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#I don't think anyone disrespects black women more than black men. At least not from my experience.
trashiewrites · 3 years
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Promotion (Soap x Reader)
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Word count: 2319
[Notes: I'm so happy to finally have finished this fic! I've been feeling on and off for a while. I hope you all enjoy this as much as I enjoyed writing it! Also sorry I have really basic grammar so grammar might be shit.]
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Night lurked over the head of the men and women of the camp. You found yourself looking up to the sky for no particular reason. The stars of tonight shined brightly, they seemed almost hypnotic. You were out of it to not hear someone come by behind you. "Sky beautiful tonight ain't it?" You jumped up at the sudden voice, knowing it was the captain "sorry, didn't mean to scare ya!"
"It's fine captain...." you lightly chucked as splashes of red-tinted your cheeks. You've had a small feeling for the Scottish man. You've been denying it till recently. He's your CO but you know... at least shoot your shot. "Would you like to join me, captain?"
"I would love too" he sat down close next to you. A lovely grin from ear to ear as he stared at the stars too. "What do you see or get reminded of when you see the stars?" You hummed, placing a finger upon your chin as you thought. For a split second, you glanced at the captain...
"Well..." your heart raced at the thought of putting the notation of you liking someone out there. In the end, you chicken out of it. " I see possibilities! What about you sir?"
"They remind me of someone I deeply love." He chuckled as his gaze faced downward. "They don't quite know it yet though..."
"Whoever it is, they should count themselves lucky, sir." You nudged his shoulder, attempting to keep your cool, "you're an amazing person after all!"
"You really think so?" Soap laughed as he rubbed the back of his neck. You nodded, giving him a reassuring smile. Though your chest showed this pang of jealousy. "Say... how about we head to the mess hall? Grab some dinner."
"Of course!" You yelped a tad too excitedly. Realizing that fact you tensed up and smiled nervously "um... Of course, captain..." the both of you stood and began to walk side to side. The walk itself was sweet and littered with small talk about anything. It could be training, people, or even gossip. Yet throughout the whole time you would glance over to the captain. Noticing small little details about him that made your heart slowly melt. His chiseled jaw, his deep blue eyes, the way he laughed and made others motivated. You loved every single thing about this man.
"I wonder what crap they'll give us today.." He held the tent's drapes open for you. "You first~" he mockingly bowed.
"Why thank you, captain!" You walk in after a small curtsy.
"You know you can call me John right? It's off-hours, so I don't mind." You paused in your tracks, processing the offer. You knew no one who ever called the Captain by his first. If anything you found the idea almost disrespectful to him.
"Are you sure sir?" You look at him with a look of pure confusion. He covered his mouth as a laugh leaked from it. Which by all means makes you even more confused.
"Yes, I'm sure. But just on off-hours, ya hear?" He smiled, lightly pushing your shoulder as he walked past you.
"Y-yes, sir!" You both went up getting your MREs. On the side, they had a package of tea bags, the water next to it respectfully. As well there is a brewer with a sign that reads coffee. You, being much more a tea person, gladly took a plastic cup and had your cup. John, on the other hand, had pure black coffee. As you sat down facing each other you could help but notice the stars in his eyes as he glanced at the coffee. If anything it was drop-dead adorable. As you both waited for the MREs to prepare themselves you decided to push what john told you earlier. "So John..." you coughed, hoping to release some on the nerves. He hummed back glancing down at you as he sipped his cup of dirty beans.
"Something on your mind (y/n)?"
"About that person, you talked about earlier. It-the one you love, can I ask more about them?" You glanced down, waiting to get scolded that it wasn't your place to know.
"Sure!"
"Sir, I'm sorry. I shouldn't have asked it definitely isn't-" you headshot to look at John as you realized the words that exited his mouth. "W-wait... really?"
"I mean, why not?" He smiled ever so innocently, "do you not want to know anymore?"
"It's not that... I just thought that's not really my place." You flash him a nervous smile as well a shrug of your shoulders. "But go on!" Your tone was almost eager, your heart yearned to hear this.
"Well.. she's a beautiful lass. Very strong-willed and kind." His face began to soften, you assume at the thought of the girl. "She just splendid to be around. She's smart, witty, and exceptional clueless..." he chuckled, facing off to the side.
"Do I know her?" You took a bit of your MRE. Which, by the way, was still piping hot. "Hot hot hot!!" You lightly banged the table as you swallowed through the pain. John smiled as he placed a hand upon his chin, pondering the question.
"I suppose you do, they are on the team." This caught you by surprise. You knew this person, and you trained with this person. The thought plagued your mind. Unaware of it, you were eerily silent as a checklist played through your head. John coughed, having taken bites from his meal, "look, you don't have to look further into it but if you do find out, I'll give you a promotion of sorts."
"A promotion? For something like this?"
"You'll see.." John smiled as he took his final bite. "Now I best be off, good luck." He stood, walking away from the table. Leaving you staring into the distance, dumbfounded. As you finished you knew that the other boys were up much later. Roach, for example, the man stays up all the time. Speed walking over to the barracks to see Roach outside on his phone.
"Gary! I have to ask you something!" He looked up and smiled sweetly.
"Sure! What could you need this late though?"
"Apparently the captain like one of the girls, do you have any idea who?" You spoke quietly as to not draw anyone else's attention. Roach was baffled at first at the weird question. Yet that baffled face soon became one that reads 'you can't be serious'.
"You are blind..."
"What do you mean?" You began to think it should be an obvious answer. But there are plenty of women as John described.
"Look... I don't know the captain personally enough to know for sure. But it's been kinda obvious for a while." Roach chuckled as his eyes returned to his phone, "I don't even think I have the balls to tell ya. How 'bout ask the lieutenant? He knows the captain like the back of his hand."
"Lieutenant Riley? Ghost? Do you know how weird that is? At least me and you, ya know, we are the same rank." You clutched your fist together, chills running down your spine at the thought.
"If I tell you, you probably, no, you WILL go ask the lieutenant anyways."
"Just tell me, Sanderson!" You grabbed the man, who is taller than you, by the collar of his shirt.
"It's you dumbass!" You stood there in silence. Some say your soul exited your body for a minute. Roach slowly moved your hands off his collar. "(Y/n)??"
"You're joking..." Roach shook his head. "Where is the lieutenant?"
"In the living quarter last I checked." Roach meekly voiced out, scared to once again get his collar grabbed. You walked in to see the lieutenant relaxing in the lounge area, his head in a newspaper. You quietly made your way over, as well as thinking of what the hell you would ask him. You found it painfully awkward to ask if your CO has a crush on you.
"You need something (y/n)?" He lowered his newspaper ever so slightly, his brown eyes staring coldly at you.
"Uh... y-yes I-I have a... question." You stared right back to him, the heat on your cheeks making you uncomfortable as hell.  He chuckled as he took one last look at his paper, folding it neatly. You could help but think did he already know you were coming here? I mean it wouldn't be surprising, due to the confrontation with Roach.
"Well, go ahead then. Ask away."  His  voice  seemed to mock you, not rudely of course. But it's as if he was teasing you.
"W-well sir, earlier this evening the captain g-gave me a challenge to... to.." you coughed the lump of nervousness in your throat was suffocating. As you once again open your mouth to speak the rest of your statement, Riley's deep voice chimed in.
"He dared you to find out who's he's crushing on, ya?" Your heart sunk down to your stomach. Of course he already knew... you feel the heat on your cheeks.
"Y-yes, sir... gosh this is embarrassing." You faced the ground, glancing up periodically.
"Well I'm assuming you want me to tell you who?"
"W-well sir, I originally asked Roach and well..." you coughed, trying your hardest to grow some balls, "He said it was me. I was just wonder if it t-true."
"I'll tell you two things alright?" You nodded as you took a seat across from him "one, he does. It's been quite obvious for a while. Two, he never shuts the fuck up about you.. god it comes to the point I hate being in a room alone with him."
"O-oh I-I"
"Just hurry up and get together already, that way he stops fucking going on about ya" you nodded did a 180 headed straight off.
"Y-Yes sir!!"
Just after, you sat at your bunk... you couldnt bring yourself to do it. Your mind was still processing it all in. Lieutenant Riley's word echoed in your ears. You yourself felt like you were floating, yet scared. "This must all be a dream, it too good to be true..." you pinched you arm, almost to the point of drawing blood. Eyes squint from the pain, and open to the same scenery as before. "What am I doing?" You stood and went to the mirror, slapping your cheeks. Squeezing your face together ever so slightly, "get yourself together (y/n), this could be the once chance!" You confidently went to the door. "Captain quarters are far... it shouldnt be difficult at all." You walked out briskly, closing the door quietly behind you.
You made steady pace to the captain quarters. You tried your hardest to keep your cool, you werent sure if it was working. Then again, it's rather late there really isnt many people around. You stood in front of the door. You have never been more scared of a door before.  You took a step forward, a deep breath, curling your hand to knock of the door. Before you could even knock the door opened and there stood the captain. "Oh (y/n), what got you out here so late at night?"
"I-I just N-needed..." your body shivered of nervousness, of course he would open the door right before you were ready!
"Look at you..." he spoke softly, grasping lightly at your shoulder. Placing another hand in the open air. "You're shivering like a you've been in the cold for awhile, come in." He slowly leads you in, even if you were at all cold (which you weren't) the heat from your face could probably keep you alive. You look up to him offering a cup of hot tea.
"Captain... I-im not cold..." you took the cup, taking in the aroma of the tea. "but I do appreciate the drink." It was calming actually.
"If you ain't cold, does that mean you're nervous? By what in god name has god cha nervous?" You place the tea upon the coffee table. You knew he was staring at you, yet you could stare back. Rubbing your arm shyly, a small cough to clear your throat. "Oh.... it's that challenge ain't it?"
You nodded, slowly lifting your head to see him. His expression was almost eager, perhaps hopeful? He held his own hands, twiddling with his own thumb. "C-Captain..."
"Please... Call me John." It was almost as he was begging just like a puppy. It took you by surprise but it's what you could atleast do.
"Okay, John," you chuckled. Cracking a small little smirk, butterflies already flying everywhere within you. "I-I like you too, I have for a while. Gosh, saying "like" is just an understatement. I've loved you for a while." You exhaled deeply, the weight in your chest seemingly lifted. John stood, sitting next to you. Wrapping you into a tight embrace.
"Congrats, (y/n). Are you ready for that promotion?" He spoke softly into your ear. Hunger, yearning plagued the tones of his voice.
"J-John what exactly is this promotion?" You moved his head back, cupping his cheeks. He smirked devilishly, slowly moving to cover your own cheeks.
"Well, of course. You're gonna be promoted to my girlfriend~" as he finished his sentence in a deep husky voice. He planted his lips upon yours, holding you close. It was heavenly, you didnt want it to end. His taste was hypnotic, sweet, hungry and full of passion and love. Time seemed to slow down and you couldnt care. Yet reality hit back always too soon. You two separate panting, staring longingly into eachothers eyes. "G-God I waited so long to do that..."
You panted quietly, holding your hand to his cheek. You sat and admired this moment, this moment will never happen again. "Well... I hope the wait was worth it." You laughed, pulling his head closer. Gifting him a small peck upon his nose.
"Oh definitely princess, definitely."
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alrightsnaps · 2 years
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I think Normal People is a legitimate example of the equally talented woman in the pairing getting left behind, but not Bridgerton. Regé as the Duke was instrumental in the success of Bridgerton. No one was checking for Daphne. She was just there for female viewers to project onto and live variously though. Anyone could’ve played her and Bridgerton still would’ve been huge; the same isn’t true for any other actor as the Duke.
Regé and Phoebe were both easily the weakest acting links in the cast, in my opinion. Even so it’s not at all illogical, unfair, or surprising that he’s the one that took off. He’s at least new and interesting but we’ve seen so many Phoebe types before and the character she was playing didn’t help. The misogyny argument is honestly trite because he has it much harder as a Black actor than she does as a white actress. There will always be roles for her. The same isn’t true of Black men in the industry. So Regé is not a “diva” for leaving the show and trying to capitalize on once in a lifetime hype.
I agree that Daphne's character would've inevitably turned into a self-insert for female audiences to identify with, but you can argue that Simon could be played by a different actor as much as Daphne. If neither was the strongest actor in the show, why wouldn't any other hot male actor who had chemistry with his co-lead given the same result? And what was there about Simon's character that made him more complex or interesting than Daphne's? They were both pretty weak depth-wise.
I'm not arguing that Phoebe was treated in a misogynistic way, I'm just not gonna play “which one is worse?” with race and gender, when both white women and Black men are privileged in one regard and disadvantaged in the other. It was to be expected that in a story like Simon and Daphne's that didn't have much to it, the male lead would attract much more attention. I don't find Regé’s rise to fame surprising or unexpected in that regard. But I do find the constant disparaging comments about Phoebe and her performance extremely reductive when Regé is being praised in the same breath. I mean...at least we should stay consistent when it comes to the standards by which we judge the two actors?
Regé was literally offered a role big enough to rival Jonathan's in season 2 to stay in Bridgerton and he said no– his career wasn't exactly in danger. Black men in general may have it difficult, but after his level of success and while remaining relevant by keeping his role in the show, Regé would hardly be one of them. And while I definitely understand his wish to move on as an actor (and tbf it was a blessing in disguise that he didn't accept Shonda’s offer, because having Simon and Daphne as kinda-mains in s02 would've seriously messed up the dynamics and stolen attention away from Kathony) his attitude of “I don't want to have anything to do with Bridgerton! I want people to forget I was even on that show!” is plain disrespectful both to the show and the audience that gave him the opportunity to gain this level of fame in the first place. He could've negotiated a middle ground solution and maybe done something similar to what Matthew Goode did in the Downton movie, and made a cameo or two per season. It wouldn't prevent him from pursuing the projects he wants to pursue. The reason he didn't do that was because he wanted to cut all associations with Bridgerton and this holier than though attitude is not new among male actors when it comes to romance (the same happened with Theo James just a few months later). So I'm not gonna go easy on him looking down on the show that made him who he is.
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buckttommy · 3 years
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