#first time during this season I really felt a sense of urgency | Explore Tumblr Posts and Blogs

dinodude52 · 1 year

Text

Okay, let’s talk about The Last of Us s1

I feel it’s important to mention I don’t like zombie shows/movies. I watched The Walking Dead but only because it centered on the characters and what they were going through more than the zombies, though I’m not sure if that’s true for later seasons. I stopped watch in season 8. But I was intrigued by The Last of Us. I never played the game (again, I don’t like zombies; the draugr in Skyrim is as close as I get) but the show looked really good. And now that it’s over, I really only have two thoughts.

So, spoilers. Duh.

Thought One: I got that initial outbreak that I was missing from The Walking Dead. With TWD is my only frame of reference for apocalyptic zombie media, I’m going to use it a lot. What I was missing from that show, though, is how the outbreak started. And yes, we did sort of get that from Fear the Walking Dead, but they skipped over the good parts, if memory serves. One minute there was a mystery disease and the next... apocalypse. When we started with TWD, we were still in the beginning stages of the apocalypse. Everyone was still adjusting to their new normal and holding on to whatever they could from the old world, that was the exact same stuff we got in Fear the Walking Dead. It brought nothing new to the table. It didn't give me what I wanted.

What I wanted was the horror. The dread. The knowing the outbreak is coming, but when? And who? I got that with TLOU. It was compounded by the fact that we’ve been through a pandemic; we know how easy it is to spread disease. It went global and then a week later the whole world shut down. No one turned into fungus monsters or the walking dead, but still. The dread in the first episode was palpable, and I have no doubt that even if the pandemic hadn't happened, it still would have been deeply effective. It used dramatic irony well. The show knew we knew the outbreak was coming and used that knowledge to its advantage. Incredibly well done.

Thought Two: I think making the main story take place 20yrs after the outbreak was a bad idea. I know in the game it was 10-20yrs since the outbreak (I googled it, but I couldn't get a straight answer for some reason) but that feels too long. I don't get a sense of urgency. There's supposed to be urgency, that's the feeling I got during the scenes between Marlena, Joel, and Tess when Marlena was begging them to take Ellie to the Fireflies outside the QZ, but I don't feel any of it carried through the rest of the show. Because there wasn't really any urgency at all. The plot was "get Ellie to the Fireflies" but is that supposed to happen sooner rather than later? Is there a time frame? At any point Joel and Ellie could have chosen not to keep going. They could have stayed with Tommy and Maria in Wyoming. I know that it was important to Ellie to make everything that's happened during their journey mean something, but I have no reason to believe she felt like that before meeting and killing David. And if she was supposed to start feeling that way after Sam and Henry died, then they didn't do a good job of showing that to me. And I'm by no means shit talking the show. I was just missing that extra little motivation.

I also assume that after 20yrs most people would have given up on the idea of a cure or vaccine. This is the world they live in now. I can understand wanting a treatment maybe, so clicker bites aren't deadly anymore. To that extent I can get behind sending Ellie to the Fireflies, but I can't get behind finding a vaccine. And no, it's not because there can never be a vaccine for a fungus (that's not how vaccines work), but it seems like, for the most part, no one's worried about the clickers unless they get too close to a big city. There's not even the threat that if someone were to die they would become a clicker like in The Walking Dead. (For those who don't know: In TWD, everyone is infected with the Wildfire virus so it doesn't matter if you're bitten by a walker or not. If you die, you turn). This circles back to my issue of urgency. Again, if they were searching for a treatment, I would understand. But they want a vaccine. I want to say they must know there's no way to cultivate a vaccine against a fungus, but I can't be sure. They said in the first scene that it's not possible for a fungus to take over the human body because our bodies are too warm, but cordyceps took over human bodies anyway. So maybe they're operating under the logic of "if that's possible when they said it was impossible, maybe a vaccine is possible, too."

Anyway, those are my only two thoughts, really. I mean, I have more than just those two, but I don't know how many times I can say "I loved it and I can't wait for season two" before everyone gets bored of what I have to say. I think my feelings about the show are pretty on parr with everyone else's feelings (except for the Ben Shapiros of the world, complaining about episode 3. I loved episode 3 and it wrecked me).

I loved it and I can't wait for season two.

Edit: I called ber Marlena the whole time and her name is definitely Marlene

#the last of us #tlou #tlou spoilers #hbo tlou #the last of us hbo #the last of us spoilers #ellie tlou #joel tlou #review

5 notes · View notes

weakforarwen · 2 years

Text

The biggest mistake the writers did with The Last Dragonlord was beginning the episode in the middle of a battle. Already you knew there was no real urgency and that Kilgharrah's attack was not the focus of the episode. Had the dragon been a real threat to Camelot, the finale wouldn't have begun on day 3 of his attack. The characters were scared but had already grown accustomed to the attacks; all of them were safe: Uther never left the castle (Kilgharrah's revenge was against him but he was weirdly comfortable); Gwen was saved in the beginning of the episode so we knew nothing would probably happen to her, and she and Gaius only left the castle during the day, when it was safe; Arthur and Merlin can't die so no one was feared for their lives; and Morgana was gone. Truly, what was there to be scared of?

The episode was very high tension but the audience couldn't share the characters' sense of urgency, so it was all a bit excessive. It didn't help that the episode was jam-packed with pivotal character-building moments that almost didn't feel earned. All the events of this episode could've taken place at any other point in the season. Furthermore, the excessive amount of emotional scenes had the effect of partially desensitizing me to them. That also created an issue with the pacing. The episode was constantly "lurching". It started with a battle scene but the tension quickly dropped only to pick up fast in the scenes with Balinor; yet, the episode climaxed with his death and the tension dropped afterwards, even though the stakes were supposedly higher. The episode just didn't feel like it was building up to anything.

An example of the intensity of pivotal scenes decreasing throughout the episode was Arwen. Arthur saved Gwen early into the episode, and they shared an intimate moment in the infirmary; much later, at the end of the episode, Gwen ran into Arthur's arms after he returned safe from his suicide mission to defeat Kilgharrah. The last moment had bigger significance than the first one because Gwen had been openly and publicly embracing Arthur, yet the first moment had been much more tender and touching. The significance of Gwen running into Arthur's arms was slightly undermined by the fact that Arthur only reacted with surprise and the moment ended as fast as it begun.

A better example of this were Merthur. When Arthur and Merlin set out to find Balinor, they rested at an inn for the night. Merlin was quiet, worrying about meeting his father, so Arthur asked him about it. (The scene frankly read as romantic: the soundtrack was romantic, and Merlin and Arthur sharing the same room and an intimate, late night conversation was the kind of scenario common to romcoms.) Arthur was uncharacteristically sweet with Merlin, encouraging him to see Arthur as a friend; it was a very touching scene, if somewhat odd due to its obvious yet entirely misplaced romantic undertones, and it was really the only scene I needed from Merthur to feel like they'd grown closer and that Arthur cared for Merlin the way we already knew Merlin cared for Arthur.

However, we had another touching scene between them, before their final confrontation with Kilgharrah. By then I had already reached my limit of heartwarming Merthur scenes, so I just felt a bit bored by it. Too much emphasis was placed on the fact that Merlin was willing to go into battle with Arthur; Merlin had proven his loyalty too many times for Arthur to act surprised by his actions. We already knew they would survive with 100% certainty, so, honestly, who even cared that they were going on a dangerous mission? The best part of the scene was Arthur telling Merlin no man was worth his tears, not knowing that man had been Merlin's father. Everything else was redundant. Just like with Arwen, their second big, emotional scene was less meaningful and impactful (to the audience) than the first.

The highlight of this episode was obviously Merlin and Balinor. I loved their scenes a lot, but the writers made a mistake placing them in the season finale. Balinor and Merlin needed an entire episode dedicated to them. Merlin meeting his father and becoming a Dragonlord was a big deal, but everything felt rushed, because, technically, the focus of the episode was on defeating Kilgharrah. Yet, the most emotional and tense moment of the episode was watching Balinor die in Merlin's arms. The episode peaked there. We knew Merlin could stop Kilgharrah, so nothing else mattered.

If the entire episode was about Merlin becoming a Dragonlord, why make it a season finale? It may have been significant to Merlin, but it meant nothing to Arthur. Apart from showing his great courage and leadership skills, Arthur had no character-building moments. This series wasn't just about Merlin. His destiny was to serve Arthur, his story began with Arthur. Any series finale should take Arthur a step closer to becoming The Once and Future King. The Last Dragonlord would've been an excellent mid-season episode, but it was certainly not a proper finale. It was similar to Le Morte d'Arthur in that way; Arthur was rather useless in both finales and only Merlin got to prove himself, so both episodes were underwhelming and felt filler-y to me. Watching Prince Arthur become the legendary King Arthur was the appeal of the series. At this point in the story, we already knew Merlin was powerful and that his powers grew by the day. It was Arthur who was a big question mark for us; he was far from being legendary.

So, yeah, the episode was enjoyable yet messy. It would've been an excellent episode were it not the season finale. For a finale, it felt too much like a standalone episode. It told us nothing about what was to come (besides Arwen, maybe; Morgana was only mentioned once, in passing, by Gaius); Arthur didn't grow much as a character; it was completely unrelated to all other episodes - probably because the season had not plot; and although Kilgharrah's freedom had been hinted at from the beginning, I hadn't expected him to attack Arthur of all people.

Lastly, I'll just mention a few scenes I liked a lot:

Arthur and Gwen's first scene was amazing, but the scenes between Gaius and Gwen were just as touching and meaningful to Arwen. I found Gaius's words so beautiful, hopeful, and moving:

Oh... the world's a strange place, Guinevere. Never underestimate the power of love. I've seen it change many things.

I immediately thought of Merlin and how his love failed to change Arthur's destiny - and, in fact, cemented it, but love did indeed change many things.

Gaius's (and Arthur's) love saved Merlin from possibly becoming a Morgana, or a Gilli, or even a Mordred; Gwen's love nurtured Arthur and sheltered him from his father's influence so he became a better King; Arthur's love transformed Gwen and gave her the means to fulfill her calling to serve Camelot; Arthur and Gwen's love for each other saved them from the outside forces trying to separate and weaken them; the love between Morgause and Morgana birthed a new Morgana; Merlin's love for Arthur changed both of them forever; Arthur's love for Camelot made him The Once and Future King of Albion; and I could go on.

I loved Gaius in the episode. His words to Merlin were so sweet and deeply touching:

Merlin, I know I can never compare with your father, but for what it's worth, you've still got me.

Their scenes together felt earned due to the love, trust, and respect that existed between them. To me, the Merthur scenes were tainted by the fact that Arthur only seemed to value Merlin when their lives were at stake. Arthur and Merlin's dynamic in this episode was not their normal. Just in the previous episode, Arthur told Merlin to stick to what he did best, which was nothing.

Anyway, like I said, I loved Gaius and Gwen in the episode. I like their friendship a lot; they work well together. Gaius loved Arthur so he was happy to see him and Gwen at the infirmary. He was happy Arthur and Gwen had each other. He gave Gwen hope for the future.

I liked the symbolism of the last scene of Gwen running into Arthur's arms, and sort of "stealing" Arthur from Merlin, and Gaius going to Merlin. The person Arthur loved the most was Gwen, and the person Merlin loved the most and could always count on was Gaius. Others (Freya, Balinor) left Merlin, and Arthur was inherently unreliable since he didn't know Merlin's secret or approve of magic and, besides, his priorities were Camelot, his father, and Gwen, but Gaius was always there for Merlin. I didn't mean to say Gwen actually stole Arthur from Merlin, as in, romantically, but rather that the scene was symbolic of the fact that while Merlin lived for Arthur, Arthur lived for Camelot, Gwen, and his father first, and remained oblivious to Merlin's pain and sacrifice, which only Gaius truly knew.

Lastly, what stood out to me about Arwen's hug was Arthur's shock. Gwen had been the one to distance herself from Arthur, so I think he was taken aback by her very open display of affection. Perhaps he was also surprised that she cared for him that much.

#bbc merlin #bbc arwen #merlin #arwen #arthur pendragon #gwen pendragon #gaius #the last dragonlord commentary #the last dragonlord

2 notes · View notes

dontbipanicjonsa · 3 years

Text

Did Kit suddenly lose his ability to heart-eye or is Pol!Jon actually a thing.

I'm late to the fandom but I just finished S7 and I'm having thoughts.

I'm a reader of the books, and I hadn't watched the show till now because... I suck at watching shows with hour long episodes and more than three seasons.

What made me decide to watch it was the Pol!Jon discourse I found on the Internet.

I know enough about the show to understand how unlikely and out of character this theory would seem to show watchers. At the same time, I fully believe that book!Jon would be fully capable of something like this. But also, even though I do ship Jonsa in the books, I can't deny that Jonerys is.....a big deal. Everyone expects it to happen. It's a highly anticipated pairing and....I just couldn't honestly believe Pol!Jon because it is just so against the general expectation.

So I decided to watch the show. And now I've finished season 7 and I am astounded.

Let me preface this by saying that I went into S7 already disliking Jonerys (sue me) but I still fully expected to have some serious doubts about the validity of Jonsa. I fully expected to be at least somewhat convinced of Jonerys. Even hating the idea of Jon and Danaerys together, I still expected more.

There are a number of things I would like to note here.

First, Jonerys is a romance that is told, not shown. Davos talks about Jon watching Dany's "good heart" (hehe) to tell us Jon is attracted to Dany. But then Jon immediately dismisses it- and not in a way that looks like he's deflecting. He's not only dismissing it, he's dismissive of it. His mind is not in the conversation, it is beyond the Wall.

Similarly, Tyrion says (not in those words), "yeah right, and Jon only looks at you longingly coz he wants a military alliance with you". Not sure what I'm supposed to think about that....? First, Jon doesn't look at Dany longingly at all???? Not once. Second, is this line supposed to suggest that Jon is looking at her longingly for a reason that is not desperately wanting a military alliance....? Because we already know that that's exactly what he does want. Wtf do I make of this statement?????

There are other examples, but the point remains. People keep talking about Jon and Dany being into each other, and that is what is supposed to convince us that they are into each other (well yea Dany is) but Jon gives no indication of looking at her longingly, of falling in love with her, of being intrigued by her even. He's a brick wall.

Alright, I'll concede one (1) scene where I saw legitimate attraction on his face for a second- that is the cave scene. Even there tho, it's hard to tell if he's just watching her reaction carefully or if he wants to bang her.

On the other hand, Dany shows that she is into him. Even so, when I say she's into him, I mean she's attracted to him and intrigued by him. I cannot believe she loves him.

Next, I think it's interesting that in the episode before (or was it the same episode?) Jon bends the knee, we have a number of people (Tormund, Beric) talk about stuff like- kings not bending the knee leading to people dying, knowing what's important (the fight against the dead), being the shield that guards the realm of men blah blah I don't remember the exact words. Then he sees the WW and the Army of the Dead (again) and sees a dragon die. And then, the first opportunity he gets, he bends the knee. I want to point out here that the scenes really emphasise on Jon's thinking face after every conversation he has during their little gay party beyond the Wall. They focus on the look on his face again while he's watching the Army. Multiple times. And there's clearly something going on in his head, gears are turning.

One other scene that struck me is the scene where Jon and Dany are saying goodbye to each other (the Eastwatch episode). In the same episode (if I remember correctly) Jon calls them strangers, and then the goodbye scene comes and Dany says to Jon's little morbid joke, "I've grown used to him". Him being Jon. Two things to note here-

One, Jon considers them strangers but Dany has gotten "used to him". Maybe it's nothing, or maybe it's an indication of how the two of them are absolutely not on the same page (about anything).

Second, Jon's face after she says that. It shuts down. Like a door slamming. And then he says that "wish you good fortune in the wars to come" line, which has ZERO romance, or longing, but a whole lot of bad precedent (does that make sense?). Ouch. The thought that occured to me here is that Dany is being somewhat obvious about her feelings, and maybe, just maybe Jon has picked up on it. And that is why he reacts the way he does.

I wasn't sure so I compared the scene with the Jonsa forehead kiss scene in S6, and Jon's expressions after that kiss.

My logic was this- I assume that either Jon has become aware of Dany's feelings in the Eastwatch goodbye scene, or his own feelings for her. One of these assumptions is true. Which one?

If Jon has feelings for Sansa, then his confusion/awareness/discomfort regarding that are seen in that forehead kiss scene. So if Jon has become aware of his feelings for Dany, let's see how these two scenes compare?

My dudes. There is no comparison. Go watch it.

I watched both scenes with sound off, and the difference is insane. Jon looks at Sansa's lips. There's a moment's pause that's full of tension, and then his face shuts in a way, but it's a bit confused, a bit thoughtful.

Jon does not look at Dany's lips. He does not look confused, or thoughtful. This is not a romance.

Side observation- speaking of showing and telling, it's funny how we're shown Jon looking at Sansa's wolf bits, and told that Jon looks at Dany's good heart. Yes I'm talking about boobs but wolf bits and good heart is funnier. We literally see Jon look at the wolf bits twice, talk about it himself, in a completely unnecessary conversation...as opposed to being entirely dismissive of the good heart, even when someone else brings it up.

Back to the main point, one last thing I'd like to talk about is the scene where Jon actually bends the knee (not really). First, there are still no heart-eyes. Definitely not from Jon. Second, it's funny how Jon uses the exact hand-grabbing move that Sansa used on him last season, when she was trying to convince him to do something he didn't particularly wanna do (like he's now trying to do with Dany). This means that

1) he learnt that move from Sansa. He knows how effective it is XD

2) if the Jonerys hand-grab is romance, it stands to reason that the Jonsa hand-grab is romance too. I mean both the grabs are suspiciously similar.

Then, even after Dany "promises" that she'll help the North fight the WW, Jon still bends the knee. I felt both an odd sense of urgency coming from him, and an understandable hesitation. Or maybe that's just me.

Now suddenly, he becomes complimentary of her. But there's something weird about his compliments. They are completely generic. "They'll see you for what you are" and in the later episode, "you're not like the others". Wtf does that MEAN ??

Here's the thing...Jon could have paid Dany a way more specific, genuine sounding compliment after bending the knee (complete with heart eyes). I mean she did just fly over the Wall to rescue him and his men. He could have said more, something meaningful, but he didn't. He bent the knee like a house on fire (that doesn't make sense but you get what I mean I hope) and paid generic compliments. Then he pretended to sleep until she left and then sighed very loudly.

??? Romance??? WHERE????

Then the dragon pit. Heart-eyes still missing.

Then the sex scene. What do I say? Lol.

No really. There are no heart eyes even during the sex scene. Honestly, idk what that face was. Not in love for sure.

Another side note- Arya and Sansa have talks while standing in the same place where the forehead kiss scene happened (wtf do you call that place again, the bridge.??) But no heart eyes. No lingering looks. There is no incestuous gay love between them, I can say for sure. All it does is prop up the odd incestuous vibes of the Jon Sansa scene in that same place.

ANOTHER side note- goddamn but does Sansa talk about Jon a lot.

Edit: I'm sure most of this stuff has already been discussed in other metas. My purpose here is only to put down my first thoughts after watching the season.

#jonsa meta #jonsa #political jon #pol!jon #dark dany

144 notes · View notes

invisibleicewands · 3 years

Link

Q&A with David Tennant and Michael Sheen

What can you tell us about the new series of Staged?

Michael: David and I are still being ridiculous with and about each other - that’s still very much the tone of it. We have a lot of amazing surprise appearances which I hope people will enjoy as much as David and I enjoyed doing the scenes with them.

David: It’s the same set up as before. Michael Sheen and I talking rubbish to each other over the internet from our respective homes, with Georgia and Anna, our other halves, keeping us from becoming too self-indulgent, not always successfully. But there is a bit of a twist to it all, which I’m not going to reveal here...

In the show you play exaggerated versions of yourselves, are you anything like these characters in real life?

David: I imagine not at all, but probably... quite a lot.

Michael: I think David would say that he's not at all like his character in the first series. Whereas I would say, I probably am quite like that. But I think between the two series, there's a slightly more representative version of ourselves emerging, or at least that's what I would say anyway.

Why do you think the first series was so popular?

Michael: We didn't take ourselves too seriously and made fun of ourselves - I think people enjoyed that. I'm using the sort of format and medium that everyone is using. Having to do calls on Zoom and all that kind of stuff - so we've been able to tap into what's funny and absurd about that as well. Also, having lovely surprises like Judi Dench and Samuel L. Jackson, we have lots more of those surprises in this new series.

David: People seemed to recognise what the characters were going through. Not the specifics of being an actor in lockdown as such, but the sense of helplessness, the frustrations and occasional joys of being stuck at home while the world trundled on. That and the fact that Simon wrote a really funny script - I mean without that we’d have been stuffed.

Did you think you’d be back for another series?

David: If you had told me a year ago that I’d end up making a series for BBC One from inside our house, without a crew, wearing my own clothes and being entirely responsible for turning the camera on and off I would have found it wholly implausible, so the idea that we would do it twice is just one of the many unpredictable eventualities that this weird, weird year has presented.

Michael: I certainly thought that if it went down quite well then there was no reason why we couldn't do more, because it was such an innovative way to make a series - filming in my kitchen with just the laptop and a smartphone. It was very nice to come back and do more of it.

What was it like working with your partners?

David: The scenes between Georgia and myself had to be fitted in around school drop-offs, baby naps and unloading the dishwasher, so there is a certain urgency to getting them done but we have really enjoyed making Staged together and we do laugh a lot - perhaps it’s the sleep deprivation.

Michael: I thoroughly enjoyed it, it was great. The difficulty for Anna and I was that one of us had to go and look after the baby, so that presented a bit of a challenge and limited how much we could do together. But the positive side of this was that it meant Anna could do more scenes with other people. So, there's more scenes between Anna and Georgia, Lucy and Simon as well. It was lovely not taking ourselves too seriously and to play around with it.

Will any of your children be making an appearance in the new series?

Michael: There’s that fantastic moment in the first series where you see David and Georgia's daughter in the background coming down the stairs and then going back up the stairs - that's very funny. I'm sure you can hear Lyra in the background of some scenes; you’ll have to be eagle-eyed and eagle-eared for that.

David: No, I think they find it slightly risible that mum and dad are making a TV show from the house and are mostly just annoyed when we tell them to be quiet for a take.

What can you tell us about working with the guest stars?

David: Well I think it’s out there that we have Ben Schwartz joining us this series, playing the assistant to Michael and my US agent. I’ve known Ben for a few years now, we both play the voices of ducks on Disney’s Duck Tales. Ben is very very funny and is a master at comic improvisation. Michael and I both had to sprint to keep up with him once he started going off script. Recording those scenes was a particular joy. But beyond that I’m saying nothing - that would spoil some nice surprises.

Michael: In the first series one of the most enjoyable things was being able to do a scene with Dame Judi and with Samuel L. Jackson. In this series we have plenty more where that came from and it was an absolute joy - a real thrill! We have some special guests this series who David and I both enjoy the work of. I hope the audience enjoy it half as much as we did and also see that it's not just us who have difficulty with the technical stuff!

Q&A with Georgia Tennant and Anna Lundberg

What can you tell us about the new series of Staged?

Georgia: We are all still in lockdown but things are starting to open up a little and everyone is trying to feel their way through their new normal. David’s hair is longer and my wine cellar (metaphorically speaking. We don't actually have a wine cellar) is emptier.

How did you come up with the idea for the new series?

Georgia: We always said we would just do one and hope people didn't hate it. Much to our amazement people really didn’t hate it and of course it's much more tempting to visit something again if the reception has been good! When we filmed the first series I think we felt like it was a small window of time where the world had shifted and before long we’d all be back to normal and Staged would end up being this nice little time capsule. Simon Evans and Phin Glynn then came up with a brilliant little seed of a premise and we all took it from there.

In the show you play exaggerated versions of yourselves, are you anything like these characters in real life?

Anna: Well we’re all slightly different from the first season. I certainly don’t bring Michael charcuterie boards like I did in the first season, hah! I think in this season I have lost most of my patience with Michael and although that isn't true in real life, it seems closer to how we would behave with each other if we were living through those exact circumstances. I'd tease him for being so serious and a bit of an arse but at the end of the day we got each other's back. I've also gotten to know Georgia and Lucy a bit more since the first season, so those scenes seemed a bit closer to real life this time. Although I don't think there's a world that exists where I'd actually offer David Tennant advice on using Viking methods with an axe to deal with a conflict.

Georgia: This series ‘Georgia’ is slightly less tired and has gotten her fight back a little. The kids are back at school and she’s trying to get everyone else back to some sort of normality. She’s even less indulgent of ‘David’.

Why do you think the show was so popular?

Georgia: I think for the first time in probably ever the whole world was doing the same thing - sitting in their homes. To be able to watch a show where the actors are doing exactly as you and much less elegantly was probably the secret to its charm. To be able to laugh during this time has also certainly saved my sanity and having a comedy escape, albeit for 15 minutes, was probably very needed.

Anna: I think a lot of people around that time were happy to see something light and a bit silly as opposed to another heavy drama about what everyone was already going through, but without ignoring what was going on at the same time.

What was it like working with your partners?

Georgia: That was the best bit for me. He is my favourite person, actor and makes me laugh like no one else. I think I may struggle working with anyone else now!

Anna: The biggest challenge of filming with Michael is figuring out what to do with the baby when we do. Once we've managed to work that out around naps it’s great! He’s very encouraging and patient with me. Serious about the work though and likes to be in charge of all the technical stuff, even though I helped him to set it up in the first place. But I let him.

Will any of your children be making an appearance in the new series?

Anna: There’s always a chance you’ll hear Lyra’s voice in the background. She likes to get in on the action and has a great ability to project and be heard like her father. But no, not in vision.

Georgia: No. I cannot tell you how little they care about what we do. We were just annoying them by asking them to keep the noise down for takes.

#Michael Sheen #David Tennant #Staged #Staged 2 #Georgia Tennant #Staged2 #SwedishFishAL

89 notes · View notes

splendidly-secret-sick-fics · 3 years

Text

MVP of Team Dumbass

Pairing: sick Hinata, caretaker Kageyama

Word Count: 3,613

Warnings: vomit, swearing

———————————————————

I don’t get a lot of KageHina requests and I wanted to write one, so here’s one that I finished that’s been sitting in my drafts for a while!

As per my MO, I did not proofread this.

———————————————————

Tobio and Shoyo stood at the entrance of the rented conference space, observing the chaos that was the Black Jackals end of season dinner party and award ceremony. Tobio glanced at Shoyo for the seventh time in the last five minutes and frowned at the nervous look on his face.

“Shoyo, are you sure you’re alright?” Tobio whisper-asked for what felt like the millionth time that night. He was sure that he was pestering and probably starting to grate on his boyfriend’s last nerve, but he couldn’t help it.

Shoyo had been acting weird all day. It started when he slept 2 whole hours later than usual. Kageyma brushed it off as being extra exhausted from the busy season. Then he only picked at his breakfast before spending the rest of the afternoon cuddled into Tobio’s side on the couch, much clingier than usual. Again, he brushed it off.

They were about to walk into the venue for the Jackals’s end of season awards ceremony, and he couldn’t ignore it anymore. Shoyo looked ragged. Well, actually, he looked fantastic in his navy blue suit, the top buttons of his light pink button down undone. But his face was exhausted.

Tobio had tried to convince him to stay home, but Shoyo was insistent. He didn’t have a fever or any other visible symptoms of being sick, so Tobio didn’t really have any grounds to keep him from going to the dinner.

“I’m…” Shoyo hesitated, fiddling with his fingers. His eyes swept across the noisy, rowdy room, and Tobio thought maybe he would give in to… whatever was causing him to act so weird and they could go home. But Shoyo shook his head and smiled.

“I’m okay. Just tired. I’ll take it easy tonight, I promise,” Shoyo said, but his voice lacked its usual energy. Tobio didn’t answer. He didn’t need to. He knew that Shoyo understood his disapproval without him voicing it.

Shoyo grabbed Tobio’s hand and squeezed. They walked into the room and joined the rest of the team and their guests. Obviously Shoyo wasn’t going to forgo this dinner, so Tobio resigned himself to keeping a sharper eye on his boyfriend than normal.

That proved to be a good decisions because throughout the dinner, it was clear that Shoyo’s physical and mental state was deteriorating.

Sure, at first Shoyo put up a good front. He laughed with Bokuto and Atsumu during the “bloopers'' video that Meian put together. He chatted casually with Sakusa about the struggles of living with a setter-type. He joined in on the usual teasing towards Tobio about how they would destroy the Adlers next time they played.

But Tobio saw his boyfriend deflate every time there was a lull in the conversation. He saw how his skin grew paler as the night went on. How he got more and more lethargic. How he shoved his food around on his plate before having the waiter take it away. How he zoned out more and more frequently during conversations.

It was once the speeches started that Tobio’s Shoyo Radar went from code 5 to code 1 in no time flat.

Shoyo wasn’t even trying to hide that he felt bad anymore. He kept shifting uncomfortably in his seat. First throwing his head back, eyes closed. Then quickly to lean his elbows on the table and put his face in his hands. On two separate occasions, Atsumu and Akaashi each glanced at him from across the table, concern evident on their faces before shooting Tobio questioning looks. Tobio tried to convey to them that he had it under control.

Even though he had no idea what was wrong.

Meian was going through the awards for the season. Everything from “best play” to “messiest locker” was awarded and normally Shoyo really enjoyed hearing all the creative awards the team came up with and listening to their respective acceptance speeches. Tonight though, it was clear he had no idea what Meian was even talking about onstage. He was staring blankly at the half eaten dessert in front of him, his mouth hanging open slightly. Tobio was sure he had a fever now, if the slight sheen of sweat was any indication.

Tobio heard the Meian announce the next award, MVP, which is usually the last award, and go over their best plays of the season. He decided it was the perfect time to grab Shoyo and drag him home. They stayed long enough.

He reached over to grab his boyfriend’s hand when Shoyo suddenly perked up, his eyes wide and his mouth snapping shut. His hand shot out and death gripped Tobio’s thigh. When he looked over at the setter, he swallowed hard and opened his mouth to speak, a sense of urgency behind his eyes.

“and the MVP of the season, Hinata Shoyo!” Meian announced and at hearing his name Shoyo’s head snapped towards the front. He turned to look at Tobio and smiled shakily.

“Let’s leave after this, okay?” He whispered before standing up and walking over to accept the award from their captain.

Shoyo took his place behind the podium and leaned heavily on his elbows. He took the microphone in his hand and started his acceptance speech. Under the stage lights, it was beyond evident that the team’s tiny opposite hitter was not well.

Not only did his face shine with sweat, but Shoyo had prevalent deep, dark circles under his eyes and his skin looked nearly translucent. Several eyes landed on Tobio, all silently asking what was wrong. Even Meian and Coach Foster found him from the stage. Tobio shook his head and Shoyo started talking.

How did he not notice how bad off his boyfriend was? He prided himself on being observant of those around him, especially Shoyo. Especially after years of knowing him and working with him and living with him.

“Wow, MVP…” Shoyo panted and squeezed his eyes shut.

“I never would have thought I’d win this award. Thanks guys, really,” he shook his head.

“You’re all so… so uh…” his form started folding in on itself and Tobio immediately stood up.

“I’m just gonna… sit down, i-if that’s… alright,” he breathed before sliding down and disappearing behind the podium. The crowd erupted into a flurry of quick, concerned whispers. Meian and Coach Shugo immediately rushed to his side. Tobio wanted to run up there, but held back. He didn’t want to crowd Shoyo. He would be called if he was needed. But he still stood, the rest of his table glancing up at him. He ignored them, all of his attention on the stage.

“T-tobio?” came Shoyo’s shaky voice over the speakers. Tobio immediately marched up to the stage. He rounded the podium, slightly afraid of what he was going to find.

Meian and Coach Shugo were knelt by Shoyo, trying to offer their support and figure out what was wrong. Meian held the mic in his hands and Shugo had a bottle of water. Shoyo was between them, his head between his legs. His back moved up and down heavily. Tobio immediately got down on his knees in front of his boyfriend.

“Shoyo,” he called gently, placing a hand on his back. Shoyo jumped slightly before lifting his head and looking at Tobio. Relief washed over his pained features before his eyes glossed over with tears.

“I don’t feel good,” he all but whined before hanging his head again.

“I know, baby. Can you tell me what’s wrong?”

He knew for sure that Shoyo had a fever now. It was painfully obvious by the heat and sweat Tobio felt with the hand that was still on the wing spiker’s back. But that didn’t tell him what was causing the fever.

“Head is pounding,” Shoyo choked before adding, “nauseous.”

At that, all of Tobio’s alarm bells went off. Shoyo was never good with nausea. Handling it, covering it up, not throwing up. If Hinata Shoyo had any weaknesses it was his own stomach.

“Okay,” Tobio said with a forced calm, “just breathe, Sho. Can you move?” This was nothing new. He could handle this.

Shoyo shook his head.

“Don’t wanna risk making a bigger mess than necessary,” he gritted. Tobio knew the signs. Could tell that his nausea was mounting by the second and they needed to do something to minimize the damage. Shoyo was going to throw up and there was no stopping it. The best thing they could do was try and minimize the damage.

“I understand,” Tobio said. He ran his hand through Shoyo’s hair.

“Would one of you mind finding a bin of some sort?” he turned to the two men still hanging behind them. Meian nodded and jogged off the stage. A minute later, he returned with a bucket. He must’ve run to the utility closet. Tobio nodded gratefully and took the bucket.

“Sho, I have a bucket. Can we walk now? We’ll go somewhere else, alright? Then we can leave whenever you’re ready,” Tobio tried to coax Shoyo into moving. It would be better for everyone if his entire team and their friends and family didn’t hear him puking just behind the podium. Tobio was surprised Bokuto wasn’t up here trying to help out, honestly. He probably had Akaashi to thank for that.

Shoyo glanced up at him through his lashes and nodded hesitantly.

With Shugo’s help, Tobio got Shoyo standing on visibly shaky legs. He wrapped one arm around Shoyo’s waist, the other holding the bucket in front of his boyfriend’s chest. Shoyo’s arm was thrown over Tobio’s shoulder and they made their way slowly off the stage.

Tobio smiled gratefully, but told Shugo he had it handled when the coach offered to help out. Meian made an announcement to the room that Shoyo was fine, but probably contracted a stomach bug.

As they were walking toward the exit, which happened to be across the room from the stage, unfortunately, Tobio heard a small sniffle from the trembling boy in his arms.

“Sho? Do we need to stop?” Shoyo shook his head.

“Just embarrassed. Knew s-something was wrong” he exhaled through puffed cheeks.

“I should’ve noticed, Sho. I’m sorry. We should’ve left before it got bad.” Tobio kissed the side of his head. Shoyo shook his head, but kept his mouth closed. Tobio figured that was for the best.

It was slow going, but their salvation was close at hand. The door to the exit was only about 15 feet in front of them. They could make it.

“Doing good, babe. We’re almost out and then you can relax and let whatever needs to happen happen,” Tobio soothed and rubbed up and down Shoyo’s side. His boyfriend nodded tersely, his eyes squeezed shut and mouth in a tight line. Sweat dripped down the side of his face and his breaths were slow and controlled.

Within three seconds of his nod though, Shoyo shook his head and halted them. The back of his hand pressed firmly against his mouth.

“Oh, Shoyo, we’re so close to the door,” Tobio winced and glanced at the exit a mere 10 feet before then. He looked around the room for the first time and saw the uneasy looks from everyone. It was clear they were trying not to look, but it was hard not to. Kageyama understood that. Tobio looked uneasily at Shoyo again. His skin was taking on a green shirt tint and his shoulders were visibly trembling.

Tobio took in all the eyes on them, Shoyo’s current state, and the distance to the door and made a decision for both of them.

“Let’s go, baby. It’s so close,” he encouraged and pushed Shoyo forward quickly. He whimpered and Tobio shushed him gently.

As soon as the door shut behind them, Shoyo lurched forward with a silent heave, bracing himself against his knees. It was quickly followed by a whimper and Tobio’s chest squeezed in sympathy.

“Okay, it’s fine. Just let it happen. We’re alone now. Nothing to be embarrassed about.” He moved his hand from Shoyo’s side to his back, rubbing up and down the way he liked.

Shoyo burped wetly and panted over the bin. He squeezed his eyes shut and a quiet heave rocked his body forward. Tobio put a hand on his shoulder to keep him steady, the other still rhythmically rubbing his boyfriend’s back. The warmth he found there was concerning, but he put it aside for the time being and focused on the problem at hand.

“Shoyo, relax,” Tobio tried. Shoyo’s shoulders were hunched up by his ears and his back muscles were taught under Tobio’s hand.

“Deep breath in,” he instructed. Shoyo inhaled slowly and the tension released from his body. It seemed to do the trick because with one quick, sharp, wretch Shoyo’s jaw dropped and a small stream of vomit splashed into the bin. He coughed and sputtered, trying to catch his breath when another pitiful amount of puke spilled through his parted lips.

“Good job, Sho. Just get it up.” Tobio brushed back his hair.

“Hur-hurts,” Shoyo choked behind a gag. Tobio winced in sympathy. He was mentally beating himself up for not realizing how sick his boyfriend was sooner. He never would have relented and let Shoyo come if he knew. Now, here they were, less than fifty feet away from Shoyo’s entire team and their partners and families, with Shoyo painfully spewing his guts up and a raging fever.

“I know,” Tobio exhaled. Shoyo gagged up another small amount of puke and gasped.

“Please, please,” he rasped, “make it sto-stop.”

“I wish I could, Shoyo. You just have to ride it out.” Tobio frowned. Shoyo whimpered.

It didn’t look like he was anywhere near done, but his body wasn’t letting him breathe. It was only allowing small, pathetic streams of bile up and it was clearly causing Shoyo a lot of pain if his scrunched face and occasional whimpers were anything to go off of. There had to be something that could help move things along.

Tobio moved his hand to Shoyo’s lower back and moved his hands in quick circles. It shook Shoyo’s entire shaking form and he let another whimper escape.

“Sto-stop. Tobio, plea—,” he gagged. Tears were now dropping into the bucket beneath him. He squatted and put his head in his hands. Tobio followed and placed the bucket on the ground. With his now free hand, he braced an arm against Shoyo’s chest, the other continuing its quick circles on his back.

Shoyo started letting out small, harsh, airy burps in quick succession. A minute later, he hiccuped and his whole body lurched forward with the torrent of vomit that poured from his mouth. He coughed and sobbed before another heave forced another flood vomit up and out of his mouth.

“I’ve got you, Sho. It’s okay,” Tobio soothed.

Wave after wave tormented Shoyo and he grew more desperate when he couldn’t catch his breath. Tobio could see Shoyo losing his grounding and knew he needed to do something before this turned into a full-fledged panic attack.

“Shoyo, hey. You have to try to relax. You’re making things worse for yourself, baby,” Tobio said. Shoyo just shook his head and heaved up more vomit.

“It’s okay. It’s okay, Sho. I’ve got you, alright? You’re okay. Everything is okay. Breathe,” he commanded. Shoyo desperately gasped, but managed to shakily exhale slowly.

“That’s it. You’re okay,” Tobio reassured again. Shoyo gagged, but nothing more came up. He took in a trembling breath through his nose and exhaled slowly. He coughed and spit into the bin.

Tobio retrieved his phone from his back pocket and shot a quick text to Akaashi, while breathing with Shoyo slowly.

A minute later, Shoyo collapsed onto his ass and cradled his head in his hands. Tobio kissed the side of his head and rubbed between his shoulder blades.

“You done?” he asked. Shoyo nodded. Tobio clicked his tongue and pulled Shoyo into his side. They were sitting just outside the door. Tobio wanted to move them, but he needed to give Shoyo a second to collect himself.

The door opened a second later and Akaashi came out with water and a wet cloth.

“Is he alright?” he directed at Tobio.

“Yeah,” he nodded, “I think it’s a stomach bug.” He took the things from Akaashi with a grateful smile and placed the cloth on Shoyo’s forehead. His boyfriend sighed and his shoulders fell back down.

“Do you need anything else? Kotaro is just about ready to chop off his spiking arm if it means he can come help out,” Akaashi chuckled lightheartedly. Tobio laughed, but shook his head.

“No, I think we’re alright. When he’s ready, we’ll move to the front of the building and I’ll call a taxi.”

“Nonsense. Kotaro and I will drive you home—no I won’t take no for an answer. Neither will Kotaro,” Akaashi said, cutting off Tobio before he could protest.

“Besides, the dinner is wrapping up anyway and the team is concerned. They’ll feel better knowing one of us got you home safely.”

“Okay,” Tobio relented, “thank you.” Akaashi smiled and went to go get his boyfriend.

Tobio surveyed his own boyfriend with a scowl. Shoyo’s breathing returned to normal, but he was still very pale and sweaty.

“Sho, look at me, please.”

Shoyo whined, but turned his head to face Tobio, resting it on his knees. He looked even more exhausted if possible. His fever was evident now too, given away by the subtle flush of his cheeks. Tobio sucked his teeth and pursed his lips.

“Look at you. MVP? Yeah. MVP of Team Dumbass, maybe,” he said without any bite. He took the cloth and ran it over Shoyo’s face again.

“I rightfully earned both awards, I think,” Shoyo weakly chuckled.

“Yeah, I suppose you did. I probably would’ve won biggest idiot, seeing as I signed up for your idiocy willingly,” Tobio lamented dramatically. Shoyo frowned. He rinsed out his mouth with the water Akaashi brought before replying.

“Rude, Tobio.”

Tobio smirked and stood up. He pulled a piece of gum from his coat pocket (something he always had on hand for Shoyo who’s taken up a nasty habit of constant gum chewing) and handed it to his boyfriend. Then he reached a hand down to Shoyo who took it hesitantly. As soon as he was standing, his knees buckled and Tobio caught him under his arms.

“Tch, can’t even stand properly,” he sighed. He maneuvered Shoyo onto his back.

“Don’t puke on me. I love you, but not that much.”

“Mean, Tobio,” Shoyo yawned. He nuzzled his warm face into Tobio’s neck. First thing when they get home is to get that fever down.

Within the next five minutes, Akaashi and Bokuto met them at the front. Akaashi reassured Tobio that he told everyone Shoyo was alright and would bounce back from this quickly. Bokuto manipulated a surgical mask onto Shoyo’s face. Tobio hadn’t realized he fell asleep.

They piled into Bokuto’s car and Tobio immediately pulled Shoyo into his side. Akaashi handed him a plastic bag just in case.

They didn’t end up needing it, thankfully and when they got home Tobio begrudgingly woke Shoyo up. Unfortunately he could not carry Shoyo, now dense with muscle from years of volleyball, up four flights of stairs to their apartment like he used to. He knew his limits. He thanked Akaashi and dragged Shoyo up the stairs.

Shoyo made a beeline for the bedroom when they got inside. Tobio followed after getting a bowl from the kitchen, some fever reducers and stomach meds, a sports drink, and some crackers.

Upon entering the bedroom, he found Shoyo sitting up with half his shirt off.

“Help?” he asked pitifully and Tobio huffed out a laugh before walking over and helping him out of his suit. He replaced it with some athletic shorts and one of his own sweatshirts and Shoyo collapsed onto the bed. He curled into a ball and sighed.

“‘M sorry,” he said around a yawn. Tobio peered over his shoulder at him from where he was changing into his own pajamas.

“For being an idiot?”

Shoyo smiled, “yeah. I should’ve listened to you.”

“Yeah, you should have. But it’s not like that’s anything new,” he said lightly and moved to the bathroom to get ready for bed.

“Yeah. That’s true. Still,” Shoyo said. Tobio finished up in the bathroom and crawled into bed beside Shoyo. His boyfriend promptly moved to curl around Tobio, but was stopped before he could achieve maximum comfort levels.

“Ah ah ah, hold up. Take these meds and drink something first.”

Shoyo frowned at him with wide eyes, his chin resting on Tobio’s chest.

“Do I have to?”

“Absolutely. Yes,” Tobio said without missing a beat. He shoved a thermometer in Shoyo’s mouth before he could complain.

Shoyo breathed a long-suffering sigh and pouted, but sat up nonetheless. After the thermometer beeped, Tobio took it to read the temperature and frowned again. Good thing they still had fever reducers.

Shoyo took the meds and the drink and choked them down with a grimace.

“If it comes back up, it’s on you. Literally and figuratively,” Shoyo mumbled.

“I brought a bowl from the kitchen. If you puke on me I’m going to leave you.”

“No you won’t,” Shoyo said sleepily. He settled himself into Tobio’s side and shivered. Tobio pulled their blanket up over his shoulders and rubbed his arms.

“No. I won’t,” he sighed. He kissed the top of Shoyo’s head and mentally prepared himself for the next few days of taking care of his tiny stubborn boyfriend.

#haikyuu sickfic #tw vomit #emeto tw #sick Hinata #caretaker kageyama #my fics #haikyuu!!#hinata shoyo #kageyama tobio #kagehina #sickfic

50 notes · View notes

bluemoonbeam15 · 3 years

Note

Here’s an idea for you: following back to the post about hopper and molt growing up in a famine, what if the reason molt is bigger than hopper is because hopper always made/makes sure that molt eats first. Even when there would be nothing left for him. He does it out of habit, even when they’re eating with the ants and there’s plenty of food.

Aw 🥺this reminds me of a friend I have at church. He and his sister were adopted when they were younger and throughout their time at the orphanage, he would give her a portion of his own meal since there wasn't enough to go around. After being adopted and joining two other adopted children in the family, the parents watched him split his burger into four pieces and hand them out to his new siblings. They, later on, explained with a heavy heart that he no longer had to worry about making sure the kids were fed, that they would provide for them from then on.

I really love this prompt and I can see that happening in a few instances. This being one of them...

<><><><><><><><><>

Surprisingly enough, winter was not the harshest season the colony had to endure. The rains usually passed by at this point and living underneath the snow allowed for insulation inside the anthill.

Hopper was surprised, though, to find that the ants didn't need a second home in a warmer climate just to survive the conditions outside. He expected his first winter here to be gruesome. Imagine his bewilderment when he woke up on the coldest day of the year to find himself warm in one of the spare dugouts.

It seemed natural to the ants, though. The only difference in their routine was that no one went outside to collect food or do border patrol. They busied themselves with work in the tunnel system.

As Hopper made his way to the commissary, he peeked down the tunnels he passed by, expecting there to be some sense of urgency with the ants due to the winter season. Everything was peaceful.

Most of the colony was in the commissary as he came to find out. Nonetheless, they didn't look concerned in the slightest that there was a mountain of snow piled above them. The entrance to the anthill had been blocked off weeks ago to prevent any snow from caving in. That seemed to be their only concern.

Molt was already joined with the Circus Bugs and Flik by the time Hopper sat with them. "Isn't this weird?" Molt voiced Hopper's thoughts, "no one rushin' around or worryin' about the cold." Hopper hummed in response as he looked around at the colony, not quite believing the sight.

"Have you guys never spent winter here?" Flik asked.

"No," Hopper answered quickly, "the cold would kill us in a heartbeat. Only eggs can survive during the winter." He absent-mindedly took a few pieces of grain from his leaf onto Molt's. "That's why we stayed at The Resort when it got cold...what?" he finally noticed the others giving him weird looks.

Gypsy nodded her head to his leaf, "Are you not hungry, dear? You didn't eat much yesterday, either."

"Or the day before that," Flik added.

"Or...any day really," Francis squinted his eyes in thought.

Molt pushed his leaf toward Hopper, "Ya know there's plenty of food for the both of us now. Ya gotta start eatin' again, Hop."

He blinked down at the food a moment before shaking his head, "Right," he seemed to suddenly remember their new circumstances. Hopper took back a grain but didn't look eager to indulge. He glanced quickly at Molt, "Thanks."

"Well? Go on," Molt encouraged when it seemed like all he'd do was stare at it.

Hopper looked to Flik, "And...you're sure there's enough food? It is winter and--"

"I'm sure, Hop." Flik smiled small, "It's okay."

He pursed his lips, face burning from everyone staring at him, "Well now you're all looking at me!" Hopper waved to Molt, "Keep talking or something."

His brother laughed good-naturedly, "I'll never hear those words again!"

"Well at least the worst of the season has passed by now," Flik sat back down in his spot. "In a few months, we'll be able to go back out."

They got back into a conversation again, not passing by the shy bites Hopper took of his food. He hadn't realized how hungry he was until he took his first bite. For the first time in God knows how long, Hopper actually ate to his full.

And for the first time as well, Molt felt at ease knowing his brother wasn't sacrificing for him.

#hopper #flik #molt #a bugs life #pixar #fanfiction #ask #answer #writing #this was actually hard to put together #didnt know where to go near the end XD #hope its okay

8 notes · View notes

lovestrucked-again · 3 years

Text

Beneath the daylight moon

Chapter 4

Masterlist - Round the Robin Collab Prev

“Why do we sometimes see the moon, even during daytime?” Jaehyun doesn’t know, nor did he care to notice that such a thing existed; it was a mystery to him, but you were a bigger enigma.

“I can help you. And her.” Jaehyun’s eyes shifted towards the door that he had just left behind, then back to the boy gripping his arm. “But I need your help first.”

“You want me to do what?” Jaehyun questioned, the shock evident in his voice.

“You can see it right?” the boy asked in anticipation, the glint of excitement sparkling in his eye as he continued, “the string.”

“Uh,” Jaehyun hesitated, nervous how to respond, “no I can’t.”

“Did you use the flash?” the guy bounced back, moving uncomfortably close to Jaehyun, pushing his way to see the screen of his phone.

“No I didn't bu-” Jaehyun frowned in frustration, “can I have my phone back?” he asked, struggling to hide his impatience and annoyance stirring up. The boy didn't respond, quickly flicking the camera app onto screen and switching it to the back camera, focusing the dot on his physical still body connected to the monitors on the hospital bed. Jaehyun stood leaning on one foot, arms crossed around his body and huffed in exasperation. Why did I even bother? He thought to himself.

“Look.”

Jaehyun grabbed the phone back without a second thought and lazily looked at the screen, not expecting anything until his jaw drops in awe, “W-What is that?” he stuttered out.

“It’s my connection to her.” The boy explained, taking a seat beside his own laid out body. Jaehyun has to rub his eyes again, afraid that he’s dreaming, seeing the two identical faces beside each other. There’s almost no difference in the complexion of their faces, if the boy lied still against his body with his eyes closed, Jaehyun was almost certain he would be unable to tell the difference. It scared him.

“To her?” Jaehyun asked, unable to comprehend everything.

“That string is connected to my soulmate.”

“Wait what?”

The boy gets up from the bed, beginning to pace back and forth between the doorway and his coma body, “I know it sounds crazy and stupid but I’ve researched this already, I’ve spent almost 4 years now, like this.” He glanced at Jaehyun for a sign of his following, “The string you just saw is connected to her.”

Jaehyun looked down at the phone in his hand, staring at the silver cord that seemed to emerge from the boy’s unconscious covered heart. He could see the string flow past out the photo frame and disappear behind the corner edge of his screen. “Where is she?” he asked, trying to interpret everything.

The boy stopped moving, clenching his fist tightly before unclasping it and turning to face the closed door, “She’s in the room next door.”

“Have you heard of the daytime moon?” The boy asked, leaning against the wooden bench chair and staring up into the sky.

Jaehyun’s interest perked up at the mention of the familiar term, “Yeah I have.” He takes a seat beside the boy, waiting for him to continue. The slow urgency in the boy’s movement pushes Jaehyun to carry on, “do you know what it means?”

The boy smiles to himself as he reaches his arms above his shoulder, stretching his body before sinking back into the chair, “It’s based on an old story actually.” Jaehyun has to gesture at him to keep going as the boy turns to make eye contact with him. “At the beginning the sun and moon were equal in greatness and luminance but then the moon was made to be smaller. Obviously, the moon became jealous of the sun and so she asked the universe, “Why can’t two kings wear the same crown?” The universe then replied to her “You’re not diminished, you may rule both in the day and night, you can signify the dates and years which people live by – and the sun will be given the part of seasons.”

Jaehyun thinks back to the day on the rooftop. What was the season back then? He pictured the memory of you sitting alone at the rooftop, spacing out at the sky. The wind had shaken the last few leaves on the floor of the roof around and the usual thoughts from his head had disappeared. It felt like so long ago since he had seen you and the thought just made him feel lonely.

The boy remained oblivious to the change in Jaehyun’s emotions as he carried on with his story, “So the moon was reduced to a fraction of her original size, deprived of her ability to generate her own light and reduced her luminance in the daytime – a punishment for her selfish inability to share with the sun. But, she was offered a new cycle of rebirth once a month, allowing her growth and a time for her own sparkle, but she wasn’t allowed to be restored to her original state.”

Snapping back into reality, Jaehyun leaned back up, straightened his posture and crossed a leg over, “And how does this relate to the daytime moon?” Jaehyun asked, confused how this story was related to his question.

“It’s the importance of a metaphoric belief - a give and take relationship. The sun gives its light to the moon and the moon receives and reflects the sun’s light.” Jaehyun pondered on the thought as the boy spoke, “The sun and moon were created to differentiate between night and day, between givers and takers.”

“Why would the moon feel inferior? It’s of equal importance is it not?” Jaehyun questioned after much contemplation on the belief, the difference between the moon and sun was so obvious to the universe, yet the moon just couldn't appreciate herself.

The boy nodded, giving a knowing look that left Jaehyun feeling quite exposed, as though he could see right through his simple logic. “It is, perhaps even more. The sun illuminates by illuminating, but the moon illuminates by the dark of nothingness, using the reception of another’s light. So when the sun isn’t seen, it isn’t there, but even when the moon is nothing, she is still something.”

It takes a few seconds for the information to click and sink in. Jaehyun can feel his lips form the question before he can even follow through his own thoughts, “And that makes a daytime moon?”

“Yes.”

“The daytime moon signifies a give and take relationship requiring selflessness and… well you know?” the boy chuckled, nudging his new friend beside him, “something like of a couple.”

As Jaehyun turned the next corner, his next step faltered. Just moments ago, the boy had taken him to see his unconscious girlfriend whose string could be seen with the same technique of a camera flash. Her lifeless body attached to multiple machinery cords. Tears came to his eyes as he recalled your body in the same hospital bed, will Y/N become as pale as her? I have to help her before it’s too late.

Technically all the boy wanted him to do was pick up a pair of scissors and cut an invisible string that only happened to be seen using through a camera flash. Jaehyun brushed the tears away hastily and entered the boy’s hospital room – his spirit already sitting beside his own body.

“There’s a pair of scissors in the bedside draw,” said the boy listlessly, “you can use those.”

Jaehyun felt that the time had really come now for making his choice. Or had his choice already been made long before? He knew he would save you no matter what. A feeling of pain crept over him as he thought of the desecration that was in store for the fair face boy.

“I-I’m sorry but I don't think I can do this.” Jaehyun stammers, backing away to the entrance of the door.

The boy visibly frowned, “Why not?” he asked, bunching the thin bed sheets in his fist, attempting to simmer his combined emotions of anger and confusion.

“This…” the words are barely heard in the empty room “it’ll be bad for you, wont it?”

The boy chuckled effortlessly, “what do you mean by bad?”

“I just feel like there’s another way to deal with this.” Jaehyun mumbled, “something better.”

“There isn’t!” exclaimed the boy, who was beginning to tense now. “I said I’ll help you if you help me.”

“I know…” he trails, desperately trying to drag the time. Jaehyun made eye contact with the boy once more, wavering. He takes a step towards the bed, finding it almost physically impossible to drag his feet across the floor. His hand finds the draw handle, pulling it towards him with much effort, and reveals a pair of simple red scissors.

His fingers glided around the cutters with much ease, but his hand, his body, shakes with an anxious unknowing feeling. Jaehyun was beginning to plead in his mind for a sign, for something to stop him. The scissors shook in his hands as he lifted the heavy weight up, hovering above the open draw, seeking for something.

Suddenly, as if someone had heard his wishes, his phone went off, vibrating in his pocket. Jaehyun drops the scissors down, patting himself down searching for the source of his saviour.

[11:34am] Johnny: Where are you?

[11:36am] Johnny: Did you bail on me?

[11:45am] Johnny: I swear if you’re with some girl right now

“I have to go.” Jaehyun said, reaching into his jacket pocket and fumbling around for his keys.

“Where are you goi-?” As Jaehyun tried to turn around the boy held him back, making him feel like he had robbed the boy of his freedom, disloyalty immediately filling in the pit of his stomach, “You said you’d help me?”

Jaehyun could only nod weakly, half-truth and half-lie to his next words, “I-I I’ll come back tomorrow.” __

Jaehyun drove off alone and watched the flashing lights of the little car in front of him. A strange sense of loss came over him. He felt the world had all of a sudden cornered him, pushed him into a hole that he had dug for himself. His eyes darkened, and the crowded flaring streets became blurred to his eyes. When he finally pulls into the apartment underground parking he sees Y/S/N walk out.

It doesn't take any effort for him to figure out the situation, having noticed the tear streaked and puffy face features as he pulled into a parking slot. A few seconds passed and Johnny ran out, following Y/S/N desperately.

“Y/S/N Wait!” Johnny cried.

Jaehyun reached for the ignition key, switched it off and slumped his forehead onto the wheel.

“No Johnny, not again.” Y/S/N repeated. Their voices bounced off the walls, echoing in the basement space.

“Just explain it to me! I just want an explanation and I’ll get out!”

Jaehyun exhaled a heavy breath which seemed to have been pent up the entire day, and as he did so, it seemed to him that he had grown years older.

Hearing a car door slam shut and his best friend’s voice die down, Jaehyun looked up and out his window. Johnny stood still, staring at a car drive out and further away. Jaehyun sighs in disbelief, why can’t there just be a day of peace?

“Johnny.” Jaehyun calls out, opening his car door to get out.

Johnny whips his head around, searching for his best friend’s voice, “Oh.” There’s a look of defeat, “Hey.”

Jaehyun doesn’t really know what to say, debating whether he should pretend nothing happened or whether he should address the poor guy’s feelings. “Are you- okay?”

“I- Yeah – I’m okay.”

Johnny takes his time walking back, dragging himself to the elevator, eyes glued to the floor as his mind shuts down in defeat. Jaehyun walked beside him, silent, mind also switched off as he pushes out the thought of tomorrow.

The silence in the elevator isn’t awkward, but the atmosphere is evidently filled with a heavy sigh. No one speaks. The bell of the lift rings, signalling them to leave and Jaehyun turns beside to look at his friend.

“Let’s go.” He murmurs

Johnny breaks out of his daze, giving a nod as he walks out and lets his feet walk to the front door of the apartment. He takes a seat on the stool bench, leaning against the island bench as he plays absentmindedly with the ring on his finger.

Jaehyun spares a glance behind his shoulder, looking at his friend slumping his shoulders, no words, face drained from the usual energy he had. He sighed as he closed the fridge door, placing a bottle of water in front of his friend.

“About Y/S/N…”

Johnny instantly looks up, surprised that Jaehyun has mentioned the name.

The look of desperation in his eyes pains Jaehyun as he continues, “sorry to break it to you but Y/S/N has a lot on her plate.” He rubs his temples as if this were giving him another headache, and Johnny looks at him with a harsh irritation.

Flashes of emotion crossed Johnny’s face, a mixture of jealousy and confusion, “What?”

“Y/S/N –” how to tell him? “She- She has a child.”

The shock is evident in Johnny’s voice, “D-Did you say a child?” he looked around in disbelief, avoided making eye contact with Jaehyun, “How do you know this?” Johnny’s eyes narrowed on his friend, and he crossed an arm over his chest.

“We’re neighbours, she lives across from me,” Jaehyun continued to list, playing with the bottle cap of his own water, “we talk.”

“…oh,”

Jaehyun has never pushed Johnny to do anything. While they have always been good friends, he was always conscious of the fact that Johnny is older. He had always respected his friend. “I don't think now’s a good time to be trying again.”

“No,” Johnny stumbled through his sentence, “I-I can’t just leave her like that,” his heart broke as he continued, “not with that asshole of a guy.”

It crossed Jaehyun’s mind that perhaps the relationship of his older friend would be something incomprehensible to him, but he ignores it. “You weren’t in her life for the past few years Johnny, you can’t just waltz back in now.” he mumbled. Johnny had stopped fuming, and when he looked at his friend, he just sounded tired. He lowered his eyes in shame, and Jaehyun shook his head, “Y/S/N doesn't deserve that.”

As Jaehyun left the room, Johnny stared at the bottle of water placed in front of him, thinking back to what he did wrong so long ago. And why it would forever be left unrepairable. ____

You took the long route home that day, wondered if Jaehyun had actually come to see you in hospital. At the corner of the local flower shop, a man passed you in the mist, walking very fast and with the collar of his black jacket turned up. He had a bag in his hand. You recognised the man. It was Johnny. A strange sense of fear came over you. You made no sign of recognition (not that he’d see you anyway) and went on quickly in the direction of your house, walking faster than before, thinking about your sister and her ex.

Your mind flashed back to that day.

It seemed Y/S/N and Johnny would’ve lasted till marriage, till old. Johnny would constantly roam around your shared apartment with your sister. You’d hear her voice and her heavy laughter in the room beside yours. You’d see the two of them walking hand in hand around the small space, standing beside each other as they cooked. They were inseparable.

That day was different. You hadn’t seen Johnny for weeks now and you would only see glimpses of your sister around the place. She’d stay in her room and it would be completely silent. However, she went out that night, only making it known to you when you heard the sound of a male’s voice late at night.

At first you thought it was Johnny and you became excited, ready to barge into their room to say hi after so long. But the moment you reach the bedroom door you halt. You can hear your sister whispering and the deeper male voice. It wasn’t Johnny’s though, and it wasn't anyone else’s that you recognised. You took a step back, running into your own room as you realised what was happening.

Jaehyun notices you from afar, almost running towards him. However, you don't see him, determination and concern for your sister clouding your vision. It’s not until Jaehyun realises you’re about to completely past him that he calls out for you.

His hand feels cold against your skin as he stops you by the arm, “Johnny,” you huffed, telling him the crucial points, unable to connect the words into a sentence, “I-I… Y/S/N.”

Jaehyun lets his hand fall, having guessed Johnny would’ve left the apartment not long after himself. “Yeah, I know.”

You looked up at him, having caught your breath “What?”

He helps you steady yourself, “Y/S/N’s not home at the moment, I saw her drive off before.”

“Not home? Where is she going?” You followed, anxiety building up again.

“I don't know, maybe visiting you.” He lies, trying to lead you back to the apartments.

However, this only panicked you more, “Really? But she came yesterday.” You turned around, already speed walking back the direction you came from, “somethings wrong.” You mumbled, mind working already thinking what must have gone wrong.

“Wait Y/N!” Jaehyun calls out, following after you, “Where are you going?”

“Back to the hospital.” You stated, “If she’s coming to visit me today something must be wrong, she only comes on weekends.” Your minds working in a frenzy and you can barely concentrate on anything else. Could it be something related to her boyfriend? To your nephew?

“Y/N!” Jaehyun called again.

You didn't hear him though, determined to get back and see your sister. Jaehyun doesn’t have the strength left to chase after you, dreading the thought of visiting the hospital yet again. Instead he watched you leave. ___

It was almost midnight by the time Jaehyun finally had the chance to lay down in his bed. He hadn’t texted Johnny about earlier, hadn’t seen you since you had run off, hadn’t even had a chance to eat dinner with his Grandma. The past 24 hours seemed to have felt like weeks and he thought how nice it finally was, to be able to hear his own breath. He decided to think of the day as just a hurdle to pass, a necessity to be able to wish for something better.

With that thought, he eventually fell asleep.

The boy laughed, and when he did his head twitched strangely a couple of times, “Get out of here. I don't want to see you.”

“Just come with me,” Jaehyun begged, “I’ll help you figure something else out.”

The boy’s face suddenly hardened into anger and his words shot out in a rage. “Just shut up! You lied to me! We made a deal, it was so fucking simple. If you wanted to act like a goddamn hero then you should’ve done something about it!”

Jaehyun could only stand there speechless. The boy was just a mere stranger to him, not even in flesh, yet the words felt so harshly true, “I-Sorry…”

“It’s all your fault she’s dead! You could’ve stopped it. You could’ve saved her. But no! You had to run away and become a coward. You only care about yourself!” The boy’s face had coloured to a deep red, and spit flew from his mouth as he yelled. He started taking lumbering steps forward, his hands balled into fists as he stepped closer to Jaehyun.

“L-Look I,” He was only a few feet away, Jaehyun took a step backwards, his guilt now turning into fear.

“I only asked for one fucking thing!”

Jaehyun took two more steps back, “I-”

“And now you killed Y/N too!” The boy screamed and rushed forward.

He stirred in his sleep, waking in an instant as the dream disappeared. A glance outside let him know the moon was still out. He sat up, leaning against the bedframe before reaching for his phone. 4:38am.

After about ten minutes he got up, and throwing on a pair of simple shorts passed into the tile paved bathroom. The cool water refreshed him after his dreadful sleep. He shivered under the water and sighed heavily. Another nightmare about you. A dim sense of having taken part in some strange tragedy came to him once or twice, but there was the unreality of a dream about it.

As soon as he was dressed, Jaehyun went to the rooftop and sat down to the brightness of the starry dark morning. The warm air seemed laden with fresh scents. The silence that surrounded his home added to the beauty of a new day.

The dream was just a spook he reasoned, yet he struggled to accept the reality part of it. Deep down, Jaehyun was already contemplating the possibilities if he chose not to return and help the boy in hospital. He promised to go back today and his nightmare was a glimpse of the consequences he’d encounter if he broke that promise. ___

You awake that same morning to find yourself not in the same room as you usually would be in. The light shade of pastel blue walls which once surrounded your hospital bed now changed into stained dulls of white walls.

The numbness of sleep slowly fades and the first thing that surprises you is the tiny needles poking into your arms. You gasp in a breath only to find nothing coming in and the obstacle of your own dry tongue. The lack of oxygen descending on your mind caused you to panic and in desperation you sucked in another breath. Your body feels heavy as you sit up quickly, your fingers immediately searching for the bed sheets to help you up from your physical laid body.

“What’s going on?” You mumbled, noticing the unusual amount of nurses flooding your surroundings. You look around for anyone familiar, searching for your usual doctor and nurse. There’s a heavy atmosphere looming in the hospital room and you ignore it, exiting the commotion.

“Y/N?”

The voice stopped you from walking further, turning around to face the only person who could see your roaming spirit.

“Jaehyun? What’s going on?” you asked, assuming he knew.

“You- Your body.” He stuttered not sure how to start his sentence “it’s shutting down.”

You paused, falling against the side of the doorway and holding onto the wall for support, “Am I dying?”

#nct fanfics #nct jaehyun #jung jaehyun #nct imagines #nct #btdm #round the robin #collab #beneath the daytime moon #jaehyun fic

26 notes · View notes

hyper-fixationhighway · 3 years

Text

Beel's Special Bun

⚠️ Warning ⚠️

Those sensitive to talks about pregnancy and birth control should not read this. Nothing is explicitly stated, however if it's not your cup of tea, perhaps this is not for you. Additionally those who have not caught up in the most recent season (3) of the game run the risk of some spoilers. Thank you.

___________________________________________

It all started out like any other night since he had started his vacation with his brothers in the human world.

Beel was freshly out of the shower, donning his nightclothes that still clung to his moistened skin. Belphie wasn’t in just yet, likely having found some new, experimental place to take a nap in the human world that had gotten away from him. He’d have to find him, again, as per usual, before settling down for bed himself.

Well, tonight he was expecting Myreina to drop by. They were due for a midnight snack date, as they had usually gone about naming them, which left him with a warm giddy feeling.

That’s where the routine ended however, as Myreina burst through the door with urgency.

Beel moved to greet her, not really phased by the sudden entrance until he saw the palid look on her face and his smile fell away.

“Myreina? What’s wrong?”

“I’m late.”

“What? We didn’t agree to any specific time tonight. You don’t have to worry about something like that.”

“No Beel.” She stressed, looking at him with dire seriousness. “I’m late.”

It took a moment for the words to really sink in. He didn’t think much of tardiness and even she wasn’t the type to sweat it this much...no, this matter was far more concerning. And as the possibility finally began to dawn on him, his face slowly paled right along with hers.

“Wait. Do you mean…?”

Myreina nodded slowly.

Oh.

Beel took a moment to process that information, slowly digesting it before he took a breath and steadied himself. With a newfound look of resolution, he suddenly felt the need to be just about anywhere else but in this room. Or this house for that matter. He turned to his closet, rifling around in there and crammed his feet into whatever shoes were readily available. He tossed Myreina a coat of his and as she looked up from the oversized piece of clothing threatening to swallow her whole, he approached her slowly and placed a hand on her shoulder.

“Let’s take a walk tonight.”

And that was how the two found themselves drifting aimlessly in the streets that night, silent as the dead and about as lost to the nightlife surrounding them.

This hadn’t been a thing he’d thought about. How hadn’t he thought about this? It wasn’t too long ago even that this would have become a concern for them.

He shook his head.

No. Focus. This wasn’t all about him right now, it was about the both of them. In fact, maybe even more of them. Which begged the first uncomfortable question of that long night.

“...Is it mine?”

Myreina’s frame went noticeably rigid.

He understood. After all, Myreina was in a committed relationship with all his brothers, even recently dating Simeon and perhaps even Solomon. Those were the conditions they had all agreed to when deciding to take her on as a partner and they respected that each relationship moved at its own pace.

However, given the unique quality of their relationship, it begged the question of whether or not his pace had somehow outdone everyone else's. Or at least lined up in this case. Why else appear at his door after all. Unless of course it was actually Belphie she had been trying to say this to, and he just happened to be in the room.

Would that make this scenario worse or better…? He wasn’t quite sure.

Myreina stumbled along awkwardly while he patiently waited. She seemed so nervous, maybe even scared to talk about it. It didn't make him feel all that great she was undergoing so much pressure.

“Stay here for a second.” Beel said after a while, escorting her to a bench nearby. “I think I have something that can help.”

Myreina obliged, seating herself at the bench and staring off into open space for a while, organizing her thoughts while Beel ran off somewhere. In that time he was gone, she debated how she felt a little more on the matter, recalling just who it was she was so fortunate to call a partner in this miniature crisis. She didn’t think less of her other partners, of course, however she did know that a couple amongst them may have reactions far less grounded than Beel. So at least in that sense she was wholly thankful.

As Beel approached her again, she felt she had found a sense of calm, assisted only when she discovered the reason for his momentary absence; a pair of small cakes and some portable teas, billowing out a sweet and calming scent amidst the steam. It warmed up her frigid frame little by little as she was carefully handed the tea container and the warmth seeped into her fingers through the carton.

“Thank you, Beel. So much.”

“Well, we did say we were going to have a midnight snack date tonight, didn’t we?” He sat besides her and blew into his tea, showing far more hesitation than he was usually known for before all but shotglassing the hot beverage back unbothered. “I don’t see why that plan has to change. It’s nice out tonight.”

Myreina giggled, feeling that warmth matched by something blossoming in her chest.

“You’re right. Maybe we should head outside for these midnight snack dates more often? Satan might not be so angry at us in the morning.”

The two giggled quietly, and things felt normal again. Nothing changed, nothing felt like the world was at the verge of collapse, a feeling she actually did have experience with and yet felt so distant from the pressure at hand. Beel hadn’t had the chance to resolve that crisis with his wholesome date method, but it was a lifesaver now.

After a couple of sips, Myreina sighed quietly into the chilly night air.

“It has to be yours.”

“Are you sure? There’s no one else it could be?”

“Positive.” Myreina nodded. “I um, did have other’s that fit the time frame, but we were the only ones who did it...you know…”

“Right.” Beel recalled. “It was rather sudden.”

“Yeah. I wasn’t expecting it and got carried away. Plus, we were in a game, maybe I wasn’t thinking the consequences would necessarily carry over.”

“Fair mistake.”

“I think so too. I mean, why would it carry over? It feels weird that it did.”

“I prefer it when fiction and reality have a harder line between them, I don’t know how Levi feels so comfortable blurring the line all the time.”

“Well, Levi is remarkably unique in that way.”

“I think you’re romanticising a very real concern, Myreina.”

Myreina giggled. “Maybe. I can admit to that.”

She took another few sips of her tea, giving the cake a once over and sighed, passing it over to Beel, which caught his surprise.

“Did you not like it? No, you didn’t even try it?”

“I’m sure I would have but honestly, looking at it right now makes me a little...sick?”

Oh.

He swallowed the cake in one bite without any further words.

It wasn’t until a little while after that, that Beel went on to whisper his next concern.

“I’m sorry.”

“For what?”

Beel shuffled about, feeling his face warm up in embarrassment, stretching all the way over the front of his face and over his ears.

“This isn’t...the kind of thing I wanted you to be stuck with when you remembered our first time.” He stammered over the end of his sentence and looked over at her, alarmed. “Not that I think this is something we’re stuck with! Or that, it’s even...something we can’t welcome! It’s just, I...I don’t want you to misunderstand, Myreina. I love you, so I wanted it to be really special, and we waited so long, after all! I just...this isn’t how I wished for things to play out.”

Myreina smiled and leaned into him, letting his tension melt along as it accommodated her body more comfortably. He was always like this. Effortlessly kind and supportive, caring and mindful of his position. Once again, reminding her that this, for all the important discussion it was, didn’t mean the end of the world. Not with him at her side.

“I will never regret that moment, Beel.” Myreina said, nuzzling into his big arm. The action prompted it to lift and wrap around her, bringing her close to him and surrounding her in his warmth.

“I love you, and this stands no chance against how I feel. It can’t change it. Not my feelings before, not during, not now. So you have nothing to worry about. Our first time together will always be a precious memory to me. Whatever the future that follows.”

She bit her lip.

“That being said…” Myreina took a moment, breathing in and breathing out to settle her nerves then looked up to meet his eyes, awaiting hers in that same, no, possibly more embarrassed gaze. “I...I’m not ready for this. Not now. I have a lot going on for me right now, and I want to give it it’s due attention.”

Her hands abandoned the tea container and found his big hands, wrapping them and eventually interlacing in the most natural way.

“I want to treasure you and the pace of our relationship right now, I want to become a sorcerer that Solomon and the human world can be proud of...I want to see what role I can play in Lord Diavolo’s plan and, well, I want to keep dancing. There’s just too many things I want to keep doing before I think about adding a baby to the mix.” Myreina shut her eyes a bit, feeling Beel lean his forehead on hers, kisses coming up from her cheeks up to her temple. “It’s just not time for it right now...do you understand?”

She felt his lips form that same, gentle smile against her temple where they had lingered.

“Of course I do. I completely agree.”

Her eyes opened slowly, meeting his and they squinted from her overjoyed smile.

“You do? I mean, with you Beel, maybe...one day, I wouldn’t mind.”

Beel nodded. “With you I could do anything. A kid...I can see that.”

His smiling lips dipped down, kissing the exposed fingers laced between his. “Just not right now.”

“Beel…” She unlocked her fingers and wrapped her arms around him, feeling his rush to mirror the same, squeezing her lightly. “I love you so much.”

“I love you too, Myreina.”

Letting the moment rest, they eventually came apart, Beel easily plopping her down onto his lap and the two reestablishing a sense of calm.

“But I do have a question…” Myreina pressed after a while, turning a new concern over in her brain. “Where...do we go from here? I mean, we have facilities here for human babies, but is it the same for demon/human hybrids? Is that even a thing?”

“It’s more common than you think.” Beel admitted, feeling a little embarrassed. “A lot of demons and humans get intimate when summoned to the human world. After all, a pact doesn’t necessarily need to be negotiated with a soul after all. There are all kinds of arrangements.”

“Oh.”

Beel and Myreina laughed awkwardly, feeling themselves flush at the face at the prospect of it.

“But, I don’t know of any facilities in the human world that could accommodate that. We’d have to go to the Devildom, at least if we don’t want to mention this to any of my brothers. Which, I'm going to assume we don’t.”

“You would be right.” Myreina immediately agreed.

“I’ll contact Barbatos to situate a portal for us to the Devildom. I might not be able to evade telling him, especially if I’m already keeping this a secret from everyone else. And he will want to know why he should make a portal for us exclusively…”

“That’s fine. I trust him to be discreet.” Myreina rationalized. “More so even than myself.”

“I don’t think we have to worry, I mean, no one will know you went to the Devildom for the day and if anyone asks where you went, you can say it was a scheduled check up. That’s not technically lying, is it?”

“It’s not lying at all actually.”

She may not be able to tell lies, but she could at least withhold the gorrier details of a truth. After all, she didn’t share every word to her partners. No matter how deeply they interrogated. And as long as no one asked her about being specifically expectant, then there would be nothing more to add to the matter than a simple check up.

Snacks and discussions completed, the two picked up after themselves and began the trek back home, a lot livelier compared to their departure. However, before they could get too close, Myreina stopped and noticed the road back to her original place before moving into the mansion, calling Beel out of his distracted thoughts of procuring a second snack upon their arrival.

“Something wrong?”

“I just had a thought.” Myreina started, looking at him with a certain glint in her eye. “Our first time was in a game. A fictional world.”

“Yes…?” Beel confirmed, blushing a bit at the sudden recollection. “What about it?”

“Well, do you think that’s actually all that fair? I mean, how are we to know if it feels different in a game?”

“Well, I mean, the consequences carried over just fine…”

Myreina laughed at his slightly bitter tone, something so uncharacteristic for him these days, yet still wholly in character as he missed the greater picture.

She stood before him, training his eyes to follow her as she gave him a more suggestive look, marveling as his expression slowly started to become more knowing as to what she had been alluding.

“I just think there's a time and place for fiction, and that there ought to be a clear distinction between it and reality.”

Beel smiled a bit, then began to chuckle shyly. “Are...you serious, Myreina?”

“Very much so. I mean, the way I see it, we happen to be in a very fortunate set of circumstances right here and now!”

“How do you figure?”

“Well…” Myreina pointed down a path in the opposite direction of the manor. “My house...happens to be just down that way. You haven’t seen it before, have you? No one has actually...you’d be the first.”

Beel closed the distance between them a bit, planting a large hand onto the small of her back and drawing her flush onto his body, still laughing in modest amusement.

“Is that right?”

“Yup! Not only that...but when you really think about it…” She leaned up and whispered as close to his ear as her tiptoeing could manage, assisted by his full interest leaning him forward to meet her. “You don’t need to protect against a consequence that’s already happened, do you?”

His face practically burned.

He often forgot how much bolder Myreina had become since accepting them all and leaving behind her inhibitions. He also forgot just how damn good that stood to feel.

Head filled with a different kind of emerging hunger, he pressed a kiss to her lips which she reciprocated with a steamy, unfiltered passion, only whetting his growing appetite for her. He pulled away, their breaths and mindsets building a heated space between what little they allowed between them.

“Let’s go.”

#obey me shall we date #obey me fanfiction #obey me beelzebub #beelzebub #original character #pregnancy #mature themes #female original character #fluffy #not smut #birth control

24 notes · View notes

crystalessenceswrites · 3 years

Text

Shadows- Chapter Four

Shadows

A modern monster AU Pairings: Din Djarin x fem!reader Rating: T (at the moment- subject to change) Warnings: swearing, canon-typical violence, dark themes, death of unnamed and background characters, descriptions of blood, descriptions of a dead body Summary: Crypto- concealed; secret. You have always lived your life in the shadows; after all, you’re one of the creatures who go bump in the night. He has sworn his life to a creed that aims to protect the world from monsters like you.

[Masterlist] [Chapter Three] [Chapter Four] [Chapter Five] Cross-posted to AO3

Why was it always vampires?

It seemed like the bounty lists were chalk full of them these days, more so than normal. Which was not awful for slayers. They were generally high paying jobs, considering most of them were wanted for the murder of the humans or cryptos they’d been feeding on. You just preferred to stay away from the fangs. The superhuman abilities of a well-fed vampire were difficult to match in a fight, even for seasoned slayers. While you had the training and equipment to deal with them, the bounty was not always worth the medical bills after the fact. You specialized in the kinds of bounties that were more brains than brawn. Preferring the chase over the actual fight. Today you did not have much of a choice, apparently. You’d come into the office later in the morning and arrived to find all the new non-vampiric bounties had been promptly snatched up by the early birds. Leaving you stuck with the fangs. Great.

Your target was a vampire named Qin. He was active and was not doing much of anything to cover it up. A serious threat to everyone if left unattended to. The urgency in needing to deal with someone like him had bumped his bounty up fairly high, even for the usual vampire fair. There were plenty of breadcrumbs to follow, making your afternoon much easier. He was holed up in the old industrial district during the day. Most of the old neighborhood was being retrofitted for industrial lofts and modern condos, so there would be plenty of construction sites and condemned buildings for him to hide in and a steady stream of workers to pick off for food. Sightings and intelligence had his location narrowed down to a three-block radius. The was all easy enough. Killing him would be another story.

Vampires did not have any one magic bullet weakness- they aren’t susceptible to iron or silver- making them harder to handle. Staking one through the head or heart was usually the best way to incapacitate one, until their body was burned and ashes were scattered. That required getting closer than you were comfortable with. The last thing you wanted was a fanged creature with arms reach of your neck. You really should have just taken the day off. Too bad your landlord never took a day off when it came time to collect your rent.

Starting with the largest warehouse on the southside and moving north until you got lucky, or rather unlucky, enough to run into your bounty, seemed the best course of action. And today kept proving to be an unlucky day for you. You’d barely broken into the first building when you came across two completely drained corpses left out in the open, bodies still cooling. Your bounty was here and full of fresh blood.

Well shit.

Sword drawn you continue to sneak through the abounded building. Vampires were natural predators; their sense of smell was leagues above your own. It was more than likely he already knew you were here-unless he was occupied with another victim. That must have been the case, considering he hadn’t jumped out at you yet. On high alert you continue farther into the warehouse with a white-knuckle grip on your weapon. The main body of the building is split into two storage areas, the first dark in the overcast afternoon and empty. There are signs someone’s been around, a mattress and blankets in a corner, duffle bags and a pile of dark clothes next to a tower of take-out boxes. Odd.

You drop to the floor as the crack of a gunshot splits the silence. Mind reeling you wonder what vampire needs a fucking gun. Another scan of the space confirms you’re still alone, no shooter in sight. It must have come from the next room, too loud to have been outside the building. As you approach the partition the familiar metallic sting of fresh blood reaches your nose. Vampires don’t bleed.

Three more shots ring out, definitely from the other side of the partition.

Vampire’s don’t use guns.

Another deep breath draws more of the scents in, the dust and mildew of the building, the spark of gun powder and the overwhelming musk of human. Your bounty was not alone and wasn’t with anyone friendly. It wasn’t another slayer- once a bounty gets picked up its pulled off the lists- and most slayers didn’t smell so strongly of human, so the next logical assumption was a lone hunter. Not that it would have been hard for any human to pick up on this vampire’s trail, but if it had been law enforcement to find him the building would be flooded with cops.

You truly had the worst luck today.

Odds were probably one to four against the hunter. Humans rarely stood a chance against vampires unless they caught one out in sunlight.

A loud crash, like something heavy collapsing, shakes the silence. As a slayer you’re obligated to help the human but considering all that’s gone on in the last few weeks you’re feeling much less inclined to do so.

“Come on Mando! I thought you freaks were proud warriors and all!”

Fucking hell. Kira was right, you are a Mando magnet. The vampire’s taunt is not reassuring in the slightest. You did not need a dead Mando on your hands. Creeping into the next room you’re quick to find cover behind some dust covered work benches. Surveying the space leads you to believe the Mando and Qin have been at a while. The space is trashed, boxes toppled over and crushed, shelves up ended, and bullet holes are scattered throughout the space.

The Mando’s back is to you at the moment while he and the vampire stare each other down. You don’t need to see his face to know who you’re dealing with; you’d been on the look out for this particular mop of curls since your last run-in. How was he everywhere you needed to be? Why couldn’t you shake him?

He suddenly springs into action again, drawing the spear he’d been carrying on his back, swinging it in a wide arch at the vampire. Qin’s too fast and easily dodges the attack before going in for his own, trying to get within arm’s reach. Mando doesn’t let him, blocking each attack with deadly precision. Neither gives in, pushing back against the other, jumping around the other in attempt to land a hit.

You’re hesitant to say you’re impressed by Mando, but only out of spite. He moves like a well-oiled machine, despite not having the upper hand he does not give up control of the fight to his undead opponent. This is the most dressed down you’ve seen him, baring the silver tac vest over a dark colored shirt. You can safely assume its beskar, the metal harnessed solely by the Mandalorians. Just one of the things that made then unique to other hunters. As he circles around Qin you catch sight of blood dripping down his sharp jaw, the hair just above his ear dark and matted with it. He’d taken a pretty serious hit already.

Now you really had to help him.

This was the kind of opportunity you never had when dealing with vampires. Qin’s attention was solely focused on the hunter. There was no indication from either that they’d noticed your silent arrival. You had one shot with the element of surprise, and you needed to make it count. If you could incapacitate Qin, stun him long enough for you and Mando to finish the job you could make it out of here in one piece. Mando in close to one piece.

Although there was no magic bullet for vampires, a bullet wound did still require time and energy to heal. Even though vampires and the like were technically “undead,” they still felt and registered pain to some degree, meaning bullets also provided a certain shock factor. You lose the sword, reaching for your thigh holster instead. While you were not a fan of guns, you weren’t willing to risk a fight with a vampire for your pride. You always came prepared when dealing with a bloodsucker.

Qin and Mando continue to circle each other in their tense dance. Despite the dark look in both their eyes, Qin has a smug smirk plastered across his face, probably under the impression he was going to be having a Mandalorian for lunch. Too bad you couldn’t allow it. All you needed was a clear shot. You mentally will Mando to put some distance between him and the bloodsucker, as if that would actually work.

Your breath catches in your throat as Mando sweeps his spear in another wide arc, forcing Qin back. Maybe you were lucky today after all. The moment Qin lands back on his feet, far enough away from the hunter, you jump out from your cover and take the shot, tagging Qin in the temple.

Damn good shot.

Mando jumps as Qin’s body crumples to the ground, face drawing together in confusion. That feeling akin to satisfaction returns. You could get the jump on him and a vampire. Third time would not be his charm, you are sure of it. You would not let it.

His brain catches up with the situation and he swings around, staff pointed at you as you vault over the workbench. Next comes the recognition, his jaw dropping just a bit at your sudden materialization. You’re thankful his first reaction isn’t to attack as you’re quick to re-holster your gun.

“Focus Mando,” you quip, directing your attention back to the vampire beginning to move on the floor.

“Fuck!” Qin curses, already starting to come back to it. That seemed too quick, even for a recently fed vampire.

Mando snaps into action, kicking Qin down before his spear finds its way through the vampire’s rib cage. Judging by the ear-splitting screech Qin let’s out, Mando found his mark, staking Qin where he lays. Mando does not move as you approach with sword in hand. He does not move as you bring your blade to rest on the bounty’s neck.

“You have one chance to surrender or I collect the bounty on your head, Qin.”

“You bitch!” He snarls, thrashing around the pole shoved through his torso. “Working with a Mando, that’s low- even for a slayer!”

You roll your eyes. “I’ll take that as a no.”

“See you in hell one day, bitch.”

Smug even in death. Ugh. You don’t feel much as you chop his off with one swift swing. Not after you saw those two innocents on your way in. People like him were the exact reason humans called your kind monsters.

“Sunny disposition on that one,” you grumble, stepping back from Mando and the decapitated bounty. The hunter doesn’t even offer you a curtesy laugh. Stick in the mud.

“Why are you here?”

He doesn’t bother to hide the suspicion. Did he think you were following him now? That was rich.

“Doing my job. I took on the bounty for this one.” Pulling your messenger bag off, you begin to organize your supplies, “which I’d like to finish up if you have no objections.”

Mando just steps back, leaning against his staff. You can feel the weight of his gaze boring into you while you work. His eyes tracking your every move, detailing each item you pull from your clean up kit. You didn’t spot any bag of his lying around, you wonder how he had been planning on dealing with the body.

“You’re welcome, by the way.”

“Why did you help me?”

Questions, questions.

“You let us go last time- I owed you for that at least,” you shrug. Now you were even. Well, as even as you could be with a human Mandalorian.

He’s silent for a moment, watching as you pull a few jars and a water bottle out of the bag. One contains a small collection of thistle bulbs. Mando doesn’t ask but you can see the curiosity growing as you stick the sharp plants into the vampire’s wounds.

“Vampires are weak to thistle, introduce it into the body and it halts their healing abilities. Aloe vera works too, it’s just not as flammable.

“Aloe vera and thistles?”

You chuckle, “what, did you think garlic would work?”

Mando scoffs, his sharp eye still following your hands. Next comes the burning of the body. You want to get that done as quick as possible. Thistle was not an end all weakness and even decapitated vampires could regenerate. You douse the body and head in gasoline from the water bottle.

“Light?”

Eyebrows raised you gingerly take the lighter he offers, catching the edge of Qin’s shirt with the flame. It doesn’t take long for the rest of the corpse to catch. The flames cast shadows over the Mandalorian’s face as you watch him from the corner of your eye. The air is heavy between you and not with the smell of burning flesh.

“Wouldn’t it have been easier to let him kill me?”

“Why would I want that?” Had he not come to the realization that you couldn’t kill him?

“You get rid of nuisances, right? So one of you will have to kill me eventually.”

It takes all your will power to not burst out laughing. There was no way he was getting anything from an inside informant if that’s what he thought slayers did. You had this Mando pinned down about as wrong as he had you figured out. No wonder no one had been able to find a turn coat when one didn’t exist to begin with.

“I don’t know where you’re getting your info, but you need to find a different source. Trust me. As much as most slayers want to get rid of hunters, we can’t without very good reasons. Otherwise, we wouldn’t be any better than the ones we hunt.”

He quirks an eyebrow, arms crossed over his chest, “so what? You’re just monsters hunting other monsters?”

“One,” you hold up a finger, “we use the term crypto.”

“Crypto? Like cryptid?”

“Where do you think humans got the word from?”

Mando scoffs at that but doesn’t press.

“Two, most of us don’t actually qualify as cryptos. Slayers are primarily half-bloods.”

You revel in the confusion on his face. Never did you think you would find yourself completely altering a Mandalorian’s understanding of the world. This was priceless.

Why were you telling him all this?

“Half-bloods?”

“You know, half human?”

“That’s possible?”

Now you cannot hold back the laugh this time, “human genetics are surprisingly adaptable.”

A look of disgust washes over his face and your heart drops.

“I just want you to know we’re not so different… our job is to stop those who hurt or take advantage of humans, to stop those who threaten to expose us. I imagine that’s not so different from what Mandalorians want…” after all, they couldn’t want to kill you all, could they?

#fic: Shadows #the mandalorian x reader #the mandalorian x f!reader #din dijarin x reader #din djarin x f!reader #din djarin #reader #the mandalorian #the mandalorian fanfiction #the mandalorian au #modern au #enemies to lovers #monsters and monster hunters #fanfiction #chapter four #crystalessences writes

28 notes · View notes

britishboystm · 4 years

Text

It’s Always Been You (Tom Blake Smut)

warnings: angst, smut, death

word count: 4,723

a/n: I can’t believe this is the first time I’ve written for Tom

•••

Tom had always been a good friend. His family did cherries and yours did apples.

Before the two of you were born, your fathers went into business together and shared a booth at the Saturday market in your town. Both your mothers were thick as thieves and had gotten pregnant around the same time, and you were born a month after Tom. It was safe to say you were never going to leave each other’s sides.

You did everything together, well until your father became worried that you were becoming too much like a boy by spending so much time with Tom. You’d fondly remember the times the two of you would go down to the river and stand in the water up to your knees trying to see who could catch the most tadpoles. The two of you would usually come back to yours or his farm around dinner time covered in mud and dirt up your waist. Your mother always complained that she couldn’t see your pretty face due to the muck that was often smeared on it. Because of all this you ended up being sent to a private girls school a few miles south, where you weren’t allowed to see Tom unless it was Christmas.

You secretly wrote to one another though during your time at boarding school and when his father passed away from pneumonia you were his only real support system other than his brother. His mother went into a bad depression after his father's death so he was left to grieve his father's passing alone.

Once your learning was finished, you did not hesitate to come home and help on Tom’s farm again. Tom’s mother would pay you to pick cherries since your father had sold his orchard.

But things had changed when you came home. Tom was no longer the little chubby boy who you could mess around with and make mud pies and pretend to eat with. His hair had darkened and his shoulders had broadened. Not to mention he now towered you. He was a man. And a handsome man at that. You never noticed that about him before.

The glances you shared now didn’t hold the same innocence it once did. There was something different in his chilly blue irises. His gaze would last a little too long when you would bend over to pick up the barrels of cherries and whenever the two of you rinsed them by the big well, he always found a way to sneak a small graze of your hand so you wouldn’t forget he was there beside you.

But those flirtatious moments didn’t last forever when war was declared in Britain. Almost immediately, Joe was sent off to fight for king and country. Tom didn’t need to but because Tom had to always be the same as Joe or one up him, he had kept saying he was going to enlist as well. You didn’t take it seriously until one day Tom came running down the driveway to meet you and his mom, who were depitting the last batch of the season.

“I did it, I did it!” You frowned in confusion at his obvious excitement as he hopped around with a letter in hand. His mother grabbed the letter from him quite quickly and nearly fainted after reading the first two lines. The two of you quickly grabbed her and called it a night, bringing her into the house.

His mother was in shambles and was now seated on the couch while she sobbed into her hands. She didn’t even have the desire to cook dinner. That’s when you knew things were bad.

“What did you do?” You say to Tom as he sorrowfully watched his mom cry.

“I enlisted, I’m leaving next week to fight in France.” It was now your turn to almost faint as you grab the kitchen table beside you.

“Have you gone mad?” You breathe out as you take a seat to steady yourself.

“No I haven’t. If Joe can do it so can I!” His voice raised in anger as he crossed his arms over his chest, obviously upset at the double standards that were set for him and his older brother.

“That is not what this is about Tom. Joe is gone, there is nothing we can do about that. But you? It was so easily avoidable but you’ve gone and ruined everything. How selfish can you be? Who will your mother have if both you and Joe don’t return home? Who will I have?” You begin to choke up near the end and let a single tear slip down your cheek.

Tom sighs and storms out of the kitchen, probably heading upstairs to freshen up while you prepare the dinner since Mrs. Blake clearly wasn’t well enough to.

You focused on making dinner as Mrs. Blake and Tom sat in the living room, not speaking to one another. What was there to say? Tom knew yours and his mother’s thoughts on it all and he was too stubborn to be convinced to not leave.

Once dinner was ready everyone sat at the table and ate quietly. Again no words were spoken and the tension was so thick amongst the three of you. None of you were able to finish due to the unsettling feeling you all shared so you finally gave up and collected the half eaten dishes and placed them into the sink.

“I’m going to bed. Goodnight.” Mrs Blake said as she slowly got up and weakly walked up the stairs to her room. She looked so frail and worn out that it made you even more mad at Tom for the pain he was already causing.

You stood at the sink and faced away from Tom as he stayed put at the table. The only sounds that filled the room was the clashing of dirty plates and running water.

This was all such a mess.

———-

Later that night you found yourself sitting on the haystack in the Blake barn with the doors wide open as you stared out at the navy night sky. Stars adorned the sky. They continued to shimmer, unaware of the fact that your world was falling apart at the seams. Funny how time and space works, you thought. So many other thoughts rattled around your brain, all of them making you want to cry.

You were so deeply focused on your little world that you didn’t initially hear Tom walk in.

“Couldn’t sleep either huh?” He said before walking up and taking a seat beside you on the hay.

“I’m sorry I didn’t tell you sooner.” You don’t respond but rather stare out into nothing with an emotionless expression.

“The least you can do is talk to me.” He says, nudging you lightly to lighten the mood.

“I wanted to marry you.” You blurt out of nowhere in a montone way. There was a good chance he was never coming home so at this point you felt as though you had nothing to lose.

He bowed his head in shame and twiddled his thumbs, clearly trying to absorb this big bombshell.

“Really?” He says finally looking at you and trying to hide his excitement.

“Yeah but at this point it’s foolish to think like that, considering I may never see you again.” You finally look at him with hurt in your eyes which he matches almost immediately.

“Y/N I-“ He tries to say something but you are quick to cut him off.

“Why is this so important to you?” He sighs and runs a hand through his hair before getting more comfortable in his spot.

“I don’t know. I feel as though I have lived my entire life being the lesser of the two brothers. Joe has always been the golden child that I wanted to prove myself. That I can be courageous and brave just like him.” You bite your lip from saying anything that may hurt him. It made sense why he would do this but you still hated the idea.

“Aren’t you afraid?”

“Of course I am. I’m scared shitless. But I’ve been scared shitless my entire life.” You sigh and the two of you sit in silence for a while, nothing but the sound of crickets and the warm night breeze floating by.

“Promise you won’t laugh?” He says out of the blue, rubbing his neck in embarrassment. You nod in return, silently telling him there is no reason to feel judged by you.

“There is one more thing I’m scared of.”

“And what’s that?”

“I shouldn’t say. It’s so bloody embarrassing.”

“What? No! You have to tell me now! That isn’t fair!”

“Okay fine.” He sighs.

“Spit it out then.” You say with an urgency to your voice.

“I’m scared of dying a virgin.” Your eyes go wide and you look over to him to see if he is joking or not. When you see him looking down at his lap shamefully, a blush creeps upon your face. You had never really discussed those things before. Especially with him.

Girls talked about it when you were in private school but you didn’t usually have anything to contribute.

“Oh.” Is all that you are able to get out.

“I’m sorry, I should have just kept that to myself. Forget I said anything.” He begins to ramble, clearly trying to backtrack on his last comment.

“There is no reason to feel ashamed of those type of things Thomas. Those are normal worries people have.”

“You think so?” He says hopefully.

“Of course. I also get scared by the idea of never being able to feel that way with someone. It’s natural.” It was now his turn to blush. Oh to be the one to make you feel that way, he thought.

“Tom?” You finally say, bracing yourself for his response.

“Yes?” He says back.

“You know. If we both share this fear, we could always… get rid of it together.” He is speechless and his jaw drops as he stares at your nervous expression.

“Do you really want to?” He finally gets out.

“Well, we know each other and we are good friends. I also feel very comfortable with you which is important.”

“Right but we aren’t married.”

“At this point Tom I don’t really care about that. I need to vent all of these emotions somehow.”

“Oh.”

“What?”

“So that’s what this is about. You want to fuck out your feelings because I’m leaving?” He seemed a little hurt by this. Like this was simply an impulse or an itch that was aching to be scratched. That was part of it but it was mostly the fact that you’ve wanted him to be your first the minute you returned home and saw just how much of man he had become. You loved him and he was now giving you a free pass to finally fulfill your desires.

“No, Tom that is not it. I want to lose my virginity and to be quite honest, I couldn’t think of anyone else I would want to lose it to.”

“Really?” A cocky smirk came upon his lips as he leaned in and nudged you slightly. You rolled your eyes in response and scoffed.

“Okay you don’t need to get all cocky about it.” He laughed before trying to start something by catching your gaze in his.

And with no warning Tom pounced on you and began kissing your neck roughly which caught you off guard.

“Tom get off! What are you doing?” You squeal as you push him away.

“What? I thought you said you wanted to lose your virginity to me. I leave next week remember?” Your glare is piercing as you stood up.

“I didn’t mean here at this very moment! God can you at least give me a warning before you try and pull something like that?” He falls back a bit onto the hay bale with an exasperated sigh, running his hands through his hair in frustration.

“Sorry.” He says realizing his wrong doing. You weren’t just an inanimate object that could just be used whenever. Contrary to what your father always believed, you were a person of integrity and if you needed time, then by god you were doing to get the respect you deserved.

“I think I will go to bed now.” Your words are soft as you turn around and hesitantly head out into the vast land of the Blake farm. You couldn’t help but look back to see Tom sitting there, embarrassed. Millions of thoughts swam around but one kept finding itself coming back again and again. That specific feeling that came whenever Tom did chores around the barn that made his muscles flex was coming back and even though you had just rejected him, the feeling was growing more and more.

“Fuck it.” You say under your breath before you quickly turn around and plop down onto his waist in a straddle, causing him to let out a groan at the sudden impact.

He looks at you in confusion, and right before he could say another word you quickly attach your lips to his. The kiss was aggressive and feverish as your hands threaded through his hair, gripping it tightly to get him to part his lips. As a result he let out a small gasp at your fingers tugging at his roots and your tongue swirling around his mouth. This was your first ever kiss and soon to be first ever time so you weren’t going to hold back. Not if it was with Tom.

Everything felt so right in that moment. Just two nineteen year olds using the last bit of time together before probable tragedy. You had a gut feeling that Tom was never going to walk up that long gravel driveway ever again. You shooed those horrid thoughts away.

“Tom.” You sigh against his plush lips. He pulls away and intently looks into your eyes, worry evident on his face.

“Did I do something wrong?” He asked. You couldn’t help but giggle at his puppy like demeanour.

“Of course not. You are being so kind Tom.”

Your gaze then suddenly becomes transfixed with his white button shirt. Then without a second thought your hands grazed up and down his covered chest before you began to unbutton the first three, exposing his sternum. You look up to see him intensely watching your actions, his breathing beginning to increase.

“Are you sure Y/N?” He says while his hands run up and down the sides of your basic grey dress.

“Only if you are.” You whisper back. Taking this as affirmation he flips you around and lays you gently on the cushiony yet scratchy hay that held the both of you off of the dirty ground of the barn.

“You know I have always, thought, you were, so beautiful.” He says in between kisses along your face. You smile softly at his words and sigh, allowing yourself to fall deeper into the hay.

“Thomas Blake you always knew how to make a girl blush.” He chuckles at this and stops kissing you, holding himself up above your body.

“You remember the time your parents invited the Darby’s to Christmas Dinner. How it was your first year back from St. Clares and because they were the richest family in town, your parents tried to set you up with their son Richard?” You roll your eyes.

“Tom what does this have to do with us having sex right now?” You were growing slightly impatient.

“Wait, let me finish love.” You sigh and shift slightly to grow more comfortable. This may take some time, you thought.

“I remember I was so mad because your parents wouldn’t let me play with you. They basically threw you to Richard and I had to watch them try to play matchmaker. At the time I believed that I was angry because I wasn’t allowed to play with my best friend since you had been away for so long. But years later I looked back at that moment and I realized that I was jealous. Jealous at the fact that you were paying all of your attention to Richard and not me. Of course your parents made you but I remember making Richard my sworn enemy that day. Stupid huh?” You smile and run a hand down his cheek.

“No not at all. I can’t believe you remember that.” His words made you think for a moment. He had been in love with you for so long and you didn’t even notice.

“Tom?” You ask.

“Yes Y/N?” Your body almost turned to jelly at his readiness to do anything for you. The adoration was so obvious that “in love” could easily be stamped on the slightly older boy's forehead.

“Would it be crazy to say I am, whole heartedly, absolutely, in love with you Thomas Blake?”

“No it wouldn’t.” He laughed.

“And would I be absolutely mad to say that I am, insanely, crazily, in love with you Y/N L/N?” You shake your head with a smile and with that he leans in once more and continues the eventful night with a loving yet lustful kiss.

His hands begin to have a mind of their own as they roam your body. After exploring most of your many curves, his left hand slowly made its way under your dress, lifting it slightly and beginning to touch you over your knickers.

“Oh my.” You gasp out as he places a tad bit of pressure on your clit.

“How are you feeling?” He asks, watching your reactions intently.

“Very tingling, ve-very g-good.” You try to get out in between gasps. He smirks proudly at this and begins creating circles against the fabric that covers your centre.

“Off. Off Tom, please.” You slightly beg. Wanting to make you feel good, Tom begins to slide your knickers down your legs and chucks them off to the side.

“Can I see?” He asks sheepishly. You curve your neck so you can see him down between your legs.

“Yes.” You respond. With a steady hand, Tom lifts your dress, dropping it up around your waist and groans at the sight of your exposed, glistening cunt.

“Wow.” Is all he can say.

“Tom!” You whine, unable to bear the throbbing feeling between your thighs.

“Sorry, just got distracted.” He mutters. Tom then leans in and lets out a hot breath. Your legs clench at this and Tom becomes aware with just how sensitive you really are.

“I’m going to kiss you here. Is that alright darling?” You nod weakly and with that his lips attach to your centre. A moan is drawn out of you almost instantly.

“Fuck. This cannot be your first time.” You blurt out, clutching his hair. He smirks against you before he sits up again and places a long kiss on your awaiting lips.

“Just you darling. It’s always been you.” You giggle in response and wrap your arms around his neck and pull him flush against you.

“Y/N I don’t know how much longer I can last without putting my cock in you.” He spurts out in pent up frustration.

“Charming words there.” you scoff before he begins to unbutton his dirty work slack and push them down his legs.

“Can I unlace you’re-“ you sit up, already knowing what he is about to say. Your hands swing to the back of your dress and you quickly begin to unravel the back, letting it fall off your upper body. Your breasts were perked to the air from outside.

“Christ.” He says before leaning down and taking one breast into his mouth. He is slow and gentle with his actions, clearly showing you how important this moment was for him. With small mewls leaving your lips every once in a while, you ran your fingers through his hair again. This time you made sure to be more soft on his scalp.

“I’m ready, are you?” He whispers as he moves his mouth up to your jaw, hands still caressing your bosom. You nod slowly which makes him smile. It was finally going to happen.

He brings himself up again and places his hands on either side of your head.

You take a moment to take in his member. The only time you had seen one was when you snuck an anatomy book from the library when you were in school. Seeing one in real life was a whole new experience

He notices your stare and smirks.

“Everything alright?” He asks.

“I don’t know. It’s so different from the books. This is all so new to me.”

“It’s alright darling. We will learn together.” You nod in response and before you knew it, he was beginning to insert himself into you.

The feeling was so forgein and awkward that you had to smack him to stop.

“Ow fuck, Tom stop!” He quickly removes himself and holds you into his chest.

“Are you alright? Did I hurt you?” You grab him tighter in thanks and lean away a tad to look at his concerned face.

“It feels so tight. Could you maybe use your fingers first?” He nods and slips a hand down your dress again. One finger is dipped inside and you let out a sigh of relief. This was a lot easier to manage, you thought.

“Oh Thomas that feels so good.” You say. He smiles and takes your praise to allow himself to enter a second finger. Your legs clench a tad as he moves his fingers in and out, every once in a while, spreading your increased wetness along your slit.

“I think I’m ready now.” You say. It didn’t take much for him to remove his fingers and lick off your wetness. Then he positioned himself the same way he did not that long before. His member slipped into you and this time around it felt a lot less uncomfortable. It still caused a pressure but not enough for you to scream bloody murder.

“Should I move?” He asks. You were doing it. This was no longer a dream or a fantasy. Thomas Blake was staring down at you with his cock inside at the hilt.

“God yes.” You moan while throwing your head back and closing your eyes. Tom began retracting his hip and then swirled them around before pushing forward again.

“Fuck me.” He cries out.

“I’m so happy we did this.” He says. You grip his shirt and open up the rest of the buttons, allowing the rest of his torso to be revealed to you. Your hands ran up and down his chest and soft stomach.

“Slow down.” You whisper gently. He nods and his movements start to calm. His eyes are entranced by yours and you can’t help but notice tears in his eyes.

“Are you crying?” You ask.

“I’m going to miss you so much.” He whimpers back, as he continues to move back and forth within you. Tears began brimming your eyes and as you both let tears fall through your orgasms, you pulled him flush against you.

“Come home to me.” You kept repeating.

“I promise.” He would say back with as much of a clear voice he could muster up.

And with that your legs begin to shake and you let out an elongated moan. His seed spills deep inside of you and as he removes himself from your core you can't help but feel it drip down your inner thigh.

“I love you Thomas Blake.”

“I love you Y/N L/N.”

———

You stared blankly out the kitchen window as you dried off the plates from lunch. The sky was a gloomy grey but no rain fell. Mrs Blake sat silently in the living room, knitting a small bonet with yellow yarn.

Your mind was somewhere else that you hadn’t initially noticed a car pull up and a soldier stepping out, letter in hand.

The plate you had been drying crashes in the soapy water beneath you and you quickly dry your hands on your apron as you attempt to run out the front door.

“Mrs Blake?” The man asks as you open the door rather frantically.

“No but she’s in. Iris!” You call out. She walks slowly from her chair and situates herself beside you.

“I’m Mrs Blake.” Her words were shaky. It was almost as though she knew exactly what was about to come out of the man's mouth.

“We regret to inform you that Thomas Blake was killed in action on April 6th. His belongings will be sent to you in the next couple of weeks. We are sorry for your loss and the rest of the information given will be found in this letter.” And with that the man looked down at your stomach and sighed with sorrow before handing over the letter and walking back to the car.

Your legs went numb instantly. The only sounds you could make were loud gut wrenching sobs. You clenched your stomach as you held onto the door frame for support.

“He’s gone Iris! My beautiful Tom is gone!” She grabbed you and mixed your sobs with hers. Myrtle and the puppies were now at your feet, grazing your calves in a calming matter, almost as though they had known what had happened.

“My boy!” She lets out.

“My baby boy!”

————

Dear Y/N,

I can safely say that this is one of the hardest letters I have ever had to write. I am sure you have gotten the news before this gets to you so I want to say that I am so sorry for your loss. Tom was nothing but a good, selfless man who cared for others so deeply. Before he died, his only wish was that I wrote to you and his mother. He talked about you every chance he could. The stories from when the two of you were little, how you were the most beautiful being that he had ever seen. How him replaying your laugh in his head was the only way to get him to sleep at night when things were tough here in the trenches. He didn’t die in vain. He died knowing that he fulfilled his duty of loving you each waking moment, even if it saddened him he couldn’t do it alive for much longer.

I remember his last words to me so very clearly.

“Tell my beautiful Y/N I love her. That I will always be with her.”

He handed me this picture of the two of you together. There is some blood on it but he would have wanted you to have it nevertheless. I hope this gives you peace during these trying times and god bless Y/N.

Sincerely,

William Schofield

“Mommy, mommy look!” A small voice calls out. You drop the letter and picture of you and Tom staring longingly at each other that you had read and looked at so many times before to see your son holding a small pool of water in his hands.

“What do you have there?” You call out. He then runs up from the river and drops down beside you under the willow tree you were situated at.

“I caught a tadpole!” He says proudly.

“That’s amazing Thomas!” He smiles at your encouraging words before running back down to the water. You watched him intently as he giggled in entertainment. Sometimes you had to let out steady breaths to stop yourself from crying. He was truly the spitting image of his father, a mini Tom if you will. The icy blue eyes and the chocolate wavy hair gave him away so easily. It pained you so much to wake up and see your Tom in him every day, but it was also a blessing in disguise. Even though Tom was no longer around, he had left you a gift that you could never thank him enough for. Tom Jr was so sweet and kind and loved making friends with everyone he came across, just like his father. He was your support system and you both adored each other. He was your best friend.

And for that, you were internally grateful to Mr. Thomas Blake.

#dean charles chapman x reader #fanfiction #fanfic #smut #Tom Blake #Thomas Blake #1917 #movie

60 notes · View notes

redrabbitspod · 4 years

Photo

READ OUR INTERVIEW WITH ROLLING STONE HERE:

(full, designed article. But if you don’t want to follow a magazine layout, read the transcript. Art by @bloodydamnit)

TRANSCRIPT BELOW THE CUT

Red Rabbits: The Rolling Stone Interview

Featuring Andrew Minyard, Neil Josten, and the Red Rabbits Team

By Angie Rodner

On a chilly Monday, Neil Josten and Andrew Minyard are standing side by side, looking at something on Andrew’s phone in our New York, Rolling Stone headquarters. The rest of the Red Rabbits team, consisting of Dan Wilds, Seth Gordon, Renee Walker, Robin Cross, Allison Reynolds, and pro Exy legend/honorable mention Matt Boyd, orbit around them. It's an interesting scene to take in, to say the least. No matter what they seem to be talking about, they all defer to the two hosts without any of them seeming to acknowledge it.

I was lucky enough to sit down with all eight of them, and I’m not ashamed to say I’m a fan of the podcast and I’ve followed since Season 1. The story of Andrew and Neil (formerly known as Nathaniel Wesnisnki, the son of the Nathan Wesninski or the Butcher of Baltimore), and the revelation of their connection they’d shared as kids, was better than any true crime podcast I’d ever listened to.

Now, the team takes on what they’ve dubbed ‘The Case of the Newark 9’ for their second season. It’s a case based around the hunt for a man known only as ‘Steven’, who they believe is responsible for a series of kidnappings and murders of young girls in and around the Newark area. They’re joined by Robin Cross, a victim and survivor of Steven’s, who is helping them investigate the case.

I sat down with Robin and the other women of Red Rabbits first.

What’s it been like to work on this podcast together? Was it strange to go from looking for Neil, to having him in the studio, to watching him and Andrew form the relationship they have?

Dan: It was strange, because in all honesty, it wasn’t strange. Does that make sense? None of us knew about the meeting they had as kids, but when Andrew finally told us, everything made a lot more sense. Really, they belong together. It was much weirder when they first got back and hadn’t acknowledged what was between them yet. We were all just kinda like... are y’all not seeing what we’re seeing?

Renee: They got there eventually.

How have things changed from Season 1 to Season 2? The cases are obviously different, but they still involve missing children. What’s the atmosphere like around the studio?

Dan: Tense.

Allison: I’m not even there that often and I can still feel it.

Robin: It is tense, but there’s also a sense of urgency. We know ‘Steven’ has another girl now, so it’s like every day that goes by is another day he has her... Another day we either find him, or we don’t.

Mm... I can’t imagine how difficult that is. However, with that being said, the NYPD have made it pretty clear that they aren’t buying what you guys are selling. How does that make you feel?

Robin: I don’t feel anything about the NYPD. My anger is better placed elsewhere. I am angry. But the police didn’t listen to me when I was a kid and trying to tell them important information. Why would they listen to me now?

Renee: I think we all try and take our cues from Robin. Andrew and Neil are very careful to include her and get her opinion on certain things before moving forward. We’re not letting this thing with the NYPD deter us.

Speaking of Robin then, what’s it like for you to have her on the team? As one of Steven’s victims that is, there with you in the studio?

Robin: Oh no. Say nice things about me.

Dan: Girl. [ laughs ] Honestly, she’s amazing. She’s my little sister and I’m not just saying that. I think we all kind of feel that way. I’ve never known a person as strong and determined as she is and I know - see she’s blushing! [ laughs again ]- I know she hates it when we talk about her like this, but it’s so true. She’s family now.

Renee: She is, and I think she brings a really unique perspective to the case. We have someone here who’s directly involved, who lived through it and can give us some idea of what the other girls went through. I think most people would really love to have that kind of resource during an investigation.

Allison: For sure. She’s even my muse for my fall line. Everything is going to be deep colors and fun modesty.

Seems like you’ve been properly inducted into the team, Robin.

Robin: [ smiling ] It feels amazing...

Now, last question. Are you confident you’ll find what you’re looking for?

All as one: Yes.

Speaking with the ladies was fun. They were easy and connected and you can tell that there was a real sisterhood in the studio that day. It was refreshing to see women supporting and helping each other thrive in such a competitive industry. There was a lot of laughter between them, and it was such a joy to be able to share it with them.

My next interviewees were Seth Gordon, ‘resident TFN sound engineer/IT guy/anything to do with technology’, as he tells it, and New York Lynxes starting backliner, Matt Boyd. When I tell you I laughed throughout this entire interview, I’m being completely sincere. There was something about the way the two bounced off each other that had me smiling and understanding why they are both so well-liked.

You guys are best friends aren’t you? I feel a bromance in this Chilli’s tonight.

Seth: Bet. Matt Boyd is my homie and BFFL. Do people still say that? Anyway, we have matching necklaces and everything.

Do you really?

Matt: No, not really, but I’d totally wear one if he gave it to me.

[ laughing ] Matt, how did you even end up here? I know you were friends with Neil, but I feel like the details on that are kind of murky.

Matt: I hit him with my truck. [ My jaw dropped ] No, really! I hit him with my truck in Midtown Manhattan when I was driving home. He refused to go to the hospital so I brought him back to my place to make sure he was okay. He didn’t leave after that.

Seth: Because you held him hostage? That’s the way I hear it.

Matt: Oh yeah, for sure. He takes up so little space, why not? [ laughs again ] No really, I did convince him to stay, but I just felt like he needed a friend. He was obviously running from something and he was scared. I just didn’t know from what or why at the time.

And when you found out?

Matt: Honestly? I just about shit myself, but it made so much sense. All the little questions I asked myself early on, finally had answers.

I saw the interview you and Dan did with Essence. You guys look amazing together.

Seth: They are amazing together. It’s gross.

Matt: Yeah, and you and Dion aren’t constantly fawning all over each other.

Is that Dion hovering nearby?

Seth: Yep, that’s my man. He’s amazing and fuckin’ fine as hell. Can I say fuck in this interview?

Sure.

Seth: He’s fuckin’ fine.

Seth, what’s it been like for you, putting together the shows? There’s been a lot of audio that’s hard for us as listeners to hear, and I’m sure there’s more we haven’t even heard.

Seth: There is.

What’s that like for you to have to go through it all?

Seth: Really hard sometimes. There was some stuff in Season 1 we didn’t air that seriously gave me nightmares. It’s worth it, though. We found Neil and I think we’ll find Steven.

Are both of you confident in that fact?

Seth: Positive.

Matt: I think if anyone can find him, it’s Andrew and Neil. They’re determined and they’ll keep looking no matter what.

I believe them.

Andrew and Neil were my last interview of the day, and a more determined pair I think I’ve ever met.

Here’s the thing readers: They’re connected. It might make me a poor journalist, but I don’t know how else to explain it. At one point during the interview, Neil reached over to squeeze Andrew’s arm. At another point, Andrew reached over to squeeze the back of Neil’s neck. They were obviously a comfort to and for each other, and it almost seemed like they borrowed strength. It was intense and being able to witness it has been one of my favorite moments in my career.

So, let’s talk about this season before we get into everything else. You’re looking for a man you believe to be responsible for the disappearances of multiple girls in the Newark area. Do you feel like you’re any closer to solving the mystery than you were at the beginning?

Neil: Absolutely. We’ve gotten some really great tips and we think we’ve narrowed some things down. We don’t want to get too deep into what we’ve got at the moment, because we’re still investigating. But we’re confident in what we have.

What’s it been like working with Robin? I was able to interview her earlier, and she’s really something.

Andrew: She’s been the best resource we have. She’s incredibly strong and unbelievably quick. She’s taken this terrible thing that happened to her and turned it into fire, and it’s been amazing to watch. Most of the information we have comes from her.

The interview you guys did with her was absolutely chilling. I cried three times listening to it. How do you handle hearing these things? I feel like it’d be really hard not to take it home with you.

Neil: Yeah. It’s hard sometimes.

Andrew, I want to touch on the interview Riko Moriyama just did with Kathy Ferdinand and your response. What was that like for you, hearing Riko wrongfully expose something like that on live television?

Andrew: It was… I was stunned, I guess. That information was supposed to be sealed. My name was redacted. So I have no idea how he even got details of the case.

You’ve talked before about being in the foster care system. It sounds like you had a pretty rocky childhood.

Andrew: Yes.

Neil, I know yours was no picnic either. Do you think that this kind of... shared trauma, I guess, is part of why you two work so well together?

Neil: Yeah, partly. When we met as kids, I think a bond was cemented. We both knew how horrible adults could be to children. But now that we’re older, I think more than a shared trauma, it’s a mutual respect for that trauma. We both have shit, you know? I told Matt this one time and I didn’t really understand how true it was until recently, but we both have baggage that we share. We take each other’s on to lighten the load for the other. But, there are times when it gets really fucking heavy, and I think recently we’ve figured out that it’s better to lean on each other when that happens, instead of trying to carry it all ourselves.

Why do you think Riko felt the need to call you two out like he did? I know he mentioned Neil possibly being manipulated into the relationship.

Neil: [laughs]

Andrew: I wish I could manipulate him into having better taste in music.

Neil: My taste in music is fine.

Andrew: It is absolutely not. And I don’t know why Riko feels the need to comment. I’d be interested to hear the reason. The things he said regarding Neil were ridiculous, and in his response, Neil has made sure to make that known. But the thing that really bothered me was his comments on mental health. He tried to basically call me unstable for seeking therapy and admitting that there came a point when I needed outside help. There are literally hundreds of thousands of people in this country who seek out therapy every year. There’s no shame in it and I’m unsure as to why Riko believes there is. Honestly, I’m shocked the Moriyamas haven’t released a statement. He’s their mouthpiece, after all.

Do you think they should apologize?

Neil: Yes.

Andrew: I think they should at least clarify. I’ve already heard people are planning to protest their new documentary and I don’t blame them. I wouldn’t want to give my money to people who think I’m less of a person because I struggle sometimes.

Speaking of struggle, let’s move back to the case. I know the NYPD has been giving you grief over your claims that the person you’re looking for is the same person that’s taken Haylie Clark. Robin, especially, seems completely certain. How does it feel to know law enforcement doesn’t have your back on this?

Andrew: Familiar. They’ve never had my back before, so why would they start now?

Neil: I’ve dealt with too many crooked cops to really take it seriously. I have no idea what their motivations are and to be clear, I’m not saying I think they’re crooked - I’m just saying that in my experience, the help doesn’t always come like it’s supposed to.

The rest of the team seems pretty confident in you two. They all said they absolutely believe you’ll be able to find him. Is it hard sometimes, not to lose faith?

Andrew: It’s hard all the time. But it doesn’t matter. We have to keep moving forward. We aren’t going to stop until he and Haylie are found.

I think that’s really commendable and I look forward to seeing that happen. Now, tell me a bit about the team. Neil, since you came in at the end of Season 1, how did you find the dynamic as an outsider?

Neil: I didn’t really understand it in the beginning. Not really. It helped having Matt at my back for months prior, but I’ve never had the opportunity to make solid connections with people. So when I came into the studio, to this group of people who had known each other since college, it was overwhelming.

Andrew: That’s funny, seeing as how they like you better than me.

Neil: It’s all the charm and charisma.

[ laughing ] And now? You all seem really tight knit.

Neil: Now, yeah. We are. These people are my family.

Andrew?

Andrew: Yes?

Neil: She wants you to say something nice about the team.

Andrew: Every single one of them knows my coffee order, and it’s truly amazing that they can do what the interns cannot. [ he looks over at Neil, who’s tilting his head and raising his brows ] Oh, don’t look at me like that. Fine. We have a really strong team. I wouldn’t be able to do what I’m doing without them. Seth works harder than anyone I know, Dan keeps us all in line with just a look, Renee is the only reason I agreed to do this in the first place, Reynolds has a lot of money and she’s not afraid to use it for a cause she believes in, and Robin is the most inspiring person I’ve ever met.

And Matt?

Andrew: Who?

Neil: The guy that kept me alive for months while you were hunting me.

Andrew: [ rolls his eyes and shrugs ] He’s fine.

My take away from the interviews was this: these people will do whatever they need, in order to find their perpetrator. They believe in their cause, they hurt for these girls, and they’ll find justice for them in the end. They’re family, that much is clear, and I can’t wait to see how this ends. I can’t wait to say that I was there when it’s over.

Red Rabbits can be heard on iTunes, Spotify, Stitcher, and GooglePlay. You can follow the website at redrabbitspod.tumblr.com and twitter @redrabbitspod.

And as the Red Rabbits team always says, “Keep Searching”. I know I will.

#red rabbits pod #aftg #andreil #andrew minyard #neil josten #seth gordon #dan wilds #matt boyd #renee walker #allison reynolds #robin cross #article #media #rolling stone #interview

470 notes · View notes

thoughtfulpaperback · 3 years

Text

Charmed 03 x 12 SPOILER Review!!!!!!!!!!!

GENERAL THOUGHTS

Y’all it’s been a minute. This might be the latest I share my thoughts on an episode. But anyways!

So I guess this was the hijinks episode, y’all know I missed the whimsy and hijinks of season 1, but this episode didn’t do it for me. I think its because it felt so juxtaposed with Abby and Jordan be stuck in the tomb---IM OFFENDED THAT MY MAN HAS BEEN MISSING FOR A COUPLE OF DAYS AND NO ONE IS THINKING ANYTHING IS AMISS!!!--- and the exploration of Abby’s abusive childhood. Don’t get me wrong there were elements of this episode I liked but overall this is my least favorite of this season. I give it a 7 out of 10 entertainment wise. It was fine but nothing great.

DISLIKES

1. Dissonance in tone

Like I said above, I wasn’t sure what to feel during the episode. Like overall The PO4 storylines were hijinks with some heart, but then you throw in Abby stuck in the tomb living out her abuse all over again and my brain isn’t sure what the heck is going on. I feel like maybe they should have saved abby’s line for another episode like after the Charmed Ones figured out that she was stuck there.

Also the fact that no one seems to be concerned about Jordan raises some serious questions in my head about the attentiveness of the people in his life. You mean to tell me Jordan doesn’t have any other friends besides Maggie? What about his internship and school? I can understand one day but a couple...suspect. These people aren’t true friends. The point with all that too is that there is a real sense of urgency with Abby and Jordan’s stories, but yet the others stories were more exploratory and it felt off and uneven.

2. Carter was a rolling stone (and not in the band way)

I mean...okay it more of a nitpick, but they couldn’t have just let the man turn out not a little bit skeevie and like Jimmy. Messing around with a married family friend....not cool man. I kind of hate it when shows do the whole messed up parent = a kid who is just a little messed up, if not a full blown mess. Again nothing that made or break my view of the episode, but just a personal issue that I wish they would have just left alone after season 1.

3. Antonio

Y’all, while I love that Maggie has had her “yes I do want to pursue something with Jordan” moment. Did we really need Antonio for it to happen? like is his part in her story done now? I actually like the character as far as possibilities of him being the new Lucy as far as mortal not in the know who gets pulled into hijinks. But the whole pseudo love triangle thing was like not necessary.

4. Mel x Ruby

Y’all I’m gonna need more from the writers here. They are doing the bare minimum with them and it shows. Like it seemed like such a big leap for Mel to jump into the “I love you” because we really haven’t seen or heard enough about her and Mel to feel organic. I need more. Maybe it’s because of Mel’s IRL pregnancy, but even last season I felt they just weren’t doing enough with Mel both relationship and personal wise.

5. So Marisol really not gonna mention Mel by name??

I’ve said what I had to say. But I just feel as if when a story is Macy centric it either is heavy with Maggie or Harry and light on Mel. You’d think the actresses had an issue with one another (THEY DO NOT AND I AM NOT SUGGESTING THEY DO! TO MY KNOWLEDGE EVERYONE LIKES EACH OTHER!!! DON’T SAY I SAID OTHER WISE!!) with the way they keep them separate or only write sisterly storylines where they are in conflict.

I’m just saying for being a storyline about their mother maybe they should have given it to all three and had Maggie and Mel work together to solve the issue and figured something else out with Harry. I understand thematically and dynamically why Mel and Macy often clash, and I’m okay with that, its real. But I don’t see why they can’t write and explore more storylines with Mel and Macy solving problems together without a third person buffer.

LIKES

1. The Fluff

Love Harry and Macy just agreeing and reveling in the fact they want the same thing which is to have a full life of being in love with each other and all that comes with it.

While I wasn’t feeling the genuineness of mel x ruby final scene I still adore any moment where the writers let Mel just be happy without any angst looming over her and her relationship.

The just little bonding moment between Harry and his grandson melted me, as did the resolving of the ghosts’ storylines.

2. Macy’s anger

Listen! I love Macy’s temper and how it comes out in her powers (thank god no blue effect) I love that it still carry’s through season to season that Macy while seeming like the rational and calm sister, is just a raw nerve and it comes out in her magic. It’s not necessarily that I like Macy being angry, it more that I like that that the writer and the show consistently show how her emotions manifest. lLiek my issue with season two was that some of the actions Macy took seemed OOC given how the writers previously showed how she processed and dealt (or not dealt) with emotions. He magically throwing things around because of her fustration reminded me of the first time her magic manifested (when she was upset with Mel and Maggie and Galvin wanted her to talk about it when she didn’t), and season 2 black amber isn’t working and then taking my demon powers was useless moments.

3. Back to Magic vibe

Maybe it was the lack of blue effects and not to much Perfecti, but this episode felt less sci-fi and more magic. I would say closer to season 1 than anything else so far this season and possibly last.

EPISODE HIGHLIGHTS

Abby and the crate

Oh! They really put the important info in the footnotes!!!

Marisol’s goodbye giving precipice personal advice to everyone except Mel

Antonio getting knocked the f**k out.

Macy and Harry being adorable

Swan’s casually dropping the Jordan has been missing for days

#Charmed #charmed 2018 #cw charmed #charmed cw #charmed reboot #charmed spoilers #charmed 2018 spoilers #Maggie Vera #Jordan Chase #abigael caine #mel vera #harry greenwood #Hacy #harry x macy

8 notes · View notes

invisibleinorange · 3 years

Text

A Different Ending | 7/?

Chapters: 7/? Fandom: Bridgerton Rating: M Warnings: Only be forewarned that this is an AU from the Adrift saga but Colin actually died in this one, so if he’s mentioned he’s actually gone. Relationships: Benedict Bridgerton/Penelope Featherington, Colin Bridgerton/Penelope Featherington (past feelings), Eloise Bridgerton/Penelope Featherington(besties), Bridgerton Family Dynamics, Daphne Bridgerton/Simon Hastings Characters: Penelope Featherington, Eloise Bridgerton, Benedict Bridgerton, Daphne Bridgerton, Anthony Bridgerton Additional Tags: Bridgerton, Penadict (do we have a ship name yet?)

Summary: There were some requests for an alternate/Parallel word to "Bridgerton's Adrift" where Benedict and Penelope actually did get married. So this is the result of that peer pressure.

Benedict was grateful to have found reasonable contractors who knew the urgency to have his and Penelope’s new home finished. While they’d managed to make the most of his bachelor home, he wanted to provide more for her. That was why he spent the majority of his days in Kensington, watching the progress and ensuring that everything was falling into place.

Despite the fact he didn’t want to be without his wife for any extended period of time, his mother had practically begged that Penelope be allowed to join the family at Aubrey Hall. The plan was to seal the deal on Anthony’s match to Edwina Sheffield. Benedict had his doubts that it would happen if only because Penelope seemed fairly certain that Anthony was better suited to Kate. He knew better than to bet against his wife.

It made sense for Penelope to help chaperone at Aubrey Hall. Her presence allowed her to stay abreast on the happenings of the parties and he could make sure their home was completed before the worst of the rainy seasons arrived. It was only a matter of a week but it felt like a century without her.

He’d been fully prepared to show her how much he missed her upon her return. He’d planned to have her favorite meal ready for her when she got home. They’d be able to sit together and she could tell him about everything he’d missed while they ate.

He knew that Anthony would escort her home but he was not quite prepared for her to him to practically be keeping her up right. He’d known Penelope most of her life and while he hadn’t been around her while she was ill, he instinctively knew that her coloring was wrong.

“Pen,” he murmured moving to collect her from his brother. Concern creased her features as he moved her inside and to a small sitting room, so he could sit her down.

“I’m okay. Just a little carriage sick,” she said, protest clear in her voice though she wasn’t quite in a carriage anymore and she looked as if she was struggling to not retch. “I don’t need all this fuss.”

Benedict gave his older brother a look, as if waiting to verify the veracity of that statement. If she’d been fine before departing Aubrey Hall he might could pass it off as carriage sickness. He’d been in many carriages with her at this point and not once had she been ill though.

“That’s a lie,” Anthony confirmed. “She’s been sickly since the last dinner party. She gave us all a bit of a laugh though. She apparently tried to excuse herself from that miserable Cressida Cowper and she wouldn’t stop talking.”

“You didn’t?” Benedict said trying not to laugh at the thought of Cressida covered in vomitus. He was actually concerned for his wife but even he wasn’t foolish enough to note see the humor in that.

Penelope nodded though when she attempted to open her mouth, her eyes widened and she covered mouth. She was to her feet trying to run and find somewhere to properly retch. Benedict’s eyes followed with concern. He really was going to have to go take care of her.

“Trying to upstage my engagement with a baby?” Anthony asked raising an eyebrow.

The two parts hit Benedict with equal force. Anthony was engaged and he was going to have a baby? They’d both seen their mother pregnant so many times that it was almost foolish that it didn’t hit him immediately. In a matter of seconds, his face flickered from confusion to excitement to absolute elation.

“Does she know?” he found himself asking.

“About my engagement to Kate? Of course. They’re strangely fond of each other. I daresay Kate might like Penelope more than she likes me,” Anthony said.

Kate. Penelope had been right about that one.

He shook his head though. That wasn’t what he was inquiring about.

“As happy as I am that you’ve selected a wife. I meant about the baby. Does Penelope think she’s with child?” he asked again.

“No. She seems to think she’s had a bad run of food poisoning and travel sickness,” Anthony said with a laugh. “Should I have a physician stop drop by tomorrow?”

“No – yes,” Benedict said after a long moment. “Does anyone else share in your suspicion?”

“Mother,” Anthony said after a moment. “She didn’t verbalize it to me but I did see her and Mrs. Featherington chatting rather suspiciously in recent days. They’ve been peddling a ‘digestion’ tonic toward her for days.”

“Well thank you for returning her safely home,” he said. “I should probably go take care of her but please forward my congratulations to Kate. We’ll have to have you both over for dinner while you plan your wedding.”

Anthony nodded before taking his leave.

Benedict took the steps to the wash room two at a time. They’d only ever vaguely discussed children in the sense that they knew that they wanted children to be part of their life and not just because it was what society dictated that children should be a product of marriages.

He hadn’t really given much thought to when it would happen. He’d been so busy focusing on the construction of their home and finding his stride with her that he hadn’t imagined it happening so soon. He was honestly thrilled at the prospect of being a father.

“Everything okay?” he asked gently from the doorway when he found her, bent over though no longer retching. The smell let him know that she definitely had been. She was breathing fairly heavily from the effort. He crossed the space to lean sit in the floor next to her and rub her back.

“You shouldn’t see me like this,” she told him, embarrassed by the whole thing. Penelope felt dirty. She honestly hadn’t planned to be ill upon her return to him. God how she’d missed him while at Aubrey Hall though. Her bed felt empty without him. Her days were boring without the conversations or the company.

“Sorry but you’re stuck with me,” he told her stubbornly. It had been quite a few years since his mother’s last pregnancy and he admittedly tried to block out those memories. It was painful to look back and think of Hyacinth growing in his mother’s belly and the way his father had absolutely doted over her until his death. He didn’t care if other men chose to be absent. He fully intended to dote over Penelope. “I’ve seen worse. If I had known you were ill, I would have come to you.”

She offered a weak smile as she managed to sit up.

“I’m home now,” she told him quietly. “You’re not going to be mad if I just want to bath and sleep, will you?”

He pressed a soft kiss to the top of her head.

“No, I’ll even prepare a hot bath for you,” he told her.

“You really don’t have to,” she told protested. “I can do it.”

“No. Go grab yourself a cup of tea and a biscuit from the kitchen if you can stomach it and I’ll come get you when it’s ready.”

He didn’t tend to keep staff here full-time. It wasn’t like in the family home. He did have people who came and went during the day to ensure cleaning and cooking was done. He had little complaint of handling basic things like starting fires or preparing water on his own.

He stood, rolling up his sleeves before setting into motion, helping her to her feet first before he set off on his task. It wasn’t quick a quick task but he did manage to heat up water over a fire and fill the movable tub in the washroom until it was at a satisfactory temperature.

He was pleased to see a little color back in her when she came by up to try and help him. He’d been about to go grab her though so there was little left to be done aside from enjoy.

“I’m spoiled,” she told him, curling into him slightly for a moment in gratitude. “I saw the dinner you had prepared. I’m honestly so sorry for being sickly. Tomorrow when I’m better, I’m going to make it up to you.”

He shook his head.

“You don’t have anything to make up to me,” he insisted. He debated telling her of his suspicion but he also didn’t want to get ahead of himself. If it turned out she was just ill and not carrying his child, he would feel foolish for suggesting it. He turned his head enough so he could lean down and kiss her appreciatively. “I’ll leave you to your bath, Mrs. Bridgerton. Please do call if you need any further assistance. I’m pretty good with a wash cloth.”

“Don’t go,” she told him when he started to pull and walk away. Her hand reached out to grab his arm in an attempt to stop him. It worked quite effectively. “I want to hear about everything I’ve missed in London while I was away.”

Benedict smiled, helping her out of her clothing and into the tub. He couldn’t help but envisioned how her form might change if she was carrying his child. He pushed the thought out of his head though so he could comply with her request. He had a lot to tell her and even more he wanted to hear from her.

He loved his wife.

#benedict bridgerton #penelope featherington #bridgerton

13 notes · View notes

puckluck28 · 4 years

Note

5, 18, 28 & 40, 41 🥰🥰🥰🥰

Thank you @thetwit for the prompts!

This ones’s written with 5. Throwing their arms around the other person’s neck, hugging them close before kissing them passionately on the lips. & 28. One person tracing the other’s lips with a fingertip until they can’t resist any longer, tilting their chin towards them for a kiss.

I will work on 18, 40 & 41 in the upcoming weeks!

Hope y’all enjoy!

19 Days

It was almost 10pm when Hailey finally looked away from the latest report she was working on for a much needed break from her monitor and rubbed her eyes, hoping when she opened them, she’d find herself looking into her partner, and fiancé, green eyes. Unfortunately, however, her wishful thinking proved unavailing, and she sighed in disappointment when she opened her exhausted eyes to find the desk across from her empty; the stacks of paper unusually organized, a thin layer of dust covering the single pen resting on Jay’s keyboard, the one he hid from Hailey so he didn’t run out of pens when she ultimately stole all the pens in his pencil holder by the end of each. So with another heavy sigh, she pushed away from her desk and walked to the break room to grab another cup of coffee, she didn’t even know how many cups she’d already had.

On a regular week, it wasn't uncommon for Hailey to show up at the bullpen when no one was around to finish her paperwork. Whether it was a couple hours before or after shift, or a rare day off, she preferred staying on top of her paperwork with each case, unlike her colleagues who waited to be chased around by Platt to actually start on theirs. Adam thought she was crazy for willingly spending more time at the bullpen. Kim wished she had Hailey’s level of organization so she didn’t have to take most of her paperwork home with her. And while Kevin didn’t comment on her habits, he wasn’t a stranger to using his free time catching up with his paperwork, the only difference: he preferred the comfort of his home to the bullpen. Hailey, on the other hand, found a sense of serenity in the silence of her usually hectic workplace, especially the past couple weeks, nineteen days to be specific.

It had been almost three weeks since Jay had been temporarily snatched by narcotics for an undercover operation when intelligence’s operation had accidentally crossed paths with their colleagues’. Overnight, without even being given an option, or time for goodbyes, he was further pushed into the operation and all his contact with intelligence was severed.

Hailey understood that it was one of those things that just came with the job. Narcotics needed Jay, and there was nothing anyone could have done about it, but it didn’t mean Hailey had to like it any different. She hated not having her partner across from her, catching her eye every time she looked up from her paperwork. She hated not sitting in the comfort of his truck, whether they were driving to a suspect’s house or a bust or home after work. And most of it all, she hated how lonely their home seemed, how cold and empty their bed felt. Sure, it was a temporary situation, but with no end date, temporary felt a minute too long to be bearable, so instead of torturing herself with the silence of their home, she spent most of her free time in the silence of the bullpen. At least there, she had work to do instead of rewatching the same episode of the Office for a hundredth time, hoping Jay was by her side to make the same comment he made every time.

The rest of the unit had realized their blonde colleague’s change of habits, too. At first they’d given it to their increased workload since they were a man down, but when Hailey had declined invites to Molly’s to stay at work for one too many an evening, they’d all known there was more to it than the workload. The days that followed, Hailey realized her colleagues showing up to work a little earlier, leaving a little later, and making sure they had enough coffee and snacks at the break room at all times. She knew this was their way of being there for her, no member of the unit was one to talk about their feelings, and she was forever grateful to have found her place in Voight’s unit and not only gained amazing colleagues but a family.

Pouring herself the last of the coffee left in the pot, Hailey decided it was time to call it a night when she was done with this one, knowing she wouldn’t go home at all if she put on a new pot. It wasn’t that she actually wanted to go home, but the break room couch was really not that comfortable and she desperately needed her warm shower if she was going to pretend to feel ready for the next day.

Needing a minute longer away from her computer, Hailey rested her back against the kitchen sink and tried to enjoy the warm radiating from the mug in her hands as she traced the familiar letters on it. Ever since Jay’d been gone, she’d started using his coffee mug that read “The World’s Best Detective.” It had been a gag gift she’d gotten him a couple years ago for Christmas after they’d binged all of the Office together that fall when they’d taken turns nurturing each other back to health during that year’s flu season. Oh, how she missed having him by her side, even at the cost of the horrors that came with having the flu.

Hailey was so lost in her thoughts that she hadn’t realized the footsteps approaching the break room. “You know…” Her head immediately turned at the source of the familiar voice, and she almost dropped the mug in her hands had her fingers not been hooked on its handle when her eyes landed on the source. “I was really hoping to come home to find my beautiful fiancé in bed after not seeing her for so long. So imagine my disappointment when I get home to find the place all cold and dark.”

“Jay?” Her voice cracked as she whispered his name and turned around.

‘Hey, Hails. Miss me?” He asked with his trademark smirk, and tears filled her eyes as she stared at him from across the room, trying to process what was happening, trying to convince herself that he was really there and this wasn’t a caffeine induced hallucination.

“What are-? How?” She struggled to find the right words to speak, so instead, she did the only thing she could think of: Tossing the mug to the side, she quickly closed the short space between them and threw herself into Jay’s arms. Her arms circled around his neck in an attempt to somehow ground herself as she hugged him close, needing to feel his body against her, the reassurance that he was really there, before rising on her tiptoes and crashing her lips against his. There was so much packed into their kiss: surprise, despair, longing, relief… As their hands wandered and their lips moved against one another’s in urgency, they felt as if they needed the kiss more than they needed air until reality caught up with them and they involuntarily pulled away from another, gasping for air.

“You’re really here?” Hailey whispered, trying to catch her breath.

“Narcotics finally wrapped up their operation and I came back as soon as they cuffed the last of the guys.” Jay responded, holding her tight against his body, needing her touch as much as she needed his. “I couldn’t spend another minute away.”

“God, Jay…” She was at a loss for words, her eyes traveling all over his body to get a good look at how the past three weeks had treated him. He was still in his undercover outfit: ragged jeans, a black shirt and an all leather jacket that reeked of cigarette smoke.

Slowly reaching up towards his face, her fingers gently trailed the few cuts and bruises along his neck and jaw until she reached the fresh cut on his lips. Jay’s eyes closed at her familiar touch, the one he’d longed for every night every time he closed his eyes for the past nineteen days. God, it felt so nice to be back, to hold her in his arms, to kiss her, to… Hailey’s fingers trailed down against his sharp jawline and guided his chin towards her face for another much needed kiss. This kiss was different from the first one. It was softer, gentler, more tender, and the desperate urgency was replaced by sweet savor.

“I’m really here, Hails.” Jay whispered against her lips when they parted enough to rest their heads against one another’s, their lips only inches away. “I’m back, I’m okay and I’m not going anywhere anytime soon.” He knew she’d been worried and she needed to hear him say the words.

“I missed you, so damn much.” Hailey confessed, tightening her grip on him even more, as if it was possible for them to hold each other tighter or closer.

“Me too, baby. So much that I don’t think words would do it justice.” He leaned in for another kiss, their kisses becoming increasingly more passionate. “Now why don’t we go home so I can show you just as much.” He spoke in between kisses with a mischievous smile, receiving an equally lustful look from Hailey.

“Just take me home, Halstead.” Hailey whispered into his ear, and he didn’t have to be told twice before he grabbed her hand and dragged her out of the district and into his truck, the mug of coffee and everything else forgotten. They were finally together again, and they deserved this one night before they had to face reality again.

Hopefully more will come in the next weeks ☺️

27 notes · View notes