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wanderingblindly · 5 months

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Hi there, I might be kind of obsessed with the idea of rbr charles or rbr lestappen so I need to hear the thoughts of some people who might not be in the "lestappen gate 2023" bubble as I am :)) Do you think this can actually happen and become reality? And please be honest. Thank you! :)

omg hi I'm so sorry that you've asked possibly the most verbose person to talk about this, but anyways --

In my opinion, it's highly unlikely but not impossible.

There are three main components to consider here: Red Bull, Max, and Charles (all discussed below the cut in painstaking detail)

Red Bull Racing

Red Bull has invested an insane amount money into Max -- he's the present and future of the team. Therefore, any decisions that Red Bull makes will be weighed heavily against how it affects Max. I split Red Bull's main decision making points into three categories:

Ability to keep Max happy: I'll expand on this in Max's section, but basically I believe Red Bull will want a second driver that keeps Max happy until his 2028 contract renewal -- on whatever terms that means for him.

Willingness to play 2nd fiddle: Although Red Bull has had intense teammate dynamics before (Seb/Mark, Max/Daniel), there's definitely more risk when intentionally stepping away from the obvious first/second driver dynamic. Taking a midfield driver like Checo -- someone who's never going to threaten Max -- makes sense in that regard. Someone like Charles, who could theoretically bring the heat to Max in quali and in a race, poses the question: Is that an amount of risk Red Bull wants to take on (cough cough taking each other out cough)? Horner said he believed that Daniel was "running from a fight" when he left Red Bull -- so maybe it's a risk he doesn't mind.

Someone consistent enough to get Red Bull 1st and 2nd: Obviously a total sweep is the goal for a team at the height of their dominance, both on race day and in the overall points. This is where Checo has famously struggled (we've had an astonishing lack of RBR 1/2 podiums and his quali results are universally laughed at). It's also where one could make the strongest case for Charles. Charles is a known competitor in an inconsistent car; he's strong in qualifying, has produced significant race results, and has a demonstrated amount of internal drive. All things that Checo lacks in regards to producing points for the team. If Horner were to pick someone not in the RBR program for a second driver, someone with Charles's ability to handle disaster without losing his resolve? Highly attractive.

Some may say that Horner is more likely to take someone from RBR to fill the second seat. While there is a great selection, Red Bull doesn't have a demonstrated history of actually using it's development program to promote to Red Bull. So. Get fucked I guess lmao.

Max Verstappen

In most teams, I don't think a driver would have much say on who gets signed for the second seat. However, considering Max is Red Bull, I think his voice would carry significant weight.

I break his motivations down into two sections:

How he defines 'good racing' + need for competition: Love or hate Max, I think it's pretty uncontested that most of his opinions stem from his desire for good, competitive, interesting racing. One also cannot underestimate how intensely drivers crave competition -- they're adrenaline junkies at the top of their game. Therefore, Max's willingness to play along with RBR Charles will depend on if he thinks the best competitive racing is derived from intra-team or inter-team fights. I could see an argument for either: comparing top talent in the same machinery, or a battle of which team (not driver) will come out on top. Hard to say, to be honest. I think it's also important to consider that Max has broken an unfathomable amount of records this season almost entirely uncontested; I'd wager that it's stoked a need for real competition in him (hence why he seems so elated after any battle with Charles or Lando). He's made comments that he wants Charles in a more competitive car, but I don't think he meant that to come at his own expense. I think Max would prefer traditional competition (he's a bit of a traditionalist), meaning inter-team.

Maturity + ability to handle an internal threat: Max has (arguably lol) matured since he last had a competitive teammate. Whether or not Max agrees to a top-tier teammate again will depend on his confidence; does he truly believe he'll beat him every time? Is it worth the risk to feel pushed to his limits? Has he won enough that returning to a true fight is the next goal? How will he handle that? I'm inclined to say that Max would rather be the golden boy of his team -- unthreatened. It seems like he'd rather have competition coming from external sources (see: him not following team orders in regards to Checo).

Charles Leclerc

I don't think it's likely that Charles's desire to win has yet outweighed the Ferrari mythos/personal connection. That said, I don't think it's unlikely that it will eventually. Especially considering how distraught he's been this season -- it certainly could be a catalyst. That said, the following criteria is based on the assumption that Charles would even want to leave Ferrari, which I don't entirely believe atm:

Immediate desire to win: The thing that will push Charles away from Ferrari is probably not personal, it's professional. Charles is a hyper-competitive athlete in a hyper-competitive league; he doesn't have infinite time to wait on Ferrari if he truly wants to win now. Red Bull has a demonstrated history of success and strong team infrastructure (engineering, pit crew, pit wall strategy, etc.). If he wanted to make a move purely based on professional interest, Red Bull would be the team based on current standings. He could go to a team comparable to Ferrari (McLaren, Mercedes, AM), but that would be riskier on an immediate horizon.

Belief that he can beat Max: I believe that every F1 driver probably thinks they could beat anyone else if given equal machinery (and practice in said machinery). It's a sport entirely based on self-assuredness in the car, after all. Charles would only be willing to make the leap if he truly believes he could beat Max on his home turf -- which would be an insane demonstration of confidence, but maybe not as far fetched as some may think. I do wonder if his time at Ferrari has been a hit to his resolve, though?

Willingness to play 2nd driver: If Charles is going to move to Red Bull, a team with an established golden child at the peak of his career, he'll have to be willing to potentially play 2nd driver. Unless he delivers insane results fairly immediately, it's highly likely that Red Bull will always favor Max when it comes to things like team orders, strategy, etc. Plus, he and Max are the same age -- it's not like George who may get to stay at Mercedes long after Lewis relinquishes the 1st driver seat. Again, I think this ties back to Charles's assessment of his abilities against Max's; I do think this is a significant risk though.

In conclusion, I think that Red Bull's motivations factor as a "maybe", Max factors as a "maybe leaning no", and Charles as a "maybe leaning no".

#IN THIS ESSAY I WILL --#no but for real I haven't stopped thinking about this for days thank u for asking #pls feel free to discuss politely this is the only discourse i've ever enjoyed #charles leclerc #max verstappen #red bull racing #red bull charles leclerc #ask me :)#lestappen gate 2023

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chiefduckgarden · 2 years

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Roses

Wanda Maximoff x Reader

Summary: You have give Wanda roses since your were 9 years old, but it's been weeks since the last time you saw your girlfriend and the last time you gave her a rose. Soon she'll find out the reason for your distance and for the lack of flowers around her house.

Words: 5156

A/N: Thanks for reading, I hope you like it!

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

Walking on your way to your girlfriend's house you passed in front of your regular flower shop.

Mariel, the elderly woman who owns the place smiles at you the moment you walked in.

- Y/N! It's good to see you - she greets kindly

- Good evening Mrs. Mariel, how are you doing today? - you asks with smile

- Everything's been lovely here sweetie, but I missed your visits, have you been busy?

You nod and take a glance at the rose the woman it's picking from the bouquet on the shelf.

-Yes, kind of, school has been killing me these last few days and I barely had time to go to Wanda's. - you say, trying to avoid saying the real reasons why you haven't visited Wanda for almost two weeks.

- Here's your regular - she says with a smile handing out the beautiful rose she has picked for you today - I hope this helps you to make up to her for those days

You laugh a little and pay for the flower before making your way to the door. You really hope that flower could help you.

Sometimes your friends would ask, why you always brought only one flower to Wanda. They didn't understand why you didn't give her the full bouquet all in once.

The answer was very simple actually, it was a little tradition that started since you were 9 years old and Wanda was your best friend in middle school.

------

- Hold on sweetheart, let me buy some flowers for your mother - your dad said to you, stopping on a flower stand.

You furrowed your eyebrows in confusion

- Why are you bringing flowers to mommy?

Your dad laughed a little and payed for the bouquet.

- Sometimes people give flowers to their love ones just as a reminder of how much they love or appreciate them - he explained.

You thought about that for a moment.

- So you are giving flowers to mom because you love her - you said making sure you have understood.

Your father nodded with a smile.

- If I appreciate my friend, that means I can give her flowers ? - you asked

- Yes, well if she likes flowers it would be a nice present.

The next day you took one of the roses from the bouquet your father gave to your mother and put it on your backpack.

When you arrived to school, you waited for your best friend Wanda to arrive.

Once you spotted her on the crowd of kids you made you way towards her.

- Hi Wanda! Hi Pietro! - you greeted the girl and her brother.

- Hi Y/N! - they greeted you back with big smiles.

Pietro ran away from the two of you to meet with his friends and Wanda and you sat on the swings waiting for the bell to ring.

- I got you something - you said happy.

- What is it? - she asked curiously

- First of all, do you like flowers?

The girl nodded with a smile.

- Yes, I like them

- Good, my dad brought flowers to my mom yesterday, and he said that you give flowers to people you appreciate or love, so I brought a flower for you - you said and handed to the girl the flower you had brought to for her.

Wanda smiled and took the beautiful rose from your hands.

- Y/N, this is beautiful

- I know, I hope you like it, I really appreciate that you are my best friend - you said

The girl was mesmerized with your gift. The rose made her feel very special. Without thinking twice, and following her instincts she kissed your cheek. It was a little kiss, pure and innocent, full of grateful. You felt your cheeks turning all red and a smile appeared in your face, your tummy feeling butterflies.

- Why was that for? - you asked still astonished.

- I appreciate your gift too Y/N, it's my way to thank you for it - she said happy.

- So, if i give you another flower, you're gonna give me another kiss? - you asked shyly

She just nodded smiling.

------

From that day on you always tried to bring a flower to Wanda everytime you could. But it was always just one flower (Mostly because at that time you couldn't afford anything more expensive).

Slowly you started developing feelings for her, from a little crush at 10, to really falling in love when you were 14.

At first you thought that those feelings were just one-sided, but near your graduation day Wanda admitted she felt jealous about you asking other girl to go to the prom with you.

Of course you changed your plans and you ended up going with your best friend, and that night you asked her to be your girlfriend.

Since that day on you two became inseparable, and you kept giving her a flower anytime you could. And she kept giving you kisses for it.

But now, you were walking to her home with nothing but bad news.

You made it to her porch, meeting her father painting the front of the house.

- Hello Y/N, it's been a while since the last time I saw walking in here - he says while holding a paint brush on his hand.

- Hello Mr. Maximoff, I know, school keeps me busy, I guess - you say shyly.

He smiles slightly and leaves the paint brush on the can.

- You know your dad told me about New York, don't you?

Your smile fade in a second. Staying still you look to the ground shamed.

- Hey don't worry, I know you don't want to leave, but you need to tell her now or she'll be hurt if you do it too late - the man says as he approaches to you putting a hand or your shoulder.

- But Mr. Maximoff, what if she wants to break up? Maybe she doesn't want to handle with a long distance relationship and I... I don't... - your voice starts to break as little tears are formed in the corner of your eyes.

- Y/N, Wanda would never do that, your love is really strong. Believe me, I've watch my child falling for you since you were 9, I know what I'm saying. You just have to tell her in order to not hurt her feelings and not break the trust you two have built.

You nod looking at the man.

- I know, I'm telling her today I just need to...

Suddenly the door opens and the figure your girlfriend appears in front of you.

- Baby you're here! - she says excited, jumping into your arms.

You catch her in a hug laughing.

- Hello my love, i missed you - you say with the girl still in your arms.

- I missed you too... A lot - she say breaking the hug but with your hands still on her waist and hers in your shoulders.

- Well I'm here now

She smiles slowly approaching to your lips when the sudden cough of her father breaks your moment.

- Oh dad, I didn't saw you there - Wanda says sheepishly taking a little distance from you.

- Yeah I noticed, I was having a word with Y/N before she got in there - he says looking at you.

- Oh no, what did you say to her? - the girl asks worried

- Nothing bad, I swear - he says taking his paint brush again and making his way back to what he was doing.

She looks at you and you wink at her.

- We just talk about my absence this last weeks, that's all - you say and she smiles.

- Well let's get inside, my mother just baked chocolate chip cookies.

You nod and take her hand to start walking.

- Have fun girls, but not too much - her father says and Wanda rolls her eyes while you just smile a little.

Once in the kitchen you meet her mother, Irina and Pietro.

- Hello sweetheart, it's so lovely to see you around - the woman says to you and gives you a hug.

- Hello Mrs. Maximoff, it's really nice to see you too - you greet smiling.

- Hi Y/N - Pietro says with a cookie on his mouth

- Hi Piet, good to see you - you say to him with a fist.

- So we're taking some cookies upstairs mom - Wanda says putting some of the cookies in a plate and holding your hand.

- Okay girls, I'll call you when dinner is ready - Irina says and you and Wanda nod.

Once alone in the girl's room she locks the door and the first thing she does is give you a long kiss.

Your hands goes to her waist and her arms round your neck.

- I really missed you detka - she says between kisses.

- I know, I missed you even more - you say pulling her closer to you.

After a few minutes of kissing she pulls away and stares at you smiling.

- I really missed this sight - you furrow your eyebrows in confusion - You with my lipstick all over your cute face - she explains and you laugh.

- Well I missed being cover all by your lipstick my love - you answer and she pecks your lips once more.

- Did you bring my flower? - she asks you with a light of hope in her eyes.

- You know I always do - you say and show her the rose that you've been holding in your right hand since you met her on her porch.

She takes it and then she kisses you again.

- Thanks baby, I missed your flowers... Damn I missed everything about you.

You both laugh and you pull her in an embrace.

- Me too Wanda.

You stay like that for a couple of minutes. Just feeling each other and enjoying each other's presence.

- So are we going to eat those cookies or? - you ask and she pulls out from the hug

- Sure bug, let's eat some cookies.

You and Wanda take the plate and get outside her window, sitting in the roof and enjoying the view. After finish eating you lay in there and she cuddles with you, her arm laying on your stomach and her head resting on your chest. Soft music on the back and a warm breeze on the air. The moment it's perfect. You know it's time to talk.

- Honey - you call her out softly, not wanting to break the calm of the moment.

- Hmm - she answers

- We need to talk... Or I need to tell you something - you say.

She gets up from your chest and looks at you worried and confused.

- What happened baby? Is everything okay?

- Yes but there's something I need to talk to you about.

She nods.

- Okay, what is it? - she asks again.

You take a deep breath, not wanting to meet her eyes. A silence takes place between you two.

- Y/N you're scaring me, what happened? - she tries again.

Okay, it's time.

- Wanda, do you remember when I told you that my father got a call from his job where they told him that he could get a promotion?

- Yes, you told me a few months ago, why?

You take another breath and start playing with your rings nervously.

- Well, a few weeks ago he got a call again and they told him that after some tests he got the promotion.

- Oh my God baby, that is amazing! Your parents must be so happy about this! - she congrats your father happily.

- Yes they are, they're even throwing a party next week to celebrate, they told me to invite you and your family - you say and she smiles.

- Thanks babe, you know we're obviously going, my parents will be very happy for your father too

You smile a little and then look at your hands avoiding her gaze for the next part of your news.

- There's something more - you say

- What? What do you mean? - she asks confuse.

Finally getting the courage to look her in the eyes you say.

- The promotion means he needs to move to New York to work in the central office of the company... And they require him to be there as soon as possible - you finally drop the bomb.

You see her face expression change, appalled by the new information.

- New York?... So you're mov... You're moving? Like... you're really leaving? - she rambles.

- Yes, it looks like it - you say

She gets up and gets inside her bedroom again. You follow her immediately.

- Wanda, what are you thinking? - you ask.

She sits on the bed and you do the same taking a sit next to her.

- When did you knew about this?

Her question takes you by surprise. It's been exactly two weeks and three days since your father told you about this, two weeks and three days since you told Wanda you were very busy to go to her house.

- Y/N I asked you something. When did your father told you about this?

You look at ground.

- Two weeks ago.

She gasp a little, but you can't look at her.

- Why didn't you tell me about this sooner? How much time do you have left? - you can hear her voice raising, she's getting mad.

- About one week, we're leaving the day after the party - you say.

- One week?! You only had three weeks left in here and you waited until the last week to tell me about this. What were you thinking? We could've done so many thing in that time. You were waiting to tell me on your way to the airport? Are you gonna break up with me? - she starts yelling.

- What? No! No! I would never... I was just... I'm sorry Wanda. I just didn't knew how to tell you about this...

She laughs bitterly.

- Yeah, waiting till now was the best way Y/N...

She stands from the bed and walks towards her window. The night had fall to this point and the moon was starting to shine.

You stay on the bed, unsure on what to do.

- Are you gonna break up with me? - you ask out of a sudden.

She turns to see you, shaking her head

- No, never, I'm just mad that you didn't told me about this sooner... We could've talk about it and find a solution

- There's no solution baby, I need to go with my parents - you say finally standing up from the bed and wrapping her in an embrace.

She starts crying on your shoulder and silently you start crying too.

- I don't want you to go... I need you - she says

- I need you too, but we can make this work if you want to try, and i promise I understand if you don't cause I know long distance relationships are not for everybody

- Didn't you heard me? I'm NOT breaking up with you - she says with her head still on your shoulder - I'm your girlfriend and you're mine, here, in New York and in any other part of the world. I love you Y/N...

- And I love you too.

-Girls dinner is ready! - your hear her mom shouting from the hall and knocking on the door.

- Yes mom, just a minute - she says separating from you, sniffling her nose as you try to wipe the tears from your eyes.

- Let's have dinner okay? Then we'll go back to this conversation - you say and she nods - Do you think they'll know we cried? - you ask and she laughs.

- Probably...

You both laugh and go downstairs. Just as you said, her family notice your faces and her mother looks to her father worried.

- I see you told her already - her father says.

You nod and Wanda looks at you confuse

- My father knew about it? - she asks

- Yes, my dad told him - you explain to her.

She looks at her father with a clearly upset face.

- You knew it and you didn't told me? I could've scold her about it before - she says and her father laughs a little

- Sorry honey, it wasn't my place to tell you - Olef says.

- Tell her what? Why did you scolded Y/N? What are you all talking about? - Pietro says even more confuse than his sister.

- My father got a promotion on his job and we have to move to New York - you explain your friend and his face change immediately.

- What?! Why nobody told me about this? - he starts talking - Are you leaving school?

- No Piet, I'll drive every day from New York to come here for school - you say humorous.

He shakes his head and laughs - Yeah sorry, I got nervous.

Everybody laugh and start eating dinner.

- But yeah, my school in New York is ready, they're expecting to have me there in three weeks - you explain bringing the school topic back to the conversation.

Wanda looks away from you trying not to cry. But hearing that you already had your life planned in New York makes her sad and upset.

- Three weeks? So you're getting to know the city for two weeks before school - Irina says and you nod

- Yes, my father needs to be there next week but I'll have two free weeks - you explain.

Pietro and Wanda look at each other. Definitely their twin connection was still working after so many years.

- So you're saying that you don't need to leave next week? That you could stay for another two weeks and there would be no problem? - Pietro says trying to explain his point hoping you would understand.

- Well they want me to go with them but... Yes maybe I could stay here until I had to go to school - you say happily, understanding what your friend wanted to say

- And you can stay here with us! - Irina says excited - If Olef agrees, of course

Wanda's father smiles.

- Of course I agree, we just need to talk with Y/N's parents

And so you did, that night when you come back home you talk with your parents about your little plan. After so many talks with you and Wanda's parents they allowed you to stay a couple days more before going to New York.

It was Thursday and Wanda was helping you to pack some of your clothes to stay at her house and to pack all of your things for New York.

- I want to keep some of your sweatshirts and t-shirts with me - she request, standing in front of your almost empty closet.

You look at her smiling

- Of course honey, but only if I can take some of yours with me too - you also request and she nods.

- Of course you're taking some of mines too, I want you to keep me as close as I will keep you - she says walking towards you - Then, when we see each other again we'll trade clothes once more.

You frown, setting your arms around her waist.

- Why?

- So then your clothes will have your scent fresh new and it will be like having you with me all the time - she says hugging you close, resting her head on your chest and closing her eyes.

You rest your head on top of hers and close your eyes as well.

- God I love you so much - you say.

The soft music playing on the background creates a lovely atmosphere for the two of you.

After a few minutes Wanda looks up to you.

- Y/N what will happen to my roses? - she asks looking straight at you.

- What do you mean?

- Well, if you're not gonna be here, who is going to give me roses?

You sigh.

- Will you wait for me to bring you roses again? I promise to give you roses everytime I came back, just wait for me okay?

She looks at you for a moment and then she hides her face on the crock of your neck.

- I will wait for you a lifetime, It's just... - she sigh heavily, tears starting to form on her eyes.

- What is it my love? Why do you cry? - you ask rubbing your hand up and down her back.

- It's just... I don't want you to give roses to other girls - she finally says allowing herself to cry out loud.

- What?

She finally looks at you, your thumb removes the tears running down her cheeks.

- Talk to me my love - you say softly, leaving a kiss on her forehead.

Tears keeps running down and her little sobs begins to increase.

- You know I love you Wanda, you are the love of my life, the only one for me - you say after some silence moments - Just tell me what's going on that beautiful head of yours.

She closes her eyes for second before talking.

- Y/N, New York is really far from here... From me, you're going to meet tons of people and have new experiences on that beautiful city. I don't want to feel like I'm holding you back, like I'm holding you from living your new life far from this small town and out into the real world...

You look at her in disbelief. What is she talking about?

- Wanda you would never hold me from anything, if any, you are only holding me from tearing myself apart - you say taking her face in your hands - I love you Wanda, you mean everything to me and there's nothing I would love more than spend the rest of my life by your side so, please don't think ever again that you are holding me from living, cause "it's not living if it's not with you" - you say smiling and she smiles at reference of one of her favorite songs.

- I know you love me Y/N, and I love you too, but I can't help to feel scare of the distance and the time apart, what if you meet someone? A girl more beautiful, more interesting, someone who can be there with you all the time... - she confesses her insecurities looking down at the floor.

- You can trust me, even if I were moving to other universe I will never stop loving you, you've been my one and only since we were like 9, I don't want to be with anyone else because you are everything I want and everything I need. And I'm so lucky because you love me back Wanda.

- I love you too Y/N, I'm sorry I'm causing all this drama, I'm just really scare but believe me when I say that I trust you, I know you could never hurt me... I'm sorry

- No, no, no, don't apologize darling, i'm glad you talked about this now. As you say, the distance and the time will play against us, so talking about how we feel will be really good for us, you know how important communication is.

She nods.

- Feel free to talk to me about everything you feel Wanda, I will always listen.

- I will always listen to you too my love.

It's now her turn to remove your tears with her thumb.

- Gosh, will we ever stop crying? - you joke and she laughs.

- I don't think that will happen anytime soon.

After a few minutes you go back to your packing duties and in the afternoon your room is clean and there's only your bed remaining. Wanda and you are now cuddle on the bed, sharing a box of Icee Jelly Beans.

- Thanks for helping my love, it would have take me a lifetime without you.

- Well, I needed to make sure you leave some of your things here with me.

Wanda filled an entire box with some of your belongings that were now hers. Some sweatshirts, sweatpants, t-shirts, also some photos of the two of you and your favorite teddy bear from where when you were a kid.

The next day your parents host a party with all of their friends and some of yours too. Wanda kept you close all day and in the night all of the guests raised a toast for you and your parents.

Later that night it's just yours and Wanda's family left, your parents with the luggage ready to leave.

- Well, I think this is all, the moving company will be here in tomorrow to get everything, please be here to supervise everything - you father says to you.

- Don't worry dad, I will be here tomorrow - you say hugging him - And then I'll see you in New York

- Two weeks Y/N, two weeks Wanda Maximoff - he directs playfully to you and your girlfriend - I don't want to hear that the two of you elope or something.

Everyone laugh.

- Don't worry my friend, I'll make sure that doesn't happen - Oleg says - And don't worry about the moving, I'll be here with Y/N to make sure everything is in order.

- Thank you so much Oleg, and thank you too Irina, for allowing my daughter to stay with you - your mother now talks.

After an hour or so, everybody say goodbye and you leave your house to go with Wanda.

The next weeks are amazing. You spend all of your time with Wanda some of your friends. You make picnics, go to the amusement park, go swimming, go to the beach and in the nights you cuddle with Wanda and hold her impossibly close, not wanting to let her go.

Before you notice, it's now your last day home.

You prepared a beautiful picnic with Wanda, just for the two of you. So now you both are walking through the beach looking for a place to have your picnic.

When you found the perfect spot, you begin to put everything in place and start eating the snacks you and your girlfriend prepared one night before.

- I can't believe you're leaving tomorrow - she says - This weeks passed so quickly, it's not fair.

- I know love, time will never be enough when we are together.

- I wish you could stay longer - she says sadly.

- Me too darling, but I'm not leaving forever, I'll be back for the holidays in Christmas and New Year, then I'll come for your birthday and your are going to visit me for my birthday and on spring break next year - you say trying to cheer her up - We are gonna be fine, i promise.

- I know, I believe in us - she says placing a hand over your hand - Just don't forget my rose whenever you're back - she says kind of joking but reminding you about her precious flowers.

- Of course not, I will never forget about it - you tell her.

After finishing eating you pick up the rest of the food and lay on a blanket on the sand, watching the sea and the sky. Wanda lays comfortably half of her body on top of yours, her head on your chest and one of your hands caressing her back.

- Baby are you falling asleep? - you ask her softly.

- Mmm - that's the only sound she makes.

- Don't close your eyes, we need to go back to your house before night falls.

She turns to look at you.

- Or your father will think we elope and he's gonna hate me for the rest of my life - you say joking, making her laugh.

- That doesn't seem like a bad idea - she says smiling, giving you a peck on the lips - You and me, together for the rest of our lives.

You laugh.

- Talking about that, I got you something - you tell her, sitting and reaching for your backpack.

- What is it?

- Close your eyes, and give me your left hand

She nods and gives you her hand. You took the ring you bought for her and slide it in her ring finger.

- Okay, now you can see.

She gasps when she sees the ring on her finger, it was beautiful, gold with three small green rocks embedded in it.

- Y/N... This is beautiful - she says.

- The rocks are green, just as your eyes.

She smiles and gives you a kiss.

- And the best part it's that I have one for myself too - you show her your left hand.

- I love it so much, thank you my love

You both kiss deeply.

- These are promise rings Wanda, they are my promise to you to one day give you engagement ones - you say after finishing kissing.

She looks at you smiling, hope and happiness on her eyes.

- I can't wait to spend my life with you

- One day it will be just me and you, forever

After a few more minutes, you start picking everything up to head home.

You have your luggage prepare on the Maximoff's living room and the next morning everyone takes you to the airport.

- Is everything in order Y/N? - Oleg asks you before leaving the house

- Yes Mr. Maximoff, thank you so much again, for letting me stay in your house and take to the airport

He smiles.

- It's been a pleasure, you're part of the family Y/N

Wanda holds your hand all the way to the airport and after doing check-in it's time for you to board your flight.

- I hope you like what I left for you in your room - you tell her.

- What? - she asks confuse

- It's one for each week we'll be apart - you say

- What do you mean?

- You'll find it out when you get home, okay? I'll text you when I land on New York and I will call you in the night

She's really confuse about what you just told her but kiss you once more before you have leave.

Once the Maximoffs made sure your flight was in the air they leave the airport.

When Wanda is back at her house she goes straight to her room. She gasps the moment she opens the door.

- Oh my God

Spread on her bed she founds rose petals and a big bouquet of roses place in the middle. She walk slowly and after admiring it for a minute she takes the note that's place on the top of the bouquet.

"It's one for each week we'll be apart" she reads on the note.

Tears already start forming on her eyes.

"Hello my love, If you're reading this i'ts because you already saw the flowers. I finally got you the whole bouquet hahaha. As I probably told you, it's one rose for each week we'll be apart.

I can't wait for the moment I see you again, I'll bring your rose with me.

Wait for me my love, by your window as you always do and one day you'll see me walking to your house again, with your rose my hand.

I'm always with you. You can call me whenever you need it, I'll always answer.

Pd. Remember the deal Maximoff, it's a kiss for one rose, your debt can be paid once I'm back"

She takes the note close to her chest and allow herself to cry again. Walking through her window She stares at the view.

She'll wait for you, in hopes of you coming back to her, bringing her roses.

#wanda maximoff #wanda maximoff x reader #wanda x y/n #wandavision #marvel #wanda x you #elizabeth olsen x reader #elizabeth olsen fanfic #wanda maximoff fanfiction #marvel fanfiction #elizabeth olsen #lizzie olsen #wanda x reader #scarlet witch #scarlet witch x reader #multiverse of madness

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forevfangirlwrites · 2 months

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Hey, would you mind writing about percy’s openning night for his own coffee and annabeth being all proud and cute for the celebrity au please?? I love your writing soo much i think you’ve done such amazing stories and i admit to dream about this au every now and then because of how much i reread it lol 🌹❤️ (and i know you asked this ages ago but im the same person that sends promps with the flower if you even remember me lol, im just really shy and my first language isnt english so i get extra shy but i love your stories and i think about them a lott, anyway have a good day 🌹)

Nervous is an understatement. He feels like he might puke (which is not a good look on your first day) though if the feeling is stemming from relief or anxiety is still unclear. He’s been working towards this for so so long and now that it’s finally actually happening, it almost doesn’t feel real.

So much anticipation and build-up and now that everything is set-up, decorated and the moment has come, the place is empty.

(Though the place does look pretty despite the emptiness with about seven tables set up across the space that’s decorated in accents of different shades of blue and a lot of plants courtesy of Grover who had made up for not being at the opening by showing up a week early to help decorate).

Granted it’s only been a few minutes since they officially opened, and he can’t blame anyone other than himself for the lack of fanfare.

He hadn’t wanted Annabeth’s influence at the start, and though he trusts Miranda (the teen he’d hired as a barista/social media liaison) to promote it well, he’s wondering if he should have done more.

He’d posted on his own private insta account of course but that isn’t going to do much other than his mom commenting how proud she is. Five minutes after opening without a customer isn’t that great.

“You got 40 likes on the insta post so far,” Miranda calls from her place further down the counter. She looks up from her phone. “You should pay to boost it so more people can see it.”

“You can do that?”

And suddenly he feels woefully unprepared for this whole thing. Maybe it would have been better to do the whole celebratory opening instead of quietly putting up an Open sign.

“I’m just gonna do it and you can add the amount to mu paycheck,” Miranda responds.

He has another brief panic of how he’s going to pay her paycheck if no one even comes in. Hoping his nervousness doesn’t show, he runs a towel down the already clean counter.

Percy’s always been a pretty confident person when it comes to work. He trusts his ability to pick up anything quickly and has a knack for finding odd jobs.

Hell, he had moved to California mostly on a whim and managed to do well at the time he worked at Cali’s.

And though he knows it’s this confidence in his work ability that had led him to opening up his own place, now that he’s here it really does feel a lot different than normal work. There’re more responsibilities. And even Miranda, who’s a part timer, depends on him to do well to get paid.

It’s all stuff he’s known this whole time but to actually feel that weight is different.

And even now, he knows he can handle it. If only he gets the chance, if only people actually start—

The sound of the bell on the door makes him start.

“Not bad Jackson.”

He tries to hide his astonishment as Clarisse and Chris walk in, hand in hand.

“It looks really cool Percy!” Chris echoes, eyes scanning the pretty decent sized space.

“Jackson you can’t look that dorky every time people come into your café, it’s bad customer service, close your mouth,” Clarisse drawls, rolling her eyes before looking up at the menu.

“Are we the first people?” Chris asks excitedly.

Percy smiles. “Well technically Annabeth was the first customer because she walked in with me when I officially opened and ordered a drink to claim her spot, but then she had to rush out for a call.”

Clarisse waves her hand. “Okay so girlfriend aside, we’re the first—”

The sound of the bell violently ringing interrupts their conversation as Jason Grace rushes in, clearly out of breath.

“Damn!” he swears, when he sees Chris and Clarisse on the counter. “And I definitely didn’t beat Annabeth, did I?” he asks, looking at Percy.

Percy can’t help but smile as he shakes his head.

Jason sighs, walking up to get in line behind Chris and Clarisse. “I hate Mark Edwards now,” he mumbles under his breath.

KEEP READING ON AO3

A/N: Thank you for the prompt! it's one I've actually been working on for a bit so you read my mind lol And of course I remember you! I really appreciate you sending in prompts even though English in not your first language! (Your English is amazing by the way so don't worry about that!) Thank you again for your support of the series ad I hope you like how it turned out!

#how to handle fame #actress annabeth #barista percy #hthf #percabeth #percabeth au #percabeth fic

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ohbutwheresyourheart · 5 months

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all right gang buckle up it's time to talk wonka

I give Wonka (2023) a 4.5/10. While the movie was visually stunning and I broadly liked Willy, Noodle, the chocolate cartel, and a couple of the better-developed side characters, overall it lacked substance.

I will say up front that one thing I genuinely really loved about the movie was how it leaned into the actual magic of Willy's inventions. They don't just taste good, they have actual magical effects on the people who eat them. That was cool! Very inventive.

I also loved Noodle's character far more than I thought I would. She was a great contrast to Willy's idealism, and it was particularly enjoyable for the younger character to be the more cynical one. Noodle was actually one of my favourite parts of the movie.

Willy's grief for his mother was very touching and was in my opinion probably the best-realised emotional beat of the movie. The reveal that he hoped she would somehow be there when he opened his shop, his disappointment when it didn't happen despite logically knowing it couldn't... It hit home, and reinforced that Willy here is still a young man, little more than a kid, and still refusing to let adult real world logic puncture his dreams, for better or worse.

Now for... everything else.

So the first thing that annoyed me is Willy's characterisation in this movie: he has been "sailing the seven seas for seven years", i.e. has been fending for himself in a vaguely 1800s world across continents with nobody to look out for him, and he is... so blisteringly naive!

I get that he couldn't start out cynical (nor would I want him to) because that leaves no room for character growth between the prequel and the original movie, but it completely shatters my disbelief that a kid could be roaming the world alone for seven years and never before encounter anyone who deceives or takes advantage of him so that he is left so entirely at the mercy of Mrs Scrubbit.

(also lmfao Mrs Scrubbit herself is like... just say you wanted to spoof Mrs Lovett. The name. The attitude. The child assitant. The romance with the surly violent man.)

Even if he was still a little naive... there is no forgiving him handing Lofty the frying pan to hit him over the head with. I watched that scene torn between absolutely bewilderment that they expected me to believe Willy was that stupid, and a reluctant admiration for Lofty, who I can only imagine was astonished and delighted that his stupid plan worked so flawlessly.

That said, I actually really loved the reveal that Willy couldn't read. That felt very logical with his backstory presented in-universe (raised poor in a historical time period by a mother more focused on keeping them both alive and fed in their transitory lifestyle). While it seems Willy's mother was literate (the 'Wonka' on the chocolate bar wrapper), I can buy that Willy just Would Not Learn because he didn't see the point, and his mother either didn't see the need to fight the battle, or thought she'd have longer to teach him but died before she was able to.

The worldbuilding fell apart in other areas, however, such as the supposedly indentured servants running around town without consequence? I get that Willy's laundry invention was doing the actual work for them, but early in the movie there's a huge point made of how they all have to be present for roll call at least once a day, and then this just... kind of gets forgotten about. And then also somehow Mrs Scrubbit is able to just get into the chocolate stores and poison them all without anyone knowing, and also without taking any more direct action like making sure they're all locked up and can't leave? And where the hell was Willy storing all of the chocolates he was making to have enough to totally fill that shop?

Speaking of the indentured servants... okay, you can make a case for most of them. Abacus and Piper actually kind of grew on me. But I am convinced the comedian only exists because they thought of the scene where Willy shares his mother's last chocolate bar and realised they needed six characters to split the pieces between. He does nothing! Absolutely nothing! He is there for a few brief moments of appalling cringe comedy and nothing more! His supposed talent he brings to the team is one throwaway line where he pretends he's talking to a fucking octopus!

And it's infuriating because they could have done something with this guy! What if he actually was a good comedian with a great stage presence who fell on hard times because he made fun of the chocolate cartel in one of his shows and they got him blacklisted? What if he was the one who helped Willy develop his showmanship to sell his chocolates? Wouldn't that have made far more sense, and made him far more integral to the plot, than a few off-colour "hurr durr hate muh wife" jokes???

Controversial opinion on side characters: I loved Hugh Grant the Oompa Loompa. I was expecting to hate him, but he charmed me. I did raise my eyebrows at the fucking speedboat yacht what the hell, but eh, fine, it was one brief shot, I can live with it. I honestly feel like Lofty and Noodle carried this movie on their tiny sarcastic shoulders. What did annoy me was the ending sequences of the movie, where the writers seemed to abruptly realise they had strayed too far from the bounds of 'explicit prequel to the Wilder movie' and tried to fix this by having Lofty spout off a number of Wonka's most memorable lines in quick succession, as if to scream SEE, SEE, IT'S A PREQUEL, HE'S SAYING THE THING, IT'S A PREQUEL---

I think the point could have been hammered home far more effectively by having a last interaction between Slugworth and Willy before the Slugworth's arrest, where Slugworth says something to the effect of "I'll be back, and I'll stop at nothing to ruin you". Cliche? Sure. But at least it would create an actual bridge between the two movies. As it stands, there's little to no actual setup for the spying and conflict because... the chocolate cartel are being sent to prison (indefinitely?). Again, maybe have Slugworth or one of the others point out that fraud isn't a life sentence, and they will be back.

(Actually, I would have given anything for Slugworth to try to talk Noodle around to his side - offer her the money, books, clothes, etc., tell her she's his niece, play it as if he's so glad to have found her, tell her she'll be his heir - give us a dark mirror of Wonka's eventual relationship with Charlie, and a hint of Willy having to face what betrayal by those he trusts looks like.)

I also felt like the movie's attitude towards chocolate itself was bizarrely conflicted. One the one hand: it's the most amazing and delicious and incredible thing ever! Everyone should be able to buy chocolate! On the other: hahaahaha look at the stupid fat police chief and hohohohohoo look at the stupid corrupt chocaholic monks. Yeah, yeah, you can handwave it as a question of degree, but it hits on the same sour note as Augustus Gloop in the original: why is it a bad thing to enjoy chocolate, and even (gasp! shock! horror!) be fat?

Other minor grumbles that probably bother nobody but me:

Sovereigns aren't fucking silver, they're explicitly gold, they've always been gold, they are literally one of the highest denomination of historical British coinage. Hearing characters treat single sovereigns as essentially small change set my teeth on edge from the start. If the writers wanted to use a historical-sounding coin, why not shilling? Actually, shillings would have fit in much better with the in-universe value attributed to silver sovereigns. I've got twelve silver shillings in my pocket even has the same cadence!

I don't like Timothee's singing and did not find any of the songs to be particularly affecting or memorable. The movie did not need to be a musical. I particularly disliked the cover of Pure Imagination, which was juuuuust enough off from the original that it put my back up. I don't know if I feel like this because I was so done with everything else in the movie that annoyed me by that point, but I just... felt like so many of the songs sounded the same? Not sure if that was because of an intention by the composer or a limitation from Timothee's vocal range, or both, but the only song that I even kind of liked was the villain song, and frankly that might just be due to the vague homoeroticism winding its way through that scene.

Why is he milking a giraffe. Mammals don't... they don't just constantly... was the giraffe pregnant??? Have any of the writers ever set foot on a farm ever. Do they think cows just Do That. Please get these people a book on basic biology.

#wonka 2023 #willy wonka #willy

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copperbadge · 2 years

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How's the foot feeling?

Really not great today, I'll be honest. It's a swirl of a bunch of things; stuff usually hurts worse in the days after the injury, the rest of my body is adjusting to a limp, the boot chafed my calf because I forgot you really have to wear socks all the way up the boot's length, and I could either take Adderall or painkiller, not both, and I chose Adderall because I had work that absolutely had to get done by a deadline tomorrow.

Plus...I'm supposed to stay off the foot for the most part, but also you really do have to acclimate to the boot and to the new gait, so I went out real quick to go down the block to a bodega and get myself a soda and some treats. And I forgot, or rather I didn't forget, I never forget, but I didn't remember the intensity of what it's like to be visibly disabled. I don't know if this is universally true but for me it was very true, earlier and now, that wearing a walking boot made me visibly disabled and thus invisible.

I have a theory that people are so freaked out by disability, for one reason or another (lack of exposure, fear of it happening to them, fear of being weird around a disabled person, etc) that they go really hard on ignoring the disability, to the point where they then ignore the person. Which is unpleasant when you're trying to stand in line to get rung up, or get the sales clerk's attention, but becomes actually quite dangerous when you're just outside, on foot, on the street. I went less than a quarter of a mile, crossing one street at the crosswalk and with the light, and still almost got run over twice, and did get bumped into by two separate people also on foot, one of whom had rolling luggage. What the fuck. I have limited speed and mobility, I can only get out of your way so fast when you won't acknowledge my existence!

So yeah it has not been a great day, although I did get the work done and I've had good support, so I'm not like...spiritually miserable, just physically I've been better.

But I did get McDonalds delivered, an astonishing luxury, so there will be Prowly photos in the happy meal bucket later. :D And I have a plan with a friend to go to the craft store for Boot Decoration Purposes, which will be fun! You all know me, I try to stay sunny :)

#ways I have injured myself

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micamicster · 9 months

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I finished the first season of Veronica Mars! And decided to stop after a couple of episodes of season 2. Idk, I guess I got tired of the lack of closure for many plot lines. The finale was interesting tho, I loved the final villain.

Share your thoughts on the show (here's supposed to be a question mark but tumblr wouldn't let me)

Hi bestie I'm sorry it's taken me so long to talk to you about this show! I'm gonna make up for taking forever by writing like, an essay haha brace yourself

I think that Veronica Mars is a good show that runs into some classic 2000s tv stumbling blocks, manages to do some things that infuriate me personally beyond reason, but ALSO manages to have some elements that are so powerful and so well executed that I'm honestly astonished it got made. These kinda peter out and become muddled over the years, but oh well, we'll always have season one <3

In brief, the 2000s messiness, in varying degrees of offensiveness to the world and to me personally:

The aforementioned plot lines that go nowhere <3

It's case-of-the-week, some cases are gonna suck! What can you do lol

The black best friend who doesn't ever really get any satisfying arcs or attention given to him as a character who contributes beyond letting our protagonist have dialogue with him rather than exclusively monologuing in voiceover

How they handle race in general ofc. Like while I think that in the actual plots of the show there are good intentions (and sometimes good material!) in depicting the racism of this insular hiarchical society, racism in the real world affects the writing by giving the characters of color very little to do, and over all they are taken less seriously by the narrative.

Veronica's rape plot line. I actually think this plot started out very strong! But the minute the show focuses directly on it the writing gets lost in the weeds of plot twists and rival love interests, and I really think the points they were originally trying to make get buried.

Deadbeat Mom ran off she's got a single dad raising her (i feel like the number of single dads in media is exponentially larger than the real number of single dads in life. it's propaganda. and its misogynistic. but I digress)

The stuff I personally hate:

The romances :) lol. lmao, even. (I would love to rant about this but I really think that's not something that deserves to be on what is currently a measured review of the show as a whole)

The stuff that's great:

The noir homage: It's just. It's so good. It's so fucking good. This is to noir detective stories what american vandal will be to true crime 20 years later. I want to give whoever first thought "hey, being an ostracized teen girl is kinda like being a hardboiled noir detective," a raise and a kiss MWAH <3 A+ for tone! Veronica lives on the edges of her society (high school), allowing her to see all of it's pieces and hypocrisy, turning her cynical and aloof. And she's a teenager who solves crimes :D She's funny and self aware of her role, but never in such a way that it feels like lampshading or winking at the audience. They take it seriously--they take HER seriously, and that makes the show work.

Lilly: The central case of the show, the murder of Veronica's best friend and Veronica's revenge-driven mission to find her killer, is where the first season gets its power. Veronica gets to have the noir detective plot line of being haunted by the death of a woman she loved and driven by revenge, and it is so much more powerful here than I've ever seen it in its original form. Lilly is a tragedy, she is an unflinching look at the sexual exploitation of teenage girls and the casualness with which violent men will turn that violence on them, she is a messy bratty bitch of a sixteen year old, and Veronica loves her. Lilly gets to be complicated because Veronica, who knew her and loves her, is telling us her story. There are a lot of people who are affected by Lilly's death, but this show is about Veronica, and her reaction to the murder of her friend is what matters to the writers and the viewers. Once again, the show takes Veronica (and her grief and her rage and her love) seriously, and there is a lot of power in that. I think the reason the later seasons struggle is because they simply can't stand up to the emotional intensity that made up the core of season one.

#here i am answering asks weeks late! MWAH babe thanks for asking me always <3 #i know you're asleep lol but here are My Thoughts for when you wake up <3 #if you are willing to sit through my Complaints About The Romance In Veronica Mars send me a dm or another ask or something haha #i love talking about it but i think it would be unfair to put in like an overall review of the show?#we are Serious Bloggers here we present unbiased opinions of television shows from the 2010s #just went and looked up when it actually aired and wow it was 2004. a lifetime ago! wild #veronica mars

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honeysweetcorvidae · 9 months

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hey would you like to do all the prime numbers for the ask meme too. :3

i WOULD i’m gods bravest soldier and i can answer questions

i am, like mango, going to put this under a cut, because good grief this is a lot of questions.

2. Do you plan each chapter ahead or write as you go?

lol. I tend to have a general shape in my head for what the whole thing will look like when i do multichaps, but no, i wing it; if i allow myself to do an outline then it will be Done in my brain & therefore dead in the water

3. Describe the creative process of writing a chapter/fic

1) go on swingset, play music on shuffle 2) put that bitch in a Situation in my brain 3) enter fugue state 4) hit post

5. Do you like constructive criticism?

ehh. i am very sensitive, but from people i trust & when i have time to brace myself it can be helpful? most of the time i am just sitting here though. love 2 have fun and indulge.

7. How do you choose which POV to write from?

fugue state.

genuinely, it’s just whatever feels best at the moment! I have a taste for outsider POVs, but what i do for things that aren’t that varies from story to story— WTA flips back and forth from chapter to chapter where playing heroes is scattershot, etc.

11. Link your three favorite fics right now

oh geez picking “favorites” is an ASTONISHINGLY difficult thing for me— i have read probably hundreds of fics in the shuake tag alone, and the things I like I like for different reasons, and my MEMORY is so terrible that the word ‘favorite’ fills me with dread— so I’ll go with ones I immediately think to recommend? for p5, @malevolentmango’s what you’ve already buried and everything or nothing at all are phenomenal (i am marking this as One because mango is sooo specialwonderfulthebest and i could just list everything on their ao3. god wait how could i not also shout out no ballad will be written)

and then there’s interminable ballistics, which rewrote my brain, first step, which is frankly ASTONISHING, killing care and grief of heart by @jortsbian, which made me want to tear down an office building with my nails(honorific), and so on and so on and so on. this is way more than three. @ceilingfan5 has some of the best taakitz fics out there, if you’re into taz.

i would also, of course, be remiss not to nod to the fic i’m most insane about of all time, my guiding light my life my joy my favorite most special little enormous incomprehensible sadomasochistic bug alien clown porn religious worldbuilding space opera epic, @birchbow’s price of forgiveness. i’m super normal about everything they’ve ever written for homestuck tbqh BUT PoF is my darling. (it’s NOT the one i wrote a whole real actual literary analysis essay about. but that’s because it’s too long.)

okay moving on. i did not answer this question correctly.

13. What’s a common writing tip that you almost always follow?

uh. um. uh. does “don’t misuse punctuation too badly” count as a writing tip? man i don’t know i am an insane person about writing styles

17. What do you do when writing becomes difficult? (maybe a lack of inspiration or writers block)

if it sucks hit da bricks >:/. no but actually for real though, i tend to go out on my swingset, switch to a different project, or just Do Something Else for a while! i’m a big proponent of taking breaks.

19. What is the most-used tag on your ao3?

well,

23. Best writing advice for other writers?

please for the love of god punctuate your dialogue correctly

no, but sincerely— i think that the best possible thing you can do for your work is to write what you actually want to write. do the stupid self-indulgent bullshit! write tropey nonsense, write the same shit over and over in different permutations, who cares! if you love it it’ll show.

31. Do you start with the characters or the plot when writing?

the characters make the plot happen and the plot makes the characters act? so i mean i guess characters, but they’re interminably linked.

37 I already answered;

41: Do you tend to reread fics or are you a one-and-done kind of person?

ha. hahahaaaa. according to ao3 i have visited price of forgiveness one hundred and sixty-seven times. i know i have read it logged out at least twice. so, you know,

43. Do you take a sadistic joy in whumping your characters, or are you more the “If you hurt them I would kill everyone and then myself” kind of person?

i like recovery! I like to see people brought down and still swinging, and then for them to be happy again after. so i guess the latter?

47. How many times do you usually revise your fic/chapter before posting?

that’s between me and god

53. How do you spend your time when it comes to fanfiction? Are you primarily a fic reader, writer, or a perfect 50/50 split of both?

well it took me going back ~50 pages into my ao3 history to find PoF, and the last time i read it was in june, so i’d say i read more than i write

59. Does anyone in your personal life know you write fic? if not, would you tell anyone?

everyone i know knows everything about me because I have cannot-shut-up-ever-disease, yes. my mom has been forced to hear the plot of my NG+ au.

61. Why do you continue writing fics?

I enjoy writing, and I like to have a community! when I’m not writing fic I write original stuff, and I miss the engagement when I do that, but it’s still the same compulsive joy, I think. I doubt I could ever just stop writing forever.

67. Do you prefer prompts and challenges, or completely independent ideas?

independent ideas, generally! I am very bad at sticking to a prompt; my mind tends to wander ALL about the joint.

71. When it comes to more complicated narratives, how do you keep track of outlines, characters, development, timeline, ect.?

[LAUGHING]

(the answer is severe autdhd and being an extremely fast reader.)

73. What do you think makes your writing stand out from other works?

um. uh. um um uh. someone told me the other day that i am a fizzy mocktail and i don’t know what that means but i’m gonna go with that. i think my style is pretty distinctive, and i know i’m a skilled writer, so I guess. that? and i mean who else would write quite so much deeply emotionally vulnerable tentacle content. really.

#my writing #SORRY FOR THE TAGS EVERYONE. i wanted to credit people whose tumblrs i knew

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bl-inded · 10 months

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Okayy, time to finally talk about it. Kawi is an interesting character to watch. I kinda hate him, (he's getting out of that zone slowly. tis still true) but he's interesting. In the start of the show he has something of a 'Cinderella complex' minus the naive optimism. He thinks he's the victim of every situation and he did nothing to deserve it. He also weirdly feels entitled to good things as a result of it failing to realise his own hand in said situation.

Many other people have done a wayyy better job of explaining his selfishness and double standards. So, I won't go too deep into that. Now with the show in its last stretch though, there's been a surprising change. He's still selfish. Not as much as before but he's still the center of his own universe. And, the sole ownership of these time-travelling powers have given Kawi this twisted sense of solipsism (the belief that you're the only real person in the world, but in this context what I mean is he thinks he's the only person with agency in this world).

Obviously, he doesn't actually believe that others don't have a mind or choice in this world, but whenever he's in the 'past' he very clearly cares little about what happened in the previous versions of the past. He is in it with the sole intention of "fixing the future" so to speak. So the characters, their feelings, their opinions- don't matter to Kawi till he goes to the future and sees how it morphed long-term.

We've seen this in the show over and over. Even when he tells Pisaeng about the time travelling, he says "I'll fix things," by dating him. Like Pisaeng doesn't have a say in the matter? The lack of self awareness is even more astonishing because he didn't learn through his relationship with Pear in the future, that his relationship with Pisaeng might just end the same way. Like, buddy. Come on...

I doubt the show will end with Pisaeng and Kawi not being together, but I would maybe like a reboot where he realises he needs to stop being so self-centred. I already think it's unfair that Kawi gets so many chances after stringing Pisaeng along for god knows how many years. Even if forgotten, both he and the audience deserve an apology from Kawi for that.

I have a whole tangent about time-travel stories without rules and the brain glitch it causes my brain to try to figure out the continuity, but putting my logical disbelief aside, a time-travel story serves a certain purpose for character arcs. So, i wholeheartedly believe we needed to hate Kawi at the start for the story to make sense.

But right now, he still has too much power. He's starting to realise he can't change everything, no matter how hard he tries, but he's still attributing that to the universe. He's not giving enough weight to the people around him.

He's also impatient, immediately wanting to know if he "fixed the future" after one decision change, when in reality this future 10 years in the making needs to be lived in for him to realise why it turned out a certain way.

He still doesn't seem to understand why Pisaeng left after the beach that day (not really anyway) or why he's so desperate to keep him. Not to mention he doesn't acknowledge the emotional rollercoaster that he's been putting everyone around him through. (Max needs a pay raise with the amount of therapy he's been giving everyone 😞).

I'm curious to see how the show handles it (if it does so at all). But in conclusion, I will not fully be team Kawi till he stops thinking he's the only person in the world.

#wow that was long #the thing is #i love pisaeng too much to let him end up with someone who'll hurt him #boy deserves so much better #so kawi needs to step up #and alsooo of they do my girl Pear dirty at the end of the show #you will regret the person i become #okay thats all #thai bl #gmmtv #be my favorite #bmf meta #kawi x pisaeng #bmf kawi #pisaengkawi #pisaeng #bl rants #bl series

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shaftking · 5 months

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https://www.tumblr.com/godmodebeginswithlesbians/732567688496431104/we-need-less-sanitized-queer-stories-youre-the

I can’t believe the amount of notes this post has of people agreeing with it. I have no idea what The Locked Tomb is so I can’t speak on that, but regarding She-Ra, ever since the finale, I’m one of the people who’s been agreeing with the statement that OP is mocking here. To clarify, though, I’m not a puritanical anti at all- in fact, I’m all for less sanitized LGBT stories (yes, LGBT, not q**r), but I want them to still be well written, make actual sense narratively, and deliver a positive message for a target demographic of children, all which She-Ra failed at.

I read some of the notes and aside from the typical nonsense I’m used to seeing toxic She-Ra fans spew, there are people who reblogged this defending She-Ra while simultaneously admitting that they DIDN’T EVEN WATCH THE SHOW. Ofc they’re not gonna understand or interpret any of the criticism in good faith if they haven’t even watched the damn show. That’s the brainless mob mentality that’s to be expected on this site.

Anyway, as a writer who majored in animation, seeing posts and notes like this is so disheartening. I don’t have much hope for the entertainment industry (especially animation) or the LGBT community. Both have proven that their standards are lower than dirt and that they all have piss poor media literacy and critical thinking skills that lead them to harassing and hating on anyone who dares criticize the media that they blindly worship. It’s insulting as a writer and sets a bad precedent that professionals can just produce poorly written fan fiction with a budget that validates childish NPCs who eat it up as long as it caters to their sensibilities and is under the guise of progressivism for kids so it can be praised as “groundbreaking.” It makes me wanna steer clear of this industry entirely tbh.

I’m also familiar with SPOP but not The Locked Tomb, so I can speak on that. And we all know that I really can’t stand SPOP. I personally view it as one of those shows that was fine and even good at times until it self destructed in the last season and especially the finale with just an astonishing lack of self awareness.

The problem with Catradora, especially compared to the other ships in the show for the most part, is that’s it’s dysfunctional and toxic in a show that is targeted to children that otherwise pushes a lot of life lessons subtexually and textually. This also isn’t just a problem of the relationship itself, it extends to their actions towards other characters, such as the fact that there is no real consequence for Catra literally killing Glimmers mother out of complete selfishness. I think the whole show kind of suffers from sudden character amnesia about other characters past crimes. Because it happened with Hordak and Scorpia and Entrapta as well to varying degrees.

And I think the doublethink the show has about being Mature and Complex vs It’s A Children’s Show So You Can’t Criticize It extends to fan attitudes. And let’s be real, the Catradora kiss was not that revolutionary when SU and LOK already had their representation moments years before. In fact it’s weird and dysfunctional asf to have characters who were implied to have grown up as sisters and raised together (the literal reason why Catra was jealous and over dependent on Adora) just kiss and have all of their problems and past just basically vanish so that they can have a few cute shippy moments before the series finale.

All that aside I personally hate being pandered to and baited. I genuinely want to see stories about people who are LGBT and different races and with different belief systems and backgrounds, but just slapping a label onto a character or story doesn’t make it good, you still have to write good characters and story. You still have to work to make things cohesive and you have to understand that as a writer you will always face criticism. Especially when you market your work so hard as the next big thing.

And as an audience member, at the very least as a teen and onwards into adulthood, you should be capable of media literacy to the extent that you can watch a show about a couple toxic codependent weirdos and recognize that they were toxic codependent weirdos even if you mostly just had fun watching them get up to fucked up shenanigans.

#ask #im a hater! I will remain a hater!#sorry for the anti Catradora rants but like what the hell

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10ireland13 · 1 year

Text

Happy 33rd birthday Taylor!! 🎂🫶🏻🥂

We have never met. 🤞🏻I will get to meet you this era 💝. I met your mom, she is the SWEETEST person I have ever met!! 💝❤️🥰 Your mom & I are close in age.

I have been a Swiftie since 2009. My hubby & I first saw you at The Speak Now Tour 💜 To actually see you live was breathtaking & astonishing!! 🌟. You were so grateful to all of the fans & you still are. You love us as much as we love you!! There is this element that bonds us all together 🥰. Taylor you are the glue!! Watching you grow you always remained grounded & humble. You definitely had your share of hardships but you took them & created many masterpieces 🌟❤️🌟 You persevered & you grew strong!! I seemed to lack that element most of my life. I came from a very abusive environment. I was basically my stepfather’s punching bag. I was bullied in school because I lived in fear. I wanted to die…. I did grow up & married my HS sweetheart. He truly saved me. I constantly carried this issue of low self esteem. I am a mom & now empty nester. My baby left a week after she graduated HS to go to school in London. I dived into a state of depression. Taylor it was YOU that pulled me out of this darkness. Your art of music & your beautiful soul saved me. Honestly when I heard Reputation for the first time I discovered this sass within myself I never knew existed!! I cannot thank you enough for saving me in so many ways. Everyone that knows me does know exactly how much you mean to me!! They understand the grief I carried & know it was you that gave me this happiness 💝❤️🥰 I can say NO & not feel guilty. My life & feelings matter!! TAYLOR YOU DID THIS!!! 🥰 During the REP Tour in Minneapolis I met your mom. We made eye contact. The back of our seats were against Club Meredith. She walked right over & gave me the longest hug I have ever had. A good long hug!! I became emotional 😭!! How did she know?? Later she asked if we wanted to see you closer, YESSSSS!!! She took us with security around us. We were dancing 💃 💃& singing like 2 old friends!! I kept thinking is this real?? Why me?? My brother was at the show & scooted in when your mom brought us up to the stage. You were singing Dress & then Blank Space. I wish I would have talked more but I was Star stuck & I didn’t want to cross any boundaries. Damn I wish I would have!! I don’t have many friends & I had my chance. I feel your mom & I are similar. Meaning we are good loving people 🥰 I will forever cherish that night!! Taylor you did that also!!! You are like a Holiday!! The excitement you give us your Swifties ❤️We are all so lucky to be alive in the era of Taylor Swift!!! I am older but soooooooooo grateful to you!!! Thank you !!! 💝❤️🥰🫶🏻 I hope you are having the best birthday because you so deserve it!!! 🎂🥂🥳🥳🥳🥳❤️ @taylorswift thank you & I just love you!!! 💝❤️🥰

@taylorswift @taylornation

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butterflydm · 1 year

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Did this to respond to your post because it was well thought out and I thought this would be easier.

I made the ranking based on intellectual honesty, not objectivity. In other words how much I believe the character actually thinks what they are saying to themselves in their POV. Otherwise none of them would really be unreliable narrators and this would not really be a feature of Jordan’s style.

I had Moiraine where she was because due to plot reasons on Jordan’s part, she is still keeping things close to the vest, even in her own thoughts. (I.e. what is in her letters, thom, her lanfear plan or insert any major plan that he doesn’t want the reader to know). Because there is a decent amount of this, I believe her narration is somewhat misleading or at least less open. But I can easily see an argument for bumping her up.

You raise a couple of good points about Perrin’s lack of introspection or self awareness. But the difference is that I believe that Perrin believes just about everything he is conveying in his POV other than his feelings at times when communicating with Faile/Berelain.

Hi! <3

Yeah, I think lots of different people would probably choose different aspects of the characters to focus on to decide what makes them come across as honest.

Jordan’s thing where he has characters deliberately not think about things not to ruin the plot definitely does happen a few times (the time that most notably comes to mind for me is Rand not thinking about his various plots and schemes ex. going after Asmodean or the real plan for Illian, so that they aren’t spoiled for the audience) and Moiraine definitely comes in for that a time or two. But most of the time that doesn’t really feel like it reaches the level of feeling like I can’t trust the narration, but that’s definitely a mileage-may-vary situation for sure. Nynaeve and Mat probably do come the closest in that regard for me.

For me, whether or not Perrin genuinely believes that he thinks before he acts doesn’t impact my judgment -- I would say it’s a different... flavor? I guess I’d say, of unreliability, much like how Aviendha’s cultural differences are a very different flavor than Mat straight-up lying to himself in his own thoughts (because Aviendha is generally very sincere in her thoughts too, I think; she just Doesn’t Get Wetlanders). Perrin isn’t actively lying but he is very very wrong about himself and transmits that wrongness to the reader if they aren’t paying attention to his actions rather than what he does. My favorite example is Perrin thinking about how calm and rational he is literally a handful of sentences after he flies off the handle and screams at Berelain for ENTERING A ROOM (it’s when she’s coming to tell them about Rand being missing during Lord of Chaos). A truly astonishing lack of self-awareness, lol. I have to believe it was intentional on Jordan’s part because it is so glaring (and Berelain has such a genuinely important reason for coming to talk to him).

#wot replies #wheel of time #dropoff99-blog #wot #wot book spoilers #wot spoilers #a crown of swords #are the last spoilers in this one i think

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couldntbedamned · 2 years

Text

Goodbye Grey Sky, Hello Blue - 7

Summary: In an alternate universe where trains and zeppelins are still common forms of travel and the internet and cell phones exist, nineteen year old Peter Parker has few options left after he’s swindled out of his inheritance. Unable to pay for college, let alone keep the house left to him by his deceased aunt, he’s running out of time before he’s out on the streets. Desperate, Peter signs his life over to the Bureau of Civic Spousal Selections to take his chances as the selected husband of a complete stranger. After all, he only has to make it through a year and then he can choose to annul.

Dr. Stephen Strange has little interest in marriage, preferring to focus on his career. When his career is threatened by what a nosy board of directors considers a “lack of personal fulfillment and settling down,” he opts to select a spouse through the BCSS and chooses Peter Parker. The young man’s profile he’d briefly skimmed suggests intelligence and compatibility. It’s not ideal, but if after a year it’s not working out, he can always annul the marriage and send Peter on his way.

It’s a marriage neither truly wants, with sharp learning curves for both. It’s either going to be forever or it’s going to go down in flames.

Warnings/AO3 Tags: 18+ MINORS DNI, Alternate Universe, Alternate Universe - 1950s/Modern Fusion, Doctor Stephen Strange, Jewish Peter Parker, Peter Parker is of Legal Age, Marriage of Convenience, Marriage Contracts, Government Sanctioned Marriages, Domestic Discipline, Dubiously Consensual Spanking, Spanking, Aftercare, Mildly Dubious Consent, Dubious Morals, Dubious Ethics, Asshole Stephen Strange, Smartass Peter Parker, Other: See Endnotes

<<<>>>

Chapter 7

<<<>>>

Peter barely had time to set his books down on a shelf before Betty pounced and swept him up into a fierce hug.

“Oh my goodness, it’s so good to see you!” she said, once she let go.

“You too,” Peter agreed.

“What are you doing here so far away from New York?” she asked. “Is Columbia on break?”

“No, uh, I uh, I’m not enrolled, actually,” Peter said, face flushing with embarrassment.

She frowned, nose scrunching in the cute way she’d always hated. “What do you mean, you’re not enrolled? Peter, they chose you for early admission! You wrote for the Van Dyne Science Journal!”

“I know,” he said. “It just… it just didn’t work out.”

“Peter…” Betty looked less confused, more concerned. “Peter, what happened? Are you okay?”

Peter couldn’t lie. Not to Betty, not to the girl who was his first kiss. But the words weren’t easy, either. So he held up his hand, letting the silver ring do the talking.

“You’re married?” Betty asked, astonished. “You’re actually married? I didn’t know you were even seeing anyone. I mean, I know I moved away from Midtown a few years ago, but I thought for sure you’d be too busy with school to see anyone seriously.”

“I haven’t been,” Peter said. “It’s uh, it's a BCSS marriage.”

He knew it would be the case, but the disappointment on Betty’s face was worse than anger would have been. Betty, like many people in their age group, wasn’t a fan of the Bureau of Civic Spousal Selections and viewed it as a farce and little more than government-sanction human trafficking. She’d done her sophomore year term paper on it and gotten the highest score in their year. Then she’d gotten harassed by some students who were the products of BCSS marriages and Peter knew that her father’s job transfer out of Midtown had been a huge relief.

“What happened to you?” she asked sadly.

Peter motioned over to the seating area by the children’s section. They sat and Peter finally explained.

“And you never heard from him again?” Betty asked when he got to the crux of it, of May’s death along with his departure from Midtown and the life he’d known, planned on. “Beck?”

Peter shook his head. “He was in the wind with everything. I’m not even sure Quentin Beck is his real name. But without the money, I couldn’t keep the house and the bank took it. It was either the streets, the military, or signing myself over to the BCSS. I chose the one least likely to get me killed.”

Betty nodded. “And are you happy? Does she treat you well? Or is it a he?”

“He’s a doctor. Surgeon, actually. And he’s… he’s fair, I guess. The whole thing is still pretty new, but I think I can be content. It’s for a year and if it doesn’t work out, we part ways.” He couldn’t, wouldn’t give her the details, not when so much of it still felt so raw. His cock was locked in a cage. And he didn’t want her to worry, not about him. Not when everything was the result of choices - ill-informed or not - he’d made. “But how many people we know can say they bagged a doctor?"

His teasing got the laugh out of her he’d hoped for. “And you’re okay? Really?” she asked. Betty Brant was one of the good ones, Peter thought.

“Yeah. I’ll survive. Somehow, I always do.”

“Peter? I’m ready to check out.”

Peter looked up to see Stephen carrying several books. He didn’t look angry, really, but vaguely annoyed.

“Stephen, yeah, sorry, I ran into an old friend and lost track of time,” Peter said, scrambling up. Betty rose as well, albeit much more gracefully. “This is Betty Brant. We grew up next door to each other. Betty, this is my husband, Dr. Stephen Strange.” And wasn’t that the weirdest damn sentence he’d ever spoken!

“It’s a pleasure,” Stephen said, nodding to Betty.

“Likewise.” Betty turned to Peter, hugged him again. “I should be getting going. Take care of yourself, okay?”

“Yeah, always. You, too!”

Betty smiled at Stephen, though Peter could see it didn’t quite reach her eyes. “It was nice meeting you. Be good to him, alright? He’s kind of special.”

She left and Peter slowly gathered up the books he’d set down. “I’m really sorry,” he said. "I had no idea she’d be here and I just lost track of the time.”

“Obviously,” Stephen said dryly.

They went to the checkout and Stephen paid for everything without a glance at him. When they left, they went back to the lot where Stephen had parked. Peter again found himself looking up to study the zeppelins.

“You’re fascinated by them,” Stephen commented.

“I guess,” Peter said. “The science of them is what fascinates me, and why they’re the standard and not airplanes, or anything else that’s been attempted.”

“And you enjoy science.”

He knew that, Peter thought. He’d read Peter’s profile, right? Unless the BCSS just really slash-and-burned his biography. “Yeah. Biochemistry, mostly.”

He was going to be a scientist, before. Before Beck.

“We have a couple of hours before our dinner reservation. We could visit the natural history museum if you’d like.”

Peter got the distinct impression his opinion didn’t actually matter. “Sure! I love a good museum.”

So after they deposited their bags, they drove further into the city and Stephen pulled up to the valet parking at the museum.

Peter had only been to the smaller museums an hour or so away from Midtown, and those had been focused on art. This place, he thought as he studied the map an attendant handed him, was definitely better.

The exhibit on meteorites was amazing, and he nearly lost it when he saw there was a traveling exhibit on viruses and bacteria. It was all so exciting! He could spend days in the museum and not be bored.

Stephen seemed to be fairly relaxed as they walked around. He’d probably been to this place dozens of times, but he was letting Peter pick what exhibits to visit and read up on, brushing off the docent’s offer of a guided tour.

Stephen was more interested in the aeronautic displays than Peter would have thought. He spent long minutes reading through the placards on the Hindenburg’s 200th Flight, the revolutionary first flight with synthetic helium, and advancements in design.

“Can you believe some places wanted to use hydrogen?” Peter asked, studying the display.

“I believe history would be very different if hydrogen had been used,” Stephen replied.

Dinner was at another fancy restaurant, and Peter studied the menu to see if there was anything he could eat. He settled on a salad without the bacon pieces and baked fish with rice pilaf.

Stephen ordered a steak with roasted vegetables and a baked potato. He was definitely a meat and potatoes kind of guy, Peter thought. He’d have to take that into consideration.

Stephen wasn’t exactly attentive during dinner, but he was polite and Peter noticed that he treated the waitstaff well. He didn’t open up about himself but did ask Peter how he enjoyed the museum.

“It was great!” Peter enthused as they drove back to Sanctum Heights. “I always wanted to go to a natural history museum but there weren’t any within the state's permissible field trip range of Midtown. There were a few art museums and they were nice.” He paused, then decided to make a gesture of goodwill. “This whole day has been nice. Thank you.”

Stephen didn’t take his focus away from the road. “You’re welcome.”

Peter was fast asleep when Stephen cleaned him up and went into his office. He hadn’t heard the whole conversation between Peter and his… friend. But he’d heard enough.

He hadn’t expected Peter to sing his praises - he certainly wouldn’t do so about Peter. Sure, Peter wasn’t a moron. And he was undeniably nice to look at. If nothing else… the sex was nice and if a year was all they stayed together for, Stephen would take full advantage.

Still, what he’d heard rubbed him the wrong way.

When he made the call, he wasn’t entirely sure what his plan was. But he might as well ask.

“You have reached the Life Model Decoy of Tony Sta-”

“Cut the bullshit, Tony,” Stephen interrupted with a laugh. “It’s not even eight pm over there.”

“What’s up, Bones?”

Stephen’s fond smile at the reference was probably apparent in his voice. “I was hoping to borrow your wife.”

There was a pause. "Jesus, Strange, we aren’t that kinky!

“And the world is all the better because of that fact,” he said. “I’m married, in any case.”

“You’re joking! Dr. Stephen V. Strange is married?! What the hell prompted that?” Tony asked.

“My last-ditch effort to get the hospital’s damned board of directors off my ass. After convincing themselves I was miserable and lonely, they decided the best way to fix it would be for me to settle down.”

“I’m guessing my wife’s crazy cousin was involved, too?” Stephen made an affirmative sound. “So what, you just pulled someone off the street and married them?”

“Not exactly. I went to the BCSS.”

“I thought I’d seen that news report about hell freezing over,” Tony said. “You bought a spouse. What’s she like? Blonde and brainy? A redhead, maybe?”

“He’s got brown hair, brown eyes, a smart mouth, and this entire ordeal is a pain in my ass.”

“Whatever you say, Strange," Tony replied, as though he didn't believe Stephen at all. "You said you wanted to speak to my hotter half?”

“If you’d be so kind.”

“Just a minute.” Stephen heard some shuffling and then Tony’s voice calling “Share-bear!” More shuffling. “Yes, it’s Stephen.” A pause. “Fine, take the phone.”

“Hello, Stephen.”

Stephen smiled at hearing her. “Hello, Sharon. I hope you’re doing well.”

“I’m wonderful, thank you. I’m guessing you called because of my particular skill set.”

He grinned. Even on the phone nothing got past her. “I did. Quinten Beck. He’s a con man, last active in New York state around Midtown about two months ago. It’s probably an alias, but if you were to do some digging, I’d appreciate it.”

“B-e-c-k?”

“I’m assuming,” Stephen said. “Not that a misspelling is enough to stop you.”

“True. I’ll look into him. What’s the interest, if I may ask?”

“He’s the reason I have my husband.”

Peter was still asleep when he slipped back into bed and Stephen had no problem going that way himself.

He woke up to the smell of meat frying and stretched languorously in bed before getting up. Having breakfast made for him every day certainly wasn’t a hassle. Anything was better than eating what passed for food in the cafeteria at Sanctum General.

He showered and dressed and then went downstairs to find Peter…kneading what looked like dough on a heavily floured countertop.

“So you can make bread,” he said, getting his own cup of coffee.

“Yep. Just a minute,” Peter said. He worked the dough some more and then transferred it into a greased bowl and covered it with a tea towel. He set it in the oven and then brought Stephen a plate of fried potatoes and an omelet after running the microwave for a few seconds.

Stephen wondered where Peter’s food was. “Aren’t you hungry?”

“Oh, right!” Peter went to the fridge and pulled out a little container. Grabbing a spoon, he sat down.

“That’s it?” Stephen asked.

“What? It’s oats. I have peanut butter, bananas, chia seeds, and almond milk mixed in. It’s plenty.”

“You wouldn’t rather have an omelet?” It just didn’t seem like enough for a meal, especially with all they’d done yesterday and how late he’d kept Peter up the previous night. Surely this wasn’t some kind of hunger-strike?

“Trust me, this is more filling than you’re thinking. I’ll have plenty of energy for mowing the lawn and working on the flowers today.”

“Do you have anything else planned?”

“I have to finish baking, launder the clothes you bought me yesterday along with the sheets, and eventually start on dinner.”

And Stephen was just going to read all day. Compared to what Peter would be up to, he was going to be positively lazy. It didn’t matter - Stephen was the one on vacation, not Peter. Peter would have plenty of time for himself once Stephen went back to work.

Stephen retreated to his den to read and eventually the smell of baking bread permeated the whole house. It smelled incredible and he was looking forward to sampling a slice or five at dinner. He hadn’t had fresh baked bread since he’d dismissed Ms. Drew - with a glowing reference - a month prior. Store-bought just wasn’t the same.

It was interesting, how Ms. Drew was so circumspect and quiet whenever she tended to the house and Peter made no attempt to keep noise down. He supposed that was the difference between hired staff and someone who lived in a house. In any case, Peter was more than capable.

He went into the kitchen to make lunch and saw a note on the counter.

Sandwiches and vegetables with hummus in the fridge. Please don’t touch the bread.

With a snort, Stephen grabbed the plate Peter had made up and very deliberately did not search out the bread he’d smelled baking. As he ate he heard the lawnmower in the backyard. He hoped Peter knew what he was doing, especially when he moved to the front yard. The last thing he needed was for neighbors communicating their concern over the state of his lawn.

Eventually, the sound dulled and as he read, he mused that Peter had moved to the front yard.

When he finished his book he didn’t hear anything and he realized that Peter was finished mowing. He’d probably moved on to the flowerbeds. It was hot out so why not do the considerate thing and take Peter a glass of water?

When he went outside, he didn't see Peter right away, but he did see several ladies from the neighborhood in lawn chairs across the street watching the house. He looked around and saw Peter on his hands and knees, weeding. He was wearing shorts and a sleeveless t-shirt in deference to the heat and when he sat back to wipe at the sweat on his brow, smearing dirt on his forehead, Stephen noticed how the ladies across the street strained their necks.

Peter was, unknowingly (and this was Stephen assuming, since Peter just didn’t seem the type), providing the neighborhood a show.

“Peter?” Peter looked up and saw Stephen. “I thought you’d like a glass of water.”

Peter actually beamed at him. “Thanks! It’s a little hot out here!”

Peter stood and took the glass, draining half of it in one gulp and then pouring the rest over his own head… presumably in an attempt to cool down. Stephen could have sworn there was a flash from across the street. He didn’t care for that whatsoever.

“The flower beds aren’t in terrible shape, but the weeds have been allowed to grow for too long. One of my old neighbors, Mr. Hoffman, was a master gardener and he showed me a few tricks.”

Stephen nodded as if he knew anything about gardening other than to pay someone to handle it for him. As if he was oblivious to the fact that his young husband was ridiculously beautiful and in great shape and very much on display to women in the neighborhood with nothing better to do than to ogle a man who wasn’t theirs.

“I should be finished in another half an hour or so. Then I’ll get started on dinner once I clean up. Okay?"

“Yes, that will be fine,” Stephen said, voice even. “Come find me after you shower, okay?”

Peter cocked his head, confused. “Sure. Is everything okay?”

Stephen wasn’t sure. He hadn’t liked the thought of a spouse. For some reason he didn't want to think too closely on, he liked the idea of other people lusting over his spouse even less.

“Everything is fine,” Stephen said. “I’ll be in my office.”

#couldntbedamned fic #spiderstrange #spideystrange #peter parker x stephen strange #stephen strange x peter parker #1950s modern fusion au #1950s au #READ THE FUCKING TAGS #no seriously read them

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