#She does get a job stone finally after that

[twi-liight]

Hi! I suffer from Baldur's Gate brainrot. I just stumbled upon your blog and love your writing! Could you do some Astarion, Gale and Karlach headcanons for taking care of Tav after they're badly injured in battle?

Reckless Attack ❣

Grieve, weep, and agonize over a corpse - but know that death is never final in Faerun. The burden of injuries will instead always be present: pain is eternal, no matter how numb. ❥ Astarion/Tav, Gale/Tav, Karlach/Tav. ❥ TW: Descriptive mentions of injuries and gore. ❥ Act 2 spoilers. ❥ They/them pronouns for Tav. ❥ Tav is the nickname for the reader/oc insert. Their real name is up to you!

An Absolutist cult has gathered deep in the bowels of the forests of Rivington. Nothing out of the ordinary... Other than the sheer numbers they possess, creating a dense population of Absolute extremists gathered in stone ruins.

Adventuring parties that dare to end their machinations perished slowly and painfully. Their corpses - what is left of them - are displayed pierced from the gnarled branches of the trees, where they bleed out on the forest ground.

Tav, Astarion, Gale, and Karlach had a plan: throw a barrel full of smoke bombs into the middle of the ruins, firebolt, and profit. Except things didn’t go according to plan (they never do). That barrel was supposed to be at their rendezvous point, but the cultists found it before they did and thought it a gift from their Goddess.

Trapped in hiding, Tav decided to do what they do best: attack.

A potent necromancy curse was successfully cast on Tav, negating any healing spells thrown their way.

Well.

Fuck.

ASTARION

"As always, you refuse to listen to me. And now look at you: a mess. What did I say about running afool to the vanguard?" Astarion does not wait for their response. “Don't do it. It is smarter to be in the shadows in this instance. And what did you do? Ran alone into a quarry of cultists with no sense of self-preservation!”

Anger, pure anger, is present in his voice, sharpening his typical melodic lilt into daggers. If he cared about the present company - Shadowheart, Halsin, and Gale crowded into a tent, surrounding Tav upon their cot - it is nonexistent in his wine-red eyes. They could get lost in those bloody depths for hours. But not now. Not when seething rage roils off of his body like a cloud of darkness.

They look away.

"Nothing to say for yourself, darling?” he mocks. Astarion’s visage twists into a sneer, sharply turning his face away from them. He finds an unused rag, wets it, wrings it of excess water, and then moves past Shadowheart. “Allow me,” he murmurs to her, gentler.

Shadowheart’s inquisitive green eyes understand the depth of the situation immediately. She sighs, clearly annoyed he has taken over her job, but is dissuaded by Astarion’s next string of words: “I’ll clean them up. Magic and healing and all that wonderful nonsense are not necessarily my area of expertise. A firebolt here and there, surely, but I wouldn’t know where to begin with a curse that... Negates healing magic.”

“Sure,” Shadowheart replies, eyes flicking to Tav. Worry is evident over her features. Worry hangs heavy around everyone. Emerging out of battles victorious and grievously injured is commonplace; nothing a mass healing word couldn't fix along with a good night’s rest. Open wounds would be closed scars, ailments would be cured, and broken bones would be unbroken. Rinse and repeat.

This time, it is different.

They, and they alone, were cursed with a necromancy spell that makes all healing magic useless to their wounds.

Their wounds are appalling: Broken ribs evident with the pain swelling in their chest and labored breathing, purple and black blotchy bruises from the hammer blows they took to the shoulder, an open laceration across their chest, their ankle snapped in two, burns on their left leg crawling up their thigh. Blood all over their face from their own and from the enemies they felled.

“Hey, it’s fine,” they wheeze out. "Nothing I can't handle. The cultists are down and dead and buried - everything else can come after."

Hesitantly, Gale opens his mouth to reply, but is abruptly cut off by Astarion snapping out: "No."

"No," they echo. Their brows furrow.

"What a saint you are," Astarion snarls. His lips are down-turned, fangs bared as he speaks, but his ministrations upon their face are soothing. Gently, he rubs off the blood with a cool washcloth, eyes focusing on the task at hand as he cannot bear to look at them.

"Throwing yourself into the heat of battle like that, I suppose I shouldn't be surprised. Tell me, my dear, do you enjoy watching rational fly past you when you make your impulsive decisions?"

They flush with humiliation and hurt. Broken and battered, they dig their elbow into the cot to prop themselves up and face Astarion head-on, but Halsin presses a hand into their shoulder and pushes them down.

Fuck. Their head spins in circles.

"You're one to talk. Impulsivity is your middle name; you said yourself that planning is not your forte." Even raising their voice hurts but they do it anyway. Their eyes, threatening to slip into oblivion, flood with frustrated tears. "What the fuck is your problem, Astarion?"

"Must I really spell it out for you, sweetheart? You go around, telling everyone exactly what they need to hear. You tell them they aren't alone. That you will help them, that you will ensure they see the future that they want." The words are venom: petty and spiteful and yearning to be understood. "You," Astarion hisses out, "are so blind."

Tempers rising to fever pitch, Halsin tenses from his spot at the foot of the cot. From the corner of Tav's eye, they see Gale murmur something to him, something like, Let this play out. Astarion would never hurt them.

"I am the only one who will take the first step!" Tav cries. The words explode out of their broken chest faster than they realize, flying like an arrow straight toward Astarion's unbeating heart. "I risk my life - every day - for all of YOU! For all the people that need me! For all that I am because-"

"Because what?" He taunts. "Because it is the right thing to do? Look at yourself, Tav! You are on death's door if not for everyone in this room!"

"Because no one else will do it! Not anyone in this damn camp cares enough to- to help the people we could-" They cough violently, but they slam their elbows into the cot to prop themselves up. No one stops them this time as they meet Astarion's burning eyes. "No one cares but ME-"

"WE care about you!" Louder. Vicious. Astarion's voice splits in the air in two in one fell swoop, striking them down like lightning into silence.

He's breathing heavily, panting, as if exhausted. The adrenaline pumping in his veins is begging him to swoop Tav up and run away with them. Away from all of this bullshit and into hiding within the shadows. Maybe the Underdark. Maybe the Shadowcursed Lands. They can descend into madness together.

At least there, they will be safe.

"I care about you," Astarion chokes out before he can stop himself. "More than anything. Do you know that? I hope you know that."

Their mouth forms the words to reply, Of course I do, but it doesn't leave their throat. Instead, it stays stuck there like a fluttering butterfly, forced into silence. It hurts to speak. It hurts to talk. It hurts to see him like this.

He calls out their name so quietly it could have been a trick of the wind.

"Astarion," they plead.

He shakes his head, stubborn and unconvinced. "You don't owe these people anything. You certainly do not owe them your life for their burdens. I," he breathes out, voice as shaky as a leaf in the wind. He screws his eyes shut and clenches his fist around the rag, where their blood stains his palm.

"I almost lost the sun of my life today."

When Astarion opens his eyes, they are steeled with resilience and fury as they gaze into theirs. It is hypnotic. It is lonely. They yearn to comfort him.

"It will not happen again."

GALE

"Easy," Gale murmurs, a strong arm laying them down in his tent. Soft blankets and pillows meet their back, and the cushy grass beneath makes for a cool and comforting sleep. Their breath stutters, but Gale gazes at them so fondly as he pushes their hair from their face that the pain eases.

He does not miss their labored breathing. "Shhh shh shh. I've got you. Just focus on me."

His thumb lingers on the swell of their cheek. His eyes flutter close. A gentle glow of purple surrounds him, and eventually, that gentleness extends to Tav. The agonizing, piercing sensation in their chest numbs into a cool, muted nothingness. They gasp - then exhale in relief, slower than their panicky, short breaths from before.

"That's it," he encourages. "Well done, my love. How are you feeling?"

"So-so," they reply. Their voice aches and croaks, but for some reason, it makes Gale smile.

Oh no. He knows that look.

They study his handsome, tired face, looking for any signs of alarm. Is he hungry? Does he need to feed on another artefact? Was there an envoy telling them they missed another Absolutist hideout? Did they miss something? Did they do something wrong?

No. Nope. "Enough of that." He takes their hand, kisses their knuckles, then sighs. "You're the last person who should be worrying about someone. Such a pest, hm? Always buzzing around me like I'm seconds away from disappearing in front of your eyes..."

"You are," they say. Their brows furrow, and they pant out, "The-- your burden to carry, the--"

"The orb, I know. I know." His heart twists. It aches. He failed Mystra before and that was painful. But this is another subject entirely; it couldn't come close. Watching sheer heartbreak in their expression because of him? Oh, Goddess forgive him, he has failed them.

Gale can scarcely celebrate his victory, too. He undid the damned curse that affected Tav's ability to receive magic. The necromancy spell was so potent that Tav rejected any healing spells thrown at them. Late into the hours of experimentation, he, Halsin, and Shadowheart considered allowing the effects to wither and die rather than exterminating it outright. It was Jaheira who told them it would be inefficient, because how long would they have to wait in camp while Tav rode out the effects of the curse? Ideally? Hours. But days? Weeks? Months?

He spent the long night following and feeling out the curse with the Weave. It was a complicated hex - a tangled knot of magic that had to be unwoven carefully, thread by thread. Every connotation, every intent was traced back to the heart of the curse, and he followed it with abandon.

"I'm sorry for all the trouble, then," they whisper.

"You should be," he jests. "Nearly made my heart collapse, seeing you like that."

The image is still burned into his mind. He can't stop thinking about it. His mortality has always been a dreadful afterthought pushed into the further recesses of his tadpole-addled brain, but was he so taken with Tav that he never realized how mortal they were, too?

No. No. Gale tightens his grip on their hand, giving them a comforting squeeze as they breathe in and out, in and out. It's not that he never realized how susceptible they are to death and danger. He just never wanted to confront it.

"You are changing the very premise of my life," he says softly. An exasperated chuckle leaves him as he shakes his head, adding, "as always. I don't know what I would have done if I actually lost you, back there." What wouldn't I do? "No scrolls of revivifies, no Withers to bring you back. I wouldn't be able to accept it."

He understands Ketheric Thorm all too well, now.

"Come here," they whisper. Gale lets their hands press into the back of his head. He thinks, absently, that he would let them do much of anything. In their care, he is no grand wizard with a plethora of achievements under his belt. No. He is as humble as the Weave itself, and their hands compose music and art for him to simply bear witness to.

They rest his head upon their chest, where his ear can listen to the comforting sound of their beating heart.

Thud. Thud. Thud. Thud thud.

"Good night, my love," Gale says, when their breathing evens and they have finally fallen into peaceful slumber. He does not sleep at all.

KARLACH

"Oh gods. Oh gods!" Karlach clasps Tav's left hand between hers, holding tightly and vowing to never let go. Their blood stains her hand and chest and clothes. It's everywhere. Sickly sweet and sticky, drawing all of her attention from the room to the sensation of it dripping down her skin.

They've lost so much blood. It's nauseating, like an unsettling reality has just settled in her stomach.

"Tav!" She exclaims, helpless and pathetic. "Why did you do that, you big idiot? You seriously could have gotten killed out there, why-- why aren't you..."

Responding? Where are their quips, their sass, their brightness she fell so fast and hard for? Tav lays there upon the cot, broken and battered. Karlach has seen the remains of her enemies after she has slaughtered them and has barely flinched. She can barely stomach the sight of them bloodied, bones twisted in the wrong way, bruises so purple they're as black as a chasm.

All they can do is breathe. Their eyes focus distantly above them to the roof of the tent, but nothing else.

Panic seizes her faster than she can control it. "Are they breathing?! Are they going to survive this?! Fuck," she growls, running a frustrated hand through her dark hair, matted with blood. "I should have made those sons of bitches suffer."

"Karlach," Shadowheart says, firm but gentle, her hands bloody too as she applied pressure down on Tav's wounds, "it was important that you returned them to camp as fast as you did. Sometimes, we do not have the luxuries to let our enemies die in pain."

Right. Right. Karlach watched an Absolutist barbarian slam his warhammer into Tav's back. Once to knock them down. Twice to keep them plastered on the ground. Once more to keep them unconscious. She saw red, then: the rage she slipped into boiled her veins so hot, the howl she let out sent her surroundings enemies into a frightened frenzy. She hacked her great axe into the barbarian over and over and over until he was nothing but a bloodied pulp of a man, more gore than flesh.

She scooped Tav up from the ground. Karlach never let anyone else touch them. She snarled and snapped at the others who tried to come too close and dead sprinted as fast as she could back to camp.

She heard their choked sobs of pain in her arms. They choked out her name, and Karlach couldn't offer them much of anything other than an, "We're going home, bubs, just hang on. 'Kay? You just focus on me."

"Can I stay here?" She begs Shadowheart. "I won't get in the way. Just let me hold their hand, please."

Shadowheart exchanges a conflicted glance at Halsin. He nods, and she sighs. "Fine," she says. "But - I need you to stand to the side for now. You can hold their hand after we're done figuring out how to undo this curse."

"A fine specimen of a curse, really," Gale adds, his hand curled under his chin. "I'm almost impressed."

"I would be too," huffs Shadowheart, "if our reckless leader wasn't caught up in this mess. Really, what were you thinking?"

"Right?" Karlach shoves off into the corner of the tent, doing her best to keep herself as small and as out-of-the-way as possible. Tears flood her eyes, and she chokes out, "Of all the things to do, why did it have to be that? I thought you said you trusted me! To have your back! I have your back, don't I? Don't I?"

"Of course you do," Halsin croons. He hooks his finger into a bottle of salve, and spreads it on Tav's burns. Tav visibly winces and tenses, whimpering in pain.

"Stop whatever you're doing right now!" Karlach wails. "You're hurting them! I'll kill you, Halsin, I swear it!"

Gale exchanges a look with Shadowheart. He ponders deeply for a moment as Karlach sobs devastatingly behind them. He opens his mouth, then shuts it promptly.

"Just say it," Shadowheart urges impatiently.

"We should play a game," he suggests. "The quiet game."

"No way," Karlach hiccups. "I'm dogshit at that game. Anyway, focus on Tav or I'll gut you, seriously."

❥ Additional links: kofi | ao3

#baldur's gate 3 #bg3 #bg3 x reader #bg3 x you #baldur's gate 3 x reader #baldur's gate 3 x you #astarion x reader #astarion x you #astarion #astarion x tav #gale x reader #gale x you #gale x tav #karlach x reader #karlach x you #karlach x tav #shadowheart #halsin #halsin is always just there. like. yeah ok guys. whatever

[miquella-everywhere]

Rating the Demigods based off their Homes

Technically Leyndell is not Morgotts house but his moms, which he inherited after escaping the sewers she threw him into, but he also runs the place like the navy runs a ship, so everything is in perfect working order. Nobody has any clue who he is and I appreciate his commitment to the bit. 8/10 really cool scenery but could definitely use some dusting and giant dragon corpse removal.

The Moghwyn Dynasty is every health inspectors worst nightmare. General unsanitary setting and blood swamps, Albinaurics captured and forced to assimilate against their will, along with several war medics, and also Mohg has the body of his shriveled up half-brother in his freezer. But overall the ancient civilization that lived here before Mohg had pretty okay taste, especially since they built their city under an underground starry sky. 10/10 but only because the health inspector died and Mohg forged the health report.

Godrick snuck in after his failings at the Shattering and just straight up claimed the place as his own, so Stormveil technically isn't even his house. Also his presence alone is so rank that thorns have started festering outside of the castle. 8/10 to the Stormlords cause they've got sick sense of style, but 2/10 to Godrick because he is a literal home invader.

Radahn does not give two shits about architecture, he clearly made Redmane based off of every other fort in the Lands Between and chose function over fashion, which is fair I guess, but also kinda boring. At least he strung up the all of the swords in Redmane and gave it some flaire. 4/10 because Redmane is so basic, plus minus 1 point for the tetanus hazard.

Raya Lucaria had an architecture course as an elective and Rykard committed himself to his GPA and developed his own aesthetic. He graduated top of his class and Rennala baked a cake for him. Best day of his life. Then he went up to Mt. Gelmir and was like, "I should totally make this place my house," and then he did because nobody had the balls to stop him. 10/10 for his commitment to the blasphemy aesthetic. And props to Tannith for doing a great job keeping the foyer the cleanest place in the Lands Between, but also 1/10 for the backyard being a general crime against humanity.

Ranni follows the rule of, "if it aint broke dont fix it," which is exactly why she broke everything else in the world and then returned to her childhood home after the Shattering. Caria could definitely use some bedrooms though because where the heck does everyone sleep?? Or do anything else for that matter???? Caria: Bathroom? Never heard of it. 6/10 because the sparkly magic bits in the air are super cool but Caria Manor definitely should've been a legacy dungeon.

Miquella attended both Leyndell and Raya Lucaria architecture classes, excelling over everyone and beating Rykards score in the final exam by exactly one point, and yet has no idea why Rykard is so pissed at him. Then after disowning his dad he had the great idea to try and build a treehouse but grew his own tree first because he's an over achiever and has gifted kid syndrome. 10/10 because the aesthetic is elegant and immaculate, and everyone who has depression is trying to get there for free therapy.

Malenia went to architecture school with Miquella because she had nothing better to do and slept through every class. The most she did there was break up Miquella and Rykards final exam squabble and also couldn't care less about architecture because she's fuckin blind. Rates the Haligtree architecture 10/10 because even though she's blind, she's sure that Miquellas sense of style is very pretty. But also rates it a 2/10 because Miquella keeps stubbing his toes and tripping on the carved stone flooring even though he insists everything is fine.

The Land of Shadow is less of Messmers house and more of his eternal timeout corner. He temper-tantrumed too hard one day and Marika put him there then completely forgot he ever existed. -10/10 because the parental abandonment is so real

#shitpost #elden ring #godrick the grafted #starscourge radahn #miquella the unalloyed #ranni the witch #rykard lord of blasphemy #malenia blade of miquella #mohg lord of blood #morgott the omen king #uri posts

[transmascissues]

12 weeks post-top surgery thoughts

most importantly, i’m absolutely fucking in love with how things look! it’s still not set in stone yet, my surgeon said i won’t really see the final result until up to a year after, but I’m so happy with it already.

my surgeon’s default timeline would’ve had me starting scar tape at 4 weeks, but i still haven’t started yet because some little scabs are still hanging around even though most of my scars are completely healed. my surgeon didn’t seem concerned about it taking longer than expected, she just said everyone’s body is different. given that i have a connective tissue disorder and skin that just hates being messed with at all, i’m not surprised that it’s been slow going and i’m just happy that the rest is healing so well. i just had another post-op today and was cleared to start using scar tape because the scabbing is so minimal at this point, so i can finally move on to the next stage of healing.

i can (mostly) lift my arms now! they still can’t quite go all the way up, but i have enough of my mobility back that the only things i really struggle with are super high shelves like the ones above my fridge, and things like the washer and dryer that i have to reach really far to get into. technically, i was supposed to wait six months before raising them because that’s what my surgeon usually recommends for aesthetic purposes, but i have to be able to raise them to do my job anyway so i’m not limiting myself beyond the natural limits of discomfort at this point.

my chest muscles are mostly back to normal too, but they’re still very sensitive. when i flex them, it doesn’t hurt or feel uncomfortable but i am a lot more aware of the feeling than i was before. they also still tire out more easily than they used to — i’m back at work now, and i’ve learned the hard way that i tend to favor one arm over the other for certain tasks because when i do any of them for too long, i start to feel it in that side of my chest. it’s not anything too bad, but i’m still making sure my shifts are spread out because i don’t want to risk overdoing it.

i’m getting used to touching my own chest, but being touched by other people still feels super weird and honestly uncomfortable at times, particularly when it’s my bare chest and not over my shirt. i’ve been touching it a lot to try to desensitize it since around week 3 or 4, and it seems to be working as far as my own touch, but other people is a whole other story — when my boyfriend is touching my bare chest and their hand touches the scars, it doesn’t actually hurt but i react to it like it does. i suspect it’s more of a mental thing than anything, that since i’m still instinctively protective of it and not quite used to how it feels, touches that i’m not in control of just automatically set off alarm bells. it’s also just a generally foreign feeling even without the weirdness of healing because my boyfriend never really touched my chest before surgery since i was dysphoric about it, so it seems to require desensitization on multiple levels. i’ve given them permission to keep touching it even when i flinch (unless i explicitly ask them to stop) because i want to make sure i start getting used to the feeling.

i’m also still very sensitive to pressure against my chest, especially the front of it. it’s getting easier to lie down on my side now but i’m still using my body pillow to take some pressure off of the scars under my armpits, because if i don’t i usually can only stay in that position for a little while. my boyfriend can mostly lay their head on my chest for short periods of time now, but the position matters because if the weight isn’t distributed evenly enough or if it’s on the wrong part of my chest, it hurts. that being said, less intense pressure on the front like a hug or holding something to my chest is pretty much fine, i’m just still more sensitive to it (as with everything). i’ve been able to lay face down on top of my boyfriend a couple times without discomfort too, but i’m still erring on the side of caution and not laying on my chest too much yet.

when i was around a month in and thought i would be starting scar care soon, i was really nervous about it — particularly about the scar massage — because of the state my chest was in. i still didn’t feel like i could press on it or move the skin around or pick it up with my fingers at all, and the scar tissue underneath was still really thick and firm. i assumed that all of that would stay the same until i did the massages to break down the scar tissue and loosen things up, but i can now confirm after another month and a half of doing nothing while things healed, my skin is naturally a lot more mobile and a lot of that really thick scar tissue has already broken down. obviously i’m still going to start massaging now because i want to give myself the best possible chance of healing well, but i wish i had known how much my chest would be able to bounce back on its own. in hindsight, i’m glad i ended up having to wait to start the massage instead of doing it back when my chest was much less healed, because i’m much more comfortable manipulating it now.

every once in a while, i’ll get sharp pains in my chest. they aren’t horribly painful, mostly just unpleasant. they feel a lot like the nerve zaps i was getting earlier in recovery so it might be another round of nerves reconnecting, but it also happens more often when i’m working so it’s hard to say if it’s nerves or over-exertion. either way, i always make sure to take it easy when i start to feel that, just in case it is a sign of me doing too much.

i typically almost never eat meat, but i chose to reintroduce it into my diet after surgery to get more protein, because i wanted to make sure my body had everything it needs to heal and protein is a huge part of that. now that i’m pretty much all healed skin-wise and just waiting for everything to settle, i’ve decided it’s time to go back to my usual diet of not-fully-vegetarian-but-pretty-damn-close. i’m sure the diet change wasn’t strictly necessary but i don’t regret doing it, though i am glad to be switching back now.

putting on shirts still hasn’t gotten old. seeing how they look over a flat chest honestly feels surreal, but in the best way. hugging people and being able to press all the way into it js also still such a great feeling. i’m far enough in now that i can do all of that stuff without worrying about it, but still early enough that it all feels really new and special, and i’ve been thoroughly enjoying that.

wearing a more genderfucky outfit out in public for the first time post-op was a fucking blast. my boyfriend and i went to a new year’s eve party, and getting to show off my chest through a sheer lace top and my facial hair alongside makeup was so much fun. it was the first time i’ve been able to go all out without the lingering feeling in the back of my mind that dressing up means inevitably being seen as a woman. i definitely didn’t look like a cis man to any of the people who saw me, but they could clearly tell i wasn’t a cis woman at the very least, and knowing that made me so much more confident.

i’m far enough away now from being in the trenches of early recovery that the reality of the fact that i got such a big surgery has started to fade. when i really think about the fact that my body went through all of that and about how hard early recovery was, it doesn’t quite feel real anymore. i’m starting to reach the point one of my friends told me about, where my chest being like this feels so normal that it’s just like “yeah, of course, it’s always been like this, right?” it’s wild, really, the difference a couple months can make — it wasn’t that long ago that i was exhausted and arguably depressed from the early recovery process, and now it all feels so normal that i have to remind myself it took all of that to get here. i never really doubted that it would be worth it in the end, but i’m still more sure of that now than i ever have been.

the last couple months have been a long road, but somehow they’ve also flown by. it’s given me so much appreciation for my body — its potential to transform and what it’s been able to withstand. i wouldn’t trade the experience for anything.

#top surgery adventures #top surgery results #top surgery recovery #top surgery #double incision #trans man #transmasc

[humanpurposes]

De Facto

She can't afford to fantasize over Aemond Targaryen, he's her boss and the Prime Minister... but stopping is easier said than done // Main Masterlist

PM!Aemond x unnamed female character

Warnings: 18+, smut, mentions of SA, questionable power dynamics, politics (putting my degree to good use), unnecessary world building

Words: 7700

A/n: Thanks for the inspo @ewanmitchellcrumbs, sorry it's not Dishy Rishi tho :(

Throughout the whole train journey into Central King’s Landing, she’s sure she’s dreaming. Her body feels strangely light, her hands are restless and her heart is beating steadily in her chest. 

She flows effortlessly with the stream of commuters, along the platform, through the station’s glass atrium, then left towards Conquest Street. She knows her way around this part of the city already, and though she’s never been inside, she’s walked past Hightower House countless times.

This time is different. Now she walks up to the iron gates, pressing her thumbnail into her index finger, because the armed guards are making her nervous. 

She tells them her name and one of them mutters into a radio.

Her eyes run along the gold crest that marks the gate, a shield divided into seven, a sun for Dorne, a rose for The Reach, a stag for The Stormlands, a Trout for The Riverlands, a Falcon for The Vale, a Kraken for The Iron Islands, a wolf for The North, and at its heart is the symbol that unites them, the three headed dragon (although strictly speaking, Westeros abolished its monarchy centuries ago).

Suddenly one of the guards catches her attention. He opens the gate for her, and says she’ll be given a security pass and instructions to use the staff entrance following her official induction.

Hightower House stands proudly before her, an ornate facade of balustrades and columns, order and symmetry, an obvious juxtaposition of the medieval majesty of the Red Keep, just down the road.

It all feels very daunting, but the last five years have led her to this moment, the entirety of her adult life. She keeps telling herself that she deserves to be here, after all, she was the one who made it through the first round of applications, who made it to the shortlist and the final interviews, and she was the only one of hundreds of applicants who received the phone call, offering her a position as a personal advisor to the Prime Minister.

The contract only lasts two years, but it is the most effective stepping stone into a career in politics that she could ever ask for.

The entire morning is spent working out formalities. First she meets the deputy chief of staff, a handsome man named Criston Cole, who she’ll directly report to. He shows her through mountains of paperwork and gives her a brief overview of her role. Essentially, she is to assist the Prime Minister on whatever he deems necessary, policy aims, speeches, media coverage, political rhetoric, public image. 

“You’re a glorified assistant,” Cole says as she reads and signs page after page of her employment contract, “but with a salary to reflect it, so don’t feel discouraged. There will be some admin work which can get tedious, but you’ve been selected for your expertise and your passion for the party.”

That’s the crucial part of the job. Everything she does will be to benefit Mr Targayren as head of the Green Party, still running off the high of their victory at the last general election, just under a year ago. 

She signs her last signature triumphantly, despite the ache in her wrist, and hands the pen back to Cole with a smile. “All done?” she asks hopefully.

Cole grimaces sympathetically. “Not quite.”

There are four people to meet before she’s officially in. She takes a deep breath to soothe herself. It’s all just more formalities, which she can understand, given the weight of this job.

The first is the Prime Minister's private secretary, a glamorous woman with black hair and piercing green eyes, named Alys Rivers. She greets her warmly, having already spoken over the phone with her several times. She also knows her CV off by heart. It’s a little strange having someone know almost everything about her education and employment history when her face is unfamiliar.

The next is a young woman named Maris, the other of Mr Targaryen’s personal advisors. She has dark hair and a look of determination in her grey eyes. She explains that there are always two personal advisors, but hired on alternating years. She was hired at the start of Mr Targaryen’s premiership, and has a year left of her contract.

There are a thousand questions she wants to ask Maris, but before she can even scratch the surface, Cole’s checking his watch and dragging her off to another office.

Otto Hightower is the chief of staff. He’s thin and wiry, but incredibly intimidating. He has tired, sunken eyes that seem to glare right through her, and a passive but severe expression on his face, as though he’s scrutinising, having already decided she’s a waste of his time.

It’s not a great feeling, being looked at like that by a man she’s idolised for years. She knows his career timeline by heart. He earned his bachelors in Politics and Economics from Oldtown, before doing a masters in International Relations at King’s Landing, where he met and befriended Viserys Targaryen. He worked his way to becoming an MP and soon into Viserys’ cabinet when be became Prime Minister.

But things changed when Otto’s daughter married Viserys. No one really knows the whole truth, but Otto resigned from the Black Party, and took over from his own brother as leader of the opposition.

Now he works in the background, the mastermind behind his grandson’s remarkable successes.

Cole explains that Mr Hightower had the final say in the shortlist and determining which applicant would be given the final job offer.

“You had an impressive application,” he says, briefly looking up from a document. “I’m sure you’ll do well with us.”

“Thank you, Mr Hightower,” she says through the slight tremble in her jaw.

Other than that, the interaction is brief, and soon Cole is ushering her out of the room, back to Alys’ office, as richly decorated as the rest of the building. Maris is sitting at another desk, typing away furiously on a laptop.

“Tea? Coffee? Water?” Cole offers her, gesturing for her to take a seat on a green leather sofa.

“Water would be lovely,” she says.

“Maris,” he calls.

She glares up from her laptop. “That’s not my job.”

“No, but it’s courtesy,” he says.

Alys’ slight smirk doesn’t escape her attention.

Maris purses her lips, but she closes her laptop, pointedly slams her hands against the arms of her chair, and marches out of the room, her shiny black heels clicking against the dark wood floor.

“She’s nice really,” Cole says, “just a bit… direct at times.”

“Direct,” Alys groans to herself. 

She feels her brow flicker into a frown but stops herself.

“She’s good at her job,” Criston says like he might say something else, but he doesn’t.

When Maris returns, she seems a little less on edge.

She takes the glass of water with a cautious hand, Maris’ eyes lingering on her maroon painted nails. 

“I like your top,” Maris says.

She glances down. It’s nothing special, black and long-sleeved, to go with her long blue and green patterned skirt.

“Thank you,” she says.

Maris hums to herself before she goes back to her desk.

“Do you often work in here?” she asks.

Maris shrugs. “It depends.” She doesn’t care to explain further.

Alys is smirking again.

“Mr Targaryen was in a meeting with the cabinet this morning,” Cole says, then checks his watch. “He has a few phone calls to make, but he should be ready to see you at about 4pm. Maris?”

“Yes?” 

“Will you show her in around then?”

“Yeah,” she says, flatly, “of course.”

Cole shakes her hand before he leaves. “Alys will show you out when you leave. I’ll see you on Monday morning.”

She continues to wait on the sofa, restless in the silence that follows once the door has shut. Alys and Maris are both typing, their nails clicking against their keyboards. She starts to bounce her leg and stops herself.

Her mind is racing. The day seems to have gone well so far, but what if she meets Mr Targaryen and it all falls apart? What if he decides he doesn’t like her and sends her packing? 

She’s too lost in her own head to notice the flash of Alys’ emerald green dress as she stands in front of her. That is, until she’s leaning down and waving a bar of chocolate in front of her. “Get a bit of sugar in you,” she says, “and breathe slowly.”

She smiles as she takes the bar and places a single cube on her tongue. She lets it melt, savouring the sweetness and the slight bitterness of its taste.

You can do this, she thinks to herself with every inhale. And then she exhales. You are here for a reason.

The phone on Alys’ desk rings. She checks her own phone. It’s exactly 3:59.

“Yes, sir, Maris will show her in now.”

Aemond Targaryen is on the other end of the line. Her heart drops at the thought.

As the second son of Viserys, it seems like he was always destined for the family business. He differs from his father and grandfather in that he did Politics and Philosophy at Sunspear, before going on to do his masters in History at Oldtown, and then another masters in International Relations at King’s Landing. By all accounts, he is fiercely intelligent, mature beyond his years, with the right balance of intimidating and charismatic to command the support he needed to get in as MP for Rosby, then as party leader.

In fact, it had been his first campaign that inspired her to apply for a degree in politics in the first place. She loved how he spoke, how he managed to strike a balance between grace and passion, and how deeply he cared for his policies. He was poised and perfect, but driven by a genuine want for improvement.

He perfected his craft within a matter of years. With the mess Rhaenyra Targaryen had made of the country, it was all too easy for him to win a majority with a few winning speeches, a hand running through his silver hair, that lazy half-smirk and the intense look in his eyes that just made you want to fall at his feet. And people do. The press adore him, his party worships him, foreign dignitaries often remark on his charm but also his capabilities as a negotiator and a leader.

Maris leads her out of the office, along a quiet corridor. She stops outside a door with gold lettering: Office of A. Targaryen, Prime Minister

Seeing it in front of her, strangely, seems to subdue her nerves. Her chest flutters, but the anxiety is more manageable than before.

Maris taps her knuckles against the door three times.

From the other side of the door she hears a gentle but chilling voice. “Enter.”

She follows Maris inside.

He’s perched against his desk, his long, silver hair falling around his shoulders as he looks over a few pieces of paper. He wears a white shirt, rolled up at the sleeves, black slacks and brown leather shoes.

He looks up slowly, the light of the early Autumn evening beaming through the windows, over the sharp features of his face, his cheeks, his nose, his jaw, his neck.

His eyes find hers, unashamed and curious.

Suddenly she can feel her heart in her throat.

Maris introduces her. “I’m sure Alys already debriefed you, but she’s here for her induction. Cole said you wanted to meet her as a formality and–”

It feels awfully like she’s talking for the sake of it.

“That will be all, Maris,” Mr Targaryen says softly. She can’t help but watch the way his lips move when he speaks.

“Oh, are you sure, sir?” she asks. Her face is twisted into a slight frown but her eyes are wide. “I just thought, for her sake, it might be useful if I’m here to explain everything.”

“I’m sure, thank you.”

She stands with her hands clasped in front of her skirt as she listens to Maris’ footsteps move towards the door. It opens and closes, and now all she can hear are her own breaths, gently flowing through her nose.

She doesn’t know where to look. At the patterned carpet on the floor? No, it would be rude of her to hang her head. At the portraits that line the wall? At the bookshelves? At the desk? No, that all seems too intrusive. Out the window? No, that might seem like she’s not paying attention.

So her eyes settle on him.

He hasn’t moved from his position, but he’s placed the paper on the desk behind him, leaning with his palms at the edge. His eyes glance over her once, up and down.

Fuck, he’s so much better looking in person.

Then he stands to his full height, and picks up a clipboard from the desk. He flicks through a few of the pages and hums softly to himself.

“You had an impressive application,” he says.

She swallows through the slightly dry feeling in her throat. “Thank you, sir.”

“And an excellently written cover letter.”

“Thank you, sir.”

“You did your masters in Comparative Politics at Sunspear. Oberyen Martell is still head of faculty there, isn’t he?”

“Yes, sir. He taught one of my modules, Security Studies.”

“He’s an interesting character,” he muses, smiling to himself. “He was my supervisor for my undergrad dissertation.”

She already knew that. Dr Martell loved to go on about his star student. She would too if she taught the future Prime Minister.

He flicks to another page. She watches as his eyes skim over the words in front of him. “And you came with glowing reviews from Tyland Lannister.”

She’s not sure how she’s supposed to respond to that– it makes her sound more like a product than a person– so she just smiles, as delicately as she can, making sure not to squint her eyes too much. 

She had spent the last year as Mr Lannister’s Parliamentary Assistant, at his office in the Red Keep, starting just as he had been appointed as Foreign Secretary. 

“How was he as a boss?” Mr Targayren asks.

Straightforward, she thinks. He took his job seriously and was decidedly not a fan of smalltalk. His office often worked in silence, and even when he was stressed he was efficient.

“No complaints,” she says.

“I’m sure you were all kept busy, cleaning up Corlys Velaryon’s mess after the Stepstones.”

A minor military excursion to defend a few key trading routes, or at least that’s how it had started. Within a matter of months the Stepstones had spiralled beyond control, costing Corlys Velaryon his seat and the Blacks their majority in Parliament.

“If I remember right, it was Daemon Targaryen pushing that particular policy,” she says.

The corner of his mouth curls upward. It could be a smile but she’s not entirely sure. 

“Sir,” she adds, hoping to soften the blow of her unintentional insult; what idiot tries to correct the Prime Minister on their first day on the job? She does, clearly.

He doesn’t seem irritated or angry, more amused. A cryptic “hmm” sounds in his throat as he flicks back to the first document. “And before that you were a campaign manager for the party, yes?”

“Yes,” she says brightly, grateful for the change of subject. “I was working in the Stormlands in the lead up to the general election.” The region was formerly a Black stronghold, but turned Green thanks in part to her efforts.

“Excellent work,” he says.

The smooth, seductive tone of his voice seems to come so naturally to him. She bites her tongue at the image it prompts in her head, of his lips brushing over her ear, his hands resting on her waist, she can almost feel it–

No. That’s wrong. So wrong.

Fantasising about the Prime Minister of Westeros is not a habit she can afford to keep up, not when she’s supposed to be working with him in such close proximity.

But that’s easier said than done.

Cole enters his office, bright and early on Monday morning, before the rest of Hightower House is awake.

Aemond’s routine is the same every day. Up at 5am, run a few laps of the expansive gardens or spend an hour going through his meticulously planned gym routine. He showers, shaves, applies his skincare and haircare products, dabs some perfume on his wrists, dresses, and takes breakfast and a black coffee in his office. By 7:30am he’s ready to work.

He needs the routines and the outlets. They help keep him sane.

He’d seen how this position twisted his father into a tired, irritable and irrational man, how it got to Rhaenyra’s head until she became a liability to herself. He won’t be like them. He has a reputation to uphold, a legacy to claim.

Cole places a folder on his desk. “The background check you ordered, sir.”

He thanks him, quietly and sincerely, and waits until he’s left the room to open the folder.

His new personal advisor intrigues him. He’d made the request for the background check as soon as their meeting had ended on Friday. 

She has no criminal record, which is unsurprising, that definitely would have come up sooner if she had one.

He browses through her education history, a star student at Storm’s End Grammar School, a bachelor’s in history from Rainwood, a masters from Suspear, where she was head of Debate Soc and Amnesty International, while working various internships and retail jobs in between.

The next page is full of articles from student publications, The Importance of Integrity in Politics for the Rainwood Student Journal, Sovereignty in the Stepstones for Red Sun Rising. He reads through them both. Her writing is immaculate, concise and convincing.

The final page is more personal, social media profiles. It’s nothing scandalous, but she clearly has a certain image she wants to project. Her Instagram is full of art and history museums, coffee shops and preppy outfits. She has a few pictures on her LinkedIn of her at the Green Party conference last year, pictured with a group of girls her age and a caption that talks about the importance of representation in politics, with links to various charities and initiatives. In the photo she’s wearing a white silk shirt, open just enough to show off a dainty gold necklace and a hint of the swell of her chest.

She seems perfect. Too perfect for his own good.

The first months go smoothly enough. 

Maris is a practical person. She’s good with numbers, good for bouncing off ideas for economic policies and analysing data for him, even if she is a little overbearing at times.

But she fills the gaps perfectly. He secretly looks forward to their meetings and debriefings, when he asks her to write or edit speeches for him, or run through questions with him before a press conference. Politics is never easy, but she has a remarkable talent for keeping a level head. He likes that she’s always calm and composed. He likes her soft, reassuring smiles and the sharp look in her eyes. 

They just click. She’s always switched on, always knows the right things to say and do, always knows what he needs.

Every moment they are alone feels monumental; the settled quiet of his office when she first walks in and takes a seat on the other side of his desk; when they make an exchange, debriefing papers for an empty coffee cup, and their fingers will brush over each other; when he stands over her shoulder to read the document she’s working on, close enough to smell her perfume and feel a heat simmering under his skin. It’s starting to become unbearable, and yet he craves that feeling.

And then, one morning, he gets a phone call from the Crownlands Messenger. They’re about to publish a story. His brother has been accused of inappropriate conduct by no less than three women.

Fucking Aegon.

The entire country is in an uproar. How can anyone trust their Parliamentary representatives when they do shit like this? Is Aegon an outlier or is this just scratching the surface? What will his punishment be? What else are the Greens hiding? 

There are hundreds of emergency meetings with his grandfather, tense phone calls, bearating headlines, and onslaughts of outrage online. There’s no question about it, Aegon has to resign as an MP, but the damage is done. The polls are turning Black instead of Green. People don’t trust the ruling party, or its leader.

It’s late. Aemond paces his office while a headache pulses in his head. He’s long ditched the coffee for whisky, swirling it about in his glass. He sent Maris home hours ago. He doesn’t have the patience for anyone at the moment. Except for the woman leaning against his desk, flicking through news articles and the pages of notes she’s prepared for him.

Tomorrow is PMQs. No doubt there’s only one topic the Blacks will be asking about. He can already see Rhaenyra and Daemon’s smug faces, the delight they’ll take in watching him fall apart. There’s just no way he’s getting out of this easily.

He feels so restless. His hands are trembling and his lips won’t seem to stop moving, so he places himself against the wall, mindlessly tapping his fingers against his glass as he takes another generous sip.

From the desk he hears a heavy sigh that hums slightly in her throat. “Is there anything else you want to go over, sir?” she asks.

“No, I think we’ve exhausted the hypotheticals,” he says, running his free hand through his hair. He resists the urge to pull at the roots, to take his frustration out on something. “It’s just– fuck’s sake, I’ve been saying Aegon’s a liability for years. But no, Otto always wanted to keep pushing for him. Said it was good for the family’s image.”

She places her phone and the document behind her, and takes a few steps towards him.

He glances down at her, at the way the low light of the lamps and the fireplace glows against her skin, the contented sort of look in her eyes. 

Her eyes flicker down at his now empty glass. “Refill, sir?” Her lips stay slightly parted once she stops speaking.

Then he realises he’s staring.

“No, thank you,” he mutters, tapping his finger against the glass. “I should probably stop now.”

She takes the glass from him with her middle finger and thumb, avoiding touching his hand before she takes it away. Maybe it’s the alcohol getting to his head but his heart sinks at the lack of contact.

What is he doing? It must be after 9pm now and he’s still keeping her here without a real reason. 

She’s standing by the drinks cabinet, carefully placing the crystal bottle of whisky away and setting the empty glass out for housekeeping to clean up in the morning.

Instead of thinking about her, the way her hair looks, the way her skirt hugs her waist and the curve of her backside and thighs, he tries to think about how much he hates Aegon. This only makes him more agitated.

He closes his eyes and throws his head against the wall. His heart is racing and there’s a hollow feeling in his chest. He’s craving something, not another drink, not a smoke (he quit once he was first elected as an MP). He wants something else, something dangerous and damning. 

The heels of her shoes tap softly against the floor, until she’s standing in front of him.

He opens his eyes.

She frowns slightly before lifting her hand and delicately placing it on his shoulder. “You need to relax, sir,” she says.

He lets out a low “hmm,” as he weighs out his options. This seems like a bad idea. A really, really bad idea.

“That’s not going to happen with you here,” he says.

Her calm, somewhat smug expression falls. She looks so innocent now, so sweet. “What does that mean?” she says.

He leans in closer to her, until the tip of his nose barely brushes against hers. “I think you know what it means, darling.”

She hesitates, before her mouth spreads into an eager smile that shows off her teeth.

Her hands find his, ensnaring him under a soft but commanding grip. She leads him away from the wall, to the sofa by the fireplace. 

He settles on it, leaning against the arm as she comes to her knees before him, spreading his legs apart to make room for herself.

She palms her hand over the hardness that’s been straining painfully against his trousers for hours now. She feels along his clothed cock, pressing her cheek against it and gazing up at him with a look of teasing innocence.

Aemond knows he is done for, jaw slack, chest rising and falling as he breathes. He would have never presumed he would find himself in this kind of position, not after all the work’s he’s had to do cleaning up the mess of Aegon’s fuck ups, not after working this hard to get where he is, and least of all because he believes himself to be a decent man. 

But he doesn’t stop her as her fingers undo the button and the zip on his trousers, and he doesn’t make any kind of protest as she takes his freed cock in her hand and teasingly strokes along it. 

He keeps his hands firmly on the sofa, digging his fingertips and his nails into the leather, as if he hasn’t been dreaming of having her like this for weeks, as if he hasn’t fucked his own hand countless times pretending it was her.

He doesn’t have to pretend anymore. He looks down, his jaw slack, barely containing his strained breaths, and there she is, doe-eyed and eager as she places a delicate kiss to his flushed tip. Her lips barely brush against him before she pulls away, keeping a hold at the base.

His arousal stains her mouth and she fucking grins.

“Enjoying yourself?” he says through gritted teeth.

“Yes, sir,” she says, sweetly, earnestly.

He runs his hand against her hair, gently, as if trying to soothe her. It seems to take her by surprise which only serves to excite him further.

She leans into his touch, lips parting, her eyes half-lidded and dreamy.

Until he grips his fist and pulls. He tilts her head up. It shouldn’t hurt, but it’s enough to bring her attention back to him.

He decides he won’t tell her what to do, not directly, but she’s a smart girl, she knows what he wants. 

With her eyes wide again, she opens her mouth and inches his cock past her lips. The tightness in his gut starts to burn as she works up and down his length, slowly– excruciatingly slowly. It’s not in anyway relaxing, he thinks, but it’s a nice kind of torture.

He loses himself to the warmth and the wetness of her mouth, her tongue running over the underside of his cock, her lips teasing over the tip before she moves back down, using her hands where her mouth can’t reach.

He chokes out a throaty “fuck,” knowing there’s a security guard outside the door, and probably a few of the staff still lingering about. 

But she looks so beautiful like this, her brow furrowed in determination as she tries to take him deeper and deeper, desperate to please him, happy to make him suffer for it. And the little noises she makes, the gags and the moans. He imagines that she likes this, that she’s been wanting this for as long as he has, and if he pulled her onto his lap and slid his fingers under her skirt, he’d find her drenched.

She starts to up the pace until he brings his hand to the side of her face again, his hand large enough that he can rest his palm against her cheek and tease his fingers through her hair. Her eyes dart up to his, wide and teary. 

“Good girl,” he whispers, “nice and slow, just like that.”

She whimpers around him, breathing desperately through her nose.

“Don’t look at me like that,” he coos, “you started this, didn’t you? Wanted to taste me? Wanted to feel my cock in your mouth?”

She hums in agreement.

“Just fucking take it then,” he says with a clenched jaw, gripping her hair to bob her head up and down, keeping that torturous pace.

The pleasure builds slowly, running hotly through his body, but he fights the urge to clamp both hands around her head and buck his hips up to fuck her throat.

He comes harder than he thinks he ever has before, keeping himself sheathed within her as he paints the inside of her mouth, and pulls her head away to see the last few drops spill against her lips.

She gazes up at him with dazed and glassy eyes. She’s panting, trying to catch her breath. Her forehead glistens with sweat, mascara runs down her face and his spend drips over her chin.

He wipes some of the mess away with his thumbs, cradling her face in his hands. “Swallow,” he orders.

Her mouth closes and her throat bobs. He can already feel the tension in his gut tightening again.

If only he could keep her like this forever.

She makes it to Hightower House at the usual time of 8am, despite leaving work so late last night. Despite the hours she spent consumed by thoughts of Aemond Targaryen as she rode the train and dragged herself into her bed. Despite the aching arousal that went unfulfilled. Despite the marks on her knees and the stiffness in her jaw.

When she walks into Alys’ office to sign in, she’s already there, perfectly poised and typing away on her laptop. 

“Morning,” she says brightly.

Alys looks up from the screen. The white light shining from below makes her face look a little eerie. “Morning,” she says with a smug look on her face.

She ignores it, scrawling down the time and her signature beside her name.

“You were working rather late last night,” Alys says.

“Yeah, I was,” she mutters, placing the pen down and straightening her spine.

Alys is staring at her. Her eyes are unnervingly bright. “He never asks Maris to work late.”

Her heart drops.

It’s like she can feel the weight of him in her mouth, the taste of him on her tongue.

“I bet he’s just realised I’m more of a people pleaser,” she says.

Alys hums and smiles. “Yeah?”

She doesn’t have time for this. She hangs up her coat and her bag, and picks up two black coffees from the coffee machine in the kitchenette down the hall.

Aemond is in his office, leaning back in his chair with his mobile pressed to his ear. He doesn’t react much when he sees her, he just watches her as she sets one of the cups in front of him. He raises his eyebrows in thanks and brings it to his lips.

She imagines the person on the other end of the call is starting to bore him.

“Yeah… yeah… I know… well there’s not much to be done now but get it over with.”

She takes a few sips from her own cup, wiping the corners of her mouth. Aemond follows her fingers as she does.

“I’ll speak to you after. Yes, thank you, grandfather.” He hangs up the phone and tosses it onto a stack of papers on the desk. “Seven fucking Hells.”

“How did that go?” she asks.

Aemond rolls his eyes and huffs a tired laugh. “He wants to talk through candidates for the by-election in Duskendale. I said I’ll think about it if I survive PMQs.”

She sets her coffee cup down. “What are you most worried about? You’ve prepared for this. What’s worrying you?”

Aemond taps his fingers against the desk. She tries not to ignore the thrill it sends through her belly.

“I’ve never had to deal with something like this. I’ve never been this worried about the party’s image, but that’s usually because I do everything right.”

The whole Aegon situation is beyond his control, and yet he’ll be getting the scrutiny for it.

“People need to be able to trust you,” she says.

Aemond looks up at her expectantly.

“Is Aegon still a party member?” she asks.

Aemond’s expression darkens. “That was discussed. Otto wants him to remain an official member.”

“You’re the Prime Minister. Put your foot down.”

“I can’t,” he says, standing and fixing the rolled up sleeves and undone buttons on his shirt before he reaches for his tie.

“You can’t afford not to. If you go easy on Aegon, Rhaenyra’s going to play to some kind of ‘the Greens are anti woman card.’ Your voters need to know you’re taking this seriously.”

“And throw my own brother under the bus?” he says, sternly.

But she can tell he’s still nervous. His hands are shaking as he ties the tie around his neck.

She pauses, wondering where the line is here. Aegon Targaryen will be fine. He’ll be put under investigation and keep getting bad press for a while, but he can live off daddy’s money in the meantime, and in a few years the whole scandal will be forgotten.

She takes a few steps towards him and comes close enough to smell the dark, boozy smell of his perfume, and shoos his hands away.

“What would be better for the country,” she asks, tilting her head and keeping her eyes focused as she fastens his tie, “presenting yourself as a leader who is committed to integrity and respect, or leaving yourself open to further criticism?”

She pushes the knot up tightly against his collar for emphasis.

Aemond just smirks. “You’re very persuasive,” he says.

“That’s my job, sir.”

She gasps as his hand grabs her hip and pulls her against him. His breath runs hotly over her face as he tilts her chin up to look at him. His throat hums as he breathes.

She could fall apart then and there.

Until a knock on the door has her practically shoving him away.

Aemond chuckles and shrugs on his suit jacket. “Enter,” he calls.

She turns her back to the door to hide the flustered look on her face, pretending to look through a bookshelf that she’s never really looked at properly before.

“Car for you, sir,” Alys says from the doorway.

Aemond calls for her by her surname. Fuck– she was supposed to pack his briefcase before he left. She takes a breath and goes about collecting all the pages of notes and briefings he’ll need. 

She brings it to him, and notices Maris standing in the hallway behind Alys. Maris usually goes with him to the Red Keep for PMQs, but today he requests that she accompany him. She supposes it makes sense, she’s been the one helping him prepare after all.

Maris’ face is a storm. Alys looks down at her feet and tries to stifle a giggle.

The next few hours are a blur. She trails after Aemond through the ornate corridors, keeping her eyes on his silver hair, flowing down the back of his black suit jacket. Somewhere along the way, Cole and the head of security, a man Aemond greets as “Mr Westerling”, joins them.

They leave through the front entrance, into the sharp September air and into a black car. The hum of the engine and the smell of leather makes her nauseous, but they’re only in the car for a matter of minutes before the door swings open and she’s been ushered towards the Red Keep.

Once a seat of Kings, now the red stone castle seems a little out of place with the rest of the city. This is where Parliament gathers.

As they walk through its halls, Aemond tells her to throw a few questions at him. She has them all memorised in her head, able to recite a few without really thinking about it. Aemond mutters the answers they’ve rehearsed under his breath, smiling politely and waving as they pass by civil servants, MPs, Green and Black party members alike. They even pass Cregan Stark, leader of the Northern Independence party. He whispers all of their names in her ear.

There’s a small room where Aemond waits in before he enters the Great Hall. She can hear the noise and the chatter on the other side of the double doors, engraved with the same crest that marks the gates to Hightower House.

He won’t stop moving, adjusting his tie and his cuffs, tutting and pursing his lips.

She makes sure Cole and Westerling are muttering to each other before she leans into Aemond, putting her hand on his shoulder. “You’ll be fine,” she whispers, “don’t see it as a chance for them to criticise you, see it as an opportunity for you to reassure everyone else of how brilliant you are.”

Aemond turns his head towards her. He’s not touching her but she feels the proximity.

“That’s an interesting way to look at it,” he says.

She smiles. “It’s all perspective.”

Before Aemond is called into the hall, Cole directs her to the gallery, above the benches where the MPs sit.

She and Aemond meet eyes before she leaves. She stops herself from reaching for him, not wanting to leave his side.

“Good luck,” she says.

As if he needs it. She watches everything unfold from the gallery, the MPs sat below her like she’s watching a play in a theatre.

Aemond starts off with an amazing opening speech which, at her recommendation, doesn’t shy away from the issue of the whole Aegon scandal. He affirms his commitment to ensuring that central government is a safe and inclusive working environment, which is when he announces Aegon’s resignation as an MP, as well as his removal from the Green Party.

The chamber in an uproar. A few members of the Green Party make a bit of a fuss, but mostly Aemond’s announcement is applauded, even by a good number of Black Party members.

Rhaenyra, Aemond’s sister and predecessor, is at a loss for words, as is her deputy, Daemon.

Aemond seems to get a boost of confidence from this and takes every question in his stride, using elements from the answers she had rehearsed with him and even throwing in a few one liners which has half the room cheering him.

And he’s fucking hot when he’s cocky.

While he speaks all she can think of is how he sounded while she was between his legs. “Good girl… just fucking take it…” she has to clench her fists and her jaw at the wave of arousal that rises within her.

Afterwards she walks with him to the car. A whole host of Green Party members crowd him as they walk through the hallways, praising him, commending him. He smiles graciously, looking over his shoulder every so often to look at her, to make sure she’s not fallen behind.

The silence of the car is unbearable with Cole and Westerling in the front, and Aemond beside her, drumming his fingers against his thigh and running his other hand through his hair.

She presses her thighs at the obvious arousal pooling at her centre.

Seven hells, she’s acting like she’s in heat.

She follows Aemond back through Hightower House, past Alys’ office, to his own office. When he closes the door behind them, he locks it.

She leans against the desk, keeping her hands on the wood behind her.

Aemond turns back to her with a ravenous look in his pale blue eyes. He reaches into his pocket, effortlessly pulling his hair into a low bun, as he usually does in informal company.

She can’t take her eye off him as he tosses his jacket over the sofa, and begins to roll up the sleeves of his shirt. Then he stalks towards her, his chin tilted down and his lips in a tight line, until he’s close enough to paw at her waist. 

“I suppose I should thank you for your help,” he says, eyes fixed on his hands as they tease over the fabric of the red mini skirt she had picked out this morning, the way she squirms underneath him.

“Oh,” she breathes. One of his hands trails up, untucking her blouse from her skirt and brushing his fingertips against the bare skin underneath. “Just… doing my job, sir.”

He hums to himself as his hand works its way round to her backside, squeezing gently. “Do you like calling me ‘sir’?”

She can’t help but nod, dazed at the feeling of his hands tracing the shape of her body.

“Yeah, I think you do,” he says, leaning in to press a slow, firm kiss to her neck.

Her resolve is shattered. She throws her hands around his neck, pulling herself into him, desperate to feel him against her, to stay close to him.

She almost whines when he moves away, much to his amusement, feeling her mouth fall into a pout.

“Don’t tell me I’ve got a brat,” he says, taking her chin in his hand. “Are you going to be good for me, pet?”

“Yes, sir,” she utters.

“See? You don’t even need to be told,” he says with a smile. “You’re going to turn around and lean over the desk.”

She follows his instructions without missing a beat, bracing herself on her forearms, against the surface. She feels her skirt being pushed up over her hips, her tights and panties pulled down in one go, fingertips trailing over her thighs. Then she feels his breath against the wetness of her bare pussy. 

She can’t help but let out a quiet moan, pressing her nails into the wood in anticipation.

“Haven’t even fucking touched you yet, are you that desperate for me?”

“Yes, sir,” she whimpers, trying to look over her shoulder.

Aemond’s hand finds its way against her head, pressing her down. And he doesn’t let go.

His fingers drag through her folds, teasing her entrance and her clit before he slides in a single digit. It feels so different from her own, longer and thicker, pressing into her at an unfamiliar angle. She feels utterly weightless, the obscene sound of him moving in and out of her only adding to her arousal.

Aemond’s voice is dark and husky, as it was last night. “Good girl,” he coos, “that feels good, doesn’t it?”

When she doesn’t reply, he withdraws and lands a stinging slap against her cheek, before he pushes into her again. “Answer me,” he says, clearly and firmly.

“Yes, sir,” she says, frantically trying to nod against his hold of her head. “Feels so fucking good.”

He increases his speed, pumping in and out of her until her climax washes over her. It happens gradually, building and building before a pleasant numbness washes through her, to every corner of her body. 

While she comes down from her high, her attention is caught by the sound of a belt buckle and rustling fabric.

The tip of his cock presses into her without warning. He inches further and further in until he bottoms out, the material of his trousers pressing against her skin– the cunt hasn’t even bothered to take off his clothes.

He finally relents his hold of her head, grabbing at her waist as he ruts into her. It’s fast and primal, adrenaline pumping through her blood, Aemond’s fingers digging into her flesh, her breath coming out in moans, his belt buckle hitting the desk with every harsh thrust.

“Knew you were a little slut,” he grits out, grabbing at her cheeks and spreading them out to watch his cock moving in and out of her. “Fuck, you’re so tight.”

She covers her mouth with her hand to hold back the wanton noises threatening to slip past her lips. 

Suddenly a hand comes to her shoulder, pulling her up against his chest. One hand kneads at her breasts through her blouse and her bra, while the other slips between her legs, tracing quick circles over her clit.

“I wanna feel you come,” he rasps into her ear, “wanna feel my good girl clench around my cock.”

She doesn’t know what to do with herself. She clings to his arms and digs her teeth into her bottom lip. She can feel herself hurtling towards her climax, if only he would move his fingers a little faster.

“Please,” she whispers.

“What was that, pet?” Aemond asks, brushing his lips over her cheek. “Tell me what you want.”

“I want to come!” she whines. “Fuck– please… please, I just want to come, sir.”

She feels him smiling against her as his fingers rub faster over her clit. She can feel how deep he is inside her, how his cock bullies against that sensitive spot, over and over again, until her orgasm tears through her.

She tries to keep her mouth shut but she can’t help the pleading groan that hums in her throat. Aemond holds her as she falls apart, fucking her thoroughly through it all.

Until finally, he reaches his end, hissing through his teeth and pulling out to spill himself onto her pussy. She feels the warmth, how it drips through her folds, for now uncaring of the mess they’ve surely made.

Aemond keeps holding her against his chest. His forehead falls against the back of her head and his hot breath echoes over her neck. “I really appreciate the work you’ve done for me,” he says breathlessly. “I think you and I make quite a pair, wouldn’t you agree?”

“Yes, sir,” she mewls, letting her head fall against his arm.

Aemond hums a laugh to himself, it rumbles in his chest and against her back. “So pretty and polite,” he coos, “how did I ever manage without you until now, pet?”

General taglist: @randomdragonfires @jamespotterismydaddy @theoneeyedprince @tsujifreya @dreamsofoldvalyria @targaryenrealnessdarling

A/n: I might do a part 2 to this so let me know if you would liked to be tagged :)

#my fics #aemond targaryen #aemond targaryen x ofc #aemond targaryen x reader #aemond targaryen x you #aemond x reader #aemond x ofc #aemond x y/n #aemond x you #aemond targaryen x y/n #aemond tagaryen fanfiction #aemond fanfiction #aemond targaryen fanfic #aemond fanfic #hotd fanfic #house of the dragon fanfic #house of the dragon fanfiction #hotd fanfiction #politics au #modern!aemond #modern!au #house of the dragon #ewan mitchell #ewan mitchell fanfiction #aemond targaryen oneshot #aemond targaryen smut #aemond smut #aemond oneshot

[nsfwrpg]

Thaiphoon

KISS OF LIFE's Natty x Male Reader

Quickie, Unedited

You step out of the makeshift dressing room that they made for your girlfriend and in no time you're blinded by the flashing lights that go off. She is currently in the middle of a photoshoot for her "debut" teasers. She already debuted solo, but after that contract ended she signed with a different agency and now the plans are set in stone for her "debut" this time in a girl group.

You see her posing as if she's a natural, giving the camera quite a show that only you have ever seen her do when she's working. She's been through a lot this past year alone, so seeing her work again just brings a smile to your face as she's back doing the job she loves. Though you loved the long hiatus she had and spent almost every day with you, you felt that she had to go for this opportunity once it was offered to her.

Here you are, watching on the side while your beautiful girlfriend is hard at work pleasing all the photo directors and making sure everything goes smoothly. One pose that she does however, makes you move around your legs and adjust your raging member. The top she had on already was showing parts of her cleavage, but in this pose from your viewing angle, it was showing more of it and your salivary glands were an indication of how much you were enjoying the view.

It seems like the camera didn't have the same angle you had, as you see the pictures the photographer takes and only a small amount of her cleavage gets shown in them. It didn't help that the top also accentuated her bust and made it harder for you to calm down your raging member.

She catches your gaze at her, and in return she flashes a smile at you. She lowers her gaze at you and from her body language it looks like a light bulb went off in her head.

She returns her focus to the task at hand though, and brings her gaze back to the photographer and continues her work. Everything goes by smoothly and in no time they take a break and everyone separates in different directions.

Unable to find your girlfriend, you head into the makeshift dressing room that was made for her. As soon as you open the door, an arm pulls you into the room and loudly slams the door. A pair of lips suddenly attacks yours and from the familar feeling of said lips, you realize that your girlfriend was waiting for you and for the right time to charge right at you.

She guides one of your hands directly to her bust and in no time you give the worship her tits deserved. Especially after that small moment that happened during the photoshoot. You couldn't stop thinking about them after that and now you finally scratch the itch that's been bothering you.

You take over and release from Natty's lips and reverse the roles as you push her against the door and carry her up. She immediately gets the idea as she wraps her legs around your waist and you continue another heated liplock. As your tongue swirls around hers and reasserts your dominance to her, your hands aren't idle.

Your hands quickly move up to her tight fitting shirt that caused all this trouble in the first place. Rapidly they make their way under her shirt and suddenly you're met with warmth as you place your hands right at her underboob. Natty lets out a moan and you feel the vibration of the sound as you both just keep on sloppily making out.

Once your palms make contact with her supple flesh, she lets out a louder moan. From that action alone, you can just feel the stronger vibration so you painfully decide to remove your lips from hers. You continue to rub your palms all over her flesh and every time your palms rub over her quickly hardening nipples, she lets out a whiny moan and it's almost like music to your ears.

Your thumbs make their way on their own accord as they immediately target her nipples. Once the pads of your thumbs run over her nipples her moans begin to increase in volume. Your index finger joins the party as you begin teasing, tweaking and pinching her nipples. With the way you tweak and pinch her nipples, it seems like you're adjusting her volume based on your actions. Doing certain tweaks and pinches allow for different ypes of moans and many different volumes that reveal whatever you do, she enjoys every little second of it.

When you reluctantly remove your hands from her mounds and from the warmth of inside her shirt, she lets out an exasperated breath. "Hnghh, babe why did you stoppp. Ughhh."

You don't respond with words, but your actions definitely spoke louder than any sentence you can muster in the moment. In a flash, your hands pull down the shoulder straps that were weakily holding her shirt up. As her bare breasts are presented to you, you don't waste a moment as your lips cling onto one of her peaks and Natty has to stifle a moan while your warm lips make first contact.

Goosebumps form all over Natty's skin as you continue worshipping your favourite body part of hers. Just from the constant sucking and flicking at her hardened nubs, turns her on even more than usual and she throws her head back into the door behind her. The thud her head made sounded loud from your position but when she reacts like that, why should you stop what you're doing?

Every time she tries to voice her satisfaction to you, it gets caught in her throat as you always seem to find the right timing when changing your actions. So instead she decides to voice her opinion by bringing her hand up from her neck, places it on the back of your head and plays with your hair.

After you've had your fill worshipping her well endowed tits, you pull your head back from them and you tilt your head up and see your girlfriend dazed and drunk in lust. Rapidly, you lift her legs so they're resting on your shoulders and you split her in half as you push her legs towards her own shoulders. Quickly, you maneuver your way to her belt, unbuckle it then unbutton and unzip her pants.

As she feels you begin to undress her bottom half, she quietly whispers out, "We have to be quick babe, I don't know how long the break is going to be." Understanding her drift, you don't fully pull her pants off, but you pull it down enough to give you access to her clothed pussy, only being covered by a black thong and drenched in her arousal after your titplay.

You move her thong to the side and your eyes are greeted with her dripping pussy, just asking to be fucked. Not wanting to waste any time, you follow suit by only slightly undressing your own bottom half and pulling out your cock and rest it just beside her pussy lips. She shivers as she feels your manhood so close to her sex, and her facial expression just shows how desperate she is for you to enter her.

You notice her desperation as you quickly aim your cock at her slit and teasily rub your cock along it, hearing whines and quiet moans to your own personal pleasure. For the sake of your own girlfriend's sanity you decide to give into her desires as you slowly push into her slick entrance. Even though she is as slick as you expected, she feels extremely tight as you slide your cock into her sex. You slowly thrust and slide in, trying to get her used to your size on first thrust.

When you fully bury your shaft to the hilt, you look into her eyes and surprisingly she has never changed her facial expression. She's still drunk in lust, and even though she is being stretched out for the first time in a while, she makes sure it doesn't seem like it.

However when you begin to pull out, you feel her walls tighten even more, causing you to let out an unexpected moan hopefully not loud enough that others were able to hear. You continue thrusting slowly into her, establishing a slow rhythm even though you both knew the small amount of time you guys potentially had.

You continue your lovemaking onto your girlfriend as you hear her stifling her moans and quietly whining every time to fill her to the hilt. You always loved these moments with her. While you loved fucking her brains out, the intimacy of slow and passionate lovemaking with Natty was always a pleasurable and enjoyable experience for both of you.

When her quiet whines and moans began to increase in volume, you rapidly reacted and muffled them with your own lips as you continue the passionate makeout you both initiated which started the whole string of events. You increase your pace just a smidge, and that alone causes her inner walls to tighten even more.

As you feel this happening, you change your angle the best you can and start aiming for her g-spot, chasing for both of your orgasms to hit at just the right time. After a few thrusts aiming and hitting it, while feeling both the loud vibration of your girlfriend's moans against your lips and the slick rushing down her walls, you know you hit the right spot. In no time, she reaches her orgasm thanks to you and a huge rush of slick runs around your shaft and leaks onto the floor beneath the two of you.

Once you realize the chain of events that just happened, you increase your pace and speedily reach your own orgasm just when her fluttering walls were finishing their strong and suffocating hold on you.

You let out a muffled grunt as you get pushed over the orgasmic edge, and the dam breaks loose and floods Natty's pussy sucking every drop from your balls. Lazily you continue thrusting into her until you empty everything inside her, constantly fucking your load until you were satisfied.

*knock knock knock* "Natty-nim! The break will be done in 5 minutes!"

You look at each other in shock, but know what needs to be done.

A/N: Well why don't you look at that? I'm back? Nah, I just wanted to get something out for my birthday, so sorry for quality on this fic if it isn't up to par with my other ones. Anyways, I guess happy birthday to me. Thanks to everyone for sticking by the blog even though I haven't posted in a while. Hope you enjoyed the fic, I'll see you guys around <3

#smut #natty #natty smut

[morganbritton132]

I remember a while ago Steve wasn’t letting go of hope for his Mom showing up because he said she’s always late. Does he hit a point after that where he starts to admit maybe she isn’t coming? How does Eddie handle it?

@mcneen asked: Was there ever any further discussion between Steve and Eddie when Steve’s Mom didn’t show up, and Steve was like “oh she’s going to be late, she’s always been late”? I love love this series and check for more updates every day, thank you so much for writing it!

I’m going to kill two birds with one stone here since these two are asking for similar things

—

He always knew that she wasn’t coming.

He has known it every time he’s extended an olive branch just to watch it wilt and rot, and he knows that his friends and family think that he’s in denial about it. He knows that they have worriedly whispered conversations about him, but they don’t get it.

Yeah, it would be less heartbreaking to just give up but it wouldn’t be easier.

The Buckley’s are amazing parents that still send care packages to their daughter and call her every day for a month leading up to her birthday. Wayne took in his nephew when he didn’t have to and stood in defense of him against an entire town. Joyce – Jesus, Joyce Byers went to hell and back for her son. Hopper, Claudia, Sue, Karen… they’re all amazing parents, and you know what?

His mom was amazing once too.

And he knows. He knows. He knows. He knows how untrue that statement really is. He’s been in therapy long enough to know that he had a bad childhood and his parents were neglectful, but he cannot rectify that with the little boy inside him that loves his mom to pieces.

In the same way that he will always be sixteen years old and scared of the dead girl in his pool, he will always be small, waiting by the door for a mother that always eventually came home. Though, he knows.

He knows that seasons change and old injuries never heal quite right, and it never really mattered if his mother came home because she was always leaving but… But she was never outright cruel.

His father was a mean man that demanded perfection and belittled anything less than that. He was a unhappy man that fostered an atmosphere so hostile that his only son barely dared to breathe in his presence, and his mom. Well, it wasn’t her fault that she didn’t know how to be a mother.

But she was there. Sometimes as the silent observer, sometimes disinterested, but always the one to say, “Enough.”

“Enough,” she said after Barb’s disappearance, after the phone call from the police, after the lecture that turned physical. She stood between them with her hand pressed against her father’s chest and said, “That’s enough. Steven, go to your room.”

“Enough,” she said after the final rejection letter, after the job at his dad’s company was rescinded, after he was told to get a job or get out. “Enough, James. What is all this yelling going to do? It will not get him into college.”

“Enough,” she said after Steve stood his ground and took back nothing when he told them that Eddie was not just a friend, that he loved him and for the first time ever, it felt like someone loved him back. After the fighting, and the yelling, and being kicked out, she finally uttered, “Enough.”

About insurance.

His father stripped him line by line of everything he has always known, but insurance was where his mother drew the line. They all new that he would never be able to afford his medication without it and, “God forbid, he have a seizure and get another kid killed, Jay.”

The last conversation Steve had with his mother was at his father’s funeral. He said she looked well given the circumstances and she said that he should really do something about all that gray hair.

So, no. He’s not expecting her to show up. He never really is, but he wants it. He wants it so bad and it all kinda comes crashing down around him one evening after Eddie casually mentions that Wayne called earlier, “He said you’re getting better at speaking on camera.”

“What?”

Eddie explains that Wayne caught Steve’s interview about his YouTube math tutorials going viral. Steve asks how a man living in Florida manages to watch a local news broadcast from Illinois, and Eddie says that he looked it up online. Steve asks, “Why would he do that?”

“Because he’s proud of you,” Eddie says simply.

Something just cracks and the next thing either of them knows, Steve is crying. It’s kinda funny how wide Eddie’s eyes go, but Steve can’t even laugh about it because he feels like he’s going to drown inside himself.

It takes time and a lot of coaxing for Steve to get to a point where he tell Eddie that he’s sad. He just doesn’t understand what he’s supposed to do to make her want to see him. He doesn’t know what he did that was so wrong that she can’t forgive him and why – “Why can’t she just love me?”

Eddie tells him firmly, “Stevie, baby. I want you to listen very carefully to me, okay? I’ve never been more serious about anything in my life, okay?”

Steve nods.

“You did nothing wrong,” He says, and Steve just – he can’t believe it. He can’t believe that because then there’s nothing he can do to fix it and he – “Tell me this, Steve. Tell me what Erica Sinclair – Lady Applejack herself. Tell me what she has to do to make you consider cutting contact with her? What’s the least she’d have to do? Think about it an give me an answer, sweetheart.”

Steve things about it and eventually settles on, “Open the Upside Down on purpose.”

“Have you even opened a portal to a hell dimension on purpose then, babe?”

“Ed-“

“No, I want an answer,” Eddie says. “Have you ever purposely ripped a hole in the space-time continuum to an alternate reality?”

“No.”

“You ever do something worse than that?”

“I- no? Eddie-“

“Then it sounds like the problem is with your mom and not you,” He answers. “It sounds like she needs to get over her own fucking issues, and I know. I know that fucking sucks, Steve, but you cannot spend the rest of your life blaming yourself for her unwillingness to grow as a person.”

Eddie wipes the tears from his face and kiss the tip of his nose, and Steve admits, “I’m still sad.”

“I know, baby,” Eddie tells him. “That’s okay.”

Steve doesn’t know how much time lingers between them in silence, just that he’s tired the way he always is after he cries a lot. He’s about to tell him that he’s going to go to bed when Eddie states, “Joyce still lives in Hawkins, right? I’m gonna call her and see if she’ll beat your mom up.”  

#this is rambly and I don’t even know if it makes sense #I do know that Joyce Byers would fight Steve’s mom on his behalf #also I went with Erica because I think Dustin is more like a little brother to Steve and he would see Erica as more of his kid #eddie munson tiktok saga #steve harrington #eddie munson

[silent-stories]

𝐌𝐄𝐄𝐓 𝐌𝐘 𝐌𝐎𝐌 - 𝟐

Pairing: Eddie x F!Reader

Summary: Eddie graduated and you can't not go tell his mom.

Warnings: a bit of angst, fluff

Part 1

Eddie's gaze fell on the flowers on the desk in your room as soon as he entered, and he immediately froze a few feet away from the door.

They were potted with water and tied by a thin blue rope.

They were pretty.

This meant that someone other than him had bought you flowers and the thought immediately caused him a bad feeling in the pit of his stomach.

Was it someone from school?

Was he the blond guy who always smiled at you when you entered class? Was he the blue-eyed guy who always waved at you in the hallway? Or maybe it was the jock who was always staring at you in the cafeteria?

Did you accept flowers from them? From someone other than him?

"Who got you flowers?" He asked much more shyly than he would have liked, almost as if he expected that one day you'd find someone better than him.

"Oh, no. That's not what it seems." You started explaining, getting up from your bed and walking towards him.

Eddie looked at you suspiciously. "Who?"

"Me. I bought those flowers."

"For who?" He asked again, even more confused.

You rolled your eyes. "Since when you don't trust me?"

"Sweetheart I trust you, the thing is-"

"For your mom."

Eddie suddenly stopped talking, staring at you with those big chocolate brown eyes that you started loving the moment you first saw them.

Did you really buy flowers for her?

"I wanted to talk to you about this...I wanted to ask you if you wanted to visit her again, it's been a long time since we've been there together and I thought we could go and tell her that you graduated. Because I know she would be so fucking proud of you. But only if you want too, of course."

Eddie stood silent and you immediately feared you might have said the wrong thing. "We don't have to, really. I thought maybe you'd like it but we can do another day or if you want to go alone it's more than okay and-"

Eddie suddenly took two big steps towards you and wrapped his arms around you, almost lifting you off the ground in the process, and pulled you close to him.

A smile appeared on your lips as he buried his face in the crook of your neck and in your hair and inspired your smell, closing his eyes. "I love you fucking so much."

You giggled at the way he was basically collapsing onto you and caressed his back with your hand, tracing imaginary patterns and running it up and down his spine.

"Does this mean you want to go? With me?" You asked after a few moments.

"Of course I want to go with you." He whispered without letting you go.

Eddie was holding your hand when you arrived at his mom's grave.

You looked down at the bunch of flowers you were holding, watching a bee fly over them and land on a petal.

You passed them to Eddie as the bee flew away.

He looked at them for a moment, without taking them, then he nodded towards the grave as if giving you permission to leave them in front of it.

You took a step forward, without releasing Eddie's hand and placed the flowers in front of the headstone, murmuring a "Good morning Mrs. Munson" before you both sat down in front of it, like last time.

"Elizabeth." Eddie said.

"What?" It was his mom's name, you knew that. It was engraved in the stone, you only found out about it the first time Eddie brought you there because he didn't talk much about her.

"You can call her Elizabeth." He added holding your hand a little tighter.

You ran your thumb over the back of it, tracing a few circles. "Okay."

"Well, mom...not much has happened since we last been here. My band isn't famous yet. I haven't found a job yet. I haven't-"

"Eddie."

He rolled his eyes.

"Focus on good things."

"I graduated. It was about damn time. They made us wear those awful green tunics and we had those stupid hats on. But I went over it, because I finally graduated. Now I really need to get a job though. My band don't make enough money when we play to five drunks and-"

"Eddie, good things." You scolded him in a playful tone.

The atmosphere was less sad than last time. It almost sounded like a normal conversation you could hear every day.

"Good things..." Eddie repeated, thinking about it.

"Y/N is still with me." He finally said.

"I'm sure you can find better things."

"But you are my best thing."

You smiled. He had said it in a joking tone but he really believed it, you knew it.

"And it's really weird that she's still with me. I mean, she must be really crazy. With all the people out there she's still with me. Taking care of me. And Wayne. And now she's buying flowers for you. Really crazy. And I love her for that."

You brought his hand that still had his fingers intertwined with yours, to your lips and left a kiss on his back. "I love you too."

Eddie smiled. "What did I tell you? Out of her mind!"

You chuckled shaking your head. "It takes one to know one."

A gust of wind blew some dry leaves in front of the tombstone, near the flowers so you reached out to gently sweep them away.

"Thanks for coming." He said after a moment of silence, his brown eyes were soft when he looked at you.

"It's a pleasure. We can come back here anytime you want." You said before your eyes landed on the photo of the woman on the tombstone.

"She looked so much like you, you know?"

You saw Eddie's body tense slightly and you immediately feared you might have said the wrong thing.

"When I was little everyone said I looked like my father." He started. "They said I had his smile, even though he wasn't a big smiler." He added the last part with a bitter laugh. "They said I had his nose. And that I was as rowdy as he was. Growing up I always wished that wasn't true. I always wished I got something from my mom too."

"People must not have given you a good look. I mean, you don't have her hair, she was almost blonde. And you don't have her smile, that's true. But her eyes? You definitely have her eyes. I'd recognize anywhere your beautiful, kind, brown eyes and you got them from her, trust me.”

"You" He said pointing his index finger at you "I know what you're doing, you're trying to make me cry again. And it's not going to happen, okay?"

You laughed at his words as he pulled you towards him to kiss your forehead before whispering a soft "I love you so much".

Then he slowly got up and held out his hand, helping you up to leave the graveyard.

He wrapped an arm around your shoulders and pulled you closer to him.

"I love you too." You said raising your head slightly towards him just to catch a glimpse of the smile on his lips.

He turned towards the grave before starting to walk away. "Bye mom." He said in a sweet tone.

You turned around one last time too. "Bye Elizabeth."

Tags: @jacklesdeanvessel @morning-sky7 @pipsqueakkitten

#eddie munson x reader #eddie x reader #eddie munson x y/n #eddie x y/n #stranger things fanfic #stranger things fanfiction #eddie munson fanfiction #eddie munson fluff

[ihavemanyhusbands]

(NOT A) Crush

Aaron Hotchner x Fem!Reader (fluff)

Hotch does not know how to handle having a crush on you, but he's gotta do something about it.

Requested by my darling @davidwallacesgf <3

WC: 2.0k words

A/N: Autumn you were so right, soooo glad I started with Hotch hehe

Aaron Hotchner was not one for crushes. He had no time or energy for them, really. At least, that’s what he tried to tell himself.

Most of his team members already thought he was incapable of romance. Seldom did anyone see him without his cool mask of professional indifference. He took his job seriously, perhaps way too much, but his heart wasn’t made of stone. Not at all. 

Not that he would ever admit to it, at least not just to anyone. 

You had started working at the Bureau only a couple of months ago, spending your days crammed in that little corner office with Penelope. The two of you were a great match, hard-working but also able to keep things lighthearted. God knows García needed the help, too.

You were all charm, with a contagious laugh and a quick wit, so the team quickly took a liking to you. You were quite the looker too, with bright shining eyes and warm smiles, but that was usually unprofessional to point out. 

There was no way Hotch wouldn’t notice you. He treated you the same as the rest, sure, but he had you in his mind often. Your playful nature, your empathy, your kindness. Even on his worst days, you’d been able to get him to smile. You were a breath of fresh air, really.

He never did know what to do when you flirted with him, though. Words would escape him, and there had been times when he became a bit flustered. He hid it well, quickly but politely excusing himself. Internally, he’d smack himself for not being able to keep his cool. 

For your part, you didn’t think much of his nonchalance. It was clear he had nothing against you, but you also had not been around for too long. You figured he’d warm up at his own pace, maybe. 

You had great admiration for him, and you liked watching him interact with the others. He was a natural protector and leader; A figure of authority that was still approachable. Someone you could trust. 

And of course, you had to admit, he was incredibly handsome. You’d be a fool not to see that. He was tall and lean, but not overly muscular, with dark hair and thick eyebrows that almost always seemed to be furrowed. His dark brown eyes could bore holes into you from their intensity – not that you minded. 

Hell, you often found yourself wanting to giggle and swoon like a schoolgirl every time you saw him looking sharp in a suit.

“Whew! You could climb that man like a tree,” Penelope once joked, but the statement still held true.

In your most shameful, private moments, you envisioned what it might be like to kiss the golden column of his throat. To get lost in the smell of him and the deep timbre of his voice. It was probably not great to think of your boss that way, but you couldn’t really help it.

He and the team were often away on cases, but they’d all call often. Morgan opted to call Penelope more when in need of assistance, but Hotch seemed more inclined to call you. Of course this made you feel a little smug, but you also had to admit it made butterflies burst in your stomach whenever you saw his name on the caller ID.

“Talk to me Hot-ch stuff,” was the kind of thing you’d sometimes say in greeting. “Ha! Get it? Hot-ch stuff?”

There’d be silence for a moment on the other end, but you could hear the smile in his voice when he’d finally speak up. You’d learned from the best, after all.

“He’s a tough nut to crack, isn’t he?” You asked Penelope one night, the two of you eating chinese take out in her office.

She was the only one who knew of your little crush, but both of you were ignorant of the fact that it was reciprocated.

“Yup,” Penelope agreed, nodding. “But he’s a sweetheart, in his own way. Hasn’t had things easy.”

“Oh?” You leaned forward in curiosity.

“Well, he’s a single dad, divorced not too long ago. Kinda likes to dive into his work and keep busy.”

“Hmm,” you pondered for a moment, already aware of the latter part of this. “Well, I’m great with kids. Do you think that’ll score me some points?”

Penelope laughed, swatting your arm playfully. “It’s possible. Keep aiming high, sister.”

—————-

“Has Hotch seemed distracted to you lately?” Spencer asked Morgan, who immediately raised an eyebrow in confusion.

“Distracted? Not really. It’s more like brooding, and he’s always doing that.”

They were unwinding at a small bar along with JJ, Rossi and Prentiss, trying not to think too hard about work for once. It was hard to detach themselves from a case right after they were done with it, but this last one had been a particularly heavy one. 

Spencer looked unsure, narrowing his eyes. “No, I don’t think so… it’s different, but I can’t put my finger on it.”

Morgan took a swig of his beer, shrugging. 

“Well, whatever it is that’s bothering him, he’s not gonna tell us about it. You know how he is, so don’t get too hung up on it, Reid.”

Prentiss huffed in amusement. “You think it might be a girl?”

JJ rolled her eyes as Morgan chuckled, shaking his head.

“What?” Prentiss continued, “With pretty little things like Y/N running around, you just never know…”

“Oh please,” Rossi intervened. “That man doesn’t have time to be chasing some tail around. And even if he did, that’s his business, isn’t it?”

—————-

Late nights were nothing uncommon at Quantico. You were very much used to them, and really, you kind of enjoyed them. The office was quiet and calm at night, which was a nice reprieve from the hectic day-to-day. It gave you time to gather your thoughts and get lost in a task.

You hummed to yourself as you organized some files, readying them for Monday. You’d ushered Penelope out the door hours ago, insisting that she get some rest. It’d been a long week, and she deserved it. You had all weekend to sleep, so you didn’t mind shouldering the burden this time.

“I see you’re a fellow night owl,” a deep, familiar voice behind you startled you.

You turned to see Hotch in the doorway, holding two cups of coffee. He handed one to you, looking sheepish.

“I wasn’t sure how you took it, so I just left it black,” he said, clearing his throat.

“Why, thank you Hotch,” you said, taking it from him. “Such a sweet gesture, I don’t even think I’d need sugar in this anymore.”

You winked, taking a sip, feeling it warm you up. Hotch looked away, running a hand through the lower half of his face. You swore you could see the slightest blush on his cheeks, but you couldn’t be sure.

“You, uh, almost wrapped up for the night?” He asked, changing the subject.

“Almost. I need another twenty minutes or so, but don’t worry about me, I should be fine.”

You looked back down at the files, and he took the opportunity to look you over. He had seen how selfless you were, how hard working and driven. It made him proud to have someone like you on the team.

“I don’t mind waiting,” he said, surprising you. “Thanks for staying late tonight.”

You glanced over at him, feeling both unsure and hopeful at the same time. “Oh, don’t mention it. It’s all part of the job, right?”

He chuckled a little. “Yeah, I suppose it is. But still, I want you to know I appreciate you.”

There was a certain warmth in his eyes that you hadn’t previously seen directed at you. You smiled, feeling yourself relax and momentarily shedding the teasing, flirtatious persona you always were around everyone. 

“Thank you, sir. That means a lot,” you said, voice low and demure.

He could feel his heart begin to thunder in his chest. He’d seen you smiling plenty of times, but not like this. Could it be just for him? 

He definitely liked the idea of that, more than he was willing to acknowledge.

“Are you sure you want to wait for me? You really don’t have to…” you continued, fidgeting. “You need the rest more than I do, really.”

He waved your concerns off, but was touched nonetheless. “I’ll let you finish without me distracting you. I’ll be in my office whenever you’re ready to go.”

You nodded in appreciation, feeling a burst of giddiness as he walked away. Your cheeks were ablaze as you set out to wrap everything up as quickly and effectively as you could. 

It was hard not to get distracted knowing he was just down the hall, waiting for you. Yes, you! Never in your wildest dreams could you have imagined this moment coming. It still felt surreal.

Though perhaps you were reading too much into it, and this was just how he showed appreciation to everyone on the team. Maybe it was just your turn tonight. Still, you’d take what you could get.

Twenty minutes later, you knocked on the door to his office, peeking inside. His features lit up at the sight of you, but while he grinned, he still seemed exhausted. You felt a pang of guilt in your chest.

“All good to go, boss man!” You said cheerfully, reverting back to your usual self to keep things light.

He chuckled, gathering his things as you buttoned up your coat. “Guess giving you caffeine at this time was not the best idea.”

You shrugged, tucking your hair behind your ears. “It’ll fizzle out by the time I get home. I sleep like a log, honestly.”

“Lucky you,” he said, shutting off the lights in his office.

The two of you walked together to the parking lot, and he listened as you filled in the silence. He found he enjoyed listening to you talk, getting really animated when it was about something you enjoyed. He found it cute whenever your words picked up speed in excitement, almost stumbling over each other.

He just hoped you didn’t find him boring, without much to contribute. In reality, you were scared that you were annoying him, so you felt some slight relief at the sight of your car.

“Well, this is me,” You said, gesturing at it. “Again, thank you so very much for everything tonight.”

“Of course,” he nodded with a grin, unlocking his SUV but not turning towards it yet. “Any time.”

“See you on Monday. Try to stay out of trouble and get some rest, okay?” You smiled and waved a little, unlocking your car.

He made no move to leave, instead taking a fortifying breath. Screw it, it was now or never, he figured.

“Wait, Y/N,” Hotch called as you opened the door, stopping you. He stepped closer, nervously fidgeting with the keys in his hand. His Adam’s apple bobbed as he swallowed hard.

“Could I… take you out for coffee sometime?” He asked tentatively. “Don’t get me wrong, the Bureau’s coffee is palatable, but I’m sure there’s better things out there.”

You blinked up at him, momentarily stunned. For the second time that night, you felt like you were in a dream.

“Oh… Oh!” Your eyes widened in realization that this was, in fact, very much real. “Coffee, oh my gosh, yes. Yes! I would love to!”

There you went blabbering on again. You wanted to slap yourself for it, burning with embarrassment. He tried to contain his smile, finding your nervousness adorable… and frankly a little perplexing. You were always so confident, so forward, that he did not expect to have this effect on you. He could definitely get used to this.

“How about Sunday?” He offered, secretly unable to wait past then.

You nodded, to his immense relief. “I look forward to it, sir.”

“Please,” he insisted. “Call me Aaron.”

#criminal minds #criminal minds fanfiction #aaron hotch x reader #aaron hotch fluff #thomas gibson #ssa aaron hotchner #aaron hotchner x fem!reader #oh the yearning #minors dni

[babydollmarauders]

Baby Au! Jack missing some typa mile stone in their little girl’s life. I need the angst sooo bad. Does the reader call him to tell him he missed it? Does he find out when he comes home? I just love sad Jack! <3

it was one of Jack’s biggest fears. being on a roadie and missing a milestone in El’s life. luck has been in his favor so far; he was home when she rolled over for the first time, when she started crawling for the first time, when she said her first word “dada”. in the back of his mind, i think he’s always known that he wouldn’t be home for all of them, but we both hoped this day would never come.

i sit on the living room floor, my back to the tv, that currently plays the ongoing Devils vs Kings game. i clutch my phone in one hand, recording my 10 month old, holding my other hand out toward her. she stands at the couch, one of her tiny hands clutching the cushion while the other one reaches out toward me.

“c’mon El, do it again!” i cheer. craning my neck to look back at the tv, the camera pans to Jack on the bench before the faceoff and i point to it. “who’s on the tv? who is that?”

“dada!” El screams, lifting her other hand off the couch to point to the tv.

“that’s it, baby! come to mommy! come to the tv, come see daddy!” i tell her. she rips her eyes from the tv to look back at me before taking a wobbly step forward. “c’mon El! come to mommy!”

she’s fast, having learned that if she isn’t then she’ll fall, practically run-walking over to me. her little hand clutches my fingers as she makes it over to me, a big smile on her face.

“good job, baby girl! you did it!” i exclaim, pulling her in to a hug against my chest. i flip the camera on my phone to look at her as she gazes up at the tv, pointing her finger. the camera films Jack’s face as he skates across the ice to get in position for another faceoff.

“dada!” she cheers. she turns to look at me, noticing my eyes on her rather than where she’s pointing. she used her hand to push my face to look at the tv. “dada! mama, dada!”

“yeah? is that daddy, baby?” i ask, ending the recording.

“dada!” she confirms.

it’s later that night after i put her to bed that i finally get around to sending Jack the video from earlier. i’m laid in bed, finally able to rest for the night.

—

To: Jacky <3

El took her first unassisted steps today during your game! 🥺 got a vid for you!

*attachment: 1 video*

—

it’s not even five minutes later that my phone starts ringing in my hand.

*incoming facetime call: Jacky <3*

i swipe at the screen, accepting the call and waiting for it to connect.

“hey, baby!” i exclaim as it finally connects. Jack sits in his hotel bed, the lights still on in his room. i can hear shuffling in the background, reminding me that Luke is there too. “hey, Lukey!”

“hey, y/n/n!” Luke calls.

“i missed it?” Jack butts into the greetings between his brother and i.

“i’m sorry, Jacky.” i tell him, my voice soft.

“fuck, i can’t believe i missed her first steps. it couldn’t have been a less important milestone?” Jack groans. i watch as tears roll down his cheeks, his eyes slowly reddening as he sniffles.

“baby, you’d hate missing it no matter what milestone it was.” i remind him.

“still.” he huffs, flipping down on his back.

“i’m so sorry. if it makes you feel any better, she was walking to you on the tv.” i tell him. my own eyes start to fill with tears at the sight of his. i can’t imagine how i would feel if the roles were reversed.

“it doesn’t. it actually makes this worse, but i appreciate your sentiments, love.” he wipes at his eyes, sniffling again. “god, i’m a horrible dad.”

“what? no, you’re not! don’t say that!” i exclaim, sitting up in bed in contrast to his laid down position.

“i am. i’m always gone. i missed her first steps.”

“you are not a bad dad. do you hear me, Jack Rowden Hughes?” my words are sternly spoken, leaving no room for debate. “you’re not always gone. you leave because it’s your job. you love hockey, do you not?”

he nods in response.

“exactly. you leave what, 3 times a month, at most? it’s your job. it’s how you provide for us. i do not want to hear you talk bad about yourself just because you missed one thing. you’re a fantastic father. you love her. you care for her. dear god, you spoil her rotten. you do everything you can to give her the best childhood she could possibly have. you missed her first steps, i understand being upset about it, but you’re gonna be there for SO many more. she’s gonna know that you’ll be there for her, no matter what.”

Jack wipes at his nose with the sleeve of his hoodie, nodding his head.

“thank you, babe.” his tears have stopped, leaving his eyes slightly puffy. “i love you. so much.”

“i love you too, honey.” i smile, blowing him a kiss and making him chuckle.

“she asleep?” he asks and i rise from the bed.

“yeah, i’ll show you.” i tell him, walking out of Jack and i’s room and into El’s nursery. i stop by her crib, flipping the camera to show her laying on her back, sprawled out on the mattress. “she’s your child.”

“what are you talking about? she gets that from you! mrs. i need to lay starfish!” Jack laughs.

“liar. that’s so you.” i rebut, but we both know its both of us. it’s the exact reason we have such a big bed.

“sometimes i look at her and it just amazes me that we made her. that’s us, combined.” he sighs, staring at her through the phone. “i miss her.”

“only two more days, Jacky.” i remind him.

“two more days.”

#el!hughes au #jack hughes x reader #ask faithlynn ✨

[blossomthepinkbunny]

The inconstancy/misuse of the powers in HH/HB

(especially in "Oops")

In regards to the episode "Oops" of Helluva Boss and in general I just wanna say that I genuinely don't understand the misuse of the power levels in Helluva Boss/Hazbin Hotel. The strongest forces in Hell are the seven deadly sins and after that comes the Royalty and after that the overlords. Then the sinners and the Hellborn are the weakest from my understanding.

There are however some instances in the show which just don't make sense, considering the power system. Like, Charlie is the daughter of the most powerful demon in the whole of hell and troughout the show she just doesn't do anything at all. We are to assume that she has a lot of power still. Technically she should be the second strongest demon in hell. Maybe you could say, that she isn't used to her powers and is somewhat inexperienced and young, but she should still be atleast on the same level of strength as the weakest deadly sin, or Stolas I guess.

But all she does is sit around. I know she isn't the confrontational type and is actually quite the pacifist sometimes, still there are moments where she could use her powers to help her plan or just something. She never tries to protect the Hotel when people like Sir Pentious or the guys who were after Mimzy attack, thats always Alastors Job, even though one could guess that she'd be stronger than him if she would make use of her powers. Maybe she could even protect the demons from Alastor, because mindlessly killing random demons is sort of the opposite of what she wanted to accomplish (but apparently she's just fine with that? This goes back to her not being really well defined at all).

When she sees someone who she consideres her friend (Angel) get abused and harassed by someone, she doesn't do anything to help him. Maybe threaten Valentino or just use her high status to do anything. But nothing comes from her.

In the final episode it's also Alastor who has to fight Adam before Lucifer showes up. Charlie puts up a good fight when she finally decides to move but it just showes us all her potential which is never used.

This ignoring of power is so much worse in "Oops" though. The plot is that Asmodeus can't save Fizz from Crimson because of stupid, artificial reasoning. The first thing that is said is that Asmodeus is the weakest sin, which is fine but it doesn't change the fact that he could still just beat up everybody there. Like yeah he might be the weakest but he's still a SIN. He's stronger than Stolas and definitely a hundred times stronger than some random imp without special assisment.

I saw someone say that Ozzie probably sold away a lot of his power, since he often doesn't read the contracts he singes which is a nice theory but I don't consider it, since it's not mentioned in the episode. And even if he signed away more than half of his power, he should still be so much stronger than Crimson. Crimson is just an Imp and we see his group get taken out by Blitzø and Fizzarolli (one Imp with just a knife and one who can't even really fight) so the show can't even mention Ozzies power level as if it's an actual reason for why he can't do anything. We also see that he's still able to stand up to Mammon confidently in the later episode so he obviously is still VERY strong.

Another excuse they try to pull is with the legal documents he has to sign to give him some conflict and a time limit. But that's stupid too, since we know Ozzie can make Portals. He could just teleport there, take Crimson and his Imps out and be back with Fizz and Blitzø in a second. Also, Stolas is there too and he can turn demons into stone just by looking at them. Why doesn't he just do that to the lawyer guy? Then they don't have to sign and could just leave. I mean it's not as if the lawyer should even be an obstacle to Ozzie or Stolas.

The fact that Asmodeus apparently cares so much for his Partner but never thinks about any of this. At the start of the episode he's literally so worried about even the idea of Fizzarolli going to the greed ring without him and still he'd rather sit there and fill out some documents for a guy he could easily beat any second than to save his Partner who could be in ACTUAL life threatening danger!? The same goes for Stolas who we know can tell when Blitzø is in danger (from the episode truth seekers) but never has that instinct to save him here, even when Blitzø is captured too.

It's also just funny that for a place like hell, which we are constantly reminded of as this place without rules and people that care about a government, there's still that apparent necessity to completely follow Crimson's demands and the arbitrary rules he set. Especially for Asmodeus who is one of the strongest leading forces in hell, to just do whatever a random Imp wants, someone who is so many ranks under him (literally the second to last rank in hells society) is just indescribably stupid. Isn't he the one who could just make new rules? Or just decide that he doesn't want to follow certain ones, since in hell apparently no one follows a lot of rules anyways so why is it presented as if he can't do anything.

That's the thing I disliked most about "Oops" because it's so clear that they just had to make something up because they wrote themselves into a corner with Asmodeus and Stolas being so strong. There are probably more moments like this in both shows. Another one I can think of is that Stolas never helped I.M.P out in any of their missions, even though he can tell when Blitzø is in danger and would be a great help to get them out of situations. Obviously this is only brought up in one episode, because they didn't know how to resolve the conflict and then it just disappeares because it would make a lot of struggles in episodes feel weightless since Stolas can just save the Imps from any danger.

It's just another thing Vivzepop brings up and then drops. The inconstancy in these shows (in Helluva boss even more than in Hazbin) is actually annoying and makes episodes so much harder to watch.

#hazbin hotel critique #hazbin hotel criticism #hazbin hotel critical #hazbin hotel charlie #hazbin hotel #helluva boss #helluva boss critical #helluva boss criticism #helluva boss critique #vivziepop #helluva boss asmodeus #helluva boss stolas #vivzepop critical

[m1ssunderstanding]

Get Back Rewatch 55 Years On: Day 19

Linda looks so good in this sort of not-quite-right preppy style. I think it fits who she was as a person in this time so well, and that’s one of the things I love about Linda is that she just dresses up as herself. You know? Like she wears things that are true to her and she doesn’t care if that means a mini-skirt in January or hairy pits on stage. And that confidence and introspection and happiness is so, so attractive.

And that is why they love him. (you know, besides the fact that he’s a piano prodigy or whatever) So secure. BDE off the charts.

Linda talking photography with whoever that other photographer guy is.

George: what could it be, Paul? John: jumps to answer for Paul like it's 1964 and they're at a press conference.

What do we think? John cut himself shaving? Or is it a hickey?

It ends up that John’s meeting must’ve fallen through at 1:30, so Paul is the only one gone. And it seems to me that John purposely plans this time when Paul’s gone to talk to George and Ringo about Klein. George: er, what did you want to talk about? John: er, well, just that I saw Klein, you know. . . . but I want to tell you all at once, you know, so it’s not . . . Sure, John. Cut to 1971 John talking about “doing a job” and “maneuvering” to get those two on the Klein boat. smh. sad. 

But, really, for a guy who admits to having been a manipulator since primary school, he’s so easily manipulated. John. A man who you just met cannot know you as well as a man you’ve known since you were seventeen. No matter how he flattered you, it’s just not possible. The way he said it with such conviction, too! He sincerely believes this bullshit.  

“Old Brown Shoe” is not my favorite lol but I’m so happy for George. To me, it sounds like it’s about leaving old roles, old patterns, old relationships, the beatles, behind in favor of something more exciting and fun. Good for him. 

I know this is a “yeah, duh” comment, but Billy is such a gifted musician. Instantly catching on to the stylophone, jumping on guitar the minute George is on piano. So impressive.

Ugh, the tone of voice John takes with George. They’re all messing around, as they constantly do, including George, when John decides it’s time to focus. He says, “George, come on,” in literally the most condescending voice. As if George has been the only one derailing everything out of his own immaturity and John’s finally losing his patience. I can’t. He’s not fourteen, anymore, John. 

One more quick Linda appreciation because she's so cool and so pretty and I love her so much.

I wonder if they actually did have a “tune up” as George Martin put it, after teasing him that they wouldn’t. It just cuts off from John being like “remember Bob Wooler” to them doing a take of “Don’t Let Me Down.”  

John singing “I need you” at Paul (who is very passionately shaking that maraca). Not I want you. I need you. And making These Faces as he plays the guitar. Like, to be clear, those are not singing faces. He's not singing while he's doing that. He's just doing that. He looks so horny and in so much pain. Bro. How do you do that with God and everyone watching? 

At which point, Paul decides he needs to get completely out-of-it stoned, and the most unwatchable one minute and seven seconds in all of Get Back occurs. “Grease Paint” my beloathed.

Oh, okay, George just constantly cleans his guitars. I think I remember reading an old beatlemania era article that said while John and Paul treat their guitars as tools, George loves and cares for his. 

And then we pan out as John says, “Allen Klein’s here,” and sings, “I want you so bad” in the same breath. What are our thoughts? Does John sincerely think he’s helping everyone by getting Klein? Or is it more selfish?  

#paul mccartney #the beatles #john lennon #mclennon #ringo starr #george harrison #get back

[smok3r7]

Is Leaving Even An Option?

Joel x F!reader

Explicit, 18+

Three: Neighbor

Series MasterList & Main MasterList - My Ao3

Summary: Your days have become one in the same, even with the terrifying reality of death right outside the walls of Jackson. You never thought you’d be in the situation you’ve been stuck in for seven years now, the daily abuse you endure has become an expectation. You take whatever your husband throws at you, literally and figuratively, because you’ve been trained to believe this is normal. But a new man, Joel, moves next door and happens to be friendly towards you, this causes your husband’s anger to worsen. Your mind starts a gruesome war with itself - can you leave him or do you stay until the inevitable happens?

Chapter Summary: Finally, you’re starting to find your footing again. You have your job back at the stables, your friendships are growing strong, and now you have new neighbors; Joel & Ellie. After showing them to their new home, you and Joel have a moment on his porch, and you can’t just shake that specific feeling.

Word count: 4.2k

⚠️Warnings: controlling husband, anxiety, forgiving husband over and over, walking on eggshells, starting to stick up for yourself

—

“Morning, Mrs. Rossi! See you soon!” The group of nineteen year old girls yell at you as you make your way towards the stables, turning to see Jinny, Andrea, and Chloe standing in line for some hot cocoa. You smile while waving back to them and yell, hi girls, as you continue past them, and your heart warms from seeing their faces gleam when you answer them. Those girls are absolute saints.

Not long after the incident at the restaurant, Maria helped you get back into working in the stables, and, well, it was really an excuse for you to get out of the house - but Nate didn’t need to know that. The three sisters volunteered to help out with anything you needed, and you weren’t not sure why they adored you so much but you certainly felt more sure about yourself as a person again, not only as Nate’s possession.

When the girls get blabbering about their drama, it makes you think back to Rosa. She would’ve loved Jackson and these girls, so you hold onto these three close to your heart and soul, like they’re your own.

—

The winter season has come in full swing, the bitter chilly air stings your face as you stride faster through the busy streets of Jackson. Even though the sun has just passed the tips of the snow covered trees, Main Street is already buzzing with people talking with each other about whatever they can, even the Tipsy Bison is loud with people singing and talking obnoxiously loud.

Even though you have a hard time with the cold, you honestly love this time of year. Jackson has come to feel like your hometown in Tennessee during the holidays. The way people decorate their homes and businesses reminds you of home with the twinkle lights, Christmas trees, artwork from kids, and the natural joy people have - even with the disgusting truth just outside the walls.

You’re just about to open the red barn door when you hear the deep voice that you swear will make you turn to stone, for eternity. With your right hand on the cold metal handle and your black military boots planted in the wet snow, you slowly turn your hooded head, and you’re met with him about fifteen feet away from you, looking like he wants to murder you here and now.

You know he won’t do it, at least right here in front of everyone, only because he has to keep up his nice guy persona. Little does he know, ever since that night almost a year ago, when he left you lying on the floor from his anger, you started to talk about what he’s been doing to you with Maria and the girls. You’re not even sure who knows, and really, you don’t care about who does and who doesn’t, because at the end of the day, you have to make the decision to leave him for yourself, and for some insane reason a part of you will not let go.

“What do you want?” You ask so only he can hear you, and you’re not in the mood to deal with him but he’s not going anywhere soon it seems. “Didn’t realize you were working today, you knew I came back last night, right?” He spits as he takes a couple steps closer and the crunch from the snow under his feet rings in your ears.

You had snuck out the house this morning while he was in the shower, and he had gotten home when you were already in bed, so you acted like you never heard him come in while he embraced your warm body, and when he started to snore, you knew he was in a dead sleep. That was when the brawl started in you again - on one hand, you can’t leave him because you love him, but on the other, you need to leave now and you don’t deserve this.

Still in the same position, much like a statue, you’re just about to make up some lie when you hear behind you, “You okay Mrs.Rossi?” You despise the way his name is attached to you, confirming the feeling of being his property. It makes you shiver.

All of a sudden, you’re surrounded by the three sisters, and Nate’s expression changes immediately. You almost laugh at the drastic difference in him that let him keep up his appearance. “Thank you ladies, I was just about to head in anyways,” you reply to them, still staring down Nate’s baby blues. You can tell he’s fuming and you sense the girls do too, because they start to babble and push you inside with them.

His tall figure disappears from your view and is replaced with stalls of beautiful horses and bails of haystacks.

“Did he touch you?” Chloe questions as the girls start to inspect your face with care, a hint of anger shining through.

You love that they care so deeply for you but you feel extremely guilty for making them feel like this, until you remember that you were doing the same thing for families, seeing a lot of yourself in these smart girls.

“No, honey. Thank you, though,” you reply softly while you guide their hands away from your face, “Let’s get to work, ladies.” You’re not gonna have Nate mess up your mindset for work, or even these three. He doesn’t deserve that kind of attention.

—

“Tommy!” An unknown voice echoes throughout Main Street. The day is about done, you’re taking a breather after taking care of just about all the horses, and your head instinctively turns in the direction of the mystery voice. Who is that? You whisper to yourself as you notice Tommy climb down from the wooden stage and jump into this older man’s arms in a strong hug.

You don’t quite have the best view of the situation, there’s about a ten yard gap from you and them, and all you can really make out is that this seems like an important reunion.

“What’s that all about?” Andrea asks as she sits next to you on the bench. You shrug your shoulders, “I’m not sure, but I’ll probably find out soon.” She looks at you with her head cocked to the side, eyebrows raised.

“I bet money Maria will talk to me about it, I guaran-fucking-tee she will.” You laugh, your eyes returning to the two men now walking with each other, when you notice a girl on a horse behind Maria who must be his daughter.

“Okay,” you announce, standing up with the pop of both your knees, “Back to work!”

Andrea groans and throws her head back dramatically, “Aren’t you tired, old lady?” and the two of you fall into a fit of laughter. Let’s go, you repeat and head back inside, still laughing.

—

You wave bye to the sisters one more time as you lock up the barn doors, before turning around you hear them laugh in unison, “Bye, old lady!” Followed by the sound of their feet creating shoe prints in the freshly fallen snow as they quickly run home.

A genuine smile grows on your face, your chest fluttering from the name, so much better than Mrs.Rossi. You begin to walk in the direction of your own home, passing the Tipsy Bison for the second time today and it’s still just as busy, if not more, people finally being able to relax after a hard day's work. Kenny’s Burgers is the next building you strut past, and you hate that you associate Nate with this place because their food is delicious, but your gut twists and turns whenever you’re there.

After taking a right turn on Spruce St., you finally hit your neighborhood and a sense of peace flows through your body. You take in the smell of smoke from people having fires and the natural outdoorsy smell, and you love Jackson, you really do, but you wish you could start from scratch.

The familiar sound of Maria calling your name from her front yard a couple houses ahead breaks your aimless stride home.

It’s just after six, and the sky is pretty much pitch black, so the only source of natural light is from the moon, and tonight, she is shining beautifully. The snow covered yards, streets, and pathways are eye-catching. You’re in awe at how incredible this place can look and feel and yet, only a couple yards away on the other side, it’s wretched.

Thankfully, there are some lanterns that light up the streets and sidewalks, and you can see who is standing in front of you. As you approach Maria in her front yard, two male shadows come into your sights on her porch, and you’re a little weary but you continue with strong strides up her driveway next to her, not wanting to look weak.

“Hi hun, how was work?” She warmly asks and pulls you into a strong hug as you stand on her porch. She holds you for a second then pulls away while you answer, “It was good, got all the horses pampered up and the girls stacked up some more hay bails.”

“Good shit, girl!” She praises you with a genuine smile and a gleam in her dark brown eyes that tells you that she’s actually happy for you and not just saying it to say it.

“Maria-” Tommy clears his throat to remind her what she wants to talk to you about, and she whips her head around to look at him sitting on a couch behind her, he immediately whispers, sorry!

You laugh at how quickly the long haired man listens to his lady. He’s obviously not actually scared - they just play around but have respect for one another, which is how every relationship should be.

Then your eyesight shifts to the left of Tommy and you take in the face of this handsome looking man in front of you, leaning on one of the brown porch posts.

“This is Joel,” Maria introduces, and she continues to ramble on but it quickly fades to a buzzing sound as you reach out your hand to shake his. Joel. Joel. Joel. It repeats on a loop in your head.

His large, calloused hand wraps around your small hand and firmly shakes, but yet you feel like he’s cradling you, trying to be careful - like you’re so fragile that anything could break you.

You slowly take in the strong features of his mesmerizing face. He’s carved with lines that make you crave to learn more about him, his long brown curls now streaked with beautiful grays that match his scraggly beard, the color of his lips reminiscent of a rose from the bitter cold, and finally his whiskey stained eyes gazing back at you - they are what capture you the most. Joel. Joel. Joel.

“Since the house next door to yours is empty, I was hoping that you could show Joel and Ellie the way.” The last bit of her story catches your ear, thank god. You and Joel are still staring into each other's eyes as you speak, “Yeah, I can definitely do that.”

“Thank you, darlin’,” he winks and walks back into Maria’s home, “Gonna go grab the kid.”

You don’t even realize, but the smile on your face says it all - you have fallen hard for this man. You slowly wrap your arms around yourself, hugging your jacket closer as you lean back against the railing of the few steps leading to the cement. As you take a deep breath in and out your nose, the cold air causes a cloud to flow out of you and you chuckle to yourself.

“You’re funny,” you laugh as you make eye contact with Maria, who is now snuggled next to Tommy on their brown wicker couch under a quilt blanket.

“Who? Me? No way,” She shrugs her shoulders and giggles for a second before she sincerely goes, “But really, don’t write this off immediately. Give it a try.”

You know exactly what she’s referring to; leave that bitch ass and venture out. Which you honestly want to do, and the majority of you wants to be absolutely done with Nate. You desire to pack up all your shit and leave him and everything in relation to him. But you just can’t do it yet.

You wrap around yourself tighter, now wanting to halt this conversation from snowballing into an emotional mess. Then, just like that, your wish is granted; the creaky wood door opens and out struts this young girl, who you’re guessing is Ellie, followed by the brooding figure of Joel.

You quickly wipe your cheek from the one tear that fell, and stand up straight so she can hop down. “Ellie, what do you say?” Joel sternly asks, clearly annoyed, but you’re assuming he must have to constantly remind her. It’s sweet to see.

“I already said thank you earlier!” She responds as she continues to walk towards the lit up street, “So where are we going?”

Joel scoffs next to you and you look to see him shaking his head but with a slight smile, “This girl… Well, thank you for lettin’ us stay here. I guess we’ll, uh, see you tomorrow. Goodnight.” Tommy gets up and hugs Joel one more time while Maria comes over to you and takes you in her arms.

“Remember, don’t write this off immediately,” she whispers to you and you smile back at her, nodding with a soft okay. The couple goes back to sit down and Joel is next to you, both of you waiting for the other to walk down the front five cement steps.

“Ladies first,” a more defined southern accent flows off of his lips as he puts his hand out for you to go first. You nod and take the first step down, and suddenly you feel the butterflies start to form as you play back, “Oh, so we have a southern charmer here?”

You hear his deep chuckle behind you, “Yes, darlin’, guess you do.”

“Well, if you guys just wanna follow me up the road a bit, I’ll get you to your house.” You instruct as you turn on your heels and guide the pair down Spruce St. to their beautiful home right next to yours.

“This place is fucking huge!” Ellie states in awe, you turn around to see her face taking in all that Jackson has to offer, remembering that feeling for the first time.

“Ellie!” Joel snaps at her, and your body jumps from the sudden change in his tone.

Your high from meeting a new man who you admire has disappeared, now you're back into your normal defense mode. Knew it was too good to be true.

You only live about six houses down from Tommy and Maria, and by now, you're about three houses away from the navy colored house they’ll be living in. The rest of the walk is silent - all that can be heard is the snow crunch and noises coming from each house as you speed walk past, some with the loud sounds of children, some with couples singing and laughing, and others filled with music flowing out their windows.

“Why is she walking so fast?” You hear Ellie whisper.

You haven’t even realized that you’re about two houses ahead of them, having blocked out everything, just trying to get them to their destination before you crack from the disappointment of believing he was different. You slow your walking down so they can catch up just a bit, and you don’t say anything, you just slow down so you don’t make this any worse.

“Not sure,” Joel whispers back trying to keep you from hearing, however they don’t know that you’ve become a master at listening to whispers, and can thank Nate for that skill. You know when to hold your breath and how to zone in on the inflections they make, you can hear them clearly as day.

“Maybe cause you yelled, you dummy,” Ellie retorts a little louder than you think she intended because then you hear a smack and an ouch! Followed by Joel saying something you couldn’t catch because you started to laugh, a guttural kind of laugh that makes you stop in your tracks and hold your hands on your belly.

You don’t doubt that you look insane to Joel and Ellie, especially since they thought you couldn’t hear them.

But you honestly don’t even know why you’re laughing hard enough to the point where tears are forming and your belly hurts, leaning forward just a bit to relieve yourself. Maybe you’ve finally snapped, all because you now know that either Maria or Tommy - hell, maybe the both of them - told Joel and Ellie about your marriage and what you’ve survived, and still are surviving.

After a moment, you finally collect yourself, and by now, the two strangers are to the right of you, just standing like lost puppies waiting for directions on where to run.

“So sorry,” you apologize while wiping the happy tears that brim your eyes, before two of them quickly spew, no, no, it’s okay, and you can see that they are trying to gauge your reaction. They handle it well, surprisingly.

You all take a second to regroup as the delicate snow softly falls from the black sky, and then you’re back to leading them just past your moss green house, where you see the living room lamp on and you know that Nate’s waiting for you. Like you’re a teenager sneaking back in the house and he’s your father, just waiting to catch you and read you the riot act. You know you’re in for it tonight after the stables act anyway.

You carefully walk up the wooded cream colored steps that lead to the large porch wrapping around the beautiful home, and you hear Ellie gasp. You can just imagine the excitement she feels as you unlock the big oak door and softly push it open. You step to the side as you put your hand out in front of Joel with the key dangling from your cold fingers, watching as he gently pulls the key ring off your digits.

“Welcome home,” you softly coo as you gaze between Joel and Ellie.

“I call dibs on the shower,” Ellie shouts as she flies past you and Joel, causing you both to chuckle as you watch her sprint up the stairs and disappear into the second floor of the newly owned home.

“Thank you, sugar,” Joel says, his accent thick and smooth, “Will I- we be seeing more of you?” Joel asks as he stands across from you with one hand in his jean coat pocket and the other rubbing the back of his neck just where his lazy curls sit, gazing down at you with such admiration and enthusiasm in the glow of his brown eyes.

The butterflies have come back in full force - your head starts to feel fuzzy and light headed from the way he calls you darlin’ and sugar with a voice like butter, and the way he watches your movements, as if he’s trying to memorize them all, filling you with curiosity and the yearning for more. You haven’t had this feeling for someone since you first met Nate seven years ago, it’s exciting.

Rocking side to side to try to relieve your sore feet from standing all day in terrible shoes, your hands interlocked behind your back, starting to become frigid, and you lift your head up to meet his gaze one more time to engrave in your mind the features that make Joel Miller so enticing.

“I sure hope so,” you purr with innocence pouring out of your eyes while your actions speak the opposite. With a sudden wave of confidence, and without thinking, you take a step to close the gap that separates you, now only being a couple inches away from his bearded face, both taking in each other breaths escaping your mouths for a moment. You whisper with a sly smirk on your lips,

“Goodnight, Miller.”

“Goodnight, Sugar.”

Neither one of you move, both of your wet soaked boots from the snow firmly planted into the cream porch adjacent to one another. You should go home to your husband, you know he’s waiting for you, counting the minutes that you’re gone, but for the first time in ages - you don’t care about that.

All you desire is Joel Miller. The want, no, the need to have him hold you with all his limbs and stroke your back with his calloused fingers until you fall into a deep peaceful slumber and can forget about everything you’ve been through is growing larger and stronger, the longer you stand here and stare at him. You gaze between his whiskey colored eyes and pink lips that curve into a soft, kinda cocky smile as he too gazes between your eyes and lips.

“Goodnight, Sugar.” He repeats, more convincing than the previous.

“Goodnight, Miller.” You slightly bite your bottom lip as you smile, still just inches away from his lips.

You’re the first one to move, reluctantly turning your body around and cautiously walking down the front steps. When you reach the bottom, you turn around to see Joel in the same exact spot, still watching you.

“Just wanna make sure you get inside safely,” he says with a certain charm to his words.

You have to force a smile as you make your way next door, you don’t want to go into your house - more of a prison than a home. You wish you could laugh at that but you can’t because it really is; Nate makes it a living hell within those walls, even though, now, you don’t cower away and you hold your own. But he still doesn’t let up.

You reach your smaller porch and raise your hand on the knob, but before you turn and open it to whatever fresh hell is waiting for you on the other side, you turn your head to the right to look at Joel one more time for the night, and he’s still in the same spot. Now, though, he’s facing you and leaning over the wooden railing with a look of concern. Your heart stings at seeing this man, who you just met under an hour ago and yet you physically feel like you know everything about him and you’ve known him for years, showing such sorrow on his face for you.

Hoping to give one last attempt at a smile to try to convince him or, well, let’s be honest, you try to convince yourself that everything will be okay. He sends one back to you but he is filled with rage as he tries to keep it together, fists balled up and rubbing together.

You take a deep breath as you now face the white door. Please be passed out, please, you whisper to yourself as you build up the strength to turn the doorknob your cold hand is holding onto.

Three, two, one, you mumble as you open the door and you’re immediately met with Nate staring right at you, sitting in his brown leather recliner with a glass filled with whiskey in his hand, and the empty bottle of Jack Daniel’s sitting on the glass table in front of him.

Closing the door softly, you lean your back against it as you kick your boots off next to the others, staring right back into his blues, not backing down from him. You begin to walk to the kitchen, away from him as soon as possible, because even though you’re not scared, you would rather not be involved in a fight tonight.

He still hasn’t said anything to you, he just keeps watching your every move, and even though you're not looking in his direction, you can feel his eyes like daggers in your back. You open the fridge, grab the jar of pickles, and as you open the jar with a pop, your hip bumps the fridge door closed.

Pickle jar in one hand and a pickle in the other, you start up the steps to escape into your bedroom, and you’re just about to make the final step to your safe space, casually chomping on pickles when you finally hear it.

“How’s Joel?”

#joel miller #joel miller x f!reader #joel miller x reader #Is Leaving Even An Option #joel miller x you #joel miller fanfic #joel miller series #pedro pascal

[bronx-bomber87]

Hi! just want to say really love The Rookie episode breakdown that you do.

So assuming you have watch all of them, do you have any list / ranking of best Chenford related episodes? Or can you give us your ranking of best Chenford related episodes? Really want to hear your thoughts on this. Thank you!

Hi @xiaozhen16! First off thank you for your lovely comment on my reviews. Means a lot I'm so glad you enjoy them. :) Also appreciate you wanting my thoughts on this. Let's see I have been with The Rookie since day one, actually pre-green light. I followed Nathan after Castle and his next project and saw The Rookie get its green light. So i've been with since the literal jump. Seen all eps for sure more than once haha Think I've rewatched it least 5 times since it started. Thank you for being patient while I took the time to answer this. Life is hard to fit stuff in so thank you. It'll be a long reply lol In order to answer this properly I'm going to do top 5 with an honorable mentions that could span up to 5 cause this is hard LOL Those will be in no particular order. I'll do it for each season. Except S5. I just can't choose S5 down to a top ten.

I love that entire season. But I can do 1-4. Someday I can rank S5 on its own ranking the entire season if you like but for now it'll be this. Let me know if you'd like me to do that in the comments. But for this one Each season has something different to offer for them. So it'll be easier to break it down by season but only going up to S4. Hopefully you enjoy this detailed reply. Anyone is welcome to comment and such too.

Season 1.

1x14 Plain Clothes Day

Hands down this is my favorite episode of S1 for them. It's a very telling episode for them both. Lots of growth as well. Lucy is hell bent to prove herself to Tim. She is nervous but driven to prove to Tim she is worth investing his time in. Her day is a plethora of jitters and mistakes. Tim consistently getting under her skin and rattling her cage. Then at the last minute like a phoenix rising from the ashes Lucy makes the right call. Such a clutch moment that impresses Tim more than he'll ever let on. Doesn't hesitate for one moment checking that man's garage out.

This is a huge step towards her growth as a cop and a person really. Its seminal episode for Lucy. A stepping stone to her confidence and learning to trust her instincts and not second guess herself. For Tim it's realizing as much as he loves to mess with Lucy he wants her to succeed more. He states in the very beginning of the episode how he's had 11 rookies wash out on this day. ELEVEN. He hasn't cared if his rookies have washed out 11 times. Then Lucy Chen walked into his life. Disrupted his life in the best way.

With her incredibly driven sunshine ways he REFUSES to let her be his 12th. Does everything in his ability to keep her from being fired. They have a lot of lovely moments in this episode ranging from messing with her to fiercely protecting her from that tool-bag trying to take her job. The scene outside the captain's office where he has to re-write her eval gah so very good. Overall just an amazing episode of moments and growth for them as characters and as a ship. Another step towards their rock-solid bond.

2. 1x20 Free Fall

What's not to love about this finale? It's the culmination of everything they've been through to this point in the season. We watch how Tim instantly protects Lucy from being infected. At first he's in control of the situation (or so he thinks..) Trying to keep Lucy calm while on the inside he is panicking. Attempting to keep up his tough T.O. act with her. Determined to show Lucy he's bulletproof no matter the situation. That quickly begins the devolve the longer he is in that room.

The more he has to deal with this disease alone the worse it gets. We get a front row seat into protective Lucy. The way she is losing it for Tim on the outside. Doing anything and everything to get him out of there. This is the first time we get to see Tim trust Lucy emotionally and not hesitate. Not only that but so openly. She has been knocking on the door of this all season.

The scene above is her reward for all that work. The role reversal that happens here is wonderful. Where Lucy becomes the rock. The one to comfort him while Tim is battling with his dark thoughts of suicide if this goes sideways. Trusting her enough to tell her such deep thoughts. Lucy guiding him through those emotions best she can. It's a fantastic way to end the season for them. Lots of earned moments in this one.

3. 1x11 Redwood

Our first Iconic OTP Line Episode. This is where we start to see Tim soften for Lucy. Those sharp edges dulling a bit. We get to watch how he knows exactly how to calm her when she is in a panic. Tim commands this entire episode for her. Distracting her from the moment that needle goes in to chewing out the nurse for not prioritizing her. It was our first glimpse into protective Tim and I was here for it. Excellent introduction to this side of him regarding Lucy. Does the Tim Bradford special where he tells her like it is while showing empathy.

The first time we get to see him care truly care and let her know that he's there. Has her back in a way no one really has before. Lucy is watching her career go down the drain in her eyes. Changing her life forever and is in panic city. Tim doesn't let her be a resident there for very long. This ep showcases how amazing he is at his job and how good Tim is with Lucy. Knows exactly what to do in order to keep her sane.

He spends his entire day distracting her and showing empathy in the process. Ultimately stopping her from going off the razor's edge. It's these moments she has with Tim that shift her POV of him. Why she fights for him like she does. Lucy knows the good heart this man has. That he cares about her as person. That she is more than just his rookie. It's so very good. Producing the line above. *sigh*

4. 1x07 The Ride Along

These early episode are what I like to call building block eps. The foundation that is laid in these are so important. It's Lucy showing up for Tim when he needs it most. Their relationship is in its infancy in these episodes. Being molded into what we see in the finale and honestly the future. Lucy noticing a serious wrong (Isabel taking advantage of Tim's deep loyalty) Not only noticing but not letting him throw his life/career away for it. The line above is EVERYTHING. She refuses to let Tim cross an ocean and compromise his soul for someone who wouldn't cross a puddle for him. The bravery it took for her take a stand I'll always commend her for. How scary it must've been for her to confront him like this. When he was still in his radioactive insanely damaged phase. Tim already meant more to her at this point than she expected. She couldn't stand back and watch him self-destruct for someone who didn't deserve it. Tim is not even close to being used to someone showing up for him like this at this point. It's so very foreign to him.

Not only that but someone putting him in place and knocking sense back into him. Something he comes to learn and love about Lucy. Becomes the fabric of their dynamic really. In the moment he's so angry with her but long term forever grateful she stepped in like she did. That crack in his wall starting to grow a little more. A defining moment for them early on in this season. They had me hook line and sinker after this. I was already low-key shipping them but this added to it.

5. 1x03 The Good The Bad and the Ugly

Another building block episode. A crucial one for them really. I love how their early episodes set them up beautifully for the rest of the season. If not for these episodes you wouldn't see how wonderful the growth is for them both. The episodes that'll be in my honorable mentions are the fruit of these. Because without seeing where they came from how could we deeply appreciate how far they've come? Tim is imploding at a high velocity in this episode. Doesn't care about the collateral damage either. At this point that damage radius includes Lucy.

We truly see Tim as his very worst in the beginning. The beautiful thing is Lucy see's past his hurt into who he is as a person. He is worth getting through to. Also she also see's he is a god damn dumpster fire. One that if she doesn't put him out he's going to take her down with him. You know Tim respects the hell out of her for the scene above. (Not in the moment but in the long term of it all.)

For standing up to him and showing him how selfish he was being. It's what earns her that wonderful scene in the shop afterwards. Where he opens up and tells her about Isabel and a little bit of their history. His way of thanking her for getting his head on straight. Their early stuff is so raw but so good. They're learning how to function together. Usually one of them leading the other more depending on the situation. Start of their wonderful dynamic.

~~~

Honorable mentions-Ones I wanted to include cause they're amazing but can only gif the top 5 and one mention ha So it'll be my top ten for each season. They have so many good eps.

1x18 Home Front

So much to love about this one. Lucy busting his chops the entire ep. Get our first glimpse into their playful work flirts. Her challenging him on his personal life and not work for the first time. Standing her ground in that opinion. Like she does best with him. Telling Tim he needs something other than work. Naturally is defensive at first and eventually caves in. It results in the cute paintball moment above we all know and love.

1x19-Checklist-We get another glimpse into what Tim is willing to do to keep Lucy from washing out. I love this episode and how we start to see Tim trust in her decision making skills. Like the woman with the swapped plates. She lets her go and it ends up working out for her. The final scene is the best where he logs OT for her to continue on in the program. Lucy feeling so supported with this gesture. *heart clutch* So good.

1x16 Green light- Our first look into how protective Lucy can be about Tim. Their rank be damned in her opinion. The way she protects and defends him to Detective Murphy is glorious. Not caring she's her superior officer. She is kicking him when he is already down and Lucy won't stand for it. Then Tim returns the favor when she's upset about catching Cole. ‘Grief is grief. It’s a hole that can’t be filled. But over time, it’ll shrink enough so that you won’t fall in every time you take a step.’ His growth in this line is amazing to watch unfold. How he has grown since his whole debacle with Isabel.

1x15-Man Hunt.- We see some more fruit of Lucy's impact on Tim. Him wanting to do more with his career. He decides to go for Sergeant and we all know she is part of that reason. Also we get a glimpse into Tim and his rookie days through Deacon and his 54 connection. Lucy is delighted to get a birds eye view to his past. It's the scene where they're defending the escaped prisoner that's the best. Saying how he refuses to do something he will be ashamed in the light of day. This moment being proof Lucy's impact on him from 1x07. Its beautifully full circle.

1x01 Pilot-Gotta include the pilot. It's what set the table for them. "Officer Bradford gets our hot shot." He sure does. Getting a look into them as characters and where they start off from. It's what hooked me to this show to begin with. Other than just my love for Eric and Nathan at the time lol I saw deep characters with so much potential and I've been hooked ever since.

~~~

Season 2. Has an unreal amount of good eps for them did my best to keep it to ten.

2x11 Day of Death

Naturally this iconic episode is my favorite of S2. How could it not be? This is a massively seminal moment in their history. It's where they go from border-line friends to bonded in a way no one else will ever understand. We watch Lucy fight tooth and nail to stay alive. She is so resilient because she knows Tim is on his way. He won't let her die. Won't Let Caleb win. Her immense amount of faith is beautiful. Knowing that he will get to her in time. Not a doubt in her mind.

We watch Tim race against the clock to rescue her. The pressure and anxiety mounting through out the entire episode for him. Like a weight on his soul he refuses to put down until she is back. We get to witness how much Tim has come to care about Lucy. See the depth's he will go to get her back safely. Also get to see a darker side to him. Which I wasn't totally opposed to seeing in order to get to her. (and wouldn't mind seeing again. tbh) 'Today is your day of reckoning. I am responsible for a life that is in jeopardy, and I will do whatever I have to, to save her.' *fans self* That man is on edge from the moment she goes missing till she is in his arms above.

First actual relaxing breath he takes the entire ep. You see how his body slumps against her in relief as he holds her. How deeply worried he was and won't let her out of his sight afterwards. We all know that man slept at the hospital all night and didn't take his eyes off her until she woke up. To make sure he was the first face she saw. That final scene in the hospital a beautiful look into the deep bond they've formed at this point. I love them sfm. Where we get our next Iconic OTP Line. 'You know me so well. Too Well.' Amongst a flurry of heart eyes and emotions.

2. 2x12 Now and Then

What I love the most about this episode is how Tim steps back. Let's her get taken care of by someone other than himself. Control Freak Tim Bradford hands the reins over. Because her recovering is more important than his ego. The growth I can not. He see's a blind spot within himself that he can not help out with. So he heeds Nyla's words when she approaches him about taking her on. He watches anxiously from afar wanting not to over step the entire episode.

Lucy is hurt he doesn't let her ride with him right away. She is confused and her emotions are all over the place in this episode. Rightfully so. We get to see once again how much Tim cares about her. The way he's asking everyone around her how she is. Even asks Nolan how she is really doing. You know that was hard for him to do. We get to the end of the episode and this glorious scene above. Tim sharing a piece of his past to heal her present.

You can tell he so desperately wants to take on some of her pain. That if he could he would. Still shouldering the weight of her being taken being on him. Trying to give her some hard won perspective. This is his way of saying he's so proud of her, he misses her, hoping him sharing his past brings her back to him. Brings Lucy back to being his sunshine human. Not the angry resentful one he see's in front of him. It's a beautiful scene for the both of them. The sweet smiles when he tosses back the ring. My damn heart.

3. 2x13 Follow Up Day

Another Iconic moment in S2. This season is full of them. Ground breaking moments that drive them forward as a ship. He's passed his Sergeants exam. Hooray. Lucy is SO DAMN PROUD when they get the news. It's the thing he's been working toward since the beginning of S2. He's offered a Hollywood post. One that he can have quickly. A prominent position for him right out the gate and yet he hesitates. Why you ask? Well he's a little too attached to his current rookie that he pretends he isn't attached to. (While dating her best friend might I add. Something I would forget regularly in this season)

Lucy reminds him why he wants to stay around and not leave yet. She challenges him, supports him and believes in Tim in a way he's never had before. Has unwavering faith in him. He says he's not done training her yet. When really he's not ready to let go of the influence she's had on his life. Heart eyes galore. She is more important than moving up atm. I love it.

4. 2x02 The Night General

The beginning of Tim's quest to study for being a Sergeant. It starts off as Tim torturing Lucy with reading his out of print book to him. What starts out as him enjoying making her read it turns into so much more. Lucy quickly turns it around on him. Because well Lucy. Decides on specific segments to have him recite back. Quickly annoying him and he loses this game fairly quickly. It's during this studying we find out Tim learns a certain way. That he must be in motion to absorb the material. (Me too love) He doesn't take this news in stride very well because it's Tim.

Lucy goes above and beyond to apologize for upsetting him. She spends what I assume is any free time between shifts recording the book for him. Not only does she do this she reassures him that it's ok to learn this way. There is no shame in it even compliments him because of it. Telling him its why he excels at being a cop. I

I just adore this moment so much because she builds him up and encourages him. Never once letting him feel shame for how he learns. Lucy taking care of him in ways Tim can't even comprehend atm. He is overwhelmed by her support and empathy. Can only muster a really loaded 'Thanks.' Such a lovely building block for them. Also welcome to the sweaty gun show above *fans self*

5. 2x08 Clean Cut

Ahh the protective Lucy episode. We get to see how far Tim will go for Lucy in this season. The audience also gets to see how far Lucy is willing to go to protect and defend Tim. Just like in 1x16 she charges head long at a superior to defend Tim. Refusing to let anyone sully his name or character. From the moment their shop hits that woman's car she goes into 'Protect Tim mode.' at all costs.

Hell raining down on anyone who gets in the way of her clearing his name. Eating anyone trying to stop her from righting this wrong she KNOWS is a wrong against him. Tim is so defeated and resigned after it happens. He's not going to defend himself so Lucy takes it on herself to do this. The ferocity is noticed by Tim. Why he lets her lead the questioning against the shady BF.

Lucy breathes life back into him that they could overturn this. That unshakeable faith she has in him. Refusing to let him give up on himself. It's the way she builds him up and won't let him think any less of himself I adore so much. After it's reversed and he gets his award she's a proud wifey. Even throwing back his own words at him when he thanks her. Eyes full of love. It's fantastic full circle moment for them.

~~~

Honorable Mentions

2x19-Q Word

As I've said earlier S2 is chock full of goodies. Tim learning the place he still holds in Lucy's life. He is her GO TO. A place he thought he had lost in 2x11. He gave up having that spot in her life because he no longer felt worthy of it. That he was given his shot and he blew it. Lucy not for one damn second thought he forfeited that. She was more upset he wasn't engaging with her about this than anything else.

Lucy does her best to relieve him of his burden. Of the guilt he continues to feel. To let him know it was NOT his fault. That his opinion is one of most value to her. The very opposite of what Tim thought of his place in her world. It's a good episode. One of the best parts above. Lucy applying some salve to his guilty soul.

2x06 Fallout

Lots to love in this ep. Tim trying and failing at 'being nice' to Lucy while she goes through her emotions about her ex. To him tapping into his actual soft side for her. The genuine side. Them facing a bomb threat and Lucy getting to unleash all her anger about her ex's wedding Such a good scene.. With a little of Lucy throwing his words back like no one else can. Lastly ending with them deciding to spend their last moments on earth together drinking booze. Damn good ep.

2x10-The Dark Side

Ahhh the pre-DOD episode. Where Tim spends the entire episode being over protective of Lucy and not sure why he is. All he knows is he doesn't like this guy sniffing around her. His cop gut screaming at him with a mixture of jealously and actual worry. The whole episode is one giant foreshadowing for the following episode.

2x14 Casualties

Tim background eps are always my jam. I LOVE LOVE LOVE this man and learning of his history. Getting a little look into his life in the service with Mitch. Also the intro of their fur-baby Kojo and how very unready Lucy is to care for him. We get our next Iconic OTP line 'Some things matter more.' A moment which is such a prominent scene for them. Good precursor to the moment they share in 2x19 as well.

2x01 impact

The premiere got some real good stuff. We see how Tim reacts so very poorly to Lucy protecting him. Regressing them both with his flour bomb moment. HIs anger coming out in everything he does with her in this episode. Lucy taking it at first then reaches her boiling point towards the end. Basically hands him his ass in a way only Lucy Chen can. It's glorious. Turns him around so much he brags on her to Grey later on about her jump after a suspect. 'Of course she did. I trained her.'

~~~

Season 3

3x09 Amber

Ahh my fav ep of the season. This episode has so many good moments. Lucy with her list for a 'healthy parting.' How she is determined to make her last day a big deal with Tim. Where as Tim is also determined, just in the opposite direction. Because if he talks about it he's going to have to face her leaving. Which we all know he does not want to do. Fights her on it most of the episode. Until something serious happens. Then Tim finally gives in to distract Lucy from the stressful baby scenario they're currently in.

Takes care of her by letting her do the bloody list he's trying to avoid. They have a lovely moment of reminiscing over Plain Clothes Day. How far Lucy has come since that moment. The amount of confidence she had gained. Learning to trust her instincts fully. Something Tim saw in her day one and wanted her to hone in on. Lucy then brings up UC and Tim saying she doesn't have what it takes. it leads into the most iconic moment of the episode. Where she "pretends" to have feelings for Tim.

Sending Tim into an ABSOLUTE panic till she can't take it anymore and breaks into pure laughter. Wounding his pride severely in the process of proving her point. We get two epic moments in this episode. The parking garage scene is lovely. A culmination of the last year of so. How far they've both come. His last eval being one that brings them full circle. Lucy's flour bomb finishing off the nostalgia. The heart eyes galore in this scene and its topped off with them calling each other by their first names. Starting a new chapter with this wonderful moment.

2. 3x14 Threshold

I LOVE this episode so much. It's why it's number 2. This episode is the culmination of Lucy's fast track UC training with Harper. Lucy chomping at the bit to prove herself. A VERY anxious Tim observing from the outside. The flirty flirt we get in the car makes me squee every time. Little bit of Tim and Lucy truly coming out in that moment. The touching is everything as she communicates silently with him about what's going on.

Then we get this moment above. Where they are blatantly flirting and checking each other out. Especially Tim. Man could not be more transparent in his attraction to Lucy at this point. The elevator gaze before they even talk. *fans self* Shameless flirting, praise from Tim and to top it off Tim is the one to ask Lucy to save him a dance. I remember going out of my mind with excitement when I saw this episode. Look at them above. My god the UST in immense and I love it so very much.

3. 3x06 Revelations

The episode where Lucy begins her interest in UC. It's a ROUGH episode for Tim for a lot of reasons. From his PTSD about Isabel with Mack showing up to seeing Lucy put in harms way. We see the protective side come out fiercely in this one. He doesn't even try to tamp it down. Especially in front of others. i.e. the entire OP room LOL Tim battling past demons and losing terribly. Seeing his favorite human put at risk isn't sitting well with him. His panic at losing her or possibly getting hurt making him lose his mind.

Lucy just wanting him to be proud of her. For showing an interest outside of patrol. To be excited she got put on an OP because she kicked ass on the fly. Impressed Harper enough to green light her. His approval and opinion meaning the entire world to her. When he doesn't she is so very discouraged. That's what makes the moment above so important and amazing. Tim putting aside those demons and letting her have that approval and praise she earned ten times over. Because at the end of the day this OP was about her and not him. So he puts her first with the lovely moment above.

4. 3x11 New Blood

Where we see Lucy be utterly CONSUMED by jealously and insecurities. Tim gets his new rookie and Lucy is excited at first. Then see's Tim isn't treating her anywhere near how she was treated in the beginning. He's being nice, letting her drive, buying her coffee, being soft and empathetic. All things she had to drag out of him kicking and screaming. I've said this before but Tim was her first real 'puppy' with massive success. It was a lot of work though for her to have the relationship she has with him now.

Then this Katie Barnes comes in and gets it all in one shift. Lucy is losing her damn mind most of the ep. Watching from afar with massive jealously. Poor Jackson has to listen to it most of his shift LOL Comes with the bestie territory though. By the end of the episode she see's Tim filling out her paperwork and lets Tim have it. What I love is he doesn't get mad at her for it.

Doesn't reprimand her just quell's her insecurities. Explaining why he was training Barnes the way he was. Then seals the scene with the lovely line above. Lucy is absolutely beaming when he walks away. Full of so much joy and happiness she can't contain herself. He thinks she is one of the best rookie's he's trained and lets her know it. Saying maybe one day Katie could be as good as her. *sigh* So good.

5. 3x01 Consequences

Their first marriage episode of the season. Where Lucy is on Tim like white on rice. Her confidence and self esteem shines through out this season and this is the starter episode of it all. The way they go through Nolan's house together is fantastic. She challenges Tim the entire time with her own cop gut. It's so fun to watch the back and forth.

They go from cute banter to Tim being a fierce protector when they have to go see Rosalind. Tim tries to prevent her from going in. Wanting to shield her from this monster. Lucy refuses says she can handle it. Rosalind just see's someone she can play with. Tim attempts to hold back. Not interfere and tries to keep Lucy steady. Then loses it when she taunts Lucy with her barrel song. The official title of 'Fierce protector.' is born in this moment. Such a good episode for them beginning to end.

~~~

Honorable Mentions

3x02 In-Justice

I adore this ep because it is one giant flirting session. The scene above alone is proof of that. Tim just sitting back and enjoying the Lucy show. Setting up a game he knows she is going to absolutely crush. (and does) They're legit flirting in front of their call for like two minutes before they disengage and Lucy works her magic. Also we get to see how soft Tim is for Lucy and gone for her with her car. Telling her to get over until Caleb PTSD in brought into the picture. It's then he caves instantly. Also the introduction of their pseudo daughter Tamara. Lucy's 'puppy.'

3x04-Sabotage

The fruit of the last couple eps coming to fruition. Lucy having Tim revisit something he did on her first shift. Confronting him about how he treated those gardeners. Not only that but the impact he had on them through his actions. This brings Tim's defenses immediately up and he snaps at her. Trying to defend his actions because he is feeling defensive. He does a poor job of it and shuts down completely. Reason being he's ashamed of who he was then and Lucy bringing it up hurts in a way he wasn't expecting.

We get to see our boy go through some serious growth. MASSIVE growth really. I could not be prouder of him for it. For not shutting down for the rest of the day. Letting Lucy know he was wrong and what he can do so it never happens again. Love this ep for the Tim growth, Lucy calling him out and letting him know how proud she is of him. It's such a good moment/ep for them.

3x07 True Crime

I personally LOVE the documentary episodes so much. The reason being their banter is the best part. Their chemistry is on full display for all to see. Lucy owns Tim's ass in this one. Shoots down all his cocky comments. He is also all heart eyes whenever she isn't crushing him with her words ahha. Light hearted fun ep for them.

3x08 Bad Blood

Good ep for Tim telling her like it is when he's trying to avoid it like the plague haha Emmett breaking up with her over text. Lucy doesn't handle it well. She self destructs till Tim does what he does best and gives her some solid perspective. Helping her finally solve the 'Why' behind her break up.

3x05 Lockdown

Tim and Lucy being a united front against Doug is the absolute best. How Tim comes tearing into the station after Stanton and Lucy has to stop him. Then Stanton is an extra ass and Tim then has to prevent Lucy from hurting him. The way they have each other's backs always gets to me. They spend the entire episode this kick ass duo determined to protect Jackson. I love it sfm.

~~~~

Season 4 another super hard one for me but top ten helped.

4x09 Breakdown

I'm sure some of you thought I would choose 4x22. It follows this one pretty closely but I ADORE this episode. It's my favorite for so many reasons. Lucy has a day off and how does she spend it? With Tim and his sister redoing his childhood home. Totally normal 'Friend' status there. Nothing soulmate level about that at all....Then they spend the episode chasing down his father's sordid past. This is due to a gun they find in the wall. Not only that but how heavily Tim leans on Lucy during the process.

Let's her take the lead and trusts her to handle portions of it for him. Like interrogating his dad's former mistress. Then we get this GLORIOUS scene above. Hands down my favorite hug of their's. Tim confronting his father and walking out feeling nuclear in his emotions. He is radioactive from that interaction and so very hurt. He explains what his father did to Lucy. He's so disgusted and hurt.

Then he is NEEDING Lucy to know he isn't his father. That the Tim tests don't make him like his dad. He is on the verge of tears as he says this to her. The most vulnerable we have ever seen Tim in general but especially with her. Lucy jumping into action and gathering him up in her arms. Comforting him, letting him know he is NOTHING like him. Tim sinks into the hug. Wraps himself entirely around her. Letting her hold him up emotionally. It's here we see the last of his wall crumble to the ground never to be rebuilt again. This was the ep I knew we were headed towards them getting together. All time fav ep.

2. 4x22 Day in The Hole

So much to love in this episode. From their daughter getting her ‘first’ car to finding Tim's bizzaro world double 'Dim' LOL Also the introduction of Juicy aha It's so good I can not. Lucy getting beyond excited to get Tim all dressed up for his UC mission. Especially with the tattoo's. Then when Juicy gets involved so does Lucy. It's AU Tim and Lucy and I was dying. Lucy breaks his brain in more ways than one above. The way she stuns him with her UC background for their characters LMAO He stumbles on his words and shifts like his pants are getting little tight for him heh. They haven't even kissed yet.

It will forever crack me up his reaction. Also the hilarious lead up to the kiss. How nervous and awkward they are. 'Well that's romantic....I wasn't trying to be romantic.' LMFAO. Clearly Timothy.... Eric and Melissa's chemistry on full display in this moment. Then the way Lucy just grabs his face and the kiss above happens. How they instantly melt into each other. Like why haven't we been doing this the entire time? You can see Tim ready to seriously deepen the kiss above. The pre-tongue action going on. Hot damn. I remember having to rewind it making sure what I was seeing was real.

The hilarity that ensures when Tamara walks in is so so funny. Never not cackle at this. Lucy's 'Oh!' and Tim is stumbling over himself to get out of there. Makes me laugh just writing it. The awkward 'Good jobs' and pointing. I'm dying. Tim's epiphany in the hallway is the best. Can no longer run from how he feels anymore. That kiss unlocking why he's felt the way he does. The awkward way they interact at the station. Both hiding in their vehicles waiting to find the courage to come out. Gah such a good finale leading to an incredible season 5.

3. 4x12 The Knock

Another episode on the road to them ending up together. They are at soulmate level territory in the scene above alone. The entire episode is fantastic. 'Personal space I don't know her' is the theme of this episode for them. From this 'date' to their case. Where Tim lets her take the lead. They're right on top of each other in that hallway scene when Tim is asking her POV on what they should do.

The beach date is one of the best parts. I don't know how both Ashley and Chris didn't just get up and leave. It's so obvious Tim and Lucy are the ones on a date. Chris and Ashley just happen to be there. The way they flirt the entire time, the inside jokes, the way they know each other so deeply. Their intimate connection on full display.

It's the lack of space I adore so much. That magnetic pull of their's. Never be over Gerald the goat. The way they lovingly stare at each other after he's told the story. The only ones laughing are them. To think either of them (Chris and Ashley) actually thought they had a chance against their bond. Such fools. I would've been highly threatened after that display. Something so intimate about knowing someone on an emotional level like they do. Height of their soulmate moments in this one.

4. 4x18-Backstabbers

Gah this episode be still my damn shipper heart. Lucy getting annoyed she isn't getting any recognition as Tim's aide. Naturally at first Tim pushes against it. Gives her crap for asking for it. Little bit of Old school Tim coming out in this scenario. But we see by the end of the episode him cracking for her. Like he always does. Tim cashing in on the dance he owed her from 3x14. How these two don't know they're in love at this point I couldn't tell you. Blows my damn mind.

The fact that he gives up recognition for her to have it. To further her career and telling her he wants her to be successful? Gah not to mention the heart eyes in this moment. Lucy is beaming brightly like a Christmas tree at this gesture. Tim is so so gone for her by this point it's oozing out of him. If you watched these two above with no context you'd think they were together. Everything about them says how in love they are. The entire scene is one giant I love you/in love with you moment. Tim I don't do weddings Bradford tearing up the dance floor with his girl. Gah I can not.

5. 4x01-Life and Death

The premiere is so very very good. Tim offering her a safe space the moment they get some time alone. Especially after hearing how heartbroken she is. How she can't go back to her apt without Jackson right now. The way he gives her a safe place to crash land into. I love it sfm. Then we get the gloriously intimate and beautiful hug above. The one that sparks the flame between them. One they've been trying to keep at a low flame roaring into an inferno. Their emotions and closeness ramping it up to a level neither is ready for.

The chemistry in this moment is out of this world good. Both being smacked in the face with the growing UST between them. Lucy going for it but it being shot down by Wesley's call. Gah such a good way to start an amazing season. Then Lucy spends the rest of the episode worrying about him from the other side of the world. Letting him know that worry until he makes it back. Such a good premiere.

Honorable Mentions

4x07 Fire Fight

This scene alone is why it's my first honorable mention. Phew lord. The fiery UST in this scene. HOT DAMN. The brazen way they're both looking at each other. This is totally platonic friendship right here....The intense gaze gets me in my shipper feels. Then Tim gets his wits about him a bit before sassing her. Telling her the mic is too high. Her ripping it right off and his face LOL They're so married it kills me. I do love the way she bosses him around in this scene and afterwards when he's in the car. She's projecting jealously entire time.

4x06 Poetic Justice

Oh you know just another episode where all they do is compete and flirt. Not caring about anyone else around them while they do so. Because they can't handle their emotions yet. So they intensely channel it into flirting and competitive things instead. I love these idiots so much.

4x08 -Hit and Run

I LOVE this episode for the Tim background alone. We get the introduction of his sister Genny. Who I love sfm. Lucy of course eats up her being there. She THRIVES on any morsel of info she can get on his background. Lucy is enjoying herself till his dark childhood is brought up. His sister is there to sell their childhood home and he doesn't want to be apart of it. ""Wha-what do you want? Some other family to just cuddle up under the broken plaster where dad slammed my head against the wall?" Ugh my heart. My boy. But it's such a good episode in full for Tim. Also for Lucy getting to meet his sister.

4x14-The Long Shot

This is a great episode for Lucy. We get to see more about her background as well. Finally finding out why her mother is the way she is with her. Her deep digging revealing her father isn't her real father. How much she struggles in this episode emotionally. We get to see how natural it is for Tim to be there for her. Not an ounce of fight left in him to stay out of her personal life. This is just part of who they are now and it's such growth I can not stand it.

4x16-Real Crime

Another gem for the documentary series. If you think they were married in this last one they double down on this one. The amount of cuteness, sass and marriage moments is primo in this one. 'Can I be interviewed alone?' LMAO The epitome of Grumpy x Sunshine. Lucy having the time of her life while Tim is a grumpsaurous. Their dynamic gives me life haha I adore this entire episode for them.

S5 I adore all it's own. If you want a ranking from 1-22 I can do that but I can not choose. Hurts me too much to do that LOL but here are my picks for 1-4. Once again thank you for being so patient on my reply. This was a hefty ask to answer thank you for asking me :) I hope you enjoy the answer.

#chenford #inbox #asked and answered #xiaozhen16 #top episodes #s1 #s2 #s3 #s4 #the rookie #tim x lucy #lucy x tim #otp: doing my job #lucy chen #tim bradford #eric winter #melissa o'neil #tim bradford x lucy chen #otp: you know me so well. too well. #otp: some things matter more #otp: you did good #the rookie s1 #the rookie s2 #the rookie s3 #the rookie s4 #the rookie 1x14 #the rookie 1x20 #the rookie 1x11 #the rookie 1x07 #the rookie 1x18

[sseniita]

hero vs domesticity

(in which hero quits and villain takes them in)

“Are you sure?” 

“What do you mean, am I sure?” 

The villain leaned against the brick wall, twiddling his thumbs as he imagined the hero as a civilian. Her shiny, loud, and awfully tight outfit blurred his vision of her in jeans and a t-shirt. “I mean,” he shrugged, “What’ll you do?” 

The hero, hands on her hips and oddly calm about quitting heroism, considered this. 

“I don’t know. I’ll probably start off quietly, adjust. Then I’ll get a job to pay for a house. Maybe get a dog.” 

“Do you have any savings?” asked the Villain, lifting himself from the wall to get a better look at the hero. “A place to stay? A job set up?” 

Hero scoffed, “It can’t be that hard!” 

The villain laughed at this. She had no idea. The villain supposed that the hero would never quit, perhaps one day they’ll just lose popularity like the rest before her did. He never considered what happened to other heroes either. “It definitely is. Perhaps even harder.” 

The villain pitied the hero when her spirits were crushed. Her shoulders drooped and the world famous grin was quickly replaced by an exaggerated pout. Something in him knew this was her way of asking- no- fishing for help or any sort of comfort. They had gotten closer over the many years fighting each other and many times were each other's only shoulder to lean (albeit awkwardly) on. But never in a million years did the villain ever think they’d be the first to know if the hero quit. After a few doe-eyed side glances at the villain he finally caved, sighing dejectedly, cursing her honey brown eyes.

“Would you like to stay in my guestroom-” 

“Oh really?” she practically sang. 

“-until you get on your feet?” 

“Yes, yes! Oh, you’re a lifesaver!” 

“I’m literally not.” 

The trip to get the hero's few belongings was quick, the trip to the drugstore for basic necessities took longer. The villain insisted on replacing her Hero Corporation issued… everything, opting to get the hero new toiletries, towels, blankets, pillows and quick bite to eat before heading back to villain’s place. During the car ride, the hero had asked many questions about how to get into a normal life, many of which were almost impossible for the villain to answer, dealing much damage to his ego. 

“Well- normal people don’t usually have to ask how to be normal. Most normal people don’t have to pretend to be normal. In fact- that might be an indicator that they’re not normal.” The villain relied on confusing others on the very odd occasion he didn’t know the answer. 

“Oh. ok. I get it.” The hero said unconfidently. “How do you start not pretending to be normal then?”

“Great question…” The hero waited for an answer while staring intently. “Do you have any hobbies…?” he said, rather timidly. 

“Hobbies? Um, well. I like to work out!” 

“Doesn’t count. Something unrelated to heroism.” 

“How do you know I don’t do it for fun?”

“Mhm. Sure.” The villain muttered, turning into a street with pleasantly colored row houses adorned with Christmas lights. The hero could see downtown was still very close but the adorable homes were nestled between trees and lined a thin road making it feel safe, cozy and like a home. Because it was dark, the hero could see into the large windows of the houses illuminated by yellow lighted lamps, enclosed in picket fences. Happy families getting dinner ready, some relaxing watching tv, others were out walking dogs with warm drinks in hands, they all had one thing in common, and it was the one thing that made the hero quit. 

The villain turned into the stone paved driveway of an old and blue three story house. His christmas lights weren’t hung up yet and his path to the front door was unshoveled, he turned to hero and sarcastically uttered, “Not the castle you were hoping for?” 

The hero could only grin. “It’s adorable.” Before the hero fell into the knee deep snow, the villain offered to shovel a path. The hero watched gleefully from inside the warm car until finally the passenger door was opened. “Done. Now let’s get in- it’s freezing out here.” 

The interior of the house was even more pleasantly decorated. The Hero didn’t know the exact name of the style but it involved gold accents, warm lights, wallpaper, and dark hardwood floors. The couches were fluffy with pillows coordinated in colors of beige and sage, the fireplace had dark bricks that were seemingly very old and very much the original ones. Art pieces and plants littered the walls and floors respectively and the warm colors from the walls spread like the fire the villain had just started. The hero followed the villain like a duckling to the third floor, passing the villain's room, office and second bathroom as he hurried around making preparations for the hero's stay. 

“This is your room, it has its own bathroom and fireplace so obviously, feel free to use those. I only have one tv on the first floor, I don’t really use it, so again, feel free.” The hero never had their own room or bathroom. Always sharing with teammates in rather ugly, white walled boxes, half full with the squeaky metal bunkbeds. This room was more than an upgrade. A comfy bed hero couldn't wait to get into, a nice view of the sparkling lights of the skyscrapers in the near distance, classy decor and two lamps on two nightstands on either side of the bed. The carpet was fuzzy and bathroom was clean and hero was in heaven.

The villain could only stare in amazement of how well she fit in the house. Resembling a character in one of his many framed pieces. He cursed whoever made her be born with superpowers instead of two loving parents. To snap the hero out of it he pointed towards a door across the hallway from the hero's room. 

“Library. It's small but it’s got a few good ones. Maybe you can make that your new hobby.” He opened the door, letting the hero in to explore the floor to ceiling bookshelves. There was an armchair in the corner with a end table harboring a few old and dirty mugs. The villain seemed to try to cover it with his body so the hero pretended she didn’t notice. 

The villain’s home was everything she thought it wasn’t. Cozy, homey, safe and definitely not hiding a super evil lair. She quickly realized she hit the jackpot of situations in which to start a new life. Although she had tried to stay calm, her body hadn’t stopped shaking since she decided to quit this morning. It all happened so fast and when she made the decision it was clearest she had ever seen. She knew repercussions would arise later, but luckily the villain was here now. Just like he always had been. She could feel herself turning red at the final realization that she would be roommates with her very handsome and evil nemesis. 

“You good?” the hero stumbled, not noticing the villain's stare.

“Ya! Ya… I just…” she faltered, fidgeting with her sweater. One that the villain thought looked far better than the spandex suit she wore constantly, of course, it did have the Hero Corporation logo but the villain just kept it in mind to buy the hero new clothes. 

“I really don’t want to mess this up.” she admitted. The villain tilted his head, teasingly. A familiar mischievous smile reappeared on his face. 

"For starters, you can get a hobby. A very 'totally normal person' thing to have.” He randomly picked a book from his collection and handed it over to the hero, before quickly regretting it when he realized it was a copy of a particularly incriminating book on advanced security systems. Before the hero could lecture him, he yanked it away back to its place. 

“How about cooking?”

part 2

#do u guys prefer nb pronouns?? #with or without names #pls respond #anyways im making a part two hehe #writing #hero x villain #original fiction #k love u byeeeee #criticism welcome #villain x hero

[zoeykallus]

Hi! 👋🏻 I loved your bad batch fic with Hunter!

May I request one Hunter x reader please?

Something along the lines of angst and ends in fluff? She does something stupid on a mission or something that she believes risked all of them. She's all sad and angry at herself, nearly in tears. Shes convinced herself everyone is mad and disappointed in her, especially Hunter. Hunter comes and finds her. Hunter asks why she hasn't been talking to him. She says "Idk, you're angry with me ." But he says "I'm definitely not." Then "You should be." Then he comforts her.

I heard an audio like this on tiktok and I just cried 😭 but I know it would work so well for a fic.

Here's a bouquet of flowers 💐

Aloha! 😊

I'm not sure if I got this right, but I did something 😅

Hunter x Fem!Reader - One-Shot - Skipping Stones

Angsty/Comfort/Fluff/Strong Language

____________________

"You had a job! One job and you blew it! The mission is fucked," Crosshair growls. His words cut deep; you're embarrassed enough as it is. You avoid his gaze, unable to meet it. Wrecker growls, "Calm down, Crosshair". Crosshair throws his arms in the air. "The mission is blown, that means we don't get paid". Echo says calmly but sternly, "This kind of thing happens occasionally, to all of us, calm down, give her a break" Tech adjusts his goggles and says, "Unforeseen things happen now and then, no need to get worked up" You are grateful for the intercession of others, but something is unsettling you. Crosshair continues to grumble, but Hunter doesn't say a word, he seems so brooding, it's almost worse than if he had reprimanded you. You search his gaze, but he is lost in thought. You finally withdraw from the others. You don't join dinner, nor do you join the others in general. "Does anyone know where she went?" asks Hunter finally, after not seeing you for hours. Wrecker tells him that he saw you leave the landing site and head for the lake nearby. Hunter sets out to find you and finds you sitting on the shore, watching you throw small stones into the water, watching them make small waves until the surface of the water calms down again.

Your thoughts are racing, playing what happened in your minds eye again and again. Gritting your teeth, feeling the sting of held back tears behind your eyes and the bridge of your nose.

He can sense the restlessness in you. You don't hear Hunter coming, and flinch in fright when he addresses you. "Sorry, I didn't mean to scare you. What are you doing out here by yourself all this time?" he asks, sitting down next to you on the grass by the lake shore. You suppress the sigh that automatically wants to cross your lips. "After I failed so magnificently today, and you didn't even look at me afterward, I thought maybe I should get out of your way." Hunter looks at you from the side, startled. You return his gaze and say, "You have every right to be angry."

He frowns, his expression softening a lot as he answers, "I'm not mad at all, at least not at you. It was unfortunate circumstances that led to this situation, it could have happened to any of us. Yes, I was a bit absent-minded after the mission, because in my mind I was trying to find a way to explain to our client what happened. It had nothing to do with you." "Crosshair doesn't see it that way. Maybe you should be angry." Hunter snorts and laughs softly, "Since when do you give a womp rat's ass about what Crosshair says? Didn't you say the other day that when our Sniper opens his mouth, all that comes out is sarcasm and venom?" You roll your eyes. "I'm just saying that to tease him, actually he and I get along fine. But today he was really pissed, and I can't even blame him." Hunter moves closer, gently puts an arm around you and kisses your temple. "He'll calm down. None of us are really mad at you, and certainly not me, sweetheart. Like I said, this could have happened to any of us, don't worry, love." He rummages through the rocks on the shore beside him, picks one up and says, "And now I'll show you how to do it right"

You blink, surprised about the sudden change of topic. Deftly, Hunter takes a swing and skips the flat stone over the surface of the water, at least five times. "How do you do that?" you ask, surprised. He grins at you, stands up and helps you to your feet as well.

"I'll show you if you promise to stop pouting and come back to the shuttle with me afterward". You look at him, hesitant, as he holds your gaze with his, testing and hoping. "I don't know..." Hunter kisses your cheek and whispers, "Come on, sweetie, do me this favor." With a sigh and a lopsided smile, you finally give in. Hunter grins with satisfaction. He picks up a flat stone and places it in your hand. "First of all, the stone needs to be as flat as possible". Hunter shows you the angle and posture, guiding your hand and arm. But you drop the stone back into the grass and lean into his arms. Hunter laughs softly, "You seem unfocused to me" and wraps his arms around you, kissing your neck. The touch of his warm lips, tingles under your skin. You sigh in relief, just enjoying his closeness and the warmth of his body against yours. "Are you okay again?" he asks gently, leaning his cheek against yours. "I'm fine" "Are you sure?" You smile and say, "Pretty sure".

Ko-Fi (If you feel like giving me some coffee)

@rintheemolion

@andyoufollowyourheart @clone-whore-99

@brynhildrmimi @kaliel2310

@misogirl828 @tech-deck

@meshla-madalene

@chxpsi

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@nahoney22 @ladykatakuri

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@padawancat97

@agenteliix

@allsystemsblue

@palliateclaw

@either-madness-or-brilliance

@ortizshinkaroff

@andy-solo1

@hunterssecretrecipe

@heyitsaloy

@greaser-wolf

@extrahotpixels

@hated-by-me

@hunterxcrosshair

@malicemercy

@bebopsworld

@echos-girlfriend

@cpnt616

@dangraccoon

@jediknightjana

@pb-jellybeansns

@starwarsnerd111

@bandnerdlevel43

#tbb #star wars #the bad batch #clone force 99 #sw tbb #hunter #hunter fanfic #hunter x reader #bad batch hunter #hunter tbb #hunter x you #hunter the bad batch #sergeant hunter x reader #sergeant hunter x you #tbb hunter #tbb hunter x reader #the bad batch hunter #hunter bad batch #sergeant hunter #hunter fluff #hunter comfort

[lyramundana]

DOLLHOUSE

The Kim family are seemingly perfect in the eyes of everyone who meets them. Rich, nice houses, gorgeous children and marriages built upon pure love and respect.

It started with Kim Felix and his wife, Jeonjin, a cheerful, if a bit excentric married couple. They had two healthy, handsome sons, Seungmin and Jisung. When they grew, Jisung met Hyuna at his workplace, where she worked as a model. He spend months pining from afar before he finally asked her out and, eventually, brought her home as his formal girlfriend, marrying her soon after. Then Seungmin met Lina some years later and, after weeks of mostly bickering and agressive flirting, he asked her out on a date. He brought her home to his parents as his the same way Jisung did, and ended up getting married too.

Jisung and Hyuna had two adorable sons, Changbin and Chan. Seungmin and Lina took their time, but when little Chan was five, Lina gave birth to a precious girl, Lixie. The ball of joy became made Seungmin's smile brighter than ever and brought a soft side of Lina that no one thought possible.

Don't let them see what goes down in the kitchen

This is the story everyone knows. It sounds like the dream family, right? They make such a pretty picture...as long as you don't look too close at it.

Don't let them see through the curtains

Because if you do, you'll see the cracks surrounding it. And you'll hear the dirty secrets the walls will whisper to you.

The wallpaper listens

She became Lixie's babysitter by a recommendation from her friend, Jeong, Lina's younger sister. Hearing the woman's complaints about not finding a proper caretaker for her babygirl and knowing Nessa could use some extra cash, Jeong decided to kill two birds with a single stone.

She's been in this practically since Lixie was a newborn, exactly three years and half. It was supposed to be a short-term job until Lina managed to find an alternative so she could stay more at home, but she grew to adore Lixie and got used to the routine of taking care of her, so she stayed. At least that's what she explains to whoever asks about the matter. she's trapped, can't bring herself to leave

As babysitter, her job is very simple. Feed the baby, change her diapers, shower her, play with her and make sure she's healthy and happy at all times. That's all she must do.

As a babysitter, her only focus should be Lixie. She's all she needs to care about. And if she happens to hear or see something she definitely shouldn't have like Seungmin's brother coming out of Lina's room or the breathless moans and dirty words when Seungmin isn't home, that's none of her business. Oh, what is it? Is Lixie hungry? Let's fix that now and forget everything else.

She's been the family's housemaid since Channie was still in the crib. The bills don't pay themselves and she was struggling when Jisung contacted her. He and his wife had demanding jobs and two kids, so they couldn't handle everything, he said. They needed someone to take care of the things they didn't have time for, and she needed quick money. It was an easy deal.

Officially, her duty consists on doing the house chores, like laundry and cleaning the rooms, but eventually she also began to look after the kids too. It was only natural, since they were the main sources of dirt she had to clean after, and in some way, they were house chores too. If Mr Jisung and Mrs Hyuna aren't around, she helps them with homework and entertains them, even thought it isn't part of her contract. There were talks about her quitting the job to move somewhere else, but it never happened. She clearly prefers to stay here, with this cozy job where she gets to spend time surrounded by luxuries she couldn't bare leaving them behind, not after everything

A housemaid's duty is simply keeping the house clean and comfortable for when her masters arrive. She does the laundry, cooks their meals, fixes their rooms and does as she's told until she returns home.

As a housemaid, she has mastered the art of being invisible. Her presence remains subtle unless she's needed. She's the ears and eyes of the house, nothing wents on there without her knowledge. Nothing. Mrs Lina's husband visiting them when Mr Han leaves the house. Hands and whispers wandering where they shouldn't. She's merely an spectator, unable to intervene. Look at that, the boys left their toys out again! She better put them back before the Masters arrive.

Taglist: @channieandhisgoonsquad @2chopsticks2eyes @moonlightndaydreams @linlinaert @queenmea604 @hanjisunglover @kpopsstuffs @noellllslut @bangtanmix73 @thightswideforhanin @boi-bi-ahaha @grayscorner @rosierosaaa @ren0325

Important: That's just how I envision the girls in my head, but you're free to self-insert yourselves. Imagine them however you prefer.

#this is just a preview #i have yet to decide what plot i want #i have scenarios and ideas but not developed #however i did not expect such support so here you go as a thank you #i only use ocs to write my stories so if you look for a y/n or x Reader type of thing this isn't your place #minsung x reader #hyunmin x reader #skz family au #fem! lee know #fem! hyunjin #dilf! han jisung #dilf! seungmin #milf! lee know #milf! hwang hyunjin #skz scenarios #skz imagine