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#none of the ways in which she'll change will be for the better and her pain will only reward her with more pain - the pain is worthless!
child-of-hurin · 11 months
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Part of what charms and compels me in Jeyne Poole's arc is her reaction to her predicament. All the female POVs in this book are dealing with a lot of gendered violence, and they all deal in different but dignified forms... Jeyne is not a POV character and she is absolutely not dignified lol. She cries and begs, she is utterly helpless. But unlike most women in this book who are utterly helpless, she survives. It's frustrating how fans refuse to celebrate that, simply because there is no glory in it.
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gogobootz1 · 5 months
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The Mentor pt. 2
Finnick Odair x Reader
Summary: Your mentoring tasks persist as you and the newly crowned victor tackle a Capitol party- with some help.
part one | part three
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"So you’re stealing from me now?” 
You jump at the sudden sound of the voice behind you. Luckily, none of your champagne spills. 
“Pardon?” You look over your shoulder, only to see a pretty face coming your way. 
“Intellectual theft is serious, you know,” Finnick says with faux sincerity, and takes a sip of his own champagne. 
You lazily roll your eyes, “Please, one of my cows could have come up with the momma-bear angle.” You pick at your nails again, gaze drifting back to where District Ten’s Capitol escort parades Darla around. Before the group of you had even arrived, she’d forbidden you from sticking by Darla’s side the whole night. Said the president wanted people to get to know her- which made you reluctant to separate from the girl you’d taken under your wing. 
You’d settled for watching her like a hawk, prepared to intervene if you recognized any bad apples. 
"Blue suits you, by the way," he starts, and you cast him a suspicious sidelong glance. "Much better than brown, or so I'd assume." You prickle with embarrassment, catching the reference to what he'd overheard the other night.
You cross your arms, "Don't be a jerk." The words sound sad rather than snippy- like you intended them to.
"I was trying to compliment you," he insists. "Really, you look quite nice. This is a far cry from your outfit the other night." Your pajamas. They were the closest thing in reach when you were paged to the recording studio during Darla's breakdown. The reminder makes you shift awkwardly, suddenly even more uncomfortable.
"How kind of you," you say flatly, smoothing the non-existent wrinkles of the dress your stylist had placed you in. At least this interaction is slightly less mortifying than the one, or two you suppose, you had with him the other night.
Finnick doesn't respond, and you don't bother looking at his face to gauge his reaction. Instead, you find Darla in the crowd and start picking at the skin around your nails again. She seems okay for now, but it doesn't do much to ease your worry.
”You seem nervous,” Finnick says, without his former mirth. You startle again, assuming he'd walked away. 
 “Do I?” You briefly let your gaze flick up to him, eyes wide, before turning right back to your task. 
“Well, at the rate you’re going, your hands will be bone within the hour,” he lightly grabs your wrist, drawing your attention to the blood (both fresh and dried) that sits on your cuticles. "Have you been at this all night?"
“Thanks for your concern,” you snatch your hand back, trying to shield it from his gaze. It takes you a second to spot Darla again, and when you do your shoulders drop in relief. 
“You didn’t answer my question,” he doubles down. 
“Did you ask one?” You bite back. 
“What are you nervous about?” He asks. 
You turn fully toward him, “What do you think?” You extend an arm out, gesturing to where Darla is. 
Finnick follows your gesture to spot Darla being dragged around. He huffs, "She'll be alright, you know. Like us."
"Speak for yourself," you laugh, but it's a hollow sound.
His face falls, "You know what I mean."
"I do, but I don't like it," you snap sourly. Closing your eyes, you take a deep, albeit shaky, breath. When you open them, you face the front again. "The way I feel all the time," you shake your head slowly, "I wouldn't wish it on anyone. Let alone Darla, so if I can- if I can just keep her close enough, I can spare her from some of this."
He quietly says your name, almost like a warning.
"No!" You cut him off, "No, I know how I sound. I can do it." The look in his eye says he's not buying it, but you double down, "I have to. I have to... try." Your voice breaks a little, but there's no time to be embarrassed over it when a different voice calls out your name.
Finnick watches as you pull yourself together. The change is visible. It's almost like you're a new person, the one the Capitol adores. Sweet and pristine, bloody hands hidden neatly behind your back.
"I wanted to thank you for coming in this week. The kids love your visits," the middle-aged woman says, smiling at you. Her attire is far less ostentatious than her fellow partygoers, but she's clearly Capitol-born and bred. Her gaze shifts to Finnick, and he stiffens, recognizing the look in her eye.
It seems you notice it, too, as you're quick to intervene. "It's my pleasure, Mrs. Montgomery," he almost cringes when he recognizes the name you call her. "If I could, I'd come often enough that they'd be sick of me." You're good at this, though, he notes, grateful for being off the hot seat. Quick and clever, just like in your games.
"Impossible!" The Capitolite laughs, "In fact, they're already asking me when you'll be back. When are you free?"
While your facade is impressive, it's not perfect. He sees you tense before replying, pleasant as ever, "I'm actually heading home soon, but I'll let you know when I'm back." It's enough to appease Mrs. Montgomery, at least. She eyes the buffet table.
"Please do! I'll see you soon, love," she waves as she walks away. You wave back, picture-perfect smile lighting up your features.
It drops as soon as she turns, and he does his best not to laugh at the contrast. "If that's who I think it is, I hate her husband," Finnick tells you.
You echo the sentiment with a scoff, "Me too."
"I thought you were sweet to everyone but me," he turns toward you in surprise, and you shrug. "Here I was thinking I was special," he shakes his head in faux sadness.
A small grin emerges on your face at his antics, though it's clear you're trying to hide it. He spots it, however, and smiles a bit, basking in his victory. Suddenly, your poorly concealed grin drops, and he follows your gaze to see who stole the humorous moment you'd been sharing.
Darla, of course, but someone else is with her. A large man, probably a few inches taller than Finnick, towers over the sixteen-year-old. She looks terribly uncomfortable, and the District Ten escort is missing from her side. When his eyes flick back to you, he finds your expression mirrors Darla's. It's worse, even, and far worse than when Mrs. Montgomery came around.
You turn to face him, eyes wet and blown with fear. He's never seen you look so vulnerable, not on TV and not in your limited interactions. You looked worried the other night, sure, but this is different. This is a look of terror.
"Dance with her," you practically beg, suddenly grabbing his forearm. Your voice trembles, "Please. They'll- I can't take her away. Please just go dance with her." Tears threaten to spill over, and you get more upset as you go on.
Finnick's reluctant to leave you so distraught, but he's sure that whisking Darla away from whoever this is is the only way to assuage your worry. "Of course," he nods, ducking his head a bit to be on eye level with you. His hand covers yours, subtly removing himself from your grasp so he can attend to your request. "Keep an eye on us, okay? It'll be fine."
He holds your gaze for a bit as he departs, but he can feel your eyes on him even after that. Quickly, he comes upon Darla and the large man that you apparently know and abhor enough to ask him this favor. He spews some of the charming bullshit everyone in the city eats right up and steals Darla away without issue.
Finnick looks back to where he left you as he leads her onto the dancefloor, hoping that seeing Darla safe will ease your panic. He's caught in the act, though, "Sent by my guardian angel, then?" The teenager asks him, pulling his attention back to the dance floor.
"How'd you know?" His eyebrows knit together, and the girl laughs.
"She's been watching me from the same spot all night. It's kind of creepy," she jokes.
"I think she's just worried," Finnick says defensively.
"I think if she stays there for much longer, they'll install her as a statue," Darla quips. It's funny, but he fails to chuckle since he wouldn't put it past the people here. She sort of cringes, realizing the joke didn't land. "I'm really grateful for her, don't get me wrong," Darla tries, "it's just- sometimes I wonder about her."
"How so?"
Darla inhales, "I don't know. She disappears and just seems... different when she comes back. And I swear she lies about where she goes since there's never any press coverage, but cameras constantly follow her." His face falls as Darla goes on, "Sometimes when she sees random people, she instantly clams up."
It's a little too familiar to him. Paired with your reaction to both his comment about Mr. Montgomery and seeing that man with Darla, he's starting to understand. Maybe he has more in common with you than he'd originally thought.
"Finnick?" Darla says, and he realizes he's left her in silence for too long.
"I was gonna say I wonder about her too, but I was thinking more- favorite food, favorite color," he tries to lighten the mood.
Darla looks pleased as punch, "Well when it comes to you, I have her pinned."
"Yeah?" Finnick asks, amused.
"Yeah," Darla nods, "she’s clearly head over heels for you.”  
His eyes nearly bug out of his head, “Excuse me?” 
“Yeah, no, she’s totally in love with you,” she reaffirms.
“Are we thinking of the same person?” He asks, extremely skeptical.
“Yes!” Darla insists, lightly slapping the side of his head. 
“Well, it just seems like she doesn’t like me,” he defends himself. 
“You make her nervous,” Darla affirms. “She’d make a fool of herself if she wasn’t being rude. She told me the other night, this is a quote by the way, 'he's so gorgeous, I can't say anything to his face.'"
“You’re kidding.” 
“Nope,” she pops the P. 
“I struggle to believe that Capitol’s loveliest victor won’t talk to me because she thinks I’m pretty,” he scoffs. 
“It’s more than that,” Darla chides, “she thinks you’re too good for her, so before you can reject her, she tries to beat you to the punch.” 
“And when exactly did she tell you all this?” He asks skeptically. 
“Oh, we had a sleepover the other night and got super drunk. Boy, was she an open vault,” Darla laughs, but it's clear to him you'd kept some secrets to yourself.
“And you don’t feel bad telling me?” He inquires skeptically. 
“Please, I’m helping her help herself.” She scoffs, “She’d pine over you until her dying day without ever saying a word.” 
“Whatever you say, kiddo,” he says. Finnick's not sure how reliable a source the teenager is, so he decides to refocus on his original goal. "I meant to ask if you were ok, by the way. You know that guy?” 
Darla’s face sours. “No clue. But let’s just say I was glad for the interruption.” 
He raises a brow, hoping she’ll elaborate. 
“I felt like he was … looking at me,” she huffs. “Like, trying to see below the dress.” Finnick's jaw clenches at that. He knows the type. He deals with the type. And now he's almost certain you do too, hence your big reaction.
"Well, if he bothers you again, just come find me. I'm quite comfortable on the dance floor," he tells her as the song comes to an end.
Darla pats his bicep, "Thanks, but you should really be getting comfortable with someone else." She nods her toward where you'd been standing. "The bar will take good care of me." She only gets a few paces before he calls out after her.
“Hey!” She turns to catch his words. “Moderation,” he points at her, emphasizing the word.
She smirks, “Yeah, yeah, whatever, Dad.” A smile twitches at his lip, and he shakes his head as he turns to find you. 
When Finnick finally circles back to where he'd left you, you're nowhere in sight. He sighs, disappointed, though he can't quite blame you when you've revealed more about yourself tonight than you probably intended.
He wonders if you've left the party or just found a better observation spot, but either way, something tells him you don't want to be found right now. He remembers something you said earlier about shielding Darla. You seem to be doing alright so far, but he's suddenly wondering how far you'll go.
———————————————————
Once again- super unedited. I'm just having fun on my holiday break at this point. I feel like this leaned kinda sad? So... sorry for that. <3
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tonyspank · 6 months
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SHE 2
Jenna Ortega x G!P Reader
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In a brand-new city, you're experiencing a new lifestyle. Jenna Ortega, your soon-to-be wife, must navigate your mixed emotions towards each other while raising your daughter. What happens when you start imagining a new life with someone else's wife?
This one shot includes mature themes such as foul language, sexual activity, acts of violence and etc.
Jenna and any other celebrities in this book are not famous unless said otherwise.
I hate this ending and possibly the entire thing but I hope you guys enjoy. Based off You S3!
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You believed in love at first sight, and when you saw Jenna for the first time, everything clicked into place. The way she smiled, the way she carried herself—it was as if she were made for you.
Yes, you might've met others on the way, but no one made your heart race like Jenna. Bonding over cheesecake, strawberry jam, and most importantly, your mother. Jenna seemed to understand you on a deeper level than no one else had before.
But you wished things were different. None of that felt real anymore. You were wrong about Jenna, she wasn't the person you thought she was. The truth had shattered the image you had of her—that one beautiful woman you met on a late grocery-night run had turned out to be a stalking and murdering psychopath.
And when you realized who she truly was, it was too late. This murdering psychopath was the mother of your child.
You couldn't allow your daughter to be raised alone by such an evil person. You'd pretend to love Jenna, pretend to enjoy the suburbs, and move yourself away from the city you were beginning to love.
The young adult you once were, attempting to grasp the handles of adult life, has now become a master of disguise, faking happiness in your relationship. Every day, you put on a mask and play the role of a loving partner, protecting your child from the dark truth that lies within her mother.
Regardless...there's still a part of you that believes in love at first sight.
Marde Linda is the type of neighborhood you'd see in a television show, with picket white fences, beautifully manicured lawns, and slightly friendly neighbors who wave as they pass by. You don't have to get started on the schools, which are top-rated in the state, by the way.
Being a mother? Hard. Extremely hard. You don't know how your own did it, but you're happy she was there. Which is exactly why you're happy to be with your own daughter, despite the crying at 3 AM, the endless diaper changes...or the fact that she hates her vegetables.
"You are going to love this, trust me." You smile at your daughter, who dazly stares back at you in her highchair. "I mean, even I would eat this...I think?" You chuckle as you spoon-feed her the mashed carrots, hoping she'll give it a chance.
For a second, you start to believe she enjoys the taste, her little mouth opening wide for each spoonful. But then she scrunches up her face and spits out the carrots, turning her head every time you try to feed her again.
Just in time, Jenna walks into the kitchen with messy hair and a tired expression on her face. "What's going on here?" she asks, glancing at the mashed carrots smeared all over the highchair. You sigh and explain, "I was trying to get her to eat some carrots, but it seems like she's not a fan."
Jenna hums, slightly nodding her head. "Well, uh...do you want me to try feeding her?" You hesitate for a moment, unsure if Jenna will have any better luck. But you appreciate her offer and hand her the spoon. "Sure, why not?" you say with a hopeful smile.
Jenna smiles at you before taking a seat next to the highchair and starting to coax your daughter into taking another bite of the mashed carrots.
This sight reminds you of the old Jenna, the Jenna you fell for. The way she interacts with your daughter brings back memories of when you first started seeing each other, when everything was easy and carefree.
You're knocked out of your nostalgic reverie when the bell rings. Hm, you weren't expecting anyone.
You look at Jenna in confusion before heading to the front door, only to be met with a beautiful brunette, with a smile on her face, and a pie in her hand. "Hi, I'm Love. I live next door, and I wanted to welcome you to the neighborhood. I thought I'd bring over a homemade pie...it's gluten-free."
You raise your eyebrows, surprised by the unexpected gesture. "Wow, that's really kind of you," you say, genuinely touched. "Thank you so much, Love. I'm Y/N, and my fiance, Jenna, is a bit busy trying to feed our daughter. We just moved in a few days ago."
Love's smile widens as she listens to your introduction. "Of course, I know it's always nice to have a warm welcome when you move into a new place. And I know how that is. My husband, Joe, and I have a son, Henry, so I understand how hectic things can get. If you ever need any help with anything, just let us know."
"Likewise, Love." The woman gives you one last smile before returning her attention to her own home, she was really pretty.
"Who was it?" Jenna calls out from the kitchen. "It was our neighbor, Love. She came by to welcome us and offered her help if we ever needed anything. She seems like a friendly person." You answer back, closing the door and making your way back to the kitchen.
Jenna looks up from Luna and says, "That's nice." You hum in response, placing down the pie. "Did she eat the carrots?"
Your fiance thins out her lips, "Nope." You chuckle and shake your head.
It's wrong, but your neighbor is already stuck in your head, leaving you curious about her.
-
"How's mothering going?" Ross asks you over the phone, his face apparent on your phone screen. You sigh out, laying your head against the armrest of the couch. "As best as it can go." You pause for a moment, contemplating whether or not to mention your neighbor. Deciding against it, you simply add, "Luna is a handful, but we're managing."
"When are you gonna let me see my goddaughter?" You laugh softly at Ross's question, "Uhhh, I don't know. I guess come by whenever you're free." You can hear the excitement in Ross's voice as he responds, "Great! I'll make sure to schedule a visit soon."
You smile, a small silence falling over. Ross narrows out his eyebrows, trying to read you. "You look like you want to say something. What is it?" He mumbles.
"My neighbor Love... she seems really nice. And she's really pretty, she even has the most beautiful smile," you say, moving your face out of the screen so your best friend doesn't see your wide smile.
Ross raises an eyebrow and chuckles. "Sounds like you've got a crush on her already. Make sure Jenna doesn't find out, you'd be in the doghouse forever."
Ross knows about your problems with Jenna. He doesn't know why they formed, but he knows you're not exactly your happiest when it comes to your relationship with Jenna.
"I know, I know...but am I wrong for wanting to get to know her? I just...I don't know, I wanna see her again." You ponder, unsure of how to navigate your feelings for this new person while still being in a "relationship" with Jenna.
Ross leans back, contemplating your words before responding, "I think it's natural to be curious about others, especially when things are rocky with Jenna. Just be careful not to rush into anything without figuring out what or who you truly want."
You nod, and Ross continues, "Is this Love girl a single mother or something? What's got you so hooked?" You pause for a moment, considering Ross's question. "No, she's not a single mother," you reply. "She's married, but she's gorgeous, and she just has that aura, you know? She gave me a pie, Ross! What more could I ask for?"
Ross raises an eyebrow, clearly skeptical. "I get that she's attractive and all, but you're both married and you both have children, so getting involved with her could definitely complicate things for both of you. Have you thought about the consequences like....at all?"
"No, I didn't. I haven't gotten that far, we just met two weeks ago. But there's just something about her that draws me in. I can't explain it, but I feel it."
Ross sighs and leans back in his chair, crossing his arms. "Look, I understand that you're drawn to her—" You hear the front door opening, interrupting your conversation.
You quickly sit up, realizing that Jenna has arrived home. Ross gives you a knowing look before hanging up.
Jenna smiles at you, unaware of the conversation you were having. "Hey. Where were you?" You ask, putting on a smile. Jenna crawls on the couch, snuggling up next to you.
"I ran into Love and her group of friends. You know she owns a bakery, she told me to stop by sometime and try her pastries. I think it would be fun if we went together," Jenna suggests, her eyes beaming up with excitement.
You feel a pang of guilt as you remember the conversation you were just having with Ross about Love. But you push it aside, not wanting to ruin the moment with Jenna. "That sounds like a great idea," you reply, attempting to sound enthusiastic.
You didn't hate your fiancé; you couldn't bring yourself to. She was the mother of your child, and for a while, she was the love of your life, she was captivating, caring, and always there for you. But every time you try to remember the goods, the bads come out—memories of her locking you inside a cage, revealing that she killed your ex-flings, and that look she gave when you asked about Zoe.
"Is Luna asleep?" Jenna asks, breaking the silence. You nod, a tiny smile peeking its way onto your lips. "Out like a light. Might even start snoring," you reply in a joking tone.
Jenna smiles, leaning in closer to you. "I'm glad you're here with me," she says softly. "I love you."
You can't. You can't say those words, not after everything you've discovered about her. The memories and fears weigh heavily on your heart, making it nearly impossible to reciprocate Jenna's love. You give her a reassuring smile, hoping she doesn't notice the hesitation in your eyes.
Thankfully, she doesn't, placing her lips on yours for a short and sweet kiss. Her hand snakes its way to lay against your cheek, bringing you into a more heated kiss, leaving you momentarily breathless.
You're trying. For Luna, for yourself, and for Jenna. You want to be a happy and perfect partner and mother, but you've been through a lot.
Jenna notices the subtle changes in your demeanor and gently asks if everything is alright. You take a deep breath, quickly nodding.
"Yeah, yeah. I'm fine." Jenna stares into your eyes, searching for any signs of deception. She knows you too well to believe your quick reassurance. Pulling away from you as if you're a burning hot stove, she insists, "No, you're not. Why don't you talk to me anymore?"
Her voice trembles with concern, and you can sense the ache behind her words. You run a hand through your hair. "We do talk."
"But it's not the same," Jenna interrupts, annoyance in her tone. "It feels like you're holding back, like there's something you're not telling me."
"You're always distracted. Something's going on," Jenna adds, her eyes searching yours for answers.
Saved by the cry, Luna's whines are heard from the baby monitor that rests on your coffee table. You quickly excuse yourself to tend to Luna, grateful for the interruption.
-
A bell jingles as you make your way through the door, alerting the owner of the shop to your presence. "You're not closed, are you?" you ask, hoping to still be able to browse the selection of treats.
Love smiles, waving you off. "For you? We're open 24/7," she chuckles. "Feel free to take your time and explore." You thank Love and begin glancing over the array of delectable pastries and desserts on display.
"Which one catches your eye?" Love asks, her eyes twinkling with anticipation. Other than you? I don't know, you think. You take a moment to survey the mouthwatering options, each one more tempting than the last. Finally, your gaze settles on a beautifully decorated muffin that seems to be calling your name.
You point at the muffin and say, "I think I'll go with that one. It looks absolutely divine." Love nods approvingly and retrieves the muffin for you, placing it in a small box with a smile. "Excellent choice," she says. "I'm sure you'll enjoy every bite."
Your upper lip curves upward into a satisfied smile as you eagerly anticipate the first bite of the delectable muffin. "Mmm," you groan out, missing the way Love bites her lip in response to your reaction. She watches you with a twinkle in her eye, clearly pleased with your enjoyment of the muffin.
The muffin is soft and moist, with just the right amount of sweetness. It melts in your mouth, leaving behind a burst of flavors that dance on your taste buds.
"This is fantastic." You exclaim, savoring every bite as the flavors continue to unfold. Love's smile widens, and she leans in closer, whispering, "I'm glad you like it."
Placing down the half-eaten muffin, you smile at the brunette. "You know, I actually cook and bake myself, but never have I made something as delicious as this. Your muffin is truly a masterpiece."
Love blushes, clearly flattered by your compliment. "Well, I'd love to try your cooking sometime," she says, smiling even wider at you.
"I'd be honored to cook for you. It'll be our own little culinary adventure, you know what I'm talking about?" Love chuckles, nodding in agreement. "Yeah, we can be the dynamic duo in the kitchen."
You and your next-door neighbor continue to talk, sharing recipes and exchanging cooking tips—and maybe even glances. You begin to open up about your feelings about parenting, even sharing some stories about your own mother, whom you love and miss dearly.
"I don't know; I just...my mom was the best in my eyes. I just want my daughter to look at me the same." Love listens attentively, nodding her head. "Don't we all?"
She pauses for a moment, reflecting on her own new experiences as a mother. "It's a universal desire—wanting to be the best parent we can be for our children. My mother isn't really the best, so I'm trying to learn from her mistakes and do things differently with Henry."
You smile at the mention of Henry. "He's lucky to have a mom like you who is willing to learn and grow. I'm sure you and Joe will do an amazing job."
You see Love's smile flicker at the sound of her husband's name, but she quickly regains her composure. "Thank you... I'm also glad I got to you before Sherry and her mean girls squad did." Love quickly changes the topic, smiling widely again.
"Yeah, I saw her blog...don't know how to feel about it yet." You say, tilting your head and raising your eyebrows. Love chuckles, shaking her head. "I know what you mean. I remember our second time meeting each other. She asked me about Joe and I's sex lives, saying, "Oh, having orgasms helps you produce better breast milk for your baby!"
Your mouth opens in disbelief. "Wow, that's quite a personal question to ask someone you barely know," you comment, slightly taken aback. Love nods in agreement, her smile fading slightly. "Yeah, it was definitely uncomfortable."
"So, how did you respond to that?" you ask, curious about Love's reaction. Love lets out a small sigh before answering, "I lied. The best thing you can do to Sherry."
You let out a small laugh. "I'll take note of that." You open your mouth to speak, but hesitate, unsure if you should even ask the question on your mind.
But curiosity gets the better of you, and you finally ask, "Have things ever felt weird with you and Joe during the first few months of bringing in Henry? It's just... I don't feel like I'm engaged with Jenna, it's almost as if we're just two strangers taking care of a baby together."
It's like a black cloud has appeared above Love's head, casting a shadow over her face. And for the first time, she's not putting on the usual happy facade to fool her neighbors into thinking she fits into Marde Linda; instead, she looks vulnerable and honest.
Love pauses for a moment, collecting her thoughts, before responding, "I totally get where you're coming from. It actually feels like that a bit now, you know? It's good to know I'm not the only one who feels this way."
"Joe and I have been together for so long, and it's been great for the most part. But lately, I've been feeling like something is missing. We used to have such a strong connection, but now it feels like we're drifting apart. I've tried talking to him about it, but he just brushes it off and says everything is fine. It's frustrating because I want us to be happy together, but I can't get through with him."
Love lets out a fake chuckle, trying her best to keep the tears from building in her eyes.
She takes a deep breath and continues, "I know relationships have their ups and downs, but this seems different. It's like we're living in two separate worlds, with little overlap or understanding of each other's lives. I miss feeling connected to someone... I miss smiling so much that my cheeks hurt. I miss...the feeling of feeling wanted and cherished."
You feel the same way, completed. You long for the days when you both were inseparable, when every moment spent together felt like a precious gift. The distance between you and Jenna now feels unbearable, and you yearn for that deep connection and intimacy that seems to have faded away.
"Yeah... I know what you mean. I remember the first night I met Jenna, my heart was racing, like badly, almost as if it was going to burst out of my chest. I wanted to impress her so damn badly that I started showing her photos of me with the president. I just couldn't take my eyes off her, and the way she laughed at how I had continued to completely make a fool out of myself. We had this instant chemistry that I'd never felt with anyone else before. It's like we were made to be for each other, but after a while, it seemed...fake, I guess. The more I got to know her, the more I realized that our connection wasn't as genuine as I initially thought."
You run a hand down your face, your face flushing with embarrassment. "Shit, I am so sorry. I didn't mean to just pour my heart out like that." Love waves you off, "No, no! It's only fair; I kind of did the same thing earlier. It feels good to be able to open up and share my feelings with someone who won't go gossip about it."
You take a deep breath, feeling relieved that Love understands and appreciates your honesty. "Thank you for being so understanding. It's just been weighing on me, and it feels good to finally talk about it."
When the silence falls, you feel it. You both want the same thing—to start fresh—but neither of you has the guts to say so. You'd both look like bad spouses, wanting a new life while your old one was just getting started.
Your mind begins to wonder: What if Love was your new start? The shared laughter, looks, feelings, and smiles were a creation of a bond that goes beyond being neighbors.
You were so in your mind that you didn't even realize that Love had moved right beside you, placing a soft hand on your arm. Startled, you turn to see Love sitting there with a gentle smile on her face.
Her intentions were to comfort you, but her heart betrayed her. You looked even better up close.
You and Love meet in a slow kiss, both of you unsure what you're exactly doing in the moment, but sure, it's what you want in that moment. You were drawn to her, her gentle nature, and the way she effortlessly made you feel at ease.
Wait. No, wait.
You're engaged, you can't. You're not supposed to be doing this, but you want—no. You can't.
You quickly pull away, "I'm...so sorry, fuck." You rush out, your mouth slightly agape. Love stares at you, she understands the conflict raging within you and the responsibilities that bind you. So she doesn't fight against your decision, allowing you to walk away, leaving her in an empty bakery with a half-eaten muffin.
You make it home, but your mind is still consumed by Love's presence. You don't know how long you've been standing in silence, lost in thought. Jenna could never find out you shared a kiss with your neighbor, not only would you be in trouble, but Love would find herself like your old flings.
But Jenna's home, meaning Luna successfully made it to Ross's apartment.
You snap out of your reverie and greet Jenna. You have to try harder. Jenna's trying her hardest to make things work between you two, and it's important for you to reciprocate that effort. You smile as she rants about the traffic on the way back home from Ross's place, taking her hair out of her messy bun.
You walk up to your fiance, wrapping your arms around her and kissing her intensely but softly. Jenna gasps in surprise but immediately melts into the kiss, her hands finding their way to your back. This was probably the first time you've insinuated such a passionate display of affection, and it fills Jenna with a sense of reassurance and love.
As you pull away from the kiss, Jenna looks into your eyes, her own filled with a mixture of adoration and curiosity. She whispers, "What brought this on?" You smile and reply, "I was just thinking about when you approached me in the grocery store...and you asked if I was going to stay in the same aisle until you left."
Jenna's eyes widen with surprise as she recalls that moment. She blushes and playfully nudges you, saying, "I can't believe you remembered that!"
"Of course I do," you mumble against her lips, feeling a surge of affection. "I missed you, Jenna." She smiles, her cheeks turning even redder, and pulls you in for another kiss, which grows wilder by the second.
"Bedroom, please...Y/N." Jenna whimpers out, jumping into your arms as you walk toward your bedroom. Jenna's heart is pounding in her chest, but at the same time, her mind is racing. She can't help but wonder what has gotten you this way?
Was it really your first time meeting, or is there something else on your mind? Someone else—maybe she doesn't know.
You undress yourself completely, revealing your naked body to Jenna's eager eyes. Jenna's thoughts continue to swirl. She tries to push aside her doubts and insecurities and focus on you. But deep down, a nagging feeling lingers, leaving her curious about your hidden secrets or unspoken desires.
You stand at the edge of the bed while Jenna removes her own clothes in bed, her lip trapped between her teeth as she meets your gaze. You smile, pulling your fiance by her legs to the edge of the bed and lowering yourself to your knees.
As you trail kisses along Jenna's inner thighs, her hunger grows, her breath hitching with each gentle touch. She arches her back, yearning for more, as you tease her with your lips and tongue.
"I missed this...I missed you." You mutter against her core, going back to your effective but gentle techniques. Jenna loses herself in your words and the intoxicating sensations coursing through her body. Her fingers slip into your hair, and her hips move wildly against your mouth.
You place your hands on her hips, holding her down against the bed. Your fiance whines in response, throwing her head back in frustration.
With a smirk, you continue to maintain your firm grip, knowing that it drives her wild. "I'm so close, baby...please." Jenna pleads, her voice barely audible as she gasps for breath.
You keep up the relentless stimulation, teasing her just enough to push her further to the edge. Her body tenses, and with a loud cry, she finally reaches her climax, her hips bucking against your touch.
Whilst her body slowly relaxes, you release your grip, allowing her to catch her breath. Jenna looks up at you with a small smile, her eyes sparkling with post-orgasmic bliss.
You crawl onto the bed, hovering over your fiance with a mischievous smile.
"You're so beautiful, Jen." You whisper, aligning yourself with her core, watching her gasp and arch her back as you enter her. Jenna pulls you down into a kiss, her mind clearing as you reassure her in the best way possible.
"Y/N..." Jenna breathes out, clinging onto your back as you begin to move with gentle, rhythmic thrusts. Her nails dig into your skin, leaving behind small red trails as she desperately holds onto you, almost as if she's scared you'll slip away.
You drop your head on Jenna's shoulder, inhaling her sweet scent as you continue to move inside her. Gosh, she was something else. Her smell—the vanilla smell mingled with a hint of lavender—filled your senses, intoxicating you further. And the way she softly bit your ear before attacking your neck, sent shivers down your spine, making it impossible to resist her.
"Yes...yes! Fuck, right there, Y/N." Jenna mutters in your ear, wrapping her legs around your waist, and pulling you in deeper.
-
"I thought Ross was supposed to have Luna for longer?" You ask Jenna, referring to the doorbell. Jenna shrugs, placing a kiss on your lips before sitting up from the couch and reaching for her robe.
"It's probably my package, baby. Just go answer it for me, will you?" Jenna says, giving you one last peck.
With a sigh, you walk toward the front door. Jenna stops you. "Don't you think you should put some clothes on first?" she teases, her eyes lingering on your attire—just your boxers and sports bra.
You open up the coat closet nearby, putting on a zip-up hoodie to cover yourself up. Jenna chuckles and playfully swats your arm, reminding you to grab a pair of pants as well. "By the time I do that, they'll be gone!" you mutter. Jenna gives you a look, which you ignore, hurrying up to answer the door.
"Love—hey!" You rush out. You weren't expecting to see love so soon, especially after your kiss. You quickly compose yourself, trying to hide any lingering awkwardness from the kiss.
Love smiles, "Hi, I'm sorry for just...showing up, I just wanted to see if we were okay." You open your mouth before you even know what you're going to say, "Uhh...yeah! I uh, I'm sorry, it's just..." you motion your hands around, feeling flustered and searching for the right words.
"I..." You glance behind you to make sure Jenna isn't eavesdropping on the conversation. "I really enjoyed our....talk. It got a lot of stuff off of my chest and about our k—"
Love's eyes leave yours, moving to something behind you. Love's eyes leave yours, moving to something behind you. Their expression changes, and you turn around to see Jenna standing there, an unreadable expression on her face.
Jenna's unexpected presence interrupts your train of thought, leaving you momentarily speechless. Your fiance glances between the two of you, clearly caught off guard by Love's sudden appearance.
Love quickly recovers, breaking the silence with a forced smile. "Hi! I was just inviting you both to dinner tonight. I thought it would be a great opportunity for us to all get to know each other better." Love says, attempting to regain composure.
Jenna's eyes briefly meet yours before turning back to Love. That sounds like a lovely idea," she says, her voice calm but with a hint of curiosity.
You can't help but wonder what Jenna's true feelings are about Love's unexpected invitation. Fuck. Could she tell something happened between the two of you?
You try to shake off the thought, reminding yourself that it's just your own paranoia. Love gives you a smile before walking off. Perhaps she is genuinely interested in Love's invitation, and there is nothing to worry about.
"We could've just said no," you mutter, closing the door. Jenna hears you, raising an eyebrow. "Why would we do that?" You pause for a moment, walking to Jenna and wrapping your arms around her. "I mean, it's just...unexpected. And we don't really know Love that well. It might be better to play it safe, you know?"
Jenna stares into your eyes, her expression softening. "You're so cute," she says, planting a gentle kiss on your nose. You furrow your eyebrows, confused by the compliment and how she completely dodged your concern.
-
"It's so great to finally meet you." Joe smiles, extending his hand for a handshake. You shake his hand, "Likewise, Joe. It's nice to have some...normal neighbors." You chuckle nervously, hoping that your comment about normalcy didn't come off as rude.
Joe chuckles. "Well, thank you. I'm glad I didn't get grouped in with Sherry and Cary." You let out a small laugh, relieved that Joe understood your attempt at humor. "Oh, I've heard some interesting stories about them. They definitely bring some excitement to the neighborhood."
Love pulls away from her hug with Jenna, leading you both to the dining room, a bright and inviting space with a large wooden table. As you take a seat, Love gestures towards the beautifully set table and says, "I hope you're hungry! I've prepared a special homemade meal just for the occasion."
"Thank you so much, Love. Everything looks and smells amazing," you say sincerely, feeling grateful for her hospitality.
Love smiles warmly at you, and Jenna takes notice of this, her eyes boring into Love's skull. Jenna's gaze lingers on Love for a moment before she blinks, putting on a fake smile as she starts a conversation with Joe.
"Shit, I forgot the drinks, I'll be right back." You get up from your seat and say, "I can help." Love quickly interjects, "No need to worry, I'll take care of it." You wave her off, "It's okay! I don't mind helping out."
You follow Love to the kitchen, fixing your dress shirt and straightening your tie as you go. Love glances at you with a grateful smile, appreciating your willingness to assist.
"I'm sorry, Love." You apologize sincerely, referring to your shared kiss that shouldn't have happened between two married individuals. Love's smile fades slightly as she looks down at the ground, her cheeks turning a faint shade of pink. "No need to apologize," she says softly, avoiding eye contact.
"No, really. I shouldn't have done that." You continue, walking closer to the blue-eyed woman. Love's gaze remains fixed on the ground, her voice barely above a whisper. "It was a moment of weakness for both of us," she admits, her words tinged with regret.
"At least...I know that it was for you." Love adds, her voice trailing off as she finally meets your gaze. "Because...one second you're complaining about not being happy, but you seemed pretty happy this morning after."
"What?"
"The fucking hickeys, Y/N. You opening the door in your boxers? Could you be any more fucking obvious?" You look away, your cheeks turning a shade of pink.
"Love..." you stammer, struggling to find the right words. "You're married...I'm married...we couldn't...I couldn't..." Love shakes her head, a sad smile tugging at the corners of her lips.
"I guess I'm blind for thinking that kiss meant anything. It's just finally talking about it that I started imagining what if...you know? Like, with him... the first time I saw him, I wanted to get to know everything about him. And I felt that again, but with you. I wanted to explore a connection that I hadn't felt in a long time. It's stupid..."
Love's eyes glisten with unshed tears as she takes a step back, creating a distance between you two. "I don't even know why I'm acting like this. We should get back." She quickly wipes her eyes, handing you two glasses and picking up the rest before walking back toward the dining room.
"Hey, you're back! I missed you," Jenna exclaims as she sees Love and you return to the dining room. She gives you both a warm smile, unaware of the emotional moment that just took place.
You send Jenna a smile, sitting back down beside her. Love joins the table, her eyes still slightly red but her smile genuine. "Jenna was just telling me about how she cooks too," Joe tells his wife, his eyes glancing between her and Jenna.
But Jenna doesn't pay any mind to the man; her eyes are staring into yours. She leans in closer, her voice barely above a whisper. "What took you so long?" Anyone else would've missed her accusatory tone.
"We were just talking about our favorite recipes," you reply, trying to deflect the question. Jenna's eyes narrow slightly, but she doesn't press further. Instead, she smiles at Joe, nodding. "Yes! I love trying out new recipes. I'm more of a cook than a baker, though; I'm really good at using knives and stuff."
That surely meant something else, you think.
Love chuckles nervously, clearly uncomfortable with the mention of knives. "Oh, uh, I'm more of a baker...as you know already." Jenna's smile widens. "Well, I also bake too! Don't mind getting my hands dirty." Joe's eyes widen slightly, sensing a hidden meaning behind Jenna's words.
Joe clears his throat. "Let's get eating, shall we?"
-
You're now home in your bedroom; the rest of dinner went well for the most part. You begin taking off your button shirt while Jenna removes her makeup in your shared bathroom.
"I think you should stop talking to Love." Jenna blurts out, catching you off guard. You pause, unsure of how to respond. "What do you mean?" you ask, continuing to unbutton your shirt.
Jenna turns around to face you, her expression serious. "Is there a problem with that?" Jenna's words hang in the air, causing a knot of unease to form in your stomach.
"I don't see why there would be a problem," you say cautiously, "but can you explain why you feel that way?"
Jenna takes a deep breath before speaking. "Why can't you just do this one thing for me without asking so many questions?" Her tone is tinged with frustration, and you take this as a sign to drop it. With a hum and nod, you agree, throwing your shirt somewhere in the room and sitting down on your bed.
Jenna leaves the bathroom, walking towards you with a small smile. "Thank you, baby." You smile back at Jenna, and she begins undoing her robe.
She lets the silky fabric slip off her shoulders; you can't help but admire the way it accentuates her curves. Jenna parts your legs, standing in between them, and without a second thought, your hands move to explore, caressing her soft skin.
Jenna leans in, her lips brushing against your earlobe as she whispers, "You know, sometimes I just need a little space to breathe." You close your eyes, feeling the warmth of her breath against your skin. Taking a deep breath and gently pulling her closer, you respond, "I think you just wanna show off."
She smiles, leaning back to look into your eyes. Her gaze is filled with a mix of playfulness and affection as she replies, "Maybe I do enjoy being the center of attention sometimes."
You open your eyes again, only to look out of your window and see your neighbor looking in your direction. You quickly let go of Jenna and rush toward your window, shutting the curtains.
"I can't believe he was spying on us," you mutter. Jenna chuckles softly and pulls you into a reassuring embrace, reminding you that it's just a harmless moment and not worth worrying about.
"Yeah, but that's weird. He's married with a son, and we literally just met him for dinner." Jenna places a kiss on your lips, "I'm all yours; no need to get worked up, my love."
You take a deep breath, trying to calm your racing thoughts. Despite Jenna's reassurance, you can't help but feel a twinge of unease about your neighbor's behavior. Maybe it's best to keep a closer eye on him in the future, just to be safe.
-
It's late, really late. Luna is back home, but thankfully she's asleep. You've been up waiting for Jenna since she left in the afternoon, but it's already well past midnight.
You open up your phone to try to ring Jenna's phone again, but these past few hours have been filled with unanswered calls and messages. Your mind starts to wander, imagining all sorts of worst-case scenarios. Maybe she got into an accident or lost her phone. You don't fucking know, but you're scared.
On cue, your fiance makes it through the door with messy hair and a tired expression on her face. She apologizes for being late, explaining that she lost track of time while catching up with Joe, your creepy, stalky neighbor.
You get up from the couch with an angry expression on your face. "Why's your hair all messy?" You demand, frustration evident in your voice. She begins to explain, "I put my head out the window after I finished my burger—a very good vegan burger, by the way. Why are burgers so tasty?" she asks, trying to lighten the mood.
You can't help but feel a pang of jealousy towards Joe, wondering why she would spend so much time with him, especially after she knows how you feel about him. Going on late-night burger runs and sharing inside jokes with him. It's hard not to feel like you're being replaced, and her nonchalant attitude only adds to your frustration.
"I have to stop hanging out with my friends, but you get to go on all-day dates with Joe?" You sarcastically question, furrowing your eyebrows.
Jenna shakes her head, "Please. Not tonight." You feel yourself getting angrier by the second, your voice rising as you continue, "Do you see the way he looks at you? We literally caught him staring at you through his window?"
Jenna clenches her jaw, her eyes narrowing with annoyance and anger. "Why do you even care? It's not like you love me anymore." You pause, taken aback by Jenna's words. "What? Jenna, that's not true. I do love you."
Jenna lets out a fake laugh, rolling her eyes. "You know...you might think you're protecting my feelings, but it hurts ten times harder when you lie."
"I'm not an idiot, Y/N. I know you fucking kissed her that night." You feel a lump form in your throat as Jenna's accusation hangs in the air. Your mind races, searching for the right words to defend yourself. "Jenna..."
Jenna laughs, a bitter sound that cuts through the tension. "So sorry if I like spending time with someone who actually might be interested in me!" Her voice cracks, betraying herself.
"You're not being fair, Jenna! You can't blame me for being confused! You don't get to be conflicted! I'm...fucking lost! I don't know if I love you, there! I said it! I don't know if what we have is genuine because my soon-to-be wife fucking stalked me for years and killed anyone I tried to get close to. I've been living in fear, constantly looking over my shoulder." You yell, the veins in your neck coming out as you release your pent-up anger.
"I'm so fucking scared of you, Jenna. I don't know if you're going to hurt me...for not being 100% into you all the time, hurt someone for attempting to get close to me, or...hurt our daughter. So excuse me for even trying to find a safe haven."
Your words hang heavy in the air as you struggle to catch your breath. Jenna is at a loss for words, unsure what to say or how to respond to your raw and honest outburst. You watch her lips tremble slightly as she tries to form a response, but no words escape.
"...Fuck you, Y/N." She finally replies, pushing past you to leave the room.
-
"Y/N, hey!" You turn around to see Joe. You put on a fake smile; you're pissed off at this guy, and not only that, but he's interrupting your walk to clear your mind.
"Hey Joe, what's up?" you respond, trying to maintain your composure despite your frustration.
"I just wanted to see if you were doing okay." Joe's concern catches you off guard, and you can't help but soften your expression slightly. "Thanks; I'm fine. Why wouldn't I be?" Joe hesitates for a moment before answering, "Well, Jenna told me earlier that you two were planning on calling off the engagement."
Your heart skips a beat at Joe's words. Why the hell would she want to call off the engagement and not you? "Jenna must have misunderstood," you say, trying to hide your unease.
"We're not calling off the engagement. Everything is fine between us." Joe looks relieved but still seems skeptical. "Are you sure? Jenna seemed pretty convinced. Maybe you should talk to her and clear things up."
Yes, of course. You'll talk to your fiancé. You nod, turning back around to continue walking. "Oh, and Y/N," Joe calls out as you start to walk away, causing you to turn back around.
You feel something heavy hit your head, and your world turns black as you collapse to the ground.
When you regain consciousness, you find yourself in the same situation you were in years ago. Except this time, Jenna isn't present, but Joe, your neighbor, is.
"Fuck...not this shit again." You mutter, using the class cage to help lift yourself from the ground.
Joe tilts his head, confused. "Again. You're telling me you've been put in this situation before?" You touch your head, looking for any signs of injury. "Yeah," you reply, wincing at the pain. "I already know not to freak out and bang against the glass this time."
"Jenna must really like you," Joe says, raising an eyebrow. "She's the one who put you in something like this, right?" You nod, frustration evident on your face.
"I guess she learned from my old tricks." You chuckle bitterly, asking. "What the fuck are you talking about?"
Joe smirks, standing up from his chair. "Well, let's just say Jenna isn't the first person to trap someone inside of a glass box; neither was I, but I think...I might've been the one to inspire her."
You raise an eyebrow, intrigued by Joe's cryptic statement. "What do you mean?" you inquire, wanting to know more about the origins of this bizarre, fucked-up situation.
Joe's smirk widens as he walks towards the glass box. "I guess you can say I was Jenna's first love, her muse, the one who possibly ignited her twisted creativity."
"I knew Jenna before everything." Joe continues, "I'd become a bit obsessed with her; she was the first person I loved after my ex-girlfriend broke my heart. Jenna had this magnetic energy that drew me in, and I couldn't help but be captivated by her. One day, she told me she was leaving New York to move to California, and I...snapped. I became possessive, desperate to keep her close to me. I put her inside the glass box my...mentor built so she wouldn't leave before I got the chance to talk to her about it."
You chuckle bitterly, not even surprised by the situation. After Jenna, you've become used to the fucked-up shit people can do. But Joe, he just seemed 10x worse. He practically made Jenna look like an angel."You guys are some truly fucked up people, man, I swear."
"Can you not? I'm pouring my heart out here." Joe sarcastically jokes, rolling his eyes. "But yeah, I guess you could say I went a little crazy. I just couldn't bear the thought of her leaving without giving me a chance to explain how much she meant to me. And seeing her again after all those years only intensified those feelings. I knew I had to do something, even if it meant risking everything."
You fake yawn, "So...you did all of this because, supposedly, my fiance is "the one who got away" for you?" Joe smiles, "Ding, ding, ding!"
"And what about Love? Your wife?" Joe's smile fades slightly as he looks down at his hands. "Love... Love and I—we've been drifting apart for a while now. We've tried to make it work, but sometimes people just grow in different directions. And I'm sure Jenna's dealing with her right now...for you."
Your ears perk up. "Dealing with her? What do you mean dealing with her for me?"
Joe looks up. "Killing her."
Your eyes widen in shock as you process Joe's words. "Wait, you can't be serious. Killing her? What about Henry?!"
Joe's expression turns grave as he responds, "I know it sounds extreme, but Love and I have exhausted all other options. We've tried therapy, communication, everything. Henry will be fine; I've already planned that out."
Joe's words send a chill down your spine. "Are you serious, this is fucking insane? You have to stop, Jenna! Joe, Love was your wife, and I know at one point you loved her. You can't let Jenna go through with this. There has to be another way to go about whatever the fuck you're doing, for Henry's sake and for your own sanity."
Joe walks away, not even bothering to acknowledge your plea. "Joe!" You shout, banging on the glass, desperate to get through to him. But he continues to walk away, his footsteps fading into the distance.
-
The door opens again, and you rise from the ground, rushing to the glass. But it's not Joe who appears; it's Jenna. "Jenna? Jenna, what happened?"
Jenna looks at you with tears in her eyes, her palm resting against the glass. "I love you, Y/N. I love our daughter, and I love our life together. But I just want to know if you love it too, and please, just be honest with me."
You feel a knot forming in your stomach as Jenna's words sink in. Her vulnerability and plea for honesty leave you speechless for a moment.
You realize that your answer will shape the future of your relationship and maybe even your life.
"I love you too, Jen. I swear. I—I won't let anything come between us again. Our life together means everything to me, and I can't imagine a future without you and our daughter. I promise to always be honest with you, no matter what."
Jenna's tears begin to subside as a sense of relief washes over her face. She takes a deep breath and reaches into her pocket, pulling out a silver key. With trembling hands, she opens the glass cage, and you fall into her arm, your own eyes filling with tears.
Jenna holds you tightly, whispering words of love and forgiveness. In that moment, you realize that your relationship has been given a second chance, and you vow to never take it for granted again.
"I couldn't do it. I thought about it. Fuck, Y/N. I was about to hurt Love and take Henry's mother away from him forever. But I thought about how I could never forgive myself, not even a little." Jenna's voice trembles with emotion as she continues, "I want to break free from that fucked-up pattern and create a better future for all of us."
You nod, pressing a kiss to Jenna's forehead. "I believe in us, Jenna," you say softly.
"Let's go, Y/N." You nod again, rushing out of the room together, determined to leave the past behind and start fresh. You make it to your car, Luna in her carseat carrier, ready for the journey ahead. Jenna starts the engine, her hands gripping the steering wheel tightly.
Your fiance speeds out of Marde Linda, and you turn to see smoke billowing from the town behind you, along with the sounds of sirens blaring in the distance.
"Where are we going?" You mutter to Jenna. She glances at you, placing a hand on your lap.
"We're going anywhere but here," she replies, her voice steady. "...I was thinking London. I've always wanted to live in England." The thought of starting a new life in London fills you with excitement and hope, causing you to smile regardless of the circumstance you had just escaped from.
Together, you embark on a new chapter, ready to rewrite your story and create a better life for yourselves and Luna in England.
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aingeal98 · 4 months
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I think there's a misconception among some fans who mostly get their characterisation from ao3, that the reason Cass and Jason wouldn't get along is that Jason kills people and Cass hates murderers. And like. You're 50% right but the key context being ignored is that Cass would literally fight to defend the right of a serial killer to live and change like she believes desperately in second chances no matter how far gone the killer is. She'll knock a man out and break his hand so that he can never shoot and kill someone again but if she sees someone feel bad about their kill or even like. Hesitate to hurt a child. She is all over that like she will fight the world just to save this one kind of shitty assassin and give them a second chance at life where they can do better.
Whereas Jason believes that sometimes there are bad people that are simply too far gone, too much of a force of evil hurting and draining actual innocents. And the best way to deal with scumbags like that is a bullet. He feels that some people don't deserve to live, and he's comfortable ending their lives. Judge, jury and executioner. Because no one else is going to kill these people and they deserve to die so that they can never hurt any victims again.
Of course all of this is kind of irrelevant in current canon since dc basically skipped over the reconciliation and development and went yeah Jason is a batfam member and he doesn't kill anymore. So currently in canon none of this conflict of ideals is likely to be addressed. But a lot of people are interested in writing fics that actually detail the steps of reconciliation which is great and I love those fics. I've just also noticed a trend of fumbling a little when it comes to Cass.
Because the root cause as to why they wouldn't get along is not just because Jason kills people. If Jason was a random crime lord Cass would probably try to help him get free of Gotham and start over somewhere else. Killing people and having conflicting emotions about it is the easiest way to get Cass willing to be your number one sponsor at murderer rehabilitation anonymous. It's Jason being someone personal to the family, and someone who believes that some deaths need to happen, as long as the person is sufficiently repulsive enough to Jason. Or even just as a means to an end to prove a larger point, if they're pathetic and evil enough. That's what would make Cass see red, because she projects herself on every single killer and Jason dismissing the possibility of redemption for them, writing them off as deserving of death, clashes fundamentally with not just everything Cass believes in, but also her whole sense of self. Of course it's not that deep for Jason like he's not going to believe Cass should die because she killed someone as a child. But for Cass is simply IS that deep and you throw in the fact that they're both Bruce's kids and yeah. They can maybe be civil in a room together with the family right up until one of them actually talks. Because like 99% of what they could say is guaranteed to touch a nerve for the other.
It's like: Damian says something hilarious and rude towards Jason and Jason jokes about that time he shot him and Cass immediately connects that with him not feeling bad about shooting Damian and starts grilling him as to why. Because Damian's Bruce's son? Or because he's a killer? Or just to get to the rest of the family? And Dick, Duke and Tim are so tired like Alfred cooked a nice meal can we all just eat pie for one night without having to listen to you two go at it.
Tim: I've literally shot you before do you think maybe we can cool it on fighting about Jason's personal ethics tonight. Because generally that ends with me in pain even if I do nothing but sit here.
Cass: You shot me with consent. Different.
Jason: How are you even more obnoxious than Bruce? Do you ever get tired of being so exhausting to be around with your bullshit righteousness?
Cass: If you're tired I can knock you out. Nice nap for you and fun for me.
Dick: And that's ten minutes in a room together before any threats of physical harm start flying around! Great job you two, a new personal record.
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mi-dori · 4 months
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Day Six
❦𝑯𝒐𝒔𝒑𝒊𝒕𝒂𝒍 𝑽𝒊𝒔𝒊𝒕❦
Game: Path to nowhere
Prompt: It's Christmas and you've decided to visit your lover at her workplace.
Warnings: None
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SALVA hospital was always busy, tending to others and so on; but today it was the least busy it had been all year, only because it was Christmas and the other sinners probably decided to stay out of trouble... JUST FOR TODAY.
And although it was Christmas, Anne still had to work, tending to the patients that were staying in the hospital. It sucked, not having your lover in your arms on this beautiful snowy day but you could take Christmas to her and that began your quest to cook delicious meals to take to your wife in the next hour.
You even made extras to take for the patients as you know that they will be sad and lonely, especially on Christmas day. You had such a kind heart, especially to strangers, helping them out and that's the magnet that attracted Anne to you and she also has a heart like that which makes it one of the reasons why you're both perfect for each other.
After an hour of cooking, you packed it up nice and neat into a bag, adding chocolates for the little ones at the hospital, then you made your way to SALVA. Upon arriving, you were greeted by Iron leaving the building. "Dr. Iron, where are you headed?"
Iron smiled slightly, "I'm heading out to collect a few supplies. I left Anne incharge, and she just entered her lunch break." You nodded before wishing her a merry Christmas. As you arrived in the hospital, you could hear chatter among the patients, some of them were reading, some were sleeping and others just stared at the wall. Walking along the path to Anne's office, you couldn't help but feel sad for the ones who has to spend Christmas alone, especially the children.
You snapped out of her thoughts when you arrived at the wide open door, seeing Anne working on some papers, her nurse outfit slightly opened at the chest area. "Anne my love," you called out softly. She quickly looked up and her expression changed from focused to relaxed, excited, confused, all in one.
"Love. Oh my." She tenderly pulled you into a kiss, as if it's the last kiss you'll ever share with her. "What are you doing here my love? Why aren't you at home?" She whispered. You placed the bag on the table and took a seat on the chair before pulling her down to your lap. She squealed before settling down with straddling you.
"It's Christmas sweetheart. You shouldn't have to spend Christmas working but I understand that which is why I brought Christmas to your workplace."
"And you brought food as well."
"I did. Along with some extras to give out to the patients and sweets for the children."
Anne smiled as her stomach filled with butterflies. The love she had for you couldn't be put into words nor action. "Oh my... you have such a wonderful heart, and I couldn't be more happy to know that you're mine. So beautiful and kind... the perfect combination," as she spoke, she admired your features, as if she's never seen you before.
Her words made you blush and she let out a small chuckle. "Well, we can't let the food turn cold can we?" She carefully took out the food you made and opened it, inhaling the scent and letting out a sigh. "Oh dear, I feel like I'm floating with this smell."
Anne began eating, feeding you in the process. Another thing that drew Anne to you was your cooking. You cooked the most amazing foods and Anne would always go back for seconds. It feels nice knowing that she'll always go home to find a hot plate of food waiting for her, as well as someone to pamper her with love. After meeting you, her life couldn't get any better and you felt the exact same way, which is why, when the clock strikes twelve on old year's night, you're going to officially make Anne yours.
Anne couldn't celebrate Christmas at home, but with a lover like you, you can make anywhere Christmas for her, even at a hospital, just as long as she's with you, she'll always be happy.
A/n:
I feel like my writing is getting worse everytime I post or my stories just don't make sense...
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stromuprisahat · 1 month
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Good teacher, but either naïve or intentionally ignorant
Siege and Storm- Chapter 11
There's a lovely passage of Nikolai passing his leadership wisdom on Alina. I'll get to it later and add a link.
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Nikolai seems like a good teacher. Supportive, encouraging. When that doesn't work, he attempts distraction by making Alina laugh, which works.
The Unwanted Kiss.
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I think the main issue here is not exactly consent, but the way they view themselves.
Nikolai's a public figure and his actions are a performance. If he's not entirely opposed to it, all the better.
Alina wants to remain only Alina. You might make her smile and wave, but she'll be always thinking first about Mal's feelings on the matter and her own discomfort.
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Careful, Nikolai! You're slowly becoming the Darkling in Alina's eyes.
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Sure, especially if you have nothing to offer. What can Nikolai put on the table, that an Heir cannot have already? It's not like work IS required on his part- just look at current Tsar.
Nikolai acts like a typical idealist, clinging to his illusions despite his experience. Building on belief in people's reason, while there is none. It's even worse than completely naive person- seeing him giving Alina pretty good advices one moment, putting all his money on unfounded hopes the next.
This is another aspect, where he and Aleksander considerably differ. Nikolai has been through some reality vibe checks, yet he clings to laws and expects to change the world in their boundaries or through legislative means. Aleksander went through the same shit so many times he knows morality is a fancy armour crushing those you'd like to protect.
~
Now when Fedyor's group appears, looking for Alina:
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You're SO right, Prince Blind Privilage! They should've sat on their asses, so your beloved First Army can slaughter them all! Again- surprising omission on his sources' part, isn't it?! Not a word about the pogroms all this time he's touring half of Ravka?
Or does he simply not believe his Army would do ~that~ (to Crown's property no less)?
Or maybe the Prince Perfect believes staged trials are legal enough?!
Or that obeying law comes before one's continued existence among the living...
There's also the option admitting First Army's wrongdoing might cost him their support, isn't it?!
Btw, they're deserters, but so is Alina's beloved, yet even the Golden Prince doesn't seem to mind. Hypocrite too much?!
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WHY WOULD YOU SET THIS UP SO WELL FOR NIKOLAI AS THE REAL VILLAIN AND IGNORE IT?!
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yanfeisty · 1 year
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— Gfs taking care of reader having their period hcs ♡ !
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⊹ [ characters ] — Amber, Dehya, Ei, Jean & Ningguang. ◞
⊹ [ synopsis ] — It's time for the worst time of the month, good thing that your girlfriend is here for you. ◞
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⠀‣ Amber
. She knows how hurtful periods can be, thankfully it's pretty rare for her but as a knight ready to help and a caring girlfriend she'll be here for you when you need it.
. Don't be afraid to have emotional outbursts with her, she already delt with difficult personalities before and she's a very patient person, ready to listen and not giving up until you feel good again. She knows how to cheer you up, and with her positive attitude you'll probably forget you have periods in the first place.
. Staying at home won't do for her, a change of scenery is needed to relax the mind, she can maybe show you how to use a bow, go on a date at this new restaurant in the city, or maybe just watching the clouds. If you can't go out because of the cramps she promises the food from the Good Hunter will make you stop focusing on the pain.
⠀‣ Dehya
. As an eremite and fighter, she can adapt to any situations and it's not small cramps that is going to stop her, she had worse injuries. Even so she knows it's still a painnnnn to have them, most of the time she would be with you but in case she is occupied with a mission, she leaves you to Candace or Dunyarzad who she can trust you with.
. She finds your outbursts kind of funny, not that she is mocking you because she got them too (which can be dangerous with someone like her, thankfully you're here to calm her down) but seeing you acting wild and unusual is a pretty comedic sight. She'll crackle some jokes if you feel bad or comfort you, a hug is always the best cure, and maybe a massage, her hands are the best, hitting every right spots where it hurts.
⠀‣ Ei
. Even if a Godess can have her period, Ei isn't affected by any of the symptoms, the cramps can't even be considered as tickles for her, so she doesn't fully understand your pain or your sudden mood changes, but she knows her lover is hurt and to this she'll make it her personal mission to assist you.
. The best desserts from all around Teyvat are imported all the way to Inazuma just for you, carefully chosen by her, as she is convinced that sweets are like medicines to ease the pain or at least making you feel better. She'll glady join you for a sweet date, listening to everything you wish to talk about or perhaps she can distract you with some of her stories.
. She may be a bit clueless about your mood changing, you want this but suddenly you don't or you'll be crying or angry for insignificant things, but she assumes it's like her and her puppet interchanging personality, and tries to adapt to your attitude, she'll comfort you the best way she can even for ridiculous stuff because she still doesn't like seeing you crying.
⠀‣ Jean
. She doesn't think it's enough of a reason to stop working even if it makes her more tired than usual, she just can't leave her post. But when it comes to you, you have the right to take time for yourself as she understands sometimes it can be really bad, she'll try to make more time to be with you. Or either she can work at where you are if it's just paperwork or you're invited to come in her office, there's no bed but she can put a chair next to her, or her lap will do if you want.
. When she has time, she likes to read with you by her side, with a book that she picked that could relax you. But, she also knows a bit of light exercises can help for your cramps, don't be worried she won't do something that can hurt you more, she'll be gentle and the best supporter.
. She doesn't like seeing you hurt so she already has medicines that she got from Sucrose and will share them with you, don't worry if there are none left for her, she prefers for you to use them, she can handle it.
⠀‣ Ningguang
. She already scheduled the time where you should get them, so everything is ready for you, pads or tampons, any painkillers, drugs, or remedy that could help were all from Bubu pharmacy and bought by her. She can adjust her schedule for the month to have more free time with you, because she doesn't want to let you alone during this.
. 100% spoils you, anything you want her assistants are already on their way to find it, nothing is too expensive and she'll be happy to gift something for you, so please do tell. Also, spoils with affection, cuddling for hours while gently stroking where it hurts the most, playing games to spend time and relax, whatever your heart wants. She is a very busy woman who sadly doesn't have much time for the ones she loves, so she very much appreciates moments like this, don't be afraid to feel clingy or too needy, because she also likes having you by her side.
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© ་ ׅ : pls don't translate or copy this | don't reblog with yand3r3/cult tags or if you’re a yand3r3 blog/reblog account.
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weaselle · 29 days
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my mother, bless her soul, is a genuinely good person who has literally saved many lives, but she does not understand what internalized bigotry is.
like she'll say "i'm so glad you kids didn't turn out to be racist" and I'll try to explain why that's wrong (i am racist, actually, and worse, i am racist in ways i don't recognize because i was so smothered in racism by my culture that there are parts of me that are racist but don't register as racist to myself when i think those thoughts or do those things, and the MOST important part of changing that about myself is knowing that it's true) but she just doesn't get it
so i'll have conversations like that one i just had, where she's like "i don't mind gay people" (which is true, right, she is totally good with gay people when they are a human person in front of her existing as a human who is gay) "BUT i don't like how all the TV shows i watch are turning into shows that are basically all gay people now".
smh. Like, c'mon ma, i know you're better than this. Be better than this.
and i was like "okay name a show" and she named a law enforcement show (whole other problem) and i was like "how many main characters are there" and she was like "about twelve" and i was all "okay probably about half of them are men?" and she was all "yeah" and i'm like "okay the, whatever, chief character, that's probably a man right, is he straight or gay" and she was like "straight" and i was like "alright and there's probably a tough guy character is he straight or gay" and he was straight and we established that it was half straight guys and half gay guys
so then she's like "but i don't like how in my face it is there's all these sex scenes" and i was like "okay so the sex senes are all gay sex?" and she's like "no but there's so much sex now and these shows used to be about the who done it and the action" and i'm like "okay so your issue is there's just, too much sex in the show" and she's like "yeah!" and i was all "okay so that's not a gay issue that's a sexual content issue, you should probably not conflate those two things" and she was like "but there's so much gay stuff" ...
(please keep in mind this is a woman who would take in a gay runaway cousin without a second thought, votes for candidates that support gay rights, etc, she really is a mostly good person, she's just a product of her generation and doesn't understand things like intersectionalism and internalization or see how problematic this point of view she's having is)
anyway we go round and round like this and she's getting more and more agitated because she wants to say she's bothered by gay lifestyles being featured on TV shows she likes, but she doesn't want to admit that this is a homophobic reaction, and since it's impossible to say those two contradictory positions are simultaneously true i'm easily making it impossible for her to justify.
Finally when i can tell she's had enough and will take any out offered, i tell her "i'm just saying, it can be easy to feel like a normal amount of gay representation is an unreasonable amount when what you are used to is none." and walked out the door. Hopefully that gets through to her.
But it's frustrating how many fundamentally good people there are who are still part of the problem because they've spent so long equating bigotry to pure evil that they can't contemplate the possibility that they, a good person, have bigoted thoughts and reactions to things.
And it's difficult to keep having these conversations (which i feel are necessary to have if we are to change as a society) when every time you try to explain it they react like you are calling them literally Evil Bad People.
but you gotta. you just gotta
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stalltherain · 11 months
Text
Manifest finale spoilers. I'm about to rant.
What the f-ck was that ending?
It might as well have all been a dream. Other than Mick meeting Zeke, a few people disappearing, and Saanvi's cancer treatment coming out soon enough to treat Cal, nothing is different than if the show had never happened.
I'd have preferred the characters find happiness in their shitty world. Or heck, even all of them dying in their shitty world to sacrifice themselves for people they love (that would have required a different setup from the beginning of s4 so that we saw the people that the passengers loved).
This ending reminds me of the dilemma in scifi where a character has to chose to live in a happy fake world or a tough & gritty real world. The show writers chose the happy fake. I'd have preferred to see the real world.
I was optimistic for this season and really had hope this show was going to be better than previous shows about explaining the mystery. Of all the theories of how it would go, resetting back to the plane not crashing was the most boring one & what I really hoped wouldn't happen. I guess it's a satisfying-ish ending if you had low expectations.
I just thought we'd actually get some answers, and was also disappointed by all but one of the character's endings. Since the show chose to ignore the mystery and focus on character stories, I'm going to address my issues with those.
TJ lost Olive, but immediately seems to forget her because another cute girl shows up.
Mick ends her relationship with Jared, because he wants kids and she doesn't, but how did that never come up for them in conversation before. Took my opinion of both of them down a bit. Then, 5 seconds after Jared got dumped by the woman he wanted to marry, he's already flirting with another woman. Took my opinion of Jarod about as low as it can get. Shame because I had actually liked him.
The Cal, Olive, and Grace we knew are all gone. Never going to even exist. They're basically fake versions of themselves now. Grace is reset back to season 1, which means she's the annoying version I wanted Ben to dump. Also, how is Ben going to explain that he had sex with someone on the plane? Season 1 Grace would not be open to the whole "hey, we went to another world or whatever" story. She didn't believe anything Ben said about it until she saw it affecting Cal. There's no way she believes his story if she hears it led to him sleeping with someone else. Unless Ben plans to lie to his wife, she's leaving him soon. If he does keep it a secret that he slept with Cal's doctor, that just means she'll leave a little later. Keeping that secret will destroy their relationship. It was a really terrible writing choice to have Ben and Saanvi hook up and then just go back to their previous partners like nothing changed. I think they're great together, but I'd have preferred nothing happen if that was how it ended.
The one thing I really wanted was for Saanvi to realize that she deserves better than the person who kept rejecting her over and over, but nope. Zero growth. I felt so bad for her and feel like from what we know of Alex, she'll go right back to her family soon. Or maybe Saanvi will get enough self esteem to get angry at how Alex treated her (both by not taking the flight and by how she repeatedly rejected her in the real world).
Vance is back to being kind of a jerk who knows none of them. I suppose I'm glad he has his family back, but his character development was meaningless. I'd rather have seem him get his family back in the real world.
The only ending that didn't suck was Mick found Zeke based on what he told her in the real world. I personally wasn't attached to Mick with either guy, so I wasn't expecting her ending to be the most satisfying. At least one story we watched ended up having meaning.
After so many shows have ended disappointingly, I just really wanted one to stick the landing. (pun not intended, but I'm keeping it) This ending was a major (pun also not intended, but I'm also keeping it) bummer.
I don't know how go wrap this up, so I'm just going to drop this. In five years or less, Ben and Grace are definitely split. So are Saanvi and Alex. Hey, maybe Benvi will get back together then. Lol.
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damianbugs · 11 months
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would love to see u talk about the parallels in bruce’s dynamic with steph versus any of the other kids like emotionally and all that <3
i think the best way to start this is to highlight that stephanie and bruce's dynamic is quite literally "never meet your heroes" —
— and that bruce had the opportunity to truly take her under his wing and help her sharpen her skills while also teaching her why being a hero can be important to her personally without trying to be her father (which is the biggest difference between her and any of his other children).
it is also important to note that bruce did none of these things the way he should've.
in a meta reading, it was 100% misogynistic writing, ESPECIALLY her robin run. bruce, as the only grown up man in her life now that her father couldn't be used, was the person who was then used to bring her down at every possible chance. but in a storytelling perspective, i think bruce and stephanie's dynamic has many layers and is absolutely fascinating and incredibly tragic.
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Batman: One Bad Day — Two Face
young stephanie watching batman fight her father, cluemaster.
batman meant something far more personal to stephanie than it did to anyone else. although characters like tim and damian had predispositions of what batman meant to people, or characters like jason and duke grew up with the idea of batman being normal in the places they grew up — to stephanie batman was genuinely just a hero.
another thing that really separates stephanie from bruce's other kids is that she is not his kid. bruce was never in a position to try and be her father, and that is not something she was actively seeking out either. to her, batman was always a hero who was kept at arms length. when they did form a more emotional relationship, it was still never familial in the same way the other kids eventually became to bruce.
this is not to say stephanie didn't become immensely important to bruce, but it was always different with her. this is why bruce could share things with stephanie in a way he couldn't with the others.
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Robin #92
after a night of training/patrolling together, bruce and stephanie have a heart to heart conversation about the future of batman.
i know a very popular idea is that stephanie reminds bruce of jason, and that is why he was so hard on her, and while there is some truth in that i think there are a lot of moments that can give an entirely different impression;
and that is stephanie reminding bruce of himself.
there is no one who hates batman more than batman himself, as he is his biggest critic. bruce is startlingly self aware of his flaws and mistakes, but has accepted that he can't change them because it would mean putting gotham as risk.
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Detective Comics 796
after a brief argument in which bruce heavily criticises stephanie, she asks if bruce is firing her. he responds "No, I'm teaching you."
it makes sense, in a terrible way, that bruce's own stubborn and headstrong desire to wear the cape to save people, to make sure their families don't end up like his did, is reflected in stephanie. this 'tough love' attitude which is more tough than love is nothing but bruce projecting his own desire to 'fix' his faults by doubling down on stephanie, in hope that maybe she'll turn out better than him.
whether or not stephanie is actually like bruce is an entirely separate conversation, but it doesn't change the fact that bruce ruined every opportunity to train stephanie in a way that didn't hurt her self esteem or confidence in being a hero.
but stephanie is one of the most emotionally strong characters. the inevitable tragedy and cruel ending to bruce and stephanie's mentor-student dynamic wasn't completely a loss, because she bounced back twice as skilled.
(and maybe that's just another thing bruce expected from her. to roll with the punches and keep standing back up.)
obviously there is a lot i haven't mentioned about their dynamic and how she was treated in general, and that's just glossing over the shitshow that was war games and her three month run as robin. but this is already way too long and i am not even on topic anymore.
tldr; stephanie and bruce truly were a wasted opportunity to showcase a deep and emotional bond as teacher and student, helping her find her role as a hero and bruce's chance as a mentor. despite it all, they care deeply about each other and stephanie deserved a better version of bruce.
i love them a lot. i wish dc would see the potential and treat them both with the respect they deserve and give their duo another chance. i think they can both teach each other very important lessons.
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2willowlane · 5 months
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i do really love emily. i don't know, but something just makes me very affectionate towards her.
femme reader, sfw, established relationship
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ever since emily was then wedded to her new spouse, there's something that she still cannot get used to. well, in her heart, it feels so natural—as if she was made for this purpose, and as if everything that has been said and done was all aligned for her. even if she does indulge in her beliefs of mysticality, emily knew that what she had was real and cemented. a best friend, a girlfriend—a wife, of all things. tossing and turning in their shared bed, emily looked at your peaceful sleeping face. she found you to be so beautiful...
her eyes glossed over each of your features, from the fine contours of your nose, to those lips of which she oh, wants to kiss so dearly. the artistic side in her finds you just so genuinely interesting, as she's able to map out all of the different proportions in her mind. even if you may not be perfect, and emily is far from that as well, you two were perfect for each other. the tailor then gave into her impulses, pressing a soft kiss on her wife's cheek; lingering a bit, as she then withdraws. she misses the warmth already.
something has been nagging at emily recently, and it's mainly due to her scheduling. normally, she'd go out and work the saloon late at night; often times, just the hustle and bustle of her shifts do get her through the hours—however, she promptly would then pass out as soon as she makes her way towards home. how emily would dream of having that taste of sleep; looking forward to it every day, since it's the most downtime she has in her day—well, other than in the morning (of which she likes to relax in her home... whenever she doesn't have chores).
it's past 11pm, and the bed already feels uncomfortable for her. she has this insatiable itch to get up, to dance, to move—but, there're a few moments in emily's life where it feels as if it's better to stay still. as if she doesn't need to go put an imprint on the new day, rather, just let the earth turn. it felt like an eterenity for the woman, as she was still just glazing over the features on your face, whilst trying to think of something to do. she already knows what she wants to do tomorrow—probably tend to her crystal garden out by the farm, and then surprise her love with taking care of her chickens. oh, how she does love birds!
possibly, she could go out and forage some? she has a few hours to make it back home, and she knows you do appreciate a fresh medley. she wants you to grow healthy wnd strong, and with all of your farmwork, combat expertise, and mining efficiency... she'll be surprised if she could find anyone that'd be stronger than you. well, not only by physical strength—she knows that you're a capabale woman; more than capable.
it makes her feel proud that her gut feeling was right about you being special; but her sense of pride over having the person she loves doing what she wants to do, and is equally proud of her own work? oh, emily's heart swoons!
preparing to go out, she then slips on her shoes, makes sure to change into something she could get dirty in, and makes her way out of the house. making sure that none of the wooden floorboards don't creek underneath the rug she's walking on, emily takes softer steps—to ensure that you're not going to have a rude awakening anytime soon. she then turns around whenever she reaches the fromt door, blowing a kiss in the bedroom's direction to say "goodbye, my dear!"
the chill of the night washed over emily. well, at least it brings her more of an incentive to get out and be active! however, she still needed to be careful being out at night without light; she could still make out some objects due to the moonlight. oh, how romantic this felt with emily, and how it just felt so in-tune with her emotions. she was glad she was able to be friends with—now, be with—someone who doesn't just dismiss her mannerisms as simply "odd" or "too weird". yes, she knows that she is far from the conventional standard sometimes, but the world would be too boring if everything was a simple carbon copy of each other.
how she felt things were different than most. you were able to be with her and understand, and even if you didn't quite get everything she rambled on about, it made you feel special that she'd want to show you all of those things. emily may have her quirks, but that's what makes her, well—her! you wouldn't have her any other way.
humming a saloon tune whilst skipping to the beat of it, just thinking about surprising you with all of these goodies makes her feel so, so upbeat! if you were there, you could've seen the color to her cheeks; how that rosey hue was something all-too familiar. picking up some dandelions along the way, she did remember to pack a wicker basket a while back; as she tried her best to then assort each of the plants the best she could. emily had an eye for design and arrangements, so it did take her a bit until she was fully satisfied to continue onto the next task. if she feels so strongly about something, she needs to vent it out! emily believes that it's a true emotion, if it resonates that deeply within her.
something about this late night nature stroll does rekindle feelings emily never quite knew she had. she never had the time to go outside and to fully appreciate the stars; however, being able to actually go out, and to observe all of the things she'd normally miss due to her body just aching to get to bed... she loves it. the fresh breeze of the spring's night air was cold, however, there's still a warmth to it. oh, well, maybe it's because she's full of thoughts of you. maybe that's it.
she then makes her way throughout town, waving to some of the nightly saloon guests as they make their way out of the restaurant. ever since she was married, she doesn't have to work as much at gus'. this made her feel more free, as she knows that she cannot simply be a barsmaid forever—there's too much on her plate to do, y'know? though, now that she thinks about it, work feels much more rewarding, if she can go home and see you, to cook for you, to bring gifts to you (from all those times you've given her some), and to simply be the first and last thing she gets to see in her days.
as emily progresses up towards the mountains, she doesn't frequent this area; as she doesn't have much of a use for it. now? she loves just how raw and natural this feels to her, as she gets a good feeling of energy coming from her. you'd often talk about all of the difficult fish that you'd have to catch in this area, and you have to reassure her that you're handling the little creatures humanely; and that they're all okay, under your care. she loves how caring you are with even the smallest of things, and that positivity is contagious. well, at least in her mind.
this was the place where she truly belonged, now that she thinks about it.
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aingeal98 · 5 months
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hello hello! i saw your post and need your thoughts and verdict (hypothetically) for yhk in the last chapter. what would yjh and hsy do once kdj woke up, what if he never woke up and remains unreachable to them after all the effort?
thoughts on doksoo/ joongdok centric and which (poignant) scene makes a neuron lit up and go ah, them. and makes you go crazy, like, every single scene might as well an orpheus and eurydice-d, such as that "cancel your skill, kim dokja"
DHGFVJDFGV sorry you're just such a joy to read on the tags as you go through the story on tumblr since the yhk tags are most often then not, lifeless
Aaaaa thank you for this it's a fun ask! :D
Personally I believe Dokja woke up. Both because I want a happy ending for them and because I wouldn't put it past yoohan to track down and kill everyone who read orv and imagined a sad ending. But also I think him waking up is only the first step. There's no way things aren't complicated afterwards because Dokja will feel guilty for putting his friends through the trauma of losing him and his friends will try and convince him that he deserves love and they don't mind but at the same time the trauma is real and it's there. So it's going to be a long road to helping him forgive himself even if they all have done so already.
I feel like YJH would be pushy at first. Like this is the guy who became a terrorist rather than try therapy. He wants to find meaning through Dokja, to ask Dokja how he's supposed to live now, and that's a lot of pressure that none of the others will want to fall on Dokja's shoulders. Which I think will be good for HSY because it let's her fall into the comfortable zone of yelling at YJH for being terrible at expressing himself and ignoring her own terrible emotions as much as possible in the mean time. So I kind of see it like:
YJH & HSY: Screaming clawing kicking biting each other outside the hospital because HSY thinks YJH is being too pushy with Dokja and YJH thinks he's helping both of them by asking Dokja for guidance and HSY is getting in the way of his recovery.
Sangah, calmly pouring herself and Dokja tea inside his hospital room: So I spoke to your mother today and she'll be here soon! Oh don't worry about those two they'll probably only break a few bones.
But then if he never did wake up... I don't think either of them would be able to truly move on. I think they'd keep hoping that he would get better and the longer he doesn't the more the likelihood grows that one of them snaps and comes up with another reckless life threatening plan to increase the odds of his recovery. I'm not sure what it'd be but I like to think HSY is the one that snaps first this time. Just goes up to YJH like "hey are you ready for me to subject you to more horrendous torment for the slim tiny chance that it could make Dokja wake up" and YJH is like "naturally".
Whether they actually succeed or whether their plan is so terrible and hopeless that Sangah has to step in and force them to accept he's gone (an impossible task but she'll push them as close to the acceptance stage of grief as she possibly can.) I'm not sure. Either way it'd be fun to read about. I haven't looked into the side stories yet but I'm curious if they might make me change my mind about any of this. For now this is how I imagine it going down anyways.
Doksoo are insane and they consume my every waking thought. Reading the webtoon after the novel is so crazy because HSY really shows up as this random villain and no one including her has any idea that she's one of the three most important people in the universe. Like she's just a little fella. A prankster who's pranks sometimes involve murder. And the way she and Dokja are so unimpressed by each other and have no idea how much they'll end up loving each other... I feel like rereading any early doksoo interaction is going to come with extra loud clown music like even Dokja calling her a plagiarist and Sooyoung being like ugh you're such a cliche like oh you dumbasses. You have no idea.
I enjoyed both doksoo and joongdok's early banter a lot like it always added a ton of energy into every scene. But the moments it really clicked for me was the whole reincarnation island arc for doksoo. Like reading his narration about Sooyoung it's like ohhhh my god he's down bad. He's as in love as I am. He doesn't even realise it but he is so enamoured by her. Like that was the moment I could see the potential for them to become as important to each other as they did. The foundation and foreshadowing was done so well, not one bit of their relationship progression felt unearned.
And then for joongdok I think it was their divorce era that really got me on board. Like they were fun in the early stages but once Dokja is convinced there's no going back and is actually emotionally vulnerable and honest with YJH and YJH gets to vent his own frustrations about being nothing more than a character... It really solidified their bond for me. It brought Dokja down to YJH's level rather than the reader he was trying to be to YJH's character. Plus we get HSY dying and traumatising Dokja for once instead of the reverse. It's what they deserve.
Also punisher and transfem YJH and everything that's implied in the novel and how that would add to to her dynamics with doksoo. Haven't gotten any solid thoughts on that yet but the concept is slowly taking a grip on me.
So yeah after the reincarnation island arc I was so fully on board with this ot3 and every single Orpheus moment that followed hit right into my heart.
Sorry this is so long and barely scratches the surface alsjsjdhdh. I'm still processing everything but man. What a story. What a trio. Wretched mirror soulmates with toxic codependency my beloveds.
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ajokeformur-ray · 1 year
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tw; I'm mean about myself under the cut, academic & work stress, I've had enough of my own shit, these thoughts are with me all the damn time, every minute of every day. Self-shipping I suppose. I feel like a shitty essay which needs to be ripped up and started over because there's no helping it.💀
*Is literally doing a degree so I can help people in a professional sense as I was saved & heavily inspired by Arthur Fleck back in 2019 and I wanted to honour that and him in this decision, regularly leans on him for motivation and comfort, tries to be someone he would be proud of and someone he could love, is three years into a six year degree and feeling every inch of exhaustion possible*
"Step step step step, just like Arthur showed you"
"Kindness and compassion, just like Joker taught you"
"He never gave up so neither can you"
*Is working a very physically demanding job (an average shifft clocks me in at 25,000 steps and a busy shift is closer to 30,000), does overtime regularly, is being eaten alive by her job and is now somehow YET A-FUCKING-GAIN almost three weeks behind on university work, is accidentally undereating and accidentally running on four or less hours of sleep every night in an attempt to get everything done that needs to be in any given day, and has so much to do that she's just sat there staring into space writing this post instead of actually getting her fucking work done because there's so much to do she's overwhelmed and scared... is self-aware of this vicious cycle and knows how to change it and keeps trying but it isn't working and yeah Rome wasn't built in a day but for fuck's sake, Erika, get your shit together before you fuck all this up so bad there's no point even trying at all anymore... she wants this and is trying her best but is somehow not measuring up and constantly beats herself up over it and needs Joker to sit her down and scoop out her brain, wash it in creek water and then put it back, let it roll around a little in there before it settles in her skull and then maybe she'll be better at all this...*
Yeah, you're really making Arthur/Joker proud right now, huh?🙄🙃
(You're basically shitting all over him because you started this for him but this is your effort level? Being behind all the time and tired mentally and physically and never being able to catch a break because if you're not working, you're studying? And somehow it's not enough and you keep repeating the same shitty cycles even though you're trying to fix them? And none of it is working? But you're still doing it anyway because the only way through is through? And you genuinely love both your degree and your job but for fuck's sake, you need a break because you're really tired and you don't feel like you should be and you feel like you're treading water and going nowhere and you'll never achieve your goal of being able to help people on a professional level which is higher than all the ways in which you already help people and you don't wanna give up your degree OR your job but baby, something's gotta give at some point and it keeps being you and maybe it shouldn't be anymore and you just gotta rework some things so you can pull this outta your ass because you do love it and you're just tired and frustrated right now and that's okay. And eyes on Joker, Erika, he knows the way, he got you this far, keep him close even though you feel so distant from him that you just wanna go back to 2019 so you can meet him for the first time all over again and fall in love with him all over again and you just need to remember your reasons why so you can move forward and keep doing your bestest for Arthur...
Even though you feel like he would see all this and be appalled and very much not be proud or understand why you're doing this. This is the opposite of an honour and a horrible way of showing your love for him...😬
Anyway. I'm gonna go study now.💀
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ask-the-clergy-bc · 2 years
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I heard your requests were open, and I thought: Video Games!
How would the Era 4 ghouls react to playing the Resident Evil saga for the first time?
Have a good one, and thank you 💕
WHAT A GREAT CHOICE! <3 Horror survival/Action is my favorite genre! And I know you said Era 4, but I couldn't leave Sunshine out. Hope you like!
Era 5 Ghouls Playing Through Resident Evil
The ghouls collectively splurged for a PlayStation once Impera hit! Tour buses got bigger and so did allowances! Especially with more rituals being added. So they all decided to get a few game systems to play between shows. When they found out about HORROR games however, it completely changes!
Rain Was the first to discover the popular human franchise of Resident Evil! Rain loves video games so actually started doing his research into them to find more to play! Sometimes the other ghouls didn't want to play multiplayer with him so he decided to branch out to single player. Resident Evil Village looked good so he picked it up! Fortunately (or unfortunately) the salesperson asked him if he knew about the originals... and that's how he came home with the Origins Collection and 3!
Rain: He was really surprised with how atmospheric the games could be! Rain wasn't expecting all of the puzzles though! They weren't hard, but he's luckily used to video game logic. To him it's just so funny a game about Zombies would have so many minor tasks and fetch quests! Absolutely hates hunters and whines about how they eat up all of his ammo! Rain prefers the older games because they feel more challenging and take more time. But the newer games are way more fun to play with the rest of the band and watch everyone's reaction! His favorite character is Jill and he feels like it's not a game without her.
Ember(Sodo): It started with the guitar ghoul claiming he DIDN'T like video games. And then he kept circling back asking Rain why he kept playing this game, it's just a stupid human toy, and... he is that a zombie? Ember ended upon the couch next to Rain after that. Running over every time he heard the title screen. Ember is the one who always shouts unsolicited advice for how to play the game, despite not playing it himself. He's tried a few times but he always dies or uses up all of the ammo!! Despite Rain trying to teach him that this is a series you need to CONSERVE! Which Ember finds so stupid! Why have a game about killing zombies if YOU CAN'T KILL THINGS? Also refuses to admit the jumpscares get him.
Cirrus: When Ember keeps fucking up and dying she gets sick of listening to him and swipes the controller. Which pisses him off because SHE'S SO GOOD AT RESIDENT EVIL! She gets very far without dying. Usually a Boss will either go down the first time or she only has one or two deaths before slaying it. The only problem is Cirrus doesn't care enough to finish games, and gets bored after an hour or two. She rather go do something else. But video games are a way to bond with the pack when there really isn't anything else to do on the tour bus. Her favorite is three because it's more open world and she thinks Nemesis is the better enemy of the franchise. It's a better challenge. She finds games like village a bit too boring.
Cumulus: She's more interested in hanging out with everyone than getting a turn. She finds human horror more funny than scary, so the zombies just make her laugh. Likes to say how none of the characters would survive living in Hell! But this changes when they are watching Rain play and reach Castle Dimistrescu in Resident Evil Village. Cumulus goes from admiring the story and graphics to squealing and pointing. 'OH WHO'S SHE? I like her!! Rainy, can you play as her??' She'll only ever play the Castle level, but she's more of the player that just looks around to find every secret and graphic. After that she passes the controller back to whoever wants it.
Sunshine: Despite being more used to the human world by now, technology still amazes them! Sunshine likes to watch in awe that funny little weird people move around in this screen! She more likes to ask about HOW video games work than she does about the game itself. Sunshine will sit next to Rain and ask how the enemy AI works. Does the tyrant only appear in this game? Why is it harder to beat? What's a hit box? Rain is very patient and happy to answer! Sunshine actually finds the hunters funny and thinks they are too silly to actually be scary. They can't believe that humans would find the game scary! The original first game, when the ghouls get a copy, is her absolute favorite. She finds old Ps1 graphics utterly delightful.
Swiss: Low key creeped out by the enemies, no matter which version of the game it is. Insists that it doesn't matter if he's seen weirder in Hell, it doesn't make it less creepy! Won't play unless coerced, but he will stop to watch. Jump scares accidently get him every time. Specifically whenever Nemesis jumps out in 3! Swiss tries to cut down the tension by making voices for all of the enemies and characters, or singing theme songs he made up for them. He gets REALLY good at imitating the Nemesis 'STARS' growl. Hates every gross final boss giant monster. Refuses to watch the fight when they happen.
Aether: HIGH KEY creeped out by all of the enemies. The first time he saw a Licker he just shouted 'NOOO!!!'. No amount of jokes from Swiss could make the rhythm guitarist be ok with them! He's the type of ghoul who points at the screen and goes 'GET IT! KILL IT!' when he sees an enemy! Absolutely refuses to watch anyone play during the giant baby sequence in Village. The only game that doesn't get him is Resident Evil 7, which he will happily play. Mainly because the mold monsters look like 'silly putty' and make him laugh more than creep him out. He also finds the dialogue really funny for some reason. Like a horror movie!
Mountain: Is such a badass when he plays the games, and he barely blinks during any of the jump scares. He once binged Village in a single night before doing a second play through to get a full completion play. Likes finding all of the secrets and easter eggs. Everyone so shocked with how GOOD he was despite not playing games as much as Rain. Rain is just happy to FINALLY have a gaming buddy in the band! Mountain makes the same comment every time a boss appears. Very quietly he goes, "haha wow look at this one" before destroying the boss in record time. When he finishes the game he smiles and asks for the next one. His favorite is RE2 because the split story makes him happy.
SURPRISE COPIA: He didn't intend to watch or play. Like Ember he just walked by checking in all of the ghouls and started watching. Likes to ask Dad like questions about it. What is this game? What kind of game is it? Oh, is that girl a cop? Will sit down and get super absorbed into the gameplay and story... however gets too into it. Ends up hugging a pillow and jumping with noise ques. The quick time events stress him out and he'll shout button commands to whoever is playing. Unfortunately, he's terrible at video games so he never plays!
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pollocamis · 2 years
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Well. I love reading headcanons, and I don't think I saw anyone do this one yet, so I thought I'd do it myself. That being said, I present to you:
NXX AND SWEARING
or: when do they swear & how they react to swearing
Luke
he's very polite so he's not one to swear a lot
and most people think he doesn't bc of that
but he does occasionally in a casual way if among the right people
as in when he's telling Rosa about his day he might be like "my God I had a client today and you won't believe what this motherfucker did"
and yes it might sound surprising to hear he'd say anything remotely bad when Rosa's present but it's also worth mentioning they have a very intimate relationship even before they date
swearing can be a sign of intimacy right
anyway getting back on topic: he definitely swears under his breath whenever he gets hurt in a mission or when shit gets real
bc his job can be and will be stressing and what better way to unwind than dropping an f-bomb amirite
is not phased at all if Rosa swears (they lived together for so long, he's definitely heard her say some abominations)
Artem
you'd think he's at the "never swore before and refuses to do so" tier
but hear me out: he's actually done so before and will do it again
never publicly tho
he's very professional so none of his colleagues ever heard anything remotely resembling a swear coming from him (and they NEVER will.)
but when he's alone he'll probably gently do so if having a hard time in a case or feeling frustrated or in pain or whatever reason
and if his colleagues never heard him swear imagine Rosa
she'll NEVER. EVER. hear Artem swear
unless their dinamic changes a bit later on I'm not sure about this I play the global server :P
tho I don't think he'd feel very comfortable in doing so
now that I think about it, I guess he'd feel guilty or at least strange if anyone heard, especially considering they'd definitely be weird about it (WDYM **ARTEM WING** IS SAYING FU-)
if Rosa swore around him (which I don't think she'd do) he'd be confused and probably worried depending on the situation (the confusion stemming from the fact he's not used to hear ppl swearing unless it's someone blatantly trying to disrespect him)
(she isn't ofc)
Marius
regularly swears
I read "Gordon Ramsay's child" in a tier list and I'm laughing (unrelated)
he's very professional and polite when speaking to ppl in business bc let's be real who in their sane mind wouldn't be haha *sweats in Brazilian while looking at our current ruler*
but put him among close friends and this kid know no boundaries in language
in summary: it's situational and he knows exactly what situations he should and shouldn't do so
as a bonus his father probably also swears with him at home once he's reached a certain age, I don't get the strict language parent vibe from him
I believe he tones the swearing down to a minimum when he's talking with Rosa tho
yk gotta cause a good impression
but will swear if not directed at her like "Artem needs to stop licking Neil's balls lmao" (he'd DEFINITELY say stuff like this if not for censoring)
when she does it back tho he's shocked for a sec but is back on track right away
only for the first few times tho, after that he knows what to expect
Vyn
he either doesn't know swear words on whatever language Stellis speaks or simply refuses to swear
either way he doesn't
at least not that we know of...
nah he doesn't
he's at the tier "has not sworn before but can if so desired" except he still hasn't desired to do so
he's had a strict upbringing as a prince so that's probably why
and also his thing with flaws yk he probably considers bad language a flaw
oh if only he knew about famous Brazilian poet (/j) Cris Nocolotti and her song that goes "when you say 'get fucked' for the first time/ you will retake the reins of your life in your hands" (loose translation)
if Rosa swore around him (which I don't think she'd do especially since she's calls him Doctor Richter after they're dating like come ON) he'd be amused actually (again depending on the situation)
yes I did say he thinks bad laguage = flaw but he seems to like seeing Rosa's multiple sides so there's that
Rosa
she does.
let's be real have you read those stories she's in
she's almost dying every five seconds
if she's never swore in any of those moments she's the most polite girl in the entire world
or simply already dead inside
anyway I don't think she cares a lot if she's not in a professional setting
or trying to cause a good impression ofc
or around someone who doesn't swear, I feel like she'd respect the other person's wishes (hence my thoughts on her w/ Artem/Vyn)
just like Marius: it's situational and she knows the right places
she doesn't get mad at people swearing tho and will be ok with the nxx boys swearing with her
now I wonder when hearing Artem/Vyn swear would she be amused or worried
probably both
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Note
More of the Midge running away to LA
Imogene takes complete control of the packing, and Lenny has never seen anything like it. She bosses the movers around like he's never seen in his life, and Midge's things are packed up from her tiny LA apartment in no time.
A lot has changed since Hanukkah.
Midge and Lenny are both moving back to New York, having found a homey place in the Village, big enough for all three of their kids. The blackball has been lifted, but it took a little time, and an now-notorious article in the New York Times, not written by Lenny, but by the Times' television critic, who heard through a few of Ford's crew what really happened between Gordon and Midge.
He's since been pulled off the air for bad behavior, and Midge is starting to get offers for television spots and live gigs again. Slowly, but they're coming through, and with Susie's support, everything's being kept track of and vetted heavily to protect Midge, who is still on the fragile side.
Hence why there is a tiny, demanding blonde making certain all of the packing gets done, and gets done right.
Lenny wants to help, but he's been warned to stay out of the way, and honestly, he has no desire to piss Imogene off. She's already pissed off, having heard about what Joel's been doing to her friend for the last six months.
So he spends most of his time holding Midge's hand as she watches everything get done. She's been sleeping, which is good. Lenny gets the feeling she wasn't doing much of that while living out here, and the eating comes and goes.
The moving van will start across country after they've packed up all of Midge's things, and Lenny will hop a plane with Midge and Imogene back to New York tonight, after finalizing Kitty's travel with his mother. She'll be joining them in a couple of weeks.
Really the big issue is a personal one. Midge has to see Joel on a regular basis, and now that she knows what he's been up to since her breakup with Gordon, she's not exactly thrilled about the prospect. Nor is the rest of her family. Joel has been banned from all family events by Rose, and from what Lenny's heard, the man's own parents and new wife are none too thrilled with his behavior.
"Lenny!" Imogene calls.
Lenny kisses Midge's cheek. "Be right back." He steps away and turns the corner, finding the blonde standing in the empty dining room. "Yeah."
"How she is?" Imogene asks. "Is she doing alright? Does she need anything?"
"She's okay," Lenny confirms. "I figured once things are wrapped up here, we can grab a bite before stopping by my place."
"Has she eaten anything today?" Imogene asks.
"Coffee."
"Ugh. I'll kill Joel. I'll kill Archie! He probably knew about all this."
"I don't know that anyone knew, Imogene," Lenny tells her. "Not until they got a load of Midge."
Imogene huffs. "Fine. Go back to her. I'll wrap up with the movers. The movers in New York are much better, by the way. Way faster. Way more organized."
"Then it's a good thing we're moving back," Lenny says.
"Darn right," Imogene nods.
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