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reverieblondie · 5 months

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Neighbors

Chapter 1: Spider-Catcher

Pairing: TASM!Peter Parker x Reader

Warnings: None for this chapter ;) but be warned this series will be SMUTTY!

Summary: Moving to a new city could be challenging for anyone. Your new home is taking a lot of getting used too. Maybe you can make a friend, preferably someone who is okay with catching spiders...

A/N: Okay...I know this isn't Miguel content...but we are just going to pretend it's 2014 so I can have my moment with tasm!peter. This story was originally for Peter B. but then I watched The amazing Spider-Man and emotions took over. This will be a series I will be writing so please look for updates. Also I have a Miguel series in my drafts and a small dark fic for him. Plus I am also working on Gabriel O'Hara fic as well so hope you will keep your eyes out for those. Please comment if you want to be on my tagging list! And request are open!

Word Count: 1,787

Part 2 Part 3

Chapter 1: Spider-catcher

“Hey on your left!”

A man on a bike rushes past you while you are walking. Hands filled with overflowing grocery bags, you had not seen that you had wandered into the bike lane. Jumping out of the way you narrowly avoid getting mowed down by the angry cyclist.

“Mororon!” the man yells back at you

“I'm sorry!” escapes your lips as you shout out to the man who is long zipped by “dick…” you mudder under your breath. Sure you were in the wrong lane but you didn’t see your mistake so he shouldn’t have been so angry with you.

You sigh, taking a mental note: watch out for New York bike riders…stay out of their lane

The short walk from the store ends when you reach your new apartment building, well, new to you. The complex itself was ancient in a bit of a sketchy area but the rent was cheap for New York, so you would not rethink your dwelling too much, though sometimes it was hard to stay optimistic.

When you first moved into the apartment it was…depressing…It had bare walls with some cracks, the smell of smoke completely taking over the place, and decked out with some ancient appliances you were grateful at least worked. The last three days had been spent moving in your furniture, getting a job, and scrubbing down every wall in your apartment to rid of any suspicious grime. Now with your apartment decorated and you living there for the past few days, you felt like you were finally adjusting to the residence.

You hope that once you get your groceries in and have your first home-cooked meal in the place it will definitely feel like home. Being new to living on your own and new to the city everything was taking some…adjusting. Call it cliche but you had always dreamed of moving to New York ever since you were a little girl, so when you got the chance to move up here for school you were eager to jump at the opportunity. Who wouldn’t want to move to the city where dreams are supposed to come true right?

Now that you're living it however it was not the tale of living up your dreams like you had envisioned as a child. In your dreams, you expected to live in a large lavish apartment, unlike the more than modest one you were currently in. You would have tons of friends and go out every day, your going out consists of you going to pick up take-out and as for friends, you didn’t know anyone.

Classes didn’t start for a few days and you started work tomorrow, hopefully, some friendship opportunities will present themselves soon. Another childish thought you had in your mind was, that you would be friends with everyone at your complex, but with the way people seemed less than friendly towards you, that thought was seeming to fade more and more. Just need to stay positive, you haven't even been here a week, don’t let it get you down, was the mantra you just kept repeating in your head.

Pushing through the front door of the complex, you make a beeline for the elevator. There is no way you are going to be carrying all your groceries up the stairs where you live on the 12th floor, no way that is happening! Getting into the elevator after making the journey from the store to your apartment; you're thankful that the cramped elevator is empty so early in the morning.

Living on the 12th floor had its perks but also had its cons, especially when you had a slow elevator. It takes a creaking and shaking eternity to get to your floor; you're sure your ice cream must be starting to melt by now. Finally hearing the ding you get off and walk across your floor. As you set your groceries down, digging for your keys in your purse, slight movement catches your eyes forcing you to look up towards your door.

Right on your door above the knob was the biggest spider you had ever seen. Spiders and you had never been best friends, in no way did you want to kill one, you just thought that it was best they lived their lives away from you and your home. Looking at the spider it seems harmless, it’s not like it seems poisonous or life-threatening. Maybe you can just scare it? Shoo it away? It's huge but maybe it will get scared and run off your door. Just be tough, it's just a spider…a huge spider…with creepy eight legs…and fangs…staring at you….

Shuddering at the thought of the spider you can feel yourself developing arachnophobia by the second. Getting a grip on yourself, you push down the bubbling fear and motion your hand like you're waving the spider off. Your whole body teases hoping it won't run anywhere near you or worse jump on you. It’s just a dumb spider, what could it really do to you?

Little did you know that this spider was no punk, this spider must have seen a thing or two because instead of being normal and running off it, hissed and you swear it jumped towards you!

The sudden movement of the spider makes you recoil with a startled scream. Now would you usually jump like this? No, but this spider was out for blood you could see it in his evil eight eyes!

As you're moving back in panic, the door across from yours flies open with a guy around your age coming out of it looking alarmed. The sudden appearance startled you causing you to jump away from him, landing your back on the door you were just screaming at. The fluffy-haired guy looks at you with wide eyes not understanding at all what is happening.

Opening your mouth to apologize and give an explanation you turn and see the spider close to your face, The sudden proximity makes you scream again which in turn makes the neighbor scream.

Jumping from your door you grab onto the stranger and hide behind his back using him as a human shield from the spider, “Get it! Get it! Get it!” is all you can manage as you cling to his shirt. His hands are raised in surprise as you paw at his back, keeping your eyes on the spider. His eyes are on you with that same look of confusion on his face as to why some random person is screaming and now clinging to him.

“What are you talking about?” He asks in a confused tone and a hint of frustration.

Looking up at him, pointing to your door you're an incoherent mess, “H-h-huge spider!”

“Huge spider…” He repeats before he looks at your door and sees the spider, in your eyes it’s an aggressive beast, to his eyes it's a common spider seen around the building all the time.

Understanding the situation he sighs and you take it as a sign to let go of the person you don’t even know. Watching as he shakes his head and goes back into his apartment you feel your heart sink that you won’t be getting help for your spider problem. Approaching your door you look around trying to figure out a plan, but suddenly a hand is tapping your shoulder. Turning around, you see he has reappeared with a paper and an empty Chinese take-out box nudging you to move out of the way.

Standing back you watch as he effortlessly places the box over the spider and then slides the paper under it. As you're watching him trap the creature you start to really take in his appearance. Looking at his outfit you see a worn-out T-shirt (crumpled in the back thanks to your grabbing) and plaid sleep pants, brunet hair that looks like it hasn’t seen a brush all morning. Now that you're looking at him closely, you can admire his athletic build with some great arms and large hands….damn…plus that face, though he looks completely exhausted he's still…kinda cute.

Once the spider is caught he closes the box and turns to you, quickly you adjust your gaze from his hands back to his face. Though when you look up at him with a smile you are only met with a look of annoyance, alright seems peeved. Wanting to lighten up the situation and thank him you go to say thank you but he just walks past you with a grumble.

“Dramatic…”.

Dramatic! The word echoes in your head leaving you slack-jawed as you watch him leave down the hall to the elevator disappearing inside. How can he call you dramatic, that thing was ferocious and sure you screamed and cowered but you're not dramatic! Plus he doesn't even know you. In a huff you finally get your keys and unlock your door, turning your head towards the elevator then to the door across from yours you roll your eyes.

Putting away your groceries you're still thinking about your grumbling neighbor, so much for you thanking him for his help. If he wants to call you dramatic you would be dramatic and not thank him. So much for the possibility of having the spider-catching neighbor as a friend.

As you're putting away your stuff your frustration must hit a peak because you decide it's time for you to give him a piece of your mind. Nobody just insults you like nothing! Who knows maybe he would respect you for it. Going over to your door you open it and see him about to enter his apartment turning his head to look at you with an unimpressed gaze.

Stepping out, you fold your arms before speaking, “Excuse me, but what gives you the right to think it’s okay to call me dramatic?”

Turning to face you he mirrors your stance “Oh, you heard that? I mean you were the one screaming over a spider.”

“A huge and scary spider”

Peter holds his hands up in mock defense, “You know you're right, I barely made it out with my life.” he says in a voice dripping in sarcasm. - great he's a smartass…

“Whatever, thanks a lot, next time I will handle it on my own.”

“Just make sure to keep the noise down next time.”

Rolling your eyes you shoot him a dirty look as you start closing the door,

“Just wait till you see the cockroaches…” he mutters

Your motion comes to a quick halt “What?!”

“Nothing~”

With that last remark, he shuts the door leaving you with your thoughts of all the other creepy critters this place could be littered with. He’s messing with you, right?

Right?!

Part 2 Part 3

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fortheloveofwonderland · 2 months

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Me & You & Everyone We Know | Chapter 20 FINAL | S.R

Previous Chapter

Chapter Summary - It’s eight months later and Spencer’s life has changed dramatically. Did he ever get his happy ending?

A/N - Final chapter folks! 'Bout time, right?

Pairing - Single Dad! Spencer Reid / Fem! Reader

Category - hurt/comfort, angst with happy ending, smut minors DNI.

Warnings - some light angst but overall long overdue fluff. WC - 5.3k

Chapter 20 - First Day of My Life

And I don't know where I am, I don't know where I've been,

But I know where I want to go.

And so I thought I'd let you know,

Yeah, these things take forever, I especially am slow,

But I realised that I need you,

And I wondered if I could come home.

“How did you find me?”

“I know a guy.”

“What do you want?”

“It’s time we had a long overdue talk.”

“What could we possibly have to talk about?”

“Spencer. We need to talk about Spencer.”

***

Eight Months Later

Spencer Reid had a smile tugging at the corner of his lips as he slotted the last handful of books into their new home on the bookshelf in his new office.

He ran his fingers over the spines and the smile started to take route, blossoming and growing until it reached all the way to his eyes.

He surveyed the room, tucked away at the back of the second storey of his new home. His old trusty desk sat beneath the old bay windows with the most gorgeous lighting drifting in through the open curtains from the surprisingly glorious winter day outside.

He slid into his leather chair and brushed his fingertips over the dark wood desk.

He’d officially moved into the old gothic style house back in the fall and the rest of the home had come together nicely. But his office had been a slow process, a tiring process.

This room more than any others in the new house had to be perfect. He would be spending a lot of time in this room and it had to be just right. And after weeks of shuffling furniture around, it finally fit his criteria.

Eight months ago Spencer had made a decision about his future. He’d quit teaching, never returning to Georgetown after the summer break. Instead he struck a deal with BAU Unit Chief Emily Prentiss.

On the weeks Maeve had the girls he would work from Quantico or go away with the team on cases. When he had the girls he would work from his home office as a consultant.

His FBI badge sat next to his computer along with his new credentials and every time he looked at them he couldn’t help but smile.

The BAU was his home. In all the years since he’d left he’d felt like something was missing from his life. But now he had found his way back to his rightful place in the world.

It allowed him to feel fulfilled in both his home and work life. He didn’t have to give up any of his precious time spent with his daughters and he was able to work a job he loved with every fibre of his being.

Since the incident the night of the art show, Spencer had not had a single sip of alcohol. He was closing in on nine months sober and honestly he’d never felt better.

He still took his antidepressants, but a much lower dose now and he’d quit seeing Doctor Sanchez months ago.

His relationship was Maeve had slowly repaired itself over time to the point he would now call her one of his closest friends.

Eight months ago he would never have believed he could be this happy again. But it just went to show what a little hard work and determination could do.

He ran his fingers over the desk again as he got to his feet. He walked past the desk and across the room.

In the doorway he turned back for one last glance around the room.

Yes, everything was falling into place.

***

You fought with the zipper on the back of your dress, huffing and puffing through excretion. When you finally got the thing all the way up your arms fell back to your sides and you let out a large breath.

You gave yourself a once over in the mirror, turning this way and that and scrutinising your appearance. You’d looked better, that was for sure. But given the circumstances you didn’t look half bad.

The pile of papers on the dresser caught your gaze through the mirror and you rolled your eyes as they seemingly taunted you.

Tomorrow was paperwork day. Today there were more pressing things at hand.

You’d received your doctorate in August and since Doctor Spencer Reid’s sudden resignation from the university you had taken over teaching his classes.

It wasn’t your end goal, but for now you couldn’t deny you loved teaching. Maybe one day you’d look elsewhere but as of right now you quite liked your place in the world.

The past eight months had been a whirlwind to say the least, and where you’d found yourself was not at all where you imagined ending up. But you couldn’t pretend you weren’t happy where you were.

You moved over to the bed, your stomach coiling a little as you sat down on the edge of it. You slipped your feet into your shoes as your mind wandered back some eight months.

“How did you find me?” You scrutinised the woman on your doorstep, recognising her from one fleeting sighting of her some time ago.

“I know a guy.” She shrugged simply.

“What do you want?” You folded your arms across your chest.

She was the last person you expected to see here and the last person you wanted to be face to face with.

“It’s time we had a long overdue talk.” She mirrored your action and crossed her own arms.

“What could we possibly have to talk about?” You scoffed.

“Spencer.” She rolled her eyes. “We need to talk about Spencer.”

Having the former Mrs Reid show up at your apartment had thrown you through a loop. You’d been so shell shocked you’d actually invited her inside.

Maeve proceeded to tell you all the reasons you needed to give Spencer a second chance. She explained to you why he’d lied to you about not being in love with you, how he was simply trying to protect himself from getting hurt again.

She went into great detail about how she knew you and Spencer belonged together and that you were the loves of each other's lives.

You hadn’t spoken much, simply listened. And when she left she tried to put the whole thing behind you so you could move on. You still had no idea to this day how she knew where you lived and could only assume someone at the BAU had given her the intel.

Two months later you’d gone back to work to find Spencer had quit the university. And for some reason the thought of never seeing him again undid all the hard work you’d put in over the summer to get over him.

“Y/N?” He blinked at you as though he wasn’t sure he trusted his own eyes. “Uh, what are you doing here?”

“Can I come in?” You hugged your arms around yourself.

“Yeah, sure. The place is still a mess, I literally only moved in a few days ago.” He held open the door to his new home and let you inside.

Boxes were piled up all over the place. A couch and a coffee table were the only visible furniture.

“How did you know where I live?” He hovered between piles of boxes.

“Maeve,” you croaked. “She came to me a few months ago and left me her number. I didn’t ever expect to use it but when I found out you’d quit I just…I wanted to know why. So I called her and she gave me your address, said she has the girls this week.”

“Maeve came to you? Why?” He frowned, scratching at the back of his head.

“She wanted to explain some things. About you. About why you lied to me.”

“Right,” his frown deepened.

“So why did you quit?”

“That’s why you came here? Really? You want to know why I quit Georgetown? I haven't seen or heard from you in months and that’s what you came here for?” He looked at you somewhat indignantly.

“They offered me your job. I just want to know if you plan on coming back before I take it.” You shrugged.

“You got your doctorate?” His lip quivered into something resembling a smile.

“I did. So are you coming back or can I take your job?”

“I rejoined the BAU.” He rolled his lip between his teeth. “Not a full caseload like I used to work, I can fit my hours around the girls now Maeve and I have joint custody. It’s where I belong.”

“Fine.” You finally let your arms fall to your sides. “That’s all I came here for.”

You turned away from him, back towards the old mahogany front door with the stained glass window in the centre but you didn’t get very far.

“I shouldn’t have lied to you.” He spoke and when you turned back around he was a few steps closer to you. “I thought I was protecting us both but really I was only hurting us.”

“I didn’t come here for this.” You shook your head.

“Well you certainly didn’t come all the way out here to ask if I was coming back to work.” He chuckled dryly. “I may always have complicated feelings towards my ex but my feelings for you are anything but. I love you Y/N. I love you more than words can describe and I want to spend the rest of my life with you. Please don’t walk away. Please give me another chance.”

Your eyes misted with tears but you were not going to let them fall. You bit the inside of your cheek in hopes of keeping them at bay.

You straightened your back, clenched your jaw and spat a simple, “no.”

You pushed yourself up, wobbling slightly as you did so. You pinched the bridge of your nose and closed your eyes to try to ease the dizziness.

You gave yourself one last look in the mirror, smoothing down the front of your dress which was a little tighter than you would have liked it to be, before shaking your head and pushing out of the door.

***

“You really don’t have to do this.” Maeve rolled her eyes at him through the mirror.

“Oh please, I’m great with kids.” Spencer scoffed, nudging the rocker a little and smiling down at the little dark haired bundle of joy.

“Well yes I know that,” she huffed, toying with the strap of her dress. “But it seems weird to have you look after my son.”

Little Elijah, Daisy and Lily’s half brother, was twelve weeks old and Spencer had almost forgotten how tiny babies were.

“It’s really no big deal. He’s my daughter’s half brother, he’s basically family.” He shrugged.

“And what a weird family we are.” Maeve laughed as she turned back to face Spencer. “So, how do I look?”

Spencer glanced up from baby Elijah and onto her and tears immediately filled his eyes. He stood up and crossed the room towards her, gaze flicking up and down her frame.

“Good gosh Maeve,” he breathed. “You look incredible.”

“Don’t cry.” She shook her head. “Because if you start I’ll start.”

“Sorry, sorry.” He shook his head, rubbing his eyes with his palms to try and dismiss the tears. “But seriously, you look amazing.”

She smiled at him, glancing down at her white, satin dress. She felt like a princess, and judging by Spencer’s reaction she looked like one too.

“Thank you,” she took hold of his hands and squeezed them. “And you’re sure you don’t mind watching over Elijah for the day?”

“For the one hundredth time I do not mind at all. For the record, I hate weddings anyway so this kinda works out great for me. If he cries I have an excuse to leave early.” He smirked at her and she removed her hands from his so she could slap his bicep.

“You’re such a cynic.” She rolled her eyes.

“What can I say?” He shrugged. “I heard eloping is all the rage.”

She rolled her eyes yet again.

“Can you believe we’re here? I never in a million years thought I’d ever get married again.” She sighed wistfully.

“I always thought when I got married it would be forever.” He nodded. “And after all we’ve been through I never thought we’d end up here.”

“Friends you mean?”’

“Is that what this is? Huh. Good to know.” He chuckled, yet again making Maeve roll her eyes.

She turned her back on him again and toyed with her hair in the mirror. Spencer moved back over to where baby Elijah was dribbling down his chin, making little gurgling noises.

He picked up the rocket and attached it to the frame of the stroller so he was ready to make a quick exit when needed.

Just then the door to the bridal suite flew open and his two boisterous daughters barrelled in, wearing their matching purple bridesmaids dresses.

“Mom!” Daisy gasped. “Oh my gosh you look amazing!”

“Mom you’re so pretty!” Lily agreed excitedly.

“Thank you sweethearts.” Maeve turned and held her arms open for the girls who quickly embraced their mother.

“I mean, I’m also here.” Spencer shrugged. “I thought I looked pretty good too.”

“Shut up dad.” Daisy rolled her eyes at him.

“Yeah dad, you’re not the one getting married.” Lily also rolled her eyes.

Since turning eight a few months ago, Lily had started becoming more and more like her sister by the day. Spencer couldn’t remember the time she’d called him daddy or the last time she’d asked him to read to her.

Life was moving way too fast for his liking. His little girls were growing up, soon enough they’d be leaving him. Now wasn’t the time to get down about it though, he still had exciting things in his future.

“Fair enough,” he sighed. “I’m going to take Elijah and get a seat. Try not to upstage your mom, kiddos.”

“He’s such a dork.” He heard Daisy say.

“Yeah who says kiddos?” He heard Lily reply.

He smiled to himself as he left the room, pushing Elijah’s stroller towards the large ballroom down the hall.

Soft music played through small, indiscriminate speakers, as people started taking their seats either side of the grand aisle.

Maeve had always dreamed of a big wedding, their own nuptials at city hall had left a lot for her imagination to desire. And Spencer was glad she was finally getting everything she’d always wanted.

He came to a stop by the door where Bobby, beaming with pride, was waiting to greet people. He spotted Spencer and his son heading his way and waved at them.

“Hey, how’s my little man doing?”

“I’m not bad, thanks.” Spencer joked, now making Bobby roll his eyes. “Oh you mean Elijah? He’s good aren’t you buddy?”

Bobby crouched down and cooed over his son for a moment or two, placing a kiss on his forehead before standing back to his full height.

“Thanks for being here, man. It means a lot to Maeve that you approve of this.” Bobby smiled a gentle smile at him.

“I just want her to be happy.” Spencer shrugged. “And I’ve never seen her happier than when she’s with you.”

Bobby extended his hand and Spencer took it, shaking his ex-wife’s soon to be new husband's hand.

It was probably extremely weird if he stopped to think about it, but that was a thought for another day.

“Are you happy, Spencer?” Bobby surprised him when he asked.

A smile toyed on Spencer’s lips as he closed his eyes briefly and gave thought to his life. When he opened his eyes again his smile grew.

“You know what? I really am.” He nodded.

Bobby patted him on the shoulder before Spencer took the stroller again and headed through the doors.

He headed towards the bar in the corner, spotting JJ, Will and the boys already in their seats and offered them a wave as he passed.

Towards the bar he saw Luke and Garcia, holding hands and giggling between themselves. Nearby Rossi sipped his scotch and tilted his glass at Spencer as he passed.

Cameron was hovering on the other side of the room, looking much like a spare part. He didn’t know anyone here and was instructed to wait patiently for his girlfriend while she fulfilled her bridesmaids duties.

The rest of the team were due to be here but the ceremony wasn’t due to start for another half hour so he had no doubt they’d be here soon.

He pushed the stroller up to the bar and applied the brake, ordering himself a club soda and leaning on the bar top while he waited.

Elijah started to stir, his gurgling noises starting to sound a little strained. Spencer stood back up and peered in his stroller.

“Hey you,” he reached towards the tiny boy and unclipped him from the seat. “It’s ok.”

He lifted Elijah from the stroller, his little face contorted as though he may start crying at any moment. Spencer held the back of soft head and brought him to his chest, cradling him in his arms.

“It’s ok, it’s ok.” He bounced him gently. “Don’t cry, it’s your mommy and daddy’s big day. We don’t want tears.”

He rocked him back and forth and thanked the bar tender when he placed his club soda on the bar. Elijah continued to gurgling, but the rocking motion seemed to calm him.

“It’s ok.” He kissed the side of Elijah’s head.

He’d missed this. He missed when his girls were this small and they didn’t talk back to him and one cuddle from their daddy solved all their problems.

He missed sneaking into their rooms at night just to watch them sleep when the baby monitor wasn’t enough. He missed the way they would cling to his hand so tightly, the way they’d once thought their dad was a superhero.

He loved his girls, more than humanly possible. He loved them as babies, as toddlers and he loved them now, one as a teenager and another who thought she was a teenager.

But as time went on Spencer felt like his girls needed him less and less with every passing day. He sometimes felt redundant as a parent, like his job was done.

Elijah was brand new. Maeve and Bobby would have all those things he’d taken for granted with Daisy and Lily.

Sometimes he wished he could go back in time, really savour those moments. In the blink of an eye his girls would be going off to college, having families of their own and then they really wouldn’t need him anymore.

He held Elijah a little longer than he needed to, momentarily pretending he was Daisy or Lily and he had a chance to do it all over again.

“You’ve got your whole life ahead of you little man. And you got so lucky. You’re mom and dad love you so much and you have the two best sisters in the whole world. And this extended family of yours…” he trailed off, glancing around the room at his family, his BAU family. “You don’t know how lucky you’ve got it kid.”

He started getting a little misty eyed as he stroked Elijah’s head, still rocking him in his arms. Elijah made a happy little cooing sound and Spencer smiled to himself. He closed his eyes and breathed in that new baby scent, imagining one of his daughter’s in his arms when they were so small and vulnerable.

“That’s a good look on you, daddy.”

His eyes snapped back open and he couldn’t hold back the smile on his face. He cautiously laid Elijah back down in his stroller, buckling him back in.

“Just remembering what it was like, it's been a while.” He chuckled, reaching out his hands. “You look like a goddamn dream.”

“You say that like you didn’t see me this morning.” You laughed, taking hold of his outstretched hands.

“You somehow look more beautiful every single time I lay eyes on you.” He pulled you close by your hands and moved them to cup your face.

“You’re not going to cry are you?” You teased him as he kissed you.

“I can’t promise anything.” He laughed against your lips.

“I may always have complicated feelings towards my ex but my feelings for you are anything but. I love you Y/N. I love you more than words can describe and I want to spend the rest of my life with you. Please don’t walk away. Please give me another chance.”

Your eyes misted with tears but you were not going to let them fall. You bit the inside of your cheek in hopes of keeping them at bay.

You straightened your back, clenched your jaw and spat a simple, “no.”

Turning away from him towards the door, you soon felt a hand on your shoulder.

“That’s not good enough for me.” He turned you back to face him. “I cannot let you walk away again.”

Before you knew what was happening, Spencer caged you back against the door and kissed you. And despite everything, all the pain and hurt he’d caused you, you kissed him back.

And the rest, as they say, was history.

You didn’t walk away, couldn’t even if you tried. You hadn’t walked away in the six months since and you knew you never would.

Four weeks later you moved into his new home with him and the girls.

Daisy and Lily adored you and in return you loved them just as much. They enjoyed having another woman around and oftentimes the three of you would gang up on their dad, much to Spencer’s chagrin.

Daisy talked to you about things she wasn’t always comfortable talking to her parents about. Lily liked it when you braided her hair. They both enjoyed the shopping trips you took them on.

Spencer kissed you once more before letting go of your face and taking hold of one of your hands again.

“This place is fancy.” You spoke as your eyes flitted around the grand room.

“I did try to explain to her the benefits of eloping.” Spencer shrugged, a small smile tugging at his lips.

“It’s not for everyone.” You chuckled.

Spencer raised your hand and placed a kiss on your knuckles, right next to your gold wedding band.

“Do you regret it? Not having some big fancy event like this?”

“Are you kidding me?” You pulled a face, glancing down at his matching band. “The only person I needed at our wedding was you, Doctor Reid.”

Some might say it was too soon, that the two of you had rushed into things but they would be wrong.

When you know, you know and you both knew beyond a shadow of a doubt that you were meant to be together and didn’t want to waste a second not being married. Nothing had ever felt so right as standing up in that little Vegas chapel and promising each other forever.

“I love you so much. Doctor Reid.” He squeezed your hand.

The kiss lasted several minutes and by the time Spencer pulled back you were both panting.

The look he was giving you was like no look anyone had ever given you before. And it told you all you needed to know.

This man was incomparably in love with you, and would go to the ends of the earth for you. This man would do anything for you.

He’d made some mistakes, but so had you. Life wasn’t always perfect, there would always be bumps in the road. But with any luck the hardest hurdles were now in your past.

He loved you and you loved him and it was just as simple as that.

“I don’t want the best days of my life to have passed me by. I want it all, Y/N. I want to get married, I want to have more kids. And I want it with you.”

“It really is a good job we don’t both work at Georgetown anymore, two Doctor Reid’s is just confusing.” You laughed.

“Well I think it could be done. There would just be the hot Doctor Reid and the other Doctor Reid.” He shrugged, his eyes sparkling playfully.

“Which one am I?”

“You will never know, my love.” He chuckled, pulling you close again and kissing you slightly more fiercely than was appropriate for the current setting.

Before things could get too hot and heavy, Elijah whined, tearing the two of you apart. You both moved to his stroller and looked down on him.

“Hey little man, what seems to be the problem?” You stroked his wrinkly forehead.

He kicked his tiny legs, blowing little spit bubbles in his mouth. Spencer cooed at him while you continued stroking his head.

Within a few seconds he calmed down again, perhaps he just wanted some attention. Baby’s and dogs weren’t all that dissimilar, Taco had a penchant for whining when he wanted attention.

“Oh jeez, I’m sorry. I didn’t ask if you wanted a drink.” Spencer stood back up and picked up his club soda.

“Just water, please. I’ve been feeling a little queasy again this morning.” You rubbed your stomach.

“Hopefully that’ll pass soon.” He kissed your cheek before getting the bartender's attention again and ordering you a glass of water.

Soon after handing it to you, Daisy and Lily in their beautiful dresses, carrying bouquets, were heading your way.

Spencer saw the coy smile Daisy sent in the direction of her boyfriend and it made his stomach tighten. How he wished he could slow down time so his daughter never got older.

“You need to go sit, it’s starting in a minute.” Daisy demanded.

“Sit please.” Lily echoed.

Spencer looked between his girls and you and little Elijah who could now barely keep his eyes open. He was flooded by nostalgia, weddings always did have that effect on him.

The girls turned to leave, to finish their rounds but Spencer stopped them.

“Hey, pumpkins?” His voice cracked a little as he spoke.

“Stop it.” Daisy frowned at him, hearing the way his voice broke.

“Stop what? Spencer frowned back.

“I can see you getting sappy. Don’t do it. Please, dad?” She begged him.

“Yeah please, dad?” Lily repeated.

“I’m sorry, I can’t help it.” He looked over at Elijah again. “I just miss when you girls were that little. When you needed me.”

You slipped your hand in his, giving it a squeeze to try and tether him to the present before he went down a rabbit hole into the past.

Daisy and Lily looked at each other, communicating subconsciously in the weird way sisters seemed to be able to do.

“We’ll always need you, dad.” Lily spoke as they looked back at him.

“You will?”

“Of course, you’re our dad.” Daisy shrugged.

“We love you.” Lily insisted.

“I love you both so much.” His voice cracked again, eyes misting with tears.

“Oh god,” Daisy groaned. “Do not cry. Stop it.”

“Make him stop, Y/N.” Lily looked at you pleadingly.

“I wish I could.” You chuckled, giving his hand another firm squeeze. “But you know your dad, he’s an emotional kind of guy.”

“We can’t stay little kids forever, dad.” Daisy offered him a slightly sad smile.

“I know, I know.” He nodded, using his free hand to wipe his eyes before any tears fell.

“But hey, at least you get to do it all over again.” Daisy shrugged, nodding towards your belly.

“Hey Y/N?” Spencer spoke to you from the bed of the Caesars Palace Honeymoon suite.

“Yeah?” You called back from the bathroom.

“Let’s make a baby.”

You frowned to yourself and put down your toothbrush, padding back into the bedroom.

“Excuse me?” You leant against the doorframe, your new husband lying naked on top of the covers.

“Let’s make a baby.” He repeated.

You’d come off your pill a week or so ago after you’d discussed wanting to try for a baby at some point in the future. You were still using condoms though and Spencer still never finished inside of you.

“Right now?” You questioned.

“Why not?” He shrugged.

“We literally just got married like five hours ago.” You laughed, stepping further into the room.

“I don’t want to wait.” He reached for you as soon as you were close enough, pulling you down to the bed. “Let’s make a baby.”

Your hand involuntarily went to your growing stomach, the one that you could barely fit inside this dress. You were at fourteen weeks and only just starting to show, it wouldn’t be long now before none of your clothes fit you.

“That is true.” Spencer looked at you with a smile that lit up the entire room.

He was now for three for three. Three times in his life he had unprotected sex, finishing inside of someone, and all three times he had gotten them pregnant. He often wondered if he had some kind of super sperm.

He placed his free hand on top of yours on your stomach, on the future addition to his pumpkin patch, to his crazy, slightly unconventional family.

He wouldn’t change his past, wouldn’t change Daisy and Lily or the way they were brought into the world. But this new baby growing inside of you, you at his side as his wife; this was the life he chose and the life you both chose to make.

“Anyway, you seriously need to go and sit down, mom will be pissed if you miss this.” Daisy snapped him out of his revere.

“Please don’t use that word.” Spencer rolled his eyes.

“Whatever,” Daisy shrugged. “Come on Lil, let's get the others.”

Lily happily followed her sister while the two of them rounded up all the guests and motioned them towards their seats. It wasn’t lost on him the way his youngest lit up when Michael LaMontagne smiled at her.

He swore one day he would be at their wedding.

Spencer glanced around and spotted Matt and Kristy hand in hand, closely followed by Emily and Tara who were chatting between themselves as they found seats near JJ and Will. He looked back at you, tears now back in his eyes.

“Don’t.” You shook your head. “I am a hormonal mess as it is. If you start crying, I will too.”

“Sorry,” he sighed wistfully. “I’m just so damn happy.”

“Me too, Spence.” You agreed, leaning in and kissing him. “Me too.”

The two you hung back with Elijah now asleep in his stroller while everyone else took their seats. Your own eyes took in the room, the girls, the BAU members and everyone in between.

This family had found you and accepted you as one of their own with open arms. The Reid family, the BAU family, without really meaning to you’d become a part of something you never knew you’d always wanted.

It may be slightly unorthodox, but it didn’t make what you had any less special. In fact in your eyes, the oddness of this family dynamic made it even more exceptional. And you wouldn’t change a single thing.

Spencer let go of your hand and wrapped his arm around your shoulders, placing a soft kiss on your head while reaching for the stroller with his free hand.

“Looks like it’s just me and you, angel.” He held you close, he always held you so close.

You glanced at Elijah before looking back around at all the faces in the room.

Daisy and Lily were waiting by the doors with their baskets of confetti, awaiting their cue to take to the aisle. Bobby stood proudly at the end, his best man at his side as they waited for the music to begin.

You looked over at JJ and Will, at Penelope and Luke; Matt and Kristy. You surveyed Tara, Emily and Rossi before you looked back to your husband.

“Yeah,” you smiled as you leaned closer to him, closing your eyes and breathing him in as though it was the very first time. “Just me and you and everyone we know.”

@foxy-eva @kbakery @chrissyflo3 @simxican @aysixdy @givemeth @loonalockley @shamelessfangirl-3 @derekm24 @pinkiceee-prose @werewolfbansheelove @mindbelova @weridothatwrites

#spencer reid #spencer reid fanfic #spencer reid fanfiction #spencer reid x you #spencer reid x fem! reader #spencer reid x reader #spencer reid x y/n #criminal minds #criminal minds fanfiction

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artist-issues · 4 months

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Be careful of emotional music in movies and TV Shows.

By "be careful" I mean, when you're doing that thing I never stop talking about—you're trying to figure out why a moment in a story moved you—think about whether or not the story really set up and followed the moment through...or if they just threw a really emotional-sounding track/song over top of a rushed, cheap moment.

Like in the Vampire Diaries, or Suicide Squad, or an animated-streaming-movie. The characters will be saying something normal or maybe a bit cheesy to each other, the scene is about to end, and the storytellers don't have a good way to end it, so some song starts playing quietly under the dialogue. And suddenly you're feeling something, even though a second ago you were not that into it.

In the Vampire Diaries, it's usually The Fray. In Suicide Squad you'll get a punk-rock song as a new villains-enter-the-room scene starts...or several, every time a new scene starts.

In a streaming-budget musical, it might even be an original song with original lyrics that the characters are singing...

But pay attention! Music is one of the very easiest ways to engage a human's emotions. It's why influencers play inspirational piano music or covers of good movie soundtracks over what they're saying when they're trying to send out an encouraging message. It's why motivational speakers have a musical pad under everything they're saying. And yes, it's why movies use music, too.

And that is not a bad thing.

But what is bad is music that is used to try and make a moment impactful...but the story itself, and the characters in the scene, and the context of the scene, and sometimes even the lyrics of the song itself, can't support it.

The lyrics could be total crap—they could fail to fit the characters singing them, or the moment they're being sung during, at all—

—or it's an indie pop song that is actually about a friend with a drug addiction, but it's playing over, like, a scene where a young girl is saying "see you around" to the boy she has a crush on, so you feel all hyped emotionally.

It's cheap. It's silly. It's what Disney did in Wish (you knew this was coming, I've been on this topic for weeks)

Having Asha and Magnifico sing "At All Costs," which is a love song, to a room full of tangible bubbles makes zero sense. The song's lyrics only work if you're a pair of lovers declaring your devotion to each other—or, maybe, if you're a king and apprentice singing to actual people, not a room full of their daydreams. But!

The music is pretty. And it's literally engineered to be inspiring, and play with your heart strings. So you're sitting there going, "oh, wow, what a breathtaking magical song, I love it,"

but try and explain to me why you love it in connection to the story and there's nothing there.

Nothing that makes sense. You've just been emotionally manipulated by music. What you're really responding to is just the way the song sounds, and nothing else.

It's like the song (whether it's a musical number sung by the characters, or a piece of the score, or a pop song playing quietly in the background) is a beautiful set of curtains.

If you hang it up on a curtain rod, or even drape it artfully from the ceiling, it can do a lot for the space. It can make the place look bigger, or more comfortable, or show off the room's depth, or set off other pieces of furniture. It can even be a focal point.

But you know what the curtains need to do all that? A curtain rod. Something to be hung on!

If you just ball up the curtains and drop them in the center of the room, someone might walk in and go, "oh, are these curtains? They're pretty!" But you know what else they'll say? "Where are you going to put them? Why are they in the middle of the floor?" Because they don't belong there. The curtains are wasted on the floor.

Like a song that has no contextual meaning and is just laying in the scene like discarded curtains, arbitrarily playing with your emotions. Doesn't belong there; and what a waste!

So next time you really love a scene that has music in it at all, see what part the music plays.

If the lyrics make sense with the characters, if the story has reached a point where the song is all that's needed to accentuate the emotional depth that's already there, instead of creating it where it was lacking, then awesome. Now you can articulate what made you appreciate the song, so much better!

But if the lyrics made no sense with where the characters or the story was at; if it sounded pretty but didn't fit the scene; if it was the only emotional thing about the context of the scene—then it's not the story that you like. It's just the song, by itself. Add it to your Spotify playlist but don't say you loved that movie or that scene. You just loved that song.

Give credit where it's due instead of letting filmmakers trick you with cheap musical moments.

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im-jennx · 2 years

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ₓ˚ ୭ ˚◦˚ Ever After Legacy Challenge ˚◦˚ ୧ ˚ₓ

This is a ten generation legacy challenge that will cure you of your boredom! Each generation has in-depth storylines that helps assist you to adding more volume to your sims origins and gameplay. With sets of goals and requirements that each generation must complete before a new heir takes over.

Rules:

○ You can add in extra details/plots/events/etc, that you may want to for each generation. You can feel free to make this as crazy as you may want it to be. The goal of this legacy challenge is to help guide gameplay.

○ Money cheats are allowed to a certain degree. You can do cheats like “freerealestate” and “money 00″ for story-telling purposes. (But I don’t think you will need it XD)

○ Feel free to use MODS to further enhance your gameplay. No restrictions here just super excited to see what everyone does with this challenge.

○ ALL goals and requirements must be met before a new heir takes over

○ If you do decide to take on this challenge, tag/credit me! @Imjennx or paste this post’s link in your description box. Use #EverAfterChallenge on videos/posts/and tweets if you can :) Good luck and I hope you all have fun!

My Little Helpers:

This is a little shoutout and thank you to these two lovely simmers who have helped me with my challenge. Honestly, without them, this challenge would not have been published. They hyped me up every step of the way and lended me their advice.

@roosims & @thesimallie

These two incredible simmers took the time out of their days to help me proof read this and went out of their way to give me wonderful advice. Go check out their Youtube channels as well. They honestly deserves all the love in the world.

VIDEO SHOWCASE

If you would like to see the video shocase that I did where I read out this challenge then check it out here!

-ˋˏ✄┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈

Generation 1 ⚘ The Fixer Upper

All your life you’ve dreamed of renovating homes. It is your passion, and nothing is going to stop you! You start out as a young adult with only $5,000 simoleons to your name and an empty plot of land waiting to be utilized into something good! With your own two hands, build up a home and furnish it with items you’ve collected/bought. You can either dumpster dive, shop at retail stores, or thrift at flea markets.

However, countless nights alone in the unfurnished home has been quite lonely. You can’t help but feel like this is something that should be done with a family. So you go on dates. Hoping to find someone to settle down with, to build this legacy with. It is on your 5th date that you believe you’ve found your perfect match. You know this with your whole heart and soul! The two of you meet, fall in love, and get married all within the span of a week. You’re a busy couple, the house won’t build itself.

Soon, the now once empty lot is complete! And you are ready to move out. Move out your household and sell the furniture. Now your family is ready to move onwards to another renovation. However, this time it’s an abandoned home near the beach in Sulani. You move your family into this abandoned home and with the help of your partner, along with your little children, you guys renovate this into your permanent forever home.

Traits: Freegan, Perfectionist

Aspiration: Big Happy Family

Location: Sulani

Goals/Requirements:

○ Max the Charisma, Handiness, & Parenting Skills

○ Have at least two kids

○ Fully furnish one home with items you’ve bought/collected

○ Start anywhere at first but then move to Sulani after renovating the first home

○ Go on five dates, each date is a different sim

○ On the fifth date, you find the one. Fall in love and get married all in one week

○ Complete your aspiration up until “Caregiver”

Optional:

○ Reach level six in the Interior Designer Career

ﾟ+..｡*ﾟ+

Generation 2 ⚘ The Greatest Love Triangle

The new neighbors moved across the waters. They had a little kid just the same age as you. The kid even went to the same school. You decided in your head to make this kid your friend. No scratch that, your best friend! You spend your afternoons combing the beach for seashells and unique items to give to your shy new friend. Neglecting your after school projects and even homework at times. All you wanted to do was play with your new friend.

All things changed once you reached high school, your best friend got hotter, you got hotter, or was it the blazing sun in Sulani? Who knows, but all you knew was you have the hots for your best friend and there is nothing you can do about it. Or is there? A little harmless flirt here and there wouldn’t kill anyone right? It was at this time that your parents started cracking down on your “future”. They constantly nag you about your goals and plans and honestly you yourself have no clue. The constant badgering puts a slightly negative strain on your relationship with your parents. So when you become a young adult, you move out with your best friend to a nearby beach home.

The two of you are now ready to party all night long. Yes you still have the hots for your bestie but would you be down to ruin this good friendship if things don’t end up working out? That fear keeps you from pursuing anything with them but like before, the little flirtatious tickling, endless cloud gazing, and even little winks here and there just pulls at your heart strings. One night at the bar with your bestie, a hot new eye-candy appears. You feel a tingle, or is it the drink? You introduce yourself and sparks ignite! Thus, the greatest love triangle of a lifetime!

Traits: Cheerful, Romantic

Aspiration: Soulmate

Location: Sulani

Goals/Requirements:

○ Max the Mixology, Dancing, & Mischief skills

○ Become best-friends with the neighbor’s kid

○ Maintain an average of C throughout middle and high school.

○ Once young adult, move into a new place with your bestie

○ Go out for drinks at least two times a week

○ Meet a new love interest at the bar

○ Go on at least two dates with the love interest

○ Maintain a small romance between you and your bestie

○ Have at least two kids

○ Marry either your bestie or the love interest

○ Complete your aspiration

ﾟ+..｡*ﾟ+

Generation 3 ⚘ No Time For Love

A whole childhood of listening to the same love story a thousand times. At this point you’re surprised you’re still sane. Nothing is worse than listening to your parents rave on and on about how perfect they are for each other and how they were meant for one another. Oof, not to even mention the constant public display of affection! It was embarrassing for you!

You grew up gagging at the thought of love. The thought of “the one” disgusted you. The last thing you wanted to do was find “the one”. You wanted to be better than your parents. You wanted an education, a REAL job. After high school you set out for Uni to pursue a career in engineering. Finally you’re excited to move the heck out of that god forsaken town! Screw the beach! The only problem was you didn’t have much money to attend college and you were not going to ask your parents for money! The only other person you knew that had money to help fund for your schooling was your Aunt/Uncle. Mustering up the courage to contact them, you ask them to borrow a sum of money. And set out to start your life!

You move out of Sulani and into one of the Uni dorms. There you meet your best friend and a few lovers. But they never lead to anything serious. You weren’t looking for that. You graduated and quickly found a job as an engineer. Your goal is to climb the top of the ladder. Nothing else matters to you. It was all going perfectly fine until a one night stand leaves you with very bad news. The glove broke and now so are you.

Traits: Hot-Headed & Ambitious

Aspiration: Fabulously Wealthy

Career: Computer Engineer

Location: Anywhere

Goals/Requirements:

○ Max the Robotics & Programming Skills

○ Attend Uni and graduate

○ Borrow money from your Aunt/Uncle before you start Uni (max 10k, you can use cheats/mods for this)

○ Live in an apartment after Uni until you have enough money to buy a house

○ Reach level ten in the Computer Engineer Career

○ Visit your parents only on holidays

○ Never marry

○ Get pregnant/get a sim pregnant from a one night stand

○ Favorite color is navy blue

○ Complete your aspiration

Optional:

○ Hire a nanny to take care of your kid

○ Maintain a low relationship with your child

ﾟ+..｡*ﾟ+

Generation 4 ⚘ What the Cow Poo?

Living in the busy city was the best thing ever! There was always something happening, never once a dull moment. That is where you adapted the love for social media! Always posting selfies and Simstagram stories. Without the internet you would simply die!

A week into your new job as a style influencer, you received a call. Your landlord is evicting you for unknown reasons and you have to move out IMMEDIATELY. Stressed out, you call up your parent and they tell you that your great-grandmother has some land somewhere in the countryside.

Defeated, you hop on a plane and travel to Henford On Bagley. The smell hits you and you almost faint. The stinky cow poos and chicken feed was definitely not it. What’s even worse? NO WIFI! The place is totally OFF-THE-GRID! A one bedroom shack, a few chickens and a cow. Now you have to find your way and make this place your own.

Traits: Materialistic & High Maintenance

Aspiration: Friends of The World

Career: Style Influencer

Location: Henford on Bagley

Goals/Requirements:

○ Max the Fishing, Cooking, & Gardening skills

○ Start out in the city as a young adult and a week into your new job as a style influencer, get evicted and move to Henford on Bagley

○ Max friendship with the animals on your farm

○ Grow a healthy garden

○ Find love and get married to a local townie

○ Have at least one child

○ Loves to over dress

○ Lot MUST be Off-the-grid

○ Complete your aspiration

ﾟ+..｡*ﾟ+

Generation 5 ⚘ The Animal Lover

You love animals! They are your whole world! Growing up and living in a home with a bunch of farm animals you grew to have so much love in your heart. All you ever wanted was for all animals to have a good and loving home.

Growing up in Henford, you realized that there are quite a lot of strays but not even a vet clinic in site! So you set out your goal. Open the very first vet clinic right at the heart of Henford On Bagley. The goal is to make sure your love for animals is reached across the whole town.

When it comes to your love life, you are quite picky. You never see yourself being with someone that doesn’t like animals so you set out to only date people who have the animal lover trait. Hoping you could start a family with little fur babies running around as well.

Traits: Animal Lover & Family Oriented

Aspiration: Friend of the Animals

Career: Veterinarian (Vet Clinic Owner)

Location: Henford on Bagley

Goals/Requirements:

○ Max Pet Training, Parenting, & Veterinarian skills

○ Only date/marry sims with the Animal Lover trait

○ MUST adopt four strays you come across! You must adopt the first four you see. No picking and choosing (make sure a community lot in the town has the “cat hangout” or “dog hangout” if you do not have the mod that spawns in strays)

○ Open a vet clinic somewhere in Hanford on Bagley

○ Complete your aspiration

Optional:

○ Take a photo of every pet that comes to your vet clinic

○ Have a whole wall full of client’s pet photos

ﾟ+..｡*ﾟ+

Generation 6 ⚘ Homeless Theft

You are a criminal. A horrible one at that. One that will go through any lengths to steal and cheat. It is what you do. Some can say you got the twisted genes. Your parents were disappointed in you so they kicked you out. Now homeless and broke, you have to use your skills to earn a living.

Steal, lie, and cheat to your heart’s content. Because that is all you can do. But there is a catch. In order to stay clear from the police, you must change your appearance every time you get caught. That means plastic surgery. And it’s not free. $2000 simoleons to change your appearance. So be sure to not get caught.

Traits: Kleptomaniac & Hot-Headed

Aspiration: Public Enemy

Location: Anywhere

Goals/Requirements:

PSA: You DO NOT need to change your entire catalog of clothing if you get caught. Just the outfit you were caught in. <3

○ Change your appearance every time you get caught ($2000 Simoleons)

○ Favorite color is black

○ Only have one outfit until you can afford more ($500 Simoleons per outfit)

○ Befriend a sim just to steal their things

○ Max the Mischief & Athletic skills

○ Have at least 3 tattoos

○ Complete your aspiration

○ Have at least one child

Optional:

○ Never marry

ﾟ+..｡*ﾟ+

Generation 7 ⚘ Finding The One

Your childhood life was very interesting. Your parent(s) spend a lot of time moving around and not very much time settling down. You were taught from a young age the ropes of thievery. Yeah your brain tells you that you might want to dabble in it from time to time but you want to be different. You want to be different from how your parent(s) has raised you. Therefore you set out to start your own life and with this new life of yours you find love while finding yourself.

You have your very first love. The person of your dreams or at least that’s what you hoped that person was. After a long good time together things just don’t work out so you divorce. Then there’s the hot fling of the spring. Still trying to find yourself you fall deeply in love. Not wasting any time you both get married as quickly as you can. However, after a kid and some issues in your relationship you guys decide to part ways.

Two failed marriages in, living life as a single parent, and still hopping from job to job things just aren’t going your way. At this point it just makes sense to just be alone. But you’re a hopeless romantic. You just can’t help it, you want that thrilling romance that you read in the novels, you want that kissing in the rain moment. That is when you suddenly meet this incredible sim. It’s the fact that there’s nothing special about the sim that makes them so special. However, do you hear wedding bells or is your heart still mending from preivous wonds?

Traits: Romantic, Erratic

Aspiration: Soulmate

Career: Education & Odd Jobs

Location: Tartosa

Goals/Requirements:

○ Max the Charisma & Knitting skills

○ Must get married and divorced two times

○ With the second marriage, you must have a child before divorcing.

○ Live in a tiny house OR apartment your whole young adult-elder life

○ Name your children after birthstones

○ Marry the sim or choose to stay single

○ For each stage of your life marry and divorce a sim. (Young adult is the first marriage, Adult is the second marriage, and so on)

○ Reach level five in the education career, quit and then only do odd jobs from then

○ Complete your aspiration

Optional:

○ Have a kid during the first marriage

ﾟ+..｡*ﾟ+

Generation 8 ⚘ Salsberry Steak

You grew up not knowing how to cook. Gosh the thought of being in a kitchen just pisses you off. Like what kid wants to spend their time cooking? So what do you do when you become old enough to move out on your own where your parents aren’t cooking for you? Well, you only eat quick meals. Quick and easy sandwiches all you have to do is just unwrap them, slap them together and bam, you have a meal. Those Salsberry Steaks, takeoff the wrapper put them in the microwave and Bam! Food.

It sounds like a great life. Never having to cook your own food, just ordering out all the time and if not ordering out you’re always eating quick meals. But this all comes to a slow realization that this is not healthy. But dang it you can’t cook your own food so you’ll just have to learn slowly.

Research online or watch cooking shows on the TV until you reach level seven of cooking. Once reaching level seven of the cooking skill then that is when you will venture into making your own food for the first time. How will it go? Well you have to start making food for you to know ;)

Traits: Foodie, Glutton

Aspiration: Inner Peace

Career: Writer

Location: Anywhere

Goals/Requirements:

○ Max the Cooking, Mixology, & Baking skills

○ Must reach level seven of the Cooking skill in order to cook a meal

○ Must reach level seven of the Baking skill in order to bake

○ Loves to dress casually

○ Once you max out the cooking skill, buy the chef’s station

○ Complete your aspiration

○ Reach level ten of the Writer career

○ Have at least one child

Optional:

○ Make three excellent meals on the chef’s station

○ Simstagram each new meal you make

ﾟ+..｡*ﾟ+

Generation 9 ⚘ Pro Gamer

Your parents had high hopes for you. They want you to be a doctor, a lawyer, a scientist if you will. The immense pressure your parents put you through just stresses you out so much. This is not what you envisioned it would be. Your dreams and your passion is to win. Win in video games.

Ever since your dumb cousin taught you what video games were, you became obsessed. You play it every day after school, video games just consumed you. There was no time for chores. But you’re not just a regular shmegular gamer girl/boy. You are going to go pro. You can feel it in your bones. So you set on a journey to win at least three of the gaming contests at Geekcon.

This is how you plan to show the world that the next pro gamer is on the rise.

Traits: Geek, Loner

Aspiration: Computer Whiz

Career: Tech Guru (Esports Gamer Branch)

Location: Anywhere

Goals/Requirements:

○ Max the Video Gaming & Logic skills

○ Reach level ten of the Tech Guru (Esports Gamer Branch)

○ Start off with a cheap computer and with the money you earn from winning the contests at Geekcon, buy a better one

○ Live in a dingy apartment or your mom’s basement

○ Become good friends with three sims you play online games with

○ Complete your aspirtation

○ Livestream at least five times

○ Have at least two kids

○ Win three gaming contests at Geekcon

Optional:

○ Only marry someone who is a Geek/Gamer

○ Become a Global Superstar Celebrity level

ﾟ+..｡*ﾟ+

Generation 10 ⚘ Back to Where it all Began

Music comes to you whenever you’re inpsired. Yet, why was that so hard to achieve when you lived in the city? Not long after you failed to write any music or become inspried, you almost want to give up. But that was when an ad for Sulani pops up on the computer. This was a place for inner peace. The place for inspirtation. You move to Sulani. The fresh hot sand digging between your toes and the warmth of the sun that embraces you. The sweet salty smell of the ocean just hits you right as you wake up every morning. You hear locals around saying how great Sulani is for exercising and clearing one’s mind. The locals recommend fishing, swimming, biking all of those things just so that you could be one with nature.

The melodies and lyrics just come to you. Pick up your guitar, piano, or violin and begin to write your masterpieces when you become inspired. Journal and write down your thoughts daily. Create blogs about your time on the islands and let the peace embrace you.

Traits: Loves Outdoors, Child of the Ocean, Music Lover

Aspiration: Musical Genius

Career: Entertainer (Musician Branch)

Location: Sulani

Goals/Requirements:

○ Max the Fitness, Wellness, & any instrument skills

○ Have/adopt one child

○ Loves to dress in beach attire

○ Favorite color is purple

○ Write in journal/blog daily

○ Write music ONLY when inspired

○ Have three close friends

○ Complete your asipiration

Optional:

○ Max all instrument skills

○ Move back into the same house your sims renovated in Generation One

-ˋˏ✄┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈

Required Packs:

These packs are required for this legacy challenge but of course you can always play without. You would just have to change up the backstory a little :)

○ Island Paradise

○ University

○ Get Famous

○ Cottage Living

○ Dogs and Cats

○ Nifty Knitting

I worked really hard to create this challenge for you guys so don’t forget to tag me (@Imjennx) and #EverAfterChallenge in your videos, posts, and tweets so I can see!

Good Luck everyone!

#the sims 4 #sims4 #sims 4 legacy #legacy challenge #EverAfterChallenge #ts4 legcay #ts4 legacy challenge rules

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goatcheesecak3 · 5 months

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Adam gets a good ending because I said so

Adam Faulkner-Stanheight x gn!reader

Includes: angst, fluff, not a whole lot of dialogue, more plot really. Not written for any gender in particular.

For context, this takes place just after the first saw. The nerve gas house is mentioned, but at this point John hasn't set up any traps in it yet (he's most likely off in Mexico dealing with Cecilia right now).

A/n fun fact: this is actually all 100000% true and Canon, Adam is still alive.

You were a plucky young urban explorer, and you'd caught wind of an abandoned house on the outskirts of the city. It had been boarded and chained up, most likely to keep out squatters and junkies, but also people like you. Well, whoever owned that building would have to try harder than that to keep you and your trusty pair of bolt cutters out. You loved to explore the dead parts of the city, dilapidat buildings and forgotten homes, to see what stories they had to tell, what history they were hiding.

Upon arrival to this house, you parked your van just out of sight around the corner and double checked your rucksack to ensure you all had your supplies. Phone, torch, bolt cutters, energy bar, gatorade and just in case, pepper spray. Satisfied that you had what you needed, you approached the house on foot looking for an entrance. You found a back door, boarded up, but the wood seemed to have succumbed to the elements, leaving it rotten and weak. One hard kick with your steel toe capped boots was all it took to give way. You turned on your torch and began your usual routine. You first headed upstairs, just to give the place a once over from top to bottom, identifying any safety risks before you could explore more in depth. Once you'd reached the ground floor again, you let out a dissapointed sigh. The entire house had been gutted, no furniture, no stories to tell, just empty. You figured you wouldn't be here long. The air was still - no - stale. You cursed yourself for not bringing some sort of mask, you were certainly breathing in years worth of mould, dust and cobwebs. It smelled damp and the stench of rotting wood made you feel as though you were going to retch. Regardless, you soldiered on, in desperate hopes of finding something, anything that would make this expedition worth while. And oh boy, did you find it. It hadn't occurred to you to look directly at the floors before, but something in your gut told you to look down, and to your excitement, you discovered that you were stood over a trapdoor. You wedged your bolt cutters between the floorboards and began to pry, until a satisfying crrreeeeaaaakkk sounded out, signaling that you'd gained access to whatever secrets lay beneath.

You stood, staring down at a short set of stairs, you couldn't see where they lead. It was dark down there, darker than the house, and not just in terms of light. Something about it seemed sinister, as though you were staring at the steps down to hell itself. Against all your better judgement, you began your descent. You made note to keep the trapdoor open, it was heavy to lift, and you were sure it would be even heavier to push back up if you needed to get out in a hurry. Smart move.

A seemingly endless corridor presented itself to you, so long that your torch light didn't reach the end, instead it illuminated specks of dust floating through the air. This wasn't a basement, it was a fucking secret tunnel. Something was terribly wrong, this was hidden for a reason. You knew whatever awaited you at the end of this corridor wasn't going to be pleasant, yet you persevered.

After what felt like an eternity, you reached a heavy, rusty iron door.

"What the fuck" you muttered to yourself, although it might as well have been a yell, the way it pierced through dead silent corridor.

Suddenly, you thought you heard something. The faintest sound of a whimper. You jumped, and let out what you thought was a confident "who's there", but in reality, you sounded small and afraid. You could hear the fear in your own voice, which only filled you with more dread.

You heard it again, this time slightly louder, and more alive. It was a terrible noise, no words, just the agonising cry of abject horror. There was no denying it, someone was behind that door, and they needed your help.

"I can't believe I'm doing this" you said to yourself as you took a deep breath. You didn't give yourself time to think, or psych yourself out, you just acted. Grabbing the heavy door and pulling it with all your might. Adrenaline coarsed through your veins as the door gradually opened.

The sight you were greeted with was like nothing you'd ever seen before. Your eyes followed your torch around the room, seeing a stomach churning mixture of normalcy and horror. The white tiles, urinals, shower heads and sinks were not unlike any locker room you'd ever seen, but they were coated in a thick layer of grime and filth. In the very center of the room you saw what you hoped wasn't a dried up puddle of blood, but the corpse next to it didn't fill you with confidence. Hang on a second- a CORPSE? All at once, the stench of decomposition, bodily fluids, and the terrible sight of it all hit you like a punch in the gut. You stumbled over a sink, gagging and shaking. You weren't sure if it was fear or disgust that finally made you vomit.

"Wh.. what are you gonna do to me" a timid voice wept from somewhere behind you. You spun round, flashing your torch into the darkest corner of the filthy room. There, sat chained up and shaking like a beaten dog, was a man. His face gaunt and pale, stained with blood and tears. His skinny arms hugging his knees to his body, as he stared up at you with big, wet eyes.

"Oh my god" was all you could say, as your eyes found their way to his ankle. It was shackled to a pipe, his foot was badly bruised and clearly broken.

The man began to let out small, pitiful sobs, as though he was too tired to cry properly.

"Wh.. what happened?" You asked. He didn't - couldn't answer.

"My name's y/n, I'm gonna help you okay?" You said, frantically reaching into your bag for your bolt cutters.

The man threw up his arms in defence and retreated further into his little corner as you approached him.

"Please don't hurt me!" He wailed.

"I'm not going to hurt you, but we've got to get you out of here fast, okay? You can trust me" you said, approaching with more caution now. You had no idea what your plan was, but you knew it would start with getting him unchained.

"Hold still, I'm gonna cut the chain okay?" You said softly. Everything in you wanted to panic and scream, but you knew you needed to keep your cool if you were going to help this guy.

He nodded timidly, and watched as you cut through the chain.

"Were they... has whoever did this fed you?" You asked, already knowing the answer.

He shook his head, "They left me here to die," he managed through sobs.

Remembering your gatorade, you pulled it out of your bag and handed to him.

"Here, the sugar in this will help you. What's your name?"

He hesitated for a moment, but decided that trusting you was really his only viable option.

"It's Adam.. h.. how did you find me?"

"I'm still trying to figure that out myself. Listen to me Adam, we can't afford to waste any time, okay? We go out that door and keep following the hallway. There's a way out of here, but we've got to go now. Can you walk?"

Adam shook his head and began to cry again.

You took a deep breath, realising the severity of the situation. There was no way he'd make it along the corridor, let alone up the stairs.

"I could go back out, and call for help, but you'd have to wait here"

Adam's eyes widened and suddenly he was clinging onto you, like a frightened child on their first day of school

"Don't leave me, please don't leave me" he blubbered, his words almost inaudible.

You suppressed the urge to cry. Seeing a grown man, so frightened, so alone that he was reduced to this... all you wanted to do was hug this poor stranger. In that moment, you knew you couldn't leave him there alone. He must have seen unspeakable horrors in that room, you couldn't leave him there wondering if you were ever coming back.

"Listen to me, Adam. I'm not gonna leave you, we can figure this out. Here," you handed him your rucksack, "put this on, and then get on my back. You'll be in charge of shining the torch, and I'm gonna carry you out of here, got it?"

He nodded, and very hastily obliged, taking huge breaths and trying to steady himself.

His hands were tight around your shoulders, his muffled cries close to your ears as you carried him. He was light, it was clear that he had been down there without food for too long, but it made carrying him easier.

You couldn't quite run, but you steadily jogged through the corridor, your pulse so strong you could practically taste it. You flew up the stairs, and to your relief, the trapdoor was still open, and the house still vacant. You wasted no time getting to the back door and out into the night.

Taking in his first breath of fresh air since who knows when, Adam began to sob uncontrollably, still clinging onto your back.

"Nearly there" you spluttered, beginning to run out of breath. Realising how close you were to your van, a surge of adrenaline spurred you on and by some miracle, you sprinted the last stretch to your van.

You buckled Adam in and headed straight for the hospital.

A few days later

You'd exchanged details with the police and the hospital staff once Adam was being taken care of. You'd given your witness statement and lead the police to the scene of the crime, and now, a few days later you could finally relax a bit. But not entirely, you couldn't stop thinking about Adam. No one even knew he was missing, he would have died if you hadn't accidentally stumbled upon the monster's lair. From what you knew, he had no one. That was when the phone rang, it was the hospital. Adam, having been seen to and fit enough to talk to people, had asked the hospital staff to contact you. They were asking if you'd come to visit later that day.

"Of course, I'll be there! How's he doing" you asked the nice lady on the other end of the phone.

"Much better now, he'll look forward to your visit".

You entered the hospital ward, armed with a bunch of flowers and a get well soon card. You weren't sure if Adam was the type to be into flowers, but you figured it was at least a nice gesture. Adam looked much better indeed, his face had more colour, his arms looked less feeble. He was attached to a drip, you assumed that was something to do with the malnourishment, his foot in a cast and he had a neat dressing on the would in his shoulder.

"Hey, big guy," you smiled, as you approached his bed, sitting down beside it.

"Y/n, you came!" He beamed. This was nothing like the Adam you'd met the other day.

"Of course I did! How are you feeling?"

He reached out and took your hand, a content smile stretching across his face.

"Great, thanks to you. I don't even know what to say, you saved my life"

You knew you'd saved his life, but something about hearing him say it to you out loud just tugged at your heartstrings. You felt your eyes well up, as you squeezed his hand.

"Hey, don't get all soft on me now" he teased, in a reversal of roles where he was now the one to comfort you. "All you did was carry a man from the pits of hell, it's not a big deal or anything" he joked.

You let out a small chuckle.

You really liked Adam's sense of humour, and you couldn't begin to describe how wonderful of a feeling it was to see him laughing and joking. To see him safe and comfortable after that terrible ordeal.

Your visits with Adam became a regular thing, and quickly the two of you became close. You supported him through every step of his recovery, and once he was discharged, you kept in touch. Often meeting for coffee, going on walks. You learned about Adam's love of photography, and watched fondly as he took candids of people on the busy streets, or every now and then snapped one of you because in his words, "the lighting brings out your eyes". Over the course of the next few months, this friendship blossomed into something more. It started when you'd come over to keep him company, he'd been having trouble with nightmares and you were there to help him deal with them. One thing lead to another, and you'd found yourselves cuddled up in his bed admitting your feelings for one another.

A year on from the ordeal, though Adam was still struggling, he was practically a new person.

JIGSAW KILLER SURVIVOR CELEBRATES ONE YEAR OF FREEDOM

Read the front page of a local paper.

On this day last year, local man Adam Faulkner-Stanheight got a second chance at life, when urban explorer y/n miraculously discovered him while investigating an abandoned home on the outskirts of the city.

"Babe, look at this, we've been papped" you chuckle, handing Adam the morning paper as you sipped your coffee.

In perhaps the most an unconventional meet-cute we'll ever see, Mr Faulkner-Stanheight and Miss/Mr y/n, appear to have found love with eachother, despite the traumatic way in which they met. The two now live together and co-own a successful photography business.

Adam smiled fondly at the article, until he noticed the attached picture of the pair of you sat in a café window. He let out a groan.

"Why did they have to use that picture, I look like I'm a having a stroke" he whined, causing you to chuckle.

"Well I think you look very handsome," you peck his cheek and pour some coffee into his mug.

Life is good.

A/n first Adam fic! Ik it was a little rushed, but I honestly just wrote it so I can live in denial comfort myself by giving him a happy ending😭 Hope I did our pookie bear justice <3

Requests are open! Check my pinned post for details and masterlist :^)

Replies and reblogs are very much appreciated bc I don't have many saw mutuals and I'm tryna locate some teehee

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copperbadge · 1 year

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Whenever I think about “mental images” or “a song stuck in your head” these days, I think about aphantasia and how that impacts perception. (Aphantasia is the condition of not seeing images or hearing sounds in your head -- most of the population does, but those with aphantasia do not, or do to a very diminished degree.)

I’ve talked about how I don’t have locked mental images of my characters or their homes and such. Things can move around as needed -- like a sofa can move across a room, or a lamp might change tables, depending on what the action needs. I assumed nobody actually had mental images, it was just an agreed-upon method of describing nonvisual imagination. Having found that’s not the case at roughly the same time as I was diagnosed with ADHD (a few months apart) I think about it a lot.

Recently I was playing with form and picked up the thread of an idea I’ve had for years, which is to write a novel as if it were a guidebook to the place you’re reading the novel about (I’m sure it’s been done before, and Italo Calvino has done something like it with Invisible Cities, I just think it would be fun to try). It occurred to me that while I don’t visualize things in terms of furniture in a living room or where people are in a space, I do have a firm and unchanging idea of what a city as a whole looks like, including some mental images.

Even before visiting Menton Garavan, where Fons-Askaz is located in an alternate world, I definitely knew what went where in Fons-Askaz. I know what the harbor and coastline are shaped like, where most of the local residential housing versus the tourist housing is, how the main street is shaped and where several landmarks sit along it, their names and what purpose they serve. I know where the one really divey dive bar is. And I do see images of all of them, but only partial -- specific angles of sight, mainly (I can see both main entrances to the pedestrian shopping area called the Promenade, but not most of the Prom itself, for example).

When I considered this, I realized I could do it to a limited extent for Galia also, and for other fictional places I’ve written about, like Lea from Six Harvests or Low Ferry from Nameless. I could draw rough maps of most of those places -- I don’t have the map itself in my head, but rather a combination of non-visual knowledge and a series of vague mental snapshots. I don’t know the actual layout of the palace, but I know what it looks like from the train station and I know what I would see standing at the windows in Gregory and Eddie’s apartment. I can see about three different views of Wild Mayer’s farm in Six Harvests, and I know the layout of Lea’s main street. It’s like for every fictional city or town that I’ve written about, I have a series of mental postcard images.

I have no idea why, or what it means. Probably it’s just that like many neurodiverse people I navigate by landmark, and I live in a city so recognizing urban landmarks and “views” is vital. I don’t need to “navigate” my apartment so I don’t care where the sofa is, but I have to know what the neighborhood looks like when we’re getting close to my bus stop so I know when to ring the bell to get off.

Possibly it means I should have become an urban planner.

Kind of fun, anyway, now that I’ve figured out I can do it. I can’t really “walk around” Fons-Askaz, but I can do a sort of flyover.

#shivadhverse #aphantasia #sam has adhd #archive

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lizpaige · 1 month

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sunday snippet 📦

i got nothing like cute/juicy this time around. i'm just trying to write more and sometimes that means it all ends up getting cut, but here's a snippet from the declan outsider pov pynch chapter 2!

The Lynch brothers were helping Ronan move into his first apartment in DC. When Adam transferred for the third time to Georgetown and his financial aid and scholarships no longer covered room and board, they agreed to find a place together. Declan offered to help set up some of the apartment tours, but in the end, Adam found this affordable one bedroom on his own.

It was a secure access building with a doorman and 24 hour security. It was a 10 minute metro ride and 20 minute full commute to Georgetown, a little longer of a commute to his new auto body shop part time job, but not unreasonable. He somehow managed to convince Ronan to compromise and split the rent 50/50 despite Ronan’s barely-touched trust fund. He had two years left of college, two years where even though DC was closer to Singer’s Falls, neither of them could stand the time apart anymore.

“Why do you have so much stuff?” Matthew whined, hefting a cardboard box onto the desk in the living room.

“We’re giving you all the lightest boxes,” Declan winced at the loud bang as Ronan let go of his side of the couch. “We’re the ones doing all the work here.”

“And you had way more shit when I helped you move to DC,” Ronan groaned as he stretched his back before knocking off Matthew’s hat and ruffling his curls. “I didn’t complain.”

Matthew swatted him away. “Yes you did!”

“Did not!”

Declan raised his gaze to the ceiling as his brothers fell into an exhausted half-hearted wrestling match on the couch. He decided to take the time to look around the place.

Declan trusted Adam’s judgment more than Ronan’s on the affordability, security, and overall fit of the apartment. So when Ronan begrudgingly told them a move-in date, Declan offered to help them move in. Somewhat because Adam seemed hesitant about the extra cost of hiring movers and also because Declan wanted to scope out the place.

The apartment itself was a modest one bedroom, with a large windowless closet marketed as a “den” by the apartment complex “perfect for a home office,” but Declan thought that was a joke. The bathroom was clean, spacious. There was even a washer and dryer in-unit and a dishwasher in the kitchen. The complex itself was pet friendly, although Chainsaw was not with them currently. No doubt she was shredding up Declan’s couch in their Boston apartment with Jordan.

In the bedroom, in the corner by the window, were three modest boxes and a potted plant on the window sill. These were not boxes that they moved in, so these must belong to Adam.

It was then that Declan really realized most, if not all, of the stuff they moved was Ronan’s. Adam, despite being on his own for years now, never accumulated a lot of stuff. Even when he would visit the Barns or Boston for a week-long holiday, he would only ever have a small duffle bag over one shoulder with just enough room for a change of clothes and whatever textbooks he needed to complete his homework.

Even the furniture they brought upstairs - the old desk was from Ronan's room, that they basically let collect dust as soon as they were old enough to have their own desks at school. The couch was another Barns hand-me-down, as well as some of the kitchen items.

It all belonged to Ronan, legally, so Declan didn’t speak to it. Just another observation he kept to himself for fear of starting another argument. Even though they didn’t argue as much anymore, they still happened to fight. That was always going to be inevitable with the eldest Lynch brothers. Declan just knew how to avoid the landmines with a higher survival rate now.

#declan lynch #ronan lynch #adam parrish #post greywaren #pynch #pynch fic #sunday snippet #the raven cycle #trc #trc fic #the dreamer trilogy #tdt

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plasticfangtastic · 8 months

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American Royalty. Ch. 4

A Homelander X F! Reader and Dadlander fanfic.

A/N: if ya like to be taglisted plz leave a comment to be notified on the next release. got the writers block and too many wips so here is an early chapter. hope y'all like it. plz check my pin post for prev. chapters.

Tags: mild gore, angst, lots of angst, slow burn, fluff, oc characther, child neglect, dadlander, romance.

Chapter Four

Seeing Stars

You had him agree to you working three days as his personal chef, and he couldn’t have you Sundays no matter how much he asked.

Within the week you had gotten a letter from your bank telling you that the pending investigation on your account had been closed and now you could access it, it had even accrue significant interest after being untouched for seven years it was better than an early christmas miracle as you sobbed in your bedroom with the letter in hand, you cried in the kitchen after calling a realtor to see an apartment, by the time you seen a couple of apartments you had come home to find an enveloped taped to your door. Inside paperwork and some keys– seeing red for a moment, but as Helena tugged at your shirt, your anger tucked itself away, you held her crying into her shoulder as you finished reading the letter.

Before the month ended, you had moved into a large, renovated and well located 2 bedroom, 1 office, 2 bathrooms apartment in the ground floor of a duplex, it had to be at least eighteen to twenty thousand dollars in rent but he had simply purchase it– writing in his letter that he wouldn’t allow you to continue raising his daughter in the projects or some refurbished new york closet, he had even collected information on local schools in your new neighborhood for you consider, informing you that he would take care of tuition cost.

As you settled in a space so big you had nothing to fill it with, as you watched your daughter actually behave like a seven year old for once, you laid on the floor by the open concept kitchen, feeling the rich wood underneath your skin, staring at the black granite benches and hardwood cabinetry– the floor was even heated! You heard a landing in one of the two thin yards, you knew your daughter was exploring the bathroom, so it felt safe to do this now.

“I’ll have my interior designer come by this week to help you select furniture and stuff.” He said upon entering, distubed by how barren it was, all your belonings in a a dozen boxes total, tucked in a corner of the living room.

“You are a bastard making me indebted to you.” You grumbled.

“I can’t have her live in a broom closet infested with rats. Kids need yards and space.” He looked at the cherry wood panels lining the outdoors, the vines and trees growing in a decent sized yard, extra big by New York standards– you could get her a puppy, a kitten or…?”

“She likes fish.”

“I could have a pond installed.” he said with a smirk crainign his back as he tried to look less imposing as you refused to lift your head from the heated hardwoods– you should be okay with utility bills, I left them on credit for your convenience. Have you had a chance to look at schools?”

“What are you actually planning, John.” You sat back up, switching names had taken him off-guard wondering what angle you were going at him from– haven’t even started work with you and now you are showering me with presents? This is beyond just wanting to see your kid is not like you actually seen her.”

“You said to take things slow.” He didn’t try hiding that devious grin– Ryan… needs a story.”

“Jesus Christ you are sick.” you now had to stand up for real– you want me to play mom to your kid? I don’t even look like him.”

“Genetics are weird. Helena looks like you and Ryan looks like me, like those dogs from ‘Beauty and the Tramp’."He touched your cheek with a bare hand– Can’t wait to see you next Thursday, mom.”

“Oh god…” You chuckle, losing your mind as his hand hurts without a scratch– How are you going to tell this to Helena?”

“Is in early development but the team will take care of it. I need Ryan to attend the same school as Helena so please hurry up.”

He left not before telling you to take Helena to MOMA this saturday at 2 pm, it wasn’t a suggestion or invitation, it was an order

You did as you were told that evening, one of the best schools in the city was under a half hour walk from this cell, knowing Helena had to be enrolled soon didn’t help, and your commute to Lucci had increased but now you could pay for gas and not cry. Sending him a texts about schools to the number he had given you in his many many notes seemed anticlimactic but that was it.

Helana had grown suspicious, but she played dumb and you knew it too, so you both played stupid when you headed to MOMA that weekend.

You just casually came the same day and the same time as Homelander and Ryan were about to have the whole museum closed off as they received a private tour, but he asked you to join them not giving any real explanation for why but nobody questioned, neither kid spoke to each other much if any, Helena simply enjoying the silence, she looked at you as she asked about the pieces but it was Homelander who had the most to say about the works, leaving you left out but happy, you knew that face of his so well, to see it on your daughter’s face made your day.

He had taken the opportunity to discuss your employment not your relationship, giving you list of things Ryan should eat, would not eat, wanted to try and things he wanted to try himself, then your hours and some odd request about handling Ryan’s school lunches being instagram worthy, handing you socials to research for such task.

You started work that following week, the Vought kitchens were top of the line, your job was to meet all of his requirements, some of the chefs that recognized you looked at you with relief and curiosity, wanting to know what had happened to you but you were unwilling to share. That first breakfast was returned with clean plates, even the waiter was shocked when he saw empty plates come out of his penthouse.

It had been so long since you could play with such new equipment, this was it, this was the place you belong in, him or not involved this was your happy place now.

Two weeks had passed.

As you headed for the staff elevator you met Homelander, who had honestly just been waiting for you.

“I got the paperwork sorted… you just have to sign and fill stuff. Nice school! Great stem program not that Helena will find it hard.” he said politely, his posture extra stiff.

“Did you do a background check on her?” you looked around for witnesses.

“Hard not to. Our kid is the captain of the math club… her school team has won most of the math competitions in the last four years. Not to mention the piano recitals, and science competitions” He looked so proud– her grades are perfect. She might be the smartest little girl in the city.”

“She’s the smartest little girl in the world.”

“And her new school would let the whole world know just that.” He said matching your smug.

You watched him carefully waiting for him to spit out what he wanted to say, either about her schooling or something else.

Helena was allowed to continue attending her old school until you were ready for transfer, he had only briefly talked to you for school discussions, and with great disinterest on what made each school good or not, if anything you found yourself doing this for his son as well, thinking of what this school would do for his well being, and if it was the best choice for a homeschooled kid, and how would this new school commute affect Helena’s after school routine.

On the days you didn’t work in Vought’s towers she was still babysat or stayed at Lucci’s, she was too young to be left at home, even if you knew she was perfectly safe, but no matter what she was still little.

During the days you worked in the tower she was kept in the company daycare in the 20th floor, most of the kids there were normal but there was at least one other super-abled child her age, it made you happy to see her interact with a similar kid even if said kid abilities involved phasing thru objects all willy-nilly and make objects phase thru other objects, making you worry of what would happen if he lost focus and Helena got caught inside a wall.

“By the way our kid escaped the daycare.” He held the elevator open for you as he entered, before you could panic he shot you a charming smile– is okay she’s at the gym…”

Your eyes had welled up regardless, you jumped into the metal box pressing the bottom frantically.

“She’s perfectly safe… A-Train is there and so it's that… Noir… her and the only little Supe kid decided to do some mischief, but I kept my ears on her all day.”

Forcing yourself to take deep breaths as the elevator smoothly traveled to the lower floors.

“Is it not her that I am worried for.” you said firmly.

You followed him as he guided you through an unfamiliar floor, inside the large colosseum gym that had been fitted to test somebody’s athletic skills you found your daughter floating in her wavy bubble, but all you saw was your kid swaying in the air.

“Helena get down here immediately!!!” You ran after her reaching for the kid as her bored expression was replaced with embarrassment as she descended into your arms– you cannot run away from daycare!”

“I don’t want to be surrounded by babies.”

“Helena you are a baby!” you squeezed her against yourself, just glad she was still in one piece, you noticed the other small kid in the room– jesus…”

Carrying your kid you reached for the other one, taking his hand.

“Hey sweetie… let me take you back to daycare before your mommy or daddy gets worried.

“Am I in trouble?” he asked meekly.

“No, but Helena is so grounded.”

“Mom!”

“Don’t mom me! You have any idea how dangerous that was!”

“Oh don’t get mad at the kid, she was just acting like a kid. Don’t be such a buzzkill” he mocked you.

“I don’t want or need your opinion– now you got two seconds to explain yourself!”

You began to gently drag yourself and your kid’s victim out of the gym, A-Train absolutely shocked to see anybody talk to Homelander like that.

“Look I had A-Train and Noir come check them out, they were safe!” He chased after you.

“Oh that was your doing.” Helena said– "I really wanted to meet A-Train” she waved innocently at the Supe, who returned the gesture as a true professional– and... Mom… I wanted to see the building, that’s all… sorry I used Elmo to escape… but his powers were just too useful”

“You cannot use people like that.” you said in shock.

“People like being used.” Her words were just cold as she wriggled herself out of your arms, falling without touching the ground, she took Elmo’s hand taking the small kid towards the exit– some people are born serfs.” She mumbled to herself.

Homelander's heart beat violently– oh his daughter was a brat and had a questionable attitude, he hadn’t even interacted much with her, but he was proud. His whole body went light and his smile couldn’t be contained as he saw the small girl with true love in his eyes, this was the moment he saw her as truly his own.

Ryan was still reluctant to accept his father’s philosophy, but this little one understood that she was born better from the start on her own.

She turned around to face you again, little Elmo sucked on his thumb as her eyes glowed pale blue.

“Is it alright if I come to the training gym if I ask permission first?”

“I…”

“Of course all Supe’s should know to keep their powers top notch. You are more than welcome to use the facilities.” Homelander had cut you off, petting the little girl’s head as he approached the duo– Just ask your mother so she doesn’t have a heart attack. Then again this is one of the safest places in all of New York and little Helena over here is perfectly safe, after all I am here.” He said while staring at you.

His voice was sweet, you were defeated as Helena tried to contain that cheshire grin of hers while staring at you– he was your boss , and the Homelander so could you really go against him so publicly?

“You had a terrorist attack in this building… but I guess…” She ignored him again then looked straight at you– I learned something new today.”

A-Train and Noir exchanged concerned looks taking a few step backs, Homelander seemed intrigued to watch your reaction, you gave way, unable to speak, just frustrated as your ex looked just as smug as his kid.

Little Elmo scoot behind her– in the round gymnasium a cement boulder hanged in chains, her eyes glowed the brightest you’ve ever seen, lifting her hand with one quick swipe the boulder broke in half, the dust showing the invisible blade bending light, it gain a blue color as it was touched before fading, she looked so proud of herself, you stared at Homelander and now you understood why nobody had informed you that your daughter was missing. It didn’t sit well with you.

“you’re still grounded for a whole week.”

“But Mom!!”

You had walked into a trap, one you did so willingly, jailed in a nice house, any hope of Homelander being driven away or losing interest in her was gone as he looked at her with pure adoration in his eyes.

You got used to it… this prison was lovely, it was nice to come back to a spacious cell. Homelander had indeed brought his decorator to your house but you didn’t want designer furniture and high end stuff, you kept it simple and cheap, most of your stuff second hand and from Ikea, only relenting to agree with the poor designer over the kitchen, his budget was absurd for the task, only taking advantage to purchase all the appliances of your dreams, you indeed needed a air fryer that matched your splashback.

Helena was happy to have a room that felt like a bedroom, large bookcases that could be filled with her own books, a small courtyard facing her doors, where she now could sit down and read with the breeze in her hair. She seemed happy, euphoric when she began her new school, making you forget what was happening in the background at times.

Homelander would come from time to time to speak to you about mundane stuff and work, his patience saintly as he allowed you to get used to his company once more, just so you could be okay with him entering her life, but then again he was your jailer.

He himself had begun forcing himself into her life when you weren’t around, it was all a matter of timing and perception.

Homelander watched the daycare center, from afar, a much needed service, it occupied a whole floor, the tower employed thousands of people in its 99th floor so there had to be help for those mothers and fathers who needed to work but had children with no babysitters, it was one of the many appealing things about being employed by Vought, and the center offered a variety of activities for all age groups.

Helena saw it as a jungle, all these children just a bunch of savages, keeping Elmo around not because she liked his company but because he was the only other Supe child in her age group, he was a sweet kid, afraid of bugs and that liked to talk about cartoons, frankly it was a challenge to figure out what to do with him. Homelander watched as she taught the kid to play chess, taking hours to explain the basics as the seven year old had very little clue what was happening, but in its own way it was nice to talk to another kid like himself.

Homelander even bothered to do a background check on the child– both of his dad’s both worked at Vought one in hero management and the other in marketing, both very busy bees it seems… he had done the same with all of Ryan’s new classmates, he knew their entire families before his kid even stepped foot and said hello to any of them, all done before he started school the same week as Helena– there was the big issue of her being on the 10th grade while her older brother just began the 6th grade, so he couldn’t enjoy seeing the both of them interacting, it was hard to witness for he wanted both kids to become closer so desperately.

Hence why he was standing on the foyer of the daycare center, a young lady that looked too cheerful for her own good, welcomed Homelander.

“Hi! How can I help you today, Homelander? Are you looking to enroll little Ryan?” She swayed side to side trying to see if the kid was behind him by any chance.

“Actually… am here to speak to one of the kids… hmm… Helena L/N.” He said with a firm tone– I believe her mother left a message.”

Homelander texted you an hour before cominf down, not even asking you that he was going to take her for training, you were stuck in the kitchen helping with some work function taking place tonite, a thousand canapes had to be made and you were stuck with the pistachio and lemon layer cakes.

You had no time to argue, taking your precious break time to make phone calls and try not to use your knife on the nearest asshole who pissed you off afterwards.

She hopped on the desk seeking for any notes, and he was indeed correct.

Now he had her all for himself, you prayed he wasn’t going to drop the news on her, but you couldn’t leave and abandoned your team, she was safe, you had to believe she was safe, she was smart, she was so smart and she could escape him, you just had to trust her.

“Can I bring Elmo?” Helena looked up at Homelander, a slight ache building on her neck as she looked up at the man– he might get lonely.”

“He’s not a dog.” He didn’t even try putting on a soft babied voice with her– and I wanted to talk to you.”

“But he’s always ‘The Dog’ when we play house.” She faked the most innocent voice she could muster, turning around to look at the glass doors dividing the friends– … He will probably sneak out to the gym if he gets lonely, they got his favorite snacks today… he told me liked five times and I think they’re playing Bluey on the tv.”

“Oh! and you play mommy?” He grimaces so hard his eyebrows touch.

“No, the robber.”

He led the way and she was more than happy to explore the building as they headed downstairs.

“What do you think of them?”

“Elaborate.”

“Those without powers.” she wished she could see his expression– and be honest. None of this ‘Wednesday Addams’ crap.”

He looked around at the sea of smart casual fits and stress on the floors above, the world moving so fast paced, nothing but monkeys hurling shiny rocks while playing dress-up.

“They can be useful, if they are not… then they don’t matter to me.”

He smiled, his heart fluttering and his stomach filled with butterflies as he heard her speak– why did Ryan struggle so much to understand this? He thought.

“When you are born with such gifts–

“I might be a kid but I am very familiar with your Compound V, I already had this talk with my mother. Fascinating stuff… I am still trying to understand the whole dosage thing… How does your company decide which kid to give more versus others? Did they just look at who could provide the best backstory before deciding between 10 mils versus the whole vial.”

She stared at the glass walls where the kids were housed, the tone of her voice still flat.

“Why you say that?”

“I’m a poor kid from the projects, with a single mom, formerly homeless and now with enough powers to make Athena envious. Not to mention how 92% of supes are white but the percentage below middle class to poor is almost the same as with the 6% blacks, while the percentage of upper class white supes is closer to the same percentage of 2% asians and latino supes… if anything a good chunk of latino and asian supes are upper class… something-something model minority yadah-yadah.” she pressed the elevator door– I’d make a good story. Shame that I can’t be a Supe.”

Homelander stared at her, placing his hand on the back of her head.

“You can be anything you want, Helena. You have been blessed beyond belief with powers… if you want to be Supe then you are ready for major leagues.”

She rolls her eyes.

“Only the 1% of superheroes ever make it to the major leagues, most supes never achieve anything beside D-list status and everybody is fighting for the crumbs left behind by your posse of clowns– is not a fiscally responsible decision. A career that can only exist on extreme gambling is not one that can make money. Not to mention am not cute or tall." She took the first step into the elevator– I never want my mother to worry about money. I want to buy her a mansion on top of a cliff staring at the ocean, have a dozen maids care for the house and she can just spend the rest of her life in luxury”

She turns to see him crossing her arms with a serious look on her tiny face.

“My goal is to take your job.”

“The Seven?” He grinned.

“Vought.”

“I can wait to see you try.” he grinned.

“It won’t be that hard… At least when I am in charge security will be tighter.”

Bottles of V dropped from above Homelander’s head, he caught most of them but a few were lost, those were hundreds of thousands of dollars worth of drops staining his pants and shoes, Helena caught one bottle, sliding it between nimble fingers back and forth.

“Don’t look so surprised, it seems this is a common occurence… Here's an unwanted tip: use biometrics and only allow lab techs to enter the 67th floor, not just rely on good will, clown.” sections of her body and clothes flicked back and forth between visible and invisible, taunting him about how easy it had been to steal them using her superpowers.

As his eyes took an extra tinge of red, he saw a brief flash of pale blue encasing her, he followed her to the entrance of the Gym, where she expected to be left alone with Homelander not to find another kid.

“The prodigal son.” she mumbles.

Ryan sat on top of some raised stepping stones in the recently established obstacle course, Helena imagined she needed to know parkour in lieu of flying abilities, which seemed redundant for the kid who could fly.

“Thought you two could practice together.” He shouted while placing the V on the nearest bench.

“Guess there are ways to successfully murder a child and get away with it.” She raised an eyebrow– and here I thought you wouldn’t be irked by the words of a little girl… like I said you’re a maladjusted person.”

“I don’t hurt children. I have no idea…” he said calmly while a little bit angry, as he returned to her side.

“I dunno– it would look really bad if the press found out that you’re a deadbeat.”

His expression dropped as the little girl's eyes glowed.

“Smartest little girl in the world… or...?” She said dryly, as she headed towards Ryan to save him the walk– my bubble refracts light, easy to spot if you notice images are wavering without the heat.”

The little boy ran cheerfully after his father, who for the first time ignored him, his eyes transfixed on the little girl, who had been playing stupid all along.

taglist-- @fromforeigntofamiliarity , @demodemo909 and @immyowndefender

here's the house:

#homelander #homelander x reader #homelander x you #homelander x f!reader #the boys oc #homelander fanfiction #personal #my fic tag #my writers block is criminal but thx god i had this chapter and 2 more ready #new york city rentals are fucking insane y'all paying too much-- had to look at them for reference for this fic so am more than glad to pos #a link to the 18K a month house that homelander bought for you dear reader #btw am living in australia so i might not know how yall pay utilities over there #took inspo from the diabolical first ep where they ahd an adoption centre as one of the floors of the tower to make the daycare #american royalty

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slippery-domjot-balls · 10 months

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DS9 S4 E11 Homefront & E12 Paradise Lost, slippery thoughts

Wow....let me catch my breath. That was a wild and tense ride. Nice scenery too. Obviously these are just my opinions, but I wanted to share them because Star Trek makes me happy and passionate. I want you to be happy and passionate too!

Given the intensity of these two episodes I completely forgot it started off with Jadzia pulling off the most specific pranks on Odo.

Jadzia: I sneak into my coworker's private quarters and move his furniture by 3 cm every couple of days.

Quark: That's weird. They would not even notice that change.

Jadzia: Oh, no no no. He sees it every time and it drives him insane.

Audience: Oh you silly worm!

And I loved that we got to see these two besties playing pretend. We need more Miles and Julian aviation adventures. Super cute pals.

R.I.P. Clive

Playtime is over now because the changelings have basically infiltrated Earth and are ruining everything all the time and it isn't fun anymore....or are they? They are, but are they? Possibly. Probably. Perhaps.

To me this kind of episode is the pinnacle of what Star Trek writing has always been about. We see a complex evaluation of choices in conflict. It is not about an obvious "right" or "wrong", but one decision versus another. This is a battle between perspective and reason. All sides contain some merit. This episode also shows good intentions taken too far and taken beyond the ethical reasoning that initially inspired the action.

If this episode were to have a villain it would be fear and paranoia itself and not any particular character.

Vice Admiral Leyton was an amazing character. It was brilliant to establish that he had a close professional history with Sisko early in the episode because it immediately made me trust him. You sneaky writers!! But that was the whole point. The story that was unfolding to the audience purposefully made us feel betrayed with Sisko. We co-experienced in real time the feeling seeing a close friend commit treason.

Enter the most powerful man on Earth. He can move the most stubborn hearts, calm the most irrational mind, and fill up the most starved stomach. Replicated foods beware of Grandpa Sisko. I see where Jake gets his style too! It was so believable that these three were family. You could see how cadences, mannerism, and behaviors in Granddad Sisko were passed to Ben and then passed down to Jake, but in their own naturally developing ways in each generation.

*Spoiler Alert* Grandpa Sisko also saves the day.

Just when I thought this episode had all the ingredients for perfection Nog the keeper of all things pure and innocent shows up. Look at that smug Ferengi. He knows that he is the best thing at the Academy and so do we.

A great thing about these two episodes is that every character acts as an essential part of the story. Nog will lead Ben on the chase with his talk of the Red Squad. A+ Nog!

This ain't your normal seagull. This one loves Bajoran women.

Around this point we have all the main details of the episode. Admiral Leyton and Captain Sisko are working together to protect Earth from a suspected Dominion infiltration and invasion. The President of the Federation is against the proposed worldwide security changes but reluctantly allows their implementation.

With security personnel, blood tests of all crucial Starfleet staff and family members, and martial law practically in effect everywhere we are ready to repel any Dominion attacks. After all, the wormhole was winking at DS9 a lot so perhaps a cloaked invasion fleet is on Earth's doorstep.

HERE WE GO! Papa Sisko challenges Daddy Sisko's paranoia. Ben is seeing changelings in his sleep and not the Odo kind either.

So we start to see the episode present one of it's many challenges:

How far should we trade individual autonomy for protection?

And THIS is why I love Star Trek. Grandfather Sisko is absolutely correct!! And yet, Ben Sisko is also correct. Both want to protect what they love, life ad they know and perceive it.

We search for the highest good in each situation. Ben wants to secure and save everything he loves on Earth. He wants to protect his family, his home, and everything therein. Grandpa Sisko wants the EXACT same thing. The methods to achieve their shared goal is in conflict.

DS9 writers have a candy bar on me. Well done!!! (engage smooching sounds)

This very moment is crucial for Ben. His paranoia is pushing him toward the type of dictatorial control that Admiral Leyton is calling for, but Ben has found that not only is something odd happening in the background but this entire movement smell stinky.

Nog is such a good cadet. I love him with all my little heart. He provided critical information about Starfleet Academy's unofficial super special secret mean girls club Red Squad. This little snack of information sets Ben Sisko on the trail of breadcrumbs leading to the smorgasbord of treason committed by Leyton.

Smug Shapeshifting O'Brien is a gift. Enjoy every second of this hilarious goop boy. Colm really did a great job. We do see that there is a Dominion changeling on earth (saw it earlier in Homefront as well). We understand how real the threat of their activity can be. We especially see how terrifying a changeling can be when Dominion version O'Brien has a little chat with Ben. It might only take one hostile changeling to completely destabilize an entire world.

I do wish we figured out how the fake changeling blood was created to trap Sisko. Clever girl, Admiral.

I felt bad for Leyton. He is someone caught in a difficult position of authority and personal fears. His own paranoia drove him to the utmost extreme. I imagined that maybe he has a cute little family with a kid back home. I imagined what it might be like in his shoes. It would be hard to live thinking that your lack of effort led to the death of your child or friend or family member or significant other. It would be hard to go to bed knowing that the person you once shared it with prematurely died because of that you thought you failed to do. Even in much of the two episodes his facial expressions show a man full of internal strife and conflict. It is as if he kept questioning his actions as he made them.

What if his fear of failing his community drove him to radical dictatorship? He wanted to keep all that he loved safe, but he betrayed everyone he loved. He demanded that all his loyal friends trust him. Trust is a two way exchange though. He abandoned trusting his friends and confidants. That was the beginning of his downfall.

Leyton wanted to protect society at the cost of society itself. He could not see beyond his fear of losing society to war and enemies abroad to the point of blindness. He became an enemy of all he cherished, and I honestly think that he knew that too. He was just so scared that he desperately dug in to the one aspect of his life that he thought he could control, which is so relatable. We all can act irrationally under stress and pressure. This is not justification or approval. This is accepting that life may not have as many villains in it as we are told to believe. People are just trying to be people, meet their obligations and responsibilities while preserving what little bit of life exists to enjoy.

We are all prone to brash behaviors in order to protect what we love, but sometimes it is healthy to set down the admiralty bars and accept that you can't do it all, especially alone.

Remember that everyone in this episode wanted the same thing. Leyton wanted to protect life. Sisko wanted to protect life. Grandpa Sisko wanted to protect life. Everyone held the same belief and motivation.

I appreciated how solemnly Leyton gave in and how respectfully he surrendered. It actually felt less like defeat and more like he was relieved of a burden that he was too overwhelmed to carry alone. He didn't need to carry it alone but chose to go alone. In a symbolic way by removing the admiral bars he set down his fear and moved on.

The amount of time taken for these shots impressed upon me the symbolic significance of it. Sisko also lets go and moves on with Leyton. By setting the phaser down he too lets go and agrees it is time to move forward from this conflict. He is still betrayed and disappointed, but he is not stuck or trapped in the past. He sets down his weapon and joins Leyton in facing a reality outside the oppression of their own paranoia.

I loved that Paradise Lost ends with the restaurant opening up again. It is the resolution these episodes needed. It was closure showing that being open to others and not letting the world cloud you of the humanity in others is fundamental to life.

Despite the many differences in all these characters, regardless of where they were in the progress of their own lives, no matter the goal or intention, we all essentially desire the same things.

Star Trek is the future I hope for!

If you made it to the end of this post and are reading this then 10,000 sweet kisses to your forehead. If you didn't make it then I am still giving your forehead tender kisses, you are just not aware of it.

#pictures courtesy of trekcore.com #love you @trekcore #star trek deep space 9 #ds9 #DS9 gang #slippery thoughts #benjamin sisko #miles obrien #julian bashir #worf #jadzia dax #kira nerys #odo ital #nog #quark #morn #admiral leyton #i am not going to add any more tags

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shadowkat678 · 9 months

Text

EMERGENCY POST!

Hey guys. I’ve been trying to keep people informed with what’s going on. Instead of doing it over with each group I'm going to make an announcement. Full saga. All the information.

The 2002 Honda Civic Absolute Disaster.

Yesterday, my car decided to overheat and shit itself. In the middle of my 700 mile move to Detroit with my gf and an hour away from our planned hotel stop. I don't know much about cars! Apparently I should have stopped when I saw the engine meter staying over the H line on the thermostat.

I did not, because I didn't want to break down on the side of the road. Instead we broke down very conveniently in the lot of an AutoZone type car shop. What might have been a small issue to fix, however, is now fucking huge.

My car won't start. My engine is likely totaled. There's probably an issue with the thermostat or water pump or radiator one, then the head gasket got cracked so water is leaking into the car's surrounding pipes, to the best of what I could gather. I am not a car person.

We've called around, no one nearby has any openings for repairs for at least a week. The closest place is 60 miles away. AAA won't cover towing that far, and would charge me $7+tax for every mile. We managed to find someone else who'd take it for $250, luckily.

He thought he might be able to fix the car by Saturday, but all together the cost would be $2.8k ish. Including the tow.

That's not including the money I already had to pay for the last few mechanic visits that we thought fixed everything over the past few months. Which was already way too much. So now that's all down the drain too.

There's now another devolvement about that as seen in the texts. Basically, the type of engine was different than believed. Making it a lot more expensive and time extensive to fix. We have neither money or time for that. So, stuck in the middle of Kentucky countryside, we're having to get rid of our car.

After conversation with family and friends and advice we're going to focus on getting to Detroit and trying to get a car there. I still have to make another trip back in a few months to get the rest of my stuff and the overheating has done so much damage we probably will have to pay even more than just what's already been discussed wrong with it anyway. Luckily we'll be able to sell it to the mechanic for about....$300.

To put this into perspective on how bad that is for me, I currently only make about $1,200 a month.

We have a way out and up to Detroit, thankfully. But even without the car costs of fixing it we're going to be out a three nights in the hotel plus the towing, which is about $600 all totalled and we still need to get transportation once in Detroit. Not to mention rent and groceries and other moving things. We also still have like. Zero furniture at the apartment.

I'll keep everyone updated as things continue. It was suggested I make a donation post with all the information. So here's my Google pay, PayPal, Cash app, and Venmo.

We've gotten some help so far from my family and some friends but anything would be amazing to put towards a car and necessities fund. I'm going to have absolutely no transportation at a time where getting places is going to be super important. So I'm putting it out there.

#emergency #signal boost #donation post

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leatherface-kisser · 4 months

Note

Heeeyy !! Can I request some headcanons of the Sawyers throwing a little party ? Like with music, ~~meat~~ food, and dancing with the reader ??? Something funny !

You certainly may! This was so fun to write, I hope you like the headcanons I came up with! Thank you for sending this blog's first request anon!

Warnings : Mentions of cannibalism and murder (nothing unusual in the Sawyer household)

Without further ado, let's get this party going!

Partying with the Sawyers :

Oh boy. One thing’s for sure, a party at the Sawyers’ will NEVER be boring. Maybe it’s someone’s birthday, maybe it’s a special holiday/occasion, or perhaps Drayton just won an award for a cooking contest and wants to celebrate. Either way, the Sawyers’ celebrations are loud, chaotic and wild.

But first, we need to prepare for the party! And that’s a whole experience in itself. There’s a lot of yelling and fussing.

You bet the house has some celebratory decorations thrown around. Sure, they’re mostly bone and leather ornaments, but they’re still mighty pretty! Drayton kinda supervises from afar, he’s very busy in the kitchen (and when he’s in the kitchen, no one disturbs him, unless you want to experience the Cook’s wrath). Meanwhile, Bubba, the twins and you put the decorations up.

The twins are disorganized and get distracted easily. Bubba can get pretty fussy about putting the decorations “just right”, he wants everything to look pretty and perfect. He gets fixated on certain things that won’t really matter in the end. You’ll probably have to take matters into your own hands and give them directions if you want things to get done efficiently and make sure the brothers don’t break into a fight!

Bubba’s job is to hang things that are too high for the others to reach. Nubbins is requested to decorate the tables and furniture, mostly with bone sculptures, but also with feathers and flowers. And Chop Top? Well, he’s the DJ of course! He is busy picking the best vinyls and choosing the best radio stations. Spoiler alert, it’s KOKLA Radio, with Stretch as the DJ of course.

You bet Bubba has put on his best mask, his best clothes, his best tie and his best makeup for the occasion. He looks absolutely dashing. He will feel incredibly happy if you compliments his looks. He will happily show off and give you a twirl.

Chop Top also put on something special for the celebration. And it’s… interesting, to say the least. I’ll let your imagination run wild, the possibilities are endless.

And with everything ready, it’s finally time to party!

In terms of food, there’s nothing too extravagant or pricey. Don’t be mistaken, there’s still plenty of meat on the table! And I do mean plenty. You already know what type of meat it is.

A dinner guest might be present for the festivities. If somehow the party wasn’t lively before that, surely their presence will ensure this. The poor thing will probably be terrorized beyond comprehension as this family of cannibals throws a wild party around them. Killing the guest will be a party activity at some point. Everyone but the guest will cheer on! "Come on, get ‘em! Get ‘em!!! WOOOO!!!"

I hope you like meat and have no problem with cannibalism, cause that’s all there is to sink your teeth into. At least, you’ve got a choice in how you’re consuming the meat. Ribs, sausages, ham, pâté, steak, bone marrow, chili… etc etc. The kitchen looks like a battlefield. Nonetheless, Drayton is very proud to put what he cooked on the table! Despite its origin, the food is genuinely delicious.

You might find a couple of vegetables here and there if the Sawyers can afford it. It will most likely be corn, cabbages, potatoes, leeks or beans to accompany the meat. However, that’s only if they can afford it. You’ll most likely find vegetables on the table if Drayton wins an award for his famous chili.

After eating, lots of dancing ! Everyone is swaying to the radio or vinyl. You swear you even see grandpa gently moving his head from side to side with a slight, content smile from time to time. He’s mostly just asleep almost the entire time though. But what about the rest of the Sawyers? Do they dance?

Drayton might need some convincing to get onto the dancefloor. He’s a little tense at first, but eventually relaxes and dances a little bit. He wears his infamous charming smile, and he actually looks genuinely happy while it lasts. Overall pretty sweet! He acts like he’s doing you a favor by accepting to dance, but he’s genuinely having fun. Doesn’t dance for very long, he says he’s too old for that.

The twins are thrashing around like wild beasts, loudly singing along the melody. Chop Top often rants about the different songs or bands he likes all while dancing like there’s no tomorrow. He will end up completely out of breath. Nubbins will, before your astonished eyes, improvise some of the most experimental, incongruous dance moves known to man. What even are you looking at?? Phenomenal performance overall, 10/10.

What about Bubba? Does he dance? Oh he sure does, and he’s killing it! He’s not exactly the most gracious dancer, but he just looks so happy! Look at him go! Will absolutely ask you to dance with him at some point and twirl you around (you will get dizzy). He’s got some moves that he picked up from watching television. Bubba is beaming with joy as he sees everyone having a good time, it’s just like a dream. Lots of happy wiggling, squealing and howling.

Also, alcohol! That’s mostly Drayton’s initiative, I can totally see him enjoy a good bottle of whiskey, gin or tequila. He sips on his drink throughout the party and usually ends up dozed off on a chair somewhere after a few drinks.

The twins don’t enjoy alcohol the same way Drayton does. While the oldest savors the taste and enjoys the drink for what it is, they, like the chaotic party rats they are, just like to get as shit faced as possible. They love the euphoria of drunkenness and will probably end up very drunk at some point. Lord have mercy on anyone in their near proximity, shit can get crazy real fast. Their words are slurred, even louder than usual, very frantic and energetic. Please watch over them to make sure they don’t actually kill themselves in their drunken stupidity. Bubba screeches in distress everytime a twin does something unreasonably dangerous. Word of advice : hide all the blades, especially the chainsaw.

Bubba just follows along with whatever his brothers are doing. He’s not actively seeking to get shit faced, but he still drinks a fair bit. Drayton is too sleepy to scold him. You don’t need to worry about Bubba as much as with the twins, the guy can drink a fair amount before actually feeling drunk. I mean, have you seen the size of the guy?? Bubba is most likely not a lightweight. He’s not really a fan of the taste of alcohol, but he does enjoy the way it makes him feel all warm, dizzy and funny. Bubba giggles a lot when he’s drunk, he also sways quite a lot on his feet, struggling to balance himself properly. Very clumsy boy. Oh and, he’s also quite the cuddle bug when he’s drunk. Will ask for a few hugs to recharge.

The party eventually comes to an end, everyone’s belly is full, everyone is exhausted, and you all end up passing out. The next morning, it’s straight up back to business! Drayton is up, and in a not so great mood due to a headache. No more fooling around! We have a business to tend to and a house to clean up! Go go go!

This causes a nonstop stream of whining and complaining from the twins. They get the worst hangovers. Bubba doesn’t complain and does what he needs to do, but he just feels TIRED. Bubba is usually an early bird, but after a party? Waking up is more difficult, he’s groggy. Drayton’s right though, the house is a complete mess. That won’t do. Welp, that was fun while it lasted, time to tidy up!

Thank you for reading!

#texas chainsaw massacre #bubba sawyer #leatherface #drayton sawyer #nubbins sawyer #choptop sawyer #tcm #slasher imagines #slasher headcanons #bubba sawyer imagines #bubba sawyer headcanons #nubbins sawyer headcanons #chop top sawyer headcanons #drayton sawyer headcanons #slasher fandom

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alovelyburn · 6 months

Text

WIP! WIP! WIP!

Usually when these festivals come around I try to get something together and contribute to the cause. This time I was unable to finish... because I found out about it rather late, and also had a lot going on in my real life.

But I did start something. So I'm dropping the first part of the WIP on you guys; no idea if it really qualifies for inclusion in @griffgutsweekend but I'm cool either way.

All the thanks to @zombiesgohome for basically being my cowriter on the beginning of this - she's my Guts expert. Also bear in mind this is a first draft, ok, be kind.

Quick Background: many many years ago, by which I mean in like 2014, someone told me they'd like to see me try to tackle a romance between current canon Guts and Griffith. It took a while but here we are.

It's called Thirst Drove Me to the Water.

The room has already been thoroughly trashed by the time Griffith opens the door. Before him like broken furniture and upturned chairs. All the vases have been emptied of their white flowers – their water soaked through the plush rug and dripping down white marble walls. An overturned table has been split in two, and gashes mar the walls where that oversized sword bit through the marble.

It’s unsurprising and yet somehow disappointing. Still, Griffith’s expression remains, as always, stubbornly impartial. Around him, the room ripples and shifts – an invisible wave that runs over the room and leaves all as it was, before. Immaculate. Untouched.

His guest seems less than impressed by this.

Guts stares at Griffith from his place on the floor, his one eye smoldering with black fire, his famous sword resting across his knees.

“You sure took your sweet time showing your face,” he says. There’s a sharp edge to his tone, and a growl deep in his throat. “Finally remembered I was here?” He looks like a caged animal. It’s appropriate.

Griffith tips his head just slightly. “I didn’t forget,” he says, “You’ve been pounding against my barriers all day. I thought I would give you a moment to collect yourself.” Griffith glances over the room to where a small table stands, off to the side, away from the center of the now corrected chaos. He’d had a basket of fruit and bread brought to Guts’ rooms as soon as Guts himself was sent there, unconscious, and still bleeding. Griffith hadn’t tended the wounds himself. He wouldn’t have trusted himself to. He looks at Guts. “Have you eaten?” It’s a question of propriety. From here, he can see the half-eaten bread and apple cores.

“What the hell do you care?” Guts snaps. Despite his words, Griffith catches sight of Guts’ gaze as it moves to the table.

Griffith untips his head. “Hm.” He moves to the table quietly, his fingers dragging over the polished wood, the white lace cloth that protects it.

Typically, when one stays silent during an exchange long enough, the other person eventually feels the need to fill that gap. Guts is a man of few words, yes, but unless he’s changed considerably more than he seems to have done, he is also a man without much impulse control. Griffith, being far more curious about what Guts might say than interested in talking, himself, remains silent.

A moment later, Guts pulls himself to his feet. His sword plants itself in the carpeting and the floor beneath it as easily as it would plant itself into soft ground and grass. The sound of steel splitting marble rumbles, swallowed by the thickness of the carpet. “So, what is this?” he asks. His expression hardened as his gaze. “Some kind of game? Is being King too boring for you? If you’re gonna kill me just do it.”

“Impatient as always,” Griffith says. It occurs to him that Guts is still in his armor. “And always so demanding for a mad dog.”

“You got some nerve calling me mad.” Guts’ muscles clench. Griffith can see every emotion running over his face, settling in his neck – the tension in his shoulders, the clenching of his jaw. “I ain’t the one who—”

“You can list my sins until morning and I won’t be any more enlightened than I am now.” Griffith’s voice cuts the air – sharp and soft as it is. “You invaded my home and tried to kill me, yet I have been nothing but cordial.” With some minor exceptions. Even now, he can remember the rush of battle, Guts’ steel against his. He had played along, but in the end only one outcome could have come about... and it did.

“Now that we’re here,” Griffith says softly. “Feel free to swing your sword as much as you like. It will do you no more good than it did the last time... or the time before that.”

The weight of that massive sword hits the ground with a crash that jolts the floor... and just that quickly, Guts is rushing at Griffith, his armored fist swinging. Griffith stands motionless for a moment, watching the light catch on the edges of that so-sharp black armor. Watching the barely burning fire in Guts’ eye turn to an inferno. And then, just when Guts is there – only a few short feet away, Griffith reaches up and grabs that fist in the bare palm of his hand... and holds it.

They are close – close enough for Griffith to feel the feather-light stirring of Guts’ breath. That one eye widens in—fear? Panic? It isn’t rage, not this time. There’s something savage inside Griffith that smiles at that reaction. His fingers curl down, and he feels the metal creak, just at the edge of bending, or snapping. One never knows with cursed items.

It's enough to make his point, at least, in that second before he lets go.

“You really never change,” Griffith says, voice quiet but not quite soft. “I would have thought you’d learn to control yourself between the Hill and today.” He flexes his fingers. “You should have tried a slap.”

Guts snaps his armored fist back, pressed to his chest. “What the hell is this? If you ain’t gonna kill me, if you won’t fight... what is this, just some kind of cage? I’m just your prisoner, now?”

“If I release, you’ll just keep coming after me.” Griffith runs his tongue along the inside of his lips. He can almost taste the bitterness on his tongue. “So, yes, I suppose you are.” He looks away from Guts, toward the floor length windows. From here, inside an obscure corner of one of the palace’s towers, Outside, he can see Falconia spread out before them like a painting – the view from the sky. “Well,” he says, “If you say you will leave here and move on with your life – give up your vendetta and leave me be – then perhaps I will let you go.”

“Like hell I will.” The answer comes too quickly. Griffith almost laughs; Guts says, “You know damn well I won’t.”

He does know. Or, rather, he suspected.

“That being the case,” Griffith says. “Here we are.”

“Yeah, here we are.” Guts raises his head, his back straightening to his full height. It must be terribly intimidating to anyone who isn’t Griffith. “So now what? You can’t just shove me in a box and come by when you wanna be smug for a while.”

“That’s a presumptuous accusation. I don’t recall saying I would be coming back.”

Griffith hears his own voice – hard as marble and just as cold. Guts hasn’t moved. His hand remains pressed to his chest, and outside, the sun is growing crimson with the coming night. Griffith watches the red light dye the white buildings; somehow his gaze refuses to land on the man in front of him, no matter how close he stands. And he’s never had a difficult time finding things to say – it was only ever a matter of whether he had anything that needed saying. Now, nothing that comes to mind will make its way past his lips.

Best to leave. Griffith sighs. “I don't suppose there's much purpose to my staying here any longer. I thought I should explain the situation. But I'll have servants set aside to attend to your needs. There's no need to disturb your... equilibrium any farther.”

“You send your servants in here, you ain’t getting them back.”

Griffith glances at Guts. Lines of tension run up his neck.

“Would you kill them for bringing you breakfast? Not all of them are demons.”

“Fine by me. I don't just kill demons.” Guts shrugs his heavy shoulders... but the casualty of it is affected.

Guts’ face is just as tense, just as angry. ...it’s frightened, too... though it isn’t immediately clear what it is he’s frightened of. Griffith himself, perhaps? That would make sense... though it seems somewhat incongruent with Guts’ personality to show it in this kind of situation.

No. It’s something else.

Griffith is quiet for a time, assessing Guts’ body language, the way his eye burns. Anger, frustration and fear. If he thinks about it, it shouldn’t be surprising. After all, who knows abandonment and imprisonment better than Griffith?

“I see,” He says. “I wouldn’t have thought you would want me to come back.”

Something flashes in Guts’ eye – surprise, yes, and then a wall of stone to block out Griffith’s sight... or maybe Guts’ perception of himself. For a moment, Guts is just. Silent. Motionless. He opens his mouth... even so, it takes a moment for him to find his voice.

“I didn’t say—” Three words, and then his voice fails quiet again.

Griffith looks to the table not so far away – the apple core and half-eaten bread.

“Very well,” he says, quietly. “I'll bring you your meals personally. At least for now.” He takes a deep breath and turns toward the door. It’s only a few steps off; he takes hold of the latch – silver and engraved with feathery markings, like most things in Falconia.

“Heh.” It isn’t an actual laugh. Feet away, Guts’ weight shifts. Griffith can hear the clanging metal; it shifts, but doesn’t approach. “Never thought this was gonna end with a damn God Hand offering to bring me dinner.”

“We are not one body, Guts.” Griffith looks at his hand – long fingers wrapped around the silver latch while the metal warms. “Each of us has our own goals, our own priorities, and our own experiences. I am what I am... but I am still Griffith.”

The armor shifts behind him again, and it’s so quiet. Griffith doesn’t look back. “Whatever has become of what we were... you were once the most important thing in this world, to me.” It’s surprisingly easy to say. Perhaps because it’s no longer true. “I will honor that.”

And then, without waiting for a response, he opens the door and steps into the hallway beyond.

* * *

Guts stares at the door long past its closing, his heart pounding violently in his chest. In that moment, hot rage and cold sorrow rushing through him, he doesn’t know whether to scream or cry.

#ariel writes about berserk #griffgutsweekend2023 #maybe? I don't know #it's a WIP #Let me live!

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rayshippouuchiha · 2 years

Note

ray you can't just tease coffee shop detective aideku au

ray please

i have a need

See the thing is, Shouta doesn't like change.

He's honestly rather notorious in the auto-immune disease he calls his social circle for not liking change.

He likes things neat, orderly, and above all else logical.

Which is hilarious on a number of levels considering he left his perfectly logical job with the force to be a private detective and his schedule is, in general, made up entirely of too long nights, bad decisions, and surviving off of jelly packets and questionable takeout.

He's got the most chaotic general schedule out of most everyone he knows which is honestly saying a lot.

The only reason why his apartment/office is neat and orderly is that in all the years he's lived/worked in this building he never got around to furnishing it with anything but the barest of basics.

A fact which Hizashi and Nemuri both still make it a point to get onto him about. As for Tensei, well Tensei's been attempting to forcefully front him the money to buy out the rest of the building for a number of years now. Especially since old lady Kinato finally retired to the countryside last fall and none of her numerous grandchildren, or possible Triad connections, wanted to take up her dim sum place or keep her apartment. Tensei's been inches away from shoving the money down Shouta's throat since the rest of the building finally freed itself up. Money that Shouta has, of course, always refused to take.

Which is a move that has, apparently, finally come back to haunt him.

Because Shouta doesn't know a single thing about whoever it is that's moving into the second-floor apartment or renovating the ground-floor restaurant space.

What he does know is that he wants them dead.

Because he's not gotten a decent days sleep in over a month now. From basically sun up to sun down it's all loud construction, power tools whirling, and music playing. Never loud enough to disturb the rest of the street but still eardrum busting loud through the thin walls and floors that separate Shouta from the absolute chaos that's apparently happening down there.

And there's not even any peace at night either. Because even if the construction stops on the ground floor at a legally reasonable hour Shouta still has to deal with hearing his new downstairs neighbor getting settled into their apartment.

Shouta has thoughts and opinions about both their shitty taste in pop music and the fact that they, apparently, can't decide on where their furniture needs to be since they keep dragging it around their apartment every single night.

So, yeah, if Shouta's new problem neighbor was to take a long walk off a short pier sometime soon Shouta probably wouldn't even blink. Unless, of course, someone paid him to investigate the disappearance. Then he'd find the pier and the body, and then maybe actually get some sleep again.

But, beyond wishing absent harm on a faceless stranger, Shouta doesn't really pay all that much attention to what's going on in the rest of the building. He takes the fire escape outside his bedroom window to and from the ground level like he always has, he rarely ever approaches the building from any direction that's not the back alley (or occasionally the sewer but the less said about that the better), and he's grown used to practicing willful ignorance about certain aspects of his neighborhood ever since he watched old lady Kinato break a guy's kneecaps once with a tea tray and not even blink.

(Especially since Hizashi was absolutely terrified of her but she always doted on Shouta and gave him free dim sum whenever they crossed paths. He honestly kind of misses her even if she is still sending him care packages and seems convinced he'll die if someone doesn't shove food at him at least once a month.)

Shouta's willfully ignoring the comings and goings in his building honestly isn't all that much of an issue. At least, not until he remembers he really should get around to checking his own mail again before the post lady calls in a wellness check on his apartment. Again.

So, sunglasses firmly in place, Shouta makes a point to head to the front of the building where the rusty and undoubtedly tetnus-filled mailboxes are kept for the building.

Once he gets there Shouta immediately notices three things.

One, it looks as if the dim sum place has become some sort of coffee shop which says promising things for Shouta's future.

Two, the previously rusty mailboxes have been cleaned up and someone has even taken the time to plant small flowers around the base of the structure.

And three, someone is actively in the process of stealing his mail. Which, in general, Shouta doesn't actually care about but it's the principle of the matter.

For a moment Shouta just stands there and watches as whoever this is empties out Shouta's previously locked mailbox and shoves Shouta's mail into the canvas bag they're carrying.

"Mail theft is punishable by a fine and possibly detention depending on the severity of the crime," Shouta finally speaks up.

There's a yelp, a few pieces of the mail currently being pulled from Shouta's box go flying, and the thief whirls around to face him.

Shouta suddenly finds himself staring into wide green eyes over plump freckled cheeks.

"Oh," green eyes says, face flushed and the hand not carrying a bag full of what's technically Shouta's property coming up to press against his heart, envelopes and all, "you scared me."

"Committing a crime should be scary," Shouta can't help but say even though he knows that's often very much not the case.

"I-I'm not stealing anything," the denial comes quickly then. "I live here."

So Shouta's new neighbor, one Midoriya, I. if the new tag on the box Shouta can see over his shoulder is anything to go by, is both a disturber of the peace and a thief. Good to know.

"Even if you do," Shouta points out, "that's still not your mail."

"I'm just cleaning it up!" Midoriya's eyes have gone wide in distress and there's a hint of red on those cheeks. "My upstairs neighbor is dead."

,,,

"No," Shouta finds himself saying slowly. "He's not."

"Yes he is!" Midoriya insists. "Granny Kinato said my upstairs neighbor was a corpse and I should take care of things around here once I moved in. I wanted to find their next of kin."

Shouta squeezes his eyes shut behind his shades and resolves himself to sending old lady Kinato a strongly worded text the next time he gets a chance.

"I promise you he's very much not dead," Shouta says as he reaches up to push his sunglass up to rest in his hair. "And I'd know since I'm Aizawa Shouta, and the last time I checked I was still mostly not a corpse. What I am, however, is both your neighbor and the guy whose mail you're currently stealing."

Midoriya looks down at one of the envelopes clutched in his hand, twists a bit to look back at the mailbox behind him, and then turns to look at Shouta again with quickly dawning horror.

"You want to see some I.D?" Shouta can't help but ask.

There's a sound not unlike a hissing tea kettle, the bag Midoriya was holding is practically launched at Shouta's face, and Midoriya is practically sprinting away from him, face red and what sounds a lot like a stream of jumbled apologies training through the air behind him.

Shouta stands there for a minute, more than a bit bemused.

It's honestly not the worst first meeting he's ever had in his life.

#Double Cupped Up AU #AiDeku #RayRambles #BnHA #MHA

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honney-pies · 7 months

Text

Ma Cherie❤︎₊ ⊹

Chapter v: Purple Lilac Blooms

Pairing: Inuokku/ F! Reader

Summary: five times Yuta is a dense little shit and the one time he decides not to be.

Length: 3.8k

A/N: I’m really sorry guys, I know it’s a short chapter, but i’ve had a lot of stuff going on this week and was unable to really sit down and write. I hope y’all like this chapter, i was desperate for some fluff after the last couple being mainly angst. This chapter is dedicated to ao3 and kinktober keeping me sane in these trying times.

Ma Cherie master list

Purple Lilac Blooms - purple lilacs symbolize the beginning of love and the start of relationships.

_________________

It was a lovely day, the sun wasn’t too bright and it wasn’t too cold either. After the death of her brother, Suguru, Y/n had been having a hard time living life as she once had. Inumaki had finished his mission with Yuta and the two were heading to the girls room for some much needed time with her.

When the two arrived at the room, they saw Y/n in good spirits, rearranging the furniture with Megumi moving all the things she didn’t. Yuta had only met the boy a couple times, but thought he was nice. Y/n was ordering Megumi around in true older sister fashion, it was incredibly funny to watch.

“No, ‘gumi! Move it to the left, that’s too left. Maybe it would look better over in the corner. Okay let’s try that.” The poor boy had sweat dripping down his face, hair falling uncharacteristically flat on his head. He did as he was told, but once he saw the two boys he groaned.

“Nee-san, your boyfriends are here, make them do it.” Y/n huffed but released Megumi from his tasks and gave him her card to go get food. Yuta, who was confused by the statement, looked at Inumaki to explain, but no explanation came.

“Hi Inumaki-san, hi Okkotsu-san.” Yuta, to his credit, kept a neutral face and said hi to the young boy. Y/n smiled brightly upon seeing them and walked over giving them both a hug and a kiss on the cheek.

Yuta, who had now grown used to the affection, didn’t comment on it. The two boys set down their things and got to work moving everything to where Y/n wished, and stayed by her side.

Afterwards all the first years sat in the kitchen eating take out that Satoru had so graciously bought for his beloved students. At least that’s what Y/n said when she showed up with an obscene amount of food, a shiny credit card in hand.

“Y/n,” Yuta asked, “is it true that you have two boyfriends?” Y/n stopped eating midbite and looked at the boy as if he was the stupidest person on Earth. Inumaki, who had been holding his hand, sighed deeply, Panda shook his head, but went back to eating.

“Yuta, are you an idiot?” Okkotsu looked at Maki, confused.

“I don’t believe so.” Maki grumbled and continued her meal as she had a silent conversation with Y/n.

“I thought I had two boyfriends, but it’s now come to my attention I never properly asked him. Yuta, would you like to be my boyfriend?” Yuta looked at the girl, confusion etched into his face.

“Why are you asking me?” Y/n groaned and smacked her head into the table, “Nevermind.” Maki sighed and kicked Yuta’s leg before placing some more food in front of Y/n.

_______________________

It was a rather freezing day, Maki and Y/n just got done putting their weapons away when Y/n barged into Yuta’s room and hurried over and placed herself underneath the covers next to Yuta. Maki shut the door and went to her room, grumbling about how friendships were supposed to come first and how much betrayal she felt, though she didn’t necessarily mean it.

Yuta, who had been sleeping, felt his body unconsciously mold itself around the girl as if it was second nature, shivering slightly at how cold she was. Y/n played games on her phone and fell asleep after sometime, wrapping herself around the boy.

When Yuta woke up, he was wrapped in two sets of arms. He didn’t even have to look to see that they belonged to Inumaki and Y/n. Y/n was speaking in a hushed voice, Inumaki would occasionally respond. He didn’t want to sign since he was holding Yuta. Okkotsu kept his eyes closed, wanting to hear what was being said.

“He’s really cute when he’s sleeping, isn’t he?” Yuta felt a small nod coming from Inumaki. Fingers were in his hair, bushing gently. The boy loved the way it felt, it brought him a lot of comfort and made him feel more at ease than he’d felt in a while. It’s sort of weird, but the feeling of nails against his scalp felt better than he’d though they would.

“I wish he wasn’t so oblivious. You’d think he’d’ve noticed by now.” Something that Yuta had noticed was how informal Y/n spoke when she was tired. It was quite amusing to him. A soft yawn escaped her, she snuggled closer to the boys.

“Damn these blankets are nice… maybe if I steal them Yuta’ll spend more nights with us.” He felt the soft shake of Toge’s chest, laughing at his girlfriend's comment.

“Toge, do you think he’ll stop being so dense?” A shake from Inumaki. Y/n sighed softly, “Well at least we have times like this.”

_________________________

It was finally beginning to warm up in Tokyo, still chilly, but not unbearably cold. Y/n was sitting on the stairs, watching as Toge and Yuta sparred. She liked the way their muscles looked, even if they were buried underneath too many layers for her liking.

A small smile had taken its place on her lips while she watched. Maki, who had been critiquing the two, eventually made her way over to her friend.

“You’re developing a staring problem.” Y/n laughed, “Their fault for being hot.” Maki snickered and took her place at the girls' side.

“Have you asked him out since dinner?” Y/n shook her head.

“No, we’re waiting until he begins to realize a little more.” Maki nodded along. She never understood the appeal to dating or waiting to share your feelings, but she was making an effort.

Y/n and Maki began to speak and got into small arguments as they waited for the two to be done fighting.

“Glitter is totally different from sparkles.”

“No it’s not.”

“Is too!”

“Is not!”

“I’m not taking the opinion from someone who doesn’t like brussel sprouts.”

“Good, ‘cause I don’t want the opinion of someone who likes brussel sprouts.”

“They’re good!”

“No they’re not!”

“Oh my god, you’re infuriating,” though Y/n said this with a smile.

“Now you know what it feels like to try and hold a conversation with you,” though Maki said this with an even wider smile.

Y/n and Maki were so in their own world, they failed to notice that the boys were done sparring and were just watching the two. Y/n rolled her eyes and saw how close Toge was to her face and screamed. Maki jumped a little at the noise before both girls dissolved into a fit of laughter. However not before smacking the boys for scaring them.

“What’s so funny?” This time the girls and Yuta screamed, Toge only jumped, as Panda showed up from spending quality time with his dad. The five first years all laughed and had fun. After a while of talking, Y/n rolled her head to the side and looked at Toge.

“Wanna go on a date with me, hot shot,” she whispered. Toge laughed and nodded his head. The two get up and pull Yuta up with them.

“Where are we going?” Y/n grabbed one hand, Inumaki grabbed the other. Y/n looked at him and smiled.

“We’re going on a date!” Yuta’s face lit up.

“Oh, I love hang outs!” Y/n and Inumaki sighed, but let it go.

“Mhm, totally.”

_______________________

Inumaki, Yuta, and Y/n were all snuggling in bed, you know, like totally platonic best friends who are definitely not attracted to each other (not saying that you can’t cuddle with your friends), when all of a sudden Y/n got up and walked out of the room. Totally calm and chill, not at all almost falling flat on her face or freaking out the other two.

When she got back, she had a new pair of shorts on and a new blanket to sit on. While the boys didn't fully understand, they let it go and continued their movie. Y/n refused to join their cuddle pile and set the, now folded, blanket down on a separate spot of the bed. When they tried to move closer to her, she moved a little bit farther. When they tried to set a blanket on top of her, she said she was too hot even though she was visibly shaking.

After an awkward hour, Y/n got up and left the room.

“ ’m fine, I just want something sweet.” Inumaki sighed and nudged Yuta’s shoulder.

‘She’s on her period.’ Yuta gasped before he quickly got up and put on his shoes.

‘Where are you going?’

“To go get Maki!”

‘What does she have to do with this?’

“She must know what she likes and what she might want.” Toge also got up, but shook his head.

‘She’s on a job, plus I know what she likes. It’s our job to go get it anyway.’

“What do you mean?” Toge looked at the boy and sighed.

"We're her lovers, we should be able to bring her as much comfort as possible.’ Yuta looked confused for a moment then glanced at Toge.

“Uh, Toge, I think my signing is a little rusty, but don’t you mean as her lover, not lovers?” Toge shook his head and motioned his hand between the two of them, he then made a heart with his hands.

“Ah yeah, we’re best friends.” Inumaki groaned before he gave Yuta a small peck on his cheek in a desperate attempt to get his feelings across. Yuta’s face was practically on fire when Toge looked up at him, holding an uncanny resemblance to that of a tomato.

“Oh, thanks, Toge. Now let's get your girlfriend some treats.” Toge just let out a silent scream, waving his hands in the air, when Yuta turned his back. When Yuta turned around, Toge quickly pretended that all was well and grabbed his hand as he felt Yuta brush his thumb across his knuckles.

Maybe he’s slowly getting it.

When Y/n arrived back in Toge’s room, she saw no one there and made her place in his room. Sending a quick text telling the boys to use protection, which of course went over Yuta’s head who said they’d make sure to double check the road before crossing.

__________________________

“God this is not how I wanted my weekend to go.” Shoko looks up from her labs and towards the girl.

“What? Spending a couple days in the infirmary isn’t what you wanted to do? ‘Cause it sure as hell isn’t what I want to do. I’m supposed to be with ‘Hime in Shinjuku right now.” Y/n groans before wincing at the feeling of the hydrogen peroxide on her cuts.

“It’s not like I was trying to bleed out.” Shoko gives her an icy look. Ever since Suguru died, Y/n has been a little more reckless in her fighting style. She’s been slowly getting better, but Satoru still doesn’t like her going out by herself.

Y/n had been on a mission with Mei Mei, and Ui Ui by extension, and is still creeped out from it. She’s currently under evaluation to become a Grade One shaman, and after her performance in December, her family’s influence has lessened in her ranking.

It wasn’t even a particularly difficult job, her technique just got the better of her. You see readers, having the ability to manipulate blood comes at a fairly hefty price at times. Y/n has been trying for quite some time to manipulate blood without a weapon or a medium, so far it’s been incredibly unreliable and causing her to lose more blood than she typically would.

Y/n has heard the stories of a Kamo boy who was able to move blood at his will without a medium to help assist him in the drain, so she has been teaching herself to do the same. However, Y/n is also trying to learn how to draw blood from her pores without actually causing damage to her body, again, unreliable results.

This time Y/n barely managed to get to Ijichi’s car without passing out. “What would I ever do without you, Jiji?” Mei Mei had helped her to the medical bay, not without charging Y/n and adding a convenience fee. Ui Ui threw a tantrum that ‘such scum would ever be able to feel the warmth of his beloved sister,’ which made Y/n even more queasy than before.

While Y/n sits patiently and watches as the bubbles form on her arm, a very frantic father begins to make his way to her, not before running into his students who are very confused as to why he is running around like a headless chicken.

Similar to when Y/n had been five, Satoru slams the door open, with a cry of her name, and goes to fling himself on her, though this time Shoko yanks him by the collar and makes him sit down. Shortly after, the rest of the first years made their way through the door and were greeted by Shoko handing a lollipop to Y/n. Satoru sits next to the girl, finally calm, and pretends as if nothing is wrong and he didn’t raise hell trying to get to her.

Maki makes her way to one side of the table and sits down next to Y/n, going to pinch her shoulder, but noticing that there was quite the bruise forming. Yuta and Toge sit on the other side, and Panda sits in front of the girl. When everyone finally gets a good look at the girl, they notice just how banged up she is. Scraps, cuts, bruises all made an appearance on her skin. Her under eye was bruised to hell, as was most of her body.

Y/n sits with practiced stillness as Shoko approaches her with all the salves and ointments her body has become used to over the years. Shoko used to use her reversed technique to heal her when she was younger, but out of paranoia that maybe Y/n would grow a slight immunity, Shoko went the more medicinal route.

They watch as Y/n takes the small sizzles like a champ, comparing it to Pop Rocks on her skin, and take notice of how Shoko moves to wrap the bandages with muscle memory. Over the years, Shoko has essentially become her personal doctor. When Y/n got her period a couple months before Tsumiki first got hers, she was there talking to her through the bathroom door.

“It’s not your cursed technique.”

“How do you know it’s not me dying?”

“Cause that’s not how it works. It only feels like you are.”

“Oh. I wonder if I can move it like the rest of my blood.”

“Let’s not try that out.”

Shoko was there every time she had a fever, cold, scrape, bruise, fell out of a tree, etc. You name it, Shoko was there to wrap her up and make her feel better. Shoko never really inserted herself into the family dynamic, though she does know that Y/n sees her as a sister, and she’s fine with that. How is she supposed to trust Satoru to not kill his three kids by forgetting the basic things required for a human being to survive?

Maki of course gives Y/n an earful as they all walk to Y/n’s room to make bracelets with her for the upcoming spring. Satoru stayed behind to talk with Shoko about both of his daughters' health.

‘Incoming call from sea urchin’

Y/n sighs, knowing what the call was about before pressing the button to accept the call.

“Nee-san, what did you do?” Y/n could practically see the frustration on her little brother’s face.

“ ‘Gumi, there’s nothing to worry about. I got a little banged up on my job and had to get patched up. No biggie.” Megumi sighs deeply before beginning to speak once again.

“This has been happening a lot more, Y/n, I don’t like it.” She knew where he’s coming from, she really does, but the constant surveillance unnerved her — however warranted it seemed. Y/n’s the type of person who’s incredibly stubborn and craves independence. She didn’t like people treating her as if she was a child, frankly it did nothing but piss her off, but she understood that sometimes people need to hover in order to ease their own minds.

“Megumi, I promise I’m getting better at being more carful with my body. It’s just been a long week.”

“That’s what you said last time.”

“Well at least you know I’m consistent!” Megumi groans before saying his goodbyes and hanging up. Y/n knows she’s being a little bit of an asshole — really she does — she’s trying to get it under control, but it’s been happening a lot more frequently. She knows she’ll start spiraling again if she focuses too much on herself, but she also knows she’ll just continue to lash out at those around her if she doesn’t at least attempt to regulate her emotions a little bit better. It’s been nearly three months since Suguru’s death, Y/n knows it’s completely normal to take a long time to grieve, but for some reason it seems like so much longer than it’s supposed to. This isn’t the first time someone close to her has died, and it certainly won’t be the last, yet this time it hurts just that little bit more, this time she finally has been pushed off the cliff. And she doesn’t really like what she sees in the mirror most days. She doesn’t like the helplessness that comes with the grief, nor does she like the way she pours herself over every photo, every voicemail, desperate to see where it all went wrong. Y/n spent years like this, though it got better at manifesting itself in different ways, the torment that came with her thoughts were still very much there, even after all this time.

She joins the rest of the group, who’re all waiting patiently for her to get off the phone, and grabs Yuta’s hand, holding a tight grip to help ground herself.

“We should totally go on a date tomorrow, Yuta!” She watches him carefully as a light blush floods his cheeks, his hands begin to sweat a little and she chuckles when he looks at her.

“Okay, we can hang out tomorrow,” he says softly, Y/n deflates a little and Maki smacks the back of his head. “Honestly how can someone be so fucking dense?” Y/n giggles softly and gives Yuta’s hand a small squeeze before letting go and walking with Panda.

Toge watches out of the corner of his eye as Yuta frowns slightly and clenches his hand a couple times before continuing to walk and slinking over to Toge’s side. Toge bumps his shoulder against his body. Maki couldn’t help but compare Yuta to that of a puppy looking for its owners.

__________

Ever since the news of Yuta’s sudden study abroad was announced, Y/n and Toge have been spending even more time with the boy, if that’s even possible. The three of them are lounging in Y/n’s room, not really doing anything, just spending time in each other's company.

Yuta rests his head on Y/n’s chest, and Toge lays behind Y/n, they’re in a pile of sorts, Toge carrying the brunt of the weight; not that he minded at all. If anything he prefers it this way. The weight of his girlfriend, and hopefully soon-to-be boyfriend, helps to ground him to the present.

He likes the feeling of Y/n and Yuta’s soft laughter, the playful shoving, the fingers running through his hair, and the gentle, steady rhythm of their breathing as they fall asleep against him. These are the moments where he feels the most at ease, the most relaxed, the happiest.

He frankly doesn’t know what he’s going to do if Yuta decides that maybe he’s not for him, that they're not for him. Aside from Y/n, he’s never cared for someone as strongly as he does for the boy. When Yuta transferred to the school, he was a breath of fresh air, he complimented the lovers so beautifully in a way he’d never imagined was possible.

Toge knows that they’ll survive and respect his decision if he chooses not to be with them, but he’s still holding onto the small moments, the small gestures that make him feel like he’s not being ‘delulu’ as Y/n puts it.

In the quiet moments of the night, Toge can hear Yuta shuffle around. He feels as Yuta reaches up and gently places his hand in Toge’s hair. He feels the soft motions of his fingers gliding through and the soft sigh that follows.

“You know, you’re both so beautiful it hurts. Not just physically, but your hearts and souls bring so much brightness to my life, it scares me at times,” he whispers, “How can I possibly stand beside you both? I would let the higher ups kill me if it meant the two of you would be safe.” Toge releases a sharp breath, one that alerts the other boy. Toge carefully shifts Y/n off of him and quickly pulls Yuta to him. He entangles a hand in his hair, tugging the taller boy down.

Yuta inhales sharply and rests his hands on Toge’s neck. The two join in the middle, lips clashing. They can’t fully see what they’re doing in the dark, and the kiss is rather clumsy and inexperienced, but practice will make perfect.

When they pull apart, their breathing is rigged, not quite gasping for air, but shallow. The boys were so engrossed in each other, they failed to notice the girl that woke up in the mists of their… fun. The small giggle is what finally alerts them to her presence.

“Damn, as hot as that was, I wish I got a kiss too, ya know?” The three laugh as Yuta shuffle over to Y/n, a gentle pair of lips place themselves on top of hers. She smiles into it. The kiss—a peck really—is soft, inexperienced as well, and lights a spark in Y/n’s heart.

“At least now you get it.” Yuta laughs, “I always did, I just wasn’t sure of my own feelings.” Y/n brushes her hands through his hair quickly before looking at Toge, she can’t see him, but she knows his face is as red as can be.

Y/n snorts, “As sweet as this is, I’m really tired.” She curls herself underneath the blanket and pulls the other two towards her when they begin to take too long.

‘If this is the happiest I’ll ever be in my life, so be it. As long as they’re here by my side.’

___________

Thanks for reading! The next chapter, ‘Absence’ should be posted on Wednesday(10/18)! We’re now making our way to season one of jjk. I’ll be holding off on writing anything pertaining to the second half of season two cause my heart really can’t take writing that much angst right now and I’m still recovering from the leaks. I’m also working on a couple other things right now, so i might be a little slower with updates in the future! Please comment or like, it helps to keep me motivated in my writing. As always, there is an oc version on my blog and on ao3.

Honney

#honney-pies #jjk #jujutsu kaisen #inumaki toge #ma cherie #okkotsu yuuta #inumaki x reader #inumaki x okkotsu #inuokko #yuta x reader #yuta okkotsu

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callsignspark · 10 months

Text

Mar[r]y Me | part three

pairing: Bradley “Rooster” Bradshaw x Mariella “M&M” Vertucci (fem!OC)

summary: A love story told through friendship, laughter, and food.

series warnings: 18+ minors DNI, discussion of insecurities, difficult family relationships, discussions of food and alcohol use, extremely brief mentions of emotionally abusive ex-bf, mentions of pregnancy and giving birth but nothing is described, hints of a raging (mutual) size kink that hasn't revealed itself yet, eventual smut, warnings to be added as needed

word count: 4.1k

previous part | main masterlist

note: happy Saturday! part three is here! (a day later than I planned and no teaser but it's here!) thank you for the love on part two! I hope you all have a great weekend!

part three - banana bread

Mary and Bradley stand side by side, staring into the trunk of her Jeep, which is bursting at the seams. The floor is covered with baked goods, a gift bag full of things she hopes Amelia will enjoy, and a hastily packed duffel bag. Two dozen helium balloons and four floral arrangements she picked up as a favor to Penny are crammed into the remaining space.

“I feel like I may have gone a tiny bit overboard.”

Bradley glances over at her and has to hold in a laugh. With her hands planted on her hips and her brow furrowed so deep that wrinkles have appeared, she reminds him of an angry kitten. An thought he keeps inside, well aware of the fierceness of the shorter woman next to him.

“It just looks like a lot because of all the balloons. Once we get those out, it’s almost nothing.”

She snorts. “You’re so sweet to lie to me. How many girls are coming to the party again?”

“I think Mav said somewhere around twenty-two.”

“Yeah, I definitely made too much.” She lets out a defeated sigh. “Oh well, I’m sure Penny will donate any leftovers to a good cause.”

“Oh, do you think she’ll force Mav to bring them to base?”

“Yes, I think you guys will get to eat the leftovers.” She correctly interprets his real question. “Alright, let’s get this stuff inside; it’s gonna take a few trips.”

“No way, I’m a master of bringing all the groceries inside in one trip.” He jokingly flexes, showing off his strong arms.

Behind her sunglasses, Mary’s eyes trace the lines of his muscles; briefly losing her train of thought when she sees how the t-shirt strains against his biceps. A beat too late, her eyes snap back up to his face, the smirk flashed back at her setting off butterflies in her stomach.

She pivots. “Can you be trusted to bring in the flower arrangements without breaking anything, or is that too much for you to handle?”

He groans, remembering his embarrassingly slippery fingers from the previous weekend when the Daggers helped Mary move into her rental house. “I told you I would pay for dropping your vase! Please let me give you money for it!”

He’s offered countless times to pay for a replacement, though he internally maintains that it wasn’t his fault the vase broke.

It had been an unseasonably warm December day, even for California. The guys had spent the morning packing the U-Haul while the girls had done a final round of cleaning at her new place. Mary had just left to pick up lunch when the full truck pulled up, a small caravan of cars following it. They had managed to get all the furniture into the one-story ranch and were working on unloading boxes when she returned with food.

Bradley was bringing a box of décor inside when he turned around to welcome Mary home. He froze before he could get the words out. His brain stopped working at the sight of jean shorts and a flowy tank top.

Bradley silently thanked whoever brought the warm weather. His eyes were glued to the slope of her calves, the thickness of her thighs, the curve of her ass, fully appreciating the olive-toned skin that appeared as she bent down to get something from the backseat. His mouth felt dry when he tried to swallow. It was the most skin he'd seen since they’d met.

He was busy trying to imagine where a tan line might exist when she turned around. Her tank top, which had already shifted from her movement, got picked up by a gust of wind and showed a flash of a pretty red bra that matched her nail polish.

He dropped the box on his foot, broke the vase inside, and cut his finger as he tried to salvage the situation. He got blood on a throw pillow but was relieved that only the vase had shattered. His weak excuse of “slippery fingers” fooled Mary and Mary alone. The only person who hadn’t seen his eyes roaming up and down her body.

“And I’ve already told you! I bought that vase at the dollar store my junior year, so I will accept nothing more than $1.08 from you.” She starts piling containers filled with baked goods into his arms. “I’m honestly surprised it even lasted that long.”

“I still feel bad.” He mutters under his breath before he gets distracted by the food. “What did you make? I thought Penny said she asked you to make cupcakes?”

“I did make cupcakes! Red velvet, as requested by Amelia Bedelia herself! I also made some sugar cookies. And some Oreo truffles. And I know it’s a lot, but I wanted her to have a great birthday, and you only turn 15 once - and that’s almost as big of a birthday as 16 because it’s the year before you really start growing up and heading towards adulthood with getting your license and everything - so I just really wanted to make it special! And it’s not like I’m going to charge Penny anything! I didn’t even want to take anything from her for the cupcakes, but last week she stuffed money - way too much money, I have to figure out how to give it back to her - into my hands and ran away before I could stop her. I swear that’s the last time I wear anything with a heel to the Hard Deck.” They make their way into the house as Mary rambles, her face becoming visibly more stressed as she goes on.

He carefully places the containers on the counter before emptying Mary’s arms and gently places a hand on her back. “Hey, hey, it’s okay. What’s wr-”

Before Bradley can figure out what’s happening, Amelia bursts into the kitchen, letting out a huge gasp. “Oh my god, Mary!”

The teenager wiggles her way in between the adults, throws her arms around the older woman, and starts bouncing. “This looks amazing! Mom said you were making cupcakes, but I didn’t know you were going to make all this extra stuff, too! Thank you so much!”

Mary squeezes the girl in her arms, smoothing her hand over her back. “Of course, sweetheart. I’m glad you like it!”

“Like it! I love it! Oh my god!! I have to show mom!” Amelia darts back out of the room, and Mary’s lip wobbles as she moves to finish bringing the party supplies inside.

Bradley doesn’t move for a second, debating if he should grab Penny, not sure if he’s prepared for the woman that he has feelings for to cry. The sound of the front door closing gets him moving, and he takes a deep breath, sending a quick prayer to his mom that he can handle any tears that may appear.

“Mary. Mary!” He jogs down the steps to stop her from trying to carry everything herself. “Hey, woah, slow down. Let’s just take a second here. Are you okay? What’s wrong?”

“Yeah, everything is fine! I’m fine! Why wouldn’t I be?” Her smile is strained, and her eyes are watery as he stares into them.

“Mary…”

“I just want her to have a good 15th birthday! Mine wasn’t, and I’ve gotten so wrapped up in those feelings I almost forgot it’s about her and not me. Overcompensating for my bad experience while trying to make sure she has a good day.”

They stand there under the open hatch of her car. Bradley tries to catch her eye while she stares at her shoes, forcing herself not to cry. He decides not to ask the questions he really wants an answer to, realizing it would probably only upset her more.

“When is your birthday? You’ve been here since March and we haven’t celebrated it yet. I don’t owe you a present do I?”

“It’s March 14th. Which is the day I flew to California.”

“Your birthday is Pi Day! Did you celebrate?”

“I bought myself a cookie at the Dallas Airport during my layover. And when I landed, Dani and Reuben took me to get Thai food, even though I said I was too tired. It was nice.”

“We’ll have to do something big for your next birthday! Maybe we can do a pie-baking contest, see who can make the best birthday pie. The birthday girl judges, of course.” He nudges her side and winks, making her smile.

A car full of teenage girls pulls up, and they flock to the house, interrupting the moment.

“Oh! People are starting to arrive! Come on, Bradley, help me get the rest of this stuff inside so you guys can finish setting up.” She doesn’t give him a chance to argue, just heading into the house juggling three floral arrangements.

By the time he’s fought to get the balloons through the doorframe, Mary is setting up the dessert table, seemingly back to herself as she answers the questions Amelia is peppering at her.

“Are you really sure you can’t stay for the party?”

“Oh, I would love to, kiddo; I really would. But I have to get back to Reuben’s, so you’ll have to let me know how everyone likes the treats, okay?” Amelia agrees, giving Mary one more hug before joining her friends, who showed up early to get ready together.

“Are you sure you can’t stay for a little bit, M&M?”

“I want to, Mav, but Reuben is convinced Dani is in labor, and she’s in denial. So I have to go monitor that situation because the last time they did this little dance, Annabeth was almost born in the backseat of their Rav4.”

“Why is she in denial?” Penny questions from her position on the ladder, adding streamers to the sliding door.

“Partially because it’s a week and a half before her due date. But mostly, I think it’s because she had some problems when Annie was born, so I think she’s a bit hesitant this time.”

“What happened last time? Did she-” Penny makes a ripping sound, humming sympathetically when Mary winces in confirmation. “Ouch.”

The kitchen is quiet for a minute, the women shivering at the phantom pain and the men horrified about how casually a ripping noise is associated with birth. “Well! On that note, I should get going. See if Reuben has made any progress convincing her to go to the hospital.”

“Thanks for everything, Mary. It’s perfect! Keep us updated, and let me know if she needs anything!”

“Of course, let me know how everything goes!” She hugs Penny and Mav before turning to Bradley, who is mentally preparing for his hug. “Walk me out?”

“Sure.” He lets her walk out ahead of him before flipping off his aunt and uncle, the two of them making kissy faces.

“Bradley?”

“Coming!” His annoyed look melts into a smile that reminds Mav of a smile he’d only seen in photos for the last thirty-five years.

“God, they’re just like Nick and Carole. More oblivious than those two were, but just as into each other.” Pete nods; his throat feels too thick to agree with his wife. He watches his godson give his full attention to the woman walking in front of him, wishing more than ever that his best friends were standing next to him to watch their kid grow up.

“This is for you, as a thank you. I know it was you who rallied the troops to help me move after Reuben mentioned I was hiring movers.” Mary places a foil-wrapped loaf in his hands. “Something told me you like yours with chocolate chips.”

“Well, hiring movers is ridiculous when you have a group of big, strong, available aviators to lift the heavy things for you. What is this?” He lifts the foil and takes a sniff, “Banana bread! How did you know this is my favorite?”

“A girl has a way of figuring things out.” He laughs at her eyebrow wiggle.

“Phoenix tell you?”

“It’s not fun if you guess, Bradley. And, for your information, I happen to be an omnipotent goddess who knows everyone’s favorite food.”

“You’re telling me you know everyone’s favorite food, Miss Goddess?”

“Well, not everyone. All of my family, my college friends, my coworkers from Missouri and Florida, but I’m still learning everyone out here.”

“Okay, well, that’s pretty much everyone. That’s impressive. How do you remember it all?”

“You’d be amazed at what I can do with excel and conditional formatting.” She’s interrupted by her phone. “Reuben? Is everything okay?”

“We’re going right now. I threw Annie at Mr. Webster next door, and I have the gas pedal to the floor. Can you handle everything?”

“I’m on it. We’ll chill at the house until otherwise instructed. Drive safe.” She starts moving around her car before doubling back and leaning up on her tip-toes, wrapping her arms around his neck. “Thank you for your help last weekend; I really appreciate it.”

She presses a kiss to his cheek and is driving away before Bradley can recover. He’s still staring at where her bumper disappeared around the corner when he feels someone walk up behind him.

“I didn’t know your parents very well, but I do know how he asked her out the first time. I’m assuming you’ve heard that one quite a bit?”

“It was mom’s favorite to tell.”

“So you know that he asked her when it was almost too late? She had agreed to go out with some other guy, and Goose was a week away from his first long-term deployment.”

“Yeah. He showed up at her apartment fifteen minutes before her date was supposed to pick her up.”

“Yup, convinced her how much he cared about her and managed to be the one that took her out that night. They spent every night together until he left. Three months later, halfway through the deployment, she found out she was pregnant. You should have seen her, panicking so much thought we were gonna have to call the EMTs.” His aunt’s voice is clouded with nostalgia. “He proposed on the phone, and they were happy the entire time they had together. No matter how short it was.”

He turns, looking at the older woman, her arms crossed over her chest. “What’s your point, Penny?”

“Mary – despite how shy she can be – is a woman who is aware of her worth. She won’t go out with just anyone. However, just like your mother, I suspect she won’t wait around forever for a Bradshaw man to get his shit together. She clearly cares about you, but if you want to be with her, you need to be the one to do something about it.”

Mary is in the middle of a huge yawn, waiting for the elevator, when she’s consumed by a hug that scares her back to fully awake.

“Fitch godparents unite!”

“Mickey, you scared me!” She hugs him back despite her scolding. “How many photos did you take?

“Pretty sure he ran out of storage again.” Bob smiles at her over Mickey’s shoulder, proud of his joke.

Mickey tries to defend himself, but Jake interrupts.

“Folks, let’s not block the elevator.” He ushers the small group to the side like he’s herding cattle, making Natasha roll her eyes. “Okay, let’s get that photo of the godparents that Mickey wanted so badly, and then we can go home!”

“Yes!”

“No! Not right now.”

“Awe! Why not?”

“Well, for one thing, we don’t have the baby to take the photos with. Plus, if I look as gross as I feel, I do not want that memorialized.”

“You look good, Mary! You could totally take photos!” Natasha encourages her, and Jake mutters something under his breath.

“Jake, I don’t know what you just said but shut up.” She smacks his arm when he laughs. “Mickey, I promise we’ll take godparent photos with the baby. Just when I’ve had more than four hours of sleep and a chance to put makeup on.”

“I’m holding you to that! Hey, where were you, by the way? I thought we were going spend some time together in the room?”

“That was my plan! But as I was taking Annabeth and Dani’s parents back to the house, I realized that my Jeep is at my house. With the wildness of the weekend and all the times we’ve shuffled the cars to make sure someone had a car seat, I forgot it ended up there. So I just took an Uber back here instead of trying to have Sanford drive me to my place and then make sure he got back to the house okay.”

“Dude, you were gone for like two hours.” Natasha raises her eyebrows in surprise.

“Yeah, apparently, Sunday evening is a busy time for rideshare apps.”

“Do you need a ride home?”

“I’m staying for a while; I brought some clothes and stuff for them, so I’ll figure something out later. Thanks, though, Bob!” The elevator tone distracts her. “I’m gonna head up! I’ll see you guys tomorrow!”

The four aviators follow her back towards the elevator, saying their goodbyes.

“Bradshaw is still up there if you want to bum a ride off him.” Jake lets her know.

“Bradley is still here?”

“Yeah, Payback wanted to ask him about something.”

Natasha stops the doors from closing, leans in closer, and drops her voice so the guys don’t hear. “Hey, quick question. Are you ovulating right now?”

“Uhh… I don’t know. Maybe? Why?”

Phoenix’s grin is evil as she steps back, “No reason! Good luck! Bye!”

“Wait! Nat! Good luck? Why would I need luck?” Her questioning is cut off as the elevator closes. But Mary’s confusion quickly ends when she enters Room 427 in the maternity ward and finds Bradley “Rooster” Bradshaw holding her new godson, Stephen James Fitch.

She’s stuck in the doorway for a minute, her mind struggling to take in the scene before her. His sun-kissed shoulders are on full display thanks to a tank top, and his strong thighs stretch the material of his jeans. His body takes up most of the space on the loveseat. Her heart thumps as the six-foot-something man cradles the newborn, his finger gently stroking Stephen’s cheek. Something deep inside her warms up as she memorizes the way his enormous biceps dwarf the already tiny baby.

“Did you bring my purple sweatpants?” Dani’s question moves everyone’s attention to Mary, who finally enters the room.

“Of course, I did - that’s what you asked for - and I have your bag. I also brought Reuben a change of clothes and some stuff for tonight. I threw a load of laundry in while I was there; your mom is going to switch it over and give Annie a bath. Here.” She hands a bottle of lemonade to Dani.

“My favorite! What would I do without you?”

“Be perfectly fine since you have a loving husband to back you up.”

“Yeah, that’s true; we’d handle ourselves. But I’d miss you. We’d miss you.” Dani nods at the two men cooing over the baby. “That’s so fucking cute. It makes me want to make another one.”

“You should probably wait for your stitches to heal first.”

Dani hums in agreement. “I guess that means it’s your turn now. Whatcha think? I know someone who would be willing to help you out.”

“Danielle!” Mary lowers her voice. “Stop it. We are not talking about this right now. He is right there.”

“Fine, but we are talking about it soon. I saw your eyes when you walked in; you practically started drooling. By the way, are you ovulating?”

“That is none of your business!” Mary starts giggling at the ridiculousness of her best friend.

“Oh my god! You are!” Her laughter catches the attention of the room’s other occupants.

“What are they laughing about?”

“Man, trust me, you probably don’t want to know.” Reuben claps Bradley on the shoulder. “M&M! Come supervise Bradshaw while I change and make sure he doesn’t drop my baby.”

Mary takes Reuben’s place next to Bradley on the small couch. She folds her leg underneath herself and leans into his side, looking over his shoulder at her godson. The two sit silently for a bit, admiring the sleeping baby as his parents freshen up and change.

Mary leans her cheek on his shoulder, thinking about a baby with curly hair like the man next to her and a skin tone that matched her own. What it would be like if the baby in Bradley’s arms shared her brown eyes and his nose. She thought of how supportive he had been for the wife of his teammate and how he would probably be even more supportive of his own partner.

Then she catches a whiff of his cologne, and she allows her mind to wander to a topic she had been trying to ignore since the previous weekend.

It was all Bradley’s fault.

He had gripped her hips as she stood on the counter while putting decorations on top of her cabinets, holding her steady to make sure she didn’t fall. He helped her climb down when she was done, moving quickly as she stumbled. His warm hands had felt so nice holding onto her wide hips. It had felt even better being pressed up against his muscular body when she tripped getting down.

There had been a moment after he steadied her where she was fully enveloped by his strength, by his size, and it had set her body on fire. All she could think about was those hands exploring her body, his lips learning the sensitive spots on her neck, his powerful hips pressed against hers but with much less clothing.

“I can’t believe he’s so small.”

She blinks back to the present, feeling a little lightheaded from thinking about her fantasy Bradley with the real one right next to her. “I know. He’s so perfect; he looks like a little doll.”

“Do you wanna hold him?”

“No, you keep him for now.”

I don’t think I have enough strength in my arms to hold him right now after fantasizing about you.

“Besides, you look good holding him.”

What???

The sound of Dani choking prevents her previous statement from fully settling in the room as Reuben rushes to make sure she’s okay. “Baby? What happened? You okay?”

Danielle waves him off, her voice scratchy. “Fine, just swallowed wrong.”

Payback stays with his wife, rubbing her back and whispering in her ear, turning to the two sitting on the sofa after a minute. “Okay, we love you both, but get out. You have work tomorrow, and I’m like 90% certain Mary hasn’t eaten since yesterday.”

Bradley whips his head to the woman sitting next to him. “What?”

“It’s been busy!” She weakly defends herself.

“Bradshaw, give me back my baby, and since she needs a ride home anyway, make sure she eats something.”

“On it, Mrs. Fitch. C’mon, Miss Mary, I’m hungry, too.” He wiggles his fingers in her direction, prompting her to say her goodbyes before following him to the door. He grabs her hand as they pass the threshold. “Gotta hold on to you; make sure you don’t escape before I can buy you dinner.”

“You don’t have to feed me, Bradley.” She makes excuses as they move towards the elevators, not making any move to let go of his hand. “I have plenty of food at home.”

“Oh no, I’m under strict instructions from the pregnant lady. And from what I understand, you’re not supposed to argue with pregnant ladies.”

“She’s not pregnant anymore.”

“Well, pregnant or not, she’s kinda scary...” He mutters, guiding her into the elevator. “Besides, maybe I just want to buy a pretty girl some dinner.”

She stares at him from across the small space, that warm feeling creeping up again. “Well… when you find one, I’m sure she’ll appreciate that.”

He raises an eyebrow, an unimpressed look accompanying it. “You’ve always been very gracious when I’ve bought you a coffee. I’m sure you’ll be just as kind when it comes to dinner.”

The elevator stops, and more people get on before she can argue. The new riders push her toward Bradley, who protectively tucks her under his arm after one of the men leers at her, glaring at him when Mary isn’t looking. His attention instantly shifts as he feels a finger tap his chest. He tilts his head down, smiling at her as she looks up at him.

“Can we go to Panera?” Her voice is quiet, like she’s afraid he might say no.

“Course, anything you want, honey. I’ll even get you a lemon drop cookie.”

“Those are my favorite.”

“Yeah, I know.” Bradley guides her out of the elevator and grabs her hand again amid the flurry of people in the lobby. “You’re not the only one who pays attention to people’s favorites, Mary.”

A pleased smile spreads over her face and she grabs onto his arm with her free hand. Bradley squeezes her hand in his, as she hums, "I guess not."

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fic tag | credit for dividers here

#top gun maverick fic #top gun maverick au #top gun maverick imagine #top gun fic #top gun au #top gun imagine #bradley rooster bradshaw fic #bradley bradshaw fic #bradley rooster bradshaw x oc #bradley bradshaw x oc #bradley bradshaw imagine #rooster imagine #DSS universe #MM fic #elle writes #mar[r]y me fic

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