kind. your typical fast food fan.

one scent: gasoline.

one lucky charm: a faded photograph of him and dinah from when they first met. ( hello gap-toothed roy. ) he keeps it framed in his wallet.

#united task 001 #➶ –– headcanon !#drug use tw #death tw

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canaryatlaw · 6 years

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okay, so today was pretty good. I woke up to my alarm at 11:45 for PT, got ready and walked there. The session was fine, nothing very remarkable about it. Afterwards when I was walking home there were people from charities out canvasing which is a fairly common sight, I ended up stopping and talking to a guy from one called People’s Action who are working to end mass incarceration and advocate for a fairer legal system (I told him up front that I was a student and had no income so I couldn’t donate, but we had a pleasant conversation anyway). We were very much on the same wavelength about things, we talked about the new DA in Philadelphia and how he was instrumental in getting Meek Mills released from prison recently, he was talking about reforms the Chicago SA has been instituting and I was telling him about the JTDC and how there were children locked up in there for sometimes over a year. They’re currently pushing for a bill that’s in the Illinois legislature to end money bail throughout the state, basically meaning if someone is arrested on a low level offense, they would be booked and processed, but then released subject to bail conditions such as ankle monitoring and such, the idea being that nobody stays in jail simply because they can’t afford to pay their way out, which is a huge reason for incarceration and the main cause behind most of the inmates at the Cook County Jail right now (note jail is different than prison, prisons don’t usually house people who are pre-trial). So he gave me the name of that legislation and how I could talk to my elected representatives about supporting it (he said he was pretty sure the rep for where I live was signed on, but it’s always good to let them know we’re supporting their position). So that was a pleasant little discussion (pleasant being a relative term, of course). So I got home and started on my baking projects for the day, one being the bread I wanted to make into cheesy garlic bread. I had bought a package of frozen pizza dough a while back, and there’s a recipe on the back to turn it into italian bread instead, and I had let the last one I had thaw out yesterday so I could cook it today, first I had to split it into two loaves and then leave it to rise for 2-3 hours, so I set that up, then started working on my caramels. It was the same recipe I used before and liked, I’ve just learned to change up the temperatures according to how I like them lol mainly leaving them on longer so they get harder and chewier, which is how I like them. there were a few potentially dicey moments when I was adding the heavy cream and butter (if you’ve ever made caramel before you know when you add the heavy cream it legit starts bubbling violently and can be rather intense) probably because I added too much too quickly, and it threatened to bubble over but eventually subsided. I then left them on until they got to like 260 instead of 240 like the recipe said before taking it off the stove and pouring it into a pan to harden, then topped it with sea salt because any good caramel has to be salted these days. It was around 4 at that point and they were supposed to sit for 3 1/2 hours, so I had some time obviously. I did the dishes in the sink, then finally started to finish cleaning my room. I had done a good bit of it last week with cleaning up the clothes that were really the main issue, but I just had a lot of other clutter and random things hanging about that I mainly stuffed either under my bed or in my closet, because those are really the only places I have to put stuff, lol. Hopefully this weekend I can get around to pulling out my clothing and deciding what I want to do with what exactly, keep it or hand, or store, or donate, so hopefully that will work out. Around 5:30 when the bread was done rising I put it in the oven, then when it was done I sliced one of the loaves open and started the cheesy garlic bread part, which is actually very easy because it’s only melted butter, garlic powder, and shredded cheese (of course you could go for the more authentic garlic flavoring by using actual garlic, but in my experience the garlic powder tastes fine). Once that was done I sat down on the couch and had some time to kill before Arrow came on, so I watched last week’s Blindspot that I hadn’t gotten around to yet. I think I only have last night’s Krypton to catch up on now, though I’ll have another Blindspot episode to watch tomorrow night, but it’s the season finale so I’m almost done with that. I’m gonna have to find some good shows to binge over the summer when all my shows are over and I need to decompress from bar studying. Soon enough after that it was Arrow time. Now, to be clear, the only reason I was watching was for Dinah Drake, Black Siren, and Sara Lance, I didn't really give a fuck about anybody else (besides like, Quentin, I guess). Oliver I really don’t give a shit about at this point, and even Felicity has become pretty meh to me because they can’t seem to write her as a character independent from her relationship with Oliver. The opening with them attacking the police prescient with the FBI was pretty bad ass, and done really well, so they get credit for that. The episode went on, I was worried for a moment that they were gonna kill off Rene when they had him call his daughter and I was like OH GOD DO NOT DO THIS TO ME so I was glad they got out of there alive. Then there was Quentin clearly only caring about getting Laurel back, and I’m sorry but I refuse to believe you can GPS track A FUCKING PACEMAKER even when I know they’ve done it with someone else on here at some point, but as soon as he said it to Oliver I was like okay that’s gonna be important so it was good that that was picked up soon. I mean, literally everyone knew they were gonna kill Quentin, and that it’d most likely be in the form of him sacrificing himself to save Laurel, so when he quite literally took a bullet for her that wasn’t really a surprise. When she called him “Dad” my heart definitely broke a little bit. Then everyone else stormed in and I was really just wanting Laurel to rip that stupid collar off her neck and scream at Diaz, but actually having Dinah come to her assist and help her get Quentin out of there was like, such a really well done moment for both of them, I loved it. Then of course there was Oliver being stupid with Diaz and not just putting a fucking arrow into him like he should’ve, like you could’ve grabbed that USB data off his neck if he stopped breathing??? We know thinking isn’t your strong suit buddy but come on. Not gonna lie, Laurel coming in and being like “oh, that movie you were talking about, it was old yeller” before literally blasting him off the building with her scream was so fucking great, I just wish it had actually killed him so we didn’t have to deal with anymore of this bullshit. If he’s actually like, a villain next season I’m gonna be pissed because he needs to just be done. Then of course we had everybody at the hospital with Quentin in ~stable~ condition going into surgery, and getting to have a nice long goodbye chat with Oliver, only for them to have Sara show up after he already went into surgery so she didn’t get FUCKING SAY GOODBYE to her FUCKING FATHER and just shows up in time to hear that he’s dead, because has the universe not dealt Sara Lance enough heartbreak already, you really gotta keep killing the people she loves???? that shit pissed me off, because it would’ve been so fucking easy for them to have her there earlier and at least get to say goodbye, this was just being unnecessarily cruel. I did appreciate that she at least got to speak to Black Siren, I would’ve liked a more in-depth conversation but it’s a start at least. I did of course feel for Laurel as well, we know she has to be dealing with a lot of grief and heartbreak based on the relationship her and Quentin had built up over the last season and him quite literally becoming a father to her. And now of course she has nobody, like who is going to help her now? the only other person who maybe would was Oliver, and OH WAIT he’s getting taken off to prison now. I mean, I guess they could have Dinah reach out to her which my DinahSiren shipper heart would adore, I would be really happy if that happened for next season, but I don’t really want to get my hopes up about it. But yeah, about that whole Oliver getting arrested thing. I know I was going on two weeks ago about how brilliant it was that they ended the case the way they did because it put double jeopardy rules into play so they couldn’t try him again, but double jeopardy doesn’t apply to federal charges (which is frankly something a lot of people, myself included, think is unconstitutional, but it’s the law for now), so he could be charged under federal statutes for crimes, however they would have to establish federal jurisdiction over the crimes, such as them occurring on federal land, or a series of other factors, because federal and state jurisdiction isn't always concurrent. It is of course very rare that federal charges are brought after someone is acquitted of state charges for the reasons I outlined above, it may not be double jeopardy by law but a lot of people view it that way regardless. They also made it really unclear as to what his situation was, like was he getting charged and going to trial or had he essentially entered a plea of some sort? I mean, if the charge is for like 35 murders (or however many they can claim federal jurisdiction for) there’s no way he’s getting an actual plea less than life in prison without parole (as opposed to the death penalty) so idk how that would work. but I really didn’t feel emotionally invested in that plot at all because I just didn’t believe the stakes, like sure he may spend a few months in prison until next season starts but we all know he’s going to get out and somehow take up his vigilante identity again. I wasn’t surprised that he went public about being the green arrow, I mean, Oliver did it in season 10 of Smallville so at this point I was pretty sure it was gonna be happening any time now. As far as the scene of him walking through the prison to his cell, that’s bullshit, because they would have him in protective custody being that like half the people in the prison want to kill him. but yeah, I guess that’s where we’re leaving off for now. I honestly really hope they make season 7 the last, it’s a solid place to end a series without it getting too drawn out (because let’s be real, it’s already being drawn out) and at this point I feel like they’re just getting close to Oliver’s narrative journey. Of course the characters can still be a part of the universe and show up in crossovers or just make cameos in the different shows, so it’s not like they'd really be going anywhere permanently. As far as the news coming out of the CW Upfronts today, I did chuckle a little at Supergirl getting moved to the Sunday night slot and Legends permanently taking over Monday (sorry SG fans) and it leading into Arrow, because that’s apparently the way they want to do things now. As far as the fact that Batwoman/Kate Kane is going to be part of the crossover next year, I can’t have much of an opinion there because I’m not terribly invested in the Batman mythos to the point where I’d really have any knowledge about her, the most I’ve really seen was watching Batman The Animated Series and of course that isn’t very much, so I guess we’ll have to see where they go with that. Someone on twitter said Legends should be leading the crossover next season, which I very much agree with, they've definitely earned it at this point. Well, once Arrow was over I just watched the Great British Baking Show Masterclass which is just the two judges making their perfect versions of the different challenges they had the contestants make in the bake off, because it’s very soft and British and does not hurt me the way the Arrowverse does, so that was pleasant, and I watched that until I started getting ready for bed. I have an early morning, it’ll be my first day at my mini internship at the DV Clinic, just on Fridays through the end of June. I would really have liked to have known about the NY job by now so I could have a better idea of how I stand there, but I guess I’ll just have to be pulling out all the stops to make myself the most useful worker that they won’t want me to leave, whether I end up needing a job or not. That’s the plan, anyway, as far as things I’ve already done there I’m pretty good at all of them, I can do OPs of course and I’ve interviewed clients, both over the phone and in person, and of course I can step up in court on status updates and such which it sounds like would be most of what I’m doing in court, so that’s all good. Well, it’s 12:30 am and I have to wake up at 6:55 am to get there by 8:30, so I really should be getting to bed now. Goodnight my loves. Happy Friday.

#daily journal #May 2018 #Rachel watches Arrow

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cassandra-acton · 6 years

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NOBODY DESERVES TO BE ALONE:

I said I would write a self para about Valentine’s Day eventually, I just didn’t expect it to take this long. Apologies. The start of my sad little muffin moving on with her life.

Date: February 14th, 2018. Warnings: Adorable old people. Long word count, little substance. Kate wrote it.

“This was a really lovely idea, Cassie.”

The voice of Adam Hassan—Labour’s Member of Parliament for Bethnal Green and Bow—was the one to break the young woman’s focus from the slow-moving crowd. The silver of hair and antique jewellery and pretty skirts forgotten for years had been almost as mesmerising as the smiles. The laughter.

“Nobody should be alone on Valentine’s Day,” she stated simply. It was almost impossible not to mirror the handsome smile as she turned her gaze toward him. “Not even you.”

Adam rolled his eyes.

It was a visit to her grandmother that had given life to the evening; Renske van Ardenne—a woman that had inspired her for as long as she’d lived. She was pushing close to one-hundred-years-old, and remarkably, still walking with the vigour of somebody half her age. Cassie always thought it was hard to see a long life as a blessing when it began to take those closest to you, though; first her husband, and then, one by one, those she’d called friends for decades.

Renske’s grandchildren sustained her. Cassandra would have given her the world if she could, but her time was still so painfully limited by her work, every visit was marred by the guilt of how much time had passed since the last. Still, her grandmother reassured. Understood. The visits mightn’t have been as frequent as she would have liked, but at least she was lucky enough to get them.

Some people didn’t even have that much.

Renske made sure Cassandra understood this. Perhaps that was why reaching out to the elderly community had always been something that was important to her.

Adam, from the neighbouring constituency, agreed. They had been working together for years on programmes that encouraged elderly people who lived alone to meet up with others in similar situations. The two MPs had raised money to organise transportation for those who couldn’t travel by their own means, and regularly rented out halls and other venues—especially around the holidays—so that instead of being alone during times of year meant for sharing, they could make friends, branch out, and socialise again.

Loneliness was crippling, and she had experienced it firsthand. Nobody deserved that pain.

Surprisingly, considering most had lost their spouses, the idea of tonight’s meeting being Valentine’s Day-themed was received well. It was an excuse to dress up in something formal. To play old music, and let those gentlemen who were still mobile enough to do so, proposition a lady for a dance. There was food. There was non-alcoholic wine. And Cassie was quite sure, somewhere across the room, she had even seen a couple steal a peck on the lips.

The fact that these people embraced the short time they had left and aspired to enjoy every moment of it was something she admired so ardently it made her chest hurt. Adam had noticed her emotions had been particularly frayed tonight. He was a kind man, with even kinder eyes—ones that had been looking at her a little differently than usual. Even though he suspected, he didn’t ask. Cassie was grateful for that.

As his lips parted to speak, the voice that sounded was not his own.

Adam wanted to look defeated by the interruption, but he couldn’t help the smile as they both turned their attention to the person who’d approached.

“Excuse me, young lady.” It was a gentle address from one of the group’s eldest men. The hand he extended in her direction was shaky, but not for lack of confidence. “I was wondering whether you might humble an old man with a dance.” It was then he turned to Adam, a glint in his eyes. “As long as I’m not stepping on any toes, son.”

The look he wore was so cheeky that she suspected even if Adam had reason to say yes, he wouldn’t have cared.

“Not at all,” her fellow MP conceded with a back-step. Cassie took the gentleman’s hand, smiling gently. “Just try not to keep her to yourself all night. It’d be an awful shame for the rest of us.”

The words didn’t go unnoticed.

“My wife and I would dance together like this every Sunday afternoon. That was our time. We would put a record on, and we were young again for a little while.” Fred’s eyes lit up when he talked about his love, but even though the recollection was a happy one, Cassie was struck by the familiar pain that left the words catching in his throat. It was the desperate struggle between reliving the best memories and realizing that there would never be a chance to make more. It hit home. Hard. “Have you youngsters heard of Paul Anka?”

Closing her eyes, she chuckled quietly. “Put Your Head On My Shoulder.”

“That’s the one. That was our song.” The frail man beamed at her with a pride so immense he might as well have been the one to write the words.

They had been swaying in time with the music for a while now, and she couldn’t help but wonder how many people still danced together like this. The way he held her close was innocent and tender, and the most affectionate gesture she’d experienced for some time. Steadily, his grin faded, though. Cassie could feel her heart sinking in unison with his as she looked on, and all she could do was offer the hand that held hers a gentle squeeze. “I still miss her terribly,” he admitted, voice wavering so much she wondered whether he’d ever said it out loud before. “I almost gave up when I lost my Edith. We never had any children of our own, you see, so until I was invited along here, I had...well, nobody, really.”

The idea of him being stuck alone in his home, scared to reach out for fear of rejection, was utterly depressing. Why did it take charitable intervention to end his misery? At what point had communities stopped caring about their own?

“I’m sorry it took so long for someone to help you.”

“Not at all,” he reassured, returning to a half-smile. “You saved an old man from a broken heart. I am not good with words, so forgive my inability to be profound, but please know that I will be grateful for that for as long as I have left.”

The sincerity of his words left a lump in her throat she was sure she’d choke on if she tried to speak.

So she didn’t.

Cassandra wasn’t sure how long he’d held her in his arms after that. It was quiet company, and she was sure she wouldn’t have minded dancing with him until the music died and the evening ended. As Dinah Washington faded into Vera Lynn, she closed her eyes once more, listening as he gently hummed along to every word. Some memories might have escaped him now, but none of the songs that defined a lifetime did. The rest of the room was soon forgotten.

She thought of Edith and how lucky the woman must have been to have shared any part of her life with someone as kind as Fred. It was very much how she felt about Harry, regardless how short their time together might’ve been in comparison. At least she’d got the chance to love him at all. Cassie thought of how Fred had suffered the pain of losing the love of his life, but had made it out the other side, and at some point, she knew she was going to have to do the same.

He was sad, but he was okay.

Life moved on.

Maybe she would be okay, too.

“I think there is a gentleman waiting over there who would rather like to dance with you,” Fred said, breaking her from her reverie. Even with closed eyes she could hear him smiling and soon she was doing the same. Adam. Cassie hadn’t realised she was crying until the old man lifted a hand to her cheek. “Thank you for tonight, my sweet. I felt young again.” Just as he had done with Edith. “Please, don’t ever stop reaching out to people like me.”

As he led her back to Adam, utterly overcome with emotion that had been bearing heavy on her all day, she nodded vehemently.

Cassie would never.

“Look after her,” Fred said sternly as he let her go, and just like that, she traded the arms of one man for another.

Fred shuffled away with the biggest smile he’d worn all evening.

It took a moment for Adam to register the emotion she had been left with, but when he did, his expression softened to sympathy so quickly that her eyes began to brim with tears once more. It was the last thing she wanted or needed.

“You know, for a stone-cold ice queen, you cry a hell of a lot when you’re around old people.” Adam wrapped his arms around her small frame, bringing her into his shoulder with a careful hand to the back of her head. The fact he shielded her from view as she wiped away her tears was appreciated enough that she let his tone slide. “Do you want to call it a night?”

Eventually—after some time spent pretending to dance, as she battled to redeem herself from a pathetic outburst—she looked up at him.

The words came out of nowhere; mind too hazy to think straight.

“I could do with a drink, actually. You should take me for a drink.”

It was a slow realisation, and she could see it in his eyes as the words clicked in to place. Adam was surprised by the offer as she was. His smile was hesitant; as though he thought he might’ve misheard. Maybe she should have let him believe it.

“I was beginning to think I’d never ask.”

Cassie couldn’t help but grin at that, her head falling to the side. Slowly, her arms crept around his neck, and she inhaled a shaky breath. “Well go on then. I’ve been waiting all night.”

Adam paused. She hadn’t anticipated seeing his smile falter. “I think we both know it’s probably not a good idea, Cass,” he sighed out after a moment. “The Prime Minister’s Tory sister spotted out on a Valentine’s Day date with the enemy? That would definitely get people talking.”

It wasn’t the response she was expecting.

Of course that was the first thing that came to his mind. When wasn’t it? Politics surpassed all, and the sooner she trained herself to remember it, the easier—she hoped—living amongst these people would become. Cassandra Acton was the Prime Minister’s sister. Always.

Adam must’ve felt her tense against him in irrational and emotional annoyance, because before she could pull away from him out of pride and spite, the man’s arm secured itself firmly around her waist to deny her the chance.

“So,” he began, leaning his head down toward hers, voice lowering to a whisper, “how about we forgo the public setting and head back to my place, instead. Let me cook you dinner. No distractions.”

Silence. All right, so she hadn’t exactly been expecting that, either.

Cassie didn’t want to remember the last time somebody had looked at her the way he was looking at her at that moment.

Yes, she had spent enough time playfully flirting with him to wonder—every sane woman would have—but this was real, and now he was asking. How long had it been since she’d spent time with a man on any level beyond professionalism? Her thoughts shot back to the last, Matt; an encounter best left forgotten. Moving on would be a necessity one day, but the idea that it would start with a step as small as this was daunting. Still.

“You know, I totally forgot about this earlier, but I think I’m actually washing my hair tonight?”

Humour was a go-to deflection that she quickly realised wasn’t working.

“You see this?” Adam laughed as he pulled her against him, and it was strangely comforting. “This is why nobody bloody talks to you.”

Before she knew it, she was laughing, too. He had a habit of that; making her laugh when happiness otherwise seemed out of reach. Maybe that was why she liked spending time with him. Maybe it was something she should’ve tried harder to hold on to. Gently, her fingers occupied themselves with the hair on the back of his neck, and all she could give was a slow nod of her head.

“All right, Adam. Dinner it is.”

Because nobody should be alone on Valentine’s Day.

Not even her.

#self para #self para: nobody deserves to be alone

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5hfanfiction · 7 years

Text

Mad Love. Ch 8

Based on ‘Like This.’ by JoJo. Also on Wattpad

*****

Lauren once again sits alone in Lucy’s apartment waiting for her to return. She has her headphones in, as if music will distract her from feeling like shit for leaving before Dinah woke up. Well, she left a note at least. Had to go, but last night was nice.

She’d written three other versions but that was what she settled on. She likes Dinah. She does. It’s just that she’s trying to be careful and keep her at arm’s length. She’s really not ready for anything serious. Her relationship with Ally proved that. Great, now she’s thinking about both of them.

“Lauren, I’m back,” Lucy calls out as she enters the apartment. She doesn’t think Lauren heard her, and that thought is confirmed when she finds her laying down staring at the ceiling. Lucy taps her on the shoulder. “Oh hey Luce,” Lauren sighs, “thanks again for letting me stay here.”

“Yeah sure. Is something wrong?” Lucy sits next to Lauren, cocking her head to the side. “Just thinking. Overthinking really. It’s stupid.” Lauren rolls over to face away from her. Lucy disappears into her bedroom, reappearing with her hands behind her back. “I know what’ll get your mind off whatever you’re overthinking about—let’s make brownies.”

Lauren groans. That’s something Ally would suggest. “Come on, you need to do something to relax,” Lucy coaxes. Suddenly, she tosses what she’d been holding behind her back at Lauren. Lauren turns and looks down at the small bag of weed. Okay, so maybe this isn’t something Ally would suggest.

*****

“I’ll have a bacon, egg, and cheese breakfast sandwich on Texas toast with a side of hash browns,” Ally says with a smile, handing the Waffle House waiter her menu. The waiter clears his throat, causing Normani to stop staring so intently at Ally. “Oh, uh that sounds good, I’ll have the same.”

Ally giggles, resting her head on her girlfriend’s shoulder. They’d wanted to go out for breakfast with Mani’s friends after the Christmas morning mass, so of course Normani had Ally’s favorite place in mind. She just loves how Ally’s face lights up at the mention of it. She considers it their place. Can you blame her? It was where she and Ally spent prom.

*****

Normani had heard rumors that Lauren and Ally got kicked out of the dance, but only came to believe them once she got a text from Ally asking her to come to Waffle House as soon as possible. “Mani, what are you doing here? Why aren’t you at prom?” Lauren asked as Normani stepped through the door.

“Ally invited me. Where’d she go?” “Bathroom.” Normani nodded. She sat down in the booth for a second, trying to be nonchalant. Then she realized there wasn’t a point and got up to find Ally.

“Mani?” Ally whispered from inside a stall. “Hey Allycat, I heard about what Lauren did. I’m sorry your last prom had to be like this.” Ally opened the stall door, sniffling with mascara running down her face. “That’s not what this is about, and it wasn’t Lauren’s fault,” Ally defended. Normani just took a deep breath at that. “So there’s something else going on?”

There was a long pause, then Ally sighed, “I know I told you to come, but I don’t think I can talk about this right now.” “Seriously don’t worry about it. Prom wasn’t that fun without you,” Normani said earnestly, then added jokingly, “I’m pretty comfortable right here, so I’ll wait as long as I have to until you’re ready to talk.”

“I’m bisexual,” Ally blurted out as she broke down into Normani’s arms. Normani simply hugged her tight and kept repeating, “It’s okay. I love you no matter what.” She wasn’t bothered by Ally’s sexuality at all. If she was being honest with herself, she’d have found she felt the same way, but she couldn’t really think about that too deeply at the time.

Ally finally caught her breath. “Also…I-I like Lauren,” she stuttered. Though Normani never would have guessed it, it made perfect sense. She wrote off the feeling of her heart breaking as shock and pulled Ally in again, rubbing her back in circles.

Once Ally got out all her tears, Normani helped wipe off her smeared makeup and they returned to Lauren. The whole ordeal was in total probably less than ten minutes long, but it’s one of the greatest testaments to their friendship.

*****

As they get into Mani’s car, Ally speaks up, “You were kind of quiet during breakfast. Everything okay?” Normani gave her hand a reassuring squeeze. “More than okay. I am beyond grateful that everything in my life has led me to be here with you.” Ally then suffocates her in the biggest hug, showering her in kisses. “Awwww, Manibear, that’s so sweet!”

Normani laughs, starting the car and plugging her phone into the aux cord. In their typical fashion, the couple goes from being adorable to sexy in a matter of seconds, going all out singing and dancing to the music as if they were giving an iconic performance on the VMA main stage.

#UPDATE #series #AU #slash #normally #alren #laurinah #based on song #angst drama #romance fluff #submission #Mad Love

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donkeywrotewhat · 7 years

Text

The Hurting, The Healing, The Loving: Part I- The Hurting

“Boss or Toss kissing someone you’re on tour with.”

“So this last beautiful girl that I am going to introduce has the most beautiful emerald green eyes in all the world, and she has a wonderful mind and she says smart and intelligent things and she’s my favorite, Lauren Jauregui.”

“Do you guys know who Camren is?”

“They call her Mila, I call her Camz.”

“Mine’s Lauren.”

“I love Lern Jergi.”

Bright lights flashed against her green ones and soon she found herself standing in front of thousands of people. She blinked once or twice to see if all of this is happening and suddenly it hit her. She was having of those flashbacks again. Groaning internally and doing everything to not look like she was pissed at someone- which clearly was herself to avoid misunderstanding, she just heaves out a breath out and looks to her right and sees two of her members, Dinah and Normani who were getting all cuddly cuddly. She takes a glance at Ally who looked like a mother looking over her daughter who finally got the dream girl and when Normani met her set of eyes she acted like how people wanted to see, like a proud bestfriend giving a thumbs up, making sure everyone could see just so they could make about things and theories about this one later on.

Giving the final bow, All of them went back to the dressing room, changing into their party clothes and headed off to the club for an after-party event located at the heart of the city. Even before arriving they knew there’s going to be a lot of people which represented mostly by the media hoping to snap something to post it later on their columns. And although this people piss them off, they had to pose and look good because that’s what people wanted to see. So like the management taught them to do, they posed all for the flashing lights before leavinbg them wanting more.

Entering the club they greeted some familiar faces and they also kissed some on the cheek. Immediately Ally found her boyfriend and heads to him. Looking at the couple, the three of them couldn’t help but feel jealous because if Ally had one thing in this world that they would be jealous of, it was her boyfriend’s consistency to prove to Ally that he’ll always be her number 1 fan.

Lauren’s heart was still melting at the sight but a pair of arms wrapped around her waist shifted her attention and she didn’t even need to turn around to see who this person was. The mixture of weed and alcohol with a little bit of his favorite perfume and the signature kiss on the shoulder brought a smile to her face.

“What’s up pretty face?” She turned to look at her friends who nodded in understanding.

“Hey this is our twerk song c'mon.”

“You know I’m right wherever you are babe.”

“You sure those two aren’t lesbians?” He wrapped his arms around her tights and resting his chin on her shoulder.

She simply gave him an eyeroll which wasn’t obvious in his eyes. “They can be whatever they want them to be.” He should know by now she hates labels.

“Alright, no need to sweat. Come and meet the family babe.”

Her co-members had a very neutral reaction when she started seeing him. It started off as catching up with one another up until the rapper started showing his intentions and she, the one who tried to get things off of her mind accepted him and sooner she realized that he wasn’t much of an ass, well most of the time especially when he’s on his good side. When the girls heard it from her personally they didn’t acted too negatively. They just nodded their hands and hoped that she’d be happy and he would be responsible for it.

And she did in all honesty. It was so cute to see this adorable sight of him and being so close to family was one of the things that brought her into agreeing in dating this guy. He made her happy, he made her feel loved and cared and that she deserves these treatments. What did the management thought about it though? They thought to make a big deal out of it spreaidng rumors one after the other and now it blasted through the entire world and she wanted to say something about it. She wanted to say that there’s nothing serious between them right now and that they’re just testing the waters but just like how the management wanted her to act, she said nothing and kept her mouth quiet. And for this, he took the hint that they were in fact an item.

With his hands still around her waist she was introduced to probably half of the people inside the club which she would only probably memorize only 10 and she kept accepting drink after drink offered to her by his friends or his co-workers and family. She didn’t want to embarass him so being the good girlfriend that he wanted all of them to see, she was approachable and understanding.

Two hours later she finds herself getting full of the conversation. At first yeah she was liking how the flow of the conversation went but then onen of his friends made fun of women and it angered her. It angered her knowing that all of the guys agreed while they look at women like some piece of meat and how he invited some hookers in their table. Well, high-class hookers but nevertheless, she saw how much disrespect his friend showed to them and what angered her the most was he never said nothing about it. He just kept on flipping his long ass dreadlocks, laughing and agreeing to everything that comes from these low, imbecile people. She wanted to rant, but she also didn’t want to cause the scene. So like how her date wanted her to act, she excused herself politely and made her way towards the balcony.

Surprisingly, she sees her best friend there with heels on the other hand nd eyes up above. She normally sees the latter inside the club twerking her heart out or jamming to every song played by the DJ or drinking higher than her usual tolerance but she smiled at at the sight, slowly walked towards her. She just stopped right beside and neither of them said a thing. It was silent but it was a comfortable one and she felt thankful for that with their lifestyle, sometimes it’s hard to find solace.

“I like looking up at the stars sometimes. They’re so still it makes me feel that time stopped and if I focused enough, I could hear the busy street noises fading out and everything else. In times like this I feel that I am Normani. No awards under my name, no bullshit nor I am a member of a worldwide girl band, it’s just Normani… Normani Kordei Hamilton, the 20 year old girl from Houston.” She smiled still her eyes were on the sparkling tiny dots in the sky. “It’s worth the pain in the neck.”

Lauren smiled. “I think I like that too Mani.”

“But your eyes aren’t on the stars Laur, you keep looking at the moon.” She says. “It still reminds you of her isn’t it?”

Instead of giving an honest answer, Lauren built up her walls and shrugged. “Sometimes I guess.”

She should’ve known better that her bestfriend could see right through her. Still being the bestfriend that she is, she just shakes her head. “How do you do it?”

“Do what?”

“How do you look at her and tell the public otherwise?”

“Uh, it’s because the management told us that I should be the one who should be vocal about it. I had to maintain my image who didn’t take anybody’s bullshit about me while she had to remain the sweetheart that everyone wants her to be.”

“Does it hurt? Whenever you deny her?”

“More of like she’s the one hurting. She told me that my words were too realistic that it was hard to draw the line sometimes.” She answered. “She got used to it as the time passed by, what’s the purpose of indirects anyway.”

Normani nods her head. “I see.”

Lauren furrowed her eyebrows. She knew about the new set up of the management since they needed to spice things up, they thought it would be better if it was Normani and Dinah’s turn to be the one who everyone shipped. She was there when the management proposed the idea and she saw how comfortable the two were the idea, and they even banter about who was going to get jealous first and then laugh it off. It was nice to know that things weren’t awkward between them unlike when the management told her and the other one act to be an item to boost their popularity up.

But now looking at her bestfriend, she knew something was up and she was going to find out by the end of tonight.

“Mani you know-”

“I am just like you Laur.” She was confused by her friend’s statement. “I am a unicorn who fell in love with a dragon…” She trails off and looked at her with tears threatening to fall from her eyes. “And mother will never approve.”

Instantly she pushed forward the dark-skinned beauty inside her arms just how quickly Normani cried her eyes out. She sobbed and Lauren could feel her top getting wetter every second and how Normani poured her heart out tonight. She knows how painful it must be for the other girl to finally recognize her feelings to the person who’s inside probably dancing until she passes out with some guy she’d forget about the next day. Funny how Dinah couldn’t notice that she was breaking a heart of someone without her noticing it.

What she even finds funnier is that she couldn’t help but imagine that this was her years before when she was still here with them, and her crying figure wrapped around her bestfriend just like how she was hugging Normani now. Pathetic, she couldn’t hate Dinah even if she wanted to, she was Dinah years ago too.

“How can she call me babe and ask me to be fine with it? I mean did you see her tweet? When she called me her girl? Fuck, I fucking lost it or how she posted the screenshot and how she is in her normal way I knew I was a goner. I am a goner for her Laur.” She continued to cry.

“Shhh just let it all out.”

“I didn’t planned to be like this, man I never imagined because we always talked about boys and now it’s just- goddamnit now all I could think about is her, no matter how hard I try to fall for some guy, she would always creep my thoughts and managed to stir my feelings up.This was supposed to be just an act and now I find it very hard on what to believe…” She paused for a moment. “So tell me Laur, how do you do it? How do you get over these stupid feelings?”

“You never get over them Mani. You just let time pass you by and hope that tomorrow, it won’t hurt like today.” She said. “You just continue to hope babe and one day it’s gonna happen.”

“Thanks Laur, I really appreciate you being here and I don’t know if I would’ve bottled this entire one up.”

“Is this your first time coming out because-”

“My family knows and my mother expected it to happen sometimes soon. She kinda felt it when I brought Dinah for Christmas and then I went to celebrate New Year with hers.”

“Not even dating yet you celebrated the holidays together? I am offended!”

“Barbara on the other was a little in denial at first but she finally got over it. She even told me that if Dinah and I won’t be together by the end of this year she’ll disown me.”

Lauren chuckled. “Wow, talk about pressure huh?”

Normani laughed along too. “Yeah.”

After the laughter died, Lauren cleared up her throat. “You know what Mani? I actually regretted something this entire time.” Her best friend looked at her while waiting for her answer. “It was when I never told her that I love her, even when I knew I already did.”

“What are you talking about you guys say I love you to each other every time.”

“But she was the one who always initiated it, it was never me… I always said I love you ‘too’ and it probably made her feel that I was just agreeing with her, like I was just saying I love you because she loves me and now thinking about it, I should’ve said I love you to her more.” She fixes her friend’s hair. “So if she doesn’t know, then let her.”

Before Normani could answer, the door opened and it revealed Dinah looking at them with a non-expressive face and when she spotted the two Lauren could see the Polynesian girl wasn’t even trying to hide her frown and it was only then she saw their current position in. Normani probably noticed the position too as the DWTS star immediately created distance between them.

Lauren immediately chuckles mentally as she saw who’s the whipped one before the relationship could even start.

“What’s going on? Am I missing something?” Lauren wanted to laugh, Dinah was really the worst when it comes to hiding something.

“Oh nothing, we were just catching up.”

Dinah raised both of her eyebrows in amusement. “That’s some way of catching up.”

“You know how close Mani and I are DJ, it’s not like you’re not used to us being all so cutesy. She’s my Manibear after all. Ain’t that right BABE?” That earned her a playfully shove from her.

“Yeah I can see that now.” The Latina couldn’t hold it any longer so she lets out a laugh. “What’s so funny Laurenza?”

“Nothing, I just remembered I left him behind his egotistic friends and how he’s probably so pissed at me which means I should go. Great talk babe, we should do this more often. You guys are taking the Norminah shit way too real my heart can’t take it anymore.” She cooed.

Laurent left the two of them and she could hear her other member asking her why was she out here and how she noticed that she was crying and demanded for a reason why. She turned back to take a glimpse of them and she sees Dinah placing a kiss on Normani’s forehead and hugged her and by that she knows that it’ll only be a matter of time before they could admit their feelings for one another.

She really didn’t feel like going back inside the club as she feels that she was draining from the concert and so she gives him a quick message and continued walking on the streets just taking her time as her hotel was a walking distance from the club. She actually felt happy because people was just passing her by not harassing her or even demanding something from her and it’s not that she gets to experience this every single day. Normani was right, it felt nice to sometimes feel normal.

She stops as the pedestrian and waited for the signal so she could cross and get inside the hotel. While waiting, she remembered her member saying how she kept her eyes on the moon and tonight was no difference. Looking up, she saw the moon sharing its light down on her. She smiles and pulls out her phone tweeting-

Eyes on the moon

And she crosses the street, enters her hotel room and let the sleep take over her body.

How does Lauren Michelle Jauregui spend her Saturday Nights?

Well it’s either she’s home with the family, chilling out on their Miami home with boxes of pizza as their cheered on their favorite team on various sports or just screaming their hearts out for a movie marathon. She could also be on a plane towards another state or another country while trying to catch up with some jet lags or being notified on their schedule. She could also be at the recording studio messing around with words or melody or at her room with Leo on her side, a book on her hand and a cup of her favorite tea on her desk. Depends really…

But tonight she was doing neither because this Saturday night she’s killing her red dress and heels with his arms wrapped around her waist as they were bombarded with paparazzi when they were entering the club for he was invited by Pharell, who was celebrating his birthday tonight.

“You alright there?”

She takes a look at him. “Yeah sorry I dozed off for a minute were you saying something?”

“Is there something wrong? You know we could leave if you’re really not up for it.”

Now she feels guilty. “It’s not that, I just zoned out for a minute but I really want to be here with you. Also, I haven’t been out for a while so it’s nice to have some fun tonight.”

“Okay cool. Now let’s go find him I mean if we ever do cause this place is huge.”

“Don’t worry, it’s not really impossible not to find him. I only know a few people that could rock this type of hat.” She chuckles. “We’ll find him eventually but let’s just enjoy the night yeah?”

He smiled and kissed her forehead. “I like that.”

Lauren could also feel that there’s something wrong. You know the feeling that you know there’s something bound to happen but you just couldn’t describe what time of event would that be and although it’s at the end of your tongue and you really wanna say it you just couldn’t and it frustrates the shit out of you? Well that perfect describes Lauren’s feelings right now.

So when she wants to distract herself from thinking things she doesn’t even want to, she usually goes to places like these and enjoy the night out by being high or wasted or neither. She just wanted to have fun and basically that’s what they did tonight. The couple danced the night away while meeting with some friends. She even got to meet Halsey, a good friend of hers and both of them agreed on doing a song very soon.

After all the sweating, Lauren chilled out at the bar, grabbing a drink first and looking at the people. She smiled to herself as she was successful blocking certain things off of her mind. But reality bites like a bitch, especially to someone who has been trying to run away from it when Lauren felt everything slow down as her eyes landed on a certain brown-eyed girl who she hasn’t seen in a while.

“What the fuck?”

Lauren couldn’t describe the situation even better. She just didn’t see Camila Cabello for the first time in probably a long time but she sees Camila dancing with someone else and distance between them was hardly seen. The second thing that matched Lauren’s words was how close those two were and something inside of her stirred when she knew that the younger latina was dancing with another woman.

“Lauren I don’t understand, I thought we were-“

“We never were! We were just two people forced to act as if we were one because the fucking management wanted to spice things up!”

“I know you’re scared because there’s Lucy and-“

“Damn right I’m scared! Fuck why do you have to come in and ruined everything!?”

“It wasn’t my fucking fault when the two of you didn’t grow up some balls to fix things!”

“No fuck you. We’re done and-“

“You don’t mean that! You always say that but you always end up coming back to me!”

“No this time I’m done, whatever this is, is done, I am growing up some balls and fix things with my girlfriend. So fuck off, fuck your feelings and good bye Camila. It’s better if you would’ve left.”

Lauren tries to shake off the memory that hit her like a bitch. Her mind was immediately brought back when the song changed into I Got You and her eyes immediately landed on those two figures who were dancing intimately. She hated the fact that this woman sang the lyrics I can see you hurting, I’ve been through the same thing baby don’t you worry I got you.

Who the fuck she think she is? And why does she smiles at her as she leans onto her more? This is fucking bullshit! And why the hell am I seeing this now? There were a lot of questions that were going through her mind but she never wanted to know the answers. She swallowed her drink in one go while dialing a number and waiting for the other person to pick up the phone.

“What’s up Lauser?”

“Dinah do you know something that I don’t?”

“Whatchu talkin’ ‘bout girl? Mani I swear to God give me my fucking pizza back or I’mma poly beat down your ass.”

“Dinah focus! Do you know something that I don’t?” She said sternly this time.

“How am I suppose to know when you keep talking to me-“

“Do you know that Camila’s seeing someone right now?” The person on the other line went silent and she groaned. “Dinah just answer my fucking question!”

“Yes I know and I don’t know how the hell did you found out but you weren’t supposed to.”

“I wasn’t supposed to? The fuck does that mean?” And then she could hear the two conversing on the other phone and something clicked inside her. “Does Mani know? Does Ally know too?”

“Look Laur-“

“Wow, so much for trying to keep me up with everything.” She immediately hanged up and ordered another shot while the bartender looked at her weirdly. “Well? Are you going to grab my drink or not?”

“Y-y-yeah. I’ll be back.” She sighed, she didn’t mean to snap at the poor guy.

Pharell immediately got up on the stage and people cheered for him and they sang the happy birthday song altogether. He said thanks to all the people who were here tonight and he expressed his gratitude and said the most cliché lines which was- drinks is on me! As the crowd laughed and Lauren would’ve laughed too but she was just beyond pissed. From afar she could see Camila picking up her phone and she saw how the younger one tensed up and began searching throughout the entire bar.

And after what felt like an eternity, a pair of chocolate-brown eyes finally looked at the pair of eyes which had bright emerald in color. It brought back so many memories to both of them. Back then, they liked talking to one another through their eyes and some videos have become proof of it and right now, Camila was telling Lauren to follow her out of the club and being the Lauren who wanted immediate answers, she gave the other one a small nod before seeing her whispering something at the person who danced a while ago with her woman before giving Camila a small nod and turning back her attention towards the music. My woman? Pathetic. Lauren mumbles to herself as she follows the Cuban out on the club towards the underground exit and there was this big guy who nodded at Camila and opened the door of an SUV before leaving them there. This was it-

Tonight will be the night where all of Lauren’s questions will be answered, by hook, or by crook.

She enters the SUV and then she was met by silence. It was so silent that you could hear the air condition making sound and it the physical movements like shifting sitting positions, licking of the lips, the playing of the nails and two bodies breathing so cautiously. Lauren felt Camila was looking at her and hearing the latter one sigh, she knew that the other one would be starting the conversation.

“I’m sorry you had to find it out that way.”

Lauren scoffed, “As if I was ever going to find it out… As if someone will eventually tell me what’s going on because clearly, you were stopping them.”

“I wasn’t and I just told them that there’s no need for you to find it because it’s not like you would care anyways. You have your own life, I’ve got mine.”

“You’ve kept them updated so I couldn’t see why you couldn’t update me as well.” Lauren defends. “You’re right, I don’t give a shit so why hide? You think I would be so damn jealous of your new thing?”

“Why? Aren’t you being jealous right now? ‘Cause if you really weren’t, you wouldn’t call Dinah and if you don’t give a shit, then don’t look at me that way.” Camila says sternly.

“How am I looking at you now then?” She challenges.

“You’re looking at me as if you give a shit.” That caught Lauren off guard. “You’re looking at me as if it hurts you to see me be with someone else. You’re looking at me as if I am still yours when clearly you told me months ago I was never yours and you were never mine, that we were just used by the management to spice things up and that I was the one to blame because I stepped in your life and things got fucking messed up.”

“Stop going back to the past, it all means nothing to me now.”

“Well then you can get the hell out of my car, we’re done here. I’ve done my part explaining.”

“FINE!”

Camila couldn’t take it anymore so she just made her way outside the car and back at the club when she hear Lauren say- “What does she have anyway? Who the fuck she think she is to dance so intimately with you? Fuck her! She shouldn’t be-“

“No fuck you! She can dance with me whatever way she wants because someone I really care about and I want to actually be happy this time!”

“What the hell are you talking about!? Weren’t you happy!?”

“NO!” She bursts out. “I wasn’t happy because you took it from me!” She walks back to the older Latina. “I used to be so happy in your arms, made me feel like everything is real, that we were real, that what you’re feeling for me was real until you fucking destroyed it all for me when you chose her over me. When you chose HIM over ME.”

“So this is what it’s all about huh?” Lauren paused. “You want revenge on me on what I’ve done to you years ago?”

Camila stared at her with great disbelief. “Are you even for real now? I just told you, I want to be happy this time around and that’s me putting my happiness in my own hands because when I placed my heart in yours you fucking squeezed the life out of it. Not everything about my life is about you Lauren, not anymore because I actually realize that I need to put myself first.”

“You put yourself first way too much because you fucking left the group who was with you through thick and thin for 5 years.”

“You’re impossible to talk.” She shakes her head. “I am not doing this with you and your mindset right now.” She started walking away again.

“Yeah go ahead Camila, fucking run. That’s you alright, you fucking run away when you know you’re about to lose and when you’re too afraid to admit something!” She chases Camila and grabs her by her arm. “You’re running away from me because you know deep down, it’s still me you’re in love with.”

She removes herself from Lauren’s grasp. “Yes, I am running away from you. I am running away from you because I know if I stayed I would let your words get to me and if I stayed I would be the same 15-year old Camila Cabello who, no matter how hard she fucking tries, she always find herself loving the 21-year old Lauren Jauregui just like how she loved her when she was 20, 19, 18 and even for the very first time we met. I am running away because I cam choosing myself, because I am so done to be continuously be broken by you.” She already has tears in her eyes but still she continued with her talk. “I am running away from you because I am done staying in your life like I was okay with everything. You know how I felt for you then, EVERYONE knew how much I love you and yet you kept coming back to her and when she breaks you, I let myself break for you just to see you smile again. I let you be in my arms tonight only to find you back in hers the next morning and I have to act like everything’s okay. Well a little heads up, it’s not and I am never going to be okay with the fact that we didn’t even got the chance to be together because you were too scared to realize the fact that everyday you’re with me, you find yourself falling out of love for her.”

“That is non-sense!” Lauren defends. “I love Lucy, you and I both know that, which is why I chose her over you.”

“Oh yeah? So why did you guys decided to stay friends then? If you were so sure about her, then why would you always push me away every time we would talk about what we are?! You keep running back to her because she was safe. You chose her over me because you know for a fact that she won’t hurt you like I will and you keep on choosing her over because you’re a fucking coward and this is the same reason why you chose him over me because up until now Lauren, you’re the only one running away from the truth that no matter what you do, no matter how hard you try, and whoever you’re with now, it’s still me- Camilla Cabello that you’re still in love with.”

Lauren can’t even formulate a proper sentence nor a word for the speech that came out from Camila’s mouth. For sure she already knew that this conversation was going to get heated but she never expected for Camila to not hold back anymore and lay all her feelings there out on the field. She looked over her and she saw how she was panting, tears flowing in her eyes and all she could see in those brown orbs were pain and sadness. Lauren backed away her stare and looked on the ground and remained silent.

Camila sniffed and wiped her tears before composing herself. She started walking towards back to the club when she stopped and Lauren waited for her to say something.

“I have a song about us and I hope you can listen to it one day.” She says. “And when you do, I hope it hits you like a fucking train just so you can understand the half of the pain that I was going through.”

So this is the first one or the other half of the chapter. I’ll release the other half tomorrow. Let me know on how you think about this one! This is my first time writing about Camren so please be gentle lol, bye see u tomorrow :)

#camren #lauren jauregui #camila cabello #ththtl #oneshot

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