#they knowingly supported him and andrew

[inthecomputer]

hmmm i wonder if the fact that queen of england was this guys mother and the now king is this guys brother has anything to do with him not being punished for a certain thing this guy did... ohh.....

TOTAL COINCIDENCE FOLKS

NOTHING TO SEE

nooo that couldnt be epstein and maxwell at the queens personal lodge noooo

god save our righteous king

#why would i want a king involved with this shit #fuck the royal family #no kings or queens ever again #join your mother charles #not saying the royal family killed epstein #but they did grant him access to their wealth and social circles and protected those involved when shit hit the fan #they knowingly supported him and andrew #and now we're expected to endorse this family continuing to hold enormous global power #at our expense

[the-empress-7]

re the doctrine of forgiveness.

Girl, fuck off. There should be no forgiveness for people like Andrew. He isn’t accused of stealing candy from a store, he knowingly was friends with a convicted pedophile and slept with a sex trafficking victim who cannnot consent.

This isn’t some random family supporting their pos relative. These are people who represent the UK and are taxpayer funded public servants. They deserve all the criticism for this

It was the same thing we used to hear when the Queen was alive, how she forgave him. Her forgiving Andrew was always between her and Andrew. You can't force your forgiveness on to other people you know, if that makes sense?

[starry-mist]

I've actually finished s4 today and all my half-finished post-episode drafts are sitting in queue. I wish I had this much writing inspiration when it comes to fic right now. Sadly, I have none, so you get this dumping of Tumblr posts instead.

S4e13 thoughts:

This is an underrated episode with a ton of subtext.

Early side note: There was a series of four TV movies called The Love Club released...two Christmases ago, I think? Anyway two of the three Roses star in them, and Andrew Bushell (Michael) is a supporting character. They're cute. Very Hallmark-esque, but fun.

This script has a ton of subtext that I won't go super in-depth with.

I had a whole post written about potential episode order flips which somehow got flagged as mature...anyway, I dumped it, but in my mind, this episode could actually have come after the season finale. Since it doesn't, I am going to point out that in this episode and in 15 (and really in 12 also) Charlie and Sarah are very much having an emotional affair.

"Best friends working together...it's a lot more complex and nuanced..." or whatever Charlie's line is right before it cuts to Sarah smiling knowingly at him. We get it. You're secretly hot for each other but neither of you know how to USE YOUR DAMN WORDS.

Rex bringing up the pillow could have been a "hey Sarah, you should just sleep here" nod. (Okay I'm reaching, it's actually because he wants Charlie to go to bed, but it's cute.)

Sarah dancing with Rex while Charlie gazes lovingly at both of them...sigh.

The pillow Sarah throws at Charlie (while sitting extremely close to him on his couch) at the end...thanks, Rex, for getting in the middle of those two before they had YET ANOTHER MOMENT OF WEAKNESS BECAUSE ARGH THEY ARE SO FRUSTRATING.

Have I mentioned lately how much this season destroyed me the first time around?

Same actor, different character: I believe we last saw Dana Puddicombe as a food truck owner in s1, and here she's a nail salon owner. She'll reappear in the s5 finale.

#hudson & rex #charah #charlie hudson x sarah truong

[dreaminginthedeepsouth]

LETTERS FROM AN AMERICAN

February 27, 2023

Heather Cox Richardson

Another filing today in the defamation lawsuit of Dominion Voting Systems against the Fox News Network has revealed more of the machinations behind the construction of the Big Lie that former president Trump won the 2020 presidential election. A previous filing showed that Fox News Channel hosts knew full well that Biden had won and that Trump loyalists saying the election was fraudulent had no evidence. Personalities like Tucker Carlson continued to push the Big Lie, though, apparently out of fear that they would lose their audience to Newsmax and other right-wing outlets that continued to parrot the idea that Trump had won the election. Today’s filing shows that executives at the highest levels of the Fox Corporation and the Fox News Network knowingly permitted Fox News Channel personalities to spread false conspiracy theories about the election in order to protect their profits. It includes testimony from Rupert Murdoch, the chair of the Fox Corporation, showing that Murdoch and his son Lachlan Murdoch, the executive chair and chief executive officer of the Fox Corporation, as well as Suzanne Scott, the chief executive officer of Fox News Media, were all deeply involved in the question of how to deal with Trump’s lies and with the personalities who were echoing those lies, without losing viewership. Rupert Murdoch spoke with Scott frequently, and testified: “I’m a journalist at heart. I like to be involved in these things.” Lachlan Murdoch, as well, was in the loop with his father and Scott. Ultimately, although they knew that claims of massive election fraud were unfounded, they decided to give the lies airtime anyway to stop their audience from abandoning them for other channels. Fox board member and former House speaker Paul D. Ryan (R-WI) warned them “that Fox News should not be spreading conspiracy theories,” but they ignored him. Murdoch also revealed FNC’s role as a wing of the Republican Party when he testified that he “provided Trump's son-in-law and senior advisor, Jared Kushner, with Fox confidential information about Biden's ads, along with debate strategy… (providing Kushner a preview of Biden's ads before they were public).” Political writer Rick Wilson summed it up: “They knew Trump lost. They knew there was not then (nor is there now) a scintilla of fraud. They knew, and lied. Over, and over, and over. They chose guests they knew were lying. They allowed story meetings promoting a massive, dangerous lie that reduced faith and belief in the American system. The entire top level of Fox management knew their lies were leading to danger for this nation…. They knew the lies were lies. They fed and fed the beast.” The Big Lie has become central to the worldview of far-right Republicans. On February 23, in Arizona, newly elected Republican, conspiracy theorist, and election denier Liz Harris hijacked a hearing of the House and Senate election committees to feature a speaker who talked of election fraud and made wild and unsubstantiated accusations that state lawmakers and judges are taking bribes from a Mexican drug cartel. When another election denier, state senator Wendy Rogers, said the hearing was “not the appropriate venue” to talk about potential criminal activity, one of her own supporters accused her of being “compromised,” and another said that revolution was now “inevitable.” Also in the news today was the death of Gleb Pavlovsky, former top political consultant to Russian president Vladimir Putin, after a long illness. Before quietly turning away from Putin, Pavlovsky helped to engineer his rise through a concept called “political technology,” a system that uses technology to manipulate voters into rubber stamping the election of favored political leaders. According to historian and political scientist Andrew Wilson, who specializes in Eastern Europe, “political technologists” in the post-Soviet republics created a virtual political reality by blackmailing opponents, abusing state power to help favored candidates, sponsoring “double” candidates with names similar to those of opponents in order to take their voters, creating false parties to create opposition, and, finally, creating a false narrative around an election or other event that enabled them to control public debate. Under such manipulation, usually delivered in a firehose of outrageous and competing stories, people lost the ability to tell what was real and lost faith that they could have any effect on the political system. In the hands of political technologists, democracy was no longer about voters choosing their representatives, but was simply a way to legitimize manipulation by corrupt politicians to keep themselves in power. After House speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-CA) gave exclusive access to 41,000 hours of video from the U.S. Capitol to Tucker Carlson of the Fox News Channel, news organizations CBS News, CNN, Politico, ProPublica ABC, Axios, Advance, Scripps, the Los Angeles Times, and Gannett have asked the speaker for equal access to the material. “Without full public access to the complete historical record,” attorney Charles Tobin wrote, “there is concern that an ideologically-based narrative of an already polarizing event will take hold in the public consciousness, with destabilizing risks to the legitimacy of Congress, the Capitol Police, and the various federal investigations and prosecutions of January 6 crimes.” Meanwhile, the Biden administration continues to try to restore faith in the government. The Commerce Department will announce tomorrow that any company that hopes to get one of the new federal subsidies for semiconductor manufacturing under the CHIPS and Science Act must make sure its construction workers and employees have access to affordable, high-quality childcare. Such companies will be able to use some of the government money to build new childcare facilities, subsidize care at existing facilities, or find other solutions. The measure is designed to ease the labor shortages by enabling women currently unable to find affordable childcare to enter the workforce. It will also leave the establishment of more childcare facilities in the hands of private companies, thus avoiding another round of fights over Biden’s so-called soft infrastructure bill that emphasized childcare, elder care, education, and so on. Using government contracting to enact social change is a long-standing practice, and the call for childcare is not new. The report from the President’s Commission on the Status of Women declared: “Child care services are needed in all communities, for children of all kinds of families who may require day care, after-school care, or intermittent care. In putting major emphasis on this need, the Commission affirms that child care facilities are essential for women in many different circumstances, whether they work outside the home or not.” The kicker of that statement is that the president who convened the Commission on the Status of Women was not Biden. It was John F. Kennedy, and the commission issued its report in 1963, sixty years ago.

—

LETTERS FROM AN AMERICAN

HEATHER COX RICHARDSON

#Letters From An American #Heather Cox Richardson #FOX News #Rupert Murdoch #Dominion Voting Systems #the law #rule of law #propaganda

[avaxhunt]

@firehunters​

The thing about keeping a secret or trying to hide something, at least to Ava, was that she was always sure everyone knew and every single person she walked by was staring at her, knowingly. Maybe it was because while her mom and Jo said she wasn’t showing much yet, she was sure she was. She could feel it, her body changing daily, growing a human life right in her womb, from scratch. A whole little human that already had a heartbeat and everything, growing bigger and stronger by the minute, that mini person that would be out and about in just a few months looking like the universe had painted a picture of Ava and Andrew combined. 

She’d even worn a particularly flowy dress that night to make sure no one would know before they had had a chance to actually tell people. But the minute she walked into the firehouse searching for Andrew she could swear all the boys in his shift were staring at her and smiling at her with devious grins of people that knew what she was hiding under all that fabric. It wasn’t that she and Andrew wanted to hide her pregnancy, they’d just been worried. Ava, in particular. After everything in her past, after they had lost a child once, she was being careful and trying to do everything right, afraid this time she could harm that precious little thing they didn’t even know they wanted as much as they had grown to want it now. Ava made her way as quickly as she could to Andrew’s newly acquired office space joined with Sean’s desk, making sure he was alone when she walked in and closed the door behind her. 

“I’m telling you, everyone knows.” Ava whispered, dropping her bag on the empty chair across his desk and going straight to him as he sat behind his Lieutenant Hunt plate, wrapping her arms around his neck and holding him tight against her body. Ever since finding out they were going to be parents, Ava somehow also found herself falling more and more in love with Andrew every day. Something about his new aura, knowing he would be the best father out there and the way Andrew had so bravery accepted that child as their faith and had been supportive in ways she couldn’t even imagine were possible... 

“They all know, they keep staring at me like they know.” She whispered, lips pressed against his hair as she breathed him in, only then realizing she’d missed him terribly being away all day. “You smell so good.” Ava sighed, resting her head on his for a moment before she pulled back to lean against his desk beside him. “Hi.” She smiled at Andrew, twisting her hair lightly into a rolled ponytail, one hand instinctively moving down her barely there stomach. 

.

#another one woohooooooooooooo #andy 044

[reddancer1]

Heather Cox Richardson

February 27, 2023 (Monday)

Another filing today in the defamation lawsuit of Dominion Voting Systems against the Fox News Network has revealed more of the machinations behind the construction of the Big Lie that former president Trump won the 2020 presidential election. A previous filing showed that Fox News Channel hosts knew full well that Biden had won and that Trump loyalists saying the election was fraudulent had no evidence. 

Personalities like Tucker Carlson continued to push the Big Lie, though, apparently out of fear that they would lose their audience to Newsmax and other right-wing outlets that continued to parrot the idea that Trump had won the election. Today’s filing shows that executives at the highest levels of the Fox Corporation and the Fox News Network knowingly permitted Fox News Channel personalities to spread false conspiracy theories about the election in order to protect their profits.

It includes testimony from Rupert Murdoch, the chair of the Fox Corporation, showing that Murdoch and his son Lachlan Murdoch, the executive chair and chief executive officer of the Fox Corporation, as well as Suzanne Scott, the chief executive officer of Fox News Media, were all deeply involved in the question of how to deal with Trump’s lies and with the personalities who were echoing those lies, without losing viewership.

Rupert Murdoch spoke with Scott frequently, and testified: “I’m a journalist at heart. I like to be involved in these things.” Lachlan Murdoch, as well, was in the loop with his father and Scott. Ultimately, although they knew that claims of massive election fraud were unfounded, they decided to give the lies airtime anyway to stop their audience from abandoning them for other channels. Fox board member and former House speaker Paul D. Ryan (R-WI) warned them “that Fox News should not be spreading conspiracy theories,” but they ignored him.

Murdoch also revealed FNC’s role as a wing of the Republican Party when he testified that he “provided Trump's son-in-law and senior advisor, Jared Kushner, with Fox confidential information about Biden's ads, along with debate strategy… (providing Kushner a preview of Biden's ads before they were public).”

Political writer Rick Wilson summed it up: “They knew Trump lost. They knew there was not then (nor is there now) a scintilla of fraud. They knew, and lied. Over, and over, and over. They chose guests they knew were lying. They allowed story meetings promoting a massive, dangerous lie that reduced faith and belief in the American system. The entire top level of Fox management knew their lies were leading to danger for this nation…. They knew the lies were lies. They fed and fed the beast.”

The Big Lie has become central to the worldview of far-right Republicans. On February 23, in Arizona, newly elected Republican, conspiracy theorist, and election denier Liz Harris hijacked a hearing of the House and Senate election committees to feature a speaker who talked of election fraud and made wild and unsubstantiated accusations that state lawmakers and judges are taking bribes from a Mexican drug cartel.

When another election denier, state senator Wendy Rogers, said the hearing was “not the appropriate venue” to talk about potential criminal activity, one of her own supporters accused her of being “compromised,” and another said that revolution was now “inevitable.”

Also in the news today was the death of Gleb Pavlovsky, former top political consultant to Russian president Vladimir Putin, after a long illness. Before quietly turning away from Putin,  Pavlovsky helped to engineer his rise through a concept called “political technology,” a system that uses technology to manipulate voters into rubber stamping the election of favored political leaders.

According to historian and political scientist Andrew Wilson, who specializes in Eastern Europe, “political technologists” in the post-Soviet republics created a virtual political reality by blackmailing opponents, abusing state power to help favored candidates, sponsoring “double” candidates with names similar to those of opponents in order to take their voters, creating false parties to create opposition, and, finally, creating a false narrative around an election or other event that enabled them to control public debate. 

Under such manipulation, usually delivered in a firehose of outrageous and competing stories, people lost the ability to tell what was real and lost faith that they could have any effect on the political system. 

In the hands of political technologists, democracy was no longer about voters choosing their representatives, but was simply a way to legitimize manipulation by corrupt politicians to keep themselves in power.

After House speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-CA) gave exclusive access to 41,000 hours of video from the U.S. Capitol to Tucker Carlson of the Fox News Channel, news organizations CBS News, CNN, Politico, ProPublica ABC, Axios, Advance, Scripps, the Los Angeles Times, and Gannett have asked the speaker for equal access to the material. 

“Without full public access to the complete historical record,” attorney Charles Tobin wrote, “there is concern that an ideologically-based narrative of an already polarizing event will take hold in the public consciousness, with destabilizing risks to the legitimacy of Congress, the Capitol Police, and the various federal investigations and prosecutions of January 6 crimes.

”Meanwhile, the Biden administration continues to try to restore faith in the government. The Commerce Department will announce tomorrow that any company that hopes to get one of the new federal subsidies for semiconductor manufacturing under the CHIPS and Science Act must make sure its construction workers and employees have access to affordable, high-quality childcare. Such companies will be able to use some of the government money to build new childcare facilities, subsidize care at existing facilities, or find other solutions. 

The measure is designed to ease the labor shortages by enabling women currently unable to find affordable childcare to enter the workforce. It will also leave the establishment of more childcare facilities in the hands of private companies, thus avoiding another round of fights over Biden’s so-called soft infrastructure bill that emphasized childcare, elder care, education, and so on

Using government contracting to enact social change is a long-standing practice, and the call for childcare is not new. The report from the President’s Commission on the Status of Women declared: “Child care services are needed in all communities, for children of all kinds of families who may require day care, after-school care, or intermittent care. In putting major emphasis on this need, the Commission affirms that child care facilities are essential for women in many different circumstances, whether they work outside the home or not.” 

The kicker of that statement is that the president who convened the Commission on the Status of Women was not Biden. It was John F. Kennedy, and the commission issued its report in 1963, sixty years ago.

[focsle]

In which William Abbe characterizes two of his shipmates:

“Happy Jack and Johnny Marlinspike—This last is a thorough sailor in feeling + habits — so is Happy Jack—but Johnny is the merriest chap alive hardly for a moment forgetting to play some fantastic trick or make some ludicrously foolish speech — while Happy Jack laughs at everything + seldom says anything himself. Both can growl in good strong language, when the grub or mate don’t please them — + both when in port would sell the shirt off their backs for rum. Happy Jack takes anything he wants no matter from whom + makes the weakest possible excuses to the owner when caught. “I couldn’t help it” “I hadn’t any myself” “You wouldn’t refuse a poor fellow that would you” + with a laugh disarms all resentment. He turns in and sleeps during all his watch below day or night — has a very knowing look + makes the most sagacious remarks about the weather + whales + dreams most prophetic dreams— but though about as correct as an old almanac— yet he always explains away his mistaken prophecies by the aid of some superstitious omen or some unlucky event. He is firmly convinced that we shall take no whales this cruise — + goes to the masthead with all the air of a martyr + shakes his head knowingly when ‘thar blows’ is sung out. A more indifferent, careless, reckless, superstitious, good for nothing happy wretch doesn’t live than poor Happy Jack — light fingered — good natured — laughing singing Happy — a glass of rum seized by thee with trembling-eager hands + drunk ravenously as by a parched + way-worn traveler transforms thee from a light hearted Jack to a sorry drunkard — and thou drinkest long draughts of fiery liquor that blazes in thy eye + makes haggard thy look — gives to thy cheery voice a piteous moan as thou beggest of any friend a drink, or changes thee at times from the best natured to the sullenest ill-tempered of companions.”

[Now, of Johnny Marlinspike] “From beneath an old velvet cap stuck on the back + side of his head — where it is in perpetual danger of a fall, Jack’s—for we call Johnny + Happy both Jack — Jack’s rugged weather-beaten tanned face with round eyes full of a comical sly light + a mouth always in a grin disclosing tobacco stained ivories + a porthole he calls it where one his teeth has been knocked out + through which as a convenient porthole he spits his tobacco juice — from beneath this cap his face looms out - while beneath supporting his comical head is a bare neck and breast — hairy + brown —the upper timbers to a stout hull of a boat that boast a pair of arms all covered with India ink tattooings — the figure of American Liberty — Christ on the cross — an American Tar holding a star spangled banner in one hand + a coil of rope in the other — a fancy girl — + anchors, rings, crosses, knots, stars all over his wrists + hands — the memorials of different ports he has visited — for Jack has been in all kinds of vessels from a man of war to a blubber hunter — + has consequently been to many ports. An old shirt wide open in front — with the sleeves rooled up — covers Jack’s stout hull - while an old pair of breeches supported by a belt—quilted and patched—like the old  Constitution they have very little of the original timber left—encase Jack’s legs — and such legs surely never before did dungaree or duck grace — Jack’s upper works seem too heavy for his lower— for his legs are spread like two back stays with a spreader between + Jack goes rooling about as if he carried all his ballast in his head — while his feet are like his hands large + awkwardly pointing towards each other — But for all this, Jack is not an unhandsome fellow — with a blue shirt + light pants he looks a neat, tight sailor + if from his own accounts he has done no little damage among the girls he left behind him.”

Happy Jack was a man named Andrew Kimbank from Leroy NY, 23 years old at time of sailing in 1858. Abbe spoke with him at length about his history earlier on in the voyage. Jack had worked on packet ships, steamers, and the railroad, making a fair amount of money but finding himself spending it all on drink and traveling and finery (as well as being robbed on one instance). His well off family members offered to help him out of his debt but, saying he was ashamed of his actions, he didn’t accept. He then killed a man in a drunken brawl, fled to Canada and was caught there. He spent 11 months in jail before being discharged as the jury couldn’t agree on his case. Was betrothed during this time and spoke of the woman’s ‘beauty + gentleness + power to win him from drink’, and she visited him in jail. However, on being discharged he never went back home, showing up on the whaleship drunk and remaining in that state for several weeks. His aspiration was following gold in California to make enough money to settle, with the whaler being his passage there. Abbe said “his ambition is humble but that his decision seems sincere to settle down and become a good man” but Abbe also doubted his resolve to hold to it. Jack’s predictions of a poor voyage would prove true, as the Atkins Adams would only take 281 barrels of oil over a 5 years’ cruise.

Jack Marlinspike was a man named John Hews from Buffalo NY, also 23 years old at time of sailing- For a time his nickname was ‘Johnny Come Lately’, known for his musical inclinations and dancing. He got the name ‘Jack Marlinspike’ more recently when he accidentally dropped a marlinspike from aloft and almost hit someone in the head with it.

#wm abbe #awhalin

[eggnogs-stupid-ideas]

Okay this is gonna be my info thing haha

This post is gonna get alot longer because im adding a DNI list, which I truely should have done before but still

______________

DNI:

-Proshippers in general. Theres no arguing around this. I do not support anybody who ships these types of things knowingly. Same category, even more serious, if you would like to cal yourself a "Map" or "Zoo", get out of my blog.

-Homophobes, Transphobes, Racist, Xenophobes, Islamphobes (sorry if thats not the word), Sexist, exc, for obvious reasons. On the same note, if you support Andrew Tate, get out immediately /srs

-Anti-Furries. I don't mean people who just don't like furries but are chill with it, you're okay in my book you don't have to directly enjoy us (yes, I am a furry), just respect us as humans. I mean the people who tell furries to harm themself just because theyre furries. I'm not dealing with that <3

-Anybody who villainzes or sexualizes mental disorders, sexualities, romantic attraction, gender, coping mechanisms, exc. I do not take these lightly. I will make one execption however, and that is if you villainze or sexualize anything due to being missinformed, and being willing to learn more. I know this can very much be a issue, and even I have done that in the past. As long as you are willing to learn, you are okay to me.

-People who don't respect Neopronouns. I don't care if you think its unusual, I don't care if you arent used to it, I do not care if they aren't "normal pronouns", be a respectful human being and use the pronouns people are comfortable with and don't make fun of them for it. It is not hard to be a respectful human.

-And last but very importantly, people who will yell at others, including myself, for being missinformed or incorrect. As I stated before, I am willing to give people a chance as long as they are willing to learn. I would hope you give me and others the same respect. If I do ever say something thats very missinformed, you can tell me! I am very much willing to learn and I never want to accidentally show something in an incorrect light!

Thats the main ones, sorry thats alot

--------

Hi, Hello, Call me Eggnog or Ethan please!

(Please don't use Loki, I'm uncomfortable with that nickname now for personal reasons)

I will not reveal my age out of comfortably

I go by any pronouns, I usually use He/Him, byt anything works!

I'm a fella on the autism spectrum and have adhd so thats fun. I try to use tone indicators and I will not force them but if you used them while interacting with me that would be very appreciated.

This blog will hopefully mostly have stuff about my really big cookie run au lol. I'll also mention my other cookie run aus, other series I draw (rarley being cookie runs my hyperfixation) and original stuff.

Other series im a fan of include Rhythm Heaven, The Binding of Isaac, Rise of the Gaurdians, Five Nights at Freddys, My Little Pony, Ever After High, Pokemon, a bit Digimon, Don't Hug Me Im Scared, The Path, Miraculous Ladybug, exc. If you interact with me to talk about any of these series or my fixations I will love you forever/p

Feel free to give questions to my ocs! I won't try to give out too much of the lore at first since I plan to write the stuff as well but ya know.

I post whenever I wanna post, so don't expect a schedule. I'm here to have fun after all.

Idk what else to put so, about myself anyways

but I'll put a bit about my au!

My au..(s) is called Datura/The Datura AU! Named after the flower. Its actually a collage of connected au storylines collages in one big au, I like to call them the 'branches' (kinda based on Yggdrasil and its branches). I have multiple fragments but the most important ones are;

-Family of the Dark (Main characters Milk, Purple Yam and Dark Choco)

-Frosted Fates (Main Characters Eggnog, Tiramisu, Strawberry Cream, Stollen, Frost Queen)

-Flowers, Mushrooms, and Licorice Roots (Main Characters Licorice, Purple Mushroom, and Bellflower)

-Thornapple (Main Characters Chili Pepper, Wizard, and Gingerbrave)

-Out at Sea (Main Characters Captain Ice, Pirate and Captain Caviar)

and more

Have a good day!

#introductory post #about me #information #me

[simoviacourt]

If it's against the tradition, why is Alma doing it? Especially with her low approval... it seems like a really stupid move... is she that obsessed with Eraser?

Hey there anon! My guess is that you’re referring to the previous anon ask? 

There are a few reasons why Alma knowingly breaks with tradition. First of all, she has a very busy schedule, with only a few hours of free time to spare each day. If she didn’t bring Erasmus along, she would have basically no time to be with him.

Secondly, she is growing more and more tired of her position, and its restraints, which is partly Erasmus’ doing, he has given her more confidence to shake things up, even in this small way. 

And finally, Erasmus makes it easier for her to do all those events. She has always hated crowds, but it veered into severe stress and anxiety after the attempted attack during Winter Solstice and the constitutional crisis didn’t help matters either, as now she is terrified that anyone in the crowd might harm her. Having Erasmus by her side makes her feel less anxious, more grounded, and protected (he did thwart the attempted attack after all).

So to answer your question about whether Alma is obsessed with Erasmus, no, she isn’t obsessed. Dependent? Yes, that she is, and very much in love. She has never had this level of support from anyone, not even from Andrew who has tried his best, or from her friends. 

Thank you for the ask, I hope this clears it up a little! 

[rebelwheelssoapbox]

Did New York State Give Disabled People COVID?

By Michele Kaplan Spoilers: Yes. Now, am I suggesting that the leaders of New York State got together one day in a dimly lit room, grinning deviously, as they started to brainstorm on how they could intentionally harm the disability community? No. But they also didn't go to great lengths to protect us either.

And yes, there were a number of politicians who are allies, and I am not negating their efforts, but at the end of the day, I am writing this as a disabled New Yorker who is now a longhauler. This was not inevitable, unavoidable, this was created. It could be validly and reasonably argued, that some New York State politicians absolutely knew the harm they were going to cause and proceeded regardless. Like Governor Andrew Cuomo, formerly revered, now met with calls to resign. How peculiar that people rarely include the fact that he knowingly sent 9,000 COVID patients to nursing homes in said calls. Back in May (2020), New York Times reported that 1/3 of all COVID fatalities happened in institutional settings and this number was before it came out that Cuomo attempted to downplay the number of deaths.

[image description: colorful graphic of a woman with slightly tan skin and short gray hair wearing a mask. she is dressed casually but stylishly  with a neck scarf, glasses, denim shirt and backpack. The text reads “what’s next in the covid-19 fight? now, we all need to get tested often even with no symptoms, to keep reducing the spread”] Interesting how prisons are experiencing similar problems during the pandemic, as that too is a place where you can not social distance. It also begs the question: why do nursing homes have so many things in common with prisons? All the while, Cuomo was going to great lengths to push massive cuts in medicaid and healthcare funding before and during the pandemic – including funding for hospitals, all so the ultra-rich, wouldn't have to pay their fair share of taxes. So, it's no wonder that there is a massive campaign from the people to #TaxTheRich, as the disability community was far from being the only marginalized demographic facing the devastating consequences of his actions.

original photo is via https://affecttheverb.com/ [image description: a photo of six disabled people of color smile and pose in front of a concrete wall. Five people stand in the back, with the Black woman in the center holding up a chalkboard sign reading "disabled and here." A South Asian person in a wheelchair sits in front. The text at the bottom reads "hashtag tax the rich" with an orange / yellow gradient and black shadow behind it. There is a white sign leaning against the person on the right, with text that reads "A failure to tax the rich while cutting services for marginalized communities is an act of violence."] Why do the wealthiest New Yorkers have the lowest tax burden? Why should the rest of us scramble for crumbs, in some instances, compromising our basic safety, all so that the ultra-rich can have even more? I've heard people say that austerity is an act of violence, and I believe it's true. And to be clear, as a survivor myself, I unequivocally stand in absolute solidarity with the women who came forward, sharing their stories. I just don't think sexual harassment should be the only reason he is called to resign. The moment he knowingly sent COVID patients to those nursing homes, should have been enough. All the talk about how we must protect the vulnerable. All the soundbites about how they cherished the workers, the ones they called essential, those applauded and declared as heroes of the frontline, and yet those who were not treated as such. Hurrah for empty rhetoric. Why was this (among other unethical actions rooted in austerity,) not seen as a reason to remove him from power? Do we not believe we deserve better?

How did I get COVID, courtesy of New York State? It might seem unlikely, considering I only left my apartment twice in the last 12 months, with a mask of course. Refraining from visits from friends and family, the only people who were in my home were PCAs (personal care attendants) who I rely on for assistance. However, for reasons that remain unclear, there is no mandatory COVID testing policy within these home health care agencies. This was not a fluke, this is a widespread problem.

I heard stories of home healthcare workers dying (on the job, in the office), and while all employees were encouraged to get tested, unlike with the flu shot, a person could still work regardless if they've been tested or not. If you feel sick, don't come to work, they were told, but this alone is not enough, as one can be asymptomatic and still spread the virus to others. This was common knowledge and yet?

There I was, November 2020, with a persistent 18+ day fever (among other COVID symptoms), with no idea who gave me COVID, and with an abysmal lack of access to actually get tested. In New York City, I had to wait three months just to get a blood test at home, which I later found out, was not even the right kind of COVID test if you currently have it. I had zero access to the nose or saliva tests, as I could not travel (due to the fever) even to the local testing sites or urgent care centers in my neighborhood. And while New York City had a program where they'd send you a free saliva test kit, it was only if you could prove that you came in contact with someone with COVID. But since there was no mandatory testing for PCAs, I could not. (And yes, I explained my situation to the city employee I spoke to about the program, but they would not or could not make an exception. I also wrote a local politician for help, but I never got a response.) But surely I could go to the hospital and get help there? No, that too was not an option. For in the state of New York (and sadly with several states during the pandemic), there is a state criteria (think capitalism meets eugenics), that basically says when the demand for ventilators is greater than the supply, not every COVID patient is viewed as worth saving. And surprise surprise, disabled people like me were not seen as having the same value as our able bodied peers. Fun fact: Hitler also believed that disabled lives were not worthy of living. To be clear, I am not calling anyone here a Nazi, but I am absolutely suggesting that it would behoove society to reexamine that shared belief. I remember once my fever subsided, I went to urgent care as my oxygen was dipping as low as 88%. And the urgent care doctor said “If your oxygen goes below 90%, even if in time it stabilizes (as mine does if I remain silent), you need to go to ER.” Only as a disabled person, I could not. And yes, the state criteria is not always in effect, but it can go into effect at any moment in time – and then what?

[image description: photo of Michael Hickson, a black disabled man who is grinning and looking at the camera. He is sitting in a motorized wheelchair] RELATED: Disability rights group, ADAPT of Texas Protests Hospital Killing of Michael Hickson, A Black Disabled Man RELATED: Disability Rights Activists Sue Cuomo over Ventilator Discrimination But surely someone, the city, the state thought of a backup plan, so that the people impacted by the state criteria would not be left in the lurch? No, they did not. When I explained why I could not go to the hospital to the urgent care doctor, he became flustered. “Well... but you have to, it's medically dangerous for you ... not to go” to which I replied “It's dangerous for me to go.” In that moment, it was obvious that he did not know what to do other than to say “I'm sorry.” Why was there not a backup plan? Is the city and state nonchalant when it comes to disabled people being harmed and possibly dying? Did they forget? The city and state both have designated departments about disability. So, what happened? And while I go to great lengths to rise up and feed my soul as needed, as a disabled person, I am angry, I am sad and I am tired on so many levels. Even before the pandemic, me and my community (who exists within every marginalized community), were fighting cuts to medicaid and home healthcare services in New York , so we wouldn't be forced from our homes and into the institutions and nursing homes, including the ones that Cuomo a year or so later would knowingly send COVID patients to.

[image description: tiled image of the New York State license plate, with the word ableism on each plate. the plates are normally dark blue and white but this image has a faded rainbow overlay on it]

And then... the pandemic hit, and politicians like Mayor DeBlasio said plenty about how we must protect seniors and “the vulnerable”, but didn't even mention disabled people till much later. Like austerity, disability erasure is too an act of violence. And then I got COVID, courtesy of the state and a lack of protective policies. My oxygen dips too low on a daily basis. The other day, I left a dear friend a mere 5 minute audio message and my oxygen levels dipped down to 92%. I cough my brains out every morning, as there is too much liquid in my chest. (Meanwhile both my doctors agree I am a candidate for at home oxygen support, but my insurance will only cover at home oxygen support, if my oxygen dips too low at night. I suspect they figure that if it goes too low during the day, I should just go to the hospital.) And do note, that I am not suggesting the entirety of this mess was all local government as Trump's role in this is not small. This article is not intended to be fuel for the Cuomo versus Trump, Trump versus Cuomo agenda. I don't want to hear how it's not this party or that party's fault. All sides are guilty.

[image description top: an illustration of a colorful person looking confused asking “Ableism? What’s ableism?” Below that is a graphic with a white background and black “typewriter” font text. It reads, ”Ableism is… (a form of) discrimination.The false idea that disabled people are by default, inferior. When in truth, disability is just another way for a mind and/or body to be.”] Take action. Share this article. Discuss this with your friends. Re-examine any negative or (ableist) ideas you were taught about disability, for as long as we perpetuate the false ideas of abled supremacy, that disability equals inferior, tragic and better off dead, the easier it will be for the system to justify and get away with the oppression. Ask your politicians what happened? I wish that I had the energy to organize an action, more than what I've suggested, but as a longhauler I do not, which weighs on me more than I can say. But know that often when marginalized communities are attacked, a common sentiment you hear is: this is not what this country is about. But if you look at our history, this is exactly what our country is about. This is not new, but that doesn't mean we can't change that.

[IMAGE DESCRIPTION: This graphic is mostly black and white with the exception of 3 colors. The style is minimal. Towards the top in a thick black font, reads the words “Choose.” The two O’s in the word, are larger than the rest of the word, and have a larger red (for one O) and an orange circle (for the other O) in back of them. On top of the first O, is the letter S. To the right of S is a somewhat thin black line that stretches out to the right. Underneath is a black rectangle, with a blue square and red line in it - like a really minimal deconstruction American flag. The S then goes down to include the O, followed by an L and then after the L, the rest of the letters in Solidarity are to the right. To the left is a list (in black font) that reads Racism, Xenophobia, Transphobia, Islamophobia, Sexism, Homophobia, Ableism* (*Discrimination Against Disabled People). Lastly to the right is a black rectangle with a vertical white line cutting through it. It has white text in it that reads “Solidarity is not just a word, it’s an action.” and below that in small black font is the url of this site. “whatisableism.tumblr.com”]

#disability #disability rights #disability and covid #covid #covid-19 #corona virus #state criteria #eugenics #i got covid #how i got covid #disabled people #disability solidarity #intersectional disability #cuomo #cuomo resign #tax the rich #new york state #new york city #covid testing #homebound #fever #low oxygen #help #ableism #ableist #systemic ableism #cuts in medicaid #march for the dead #my covid story #de blasio

[popolitiko]

Nashville bartender and his mom suit up for Capitol Hill siege; son arrested Sunday

Man with zip-ties is pictured in the Senate Chamber on Wednesday in Washington, D.C

( They aren't zip ties. They are double loop handcuffs for detaining people. It's just as clear as it can be what they had intended. )

By Cathy Burke New York Daily News |Jan 10, 2021

A Tennessee man was arrested Sunday after photos from the deadly Capitol riot show him outfitted for mayhem — and reportedly accompanied by his mother.

Eric Gavelek Munchel, 30, was charged with one count of knowingly entering or remaining in any restricted building or grounds without lawful authority, and one count of violent entry and disorderly conduct on Capitol grounds.

Prosecutors say photos from the Wednesday riot show a person who appears to be Munchel carrying plastic zip ties, an item in a holster on his right hip, and a cell phone mounted on his chest with the camera facing outward, ostensibly to record events that day.

British news outlets reported he also had his bulletproof vest-wearing mom at his side.

  “We wanted to show that we’re willing to rise up, band together and fight if necessary. Same as our forefathers, who established this country in 1776. It was a kind of flexing of muscles,” Munchel, a Nashville bartender, told the subscription-only Times of London.

Lisa Eisenhart, Munchel’s mother, told the news outlet that “the left has everything: the media, organizations, the government. We have to organize if we’re going to fight back and be heard.” 

“This country was founded on revolution,” she added, according to the Daily Mail. “If they’re going to take every legitimate means from us, and we can’t even express ourselves on the internet, we won’t even be able to speak freely, what is America for?

Rioters breach U.S. Capitol during pro-Trump rally              

“I’d rather die as a 57-year-old woman than live under oppression. I’d rather die and would rather fight.”

The pair reportedly drove from Nashville to attend the rally held by President Trump, at which he encouraged his MAGA supporters to march to the Capitol and to not be “weak.”

https://www.nydailynews.com/news/national/ny-capitol-building-riot-nashville-bartender-20210111-yzxynkgcrncodnpzpymegcxpw4-story.html

FBI arrests Nashville zip-tie suspect from assault on U.S. Capitol

A self-described "hidden patriot" from Nashville, outed on social media as a rioter who invaded the U.S. Senate chambers Wednesday with a weapon and zip-tie handcuffs, was arrested Sunday on federal charges

Andrew Mitchell:  I have to say: he does not look like BLM or Antifa to me.

'When stupidity is considered patriotism, it is unsafe to be intelligent.' ~ Isaac Asimov

“It’s hard to win an argument with a smart person. It’s damn near impossible to win one with a stupid person. “  Bill Murray. Comedian

“Never underestimate the power of stupid people in large groups.” - George Carlin

what he intended to do with those zip-tie restraints, that isn't clear" what else would he do, make a crown with them or smth? friendship bracelets? rings? the possibilities are endless!!

“ That’s our house , we built that “ 😂😂 sure you did buddy

#Insurrection #Capitol Insurrection

[arcticdementor]

Last week, NY Governor Andrew Cuomo was summarily defenestrated, resigning in disgrace after facing mounting pressure from his own party, which made clear at the level of the state legislature that he would be removed from power via impeachment if necessary. This represents a precipitous fall from grace for the former Empire State heavyweight - last year saw Cuomo lauded and showered in accolades, with an Emmy awarded for his COVID press briefings, a $5,000,000+ book deal chronicling his leadership during the period, and a headline spot on the first night of the DNC where the same party now calling for his scalp praised him as a hero and held him up as an exemplar of responsible pandemic management. He had been floated as a potential presidential candidate and amassed an enthusiastic following of self-described 'Cuomosexuals' - including many among the media elite - who embraced a performative infatuation with the man in Albany. He was heralded as perhaps the most popular politician in the country as the press and political establishment cheered his pandemic response. This all went out the window when NY AG Letitia James announced her investigation had determined Cuomo had sexually harassed 11 women, and virtually everyone of influence in his support base distanced themselves and called for his resignation

The core problem here is that Cuomo's pandemic response was catastrophically terrible from the start and the claims of sexual harassment were wildly overblown as part of a political takedown

…

Included among that tally of 11 are women who allege, for instance, that Cuomo committed such infractions as using comical terminology like “mingle mamas”. Another person complained about his telling her that she made wearing an elaborate Personal Protective Gear gown “look good” at a public COVID press conference. A guest at a wedding, with no ties to the state government, reported that Cuomo "asked if he could kiss her". An aide claimed the Governor called her "sweetheart" and once kissed her hand. The most vocal accuser, Charlotte Bennett - who was previously sued for coordinating with another student to file knowingly fabricated sexual misconduct claims in college, both of which were withdrawn after being discredited through exculpatory evidence (a recording and text messages) - accused the Governor of making her do push-ups as an example of inappropriate office conduct; her Insta story at the time read “Life complete. [Gov. Cuomo] challenged me to a push-up competition”

This is pretty farcical. The Governor's office has rebutted the allegations in detail, but the media pressure remained overwhelming and Cuomo agreed to resign, denying the substantive allegations while issuing a defeated thank-you to his accusers in his final statement. The man who, just months prior, had been on top of the world was run out of office by a concerted outrage campaign based on functionally nothing

Meanwhile, the pandemic response that he had received such fawning praise for had - the entire time - been an egregious failure. Of all states, NY has the #2 deaths per capita from COVID (after NJ, many of whom work in NY), in significant part due to Cuomo's catastrophic decision making, including reluctance to implement initial lockdown measures, dysfunction between the state and city governments (attributed partially to Cuomo's rivalry w/ NYC mayor), supply shortages due to ignoring NY's pandemic response plan, and an Executive Order forcing nursing homes (filled with the most vulnerable citizens in the state) to take in over 9,000 active COVID-19 patients. Cuomo then overcompensated for his initial incompetence by making the state one of the most restrictive in the nation, leading to one of the worst economic outcomes of the pandemic. All of this - including the Cuomo administration's hiding of nursing home deaths - was well known the entire time Cuomo was being given trophies and multi-million book deals, given lavish media treatment (including special segments with his own brother, an obvious conflict of interest), and being fêted by the entire Democratic Party at the DNC as he boasted of his success in dealing with what he called, out of mind-numbing 'anti-racist' pandering, "the European virus"

…

So the take-away I'm left with is: performance, facts, reality, behavior simply do not matter in contemporary politics. All that matters is narrative and spin. Which means all that matters is how the media-activist complex decides to cover you. If the media chooses to hold you up as a heroic foil to a President they despise, you will be flooded with accolades and prestige even if you have among the worst outcomes of your peers; if that's no longer necessary and they want you out for being insufficiently progressive and standing in the way of female candidates they prefer, you will be ran out of town on a rail. And so, a completely unaccountable, unelected, and unrepresentative media-activist complex holds the reins of power and determines the fate of elected officials to the point that they frequently have the final say

#reddit #the motte #andrew cuomo

[chloebeale]

I was rewatching episodes of AF and the scene where Brittany tells Roxy she doesn’t want her there, that gave me major idea vibes of Chloe Beale having an argument with Beca’s father and kicking him out of their home at Thanksgiving for disapproving of their relationship and never supporting his daughter, spending much of Beca’s life absent from her life except to show up and pass judgement. Cause nobody belittles or upsets Beca and gets away with it.

TURNING TABLES

RATING: T.WARNINGS: Homophbia.PAIRING: Bechloe.WORDS: 3.3K.NOTES: Let’s pretend Beca’s father isn’t the same one from Barden pls. Thank you for this, I could totally see it too!

Chloe can count on one hand the amount of in-person interactions she has had with Warren Mitchell. (She’s willing to bet Beca could count hers on two.) Beca doesn’t really talk about him, and given the way he didn’t even walk Beca down the aisle at their wedding, and instead sat in the back with his wife and proceeded to leave before the reception, Chloe already has a pretty clear picture of the type of person he is.

So, Chloe understands why Beca is currently so jittery, why she’s seemingly lost in her own world as she rearranges the place settings at their Thanksgiving-ready table for what feels like the millionth time, and Chloe finds herself watching the other woman sympathetically from across the room.

“Bec, everything looks great,” Chloe states in a gentle tone—though not quite gentle enough apparently, because Beca jumps slightly along with the sound of her voice.

“Yeah,” Beca nods, clearing her throat somewhat awkwardly. Her gaze scans over the table, and while Chloe can’t actually read her mind, she knows she’s still questioning the seating arrangements. Almost like she’s forcing herself away, Beca slowly turns from the table, and Chloe catches sight of just how exhausted she looks. It’s worrisome, considering the day has barely begun yet, but again, Chloe understands it. “I just feel like I need to be doing something, you know? You won’t let me help with the food.” Her brow wrinkles in that familiar way Chloe can’t help but adore, and prompts a subtle smirk in return.

“You remember the green beans last year?” Chloe reminds her, auburn brow arching knowingly. “We were still finding them under the fridge at Christmas.”

“Fine,” Beca grumbles, turning back toward the table without missing a beat. Her hand outstretches to pick up Warren’s name label, though Chloe decides it’s time to intervene.

“Hey, stop,” she mumbles soothingly, pale arms wrapping delicately around Beca’s middle. While she hears a sigh fall from her lips, she also feels the way Beca’s body relaxes into the embrace. “It’s going to be fine,” Chloe continues, her chin resting gently against Beca’s shoulder. Her heartbeat drums gently, hopefully reassuringly, against Beca’s back. Slender fingers settle on top of her lightly freckled arm, and Chloe allows herself a brief glance down toward the wedding ring on Beca’s finger, painted lips tugging up into a contented smile.

Soft fingers squeeze delicately onto her arm, and Chloe tightens her hold slightly. “You just…” Beca’s shoulders slump, volume lowering some, “You don’t know my dad.”

READ THE REST BELOW OR ON AO3!

Given how genuinely wonderful her own parents are, Chloe really can’t relate. She does know she’s glad they’ll be there to act as some kind of buffer today, though. But that doesn’t help Beca’s situation, that doesn’t help to calm her nerves, so Chloe simply pulls her body closer to her own, pushing a gentle kiss into the crook of her neck. “I know,” she whispers softly, “But it’s going to be okay.”

If it were up to Chloe, Warren wouldn’t be joining them at all. But he’s in town for the first time since they moved into their new home, and when Beca had panicked and invited he and Sheila to Thanksgiving dinner, Chloe had been nothing but supportive. She’s very protective of her wife, but Warren is her father, and if Beca wants to try to salvage some kind of relationship with him, then Chloe isn’t going to stand in her way.

Over the years, Chloe has learned to read Beca Mitchell. She knows when she should try to coax something more from her, and when she should leave her to her own thoughts. Right now feels like the latter, and Chloe realizes she’s correct in thinking so when Beca finally releases another soft sigh of defeat, before twisting her body to face her again. Chloe’s arms loosen slightly, though they remain wrapped around Beca’s middle, while Beca’s rise to drape comfortably around Chloe’s neck.

“You look pretty, by the way,” Beca comments, the corner of her lips tugging up into a half smile. “Have I told you that yet?”

Chloe’s soft smirk returns, shoulder shrugging gently. “Mm, once or twice.”

Even after spending the better part of ten years together, it’s easy for them to become entirely wrapped up in one another, completely consumed by the other’s presence alone. And that’s fine when it’s just the two of them, though the sound of the front door opening promptly pulls them back to reality, with Beca freezing in Chloe’s arms.

“Knock knock!” Marie Beale chirps, bright grin plastered across her face as she comes into view. With her dark green dress and small bow holding back her red curls, she’s essentially just an older version of Chloe. “Happy Thanksgiving!”

Chloe’s arms unwrap from around her wife, and she can see the clear look of relief on Beca’s face. Still, even in the company of the most approving of people—Chloe’s parents very much fit that bill—Beca doesn’t love PDA, and tucks a chunk of hair almost shyly behind her ear as she steps out from Chloe’s embrace.

“Hey, Mr. and Mrs. Be—” Beca begins, though corrects herself upon seeing the warning glance shot her way. “Uh… Marie, Andrew.”

“That’s better,” Andrew grins, stepping forward to wrap his daughter into a welcoming hug. Marie quickly pulls Beca into her arms, too.

“Girls, everything smells great,” Chloe’s father comments, stealing himself away toward the kitchen to admire their work.

“Oh, that’s all Chloe,” Beca corrects, following dutifully behind.

Marie shoots Chloe a knowing look. “Green beans incident?”

Chloe nods her head in response, smirk settling onto her lips. “Green beans incident.”

For about ten minutes, there’s a very relaxed, cheerful atmosphere surrounding the four. The food is pretty much ready, and everyone takes the time to huddle on the couches, chatting casually amongst themselves. Beca isn’t a big wine drinker, but she accepts the glass Andrew pours for her, and drinks it perhaps a little too quickly, Chloe notices. However, she chooses not to comment; she knows Beca is stressed, and if a little liquid courage will help her to relax, then who is Chloe to stop her?

For a brief moment, that stress seems to leave her, though the sound of the doorbell almost has her dropping her empty glass, and Chloe quickly glances toward her, offering her a reassuring smile. “Want me to get it?”

Beca shakes her head, handing the wine glass over to Chloe. “No, it’s okay, I’ve got it.”

Chloe responds with a short nod, though exchanges a knowing glance with both of her parents, trying hard not to focus too intently on the sound of Beca greeting her father and step-mother. However, Warren’s first words (“That’s your Thanksgiving attire, Beca?”) are hard to ignore, but Chloe bites her tongue, and proceeds to stand in polite greeting, just in time for Beca to lead both Warren and Sheila into the living room.

“Mr. Mitchell,” Chloe beams, focus shifting to his wife momentarily, “Mrs. Mitchell. You look really nice. Can I take your coat?”

The energy shift between the arrivals of the Beale’s and the Mitchell’s is incredibly apparent, though true to their nature, Marie and Andrew make a point of welcoming the two newcomers warmly into their small party, and both swiftly ignore the judgmental looks they receive in return.

“What are you drinking?” Warren questions, blue-gray eyes moving between the two glasses in Chloe’s hands.

“Oh, just water,” she explains, shaking her glass gently.

“And the wine?”

“Chloe’s favorite!” Andrew responds for her, though Warren has already made his way over to the table, and proceeds to peer curiously at the almost empty bottle.

“This is what you’re serving?” Warren’s brow arches, head tilting as he studies the label, before quickly dismissing it. “Never mind, Sheila and I brought better stuff.”

It’s those comments, the ones that prove Warren Mitchell thinks he’s of a much higher class than everybody else in his vicinity, that cause Beca’s shoulders to sag and her cheeks to darken a shade, but Chloe knows how to play nice, and simply responds with a kind smile.

He doesn’t stop there, of course. He has comments to make about every little thing, it would seem. His chair is uncomfortable, the table is too small, the potatoes aren’t properly mashed. Fortunately, for every negative comment Warren has, both Marie and Andrew have something positive to say, and Chloe does well to bite her tongue. It’s a little upsetting, the way she feels Beca tense up whenever Chloe’s hand slides into her lap reassuringly throughout their meal, but yet again, Chloe understands the resistance. She knows Warren isn’t the biggest fan of their relationship, and while Chloe doesn’t care much for his comfort level, she doesn’t want to make Beca uncomfortable in her own home, too.

“I see you got your mother’s culinary skills,” Warren mumbles as he inspects a shred of turkey. Not for the first time, Beca looks entirely embarrassed, and turns to shoot Chloe an apologetic look, though she’s met with another kind smile, and Chloe gently shakes her head.

“Actually, Mr. Mitchell, the food was all on me this year. If it isn’t good, you don’t have to eat it. I can go whip up something else for you, if you’d like?”

Warren’s brows raise in what Chloe perceives as an entirely judgmental way, and a sickeningly smug look overtakes his weathered features. “Leaving the cooking for someone else? Even more like her mother,” he sneers, turning to shoot his wife a look. Sheila responds with a small snicker.

Again, not for the first time, Chloe bites her tongue, and it’s Beca’s turn to reach for Chloe’s hand under the table this time, giving it a small, reassuring squeeze. The feeling of Beca’s wedding band, the way it sits so comfortably on her finger, only adds to the gentle reassurance.

Apparently, Mr. Beale senses the tension. “Hey, why don’t we do gratitudes?”

“Oh, yeah, that’s a great idea, Andrew,” Beca chimes in quickly, clearing her throat. Her father, meanwhile, practically chokes on his food.

“Mr. Beale,” Warren corrects, “Have some manners, Beca.”

“Oh, no, Andrew is fine,” Marie pipes up, her kind smile the same one Chloe wears. In many ways, Chloe and her mother are very much alike; their fiery red hair, their piercing blue eyes, both with gentle demeanors that will quickly switch when triggered. They both know how to play nice too, though—something Beca is incredibly thankful for. “We’re Beca’s in-laws. We like her to call us by our actual names.”

Warren simply picks up his wine glass, shoulder shrugging briefly, before taking a long swig from his glass. The bottle sits beside him, and he seems to notice the contents are not going down very quickly.

“You know, when someone brings wine to a meal, it’s polite to at least try it,” he says, glare pointed toward Chloe. It doesn’t surprise her that he isn’t her biggest fan, and if her reluctance to try his wine offering is the most he has to throw at her, that’s fine by her.

“Oh, yeah, I’m sure it’s great,” Chloe nods, though motions toward her glass. “I’m fine with water, though. Thank you.”

Her choice in beverage hasn’t been an issue until now, though unlike Beca, Chloe is a wine drinker, and the conversation seems to catch her parents’ attention.

“Is everything okay, honey?” Her mother questions, a look of concern filling her eyes.

“Just try the damn wine,” Warren urges, standing from his seat and picking up the bottle to hand it across the table.

“Dad, no,” Beca interjects, “Chloe…” She trails off, gaze moving toward the woman beside her. Chloe sees clear fear filling her eyes, and honestly, the sight is heartbreaking. Yet again, she shoots her a reassuring smile, hand reaching out to take ahold of Beca’s beneath the table.

“Chloe?” Marie pipes up, that same look of concern still filling her eyes. “Is everything okay? What’s going on?”

Now’s not the time, not with Beca’s very judgmental father seated at the same table, but all eyes are on both Chloe and Beca, and the two exchange an almost cautious glance, before Chloe gently nods her head.

“Uh, yeah,” Beca proceeds, fingers wrapping tightly around Chloe’s. She clears her throat, and Chloe swears she can feel Beca’s palm beginning to sweat. “Everything’s fine. Great, actually.” Blue eyes point downward toward the food, and something they’ve been so excited about for the last two months now suddenly feels like the most terrifying thing in the world. So much so that Beca can’t even continue, not with her father’s stare burning into her the way it is, so Chloe decides to take over.

“Okay, we weren’t going to say anything yet,” Chloe continues, strong gaze shifting between the four sets of eyes on the two of them. “I’m not drinking because,” she glances toward Beca, a softness filling her eyes. “Well, we’re going to have a baby. I’m pregnant.”

“What?” The response is one of shock for the briefest of moments, before Marie rises quickly from her seat, an excited yelp sounding from her throat. “Pregnant? Oh, Chloe! Andrew, we’re going to be grandparents!”

Despite the prior atmosphere, despite the presence of Beca’s father, Chloe can’t help the wide grin that spreads across her lips as both of her parents pull both she and Beca into their arms in congratulatory hugs. She can even hear Beca chuckling softly from the middle of Andrew’s bear hug, and for just a moment, it’s easy to forget that there are two other people in the room, neither of whom has said anything thus far.

“You have got to be kidding me,” Warren suddenly pipes up, the newly stern tone to his voice catching everybody off guard.

Even Sheila reaches out a hand to settle gently on his arm. “Warren, don’t,” she warns quietly, though he promptly shakes her off, clear anger written across his face.

“No, Sheila. It’s bad enough that she insisted on marrying a woman, but now they’re going to bring a kid into this? Mess up your own life all you want, Beca, but a child’s, too? Really?”

For a second or two, it would seem everybody is in shock. Beca opens her mouth to speak, but swiftly closes it again, and Chloe can just tell how hard her wife feels like she has just been punched in the gut. She doesn’t like what Warren says, but it’s that look on Beca’s face, that sheer, undiluted pain, that has Chloe finally seeing red.

“Excuse me?” Apparently, Chloe is done biting her tongue.

“Chlo, leave it,” Beca whispers, hand reaching out to settle on her arm the same way Sheila’s had on her father’s only seconds prior.

“No,” Chloe shakes her head, brows tugging together. Both Marie and Andrew have taken their seats again, and it’s clear that nobody else is going to try to stop her, so Chloe continues. “Mr. Mitchell, we invited you into our home to spend this holiday with us, something Beca won’t admit, but that she has wanted to do for the past only God knows how many years. Her whole life, probably.”—Beca doesn’t correct her, so Chloe proceeds—“We invited you to our wedding, because Beca wanted you to be apart of one of the most special days of her life, and you didn’t even have the decency to stay and actually celebrate with us. You’ve come into our home and basically insulted your own daughter any chance you’ve gotten, and now you think it’s acceptable to talk that way about our unborn child?”

As taken aback as Warren looks, he evidently still has his own strong—and in Chloe’s mind, wrong—opinions, and continues with the same conviction. “A child is supposed to have a mother and a father. You realize it’s going to be bullied, right?”

There’s a rage deep within Chloe that she hasn’t felt before, not like this. While she’s normally the epitome of respect for her elders, Warren Mitchell has lost his right to that by now, so Chloe chooses not to hold back.

“Right, the same way Beca had a mother and a father? I don’t know you, Mr. Mitchell, but I do know that I have spent more holidays, more celebrations, more time with your daughter than you ever have. And the way Beca has been so terrified of you showing up here today, so desperate for your approval, I can guarantee that our baby will never feel that way. Our baby will never have to fight for our affection, because we are going to be incredible parents. Beca especially, and you want to know how I know that?” By now, Chloe has risen from her seat, and again, nobody has tried to hold her back. She hasn’t exactly lunged toward Warren, she’s still in her place, but she towers above him as he glares up at her from his seat, and it’s clear who has the dominance in the situation. “Because you’ve given her the perfect example of what not to do.”

There’s a surge of venom behind Chloe’s words that is almost unrecognizable even to her, and it has Warren glaring back at her, red-faced. “How dare you—” He begins, though Chloe cuts him off abruptly.

“No, Mr. Mitchell, how dare you? This is our home, and I’m sorry, but you’re just not welcome here anymore. I think you should leave,” Chloe states firmly, never breaking eye contact. “That’s not a request.”

It’s not often that Chloe loses her temper, not really. But this is an exception, and honestly, she feels like she’s well within her rights. However, her blinders are up, her pointed glare on Warren and his wife as they rise from their seats, so much so that Chloe doesn’t even think to check on Beca, to make sure that this is okay. Instead, she pushes back her chair and quickly escorts the two toward the front door, ignoring the grunts and grumbles sent her way. It’s only once the door is closed on their unwanted guests that Chloe finally comes back to her senses, back pressed up against the hard wood of the door.

And suddenly, she wonders if perhaps she went too far.

Even more so when the sight of her wife, wide-eyed and almost disbelieving, comes into view.

“Bec, I’m so—”

“Do you know how much I love you?”

The words catch Chloe off guard, stop her in her tracks. It’s not like she doesn’t know it, but a part of her had been expecting a hysterical Beca, or at the very least for her to yell. But she doesn’t. Instead, Beca takes a few steps forward, until small hands are rising to delicately cup Chloe’s blush-covered cheeks, blue eyes meeting blue.

“Of course I do,” Chloe nods, finally finding her words. “I’m sorry, I know he’s your dad, I just—”

“No, you don’t have to apologize.” Beca’s voice is gentle, kind. It’s like all of the fear, all of the hesitation built up inside her has suddenly dissipated, and Chloe suddenly recognizes her again. She’s her Beca again.

“He doesn’t get to talk to us like that, he doesn’t get to talk about our baby like that. And everything you said, it’s all true. You’re going to be the most amazing mother, Chlo. Our baby is so loved already.” She pauses, one hand falling from Chloe’s cheek to rest feather lightly against the small, barely visible swell of her stomach hidden beneath the loose fabric of her dress. “We’re both in the best hands possible.” Beca stretches up slightly, soft lips brushing against her wife’s.

“Seriously, Chloe,” Beca whispers, closing the gap between them. She doesn’t care that Chloe’s parents can see, doesn’t care that there’s anybody else in the room with them. It’s just the two of them in Beca’s mind—or three—and she chooses not to hold back, the same way Chloe hadn’t only moments before. “Thank you.”

#beca mitchell #chloe beale #bechloe #bechloe au #bechloe fic #mine #mine:writing #anonymous #question #turning tables

[saiilorstars]

Rise Up

Ch.2: In a World of Flashs

Previous Story: It Had To Be You || Current Masterlist

Pairings: Barry Allen x Female OC

Story Summary: Team Flash comes across a man named Jay claiming to be from another world. Mistrust rises as new foes continue to terrorize the city. The team discovers, with the help from Jay, that their enemies are coming by the orders of Zoom and are being threatened by a 'datura'.

Pronunciation of OC: Bell-en. The last syllable has an emphasis so it’s not pronounced like ‘Helen’ would be.

Cisco and Caitlin gently helped Belén to stand on her feet. Today was the day she was finally able to leave the hospital and needless to say Belén was eager to get out of there. It had been a week since her accident and nothing had been more boring than being forced to lay in bed and do nothing.

"I can do it guys," Belén tried to shoo Caitlin and Cisco but neither moved away from her.

"Nu-uh, we are not letting you out of our sight," Cisco promised. "Not until we figure out why you were targeted."

"Cisco, that's so last week," Belén sarcastically rolled her eyes.

"He's right though," came mama-Caitlin's agreement. "We have a mystery to solve."

"Can we do that at Jitters while I eat?" Belén asked hopeful. She heard the place had finally re-opened - thanks to a 'mysterious force' reconstructing it at night - and was desperate to get back to her normal routine.

"We've actually got somewhere else to go," Cisco announced, his somewhat mischievous smile put Belén on edge.

She stopped struggling against the two to get to the bottom of their mysterious place to be at. "Oh, and where's that?"

"Barry's dad is getting released today," Caitlin smiled impossibly wide, matching Cisco's face exactly. "And we're throwing a little party."

"I-I'm invited?" was the words that came out from Belén's mouth in her rash nervousness. She knew Barry had begun the process of overturning his father's case thanks to the confession Wells left behind on video but neither she nor he knew how long that would take.

"Well of course!" Cisco answered her with a laugh. "So c'mon, everyone's setting up right now."

"But I need to get a proper shower and-and find something to wear…" Belén began to think about what she had in her closet. What could she wear with the new dark blue arm sling her injured arm was forced to rest in.

Caitlin chuckled as they finally got her to stand up from the bed. "Don't worry, I'll help you with whatever you need and then we can head to the party."

"Thank you," Belén could only wonder how much help she would need now that she only had one working, movable arm. Taking care of Axel sure was going to get even more interesting. She knew that one for sure.

~ 0 ~

"Where are half my things at?" Belén was mighty confused - and a bit alarmed - to find that her closet and drawers were half empty. Caitlin had walked in with a glass of water and some pills Belén needed to start taking. "I've been robbed," Belén turned back with wide eyes.

Caitlin couldn't take it and laughed. "Calm down, Belén. Iris and I came over last night and took some things you would need."

"As a welcome-home prank sorta-thing?" Belén raised an eyebrow, finding no relevancy in that plan whatsoever.

Caitlin continued to laugh but shook her head to answer Belén. "No, of course not. Iris and I thought that maybe it would be easier for you to stay with someone that could help you for a while. We put all your stuff in my spare room for you and Axel to stay in."

"Oh," Belén began feeling bad for making such a deal.

"Iris wanted you to stay with her instead but we figured it might be awkward staying in the same house as Barry so…"

Belén grabbed Caitlin's arm dramatically. "Thank you," she could not be more grateful for Caitlin convincing Iris of the alternative plan.

Caitlin chuckled and held the glass of water and pills for her to take. "Yes, now take these."

"Yes, Doctor Snow," Belén saluted with her good arm.

"And then we're gonna find you some clothes that we left for you," Caitlin walked for the closet, humming to herself, "I'm pretty sure Iris mentioned something she left specifically for the occasion."

Belén groaned. "Oh no."

~0~

Barry was glad to see his father happy right in front of him...without glass windows to block them. He was thankful that Iris had gotten the idea of making a little party for Henry and honestly couldn't think of a better way to welcome his father back than with his family and friends.

"Iris, Iris!" Axel tugged on Iris' dress sleeve and didn't stop until Iris paid him attention.

"What is it, Axel?" Iris looked down at the young boy. He seemed very impatient or upset, Iris couldn't tell which one it was but she knew the reason for his behavior.

"When is Auntie Belén coming?" he asked sadly. "I don't want cake until my auntie is here." He had been eyeing the cut cake for about an hour but refused any slices Iris tried giving him. Apparently, he was planning on not having lunch until Belén was finally home.

"She should be here any moment, I promise," Iris said and took the boy's hand. "If you want, I can cut you a slice right now-"

"No!" Axel stomped his foot, frustrated no one understood him. "I want auntie Belén! I miss her." He wrapped his arms around Iris waist and hugged her. "I miss her."

"Poor kid," Cisco remarked beside Barry, both having been watching Iris tend to the child. "Dad's dead, Mom's in jail, aunt in the hospital."

"Yeah, I can kind of understand," Barry admitted. While he'd been much older than Axel when he lost a parent, Barry still could empathize with the young child who had to cling to someone in order to cope with the losses. Joe and Iris had been his rock when he most needed it, and now Axel probably viewed Belén in the same way. Though even before Maritza had gone to jail, Axel was already close to Belén.

"Hey!" they heard Caitlin greet from the front door soon as she opened it. "Sorry we're a bit late."

But apparently it didn't matter. Axel gasped with delight at the sight of Belén and dashed from Iris to go greet his aunt. "Auntie Belén!" he embraced Belén however he could, making her stumble a bit back.

Belén laughed and hugged him with her good arm. "Axel! Tell me you've been a good boy with Iris."

"Mhm!" he said proudly but refused to let go of her just yet. "I helped wash dishes, I made the beds, and I helped cook and-"

"All that by yourself?" Belén managed to pry the four year old off her waist.

Axel gave a big grin as he nodded his face. "Aha!"

Belén didn't even argue with him. She just glanced at Iris who shrugged her shoulders (nearly laughing herself) then hugged Axel again. "Well thank you for being so good while I was gone."

"Why did you go away?" Axel drew away to stare at her arm sling. "I thought you were going away like Mommy."

Belén immediately paled in her face. She hadn't really thought about what Axel may have concluded on his own over her whereabouts for the past days. She'd specifically told Iris to tell him she had a small accident that required her to stay with the doctors. Belén didn't want Axel near hospitals.

Before Belén answered - which she was practically racking her mind for to avoid talking about Maritza - Barry approached them. "The doctors were taking care of her, remember Axel?" the boy in question looked away from Belén to Barry instead. Barry smiled down at Axel and bent down beside him. "She's not going anywhere. Hey," - he whispered - "You want to get some cake for your aunt?"

Axel's eyes widened at the reminder there was cake on the table. "Yes! I can share with you, auntie Belén!" he gave her a quick hug and then darted for the table, hollering for Iris to cut him that slice of cake now.

"Thank you," Belén said to Barry after Axel had left. "I...I should really get myself together when it comes to the subject of Maritza."

"You're doing the best you can," Barry said honestly. Even though they hadn't been together for 6 months, he was well aware of the challenges she had living on her own while basically supporting Axel. She worked her job(s) and took Axel to his preschool every day - though sometimes roughly depended on their neighbor Mrs. Andrews to babysit every now and then - and trained to have a better control over her powers.

Belén didn't seem to agree as she shrugged her shoulders and looked in Axel's direction. "I'm not his Mom - I definitely don't know what I'm doing half the time when it comes to him. There should be like a...guidebook on four year olds."

Barry laughed quietly, making her smile for a moment. "Yeah, I don't think you're the only one who wishes that. You're doing great, Bells."

Belén's smile returned with a light blush on her cheeks. She definitely liked hearing her nickname come out his lips. "Thanks. I'm happy for you, you know. I didn't think you would get your Dad out so quick, though in hindsight given your...speedy nature, I should've seen it coming."

"Joe pushed it, and I guess luck was finally on our side," Barry stuffed his hands in his pant's pockets.

"About time. You deserve it," Belén seemed hesitant about something but in the end, she decided to go for it and hugged him. After all, it was something she thought was well needed.

Although surprised by the action, Barry hugged back, careful not to hurt her in the process, and closed his eyes.

"I am so happy for you right now," Belén said honestly, her words slightly muffled from the party's music and overall low voice.

"Thank you. If you hadn't made me watch the video…" Barry couldn't even imagine what that would've been like.

"Don't even say it," Belén hushed him, relieved herself she made him watch despite his reluctance.

Barry held onto her for who knew how long, just relishing he had that sort of contact with her again. He opened his eyes and happened to cross gazes with his father who was smiling knowingly their way.

Immediately self conscious, Barry pulled back from Belén. "Come on," he took her hand by custom and led her down the small steps to the living room. He took her towards his father, willing to just get over the awkwardness now than later. "Dad, you remember Belén? My…" but the words failed him as he didn't really know what to call Belén if she wasn't his girlfriend. Friend just didn't cut it.

"I'm just Belén," the woman said after watching Barry fumble over his words.

Henry chuckled at his son. He flustered so easily. "Of course I remember you. And I'm so sorry for your losses. Is your sister doing well?"

Belén involuntarily breathed in at the mention of her sister. "She's...fine, in what fits. But I bet you're doing a lot better now that you're here with your son. Now it's your turn to deal with his weird science explanations because I don't understand them one bit." Henry laughed while Barry shook his head. "I'm serious. Last time he tried getting all sciency I nearly smothered him with a pillow."

By this point Barry was completely red in the face. "Bells…"

"You gonna lie and say I'm wrong?" she challenged him.

"Best to say no in these cases, son," Henry said and had Barry groaning.

"Unbelievable!"

Belén laughed and happened to catch Cisco walking by with a plate of cake in hand. She gasped and grabbed Barry's arm on an instinct. "Is that cake? I haven't had cake in months. I miss cake. And donuts. Oh, but cupcakes. I miss cupcakes more, though. Man I really miss cupcakes."

Barry swallowed down a laugh, thinking she was incredibly adorable at the moment. "Axel went to go get a slice of cake for him and you, actually."

"I love that kid," she mumbled and looked back at him and Henry. "If you'll excuse me…"

"You go ahead, I think you probably deserve it more than all of us," Henry assured.

"I really want a cupcake," Belén mumbled under her breath as she turned to go leave. She had never been happier to see so much junk food on the table and she planned on getting everything she could.

Although Henry, in the end, decided to leave the city, he did adhere to spending a couple of days in the city for Barry. In the meanwhile, the group began returning to normal. Cisco and Caitlin returned to STAR Labs. Belén had to leave her aerial dancing aside for the moment while she got back on her feet - or arm in this case. She came back to CC Picture News full time.

~ 0 ~

"Hey," Caitlin greeted Cisco in the cortex when she and Belén - and Axel - walked in. Cisco was busy working on the main desk with professor Stein while Iris stood beside the desk looking at something on her phone.

"I wanna play!" Axel rushed up to Cisco and tried peering at the computer screen.

Iris looked up from her phone screen with a rather nervous smile. "I got news on our, uh...assignment," she told Belén, careful of what words she used since she wasn't sure Belén had told anyone else about their article intending on causing doubt over the Azalea's death.

Belén moved over to see what was on Iris' phone and saw a couple pictures that seemed familiar but she wasn't sure where she'd seen them. "Where'd you get these?" she asked after handing Iris her phone back.

"Well," Iris tilted her head, her smile now becoming innocent, "Remember our early days where I had no idea you were the Azalea and Barry was the Flash?"

"Yes..."

"I snapped pictures of you and him in secret, duh!"

Belén remembered the one famous picture Iris snapped of Barry that'd gone on the front cover of their newspaper. That'd been over a year ago and it was still one of the most known pictures of the Flash. She should've figured Iris snapped pictures of her too when she wasn't looking.

"I sort of told Linda I got these from unknown sources but the backgrounds on them are evidence enough that they're not photo-shopped," Iris stuffed her phone in her back pocket. "But I have to ask again...are you sure you want to do this?"

Cisco loudly cleared his throat at the desk and raised a finger to make it known he'd be entering the conversation now. "I'm sorry, what are you two planning with the Azalea now?"

Belén playfully rolled her eyes at him. "I've been thinking about coming back as the Azalea."

Caitlin was the first to react and it was nothing but concern for her friend. "Are you sure about that?"

"Yes," Belén said, truly honest. "I thought about it and I feel terrible that I left the city unattended. Even if Barry was looking after it, I had a responsibility to keep it safe as well."

"But don't you think it'll be hard if you can't control your powers anymore?"

Belén scrunched her face. "Weeeell, it's not like I haven't been practicing at all. I've done training by myself and with Cisco."

At that, Caitlin immediately shot Cisco a look to which the man raised his hands in defense.

"You weren't talking to me!"

Caitlin rolled her eyes and waved him off. "If it's your choice, Belén, then I'll be here if you need my help."

"Thank you," Belén smiled.

Joe and Barry walked into the room a couple minutes later. Barry had gone with his father to the train station to say goodbye. While he was still pretty sad to his father go, seeing all his friends once more in the cortex made everything a lot better.

"Ho ho! Hey, guess what?" Cisco shot up from his chair. "I added a little upgrade to your suit." He made a gesture with both hands towards Barry's suit that showed a brand new golden outline around its white emblem. "It's just like the one from the future newspaper Gideon showed us. I was thinking, you know, you shouldn't fear the future anymore, right?"

Barry laughed as he took a good look at it. It did look pretty nice he had to admit. "No, and it'll be here faster than we think."

"Well, see, I like it," Professor Stein said, moving to stand beside Cisco. "The lightning definitely pops more against the white."

"It is nice," Belén's comment made Barry smile at her.

"I wasn't thinking about your suit, Bells," Cisco admitted after a moment, now feeling rather guilty about it. "But if you'd like, I could get brainstorming!"

Belén sheepishly smiled and shook her head after a minute. "No thanks, I'm good. I want to get back to myself." She noticed Barry's confused stare and promise him she would explain it later.

"You'll also be happy to know that S.T.A.R. Labs is now safer than ever," Cisco promised. "Increased security and surveillance. Re-coded, double firewalled, electronic lock sets."

"Sounds sciencey enough to be true," Iris remarked and shared a laugh with Belén who understood her perfectly.

"Ha, ha," Cisco mocked their laugh and frowned. "People won't be able to just waltz in and out of here."

But it seemed like that would still continue to be untrue. A tall, blonde man donning a black leather jacket and matching pants did just that. Iris gasped and jumped from her chair. Belén quickly nabbed Axel and hurried to get him away from the stranger.

Cisco, despite being alarmed of the intruder, was overall irritated that none of his work did any good. "For real?"

"Stay where you are!" Joe had pulled out his gun to aim at the blonde man. He eyed Iris to get behind him.

Barry discreetly took a closer scoot to Belén should the man come straight for business. "Who are you?"

The man raised his hands, apparently meaning no harm. "You don't know me, but I know you... Barry Allen."

"Take one more step, it'll be the last step you take," warned Joe soon as the man had taken one step forwards. "The man asked you a question. Who the hell are you?"

"My name is Jay Garrick and your world is in danger."

"That's not much to go by," Belén scoffed. "Clearly, you're new to Central City."

"I am, Belén Palayta," Jay said, much to her horror and the other's shock.

Barry yanked Belén to his side, and consequently Axel. "How do you know her name?" he demanded.

"I know everyone's names," Jay said, then gesturing to the others. "Caitlin Snow, Cisco Ramon, Detective Joe West…"

"Enough," Joe threatened the man with his gun again. "That part about explaining needs to happen right about now."

Jay nodded, deciding it was best to follow orders when there was a gun aimed at him. "This world is in danger."

Iris wasn't sure she heard right. "What other worlds are there?"

"When you created the singularity above Central City, you also created a breach between my world and yours-"

"I'm sorry, a breach?" Cisco cut him off, confused as well.

"Yes, a portal connecting our two earths-"

"And what precisely is your concern?" Stein asked, partially following more than the others, but it didn't mean he was any less confused.

"A few days ago, you found a dead man named Al Rothstein at the nuclear plant. But then a different Al Rothstein tried to kill you."

"Atom Smasher?" Belén looked at the others.

"That man was from my world. If he got through the breach, I suspect there'll be more to follow."

"Okay, so, Jay, how exactly do you know all of this?" Barry asked, although it was easy to see that despite getting an answer he wasn't very inclined to believe it.

"Where I came from, I was a speedster like you. They called me The Flash. Before I arrived on your earth, I was in a fight with a man named Zoom."

The name rang in Barry's mind. "Zoom? I've heard that name before. Atom Smasher, he said Zoom sent him here to kill me. Who is this guy?"

"He's a speedster, like you and me. And fast," Jay paused as if to consider how much. "Maybe the fastest of all. But evil. He is an unstoppable demon with the face of death. We were engaged in our fiercest battle ever, racing throughout my city. But I wasn't fast enough to stop him. Zoom had me beaten. He was about to kill me when suddenly there was a blinding light and the sky split open. A breach, between my world and yours, caused from the singularity. It pulled me in and I somehow ended up in your world. Powerless. Unable to return home."

"What do you mean?" Caitlin stared at him.

Jay sighed. "Before nearly killing me, there was this woman - a siphoner - who took my speed."

"You can do that?" Iris immediately looked at Barry on instinct. Barry, this time, was just as lost as she was.

"She did," Jay answered her instead. "I lost my speed because of her."

"So, you've been in Central City for six months. Why haven't you come to see us before?" Joe lowered his gun for a moment but still kept a tight hold on it.

"I'm in a foreign world here, Detective. I didn't know who you all were. Took me that long to piece it all together."

"So that's how you know our names," Iris frowned. "You've been following us."

Jay sighed but admitted to it. "Look, I know how this sounds. The existence of another earth, you, another Flash, it all came as an unexpected shock to me, too. I just wish there was something I could do to convince you."

Barry looked at the others, seeing no one was willing to make a decision there and then. "There is," he walked for Jay. "We're gonna... do some tests on you. See if you're telling us the truth. 'Cause if you're not, this Zoom, he's not gonna be your only enemy."

~ 0 ~

Out in the city, in an alleyway, in the dark night a blue portal - a breach - opened up. Zoom himself, a dark figure dressed in all black complete with a black mask, threw down another man to the ground.

The man groaned as his back hit the ground harshly. "Where the hell am I?"

One moment he was making a petty theft and the next a brunette woman and a ginger one appeared and nearly killed him.

"You want to go home?" Zoom towered over the man. "You only have to do one thing."

"What's that?"

"Kill the Flash."

The man stared in confusion. He knew the Flash alright - from his world - but what the hell did that mean now?

"Fail and I'll have Datura siphon you," Zoom warned and stepped backwards.

~ 0 ~

Although they were fairly interested in the newest arrival to their world, both Belén and Iris had to leave the lab for work. Belén left Axel in the care of Caitlin and the rest in STAR Labs - who promised to keep him far away from Jay. Well, Barry promised her that, the others just agreed with him.

"These are so good!" Linda couldn't finish gawking over the pictures Iris had now printed out in high definition. "How the hell did you get these? The Azalea hasn't been seen in 6 months."

"She's here...just a sneaky one," Iris said confidently, briefly glancing with Belén. "Very sneaky."

"But that just leaves the question," Linda lowered the pictures, her shoulders slumping with confusion, "Why is she letting the entire city believe she's dead?"

"Maybe she's scared," Belén said, answering a bit too fast without realizing, "A lot of people died 6 months ago and...maybe she's scared about that."

"What? Like she thinks we're going to blame her for it?" Linda nearly snorted if it wasn't a professional setting. "Yeah, right! I'd love to see her back. She and the Flash were such a good team!"

"Maybe if we finish writing this piece she'll see that," Iris' suggestion seemed to make Linda more determinated.

Belén cleared her throat and gravitated towards her desk, making the other two follow her. "I have a draft already if you want to look at it." She stopped just beside her desk when she spotted a small, pink box sitting in front of her computer.

"What's that?" Iris eyed the box curiously while Belén studied it up close.

"No idea," Belén picked up a small white card and read it over silently.

"Seriously?" Linda rolled her eyes at the two. "It's a dessert box, idiots." She took the paper draft from Belén's desk and walked off with the intention of reading it over and giving some feedback.

Iris wasn't sure she liked seeing the dreamy smile spread across Belén's face while the woman read off a small card that'd been on top of the box. It wasn't the first time some secret admirer pulled the stunt at work. Linda had had one a couple months back as well.

"So, who's it from?" Iris couldn't help the sour tone stinging her words. She knew she was wrong to think that someone belonged to someone, but in this case that someone happened to really care for her friend and that someone happened to be like a brother to her. She had a right to feel offended.

Belén could practically see Iris' thoughts and, with a teasing smile, said nothing. With her good arm, she opened the box's lid to find a red-velvet cupcake inside. Its bright, white whip-cream swirled around to a fine tip.

"Who sent you that?" this time Iris had asked more demanding. Unable to help herself, Belén laughed. "I'm not kidding," Iris huffed, putting down her papers on the desk to then place her hands on her hips. "I know I've got no right but it's annoying knowing someone here-" she threw an aggressive look at the room, "-is trying to play Mr. Secret Admirer with you."

"Okay," Belén thought enough was enough and let poor Iris in on her secret. She handed Iris the card meant to be a letter.

Iris took it glumly and read the small message.

A sweet way to start the day. Maybe later we can finish the day in a sweet way with donuts? - Barry.

Iris didn't know whether to feel mortified at herself for being so jumpy with conclusions, or on Barry's behalf for being such a…

"What a dork," she ended up laughing.

"I will take that, thank you very much," Belén took back the white card and set it down on her desk, her eyes lingering over its message for a moment. "Can't believe he found a moment to do this." She shook her head, but was unable to stop smiling as she took a seat on her chair.

"Soo…" Iris narrowed her eyes suspiciously, "...are you two, like, back together or…?"

Belén raised her head in thought. "I...don't know. But this is very good points."

Iris laughed again. "Dork," she continued to say.

"Hey, he's sweet and I like it," Belén pointed a warning finger at her. "...I missed it," she added after a minute, her smile softening.

Iris laughed but she abruptly stopped when someone walked into the place. Iris noticed her sudden fall and followed Belén's gaze behind. Although Iris was surprised to find the woman there, it didn't match Belén's.

"Mom?"

"Hello Belén," Veronica Green walked up to them. "We have to talk."

~ 0 ~

After getting no such conclusive results that would prove Jay, at one point, had been a speedster Barry did what he thought was best.

"I hope you understand why we have to do this," he watched as the pipeline sealed the prison pod Jay was now in.

Jay gave a nod of his dead, looking pretty understanding. "I get it, kid. You're doing what you think you have to. But you'll all realize soon enough that this, the tests, it's unnecessary. I want to help you, Barry, not harm you."

"You're not the first person that's said that to me."

"If what you told me about Zoom is true, that he sent Rothstein here to kill you, instead of locking me up in here, you better start listening. Because if Zoom is involved, then it means so is the siphoner. And you're gonna want to listen to me then."

"Why?" Barry tried acting like it didn't affect him.

"Two things are gonna happen," Jay raised two of his fingers. "One: Zoom's gonna want your speed as well. If you're lucky he won't kill you, but you can say goodbye to your powers. Two? The Siphoner's gonna wanna come here as well. She'll have her target and you're not gonna like who it's going to be."

Barry's eyebrows knitted together, partially mad Jay was making all those claims without an ounce of backup for then and another half of him was just confused. But before he could say anything, Cisco's voice alerted him through the speakers there was a fire somewhere in the city. Leaving Jay, he went out to help the others.

~ 0 ~

Joe had just finished a phone call when he heard a woman calling his name. "Yes, Officer…?" he turned to face a petite blonde woman standing rigidly in front of him.

"Spivot. Patty Spivot," she introduced herself formally. "Captain Singh mentioned there may be positions available on your anti-meta-human task force."

Joe shook his head and went for a couple of papers on his desk. "Yeah, everybody quit. There is no task force anymore."

That didn't deter Patty from making her proposition. "Well, I know someone who's interested in being on it. Me."

Joe stared at her to see if this was just a joke, but the woman remained in her spot smiling. "You do realize that meta-humans have super powers, right? And even if they didn't, you wouldn't be a good fit for the team."

Patty's smile faded for a moment. "Because I'm a woman?"

Joe shook his head, making his way for the reception room with the papers he had picked up from his desk. "I didn't mean to imply that."

Patty turned on her feet and followed him out. Both missed a hasty Belén coming out of the elevator and spotting them.

"Good, because I know how difficult this job would be, but I think I'm an excellent candidate," Patty ventured to get her qualifications out in the open for Joe. "I triple-majored at Hudson in biology, chemistry, and physics. I'm in prime physical condition. And I rated top of my class in marksmanship."

"Your class? You don't even have your stripes yet." Joe set down the papers for the secretary.

"Soon. Been on the job seven months, sir."

"Are you aware of what happened to my previous partner?" Joe started back for his desk and once again Patty followed behind.

"Detective Thawne, yes. I know that he died and the one before him, Fred Chyre, died, too, but the one before that's not dead, just transferred. I'm sure it had nothing to do with you."

Joe stopped by his desk and looked at the blonde woman who seemed very sure of what she wanted. "Listen, Officer…"

"Spivot, Patty Spivot."

"Yes, Spivot, the answer's no."

Patty sighed. "All I'm asking for is a shot, sir. Please, just an interview."

"You just had the interview. Didn't get the job," Joe apologized with a face and walked away.

Patty sighed deeply and turned to leave when she bumped into Belén. "S-sorry!"

"Don't mind it," Belén watched after Joe who'd taken a conversation with another officer. "I didn't mean to eavesdrop or anything but I heard…"

Patty shook her head. "If he thinks I'm giving up so quick, he's got another thing coming."

A small chuckle escaped through Belén's lips. "You should. I have good word that he usually breaks down after a bit of hassling."

"Really?"

"Mhm. He's my boyfriend's and best friend's dad so I know a thing or two."

Patty's eyes widened a bit. "Really? Could you...give me some pointers, maybe?"

It was then that Belén realized she had branded Barry as her boyfriend. Her face turned a bright red. Oh my God if Patty mentions this to Barry…

"I, um, I'll look into that and get back to you," she said when she realized she left Patty hanging there in silence. "I'm Belén, by the way," she stuck a hand to shake with Patty.

Smiling, Patty shook hands with her. "Patty."

"If you'll excuse me, I came with a mission," Belén made a gesture she needed to get going and Patty nodded her it was fine. Taking a breath Belén hurried away from the woman, praying to every God she knew that Patty wouldn't put two and two when she eventually saw Barry.

"Joe?" she stopped a couple inches from Joe and another officer. "Could we talk for a bit?"

"Sure thing," Joe left his co-worker and gestured Belén to follow her to his desk. "Is there something you needed?" it wasn't usual for her to stop by the place since the singularity, and much less to talk with him.

Belén seemed to struggle with her words for the first minute, but eventually she got it out in one small-worded question. "Did you call my mom when I had my accident?"

Joe's eyebrows raised slightly but didn't intend on hiding what he did. "Yeah, I did. I thought that as a mother Veronica needed to know." Although he was very perplexed and shocked to find that the woman hadn't even made a call for her daughter to see how she was doing.

"Well, that explains why she showed up at my job today," Belén sighed.

"She did?"

"Mhm," Belén nodded. "She went ballistic when she my arm and other injury. She's blabbing about getting me to come back with her to Star City."

"Look, Belén, I didn't mean to cause you any problems with your mother-" Joe meant to explain but Belén cut him off with a soft smile and response.

"I know that, Joe. If roles were reversed and Iris had been hurt, I would have done the same thing."

Joe gave her a thankful nod in return.

"It's just...it's difficult hiding my other life when she's constantly breathing down my neck," Belén couldn't help her frustration seeping through her words. "Last time I warded her off because I had my life put together, but now I have Axel and I'm battling to keep his custody while holding down a job and trying to keep up with payments-" she stopped to take a breather, "I don't know how I'm gonna convince her I can do this."

And she truly didn't. She knew right now was not the best moment of her life but she didn't want to leave the city like a little girl who needs her mother. She didn't. She was old enough to be independent and work for what she needed.

~ 0 ~

The next day, Barry thought it would be a nice time for lunch with Belén. He hadn't had the opportunity to be alone with her anywhere, so perhaps today would be the day to start. After finishing up his usual CSI work at the scene where he fought their newest metahuman, he stopped by CC Picture News to see if she was willing to have lunch with him.

"I would definitely like that," Belén chuckled as a means of expressing her nervousness. It was as if they were beginning all over again and that included the feelings of a high schooler with a crush.

Belén moved around her desk trying to gather her things with one arm. Barry quickly offered to help her with that and as he was moving to put her phone in her purse it began to ring. He was unable to remain at ease when he saw 'Mark' flashing on the caller ID.

"I'll just take that," Belén saw nothing and grabbed her phone, answering then. "Hello?"

In the meantime, Barry pretended to just casually stand there like it didn't bother him this guy was probably still trailing after Belén.

"Yeah, no thank you so much. I will definitely be there tonight. Okay, thanks," Belén hung up with an incredible amount of excitement.

"So...what did Mark happen to say….?" Barry took her phone and let it drop in her bag.

"Things…" Belén said slowly, her eyes studying his expressions and gestures. It reminded her of the way Cisco and even Joe had looked at Mark the day at the rally.

"Mm, things that had you so happy…" Barry commented, utterly failing at hiding his jealousy.

Belén reached for his arm and motioned with her head for them to get going. Sighing, he took her purse and led her for the door. It was honestly refreshing seeing him this distressed over something as simple as a phone call from another man. Belén wasn't there to be fought over like a trophy, but after six months of having nothing from Barry, she could stand to see a bit of jealousy on his part.

Of course, midway down the same street she felt guilty. Barry was having a struggle to keep his mouth shut about Mark and Belén could tell it was killing him.

"Can I show you something?" she stopped suddenly to face him.

"Yeah, sure," Barry expected her to want to take something out of her bag but she shook her head and leaned to his ear to whisper something.

An address.

Barry blinked in confusion, but Belén assured it was for a good reason. He carefully took hold of her, not wanting to hurt her injuries, and sped them for an apartment building. There, they came to the third floor.

"Bells, I don't understand what we're doing," Barry was following the woman down a solemn hallway lined with various apartment doors.

"I'm easing those thoughts of yours about Mark," Belén glanced to see the metahuman fumbling over something he thought he'd been hiding relatively well. She stopped in front of the last apartment door and bent down to reach underneath the mat. Barry watched her pull a small golden key.

"Where are we?" he asked once she unlocked the door.

"Mark's apartment," Belén giggled and hurried in before he could refuse coming in with her.

The jealousy was undeniable then. "Belén, I know I was a jerk but I don't think this is fair-"

Belén hummed to herself as she looked around the almost empty apartment. Its living room was spacious without the old furniture that used to be there. There was a couple of boxes stacked up against a wall. She walked over to them and started sifting through them.

Meanwhile, Barry was scowling at everything there. The kitchen still had its table and a couple of more boxes. He could see the hallway was empty of any portraits or furniture.

"Barry, do you think Mark and I are dating?" Belén's sudden, straightforward, question pulled Barry to the moment. Widened eyes laid on her still going through a box. "Well?"

"Um…" Barry rubbed the side of his neck, "...what's the answer that doesn't make me look like a selfish jerk?" Belén laughed to herself. "I mean, I don't purposely try finding jealousy. I know you and I are not together and that you have every right to find someone who won't hurt you. It's just...it doesn't mean I stopped caring." Belén looked back silently, her playfulness gone as she listened to his words. "It hurts, yeah, that you could find someone else. It shouldn't but it does. And...and if you and this guy are trying something...then tell me, and I'll stop all of these attempts of mine. I promise."

Belén could tell, despite being a decent distance from him, that he was being completely honest. With a swelling heart, she pulled out a small, wooden portrait and walked back to him. "Here," she held the portrait for him to take.

"What?" Barry took the portrait and looked down to find a picture of Mark and a ginger woman side-by-side smiling.

"That's Mark-" Belén tapped a finger over Mark's figure, "-and this-" she moved her finger to the ginger woman, "-is Selena. His fiancee."

"F-fiancee?" Barry repeated. Belén nodded her head, giggling when she saw the relief wash over his face. "Oh thank God!"

"They're getting married - actually, I'm a bridesmaid - and Mark is moving in with her so...he let me take his apartment," Belén gestured to the place.

Suddenly, the apartment was amazing. Barry couldn't help himself and encased her in a hug. "I'm probably a selfish man but I'm really happy you're not dating anyone nor thinking about dating," he murmured beside her ear.

"Well, maybe just one person…" Belén responded quietly and pulled away to show a shy smile across her lips.

Barry blinked, initially taken aback, but it didn't take long for him to start smiling back. Definitely on the right track, he thought.

~0~

Cisco was setting to work on the sample of sand - which apparently was not sand according to Jay - that Barry brought to them earlier in the day. He was waiting for professor Stein to return to the working room to try and find out more of the breeches. He set the small sample of sand underneath a scientific microscope and barely got a look at it when he felt that same, odd sensation that often pulled him from the present.

He found himself in a blue, glowing building. He spotted Sand Demon being thrown to the hard ground, a crackling light threatening over him.

"What do you want!?" Sand Demon shouted frantically as the threatening light grew closer to his face.

A woman's laughter sounded behind him. However, a second woman's voice ordered the first to quit it.

Her soothing, almost sultry-sounding voice, then told the first woman it wasn't the way.

A brunette donning leather, her back to Cisco, stood in front of the second woman - a tall, ginger in a green one suit. "He says there's another one…"

The ginger wagged a finger at the brunette. "Then you shouldn't harm this one-" she gestured to Sand Demon who was still under the brunette's threat, "-unless you want to lose your only way."

The brunette sighed and retracted the threatening light from Sand Demon. The ginger moved past the brunette and stopped beside Sand Demon. "Zoom wants you to work for him. Either you agree or you lose your powers and probably die. Quite simple really." The sadistic smile on her face provoked a terrible tingle of fear in Cisco.

"Woah," Cisco sucked in a heavy breath once he managed to get out of that vision. "What's happening to me…?" he slowly fell back into his chair, exhaling and trying desperately to get that vision out of his head.

~0~

Before Barry could take Belén to lunch, he received a call from Joe that he had found their metahuman - whose name was Eddie Slick. Sadly, Barry had to cancel and leave Belén on the street. She didn't mind, she understood after all. SHe went back to work and did her best to finish her article as much as she could before it was time to go. Linda and Iris were really excited once they saw their work finally melding together in the article, and left Belén a little happy to see her return getting closer.

However, her happiness didn't last long when she returned to Caitlin's apartment.

"Oh for the love of…" Belén mumbled under her breath at the sight of her mother standing in Caitlin's living room.

"Annah-Belén," Veronica finally breathed from relief at the sight of her daughter.

"What are you doing here?" Belén demanded. "How do you even know we're staying here?"

"Wasn't easy but I am a cop," Veronica said, shrugging. "Your lovely friend - Caitlin, I believe - was kind enough to let me wait for you in her home. I've been trying to call…"

"One would think rejecting all your calls would give you a clue that I didn't exactly want to talk to you," Belén set her uninjured hand on her hip.

Veronica expected this sort of behavior from her daughter but couldn't say it didn't hurt her. Her talk with Belén earlier in the day at her job was a complete disaster. Belén was mad that she hadn't even tried getting in contact with her after she was shot. But what really drove things home was the fact Veronica had tried coaxing Belén to return with her to Star City with her.

"We need to talk," Veronica ventured to try again but Belén wasn't having it.

"You said everything earlier and I already told you no," Belén enunciated the last word slowly. "I'm not coming with you and there is nothing you can say that'll change my mind."

Veronica, exasperated, let her own purse fall to the nearest couch. "Would you stop being so childish? You would see that I'm only trying to help you!"

"Me!?" Belén scoffed. "How are you helping me? By trying to pull me away from my friends? From my job? From my city?"

Veronica was about to shout back but she bit her tongue and came up with an alternative. "I passed by the house...and I saw you were selling it."

Belén still became defensive over it. "The deed was under Dad's name, and with Rayan dead and Maritza in jail the house is legally mine. I can do what I want with it."

"But that's the point, Belén," Veronica sighed. "You are selling your home because you can't keep up with all the payments and now with Axel you have a lot more to deal with. Come back with me, please. It's the best thing for Axel."

"I am not going with you!"

Veronica gave her a stern, yet somewhat apologetic look, for what she was about to say next. She truly thought she would be able to get through with her daughter but apparently she had been wrong. "If you don't come back then I will be forced to file for Axel's custody."

Belén's eyes widened till they just couldn't anymore. "You wouldn't…" her voice trembled.

Veronica remained on her stance. It felt terrible seeing her daughter so shaken by a possibility of losing the child, but Veronica truly saw no other way. "Axel is a child, Belén, and he needs a stable home. Where is he right now, hmm?" she gestured to the clearly empty apartment.

Belén's eyes became teary but she answered anyways. "With my friend, Cisco."

"Mm, can't keep him with you, can you?"

"I have a job!" Belén defended herself in a mild-shout. "That thing I do to pay for his needs. Many single mothers have babysitters."

"I think I have said what I needed to," Veronica reached for her purse on the couch. "I will be here till the end of the week, but if you don't come back with me then I will be forced to fight for my grandson's custody."

"Maritza wouldn't let you!" Belén cried frantically. "She specifically left instructions for me to have Axel's custody."

"Well, when the judge takes a look at our backgrounds they'll see I have plenty experience unlike you." Veronica sighed as Belén's tears began to fall down her cheeks. "I don't want to fight you, Belén. I don't. But you are leaving me no choice here." With those words, she walked out of the apartment.

Belén angrily threw her purse across the room just as Veronica shut the door. Almost instantly, Belén felt the cold, plant-side of her start creeping out. But unlike the previous year, she didn't fight it, she let it come to her. There was a brief change of her skin - the emerald, scaly side appeared for but a minute before Belén felt calm enough to send it away.

"It's not over," she turned away.

~0~

Belén listened for the loud ringing bell that indicated she was allowed to move into the visitor's ward. Every time she came to Iron Heights' metahuman division, she couldn't imagine living in such a dull, cold place. But, it was where her older sister, Maritza, had been living for the past 6 months...serving a life sentence. Her metahuman side proved to be a challenge for her sentencing, and since the justice system hadn't caught up with the fact some of their population now had powers...it was easier to sentence almost any metahuman for a long, long time.

Maritza knew well what she'd done and she accepted her sentencing with true penance...not that Belén quite believed it yet.

"You came for a visit," Maritza beamed when her sister picked up the visitor's phone on the other side of the glass.

"It's not like I had much of a choice," Belén muttered. Her eyes seemed to struggle to remain on her sister, something Maritza noticed the first time Belén visited her.

"I heard what happened to your arm..." Maritza lowered her voice. "Did you catch the guy who did it?"

"Barry did," Belén cleared her throat. "Metahuman. What can you expect from low-lives."

Maritza took the sting with a slow nod of her head. She was being patient, very patient with Belén, but it hurt each time Belén made a snide comment like that. "I'm very glad Barry helped you, then. You and him...you're talking again?"

"That doesn't matter," Belén shifted on her seat. "I'm here for other business. Mom's in town." Maritza blinked in shock. "And she's not here on good terms."

"I...I don't understand," Martiza leaned forwards in her chair. "I haven't seen Mom since my sentencing hearing and...it's not like she had a lot of words to say to me."

"Well, she said a lot to me," Belén shook her head. "She wants me to come back to Star City. If I don't, she'll fight for Axel's custody."

Maritza's eyes widened in alarm. "What!? My instructions were specifically for you. I transferred my custody over - everything was legal, Belén! I swear it!" And judging by Maritza's distress, she was telling the truth.

"Has she come talk to yet? About anything?"

"No! I swear she hasn't!" Maritza sighed and brought a hand to her forehead. "Mom hates me." Belén remained silent for a moment. Maritza wasn't always one to show emotion, but her quiet whisper was signal enough of how honest she'd been when she said that. "I did terrible stuff, shamed her name in the police department. She doesn't come to visit me, ever." Maritza lowered her hand to the metal table and looked at Belén with a small smile. "You're her golden child now, her only child now."

"Mom and I don't get along, and if she does this - if she takes Axel from me - I will hate her forever."

And Maritza knew Belén meant every word of it.

~ 0 ~

The next morning that Belén made it to STAR Labs, she found all of her friends arguing with one another. It was enough to give anyone a headache.

Barry was the one in the middle of scolding the others. "We don't even know anything about Zoom! What is Zoom? Is Zoom even real? Right now, that's just, you know, a story around a campfire. I mean, have you discovered a breach yet?"

Professor Stein coughed awkwardly when the question was thrown at him. "Not yet, but we know how to now."

Barry made a gesture he was being proven right then looked at Caitlin. "Have you found one thing to suggest that Jay is a speedster? Is there a trace that the Speed Force was ever even in his system?"

"It doesn't appear to be, no," Caitlin shook his head. "But then again, if a siphoner was involved…"

"What's going on?" Belén spoke over them.

"We're being lectured, that's what," Iris sighed and glanced at the woman.

Barry groaned. He was frustrated that no one was listening and getting that this was important. They were all so quick to trust Jay - a man who had dropped in on them with a story they couldn't even yet prove. "We are scientists," he continued, voice louder and sharper than before. "You're journalists," he gestured to both Belén and Iris, the former blinking as she was yet to understand what the problem was. "We test, we prove, we report. That's what we do. Except right now, nobody here wants to do any of that except me."

"Okay," Belén spoke over him before he said something more, "I'm cutting it right here. We gotta talk," she pointed between herself and Barry with a warning look that he had to better agree with her. "Can we have the room for a mo?"

There was no disagreements among the group. Caitlin took Axel by the hand and walked out along with the others. Belén waited with arms crossed until they were all gone.

"Look, Barry, I know it too early to say this, but I'm not having a good day so can we just cut to the chase here. Why don't you want to trust Jay?"

Barry tried to look anywhere but her demanding eyes. "I don't know."

"Really? That's the answer we're going with?" Belén was mighty disappointed he was trying to play dumb with her. "Look me in the eyes and tell me that, then. I dare you." But of course, Barry was unable to. With a sigh, Belén walked up to him. "Is it...because of Dr. Wells? Well, Thawne, whatever his actual name was."

Striking the nerve, Barry didn't even hide his anger. "I trusted that man. For months."

"Hey, we all did," Belén reminded.

"But you know what?" Barry finally was able to look her in the eyes. "Eddie is dead. Ronnie is dead. And a whole lot of other people in this city, they are dead because we trusted him. I'm not gonna let us make that mistake again."

"You know, I would have thought that you being a scientist would understand that not everyone is the same. Jay is not Wells. And besides that, you defeated Wells because you trusted in people. Because you believed in them. The team that you have here, they will follow your lead. They'll do what you say. But if they think that you don't believe in them, it won't be long before they don't believe in you. Is that what you want?"

"Course not," Barry mumbled under his breath.

"Then…" Belén stepped closer to him, hands like a feather over his arms, "...why don't we give him a chance, hm? Think he deserves that."

Barry thought it over but struggled a bit as he felt her touch. He playfully rolled his eyes then, succumbing to her idea. "Yeah, I guess I could let him out for a bit…"

With a laugh, Belén stepped back. "There we go. See? It is possible to play nice with other speedsters."

This time, Barry laughed. Their conversation was cut short when they heard Barry's phone going off. He saw it was Joe and answered, hoping they had news (again) on their actual villain. Unfortunately, it also involved the kidnapping a fellow new co-worker.

"We're looking for any structures that promote humidity. Greenhouses, grow rooms, anything of the sort," Jay explained to the group who was ready to start searching for places where Slick could have taken Patty to. "His body will literally start to fall apart if he becomes dehydrated."

"Like dry sand," Caitlin nodded her head.

"Exactly. Sand Demon always attacks on two fronts. He creates a diversion, then strikes when you're distracted."

"Okay, then what do we do?" asked Barry.

"We use your speed to get to him before the distraction can happen."

Barry did his best to not sound condescending as he asked, "Jay, how do I stop somebody who can slip through my fingers?"

But Jay already had the answer. "The way I was never able to. With lightning.c

Cisco clapped his hands together. "Yo, are you about to pull a Zeus right now?"

Belén snickered. "Oh my God, Cisco. But wait," her face scrunched in confusion, "Can you do that?" She looked between Jay and Barry. "Can you actually create thunder from speed?"

"Asks the woman who can poison anyone by touch," coughed Cisco.

"You can poison?" Jay asked curiously, making Belén chuckle.

"Yeah, suit's mine," she pointed at her old Azalea suit behind him. Jay glanced back and examined the suit for a moment.

"All right," Barry agreed to the plan, a but unsure ld how well it would go but at the moment it was all they had.

~ 0 ~

While everyone set to work on finding their missing meta and officer, Jay and Barry moved to the training room/garage to try out that lightning trick. Because neither Caitlin nor Stein had found the place they needed, Cisco opted for a different way but left abruptly to go try it out apparently. Unable to help herself, Belén followed a short moment afterwards.

When she found him in the working room, she was a bit concerned to find him holding his head with eyes shut. As Belén walked in further, he jolted like he had snapped out of something.

"Oh, no," he muttered with a heavy breath like he had just run a marathon or something.

"...Cisco?" her voice startled him into turning around. "What just happened here?

Thinking it would distract her, Cisco answered a different question. "I figured out where Patty is."

"Okay...but how did you figure that?"

Cisco nervously laughed. "Just a hunch. We gotta tell Barry." He made a move for the hallway when three tendrils of vines wrapped around the room's threshold to block his way. Slowly, he turned around. "Using powers against me now? That's a serious disadvantage."

"I'm sure," Belén smiled. "So are we going to discuss this or will I have to keep you hostage?"

"I know where Patty is, Bells. We can't waste time," Cisco adamantly said.

"Cisco I know you're hiding something-"

"Look, I promise we can talk afterwards but right now we have to save Patty. Right?"

Belén narrowed her eyes playfully. "Playing the good-guy card on me. That's the disadvantage." She pulled the vines back from the threshold and followed Cisco out the room.

After telling both Barry and Jay of where it was most probable that Sand Demon and Patty would be, Jay was designated as the visual distraction needed in order to save Patty. It was then that he revealed the silver helmet that had fallen through the breech on the day of the singularity was his.

"Never thought I'd see that again," Jay laughed when Caitlin emerged from a cortex side room holding said helmet. "It was my father's, from the War of the Americas."

Cisco blinked. "Did you just say War of the Americas?"

"I wish you would have just told us you lost your helmet. Would have saved us all a headache," Barry remarked as Jay put on the helmet. It really would have avoided so much distrust.

"Well, sure you want to do this, Flash?" Jay turned to him.

"Yeah. Let's go see what you're made of... Flash." Barry clapped hands with him.

As it turned out, Cisco had been right of where to find Sand Demon and Patty...to which Belén gave a sharp look at Cisco. Cisco, trying to avoid questions, got on the comm.

"I'm in the security feed. Go, Barry!"

Barry had sped into the building, making sure Sand Demon would hear his arrival but remained hidden and allowed Jay to come in as if he had made the noise instead.

"Is that you, Flash? Found your way here," Sand Demon turned from the bound Patty on a chair to face Jay.

"I came quite a distance," Jay remained where he was. He needed to draw Sand Demon away from Patty to allow Barry the time to get her out.

"I thought you were dead," Sand Demon admitted.

"You were wrong. Like usual. Let the girl go."

"Have at it," Sand Demon gestured to Patty. "But you touch her, she goes boom-" he made the exploding gesture with his arms, "-and I think even you aren't fast enough to save her."

He walked up to Jay, waiting for a moment but allowing Jay to throw the first punch. Sand Demon ducked and stepped back.

"Quite a bit slower on this Earth, aren't you, Flash?"

That moment allowed Jay for a clear shot across the face.

Angry he'd been caught off guard, Sand Demon returned the favor and started punching Jay back. "You don't have your speed, do you?" he realized with great delight and wonder. "Did she siphon them?" he had to know. While it was such a pleasure to see his enemy without powers, it meant that Zoom did have the power - or the woman - to steal powers from anyone.

But once again he had become distracted. Barry was able to come in and pull Patty from the chair she was tied to. As the bomb went off, he, Patty and Jay were blasted back while Sand Demon absorbed the energy.

"Must be my lucky day," Sand Demon laughed as both speedsters got up. Patty was identified as unconscious but alive. "Zoom sent me here to kill you. Now I get to kill The Flash from two worlds before I go home." He stuck a hand backwards, using a mighty sand blast to choke Jay from behind.

Barry took a big breath and started running around Sand Demon and Jay, just like Jay instructed.

"Come on!" Sand Demon shouted for him to stop and actually fight. He let go of Jay and waited for the other speedster to stop.

At light speed, Barry stopped in front of him and hurled a shard of lightning forwards. It caught Sand Demon right on the chest and threw him backwards. By the time he hit the ground he had turned into brown glass that shattered at the contact of the hard ground.

~ 0 ~

Later that same day, Belén returned to find Cisco working in his experiment room. She had held her tongue back for a reasonable amount of time but now she felt it was time to get those answers.

"Cisco?" she startled him as she strode into the room. "Professor Stein wanted to know if you've made progress on whatever the hell electrophotography is supposed to mean?"

Cisco smiled. "The satellite picture of the city's still rendering so we have a couple more minutes left."

"Oh, perfect," Belén made herself comfortable on the edge of his desk. "While we wait, maybe now you can tell me what's going on with you."

"U-uh...what?" Cisco glanced at her, eyes blinking rapidly.

Belén just smiled. "Your 'hunches'-" she made air quotation marks, "-don't really sound like hunches. I know you're smart very smart, but this is something else. I mean, you knew where Sand Demon was - like exactly where he was and what he was gonna use? Cisco-" she tilted her head, serious then, "-for real?"

Cisco knew there was no point in denying it then. "Something's happening to me."

"That much I got."

"I'm starting to perceive things. Horrible things…" Cisco paused and moved away from the desk. "It started after Wells killed me in the other timeline. It came back when Atom Smasher attacked on Flash Day, and then again when Sand Demon showed up. I get a vibe, and then a vision of something that's already happened, and then it's gone. That's how I knew where Slick was."

Belén was beginning to smile. "Cisco, you're a metahuman!" she jumped off the desk excitedly. "You have powers! And...and good ones by the looks of it! We have to explore them-"

Cisco was quick to refuse such an idea. "No, no, no, we're not doing any of that, and we're certainly not telling anybody, either." Belén's smile began fading. "I'm seeing things I don't want to see. And knowing things I don't want to know. I just want it to stop."

"Cisco...I think I am the most qualified to remind you what happens when you desperately try to push your powers away."

Cisco curly nodded. He acknowledged there could be consequences to his decision but he just didn't want to know of these powers.

"I tried to ignore a whole side of my powers and look where I am now? I have to be very careful now. Don't ignore them - embrace them." Belén hoped he would adhere to her warning because she wouldn't like to see him in the same predicament she was.

"Wells told me this was my future. That he gave me this power. But everything he did was evil. That's what scares me, Bells. You have to promise me you won't tell anyone about this."

Belén agreed. "I promise I won't. But you have to promise me you'll think about what I said."

"I promise," Cisco agreed to the terms.

Belén smiled and hugged him with her good arm. "But you know what?"

"Mm?"

"If you do embrace them, that means you get to name yourself."

Cisco laughed. That was something he hadn't yet thought of.

~0~

After Caitlin finished attending to Jay's newest injury, she left the side room to allow Barry to talk with Jay. She figured they needed to get some words out. It was the only way they would be able to start fresh on good terms.

"So, I hear they call you the Scarlet Speedster," Jay couldn't help the laugh he set loose.

"Yeah," Barry laughed too. He wouldn't even mention the first one Belén had dubbed him with during their early days. "What about you?"

"The Crimson Comet." Jay laughed again. "What is it with alliteration and nicknames?"

"Hey, look, Jay, um...thank you for all your help. And for being so patient with me," Barry knew he was a piece of work that Jay shouldn't have had to work for so long.

"Nah, anytime, kid. You're a quick study," Jay waved it off. "Took me a lot longer to learn how to toss lightning, believe me."

"Then I suppose I had the right teacher."

"It's going to be a lot harder to take down Zoom."

"Who is this guy?" Barry hoped to get some real answers on Zoom because so far no one else had them.

Jay sighed, shrugging his shoulders. "No one knows. He showed up around the same time as when I got my powers. He gathered himself a selective metahuman band to constantly terrorize my city. I managed to put most of them away except for a few…"

"A few?"

"Well, I couldn't exactly touch a meta who poisons, another who siphons, or freezes...they're all dangerous, Barry. These just happen to be more dangerous."

"Hmm," Belén cleared her throat as she made her entrance to the place, "Sorry, did you just say a meta who poisons?"

Jay smiled, understanding her curiosity. "Poison Ivy - you don't want to meet her."

"With that name, no thanks," Belén raised her good hand to pass. She moved beside Barry, sitting down on the side of the bed. "Are we talking about Zoom? Because I would love to know more about this guy who has it in for Barry and a hobby of shooting women?"

"Yeah, I'd like to know that too," Barry agreed. Without noticing, he had stepped closer to Belén and put an arm around her. "Because I don't get it."

He truly had thought and thought why Belén had been targeted in the first place. He understood that Zoom was after him - however twisted it was he got it. He was a speedster and so was Zoom but the latter was more competitive. That made sense. Him ordering an attack on Belén did not make sense.

"Maybe it was because Zoom knew you were someone important to Barry," Jay tried reasoning himself.

"We didn't even talk with each other for six months," Belén reminded. "We broke up like a day after the singularity. There's no way Zoom could have put that together when we didn't have any contact."

"When I fought the Atom Smasher he mentioned it was a test," Barry recalled and soon felt the anger he felt then resurface.

"That sounds like a test I do not want to pass," Belén frowned.

"He said that it was a test, like a standalone thing. A test for...datura? I don't know what that is, though."

"Datura?" It was easy to see the name was very familiar to Jay.

"Yeah, what is that?" Barry asked him.

"It's not a thing, she's a woman. Datura," Jay explained with a small sigh. "She's the siphoner who stole my speed and if she targeted you specifically...my guess is she's going to want to leave you just like me: powerless."

"Oh…" Belén said quietly, unable to hide her growing fear. "Well...I guess I'm gonna have to...learn how to fight a...siphoner?" It was impossible to stay unconcerned when she wasn't at her prime state.

Barry saw her being absorbed in her thoughts. "Jay, can we have a moment please?"

Jay nodded and walked out of the room to give them privacy.

"Belén-" Barry moved to stand in front of her but the woman turned away from him.

"How do I fight a siphoner? Can I fight a siphoner?" she turned back to him with widened eyes. "Have we done that yet?"

"No, but...we'll find a way," Barry stepped closer to her. He reached for her uninjured hand and laced his fingers with hers. "We always do, right?"

"...yeah, we do," she sighed. But even as she tried to stay calm, her mind began to race towards the mysterious siphoner who had it in for her. Who was she? Why did Datura want her of all people?

#arrowverseocs #ocappreciation #the flash #the flash fics #barry allen fics #the flash imagines #barry allen imagines #fd: flash #oc: Belén Palayta #oc: Belen Palayta #oc: Datura #fic: rise up

[hopesilverheart]

Title: I loved your colours (before I loved you) Artist: @calliartss​ Rating: Explicit (Chapter 10 only) Pairings: Magnus Bane/Alec Lightwood, Alec Lightwood & Clary Fray, Clary Fray/Isabelle Lightwood Word Count: ~95k Summary: Magnus Bane is a journalist who's always dreamed of modelling for Lightwood Fashions. When the CEO Alec Lightwood starts looking for new models for their spring collection, he jumps on the occasion.

In the meantime, Alec Lightwood is struggling with the idea of finally announcing his role as co-designer. When Magnus Bane strolls into his life, Alec is torn between keeping his secret or throwing all caution to the wind.

This fic was created for the Malec Discord Mini Bang 2020.

Chapter 15: Blinded by the colours

Magnus couldn’t breathe.

Isabelle was at his side, rubbing soothing circles into his back and reminding him that he couldn’t back out now, and he couldn’t breathe. The only reason he was still standing was because he couldn’t ruin his outfit, not when he knew how much the show meant to Alexander and Clary.

Magnus would have to be walking down the runway in twenty minutes, but he wasn’t even sure he remembered how to walk. Isabelle had assured him that Andrew and Emily were going through a similar nervous breakdown in their own corner of the changing rooms, but Magnus wasn’t sure she understood how big this event was for him.

He was modelling for the first time in front of hundreds of important people – including some of his ex-corkers – and he was doing so for Alexander’s collection. The collection the man he loved had designed with Magnus in mind. On top of that, this was the night Magnus finally gathered the courage to apologise to Alexander and tell him that he loved him without getting interrupted.

He wasn’t sure an event had ever mattered as much to him as this fashion show did.

“Magnus, I understand why you’re freaking out, but you need to pull it together sooner rather than later,” Isabelle urged him, tightening her hold on him when he stumbled slightly in an attempt to move. “Why don’t we go see the other models, huh? The night is going to be stressful enough as it is, so maybe a bit of time spent with our colleagues will help you relax before the show. Just… forget about the things you’ll have to do in a little while.”

It wasn’t a bad idea, even though Magnus wasn’t sure he could get his mind off the show or Alexander. He had been incapable of thinking about anything else for days, and he didn’t see that changing anytime soon. However, he wasn’t going to deny Isabelle such a simple favour. If she wanted him to talk to the other models, that was exactly what he would do.

“See! I told you Magnus would be just as nervous!” Magnus narrowed his eyes at Aline as he reached the group. He knew he looked like hell, but he really didn’t need another reminder. “No offence, Magnus. I’m sure you’re going to do wonderful out there tonight, but you’re not the only one who needs support and reassurance.”

“You already know people love you,” Andrew nodded, looking panicked and wild and slightly unhinged. “The first issue you released was a success and you’re the only thing anyone can talk about. We, on the other hand, are just some unknown models who can’t afford to screw this up.”

Emily nodded agreeably from her seat on the floor, looking up at Magnus with anxiety written all over her features.

“We had to send someone to get their significant others,” Maia whispered to Magnus and Isabelle as the other models fussed over their two nervous colleagues. “They seem determined to go through with the show so we’re not worried about that, but the last thing we want is someone passing out from sheer anxiety. Do you want us to find someone for you, too?”

“I should already have-”

Before he could finish his sentence, a ball of energy and brown hair came hurtling into his legs, rustling the fabric and almost knocking him over in the process. As much as Magnus wanted to be annoyed at his goddaughter for disregarding his ‘don’t mess with the outfit’ rules, he was far too relieved by her appearance to say anything.

“Madzie,” Catarina tutted, shaking her head at her daughter as she leaned in to kiss Magnus’ cheek. “You’d better hope those pants are still spotless, because I’m pretty sure Magnus’ team isn’t going to accept anything less than perfection.”

Behind Magnus, Maia and Isabelle made matching noises of agreement. If the giggles Madzie let out was anything to go by, they were also pulling faces at the little girl to get on her good side. Ever since Magnus had introduced Madzie to the models and the rest of the fashion team, they had all started harassing him with questions about his goddaughter. He knew she was cute, but she was also not theirs, for heaven’s sake.

“How are you feeling?” Catarina asked him once Madzie had detached herself from him and ran off with one of the girls.

“Not great,” Magnus laughed nervously. “I mean, I know I’ve got the modelling part down since Lydia and Raphael have been coaching me non-stop for months, but- I don’t know, I’m starting to wonder if I should just call everything else off. What if he hates it, Cat?”

“He won’t hate it,” his best friend huffed, shaking Magnus’ shoulders gently. “You pulled off this plan in less than two weeks, and it’s one of the sappiest, most romantic things I have ever had the pleasure of participating in. Is it slightly embarrassing? Yes, but all the best grand gestures are, especially when the recipient is as big a romantic as your man apparently is.”

Magnus knew that. He had thought about that every step of the way, every time he had started doubting himself. Isabelle had assured him that Alec would love the gesture, and he had believed in her. Had believed in himself and his knowledge of what Alexander did and didn’t like. Now, though, he couldn’t help but feel like he had gone completely overboard.

What if Alec didn’t want him back? What if he thought Magnus was trying too hard? What if he wrote him off as desperate? No matter how kind and compassionate Alec was, even he had to have his limits, right?

“Magnus?”

Oh no. No, absolutely not.

Magnus was stressed enough as it was; the last thing he needed was Lorenzo fucking Rey to show up at his work place looking smarmy. How on earth had the man even gotten in?

“Hey, babe,” Andrew cut through Magnus’ thoughts, pecking Lorenzo’s cheek and smiling dopily at the man, looking far less worried than he had seconds earlier. “Thank you for coming here, especially considering- Just… thank you. So, do you and Magnus know each other?”

“We used to work together,” Lorenzo answered easily, looking Magnus up and down confusedly. “At Fade Medias. I thought you had moved to Lightwood Enterprises for a job as Head Editor, Magnus, not as a model. Not that there’s anything wrong with being a model, but it’s a little out of character for you.”

“Is it?” Magnus raised his eyebrows, finally snapping out of his daze. “I think it suits me rather well. And I’m more than capable of handling two jobs at once, Lorenzo. My position as Head Editor is secure even when I’m on another floor, and I’m far from the only person in the department to work as a model.”

“Magnus is great at what he does,” Andrew nodded along to Magnus’ words, earning himself an irritated look from Lorenzo – his date? Boyfriend? “We all just wish he would take a little more time for himself on the side, since he’s always so busy working.”

“That’s me,” Magnus chuckled, smirking slightly at Lorenzo’s guilty look. “Always working harder than anyone else. Maybe that’s why I missed the fact that the two of you are dating. How long has this been going on?”

“A few weeks?” Andrew shrugged. “It’s still pretty recent, but I’d like to think it’ll last a while longer.”

As soon as Lorenzo turned to stare down smittenly at his boyfriend, Magnus knew it was time for him to leave. There were a lot of things he could handle in life, but his ex-boss who had always treated him like crap acting like a love-sick fool wasn’t one of them. Instead, he turned back to the rest of the fashion team and smiled as he spotted a familiar figure embracing Emily.

“Julie!” He greeted the writer, his smile widening when the woman waved at him without turning away from her girlfriend. “I see that the comforting crew has entered the building. Feeling better about the show now, Em?”

“She’d better be feeling better about the show,” Julie huffed, twisting herself around so she was leaning back against Emily, her head resting on the brunette’s shoulder and Emily’s arms wrapped around her waist. “Because she knows she’s beautiful, isn’t that right? And you’re going to do so well, baby; you could just stand there and people would cheer for you. You’ve all been getting ready for months, and there’s no reason for any of you to fail.”

She looked straight at Magnus during that last part, raising her eyebrows at him knowingly, as if she had been aware of just how much he needed to hear something like that. In the meantime, Emily had turned a bright red and had buried her face in her girlfriend’s hair, which Magnus took as his cue to leave the loving couple alone.

“You’re going to be great out there, Em,” he said as he left, patting the brunette’s shoulder reassuringly before grinning widely at Julie. “And you, keep her out of trouble for the next ten minutes or so, alright? Go talk to the other gays in the room – yes, I’m aware that’s just about everyone – and distract her for as long as possible. Thank you for coming.”

“Anything for my baby,” Julie smiled softly, kissing Emily’s temple. “But you’re welcome. Don’t worry about her, I’ll make sure she’s fine, and I’ll see you at work on Monday. Good talking to you, boss.”

Magnus rolled his eyes at the appellation but didn’t bother correcting the blonde woman. He had learned very early on during his time at Lightwood Media that most of his employees would call him whatever they wanted to, whenever they wanted to. Unfortunately for him, he liked Julie enough to let her get away with it.

“And he’s smiling! What a miracle!” Isabelle exclaimed, beaming as Magnus joined her and Clary’s side again. The redhead looked stunning in her emerald and gold dress, and she seemed to be well aware of it. Magnus had never seen her look so confident before.

“I have to be out soon, Magnus, but I just wanted you to know that I think your plan is going to work just fine,” Clary said impassively, even though Magnus could see a sparkle of excitement and eagerness in her eyes. “And of course, I’ll do my best not to screw it up. Isabelle gave me instructions and I intend to follow them, if that makes you feel any better.”

It did, and Magnus didn’t hesitate to express his gratefulness to the redhead. A part of him had worried that she would mess things up for him out of pure spite or pettiness, but he should have known that the woman Isabelle loved wouldn’t do something like that.

“Well then,” Clary continued, grinning widely. “Showtime.”

***

The lights dimmed, and Alec’s heart rate sped up considerably. The ambiant music was turned off, and he tried to remember how to breathe. The audience quieted, a spotlight was aimed at Clary, and a veil of anxiety draped over his skin.

His best friend looked beautiful, dressed in greens and golds and – unknown to the attendees – reds, although those were hidden underneath layers and layers of fabric. Even though Clary had taken care of dozens of fashion shows in the past, Alec thought she had never looked so radiant.

The final reveal was always a moment of joy for the team, and doubly so for the designers, but this was… this was something else. This was the collection that had granted Clary love, and it was the collection that would lead to Alec’s first step into the limelight. They had practised this exact moment hundreds of times, and yet Alec still wasn’t sure he was ready for the chaos that would ensue.

“You’re going to be wonderful out there tonight,” his mother murmured, her eyes never straying from Clary’s graceful figure.

They were both hidden behind two thick curtains at the back of the runway, waiting for Alec’s turn to shine – or to fail, depending on how things went. Alec couldn’t have been more thankful for his mother’s presence; as fragile as their relationship was, he had to admit it was nice to have someone at his side whilst he waited to do the single most terrifying thing he’d ever done in his life.

“You can’t know that,” Alec whispered back, almost bouncing on his toes as he waited for Clary to start speaking. He knew timing was of the greatest importance, but he also just wanted this to be over with already. The sooner they could get the show started, the sooner they could get it finished, and the sooner he could reveal himself and get rid of the horrible anxiety clawing at his chest. “You can’t know how I’ll be. There’s a good chance I’ll freeze on the spot and forget everything I wanted to say. The only speeches I’ve held in the past few years have been business-related, and this is- This is different.”

“It matters more,” his mother hummed, smiling at him softly when he turned to her with wide eyes. “I’m not stupid, Alec. I know you care far more about these clothes you design than you do about the company itself. You’re a great CEO, but you’re an extraordinary designer.”

Alec’s heart stuttered at his mother’s words, still unfamiliar no matter how many times she’d said them in the past two weeks. Despite all his worries, he couldn’t help but perk up slightly at the praise. It reminded him of what Clary had told him once, when they were still young designers who had no idea how successful they were going to be.

Everyone had been pushing Alec to give up, to stick to business and forget about his art, but his best friend had taken him aside and asked him one, very important question.

If you had to choose, if you had to pick one thing you wanted to do forever, could you honestly tell me you would pick business? You’ll be a good CEO once you’ve fixed your father’s messes, Alec, but you could be a spectacular designer.

After that, he had never thought about quitting the job of his dreams ever again. He loved his colours, his partnership with Clary, and the support of the fashion team far too much for that. Now, he was going to get to share all of that with the rest of the world. He would be able to tell them that the only reason he was still a designer was because of the people around him.

That thought was enough to have him cracking a smile despite the stress he was currently under. He had chosen this life and he refused to be ashamed of it.

Clary reached the front of the runway, curtsied with a light giggle, and opened her mouth to speak just as the thunder of applause died down. A golden hue illuminated her from behind, and Alec could see various members of the audience gaping at his best friend.

“Good evening, everyone,” the redhead started, the smile evident in her voice even though Alec couldn’t see it from his position. “Thank you all for coming tonight and thank you for showing support for our latest collection even before its release. We at Lightwood Fashions are delighted to finally be able to present what we view as our greatest accomplishment to date. We hope for this spring collection to be the beginning of a new leaf for our brand and couldn’t be prouder of the pieces we will be showcasing today.”

Her speech sounded scripted – her speech was scripted – but Alec could hear the pride and joy in Clary’s voice as she spoke. She may have been working on her words for weeks, but Alec knew they still meant as much to her now as they did when she first put them down on paper.

“In honour of this new leaf, my co-designer and myself have decided to rename our own personal brand, or more specifically to correct your assumptions about our brand,” Clary continued seamlessly, glancing behind her and smiling when their brand’s logo – a simple L intertwined with an F – appeared behind her. Everyone had always assumed the letters stood for Lightwood Fashions, but Alec could have never done his best friend so dirty; “We present to you today, after a brief note from my co-designer, the Lightwood-Fray 2021 spring collection.”

There was a moment of silence as the audience members turned towards each other with considering and calculating eyes, but enthusiastic clapping broke out as Clary grinned brightly before moving towards the runway’s entrance, heading straight for Alec and Maryse.

As she approached them, Alec realised what her exit meant and almost broke into a bout of hysteria right then and there. He wouldn’t be appearing on stage for another hour or so at least, since he had decided to wait until the end of the show to actually step out, but he had also…

“Good evening,” his recorded voice rang out in the show room, startling a few attendees as they looked around for the source of the sound. “By now, I’m sure Clary has told you all about what the collection means for our company and for our brand. However, before the show can start, I thought it would be important for all of you to understand what it means to us, as individuals.”

Alec could have heard a needle drop in the complete silence that followed the start of his speech, and only Clary’s hand squeezing his fingers tightly stopped him from panicking about the entire plan. She had promised him it would go fine; the silence was just a result of the audience’s shock, not of their horror. It was just shock, and he couldn’t even blame them. After all, he had been trying to shock them.

“It’s no secret that, at times, designers and artists find a muse,” recorded-Alec continued, sounding far more smooth than real-Alec could have managed at that moment. Thank god for Clary and her wonderful idea to let him work up to an on-stage speech. “For the first time in our lives, Clary and I have both found that person who inspires us to try more things, to expand our horizons, to be more. The spring collection is an ode to a new page in our careers, but it’s also the physical demonstration of the love we have been given.”

In the end, it had been impossible for Alec to cut Magnus out of the picture, no matter how afraid he was of rejection and mockery. He hadn’t been lying when he had told Magnus that he was his muse, and he would be damned if he didn’t give the other man the credit he deserved.

Besides, just because the two of them were no longer together didn’t mean Alec couldn’t still love him. Angel, did he love him.

“The first time Clary met her muse, she hated her,” the recording went on, sounding amused and light as Alec always did when he thought about Clary and his sister. “But through it all, the two of them have always meant something to each other, and now they mean more to each other than ever. It was all too easy for her to design half a collection solely for the woman she loves, be it through magnificent designs or shapes or fabrics or colour suggestions.”

Next to him, Clary smiled shakily, looking towards the models’ changing room doors with tears of joy in her eyes. Alec knew that, had she been given the choice, Isabelle would have been right there with them, probably crying over the words Alec had spoken for Clary. Before he could so much as hug his best friend, however, his voice rose again and he scrunched his eyes closed as tightly as he could manage.

“The first time I met my muse, I thought he was the most beautiful person I had ever seen,” Alec’s voice said softly. Alec wondered if his love for Magnus was as obvious to everyone else as it was to him. “Hell, I still do. He shines brighter than anyone I’ve ever met, and I painted him onto every outfit we created, even though nothing could match his magnificence. He’s the reason behind all the colours I added to this collection; he’s the person who gave me the courage to truly step out of my comfort zone.”

He wondered how Magnus would take the entire speech. Would he disregard it and follow Alec’s earlier instructions of leaving him alone? Or would he understand that this was the only way Alec could express his feelings without feeling like he was drowning? This was the closest thing to a love confession Magnus would get, and if he still didn’t want to talk to Alec after this… Well, Alec wasn’t going to fight forever.

Next to him, Clary smiled gently and knocked their shoulders together in a silent show of support. Alec had never loved her more.

“This collection is as much a matter of fashion as it is a matter of the heart, and I hope it’ll show in the final product,” recording-Alec concluded, sounding as nervous and excited as Alec currently felt. “Thank you for coming on this journey with us tonight, and I hope you enjoy the view.”

The audio cut off, and the room burst into a wave of whispers as the audience connected the voice to Alec’s. He wondered if they knew what it meant or if some of them were still fooling themselves into believing Alec was nothing more than a substitute speaker.

The dim lights turned off completely, and Alec completely forgot about the attendees’ reactions to his little speech. He would have plenty of time to worry about that later, when he was fielding off questions and handsy reporters. For now, his newly found fame and identity were the least of his worries.

He hadn’t been kidding when he had announced that this collection was as much about fashion as it was about the heart – about love. He may not have designed all the clothes in it, and he may have had Clary’s help and council on every single piece, but it didn’t make it any less valuable. He and his best friend had poured their entire souls into the final show, and he would be damned if he didn’t watch every single second of it.

“I have to go,” Clary whispered as the models moved around to their left, getting ready to step onto the runway and do the one thing they had been preparing to do for months. “I know you wanted us to watch the show together, but the models needed my help with something and I promised I wouldn’t disappoint them.”

Alec frowned, wondering what on earth could justify his best friend’s sudden disappearing act, but he knew better than to ask. If Clary had wanted him to know more than the basic facts, she would have told him. Besides, there was a good chance that when she said models, she meant Magnus, and Alec really wasn’t ready to face the man quite yet.

“You’ll be back for the end of the show, right?” Alec frowned, thinking about the plan they had put in place. “Because there’s no way I’m going out there without my co-designer. We’re in this together, Fray, and I will fight you if you try to run away.”

“Why run away?” Clary smiled. “I have nothing to be afraid of. But yes, I promise I’ll be back for the end of the show. I wouldn’t miss it for the world, and my deal with the models should end before we make our grand entrance. Or is it a grand exit? Either way, I’ll be there.”

“Perfect,” Alec nodded. “Then off you go. I’ll be joining the fashion team in a second, I just want to make sure the beginning of the show goes off without a hitch.”

“Don’t worry about that,” Clary waved his statement away. “Seriously, they have it under control. We didn’t want to say anything in case we needed you last minute, but everyone agreed that you should enjoy the show instead of having to work again. I know a part of you wants to join the team to make sure everything is going off without a hitch but trust me on this. You’ll want to see what comes next.”

Once again, Alec didn’t question his best friend’s words. He did want to join the rest of the team, but he wanted to see what Clary was helping them with even more. So as she walked away, he dutifully stayed in his ideal viewing spot and shuffled nervously from foot to foot, wondering what on earth was about to happen.

Before he could worry or wonder too much, a single spotlight was pointed straight at Clary, who had somehow made it to the side of the runway and was grinning brightly at the crowd. Clearly, whatever the models had needed wasn’t a bad thing. Clary was many things, but able to cover up her emotions wasn’t one of them.

Then she spoke, and Alec’s mind went blank.

***

In front of Magnus, Emily and Andrew took a deep breath, letting their remaining tension melt from their shoulders. Next to him, Isabelle smiled reassuringly and smoothed her clothes over one last time.

She looked beautiful in her almost-sheer flowery blouse and ripped jeans, and although Magnus knew the audience was mostly there for the high-end part of the collection, he was certain the general public would love the more casual side of the collection. Clary and Alec had truly outdone themselves, creating something affordable for people to enjoy, and Magnus couldn’t have been prouder to represent their brand.

“So these are the colours you think of when you think about the beginning of yours and Alec’s relationship, huh?” Isabelle asked him quietly, gesturing at their little group of models. The ten of them were dressed in warm hues, from oranges to dark yellows to burnt pinks, and Magnus wondered if Alec’s colours resonated as deeply with everyone else as they did with him.

Probably not, but perhaps that was the point.

“I think about every colour when I think of Alec,” Magnus shrugged, the rainbow and white outfit flashing in his mind, “but these ones do remind me of first meetings and longing and all those wonderful things one feels at the beginning of a relationship.”

“Can’t relate,” Isabelle chuckled, winking at Magnus as she gestured towards Clary.

The redhead had made it to the side of the runway, and Magnus could barely contain his impatience. She knew what she had to do, and he had complete faith in her ability to make sure everything went off without a hitch, but a part of him still itched to check up with her one more time.

Before he could so much as move, however, a spotlight was directed towards the back of the runway, right where Kaelie and Meliorn were waiting, and Magnus knew it was too late. The show was about to begin, and the most he could do now was wait and be the perfect model the fashion team had trained him to be.

“Naming collections has never been me and my partner’s strong suit,” Clary started, chuckling along with the crowd. It was no secret that the designers’ one and only attempt at naming their creations hadn’t gone well, hence why they had stuck to nameless collections up until that point. “Thankfully, a good friend of mine has incredible insight on this collection’s meaning and was able to name these outfits to perfection.”

Magnus’ breath hitched as he looked around at his fellow models. His colleagues and friends were looking at him proudly, expectantly, and Magnus let their confidence fill his heart and mind. They believed in him, so there was no reason for this to go wrong.

“This spring collection is, in many ways, a story,” Clary continued, her scripted words sounding more genuine than anything Magnus could have achieved. “And as many stories are, this one is about love. I won’t go into detail with all of you, but I’m sure you’ll understand what I mean once you see these designs. For now, please enjoy the beginning of our show with our first series of casual-wear designs, Quite Magical.”

Isabelle smiled approvingly and nudged Magnus’ side before schooling her features and straightening up, her gaze never straying from Emily’s back. Magnus quickly copied her and let the model mentality his friends had taught him about take over his movements.

By the time it was his and Isabelle’s turn to step out – they were the last of the group – Magnus felt sure enough that he wouldn’t collapse as soon as he walked into the light. The audience seemed to be enjoying the first round of outfits, Clary was biting down on her bottom lip to keep in a grin, and Magnus couldn’t mess any of this up.

He couldn’t remember a single second of his first walk down the runway. He knew he had done a good job, since that was the only thing Isabelle had told him before racing to get her second outfit on, but his mind had seemingly decided to black the entire experience out when he tried to recall the walk.

Thankfully, he really didn’t have the time to over-analyse what had just happened, since he was already stripping out of his clothes and stepping into his next pant-shirt combo. He had to walk out in casual, flowery outfits three times before moving onto the part of the show he was most looking forward to, and he couldn’t help but hope that time could move slightly faster.

No matter how eager he was, however, he made sure that his performance remained impeccable and professional every time he stepped onto the runway. He didn’t falter, didn’t let his eyes stray to where they definitely wanted to go, and kept a polite and charming smile plastered on his face every time the cameras went off.

By the time the haute couture outfits were up, Magnus didn’t even have to fake his smile. He loved his job as an editor and wouldn’t give it up for the world, but he had to admit there was a certain thrill about going on stage and showing off outfit after outfit to the audience. Now he understood why Isabelle kept up her hectic schedule year-round; for an experience like that, Magnus would easily give up on a proper night’s sleep.

He slipped into his peacock-like outfit with a grin splitting his features. This was one of his favourite outfits, the greens and blues and golds clearly meant for him, and he had been dying to see the audience’s reactions to it – as well as to Isabelle’s peacock dress.

Clary announced the beginning of their Cryptic and Coy outfits, and Magnus got back in position behind Andrew again. Beside him, Isabelle looked radiant and confident in her long, sleeveless gown, and Magnus had to bite back a burst of delighted laughter as they stepped onto the stage.

The attendees turned to stare at Isabelle and him appreciatively, and Magnus wondered if they had any idea what they were looking at. He wondered if they understood how many meaningful glances Alec and he had exchanged, wondered if they saw them in the colours Magnus was draped in, wondered if any of them could see the memories of their first date Alec had hidden in the shirt’s layers.

They probably couldn’t, just as they probably couldn’t recognise their first kiss in the purples and golds Magnus wore when Clary announced the Lose Control series. There was no way any of the audience members could tell how much desire and longing were represented in those colours, but Magnus didn’t care. He didn’t care, because they were smiling and clapping, and he knew what the colours meant.

“Magnus!” Madzie called out as he stepped off the runway for his third-to-last outfit.

She looked beautiful, dressed in a miniature version of the dress Clary had designed for Isabelle. The blues and golds made her skin and eyes stand out, and Magnus couldn’t help but hope she would be allowed to keep it after the show. He was sure she would love nothing more than to wear such a pretty dress to costume parties.

“Mom says I look like a princess,” she giggled, taking his hand and bouncing on her heels excitedly. Magnus let go of her hand and went behind the curtain reserved for his quick changes. He took off his previous outfit – a mostly-open shirt painted in silvers and blues – and quickly changed into the much more formal blue and gold suit Alec had designed after their date at the pier. “But I told her I wasn’t a princess at all. Do you think she should get her eyes checked? That’s what she always tells me when I say something stupid.”

Magnus chuckled at his goddaughter’s antics and shook his head fondly at her as one of the hairstylists fidgeted with his hair before shooing both him and Madzie back towards the runway.

“I think your mother just needs to learn more about the difference between princesses and other magical, beautiful ladies,” Magnus whispered as he nodded at Isabelle. She would be stepping out a little before them so they didn’t risk anything with Madzie on stage, but she still took the time to coo at Madzie’s dress. “And I’m sure that the Sorcery theme tipped her off as to what you really are.”

“Alec’s favourite sorceress!” The little girl grinned, obediently settling down when Magnus shushed her and tightened his grip on her hand before leading them out and onto the stage.

The crowd went utterly silent for a second before bursting into ‘aw’s and ‘ooh’s at Madzie’s appearance. The little girl looked around shyly for a few moments before catching up to Magnus’ quicker strides and smiling prettily at the audience members. She even started waving at someone to their left as they made their way to the end of the runway, which Magnus found odd for all of thirty seconds before he noticed who she had been gesturing at.

As he walked back to the back on the runway, his gaze crossed Alec’s. The man had been standing behind the curtains when the show had started, of that Magnus was sure, but now… Now he was sitting in the front row with his mother to his left and Jace to his right. He looked like he couldn’t remember how to breathe, staring at Madzie and Magnus with wide, impressed eyes, and Magnus felt weak in the knees.

He barely made it back to the changing rooms, and he was almost convinced Madzie had had to drag him for the last few feet. The only reason he snapped out of his daze was because he knew the next two outfits were the most important ones, both for the show and for him. He couldn’t mess it up when he was so close to the finish line.

“Alec gave me a thumb’s up, Magnus!” Madzie giggled happily as Magnus took off his suit and exchanged it for another, this one red and black and decorated in a thousand little jewels.  “That means I did good, right?”

“It means you did great, little sorceress,” Magnus grinned back at her, swallowing down his nervousness as he remembered what, exactly, he had named this particular series of red and pink clothes. Perhaps he should have thought it over some more before giving the list to Clary for approval. “I’m sure Alec will find you and congratulate you for your performance later. You could be a great model someday.”

“I don’t want to be a model,” the little girl shrugged. “But you’re an amazing model, Uncle Magnus. Mom thinks so, and I think so, and I think Alec thinks so too. He was looking at you the same way you always look at him, which means he must love you, right?”

“That’s what I’m hoping for,” Magnus answered diplomatically, not wanting to get in an argument with Madzie about love when he needed to be back on the runway in less than five minutes.

Clary was already announcing Aku Cinta Kamu, technically the last series of outfits in the collection, which meant Kaelie and Meliorn were about to step on stage. It also meant Magnus had to get the hell back to Isabelle before the brunette tore him a new one.

“I’m trusting you with her,” he told his hairstylist, pointing at Madzie. “Her mother should be around in less than three minutes, but I need to get going now. I love you, sweet pea, and you were wonderful out there. I’ll see you later, alright?”

“Alright!” Madzie smiled, waving at him as he rushed back to the runway and took his rightful spot next to Isabelle, who raised his eyebrows at him, looking decidedly unimpressed.

“Cutting it short for the ones that matter, I see,” she snarked, snapping her mouth shut as Lydia gestured for Emily and Andrew to step out. “But for the record, who even knows what Aku Cinta Kamu means?”

Lydia shushed them before Magnus could answer, so he ignored his friend’s question and focused on the runway instead, wondering if Alec had ever gone through and found out more about Magnus’ language. He had said he would, but they hadn’t been together very long and there was a good chance the designer had been joking around to begin with.

However, as he walked down the runway with Isabelle a few steps ahead of him and let his gaze stray to Alexander, he knew the man had done exactly what he said he would. There were tears in his eyes and he was looking at Magnus like he couldn’t quite believe that he was real.

As though Magnus had been the one to design an entire collection after him and publicly call him his muse. As though Magnus telling him he loved him mattered even more than that. Magnus still couldn’t quite believe he had someone as extraordinary as Alec in his life, and he was finding it even harder to believe that Alec thought he was the extraordinary one.

He couldn’t remember anything from his walk down the runway other than Alec’s eyes on him, steady and warm and as beautiful as when Magnus had first seen them. He wasn’t sure how he had managed to tear his gaze away from the designer long enough to smile for the cameras, but he was pretty sure he deserved an award for that.

By the time he made it back to his changing room to put on his final – and most important outfit – he was shaking with nerves. Alec’s awed smile and teary-eyed gaze seemed to point at a happy ending for the both of them, but he couldn’t be sure yet. He couldn’t get his hopes up before he got a clear answer, so he would go through with the end of his plan and pray.

Isabelle appeared behind him, dressed in her magnificent white dress covered in a rainbow of sparkling reflections, and Magnus breathed in deeply.

He could do this.

***

Alec was frozen in his seat, unable to do more than stare dumbly at the runway as his sister stepped out in the beautiful dress Clary had designed for her – with minimal help from Alec.

He was still reeling from the previous outfits, a whisper Aku Cinta Kamu looping in his mind and making his heart beat faster than ever. He had known, of course, that Magnus loved him. He had known that the other man wouldn’t change his mind in less than a month, just as Alec hadn’t been able to change his. Love had never been the issue, not for Alec.

He realised now that love should have been the only issue. He shouldn’t have cared about the secrets or the white lies or the mistakes, because he loved Magnus and Magnus – for some inconceivable reason – loved him back. That should have been enough from the very start.

If watching Magnus walk down that runway in that outfit had taught Alec anything, it was that Magnus had always been enough. After all, why else would Alec have designed that outfit as soon as he had realised he was falling for the other man? Why else would he have missed the journalist so much over the past few weeks? Why else would he have found it impossible to look away from Magnus?

Even now, as his sister smiled for the cameras and displayed one of his favourite dresses for the world to see, he couldn’t think of anything but Magnus. He wondered if he had given this last outfit a name too, or if he – just like Alec – thought the white ensemble couldn’t be translated into words. And more than anything, he wondered if this entire affair meant what Alec thought it did.

Maybe he hadn’t been the only one with a plan for the night. Good thing for Magnus, it seemed like their plans aligned quite well with one another.

His thoughts came to a screeching halt as Isabelle stepped off the runway and a single spotlight appeared right where the models came out. Even knowing what was going to come next, even having seen Magnus in the outfit before, Alec still lost his breath when the man he loved walked onto the runway looking more beautiful than ever.

The last time Alec had seen Magnus in the white outfit, he had been too busy with Clary and Izzy’s love life as well as his own heartbreak to focus on how well it suited Magnus. Now, though… Magnus swayed down the runway, a small smile curling at his lips as he glanced over at Alec, and the designer wondered if it was possible to fall in love with someone twice.

Magnus glistened in the spotlight, his white shirt gleaming brightly in a rainbow of colours as he twirled around for the audience. Alec had always thought of Magnus as the sun, all golden skin and golden eyes and golden heart. Staring at him now, though, he couldn’t help but wonder if Magnus had been an angel in disguise all along.

He looked stunning in white, and Alec vowed to design him a hundred other outfits like this one. He wanted to admire Magnus under every light, in every room of their studio and from every angle of his bed. He wanted to see the sparkling shirt torn open and exposing Magnus’ bare chest. He wasn’t sure why he had chosen to design this outfit, couldn’t remember when he had decided to make it the final and central piece of the collection, but he knew he couldn’t have made a better choice.

Magnus reached the end of the runway and stopped completely, wringing his hands behind his back in a way that made Alec sit up in anticipation. He knew Magnus, and he knew the other man only ever fidgeted when he was about to do something out of the ordinary.

Rattling Magnus’ nerves wasn’t an easy feat, which meant that whatever he had in mind went against all of his instincts. Alec could relate. After all, he was almost certain Magnus was about to give a speech that would bring Alec to tears, and the designer had a similar one planned as soon as the models were done with their part of the show.

The reminder of what Alec was going to have to do threatened to choke him with a wave of anxiety, but he pushed it back down and focused on Magnus instead. If Magnus could do this – whatever this was – then so could Alec.

The music stopped, Clary left her spot besides the runway to disappear in the background, and Magnus opened his mouth. The crowd held its collective breath, and Alec shifted in his seat.

“Good evening, everyone,” Magnus started, echoing Clary’s and Alec’s words from earlier. He sounded sure of himself, although Alec could see the way his fingertips trembled slightly. “I know it isn’t conventional for a model to take centre stage and steal the limelight from the wonderful designers who created the collection, but I’m afraid you’re all going to have to bear with me for a few minutes.”

A few chuckles echoed around the room, and Alec was pleased to find that no one tried to complain about Magnus’ little interruption. He would have quickly shut them down as the fashion show’s organiser if it had happened, but he was glad that everyone was behaving – for now.

“For those of you who don’t know me, my name is Magnus Bane,” the model continued, looking surer of himself by the second. “I’m the Head Editor over at Lightwood Media, but I currently work as a model for what I believe is the greatest collection this country has seen all year, if not more than that. The Lightwood-Fray fashion team is one of the best teams I have ever worked for, and I have never been more grateful to be a part of something.”

Out of the corner of his eye, Alec could spot the fashion team – Clary included – peeking around the corner of the runway with smiles on their faces and tears in their eyes. Even Isabelle, who Alec assumed had helped Magnus organise his plan, seemed to be biting back a sob.

“I’m also the one who helped the lovely Clarissa Fray come up with names for this wonderful collection. They might have been a little bit sappy, but I won’t apologise for the reason behind all these names,” Magnus said, his voice wobbling as his gaze briefly skipped to Alec. “Because no matter how great working with the team has been, nothing could ever compare to what I feel for Alexander Lightwood. You may only know him as the company’s CEO, may think he’s a little bit dull or arrogant or self-centred, but the truth is…”

He cut himself off then, fully angling his body towards Alec and abandoning all pretence of speaking to the rest of the crowd. Hopefully, they would take the grand gesture for what it was and not interrupt Magnus, because Alec really wanted to know where this was going.

He had an idea, of course, but he needed to hear Magnus say it, and he needed to hear him say it now, preferably.

“The truth is, Alexander is one of the most amazing people I have ever met,” Magnus murmured, his voice crystal clear in contrast to the rest of the room’s complete silence. “He may be a little rough on the outside, but aren’t we all? He’s far from perfect, but I have never met anyone who cares as much as Alec does about the people around him. I’ve never met anyone who can command a room without coming off as rude or selfish as well as he can. I’ve never met anyone so talented, beautiful, and worthy of love.”

Alec could feel tears rolling down his cheeks, but he didn’t even try to wipe them away. He had been dreaming of someone loving him enough to announce it to the rest of the world ever since he was a child and there Magnus was, fulfilling his dreams once again. Alec felt his heart swell more and more by the second, overwhelmed by his feelings for Magnus and the feelings Magnus seemed to have for him.

God, he loved this man. And he was going to make sure Magnus knew exactly how much Alec loved him as soon as he was given the chance to speak. He wouldn’t stand to see Magnus cry because of him for a single second more.

“So Alexander, know this,” Magnus added, seemingly fighting back tears of his own. “I may have loved your colours far before I loved you, darling, but I love you more than anything in the world. You are the most incredible man I have ever met, and I will never be able to properly express how sorry I am for ever hurting you. You deserve the world and, since I couldn’t give you that, I settled for second best. This show is a piece of your world, Alexander, and I hope you know how much I cherish it. How much I cherish you.”

As far as love confessions went, Alec wasn’t sure he had ever heard anything that could rival Magnus’ words. He knew he was biased and that his best friend would probably argue that Isabelle’s declaration had been just as beautiful, but Alec would have to politely disagree.

Magnus was still staring at him intently, his eyes shining brighter than his glimmering outfit, and Alec smiled through his tears. He knew it wasn’t nearly enough to make Magnus understand how much his words meant to Alec, but it was a start. The rest would have to wait a few minutes.

Thankfully, it seemed like Magnus got the message, because he nodded minutely before turning back towards the rest of the audience and executing an elegant and shallow bow.

“Thank you,” he said, before grinning mischievously and winking at the group of photographs. “Hopefully that was enough time for you to get the pictures you needed. Unsurprisingly, this is by far my favourite outfit of the bunch. And now I’ll let our wonderful designers finish their show the way they had planned.”

He sauntered away to a thunder of applause and confused murmurs, and Alec could feel more than a few stares aimed in his direction. He knew they were probably expecting him to run to Magnus but, as much as Alec wanted to do that, he did have a show to finish.

So instead of doing what he so desperately wanted to, he hurried to find Clary in the staff area, fumbling with his suit jacket as he walked. He had told himself he would get ready for his first official appearance as a co-designer during Isabelle and Magnus’ last performance, but he had been too transfixed to even remember that he had to go through an outfit change.

He got ready in record time, putting on the clothes Clary had designed for him and hoping the dress he had designed for her would match his outfit as perfectly as he’d hoped.

“Alec! There you are!” Clary exclaimed, looking Alec up and down a few times before nodding approvingly. “We need to be on stage in less than three minutes. Lydia managed to stall for us by answering a few exclusive questions, but we need to get on there as soon as possible. Are you ready to blow Magnus’ speech out of the water by making our own perfect confession?”

“Ready as I’ll ever be,” Alec swallowed nervously. His hands felt sweaty and he knew he was trembling all over, but he refused to back out of this. “Let’s get this over with.”

“And remember,” Clary said softly, placing her hands on his shoulders and fixing him with a piercing glance. “This isn’t about Magnus. This isn’t about the audience. This isn’t about me. It’s about…”

“Me,” he completed for her. “I know.”

He hadn’t been sure, at first, but he knew Clary was right. He wasn’t revealing his secret to the world because he felt like he had to, or because he thought it would make Magnus love him more. He was doing it because he had been hiding for far too long, and he was sick of lying about his life.

He was proud of what he had accomplished, and he wouldn’t let fear get in the way of that. His mother believed in him, Clary believed in him, the fashion team believed in him… Hell, even Magnus believed in him. And more importantly, Alec was starting to believe in himself. He should have stopped letting other people’s expectations get in the way of his happiness years earlier, but better late than never.

With one more nod aimed mostly at himself, he took Clary’s hand in his and smiled at his best friend, feeling stronger now that she was next to him. They had been working on this for months, it would be fine.

Lydia stepped behind the curtain, and Alec led Clary out to a thunderous round of applause.

***

If there was one thing Magnus thought he had known about Alexander, it was that the man was the perfect epitome of tall, dark, and handsome. He had always had that look about him that had made Magnus swoon and honestly, the model hadn’t thought it could get any better.

Although Alec was still tall and handsome as he stepped onto the runway, fingers linked with Clary’s, Magnus was suddenly hit with the thought that he had been missing out on a big part of his boyfriend’s – ex-boyfriend’s – life. Dressed in clothes clearly designed by Clary and Alec themselves, light seemed to seep from Alexander’s very being.

His outfit was nowhere near as bright or flashy as Magnus’, and yet Magnus was almost certain he had never seen anyone shine so beautifully. His Alexander was draped in a thousand shades of blue sown together in a way that shouldn’t have worked but did, and threads of gold glimmered in the room’s artificial light, the perfect glimmering match to Magnus’ ensemble.

He knew that, were he to step onto that stage, Alec and he would clash horribly, and yet… yet he thought that in a way, they would look stunning. He hadn’t been lying when he had said that he loved Alexander for more than his colours, and he would ruin his own image a hundred times over if it meant he got to stand next to the man he loved.

He barely had the time to notice Clary’s emerald and gold dress before the pair of designers reached the end of the runway and visibly breathed in deeply, smiling as the crowd continued cheering them on. Magnus wondered, right then, how many people had already understood the significance behind Alec’s opening speech. He wondered how many of them had caught the clues in his own words. He wondered if they knew who they were clapping for.

And if so, he wondered why they weren’t clapping harder. Magnus wasn’t sure any amount of praise or recognition would ever live up to what Clary and Alec had created, but they could damn well try to give them at least a fragment of what they deserved.

“Thank you,” Clary started, grinning at the audience and catching Magnus’ gaze momentarily, seemingly unsurprised to find him in the crowd rather than backstage. “Thank you for coming and thank you for being patient and respectful throughout this evening. I know our show has had some… unconventional elements added to it, and I’m sure you’ll be glad to know it isn’t over yet.”

She glanced at Alec then, letting go of her best friend’s hand and taking a step to the side, leaving Alec alone in the limelight. She looked so proud, and Magnus wondered how hard it had been for her to have to hide her best friend from the public eye all along. Isabelle had seemed to think that Clary didn’t understand why it was important for Alec to reveal himself, but Magnus thought the brunette had it all wrong.

Clary stared at her best friend like her dreams were finally all coming true, like she had never been happier in her life. Her hands were loose at her sides, there was a small smile curling at her lips, and Magnus knew she had been waiting for this moment to arrive all along.

As confused as he had been at first, he now understood that Alec and his colours just… made sense. They worked in a way that Magnus couldn’t quite explain, and he couldn’t be happier that the man he loved had people at his side every step of the way.

“Good evening, everyone,” Alec started, cringing as soon as the words were out of his mouth. Magnus chuckled lightly, biting down on his bottom lip when the woman next to him sent him a sharp and reprimanding look. “I suppose I should say good evening again. I hope you all had a wonderful time tonight, and that you’ll consider investing in a few Lightwood-Fray pieces once they are released to the general public.”

He sounded nervous, and Magnus wanted nothing more than to wrap Alec up in his arms and never let him go. He wanted to tell him it would be alright, that he didn’t have to worry, that Magnus would be there no matter what everyone else thought.

Unfortunately, he knew going up on stage wasn’t an option, especially not given how much time he had already spent there, pouring his feelings for Alexander out into the world. But Alec was strong; if he had made it this far, Magnus knew he wouldn’t break. He would get everything off his chest and Magnus couldn’t wait to see it happen, couldn’t wait to take in everyone else’s reactions.

“Most of you know me as Lightwood Fashions’ CEO,” Alec said quietly, his voice ringing clearer than ever in the completely silent room. “And I am. I was always meant to take over one of my parents’ companies and, although most people expected me to take after my mother, here we are today. I know what the rumours are, you know? I’ve heard it all. I know I’m too dull for a fashion company, that it would have been better for Isabelle to take over, or that I’ll never be the icon everyone wants me to be. But I also know- I know that’s not all I am.”

Finally, finally, his eyes drifted to Magnus’, almost as though he couldn’t quite help himself. He looked lost and confused but so, so determined, and Magnus had never loved him more. Whatever Alexander had been looking for when his gaze had strayed to Magnus, he found it in less than ten seconds, breathing in deeply before speaking again.

The whole room was holding their breath, and the inner journalist in Magnus wanted nothing more than to be taking notes like the other reporters in attendance. But Alexander didn’t need Magnus the Head Editor at the moment; he needed Magnus, the man who was madly in love with him.

So, Magnus shoved his hands into his pockets and didn’t let his eyes leave Alec’s beautiful silhouette for a single second.

“When I took over for my father, no one thought I would last the week,” Alec continued, his eyes glazing over as he lost himself in memories. “I hadn’t even graduated from college, I didn’t have any interest in fashion, and I was too inexperienced. I heard the same questions over and over again; you’re too young, you don’t know what you’re doing, why would you even choose fashion? Frankly, I don’t blame any of you. If I had been in your place, I would have wondered the same things.”

But he hadn’t been in their place. He had always known fashion was where he belonged, and Magnus marvelled at the strength it must have taken the CEO to ignore everyone’s opinions and focus on himself instead. In his place, Magnus wasn’t sure he would have lasted a week.

“What you didn’t know back then, what no one knew – not even my own mother – was that I had already started studying fashion,” Alec added.

Magnus sat up in his seat as he realised what Alec was doing, what he was giving them. This wasn’t just him announcing his position to the world; this was him telling them about all the moments in his life that had made him into the man he was today.

“Clary and I met in college when both of us were struggling to find a connection to the courses we had picked. She was studying art but didn’t think it was exactly right for her, and I felt like my business plans weren’t what I had always dreamed of having. We found each other in the middle of madness and haven’t let go of each other since. I’m the one who signed us up to take a basic fashion class, but she’s the one who pushed me to keep going. Even back then, we were a team.”

Magnus wasn’t sure when he had started crying, but he supposed it was around the same time Clary had let out a quiet sob before stepping off stage, clearly struggling to keep her emotions in check. She had run straight into Isabelle’s arms, and Magnus felt another pang of longing shoot through his chest as he thought about doing the same thing for Alec.

“We’ve never stopped being a team since then,” Alec went on, his voice trembling and tears shining in his eyes as his words stumbled past his lips. “If you haven’t figured it out by now, I was Clary’s co-designer all along. We’ve been working on designs together since long before we joined the company, and I’m sure we’ll be doing it even once we’re old and grey and barely able to speak. So to all the people who thought I was too closed off or not honest enough, know that I’ve been sharing my colours with you for half a decade, and those colours mean the world to me.”

For a second, Magnus wondered if his speech had come to an end. He raised his hands to start clapping but stopped when Alec shook his head minutely, opening and closing his mouth a few times as though he were struggling to find the right words. Magnus wasn’t sure what Alexander wanted to add to his beautiful declaration, but he had a feeling it was even more important to the designer than his big reveal.

Alec’s eyes pierced through his soul, and Magnus held his breath.

“This part wasn’t planned, so bear with me,” Alec smiled crookedly, getting a few chuckles out of the audience. “However, I would be a fool not to say anything to the man who stood up here and gave me the romantic gesture of a lifetime. Magnus Bane is the most incredible man I have ever met and, no matter how many mistakes he’s made, I will never – never – cease to love him.”

Honestly, Magnus should have known better than to expect Alec to respond to his love declaration in private. He had known, going into this, that Alexander was the biggest romantic he had ever met, and he should have expected the designer to do something just as grand as what Magnus had done for him. Damned Lightwoods and their perfect minds.

“Magnus is the only muse I have ever had and, if I have it my way, he’ll be my muse forever,” Alec breathed out.

Magnus wasn’t even sure how he was hearing him above all the frantic whispers of the other audience members. Maybe he had just grown attuned to his boyfriend’s voice, or maybe he had just learned how to forget about everyone else when Alexander was nearby.

“He has made me the luckiest man alive by being part of my life, and I will never regret hiring him as our model. He has shown me that the world can be so much more than an office and an apartment, and I hope he knows that without him… Without him, this moment would have never happened. You give me courage, Magnus. You make me brave and bold and for that I will be forever grateful. Maybe dedicating an entire collection to you so early on in our relationship was a reckless idea, but I wouldn’t have had it any other way.”

Magnus knew they were making a spectacle of themselves, declaring their feelings for each other in front of an entire crowd, but he thought maybe that was what love was really about. Maybe love was about pushing their own boundaries and letting go of their fears just to prove that they cared for each other. It was terrifying – and Magnus would know, since he had been in Alec’s place less than twenty minutes earlier – but it was also mind-blowingly easy.

Because if there was one thing Magnus knew about his relationship with Alexander, it was that it mattered more than anything anyone might have to say about them.

“So, Magnus Bane, you may cherish me, but I…” Alec stumbled on his words, staring straight at Magnus and shaking his head slowly, as though he couldn’t quite pinpoint what he was trying to say. “I treasure you, because you are the most precious thing in my life. So thank you for loving my colours and thank you for loving me. I just hope I can give you even a morsel of what you’ve given me.”

Magnus let out a sob, and the crowd seemed to take it as a sign to start clapping. They cheered and whistled and patted Magnus on the back as though they knew exactly what he was going through, but Magnus only had eyes for his Alexander.

“Thank you for listening, and thank you again for coming to the show,” Alec concluded his little speech. “I know this isn’t exactly the conclusion you were all imagining, but I hope it didn’t ruin the experience for any of you. All questions about the collection should be directed to Lydia Branwell and Clary Fray for the rest of the night. I hope you all enjoy the rest of your evening.”

As soon as he stepped off the runway, the audience dissolved into a true ocean of chaos, and Magnus knew there was no chance he and Alec were going to have a real conversation in the midst of all the noise. He nodded at Isabelle and Clary briefly, tilting his head towards the staff area, and waited for a sign of their acknowledgement before slipping away from the rest of the crowd.

He was sure the after-show would be nice, but he had a man to find and kiss until neither of them could breathe. The rest of the world could wait.

***

“I’m sorry.”

Alec spun around faster than ever, letting his trembling fingers fall from his suit jacket as his gaze met Magnus’. The other man was still dressed in his white outfit, looking unfairly beautiful, and Alec shuffled uncomfortably as he tried - and failed - to resist the urge to reach out for Magnus.

He had his lips on Magnus’ less than a second later, sighing contentedly at the familiar feeling. He couldn’t believe he had survived two weeks without it. He kissed Magnus like a starving man, sucking at the other man’s bottom lip in a silent gesture for him to open up, and he was ready, so ready to taste Magnus again, but-

“Hey, Alec, hey,” Magnus pushed him away gently and raised his hand to cover Alec’s mouth. “We can’t do this right now, not yet. I need to… I need to apologise first, alright?”

“You don’t have to-” he started, only to be interrupted by a sharp gesture from Magnus. He snapped his mouth shut and waited for the model to get whatever he needed to off his chest.

“I’m sorry for lying to you,” Magnus continued, stepping closer to Alec and clenching his hands at his side, almost as though staying away was just as hard for him as for Alec. “I’m sorry for keeping things from you, I’m sorry for thinking I couldn’t trust you with my past, and I’m sorry for throwing your own hidden truths back in your face. I know now- I mean- What you did tonight was amazing, and I’m sorry that I took part of it away from you. You deserved to have your moment.”

“And I did,” Alec cut in, hoping his words sounded as genuine as he had meant them to. “I got my moment, Magnus, and I would have gotten it whether you knew about my position earlier or not. The thing is, I was… I was doing it for all the wrong reasons. Clary helped me realise that I couldn’t rely on you all the time, especially not for things that matter as much as this. I wasn’t lying when I said that you pushed me in the right direction, but I did this for myself more than anyone else.”

It had taken him a few days to come to peace with that, but as he stared at Magnus’ lips curl into a proud smile, he knew Clary had been right. He knew getting rid of the reveal just because things between him and Magnus hadn’t worked out would have been a ridiculous idea. Although, on that note…

“That was quite something you did out there,” Alec murmured, biting at his bottom lip as a dark blush overtook Magnus’ features. Alec wasn’t sure he had ever seen the other man so flustered, and he had to admit he didn’t dislike it in the slightest. “I know you’re not exactly a grand gesture kind of person when it comes to romance, so that must have been quite the experience.”

“In a way,” Magnus shrugged, staring intently at Alec. “But you’re a grand gesture kind of guy, so it was all worth the effort. You’re worth the effort, Alexander, no matter how big that effort may be.”

“Magnus…” Alec breathed out, glancing away from the model’s intense gaze and wondering what the protocol was for two people who still loved each other but were no longer together. Was there a proper method to getting back together? Were they supposed to say something? Was Alec supposed to…? “I’m sorry too.”

He blurted the words out before he could overthink his apology. He had worried about finding the right thing to say, but he knew Magnus would be perfectly content with the truth. They were done lying to each other, done changing themselves for the other. If they wanted this to work out, Alec’s apology needed to be completely sincere. Nothing more, nothing less.

“Don’t look at me like that,” he huffed when Magnus frowned at him confusedly. “Don’t act like you’re the only one to blame here. I know you think you’re the only one who messed up that night, but I was just as wrong as you were, Magnus. I should never have made you feel like you had to tell me everything. Your lie was… it wasn’t the best idea, but it wasn’t as big of a deal as I made it out to be. So I’m sorry for pushing you away at the first sign of trouble.”

“I went behind your back to ask about Clary’s co-designer,” Magnus pointed out, as though he needed to remind Alec of all the things he had done wrong. As though Alec hadn’t thought about them repeatedly over the past few weeks. “To ask about you.”

“You regretted it almost immediately,” Alec countered, knowing both from Isabelle and Magnus himself that the man would have done anything to take his questions back. “Izzy wasn’t the only drunk one that night, and you… You regretted it as soon as she gave you the answer you’d been looking for. I’m not saying what you did was right, but I forgive you. I forgave her, after all. I was never going to stay mad at you, Magnus, I just needed…”

“Time?” Magnus finished for him, smiling knowingly at Alec. “Yeah, I get that. And thank you, for not holding this against me. I mean, I had a feeling that you weren’t angry with me anymore, given what just happened out there, but it’s nice to get confirmation.”

They stared at each other for a few moments, neither of them moving and both of them waiting for the other to do something first. Alec had a feeling they could have stayed like that for hours if it weren’t for his lingering anxiety. He just needed to be certain; he needed to make sure that Magnus had been telling the truth earlier. He needed the man he loved back in his arms.

“I still love you,” he murmured, his eyes never leaving Magnus’. “I don’t think I could have stopped loving you even if I had wanted to. Look, I know we screwed up, alright? I know we proved we’re just like any other couple, capable of fighting and arguing and getting mad at each other, but… But that can’t be reason enough to give up completely, right? I love you, Magnus, and shouldn’t that be enough to try again?”

“We’d have to communicate better,” Magnus started, closing the remaining distance between Alec and him easily.

This time, Alec didn’t hesitate before taking the journalist’s hands in his own, rubbing soothing circles into Magnus’ soft flesh. He let his fingers run up and down Magnus’ arms, let himself enjoy the feeling of Magnus so close to him again, let himself breathe for the first time in weeks.

“No more secrets,” Alec added. “None that matter, at least. If something’s bothering us, we need to talk about it instead of shutting it behind layers and layers of anxious feelings.”

“And most importantly,” Magnus continued, the smirk on his lips tipping Alec off as to the nature of his next request. “You need to keep dedicating entire collections to me. I may have gotten a little bit used to this lifestyle and amount of attention to detail, so I’m not sure I could go back to how things used to be before. If you want to keep me in your life, I’m going to need a lot more clothes.”

“Is that so?” Alec raised his eyebrows, tapping at his chin as though he were truly thinking Magnus’ demand over. “I’m not sure… You see, collections take a lot of work, and I don’t think I could create that many clothes in your honour. Besides, you’d probably just get bored of it all after a while.”

“Objection!” Magnus scoffed, gesturing down at himself with an incredulous stare. “How on earth could I get bored of this, Alexander? This is the proof that you love me enough to use me as your muse, and I’m honestly not sure I could do any better than you after this. You’ve ruined love for me, darling. From now on, I’m going to accept nothing less than grand gestures and artistic declarations of feelings.”

“Thankfully for you, I don’t intend on letting you go any time soon,” Alec hummed softly, letting go of Magnus’ hands and looping his arms around the model’s waist instead, pulling him in until their bodies were pressed together. “You’re going to be stuck with me and my ridiculous gestures of romance for quite a while, so I don’t think you have anything to worry about on that front.”

“You seem awfully sure of yourself,” Magnus breathed out, his words ghosting against Alec’s lips as he leaned in closer, their noses bumping together at the movement. “Who’s to say I want to be stuck with you? A man who paints our love into colours and lets go of his fears to make me happy? How dull.”

Alec pinched the other man’s side and shook his head fondly before giving in to the urge to kiss Magnus again. He covered Magnus’ mouth with his own and swallowed the model’s pleased gasp as their lips slotted together perfectly. God, Alec had missed this. He had missed curling his hands around Magnus and drawing tiny sounds out of the man he loved. He had missed feeling Magnus’ tongue slide against his slowly, turning the both of them into puddles of heat. And more than anything, he had missed Magnus.

Magnus and his perfect eyes, his golden skin that stood out starkly against Alec’s white sheets – or in this case, his sparkling outfit – and his hair’s brightly coloured tips. Magnus and his heart of gold, his sharp mind, and the endless compassion he seemed to have for the people around him. Magnus and the way he looked at Alec like he was the single most important thing in the world.

“I missed you so much,” Magnus whispered against Alec’s lips as they pulled away from each other, panting for air. “God, Alexander, I missed you more than I’ve ever missed anything in my life, and we were only apart for two weeks. How on earth am I going to survive when you have to go abroad for work?”

“We’ll call each other,” Alec answered immediately, not even embarrassed to prove that he had been thinking about their relationship at length, both before and during their break-up. “Just because we’re not always next to each other doesn’t mean we’re not always together, Magnus. If lies weren’t enough to keep us apart, I doubt a country or two will be what ruins things for us. Besides, I only leave a few times a year and I could always take you with me.”

“I certainly wouldn’t say no to taking advantage of the perks having a CEO boyfriend could bring me,” Magnus smirked. Before Alec could say anything else, however, Magnus’ features fell slightly and his eyes filled with uncertainty. “You- You are my boyfriend again, right? I didn’t completely misread this situation, did I?”

“No, Magnus, you didn’t misread the situation,” Alec huffed, pressing a soft kiss to Magnus’ lips again. “Two weeks of being single were more than enough for me. I would be an idiot not to jump on the opportunity to be with you again. I wasn’t kidding when I said that I still love you, Magnus.”

“And I still love you too,” Magnus answered softly, resting his forehead against Alec’s and breathing in deeply. “Now, you should go out there and give the crowd what they really want. It would be bad publicity for the CEO and recently-revealed co-designer of the collection to hide away all night.”

“But I’d much rather be here with you,” Alec pouted, tightening his hold on Magnus when the model tried to step out of his arms. “Can’t they wait a day longer? I’ll still be around tomorrow, and the day after, and the day after that…”

“So will I,” Magnus pointed out, snorting when Alec narrowed his eyes at him in the most betrayed manner he could manage. “Seriously, at least go spend time with the team. I don’t know about you, but I’d like to congratulate everyone on a job well done, and I can’t do that if we’re over here declaring our love for each other all over again. Don’t you think we’ve had enough romantic gestures for one evening?”

“There are never enough romantic gestures in the world,” Alec scoffed, but he didn’t protest when Magnus dragged him back out into the crowd, never letting go of the designer’s hand. “I’m still not talking to any journalists, though.”

“Oh, really?” Magnus chuckled, glancing down pointedly at himself. “I was under the impression you didn’t mind talking to me. Or Isabelle, for that matter.”

“You’re ridiculous,” Alec rolled his eyes. “You know exactly what I meant, so please take me to the rest of the team and keep the vultures away from me. I’m not in the mood to deal with interviews, especially not from people who are still reeling from my latest revelation.”

“So… everyone in this room?” Magnus asked slowly, snorting when Alec nodded. “Alright, darling, I will keep you away from everyone who doesn’t work for you. We’re only a few feet away anyways, so I doubt anyone will try to steal you away from me no- Hey, you! I’m sorry, but Alexander isn’t taking any questions or interviews tonight. No, he won’t make an exception for you. Not for you either, ma’am, I’m sorry.”

Alec laughed softly as Magnus sent him a helpless glance, desperately trying to get them through the thick crowd of people even as people tried to grab him left, right, and centre, all too eager to get a piece of Alec. Through it all, Magnus didn’t flinch or cave once, keeping a tight grip on Alec and glaring at anyone who dared touch him. Really, Alec couldn’t have asked for a better bodyguard.

By the time they made it to the rest of the fashion team, everyone had noticed their struggle to get across the room and snickered as they congratulated Magnus on his success.

“Well, that was a night,” Clary grinned, sidling up next to Alec and looping her arm into the crook of his elbow, shooing Magnus away when the journalist sent her a surprised glance. “I need some time with my best friend, lover boy, go talk to Cat and Madzie or something, I’m sure they’ll be delighted to see you again.”

“Very well,” Magnus laughed. “I can tell when I’m unwanted. You should catch up with Madzie once you and Clary are done with your best friend talk, alright? I think she missed you even more than I did, which I didn’t think was possible. And please, for the love of god, stay away from Andrew and his leech of a boyfriend.”

Alec stared at his boyfriend amusedly as he waited for Magnus to finish his little rant, nodding occasionally when the man mentioned a name Alec recognised. Finally, Clary glared at Magnus and physically shoved him away from them, barely giving Alec the time to kiss him softly, whispering a promise that he would see him again later.

“I forgot how annoying the two of you could get,” she curled her lip in distaste as Magnus walked away from them. No matter how disgusted she sounded, Alec knew she was genuinely happy for him – could see it in the way her eyes had lit up when she had first seen Magnus and him walk into the room. “Seriously, there should be a limit of how much PDA two people are allowed to partake in when their friends are around.”

“Sure, Red. We’ll see how Izzy and you do with those limits,” he answered, chuckling when Clary blushed a bright red. “But seriously, who in this team cares about PDA? Aline, Helen, Meliorn, and even Andrew and Emily certainly don’t seem to mind being able to kiss their partners whenever they want to. Besides, we should just be glad we have people to love in our lives. We’re happy, Red, isn’t that enough?”

“Yeah,” Clary breathed out, glancing over at Magnus and Isabelle where the two journalists were discussing something enthusiastically, smiling widely at each other. “It might even be more than enough. How did we get so lucky, huh?”

“I don’t know,” Alec answered honestly, his smile softening when Magnus and Izzy turned to glance at them, both of them waving seductively as they caught Alec and Clary staring. “But who cares? She loves you, Clary, more than she’s ever loved anyone. And you love her too. Maybe that has nothing to do with luck; maybe love is bigger than all of that.”

“Maybe,” Clary hummed. “He loves you too, you know? I’m not sure I’ll ever think he’s good enough for you, but he loves you more than anything in the world. I suppose that’ll have to be enough for me.”

“Good,” Alec laughed fondly. “Because it’s enough for me. Now, was there a reason why you stole me away from my boyfriend, or should we put them out of their misery and join them?”

“I just- I’m proud of you, Alec,” Clary said seriously, turning towards him and staring at him with a small, private smile tugging at her lips. “And I wanted to thank you for being the best partner I could have ever asked for. Thank you for giving me a place to thrive, for believing in me every step of the way, and for loving me all along. Out of everyone I know, you are the one most deserving of love, and I am so glad you found that with Magnus.”

“So am I. And for the record, you’re also the best partner I could have asked for,” Alec said, blinking back tears at his best friend’s words. “Now come on, enough with the sappiness. Izzy and Magnus are waiting for us, and the rest of the team will probably want to take a few pictures of the four of us in all our fabulousness.”

“Undoubtedly,” Clary grinned, eagerly skipping towards her girlfriend and letting Alec trail behind her.

He took his time reaching the rest of the group, looking them all over and feeling his heart speed up at their obvious happiness. He had contributed to that, even if just a little bit, by keeping the promise he had made them months earlier. The spring collection had turned out to be even more memorable than what Alec had planned, and it showed on all of his colleague’s faces.

Even though he knew he would still have to deal with the consequences of his speech, and he was well aware that he and Magnus would have to work on fixing their relationship for a while longer, Alec was happy. He would even go as far as to say he was happier than he had ever been.

The world now knew who he truly was, and he would be a fool not to take advantage of that. No more lies, no more secrets, no more hiding behind other people.

His colours were finally out in the open, and it was time for Alec to shine.

#malec #magnus bane #alec lightwood #fanfic #my writing

[hollygoeslightly]

1. I couldn't help but find Sydney's actions at the end to be very deceitful. As much as it's framed as a tragic choice where he comes out a bruised victim unintentionally hurting Charlotte, I feel that his choice is quite like Ms Champion's and he and the audience cannot actually claim that the exact same thing is any better than her cruel choice years ago. They both left their betrothed for money and we have no idea whether her circumstances were dire or not, yet she was painted as a villain.

2. And as much as I fell in love with Charlotte and Sydney, Sydney's actions at the end when it came to his treatment of her, were deplorable. Even Lord Babbington didn't kiss nor touch Ester in that society until he proposed, even when it seemed a sure thing. He respected her dignity in society and understood what it meant to take advantage of a woman before truly providing for her or making a promise. Thus when they finally kissed, it was celebratory.

3. I had a feeling when Sydney kissed Charlotte before asking for her hand, in a sense rewarding the audience prematurely, that it wouldn't happen. Simply because in that society and context, he knowingly skipped the steps of honoring a woman rightfully rather than using her. He made no promises before they kissed. He didn't propose. Also, speaking to Charlotte about marriage is too important to delay for a week later. The fact that he didn't spare a minute to finish their convo spoke ill.

4. All of these little things at the end of the season, the last episode, left a bad taste in my mouth and gave me the sense that it would end badly. Because as much as we know that Sydney loves Charlotte dearly, his actions were irresponsible and spoke otherwise. Even with money, there are many possibilities for something to come through. You don't barter with a person though, risk hurting someone you love especially after promising them a life, or leading them.The irresponsibility is likeOtis!

5. I know that in that society, Sydney is smart enough to know how much his actions would have consequences on a vulnerable young woman who doesn't even have money to her name. He knows that it's important to have promised marriage before touching her. He knows that making such a promise, he mustn't break it, because she will make arrangements pertaining to her entire life and wellbeing, resting on him. He's also experienced the same vile taste of that happening to him! What do you think?

6. Also just to be clear, I don't want to demand anything of you and I don't want to be negative. I love your meta and I put weight on your interpretations which is why I'm asking. I also love the character of Sydney, which is why I'm deeply disgruntled by this. Not the end, bc I saw that coming, but what the last few incidents mean for his character. I trusted that he'd understand his impact; all the parallels to scoundrels, the context of society, and the contradiction to Babbington is not good.

Hey!

Thanks for the question. I hope you don’t mind, but I’m going to break down your question into parts in order to ensure my answer will make some semblance of sense.

Real Life and Reel Life

I’ve spoken about this before, but it bears repeating as it has a significant impact on how I interpret the show – I am not an Austen purist, nor am I a stickler for complete historical accuracy when it comes to my enjoyment of a particular movie or TV show. For instance, I know some people were frustrated by the historical inaccuracy of Charlotte wearing her hair down, but Charlotte’s modern hairstyle was never something that bothered me. Everyone’s mileage varies of course, but as long as the characterisation is cohesive and interesting and the creators have managed to convey the overall spirit of the period of time the story is set, I’m happy.

It’s also worth noting that while Jane Austen was a fairly historically accurate author, her body of work had a very narrow focus – middle class and upper class families in country villages in southern England. And while her body of work is historically accurate, it’s also intentionally sanitised. Regency and Victorian England was a time of significant social, political and economic change – beneath the shiny veneer of tea rooms and good manners was an underbelly of sex, drugs and gambling.

Why am I mentioning this? Because Sanditon was Andrew Davies’ attempt at expanding Austen’s focus – placing Austen’s signature study of manners against the backdrop of a fairly chaotic period in time. Personally, I loved this aspect of the show. Not only did Davies force the audience to confront their preconceived ideas of what a typical Austen character actually is, but it allowed the characters to push against issues outside of love and marriage. Don’t get me wrong, I swoon every time Darcy helps Elizabeth into the carriage after the ball at Pemberley or Anne reads Wentworth’s letter, but it was nice to have a slightly different interpretation of Austen’s work.

Finally, I firmly believe that part of the agreement you undertake when interacting with any form of entertainment is the suspension of some degree of reality. The amount of suspension is dependent on the work of course, but even true stories require some form of suspension (e.g. the amalgamation of characters, timelines sped up) to be entertaining. In the case of Sanditon, the characters inhabit a close approximation of Regency England, but not an exact copy (e.g. Charlotte wears her hair down, clothing is not always period appropriate). This is also the case when it comes to characters breaking a few of the social conventions that Austen routinely explored. For example, while Sidney kissing Charlotte prior to proposing to her in 1x08 would have been frowned upon in the real world, in Davies’ version of Regency England, Sidney kissing Charlotte is not a poor reflection of his character nor does it indicate that he knowingly took advantage of her – it’s simply a way to drive the narrative forward and create an entertaining story. This is supported by the fact that Charlotte’s reputation remains in good standing despite spending time alone with both Sidney and Young Stringer and that Esther faces no consequences for the exposure of her romantic/abusive relationship with her brother in 1x08. So while I understand that for you, Davies’ choice to overlook certain social conventions is frustrating, I think it’s important to acknowledge that the world Sanditon presents us is not 100% historically accurate, and for the purposes of entertainment, I don’t think it can be.

Sidney, Eliza and Otis

Following the fire in the new terrace apartments in 1x08, Sidney is forced to make a choice between love and money – his love for Charlotte and his desire to save his brother (The Worst) from debtor’s prison. Sidney is faced with an impossible choice and in the end chooses to sacrifice his own happiness (I think Sidney believes that Charlotte will be able to move on and find happiness again) for the well being of Tom, Mary and the children. As you’ve pointed out, this is a direct parallel to Eliza choosing money over her love of Sidney. However, I don’t think it’s accurate to claim that both decisions are equal in cruelty – doing so removes all nuance from the situation.

While I understand why some members of the fandom believe that Eliza could have had a valid reason for choosing money over love, I don’t believe the narrative supports that argument (whether this would have changed in S2, I’m not sure). Eliza is described by Tom (1x06) and Arthur (1x07) as intentionally betraying Sidney’s trust, choosing the safety of wealth over love.

Arthur – “Do you know, for years all I knew about my brother, Sidney, was that he was driven to the West Indies with a broken heart.”

Sidney – “And what’s your point Arthur?”

Arthur – “I admire your spirit of forgiveness that is all. If it were me, I do not think I could bring myself to trust her again.”

Arthur speaks of a betrayal of trust that he does not believe he could ever get past, a betrayal he is surprised that his own brother is willing to forgive. The reason Sidney is so damaged by Eliza’s betrayal is not because she was forced by circumstance to marry for money (if that was the case, it would be presented as two lovers torn apart by outside influences e.g. Sidney and Charlotte), but because by choosing to marry for money, she publically declared that Sidney was not enough. The love and future he could offer her was not enough. Eliza’s choice is so cruel, because her decision is so mercenary in nature – it’s a decision made out of choice, not necessity. She made the decision knowing what it would cost and she deemed that cost (Sidney’s self-worth) worthwhile.

This is also the case when it comes to Otis’ treatment of Georgiana. Otis made an active choice to barter with Georgiana’s name in order to extend credit for his gambling debts. He had multiple options available to him, number one being to stop gambling, but he made a decision where he would benefit and Georgiana would be placed at risk. On the other hand, the audience is made aware that Sidney is forced into a position where there are no right choices. Regardless of the decision he makes, someone will be hurt. He is the only one in the position to find the money to keep his brother out of debtor’s prison and as a result, Tom’s failure to insure Sanditon costs Sidney his future with Charlotte. Intention matters. Yes, all decisions lead to people being hurt, but Sidney is the only one who also suffers as a result of the decision he made.

While I understand the audience was upset by Sidney’s decision (I didn’t like it either), I also think an ending where Sidney and Charlotte marry while Tom is sent to debtor’s prison (most likely for the rest of his life) and Mary and the children are made homeless and shunned by society for Tom’s misdeeds, would have also been incredibly unpopular.

Sidney and Lord Babington

On the surface, I can understand why you’ve compared Sidney and Lord Babington.  Both fall in love with feisty women and both intend to propose marriage to said feisty women – it’s an easy connection to make. However, I don’t think it’s accurate to say that Sidney’s actions are wholly bad and Lord Babington’s actions are wholly good simply because Lord Babington’s proposal ended in a marriage.

Let me give you another interpretation of Lord Babington and Esther’s relationship (not one I subscribe to, but one that can be drawn based on the narrative). Taken by Esther’s honesty and derision, Lord Babington makes Esther aware that he has feelings for her. Esther in turn rejects Lord Babington and tells him all further attempts on his part would be futile. Despite this, Lord Babington continues to pursue her, writing letters which she never answers – another clear indication that she is not interested. Lord Babington visits Sanditon with the express purpose of seeing Esther (1x05) and requests a private walk without a chaperone where he proposes marriage. Esther rejects his proposal. After hearing Edward speak badly of his sister, Lord Babington visits Esther in private, again without a chaperone present. Following Lady Denham’s recovery he once again goes on an outing with Esther without a chaperone. After discovering that Esther had a romantic relationship with Edward and Esther telling him that she doesn’t love him, Lord Babington proposes marriage for the second time and Esther finally accepts. They marry.

If S2 had gone ahead, I’m fairly sure Esther’s love for Edward and her lack of love for her husband would have been a major plot point. And while I think it would have all worked out in the end, that Esther would have realised she loves Lord Babington, what if it hadn’t? Esther may have come to resent her husband, trapped in a marriage by a husband who knows his wife does not love him, still pining for the one man she couldn’t have because of circumstances out of her control.  

Again, I understand why the choice to ignore some social conventions may be frustrating, however in Davies’ version of Regency England, breaking these conventions do not have the consequences they would have had in real life. By judging the actions of the characters by real life rules, you are assigning intention and consequence where there are none.

I think it’s also worth noting, that apart from Sidney and Charlotte themselves, nobody knows that they kissed and only Alison, Mary, Georgiana and Young Stringer are aware that Sidney was intending to propose marriage. Charlotte’s heart may be badly bruised, but her reputation is still intact.

Charlotte’s Agency

Perhaps it’s because Charlotte’s agency is more quietly expressed than other characters, but I think the argument that Charlotte became passive in the final two episodes, overlooks the very active choices Charlotte makes in regards to her feelings for Sidney. Passiveness suggests inaction, and in 1x08 Charlotte chooses to act – she asks Sidney whether she can join him on his walk into town. This may seem inconsequential, but it is anything but. Because Charlotte is not only choosing to trust in her feelings for Sidney and in his feelings for her, but she is telling Sidney his feelings are reciprocated and those feelings are strong enough that they need time alone to discuss their possible future together. The agency lies with Charlotte the whole time.

We began with the scene with a rather inane discussion about the weather and Charlotte’s family – Sidney is both desperate to discuss their conversation from the previous night, but patiently waiting for Charlotte to indicate that this is something she wishes to do. She does, telling him she would rather continue their walk together than return to town for her dress fitting.

Charlotte – “We seem not to be walking into town?”

Sidney – “Ah, yes, your dress fitting. Forgive me, what a fool I am. Should we head back, perhaps?”

Charlotte – “No, there is absolutely no urgency about my dress fitting. A walk along the clifftops is much more to my taste.”

Sidney – “Good. My thoughts exactly.”

Sidney is willing to end their walk and the possibility of discussing their feelings at the slightest hint that this may not be something Charlotte desires. However, following Charlotte’s lead, Sidney admits that he wished to find time alone with her to discuss their conversation while glancing at her mouth every five seconds, and of course they kiss. What is important to note is that Sidney continues to check in with Charlotte at every point in the lead up to that moment. Charlotte only had to say no or ask to return to town for Sidney not to proceed, something she is well aware of and actively chooses not to do. Responding positively to Sidney’s actions is not the same as passiveness. You only have to watch as Charlotte stares longing at Sidney to know that she desired the kiss just as much as he did.

Why am I mentioning all this? Because in your question, you talk quite a bit about Sidney’s choices and actions, and the consequences they may have for Charlotte, without acknowledging that Charlotte is an active participant. Do I think that means she could have somehow prevented what occurred? No, but nor do I think it’s fair to remove Charlotte’s participation from her own storyline. She may be a victim of incredibly poor circumstances, but I don’t think it’s fair to say she is a victim of Sidney’s poor behaviour. Sidney and Charlotte not ending the season married does not cancel out Charlotte’s agency in choosing to pursue her relationship with Sidney.

Thanks for the question, I hope I made sense!

#askbox #sanditon #jane austen #sidney parker #charlotte heywood #lord babington #esther denham #sanditon meta #mine