#love you re: dracula team kissing you

[smooth-noob]

Jonathan: mina can't go to that horrible place. you have never felt the vampire's lips upon your neck! perhaps it is better to die than to go through this trouble.

Mina: thank GOD my friends are rich

#she's so smart i love her #she deserves to spend the fortunes of rich men #but that small bit of jonathan breaking down to scream about how van helsing doesnt understand what hes leading mina into?? #was SO GOOD #ben galpin and the background music at that part (25:15 yeah i made a note of the time) #my hand FLEW to my mouth #he has SEEN THE HORRORS #mina has SEEN THE HORRORS #arthur had to KILL HIS FIANCE #ONE MORE WEEK AND THEN WHAT??? #WHAT AM I GONNA DO WHEN I CANT LISTEN TO MORE OF THESE VICTORIAN VAMPIRE HUNTERS #anyway this episode was incredible as always #love you re: dracula team kissing you #dracula daily #re: dracula

[vickyvicarious]

aww, why didn't Quincey's VA introduce the gunshot :( I hoped to hear him sound slightly smug. then again this way it isn't spoiled for anyone new

the way Jack says "one's own wonderful experiences" almost like he's rolling his eyes. Not really, he's not being sarcastic so much as using the sense of 'wonderful' that means 'out of the ordinary' but still he has a fun tone here

Jack's surprise at Jonathan not looking like Rambo or whatever is always funny

Ooooh, they've rearranged things again I see!

Jonathan spends so much time on trains lately. Mina must be so jealous.

hehehehehe the way he describes "the... opportunities of acquiring an abnormal thirst" is so funny

"consequent thirst" I love it every time.

hehehehe Jonathan saying "if he knew what I knew he would, I think, have raised his terms" this man has jokes today!

I love Jonathan and Mina working together and getting everything organized. I just KNOW they are such a good team, in such perfect sync.

oh MAN I wouldn't have predicted that tiny whispered "Stop. That way madness lies..." but I love it

Jonathan immediately pointing out Dracula barometer Renfield. I WISH we could see them interact so badly

speaking of Renfield, I wonder if him happily wanting to leave is because he knows there is another vampire out there now and is hoping Lucy will turn him into one?

"to have a strait-waistcoat ready in case of need." ughhh seward

the little rustly paper noises after Jonathan's (tiny) entry

Mina gushing about Jonathan with such a smile in her voice. She is so proud of him and loves him so much. I also do love that she was so worried about him leaving even after he seemed stronger. She's happy he is recovering so well but wouldn't have held it against him at all if he didn't

"I feel myself quite wild with excitement!" The delivery of this line is SO CUTE and also makes me so mad that van Helsing is gonna tell everyone to exclude her. she's ready for a vampire hunt! let her go on a vampire hunt!

the way she speaks of pity for the Count is very perfunctory here. as to be expected, but... well, I'll save that

"It was - to me - a-a painful. meeting" auuuugh

HEHEHE "blowin' my trumpet!" was so fun

Arthurrrrrrr, I love how he gets to cry but also it makes me sad to listen to him cry :( I personally feel like he wasn't quite openly sobbing as much until Mina spoke to him but mileage varies I suppose

ohhhh the hesitation before Mina says "now she is - gone..."

Mina and Arthur skipping straight to cuddles and adopting one another <3

and yet despite him being so open about expressing his emotions he couldn't speak of them. It makes me so sad, and is not at all the sort of thing I want him and Lucy to have had in common

"the sunshine of your life" reminds me of what Mina wished for Lucy to have and I'm so sad about it

I'm not a fan of all this 'no one but a woman can comfort a man' but I love how Mina and the suitors all connect so quickly and comfort one another almost immediately. especially to them she is just a stranger at first but the shared love for lucy unites them

Quincey's declaration after Mina kisses him is delivered so well

Jack why are you suddenly calling them "Godalming and Morris"?? Are you feeling self-conscious about everyone reading your diary (and its many exclamations over their manhood)? usually you full name Quincey Morris and just say Arthur or Art

"Oh, very well," Renfield sounds so deliberately casual. "Juuust wait a minute till I tidy up the place." ahahaha I love this moment

Renfield: *sits quietly* Seward: looks like he's thinking of murder!!! (granted the attack on himself gives him more reason but this isn't the first time)

I LOVE the delivery of all Renfield's lines so much. His voice is SO GOOD akldjflsdf I can't be coherent about it

Renfield dragging Seward so badly here.

ughh, and Seward in turn being so dumb and condescending about being SHOCKED by Renfield talking eruditely and Mina SOMEHOW getting him to do so by... talking kindly to him?!?!?!

Renfield talking in past tense about his beliefs here... once again I wonder to what degree he's being genuine about any of this

Renfield's goodbye to Mina...! I nearly teared up.

van Helsing saying Mina has a man's brain annoys me especially given what he says next but I do find it funny that he immediately clarifies 'a smart man that is'

"the milk that is spilt cries not out afterwards" my favorite line

Mina blushing hehe

Mina specifying when dinner was, again so conscious of time

van Helsing saying that he has "trained" himself to have an open mind is some really interesting characterization if you think about it

I love that almost all of van Helsing's vampire information is shown in Jonathan's journal

the music when vH brings up the possibility of them all becoming vampires

<3 Jonathan and Mina holding hands and sharing a wordless look of understanding <3

~GROUP HANDHOLDING OF FRIENDSHIP AND VAMPIRE SLAYING~

"We have on our side power of-" I interrupt van Helsing: "friendship and document review!"

Ohh I really like the music as van Helsing lists off where the vampire has been

positioning Dracula as a prisoner to his nature is such an interesting description, especially given the thing with keys (I may be writing a meta on this, I was thinking about it the other day)

the music through all this speech is so inspiring.

I love everyone just sitting there awkwardly for a moment after Quincey leaves, then carrying on without mentioning it

OMG THE COWBOY MUSIC AFTER THE GUNSHOT AHAHAHA

art why are you running straight to the window that a bullet has just come through

the muffled "Sorry! I fear I have alarmed you. I shall come in and tell you about it." is sooo funny

I fucking love this scene

but then it's followed by 'leaving Mina out' scene. BOO HISS

Mina I wish you would speak up here. :( She sounds so off-balance and disappointed

Quincey why are you suggesting an evening assault on his home. We just went over the hours when he is weak. For that matter why is everyone else accepting. People, I know you want to prevent other victims but please be smart about it

#dracula daily #re: dracula #jack seward #mina murray #jonathan harker #van helsing #quincey morris #arthur holmwood

[alukardtheabysswalker]

This might be lost in the sea of praise but I still want to say my piece:

@re-dracula is SO GOOD. Like ON SO MANY LEVELS. It is expertly crafted and we'll thought out.

The acting is incredible, like hands down you can hear how everyone is on top of their game, and yeah with many of these performers we already knew how good they are but this new adaptation brings the best in them. And we still have so many more to hear yet!

That brings me to my second point: the directing is so precise, the way the text is interpreted and laid out makes you reconsider stuff about the source material you had never thought of before! From the directing in the soundscaping to the acting there's clearly a vision of what to bring to the audience and it is so well executed!

The soundscaping, editing and music are *cheff kiss* at every moment that you could think a sound to be pertinent it is there! The wolves howling, a struck match, a door, everything is of an incredible quality and you can clearly see(listen) that it was planned and executed to perfection. And the music is just sooooo good they both set the mood perfectly.

And so many little details like the sensitivity and inclusivity stuff they do, the casting was on point, you can very clearly see that this is a work of love. Dracula Daily already made an impression in all of us and made much of last year so enjoyable but you can see(again, listen) that everyone involved here is so in love with the idea, the source material, the work that's needed for a podcast like this.

I am just so enamoured with this, not only do I believe it is perfect for a gothic horror novel to be adapted to audio because as a medium it works so well! But it is also SO WELL DONE.

Just, incredible work, INCREDIBLE work on the part of EVERYONE. If this post gets to anyone on the team please let as many people that were involved in the show (production, cast, moral support, anything and everything!) To know that we are ALL so thankful for everything that you've done and our lives are richer (if only simply as entertainment 💜) by what's a labour of love and you all deserve so much praise!

#re: dracula #dracula #dracula daily #I'm sorry if this might be a bit 'intense' #i don't want to make anyone uncomfortable i just needed this #all of this #to be said #seriously if you're reading and you worked and helped this project in any way #no matter how small #thank you ao much 💜

[vestaclinicpod]

Audio Drama Sunday - 3rd September ✨

I think it’s criminal to have to work on a Sunday instead of going on a little walk and listening to little podcasts, but here we are 🫠 It’s been a frankly ridiculous week of listening and there’s still so much more I haven’t had time to catch yet! 

🌲@hellofromthehallowoods (131) Percy! Going to get Diggory! I think it makes it so bittersweet that he was about to apologise off the bat because you just KNOW that when they meet for real it won’t happen that easily. My god, I could listen to.a whole show just about this hastily assembled Friends of Zelda team. It’s so lovely to have Alice back in the narrative and I care for Tattery Stabs so much!! ‘How much do you like your brother?’ Really cracked me up. I love how hfth takes horror tropes (e.g. creepy doll) and they’re immediately someone new to love.  Speaking of someone to love!! Hector is putting in a really good bid for the award of ‘most traumatised man in the Hallowoods’, though the competition remains tough. This experience will no doubt have changed him, I can’t wait to find out how!

🦀 @thesiltverses (31) So many new and familiar voices in this new season and all of them are delightful! The writing and delivery of Val’s monologue in particular was so powerful and I was left cringing in my skin at the callous assertions that she is controllable… did we just hear the same thing? I have no idea what is going to happen this season and it’s thrilling and terrifying in equal measure! 

🦮 @malevolentcast (35) This episode is such a rollercoaster oh my god!! There are so many layers of horror here! Not just the fear of the ‘other’ and of what other humans can do, but also the intrinsic fear of losing the self.  What’s happening with John is so very unsettling, it’s been so long that we’ve almost taken for granted the way that John guides Arthur . . . what will he do when he can’t trust John’s assessment of the situation? 

📻 @monstrousagonies (110) penultimate?! Excuse me??!! Penultimate!!! How am I going to cope without having fictional night folk problems solving my actual real life problems every week?? Panic aside, I really loved this episode. I was so glad to hear the presenter telling the author of the first letter that it actually wouldn’t be unreasonable to kick off just a little. I’ve often thought about just bringing a cat home and seeing what my wife would do . . . (I know this is bad, it’s not going to happen 👀) BUT a CHILD? And aw, yay, what a satisfying end to an unsatisfactory CEO. It was a pleasure to meet station and the MA community was in fine voice! 

🌒 @monkeymanproductions Moonbase Theta Out FINALE!! I’m not going to share too many thoughts today because it may not even be out at the time of posting but IT’S AMAZING GO LISTEN!!!! Seriously, I cried so much at the thought of this show being over. I’ve loved it for such a long time and it’s been amazing to listen to it grow and see all the team’s hard work pay off spectacularly! 

🧛‍♂️ @re-dracula what a busy, busy week for the Dracula characters! Marriages, millions of kisses, casual medical abuse, VAN HELSING. What a week. 

🧬 Regina Prime (7) Damn, Epsilon has both the fire and the fight! Veeerrryyy interesting that Omega needs an assistant with a physical body… what have you got, Omega? I’m imagining a clone that is 1000s of years old, more mush than human. And the slip up with the number of clones . . .  Omega . . . ? Something you want to share with the rest of the class?? 

 💫 Wolf 359 (49 - 50) I am usually not the biggest fan of time loop stories but, of course, if W359 makes it, you know it’s gonna be great. The whole set up of the aliens being unable to communicate clearly because Doug chats absolute shit all the time is just so endearing to me. I can’t believe I’m getting so close to the end! 

🏴‍☠️ Yes, I did listen to the @levianpod pilot again. What of it? Please, please support this show if you can! It must be made. I need it. 

🎧 So lovely to hear from @thestoragepapers in last week’s episode of The First Episode Of! I feel like it’s so brave to ask for people to join in on the writing of your show but we love to see a collaboration thriving!! I need to bump this up my to-listen list! 

🐬 @patterspod (3) Fiona Caruso, the woman, the myth, the legend. Someone needs to check in on the thriller writers because they’re just not okay… Also, Ryan, you idiot. I don’t even know if we can blame the influence of some eldritch force on these bad publishing attempts, but I feel like he’s going to snap like one of twig man’s branches at the slightest supernatural pressure. Which will be fun for us, at least! 

All these amazing episodes, but my ears are bigger than my schedule and I still need to listen to new KILL FM. I’ve been really, really meaning to catch up on Additional Postage Required as well! Here’s hoping for a more chilled week next week! 🤞

#audio drama #podcast #podcast recs #audio fiction #audiodramasunday #audio drama sunday #hfth spoilers #malevolent spoilers #tsv spoilers #moonbase theta out #monstrous agonies #finding pattersby #wolf 359 #regina prime #re dracula #levian podcast

[spider-xan]

So while I think there's some degree of reading the worst possible interpretations into Van Helsing's words and actions going on, I can also see why his monologue about his plans may be difficult to parse out, even if it's more straightforward than his speeches about corn and tortoises, so here is my attempt at re-writing that part of today's entry in an easier format, and with additional notes:

Cutting off her head and staking vampire Lucy right now is what I (Van Helsing) would and want to do right now because it must be done. But there are big things much more difficult and dangerous than her coming soon that we must prepare for. Lucy isn't dangerous to her own soul or others yet, as she hasn't killed anyone so far, and staking her now would prevent her from killing anyone and forever damning her soul.

But we may want Arthur on our team to fight this bigger threat. Jack, I showed you so much evidence of Lucy's vampirism - the bite marks, the empty coffin, Lucy being back in her coffin today, Lucy's corpse looking better than ever, rather than decomposing after a week, even vampire Lucy running around last night - and you still didn't believe me until right now! So if you didn't after all that, why would Arthur, who knows none of that, believe me? He didn't even understand why I had to stop him kissing Lucy, you know, when she had her fangs out to bite him, and was even speaking with a different spooky voice? He thought I made a mistake, even if he forgave me? If we desecrate her corpse now, then he's going to think we made another mistake and had her buried alive, and then we came back and fucking murdered her for real! He's going to accuse us of killing her over some crazy idea that vampires are real and that she's a vampire, which he doesn't believe! And then he'll be upset forever that we murdered her! But even worse, he'll be in doubt forever, because what if maybe we were right about the vampire thing? Not being certain of the truth is the worst. He's going to have nightmares of her being buried alive and killed by us AND nightmares that she was a damned vampire for real.

But since that time I had to save Arthur from her, when I still wasn't 100% sure about the vampire thing yet, I have learned so much more (from Lucy's papers, the Harker journals, these graveyard date nights with you), and now I know all the vampire folklore and my ideas are all true! Arthur must go through a difficult experience of facing the horrible truth about Lucy, before he can have peace of mind and soul. The poor guy needs that one moment where he has to see his love at her worst, and THEN we can do the right thing and put her and him at peace.

The short version is that while it will be painful for Arthur, Arthur will not believe that Lucy had been turned into a vampire who must be staked to free her soul if he doesn't see her as a vampire with his own eyes, just like Jack - he'll just eventually find out they either murdered (not a vampire) Lucy after she was buried alive, or maybe she really was undead (damned and unable to enter heaven), but the uncertainty would destroy him. So Arthur must confront this truth directly, and only in doing so will he eventually find true peace AND join their greater mission to destroy Dracula, the ultimate vampire who is the real threat to everyone.

#dracula #dracula daily #arthur holmwood #abraham van helsing #van helsing #lucy westenra #jack seward #john seward

[bookgeekgrrl]

My media this week (27 Aug-2 Sep 2023)

📚 STUFF I READ 📚

🥰 Unseen (Rath & Rune #2) (Jordan L. Hawk, author; Joel Leslie, narrator) - back in Widdershins with Librarian Sebastian & his be-tentacled half-human lover Vesper Rune, trying to collect the evil Books of the Bound. The Rune brothers are also finding that unfortunately it's harder to cut ties with an abusive family than one might wish.

🥰 Pretend to Be Nice (Interdepartmental Cooperation #2) (seekwill) - 57K, GO Gabriel/Beelzebub - same universe as Golden Handcuffs, just as good as that fic - I love a fic where two jagged edged people learn to see how their broken pieces fit together

🥰 Unknown (Rath & Rune #3) (Jordan L. Hawk, author; Joel Leslie, narrator) - On the hunt for the Book of Bone. Widdershins may know its own but the Old Families definitely still cause a lot of harm

😍 The 70 Days After Groundhog Day (Ptelea) - really great Batfam fic - Dick's POV, focusing on Jason & Dick but also about Jason's relationship to everyone after a 53-day timeloop that only Jason can remember

💖💖 +121K of shorter fic so shout out to these I really loved 💖💖

love you like rlb (orphan_account) - MCU: stucky, 3K - forever fave, reread - when Steve wakes up he finds the phrase 'love you like rlb' is world-famous, but no one knows why and he doesn't tell them, at least not immediately

No Place Like Home (asocialconstruct) - MCU: stucky, 5k - post-WS Bucky time travels to pre-war Stucky & sexy times ensue - always a fun, hot read

Cassiopeia, Orion, Bootes (AidaRonan) - Stranger Things: steddie, 10K - forgot how much I love this fic with the hilarious tag 'he was a gator boi' & some extremely excellent monsterfucking

[Podfic] The Three-Steve Solution (seleneaurora) - MCU: stucky/samsteve/stony, 6K - excellently done podfic of a hilarious cracky fic with multiverse Steves of different omegaverse designations being kidnapped by baddies and their respective partners showing up to rescue them

[podfic] Doctor Feelgood (cricketsong1985) - MCU: stucky, 10K - fave, relisten- another great podfic - Bucky discovers one of Steve's kinks and sets out to make his fantasy real - hot sex but also I love how well their relationship is expressed

📺 STUFF I WATCHED 📺

Celebrity Jeopardy - s1, e5

Insane Pools: Off the Deep End - s1, e1

Leverage - s2, e5

Make Some Noise - s2, e1

Maine Cabin Masters - s1, e1-8; s8, e1-4

Harley Quinn - s4, e8

Um, Actually - s8, e12

What We Do In The Shadows - s5, e9-10

Only Murders In The Building - s3, e5

D20: Mentopolis - "Grappling With Death" (s1, e4)

D20: Adventuring Party - "A Random Sequence of Events" (s14, e4)

🎧 PODCASTS 🎧

The Atlas Obscura Podcast - Villa de Vecchi

The Sporkful - A Garlic Dispute 20 Years In The Making

The Atlas Obscura Podcast - It’s Getting Hot in Here

Re: Dracula - August 30: Millions of Kisses

Ed Zitron's 15 Minutes In Hell - Episode 4 - Rob Corddry, Actor

Vibe Check - Introducing The Stacks with Traci Thomas

The Atlas Obscura Podcast - How to Quarantine in a Ghost Town

99% Invisible #551 - Office Space

Switched on Pop - Olivia Rodrigo’s Good Ideas

⭐ Song Exploder - Re-issue: Janelle Monáe "So Afraid"

Re: Dracula - August 31: Do Not Fail

⭐ One Year - 1955: The Weather Girls

⭐ One Year - 1955: The Crockett Craze

Dear Prudence - Relationship Podcasts Are Ruining My Friend's Life. Help!

Re: Dracula - September 1: Am Writing

Pop Culture Happy Hour - Suits And What's Making Us Happy

The Atlas Obscura Podcast - Maine Windjammers

Welcome to Night Vale #233 - Citizen Spotlight: The Vampire of Lombardi Street

⭐ One Year - 1955: The Team Nobody Would Play

Re: Dracula - September 2: Suck From my Wound

🎶 MUSIC 🎶

Inflammable Material [Stiff Little Fingers] {1979}

Nobody's Heroes [Stiff Little Fingers] {1980}

Funky Hangout

my Journey playlist

The '90s Ska Revival

Vintage Blues Reworked

Boats, Beaches, Bars & Ballads [Jimmy Buffett] {1992}

#sunday reading recap #bookgeekgrrl's reading habits #bookgeekgrrl's soundtracks #fanfic ftw #widdershins knows its own #rath & rune series #dropout tv #d20: mentopolis #stiff little fingers #(bc whenever i read a good omens fic and see anathema device's name i get 'suspect device' stuck in my head) #jimmy buffett #journey #one year podcast #song exploder #re: dracula #welcome to night vale #99% invisible podcast #switched on pop podcast #the atlas obscura podcast #vibe check podcast #the sporkful podcast #pop culture happy hour podcast #dear prudence podcast #ed zitron's 15 minutes in hell podcast

[lucywritesreid]

I know what you are

Notes: I’ve been re-reading twilight and watching criminal minds (it’s almost like I’m trying to relive my youth!) and the scene where Spencer doesn’t know what ‘cullen’ is just kills me every time.

 Summary: Y/N is excited about the release of Midnight Sun. Spencer still doesn’t know what all this hype is about. But he’s about to get involved.

 Word count: 1.5k

 “Y/N, oh my gosh! C’mere!” Penelope shouted in glee, pushing herself away from her computer desk and waving her arms around her face. “You need to see this!” You ran across the room towards her and leaned over her shoulder to read what was on the screen.

Midnight Sun, the new release from Stephanie Meyer.

“Holy shit!” you laughed and squeezed Penelope’s shoulder at the same time. “I didn’t know this was actually coming out!”

“I don’t believe it either y/n but I know I’m gonna need a marathon watching session beforehand!” You both giggled and carried on reading all the details on the screen. Sure, you were both grown women, but you’d be damned if that meant you weren’t excited about the hot vampires and werewolves. “Okay,” Penelope looked up at you, a serious expression across her face. “On the count of three we both need to say which team we are on. 1, 2, 3…”

“TEAM EDWARD!” 

The happy news of the book release followed you for the rest of the day. Penelope couldn’t help herself making twilight puns whenever she spoke to you. You’d managed to get JJ on board with your excitement, although you were slightly disappointed when she declared her support for Team Jacob.

“Listen guys… I just like looking at them with their shirts off. The vampires, not so much,” she’d shrugged, and you’d happily accepted her explanation. Emily was slightly more reluctant about getting involved, but couldn’t resist looking at all the pictures of ‘topless werewolves’ that you googled during your lunch break. You were still discussing the saga towards the end of the day just as Spencer had walked over to ask if you were ready to go home yet.

“Reid! You haven’t seen the twilight films have you?” Emily asked with a smirk, fully knowing what the answer would be.

“I-I haven’t, no,” he stuttered with a furrowed brow, also guessing where this conversation was headed. “I’m just not really into the whole thing.”

Your jaw almost hit the floor when you looked up at him. How had he not seen them? More importantly, how had you lived together for nearly a whole year and didn’t know he’d never seen one of your favourite film series?

“Well sweet boy you’re gonna have to catch up because there’s a new book coming out and your darling y/n is going to become mega obsessed all over again,” Penelope responded on your behalf. You were slightly smug that someone else was pointing out he should watch them.

He could hardly say no in a room full of witnesses. “Sure thing, Garcia,” he laughed and reached out for your hand.

…

 Two days later, and you’d had the most exhausting day. You’d agreed to start Thai boxing with Emily after work, and although you enjoyed spending time together, there was very little energy left for your evenings. You stepped in the front door and set your gym bag on the floor. It was oddly dark and you reached out for the hall light. That was strange. You knew Spencer was home, he’d left before you went boxing. “Spence, babe? Are you here?” You called out and edged into the front room.

You could hardly believe what was in front of your eyes. Spencer had moved all your furniture to the side of the room and out on the floor lay a large pile of throw pillows and blankets. Every shelf and surface was littered with lit candles, vanilla and cinnamon swirling around the room. You noticed a plate of red velvet cupcakes and two full glasses of red wine on the edge of the blanket. It looked so inviting. And to make the scene even more perfect, Spencer was stood in his black silk pyjamas in the middle of the room, a proud smile on his face.

“Honey, what is this?” you asked, a mixture of confusion and excitement in your voice.

“Well, after you were talking about your new book coming out the other day, I realised that I have neglected that part of your personality. This is one of your hobbies and I want to experience it with you. So, we’re going to watch the twilight films. This is gonna be our set up every night for the rest of the week. I’ve left your pyjamas on the edge of the bed. The matching ones of course.”

You raced across the room towards him, careful not to stand on any of his decorations. “You are going to love this, I promise!” You wrapped your arms around his neck and pulled him in for a kiss, before he pulled away a minute later.

“Go get changed bloodsucker,” he laughed.

….

Twenty minutes later and you both sat cross-legged on the blanket, fully indulged in the film. Spencer’s scepticism was noticeable from the beginning but you knew he was trying his hardest to enjoy himself. To make the experience more enjoyable, you had refrained from sharing trivia about the cast. Instead, you were profiling each of the character’s as you first met them.

The most enjoyable was when the Cullen family first arrived in the cafeteria. “Okay, here we go!” Spencer sat up and cracked his knuckles. “Well, he’s clearly got some kind of hidden trauma. He’s the most uncomfortable one there,” he pointed to a figure on the screen.

“Yeah honey that’s Jasper, you won’t believe the poor things that guys experienced…”

“And her! The one with him. She reminds me of you,” he turned away from the screen and gave you a smile.

“Alice? How come?” your cheeks were reddening. But you were not about to reveal that you’d desperately wanted to be Alice when you first read the books all those years ago.

Spencer shrugged. “She looks happy. Kind. Caring. And next to the rest of them who all look so miserable, she stands out. Just like you.”

The rest of the film was filmed with commentary about the character’s odd movements and behaviours. Spencer declared his favourite part was when Edward covered his mouth when Bella came into the classroom. He couldn’t stop laughing, and you couldn’t help but join him. “There are serial killers who don’t look that intensely at their victims!” he roared.

“I suppose he kinda wants her to be a victim, Spence. He wants to drink her blood.”

“Even so, you think a guy that’s been supposedly a vampire for such a considerable amount of time would be a little more subtle about it.”

You smirked. You couldn’t help but put yourself in that situation. Imagining discovering Spencer was a vampire, a beautiful immortal. How it would feel if his teeth bit down into the softness of your warm skin…

By the end of the first film, you were recreating the end scene. As soon as Spencer saw them going off to prom, he’d stood up from the blanket bed and asked for your hand. “Let’s join them,” and you were quick to follow. You danced around the living room, arms around his neck and his chest firmly pressed against you. You didn’t have to look up at the screen to know that your dancing was far better than the one on the screen. More passionate, more loving.

“I’ve really enjoyed this, y’know…” he whispered softly, inches away from your mouth. “Same again tomorrow?”

You nodded and melted away into his arms as he leaned down to kiss you.

 …

The next day, you were relieved to come home to the same setup as the day before. This time, you had red wine again, but it was accompanied by popcorn. The smell of your favourite candles lingered from the day before. You settled down into your pillow bed, this time choosing to sit practically on Spencer’s lap, your head nuzzled up into his neck. “This one makes me sad,” you sighed softly just after Edward left Bella in the forest. “I couldn’t imagine you doing this to me…”

He reached out and gently caressed your hair with his fingertips, “Never gonna happen,” he kissed your hair, “besides, they’re going to have a lovely reunion in Italy towards the end. Maybe we should go on vacation to Italy in the summer…”

You gasped. Escaping from his embrace you picked up the nearest cushion and gripped it between your fingers. “Spencer! How do you know that?! Did you watch this without me?” You pouted, teasing him by raising an eyebrow.

He looked down sheepishly and said quietly, “I may have read all the books when you went to sleep last night, y/n.”

You tapped him on the shoulder with the cushion. “No fair! I can’t see your genuine reactions now when you know what happens!” It was hard to fake being annoyed at someone so heartbreakingly adorable. “What will I do now…”

“We,” he interjected, “will finish these films and you can enjoy my now well-informed commentary.” He smirked. “And then we’ll get round to booking that holiday.”

You set down the pillow and went back to your previous position with your head on his shoulder. “Okay, fine. But you have to promise we can have a little vampire roleplay when we go to bed later.”

“Definitely,” Spencer agreed, “you look good enough to eat!” He said in a terrible Count Dracula-like accent.

“That’s not even how they talk in this…” you giggled.

“Well maybe it should be.”

#criminal minds #criminal minds fanfiction #dr spencer reid #spencer reid #spencer reid fic #spencer reid imagines #spencer reid x reader #spencer x y/n #spencer reid x y/n

[threeminutesoflife]

Favorite Horror Movie from every Horror Genre... GO!

Horror movie subcategories

Supernatural horror- Needful Things (was tempted to put this in Psychological but it’s the devil after all). House on Haunted Hill- Vincent Price, The Fog, Poulturgist, Stir of Echoes, The Innocents, From Dusk till Dawn, and The Haunting. Carnival of Souls. The Fog- the 80s film. Friday the 13th tv series- loved it as a kid.

Psychological- Misery. Gerald’s Game is good dont let the very, very end of the movie stop you from watching it. If you watch it, let me know what you thought of the last minute. 28 Days Later for how society reacted. The Divide, but it’s another I hated the very, very end- cut out the last 30 seconds and we’re good. Das Experiment (and the other takes of it- The Experiment and The Stanford Prison Experiment) are good when it comes to seeing people and their actions. Les Diabolique is enjoyable as is What Ever Happened to Baby Jane, Deliverance. My Name is Julia Ross. (love this category this most).

Gore- Battle Royale is just good, just watch it. Hills Have Eyes gore type flicks- I like those duck out of water, random attacks, wrong place at the wrong time chaos flicks. I will forever be annoyed that they didn’t show more of the foot being sawing off in Saw, since they marketed the shit out of that scene.

Folklore- Snow White Tale of Terrior, Pan’s Labyrinth

Slasher- probably enjoy the trio- Mike, Jason, Freddie.. hmm, maybe Michael takes this bc of his curious head tilt at blood. Scream (I was tempted to put this in comedy tbh.)

Monster- I like old classic monster movies the most. There also Monster Squad, Silverbullet and Tremors as a kid. Sweet Home series. The Descent- liked both endings. REC is better than Quartined. The Thing- both the oldie and Carpenter’s. Hitchcock’s The Birds work for this?

Sci-Fi- Alien and Predator movies (they might be more action than scare, but they’re fun to watch) and IT- the tv special. The Thing (80s)/ The Thing From Another World (50s). They Live is fun. The Devil-Doll, it’s an safe revenge film from 1930s. Flatliners. Soylent Green- chef kisses, not really horror tho. Resident Evil- the further the sequels, the more rubbish tho. Dreamcatcher is meh but I’m putting it down here bc a guy shitting out an alien sticks with you.lol Another honorable meh mention that sticks with you- Slither, bc- yuck.lol

Comedy- Army of Darkness. Arachnophobia humorous stepping stone for a pg-13 spider scare, I remember it having good suspense as a kid. Shaun of the Dead but I admit thought it was sad in some parts the first time I saw it. Dale and Tucker vs Evil. Ready or Not, Cabin in the Woods. Killer Klowns From Outer Space from what I recall. Cooties (kinda slow and sometimes there’s some meh jokes, but the idea is entertaining). A regretful 80s B-list mention, Black Sheep- it is absolutely not going to win any awards but it’s an ice breaker when you ask if they saw the movie with killer sheep.. but is this me saying to watch it? Gods No.lol This isn’t a re-watcher but it’s another to joke abt movie, Maximum Overdrive

Gothic- Vincent Price/Edgar Allan Poe films. Vincent Price’s House of Wax is a good one but it’s a remake of Mystery at the Wax Museum, and I found myself liking that original 1930s one more. Peter Cushing and Christopher Lee were a good team with lots of good movies together. Gaslight. The Innocents. I feel like I’m picking these bc of aesthetics rather than anything else, so I apologize- but: Sleeply Hollow, Crimson Peak, Bram Stoker’s Dracula, Interview with a Vampire

#monsters #probably forgot some.. this list might change lol #horror movies #horror movie ask

[keyofjetwolf]

Pitch Me your thing!

HELLO HELLO MY SUNBEAMS. For most every category, there was an impressive turn-out for pitches, so I thought we’d utilize the weirdness of this year’s GIFTENING to give something new a try. The popular vote winner for each category will happen on the first day, but on the second, the winner will be chosen from YOUR PITCHES. Mostly those pitches will be to me. The exception is in Miscellaneous, where you’ll be pitching to my family, because what I want to do and what is most entertaining isn’t necessarily the same thing.

So! How will we do this thing? GLAD YOU ASKED. I’ll link you to a form in a minute with space for one pitch. Once you fill it out, you’ll be asked if you want to do another. There’s no limit to the number of pitches you can send in! But remember that if you submit multiple entries for the same category, you’ll basically be competing against yourself.

NOW WE’VE GOT SOME RULES FOR DOING THIS (which I mostly stole from Holligay, because I have no creativity this year). Please read them carefully! I’ll toss pitches that break any of these, and I’d rather your hard work not go to waste.

Pitch Me is open for your submissions from RIGHT NOW (22 December) through the very last day of this hellyear (31 December) at 11:59pm MT.

The thing you pitch must have come from what was nominated for THE GIFTENING 2020. (Full list of those nominations in every category below the cut on this post.)

Entries must be unsigned! I’m looking to chose based on the pitch alone, regardless of who submitted it.

The pitch itself must be 100 words or less. HAVE PITY ON ME I CAN ONLY CONSUME SO MUCH.

If you’d like to get some help, ideas, feedback, all that good stuff, the Discord is a FANTASTIC resource I encourage you to use.

HERE IS YOUR PITCH SUBMISSION LINK

And, as promised, below the cut you’ll find the list of all the nominees in every category you guys sent in this year. IT’S A LONG LIST HAVE FUN WITH THAT

Anime

A Place Further Than The Universe/Sora Yori mo Toi Basho Ace Attorney (Gyakuten Saiban) Action Heroine Cheer Fruits Aggretsuko Aho Girl Air Master Akuma No Riddle Alien Nine Angel Beats! Angelic Layer Appare-Ranman Aria Aria the Animation Arrietty/ The Secret World of Arrietty (Ghibli film) Ascendance of a Bookworm Azumamga Daioh Baccano! Beastars Black Cat Blood + (the series) Bloom Into You Blue Drop/Tenshitachino Gikyoku Bodacious Space Pirates (starting right where you left off) BOFURI: I Don't Want to Get Hurt, so I'll Max Out My Defense Boku no hero academia Bubblegum Crisis Card Captor Sakura: Clear Card Cardcaptor Sakura Castlevania the Animated Series Cells at Work Chaos; Head Chihayafuru Code Geass cowboy Bebop Cyborg 009 Death Note Death Parade Deca-Dence Demon Girl Next Door Demon Slayer (Kimetsu no Yaiba) Diebuster: Aim For the Top 2 Dog Days dorohedoro Dot Hack//SIGN Dr. Stone Elfen Lied Erased (Boku Dake Ga Inai Machi) Escaflowne Excel Saga Fantastic Children Fate/Zero Flip Flappers Fresh Precure Fruits Basket 2019 Full Metal Alchemist Brotherhood Ga rei Zero GaoGaiGar gekkan shoujo nozaki-kun Ghost in the Shell: Standalone Complex Ghost Stories (dubbed) Girls' Last Tour Great Pretender Hoseki no Kuni/ Land of the Lustrous House of Five Leaves/ Saraiya Goyou Inari konkon koi iroha Interviews with Monster Girls Inuyasha Isekai Izakaya "Nobu" Jellyfish Princess/ Kuragehime JoJo's Bizarre Adventure Part 4: Diamond is Unbreakable Kaguya-sama Love Is War Kaleido Star Kannazuki no Miko Keep Your Hands Off Eizouken! Kemono Friends Kiki's Delivery Service Kimi ni Todoke: From Me To You Kino's Journey/Kino no Tabi (2003) Land of the Lustrous (Houseki no Kuni) Little Witch Academia Lord El-Melloi II's Case Files EP0 {"A Grave Keeper") Love is Hard for an Otaku Love Live! Sunshine!! lupin the 3rd part 4 Madoka: The Rebellion Movie Magic knight rayearth Magical Girl Lyrical Nanoha March Comes in Like a Lion Mardock Scramble Master of Martial Hearts Mawaru Penguindrum Megalobox Miss Kobayashi's Dragon Maid Mob Psycho 100 Mobile Suit Gundam (1979) Monster Mushishi My Bride is a Mermaid (Seto No Hanayome) My Love Story!!! My Neighbor Totoro My Next Life As A Villainess: All Routes Lead to Doom My Roommate is a Cat NANA Naruto Natsume’s Book of Friends Neon Genesis Evangelion (hateblog) New Cutey Honey Nichijou Ōban Star-Racers One Piece Ouran High school Host club Outlaw Star Paranoia Agent Perfect Blue Please Save My Earth Pop Team Epic Pretty Cure Fresh Princess Jellyfish/ Kuragehime Princess Mononoke Princess Principal Princess Tutu Project A-Ko promised neverland (/yakusoku no neverland) Psycho-Pass Ranma 1/2 Re: Cutie Honey Re:Creators Read or Die (OAV) Red Garden relife Revolutionalry Girl Utena Rose of Versailles Ruroni Kenshin Sailor Moon Sailor Moon (viz dub) Samurai Champloo (english dub) Sarazanmai School Days School-Live! Scum's Wish Senki Zesshou Symphogear (listed as just "Symphogear" on Crunchyroll.) Serei no Moribito (Guardian of the Spirit) Shin Sekai Yori (From The New World) Shirobako Shoujo Kageki Revue Starlight Showa Genroku Rakugo Shinju Sleepy Princess in the Demon Castle Smile Pretty Cure (Japanese original)/ Glitter Force (english adaptation) Snow White with the Red Hair Sound Euphonium Strawberry Panic (yuri) Sweetness and Lightning The Devil is a Part-timer The Devil Lady The disasterous life of saiki k (saiki kusuo no Sai Nan) The End of Evangelion (movie) the Promised Neverland The Twelve Kingdoms Tiger & Bunny Tokimeki Tonight ToraDora Tsubasa Chronicle Umineko When They Cry Valkyrie Drive: Mermaid Vinland Saga Violet Evergarden Whispered Words (Sasameki Koto) With a Dog AND a Cat, Every Day is Fun Yona of the Dawn Yu Yu Hakusho Yugioh Duel Monster Yuki Yuna is a Hero Yuri Kuma Arashi Yuri On Ice!!! Zoids: Chaotic Century Zombie Land Saga

Non-Anime Animated

Adventure Time Amphibia Animainiacs (Original) Animaniacs (Reboot) Archie's Weird Mysteries As Told By Ginger Barbie Life in The Dreamhouse Batman the Animated Series Big Guy and Rusty the Boy Robot Big Mouth Bob's Burgers Bojack Horseman Bravest Warriors Captain N: the Game Master Carmen Sandiego (1994) Carmen Sandiego (2019) Castlevania (Netflix) Cats Don't Dance Coco Courage the Cowardly Dog Craig of the Creek Cyber Six Daria Darkwing Duck Dragon Booster Dragons: Riders of Berk DuckTales (2017) Exo-Squad Fern Gully Fillmore! Foster's Home for Imaginary Friends Futurama Gargoyles Glitch Techs Godzilla: The Animated Series Green Lantern the Animated Series Hedgehog in the Fog (Ёжик в тумане) Hey Arnold Hilda Infinity Train Iron Giant JEM Kim Possible Kipo and the Age of the Wonderbeasts Legend of Zelda animated series (1989) Legion of Super-Heroes Liberty Kids Magical Girl Friendship Squad Mao Mao: Heroes of Pure Heart The Legend of Korra Moominvalley Motorcity My Little Pony (Classic, NOT FiM) My Little Pony: Equestria Girls: Rainbow Rocks Onyx Equinox Over the Garden Wall Over the Moon (2020 film) Owl House Primal Rapunzel's Tangled Adventure Redwall Rise of the TMNT Roco's Modern Life Rugrats RWBY Samurai Jack Seis Manos She-Ra (1985) She-Ra and the Princesses of Power (2018) Sonic Boom Spartakus and the Sun Beneath the Sea Spiderman: Into the Spiderverse Star vs. the Forces of Evil Strange Magic Super Mario Brothers Super Show Superman: The Animated Series Teen Titans The 13 Ghosts of Scooby Doo The Animals of Farthing Wood The Dragon Prince The Hollow The Legend of Tarzan (TV series) The Magic School Bus (1994) The Mysterious Cities of Gold The Pirate Fairy (Disney Fairies) The Powerpuff Girls (1998) The Real Ghostbusters Thundercats (1985) Thundercats (2011) Transformers: Prime Tuca and Bertie Twelve Forever Undone Venture Bros Wakko's Wish Wakfu Wander Over Yonder We Bare Bears (TV) Winx Club Wreck-It Ralph (2012) X-Men Evolution X-Men: The Animated Series Xiaolin Showdown

Live Action

20,000 Leagues Under the Sea 28 Days Later 3rd Rock from the Sun A Series of Unfortunate Events American Horror Story: Asylum Babysitter's Club (2020) Batman (the old Adam West version) Better Call Saul Black Mirror Blackbeard's Ghost (Peter Ustinov) Boston Legal Boy Meets World Boys Over Flowers Bromance (Taiwanese tv series) Brooklyn 99 Buffy the Vampire Slayer Cadfael Cagney and Lacey Charmed (2018) Chopped Cleopatra 2525 Cloak and Dagger Clue (1985) Community Crazy Ex-Girlfriend Dark Crystal: Age of Resistance Dead Like Me Dead To Me Deadwood Death Note (Netflix) Derry Girls Dimension 20 - The Unsleeping City Doctor Who (New) Doom Patrol Dracula's Daughter (1936) Escape to the Chateau Farscape Fingersmith Galavant Godzilla (2014) Gokushufudo (2020 Japanese TV drama) Golden Girls Good Omens H20: Just Add Water (somewhere in seasons 1-2) Happy New Year Harley Quinn movie Hateblog a REALLY STRAIGHT soap opera. Haunting of Bly Manor His Dark Materials (HBO series) Holes Hot Fuzz House Inception Inside No. 9 Iron Chef America Joan of Arcadia Julie and the Phantoms Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle Kamen Rider Build Kamen Rider Ex-Aid Kamen Rider Fourze Killing Eve Knives Out Letterkenny Leverage Little Women (2019) Lucifer Matlock Majisuka Gakuen MASH Merlin Mission Impossible Ghost Protocol Money Talks (1997 film) Motherland: Fort Salem Murder She Wrote Mythbusters Nailed It! Never Have I Ever Once Upon a Time Orphan Black Pen 15 PGSM Pi (1998) Picnic at Hanging Rock (2018) Pride and Prejudice: A New Musical Puppy Bowl Pushing Daisies Rome (hateblog) Russian Doll Sabrina Sense8 Sera Myu: Un Nouveau Voyage Shameless Sierra Burgess Smallville So Weird Star Trek: TOS (or their films) Star Trek: The Next Generation Star Trek: Deep Space Nine Star Trek: Voyager Stargate Atlantis Suckerpunch Supernatural (out of context speedrun the last three episodes) Sweetheart Switched at Birth Tall Girl Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles The Addams Family (1964) The Big Flower Fight The Booth at the End The Bride With White Hair The Crown The Fresh Prince of Bel Air The Good Place The Kissing Booth The L Word The Librarians The Magicians The Muppet Show The Pregnancy Pact The Room The Steve Harvey Show The Stranded The Untamed The Witcher The Wolfman (1941) Torchwood Twilight Zone (original) Twin Peaks Ultraman Nexus Umbrella Academy Van Helsing Warehouse 13 Warrior Nun What We Do In The Shadows (tv show) Will & Grace Wynonna Earp X-Men 2: X-Men United Xena: Warrior Princess

Miscellaneous

Alpha Flight #41-62 Anime music dance party, the logistics of which are to be determined! Ask Hot Pocket and/or Mina-pup AskSharknado: Giftening Edition Attempt to make French macaroons Commentary on old Goggles Critical Role Crowdsourced: A Black Mirror-style day where Jetty has to ask what her choices are of the audience for everything! I give you a menu, you decide what she has for dinner? What does she wear? Does she walk on the track or do the eliptical? Does she go to a movie with Doc or play a video game with Mike? Can be done alongside other stuff. Doodle Day Dramatic readings of fan fiction! Drunk History (or whatever your favorite subject would be) with Jet Wolf! Drunk Sailor Moon Exorcising Closet Ghost Fic Prompts Day Figuarts Day! (Not specifically freeing anyone, just various fun poses and such) Guess the plot of a show based on its opening Her Shim-Cheong (manhwa) House of X/Powers of X Hubby's Choice IDW Jem comics liveblog Intros Only (watch show openings, give commentary, guess what show is about, etc.) Jackbox Games Jet Wolf paints along with Bob Ross Jet and Doc go to Heaven/Hell, respectively: Jet gets to write reams of words about the awesomeness of Rei Hino and Doc has to read all of them and say ONLY NICE THINGS. Jet does Tiktok dances Jet Liveblogs Holligay: A Nature Documentary Jet Ranks Sailor Moon Image Songs Jet Reads Goosebumps Jet Reads Legion of Super-Heroes Jet redesigns the Wolf and Gay offices! Jet shows off her knitting Jet Wolf attempts to recreate scenes from Sailor Moon with Mina and Hot Pocket and/or whatever is in the house Jet Wolf reacts to Sailor Moon tiktoks (in blog form) Jet Wolf reads Love and Rockets. Jet Wolf reads the Jem comics by IDW Jet Wolf reviews her old top 100 Sailor Moon moments list Jet Wolf talks about Archie Comics Jet Wolf talks about each cel she owns and why they are so awesome. Jet Wolf writes Poetry Jet Wolf's Top 5's Jet, Hubby and/or family play board games Jetty Rants and Raves Jet Wolf tries to crack the Gravity Falls Codes Kiwi Blitz on Hiveworks Let's Play on Webtoon Liveblog: Favorite X-Men comic book arcs Livestream Pathfinder one-shot LOONA (Collection of music videos with an ongoing story/universe about GIRLS who are FRIENDS and SAVE THE UNIVERSE) Lore Olympus on Webtoon Mike regales us with "the story of your love" while you get increasingly embarrassed Mina and Hot Pocket day - liveblog like a nature documentary Mister Tsukino Does His Taxes and the Household Budget (Sailor Moon fan comic by Shadowjack) Nancy Drew: Ghost Dogs of Moon Lake Not So Shoujo Love Story on Webtoon Pitch Mishaps for Untitled Senshi Game (it is a lovely day in Juuban, and you are a Horrible Minako.) Pitching hubby's favorite media at (readers/holligay/jill/momigay) Playing with dolls (because how could 3 women not have any dolls between them) Re-Take By Studio Kimigabuchi (All Ages Version) Real or Fake Anime (people submit descriptions of anime you guess if it is an anime that actually exists or not) Reviewing succulents Scavenger hunt! Not entirely sure how it would work, maybe folks could send in asks for you to show things like your favorite Rei Hino object, or the thing that's been with you the longest, etc. sewing/knitting/baking tutorial Share or rant about a Roman history topic Sleepless Domain on Hiveworks Talking to Docholligay 2: Doc Harder (basically you talking to Doc's future womb evictee while still in there and telling them stuff like say the greatness of Rei Hino) The Monster Duchess and Contract Princess (manhwa) The Polar Bear Plunge--I take Jetty to our finest Lake Elmo in January, and she jumps in! Note: THIS IS NOT DANGEROUS, WORRYWARTS. I'll bring a life preserver, I've done it before, and I would do it with her if I weren't pregnant. The Senshi Helpline--The Senshi, taking your advice questions, here and now! The World of Moral Reversal Virtual knitting/crafting circle! Let us craft and chat with you! What-If #24 Gwen Stacy Lived Worm the web serial Write an explanation for a drawing we send you! Yuri Hell's Kitchen

#THE GIFTENING 2020 #THE GIFTENING 2020 admin stuff

[imaginesbymk]

PINK + WHITE.

—chapter eight ; the flapper girl.

summary: teresa’s permanent resignation from the peaky blinders leads her to a whole new chapter of working in an art museum. but little did she know her best life would be butchered some time later when her former lover tommy shelby gives her no choice but to return to the peaky blinders after they make new enemies, with the leader, of all people, being the man teresa fell in love with one night after a wedding reception back in post world war; luca changretta.

pairing: luca changretta x OC x tommy shelby

tags in this chapter: swearing, drinking

[ chapter index / meet my oc / wattpad link ]

“TERESA, would it kill ya to quit staring at me? I'm tryna do my work here." He fumbles for the ballpoint pen that fell out of his shaky hand. Even when his eyes were down, he still felt hers following his every move when he picked up certain sheets, watching his lips curl when he read a sentence on a report from his father, or just overthinking if Teresa was judging his appearance. There's nothing on my chin, is there? Food in my teeth?

"Am I making the Italian mafioso Luca Changretta nervous?" Teresa leaned over the desk to trail her finger down Luca's chest where she could tease him by gripping the line of his blazer and rip the buttons off. "The same Italian mafioso that got some amateur in Los Angeles to beg on his knees?"

Luca didn't look up from his work. "He was trying to be sneaky and spent nearly a hundred dollars worth of gin for his mistress."

"Is that something you would do? Spend every dime to make his mistress happy?"

"I spend money on myself, to make myself look and feel good, some for business and for special occasions. But I also save," Luca glanced at her, mostly at her cleavage. "And you're not my mistress. I'm not even married. My mother wonders when I'm ever gonna tie the knot with a woman back home." Luca sighs and takes a break, resting his head for a moment. He grunts, rubbing his temple.

"Want me to take over?"

"No," Luca pulls her closer, using his other hand to set his folders to the side so carelessly. "Come here."

She obeys, allowing him to lift her up and carry her on top of his desk.

Luca kisses her. "Ciao, bella," he whispers to her. He kept going, making his way into the sensitive spot of Teresa's neck, his lips pressing against it so gently.

Teresa chuckles, feeling his hand run up her dress. "Who are you? Dracula?"

"Hm?"

"I mean you sort of look like him. You're about to drain the blood out of my neck, so you need me to be in the right position."

"Dracula draining the blood from a flapper girl, eh?"

The sounds of knocking on the heavy wooden doors made Teresa hop off the desk, thinking it was one of his men, or even his mother. She wouldn't contain the embarrassment of being affectionate and intimate with someone's son. It could possibly be the maids, but not the same ones from the hotel Luca stayed at. He fancied staying at a manor his father bought somewhere up north, his family members occupying the other rooms just a few ways down, but just spacious enough for everyone, even for a Welsh named Teresa.

Luca clears his throat and turns the knob. The servers come in with the trolley cart of a decanter and two glasses. "You ordered whiskey, Sir?"

The Italian watched the servers roll in the bar cart and nodded at him before shutting the door on their way out. "You like whiskey, amore?"

"Love all kinds of poison." Teresa walked over to the cart, picking up the vessel. She lifts the glass lid and brings it to her nose to let in a good smell. "Rich, like you."

Luca scoffs. "Yeah, if you drink out of that decanter, you'll become a part of us."

Teresa scoffs back.

"What? Teresa, becoming a soldier was like striking gold."

"I'd rather stay here and sit in the gardens, or walk around this palace wearing only my stockings."

Luca shrugged, imagining the erotic sight. It's happened before and he experienced it first-hand. "I bought you those stockings," he comments, staring down at her legs.

"I'll become a part of your family when the cows come home."

"Oh, come on! Don't gimme that. My family likes you."

"Seriously?" Teresa makes a face at him, and he responds by rolling his eyes.

"Okay, maybe it'll take some time."

"Your mother called me a brazen hussy the other day. Like what you said, she wants you to marry a woman in New York. She's mentioned a name, the woman is close with your family and she often visits at dinner parties? She came to the wedding." Teresa smirks. "She's Italian."

Luca grunts, knowing exactly who she was talking about. "Viviana."

"Signora Viviana must be the whole package."

"We consider her family, but I can't imagine marrying her," Luca shook his head, pouring himself a glass of the whiskey. "Matteo would be crushed."

Teresa was already ahead of him, nearly downing the whiskey, ready for a refill. She brings the glass to her lips, about to take in the last sip. "Do you want to get married?"

"Someday."

Teresa nodded.

"When we were at my cousin's wedding, as best man, I watched two people who were so in love exchange vows. I really felt the love my cousin had for his wife that day. And I know one day that'll happen to me. I'll marry the most beautiful bride who is my whole world. I'll be able to wake up next to her and remember how she likes her coffee in the morning."

"She'll be the luckiest wife."

"I'll treat her like a diamond."

"She'll come around. I'm sure she's somewhere out there, searching for you. Hell, she could be right on your bloody nose," Teresa jokes.

Well to be fair, the woman named Viviana was right on Luca's nose for quite some time. She shared her beautiful smile with the family, and Luca did admire her, respected her when she paid her contribution to the family. She could be waiting for him to return home as of right now, and throw her arms around the Italian so they could spend a night drinking champagne on a balcony.

Yet, Luca didn't set his lust and attention on Viviana. Not even at his cousin's wedding. Luca was picky when it came to his preferences with people, that's part of being a Changretta. But there was someone he wished his mother showed at least some respect to, a woman whose eyes light up like stars whenever Luca says her name...

Yeah, he answered to himself, watching Teresa refill her glass from the whiskey decanter. Maybe I already found her.

TERESA ran her fingers through her head, thinking about what she told Finn the other day that made the young boy rush back to Small Heath before she could settle down for her lunch break, taking her words with him. The blinds that gaped in between to let in the last bit of afternoon sun into the dark room of her office gave out the blonde locks she styled for yet another casual day. Simply walking down each corridor and back to the departments was a way to wastefully tear down the strands to her cheeks as she kept her head down so carelessly.

See what happens when you open your mouth, 'Resa? She sighs, knowing that revealing her past love to be the man that's after the Peaky Blinders would either cause high tides between her and them, or maybe even her and Luca himself, or maybe more pestering phone calls from Tommy.

Luca. He's a malicious man, she couldn't deny that. He would get his way without an issue, and if someone had to object about that, if someone were to challenge a man with such high power, would they live to tell about it? She would hate having the idea of handing the one thing she has all to herself to a man who would gladly have paintings hung in his gigantic home. The Changretta family distributes gin in and out of America with the exception of handling Alfie Solomons' rum, anyways, so why would he want to claim an art gallery all the way in Wales?

The thought of Luca threatening to put a bullet through hers or any one of her loved ones' heads sent a chill in her body. Would Luca ever do that to her? Would the Italian ever have the thought of harming someone he had a past relationship with? Would he regret it?

What was even left of Teresa's loved ones, anyhow? She wasn't as close to her team to consider them family. Perhaps one time she scolded the manager for not realizing one of their employees smoked a cigar when the gallery has a strict no smoking indoors rule, but she couldn't live with the thought of having them indirectly killed by the New York mafia. Come to think of it, she didn't have anyone, which is just as disheartening as having someone to protect. Maybe if she never got her brother killed that day—

She walks out after setting her teacup in the tiny space left open on her desk. Normally she would hear distant chatters from the tour guides speaking to the guests, or just guests speaking among each other, talking about whatever piece they lay their gaze on. But she frowned when she noticed how empty the gallery was, except for maybe five guests. Given that it's still hours in the early afternoon. Why wasn't it busy?

Teresa approaches two guides, asking the question that swirled her head. "Where is everyone?"

"I believe the gallery is in need of an upgrade." One of the tour guides spoke out, a bit of nervousness in their voice to speak up on feedback to the owner.

"Was deco not enough?"

"Most of it has already been seen, Miss."

The Welsh shook her head. "What does that even mean? The people wanted to see deco, we gave them deco. I provided rum to the guests on the grand re-opening, I made sure this place is clean and shiny from every inch of every corner. How could this place already be dead? At this hour?"

The tour guides slightly shook their heads, shrugging.

Teresa sighs. "Fine. Have any of you seen Mason?"

Mason Miller was hired on the spot when his well pressed suit and love for Rococo struck admiration for Teresa. She saw her younger self in him, almost like she was looking in the mirror of the past. Someone at a young age so passionate, she needed him as extra help.

"With all due respect, Miss Griffith, there hasn't been enough—I would say razzle-dazzle, to the place. We have a lot to catch up on, or guests will yawn and find themselves out the exit."

"Mason, this is a gallery, not a circus." Teresa scratches her neck. "It's been days since the opening. Our blood, sweat and tears shouldn't be a one time thing and dropped down to rubbish."

Her assistant shrugs. "Well, these days people don't wake up and think about visiting a gallery, y'know? You can find art deco everywhere you go; fancy dinner parties, manors. It inspires what we wear on occasions."

Teresa stares at her desk. "If Luca Changretta were to ever own this gallery, would he fix this problem? Make the place go fucking bankrupt?"

"I'm sorry, w-who? Luca Ch..." Mason asks, skimming through his clipboard of names he might have missed pinpointing and scheduling a meeting with.

Teresa looked at her assistant, realizing she spoke out her thoughts. "It's nothing. You're dismissed."

"Thank you." He smiles to himself as he bid an exit out of her office for Teresa to be back with her thoughts. Her jaw clenched. I will not let my team down, and I will not give my gallery to a mafioso.

"Actually, Mason?" the young lad stepped foot inside again, peering in with his full attention on one odd request. "Luca Changretta, that's his name. I'd like for you to find where he is at the moment and set up an invitation via letter. Let me know when he responds at your earliest convenience."

"Miss...?"

She didn't stop rationalizing it. She even settled for it faster than deciding not to ally with the Peaky Blinders. Mason Miller stared awkwardly at his boss as she set her focus back on her notepad laid on her desk. "I'd like to meet up with Luca Changretta."

+ enjoy my scene edit above! my peaky blinders editing account is @/fcknshelbys via ig.

#pink+white #tommy shelby #luca changretta #luca changretta x oc #luca changretta fanfiction #luca changretta fanfic #peaky blinders fanfictio #peaky blinders #tommy shelby x oc

[desperationandgin]

Strawberry Wine Part 1, Prologue + Chapter 1.

Rating: General Audiences

A/N: In honor of World Outlander Day, I wanted to surprise everyone with the prologue and complete first chapter of my next fic, Strawberry Wine! The fic will not begin posting until Tuesday, July 16th, but you all deserve a lil’ somethin’-somethin’! The lovely mood board was made by my awesome wife, @filledwithlight, so thank you, love!! Also, a massive thanks to @smashing-teacups, @lcbeauchampoftarth and @suzannevvale for reading last night and guiding me along! Without further delay, please enjoy!

Prologue

As I looked up at the well-worn path, I remembered back to that summer between the life I led, care-free but studious, and the one I had now. My care-free days were far behind me, left in the ashes of the War. But for one perfect, restless summer, I’d found a blissful escape on the banks of a river, in the arms of a farmer’s son. Our love had grown wild around us, so quickly, I thought, it was as if the universe, upon seeing us together decided ‘Yes. These two are a pair.’

My legs carried me across overgrown fields, years since they’d seen a plow. All around me, with every structure I saw, there was nothing time hadn’t touched. My fingers moved to my lips as I closed my eyes, desperate to remember a kiss that happened so long ago. Had I known it would likely be the last one, I’d have never let him go.

Chapter One

When I was a young girl, my parents, on their way home from the theater, had died in an accident. I think I was too little to understand what that meant; I knew they weren’t coming back, but I didn’t understand the why of it. They were simply gone, and I was soon on my way to live the life of an intrepid traveler. I’d thought of them at first, but being only five years of age at the time, I couldn’t remember much. I missed the way I used to curl in my father’s lap, laying with my head tucked into his shoulder while he smoked his pipe and listened to classical music on the radio. I missed the way my mother would brush out my hair, unruly even then, and style it into a slightly frizzy braid.

As I’d grown up and begun to find interest in the old things my new guardian hunted for, the memories of my parents slipped further away. Life with Uncle Lamb was exciting and different every day. My ninth birthday had been spent in Egypt, digging in hot sand when not kissing local boys. I’d loved that life, enjoyed the various tutors I had in the places we stayed. In France, I’d studied until I was fluent in French; and in Rome, I’d curiously poked at learning a bit of Latin and became good at reading it. By the time I turned twenty, the only continent I hadn’t been to was Antartica, but I’d seen enough that I knew what I wanted to do first before anything: attend nursing school. Then, I envisioned having enough knowledge to help local villagers in the places where my uncle and I traveled. This was to be my last summer of travel before classes began. I’d be class of ‘42, but it sounded so far away, off in a different decade.

For now, we were on our way to Scotland so that Lamb could visit with an old friend. Before I ever entered the picture, my uncle had worked closely with a man named Brian Fraser, as artifacts of Culloden Moor were unearthed for the first time in centuries. Lamb and his team had done the digging, Mr. Fraser provided the delicate work of cleaning and restoration. An avid Scottish history enthusiast, it seemed he and my uncle had become very fast friends over dates and historical tidbits. Now we were going to his home, to stay for the summer as guests. As Lamb drove us up the path, I peered out of the window and at the canopy of tree limbs overhead. It was beautiful, the way sunlight filtered through the leaves, and I imagined what it must have been like to ride a horse under such a natural tunnel.

Once the home itself came into view, my mouth fell open upon seeing it. I’d been told it was old, but this was an actual artifact of time, exquisitely kept in prime condition, lived-in and still full of happiness. Standing on the front porch after ringing the bell, my fingers ran over the plaque that announced this as Lallybroch; est. 1702. I gaped at it after doing the math. Two-hundred and thirty-six years old, and still completely beautiful. I could even see a mill turning, off in the distance, and at once felt as though I’d fallen through time. When the door opened, an elderly woman answered, ushering us inside and hugging my uncle. I smiled in introduction, and then Mrs. Crook led us to a large and open room, filled with more books than I’d ever seen in a private home. As soon as we stepped in, a man I assumed to be Brian Fraser leapt up from behind his desk, shouting in greeting before hugging my uncle. I stood to the side, hands behind my back, and tried to remember the last time I saw Lamb greet anyone that way. I was pulled out of my thoughts once the attention was on me.

“My niece, Claire Beauchamp.”

I smiled and was struck by the warmth and kindness in Mr. Fraser’s eyes. His handshake was gentle, and he guided me to sit as he drew us further into the room. Tea was poured for all, and I was happy to sink into the warmth of it, listening to two old friends trade stories back and forth. After a while I excused myself, asking for the washroom and meandering my way there. The architecture of the home was gorgeous, the wood detailing impeccable. Already I’d been told this home had been built as a freehold belonging to Mr. Fraser’s family generations back. After a brief visual tour on my way to and from the washroom, I re-entered the library but walked around the shelves, looking at books. Some of them seemed well-worn, old and possibly brittle. Dragging my finger along spines, I glanced at various titles. The Wonderful World of Oz was shelved right next to The Count of Monte Cristo, and next to it, Dracula. The wild variety just in that small sampling made me smile to myself.

Walking by a window, I paused as something the color of fire caught my attention. Parting the curtain a bit more, I glanced outside and realized what it was: the most brilliant shock of red, curly hair I’d ever seen. Widening my gaze, I realized it adorned the head of a shirtless man who carried a bale of hay over his shoulder. He was sweating, beads of it dripping from a curl near his temple and down his chest.

I’m not sure I ever consciously realized swoon was a word before that moment, but I learned it right then.

I was staring and told myself to stop risking his looking up and realizing. Apparently, I was in no mood to listen to my own advice. Instead of finding trousers as my gaze wandered lower, I realized he was wearing a bloody kilt, and one of my hands covered my mouth on instinct. Glancing over at my host, I realized he was wearing a kilt as well, and looked back out the window. By the time I was done admiring the calves from under said kilt, I realized the legs hadn’t moved at all, as if frozen. Snapping my eyes up, they met his, blue as a bright day and shining with amusement. I could feel my cheeks begin to flush, and then he smiled and I ducked my head. I couldn’t believe he’d caught me, embarrassed as I looked up again to sheepishly smile in return. We held each other’s gaze for a few moments before I let the curtain fall and walked back to my seat. In a lull of conversation, I spoke up.

“I saw a young man outside, red, curly hair?” Shirtless and muscled and beautiful?

“Oh, aye,” Brian responded. “That would be my son, Jamie.”

Jamie.

As I sat once more, I found there was no focusing on the conversation around me. I wondered what solid muscle felt like, and then wondered if Lamb and Mr. Fraser could tell I was blushing. I found myself unable to help it as my thoughts swung from the mild to downright torrid. I was caught up in thinking about what I might say to apologize for staring when footfalls caught my attention. Turning my gaze, I watched as he appeared again (wearing a plain white shirt now, much to my disappointment), somehow bigger than I thought at first, looming in the doorway. He seemed to be a giant of a man, but with the same gentleness to his eyes that his father’s held. Standing, I felt my heart skip a half beat, wiping my hands on my trousers.

Mr. Fraser made the appropriate introductions and I extended my hand out. “Claire Beauchamp. I apologize for--well. Earlier, at the window.”

His smile immediately put me at ease as he shook his head, holding my hand as his thumb grazed the underside of my wrist. “Dinna fash, lass. I thought nothing of it.”

The ruddiness of his cheeks was a bit of a giveaway that he was lying, but I didn’t mind it. How could I, when my own thoughts had veered directly to the wildly inappropriate?

“I hate to leave our conversation so short, Ms. Beauchamp, but if I’m to be at all presentable for supper, I should go wash up now,” he apologized.

“Claire. And don’t worry, I’m sure we’ll find plenty to talk about later,” I offered with a hopeful smile. After he excused himself, I let my gaze linger after him, finding myself eager for supper, where I would finally have the chance to learn more about Jamie Fraser.

Next Chapter

#outlander #outlander fic #jamie x claire #world outlander day #jamie fraser #claire fraser #strawberry wine #my fic

[letterfromtrenwith]

Grand Jeté - Ch. 7 & 8

When George Warleggan quits a high powered job in the City to take care of the finances of the South West Ballet, run by his friend, Francis Poldark, it changes his life - even more so than he expected.

Elizabeth Chynoweth came to the South West to come back home, take on new challenges, and leave behind a less than perfect time in her life. She intends to focus on her art, but everyone knows what they say about best laid plans…

Ch 1 & 2 Ch 3 & 4 Ch 5 & 6

~

Chapter 7

“Did you read the email from the Box Office? Another Christmas matinee sold out!” Rosina peeped over the top of her computer, an excited grin on her face.

“I did. They’re doing really well.” George allowed himself a small smile of satisfaction. Although the Company’s Christmas show already had a few matinee performances, he had suggested adding an extra few especially aimed at children, with discounts offered for schools and other groups. There were other performances in the Hall over the season, concerts and a pantomime and suchlike, but there had still been a few open daytime spots. The Hall management hadn’t needed any convincing – more bums on seats meant more money for them, too.

The excellent reception for Rodeo and Dracula had helped The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe sell tickets apace. Even the more obscure de Valois duo had sold well. According to Rosina, the current season had already seen a 10% increase in those becoming ‘friends’ of the company – those who paid an annual membership in return for reduced ticket prices and invitations to special performances.

George was under no illusions that this was all down to him – he hadn’t been here that long, for one thing – but he had been pleased to be able to identify some ways they could improve. Rosina had done a fantastic job with the social media – it wasn’t something George was especially interested in personally, but even the bank had employed a social media manager.

He’d only suggested the additional matinees because he’d known full well they would sell out – he’d checked the records and last year’s Christmas show had been oversubscribed. The show had originally been budgeted to cover costs, so extra performances would generate more revenue to be put back into future productions. Demands for tickets to the Company’s shows had actually been rising steadily for quite a while, which was all down to Francis’ hard work. The Company’s talents spoke for themselves, all that was really needed was some more organised management.

“So is the Minack Theatre finalised?”

“Yes, the Company is officially booked in for two weekends in June – eight performances, including matinees . Francis, Anne and Ellen are going down there for a visit at some point soon so they can start thinking about staging – and then I can start budgeting!”

“How’s that going for the rest of the season?” It was very early days but if there was one thing George had been able to transfer to this job from his last it was the importance of planning ahead. Marie Antoinette and Midsummer Night’s Dream were likely to be quite expensive, requiring more elaborate staging and costumes, going by the paperwork he had pulled from previous, similar productions. He was still getting used to all the details, but he was starting to feel a little more confident in his knowledge. Working in investments, he’d had to read up on quite an array of things over the years. Ballet at least had the advantage of being a lot more interesting than most of them.

“We’ve made a good start.”

“Good…When do you think we’ll be able to start advertising?”

“Not until early next year, I imagine, but that’s up to the creative team and the Hall management, really. Next time Francis comes in ask him to make sure you’re CC’d in on everything and then you can deal with the Box Office re the social media when the time comes.”

“Can I just say…” Rosina chewed her lip, thoughtfully. “Can I just say thank you for giving me this job to do. It’s really – I’m really enjoying it.”  

“You’re really good at it, as well.” Rosina picked up her handbag and rummaged in it to hide her blush.

“Well, I’m going to take my lunch, do you want anything from the sandwich shop?”

“No, I’m, er, I actually have plans….” He tried to say it as casually as possible, pretending to be very interested in reconciling the Company bank account.

“Oh, meeting Elizabeth?” Rosina grinned as she headed out the door. “Have fun!”

With a sigh, George shook his head. He and Elizabeth had tried to be discreet about seeing each other, but it had been completely hopeless in a ballet company full of perpetual gossips. It was only a couple of weeks since that first date, but they’d met up a few more times since, including that Sunday lunch the following day. Elizabeth had taken him to a fantastic pub where he’d eaten some of the most delicious roast beef he’d ever had in his life. Since they’d both been busy, and Dracula had been in full swing, they’d been limited to a couple of coffees and one late supper after a performance. He’d driven her home afterwards, and for a moment as she’d glanced back at her door, he’d wondered if she was going to invite him in. She hadn’t, but in light of the way she’d kissed him before she got out of the car, he hadn’t been at all disappointed. He glanced at the clock – 12:35. The dancers would be breaking for lunch soon. As if on cue, his phone buzzed. 

~

“So, Francis told the company about your Minack idea.” Elizabeth smiled, taking a sip of her hot chocolate. They were in the Hall café; it was busy today, filled with mothers with pushchairs, artists based at the Hall, and a few schoolchildren enjoying their half-term holidays.

“He mentioned me specifically?”

“Of course! It was your idea, after all. Besides, he doesn’t want to take the blame if we all get rained on!” She laughed, a lock of hair failing out of her bun over her face. Without thinking, he reached across the table and gently pushed it back behind her ear. She glanced down, biting her lip and then smiled. George couldn’t help but smile back – she really was incredibly beautiful, glowing with her morning’s exercise. “Seriously, though, it is a wonderful idea. I’m really looking forward to performing there. When I was with the English National, we performed outside at Somerset House; it was really lovely.”

“And did it rain?”

“Yes it did, as it happens. It was quite fun!”

“What was the ballet?”

“Macbeth, so it really worked, actually!” They both laughed. Abruptly, Elizabeth frowned a little. “Listen, George…”

“Hello!” Morwenna dropped herself into the chair between them, trying and failing to steal a crisp from Elizabeth’s plate. “Having a nice lunch?”

“We were…” Elizabeth gave Morwenna a look, which her cousin gleefully ignored, glancing between the two of them with a smile. “By which I mean…shove off.”

“Rude.” But with another grin, she picked up her bag and disappeared off towards the company’s wing. Elizabeth watched her go and then shook her head with a smile.

“Honestly! I blame Caroline, she’s a terrible influence.”

“I’m sure Caroline would be happy to agree with that assessment.” He paused. “Were you going to say something, before?”

“Yes. You know Dracula closes this week, and then we’ve got a few days before the final prep for de Valois. So…I was wondering if you’d like to have dinner on Saturday.” George frowned. Elizabeth looked oddly nervous about asking him this, but he couldn’t imagine why.

“Of course I would.”

“At mine.” She added, softly. Ah.

“Well, then, I definitely would.”

Chapter 8

Elizabeth couldn’t remember the last time she’d felt so nervous before a date….Well, maybe before her first date with George. Of course, that had been her first date in ages, despite Caroline’s best efforts. Her previous relationship hadn’t exactly left her with a great desire to get back in the dating pool with any haste. Until now, that is.

She hadn’t cooked for anyone in she couldn’t remember how long. Well, unless she counted making cheese toasties for herself and Morwenna when they had a movie night. When the other girls came around, they usually ordered in. Anything she made for herself was usually very quick and simple.

So, she’d spent most of Thursday (after waking up late following the Dracula closing night party) Googling recipes, and then a good hour or so on Friday dithering in Waitrose. In desperation, she’d bought the ingredients for a few possibilities and texted Caroline for advice.

Chicken and mushroom tagliatelle, paella or fish pie?

I think you’re probably fine with anything that doesn’t have garlic.

More importantly, what are you wearing?

I haven’t decided yet, probably just a skirt and top.

Yes, but what about under that? :P

Elizabeth sighed in exasperation.

You are no help whatsoever!

Finally, she’d decided on the pasta, and went back on Saturday morning to buy a lemon mousse to go with it. Annoyingly, Caroline was a tiny bit right – she had also gone out and bought some new lingerie. Maybe it was being just a bit presumptive, but she hadn’t missed the look in George’s eye when she’d emphasised that she wanted them to have dinner at hers; and she certainly hadn’t misinterpreted his reaction when, at the Dracula party, she had led him away into a quiet corridor and kissed him. The way he’d pressed her against the wall, his hand sliding up her side… Remembering it made her shiver.

She managed to push away her nerves while preparing the ingredients, focusing on chopping and measuring. However, when she was standing in front of her open wardrobe – having left her pasta sauce gently simmering on the hob – the nerves came back in full. Along with throwing dinner parties, dressing up was something else Elizabeth didn’t do very often. When she was working, she lived in leggings and dancewear; the rest of the time she preferred jeans and comfy jumpers. Her few party dresses weren’t really the right thing for tonight, she felt. Just as her sauce was getting close to setting-on she impulsively grabbed a soft, cap-sleeved, blush pink top which left a couple of inches of bare skin above the waistband of her skirt. The colour suited her, and the outfit flattered her figure. If only she’d picked it out half an hour earlier…

She was just boiling the water for the pasta when the buzzer went. 7:30, exactly the time they’d agreed. Elizabeth really didn’t know what it said about her that George’s excellent time-keeping was one of the things she found very attractive about him. When she opened the door, he was holding a bottle of wine and a bunch of flowers; he started to hand them to her, but stopped, his eyes widening slightly.

“Wow, Elizabeth, you look…amazing.” 

~

The dinner turned out very well, if she did say so herself. George complimented her on the food, and even asked for seconds, the hint of a cheeky smile on his face. They lingered over the dessert and the wine; the conversation flowed as easily as it had on all of their other dates, but there was an invisible undercurrent, a note of tension…of anticipation. Both of them knew where this night was heading, what Elizabeth’s intention had been in inviting him here, but it was almost as if they drawing it out somehow. Elizabeth was, in a way, certainly not because she was having second thoughts. It had been a while since…well, and she didn’t want to rush into anything.

It would certainly be easy to. George looked very handsome in his dark red perfectly tailored shirt, more so as the wine and the late hour relaxed her. The way he’d looked at her when he’d arrived had made her draw a breath, but it was nothing compared to how his intent gaze was making her feel now.

“Coffee?” She asked, aware of a slight hitch in her voice. George coughed slightly, glancing down, a hint of a blush colouring his cheeks. That did not help her at all.

“That would be nice. Thank you.”

“Why don’t you – er – why don’t you take a seat on the sofa?”

“Oh, okay.” She heard his footsteps on the carpet as she busied herself with the coffee machine. “Oh, I like this!”

“What? – “ She glanced back to see him looking at her picture collage. With a smile, she went back to pouring. “Oh that…I made a little collection of photos when I was at RBS, for homesickness you know, and it’s just kept growing over the years.”

“It’s nice. Really nice.” There was a touch of wistfulness in his voice which made her wonder. She carried over their coffees, setting them gently on the table before kicking off her shoes and sitting down, tucking her feet under her. George smiled at her, almost shyly. He picked up his coffee, letting it cool for a moment and then taking a sip. There was a short silence and Elizabeth couldn’t help a little laugh bubbling out of her, making George look at her in surprise.

“I’m sorry, I – just – I feel like I’m out of practice at this sort of thing. It’s – “ she bit her lip. “It’s been a while.”

“If you want me to go – “

“No! No, I definitely don’t want that.” She shifted closer on the sofa, meeting his gaze. His eyes were so blue. “Completely the opposite in fact.”

“Oh.” Gently, he rested his hand on her knee. The effect of that light touch through the material of her skirt was incredible, and she let out a shaky breath. She covered his hand with hers, stroking the back of it gently before intertwining their fingers. Their eyes met again, and she leant forward slowly, George coming to meet her. It was almost as if it was their first kiss, it was so electric, and she sighed into it. He lifted his hand to cup her cheek, even that slight caress making her shiver. The way she was sitting, she couldn’t get close enough to him and she hummed in frustration. Eventually, they had to pull back to breathe, but neither of them went far. When George spoke, his voice was barely above a murmur. “It’s been a while for me, too.”

Without replying, Elizabeth stood, George never taking his eyes off her as she did. Wordlessly, she held out her hand; he took it, rising to his feet and let her lead him towards the bedroom. There was no more hesitation now; she turned towards him at the foot of the bed, sliding her arms around his neck as she pulled him close for another kiss, relishing the press of their bodies together at last. He rested one hand on her hip, slowing stroking upwards to brush the bare skin above her waistband; his fingertips caressed the small of her back and she moaned. God, if just that touch could have this effect on her she could only imagine what more would be like….

It took quite surprising amount of effort to slide her hands down his chest and undo the buttons of his shirt. He sighed softly when she stroked the skin over his collarbone. Elizabeth pulled back slightly, and George reached up to brush her hair off her face.

“Yes?” He whispered. Elizabeth pressed a soft, sweet kiss to his lips.  

“Yes.”

#poldark #george warleggan #elizabeth chynoweth #elizabeth warleggan #george x elizabeth #grand jete #au #f: ge #f: au #fic #m: fic