#if you see me using the same pic that cam just used in her gorgeous graphic and that i've used before no you didn't

[shoshimakesstuff]

"AFTERNOON, CAPTAIN"

@shoshiwrites' Jo + Egan — read more here.

#if you see me using the same pic that cam just used in her gorgeous graphic and that i've used before no you didn't #oc: jo brandt #...do i have a work tag for this #if you see me captioning like this isn't for my own fic no you didn't

[the1918]

2020 for the1918

Am I the last person to make this list? Maybe. Do I regret that? Yes. Am I making it anyways because my cognitive behavioral therapy is teaching me fix my avoidance issues? Also Yes.

Let’s do this: @The Trees In Front of Cevans’s House and @Bucky’s Arm... you da real MVPs.

But other than them...

Thank You to Everyone that Truly Made My 2020:

@cantabile-l  Jo (Daddy Dumpster™ Co-Founder) — I have to list you first. How could I not? Every friendship I’ve made in this fandom comes back to you. We literally bonded over porn lookalikes and started this craziness called the Stucky Porn Lookalikes Archive ( @stucky-lookalikes-archive ) to preserve the porn, and it now has now has 85k hits and 500 bookmarks (!!!?!!). But it’s more than that, even more than starting the Daddy Dumpster™ and bonding over culihos. Bespoke got finished because you got me excited enough to want it, just like half a dozen other fics. You were also the basis for many, many other friendships that I list below. Your nesting head canons were the inspiration for so, so many A/B/O moments in my fics. We’re so on the same length on an intellectual and spiritual level (I feel like you and me and @ixalit are three parts of one whole ❤) and I am in love with you for it. Culihos forever.

@hanitrash​ Hani (O.G. Dumpster™ Citizen) —I’m so, so damn glad you’re in my life. We share that sick sense of humor and refusal to adopt a filter. You add flavor to our Dumpster™ with your wit, and I feel so warm when you share pics and updates about the family with us. You were the first person I ran to when I “discovered” HTP and you held my hand 😂 And Jesus—your talent. I could go on and on and on about Through The Darkness I Heard Your Voice and Private Showing, but also one of my New Year’s resolutions is to start reading your work as Loralynne Summers. Thank you for making me smile every day of last year since April.

@trekchik Jini (O.G. Dumpster™ Citizen) — I can’t speak to the number of laugh-out-loud, belly-grabbing, cackling moments I have had in a year that could easily have been shit otherwise, all because of you. I feel like you’ve truly become a member of my family; like, I see you posting in the Dumpster™ when I wake up in the morning and I think to myself, “Oh, what’s the fam up to today?”. I know I’ve gone on and on about your talent (absolute queen of dialogue and pacing) before, but I don’t thank you enough for keeping the Porn Archive alive when the rest of us are slacking. Your Stucky Tumblr Drabbles (especially the meet cutes) puts a smile on half the fandom’s face regulary, and I’m excited to re-read the wonderful Anagnorsis & Peripeteia soon. Here’s to another year of weird dildo pictures.

@thegodswife Amanda (Dumpster™ Citizen) — I feel like we were literally destined to become friends. The love I feel for you and your little family is real and immense, and I feel like your victories (in life and in writing) are my victories. You have made a slow but steady convert of me to Shrinkyclinks with fics like peaches and because it's christmas, and I am in awe of your talent for writing charged dynamics with jaw-dropping moments. This fandom is lucky to have such a gem as you. 2021 is going to be the Year of Amanda (*clinks Lindeman’s Framboise glasses 🥂*)

@ixalit Max (Dumpster™ Citizen) — My relationship with you has and continues to be lifechanging for more reasons than I can even go into on tumblr. You make me laugh. You make me cry (usually in good ways). You make me horny by supplying the #porn-and-fun as the dutiful resident horny teenage boy of Dumpster™. I remember so clearly when we first messaged talking about your Evanstan thoughts and fics, and I knew your writing was special then (omg, Hiraeth?? How dare). You deserve all the success you earned in 2020 and every bit more success that you will continue to have this year. There is no one else I would rather have with me as we make this ~journey through Song of the Rolling Earth together. 

@becassine Bex (Dumpster™ Citizen) — What can I say about my lucky charm? 🍀 I found our friendship later in the year and I feel it was truly central to the way I finished out my year with a bang (lol). Your encouragement to finish Bespoke supercharged me, and I’m still riding that high in writing SoRE. But for every bit we talk about you being the Queen of Hype (Becassine, First of Her Name), I am also stunned by your own gorgeous writing. The Way I Feel For You is a gift to this fandom and it’s gonna keep rocking our world, along with any other creative endeavor you choose to embark on. Thank you for the treasure of your continued friendship.

@darter-blue​ Bec (Dumpster™ Citizen) — My gorgeous, gorgeous cunt of a friend. What ever am I going to do with you? I feel like you and I have clicked so perfectly and so instantly, and I feel such a strong connection to you. I have been enamored with your skill and your style since I first stumbled across your Sergeant Barnes and Colonel Rogers: A Love Story series and then rapidly gobbled up your other writing. Getting to collab with you on No Vacancies was a dream come true. You make me feel so connected to the outside world and humanity even in this bizarre time and even though you’re on the other side of the world.

@kalee60 Kel (Dumpster™ Citizen) — You flawless sass-master. You brilliant human. You tricky little bastard. What a perfect addition to the Dumpster™ you have been! And your talent, Jesus... just being around you makes me want to write. I have truly never seen someone with as much talent write so prolifically, and I am in very real awe of it. If I had to pick “Fic of the Year” for me, I would not hesitate to pick Push The Button—it turned my world upside down—but for as much as we talk about that epic, your AU Extravaganza is really miracle to behold. And I am so, so pumped for you during this exciting time coming up in your life. Here’s to magnificent year for you in 2021!

@andysmountains​ Andy Gator Lord 🐊 — You’ve changed my life. I’m sitting here and I honestly don’t know how else to put it. You’re hilarious and you’re a ball of sunshine and you have kept this breeder feeling rooted to reality (in a great way) and remembering how to smile during some of the shittiest times I can remember. Newts. You’ve helped me explore my identity, and I’m not sure what greater gift you could have given me. Also, I’ve never heard true love whispered more sincerely than when I see 🔪—and I would give you nine hundred and ninety-seven 🔪 now if not for the fact that you have literally beat me to it.  

@ceratonia-siliqua Cera — We’ve shared so much. I feel so privileged that you’ve picked me to be a person that you want to talk to during hard times because you’re such a special guy, and because you’ve got talent that the world needs to see forever and ever and ever (I continue to blown away by what you did in Sunshine, and none of us are ready for Quilt Fic™) and I hope you never stop writing your whole damn heart out. I truly love you. I do. Thank you for reminding me that there is endless humanity and prose in this world.

@howdoyousleep3​ K — I feel like 2021 couldn’t be starting off better now that you’re in my life again. Last year was largely defined for me by the time I spent with you, and I’ve truly been changed by you and your writing. You are an endless amount of inspiration for me and this whole community; I would bet real money that the number of Daddy Kink converts that owe their new *interest* to finding your Daddy Steve Rogers/Baby Bucky Barnes series numbers in the hundreds (not to mention your other AUs). But fics aside, I had so many smiles and laughter throughout 2020 because of you, and I owe such a big part of my happy heart to you and your presence in my life. You have a huge, caring heart. Cheers to Cevans continuing to be a giant, bro-ish man slut and us never stopping giving him shit for it — and here’s to Trucker Bucky and his bug.

@lullabybeauty Bee — I’m not sure I would still be writing if it weren’t for you. The interest you took in my fics and endless support you’ve provided have turned me into a real-life 🥺🥺🥺 face so many times I can’t count them. But more than the hype you provide, you are an amazing person, and I hope you never stop putting (and ceaselessly keeping) the word out in our community through your blog that Black Lives Matter and black women matter now and forever; it’s far too easy for those of us who are white to let that truth fade from our minds when there’s not something terrible happening in the news, and I’m so thankful for your posts filling up my dash with reminders I need to be a good ally and giving me information to share with others. Thank you for the gift of yourself.

@ywecanthavenicethingsanymore Caroline—You sort of swooped out of nowhere for me and boosted my confidence through the roof. Your comments and your hype and your hilarious tags remind me every day that writers are only half of the fanfiction equation; all we do without supportive friends like you is sit in the corner dreaming of stories we don’t have the confidence or feel-good to put to words. Thank you for your constant support and for being so. damn. cool.

@littlesurfergrl Heather—Oh, Heather. Queen of the A+ tags. Sender of inbox updates about what time you get off of work and why you’re vibrating to read a fic. All-around beautiful person. Your love and support is magic in my veins.

@hoeforthegays Baby J—I am so damn excited for this creative project you’ve taken on; you are so talented. I look forward to our thirst talks all the time. You make me laugh with your screaming and even your advice. Such a source of sunshine in my life.

@capbvckyrogers / @tae-withsuga Cam — You were the first person who ever reblogged a farmer daddy post. You were the first person who ever sent me a prompt. Honestly, you were the first person who ever bonded with me over a character. There zero (0) chance I would have enjoyed fandom (or certainly any kind of creative success) the way that I did in 2020 if not for you. Thank you, endlessly. 

@justice-for-plums​ Kenz — Another “late in the year” friendship find that I am so grateful for. I love our talks! I am so thankful you felt comfortable to reach out and talk about writing. Our workshopping has helped remind me of what works and what doesn’t for me, and I love the creative collaboration on head canons! Excited for more in 2021.

Shrunkyclunks Bitches®, or those not mentioned already above: @dreadlockholiday (co-founder of the Bitches® with @justice-for-plums​ and #1 reason I blushed last year), @oh-i-swear-writes​ @wayward-lives​ @allegedlyann and others I either am missing on tumblr or forgetting (but not because I don’t love you) — Here’s to Cap Steve and modern Bucky and 1,000,000+ words written during our writing sprints in 2021. [Bitches® server membership is open by the way! If you love Shrunkyclunks, contact Dready @dreadlockholiday​].

And to the endless list of others who made me smile, laugh, sometimes cry, feel proud, but always feel that incredible Stucky love — a list that includes but is certainly not limited to @fishcustardandclintbarton,​ @hawkeyeandthewintersoldier, @willbakewithstucky, @hannah-stagram​, @thewaythatwerust​, @bigbraiiin, @musette22, @luninosity​, @fandomfluffandfuck​, @maddiewritesstucky​, @hbalbat, @doctorenterprise​, @epicstuckyficrecs, @k347 and the massive important people I know I am forgetting (...like some BIG ones)

To everyone above and anyone else who has scrolled this far:

Thank you.

Let’s all have a fantastic 2021 🥂

#thank you post

[leverage-ot3]

notable moments from The Top Hat Job

leverage 2.06

hardison bored with a tennis ball on his forehead rb if u agree

- - - - -

Hardison: Her name is Katie. Likes wild horses. Dislikes vanilla toothpaste.

Eliot: Please stop talking. (to Katie) Hey.

~ a few moments later ~

Eliot (to comm): Oh, I'm so in.

Hardison: Hey, uh, Eliot, what is that blocking your button cam? Oh, yeah, it's your ego

hardison lowkey always thinks it’s obnoxious when eliot flirts like that with people. (you love him, sweetie, you just don’t really know it yet)

- - - - -

Eliot: Hardison, we got a problem.

[Leverage HQ]

Hardison: What kind of problem?

[Security Station]

Eliot: They're MRI'ing my pizza, and their stance says "ex-CIA."

[Leverage HQ]

Hardison: You can tell somebody work for the CIA just from how they stand?

[Security Station]

Eliot: It's a very distinctive stance

- - - - -

Eliot: Hey, big boy. What are you, 240, 250?

(the guard swings at him and Eliot punches the guy in the crotch. The guy goes down)

ICONIC

- - - - -

Man: You know when I said you had pretty hair? I was lying.

Parker: Yeah, well, so was I when I said you didn't. Wait. Damn it!

(Parker kicks the man back and backflips off the railing. The man looks over the edge, but doesn’t see her. Parker is hanging onto steel girders under the side walk)

Man: What

SHUT UP MAN SHES GORGEOUS + lmfao parker you tried

ALSO GUYS parker flipping off the railing of the pier and “disappearing”? she’s a badass and I love her

- - - - -

Nate: So, pizza-Delivery guy was your big plan?

Hardison: You know what, man? It was recon. Okay? Information gathering has historically been a very safe and peaceful business. A-and it was a food company! It wasn't like they was making weapons.

Nate: Listen, I-I've worked insurance for companies like this. Anyone gets their hands on the company's food patents, it could cost them billions. And, by the way, they guard that stuff better than defense contractors

- - - - -

Parker (touches Eliot’s elbow): Does that hurt?

Eliot: Yeah

...

Eliot: No, I lived. All right? You sat behind (Parker pokes his elbow) a computer and acted like Kool Moe Dee.

...

Parker: Does that hurt?

Eliot: Yeah.

Parker: How about now? (pokes his elbow)

...

Eliot: Stop.

(Parker gets up to move away, then leans back to poke his elbow again)

Nate: Eliot. Guys. Eliot. What are you doing?

Eliot: She was poking me.

(Nate moves to look at Eliot’s elbow, trying to poke it)

Nate: Don't, man, hey!

and the parker poking eliot’s wounds saga continues

we love a chaotic ot3 scene

- - - - -

Hardison: Lillian Foods is the third-largest food company in the world. Last year, made $12 billion. This is the vice president of the frozen-Foods division, Erik Casten. Erik with a "k," Casten with a "c."

Nate: How is that relevant?

Parker: Oh. Eric with a "c" - nice and friendly, Erik with a "k" - Evil.

Sophie: I didn't know that.

Parker: Everybody knows that

ALSO

LETS TAKE A MOMENT TO APPRECIATE PARKER AND HARDISON SITTING NEXT TO EACH OTHER ON THE COUCH AND ELIOT SITTING RIGHT BEHIND AND BETWEEN BOTH OF THEM

WE LOVE TO SEE THE OT3 FRAMED TOGETHER

- - - - -

Hardison: According to Dr. Jameson, Erik with a "k" is trying to cover up salmonella found in the frozen dinners so his division doesn't have to pay out for that recall.

Eliot: That's why I grow my own food.

Sophie: How do you find the time?

Eliot: You make time. I only sleep 90 minutes a day.

- - - - -

Nate: All right, so what we have to do is we have to get a hold of Casten's report and make it public. It's on the servers. How do we get into the building?

Hardison: I'm so far ahead of you, man, it's scary.

[Flashback]

(a package is being delivered to the receptionist)

Hardison: Look, I can't hack their system from the outside, so I sent a Trojan phone. It's hacker 101.

(the package is delivered through inner office mail to a mail slot)

Hardison: What I did was messenger a Smartphone with an extended battery to an employee that's on vacation. Package sits in the mail room, it scans for wireless and Bluetooth access points.

[Leverage HQ]

Hardison: Unfortunately, even their internal servers are locked down like the CIA, so all I was able to get was employee e-Mails

- - - - -

Sophie: Well, anything useful there?

Hardison: Oh, yeah. You know what? Marie from Payroll has a crush on Steve from Accounts Receivable. (hits remote to show pics on screen) Look, that's Steve right there on his vacation in Florida from a month ago.

Parker: She likes him? Really?

Hardison: Oh, yeah. That man is a sexy man-beast right there.

I know he’s joking but I will take bi hardison to my grave

- - - - -

Parker: Ugh. I'm so glad I don't live in the real world.

eliot next to her: ...?

- - - - -

Hardison: Go ahead. Put your hand up.

Parker: I don't want to do it.

Hardison: Woman.

Parker: I really don't want to go. Don't make me go.

Hardison: Girl! Take one for the team.

Parker: Okay! Me! Me! Me! Me! Pick me!

Chronos: You. Come on up here.

(Hardison and Parker stand. Hardison shows Parker something on his phone)

Hardison: The box is an SASJ-6412. This is how it works, all right?

(Hardison nudges Parker up on the stage. Chronos looks her up and down)

Chronos: Well... What's your name?

Parker: Kara!

Hardison: Yeah, Kara! Love you! Love you!

Chronos: Silence!

Parker: Love you, too. Sorry.

Chronos: Well, Kara, are you ready to step into the box... of mystery?

(assistant gestures to the box)

Parker: Uh. I don't know.

Chronos: I assure you, it's perfectly safe.

Hardison: I love you. (to another man) That's my girl. That's my baby. Sexy. She been doing Pilates.

Chronos: Give Kara a round of applause.

(Parker gets into the box and Chronos closes her in)

Hardison: Sexy stuff! Go ahead, girl. Do what you do.

(Chronos takes out several swords. He hands one to his assistant and pushes the other into the box)

Parker: Ow! Hey! Ow!!

(Parker grabs the sword and pulls)

Hardison: Oh!

Parker: Let go!

(Chronos tries to pull the sword out but it won’t move)

Chronos: She, she's perfectly all right.

Parker: Let go! Ow!

(the sword breaks and Chronos is left fumbling)

Hardison: Hey, Kara! Damn all that "she's all right." (Hardison comes up on stage) Baby?

(Hardison pounds on the box. Parker begins crying. The assistant tries to look into the box through the holes on the side)

Hardison: Um, baby? Baby? Man, if you don't –

(Chronos picks up another sword just as Hardison gets the doors open)

Parker: Just kidding.

Hardison: Ha! Isn't she great? Isn't -- come on.

(the audience gives applause)

Hardison: Snoodles. (they rub noses) Oh. Love you. (moves away from the box) And thank you and you and you and you-

also, hardison reassuring parker that she will be okay? I’m soft

...

(Chronos pulls out a set of rings)

Chronos: Interlocking rings.

Hardison: Hey, man, you, you forgot one over here. Just...

(Hardison takes a ring and hooks it onto the two Chronos is holding. The audience cheers)

Hardison: Thank you! That's dope, man. I like that.

Chronos: Get off my stage!

(Chronos pulls the rings away from Hardison

Hardison: Oh, look, y'all, this –

(Hardison takes one of the swords and pretends to ram it into his stomach)

Hardison: It, it ain't real. That ain't even all that, man. That's –

(Chronos grabs Hardison)

Hardison: Get -- get off –

(Chronos punches Hardison)

Parker: Oh, my god! Baby, I'm here!

(Chronos runs off stage while Hardison holds his eye)

Parker: I'm, like, totally here for you right now! Somebody get on your cell phone!

Hardison: I love you!

Parker: Get a dentist! You.

Hardison: I love you

also CHAOTIC PARDISON

- - - - -

Sophie: It's a good job you're not claustrophobic, Eliot.

Eliot: I was when I was a kid. (to Nate) Take this damn thing.

Nate: Oh, all right.

Parker: Really? How'd you get over it?

Nate: Here, Parker. (hands her the hat and rabbit)

Eliot: I locked myself in a woodshed behind my house for a couple nights. After that, I was fine.

(Parker hands the hat and rabbit to Hardison)

Parker: That is so funny. I was scared of the dark and did exactly the same thing.

[Flashback]

(a young Parker lays in a trunk that is sitting in a hole)

Girl: You ready?

(Parker pulls the trunk closed and several children fill in the hole)

[Auditorium]

Eliot: That's not the same thing. What's wrong with you?

P A R K E R WHY + their differences in childhoods tho

- - - - -

they keep on handing off the bunny until hardison loses it in the hat

+

Eliot: Damn it, Hardison!

- - - - -

Sophie: So, massively, there will be no magic show.

Nate: Oh, no, there might be a magic show. No, absolutely. We might want to treat these people to the illusionist extraordinaire, right

eliot laughing and nodding at him in the background

- - - - -

Hardison: See, Sophie’s Smartphone is picking up the RFID signal from the big boss's I.D. All she had to do was cozy up next to him and...

Parker: You picked his pockets without actually stealing anything? Cool.

Hardison: It's what I do. A man. A phone. No limits.

(security guards walk by as the doors close)

Eliot: How about "a man. A phone. No action"?

(Parker laughs and hands Eliot a bag)

Eliot: Come on, man, you left that out there like a hanging curveball.

the ot3 being idiots I love it

+ eliot hoisting parker up and out of the elevator, domestic thievery hijinks

- - - - -

Casten: So, with that, and the open bar, in mind, I'd just like to say thanks, everybody. And let's give a warm welcome to (checks notes) Harry turner, illusionist extraordinaire!

Sophie: That’s you. You’re on.

Nate: Parker, I need my assistant now!

Sophie: Yeah. Yeah, speaking of that, how come Parker gets to be the assistant?

[Elevator]

Hardison: How come Nate gets to be the magician? I do card tricks, too. I do great card tricks.

[Auditorium]

Nate: Can we talk about this later?

Sophie: Yeah, exactly. That's what I was just saying!

[Elevator]

Eliot: Does anybody want to do my job? Huh? I get punched and kicked.

[Auditorium]

Sophie: I just think that if it was me, we'd be better off –

poor eliot lmfao

- - - - -

parker falling and having the time of her life + eliot clipping the rope to hardison’s belt + hardison flying to the top of the elevator because of the rope pulling him + him falling on his face when parker unclips = chaotic ot3

- - - - -

Hardison: All the employee phones in this building are hooked up to the internal Wi-Fi. You remember the Trojan phone? It works both ways. See, I can use the server to access his phone. And once I'm in, I can see through his phone's camera.

Eliot: You can do that?

Hardison: Oh, you'd be surprised at what I can do. (changes display on phone)

BLATANT FLIRTING OH MY G O D

- - - - -

eliot and hardison curled up together under the desk to hide from the guards? cute

- - - - -

Hardison: It's not optical. They're using active capacitance. See, what happens is, it measures the change in voltage across the micro ridges of the --

Eliot: Can you get in or not?

Hardison: You... (reaches in his bag and pulls out a gummy frog)

Eliot: Gummy frogs?

Hardison: Gummy frogs have the same resistance as human skin, about 20 milliohms. (runs frog along the reader) What'd I say? That's a low-Tech hack right there

ELIOT’S PROUD SMILE

also does hardison always carry that fingerprint printer around ???

- - - - -

Sophie (to Parker, flourishing her arms): See, you're supposed to do it like this.

Parker: Next time, you jump down the elevator shaft.

Sophie: Oh, stop it. Everybody knows you love that.

- - - - -

(Hardison’s computer shows the junction room doors being locked)

Hardison: Uh-oh. (gets up and heads for the door)

[Elevator]

Eliot: "Uh-oh"? What do you mean, "uh-oh"?

Price: This isn't funny any longer!

(elevator door opens)

Guard: Step out of the elevator.

Eliot: Oh, that "uh-oh." (crosses his arms)

that’s like the second time he’s said that in the past couple episodes

- - - - -

on today’s edition of non-weapon-things-eliot-uses-as-weapons, he uses the mystery box that the CEO is in to help beat up one of the guards

- - - - -

(Hardison is demonstrating card tricks to Parker)

Hardison: And your queen should be... (holds up a seven of clubs) this right here.

(Parker holds up her queen)

Parker: Stole it.

Hardison: Y-you can't do that

- - - - -

Eliot: I'm finishing off the kung pao.

DOMESTIC

+ eliot’s wearing hair charms/braids again 🥰

#leverage #leverage 2.06 #leverage 2x06 #the top hat job #leverage season 2 #season 2 #notable moments #mine

[urmysilverlining]

The Honeymoon

Another day, another mission: you, Riley and Bozer are waiting for the briefing to start in the war room. Matty enters followed by Mac and Jack. The sides of your mouth can’t help but slightly lift at the sight of the blond man walking in. You promptly turn your head to look at the big screen in front of you, before someone could notice your unmotivated happiness.

Your boss explains the facts leading to your next mission: catching a Serbian criminal, named Boris Mitrović. It seems a mission as many others, until she gives you further details. Boris’son, Omar, has just married and he’s spending 10 days in a French resort with his wife: you will go undercover, trying to become friends with the couple, in order to get information.

While Matty congratulates with Riley and Bozer to be chosen as fake spouses for the mission, you look in Mac’s direction, on the opposite side of the room. He meets your gaze and gives you one of his shy half smile.

“Mac, you will be paired with a new CIA agent: her name is Leanna Martin” Matty touches the screen.

You widen your eyes looking at the pic of the gorgeous girl Mac would be fake married with.

“Bozer, you should recognize her from spies’ school, do you remember her?”

Your friend starts stuttering, looking confused. This makes you understand you are not the only one disappointed by Matty’s pairings.

“Y/N and Jack, you will cover them”

Everybody goes out except you and Mac. He starts talking: “Just for you know, I would have liked to be paired with you”

Before you could give him an answer, Bozer comes back in, urging Mac to follow him in the lab.

“I’ll come in a minute” he replies.

When your friend leaves, you take on a doubtful expression:“Have you noticed Bozer being unusually speechless when Matty introduced “your wife”? Be careful, or you’re going to break someone’s heart”

“You don’t have to worry for that”

“Mac”

“Yes” he turns, holding the door half opened.

“Just for you know, we don’t need a mission to be together.”

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

“I liked the last one” Jack approaches you next to a table, offering little tastes of French specialties.

“What are you talking about?”

“You’ve refused every man that offered you a drink”

“I’m just trying to stay focused on the mission”

“Y/N, c’mon, just because we’re in mission it doesn’t mean we can’t have fun anymore » he winks at a woman looking at him from the opposite side of the room.

« In fact, it’s exactly what it means... »

« Okay, I admit the first one was a little bit old for you, truth be told it could be your father. The second one didn’t know the meaning of « personal space », lengthening his hands on you that way. But, you need to know that not every man is a gentleman like Jack Dalton... »

« I don’t know if it’s more annoying you talking in third person or you not minding your own business... »

« Really funny Y/N » Jack pretends to laugh « You know what I mean: the last one seemed exactly your type, why didn’t you give him a chance? I think he got a lot of dinero, too”

“You don’t even know which is my type!” You laugh at your friend’s poor attempt to step up your love life.

“And let’s listen, how’s your type like, miss knows-it-all?”

“It’s difficult to describe him with words”

You look at Mac, drinking and dancing with Leanna, Riley and Bozer and their new couple of “friends”; not knowing what you would have given to be in their place and not having to endure Jack and his psychoanalysis session.

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

In the evening, your friends go to dinner with Mia and Omar. Riley gave you full access to security system’s cams so that you and Jack could check any activity in the resort during the night.

Your laptop’s screen is divided into minimum sixteen frames, but your attention is caught by the central one, showing Mac and the others sitting around a table, at candle light. The sound is not really good, so you’re not able to listen all the conversation.

« Y/N, go to sleep. I’ll take the first shift.» Jack suggests you.

You deny with a plausible lie, but the truth is this whole situation gets you too uncomfortable and nervous to sleep sweet dreams.

At a certain point, Jack exclaims: « What the hell is going on? »

You zoom on the central square, in which Riley and Bozer are kissing, and he goes on: « I swear I’m going to share some words with Bozer when we’ll get back home »

« Relax, Jack, it’s just for the miss-«  no time to end your sentence, that you see Mac and Leanna kissing, this time.

About an hour later, the three couples retire in their own rooms.

Since Jack ha been loudly snoring from awhile, you take your phone and type a text:

« Mac, can we talk? »

Five minutes after, your mobile’s screen lightens up:

« Anything suspicious? »

« Do you really want to talk about work at 1 am? »

« So, what do you want to talk about? »

« Remember before leaving, when you said you would have liked to be paired with me? By chance, have you changed your mind? »

« Wait, what? I can’t answer to this by text. See you in 15 minutes? »

« Since Jack fell asleep here, I think I can find the key of his room.»

You send Mac a text with the number and floor of Jack’s accomodation, then slowly close the door behind your back, being careful that it doesn’t make any sound.

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

You are the first to arrive, so you insert the card in the slot next to the handle, and come in.

Few minutes after, a whisper comes from behind the door: “Y/N, are you there?”

Once you opened, Mac lets disappear the only glimmer of light filtering inside the room, by closing the door behind his back.

He lays his hands on your waist and pushes you against the wooden matter. You discern his eyes in the darkness, as he confidently follows the path to your lips.

“How much did you drink?” You breath.

“Why are you asking me this?” He chuckles.

“Because you’ve never been so happy to see me. And your mouth tastes like Chardonnay.”

“It’s not because of the wine. You asked me if I have changed my mind about us. Well, I didn’t.”

“Sorry, but you looked so convincing in your role.”

“That’s because I would be a great husband.”

“That’s not too much bragging?” You laugh.

“I don’t care, I am tired of men flirting with my girlfriend without me being able to say a word.”

“What are you talking about?” You remember the conversation you had with Jack in the afternoon.

“I can’t show the world that you’re mine, but I can show it to you.”

“I am impressed. I am open to any kind of demonstration...” you walk towards the bed and sit to take off your shoes. “...just remember about it when we’ll get back home.”

Mac unbuttons his jacket and distractedly throws it on an armchair, then comes close to you. His fingers run through your hair, then move to your jaw lifting it, making you look up at him.

You hold on his shirt, and he hovers on top of you, on the soft mattress of the bed.

“Who said we have to wait until we’ll get back?” He whispers between kisses.

“Our not-making-out-on-mission agreement?!” You suggest “Moreover, if we don’t sleep a couple of hour we’ll get a real headache tomorrow”

Mac takes you in his arms, and you close your eyes as the sun is slowly rising out of the window.

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MAC’S POINT OF VIEW

The vibration of the phone wakes me up. I read on the screen « Matty ».

I slowly get up, trying not to wake up Y/N, and answer.

« What does it happen? » She asks in her cute sleepy voice, as soon as I hang up the phone.

« Me and Leanna have to meet Omar for a run. I think you should go. Jack will come back to his room in minutes, and it’s better if he will find only one of us.»

« And how you’re going to explain you being in his room? » Y/N stands on her knees on the bed with a smirk on her face. She seems really amused in seeing me in some kind of awkward situation.

« I will tell him that you couldn’t stand him snoring so I let you sleep in my room with Leanna”

“I think it could work. But, this is the first time you don’t ask me to stay a little longer.”

I reach the edge of the bed and get her close. If she only knew how much it hurts me making her go away like this...

“I promise I will make it up at our return” I kiss her, right before getting back into our characters.

As I’m taking a quick shower, I hear her calling my name.

I go out to find her holding in her hands a little black velvet covered box, the same I’ve always brought with me in the last couple of months. It has to be fallen on the ground when I took off my jacket.

« What is this?” She opens it, staring at the engagement ring that caught my attention behind a jewellery’s window and that I bought without any hesitation.

I was looking for it for awhile, but in my eyes no one was enough to show my love for her. The one I chose is not really fancy either, I would like to give her more than this, but the moment I saw it, I thought: « Y/N would like it ». And I got it was the right one.

I didn’t want her to find the ring like that, she deserves the whole proposal. So, I have no choice than lie to her: « Matty thought it would have been more convincing if Leanna showed to Mia the ring I proposed to her with. »

« That’s a nice ring » she answers trying to hide her disappointment, closing the box with a loud sound.

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

A tactical team takes Omar and his father in custody and cleans up the area. The car Y/N jumped on with Riley and Matty fastly gets out of my sight, while I nervously rub my fingertips along the edges of the ring box I keep in my pocket.

"Everything's okay, man? You look thoughtful. I mean, more than usual." Jack approaches.

"Yeah" I distractedly answer, then an idea comes to my mind "I need you to keep this for me"

I hand him the black box. He looks at the object, at my face, and at the object again, with an interrogative expression on his face.

“Mac, I know you are a weird guy, but when you ask a man to keep something for you I expect an illegally-got-into-the-country Cuban cigars’ box, a gun...”

“A gun? Seriously? And are you supposed to know me?” 

“You got my point. Why do you have this ring?” 

For risky it can be, I confess Jack the truth: “It’s for Y/N.”

“What?! And you never said anything about it?! I thought we were friends...”

“I’m sorry, but, you know, we were just trying to not be court-martialed”

“How long has this been going on?”

“Eight months.” 

“Well, asking her to marry you is not exactly keeping your relationship low key”

“I haven’t asked her, yet. I don’t even know if she plans to get married one day, or if she wants to do it with me. I’ve bought this ring because I felt it was something I needed to do. I haven’t thought a lot about it, for once. It’s something you should understand...” I laugh.

“I will ignore the fact you’re saying that I never think”

“I wished that things could have gone differently, so I said it was for the mission. But, if she finds the ring again, she’ll understand that I lied to her. That’s why I need you to keep it for me. It was a mistake buying it, in the first place.”

“Mac, I may not be the best giving advice on this topic, but if a brainy ass like you is ready to take the big step after all the stuff you’ve been through, it can’t be a random decision. So, keep your ring and talk to her.”

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

Y/N’S POINT OF VIEW

Despite of a week having already passed from your return to LA, the thought of the ring you found in that resort’s room never left your mind. 

You ask to yourself which is the reason of such derangement: you hoped that jewel could have been for you? And, by chance, have you changed your mind about not wanting to get married? You have to admit that after seeing Mac in those shoes, you found yourself daydreaming about it, more than once.

 A feeble sound comes from Mac’s phone, laid on the bedside table, distracting you. You lengthen yourself to see if it’s a call from Matty, or Bozer saying he’s coming back home. It’s a text from Jack:

 Have you told Y/N about the ring? She deserves to know the truth.

Reading these words gets you so flustered, you get up and start to recollect your things spread around Mac’s room. 

You are so caught in your thoughts, that you don’t hear Mac’s steps getting close to you. He hugs you from behind, then gently moves you hair from one side. You would normally lean in the sweet feeling of him touching you, but all you want now is to stay alone. 

“Is something wrong?” he asks, concerned.

“I don’t feel really good. I think I’m going back home.” you say, moving aside.

“You have been so distant from when we got back from France.” 

“We’ve been busy with missions all week”  You know that one side of you used them as a pretext to avoid him.

“I get that, but now we have some free time, so what about making an attempt? I want every moment with you to be like last night.” 

You rethink to the only moments in which you finally disconnected your brain and pushed aside your fears, focusing only on you and him being together.

“So, please tell me what is this truth I deserve to know” you show him the text you read few minutes before.

Mac frowns his eyebrows reading it, then he lifts up his eyes from the screen and he says: “Y/N, this is not how it seems”.

“You lied to me!” you push him aside to go out the room.

“Y/N, listen” he pleads, holding you back.

“That ring has never been for the mission” 

“You’re right. I lied, I bought it for you.” 

“What?” You are incredulous.

“I am so sorry having lied to you about this, but I love you and I bought that ring because I hope that you’ll become my wife, one day.  I just wanted to give it to you when you would have been ready. It doesn’t need to be now...”

You kiss him before he could end his sentence.

Feeling like the most stupid person on Earth, but finally without any more doubts, you answer: “I am, I mean I do, I don’t know what I’m supposed to say...” 

You both laugh, feeling the tension slowly fading.

“What about doing it tomorrow?” You propose.

“Are you sure? We’ll need to tell the others about us”

“I don’t want that some stupid rules keep us from doing it. Let’s marry in secret. Whatever is gong to happen next, we’ll face it together.”

Mac takes the little box from his jacket, then opens it and lets slide the thin, sparkling ring along your finger. He takes his hand in yours and says: “I  can’t wait”.

#macgyver #macgyver x reader #macgyver fanfic #macgyver fanfiction #mac x reader #angus macgyver x reader #jack dalton #wilt bozer #riley davis #matty webber #leanna martin #macgyver reboot #macgyver 2016 #macgyver fandom

[builder051]

Best of 2018: other stuff

I’ve posted lists of my most popular posts and my favorite pieces of my own writing, but I want to take a second to plug some my favorite other stuff.  I’m a pretty big media consumer, despite being a little out of touch with what’s popular and newsworthy.  But since I tend to hyperfocus and perseverate, you can rest assured that everything on this list has been tested to the limits and truly loved.

Podcasts

The Adventure Zone

Yes, I’m extremely late to the game.  If you’re not familiar, this is a live-play fantasy gaming podcast (it started out as D&D, but they’ve expanded) where 3 brothers and their father create amazing adventures with hilarious and relatable characters, perfectly balancing drama with humor and action.  It may sound boring, but they’ve created DragonQuest (Balance arc) and Scooby-Doo (Amnesty arc) esque worlds that are easy to get lost in.  There’s approximately 100 hours of content so far, so it’s a commitment to catch up, but entirely worth the time.

Books

Sharp Objects and Dark Places by Gillian Flynn

I read Gone Girl years ago, but I was unaware that the author had more books to her name.  These are as good as Gone Girl, and arguably creepier.  Sharp Objects is beautifully written, with the power of angry words as a central plot point.  Dark Places is more suspenseful, and it has more characters, tackling the way in which small actions create ripples in our own lives and those of others.  HUGE trigger warnings for both of these.  The TWs are spoilers, though, so think of them this way:  If you’re a fan of Criminal Minds, you’ll love these books.  If you’re not, you probably won’t.  Both have emeto in them (and so does Gone Girl).  I have a feeling that the author might be a fan of whump. :)

The Adventure Zone graphic novel

See above.  They made the podcast into a comic book.  It’s genius.

TV

American Vandal

This is a Netflix show that I feel like is simultaneously very popular and something nobody knows exists.  It’s been a long time since I lost sleep over a TV show, but I couldn’t rest until I finished the first season.  It’s a reality series/documentary following a 15-year-old boy’s quest to investigate a tagging incident for which his classmate has been (wrongfully?) accused.  It sounds low-stakes, and it is, compared to something like Serial that investigated a murder, but it rides the line of seriousness and humor that perfectly captures the gravity of teenage life.  It’s crass, it’s disgusting, it takes an inordinate amount of time to lay out the details of summer camp hookups and phone pranks, and yet it also shows a boy’s deep-seeded worries about how his actions will affect his college and career choices.  The series is amazingly well produced, considering that it’s the product of high school sophomores working out of their school’s media center.  It’s the kind of show you’ll watch on the edge of your seat the first time, then continue to giggle at it for weeks afterward.

The Vietnam War

Yes, one of those PBS Ken Burns documentaries.  If it’s not your cup of tea, I understand.  It didn’t used to be mine.  But this isn’t the kind of film you fell asleep to in history class.  The narration balances geography, history, and government lessons with real-life anecdotes, all presented with original footage of the most-photographed war.  I’m a nut for the era, but it’s an incredibly poignant viewing experience that brings a lot to the table.  Segments on music, pop culture, protesting, and the perspectives of various cohorts (African Americans, Viet Cong, those who fled to Canada, nurses, children of refugees, etc.) combine into a patchwork story that’s well worth the viewing time.

Sharp Objects

As discussed above, this is a thriller/mystery adapted from the page to a miniseries for HBO (but google it and you can stream for free).  Amy Adams portrays the main character, and it’s about 75% true to the book.  It’s not as good as the book, as most of these things turn out to be, but it is good.  Lots of angst, illness/injury, emeto, etc.  But, as I said, it’s like Criminal Minds in terms of content.  TWs abound.

Films

First Man

This is a perfect film.  It’s a biopic, and there’s not a lot of action, but it’s thought provoking.  It’s exceptionally well-written, the acting is spot-on, and the music and visuals are beautiful.  It makes a man’s extraordinary experiences into something intimate and relatable by de-mystifying it.  Fight with the wife, swim with the kids, go to the moon, ho hum.  Tis the rhythm of life.  It’s all presented at the same pace, with much gravity (pun intended) given to body language and well-placed symbolism.  It’s definitely a shoe-in for awards, and it’s my pic for Best Picture.

Isle of Dogs

This is a bizarre piece, but it’s genius.  A bit like American Vandal in its way of being simultaneously sincere and off the wall, this animated film occupies an awkward collegiate space--it’s not for kids, yet not really geared for adults.  It’s funny, cynical, and very sad, though it’s not that kind of sad dog movie (again, spoilers, but I’ll say that it’s ok to get attached to your favorite characters).  This film is art, for sure, and it’s also extremely enjoyable.

Boy Erased

This is a tough watch, because the TWs are the plot: A boy struggles to come to terms with his sexuality and recover from the trauma of sexual assault while participating in an abusive conversion therapy course.  There are no plot twists.  It’s exactly what it sounds like.  But the acting is gorgeous, especially Lucas Heges as the main character and Nicole Kidman as his mother.  It’s a beautifully angsty movie.  It has a largely hopeful ending, but there are almost no lighthearted moments.  All the same, it has a satisfying feel, and didn’t make me feel down when I left the theater.

Colette

This is the ceiling-shatterer of this awards cycle.  As promised in glimpses of the trailer, it’s ground breaking in its portrayal of female agency and LGBT characters in a historical context.  The beginning is a bit slow and Jane Austen-ish, but from the midpoint to the end, there are multiple mind-blowing revelations and shocking lines that take the story from a little known page of history to a spectacle representative of the Parisian salon culture from whence it came.  

Cam

I know this is a strange choice.  It’s a second-rate, made-for-Netflix pseudo-thriller about camgirls and the horrors of modern technology.  The reason it’s on my list, though, is because it’s very obviously meant to compete with Assassination Nation (even using some of the same actors), and, unlike its big-budget counterpart, it actually hits its mark.  It forces the viewer to think about the lines between respect and abuse, exploitation and sex work, and the meaning of privacy in an increasingly digitized world, 

Art

Artsnacks

Subscription boxes are nothing new, but I’m especially pleased with this one.  Instead of just sending stuff, it cultivates a community.  You receive a box of 4 to 6 art products (typically a pencil, a couple pens and markers, and a paint and/or brush--things that are expendable, so you don’t accumulate junk even as a long-time subscriber) and a piece of candy.  The game is to use all the products in the box to create a piece and post it on social media, then connect with other artists.  Artsnacks also releases collections and pushes additional challenges (such as Inktober) that encourage skill development and interaction among participants.

#best of 2018 #laur talks #laur recommends

[mangaproone-a-aurita]

Drag Race Thailand EP. 3 RuCap

• Synopsis  •

Mini Challenge: ’My own fucking fairy tale’ puppet show Main Challenge: Curtain to Couture a.k.a Gone With the Window Lip Sync Song: Katreeya English’s “OK นะคะ”

• Spoilers below •

A clique has seemingly formed! B Ella, Dearis Doll and Petchara enteres the werkroom as a group together being all bright and cheerful. Amadiva rolls her eyes at them though.

Bunny B Fly went home in the previous episode. Queens react sympathetically, though they made a bit of fun of her drawing on the wall being more beautiful than her.

Queens discussed about ‘The Curse of Annee Maywong’. Person that sit by her right, by far, seemed to be sent to bottom two and went home.

Mini challenge was ‘My own fucking fairy tale’. Queens were tasked to decorate their puppets and narrate their fairy tale. It was overall pretty boring, though the material picking has some funny shade from Amadiva. Seriously, she is shaping up to be Shangela-Katya hybrid of this series!

Natalia throwing Jaja some shade, criticize her promiscuous way of being all over the pit crew. ‘She would makes LGBTQ in Thailand looks cheaper’, she said, all high and conserved like an old queen.

Dearis Doll being shady is funny as fuck. If there were a fellow queen roast challenge, she could win it.

Mini Challenge Winner: Dearis Doll, with her Evil Queen reveal puppet and apathetic magic mirror.

The main challenge was to create a nightgown from curtain fabric. Dearis Doll was the challenge winner, and got to choose the fabric first. She then chose the next queen, which chose the next and the next and etc. Amadiva was the last of the line, and she criticized Jaja for choosing Morrigan over her, though Jaja (in the confession cam though) reasoned that she chose Morrigan because Morrigan was pretty much in a disadvantage, being young and inexperienced, so she thought she should give Morrigan some lift.

There’s not much in the werkroom. Annee admitted that Natalia was her biggest competition. Amadiva revealed she hot-glued her couture and afraid it could fall apart at any minute. Morrigan expressed her difficulties working with one heavy fabric and one tulle.

Before the runway, there was an interesting incident. Remember ‘The Curse of Annee Maywong?’. B Ella, who would sit by her right, came to the room late and got her make up moved to the other side of the desk. The person who was sitting by Annee’s right was Dearis Doll.

Well, it’s just some silly make up thing, right? Curses are not real.

Let’s skip to the runway.

Jaja

Serving Manila Luzon got thrown in Thai dirtiest canal and left to die realness.

The real gag was that it has a cup holder! (Amadiva joked to her beforehand that her upside-down dress looked like it could hold a cup of coffee, and she proceed to do just that!)

My opinion is that her idea was good, but her execution was bad. It’s the clash of colors and, while fun, lack elegance of the theme.

Morrigan

Crying second place pageant realness. Look at how fishy she is!

She got read harshly due to her dress’ similarity with a design of a famous brand in Thailand. it being super super boring, her walk lacked strength and posture, her hair being messy and her make up being unfitted for her pageant theme. ‘No pageant would wear glitter on her face!’ the co-host Pangina said.

My opinion is that it is pretty basic. A safe pretty choice which ultimately feels boring compared to other girls’.

Annee Maywong

Fall collection next door crazy aunt couture realness. Her runway game is very strong.

The ruveal, because bitch I got these hand-sewn pleated flowers and you should appreciate them!

My opinion is that WERK BITCH WERK. The judges were 10 across the board. By the way if there ever will be a comedy challenge I wonder if she would fare well. They were 3 consecutive runway/look challenge at this point.

Dearis Doll

(Just realized I’ve been capturing pic in 480p, i’m sorry guys! From this point onward it’s gonna look better probably)

Serving your president secret lover cocktail party realness

She said she planned to be simple, but looked at the other girls and realized they were going full fancy gown, so she did a last-minute step up and put many pearls on her.

Still, she got read for her basic look, it still convey curtain-ness, and pretty much no judge would want to wear it. Those pearl did nothing to alleviate the situation, even worsened it because judges didn’t get why it was there and made the look even more confusing. 

Natalia Pliacam

Cinderella rummage sale with her mice friend realness

While the judges praised her way of adapting those curtain hanging hoops into the look and knowing what works for her, she was criticized for using the same silhouette AGAIN, being another ball gown. She was also read for her diamond top clashing with the dress.

Let’s see whether she would be Honey Mahogany or Bianca del Rio.

Amadiva

Sulfuric origami geisha realness

She was praised for her creativity and the ability to make it not look like a curtain, but was read for playing safe and being not very exciting. Still, Amadiva admitted that her sewing skill was not good and managed to hot glue this couture out of yellow curtains, and I personally find this to be my favorite

You dressed to school VS You dressed to your friend’s

B Ella

Queen of Heart’s Rise Like a Pheonix at Eurovision realness

While her attitude was praised, her look was read for being ‘a piece of fabric wrapped around a corset’. Feathers and fabric pattern were also rather unfitting for what she was trying to narrate. It was a mess and not a hot one.

Petchara

AS3 Flower Power realness

It was beautiful but very clunky and confusing, and was another ‘a piece of fabric wrapped around a corset’ style. She was criticized that, while her dressmaking skill was great and her dress was gorgeous, her overall style was lacking and all over the place.

There was a rather nasty tirade from a guest judge, declaring that the girls were not stepping up their game and that she was disappointed.

So, who would be in the top and the bottom?

In the untuck room, they discussed about who would be in the top. They pretty much agreed that Annee and Natalia would be on top. B Ella prepared to lip sync confidently, pocketing a scissors to cut her corset. She was rather sure to be the bottom. Dearis said that, if she would to go lip sync, that pretty much confirmed ‘The Curse of Annee Maywong’

Main Challenge Winner: Annee Maywong she-can-do-no-wrong High: Jaja and Amadiva Low: B Ella Bottom 2: Morrigan and Dearis Doll

Jaja got possessed by Shannel and expressed her frustration of being only high but not winning. Amadiva, in contrast, was absolutely happy she was safe. 

The Lip Sync

FINALLY, after a rather lackluster two lipsync, we got the gem we deserve!

‘Fuck these pearls got me in the bottom!’

Dearis channels her fierceness and will to survive is my aesthetic

Morrigan went for cute, but can she compete with Dearis’ energy?

*actual dialogue, paraphrased*

Dearis: “I want to elegantly lip syncing on my heels, with my flowing dress”

She tripped, but since when did that stop anyone?

Trend Alert: Lip syncing while unbuckle your shoes realness

FUCK THESE DRESS TOO!

B Ella said from the side ‘Bitch do the cartwheel!’, so

But Morrigan would not go out so easily. She had her plan.

Caption this

MORRIGAN’s SLIDE

The visual representation of my two faces

Morrigan foreshadowed her fate

THE FIRST DEATH DROP OF DRAG RACE THAILAND!

End pose: ‘All the creation, give me strength!’ realness

It was very intense, but Dearis pretty much killed it.

And our youngest contestant had to be sashay’d after her 2nd bottom 2

But wait! It’s actually Morrigan’s birthday (that day of filming)! So she got a surprise happy birthday, and it was very warm and emotional, even though being eliminated on your birthday would be the worst present ever

She promised she would improve and never stop growing!

And that’s conclude this episode. Tune in next week for the next episode of Drag Race Thailand. Tell me whether you’d like me to do the previous two episode as well! i’m gonna go back to rigging and contemplate my life, bye!

#drag race thailand #rucap #rupauls drag race #meannie minaj #bunny b fly #morrigan #petchara #dearis doll #b ella #jaja #amadiva #natalia pliacam #annee maywong