#not sure how to feel about the dauphin

[sshbpodcast]

Character Spotlight: Guinan

By Ames

Guinan gives The Next Generation the closest thing the show gets to a wizard: just some kind of supernatural being whose unquestioned wisdom gets the heroes out of scrape after scrape but whose true powers are never entirely explained. Oh, and she wears baller hats.

Sure, she may play into that “bartender, here to listen to your problems and guide you on your path” trope (which frankly Deanna should be doing but rarely does), but Guinan is so much more than that. We’re going to get into the good number of moments this week on A Star to Steer Her By, so get ready for your personal epiphany as you read on below and listen to our chatter on the podcast (pull up a stool at 1:02:25). El-Aurians are always listening.

[Images © CBS/Paramount]

Best moments

Whole generations of disposable people Simultaneously one of Picard’s best scenes, the peptalk Guinan gives to Jean-Luc when he’s being thoroughly whooped by Riker’s prosecution in “The Measure of a Man” feels like a turning point in the show. Whoopi Goldberg’s calm presence as a Black woman in a scene about creating androids as slaves imbues their discussion with meaning, weight, and stakes that are both personal and universal.

Every time you feel love it’ll will be different The perpetual sounding board, Guinan helps Wesley parse his feelings at the end of “The Dauphin” in a scene we really give the both of them credit for. Guinan doesn’t speak down to the kid or just tell him everything will be okay while he’s broken hearted after watching Salia leave. She tells it like it is: love is deeply subjective and his feelings are valid.

A warrior’s drink Guinan introducing Worf to prune juice in “Yesterday’s Enterprise” is such a perfect microcosmic scene depicting her character in a lot of ways. She just knows people. Worf is a tough nut to crack, but she reads people in such a way that she figures out just what he’d like in a drink, just as she does later in the episode on a much greater scale…

I look at things, I look at people, and they just don’t feel right …when she figures out the parallel dimension problem at the heart of “Yesterday’s Enterprise.” In that slightly fantastical wizard way she has, Guinan can feel that something is wrong with the timeline when the Enterprise-C shows up out of some rift or other and suddenly her once familiar crewmates are denizens of a warship. And even better, she gets Picard to believe her.

You have to let go of Picard Whenever anyone on the crew needs a little guidance, that seems to come from a really great scene with the ship’s bartender, and who could possibly need it more than Riker at the top of “The Best of Both Worlds, Part 2”? She gives him the confidence he needs to keep going in the absence of Picard, whom she insists she’s super close to for reasons we don’t know yet.

Job opening in the Empath field Another crisis, another peptalk from Guinan. We all know Troi handles losing her empath powers in “The Loss” pretty terribly, but you know who handled it great? This El-Aurian bartender I know who swoops in and reverse psychologizes Troi with such stealth that even if she had all her senses at the time, Deanna wouldn’t have known what hit her!

You saw exactly what you wanted to see in the holodeck It is downright glorious how Guinan puts Geordi in his place in “Galaxy’s Child” when he’s unironically whining about how Leah Brahms is nothing like the hologram he created of her (vom!). “She's probably done the most horrific thing one person can do to another,” she says, “not live up to your expectations,” and I can’t help but stand up and applaud.

I’ve heard some Klingon belly laughs that would curl your hair Guinan’s advice to crewmembers isn’t limited to the human ones! In “Redemption,” she not only schools Worf in holodeck target practice (and left-landed, to boot!), but she also makes him consider what it means to be Klingon, as his experiences are atypical from most of his people. We have no doubt that her chat with him inspired him to get involved in Kurn’s war.

You ain’t never had a friend like me When Guinan sees other officers like La Forge pointedly avoiding Ro Laren, she makes it a point to befriend her in “Ensign Ro.” That in and of itself is very Guinan-like behavior, but it also comes with some of her copyrighted motivational chats when she is able to convince Ro to come clean to Picard about the secret mission she was tasked with for Admiral Kennelly.

I tell you, that razorbeast was a good friend All throughout “Imaginary Friend,” while the other officers not only infantilize Clara Sutter for having an imaginary friend, but they entirely ignore the signs that something isn’t right. Everyone except Guinan. Guinan talks to Clara as an equal, even if she’s a child, and imparts the story of her own imaginary friend: a Tarkassian razor beast, which somehow seems fitting.

We are also lonely Despite being conflicted about Hugh being on board in “I, Borg,” Guinan goes and meets with him and it’s such a cute little scene. You forget that someone as old and wizened as Guinan still has things to learn, and to find some common ground with a Borg was unexpected for her. And she even convinces Picard to see him too, giving us yet another great scene from this great episode.

Why are you still sitting here? Let’s see, is there a single member of the crew Guinan hasn’t peptalked yet… ah right, Dr. Crusher. Now we have a full BINGO card! Our final tete-a-tete from Guinan comes in “Suspicions” when Bev is doubting her decisions to look into Dr. Reyga’s murder and Guinan cheers her on until the good doctor solves the mystery, kills the baddy, and flies in a sun like a badass! Truly so many of our Best Moments from other character spotlights are initiated by Guinan!

—

Worst moments

Give yourself permission to be selfish Guinan’s first significant scene in the series is in “The Child,” and of course she’s doing better counseling than Troi. However, your hosts here at SSHB can’t help but cringe because, while the show got rid of Beverly Crusher for a season, it means we were still stuck with Wesley because Guinan convinced him to stay, especially after a season in which we were so annoyed by his character all the time! Guinan, how could you?

You’re a ‘droid and I'm a ‘noid You saw above all the times Guinan helped all the other characters with a little self introspection to find their way through a problem, and the one character whom I’d say she fails with is Data in “The Outrageous Okona.” It’s probably because encouraging Data to consult Joe Pesci on how to do comedy led to the events of my least favorite TNG episode, and it’s all Guinan’s fault!

Tell me more about my eyes While the scene in which Riker flirts with Guinan when Wesley asks for dating advice in “The Dauphin” is hot as hell and inspired a little bit of shipping, we’ve got to admit that it’s not at all helpful to Wesley. Usually Guinan scenes are much more beneficial to the crewmember who is struggling, and in this one, none of this is what Wes asked for. I’m still totally into it though.

Let me introduce you to the Borg We learn in “Q Who?” that the El-Aurians were almost wiped out by Borg… because apparently Guinan and her people never told Starfleet this before? Think about it: she clues Picard in after Q has flung them into the Delta Quadrant about who the Borg are, and it is news to him! Starfleet spends every other interaction with Borg playing catch up because they don’t have any info on them!

That’s what you get, Charlie! You get fork stabbed! Pardon the It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia quote, but I couldn’t help myself. And Guinan seems to me no better than a McPoyle when she stabs the suddenly human Q with a fork in “Déjà Q” and generally mocks him. It just seems petty and violent for a character who is usually so stoic and reserved. So much for the tolerant Alpha Quadrant.

But I know it was an empty death, a death without purpose While Guinan had a lot of instances from our Best Moments list above from “Yesterday’s Enterprise,” we’re still troubled by her nudging Tasha Yar to go sacrifice herself on the Enterprise-C to make up for her waste of a death in “Skin of Evil.” Even if you consider it a better death than a tarpit, then you get freakin’ Sela in “Redemption,” which Guinan somehow blames Picard for when she’s the one who compelled Yar to go!

That was setting number one While some might give credit to Guinan for quelling a riot before it could get out of control when everyone was on edge due to sleep deprivation in “Night Terrors,” I’m not one of them. As I said in “Déjà Q,” violence doesn’t seem the answer for Guinan, and this scene escalated so quickly (partly because the bar scenes in this episode feel like afterthoughts), it makes me wonder how she let things get that bad.

A Yankee in Captain Picard’s Court Oh boy, I’ve got to question some of Guinan’s standards when we see her hanging out with Samuel Clemens in “Time’s Arrow” (and a terribly acted Sam Clemens at that!) after Picard had claimed in “Ensign Ro” that she’s very picky about her friends. Her cohorting with the author led to some of the most obnoxious scenes from The Next Generation that I’ve ever seen.

Our relationship is beyond friendship, beyond family There are several instances of Guinan hinting at her and Picard’s established kinship before we get to the story of the bald man who was kind to her in “Time’s Arrow” and my reaction was… that’s it? We say sometimes that leaving something unexplained is better than giving it a stupid explanation, and oh boy, Picard just sitting with Guinan in a cave once was totally fizzled what had been built up for so long.

Were you this much fun when you were a kid? Some of this is the overall child acting being bad in “Rascals” and Guinan’s child actor had it especially stacked against her since her voice had to get dubbed (resulting in her just sounding super smug all the time), but boy was she insufferable as a child! It was cute for adult Guinan to befriend adult Ro in “Ensign Ro,” but we felt bad that little Laren had to put up with this! Let this girl mope by herself, lady!

Forty to love Though Guinan helps boost Beverly’s confidence in “Suspicions,” she does it by tricking her with this lie about playing tennis that just seemed unnecessary. Guinan always finds ways to converse with people who need it, but this whole tacked-on frame story had some weirdness to it because it forced both Guinan and the episode to be indirect when it really didn’t have to.

Think of me as an echo of the person you know I’ll take every opportunity I get to shit on the Nexus in Generations. It’s just such a confusing device they used to get Picard and Kirk together that really makes no sense if you think about it for more time that it’s actually onscreen, which isn’t a lot. And there’s an echo of Guinan in there, feeding Picard exposition and generally complicating what this place is supposed to be, and I’m just done with it.

—

That’s enough from Guinan’s advice column this week! We’ve got a really special DOUBLE spotlight next week, in which Tasha Yar and Ro Laren are going to go head to head for the title of Baddest Bitch on the Enterprise-D. Place your bets now and be sure to come back for that! Also keep coming back for more of our series watch of Enterprise over on SoundCloud or wherever you get your podcasts, order a drink with us over on Facebook and Twitter, and enjoy your prune juice.

#star trek #star trek podcast #podcast #guinan #the next generation #generations #the measure of a man #the dauphin #yesterday's enterprise #the best of both worlds #galaxy's child #redemption #ensign ro #imaginary friend #i borg #suspicions #the child #the outrageous okona #q who #deja q #night terrors #time's arrow #rascals #whoopi goldberg

[kattestrophe]

Alright, I've finished Season 3 of The Musketeers

It was... I have some questions. I may just be dumb. I may have missed things while getting a drink. I don't know. Maybe someone will be able to help. Anyway, I'll rant my thoughts into the void for a moment.

How exactly did they go on after the end of S2? Their last scene is literally "Yeah, we're going to go find Aramis and get the gang back together after five minutes apart!" and then they... Don't, apparently? They are surprised to see him at the monastery in S3E1, so they obviously did not know he was there. Did they catch up to him before he got there? Did they not find him? Did he actually turn them down when they asked him to come back or did they just not have that talk?! I feel like that should be mentioned? Feels relevant? Was it mentioned!?

Why is Grimaud so mad at Athos specifically? Why is it stated in the behind the scenes clips that Grimaud specifically gives Athos the heeby jeebies more than any other villain so far? Where did he get his money? How did he get his connections? Do I need to read the book to understand why the show named their villain who has never met Athos before after Athos' lackey??

The other villains didn't quite catch me either this season, idk what it was, they just didn't really do it for me.

Why would you basically put Athos in the Milady Memorial Suit, say as much in the behind the scenes, and then pretty much not use her at all in S3? "The Milady Story", "The writers felt like there was something left to tell", then why didn't they do it?!

Why does the Dauphin not talk?! Like?? He's supposed to be 6?? Give him another line or two and pay the child accordingly, it's kinda creepy how he barely makes any sound at all. Also: Why does he just walk along with anyone who grabs his arm, surely even a child would notice that the guy who just punched the lady he was supposed to stay with in the face is not a nice man?!

Well, maybe he gets his brains from his dad who, for some reason, thought spilling everything about his affair with Anne to Louis was a swell idea. "I know how a dying man acts", oh fuck off, for all you know you may have just turned his terrible inescapable marriage even worse for Anne. 17th century Queens have been exiled away from their kids for this type of shit, Aramis!

Speaking of which: What exactly did Louis do to keep Aramis away from Anne and his son after his death? Like? He says that, but?? Nothing happens?? At all?? No consequences?? He called her a spanish harlot in the episode before his death, it doesn't sound like he feels all that generous towards her??

That was another thing, the whole caricature-print-story started and ended so fast I barely caught up. That really only existed to have Athos yell "to hell with the law", right?

Was Sylvie expecting the people to just get how to read themselves from the flyers they were handing out? Like, they were explicitly handing them out, not using them for lessons.

Oh boy, Feron sure changed his mind about the whole treason thing fast. "I'll conspire against the crown!" "You're family, Philippe, I'm gifting you a grave 🥺" "Can't wait to fill that! Will die for you right away!"

Why do Aramis and d'Artagnan keep switching pauldrons in multiple episodes, I am BEGGING you to label your costumes, BBC!

And why do they only get their new uniforms in Episode 3

And why is Marcheaux's jacket glittery

And what's that added leather thing with the cross that Aramis wears like... Twice? Is it their fancy day uniform? Why does he wear it without anything else when he accompanies Louis? Why does he wear it to the bar battle?

the costumes were kind of hit or miss for me this season, some I loved, some were Marcheaux's jacket or Aramis's final outfit. Or the Dauphin's wigs.

it's also very funny to watch everyone in the behind the scenes say "Oh, the Red Guard is so much more elite now, scary Red Guard" when d'Artagnan throws his weapon away to kill Marcheaux and they're still mostly absolute dunces who get beaten to pulp every other episode and have their bare asses handed to them by Constance

Speaking of Constance: Handing the kid off to her sounds fine at first, but like... Wouldn't everyone know her around these parts? And know she doesn't have a child? If there are two women the people of the area would know it's Madame d'Artagnan of the Musketeers and Sylvie of The Group of Refugees We Hate Sometimes, people would notice them dragging an unknown child around.

Speaking of Constance and kids, that was made to seem important for her and d'Artagnan and then never mentioned again. "Oh, we may never have kids..." "Oh, the kids Constance and I will have someday..." talk to each other!?!?

Aramis in the middle of S2: "Fighting is what I am meant to be doing!" Aramis at the end of S2: "Everything is going to shit, if I get out of this I'll radically turn my life around!"- okay, I get that. - Aramis at the beginning of S3: "The turning around part showed me that I am truly meant to be a musketeer!" - nice, he has grown in his understanding of himself, he knows his place in the world - Aramis at the end of S3: "So, about that-!" - oh come ON!

I didn't really dig the ending overall. We got a taste of Anne's and Aramis's combined diplomatic power in episode 8 and I dare say France is doomed.

Like, I'm glad they're together, making out in the middle of the park as if their relationship isn't still scandalous, raising their son, but A. that blue costume looked really weird on Aramis (is it just me? was something off about the cut?) and B. there must have been a better way. Honestly, the other people on the council who have been navigating politics for ages must be banging their heads on the table in agony whenever the current regent drags in yet another rando who's there for different reasons entirely!

Aramis will get bored and start shooting birds in the palace garden in three days time, I'm calling it

Continuing on about the ending, did Porthos and Elodie truly make such a connection in the cumulative week of knowing each other that they have to get married? Maybe if they had brought her back an episode earlier, but pulling her from a hat right before the end of the series felt a bit cheap...

Where are Athos and Sylvie going?? And why?? Don't the two of you have shit to do in Paris, help the poor, keep your community going?? Do they have a specific destination or are they just hoping to arrive somewhere nice enough with a midwife and a connection to food and water before Sylvie is so pregnant she can't ride anymore?!

Also, did Athos brush and tie up his hair for his final scene? That can't be him, it's his evil clone!

Constance and d'Artagnan are still cute and together, yay for that! Would have loved more conversations

Goodbye Scene in the garrison: Why no last "All for one, one for all"? Why must the last one for all be a note in a hat!?!? You're telling me this group of besties just kind of awkwardly walk away from each other!? Let Porthos and Aramis hug again!

I do love Milady's new paying position, good for my favourite murderous fashion icon. If only she had had like... a lot more proper scenes and interactions with the plot.

I heard that the actress couldn't film due to her being on maternity leave, but... come on, couldn't that have been handled better?

I really liked the show overall, but the third season felt a bit lackluster. Welp. I might still make that crack vid :'D

#bbc musketeers #long post #i forgot like half of what i wanted to say

[royrockstone]

for the writing ask game- POV for anything roman related pls <3<3

ahh ty for asking mwah

OK i actually almost wrote Chapter 1 of my fic I Didn’t Write the Book On Love from Gerri’s POV. So this is something that it might have looked like:

He was taking books off her shelf and putting them back in the wrong place when he said “You know how sometimes you look in a mirror and you’re like, ‘wow I’m hot and totally comfortable removing my shirt in front of people’, and other times you’re like ‘I’m never letting anyone see me naked ever again and I’m going to stop eating for at least three days’?”

When Roman starts babbling at her late at night, it’s usually bullshit. Occasionally he’ll ask to marry her, but mostly it’s not-entirely-unpleasant background noise. She tunes most of it out, especially when she’s trying to squeeze in some emails during peak hours, Tel Aviv time, to sew up this AI deal. But in between the half-hearted self-aggrandizement and fidgeting with every knickknack on her bookshelf, Roman had accidentally blurted out some things that feel true. More than that, things that feel genuinely vulnerable, as much as Roman is capable of such a thing.

Gerri’s relationship with Roman has always been characterized by a certain amount of complete and abject confusion. When an oversexed dauphin starts masturbating on the other end of the phone, there’s not much you can feel besides confused. She doesn’t know why she went along with it, the first time. Roman was cute, yeah, but the same way that, say, a puppy with bald patches in its fur who hasn’t learned not to hump your fur boots is cute. He was too young for her, and too messy, and gave the distinct impression that he had a porn addiction.

The truth was, it was hot. It was forbidden, and fun, and kind of flattering considering Roman could have anyone he wanted. She figured, if nothing else, she’d made an ally. One with a very good last name.

She never meant to care about him. Roman just kinda wormed his way in there with his ridiculous marriage proposals and his poorly-timed flirting and his wide-eyed worship of her.

And now this.

It’s not necessarily true. She has to keep reminding herself of that. Like, sometimes Roman will joke about getting molested at Camp Suisse and you’re 99% sure it’s nothing, just another example of his truly poor taste. But part of you knows, maybe not. Not that he’d let anyone get close enough to figure out the truth, and honestly it all looked too messy to touch.

Now, she thinks there’s been something really obvious right in front of her face for years, and she hadn’t seen it until he said it to her face and then ran away.

[rhetoricalsoapbox]

🔶🌈 for Richie and 🍎 for Missy?

really giggling rn.

🔶 "does your oc know cpr? do they have any other medical expertise?"

Is this because of Richie's thing with Cerillia? I feel like it's only because of that.

He isn't medically trained at all if that wasn't already clear, he just knows simple things. "Put a bandage on this, gauze on that" kind of things. He's poorly cauterized his own boo-boos before too.

Richie really doesn't know a lot and it should be surprising that Cerillia survived being hit by his car with the type of care he gave her.

🌈 "what is your oc's sexual orientation/gender identity? what pronouns do they use?"

Richie's straight as a ruler for the most part, sorry. He finds men "aesthetically pleasing" in his own way, but it's hardly even homoromantic.

I'm not sure what kind of relationship he'd have if he were in one, but it likely wouldn't be far past romantic. If he'd have ended up with Cerillia somehow, their relationship would have been purely romantic.

Richie is confident enough to call himself a man and not say anything past it. Gender identity isn't something he'd ever explore, and he doesn't really need to. He uses he/him pronouns, but when people talk about him--when he isn't present obviously--they've used she or it. Though that's only if they're only familiar with his identity as the "Dauphine Street Ripper" and don't actually know who he is.

----

🍎 "where was your oc born? do they still live in/around their place of birth or do they live somewhere else? how do they feel about their birthplace?"

This is a little tricky to answer without all the spoilers, but Missy's from Baton Rouge, that's where the Valence family started anyways.

When Helmer, Aurin, and everyone else left for New York, she still stayed behind in New Orleans. Which isn't unreasonably far from where she's from.

She does have feelings about Baton Rouge and her time there..

#they're some big feelings too #not that you get to know #bloodstained suits #Richie bloodstained suits #Missy bloodstained suits #oc asks

[thatsuhboldchoice]

hollow crown henry v!

i feel it's best to start with film versions

because it's so easy for them to pale in comparison with stage versions which are just so dynamic

confession time...i've never seen henry v!

i think i have seen fragments of branagh's film in the midst of a high school emma thompson situation

i know the gist of it in that there's a battle he gives a speech and he marries france (princess of)

oh and the chorus does a bit

speaking of i kinda can't bear to hear the chorus as a voice over

like i'm too attached to it as an article of theatre asking an audience to use their goddamn imaginations

that to have something to look at during it feels...incorrect

usually i don't go here's what i would have done but i definitely think it could have worked over a black screen

just like make the film audience do some work for a second before just showing it all

this red leather jacket though is doing the lord's work

aw he's so reluctant to go war

bishop dude's like let me throw some french into my speech to remind u sit on that throne too

the actor playing the french enovy here has some serious gravitas

henry is still like let me end in rhymes to show i'm serious

are we positive falstaff's dead? we've had a couple false starts before and that man's like a bad penny

france is supposed to be the enemy but nothing can make me hate the color blue

he sent a family tree like that's gonna convince someone

the message for the dauphin is so petty lol

'work your thoughts' just doesn't really work when i'm seeing it all unfold before my eyeballs with no work whatsoever

oh that was a very famous line out of nowhere

i love this little tavern quartet

henry's speech to the governor is...intense

but also to go into such detail as a tactic to persuade the governor so he doesn't actually have to sanction any of it...is interesting

the scene with the princess learning english is so adorable???

this actress is literally glowing

especially after the war scenes

oh no bardolph now things are serious

okay john hurt as chorus is like therapy

wouldn't be a shx play if we didn't have someone in disguise

i feel like the king should be sleeping not picking fights with random men in his camp

i guess i never realized that st crispin's day speech was just to his generals and not like the whole army?

still it's very propaganda-y

quite a persuasive piece of rhetoric but i am not convinced

this could end very very badly, hal

i don't think i was exactly wrong on what happens in this play

it is indeed...a lot of war

there's a direct relationship with how disheveled he is and how willing to commit war crimes he is

williams has a point hal

honestly trying to figure out the point of this whole exchange? is it validating the everyday soldiers who critique the king? is it showing that hal still shows mercy? still values them? is it how williams still defends himself instead of just rolling over? like what is this about?

the scene where he learns of the war dead is chilling bc he's so happy the numbers were so on his side...but like...that's a lot of dead

shakespeare really said history plays are for wooing women after you've royally fucked up their whole world

nice customs curtsy to great kings...*kisses her*

hmmm poetic but not sure we agree with that sentiment, shx

the wooing scene is really interesting bc it's like acknowledging that the war is only one part he has to like symbolically convince france

and then whoops it's all gone what a sucker punch at the end

ohhhh i see the boy was the chorus okay alright that's solid

#i do now get why people like digging into this play #my ambiguous homeboy at his most ambiguous #henry v doesn't let you out of making choices

[or-something-better]

Sam & Ruby

September 28, 2022

New Orleans Bunker

Sam

Stuffing my dirty clothes into the pack, I tuck my still damp hair behind my ears and look around for my beanie. “Hey, have you seen my cap?”

Ruby

Looking around among the debris, I spot a bit of the beanie. I gingerly pick it up and toss it to Sam. “Here you go.”

 Sam

“Greaaaat…” I shake it, but the dirt doesn’t come off enough to wear it, and I add it to my pack. “I hate to say it, but I think we’ve been gone about as long as we dare risk it.” I close up my pack.

“I think you better take back anything you think is important. I’m sort of worried about being locked out of this place once the Leprechaun shows up and sees the damage. Sort of expected him before now actually.”

 Ruby

“Leveau has an attitude for sure. Just sayin’. And it wouldn’t surprise me if he did lock us out.” Looking around I come to a conclusion. “I wouldn’t even know where to begin to clean up. I’m beginning to think he doesn’t live here. Like he is just a caretaker or something.”

“Hey, since we’re this close, do you want to make a run into town? We can’t put Abel off too much longer. He’s going to want to see that I’m doing something about his army.”

 Sam

“Sure, sounds good to me.” We pack up our things and carry our packs outside, locking up the Bunker. “Hey look, it’s not that far to downtown. I think you should let me take us there.”

 Ruby

*Smiling at his enthusiasm* “Ready to test your wings, Sam?”

 Sam

“I wouldn’t call ‘em wings, but I think I can manage to get us that far without incident. Leave the bags, we’ll stop back for them.”

 Ruby

“I feel like a mama bird pushing her chick out of the nest… go for it big guy!”

 Sam

Chuckling, I grab Ruby’s wrist and pull her up against my chest, wrapping both my arms around her. “No pushing. This chick is jumping.” 

I concentrate and transport us both to a small alley at the lower end of Bourbon Street and we make it just fine. “Yes!”

 Ruby

Stepping back, I give him a slap on the chest. “We made it. Don’t let it go to your head.”

 Sam

Stepping out onto Bourbon Street it looks exactly as I remembered it from my past visits. Its bright-colored Creole-style architecture and happy-looking crowds of people, associated the world over with New Orleans, were everywhere. The night was still early yet, not even full dark, but the neon lights were already lit and outside several of the clubs, we passed already had Jazz music in full swing. This Street certainly did embody the party life of the town.

“Can you imagine what this place is like during Mardi Gras?”

 Ruby

“Been there done that. Packed with people.” I tell him vaguely, preoccupied.

Glancing around, I run through my checklist of qualities I am looking for in a recruit for Abel. Lots of tourists, but don’t want to have any missing persons reports.

“Anywhere you want to go?” 

I notice several delivery trucks parked outside the bars, and I see a couple of locals that check off boxes. Muscles, competent, must be able to follow orders if they can make deliveries.

 Sam

“I should have known you’d have been here for Mardi Gras.” Chuckling, I gently steer us around a stopped group of people outside what looks like a tattoo shop. Thinking of my own new marking I just smile.

“No real destination in mind… there is a place down near Dauphine that’s as good as another.”

 Ruby

“Sounds good. Want to get a beer?”

 Sam

“Sure” I continue to lead us until we reach the place I was thinking of. As we approach, another couple is just leaving from one of the small tables set up outside. “Here… you keep this for us and I’ll go in. What are you having?”

 Ruby

“I’ll let you choose. How about a local brew?” 

 Sam

Pushing through the crowd by the door, I maneuver my way towards the bar. Times like this being taller than everyone else gives me a distinct advantage to suss out the best route to getting served. It didn’t take me long before I was stepping back outside with two glasses of a local craft beer.

 Ruby

I continue to check out possible recruits while Sam goes in. Thinking I won’t have too much trouble here, as long as I make sure not to take too many from one area.

 Sam

Setting the glasses down, I slip into the chair beside her. “Guy at the bar recommended this one.”

 Ruby

Taking a sip of the beer, I’m pleased with his choice. “This is good.” I wipe a bit of foam off my lip and take another swallow.

“I think this area might be good for our first run. No point in getting too many until we see what Abel thinks.”

 Sam

Having to actually start making good on promises made to Abel, is a worry that I just don’t want to think about tonight. “Hoping it doesn’t have to go that far…”

Leaning back in the chair, I watch the colorful New Orleans-style nightlife unfolding before me.

 Ruby

Resting my elbows on the table, I let my mind wander as I listened to the Jazz playing next door.  Truth be told, there was a period of time a couple of hundred years ago when I’d spent a lot of time here in this area. There was a lot that an enterprising witch could learn from the Voodoo Priestesses who called this marshland home. New Orleans had undergone several radical changes over the centuries, but none more extensive than after the Great Fire. It was a wonder we didn’t lose the entire city forever. The French Quarter from Burgundy to Chartres Street and almost all the way to the riverfront had been destroyed. And while the rebuild was successful, in my opinion, the beauty now just couldn’t compare to all the openness and respect for nature that it had before.

      Sam

“You look lost in thought. Wanna share?”

 Ruby

My memories are interrupted, and I give him a smile. “Girl’s gotta have her secrets, Sam. You look like you need another beer.” Giving his arm a squeeze, I take our empty glasses and head into the even more crowded bar. 

Once inside, I pass two guys who make rude comments. Ignoring them, I look for the path of least resistance to the bartender. Feeling a hand grab my arm, I come to a stop, nearly dropping the glasses.

Looking down, I follow it up to its owner and raise an eyebrow. “You want to keep that hand?”

Both chuckle at my words, but he lets me go. Continuing on, I push through the crowd and order another two beers.

 Sam

As Ruby goes inside, I sit back and do a little crowd-watching of my own. It’s rare these days that I’m ever around a group of people that aren't family. All of a sudden I get a feeling that something isn’t right. Instantly on alert, I look all around me and realize that I’m having the feeling regarding Ruby. Jumping to my feet, I turn to go inside after her but can see her on her way out.

 Ruby

Making my way back outside, I carefully hold the glasses high to avoid the crowd and hand Sam’s beer to him while I take my seat. “Talk about crowded! It’s wall-to-wall people in there!”

 Sam

“What the hell happened in there?”

 Ruby

“What are you talking about?” Looking around.

 Sam

I sit back down, confused now and not really sure myself what I’m talking about. “I don’t know. I just got this weird feeling that something wasn’t right… but not relating to myself, that’s gotta sound weird.”

Ruby

Realizing he meant the jerk inside, I’m baffled, wondering how he knew. “Some asshole inside thought I was looking for company. He was just some idiot who was drunk. No big deal. I took care of it.” 

A thought pops into my head. Reaching over, I take his hand and turn it over, showing the scar on his wrist that matches mine. I rub my finger over it. 

“Not sure here Sam, but it might be a side-effect of this.” Shrugging my shoulders.  “Maybe you just connected to me for a minute.”

 Sam

“Is that a thing? Something happens with you and I’ll what… know it somehow?”

 Ruby

“New territory for me. I’ve never done this before. There’s no manual on it explaining everything. We’re probably going to have to learn as we go.” Looking up I see Mr. Touchy-Feely coming out of the bar. “That’s the guy.”

 Sam

Unable to confront all the possibilities that might now be coming, I look over at the man that Ruby’s pointed out. Getting an idea, I stand up and take Ruby by the arm. “Come on, we're going.”

Moving in and out of the people along the street, I follow after Ruby’s guy, staying focused on where he’s headed and who happens to be around us. I can see that he’s about to intersect with a narrow walkway between two buildings. Walking faster, I’m able to slip into that space right behind him.

“Hey, Buddy.”

As he starts to turn around to look at me, I grab him by the shoulders and shove him headfirst into the closest wall. The loud crack sound was satisfying, and I could see it had stunned him. Flipping him around to face me, I press him back against the wall and punch him over and over right in the face. As I see him lose consciousness, I help him to slide down the wall and leave him against it in a sitting position. He looked just like any other drunk taking a moment to sleep it off.

Straightening and turning back to Ruby, I throw my arm across her shoulders and lead us back out into the passing crowd. “Now that, was fun… let’s go home.”

[thelastadventureblog]

You're probably wondering where I've been. I'm sure it seems like I stopped just as I was getting started. I'll get to that, but first, let me tell you why I began writing this blog. And if I'm talking to myself, I suppose that's fine.

(TW: suicide, depression)

In the spring of 2022 I lost a friend to suicide. This wasn't a friend that I was particularly close with. We weren't closer for no reason other than we only saw each other at work, and seldomly at that. Our usual conversations were about jewelry making, and art markets. As jewelry makers and silversmiths, we'd show off our newest pieces to each other, and talk about how sales were going. I had always been impressed by Sleepy's creativity.

Then one day I had arrived at work, and people kept asking me if I knew Sleepy. I said I didn't know them very well, though jewelers do seem to know each other. We all talk. Apparently Sleepy didn't show up to work that day, and that just seemed very odd. That made me nervous, and at the time I didn't know why. There were some mumblings about maybe they were sick, or going through a breakup. I wasn't sure myself. By the end of the night, however, it became clear, and my heart sank. They took their own life. My dear friend Joe broke the news to me. He pulled me close and told me how much I mean to him and that if I ever need some to talk to, he'd be there. I'll tell you that he has lived up to his word, and still checks up on me from time to time.

Their death hit me a lot harder than I expected, however. I spent the following days sobbing for hours in my bedroom. You see, I too had been in a dark place around that time. In truth, I had been suffering from depression since childhood. For all of my adult life up to that point I have experienced the gnawing feeling of deep loneliness. There were times when I'd feel as if I had been eaten away until there was nothing left, like I'd been hollowed out. I had suicidal ideation, thinking of all the different ways I could die, like Harold without Maude. Nobody really seemed to care or understand. Or maybe they believed my lie whenever I said I was doing okay. Whatever the case was, the advice I was given to combat these feelings were as follows: hug your roommates, talk to people, get over it, have sex with a random woman, maybe you're gay, get off the internet, etc.

I wanted to feel a real connection with people and places, and I wanted to once again experience the touch of a woman who truly loves and cares about me. The Pandemic™, as one can imagine, made my touch starvation worse. Any semblance of a relationship fizzled out at that time as well.

Before that time, when I had been in relationships, they were long distance and not physical. I silently suffered in them because I didn't want to feel lonely. They too fell apart in the end. Any friendships I had that involved a cush (I've had a few), just stagnated until I was eventually ignored completely. So I've held onto that resentment and grief well past their expiration date.

At Sleepy's memorial, thrown by close friends, I learned that he had a crush on me. I didn't know. There are a lot of things that I'll never know, and many things that were left unsaid. I didn't want that to be me. Being in my 30's, I felt that I had stayed silent for too long, that I hadn't really experienced life or accomplished anything. I left the memorial service with love in my heart from a person who couldn't talk to me anymore. I knew I needed to make a change in myself.

Soon after the memorial, I pushed myself to get a therapist. With a little help from some friends, I found one. Together, my therapist and I made a list of things I wanted, and how to achieve those things. The first thing on my list was travel. I took the opportunity to stay with my neighbor and her family on Dauphin Island that June, and returned to New Orleans just before July 4th.

By August I had train tickets, and I was off to Chicago. It was during this trip that I started writing a blog, hoping to capture my personal experience as it happened. After a few wonderful days there, I was on my way to New York City. I found NYC to be different from Chicago, but what stood out to me the most was that despite how many people were crowding the streets, I still felt lonely. That feeling stayed with me there, and followed me home. I stopped writing the blog.

In September, I met someone at a friend's birthday party. Soon after, we started seeing each other. She was everything I liked in a partner: smart, creative, nerdy, dresses up nicely, great taste in food and movies, curly black hair, drop dead gorgeous, and she liked spending time with me. We would spend time doing nothing, just enjoying each other's company. Some nights we'd cook and watch a movie. Although Initially physical, within a few months, all pretense of that stopped. My romantic feelings were unwanted, and I was being pushed away. Regretfully, I didn't respect her boundaries as well as I could have. While I feel like there were mixed signals in the beginning, I couldn't help but have feelings for her, despite her telling me not to have them. I couldn't be with someone in that way without having feelings for them. That's not how my heart and mind work. However, she wasn't about that. And... I miss her, and whatever closeness I once had with her. We still talk now, but without urgency or importance, and I fear that I'll be forgotten about some day.

Suffice it to say, I needed to not have another mental breakdown. So I talked to my therapist, worked some things out. Here I am now, my needs still unmet. It's been difficult to progress without slipping into the same cycle I've been experiencing for decades. I hope in the future, I'll find a way to communicate my feelings better.

So get out there and love someone. You never know.

#travel blogging #why i stopped writing #personal #blog #feelings

[tetsuwan-atom]

@lirxyalty​

Oh look it’s one of those things I’ve wanted to do since... forever.

The Knight could not help but feel a bit nervous.

His cheeks were dusted red, maybe a bit more than red, but he knew he had to concentrate. He was alone with Princess Lillianee, formally known as Dauphine Lilianée de'Pierrette Amaryllis, of the Amaryllis Islands, a kingdom who he had grown up in, to serve in, diligently.

Despite that servitude, he could not help but feel something within him for the Princess. Convention may forbid it, but the stories of old long told that convention never stopped people from acting upon their own feelings. Considering how much time they had spent together, no doubt those feelings were going to brew and brew. Sure, he might have tried arguing with himself about it all, but it was no use.

He knew what he felt for her.

And here they were now, alone again, this time preparing to dance one another, a kind of practice for one of those grand events coming up, yet here, just them, to him, felt more special than what any ball could ever hold.

#lirxyalty #IC : Investigation Underway #Hydal Bartis : The Star Fighter

[realhankmccoy]

Q: how bad of a person do you have to be to spend your time arguing against charity, kindness and niceness, given the state of the world and its real (re-Al-it-y) problems in 2022?

A: pretty darned diddly bad, neighboroony. If you’re playing say, grade school armchair ‘philosopher’ and feeling, like Ayn Rand or Nietzsche, that altruism is the appropriate problem to tackle, at least we can be grateful you haven’t gotten so dumb yet as to declare it the great problem of our time. As for the people who argue against love and kindness, I think only a portion of them literally spend their time kicking puppies and other dogs. In America, Americans usually have learned to go totally Flipper for domestic animals. Household pets … poof, instaFlipper the human goes.

What Americans like to do is scream and rage out on other humans. Gives em a boner or something, or gives their Twitler lives meaning. That’s all fine, but guys like me are just not into you, and so are many other strangers you may rage out on. Oh what, you can flawless and painlessly, even enthusiastically turn into Flipper for every clerk and passersby at the shopping mall buying your leather (aka yr man makeup) but you’d never reduce yourself to a even a dauphin for any friend, huh? Is that intelligence? Well my tool of capitalism, enjoy your commodity-based lifestyle as a systemic component of what composes the American system, but don’t think I’m about to think ‘oh gee, that one sure was a keeper, he was intelligent and nice’ cuz I think neither.

also, if you make overtures and symphonies to prove you are nice 100 times and they still don’t believe it, it is time to say fuck em and realize that you are dealing with a spoiled bully boy ingrate who there is no pleasing, as the American usually takes everything for granted and always just wants to take a little more like the bloody Andrew Jackson did. Gross.

[retvenkos]

okay, i know i’m a mess, but i just started the show “reign” because netflix said i’d might like it and it’s pretty interesting, ngl

#i never used to watch shows a lot but one trip to netflix to watch merlin and the umbrella academy at the same time has created a monster #ummmmmmm bash is my favorite character #i saw anna popplewell was in it and i had to give it one episode #not sure how to feel about the dauphin #i feel like we dropped a lot of his character points after episode one #what happened to the girl who was in his room? #i've never seen him making a sword since #also mary is....... a character #i like her but at the same time i don't #idk how to explain it #it reminds me about my thoughts about ej from hsmtmts #it's like....... ehhhhhh #olive rambles #and shows tumblr once again that i have zero impulse control #and that the musketeers season 3 is not very good and neither is arrow season 5 #i am PUSHING THROUGH BOTH #because i don't like to drop a show without finishing it but..... #also i tried to get back into the mandalorian for season 2 but i just couldn't? maybe i'll try again tonight. i literally zoned out #in like the first five minutes #i open at the queue

[icerosecrystal]

Daminette - How to Fail Being a Parent 101

(3rd Person POV)

Marinette Dupain-Cheng. The girl that went from having everything to nothing. At least, that’s what it felt like right now. She still had Jagged and Penny, supporting her. But her parents threw her out of the house after the believed Lila’s lies. The shiny new thing over their daughter! Her friends also thought of her as a bully. At the age of 17, Marinette had no friends and no family. But little did she know that everything was soon going to change for her.

(Edna Mode’s POV)

Enda Mode was a great designer. But, she wanted, no needed an apprentice to carry her legacy. When Jagged Stone, along with his assistant Penny and Clara, told her of their designer MDC, she was ecstatic. And her designs were beautiful. Yes, MDC had the right amount of talent to be Edna’s apprentice. All she had to was find her.

She was walking to the bakery in Paris, where Jagged said his niece would most likely be. She arrived at the bakery and opened the door walking inside. There were two people inside. She asked them, “Hello, darlings. Do you, by any chance, know where Marinette is?”

She watched as both of the people stiffened, and then the female replied, “No, we used to be her parents, but we no longer consider her a daughter!”

Edna was confused by that. As far as Jagged said, Marinette’s parents had a good relationship with her. So what changed? She then once more asked, “Do you where I might be able to find her, darlings?”

Marinette’s supposed mother grew angry, “Who cares where she is! And if you’re trying to find her. You must be one of the bad influences that Lila was talking about, so get out of our bakery!”

Edna huffed and turned on her heel, walking out of the bakery door. Once she was outside, she pulled out her phone and called Jagged. “Jagged, I tried to go to the bakery, but her parents said that they kicked her out. Or at least they implied it by saying that she was no longer their daughter.”

“What?! That’s so not rock-and-roll! Hmm, well, Marinette did buy a safe house. If I remember correctly, the address is nineteen dauphin bleu. Good luck, and let me know when you find her.”

“Sure sure, darling,” Edna replied before ending the phone call. She quickly went to the address in hopes of finding her.

(Marinette’s POV)

Marinette was not sulking! She swears she isn’t! She’s just sad that her parents didn’t believe her. And hadn’t been doing anything for the past two days other than eating and watching shitty rom-coms… Okay, maybe she was sulking. But could you blame her! Her parents believed a liar over her, plus she had shitty coping skills with Hawkmoth still around. Before Hawkmoth, she would have cried for hours on end while eating strawberry ice cream. Now, she couldn’t do that at risk of an akumatization, and she was Ladybug. Fuck Hawkmoth, fuck Lila, fuck her stupid hormones.

The doorbell then rang. Marinette dragged herself to the door, not stopping to look through the peek hole. She regretted that because once she opened the door, on the other side, she found THE EDNA MODE. Marinette jumped in surprise and started to try and fix her appearance while rambling, “Oh my god, you’re Edna Mode. I’m so sorry! I didn’t know it was going to be you at the door! Otherwise, I would have made myself more presentable! Oh my god, it’s you!!! Most consider you better than Audrey Bourgeois, Style Queen herself. It is such an honor.”

Edna cut off Marinette’s rambling with a hand to her shoulder, “Please, darling, the pleasure all mine. I’m so happy to meet the famous MDC that Jagged, Clara, and Penny have been telling me so much about.” At hearing those words, Marinette looked seconds from passing out.

Edna followed Marinette to the couch and told her, “Now, I went to your parent’s bakery, but they said that they were no longer your parents. So, I want you to tell Auntie Edna everything! Okay?”

Marinette nodded, still in shock. She quickly shook her head to clear her head and then went on to explain about Lila. “There was this girl that came to my school three years ago. She claimed that she had an amazing life. And it would have been believable if all the things that she mentioned weren’t false. For example, she said that Jagged Stone wrote a song for her when she saved his cat from an airport runway. Jagged never had a cat. Civilians aren’t allowed on airport runways. And she’s making Jagged look like a pedophile, she’s underage, and he’s an adult. If she continues claiming this, Jagged could go to jail. There are a lot more unbelievable claims that she makes. Anyways, I knew she was lying, so I tried to disprove her lies. But, she covered it up. I went to the bathroom to cool down. Lila then came inside and confronted me, saying that she would take all my friends away. I didn’t think she would do it, I mean, I had faith in my friends.” Marinette’s voice cracked, and she started sobbing.

Edna waited for Marinette to continue talking. Marinette inhaled sharply and then continued, “My friends believed her over me. They knew me so much longer. But they picked the shinier thing. They bullied me every day, and Lila told them that I was bullying her. She made them beat me up, steal, and destroy my stuff. I thought that my parents would at least support me, but no, the wish of them supporting me was too much to ask. My parents also believed Lila over their daughter. THEIR DAUGHTER!!! They raised me, loved me, and then they believe someone else over me. At first, they started neglecting me, but then Lila came over one day and told them that I had given her death threat. After that, they kicked me out. I didn’t tell anyone not to feel weak. Now, here I am.”

Marinette finished talking and cried, letting loose all of the tears she had been holding in, but she then stopped. Enda looked at Marinette and told her something that shocked the daylights out of her, “Just because your Ladybug, that doesn’t mean you can’t let loose your emotions. If you bag all of it up, you will be at a larger risk of an akumitization. But, if you let your emotions out little by little, you won’t be as subjected to an akumitization.”

Marinette started stammering out excuses, shocked that Edna had figured it out, “O-oh I’m not Ladybug, I-i’m too clumsy to be her. L-ladybug has to be someone a-amazing to do what she d-does.”

Before she could continue, Edna held up her hand, effectively shutting Marinette up. “Marinette, darling, you don’t have to lie to me. Only an idiot would not be able to figure out your Ladybug. You look so much like her. (I did watch the NY special. And they did say that the magic of the miraculous is interfering with finding the identity of the heroes. But let’s pretend that the magic isn’t interfering, and everyone is just clueless. Well, they are clueless, but more clueless if possible.) Anyways, the reason that I was seeking you out in the first place was that I wanted you to be my apprentice. Would you like that?”

Marinette nodded, unable to speak. It was like a dream come true to her. When she rejected Audrey’s offer for an internship, she still had a reason to stay in Paris. Now that she had nothing left, this was the perfect way for her to get a new start, to leave her old life behind. Plus, who in their right mind would turn down being the apprentice of Edna Mode. Not an intern, an apprentice.

Edna clapped her hands together after Marinette gave her consent for being an apprentice. “That’s great, darling. Go pack everything you need. We’re leaving tomorrow at 6:00 AM.”

Marinette nodded, “Where will we be living?”

“Gotham City, New Jersey.”

(Time skip of a year)

(Edna’s POV)

It had been a year since Edna had gone to France to seek out Marinette or MDC. Since then, they moved to Gotham City, and Marinette made a name for herself there. She was an incredibly talented and a hard worker. She worked well under pressure and took criticism well. A lot of times, Marinette’s designs would bypass even her own. It would surprise Edna, but she was proud of her little coccinelle. She wanted to adopt Marinette, but she first wanted Marinette’s approval. For all Edna knew, Marinette wouldn’t want to have a parent figure again after what happened with her parents. Even if Edna didn’t adopt Marinette, she wanted Marinette to be the heir to Mode companies.

Today, Edna was meeting up with Bruce Wayne. He wanted him and his sons to get some suits, so today was the fitting. Marinette was with another client today so, she wouldn’t be meeting them. She heard the doorbell rang. That must be them, she thought. She opened the gates for them to enter the premises. A minute later, they were knocking on the front door. She let them in. When Edna saw them, she huffed at the height of all of the Wayne boys.

She went up to Bruce and beckoned him to bend down. Once he did saw, she greeted him with a kiss to each cheek and exclaimed “, Darling, I’m so glad that could make it. It’s so nice to see you and the rest of your boys.”

Bruce cleared his throat, “It’s nice to see you too, Edna. So, are we just doing measurements today, or are you also going to give us a design for the suits?”

“Ah, Bruce dear,” Edna started, “Art takes time. Plus, my amazing new apprentice will be designing your suits.”

Dick and Jason started laughing. “Look Bruce,” Dick guffawed, “She’s pulling a Bruce.” Tim laughed along with the other two, while Damian looked to be seconds away from smiling.

Bruce sighed, rubbing his forehead, “I’m sorry about them, Edna. You would think that a grown 30-year-old man would have some respect. I swear he has the maturity of a five-year-old.”

Edna waved him off, “Ah, it’s no harm done, Bruce. Dick is also right. I fully plan to adopt my apprentice. I only need her approval before I do so. I mean, she did turn eighteen only recently.”

Bruce looked shocked at this revelation, as did his sons, who were joking, not thinking in the slightest that it could be true. The great Edna Mode had never taken in an apprentice in her life, nor would she ever think of adopting someone. It was so out of character for her. “What happened to the girl that you feel this way,” Bruce asked.

Edna sighed, “Other than being a brilliant designer, who designs could rival my own, my little coccinelle has had a hard life. There was a girl who lied about her. This girl made all of her friends bully and isolate her. The worst part was when my coccinelle’s parents believed the liar over their daughter. They threw her out. When I heard about her designing from Jagged Stone and Clara Nightingale, I went to Paris to seek her out. When I went to her bakery, her parents were rude. I called and asked Jagged where she could be. He gave me her address. When I went there, she was a mess. I offered her the apprenticeship, she accepted. And a year later, here we are.”

The Wayne’s looked shocked at this. They then snapped out of it and, Edna then took their measurement and took note of any extra preferences they might have. She also asked what color they wanted for the suit jacket, shirt, and pants. Edna then asked whether they preferred a bow tie or a necktie. Finally, she asked what color they wanted the lining of their suits to be.

On their way out, Bruce asked Edna, “Would you and your apprentice like to come to the Wayne gala in return for making the suits in such short notice. Oh, and it is in two weeks.” Edna agreed and saw them out. Once they left, she sighed deeply. She then smiled to herself, thinking about Marinette’s reaction to the gala and having to design Wayne’s suits.

(Marinette’s POV)

Marinette was having a mental breakdown. WHY? Because Edna decided that having Marinette design Wayne’s suits was a good idea, as was going to Wayne Gala. So right now, Marinette was having a meltdown. And what was Edna doing? She was watching Marinette become a stuttering mess and trying to figure out how she was going to do something like this.

“Marinette, calm down! Just do your best and, you’ll figure the rest out,” Edna told her.

Marinette nodded and went to her room to start planning the designs and creating them. For almost two weeks, she worked tirelessly on end to complete the designs, and make a dress for herself. And by the day before the gala, Marinette had completed the suits. Alfred came to Edna’s manor to get them for the Waynes.

Once Alfred picked them up, Edna went to Marinette’s room and knocked. Once Marinette said to come in, Edna opened the door and walked in. Marinette looked at Edna, wondering why she was here. But, she then asked a question that Marinette so happy, “My little coccinelle, would you like it if I adopted you?”

Marinette couldn’t answer from happiness. Instead, she jumped on Edna with tears in her eyes and kept on chanting, “Yes, yes, yes!” They both sat like that until Marinette fell asleep, happy that they were now legally going to be family.

On the day of the Wayne gala, Marinette wore a burgundy dress with silver details on the upper part of the dress. She wore silver shoes that had a glass flower on the toes and a silver handbag. Marinette, also matching silver earrings and a necklace. She decided to let her hair loose into beautiful waves.

Edna wore a simple black dress with some white pearl details along with a black handbag with silver and black shoes.

They then left for the Wayne gala. Once they arrived at the Wayne gala, they spotted the Wayne’s wearing Marinette’s amazing designs.

Once the Waynes spotted Edna, they walked over in hopes of meeting her apprentice. Edna saw them coming and Marinette to them. “Boys, this is my apprentice Marinette Mode. Marinette, this is Bruce, Dick, Jason, Tim, and Damian.”

“Wait, so you legally adopted her?” Tim asked.

“Yes, I did, yesterday,” Edna replied.

Marinette smiled brightly at the Waynes and said, “It’s nice to meet you all. I hope that you like the suits that I made.” The Wayne’s gave their gratitude for the suits. They then all dispersed, except for Damian. He was still staring at Marinette, as Marinette was staring at him. They both started talking at the same time,

“Hi, it’s nice-”

“Hey, I rea-”

They both laughed, and Marinette said, “You go first.”

“I was going to tell you how fond I am of this suit. You did an acceptable job.”

“Thank you,” Marinette muttered, “I was going to say that it’s nice to meet you. So tell me about yourself.”

And the pair went on to talking about anything and everything together. Marinette couldn’t keep her eyes off of him. How his beautiful tan skin glistened in the light. How soft his dark, silky hair looked, and his eyes. Oh, his eyes were the best part, a perfect balance between jade and emerald green, giving it a shine, but not making it look toxic. He was so handsome. As she continues talking with him, she realized, she liked him, she wanted him to kiss her, hold her. But they had just met. Little did she know that Damian had similar thoughts running through his head.

(3rd person POV)

Damian thought that Marinette was absolutely beautiful with her silky raven hair. Her pink pouty lips along with her glistening bluebell eyes. Her fair skin was showered with little freckles that made her even prettier. Words could not describe how beautiful she was.

From an outside view, Marinette and Damian were looking like lovesick fools. Laughing, talking, never leaving each other’s side. By the end of the night, they separated with each other’s phone number, and a promise to meet again for a date.

(Time Skip of three months)

(Marinette POV)

It had been three months since the gala. The day after the gala, Damian took her to Gotham park for a nice picnic. On their second date, they went to the rooftop of one of Bruce’s buildings and watched the sunset from there. Their third date was the date where Damian asked Marinette if she would like to be his girlfriend. He took her to an expensive restaurant and after they walked on the pier. There he took out a necklace with a silver chain and “I love you for always and forever” written on it. The pendant was in the shape of a heart.  He gave it to her as he asked her to be his girlfriend. She jumped on him kissing him with so much force and passion and then pulled away, breathing out a, “Yes!”

Since then, they had been inseparable. Damian and Marinette told each other everything. Well, almost everything, she still hadn’t told Damian about being Ladybug. And Marinette knew he was also hiding something the way he would get bruises for no reason. She didn’t know what he was hiding until she stumbled across something when she was at the Manor one day.

She had gotten lost again. The Wayne Manor was huge. Marinette knew she was going to get lost, but she always had someone to help her. Marinette then heard some noises. She stumbled towards the noise. The sight that she was met with made her head throb. There in front of her were the occupants of the house. But not as the Wayes. No, they were there as the Bat-Family. The Waynes were the BAT FAMILY! Of course, she would end up falling in love with a vigilante.

Once they caught sight of her, all noises ceased. They didn’t do anything until Damian let out a feeble, “Beloved?”

Marinette turned her attention to Damian, “When were you going to tell me about this? And no, I am not mad. But you should have TOLD me. I shouldn’t have had to find out by myself.”

Damian sighed and told her, “I didn’t want to endanger your life.”

She snorted, “Yeah, like I don’t do that daily.”

“What?!” Everyone screamed at the implications that she was giving.

“Yup, I’m a hero from Paris. Tikki, Spots on!” She then transformed into Ladybug. Once Marinette transformed, she looked at the opened mouth vigilantes. “In Paris, my old partner and I protect the citizens from a guy named Hawkmoth, who preys off of people’s emotions to turn them into his minions, I’ve been fighting him for about four years now. I did send a message to the Justice League, but Green Lantern told me to stop prank calling. I’ve been fighting him by myself for two years because my old partner was harassing me.” She then went on to explain different akumitizations and went more in-depth about her powers.

“Spot off”, she said. She held her hand out and let Tikki sit in it, “This is my kwami Tikki, she is the one who lets me turn into Ladybug.” Everyone, surprisingly, took her reservations well.

By the end, Batman told her, “We would like to help you defeat Hawkmoth. We can start by uncovering who he is. We can do that by taking his voice and running it through some voice scanners until we find a match.” Marinette nodded, happy that they were getting somewhere.

She pulled up a video of Hawkmoth speaking while telling Batman, “By the way, Mom’s going to be here in ten minutes.”

They looked at her, bewildered, “What do you mean?”

She rolled her eyes and handed them her phone with the recording, “What I mean is that she knows that you are the Bat-Family. She figured it out like she figured out my identity.” They all nodded, dumbfounded that someone knew their identity.

Tim or Red Robin ran the voice through the scanners before they found a match. “Gabriel Agreste”, Marinette breathed, “I suspected him before, but he got akumatized. He must have akumatized himself to throw off suspicion.”

That’s when Edna arrived, “Did you figure out Hawkmoth’s identity”, Edna asked. Marinette nodded and pointed to the screen. Edna looked at it and scoffed, “Of course it’s Gabriel. I always knew he was a psychopath!” Marinette started laughing at Edna’s reaction and hugged her. Edna’s face softened, and she stroked Marinette’s hair lightly.

The bat family watched the scene with growing bewilderment. Damian cleared his throat, bringing the attention to him. “As much as I love to see how much my angel’s and Mode’s relationship is growing, we have more pressing matters. How are we going to catch Hawkmoth.”

Marinette thought about it before saying, “A distraction.” She turned to Edna, “Mom, you are going to set up a meeting with Gabriel and distract him. While you’re doing that, we’ll break into the house and go to his hideout. Actually”, she turned to Tim,“ Tim, could you look into the security cameras and see if there is any footage of him disappearing in some way. Or could you get a layout of the house?”

“Done and done,” Tim answered. They watched Gabriel push three specific buttons on Emile’s portrait, which Marinette took note of. They then saw him disappear underneath the ground. Tim pulled the layout of the house up. “This is the layout, based on it, we can conclude that he was going to the room beneath the house.”

Marinette nodded her head, “Okay, this is perfect. Once we sneak in there, we’ll look around, gather some evidence, and then sneak up on Gabriel and take the brooch from him.”

Everyone cheered and then left to do their own thing. Damian stopped Marinette from leaving. He pulled her to him and said in a sexy, gruff voice, “I’m glad that I know every part of you now.” He then dove for her lips, prompting a squeak from Marinette. After a few seconds, she relaxed in the kiss, pulling Damian closer by wrapping her arms around his neck. He put one hand around her waist, and the other one was in her sweet-smelling raven hair. The kiss felt amazing. His warm, soft lips against her luscious, sweet ones. Her lips tasted sweet like sugar, making Damian want to kiss her longer and harder. But, humans need to breathe. They pulled away panting heavily, faces flushed in passion. They stared into each other’s eyes for a little bit before kissing each other once more, this one being chaste rather than hot and heavy. They then let each other go and went to prepare for the demise of Hawkmoth.

The next day, they followed through with the plan. Edna first entered the house and talked loudly to Gabriel, demanding that he bring his son and Natalie to the meeting so that they can all catch up. Once the occupants of the Agreste household were out of the way, Ladybug and the Bats made their way to the picture of Emile. There they pressed the exact buttons and went underneath the house. There they found hundreds of white butterflies along with a horrifying sight. Emilie Agreste being preserved in a coffin and in what looked like to be a coma. Marinette was convinced that she could heal Emilie, went up to the coffin, and set to work. She closed her eyes and put her hands to the outside of the coffin. She then let her power flow through her body until they were at her hands. She then kept her glowing hands to the coffin until she heard a cough. She opened her eyes to find Emilie sitting up, looking around in shock, “Where’s my husband?” she asked, “Where’s Adrien?”

Marinette put her hand to Emile’s shoulder, “We’ll explain everything to you after ma'am. But, we first need to do something.” She walked over to the platform and rose herself to the upper floor, along with everyone else. She then saw Edna, Gabriel, Adrien, and Natalie already there. Everyone positioned themselves and got ready to attack. At the count of three, everyone moved. Marinette grabbed the brooch from Gabriel, Bruce grabbed the peacock brooch from Natalie, and Damian grabbed the ring from Adrien. The Agreste’s and Natalie turned to the heroes in anger, but then froze when they caught sight of Emilie.

Emilie, now understanding that her family must have done something bad, for these people to take away their miraculous, started sobbing. Marinette went up to her and comforted her while telling her everything that she missed. Edna called the police, while the Bat-Family made sure that not of the Agreste’s nor Natalie escaped.

(3rd person POV)

When the police arrived, they were surprised to find that designer Gabriel Agreste, his son, and his assistant were guilty of the terrorism in Paris. They were going to jail. Then, reporters arrived, broadcasting the defeat of Hawkmoth to the world, but then Gabriel said something that made some happy, while it froze the blood in many others, “Lila Rossi was also part of this! She was an accomplice to my schemes! Lila was trying to push Marinette Dupain-Cheng to an akumitization because I realized how powerful of an Akuma Marinette would become. So Lila went to great length to make her suffer, but then she left Paris, and I wasn’t able to akumatize her. If you should be arresting anyone else, it should be Lila Rossi!”

In her house, a liar was growing pale as the authorities banged on her door. When she didn’t open up, they kicked down the door and arrested her. Lila then let out a scream that the whole world would have heard.

When the government saw that two accomplices for Hawkmoth were in the same class from Francios Dupont Highschool, they had to school investigated. They investigated both the principal and Madame Bustier. They found out that both would take bribes and were enablers. They then investigated the students in Madame Bustier’s class. They found that the students were being sued which wasn’t that bad. But, they were being sued for slander, defamation, and more, by not only Edna Mode but also Bruce Wayne. The government looked at security cameras and found many forms of breaking and entering, abuse, bullying, and found many forms of slander online. All of the students along with the teacher and principal were going to have to serve jail time. But, it would be nowhere as long as Lila’s, Adrien’s, Natalie’s, or Gabriel’s jail time.

(Marinette POV)

Marinette was staying in the Grand Hotel when her ex-parents came knocking at her door. They were all smiles, “Marinette, now that we know that we actually raised you right, you can come home with us!”

Marinette just scowled back at them, “As much as I appreciate the offer, you aren’t my guardians anymore. Edna Mode adopted me and I am legally Marinette Mode. Have a good day!” She then slammed the door shut in their faces. She leaned her head against the door and sighed deeply.

She felt a pair of arms wrap around her and kiss her neck gently, “You going to be okay?”

Marinette turned around and smiled at him, “Yeah, I am.”

Five hours later, when Marinette turned on the news, it showed Tom Dupain and Sabine Cheng going to jail. They were charged for child neglecting and abuse. Marinette shook her head, chuckling, knowing that it was Damian who did this. She inhaled deeply, oh well, all’s well that ends well.

(Time Skip of 15 years)

A thirty-three-year-old Marinette put the baby in her hands down in the crib. After everything that happened in Paris, Damian and Marinette had continued dating. Damian proposed on their one-year anniversary and the got married a year later. They now had an 11-year-old daughter named Amira Beth Wayne, a 6-year-old boy Grayson Abbas Wayne, and 1-year-old Sadiya Cathy Wayne. Marinette was now the CEO of Mode Companies, while Damian ran Wayne Enterprises along with Tim as Co-CEOs. As Marinette looked at her children she couldn’t believe that she managed to have such a good life. She felt Damian behind her so she leaned back into him. He kissed the back her head and whispered huskily in her ear, “I love you and I promise that I and the kids will be by your side. Forever and always.”

Marinette snuggled into Damian and squeezed his hand whispering, “Forever and always.”

#mlb x dc #maribat #miraculous ladybug #batman #damianette #daminette #damian x marinette #marinette x damian #damian wayne #marinette dupain cheng #edna mode #the incredibles #batfamily #sabine and tom salt #salt #lila salt #alya salt #adrien salt #marinette deserves better #marinette gets adopted

[northisnotup]

"You may think you're the only person who can see him for what he is, but you're not."

Laurent didn't startle. He huffed, almost under his breath, as though he was sparing Damen.

Damen did not approach him as he would have with any other new lover. Did not cross the room and take Laurent into his arms. Did not attempt to soothe him physically. Something in the rigid line of Laurent's back told him it wouldn't be appreciated.

"What do you think you see?" Laurent asked.

"I see you here," Damen said, and saw, in the haunch of Laurent’s shoulder’s, the sly remark hit.

"You think I should return then? Venture back into the viper pit?"

"I think you cannot protect your brother's throne at a disused fort," Damen said evenly. Even calling Acquitart a fort was being kind. He did not say what they both knew, that having Damen here was wildly impractical, and antithesis to that goal as well. That having Damen in his bed was proving true all the worst rumors about him which slithered in that pit. There was no point in saying it.

"Being here is the only way to protect the throne," Laurent corrected him. "My Uncle wants power. Right now, he satisfies that with the boys in his bed and the poison in my brother's ear. He won't be satisfied forever. And if he does somehow," his voice gave the slightest hitch but he pushed through, "kill Auguste and manage to pass it off as an accident, I am still next in line. And being here means I am not close enough for him to kill two birds with one stone."

"What did he do to you?" Through all of Laurent's plans, counter-plans, caveats and contingencies, he remained sure of only one thing: that his Uncle was dangerous, ruthless and willing to do or say anything which would keep him in power.

Laurent's voice was ice itself. "He never touched me."

"But?"

It settled between them. Damen thought to take it back, but he could see Laurent wavering, his fingers drumming on the vanity, staring at his reflection but not seeing it. Finally, as though pulled out of him: "He made it clear that he could."

There was more, Damen knew instantly there was a nightmare of helplessness waiting on the tip of Laurent's poisoned tongue, but he swallowed it back. Damen didn't push.

Not for that, at least. "Why are you here, Laurent?"

Laurent could have gone to Marlas, or Fontaine. He could have decided to visit Ios under the guise of fostering relations. He had family to the far north, through his mother's side. Acquitart was nothing, compared to that.

"We're not on crownlands here, did you know? We have our own honor-code here. Our own growing season and taxes. Acquitart is its own territory, it belongs to the Dauphin, always. It is not a fortress, and cannot withstand a siege. But to march on Acquitart he would have to draw up formal documents and obey the rules of war. Even if he could get that past the council, there is always the foundations to consider."

Damen nodded. "Artesian, yes?"

"Yes. There are routes out of Acquitart known only to the Dauphin. And I have allies in Vask," a nod toward Damen coupled with a sly smile that had Damen shifting where he stood, "and Akielos."

"Why are you telling me this?"

Laurent had been surprisingly forthright with him since the moment they met here. Whereas before in their dealings (Damen would have liked to call it a courtship, except that their relationship thus far had lacked anything at all resembling what Damen knew as courtship.) Laurent had held him at arms length, taking pains to avoid him, talking around him and even flirting all but obliquely.

"Do you want the truth or something beautiful?" Laurent huffed again, this one punctuated by a bitter little laugh. He took some crumbly green paste from a jar and began mixing it with hot water from a jug beside him.

Damen answered him anyway. "The truth."

He saw in the mirror Laurent's mouth twist into a droll smile, as though he should have expected Damen's answer.

He really should have. Damen had never in his life chosen something pretty over something real. That was why he was here, with Laurent.

"Because it doesn't matter. None of it. Telling you doesn't matter. It isn't real. You're not a player, Damen. Just a pawn. We're all just pawns." He began to smear the paste onto his face, scrubbing it in  over his chin and nose while smoothing it over his cheeks and under his eyes.

Damen chewed on his tongue, not allowing the sting of those words to linger. "What is that?"

"Herbs and clay, it cleans the face and makes you smell nice. Which I need, apparently."

Damen frowned. "Who says you don't smell nice?"

"Auguste. He says I smell too often of the stables," the corner of Laurent's mouth lifted into the smallest smile as he took a cloth and dampened it in the hot water, slowly cleaning the paste away.

"Perhaps he was telling you that you leave too often," Damen said. It reminded him of how Kastor would always claim to smell perfume on Damen's chitons, something which would get him a lecture from their father and Hypermenestra both for shirking his duties just to take someone to bed. Damen would have been angrier about it, if it was always a baseless accusation.

Case in point.

Laurent continued to clean his face, staring at nothing again. Damen wasn't sure it had ever occurred to him that it wasn't the scent Auguste objected to.

Damen crossed the room then, approaching carefully but coming close all the same. He placed one hand low on Laurent’s back to brace himself as he leaned in, nosing behind his ear and sniffing at some of the paste Laurent had missed.

Then he sneezed.

“Herbs,” he complained, rubbing his itching nose against the thick brocade over Laurent’s shoulder.

“It’s the same herb that flavored your dinner last night,” Laurent rolled his eyes.

“I liked it better then,” Damen said.

“I’ll be sure to tell the chef,” Laurent returned, but Damen could feel him smothering laughter.

The atmosphere between them had lightened, as Damen intended. Though he hadn’t intended it quite this way. He kissed Laurent’s cheek, soft and dry and lightly scented. “Write to your brother, you may have more allies in Arles than you think.”

#no one prompted this line but i had to write it anyway #this is a Different kind of August-lives au #where the Regent ALSO lives #and Damen and Laurent meet in secret #lamen #Captive Prince #my fic #inspo for this one comes from Ted Lasso and Paloma Faith

[moonlight-escapade]

The King & I (Pt 10)

Hello everyone! Im SO SORRY I’ve gone so long without a post. My hard drive failed on me and I had to get my computer taken in to recover my data 😭 Pro Tip: GET A RELIABLE EXTERNAL DRIVE. It will save you in the future 😭

But guess what? THE FIC WAS SAVED!!! I was so worried I’d lost all my work 😭 I hope you guys enjoy this chapter and bear with me for the next updates as I’m a tad behind since I haven’t gotten to work on the story in a bit. 

Thank you so much once again for reading!

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

HISTORICAL AU (but not necessarily historically accurate bc this is a fanfic not a research project lol): King Henry V & “Street Urchin” reader who takes in and cares for abandoned/orphaned children.

CHAPTER 10: IM NOT THE ONE

It had been weeks since I’d seen him. There were rumors that the King had fled to France, having been taunted by the French Dauphin with a gift of tennis balls. Mrs. Quickly explained to me the dealings of Kings… how the Prince’s- now King’s reputation had preceded him long before his acquisition of the throne. “He was a regular at the tavern… as well as…” her eyes shifted to the second floor, where a different line of work was performed for tavern guests. 

I nodded curtly, hoping she wouldn’t continue. I was no one to judge him, but I didn’t particularly need to hear more than that. Still… for someone to insult him in such a manner was somewhat surprising. I wonder how many women he’s been with. I curse my subconscious for butting in yet again.

Regardless of his absence, the wages kept coming in. I don’t know how he’d arranged it, but it seemed strange to me to go so long without a word from him yet. I only had the drunken gossip of tavern goers to base myself off any news of Hal’s whereabouts. And it wasn’t exactly the most pleasant to bear…

“The blasted King’s gotten us all entwined with his cock,” a heavily bearded patron yells across the bar. “Not I, but I so suppose you’re pretty enough to weasel your way in there,” another retorts, causing the bar to erupt with laughter. “Shut up you drunk bastard!” the bearded man yells, throwing a swing at him and falling flat on his face, causing another wave of laughter and hollering to sound throughout the bar. 

“He’ll have us all in a row soon enough, taking the Frog King’s daughter in  front,” someone yells. I wince at the vulgarity of their speech. Having grown up in a brothel certainly didn’t make the disgusting words of men any easier to stomach. 

But what did catch me was the part about Dauphin’s daughter. I walk back to the bar, filling pitchers up with ale as Mrs. Quickly wipes down the countertop. 

“Mrs. Quickly… who is the Frog King?” I ask her. She huffs, working at a stubborn spot on the countertop as she answers. “The King of France. The addition of the ‘frog’ is on account of their ideas of… delicacy” she says. I finish filling the last pitcher slowly, “And his daughter… would be a match for the King?” I ask. She stops then and turns to me, her cheeks flushed and her eyes somewhat strained. The work of the tavern throughout these years well painted on her face. 

“Those are the dealings of Kings, my dear… I can’t rightly say. But it’s not uncommon for a princess to be exchanged in these negotiations between nations.” She says. I feel my throat tighten and hold the table for balance. Not because I feel physically swayed, but my heart and mind… I feel as though they could reel off any second. 

“Don’t worry (Y/N), I’m sure you’ll be his favored mistress,” Ned hollers across the tavern. The room bursts out in laughter and drinks are clinked together. 

I can hardly fathom the thought at his exclamation and feel my stomach begin to turn. 

“You’ll shut your blasted mouth!” Mrs. Quickly yells back, placing a hand on my back as I lean down to hide behind the bar. 

“It’s best not to let their words settle in your mind dear,” Mrs. Quickly says. She helps me back up the reaches around my neck to remove my apron. 

“What are you doing?” I ask her. “Take your leave , I fear their discourse will only grow more unsavory by the minute.” 

I stop her and pull the apron back on. “No, I wish to stay. If I leave I’ll only linger about to hear more…” I admit. She smiles at me nodding. I take a rag and move to begin bussing the tables around the bar. 

“You’ve seen it, (Y/N), is his cock well enough to catch a Princess?” Hubert calls from behind me. I feel heat rise up to my cheeks but refuse to turn or allow my voice to give my worry away. “I’ve not seen it,” I say. 

“How now? You’ve been his for this long without feeling his cock?” He presses on. I turn quickly and slam a pitcher onto the table.

“You dare disrespect his Majesty with such talk?” I spit. Hubert’s face goes from surprise to a false air of confidence I can only pinpoint too well after witnessing his various outbursts and fights with nearly every patron in the bar. 

“You’re nothing but his whore,” he slurs. I slap him, watching him fall backwards on his drunken arse. I grab the tin tray and raise it above my head. 

“If any of you say one more thing about the King, I’ll—“ 

Someone’s hand wraps around my waist then, pulling me backward. I stumble angrily but am quickly stunned by the sight of Hal before me. A silence befalls the noisy lot and we are all left to stare in awe at Hal’s timing.

“While I don’t doubt (Y/N)’s ability to knock each and every one of you on your arse’s, I’d rather not see my soldiers fall before they’ve seen France.”

My heart leaps as I take him in and I want to lunge and wrap my arms around him— but I stop myself. Hal hasn’t looked at me yet, and I see his concern is placed on the group before me. I can recognize a King making a point. Hubert stands, ever the embarrassment to himself. He crosses an arm across his chest, his hand over his heart while bowing before Hal apologetically. Whether Hal accepted the apology or not was unclear, for he simply turned away, placing a hand on the small of my back and leading us outside. 

“H..Hal? Where are we—“

“Don’t say anything just yet, there are too many people watching.” He says curtly. I press my lips tight and allow him to help me onto Perseus. The familiar scent of him… honeyed wine, sweat and dirt is all but suffocating me. It takes everything in me not to kiss him as I stare down at him from upon Perseus’ back. I wait for him to hop on with me, but he does not. Instead he places a hood over his head and walks beside me, leading the steed out towards the grasslands. 

He is quiet, and it’s nearly unbearable to not hear any words fall from his lips. Not to mention my fear of riding and the urge to screech every time I peak at the distance I am to the ground. Is he excited to see me? My heart clenches… perhaps he was angry with me for causing a scene at the tavern. I shake the thought away. Whatever it is, he’ll tell me. In the meantime, I shift uncomfortably at the stares I receive while atop Perseus’ back. I hide myself behind my hair, hoping no one will recognize me. 

“Who are you to be recognized?” My subconscious jeers at me. I can’t help but let her voice ring through my mind.

As we reach the clearing, I peer uneasily over at Hal, waiting for the approval to speak.

“May I at least get down now?” I unintentionally snap at him. I truly hated being on the horse’s back. 

Hal stopped then, reaching over to me, placing his hands around my waist before setting me down on the ground before him. I gazed up at him, his presence looming underneath the heavy wooden cloak that draped over his head. 

“Where were you?” I hear myself ask before I’d even thought to. The desperation in my voice embarrasses me, but I’m also frustrated and… lonely. He’d been gone for nearly three weeks.

“France,” he answers plainly. I wait for him to continue but hear nothing more. 

“Am I to know any more?” I ask. His blue eyes are piercing in the light of the grey day. He raises his hands to remove his hood then, and I see his hair has grown somewhat longer behind his ears since I last saw him. Still, the clear sight of him made my heart swell. I silently prayed he saw a similar beauty in me… 

“War is imminent,” he states. I feel my stomach turn. 

“And you are to lead your army,” I say.

“Yes,” he says. His curt answers frustratingly insufficient for my racing mind. 

“Oh, will you say nothing more? Perhaps why the bloody hell you left without a word for three weeks! I was scared!—“

“Scared? Of what?” His antagonizing voice struck a chill down my spine. I look staunchly back at him feeling my anger stir. 

“That you—“

“I am a King, (Y/N),” he interrupts me. I take a step back from him, unfamiliar with this Hal… the King Hal. It’s uncomfortable and cold and I don’t understand what it is he has to say to me as Henry V. 

“Yes, and to be married to a Princess,” I blurt angrily. I hate the way it feels to argue with this person, and I don’t want to, so I turn to make my way back to the city. 

“Just where do you think you’re going?” King Henry V calls from behind me. 

“Back to the place you’re sending me,” I spit at him. I turn and begin trudging through the muddy fields, mentally cursing him for bringing me out to the coldest, wettest marsh he could find. Maybe it was all part of his plan, and perhaps I would find out, because suddenly his grip was on my arm and I was turned back toward him, feeling his lips press onto mine fervently. 

——————————-

HALS POV

Why couldn’t she just stay put? I chuckled to myself, knowing that wasn’t her way. 

“What’s… so… funny,” she asks between heated breaths. I press my lips onto hers, taking her tongue into my mouth, her back into my hands, and her hair between my fingers. Oh god how desperately I needed her now. If I could take her here I would… if I could take her far, far away from this kingdom, I would. 

“Why must you always run?” I ask her, leaning to press kisses onto her neck. Her soft gasps at my touch fill me with energy and it takes everything in me not to go farther than I should. I pull away from her, waiting for the snide remark that will quickly leave her reddened lips. 

“Why must you always chase after me?”

I stare back at her, feeling my heart swell in my chest.

“Because I love you, (Y/N),” I admit simply. Her eyes widen and somehow sparkle at my words. She stares at me as though I’m a ghost, or an angel, or an apparition of some unearthly sort. I stare back at her carefully, awaiting her response. 

“The King’s daughter,” she mutters, tears welling in her eyes. The sight makes my heart clench. I’d hoped to be the one to tell her about Catherine, but gossip spreads faster than fire these days. 

“My marriage to Catherine will, if carried out, symbolize nothing more than a union between countries,” I assure her to the best of my sincerity. 

Her shoulders fall and a tear drops from her eye. She sighs with a smile before looking back at me, “Hal.” 

“Please, believe what I say,” I ask her, taking her small hands between my own. Her fingers are cold, and so I quickly remove my cloak and move to place it around her shoulders, but she stops me.

“This is pointless,” she says, half smiling. I shake my head, taking her hands in mine again. 

“No, (Y/N), it’s not. This is how these things are done… I assure you… even my father had a…” I stop myself, searching for the right word. 

“Mistress?” She finishes, her eyes stare at me knowingly. I nod, pleading her to understand that she would mean so much more to me than someone with whom I’d simply pass the time. 

“I’m afraid I am not the woman you hope me to be, Hal,” she says, taking her hands back to her sides. “I will not be the object of your affection and that of the kingdom’s scorn.” 

Frustration wells inside me. “(Y/N)—“

“I’m not a whore,” she jabs. Her fiery gaze on me causing me to stand straighter.

“Never,” I agree with ardor. I look back at her, searching her eyes for some sort of opening, something that told me she would hear my argument, my reasons… but I could see, plain as fortress, I would not be allowed inside. 

#imagine tom hiddleston #tom hiddleston imagine #tom hiddleston x reader #King Henry V #henry v imagine #prince hal #the king and i imagine #the hollow crown

[adarafaelbarba]

Heartbroken Confessions

Pairing: Fernando + Marceline (OC)

Fandom: A Discovery of Witches

Warnings: TW Alcohol mentioned. TW Blood mentioned. Talks of death (not too in detain, only mentions)

Summary: Around the anniversary of her husband, Godfrey’s death, Marceline longs more for him as she tries to forget in bottle of blood spiked wine. But she confesses to her father how hard she’s taking it.

a/n: This will also be posted on my ao3 account, Only_Karen ❤️

Marceline had lost count on the glasses of wine mixed with blood she had been drinking. But from the looks of the bottles and empty blood bags surrounding her, it was a lot. She hated that she couldn’t get drunk as easily as a warmblood could, wanting nothing more than to get obscenely drunk and forget all about everything.

Things got harder for her around the anniversary of Godfrey passing. She had met him back in the winter of 1667, and fell madly in love with him, and him with her. It had taken them no time to get married, on the urgent insistence of his father, Philippe de Clermont, none the less. It was a political gain for him, but for Marceline and Godfrey it was all about love, so it was a win-win situation.

However it had all come to a screeching holt when he was sent off to fight for King and country, although to Marceline it seemed the king had sent him off on purpose, seeing as she was supposed to have married the Dauphin, not the youngest son of Philippe. And to her it seemed like a personal attack.

The rest of the de Clermont family had promised Godfrey would return saying it was «hard to kill a de Clermont». But it seemed it wasn’t as hard as they had made it out. So when he was killed less than a year after they had married, Marceline went into a grief stricken rage, balancing between wanting to kill herself and wanting to kill those who killed her husband.

It finally reached it’s peak when she begged two of her mother-in-law’s servants, Marthe and Francoise, to turn her. And when they said no, she turned to Fernando, one of her closest confidants since meeting the de Clermont family. And that was that.

Once she had finally finished her first year of transitioning, when it was safe for her to leave the chateau unaccompanied, she left the de Clermont’s a note, thanking them for everything. If her in-laws weren’t going to avenge Godfrey’s death, she would make sure it would be handled.

…

«I think you’ll empty our supply if you keep drinking, querida», Fernando said as he entered the dining room at Sept Tours where she had been sitting for the last couple of hours. Marceline dreaded going to see the last remaining members of the de Clermonts. But she was here for Matthew and Diana, for their little family. Maybe that had been one of the reasons why she wanted to drink to forget. She had wanted a family with Godfrey, but she didn’t stop loving him when she found out she couldn’t bear his children though, she loved him too much to let go. But when she saw what Matthew and Diana had, two beautiful babies, she was jealous, and a piece of her wished she had met Godfrey when he was human. She knew that wouldn’t have been possible, she wasn’t born when he was alive, or when he was turned.

«I’m sorry papai», she sighed, putting the glass down after emptying it.

Fernando gave his daughter a sorrowed look. «Alright, amada, what’s on your mind?» He asked, although he had a pretty good guess as to what was happening.

«I—I just miss him, it’s been over 300 years since he died, yet it still feels like yesterday—.» Tears rose in her eyes like a red river.

He knew exactly what she meant. He had lost his mate, Hugh, to the French throne too, some 300 years before Godfrey died, but he wasn’t gonna mention that to her, not while she was still grieving. «I know. For what it’s worth though, it gets better with time», he tried, taking her hands in his, he rubbed the tops of her hands in comfort.

«Why does it have to be so painful though?» she asked. Fernando wished he had an answer for that, wish he could take away her pain.

Even before she had come to him in a desperate attempt to be turned, he had felt a certain protectiveness over her, in a fatherly way. He couldn’t explain it, it just—happened. He was overjoyed when he heard she and Godfrey were going to get married, loved how she got along with the other de Clermonts, save from Verin, Louis and Louisa who didn’t care much for anyone mating into the family.

«Has it gotten easier for you, after Hugh?» Marceline knew better than to ask him that, a few hundred years was nothing for a vampire, so the fact that Hugh had been executed some 600 years ago could feel like 6 years for them.

«Not yet», he confessed, «but it will, with time. Until then, I have you, and Gallowglass. Diana and Matthew is a big help too.» She hated how little the others accepted Fernando. He was technically their family, and their equal, but few accepted the fact that he had mated with Hugh, for reasons she didn’t quite understand and didn’t know how to ask about.

She squeezed her father’s hands, «Você sempre me terá, papai», she murmured, leaning down to press kisses to his hands.

«And you’ll always have me, amada», he responded, pulling her inn for a hug.

~~~

ADOW Taglist: @whereswaldotho @adowbaldwin @baldwin-montclair @butternuggets-blog @profoundme444 -- Let me know if you'd like to be added to this list ❤️

#a discovery of witches #a discovery of witches one shot #a discovery of witches imagine #adow #my fic #oc writing

[therealvinelle]

A note for Nebuchadnezzar’s Dream

Do I feel awful doing this, yes.

Am I still doing it, god yes.

This post contains a series of photos relevant to the upcoming chapter of Nebuchadnezzar’s Dream. I was going to link them in the author’s note, but as these links are all to online stores they’ll be taken down sooner or later. Better to post in image form on tumblr.

Without further ado, click the readmore if you want fashion eyesores.

So, I think I spoil nothing when I say that Jane and Alec are going to have to pass as Cullens in the next chapter. Carlisle, too, is desperately trying to dress like it’s a normal day for normal people who aren’t about to collectively fake their own deaths.

Naturally I asked myself exactly what these poor people are going to wear. One thing led to another, I consulted the fandom ghost, and we put our heads together. Three rules, and three rules only: one, it has to be pale. If it’s beige it’s probably too dark. Two, it has to be high end, but the high end for high end’s sake kind of high end (Jane was almost put in designer fake riding clothes because of this). Three, it has to be Alice.

Apart from that, no rules, no mercy, no God.

In the end we had something words can’t even describe.

Literally.

I can’t describe this with words in the fic. I’ll try, but the only way to properly convey the full awful of what Alec, Jane, and Carlisle have to wear in the upcoming chapter is to show you guys photos.

(Also, yes, I know that for Jane and Alec I used no children’s collections, but the children’s fashion lines I found just weren’t Alice enough. This jacket, for instance (not putting photo, but it’s a vintage rose pink, white collar quilted barbour jacket for girls) would make Jane set herself on fire but it doesn’t have that quintessentially Cullen something.)

Alec

Jacket: Dior raincoat, beige color.

Picture 12-year-old Alec in this, in public, and tell me he doesn’t wish those humans in 800 AD finished the job.

Sweater: V-necked Ralph Lauren polo sweater, cream color.

I’m sure the poor boy is using his gift on himself to numb the sartorial agony of wearing this.

Trousers: Prada technical wide-leg pants.

Nevermind faking his death, this kid wants to die for real so long as he’s sporting these.

Shoes: Salvatore Ferragamo desert boot, suede walnut.

As of these shoes, Alec’s sporting the brightest pop of color in the crew. Good on you, Alec, except not good on you because you’re wearing these shoes.

Jane

Jacket: Barbour Elizabeth quilted jacket, cream color.

Sweater: Tommy Hillfiger ivory turtleneck.

This is starting to feel like child abuse. Tucked into the skirt, of course.

Skirt: Saks Fifth Avenue Donna Karan skirt with a belt.

Of course it’s a khaki skirt. Sorry, Jane.

Shoes: Tory charm two-tone loafers.

I was gonna go for tory burch, but these bad boys felt like they were created solely to hurt fictional child vampires.

Accessories:

1: Chanel headband.

Look at those sly C’s forming a pattern, just in case you were worried people wouldn’t realize your child’s headband was in fact stupidly expensive designer. Can be yours for the small price of $600!

2: Louis Vuitton hobo dauphine.

We were done, but I thought I could hurt her just a bit more. Landed on this.

Carlisle

Coat: Hugo Boss beige trench coat with belt.

Chosen in part because the model’s face is how I too would feel wearing that.

Sweater: Oversized Tommy Hillfiger ivory turtleneck.

In a desperate attempt to look Related™ to Jane, he wears a matching sweater to hers. Also, sorry I couldn’t find a better link. But hey, model’s got that pretending he’s not dead inside look on his face like the camera team taking this photo, the designers who created the sweater, the agent who got him this gig, he’s never forgiving any of them.

Trousers: White Tom Ford brushed straight-leg trousers.

One of my kidneys shrivelled up and died when the ghost sent me this. Hoping I never see anybody wear it in life because that could very well spell my end.

Shoes: Bruno Culcinelli chelsea boots, suede sand.

Good news is this is the last one, bad news is your eyes are seeing this.

Funny how none of these people are real, yet I feel like I owe them all an apology.

If you can think of something even more awful I want to hear it. Drop it in the notes, and if your suggestion makes me want to kill someone then in the chapter it goes.

As for when the next chapter comes out, since I just dropped a massive teaser I’ll try to have it out as soon as possible. Within a week or so, but let’s shoot for the end of the weekend.

#long post #my fic #twilight fic #nebuchadnezzar's dream #tw bad fashion #found a lot of clothes for edward when i was searching #in particular one set of prada pants that... yeah alice would buy that for him #they were slightly transparent while trying to be sporty #just- god. so cullen

[scrunchyharry]

here is a masterpost of all of my fics in chronological order of publication

✨ I roll and I roll, ‘til I change my luck

explicit | 8,295 words

“They’re not my best pictures.”

“I wouldn’t say that, I think you look quite good being manhandled by a bigger man.”

Louis chokes on his sip of hot chocolate, feeling it burn its way down his throat. He coughs a few times and then clears his throat. “I’m sorry?!”

“You heard me. You should do it more often, it might make you more humble. Maybe you’ll learn to respect people.” Or Louis is a bored, rich kid whose latest stunt got him arrested and forced to attend a fundraiser at an ice rink, Zayn is his unlucky partner in crime, Harry is the cute hospital volunteer who is having none of his attitude, Niall is the worst DJ in the world, and Liam is Leslie Knope.

✨ lead me out on the moonlight floor

explicit | 12,758 words

In all honesty, Harry was long forgotten, cast aside by a dimpled stranger and too much champagne. He was almost glad, now, that Harry hadn’t come, because he wouldn’t have met this stranger, this tall man who could make his heart flutter with a single glance.

Victorian!AU where Louis is a wealthy lord throwing a masquerade ball for his birthday and Harry is a toymaker who's only confident when he's wearing a mask.

✨ electing strange perfections

explicit | 10 chapters | 84,757 words

Back for the summer from university, 19-year-old Louis is faced with a massive problem: their new gardener is quite possibly the most gorgeous man he's ever met. Over the course of the summer, Louis and a 25-year-old Harry will learn that love can be found where you least expect it.

✨ scintillating

explicit | 23 chapters | 263,706 words

When Harry and Louis meet in Disney World during their family’s holiday, it’s love at first sight. Back in England, they fight against the distance to stay together, to make it work. When Harry signs up for The X-Factor, though, the precarious balance they’ve built is compromised.

Or the one where they fall in love, Harry wins the X-Factor, and everything goes to hell.

✨ taken by the wind

teen and up | 12,040 words

When he decided to move to London with his sister, Harry thought he would finally get to learn how to control his magic. He couldn't possibly have predicted that he would fall for her neighbour.

Or the one where Harry is a clumsy witch and Louis is making everything worse just by existing.

✨ signs and wonders

explicit | 29,005 words

On the surface, it looks like Louis Tomlinson has the perfect life; after all, he has the whole package: a white picket fence house (well, his doesn’t technically have a white picket fence, but work with him), a wife, a daughter and a dog. He has it all and he’s not even 30, yet.

On the surface, he could be the happiest man in the world.

The thing is, he never wanted this life. There was this boy, see, this Harry Styles, whose arrival made Louis question everything he thought he knew about himself. Before Louis could pursue it, though, before he could be brave and ask the boy out, one moment of bad luck on prom night, one single lapse of judgment, shaped his life in a way he never would have chosen. Between doing the right thing or turning into his own absent father, he knew what he had to do, even if it meant burying his dreams under the weight of a premature adulthood.

That is, until he receives an invitation for his school’s ten year reunion and sees that Harry will attend.

Could it be his second chance at happiness? At what cost?

✨ fondre ton absence

teens and up | 41,315 words

Harry had never really given much thought to the future. He preferred to let life steer him forward and to follow in the footsteps of Louis, his best friend from as far as his memory went, his lover, his everything. Louis knew better than he did what was good for him.

It changed drastically when Louis was ripped away from him, drafted and sent to the front to fight in a war that Harry had always been sure would never reach him. Too young and too sickly to follow, Harry was left on his own for the first time in his life.

When he thought things could not possibly get worse, Louis went missing at the Somme and was declared dead. While everyone buried and mourned him, Harry never moved on. If Louis were dead, he was sure that he would know it. Their lives were too entwined, he would know if half of his heart had died.

Determined to find Louis, Harry did everything he could in his quest to be reunited with him, except prepare for the state Louis might be in.

He did not prepare for the harsh truth he would have to face: was love possible without memories?

✨ the sanctity of patience

teens and up | 22,521 words

When young Lord Harry was chosen by King Louis of Bavaria to become his husband and prince consort, Harry thought all of his dreams had come through. His illusions came crashing down when he understood it meant living in isolation in the alpine castle of Neuschwanstein with a husband who turned out to be far from what he had hoped for.

His illusions vanished, Harry will have learn to appreciate what has and even, perhaps, fall in love with his imperfect husband and his castle.

✨ tempests of dust

explicit | 30,797 words

Louis lived an ordinary life, albeit in an extraordinary place. His family, alongside many others, were mandated to maintain the fortress of Bourbon-l’Archambault, one of the many castles belonging to the crown of France. It was thankless work, but it was a roof over their heads and a quiet, steady life. For all that he knew, the Crown had forgotten Bourbon-l’Archambault even existed, which suited him quite well.

That was until the Dauphin, Prince Harry, came to stay for a summer and decided that he would experience the life of a peasant, for his own personal growth, without any regards to how it would affect others. After a summer spent together, the thought of parting ways was too much to bear and they struck a deal: Louis would pretend to be a duke at the court of Versailles for a season: if after three months, he was miserable, Harry would let him return to his former life without making a fuss.

Did they really think it would be that simple?

✨ i can’t hurt you anymore

mature | 666 words

There was a boy who lived in the closet of Harry’s new house. Louis, he was called, and he was there when Harry’s family moved in, watching timidly as Harry unpacked his boxes, and when Harry asked if he wanted to help, he said he could not touch anything.

I’m Louis, he said, and we can be friends and I will never leave you if you promise to be with me forever.

✨ as in olden days

teens and up | 18,430 words

When his father insisted the entire family spend Christmas abroad in one of his new investments, Harry dreaded the prospect of being trapped for weeks in the biting Canadian cold, so far away from the roaring excitement of his London life. As he crossed half of the world to be buried under a thick blanket of snow, he never imagined he would meet a charming bellhop who would do his best to keep him warm.

#my fics #larry fics #tracksintheam