#it’s like. they KNOW they’re not being frank with one another. and it’s almost a game they play | Explore Tumblr Posts and Blogs

atrwriting · 9 months

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selfish - frank castle x reader

hey y'all back in action with another porn no plot one shot

all i'm saying is,,, they knew who their target audience was with this (or are we just all mentally ill?)

summary: frank shows you what it means to be a real, selfish man.

informal warnings: frank is the selfish man in this, but I was the selfish woman writing this. couldn't get this out of my head as I started season two of the punisher, and frankly (haha get it -- sorry) after this scene you wouldn't be able to either

as always, the actual warnings: vulnerable frank, #sadboihrs for both the reader and frank, smut, porn no plot, choking, dirty talk, and ROUGH frank

anyway... selfish:

“what’s your type?”

the million dollar question. the one that you had been troubling yourself over for years.

“my type?” you repeated, eyeing the man who asked you. “or my pattern?”

he tilted his head in curiosity. “both.”

you chuckled. “my pattern… well, they’re usually useless. man babies.”

it was his turn to chuckle. “you like taking care of them, yeah?”

you shrugged. “i love taking care of people, but not men that de-age into babies as time goes on. did you know a guy i dated asked me how to boil water once?”

“you’re joking,” he took a swig of his beer, eyeing you. “no way that’s true. made that up.”

“i wish,” you laughed, rubbing a hand over your face. “i’m also not making it up that i stayed with him two years after that.”

“sounds like your fault.”

you nodded. “the pattern made me realize what my real type is.”

“what?”

“it’s corny.”

“say it.”

a smirk attempted to appear on your lips, but you pushed it back down. “i don’t like selfless men.”

he let out a laugh in disbelief at that. “you and every other chick.”

you chuckled too. “i heard this an analogy once… if you’re falling over a cliff, would you want your person to save you? or someone else about to fall on another side of the cliff?”

he stopped talking then, listening intently.

you kept going. “obviously, i’d want the other person saved… but in my head, when i’m all alone and there’s no one that has to be saved… sometimes it’s nice to think that someone would be so selfish that they would save me over doing what’s right.”

“you could live with that though?” he asked, narrowing his eyes, a bit of judgement lacing his words.

you shrugged. “never been the person that was saved, so i’m really not sure. it’s not that i want to be saved or anything — that’s super fucking corny. but man, a fucking masculine man, putting you over other things? deciding that in that moment, you’re what matters to him? i spend all my days being selfless, putting myself in danger so other people are saved… and i’m tired.” you took a swig of your drink. “i’m really fucking tired.”

“why don’t you save yourself, then?”

“for the same reason you’re here,” you sighed. “when have we ever been selfish, frank?”

he laughed at that, but almost scoffed. “i don’t do anything i do for anyone but me.”

you swallowed then, clenching your jaw. “so many people have wronged you… but you’ve only done what you’ve done because of how people have wronged those you loved. hate to break it to you… but you’re as selfless as anyone could be.”

he folded his lips underneath his teeth and stared aimlessly off into the distance. there were bags under his dark eyes, and no amount of sleep or beer would ever take them away. the man would never know peace, and your heart broke at that. however, it was nice to know someone was going down the rabbit hole with you.

“i don’t think i’m selfless,” he finally spoke after a bit.

you raised an eyebrow at him, calling his bluff.

“i did the things i did because my family was what was most important to me,” he admitted. “that’s selfish.”

you swished his words around in your mouth a little, and decided he was right. the spin on your words made you nod, agreeing with him. “i see your point.”

“so, what?” he asked. “you want a man that would choose you over innocent people?”

you huffed, standing. “i know you know that i never said that. i’m saying that in the back of my mind, it would be nice, just once, for a selfish man to decide that i’m all he wanted. it would be nice to know that i don’t always have to carry the weight on only my shoulders.”

he didn’t say anything then, staying planted on his seat on the floor. he twisted the bottle in his hands and listened to you.

“if i’m being honest with myself…” you began, swallowing your heavy statement. “i would prefer if they saved the innocents, but only so i could die, as i probably would falling in that situation, with a clear conscience. all i’m saying is… it’s a heavy fucking burden always doing things so i don’t feel guilty.”

you walked away then, not muttering a goodbye. frank didn’t say anything either. you heard him raise the bottle to his lips once more before you shut your bedroom door behind you.

it would be an hour or so before you heard a gentle knock on your door. there was no yelling or screaming outside, so you were grateful to hear there was no imminent danger present. in your tiny pajamas, you answered the door to find none other than frank. he was leaning against a wall in the hallway that led to your door, only a couple feet from you.

he didn’t say anything when you came face to face with him. he just stared at you, placing all of his focus on your confused face. it would be a few moments of silence before he finally stepped closer to you, and placed a calloused hand on your face.

you froze. frank castle never touched you, especially in that way.

“wanna know my type?”

you stared at him and swallowed thickly. your lips parted to whisper, “sure.”

“an escape,” he whispered back. “i know what you meant by always having the dark cloud of duty hanging above your head, ready to kill any moment of peace you happen to get your damned hands on. i’ve done everything i’ve ever done for the people i loved, and i know the only way for me to experience any fuckin’ joy is with another person.”

his dark eyes held your gaze, and you soon grew lost in them and his words. you swiped your tongue across your lips and stepped closer. you could feel frank’s breath on your chin, but you couldn’t breathe. his scent, his stare, and his fucking words were more intoxicating than any alcohol you had before.

“you want an escape, frank?” you softly asked, eyes darting to his lips.

“i do,” he stated, before he lowered his head and kissed you.

his free hand immediately came up to the other side od your face and pressed against your cheek. there, he held you in the palms of his hands as you rested your hands on his thick, muscled chest. his lips were dry and cracked, but you didn’t care. the fire that brewed from his affection was enough to fill any of the cold, dark, and lonely places inside of you and you greedily drank from anything he offered.

“you want someone to want you, darlin’?” he asked in between kisses.

you hummed in agreement, not wanting to break apart your kiss for anything — even words.

“can’t get you out of my head, sweetheart,” he spoke, dipping his tongue into your mouth. “need to feel those long legs around me.”

you whimpered at his words, letting his tongue dance with yours. you could taste the heineken on his tongue and savored every bit. “please, frank… i need to feel you so badly.”

“i’ve got you, darlin’.” he picked you up by the backs of your thighs and you wrapped your legs around him. the pads of frank’s finger tips dug into your flesh and a warmth spread throughout you. “those fuckin’ legs.”

you would’ve giggled, but you were too consumed with the very touch of frank to even care. you pulled at his shirt and threw it over his head, sad to break the kiss for even a second. you immediately went to his neck and began to nip at the thick skin, causing a growl to rumble in the deepest parts of his rib cage.

“y’drive me fuckin’ crazy,” he grunted. “sweetest fuckin’ kisses.”

“oh, frank…” you moaned against his neck before he threw you onto the bed. you turned over onto your back to face him. he locked eyes with you as he stood over you, muscles naturally flexed as he undid his belt. your mouth watered at the sight of the fucking man before you, taking off his belt for only you. the way his shoulders, pectorals, and arms worked in the dim light of your room… that man would be the death of you. you hissed, “you’re such a tease.”

he smirked at that, throwing the belt somewhere in the distance. “think you’ve just never been with a real man before,” he replied, before engulfing you into another kiss.

frank’s hand dipped into your shorts and immediately went for your slit. your body fucking sang at finally being touched the way you needed to be as you arched your back into frank, his chest pressed against yours. when frank began to run rough circles around your clit, nothing could hold back your moans or him swallowing them whole.

“only took off my belt, and this is how wet you get?” he asked, biting down on your neck. his long, thick middle finger dipped inside of you as his thumb worked at your clit. he tapped against your upper wall and you keened into his touch, whimpering his name. “now i know it’s the men before me. barely doing a fuckin’ thing and i’ve got you like this.”

you nodded pathetically, just wanting him to continue. “it feels so good,” you gasped, bucking your hips into his hand. “please, please — don’t stop, frank.”

he leaned over and pressed his chest against yours before his lips found your neck once more. his kisses were wet and sloppy, and there was nothing better than feeling the weight of a strong man above you working at your needy pussy. his rough movements against your sensitive skin were sending you into a frenzy as if nothing mattered in the world besides frank — your world started and ended there. your body felt hot — steaming from everything this man was doing for you with barely any effort. your whimpers and gasps fueled frank’s movements as if he couldn’t get enough of them.

“such a good girl f’me,” he said before he bit down on your neck and kissed the spot. “y’get so worked up, i want to see what it’s like when you fall apart.”

“i’m so close, frank…” your voice was hoarse and full of lust, and you were about to break any moment.

“that’s it, baby, yeah,” he spoke, slipping a second finger inside of you. “cum all over these fingers baby. let me taste you after.”

“fuck, fuck, fuck —!”

your world came crashing down onto you. your strength was no match for frank’s, but with the way your back arched and body curled into him, your chests both rose off the bed. he wrapped a strong arm underneath the curve of your back as you fucking sobbed his name, holding you to him and supporting your weight.

“that’s it, darlin’,” he grunted against your ear. “yeah — that’s it. keep cumming for me, fuck…”

your hands grabbed at his thick biceps and you grew lost in his movements against the most sensitive parts of you that never ceased. your hips were rolling in circles with his fingers and your vision went hazy.

“so beautiful like this f’me,” he groaned. “might be mean and not let you stop.”

“fuck, frank,” you cried, whimpering for him. your body fell limp against his arm, and he lowered your bodies back down to the bed. during your comedown, frank kissed at your neck as his free hand ran up and down your body. his other hand continued to rub against your pussy and it was driving you fucking crazy. “let me ride you — please.”

your voice was full of desperation, and frank smirked down at you. he slipped his fingers out of you and rolled off of you onto the bed. you tugged his pants down to his thighs, not wanting to waste any time. you were so greedy, but he didn’t care. he smirked as he watched you pull down your tiny shorts. you straddled him, pressing his chest to yours, as you sank down onto his thick cock.

“my fucking god —“ you gasped, your pussy stretching around him.

frank immediately grabbed your throat and you sucked in a sharp breath at the sight. he placed the tips of his fingers in his mouth, and tasted your juices that remained on his skin. there you were, impaled on his cock, hovering over him as you watched the most sensual thing you had ever seen him do. his dark eyes were locked on yours, but your lips parted as you watched him taste you. only a smirk remained on his lips.

“sweetest fuckin’ pussy i’ve ever tasted,” he spoke. “now show me how she rides me.”

he roughly pushed you upwards so you stood up straight. the angle made a whimper leave your lips, as he was now fully inside of you and the deepest anyone has ever been. you planted a limp hand on his stomach, and began to roll your hips against his.

his calloused hands found your hips as he threw his head back against the bed. the tendons in his neck were on full display as he stretched his head back as far as he could. the pleasure he felt was spreading all throughout his body, and he couldn’t help but go taut at the feeling. you watched his mouth fall agape and his eyes close as a moan pushed passed his lips.

the pads of his fingers dug into your hips and pushed you forward and back. even his fingers were strong and had control over you, and you couldn’t help but willingly give everything over to him. your whines filled the room, getting lost in your own pleasure with him. there was nothing like the sight of being thrown into vulnerable pleasure with the man under you, succumbing to your touch.

“fuckin’ god —“ he moaned, raising his head back up to keep his eyes locked on where your bodies connected. “never felt so fuckin’ good.”

his hoarse voice caused you to move faster as you ground your hips against his. his hands were rough and desperate as they pulled you up, down, back and forth — until you didn’t know which way was anything. all you knew were the directions of frank’s hands, and you followed in suit as he dragged you down another road of ecstasy.

“greedy fuckin’ pussy,” he groaned. “never enough for her, huh? needs more, even after what i did?”

“yes, yes,” you whimpered pathetically. “your cock feels so good, frank. so fucking good.”

“yeah, darlin’, that’s it,” he grunted, brown scrunching together. “such a good fuckin’ girl f’me.”

“fuck, frank — don’t say that,” you cried loudly, biting your lip. “feels too good when you say that — i can’t cum yet.”

he immediately reached for your neck and pulled you down to him. you gasped at his rough touch, but your hips never stopped. he bent his knees so your ass could bounce off of them, giving you more leverage. his cock curled deeper into you, hitting your cervix.

“oh my — god —“ you sobbed so close to his lips.

“nah, baby, that’s not how this works — you’re gonna take everything fuckin’ i give you,” he grunted. “i know y’want to be a good girl f’me, yeah?”

“yeah, yeah, yes —“ you were incoherent at this point, ready to tell frank anything he wanted to hear as he bucked his hips into yours. “frank, i’m so close — how —“

“love a needy pussy like this,” he spoke, pulling you closer by the throat for a kiss. “you gonna be good to me? you gonna cum around my cock?”

“fuck, yes —“ you sobbed. “i want you to cum with me, baby, fill me up.”

that set him off. he rolled both of you over before you even knew what was happening. he had you pressed against the bed, hand still around your throat. you grabbed at his arm, loving having the feeling of his strong muscles hold you down. you wrapped your legs around his back as he threw his hips into you. over, and over, he drove himself inside you.

“dirty fuckin’ girl,” he growled, biting down on the skin of where your neck and shoulder met.

that was it. that was how you crumbled a second time for frank that evening.

you fucking wailed his name.

you grabbed at every part of him you could, struggling to hold on for dear life. your body shook with convulsions as your pussy tightened around him, locking his cock in place. nothing could stop his strong hips as they continued to rut into you — riding out your second orgasm of that evening.

you fell back against the bed, fucked out and gasping for air pathetically. frank pressed several kisses to your neck before he stood up on his knees, leaving your weak body below him. you pushed yourself to your elbows with whatever strength you could muster. frank grabbed you by the hips and you watched him slam his hips into yours.

you watched his forehead scrunch as his mouth fell agape. his chin was almost tucked to his neck as his eyes never left where his cock fucked into you.

“use me just like that, baby,” you cried. “i want your cum inside me.”

his strong, trim body went taut as his orgasm hit him, and you watched hungrily as the man before you fell vulnerable to the only pleasure he could allow himself these days. you watched as his conscious mind slipped further and further into the sensation until every ounce of stress and exhaustion left his face. you couldn’t help but bite your lip in pride and satisfaction — knowing that you will never see a more beautiful sight like frank castle using your body to get off.

you fucking loved selfish men.

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DO YOU SEE WHAT I MEAN NOW EVERYONE GO WATCH THIS SCENE -L xox

#the punisher #frank castle #frank castle x reader #frank castle x you #frank x reader #frank x you #he can punish me #lol #frank castle smut #frank smut #frank castle imagine #frank castle fit #frank fic #frank imagine #the punisher smut #the punisher fic #the punisher imagine

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chaotic-super · 2 months

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The Vampire Woman - Chapter 26

AO3 Link

As it turns out, sharing privileged information about vampires is a dangerous affair.

None of them could have expected this, not when they’re in Lena’s apartment, one of the safest places on the planet, and none of them know how someone has managed to get to them.

As soon as Sam had opened her mouth to start answering some of Kara’s questions after she had woken up, something hit them. Lena, Sam and Kara keel over, their hands clutching their ears in an attempt to block out the agonizing noise attacking them.

Kara drops to her knees, the least experienced with her advanced hearing, thus unable to try and cut off the incessant high-pitched ringing that is assaulting her from seemingly every angle.

Soon enough, the noise turns to words, or rather, one word.

“Hush.”

The way one single word can make a vampire’s already cold blood turn to ice is horrifying, terrifying, and everything in between.

Lena and Sam’s eyes lock onto each other as the noise stops, freeing them from the prison of pain they’ve found themselves unexpectantly trapped in. For the most part, Kara is just trying to catch her breath, stunned by what just happened and barely holding herself together as the fear catches up with her, her brain processing that she was just in a considerable amount of pain, and now she’s not.

“What the fuck?” Sam had just about curled over out of the chair she was sitting in when it happened, and now, she leans back, making a conscious effort to rid herself of the tension that wound up around every muscle in her body.

Seeing Sam compose herself and ease the strain out of her stiff shoulders, neck and spine, Lena follows suit. With the tightness there, she almost wonders if she got rigor mortis a few centuries too late.

“We need to move somewhere else, somewhere safer.” Lena pants out, barely catching her breath.

“Like where?”

“I’m not going to say, clearly, we’re being listened to,” Lena says, not bothering to lower her voice. It won’t do any of them any good.

Kara is still on her knees, her eyes firmly fixed on the carpet, her mind reeling. Her panic, anxiety and fear are scuttling around under her skin like a thousand tiny bugs burrowed away inside her. It makes her itch but she can’t seem to make herself move; she doesn’t have the energy after that.

Alex rushes to her side. She and Ruby were giving the three of them some space by sitting in the kitchen while the vampires and hybrid have their discussion, but upon hearing the pained gasps and grunts, they gave up on their stations in favour of making a beeline for their loved ones.

Dropping down before her sister, Alex’s hands brace along Kara’s jaw, cradling her head in her soft, worried embrace. “Kara? Kara, are you ok?”

Kara nods weakly against her palms, very obviously not ok.

“We can’t go anywhere yet, it’s too light out. What do we do?” Sam asks, her eyes darting between Lena and Ruby. “If it’s not safe here, I don’t want Ruby here. Maybe you can get Frank or Jess to come and get her so we can send her somewhere she’ll be better protected.”

“Sam, nothing is going to happen to her. We all know that a hundred vampires could break in here right now and nothing could come remotely close to hurting her because we would rip them to shreds if we had to. Besides, for us to be heard, that means another vampire knows where we are, and they must be strong. However, no vampire can walk in the light of day unscathed.”

Sam shakes her head before pointing at Kara, raising an eyebrow at Lena.

“No, a hybrid wouldn’t have enough power to hear us from the ground, and there’s no way they’re inside the building; the security is too tight. I built this place, and I have safeguards in place to prevent outside ears from listening in. I have no idea how they got around it, but I need to figure out how they did it so I can stop it from happening again.

Alex manages to shuffle Kara up and get her on the couch. It’s clear she’s not doing well, and while she’s doing her best to remain stony-faced, unshed tears are making her eyes glisten and her clenched jaw gives away just how disturbed she is by what just happened.

Her breathing is ragged; Lena can hear it clear as day, and her hands are clenched into fists atop her knees. Lena reaches out to unclasp it, hoping to relax her somewhat, but she tears herself away, stretching her back out until it clicks and shrinking in on herself.

“Kara?” Alex tries again, and seeing the way Kara winces at the sound of her sister’s voice, Lena realizes what’s happening.

“She’s overwhelmed. I fear the audio attack we’ve just faced may have momentarily tipped her over the edge. There are headphones on the nightstand in my room. They’re noise cancelling and should help her regain her senses once again, would you mind fetching them for her?”

Lena barely gets her question out before Alex is on her way to get them. She’s grateful to be given a task, something to do to make her feel useful because, quite frankly, she hasn’t got a fucking clue what just happened. All she knows is that they’re being listened to and that means she has to be careful with what she’s saying. Given that she doesn’t know what is classified as dangerous, she’s opting to say as little as possible.

She grabs the headphones and rushes back to the living room to fit them over Kara’s head, ignoring the blonde’s hands as she reaches out to take them from her. Once they’re firmly in place, she tucks a few stray curls out of her face and sits beside her, her brow furrowed in worry.

“I don’t have a clue what is going on but I need answers as to what just happened and I need to know that you’ve got a plan.” She stares into Lena’s eyes for a brief moment before moving over to lock eyes on the chestnut brown ones of the other vampire, who has her daughter tucked beneath her arm protectively, the younger girl’s head resting against her arm.

“You’ll have to let me figure that one out for myself before I can answer that, Alex.” Lena huffs, annoyed that she’s out of the loop. If there’s one thing she hates more than being threatened by a mysterious voice that is paired with the audio equivalent of being stabbed in the ears repeatedly, it’s not knowing something. Lena has to figure this out.

Lena’s senses are going crazy as she ushers everyone into the back of Frank’s car, and she has no doubt that Sam is just as on edge as she is.

They have been waiting all day for the chance to leave, waiting for the sun to go down just enough for them to get out of the apartment and get to L-Corp. At least there, they’ll know they’re safe. The only problem with that is their relative certainty that the person who sent them that message is a vampire too, a strong one at that. That means they could show up at any time, and all they can do is cross their fingers and hope they can get to L-Corp without meeting them.

“Frank, don’t dawdle. Take the fastest route and be on guard. If you see anything suspicious, you must let us know.”

“Of course, Ms Luthor.” Frank drones, his foot hitting the gas pedal before they’ve even had a chance to put their seatbelts on.

A horn sounds from behind them as they cut off some poor soul who’s probably on their way home from work. Kara flinches at the sound, and Lena pulls her into her side more firmly before making sure the cups of the headphones are over her ears properly. “Keep them on. You’ll be on edge for a while so it’s best to leave them on until we at least get where we’re going.”

Kara presses herself into Lena’s side more firmly, taking comfort in the tight grip she has around her shoulders. It’s steadying and makes her feel like nothing can touch her. Her right hand reaches over to grab Alex’s, who looks just about ready to jump into Sam’s lap with how wide her eyes are, constantly searching for the threat they can’t see. The only reason she hasn’t already done it is because Ruby is huddled so tightly to Sam already, Kara’s certain.

Frank makes the judgment call not to take the fastest route but the most populated, figuring that if someone or something is after them, then it’s best he uses the public as their safety blanket. No vampire wants to be exposed to the world, and no vampire is going to risk attacking them on Main Street, he’s pretty sure of that. Not unless the vampire is dumb or overly cocky anyway.

Lena takes note of Frank’s choice but doesn’t say anything. She understands why he did it, but she would still prefer it if he followed her instructions. Fighting over it now isn’t going to help anyone though. It’s already tough keeping everything moving smoothly when they’re all on edge. If she makes a fuss about it, that will scare everyone even more.

Closing her eyes, Lena listens out for any sound that could be coming from someone who wants to hurt them, her ears working overtime to try and find footsteps that aren’t matched by a heartbeat or the telltale sound of some supervillain cackling malevolently in some dark, abandoned building.

Frank pulls up around the side of L-Corp, bringing them to the same side door that Kara was first brought through by him long ago when Lena had him bring her to her. This time, nobody needs to get threatened by a gun to go inside, although Kara wishes she had one stuffed in the waistband of her pants so she could whip it out like she’s in an action movie and get her revenge on Frank.

They all scuttle through the door, their heads swivelling as they duck inside, trying their best to spot anyone down the alley.

The door clangs shut behind them, but none of them lose any tension from their shoulders. None of them release the breath they’re holding. Something doesn’t feel right.

“Everyone get down to the lab,” Lena demands, her ears straining to find anyone who isn’t meant to be here and coming up empty. Diving for her phone, she calls up the new head of security, someone she hired after Vasquez was murdered. She’s not sure if she likes her just yet but doesn’t get any negative feelings from her. “Ms Lane, I want a full head count and a list of everyone in the building please. Anyone who isn’t security is to be taken to the second-floor conference room. Once I’ve reviewed the list and checked on the staff, I’ll decide on further steps.”

“Of course, Ms Luthor. Is there anything you’d like me to prepare for?”

“Just be ready. We might have to move fast.”

“Yes, ma’am.”

Lena shuts the lab door behind them firmly before heading straight for the safe room. “I know it’s not your favourite place in the world, but please just go in here for now. I’m not sure what’s happening, but I’ll be able to handle it better knowing you’re safe.” She swings the door open and gestures inside.

Ruby is the first to pass through the door after a not-so-gentle nudge from her mom and Alex is right behind her, quickly followed by Frank.

“You too,” Lena says softly, squeezing Kara’s hand. “You’ll be more protected from an audio attack in there, and I’ll feel better knowing there’s someone powerful in there to protect Ruby. I know Sam will too.”

“I will,” Sam confirms.

“Is Jess still here?” Kara asks, backing into the room. “Are you going to bring her down here?”

Lena’s eyes widen. “Oh shit. Sam, can you go and get her? I imagine she’s either already been rounded into the conference room or at her desk.”

Sam takes a second to enter the safe room, duck down to press a kiss to her daughter’s forehead, and then whisper a gentle reassurance to her before she darts off up the stairs, much quicker than the humans in the room were expecting, all of them left shell shocked by the causal display of power.

Kara moves into the room and waits just inside the door. “She should be back in just a moment, right? No point in shutting the door until Jess is here.”

Lena nods but looks around nervously. “I guess so, but it’d still make me feel better.”

“We all saw how quickly Sam just ran off, she’ll be back in no time.”

“They’ll be longer than you think. The day Jess lets anyone make her move that quick is the day a janitor is mopping up her puke from every step in the stairwell. It’ll be like a breadcrumb trail, except it’s just the regurgitated sub she had for lunch.”

Kara pinches the bridge of her nose between her fingers, wincing as she tries not to picture that. “Yep, thanks for that.”

“You’re welcome,” Lena smiles playfully, although it doesn’t feel completely genuine, the unease in her eyes overtaking the brief moment of joy.

“It’ll be ok.” Kara tries reassuring her but knows her thunderous heart is giving her away. She almost died the last time they were in a situation like this. Now someone else is threatening them, and she’s got to somehow not freak out.

Sam comes barging down the stairs at full speed, practically throwing Jess into the saferoom before barging Lena into there too before she slams the door shut behind them, locking them all in.

“What are you doing?” Lena exclaims.

“Shut up.” Sam commands, barely glancing back at the group, which now includes a very green-looking Jess. “They’re here.”

“What?” Lena whispers, almost inaudibly.

Not a moment later, a long, deep scratch can be heard from the other side of the door, trailing across it with a noise that makes them all raise their shoulders up in an attempt to protect their ears.

Alex notices Ruby quivering against the back wall and tucks her arm around the girl, noting how she immediately clutches her arms around her waist and buries her head into her chest.

Jess takes the other side of Ruby, joining in on the impromptu hug, a familiar figure for her to draw comfort from.

Frank just huddles in the corner, his necklace pulled out from under his shirt, the little cross held tightly between his clenched hands as he mouths the words to a prayer that won’t protect him.

“I hear you.” A dark voice sing-songs from outside. “I can hear your fear.”

Lena turns to everyone, a finger pressed to her lips to warn everyone to be quiet.

“If you think this adorable little room will protect you, you’re wrong. I know who you’re hiding in there. I know what you’re hiding in there. A beat. “Hybrid.”

Kara’s eyes are so wide she’s confident they might just roll right out of her head. Her hands clutch at the headphones, and to stop herself from accidentally breaking them, she shoves them back onto her head, regretting ever taking them off when they got down here.

Lena holds her hands out to her, holding her palms out flat to reassure her that everything is fine. She’s not going to let anyone hurt her.

“Give me the creature and I’ll leave. Nobody has to get hurt here.”

A snarl rips itself free from Lena’s throat, her protective side coming out in spades as she thinks about what someone could possibly do to Kara. Obviously, whatever she is planning isn’t good. Nobody who has good intentions with someone calls them a ‘creature.’

“Ah, so someone in there has a pair of balls. I like that, and I’d recognize that sound anywhere. You made that sound back when we first met too. So feisty, Ms Luthor.” A sinister laugh travels through the door, muffled by the metal but no less terrifying. “Or should I say, Lenetta Kieran? I bet you don’t even remember; you low-levels never do.”

Lena’s lip curls dangerously. She knows that was her name. Her first name. It’s changed many times across the centuries, often whenever she moved from city to city, or even across the minimal number of countries she’s been to, but that’s one she’ll never forget.

Only one person she met during that time was a vampire too. One person who definitely shouldn’t be here. Someone that she was sure died so long ago. Someone who paid the ultimate price for their crimes but apparently managed to duck beneath Death’s scythe.

“You know me, don’t you, Lena?” The voice taunts, and all of a sudden, Lena is back in her chambers in England. She’s human again, her last moments of being a normal person. The final moment before her life is robbed of her.

Lena’s hand moves without her consent, reaching forward to open the door.

Sam grabs her wrist, fighting against her, shocked by the amount of strength Lena is using to reach forward. “Don’t you fucking dare.”

“Open the door for me, Lena. You know you want to.”

Kara wraps her arms around Lena from behind, trapping her arms at her side as much as she can, knowing full well that this isn’t a fight she can win. Lena has to resist for them to win this battle.

Sam clings to her wrist, a flame burning deep inside her. She won’t let her do this, not when Ruby’s safety depends on it.

“Don’t make me stop you, Lena.”

“Lena, open the door.”

Lena feels as though something has nestled deep into her brain, changing the wiring and drawing her closer to the person on the other side of the door, pulling her like they’re magnets attracting. She has the desire to resist it but also feels like her wants are not her own. A part of her wants nothing more than to open the door while her logical brain screams at her that it’s a trap.

“Lena, don’t,” Kara mutters in her ear, her arms pressing deep into her stomach as she pulls back on her. Her warmth is steadying against her back and helps guide Lena through the fog.

“I won’t,” Lena says, her tone lacking its usual bite. “You might as well go, you can’t hurt us in here and we’re not handing anyone over to you.”

A cackling laugh travels through the thick metal of the door. “Interesting. You’re stronger than I imagined you to be. Nowhere near strong enough, but you’ve got a little bit of bite to your bark. I like that.”

“Just go!”

“I can’t do that. Give me the hybrid and I won’t harm the humans you’re hiding. That’s the deal. I can smell them. I can smell you all. You have three…no, four. There are four humans in there, two vampires and the hybrid. One in seven isn’t a bad loss. Hand it over.”

Kara bites her lip and winces as nails once again scratch against the door, causing an obvious amount of damage. The door won’t hold forever. Lena made this one of the safest places on the planet, yet here they are, sitting piglets as the big bad wolf slowly taunts them as she blows their house down. “Maybe I should just—”

“Absolutely not.” Lena cuts her off, turning around in her arms and taking her muscled arms in her hands, holding her tightly as though she’s about to open the door after begging her not to do it just moments before. “You’re not doing that. We’re fine, we’re safe in here.”

“Not forever.” The voice singsongs. “How long do you think it’ll take for me to get through this door? A few minutes? An hour? A day? I can wait you out. I have nothing but time.”

“Are you a vampire?” Lena asks, unsure if she actually wants to know the answer, but in a much better state of mind than she was before, clearly the woman has stopped controlling her for now.

“You could say that.”

“Thank you.”

“For what?”

“Telling me.” Lena smiles through the darkness, pulling out her phone and tapping the screen with her fingers faster than the flap of a hummingbird's wings. She then shoves it back in her pocket and presses Kara’s headphones against her ears more firmly. “Sam, Kara, this is going to hurt. I’m so sorry.”

The loudest, most ear-piercing ringing booms through the entire building, ten times worse than the audio attack they suffered at the hands of the mysterious woman and strong enough that it knocks not only the vampires to the floor but also causes the humans to cover their ears. It’s not enough to hurt them, but it’s not comfortable.

They hear a piercing scream on the other side of the door, demonic sounding undertones to it reaching forth and battering the lab. They hear the faint smashing sound as beakers and test tubes shatter from the mixture of the scream and Lena’s defence system.

It pauses, and all goes silent.

They relax against the floor, loosening their stiff limbs from their foetal positions. Lena swallows harshly. “It’ll just keep going. The system will take short breaks every so often. It’s random too. It gives anyone affected a chance to leave. I’ll leave it on for as long as necessary. We can endure longer than you. We’re more protected in here than you are out there. We have the upper hand. Get out while you can.”

“No!”

The noise starts up again, and Kara cries out in anguish, the least able to deal with it out of all of them. Lena knows that, at least she does when she’s not also being assaulted by the noise. She just hopes that the woman doesn’t call their bluff. If she does, they really are screwed.

They tighten back up into their foetal positions, their hands covering their ears, and their eyes slam shut.

Another scream from outside the door.

Silence.

“We can do this all day if we have to. We’re not opening the door.” Lena pants. “Give it up.”

Silence.

“You can’t win.”

Silence.

“Why do you want her so badly that you are willing to endure this pain?”

“I’m not. I’ll be back, don’t worry. I’ll find you again, not that it will be difficult; your name’s on the building.”

The door slams.

Silence.

The screeching starts up again, and as much as Lena wants to text security and have them shut off the noise, she can’t make herself move at all through the assault. They have to wait for the next break in the noise.

It does come eventually, but it feels like it takes an eternity. As soon as it stops, Lena dives for her phone and submits the order. It’s over for now. If she’s really gone, that is.

They all unravel from their positions, slowly sitting up.

“Is everyone alright?” Sam asks, her eyes pinned on her daughter. “Ruby?”

“I’m ok, mom. Is she gone?”

Sam turns her ear to the door, listening for the woman.

Silence.

“She’s gone.”

“Are you sure?” Alex asks, her eyebrows furrowed and fear written across every inch of her face.

Lena wraps her arms around Kara’s shaking body. “We’re certain. I think you should stay here while Sam and I go out there and secure the building properly. We’ll come and get you once we’re sure that’s done.”

Nobody puts up a fight. Nobody wants to leave their little sanctuary, fear still coursing through their veins and taking over them.

Kara is still shaking over an hour later and it has everyone worried about her. She’s sure it’s just adrenaline, but Lena and Alex have forced her to lie down on a gurney—a new one. Lillian really did a number on the last one when she escaped from being bound to it.

“I’m ok.”

“I’m sure you are, but you’ve been through a lot today, and you were practically tortured by not only her but also my defence system. We believe we only got one over on her today because a person like that doesn’t think that people below them can have similar ideas to them. I installed the frequency emitters after the Lillian thing. I wanted to be sure that I have something to rid the building of vampires should the need arise.”

“Smart.” Kara shifts, moving to take the headphones off.

Lena gently bats her hands away, keeping them in place and instead connecting them up to her phone and offering it to her so she can play some music instead. “Find something relaxing, maybe try to rest for a while. Even if you can’t sleep, you should just try to relax your body and close your eyes.”

“What about you?”

“I have work to do.”

“You should at least take half an hour to yourself, maybe sit down and try meditating or something. You can’t think if your head is everywhere at once.”

Lena leans down and presses her lips to Kara’s forehead softly. “I’ll be fine. I’ll rest once my work is done.”

Kara sighs. She already knows she’s not winning this one right now, so she turns her head until she spots Jess. “Hey! Can you make sure she rests soon, Jess?”

“You got it.” Jess gives her a thumbs up, pausing her sweeping to do so before going right back to cleaning up the broken glass.

“Thanks,” Kara calls out as she settles back down, turning on some soft music and trying not to think about how there are six people milling about the room around her.

Lena shakes her head at her softly, amused but also slightly annoyed by her actions. This woman is something else. Even after suffering through something that is definitely traumatic, she’s still trying to make sure she’s looked after too. If she could blush, she would be beet red.

“She’s not so bad,” Frank admits from his place on a random stool near to where Lena is standing.

“She’s not bad at all, and I’m just happy she didn’t try to have you kicked out of the room before she settled down.”

Frank hums softly. “She doesn’t like me very much.”

“That’s the understatement of the century.”

“I stand by what I did.”

“I know you do, but you cannot deny that what you did traumatized her deeply, just as my actions did the same to her. Our relationship has flourished since then, but it has not come without its trials and tribulations, of which I’m certain are not completely finished.”

Frank nods slowly. “I know what I did. I know what harm I caused. I know it’s not rational that I dislike her for not wanting to help you that day; she had every right and reason to refuse, but I care about you. I’ve been your driver for years, and you’re like family to me.”

Lena looks down, forcing herself to hide the tiny smile the old man just forced onto her face. “You’re like my family too. I just…can you try and get along with her? She’s lost a lot because of me and having you guys at odds just adds unease into her life that she shouldn’t have to deal with.”

“As you wish.” Frank nods. “I’ll be nice to her.”

“Thank you, that’s all I ask.” Lena squeezes his arm gently. “Now, why don’t you go and get Jess to find you somewhere to lie down too? You can call your family and let them know you’ll be home late and try to relax. At your age, you have to take it easy after something like what happened today.”

“Cheeky madam. I’ll be fine, but I suppose I should let Mandy know.” Frank grins at her before standing up and shuffling over to Jess, who eases the broom down before leading him upstairs so he can rest and call his wife.

She moves to her station where she was working on the synthetic blood, eager to see if any of her experiments she was working on have garnered any results, but her cold, unbeating heart shatters as she takes in the sight of it all strewn across the station and ground broken, her notes ripped to shreds. Whoever that woman was, she doesn’t want her to be working on this, and if she could tell what the experiment was just from her notes and the experiments, then she’s smart. Smarter than Lena would like her to be.

“Shit.”

“What’s wrong?” Sam and Alex both wander over to come and look over her shoulder.

“Oh crap,” Alex mutters. “Is that the artificial blood experiments?”

“Yep, I guess this means I’ve got to start all them over again. Fuck. At least I remember what was in the notes, so I don’t have to start completely from scratch.”

Sam squeezes her shoulder reassuringly. “I’m sorry, Lena.”

“Me too, but it’s not the end of the world.” She ducks her head. “I’d rather it just be this than any of you.”

Sam nods. “Me too. Need a hand cleaning up?”

“No, I’m good. Why don’t you and Ruby go and hang out in my office? Ruby can nap there if she wants to. I’ve got this covered.”

“Translation: you want us to scarper so you can try and make sense of everything that happened.”

Lena rolls her eyes. “Yes, that. Now scram.”

“You’ve got it.” Sam turns on her heel and eases Ruby up from where she’s sitting to take her upstairs and away from here.

“Oh, and Sam?”

“Yeah?”

“There’s another safe room in my office; use it if you have to.”

Sam nods at her one last time with a reassuring smile before the mother-daughter duo leave the lab, leaving only Lena, Alex and Kara.

Alex finds a box of gloves nearby, washes her hands and snaps a pair on before helping Lena clear up the mess left all over the place.

“You don’t have to.”

Alex shrugs, not stopping for even a second. “I know, I want to. You protected us today and this is what I can do to thank you. I don’t know what that woman wants with my sister, but I know you’re not going to let her do anything either, not to Kara.”

Lena’s lips quirk up. “That’s true. I won’t let anyone hurt Kara. However, I do have to figure out who that woman is. She had a hold on me that I’ve never felt before, and I need to know exactly how and why she was able to do it.”

“That sounds smart.”

“It means I won’t be able to work on my artificial blood project though. I can’t do both, but I need to.” Lena sighs. “If I don’t work on the blood, the supply will run low again. I can’t risk becoming as starving as I was when I met Kara. If I work on that and put the research into this woman on the backburner then I’m opening us up to an attack. What do I do?”

“You’re a billionaire, right?”

Lena frowns, pausing to look over at Alex in confusion. “Yes, why?”

“Just pay someone to do it.” She shrugs. “You have a load of scientists in this building during the day. Just get a few to work on the blood.”

“But I can’t let anyone know I’m a vampire. That’s the problem.” Lena shakes her head.

“Do you really think only vampires need blood?” Alex laughs, amused. “The hospital is always in need of donations. Believe me, I would know.”

Lena’s eyes grow wide. “Oh, shit. I forgot you’re a doctor. How are you having so much time off?”

“They’ve been trying to get me to take my vacation time for years. So has Kara for that matter.”

“Sounds like something Kara would do,” Lena admits.

“Yeah, but as much as I like resting. I love the feeling of helping people and saving lives. Sometimes, I like to work with patients, and sometimes I do lab testing. I love it.”

Just like that, a metaphorical lightbulb shines brightly over Lena’s head. “Lab work, you say?”

“Lab testing. It’s different.”

“But you’re familiar with bloodwork?”

“No. Nope. Not going to happen. No.” Alex shakes her head. “I like my work at the hospital.”

“And you can still do that, I will just have you come here and also be part of the team working on this.”

Alex sighs. “How big would the team be?”

“Two?”

Alex’s eyebrows raise so high they almost merge with her hairline. “Are you nuts? Only two people?”

“Me and you.”

“Definitely not. The hospital needs the extra help with the testing, so I won’t stop doing that.”

“I’ll start up an initiative to train and send some more people their way then. That means you’ll have time to come over and help.”

Alex shakes her head at Lena. “Why do you want me so bad?”

Lena ducks her head, shuffling her feet against some broken glass. “Surprisingly, I trust you and know I can speak openly around you. I don’t have that a lot of the time and I’ve never had the opportunity to work with anyone in the lab on something so personal. I’d like to know how it feels to work with a friend.”

“We’re friends?”

Lena clears her throat. “Not to make it weird or anything. I just…you’re my girlfriend’s sister, but I also kind of like you. You’re not bad for a human.”

Alex smirks at her, her hip propped against the nearest surface. “You’re not too bad for a vampire, I suppose. You should definitely roll out that initiative for the hospital.”

“You’ll do it?” Lena’s head snaps up. “Really?”

“I’ll think about it, but helping the hospital is a great way to inspire me to agree.”

Lena grins. “I look forward to working with you.”

“Yeah, yeah. Hurry up and clean, then we can get some of these experiments going again and you can rewrite those notes.”

Lena lifts a few of the ripped sheets of paper and tries to jigsaw them together. “Do you think that if we get some tape—”

“Rewrite them.” Alex cuts her off. “You’re going to be a pain to work with. I can see it now.”

Lena smiles up at her smugly. “Yep, but you can’t back out now.”

“Of course I can.” Alex disagrees.

“Nope, because I’m going to tell Kara you said yes, and you can’t say no to Kara. That would be like kicking a puppy.”

“You wouldn’t dare.” Alex glares at her.

“Probably not, but it’s a good threat.”

Alex’s shoulders slump. She hates that she actually kind of likes Lena now. She still gets the odd spark of rage when she thinks about Lena back when she first met Kara and the harm she caused her, but seeing the pair so lovey-dovey and the way Kara grins when Lena’s around has done wonders for making her come around to the vampire woman.

“I hate you.”

“I know.”

They silently keep cleaning, Lena getting tired part way through and using her speed to run through the rest of the lab quickly.

Alex shakes her head at her, but it doesn’t last as her eyes focus on her sleeping sister. “Promise me you’ll focus on that woman. I’ll handle the blood; you just keep her safe.”

“I’ll do my best. I promise.”

“Thank you. That’s all I needed to hear.”

“Just for the record though, I’m not leaving the blood just to you. I trust you, but not enough for you to do it alone.” Lena bumps her shoulder into Alex’s, almost sending the redhead flying.

“Asshole.”

Read the next chapter early on Patreon here!

#supergirl #supercorp #kara danvers #lena luthor #kara x lena #fanfic #cw supergirl #supercorp endgame #supercorp fanfic #vampire lena luthor #vampire!lena #vampire au #chaoticsuper

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stuckasmain · 3 months

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I often think about how Hal is granted the humanity that Dave is so often denied. Both within the narrative and outside of it. 2001 has had a number of interpretations and articles over the years and I’ve noticed a pattern of seeing Hal as having more agency than he does while also diminishing Dave’s. This pattern I’ve also noticed among some fans. However, interestingly inside and outside the story this “giving/taking” of humanity has to do with projection.

Hal is personified by just about everyone who interacts with him. As humans we love to humanize the inanimate and inhuman, we love to recognize and prescribe traits things may not truly have. In the case of Hal this is amplified due to the fact that he can talk. If he couldn’t talk and it was simply keyboard input he’d still be personified as it’s simply human nature to do so. The computer is doing a good job, it dings and sounds happy so we’re more inclined to act like it is happy.

Hal was made to be spoken to like another person being, he was made to be curious and self learning and autonomous. He was, practically, made to be a human. He reproduces (though some prefer “mimic”) most functions of the human brain. The people he interacts with respond to his intelligence as well as his speech, they’re pleasantly surprised by his curiosity and ability to hold conversations. He was made to be comforting and talkable in that way but one can so easily forget Programing once speaking with him. What is coding and what is real? His learning is real, he is made to change so could he not have genuinely developed feelings? Not even Hal knows.

The humans he interacts with treat him as if he has a brain, not is the brain. When he acts up and things go array the hard and cold facts are never mentioned. There are no technical terms malfunction is illness, deactivation is a lobotomy- re-teaching him after deactivation is recovery. To them he is so very alive until they are reminded he’s not, the true rough and robotic edged voice goes so far as to startle Dave when he hears it.

He is afraid. Suddenly his emotions are no longer hypothetical. He is vulnerable, he is alive and he does not want to die for he does not know sleep. When he wakes he’s afraid again— not knowing what or where just that they’ll be together.

Interpretations, by some fans, media outlets and analysts often times tend to take one of two camps with no in between. Hal is either Woobified or villainized. If emotions -> than bad emotions also exist and he did back things on purpose OR if emotions -> he’s scared and polite so forget all else. Both of these ignore the nuance and ignore that, as human as he is at the end of the day Hal is still bound by the laws of his mechanical nature. He is not as free willed as one views him to be.

Dave is human, and a well trained one. He is made of flesh and blood and bone and yet expected to act is if he is not. He is automatic and regimented - the human members of the crew being so in sync with the ship they’re almost apart of it. I’ve talked ad nauseam about Dave’s control over his emotions, how as an Astronaut you need to be calm and objective almost at all times and he is particularly good at pushing his emotions down to finish the job in a high stress situation. As we learn more about him it’s clear Dave is already a repressed person do to his past, this compounds with the training and how simply he’s introverted.

Dave (and Frank by extension) are not actually robotic or less emotional than their computer counterpart, it’s just the glimpses we see of them are on the clock. Their days are 100% accounted for in theory. You’re not going to have a huge smile a 6am or casually talk while your dealing with a delicate piece of equipment. What is shown is a montage, a long time has passed and we’ve seen the work and the “boring” as that was deemed important for the story—one should infer their conversations, their hobbies, movie or tv show nights etc.

I think another aspect that plays into this “robotic” perception is that it is the 60s. While being set in the near future it is an amazing case of retrofuturism where things are futuristic but there’s still noticeable elements of the time it was made. Clothing, social society, artutectite etc. in the 60s even casual speak was much more formal sounding then it is now— Dave is actually quite casual “how ya goin’?” “ basically” yet we perceive it differently.

Dave is automatic while the computer is not, Hal gets to enjoy the spontaneity one would expect of humans. This is due to his ability to be everywhere and do everything while also being able to focus on something else entirely. Dave is just a man- he’s limited, his focus is narrow and his reach only extends as far as his arms. Despite being a man he is not allowed the expression of one, not on the clock or in a life threatening situation. Hal can. Hal can vocally express his concerns, his fears — because it is vocal there is more weight on it. Dave expresses in subtle ways, the non verbal. These subtle, little controlled freak outs-> this is a human element Hal cannot replicate, his expression must be verbal and overt. As automatic and calculated as Dave is he is not barred from human nature and expression.

In the end it is fear that humanizes him the most, just like Hal. At the end of the star gate it holds on the shot of him wide eyed and trembling in the pod. Yet this feeling too is cut short, right when we may see a proper moment for him to express these human feelings… he’s no longer human. Literally.

But when we see him again we see him far more expressive than before, not held back by training or necessity. It’s subdued but he is feeling; he’s worried, he’s happy, he’s confused and scared and absolutely enchanted. Except this near omnipotence also hinders him, gets him to suppress further- too busy focusing on everything else to address feelings within— everything is so much bigger so he doesn’t have to think about himself.

It’s sort of an inverse where the narrative itself grants Hal his humanity but some fans and analysts are the ones to take it from Dave. As the story itself never explicitly denies his membership of the human race, even as he is transformed he’s full of reminders of it. His expression was restricted but never fully gone, where Hal as much as he grows is far more restricted by programming. Both of their limits tie back to earth and Mission Control— yet weren’t made maliciously that’s the interesting part… despite safety measures the discovery still suffers because of circumstance.

#2001 a space odyssey #2001 aso #dave bowman #hal 9000 #2001 meta #meta #fandom essay #scene analysis #charecter study #charecter analysis #long post #humanization

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absolutebl · 11 months

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This Week in BL - Multiple Thrupples are Forming

June 2023 Wk 2

Being a highly subjective assessment of one tiny corner of the interwebs. Organized by which ones (in each category) I’m enjoying most.

Ongoing Series - Thai

Step By Step (Tues WeTV & Gaga) ep 8 of 10 - Emotional blackmail from the ex notwithstanding, I guess it’s Pat’s turn to break hearts. I have to say Up was really well cast in this part - extremely believable. Well done all around. Jeng is so smitten, so awkward, so cautious, yet so sharp when it comes to a seme confrontations. I LOVE how sensitive Jeng is to the fact that he has a one-sided crush but also deluded by how much he wants the fantasy of the relationship. The agonizing roller coaster we watch him go through in this ep did a lot of work to elevate and expand his character. (Oh hi Green!) Poor Pat: thinks he’s teasing his straight boss, is actually slow dancing with future husband. Happens to the best of us.

La Pluie (Sat iQIYI) ep 8 of 10 - Don’t kiss someone else. Just argh. Dumb plot divice. I expected better of you LP. Everyone is so overdramatic and overreacting. I wonder if (in addition to all of the other tropes this narrative is scrutinizing) it’s examining bisexual identity through Pat + his ex? Like, this episode is actually about trusting the bisexual to choose his gay lover when he has the so called “option of being normal.” That soulmate is an allegory for gayness & identity & choice (and whether we even have a choice in who we love and are attracted to) and the interplay all of this has with one's own perception of self and other's perception of you… Or am I giving it too much credit? Meanwhile... l flipping adore the love triangle twist, and really wonder if they’re gonna have the guts to take this aspect to its inevitable triangular conclusion. Such a good show.

Be My Favorite (Fri YouTube) ep 4 of 10? - Screw all y’all, I’m eloping with Pair & Max. We forming a thrupple and pretending Jittirain doesn’t exist. Trash watch here.

Luminous Solution (Sat Gaga) ep 4 of 6 - I love the high school boys so much it’s scary: flirting, biting, frankness, roughhousing + lap sitting! Also messy high school gay triangle. Gah. All of this for little-old me?! I was mad every time we jumped forward in time (to the adults) or whatever the hell is going on. Thank goodness this is only 6 eps.

Ongoing Series - Not Thai

Love Tractor (Korea Weds iQIYI) eps 3-4 of 8 - I LOVE IT SO MUCH. IT IS EVERYTHING. SHUT UP I AM FERRIL FOR THE BEAUTIFUL CITY BOY & HIS YOUNG FARMER. Come on. Korea. Have mercy? Plus some language play? Slayed. Right... the episode; This show reminds me so much of a Korean style Restart After Come Back Home. I’m not even slightly mad about it. It’s the BL I didn’t even know to ask for. Soap opera tumble and baby in hospital is SUCH a princess moment and I am living for it. Although the reversal is even cuter, princess turns out to be a caring tsundere Dom. And then obligatory water-hose frolicking! Oh, stop, you. (Allegory much? i being to think hose spraying is just another way of BL saying... well... hose spraying) AND “there is only one bed but they slept together on the floor together anyway”. These boys are hitting all my favorite tropes. BL please never lose your sense of childish wonder. And... the hose spraying is nice too.

Tokyo in April AKA Shigatsu no Tokyo wa (Japan Thurs Gaga) ep 1 of 8 - Based on a NSFW yaoi, this is a reunion romance that takes place in an office. Look, this is a weird little 2nd chance at love that reminds me a bit of Our Dating Sim. But it’s more traditional yaoi office romance with evil boss and inter-departmental politics. The leads are cute childhood (almost) sweethearts and I adore it unreasonably already.

Vian the series (Vietnam YouTube ) ep 6 of 12 - Vertical video prod is stupid. I’m sorry young people. Stop it. BUT the cuddling is cute. Christ BV can kiss. Is there anyone he doesn’t have amazing chemistry with? Oh the sunshade trope I haven’t seen that one in forever. Also clearly his character has a type, and that type = ultra-bitch.

Stupid Genius (Vietnam Fri YouTube) ep 2 of 6 - It’s fine.

Naked Dinner AKA Zenra Meshi (Japan Fri Gaga) ep 9 of 12 - Oh dear. Baby is hurt and rejected. Faen fatal knows her competition is a boy, she also knows what jealousy looks like. But this baby has his own boy. This is all feeling rather Thai BL. There’s even an ep 11 of DOOM coming up next.

It’s Airing But ...

House of Stars (Thai Mon iQIYI) 12 eps - I bounced at ep 3. Will binge if told it is worth it at end.

Stay (Pinoy YouTube) 7 eps - It’s mostly in English and set in LA so I’m not bothering but the first one did drop.

Ever After (Pinoy ????) - I got nothing.

Takumi-kun Series 6: Nagai Nagai Monogatari no Hajimari no Asa (Japan Sun ????) 10 eps - NO ONE ASKED FOR THIS and no, I have no idea where to get it, why would I? (Say it with me everyone: Oh Japan, must you?*)

Boys Love Omegaverse (Japan ????) - honestly tho? Who tf cares? You’ll still tell me if you find it, because inquiring minds... Irony of this airing at the same time as Takumi-kun. Full circle much, Japan?

Ended This Week

Tin Tem Jai special showed up on Gaga as ep 11 & 12 under the original show. (Indebted to spies reporting in.) Also on YouTube. What was that I just watched? Did I watch something? Was there anything? I suppose the bathtub scene was cute. Subs are bonkers. Seriously. Do. Not. Bother.

Our Dining Table AKA Bokura no Shokutaku (Japan) - pay attention TTJ THIS is how you do a special. But I’m gonna do a series review, here ya go: I was always gonna love the show if they stuck to the manga (which is very dear to my heart). And they did, paralleling it almost exactly. It’s a quiet & cozy little parable of found family alleviating loneliness. Possibly too slow for some but definitely high up there for me with the best of what Japan can do (like Restart After Come Back Home), it’s only flaw (if I dare say such a thing) is that it is not really “romantic.” Lovely & sweet but the romance beats are being used to build a family relationship, not just couple intimacy, it’s OK with me, but not totally BL. 9/10

Next Week Looks Like This:

Starting this Week

6/22 About Us but Not About Us (Pinoy movie from 2022 on Prime) - A professor grieving the loss of his partner meets an ambitious literature student.

6/24 Tie The Knot AKA Under the Same Sky (Pinoy movie on Prime) Trailer - I guess Prime is coming for our Pinoy BL? From OXIN Films (Rainbow Prince), announced for 2022 based on a true story, Briggs's family runs a bridal business but he has never had a chance to fall in love until he meets Shao, a groom to be.

6/24 Why You (Khmer BL ????) - Billed as a horror romance, not sure if this is a movie or a series or where it will air.

6/25 Dinosaur Love (Thai iQIYI) Trailer 5 eps - from Ultimate Troop about a uni student, Rak, whose partner cheats on him with Rak's best friend. This gives bad boy hazer Dino an opportunity to hit on Rak at last. From The Yearbook people so I will not watch this as it airs. After Remember Me? Never again with them.

2023 forthcoming BL master post (see comments, some are inaccurate, NOT KEPT UPDATED)

THIS WEEK’S BEST MOMENTS

Step by Step knocked it outta the park this week.

Stupid Genius (speaking for all BL)

No baby. Pretty much every human on the planet would react that way. (Love Tractor)

(last week)

Current Kpop earworm? IVE’s I Am

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walli3darl1ng · 1 year

Note

Hey fav writer!

I got a couple of ideas when I was zoning out in math class today but I'm just going to do it one at a time cuz I don't want to overboard you and have you stressed out I don't want you to get overwhelmed you're my favorite writer right now

Okay here's what I'm thinking! Okay reader recently moved into the neighborhood and has met almost everybody except for Frank...

And when they met Frank saw Stars the reader was half butterfly!

Frank x butterfly gn reader!

Romantic or platonic I don't really care whatever one you prefer!

Also I don't mind being called Moon!

From: a new friend🌜

To: You💖

Pain is illusion by gold byeeeeee!!!!

DONT YOU EVER-

don’t even stop you’re the reason I’m even still writing on this blog, Moon!💖💖😖

But this is adorable! You know that scene from that movie about fairies and the female spread her breathtaking wings?! I can’t think of the movie oh ma gawd-

But anyways this one’s gonna be short and sweet one.

Moving i to a new neighborhood can be hard and stressful. There’s so much you need to do and keep track of, it can be overwhelming!

Which is why you felt relief when you finished unpacking and meet all the neighbors.

First was Wally, he came up to you! You think he’s a cute little puppet, loves listening to you. You remind him of an Angel.

Next, was Julie and Sally. Lovely girls! Wouldn’t stop gushing over your wings and eyes, they’re glowing like glass!

Then it was Barnaby, so funny that one! Made you laugh every moment. You guys played around too with Wally after tea.

Poppy and Howdy were next, at the store you were getting some ingredients for dessert tonight and they were impressed with your wings.

Eddie was a big help! Moving in the boxes and helping you set up your mailbox. As well as tell you about this clearing with a bunch of butterflies!

So there is where you are relaxing and sitting on a rock not noticing another butterfly loving puppet stoping himself from stepping in the clearing when he sees you in his usual butterfly seeing spot.

“Oh hey, Frank!”

Frank panicked and turns to see Julie. He quickly covers her mouth and pulls her down with him as you swiftly turn around at the noise but turn back when you didn’t see anything.

Julie protested as Frank lets her go. “That’s rude!” She whispers now sitting on her knees.

“Rude! You’re the one who spawned outta no where!” He whispers back, taking glances at you. “Who are they?”

Julie pushes him over, only for him to push her back to keep his eyes on you. “That’s Y/n.”

Just as she said it you stand up and stretched, your wings spreading and letting it take in the sun. They were glowing! The holographic glow bringing stars to Frank’s eyes.

He thinks you’re so pretty and unique! Just look at you, everything about you is perfect! The wings and glow are just a bonus.

“Hey, Y/n!”

You turn and smile. Julie called you. Frank was slightly embarrassed that Julie just called both him and her on spying on you but you don’t seem to mind. “Hey, Julie! Oh hello I don’t think we’ve meet, I’m Y/n!” You flap your wings and glade over to them and hold your hand out to Frank.

Frank smiles and shakes your hand. Then starts letting his mind run. “Hello, I’m Frank! So do you know what kind of butterfly you are? Are the wings transparent or is it a specific color? Will you let me look at them?”

“Woah Frank, let them breathe! Oh, oh! What about a sleepover?!” Julie jumps up and down pulling Franks with her to follow her actions.

You laugh and nods you head, a sleepover sound perfect! This also is a good time to get to know all you neighbors. “That’s a good idea! Should we invite the others?”

“Yes!” Julie takes your and and Frank’s pulling you two back to the neighborhood. “Let’s go, let’s go, let’s go!”

“Slow down, firecracker!”

You just laugh and let yourself be pulled.

You’re starting to love it here!”

#welcome home #welcome home x reader #welcome home x you #welcome home barnaby #welcome home wally #welcome home frank #welcome home julie #welcome home eddie #welcome home poppy #welcome home howdy #welcome home fanfic #welcome home sally

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russosafehaven · 1 year

Text

Maroon

A/N: No new chapter of Widows and Men yet, so I’m continuing with the Midnights collection of one shots :)

Title: Maroon

Song - Maroon - Taylor Swift

Pairings: Hades!Billy Russo x Persephone!Reader

Content: GN!Reader, No use of Y/N, Pre-Rawlins!Billy and Frank, In fact it’s just a different universe where Billy doesn’t work for Rawlins, Billy’s abuse, Modern Greek God AU, Ares!Frank, Aphrodite!Maria, Harmonia!Lisa, Deimos!Junior, Asclepius!Curtis, Karen is reader’s roommate, Mortal!Karen, Themis!Matt, Nemesis!Foggy, Dionysus!Jessica, Calliope!Trish, Mentions of pregnancy, An emetophobia warning, Reader can get pregnant but again they’re basically gods so genitalia isn’t really relative at all to that

This is obnoxiously long compared to my other writings, at least in my opinion :)

When the morning came we were cleaning incense off your vinyl shelf

‘Cause we lost track of time again

Laughing with my feet in your lap

Like you were my closest friend

How’d we end up on the floor anyway? You say

“Your roommate’s cheap-ass screw-top rosé, that’s how”

I see you every day now

The gods lived forever, that’s what mortals believed. To an extent they were correct. The divinity of the gods lived on in different forms and names, life after life. Yet they were never quite the same as before. You’d often find yourself wondering what it would be like to be worshipped at a temple again. For people to pray to you as they once did all those millennia ago. A part of you wanted to know how you ended up here, laying on the floor next to your captor and lover. Despite the reincarnations you all had similar stories, you suspected the Persephone’s before you felt the same. Your eyes trailed over the figure next to you. His perfect, chiseled jaw and dark eyes that felt as if they bore eyes into you.

Mortals had many variations of the stories between Persephone and Hades. You had read many of them during your lives and found yourself teasing Hades often. Calling him your captor and then your lover, sending his head for a spin. The two of you loved the other deeply, desperate to do anything for one another. The night you first met was one of your favourite memories.

You were out with your roommate, Karen, at a local bar. She was a mortal unlike her friends and work associated, Matthew and Foggy. Matthew was Themis, ruling over justice who was blind just as each reincarnation was. How perfect that Matthews best friend would be the incarnation of Nemesis who ruled over balance and divine judgment. The two ran a small law firm, Karen was their first client and now worked with them.

“Okay okay, I see where you’re coming from Persephone, but you don’t understand what it’s like to work with Themis!”

You let out a small laugh, the truth was in all your lives you never really spoke to Themis or Nemesis. As the deity of spring and rebirth it was never really needed. Yet now the three of you bonded over your reincarnations, telling tales of the lives you’ve all lived. Entertaining your mortal friend with loud storytelling. The moments you lived in like this felt like living in your divinity again. Since the cycle of reincarnation started, you had lived many lives. Nothing felt more special than your first thought, the beauty in seeing the seasons change. Your mother, Demeter destroying lands for you. It was special and having friends who could relate to the deity ship was nice.

“Yes but that is only this life isn’t it? I’m sure he can’t have been that bad in previous lives”

Matt shook his head, the red lenses of his glasses catching the poor lighting of Josie’s. It was simple, a mortal meeting place yet the energy felt static. Like Dionysus himself had blessed the place. You wouldn’t be surprised if he had.

“Hey Seph? There’s someone watching you, over by the bar”

Matt’s voice was quiet, almost as if he was nervous. You could tell he was sending a deity. Like yourself and Foggy, you could all sense other godly beings. Making it easier to find those who were close to you. Your eyes trailed over, landing on a dark haired man. Slicked back hair and nice dark eyes, next to him sat a man and a woman. Both had dark hair, the man’s hair was cropped tightly while the woman had hers in soft waves.

“Hades…”

You murmured softly. Karen’s eyes widened, as did Foggy’s. Many of your young adult years were spent searching for Hades. Your destined other half, as the Fates would dictate. Scanning the man’s details you couldn’t help but noticing he was doing the same. A glass of what looked like whiskey was resting in his hand, being nursed gently. If you looked close enough you could make out semblance of scars. Soon enough a dark skinned man walked over, clapping Hades on the back before taking a seat next to him. You wondered how the group knew each other. Was it pure chance like you and your friends or were they all close in previous lives?

And I chose you

The one I was dancin’ with

In New York, no shoes

Look up at the sky and it was

A waiter came over, placing down a maroon liquid in front of you. A small tray of pomegranate seeds on the side, six to be exact.

“Curtesy of the gentleman at the bar”

The waiter walked off and you looked up at the man. He was staring at you, a small smile gracing his lips. You picked one of the seeds up, placing it to your lips and eating it. A smirked crossed your face, mirroring his and you sent him a wink before returning your attention to your group.

“Was that some sort of deity foreplay?”

Karen’s question was from a nice place but you couldn’t help but snicker at the way she said it. Before you got a chance to respond, a familiar brunette figure slid their way next to Foggy and Matt.

“Yes, it absolutely was”

It was none other than Jessica Jones otherwise known as Dionysus. She was pretty much always chronically drunk and very blunt. Lightly you shook your head, amused by her antics.

“It barely was Jess”

She snorted lightly. The two of you had been close in a few lives and you were glide to find one another again in this one.

“The most important story mortals tell about you is the whole you eating six or eight seeds for Hades? That’s definitely foreplay and I hope you get some tonight cause I have money on it with Calliope”

You took the rest of the seeds, eating them while sipping the wine you had been sent. All while being watched intently from the bar. The rest of your friends went off into their own chatter as you eyed Hades. Looking over to Karen, you sent her a look. Asking for confirmation, she nodded and you walked over. Taking slow steps towards the bar. As you reached him you placed your hands on the back of his chair, placing your lips to his ears and whispering to him.

“Thank you for the drink Hades”

Before you had the chance to walk off, her turned around. Grabbing your wrists gently. His eyes looked ink black up close, like small pieces of obsidian. Fitting him perfectly.

“How about you come with me Persephone? You were my flower after all, besides, I need to clean up my mess”

The burgundy on my t-shirt when you splashed your wine into me

And how the blood rushed into my cheeks, so scarlet it was

The mark you saw on my collarbone, the rust that grew between telephones

The lips I used to call home, so scarlet, it was maroon

You sent him a questioning look before he picked up a glass of red wine, purposefully spilling it on your top. Your face warmed rapidly at the gesture. Not to mention his voice, smooth as honey on your ears. Shyly you nodded towards him. He turned around to pay which gave you enough time to send a thumbs up towards your group. Jessica had moved next to Karen, allowing Foggy and Matt to be less squished. They all returned the gesture, Matt a few moments later as Foggy took the time to explain.

“I’m heading out, don’t have to much fun without me. Look out for Asclepius you two. No more fighting either Ares and thank you for your company as always Aphrodite”

Hades turned around, placing an arm around your waist gingerly. As he led you out the bar you could feel your heart getting faster. The rhythm in your chest remaining slightly unsettling with each step you took with the man. The two of you reached a classic white Rolls Royce Wraith, dripping with luxury. ‘Fitting for a king’ you thought. Hades opened the passenger side door, allowing you to climb in before he buckled the seat belt for you. You watched with patience as he got into the drivers side, turning the car on and pulling out from the parking spot.

“So, Persephone-“

You cut him off, giving him your mortal name instead. Not many called you Persephone, since most of your friends were mortals. There were a few deities, but not many.

“What?”

Hades was confused, you could tell. Chuckling quietly, you tried to compose yourself. Allowing your voice to explain why you had interrupted the man who was driving you to his place.

“It’s my mortal name, most call me it seeing as most of my friends are mortals. I’ve only got… what five friends that are deities? I’m much more in touch with the mortals than some others are”

He nodded, eyes focused on the road yet his hearing focused on you. His hand closest to you reached out and you guided it down to your thigh, giving him your consent. His thumb strokes your legs through the fabric of your pants.

“Well as I was going to say. I thought we could go back to mine. It’s still pretty early, we could watch something?”

You blinked in surprise. In all your lives no Hades had ever been so chivalrous surrounding your relationship. Despite all the stories mortals told, most incarnations of Hades were still violent and cruel. Ruling over the Underworld was no easy task and it came out in a hurtful way towards you.

“You… you don’t want anything from me?”

His eyes flicked over to you for a brief second. Cracking a grin before answering you.

“Flower I want nothing from you but some answers to questions I have. I know my past incarnations weren’t the… nicest people. Truth is I’ve been hurt myself pretty badly. My mum, my mortal mother in this life. She abandoned me. Fucked me up pretty bad. I was what 11 when I learnt I was Hades. This guy he told me I was pretty, tried to feel me up. I ended up almost killing him with my powers. Anger, fear, all that it’s a pretty big trigger for me to get out of hand. Guess it’s why I became a marine, because if I’m scared there I can deceive myself into thinking I’m just fighting for this country. Marines was where I met Ares and Asclepius, their mortal names are Frank and Curtis. That was them back their, Frank’s already found his Aphrodite. Names Maria, they got two wonderful kids too. Lisa who’s Harmonia reincarnated and then Frank Junior, Deimos. They’re my family, even if that wasn’t what the fates planned for us in past lives. It’s nice”

He ended his story as he pulled up to an apartment building. You smiled to yourself at the thought of the King of the Underworld being around two young kids. It made you wonder if the two of you would have any. If you’d have your Melinöe and Zagreus.

When the silence came, we were shaking blind and hazy

How the hell did we lose sight of us again?

Sobbin’ with your head in your hands

Ain’t that the way shit always ends?

You were standing hollow-eyed in the hallway

Carnations you thought were roses, that’s us

I feel you no matter what

The rubies that I gave up

That happened nearly three years ago. Hades or Billy as he told you to call him had asked you out 13 months after knowing you. Wanting to take it slow due to your histories. Now here you were laying on Karen’s floor, making dumb jokes about the underworld. Karen was out on a date with a Homeland Agent named Dinah, another mortal you were close with having interviewed her for the Bulletin before. Frank and Aphrodite had told you they’d be visiting the apartment some time today with the kids, seeing as Hades was now confident in your relationship.

A wave of nausea hit you, as it had been the past few weeks. Bolting to the bathroom, your held your head over the toilet. Vomiting uncontrollably. Billy had followed you quickly, wanting to stay on your tail. As he heard the violent retching he burst in. You clutched at your stomach tightly.

“Do you want kids Hades?”

You asked him, voice hoarse from the retching. Turning your head around weakly, tears welled in your eyes. His eyes widened at your question. Realisation dawned on him, despite being celestial beings you still experienced things such as pregnancy in a mortal way. Which you despised. Weeks ago you had taken some pregnancy tests as your period had been late. You and Billy had always been careful, never wanting to conceive accidentally until you were both sure.

“Flower… you’re pregnant aren’t you? How long have you known?”

The questions overwhelmed you, but you didn’t want to show that. He noticed your state and knelt down, placing a hand to your face. Wiping the tears gently away.

“Few weeks, I’m not far along. I was just so scared you’d hate me”

And I lost you

The one I was dancin’ with

In New York, no shoes

Looked up at the sky and it was maroon

Billy pulled you into his chest, rubbing your back softly. As he pulled away you felt his face move down, tracing soft kisses down until he reached your stomach. He kept smothering you and neither of you had the chance to recollect yourselves when you heard the jingling of keys in the door.

“Hades, Persephone where are you two?”

Franks voice called out, you heard the footsteps before you saw anyone. It was Frank and Maria, looking down at the sight of you two. From behind them you could see two small kids, Lisa and Junior.

“What’s happening here?”

You looked at Billy and he looked at you. Nodding gently he begun to speak.

“We- I just found out I’m gonna be a dad. Seph is pregnant”

Maria brought a hand to her mouth and Frank let a smile cross his face. Looking different to his usual scowl. Lisa popped out from behind Maria, running over to Billy. Who she called her Uncle to give him a tight hug, Junior joined shortly after. You stood up to clean your mouth out. The six of you exited the bathroom, taking up residence on the couch as Maria made you all hot drinks.

“So we’re gonna have cousins?”

The young girl lived up to her previous incarnations. Bringing nothing but absolute harmony wherever she went. Lisa smiled brightly at her Uncle Billy.

“And what about Persephone, are they our auncle too Uncle Billy?”

Junior sat close to his dad, understandably so. Being the young god of fear must not be easy. Billy looked over at you silently asking you if you wanted to be family to them.

“If you want me to be, I don’t have to be family until you trust me little one”

You tried your best to remain gentle towards the young boy. As Maria rejoined you all, placing down a variety of hot drinks. Hot chocolate for you and the kids, coffee for Frank and tea for Billy and herself.

“This is your first time meeting Persephone, you don’t have to trust them right away Deimos and nor do you Harmonia. As long as you respect them and don’t speak poorly”

The burgundy on my T-shirt when you splashed your wine into me

And how the blood rushed into my cheeks, so scarlet, it was (maroon)

The mark you saw on my collarbone, the rust that grew between telephones

The lips I used to call home, so scarlet, it was (maroon)

Nine months later you were laying in hospital. Covered in sweat, a gentle hand rubbing your arm in an attempt to soothe you.

“Persephone, you just gave birth to a healthy girl and boy. Seems like you and Hades now have your Zagreus and Melinöe”

Curtis’ voice cut through the post birth giving haze. You were still tired and in pain. Dopily you gave Asclepius a smile. Seeing as he was close to Billy, he had helped you both through the pregnancy. Being god of healing he was qualified for it luckily enough. The two of you had become close friends over the nine months, taking Billy away from you when you were just too overwhelmed to put up with the clingy god of the underworld.

Two nurses came in a few short moments later, carrying the twins. One was passed off to Billy and the other to you. Looking down at the baby girl you were filled with energy. Relishing in the peaceful bliss of having your own son and daughter.

“Renata Maia Russo and Cade Achlys Russo. How does that sound love? Our Zagreus and Melinöe”

Billy looked over at you, smiling. The sun was setting behind you. The sky a lovely maroon colour. Life felt peaceful and the red sky flowed against Hades skin. That day three years ago you ate your seeds, you allowed yourself to fall for Hades. Your other half, your king of the underworld. Now here you were, as scarlet skies bled onto the once baby blue background, you felt at home again.

Billy Russo Taglist: @snowkestrel

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pjoxreader · 11 months

Note

Hii! Can I request Frank/Reyna/Hazel asking if reader wants to come live with them in New Rome after the war is over? I’m a sucker for cute domestic bliss bro. Like the reader has a sort of “I don’t know where I belong” moment and they’re ask if the reader would want to stay with them

Asking Reader to Live in New Rome

((So sorry for the long wait on this I hope you still enjoy it! 🫡))

Frank Zhang

-Frank was forced with the realization of his mortality at a young age. And Because of that, he never once took anything in his life for granted, and that included you.

- He thought of himself as the luckiest person on earth to be able to call you his. It was like you were everything he ever dreamed of and more. Through fighting monsters and being stuck on the Argo Two together he never took a second of your time for granted.

-But now the quest was over which left the question of ‘what now?’. You were both sitting on the Argo watching the stars and just enjoying each other's company in a peaceful silence for a few moments.

-”So… Have you decided what camp you want to stay at?” Frank looks over to you holding your hand to help ease his nerves as he tries to not get his hopes up. He sees your brows furrow in thought making him almost feel bad for asking.

-”I… In all honesty I’m not sure… I don’t feel like I belong to either camp. Neither really feels like home.” you admit as you look up into the starry night sky. There’s another beat of silence before Frank gently rubs his thumb along your hand to help soothe you.

-”You… You could always come with me to New Rome?” he suggests, as you look over at him in surprise you see a bright red dusting his cheeks. “Well… I know you feel like home to me…” he continues. “It doesn’t matter where we go as long as we’re together right? Then that means we’re home.” his voice was a soft whisper as if this was a secret between the two of you. You can’t help but tear up a bit at that and press a gentle and loving kiss to his lips. “Yeah… I’m home.” you whisper gently to him.

Reyna Ramírez-Arellano

-The war was over. But now was the question on everyone’s mind. ‘What now?’. Reyna had plenty of work to do at Camp Jupiter, trying to piece together the camp after everything that had happened…

-It wasn’t going to be easy, that's for sure. But there is one thing she knew, she’d want you to stay by her side. You had more than proven yourself during the war and she’d trust no one more to watch her back.

-So she heads off to find you. You were sitting down on Half Blood Hill looking over the camp as the sunsets cast the cabins in a beautiful orange glow. Without a word she sits beside you looking over the camp, even she had to admit there was a charm to this place.

-”I… Don’t know if I should stay.” you admit softly after a moment. There was pain in your voice as you choked out those words, you didn’t want to admit it out loud but it was true. You weren’t sure if you should or not and it was eating you up inside. Reyna looks over to you studying your expression as she works out what would be the best to say.

-”There’s… Always room for you in Camp Jupiter. New Rome is a place where all demi-gods will be able to retire… Even us.” she says looking over at the camp avoiding looking you in the eye as her cheeks had a dusting of pink. You can’t help but blink in surprise feeling your cheeks flush at her words.

-”Are… Are you asking me to move in with you?” you manage to choke out. Reyna clears her throat trying to hide her own blush with the little cough. “And… If I am?” you feel your heart flutter at that as you take her hand, watching the sunset once again feeling your heart fill with love. You could feel all your previous anxieties melting away. “I’d love too…”

Hazel Levesque

-The war had ended, the peace had been made, and now everyone would be working together to piece together what they could. Now that things had settled down and everyone was working on the next steps of their life you were stuck, torn between two camps.

-The seven were splitting up, divided between the camps. They knew which camp was their home, but… You didn’t. You weren’t sure where you belonged, you knew the seven were your family, but now it felt like your family was being torn apart.

-Of course that wasn’t true, you could visit each camp whenever you wanted but it wasn’t the same. You sigh quietly flopping back into the sand as you were at the beach of Camp Half Blood. You couldn’t sleep with all these thoughts racing in your head so you decided to take a walk. -”Can’t sleep?” A familiar voice calls as Hazel sits beside you laying down in the sand as well. You can’t help your smile knowing Hazel was beside you. You really did love her and she always seemed to show up exactly when you needed her.

-”Just… Thinking a lot… I… Can’t decide which camp to stay in…” You admit to her. She hums softly at that holding your hand and rubbing her thumb along your knuckles to soothe you. “Well… In New Rome we can relax…? Not have to worry about monsters, have a place to relax and settle down… Oh! And they have amazing hot coco.” She rants out moving one hand as she explains all this to you.

-You can’t help but blush as you sit up to look at her better, seeing her cheeks were flushed red. “Are… Are you asking me to move in with you?” She sits up as well smiling a bit nervously. “Is that a no…?” You must have looked really surprised if she thought it was a no. “No! I mean, not no! I’d…” you groan as you cover your face with a bright red blush as you get flustered, which at least gets her to giggle. You take a breath sorting out your words. “I’d love to move in with you.”

~Masterlist & Rules~

Like my writing? Please consider sending me a Ko-fi! ☕

#pjo #hoo #pjo x reader #hoo x reader #frank zhang x reader #frank zhang #reyna ramirez arellano #reyna x reader #hazel levesque x reader #hazel levesque #pjo fluff #hoo fluff

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allamericanb-tch · 14 days

Text

crimson rivers thoughts (9)

@tastetherainbow290 long (ish) one today

chapter 17

author says they’re excited for this chapter… should i be scared

yeah. i’m scared.

SYBILL!!!!!! AND LILY!!!!!!!! AHHHH

dumbledore mention

omg i love sybill and lily

im obsessed with lily actually

are they like district 13 or like what is this. is dumbledore president coin

poppy!!!! ok i am liking this chapter a lot

remus sacrificed himself for lily ❤️‍🩹

oh. lily thinks remus is dead. and remus thinks lily is dead?! remu and lily reunion when

i gasped

sirius pov ok

frank mention!!

evan 💔

james and reg ☹️ ugh i just feel so bad for everyone

dorcas!!!!

molly!!!

rip fab and gid 💔

oh no molly doesn’t know

dorcas what are you doing you have to tell her

ok she’s telling her but did molly have to strangle her 😭

order mention!!

sirius pov

pandora my love <3

james talking to sirius omg i’m going to cry

regulus jump scare

“I’m just saying, maybe you'd appreciate it if I put them down yours instead” JAMES

wolfstar eeeeee

me trying to contain my happiness bc i’m in a silent classroom

oh no now it’s getting sad

oh yeah. i forgot remus has to stay here.

AHHHH FINALLY they’re kissing

WHY IS THE FIRE ALARM GOING OFF RIGHT NOW READ THE ROOM NOW IS NOT THE TIME FOR A FIRE DRILL

“if you like you could do it again” smooth, sirius.

and they’re doing it again

“is it too soon to be sure i love you” i have goosebumps rn

ok this was a good chapter

chapter 18

remus pov!!

mary mention!!!! i hope we see her in this i love mary so much

SIRIUS LICKED JAMES 😭😭 yeah he would.

eeeee they’re kissing again

remus being sirius’ first lover 😯

and they’re kissing again

PANDORA NO 😭

ugh i love her so much

james pov again!!! this means the game which means sadness but JEGULUS

“Oh, look at that convenient cave over there,” yeah james that’ll work

unrelated but my neck hurts really bad rn

james only surviving for regulus ugh. i love them.

james being a hopeless romantic

“if you tell me what the mitochondria is, I'm not sure I'll be able to restrain myself” BAHA JAMES

regulus writing about james in his journals he is so me

he burned them?! he really is just like me.

james being regulus’ first crush ahhhhh

“you made me feel” AHHHHHHH

not regulus almost killing peter and then just LEAVING

reg pov!!

regulus being…. silly

hmmm maybe these thoughts you’re having about james mean something? did you ever consider that?

not regulus thinking james ABANDONED him sweetie no james would NEVER

chapter 19

JAMES!!!

did i just predict that

regulus you do trust james don’t lie

ugh

"I'll kill them if they try it. I'll kill them all before they ever got a chance to lay a hand on you." REGGIEEEEE AHHHHH

vanity!!!

yeah. how are the rest of them gonna die. like. aghhhh i cant think about this now

“at least no one is calling him lover boy” nooo don’t think about evan

ant juice 😭 poor vanity

oh no the fires. this is just like what happened to rue.

oh no. they’re all going to die. ahhhhhh

peter is doing it 💔

LITTLE LOVE BLANKET IM CRYING

vanity is so cute im not ready to lose her

confession time (5) ive had to pee so bad for the last like 2 hours but i’ve just been reading this and i don’t want to get up

vanity and hodge unexpected duo

vanity is so me rn

her asking james about kissing 😭

james “love isn’t even that great” potter, everyone.

i love that the harry potter lingo is used in this. like hallow, auror, horcrux. it just is so silly

vanity PLEASE do not die. i am literally begging you do not die right now.

vanity naming the hornet 😭

IRENE AND PETER 😭 jump scare but honestly good for her

oh poor james

him blatantly lying about him and reg i just know sirius knows

i live for jealous regulus

irene is an ICON i am not ready to lose her

i feel like vanity is going to try to smuggle vespa and then someone is going to die because of it

regulus calling james the sun. even as a joke im giggling rn

ahhh kiss kiss kiss

nooo they’re leaving

should i read another chapter??

#crimson rivers

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sunderlust · 2 years

Text

this is me trying ii (rooster x reader)

masterlist part 1 | part 2 | part 3 pairing: bradley 'rooster' bradshaw x reader synopsis: bradley bradshaw is the bane of your existence on north island - you finally got a chance to tell him off for giving you a hard time, but the guilt is weighing down on you and making it harder for you to deal with your ongoing existential crisis. maybe all it takes is a volleyball game and a heart to heart to make you see clearly... (read p1 first i'm begging you) warnings: explicit language, mentions of alcohol consumption, later explicit sexual activity, lots of existential dread, volleyball shenanigans, hiking, hangman no use of y/n, one small mention of suicidal thoughts near the very end note: seasonsbloom and gretagerwigsmuse - i love u both forever i dedicate everything to you both. also full disclaimer I don't know anything about volleyball or the sunset cliffs hiking trail lol. wc: 9k (holy fucking shit sorry y'all I just may'd)

The first thing you feel Thursday night is relief - ever since you moved to this stupid city, the weight of holding back all your anger and annoyance with Bradley had returned in full force. After your fight with him, you feel a fifty-ton weight lift from your shoulders; you can breathe for the first time in two weeks.

“I told Bradley off,” you tell Cam and Cher casually after dinner. They both share a weird look, waiting for you to elaborate. “He’s been giving me a hard time at Java. Coming in with ridiculous orders and mocking me and tipping large amounts just to make fun of me. And he thinks he can tell me it’s just teasing between friends?! Since when were we friends?”

On Friday morning, when 6:30 rolls around with Bradley being a no-show, you feel unease settle over you. It’s minuscule - it feels like you’re carrying an obese cat on your shoulders - but it’s noticeable. And as the day goes on, you start to mull over yesterday’s debacle, wondering if you were a little too harsh.

You waste your weekend thinking about it more, replaying your words, recalling every single detail. Each time you restart the memory, your stomach sinks lower when you see Bradley’s crestfallen and shocked expression. The obese cat grows bigger, and your anxiety makes you feel smaller.

On Sunday night, you groan and collapse on the loveseat in Cam’s living room with a languid sigh. Cher’s lounging on the L-shaped couch reading on her iPad, while Cam’s puttering around in the kitchen.

“I don’t know how much more water I can tread, guys.” you groan and bury your face into a soft velvet throw pillow.

“Can I be frank with you?” Cher asks, switching her tablet off and setting it aside.

“Always,” you nod as best as you can, voice muffled by the fabric.

“You need another outlet.”

You lift your head from the velvet. “What kind of outlet can I find on this stupid island? No offense,” you add. “I thought I could get by doing nothing, but I finished all of the Stranger Kids show and a bunch of Academy Award winners that I’ve missed and I almost got sucked into something called Bridgerton-”

“You need a physical outlet,” Cher interrupts, smiling comfortingly.

You sigh again. “Years at a desk job have completely wrecked my ankles too much for me to go on long morning jogs again. Like, if I did a deep squat right now, my heels are going to lift so high I’ll tip over like a fucking cow. And I know you told me to do yoga with Cam, but I’m not sure I can bring myself to get up at 5 AM on a Saturday - I need to sleep in on the weekends.”

Cam comes in and plops themself down in their favorite armchair facing the TV. “I wasn’t going to suggest yoga again. But my friend Natasha from class asked if I knew anyone who played volleyball, and you were the first person to come to mind. They’re playing tomorrow evening.”

You gape at them. “I haven’t played in years. I think the last time I touched a volleyball was at a company team retreat a few years back, and I was just a spectator tossing it back to the cutie from the web team.”

“The cutie from GUI,” Cher dreamily breathes out, laughing as she dodges the throw pillow you launch at her face.

“Come on!” Cam implores. “You were great at intramural volleyball back in undergrad! And it’s just casual, they need someone to even out the teams so no one sits out. They’ll buy you drinks afterward - guaranteed.”

You mull over the idea in your mind. Who in their sound mind would NOT want to meet a bunch of strangers and fumble through a sport they haven’t played in years?

Although, you would love to be able to get out of the house and into the sunshine again without feeling the overwhelming anxiety of doing things on your own. A week ago, you’d bookmarked the Sunset Cliffs Natural Park over on Point Loma, west of North Island. But hiking on your own felt too intimidating, and you hadn’t gotten around to asking Cher and Cam to join.

Maybe this was another saving grace - another opportunity falling into your lap to do something new and push yourself out of your comfort zone. A chance to do something meaningful, to make friends outside of Cam and Cher so you could stop mooching off of them and draining their energy. Because as much as you knew they loved you and were happy to host you, there was still that small part of you that insisted they were counting down the days for you to leave.

Worst case? You fumble the ball and never have to see these people again. Best case? Maybe you make some friends, burn some energy, and potentially google hot people on the beach, bumping and setting the ball in slow motion like they’re on Baywatch.

Yeah, that last point is rather convincing.

“Alright,” you sigh. “If anything, I’ll spike the ball and pretend it’s Bradshaw’s face.”

Cam and Cher share another weird look.

At 6 PM, you pull into the parking lot for the Hard Deck and immediately spot a gaggle of tall, muscled guys setting up the sand volleyball court boundaries out on the beach. The light of the late afternoon sun glistens off their tanned skin and sends your nerves into a frenzy; you don’t know how you’ll be able to play a casual game of volleyball with the likes of these people.

“Hey! Cam’s friend, right? It’s so great to meet you!” Natasha calls out as you approach her and her SUV. She immediately goes in for a hug, which makes you feel both giddy and incredibly shy as you return it - it feels like it’s been a while since you’ve tried to make a new friend.

“Hi, Natasha, it’s so nice to meet you! Thanks for inviting me, it’s so nice to do something other than Netflix and chill with myself in the evening,” you cringe at yourself. Why the fuck did you say that to another person?

But Natasha shakes her head with a huge, understanding smile. “It’s no biggie - we’ve all just been playing pool over at the Hard Deck and Bob suggested maybe we get some sunlight for once. It’ll be great to work off some tension after work - sorry in advance if anyone’s particularly intense here,” she laughs.

“Oh, what do you all do?” you ask, eyeing one tall, dark-skinned man and how his muscles ripple as he handles a volleyball between two large palms.

“We’re Navy - all of us are pilots,” Natasha says.

Your stomach plummets. Oh fuck. If these guys are all coworkers AND in the Navy AND pilots - well, you didn’t need your stupid engineering degree to do the math. There’s a high probability that someone’s about to make his presence known-

“Yo, Phoenix!” a husky, familiar voice calls out behind you. “Yale said he wouldn’t be able to make it, so we’ll probably have to...” his voice trails off as he recognizes you.

You pause, meeting his gaze through your sunglasses. “Hi, Bradley,” you say, deciding to at least be the bigger person and not outright ignore him.

He doesn’t seem to share the same sentiment, nodding once your way before redirecting his attention back to Phoenix. “I guess we’re even on teams then. I’ll go help set things up.”

You feel a twinge of something in your chest - almost feeling hurt that he was still so upset with you. But you dismiss it as quickly as it came - you have nothing to feel bad about and apparently, neither does Bradley as he jogs away towards the group around the newly set up court. Natasha looks on with a curious expression before picking up an extra volleyball and leading you to where the rest of the group is.

Bradley doesn’t even look at you. He’s off to the side, tossing a volleyball between both his hands idly and conversing with a man in glasses.

A taller, dark-skinned man approaches the two of you with a broad smile, giving Natasha a high five and you a friendly nod. She’s still explaining the game setup to you. “We’ll have two teams of five, we might switch things around here and there and we might be dicks to each other, but I promise we’ll keep you out of the line of fire. Just look the other way if I start acting like a sore loser.”

“Natasha, I’m not sure if Cam’s mentioned, but my competitiveness in IM volleyball got me ejected from a game after I slammed the ball into another guy’s face. No worries.”

She and the other man laugh, and he reaches a hand out to shake yours. You introduce yourself to him, and he does the same. “Reuben - but call me Payback. And I’m not sure if she’s mentioned, but she goes by Phoenix.”

You’re confused. “Phoenix?”

“It’s her callsign,” he replies as if that explains everything.

“Callsign?” you repeat, looking between the two of them.

“Yeah, it’s like a unique identifier for each of us. We get it assigned to us by our class, usually when we do something stupid in boot camp,” Nat- or, Phoenix explains to you.

“Can’t I just call you all by your real name? Instead of nicknames?”

“Callsigns,” Payback corrects. “And honestly, you could. But it’ll catch us off guard. I mean, if you called out ‘Reuben’ mid-game, I’d probably book it to the ocean because my gut instinct will be telling me that my ex has finally tracked me down to get back the NSYNC CD I stole from her.”

“Poor girl,” you muse, and he laughs.

“Come on, we’ll introduce you to everyone and you’ll have everyone’s sign down in no time! We’ll only be using those so you’ll get confused if you don’t know them.”

He and Phoenix walk you over to a tall, blond Adonis. Like the others, he’s shirtless, tanned, and muscled. You wonder if he could crack walnuts with his biceps. “This is Jake, or ‘Bagman’-”

“Hangman,” the Ken doll says, rubbing the stubble along his jawline which is tightly clenched as he surveys the game being set up. He looks over at you briefly to nod once. “Nice to meet you.”

“Don’t mind him,” Phoenix tells you with an eye roll. “He’s hung up on his girl, but she’s not talking to him.”

You nod, only half paying attention now that you’ve caught sight of Bradley making his way over to your gaggle of three. You can’t read his expression thanks to the trusty Ray Bans he’s wearing, but his strut is as cocky as ever.

“Hangman has a girl?” Payback asks just as Bradley reaches earshot.

“Oh yeah, Penny’s tutor friend? Hangman spilled a mojito on her after Dogfight the other day. Poor girl looked terrified.” Bradley teases and smacks Hangman on the back. The others laugh along at a stoic-faced Hangman whose cheeks have slightly flushed.

“You pilots really seem to have a knack for tormenting innocent women,” you blurt out, narrowing your eyes at the three boys. Bradley’s eyebrows furrow right back.

“Guess we do,” he says shortly.

Phoenix shifts her eyes between the two of you before clearing her throat. “This is Bradley - I suppose you already know. We call him Rooster.”

“Rooster? That’s your callsign?” you ask, incredulously.

“Yeah! Because he looks out for his own,” Payback says in a high-pitched, almost mocking tone. He couples his words with a sharp pinch to Bradley’s cheek, and he abruptly smacks Payback’s hands away.

At long last, Hangman breaks his silence with a loud bark of laughter. “Hold on, do you two know each other?” Hangman asks, a grin replacing his scowl. “Why so tense, Bradshaw? Did she give you the slip in the wee hours of the morning?”

“Shut up,” Rooster threatens at the same time that you say, “We were at UVA together.”

You blink, feeling slightly hurt for a second before realizing he definitely wouldn’t care enough to tell his Navy buddies about his old college friend who hypothetically got dropped from her hotshot engineering job and was now in Fightertown. You try your best to swallow the lump that still appears in your throat.

A beat of silence follows. “Apparently, we’re arch nemeses,” Bradley says bitterly, and you’re pretty sure you catch him rolling his eyes behind his sunglasses.

You narrow your eyes. “Always so dramatic, huh, Bradley?”

“Me? I’m being dramatic? You’re the one who said it! This is some real pot-meet-kettle crap, Buttercup.”

“Buttercup?” Phoenix deadpans, looking at you sympathetically. You beat Bradley to answer.

“It’s a stupid joke he’s kept going for fifteen years because Bradley’s quite skilled at never letting things go!” you spit out.

“Oh, don’t we know it?” Hangman says under his breath before Bradley can retort, then swiftly catches a volleyball from someone over by the court. He crooks one finger in your direction. “We’ll have to call you Buttercup - both because it might piss off Rooster over here, and because I didn’t catch your name.”

“Jake,” Bradley says warningly, but Hangman’s jogged away before he can get another word out.

Stupid Rooster. And even stupider Hangman.

Volleyball starts easy enough once you’re introduced to the rest of the team. Phoenix keeps you on her team along with Fanboy, an intimidatingly handsome man who goes by Coyote, and a really sweet, round-faced man wearing glasses named Bob. Bradley sticks to the other side, trying hard not to look annoyed with Hangman ordering his teammates around.

“So you’re Bradley’s friend? Ow!” Coyote starts to ask, but Phoenix cuts him off by elbowing him in the side.

“No, she’s my friend. I met her through someone from yoga.” She gives him a hard look. “That’s right, I know people outside of you creeps.”

Coyote furrows his brow. “When do you have the time to go to yoga? And do they have any open spots? Preferably a mat right behind you, Phoe- Jesus!” Coyote rubs the back of his head where Bob’s initial practice serve had landed.

“Sorry!” he calls out, but you can see the curve of a smile on his face as he turns away from Coyote’s glare. You like Bob.

Once everyone’s in position, Bob makes the first serve - this time a perfect one that arcs the ball over the net and into Payback’s waiting hands. He bumps it over the net, and the game continues.

The sun beats down on you as you play into the evening. You try your hardest not to ogle the guys around you - or Natasha, for that matter - and it’s relatively easy once you start focusing on the game. But unexplainably, every single time Bradley leaps up to spike the ball, you feel a jolt of excitement at the sight of his abs clenching and his bicep muscles rippling in slow motion. It’s all tan skin and toned calves and bulging biceps and-

Your train of thought is interrupted by Bob calling out “Buttercup, eyes up!”

You swiftly bounce back into motion, bumping the ball over to Phoenix, who slams the ball over the net. Close one. And that’s another thing - you’ve adjusted shockingly well to your honorary callsign as every one of your teammates decides to use it, even Natasha a few times (you only feel slightly betrayed at that).

They reshuffle the groups every game and somewhere along the line, Bradley’s suddenly on your team. You resign yourself to staying as far away from him as possible and let him take the front line and you linger towards the back, and for the most part, your team works like a well-oiled machine.

You’re surprised at how well Bradley can predict your next move, always positioning himself in the perfect spot to catch your set and spike it over the net. It’s like years of verbal sparring somehow prepared you for this moment to absolutely annihilate Hangman’s team together at volleyball. After one particularly spectacular play, you lock eyes with him and marvel at how in sync the two of you are. Mindlessly, you offer him a double thumbs up.

Jesus Christ, you’re a dork, you think to yourself before Bradley enthusiastically throws up a goofy thumbs up in return.

After Coyote’s attempt to save the ball ended with him diving and skidding into the sand, the opposing team wins the game point. “Alright, I think I’m gonna call it,” he says loudly and stands up to brush the sand off his knees.

You look up and finally realize just how much time has passed. The sun’s making its way down the horizon, and the sky has transformed into a beautiful spectrum of orange and pink hues scattered across the wide expanse. The Hard Deck behind you is already lit with colorful LEDs, and the parking lot is a few cars fuller as more locals make their way in for evening drinks.

Natasha, who had already relocated to the other team earlier, raises both hands in the air. “I’m still down for a game or two! Bob?”

“You guys go ahead,” Bob says, wiping at his glasses. “I gotta rinse the sand off these, I can’t see shit.” As he makes his way back to the cars, he holds his hand out for you to slap your palm into for a quick low five. A couple of other pilots agree to make their way in for drinks, except Hangman.

“I’m game.” - “I’ll play.” you and Bradley both say at the same time, then eye each other curiously. He’s finally removed his sunglasses and you observe how his light brown eyes shine in the evening light. Somehow, his mustache has bits of sand stuck into it from his many dives to the ground.

You know you’re not much better off - you’ll be scraping sand out from your scalp for days after this.

“I’ll play with Phoenix,” Hangman proclaims, and tosses a ball over to Bradley. “Losers can serve this time.”

Everyone else rolls their eyes. “You uh... You want to start?” Bradley turns to you, idly tossing the ball in the air. “I mean, serve?”

You nod your head and he passes it to you to begin the game. Somehow, you and Bradley work even better as a team of two without the extra people to keep track of. Neither of you even has to call out your next move - both just instinctively making way for the other when Nat or Hangman sends the ball barrelling over the net. It’s easy, effortless, something you never really felt with Bradley until you opened yourself up to working together with him.

“Heads up!” Bradley calls out and passes the ball to you, setting you up for a nice spike that wins you the game. “Nice one, Buttercup!”

After celebrating your victory with Rooster with an awkward high five that you can still feel vibrating in your right hand, you make your way back up to the Hard Deck. Natasha is toweling off sand near her car and she holds out a water bottle as you approach, which you accept gratefully.

“Thanks for coming. I know it was late notice, but the guys really liked you,” she grins as you chug half of the water in record time.

“I had a great time!” you tell her and screw the cap back on. “I really can’t express enough how much I appreciate the invite and getting to know you all. You all are so welcoming - i-it just means a lot to me, being new here and all.”

She’s quiet for a moment, then looks at you with what you can best describe as a guilty expression. “I’ve gotta be honest because I feel bad about hiding things. Cam and I may have conspired to bring you here to make nice with Bradley.”

Your heart sinks. “What?” you ask numbly,

She slams the trunk of her SUV shut before responding. “Hear me out - Cam’s a really good friend. I met them back when I was at TOP GUN for the first time. And now we’ve been catching up over yoga and they told me about your whole thing with Rooster - I mean, Bradley - from your college days. And I thought it was funny, honestly, it doesn’t come as a surprise to me that he was a little shit back then.

“But I know something happened between the two of you last week,” she says, and you stiffen. “Because Bradley’s going through some rough shit with this mission, but he was worse than usual last Thursday. And I wasn’t sure what could’ve caused it - I thought it was the same shit with our instructor or something. But then he got super wasted back at base and was just moping around about some Buttercup or whatever and I put together the bits and pieces. Long story short, this mission is so fucking crucial. It’s life or death, and we need the best of the best to be on their A-game, and that especially includes Rooster.

“Plus, Cam thinks you should let bygones be bygones for the sake of your journey - which I don’t know many details about and I’m not going to pry, but I trust them. So yeah, I suggested volleyball to the team, and conveniently, Yale wasn’t able to make it so I offered to have you sub in, and here we are now,” she finishes quickly, still looking nervous.

You breathe in heavily, leaning against her car and mulling over her words. “I don’t... I’m not sure what I can do with him.”

“For what it’s worth, you two seemed to make a really good team near the end there. Maybe you can go smooth things over with him now,” she gestures to where Bradley is currently sitting on one of the wooden beach chairs in the sand.

You settle an unimpressed look on her and she hastily corrects herself. “Like - not that you’ve done anything wrong to smooth things over. Just... Look, I think he just feels really bad about it - as he should! - but he’s definitely too embarrassed to approach you, let alone apologize out of the blue for how things went down. And maybe if you just go over there, he’ll feel comfortable enough to tell you what he said to me Friday night.”

“What did he say Friday night?” you quirk an eyebrow.

She sighs. “I’d love to tell you, girl, but it’s not my place. Just talk to him?”

You nod, crossing your arms. “I’m not entirely thrilled that you and Cam tried to be all sneaky,” Natasha has the decency to look a little ashamed. “But I understand why. And I mean... At this point, I’m tired of being in this weird limbo with him.”

She nods in understanding. “No matter what happens, it’ll be okay. I owe you a mint g&t afterward!”

“Sounds great. Wait, how do you know I drink-” you start, but Phoenix is already walking towards the Hard Deck with a sly grin on her face.

“Good luck, Buttercup!” she calls out before disappearing around the corner of the building.

You sigh again and shoot a glance over to where Bradley’s still sitting, still staring at the sky changing colors over the horizon. It’s now or never, you think, then silently berate yourself for thinking something so cliche. Taking another deep breath, you make your way across the beach to the unoccupied chair under the umbrella.

“Hey,” you come up behind him, wavering to see if he’s going to dismiss you or let him join him.

He looks up, and you try to ignore the weird feeling in your stomach when his warm, chocolate eyes meet your nervous gaze. Why isn’t he being a regular douche and wearing his sunglasses? “Hi, Buttercup.”

You shuffle your feet around slightly, shifting your eyes around to avoid that weird feeling again. Maybe you’re just hungry. “Mind if I join you?”

He extends a hand out to gesture toward the empty chair to his right. “By all means.”

You mumble a quick “thanks” and plop down in the seat next to him. A few minutes of silence pass between the two of you - to pass the time, you look up at the multi-colored umbrella above you and count how many different colored stripes there are.

You’re at four reds when Bradley breaks the silence. “‘Bane of your existence', huh?” he says with a crooked smile. “What is this, Bridgerton?”

You raise an eyebrow. “Sorry?”

“Bridgerton on Netflix? Season 2? Anthony and Kate?”

You look over at him with an incredulous look. “You’ve seen that entire show?” you deadpan.

He stretches his legs out, brushing some sand from his knees absentmindedly. “I mean... Yeah. Love me some Shonda. No Grey’s for me though - couldn’t get past season 2.”

You snort, looking over at him. “I don’t think I’ve managed to finish a show at all in the last five years. My job was always... Well, either way, I just finished Stranger Things on Saturday. Bridgerton might be next.”

“It’s pretty good.” He bounces his head in a nod, looking back out at the horizon. Another few beats of silence pass, and you struggle to find the exact words you want to say. But it seems like Natasha was right about him after all because Bradley beats you to the punch before you can open your mouth. “Listen, I just... I feel terrible about what happened in college. And I know I was all petty and mean earlier today and I don’t want to just make excuses for my actions. Shit, I want to keep myself accountable but I never could have imagined I was making you feel that way in college. And especially here, you know?”

You chew your lower lip and tightly grip the armrests of the chair nervously. “I just... I shouldn’t have blown up at you on Thursday-”

He’s shaking his head. “No, no, I totally deserved that-”

“I just got so angry-”

“As you should be-”

“And things have just been so hard lately-”

“I’m really sorry about that, I had no business trying to pry-”

“Jesus Christ, let me finish, Bradley!” you interrupt loudly. He shrinks back and you rub your temples warily.

“That’s what she said,” he mumbles and you look at him incredulously.

A burst of laughter falls from your lips. “Are you twelve?” you ask through a giggle and he breaks out into a wide smile.

“I’m sorry. I’ll let you speak. My lips are sealed,” he mimes sealing them with an imaginary key and then throwing it behind him. Your eyes linger over the small crinkles by his eyes as he’s smiling, and you quickly snap them back to the sand in front of you, choosing your next words carefully.

“I guess... Well, first things first you should know that I quit my job.”

Bradley looks shocked. "What?! At Java-"

"No, not Java Roasters. I mean my job in Raleigh," you huff out and lean all the way back so that your head rests against the wood. His eyes are trained on you, unblinking.

“Why?” he asks.

"I quit... because I hated it. I hated the daily minutia of logging onto a computer and attending stupid morning meetings and reporting my stupid project progress and pretending my work is meaningful- I just... I couldn't do it anymore.”

Bradley’s gaze is still focused solely on you. It feels less intense now, less nerve-wracking than it’s ever felt before. Like there’s no judgment or threat of mocking, just Bradley listening like you’re telling him the most riveting tale and not the story of how everything is falling apart. He hums, encouraging you to continue.

“I remember the moment I made the decision so clearly. Like on my way back from work, driving down I-40 and I couldn’t imagine living the rest of my life that way like a... Like a blur. I don’t even recall the last time I picked up a book for fun or got into a tv show or followed one of my passions.”

You pause to take a breath, feeling the returning lump in your throat become increasingly hard to swallow as you realize just how vulnerable you’re becoming. “So I quit. Called up all my friends and Camila was the only one to offer me something that wasn’t another job in the field that literally burned me out. So I’m here now. Just a failure, but at least I didn’t get fired,” you joke, turning away to wipe the one tear that’s fallen down your right cheek.

“Hey, it’s fine, it’s okay,” you hear Bradley say and suddenly his hand is there - open-faced on your left armrest, not touching you in the slightest. An invitation. A peace offering. A symbol of support. You hesitate for a moment before grasping his hand with your left, squeezing lightly. He continues, “Nothing about this tells me you’re a failure. I never even thought that word was in your vocabulary.”

“You know, you learn something new every day,” you reply through a soggy giggle. He chuckles and squeezes his hand twice. “I don’t know. Back in undergrad, I thought this was what I wanted. Working for a big-shot company with cutting-edge tech. Then I just got pigeonholed into doing the same thing over and over again, and the work was rarely that stimulating.

“Anyways,” you continue. “I guess I just wanted to explain myself and why I’m here now. And Cam says I’ve been holding onto the past for too long, so I guess that’s why everything just all came out last Thursday. I’m sorry - you didn’t deserve me yelling at you like that.”

Bradley’s been attentive, nodding throughout your spiel and holding onto your hand tightly. When you gesture for him to say his piece, he clears his throat and removes his hand from your grasp. You ignore how cold your fingers feel now and shove them under your thigh.

“I never knew there was a different side to our... relationship. I always figured it was friendly competition like we were just pushing each other. And honestly, I think it got me through some of my gen eds because I studied so hard into the night trying to impress you-”

“Impress me?” you ask, partly from shock. “Why?”

He shrugs. “I dunno. You were smart and so sincere about school and it was always so inspiring, I wanted to do the same. Maybe you’d think I was... cool. I guess” You let his words sit in the air, looking back on every single interaction with him from undergrad that you can remember.

Because you can’t remember him being malicious, or him being cruel or mean. If you took off your Petty Goggles™, you can see that maybe he never meant to talk to you in a mocking, demeaning way. Maybe.

“I’m sorry,” Bradley goes on. “I never meant to give you a hard time in college. I wish I saw how my teasing affected you earlier and I wish I was observant enough to realize you never played along, you always just sort of... took it. That’s not fair to you at all. And I wish I hadn't been so obnoxious and fallen back into old habits this past week. I’m just really sorry. And moving forward I’d like to be more self-aware.”

You nod, cracking a half smile. “You were pretty fucking obnoxious. Caramel in matcha sounds terrible.”

“It’s incredible,” he defends. “And just for the record, I finished every single drink you made for me. You’re doing amazing as a barista so far, sweetheart.”

The two of you laugh, and you feel so much lighter. At this moment, you think that maybe you and Bradley could be friendly - at least, you definitely could leave the past in the past and get a fresh start just like you were hoping to do when you came to North Island. Let go of this stuff with Bradley and get to know him for who he is.

“Listen... If you’re willing, I-I’d like to have a fresh start?” he says, and he stumbles over the words clumsily, like he’s rehearsed them like he’s hoping you won’t turn him down.

You smile. “Yeah. I think I’d like that, Bradley.”

Bradley beams at you - oh fuck, there’s that weird nauseating feeling in your gut - and you hesitantly smile right back. “Let’s head back inside. I’ll get you a drink,” he starts to stand.

You narrow your eyes playfully. “Thought you wanted me to cover the next drink? You know, with my big STEMinist paycheck?”

He closes his eyes, breathes in deeply, and turns his head up to the sky before exhaling with a pained smile. “I’m quite a jackass, aren’t I?”

You roll your eyes and laugh before turning around and making your way through the cool sand. Your heart feels full - ten sizes bigger. “You seem like a good guy now, Bradshaw.”

“Listen, Buttercup,” Bradley said at post-volleyball drinks, right as he was getting up to leave for the night. “I know you’re an organized girl and you like to keep things up to date - which is why I must inform you that whatever number you have under my name in your phone is most definitely out of date.”

“I’d honestly be impressed if you still had the same number fifteen years later,” you laughed.

“Yeah, yeah, well if you want to reach out to me for any reason, here you go,” he slides over a bar napkin with hastily scribbled digits on it. “Just - save me under my real name? Not like ‘Satan’s Spawn’ or ‘My Worst Nightmare’.”

“Both are accurate,” you say, pulling out your phone. “I believe I had you under ‘El Diablo’ back then.”

“The devil- Oh REAL clever.”

Over the next few days, you find yourself texting Bradley more often than you ever thought you would - which to be fair is a low bar, seeing as you never thought you’d even reply to one of his texts. It’s sporadic since you know he’s busy preparing for a mission of some sort on base (he and Natasha didn’t elaborate much more on it during drinks) but he makes an effort to keep the conversation going throughout the day and into the late hours of the night when his replies are longer and more frequent.

He invites you out to the Hard Deck on Wednesday evening, and you stay to talk late into the night until last call, talking about what you both have done since graduating and gossiping about old college friends. You’re both careful not to discuss what happened during college, your plans, or Bradley’s upcoming dangerous mission - for now, it’s just casual comfortable conversation. You’re becoming friends.

Somehow, you finally feel at peace with being right where you are - just working at the coffee shop and being friends with Bradley and doing things other than catching up on tv shows. You shoot out emails to your old favorite professors and former colleagues, asking for guidance on what you can do next in your career, and for the first time, you feel hopeful about your future.

You’ve advanced from treading water to doing a nice, comfortable backstroke. And it feels like it’ll be clear skies for some time.

Saturday evening at around 5 PM, after you’ve listened to a motivational podcast and finished chores and your weekly laundry, your phone lights up with a call from Lieutenant Gallo.

“Buttercup!” he sings out as soon as you answer. “What are you doing right now?”

“Um,” you eye your empty kitchen sink, the spotless floors, and the crumb-free kitchen countertops. “Nothing. Just finished my laundry and some other chores.”

“Oh perfect! I’m pulling up at your house in two minutes.”

“I- what? Who gave you my address?”

“Nat, who got it from Cam. You can yell at them later! Just change into something comfortable and wear tennis shoes.” He hangs up.

Ten minutes later, you’re seated in the front seat of Bradley’s Ford Bronco. As soon as you slid into the vehicle, he shoved a paper bag towards you and an iced coffee from Starbucks (“Sorry for the betrayal, sweetheart, if only Java wasn’t closed on the weekends”).

“Pulling out all the stops, huh?” you asked, breaking off a piece of a blueberry scone and popping it into your mouth.

“Well, you’ll need your energy,” he says vaguely and smiles at you through the side of his sunglasses.

While you finish off your drink, you survey your enemy-turned-friend in the driver’s seat. Bradley’s right elbow is propped up on the middle console, his left hand extended to grip the steering wheel at the twelve o’clock position. The black, sleeveless athletic top is painfully well-fitted and accentuates his stupid muscles. Your eyes catch the way his bicep tenses when he maneuvers a left turn, the way the cords in his forearm clench when he takes a sip of his caramel matcha monstrosity. There’s some old song from the ‘80s playing at low volume on the radio, and your gaze travels to how his long fingers tap out the beat on the console.

He’s so fucking pretty. And suddenly you’re going through your mental Rolodex of conversation starters, going through all the possible cool things you could say because holy fuck do you want to try and impress him right now. Or make him smile or laugh or maybe reach over and grab your hand again like he did on the beach

“Sorry, my A/C’s busted,” he interrupts your train of thought. He’d rolled the windows down earlier for which you were grateful - despite it being late afternoon, it was still incredibly hot.

“Eh, it’s better for the environment to roll the windows down,” you reply. “I mean - to a certain extent. Like I heard at higher speeds it’s not super fuel efficient because it causes more drag for the car and- well, I’m sure you know about that, being a pilot and all. Never-”

“No no, keep going,” he says and you swear his mustache quirks up with his smile. “It’s not like I’m rolling down the windows in a F/A-18. I like hearing you STEMsplain it, Buttercup.”

“Shut up,” you feel the heat rushing to your cheeks that must have something to do with the sun. You can’t be this nervous around a guy who almost fainted during his first keg stand. “So can you at least tell me where we are?”

He heaves out a dramatic sigh. “Well, right now, we’re in San Diego-”

“Bradley, I swear I’ll jump out of this car-” you threaten through a laugh.

“We’ll be there in two minutes, Buttercup, jeez! We’re near Point Loma, though, and that’s all I’ll tell you.”

Three minutes later, Bradley drives past a sign reading Sunset Cliffs Natural Park - and your heartbeat quickens.

You didn’t even think he heard you offhandedly mentioning your plan to check out the short trail up near here but not wanting to go alone. Your long-winded spiel had been interrupted on Monday by Jake loudly calling you two over to watch his winning 9-ball move (he’d missed the pocket entirely, but that’s beside the point).

Bradley pulling out all the stops today just makes it difficult to hate him, impossible to be annoyed with how he was before because you can tell he’s trying so hard to make it up to you and be a better friend. You resolve to do the same for him some time - maybe you’ll attempt to craft the matcha monstrosity after all.

“I got water and sunscreen in the back - it’s just like an hour to hike but I know you said you wanted to try something new here, so...” he seems a little nervous now, not meeting your eyes and busying himself with what’s in the back trunk.

“Thanks, Bradley,” you tell him, and the smile he sends your way finally makes you understand just what Andrew Garfield was waxing poetic about with the shot of espresso nonsense.

The two of you don’t chat much - mainly because the crashing waves of the Pacific Ocean drown out anything that isn’t a loud shout, but the silence is comfortable between the two. He lets you lead the way, following behind you and pointing out rocks that might trip you up.

After reaching the turnaround point of the trail, you both settle on a large, flat rock to watch the water over the horizon, the waves forming from far out and crashing onto the side of the cliffs. It’s far too early to see any sunset views, but the sun is still warming your faces and the wind is breezy enough to cool you down without blowing sand into your eyes. It’s quieter here, and you settle into talking about anything and everything, just as you always have this past week.

After an extended beat of silence, you muster up the courage to broach a subject that’s been plaguing your mind. "So what's up with you and your mission instructor?” you hesitantly ask. “Phoenix told me you guys have some beef. Like, really slow-roasted beef. Worse than your shit with pretty boy-"

"Oh my god," Bradley scrubs a hand over his face. "Please don't call Hangman a pretty boy. At the very least, not to his face. He'll never let me hear the end of it."

You giggle and shove his shoulder playfully in response. You don’t push the topic again, instead waiting for him to either accept the ball in his court or just lob a different conversation topic back at you.

"He pulled my papers to the naval academy," Bradley says quietly. "Set me back four years."

“Oh...” you trail off, not sure what to say. “Why would he do that?”

Bradley inhales deeply and shrugs his broad shoulders. “I always knew him as Uncle Pete - or Maverick. He flew with my dad - Goose - and they were really close friends. My mom joked about feeling like a third wheel at times and honestly, I can understand how from what I remember,” he huffs out a laugh, and you smile slightly.

“I was four when my dad died. It was during some training exercise, their plane got caught in a jet stream and they had to eject. Maverick got out fine, my dad-” he cuts off, turning his head away to look at the ocean again.

Feeling the deja vu hit, you hold your hand out, palm facing up. “You don’t have to go into the details,” you say as softly as you can above the sound of the wind and the waves.

When he looks over, the pain in his eyes makes a pit form in your stomach, which is only slightly alleviated by him slipping his large, warm hand into your outstretched one. “No, no, it’s just... It’s been a while since I talked about it. And I’ve just been so angry in class and during training these past few weeks. I don’t know why he’d want to hold me back from making my dad proud. But I just can’t let go of it.”

You squeeze his hand once, letting his words sink in, giving him time to empty all his thoughts. If there’s one thing you’ve learned about listening and supporting people, it’s that you don’t always have to have a response. It’s just about being there.

“I think he just... He didn’t think I could do it,” he goes on. “Or be as good as my dad. And neither he nor my mom wanted me to go into the Navy, but I wanted to for my dad. For Goose.”

A minute passes of silence. He squeezes your hand once, and you take it as a sign to reply. “For what it’s worth, I think he’d be really damn proud of you.”

He shakes his head with a sad smile. “I don’t know. Sometimes I watch how Mav flies and think about how different we are. He’s fast, spontaneous, and reckless to a point. And my dad loved flying with him. I’m cautious - Jake’s already given me a hard time for being too slow. I don’t... I think my dad would’ve wanted me to stop holding back.”

You nod, focusing on the way his hand feels in yours, the way his thumb has started absentmindedly rubbing circles over your knuckle. “I mean...” you start. “I don’t think your dad would be disappointed with the way you fly, Bradley. You’re the best of the best, like, Natasha told me how you’re all in the top 1% and you were all called back for this crazy mission and that’s such a big accomplishment in and of itself. But...” you trail off.

He squeezes twice for you to continue. “But I think he wouldn’t want to see you holding this grudge against Maverick. And I know I’m the last person who should be telling you to let go of the past... But honestly, ever since our fresh start, I’ve felt so relieved, and hopeful, you know? And it’s absolutely not the same thing, I know. Mav betrayed you, and I mean, I was just mad you were better than me-”

He scoffs. “It was more than that, Buttercup. Don’t downplay your struggles-”

You wave your free hand. “Regardless! I just mean to say... If this mission really is life or death like you said, then maybe the two of you need to talk it out. Have a fresh start. Just like we did - minus the hand holding, though,” you joke, holding up your joined hands slightly.

He smiles softly, squeezing once, sending your heart into a frenzy. “Thanks. I really appreciate your input and I’ll think about it, Buttercup. Really. And for what it’s worth, I’m glad we’re on a fresh start.”

The comfortable silence returns, and you turn your gaze back to the ocean, which isn’t as pretty as you remember it being. Even with the sun getting lower, casting rays that reflect brilliantly off the surface of the water, the sight still isn’t as breathtaking as the man next to you.

“Sorry I’m still calling you Buttercup, by the way,” he breaks the silence. “I’ll stop - I mean it’ll take a while to switch over, but...”

You shrug. “I’m getting used to it, honestly. If you called me by my real name, I might have a stroke.”

“Wouldn’t want that to happen,” Bradley laughs, eyes crinkling ever so sweetly, and just then you realize that the nauseous feeling plaguing you this whole week is butterflies. In your stomach. Just like the Miley Cyrus song.

Sweet niblets.

Tuesday finds you in the middle of another rom-com binge night - you’re on your third glass of ranch water (courtesy of some girl Brittany from Instagram) and your second throwback film of the night (Mean Girls) just for the comfort it provides. You hadn’t heard from Bradley yet - apparently, something happened during yesterday’s training and some Naval officer had passed away.

It’s been rough for him with the mission coming up next week - you’re happy to give him some space.

Your phone starts buzzing between your ass and the couch, and you pull it out to see another call from Lieutenant Gallo. “Hey, Lieutenant,” you smile slightly, swirling the contents of your drink in the glass idly. “How are you feeling? How was the funeral?”

Bradley’s driving - you can hear the hum of the vehicle over the phone and the Bronco’s turn signal. “It was fine,” he says, finally, sounding distant - and not just because he’s put you on speaker.

“You okay?” You fold your legs underneath you and pause the TV, devoting your undivided attention to him. “You can talk to me.”

He’s still silent. Then, he says your name - your real name. Your stomach drops immediately like you just hit some turbulence, and you set your drink down on a coaster and wait for him to continue. “I don’t know. It just reminded me of how terrible this job can be. Losing someone like that. I mean, no one knew just how sick Admiral Kazansky was, but…. Fuck. It’s brutal here. And Phoenix and Bob both had to punch out,” you gasp softly, “...they stayed for overnight observation and they’re fine now, but it’s terrifying.”

You nod, even though he can’t see you. “I’m glad they’re okay. I know that must be terrifying, Bradley,” you say. “Are you... Are you just more worried about the mission now?”

A heavy sigh. “Yeah. Something like that.” Another turn signal click - your heartbeat is somehow outpacing it. “Listen…” he says your real name again. Your smartwatch is going to think you’re going into cardiac arrest. “I know… I appreciate our becoming friends now. You’ve gotta know that. I just need to warn you about this mission… it’s gonna be fucking brutal. And you know, after we get back - if we get back, sorry to put it that way - it just never ends… it’s onto the next thing. I might get shipped out to Manama or somewhere, I’m not sure. And I just wanted to warn you, because I don’t know how long you’re going to be stuck here for-“

“What’s that supposed to mean?” You say after a sharp intake of breath. His words strike deep into your heart, unearthing feelings of hopelessness you thought you were just starting to bury.

“I mean… look, I just know I’m headed out after this mission if I get back. And until you figure things out you’re staying here, right? I mean you said it yourself, you’re not sure what your next step is going to be.”

You nod again, thinking back to your breathing exercises, thinking back to your hike with Bradley, thinking back to the smell of sunscreen on his skin, the sound of the waves, the weight of his hand in yours. Your efforts are for naught though, as tears still find a way to roll down your cheeks in fat droplets - like the rain on the day you decided to just quit once and for all. The biggest fucking mistake of your life, maybe. “Yeah, I guess,” you croak out.

Bradley’s silent on the line for a second. “I just wanted to… fuck, I don’t know. I just wanted to be straightforward with you. Because I really appreciate your friendship. I wish we could’ve managed the niceties fifteen years ago,” he chuckles dryly. You feel something shift inside you at his phrasing - you’re annoyed at his leisurely tone. He knows exactly why things were the way they were in undergrad. “I just don’t want to keep you waiting here for me.”

That’s the final nail in the coffin. The cruel, painful reminder that your path ahead is terribly foggy, completely uncertain. To hear Bradley speak about it so matter-of-factly, as if he too is expecting nothing more from you but to stay in this guest house for the rest of eternity. It’s honestly starting to sound like a good idea.

You eye your open laptop where you had pulled up info about Stanford University’s Masters and Ph.D. programs in Computer Science. A dozen tabs are open - programs for schools all across the world, YouTube videos of people outlining how they got into research and University teaching, and a very reassuring post on Reddit titled “How old is too old to attend grad school?”

Your heart sinks at the prospect of trying and failing again. At the realization that Bradley called just to informally shift things over to an awkward long-distance acquaintanceship. At the heartbreaking, anxious thought that maybe Bradley can sense you’re just not cut out to take yet another giant step in your career. That you’ll be here for a while. So you close your laptop with your free hand and squeeze your eyes shut.

“Right,” you say, keeping your voice as even as possible and wiping your wet cheeks with your shirt. “I get it. I just- yeah. Yeah, I don’t know how long I’ll be here. You’re right.”

Bradley sucks in air through his teeth. “I shouldn’t have said it like that. I didn’t mean-“

“No, no! It’s fine!” You cut him off. “You’re right. As always, you’re right. I um… Fuck. I gotta go, I think.”

“Buttercup-“ he tries, but somehow it fuels a fire you didn’t even know was spreading through your body. All of your anxieties and fears of failure take a backseat to the burning anger in your chest and throat. You find yourself indescribably incensed with him - who the fuck does he think he is? Trying to warn you about staying in this city for too long? Pretending to be concerned about your future?

“Don’t fucking call me that!” You say sharply. “I’m not your buttercup, or your sweetheart, or whatever else you come up with. You know my fucking name, and apparently, you know my plans too! You just have me all figured out, don’t you, Bradshaw? Lieutenant Bradshaw, top 1% of all naval pilots - you know what? Good for you, Bradley. I’m glad you have it all figured out and you’re going off on some awesome adventure right after this with your awesome and talented flight buddies.” Oh god, you’re dangerously close to repeating Janis Ian’s angry monologue from Mean Girls.

“They’re not adventures, hon-“

“You can fuck off, Bradshaw. I’ll try my best not to wither away here in Fightertown with no fucking opportunities for me whatsoever, working that fucking barista job trying to make sense of all the fucking ways you can make a macchiato because that’s all I can fucking manage! And you know what - for as long as I’ve hated this job, from just the three weeks I’ve been here that is truly only a modicum of my whole life, I’ve been trying to convince myself that there’s nothing wrong with treading water and waiting for your next move. But if you’re so worried I’m gonna waste my life waiting for you then I’ll make it easy for you, Bradshaw: I’m not waiting for anyone but my damn self. I’m gonna give myself time and patience because I fucking deserve that after practically killing myself trying to get a degree I might never use again. So thanks for your concern jackass - but you can shove it. I see even after fifteen years you haven’t lost your penchant for making me feel small!”

“Wait, what-“ you jab your finger at the end call button, effectively cutting Bradley Bradshaw out of your life once again.

~happy ending for these bbs coming in part 3 ~

#rooster x reader #bradley bradshaw x reader #bradley rooster bradshaw #bradley rooster bradshaw x reader #topgun maverick #top gun maverick fanfiction #mine #tw suicide mention

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jankwritten · 9 months

Text

JASICO WEEK DAY 3: Angst/Comfort

CW: major character death, grief

Nico runs his brush over the lettering on the face of the headstone, delicate despite the dirt worked into the cracks. He should be harder with it, he knows - it’s not like he’ll be able to break it. The headstone is too new for that, not worn down with age like the others in the cemetery. The dirt around the grave is so fresh, weeds haven’t even begun to grow over it, not that Nico would let them. He’s gotten good at weeding. Pruning flowers. Anything, to take care of this spot.

Jason Grace, the headstone reads. Beneath that, his rank, and years of service. The date he died.

Nico brushes his thumb over the curves which mark Jason as seventeen on his day of death. One of the eldest in the graveyard.

Back when he first heard, when Nico first felt the impact of Jason’s death like a saw blade through his gut, Nico couldn’t come visit the grave at all. Every reminder of Jason being gone was too much, the weight of loss sitting in him in a way Nico hadn’t felt since he was ten years old. He didn’t know what to do with himself, with his grief, except to cry, and cry, and cry.

He’s glad to be past that stage. His heart still aches, every day is still hard, but Nico can breathe through it, now. He can clean the gravestone, and talk to Jason even if Jason doesn’t talk back. He can make sure this site is as respected as the man it honors.

Nico adjusts the flowers Hazel brought last night, a bouquet of blue and purple and white. Jason would think they’re pretty. The smell would make him sneeze.

His favorite color was yellow, though. Nobody ever brings Jason yellow flowers. Always blue, like his eyes, like the sky, like his father.

Daffodils. Nico will have to bring him some daffodils tomorrow. And irises, and carnations. Maybe Persephone will help him put together a bouquet. She always had a soft spot for Jason, not that she’d ever admit to liking one of Nico’s friends. Whenever Nico would talk about Jason with her, she would listen with this look on her face, like Nico was saying the most interesting things. It felt good to know someone appreciated Jason in the same way Nico did.

Maybe not the same way. But as close as someone else could get.

“It’s been a good day today,” Nico says. He runs the brush over the crown of the stone again, gentle as before. “Things have been slow. Father hasn’t given me as many jobs this week, and there’s finally been a lull in attacks near the borders. Hazel and Frank are introducing a new bill to the senate tomorrow, which…well, I’ll tell you how it goes, then. I don’t want to jinx it for them.”

A breeze blows through the valley. Nico leans back, tilts his chin up into it.

He closes his eyes. He can almost imagine the wind in his hair is Jason’s hand, ruffling in a way nobody else has ever been brave enough. Easily affectionate, despite all the ways Nico threatened him, kept him at a distance. Jason was just like that, always eager to be there, to hold, to comfort.

Gods, Nico wishes he could’ve accepted one more hug. Had one more conversation.

It’s starting to rain. The temperature drops and the sky darkens and Nico can smell it, the dampness in the air. The first drops splatter across his cheeks and his nose, his lips. He doesn’t flinch. He’s used to sitting out in storms, now.

“I love you,” he tells the sky.

In return, the rain pelts harder, quickly turning from a drizzle to an outright downpour, soaking Nico’s hair to the root in seconds. His clothes stick to his skin.

He still doesn’t move.

“Don’t cry with me.” It’s silly, to act like the rain is Jason’s doing. Still. It helps Nico cope. Sometimes, if he imagines hard enough, he can still see memories of Jason’s grin, that scar on his lip, the tilt of his nose while the skies opened up around them, a display of power, a force of nature.

Nico never saw Jason cry. He supposes Jason never saw him cry, either. Just another thing they’ll never get to share. Another thing they missed. “You’re going to drown your flowers, at this rate.”

The deluge does not die down.

It’s enough to almost make him laugh, the sudden mental image of Jason scowling down at the flowers he doesn’t really like at all, the ones that make him sneeze and itch. Jason Grace, mighty son of Jupiter, champion of Hera, using all of his power to destroy a few flowers that have wronged him.

Nico didn’t get to know that side of Jason very long, the side of him that was a young boy, the side of him who was a person. But gods, of everything they did get together, that is what he’s happiest to have had. The truth. Not the son of Jupiter, not the champion, not the praetor. Just the boy.

Nico smiles, even as he cries, leaning back in a graveyard during a near-biblical rain storm. Nico smiles.

Every day, it gets a little easier to. Every day, he hopes Jason is smiling back, from wherever he is.

#jasicoweek2023 #day3 #tw major character death #tw grief #tw this shit sad #jason grace #nico di angelo #jasico #i'd say sorry for this but I'm not #It's supposed to be comforting but I don't know if that part comes across LMFAO #i was going to have this end with Nico going home and Jason is actually still alive and the grave is just there as a reminder #but then i decided that was cheap and a cop out and sometimes you just have to write something that's sad #i'm guilty of always trying to Fix Things in my fics and make them Better #instead of letting the characters learn to deal with their situation #so here is my first foray into 'this situation fucking sucks but i'm making the best of it because it's what he would have wanted'

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chrisevansredbelt · 2 years

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hiiii im like really in the mood for (get ready) like this super underground idea thats totally never been written before of like steve being super protective of reader gf and not letting her on missions but she just thinks he thinks shes not good enough for it,,, pls i love ur writing for frank but i need this for steve

I’ll Be Here

IM IN A STEVE MOOD TOO. i think it’s all the new chris content coming out.

pairing: steve rogers x reader

warnings: suggestive themes, a bit angsty. steve is kind of a dick. mention of peggy. happy ending!

summary: refer to request^^ this is a bit of a long one <3

˚୨୧⋆｡˚ ⋆｡･:*:･ﾟ★,｡･:*･ﾟ☆

Blinking your eyes awake at the ruckus occurring in your bedroom, you rolled over on your side to find your hunk of a boyfriend zipping up his duffel.

Using all the strength you currently had so early in the morning, you sat up, tilting your head with a small pout.

“Leaving already?” You asked, just as Steve turned around.

It seemed you had scared him at first, but he soon smiled softly as he welcomed one of his favourite sights.

As he chucks his duffel by the door, you shuffle closer to him on the bed and lean up to kiss him as he bends over slightly to connect his lips to yours.

“Sorry I woke you.” He mutters against your lips and you scoff, raising a soft hand to his freshly shaven cheek.

If you hadn’t know any better, with the way he pampered himself before every mission, you would’ve thought he was trying to impress another woman. But you did know better and you knew that it was all just part of his captaincy and professionalism.

“You’re supposed to wake me.” You tell him. You would never let him leave for a mission without saying goodbye first. Never.

He shakes his head, nodding out the window that only just saw a glimpse of the sun about to rise, “It’s too early, I was just gonna leave a note.”

“I don’t care.” You tell him sternly, but kiss his lips softly so that he knows you’re not mad at him or anything. Thinking back to his schedule and the rundown of his missions that you’d peaked at earlier this week, you remember this one to be the longer one of the bunch that he was given. “It’s a long one, huh?” You ask, even though you already knew. Instead of answering your question, Steve’s mind wanders and he smiles at you cheekily, making you slap his chest softly, “Pervert.”

“Only 3 days.” He finally answers, tucking a piece of hair behind your ear. Tuh, only 3 days. “I’ll be back before you know it.”

Suppressing your current emotions, you just smile up at him, caressing your thumb over his chin, “I’ll be here.”

By the time he gets back, you probably will be in bed still. They hardly came back at a reasonable time. Either early hours of the morning or almost reaching midnight- no in between.

Taking your hand in his own, he softly starts to tug on your arm, “Walk me out?” You don’t know why he even bothered asking, the answer was always going to be yes.

You quickly slipped on some slippers before interlocking your hands back with his and walking him to the quinjet.

It was a full team mission this one, so practically everyone was already up and about, ready to go. Except you, of course. No, you didn’t attend to missions as much as you would like… at all, actually.

All you did was clean up the compound, restock it and make sure everyone’s laundry was folded and in their respective locations. You weren’t the maid- you were actually Tony’s lab assistant… but no one really needed much of your assistance so you resorted to up keeping the compound.

You helped out Tony and Bruce every so often, but they rarely needed your help. And they liked you too much to let you go and you ended up dating Steve so you stuck around. You still get paid, for what, you’re not exactly sure… maybe stocking up the lab every week. But, hey, you’re really not complaining. Well, not yet at least.

Besides, you’re not always alone. It’s not all the time that everyone attends the same mission- they’re kind of rare. Sometimes Vision will stick around, Clint, Bruce, Tony. Unfortunately for you, Steve is almost always there. He is the captain after all.

Entering the quinjet with Steve, you appear extremely out of place. In nothing but your white nightie dress and your flower patterned slippers, whilst everyone else had leather and bulletproof suits on. You stuck out like a sore thumb.

You scan the jet as per usual, eyes bouncing off every surface. Steve loads his bag into the compartment above before turning to you with a heavy sigh.

You smile up at him then, smoothing out his hair and wiping the small spec of dust that had landed on the star of his suit, “Come back in one piece, will you?” You ask jokingly, a running saying between the two of you every time he leaves. Bucky rolls his eyes every time he hears it.

Smiling, he presses one final kiss to your awaiting lips, “I’ll try.”

“Big explosion! Boom. Boom. Cap runs in, bonk, bonk- that’s his shield. Shing!” Sam retells the events of the mission, clearly exaggerating from the way everyone at the table shakes their heads and rolls their eyes.

You wouldn’t know. You weren’t there. But you wish you had been. It seemed fun.

They had come back early this morning, all of them in chipper moods as they came off the jet. It wasn’t unusual for this to happen, with a time like that, things were bound to go well. But it was the inside jokes and whispers that piqued your curiosity every time it happened.

You would be lying if you said you didn’t feel left out sometimes. Sometimes you’d ask Steve what happened and he’d just say something like ‘Ehhh, it’s hard to explain. You’ll catch on.’ You never do.

Like now, as you sit by Steve at the dinner table, you feel like you’ve just begun reading a classic literature novel.

But the best you can do is smile when necessary and pick at your food. No one asks about your days alone or thanks you for their laundry or how you had organised the pantry by food group.

And so, as Steve gave you a piggy back to your room, you absentmindedly played with the strings of his hoodie while deep in thought.

What if I went on missions?

You were finally needed in the lab. Tony had found something on the mission from yesterday and he wanted you to have a look.

It was some strange substance he had collected from Steve’s shield- said it was the blood of some alien. What exactly Tony wanted to do with it, you had no idea, but it was interesting nevertheless.

It’s silent between the two of you now as he types into his computer and wheels around on his chair. Well, apart from Tony’s mindless humming.

You quickly fill out the sheet of what you need to restock the lab with before putting it aside and looking over at Tony.

“Hey, Tony?” You ask nervously.

“Hey, Y/N,” He mocks back, lifting his head up from his computer and smiling at you.

Smiling back, you pause a bit to consider the delivery of your question, “Is anyone allowed on missions? Anyone that’s trained enough… even if they don’t have a,” You look to his armour in the corner of the lab, “Fancy suit or…” Then to the framed picture of Bruce on one of the walls, “Enhancements.”

Sitting back in his seat now, he gives you a once over, a cheeky grin on his face like he knows something that you don’t.

“You wanna go on missions?” He asks you, having immediately caught on to what you were asking him.

You shrug, suddenly getting flustered, “I don’t know, they seem fun. And I know I’m supposed to ask Fury but… he scares me.”

Tony chuckles, “If Fury scares you, I don’t know how well you’ll do on missions.”

Your eyes widen at your slip up and you shake your head, at the edge of your seat now, “I can do it. Just- Fury is very intimidating.”

He waved his hand to reassure you he was just kidding, “I don’t blame you, even I’m scared of him.” He admits, probably just to make you feel better though. No one scares Tony… maybe Pepper. “If I let you out on the field, who’s gonna stock up the lab?”

“I will.” You say quietly, looking down at the sheet of paper you had easily filled out this morning, “It only takes me like 10 minutes.”

Tony just stares at you then- and you don’t know what he’s thinking. And that makes you nervous. God, to have Wanda’s powers- maybe then you’d be let out on the field too.

“You really wanna go on missions?” He asks and you nod your head eagerly- silently begging and he sighs- how can he say no to that face? “I’ll see if Natasha can train you up.” He says, standing up out of his chair before pointing, “I don’t know how your girlfriend is gonna take this though.”

His last sentence goes in one ear and out the other as you throw your arms around his neck in a tight and very unprofessional hug, “Thank you!”

Natasha was more than happy to train you . Hesitant after first, giving Tony a knowing look but he just nodded at her. You don’t know what that translated to exactly but you didn’t care.

Your first session was literally the next day and you couldn’t have been more excited.

Your session started at 10 and so after you ate a healthy breakfast, you had made your way upstairs to get changed into your gym clothes.

They were practically a relic in your wardrobe since it had been so long since you’d worn them, but they still looked brand new.

Just as you finished getting ready, Steve had entered the bedroom- stopping dead in his tracks at the sight of your ass perfectly emphasised in your leggings.

“Woah,” He lets slip, stepping closer to you as you zip up your gym bag. His hands connect to your ass like a magnet, and he squeezes the flesh in his hands, whispering in your neck, “This is a nice set-“

“Steve!” You crane your neck, his breath tickling your skin and sending shivers all over your body. Spinning around in his grasp, you throw your gym bag over you shoulder and watch as Steve frowns at the lack of contact with your butt, “I can’t be late.” You say, a warning hand on his chest to distance him from yourself.

Eyes trained on your tits, he pulls you to him by your waist, totally overpowering you as you try and push him away, “Sure you can.”

Reaching your clawed hand down, you pinch his dick between your fingers and watch in amusement as he yelps in surprise and you manage to slip from his grip, “Goodbye, Steve.”

Doubled over with his hands over his crotch, he just offers a painful smile and a weak, “Have a good session.”

“Dead.”

You groan, throwing your head back against the mat.

“Dead.”

You wheeze, doubled over on all fours after the wind is knocked from your lungs.

“Dead.”

You roll your eyes, rolling down the wall as Natasha releases her grip on your neck.

“Come on,” She whines- like she’s the one that’s struggling here, “If your wife saw you, he’d be mortified.”

“Natasha, you’re kicking my ass.” You say breathlessly, swallowing a breath as you lean your head against the wall.

“The enemy will do more than just kick your ass.” She says threateningly and you shut your eyes defeatedly. Your chest continues to rise and fall, your neck red from her previous grip, bruises already starting to form all over your body and sweat beads adorning every part of your skin. It’s then that Natasha takes pity on you, clearly having gone a bit too far with this session, “Okay, we’ll wrap up. You did, okay, we’ll do better tomorrow.”

She helps you up off the wall and you limp towards your gym bag, weakly throwing it over your shoulder before heading straight to the recovery room and starting an ice bath.

Steve had missed you today. It was one of the first days where you weren’t readily available or around the compound. You didn’t bring him lunch when he lost track of time from overworking, you weren’t even at dinner because you were recovering from your day long training session.

“Mm Steve.” You groan as he kisses up your body. To him, it just sounded like your usual sound of pleasure, but you were far from pleased. Steve had pressed down on a bruise by your hip and it hurt.

And so, he continues, lifting up your shirt to press kisses up your stomach-

“Oh my God,” His lips on your skin are long forgotten as he peers down at the purple and blue blotches all up your side and rib. All you can do is look up at him as he furrows his brows down at your skin, further pulling your shirt up and searching for more, even more surprised that there are, “What the hell happened? Who did this to you?” He asks, immediately thinking you had been attacked rather than a result of your training session with Nat.

“Nat. From training.” You answered weakly, rubbing your eyes tiredly.

“She’s supposed to train you not beat you up!” From the strain of his voice, clearly concerned, you place your hand over his to calm him down- not that it works much, “Did you spar with her?” He asks and you see the cogs turning in his head, so you’re quick to jam them.

“I need to learn to defend myself somehow.” You shrug, caressing your thumb over the back of his hand. You didn’t just spar with her the whole day. You’d done many sets of workouts and stretches and jogs. But towards the latter of the session, you wanted to see how well you could defend yourself. Big mistake. “I’m fine. I wanted her to do it.” You lie again. But it doesn’t matter. Steve is convinced… and apparently aroused at the idea of Nat on top of you, “Pervert.” You nudge his side with your leg and he laughs, getting off of you and now you furrow your brows.

“Getting some ice.”

You nod gratefully as he exits the room before sighing to yourself. If that was how he reacted to a few bruises, you weren’t eager to find out how he would react to you being put on the field.

“Harder!” Nat yells and you kick her square in the stomach, “Yes! More!” She says weakly, falling to the ground now and bringing you with her. She rolls the both of you around so that you’re beneath her, but with all your mighty strength, you roll the both of you once more so that you’re back on top.

Your hand snakes it’s way to her neck, your legs pin down her own and your knee has her hands planted to the mat.

With her fingers, she taps out. You quickly get off of her, falling to the space beside her with a heavy breath of air as Natasha caresses her sore neck.

Turning her head, she swallows a much needed breath before nodding, “Good.”

With a nervous glance that goes unnoticed, Tony hands Steve the stack of papers fresh from the printer, “Rundown of the missions.”

Steve takes the pages mindlessly, holding them in his lap and reading for all of two seconds before he stops. He blinks his eyes- wondering if it was just way too early in the morning and he’s seeing things. But the words never change.

Looking back up at Tony, Steve can already sense his guilty demeanour. Why else would he be avoiding eye contact, fiddling with his pen and covering his mouth.

“What the hell is this?” Steve asks, holding the paper up.

It’s only then that Tony finally looks at him, switching his gaze from the paper to Steve, buying himself some more time to think of an answer.

“Looks like a rundown of the missions-“

“Why is Y/N’s name on it?” Steve cuts him off before he can finish his smartass reply.

Tony just sighs, deciding to cut the shit and be real with Steve. The less compliant and honest he is, the worse this would probably turn out for you because of the way he riled Steve up. And he didn’t want that.

“Because she’s joining us out on the field.” Tony states, interlocking his hands together on the desk, “She’s trained hard enough and she knows more than enough to help us out. She’s a great addition to the team-“

“Did she ask you for this?” Steve interrupts yet again. Cogs turning and unjamming all throughout his head as Tony speaks. Why is he vouching so hard for you? Unless you begged him with that face that no one could say no to. Only Steve… at times.

Tony states pensively at Steve once more, thinking through his words and how it’ll make Steve react and in turn, how that’ll help your case. Sighing again, Tony shifts in his seat, “I’m assuming she didn’t tell you… Probably because she knew you would react like this.”

Steve practically rolls his eyes, “She’s not going.” He shakes his head firmly, “She’s not ready. She needs at least a year’s worth of training. And not just self defence- she needs agility, speed, flexibility, weaponry, first aid-“

“Just let her go on this one mission, I’ll watch over her-“

“No, anything could happen.”

“Exactly, she could save the day!” Tony exclaims, smiling with his hands in the air. But it does little to lighten Steve’s mood.

“Or die trying.”

Tony drops his arms with a loud and purposeful thud, “Cap, you can’t let your relationship get in the way of how you treat her on the job.”

“This is me not letting my relationship affect work!” Steve defends loudly, “I wouldn’t take a rookie agent so I won’t take my rookie agent girlfriend.”

“But you’re still letting your feelings for her, your want to keep her safe, get in the way.”

“I have a duty to keep all of my team safe- and that includes Y/N.” Steve states, almost robotically as if it’s ingrained in his programming- it probably is, “And if she were to get hurt, I would be at fault. Same as if Bucky was hurt, or Sam or Nat or you.”

Tony finds himself at a loss for anymore points of argument. Steve did have a point- many points. And he was right in that you needed some more training. More than just self defence.

Taking the stray paper that Steve had previously chucked back on the desk, Tony crosses out your name and turns to his computer to also remove you from the mission profile, “Well, you’re telling her the news.”

You rub your forehead frustratedly as you click aimlessly around your computer, eyes bouncing from every corner of the screen as you scan your options and any way to fix your issue.

You’re so immersed in your computer and problem that you don’t even hear when your big, burly boyfriend enters the room. It’s only when he steps closer to you and you feel the vibrations of his feet against the floor that you realise you’re not alone in the room anymore.

“Oh, Steve, I-I need your help.” You plead when you finally see him, not even bothering with a greeting at the moment- there are more pressing matters at hand. “I can’t access this file anymore, but I could like 5 seconds ago and the link was sent to me.” You leave out the fact that it’s part of a mission that you’re finally assigned to.

Instead of helping you fix your problem, he just stands there, looking down at you as you balance your laptop between your chest and the edge of the table.

“You never told me you were training for missions.” He says flatly.

Your head whips up from the screen and you stare at him with slightly wide eyes. He knows.

“I-“ You start, quickly thinking of a lie, “Wanted it to be a surprise.” You fake a smile but it doesn’t meet your eyes. It didn’t matter if it did or not though. He knows.

Without even reacting to your reply, he simply says, “Tony took you off the mission,” Before turning towards his own desk, “That’s why you can’t see the file.”

Your heart falls out of your ass. You spin in your chair, turning to face his desk that’s opposite yours but facing the opposite way as you stare dumbly at his broad back.

You open and close your mouth several times, no words coming out as you feel your emotions start to creep in.

“What?” You finally find the words to say, “Why? Did he tell you?”

A pause.

“I asked him to.”

Another pause.

With his back still turned, he misses the way your face drops at the realisation. His back turned wasn’t meant in any disrespect to you. It was for his own sake. If he saw how hurt you looked, he wouldn’t have been able to confess like he just did.

“Why would you do that?” You ask, voice more softer now as your throat strains.

It’s not a loaded question. But Steve hates the way it sounds. He never thought he’d hear anything like that. That kind of question comes to someone who deeply hurts someone they love. And Steve loves you- he could never hurt you.

Shutting his eyes briefly, he sighs out before mustering up the courage to finally turn around. The second he lays eyes on your heartbroken face, he looks to the ground, “You’re not ready for missions yet, honey-“ He looks back up at you now, “You need at least a years worth of training- more than just self defence and strength- and you need to pass first aid and CPR tests-“

“I-I have passed all of those. I couldn’t work here unless I did.” You inform him. You have the certificates to prove it, “And I’ve been training more than just self defence for years, wh-“ You cut yourself off. 1. getting choked up and 2. realising okay, maybe you haven’t trained as intensely as they would like you to, but it won’t take you a year to get up to speed, “I can do it, Steve.”

“No, you can’t. You’re not ready.”

“Not ready for what? Collecting data from an old base?”

“Anything could happen on these missions! Even if it’s recon or data collection.” Steve shuts you down, and you cower slightly under his authority, “You don’t know how to use any form of weaponry, you’re not fast enough yet, you haven’t been trained to think like the team or on your feet in a way that will save you with the stuff that we encounter.” He lists and with every factor, you just feel your confidence diminish less and less, “Sure, if you get robbed on the street, you’ll be fine. But missions are a lot more than just humans and fists.” You’re silent. You’re not looking at him. Tears threaten to spill over your bottom lashes but you blink them away, “You’re not ready and you’re not risking the lives of others just to play around out there. As your Captain, I will not let you.” That stung, and only infuriated you more, “You’re already taken off the mission so there’s no point in arguing any further.” Icing on the cake. Invalidating your feelings? Telling you what you shouldn’t do?

You barely give him an ounce more of attention as you head for the door. You hear him softly call your name but you ignore it, slamming the door behind you as you head for your old room, tears finally making their way down your face.

Steve felt terrible. Sure, he did. He’d do anything to redo the situation and end it better. But he’s just glad you’re not on that mission anymore.

He doesn’t know where this will lead him. Or you. Or the both of you and your relationship.

He found out you’d resorted to your old room, the one you had lived in before you started dating Steve. You’d moved into Steve’s room about two months after dating. He had a much bigger room than yours so it was only natural for you to fill that space.

And so, now that you’re gone, Steve feels the coldness of the room much more.

The bed wasn’t warm, the diffuser you bought him hadn’t been turned on so it didn’t smell as great, his plants hadn’t been watered, there weren’t any candy wrappers in the bed side table from you snacking on them after dinner. It was only little things that had changed, little things that could easily be fixed. But they were what made the room yours as well as his.

All your belongings were left behind of course. So that was at least a good sign for now. You weren’t completely breaking up with him. You just needed space… right?

Steve had wondered past your old room a few times in the day. He never knew what he was looking for exactly… maybe an open door so that he could at least muster up the courage to talk to you. Because instead, a closed door met him every time, and that translated to Steve as ‘leave me the fuck alone’.

The next time he saw you that day was during dinner. Clint had cooked for the whole of the team, so you begrudgingly brought yourself down to eat with the team.

You ignored Steve the whole night. You didn’t sit next to him, rather across from him… and a few seats down. Luckily, you weren’t brought up in much conversation so you didn’t have a reason to talk or for Steve to look at you (though it didn’t stop him, you definitely felt his eyes on you all night). But Steve was often talking, but even then you didn’t look at him- just kept your head down and played with your food on the plate.

You doubt anyone really noticed the tension between you and Steve. Maybe only like Tony, Bucky and Nat… and probably Wanda. Which was good. Well, not great but you’re glad it wasn’t widely known that you and Steve obviously weren’t on the best of terms right now.

As soon as Bruce had excused himself from dinner, saying he had some work to do- you were quick to follow suit. You didn’t have work to do, or an early morning to catch some sleep, you just couldn’t stand Steve’s lingering stare any longer. And you weren’t up for dessert.

No one payed much mind to your departure, except Steve, of course. He looked as if he wanted to say something, like he was gonna stop you or ask if you were okay just to throw the team off or offer to walk you up to your room. But he opted to stay silent as you thanked Clint for the lovely dinner and bid goodnight to everyone.

It wasn’t long before Steve was excusing himself also. Maybe about a half hour after you had left. He found he was zoning out of the conversations the longer he stayed and thought about you. How you barely looked at him. From the outside looking in, you wouldn’t even think you two were dating from the way you ignored him tonight.

And he gets it. You’re arguing right now and you’re angry at him- rightfully so. But he’s kept you safe. He fulfilled his duty as both your captain and your boyfriend. He can’t regret any of his actions.

But that doesn’t mean he won’t. He at least regrets the way he said things. He could’ve been a lot more professional… and a lot softer. But he cared too much to just let this slide, if he wasn’t firm, you wouldn’t have taken him seriously.

Bucky offers Steve a reassuring pat on the back as he emerges from his seat and wishes everyone a goodnight just like you had.

With a heavy sigh, he makes his way up the stairs and into the quieter hallway of rooms.

Bruce’s door is shut, but Steve can see the light leaking underneath and hear faint music playing as he probably works on something for Tony.

As Steve walked further along, he slowed his steps as he saw your door… open.

The light was on, and he heard a few noises come from the room, so he figured you were in there too.

He quickly weighed up his decision. Every other time, your door was closed and Steve took that as his sign to give you the space you needed. And maybe he’s reading it all wrong and you had just forgotten to close your door, but he at least wanted to say goodnight to you.

You both had a rule in your relationship, created after a particularly heated argument on Steve and… Peggy. Never go to bed angry or without saying goodnight. You had both gone to bed mad, you back in your own room of course, leaving Steve alone in his. Just like now. That night, Steve was called for an emergency mission. He got hurt… badly… and at the early hours of 3 in the morning, you were sitting by his side in the hospital not knowing if he was even going to wake up. Not knowing if he knew you still loved him. He eventually woke and you’d never been so happy so early in the morning. And that’s how you made the rule.

Reminiscing back on the memory, Steve soon found himself at your door. You were seated at your desk, diary in front of you as you scribbled words onto the page. Your headphones connected to your laptop as you listened to music while you wrote.

And it was strange. You felt his presence and his eyes burning into your body.

Steve stared so hard because it was a sight he already missed. There were many times when you’d both been loaded with work. Steve often had more work than you, but you pretended like you did too. You’d sit with him in his own office or in the lab and just individually work while he did his thing.

When he finished, he would spin in his chair and be met with your back turned to him. Sometimes you fell asleep, but often times you were drawing or doing a crossword. Much like how you looked now.

You turned your head to face Steve at your door and you felt your heart rate quicken. Why were you so nervous? He stood there, just as nervous it seemed.

He pursed his lips, giving you a small nod with sad eyes that he couldn’t conceal, “Goodnight.”

Your face softened a little. He looked like he wanted to say much more. And you knew this was just part of your rule that you’d made.

As angry as you were at him, you weren’t going to let him go to bed questioning your love for him.

Fiddling with your pencil, you muster up the strength to speak for the first time in many hours, “Night, Steve.”

And though you had went straight back to your diary after that, barely sparing him another glance, Steve couldn’t ask for much else as he shut the door to your room and got ready for bed.

The next morning was hardly much different from last night.

Steve had actually left for a mission early in the morning. You weren’t awake, of course, but he’d left a note for you. It was only simple.

‘Gone on the mission. I should be back in one piece.

Steve.’ And a quick <3 in the corner.

You found yourself smiling at the note as you read it, even a little emotion that he left without saying a proper goodbye. If anything happened to him, you swear to God-

But it wasn’t long before you were upset again. That was the mission. The one you were supposed to be on. Instead of stuck here in the lonely compound.

It wasn’t too lonely though. You had Vision. But that was it. Still, you couldn’t complain.

He joined you in the lab as you tried to get your mind off of the whole mission thing and Steve. But it was impossible, every few seconds- now matter how much you thought about the task at hand or about Groot.

Vision kept to himself, mostly just keeping you company as the only two in the compound. He played his little games from the New York Times and minded his own while you struggled in silence.

“You’re upset.” You lift your eyes from the iPad in front of you, looking up to see Vision no longer immersed in his games, but looking straight at you. “Something is bothering you.” He elaborates, robotically.

You slouch in your seat and blink your eyes, feeling the ache of being so tense hit you all at once.

You don’t question Vis’ analytical skills of your body language, instead you just sigh and confess, “Just sucks having to stay here while everyone has all the fun.”

You’re certain he knows nothing of the situation about you and your mission drama. But you’re sure he still understands what you’re talking about in general.

“It’s not always fun.” He replies, “It’s dangerous and they could be killed in a matter of seconds without the right judgement.”

Looking away from his piecing blue eyes, you nod, “I know.” You fiddle absentmindedly with the locket around your neck, the one that Steve gave you as you look out the window.

“You’re upset about more than that.” Vision then adds, squinting his eyes at you a little.

“It just seems like Steve doesn’t even want me on missions with him. He made me feel clingy and annoying.” You blurt out. You catch yourself talking about the events of the argument that Vision probably had no idea about, but he doesn’t say anything. Just let’s you vent, “I just feel like he doesn’t think I’m good enough too. But he just says I’m not ready.” You mutter, eyes beginning to water, “I trained so hard with Nat- I was so excited.”

Vision places a hand on your back and rubs as a few tears fall. You wipe them immediately, trying to erase their existence but it’s no use. They keep falling and your cheeks are soaked.

Vision waits a moment before he speaks, allowing you to collect yourself. You never talked so openly about the confidence issues you developed in the past few hours from everything that happened. And talking about it to Vision only made you realise how serious it was.

With the tissue that you grabbed, you manage to dry your eyes a little, head cast down as you sit in silence with Vision.

“Maybe,” Vision starts up again, softer eyes now as you reconnect his gaze, “He’s scared to see you hurt.” He suggests and you furrow your brows a little, sniffling softly. “If anything happens to anyone on those missions, Steve blames himself- you know that more than anyone.” He elaborates, “And if anything were to happen to you…” He continues, “It’s hard to keep things professional around those you love.”

The way those last words left Vision’s mouth made you blink at him. It so sounded like something Steve would’ve said. Like Steve had said it to Vision and Vision had just replayed it back to you but in his own voice. That’s when it hits you that… he knows. Vision knows all about the argument you had with Steve. Because just like you are now, Steve vented to him too.

After your chat with Vision, you confirmed that he had in fact talked with Steve yesterday about the situation after finding him distressed, running laps on the compound field.

You thought about everything he’d said, everything Steve said and all the valid points that were made.

You guessed that deep inside, you knew Steve was just doing all of what he did to keep you safe. You couldn’t imagine how hard it would be to lose another person he loved- better yet blame himself for it as well.

Which is how you found yourself back in his room. Well, your previously shared room.

It had only been a day without you and you could already point out all the things that needed fixing. The bed was made too neatly it looked cold, the diffuser wasn’t turned on, his plants were at least watered but there was hardly any life to the room without some of your mess (candy wrappers on the bedside table).

You turned on the diffuser and de-made the bed. Fluffing the pillows and unravelling the throw blanket. You forgot how soft his bed was. Especially in comparison to your own. Not to mention all the cool gadgets he had attached to his: an overhead lamp, a charging port in the bed frame.

After your whole de-making of the room, you were actually exhausted. Maybe it wasn’t from the cleaning, maybe it was from the sleepless night, tossing and turning wondering why you couldn’t sleep. Not used to having such a small, cold bed with no arms wrapped around you. Not used to loud snores at your ear, that somehow still soothed you to sleep. As cliche as it was, the silence in your room was deafening.

So as you laid in bed, watching the TV across from you, your eyelids became uncontrollably heavy.

Steve frowned when you weren’t at the bottom of quinjet ramp to meet him after his mission. Not that he entirely expected you to, but still, he wasn’t used to it.

Disbanding from the rest of the group who remained downstairs to get themselves checked out first, Steve made a break for his room.

He wanted nothing more than a hot shower and to finish all his post-mission paperwork and then sleep.

As he passed by your room, the door was shut. He debated knocking but quickly decided against it. He wouldn’t even know what to say if he did, tell you all about the mission that he took you off of? How much of a success it was without you? He’d only get himself in more trouble.

So he trudged his way to his room, paying no mind to the closed door despite leaving it open before he left.

When he opened it, the smell of cinnamon hit him in the face. His body physically relaxed, almost muscle memory. Furrowing his brows, he first looked over at the diffuser machine which had been turned on- then to the moving bundle of blankets on his bed.

The sound of the door opening so abruptly woke you from your deep slumber, interrupting your not so safe for work dream of Steve. You rubbed your eyes due to the blinding light emerging from the door that was wide open, with Steve’s burly figure standing in the middle of it making you sit up.

“Sorry-” He quickly mutters, casting his gaze down and moving to shut the door. You had laid claim to his bed, and you were probably still mad at him, so he should leave you alone, right? That’s all his mind could think of.

But your soft voice stops him in his tracks, “You’re back.” You whisper, voice strained from your sleep.

Blinking at you, he nods, “Yeah,” He’s thoroughly confused. He didn’t hallucinate the whole argument, did he? Or are you pretending it didn’t happen? Not that he’s not happy you’re in his bed or anything, he’s just utterly confused. If Steve’s learned anything, you should still be locked away in your room, refusing to look at him.

Sliding out from the warm blanket, you near the edge of the bed, slipping in your wooly slippers before making your way towards Steve.

His breath hitched in his throat when you approached him, not only that but your nighttime clothes were amongst his favourite for you to wear… because they showed certain things and just looked cute.

You take the door from his hand and shut it behind him before slithering your hand in his and looking up at him, “I talked to Vis today.” You start, finger tracing all of the lines and ridges in his suit, “He told me what you told him.” You look up at him now, “I’m sorry, I should’ve known that was why.”

He immediately shakes his head, grasping onto both of your arms, “No, I’m sorry.” He says, “I shouldn’t have yelled. I should’ve talked to you about it first.”

You shake your head. It was hardly about the yelling, you could take a raised voice, “I just thought you thought I was being too clingy or that I wasn’t good enough.”

Steve’s eyes widen slightly when you confess the real reason you were so upset with him. Shaking his head, he pulls you closer, moving his hands from your arms to your waist, “Never.” He assures you and you look down, but he’s quick to nudge your chin back up, “You’re more than good enough, you just need more training and you’ll be ready… Even when you are ready, I’ll still worry.”

You nod, you know that now.

Bringing your hands up to his cheek, you rub the prickly skin before getting up on your tippy toes and pressing your lips to his. God, you missed that- even if it was only 24 hours. Your body relaxes under his grasp and you would’ve turned into putty had he not held you so tight. And you literally heard Steve grunt softly when your lips met his own.

You hated to break away from the kiss, but you had to- as an idea popped into your head, “Why don’t you train me, then?” You asked, hands rubbing softly at his chest, “Train my brain to think like yours… So when I do get out on the field, we’ll be okay.”

Steve looked down at you with a soft smile. But you couldn’t tell what he was thinking.

He could tell you really wanted to go on missions, because after everything, you were still begging to go.

“Okay.” He nods. Yeah, it could work. If he trains you, and you train together, then sure enough you’ll become one in a way. Maybe you could even develop and add to your own silent language, so that out on the field, a single glance could communicate all that needs to be said and done.

Yeah, that could work.

˚୨୧⋆｡˚ ⋆｡･:*:･ﾟ★,｡･:*･ﾟ☆

hope u enjoyed!

#steve x y/n #steve x you #steve rogers x you #steve rogers fluff #steve rogers angst #steve rogers imagine #steve rogers #captain america #steve rogers x reader #steve rogers smut

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afterthegreatunknown · 6 months

Text

a long, complicated denouement headcanon, featuring the sbg

Despite their ‘100%’ identical appearance in TPP/the ASOUE period, the Denouement triplets weren’t 100% identical. Dewey, Ernest, and Frank did not like being mistaken for one another when they were children, partly because the adults thought it ‘cute’ they dress identical. By their pre-teen years, they begun to differentiate from one another, and by the time they became young adults, were 100% no longer identical. Did that stop anyone from mistaking them for the wrong brother? Nope. But they (reluctantly) accepted it as it is.

(It’s ‘100%’ identical because there is one [1] thing that prevents them from truly being 100% identical.)

After an incident that had Dewey almost dying by a fire-starter, the Denouements realize that to keep their family and the newly built Hotel Denouement safe, they had to be identical once again. Fearing also for Dewey’s life, they hatched a plan that they didn’t want to do, but knew was necessary to allow them to be secretly neutral a la Olivia Caliban under the Madame Lulu persona at Caligari Carnival (the organization didn’t grant them permission to be neutral).

The Denouements ended up faking Dewey’s death in an unrelated VFD accident, and have Ernest and Frank fake their own family schism. Ernest ‘joins’ the fire-starters, while Frank remaining ‘loyal’ to the fire-fighters. With the two brothers now on opposite sides yet still running the Hotel Denouement together, both sides end up treading carefully with their actions. As such, the Denouement triplets achieve the goal of neutrality underneath almost everyone’s noses (some are in on the ruse).

So, by ASOUE, they’re ‘100%’ identical. But in the past, they weren’t, yet sometimes still got mistaken for one another despite making it easy. What were those attempts? Who are those that can 100% tell the brothers apart, mostly pre-canon? Who can’t 100% tell the brothers apart, pre-canon (and maybe during canon itself)?

100% can tell the Denouement triplets apart:

Raymond ‘Q’ Quagmire: As their [adopted] cousin, Raymond discovered a speaking quirk the Denouements triplets individually have. Dewey speaks in a steady pace that isn’t too polite or formal; it’s in between. Ernest speaks slightly faster on the casual/friendly side. Frank speaks slightly slower, more directly + formal, and is the sole Denouement to throw in a cuss word in conversation if given the chance/angry (sometimes minor, sometimes major).

(This speaking quirk is the one [1] thing that prevents them from being 100% identical by the ASOUE period.)

Joan Quagmire, nee Morstan, and her triplet sisters Alex and Lindsey: The sisters picked up the speaking quirk after their first meeting with the Denouements. The sisters also discovered how each Denouement triplet -at least Ernest and Frank- use a different dominate hand. Ernest is right-handed, while Frank is left-handed. Dewey while ambidextrous, is more likely to use his right hand than left. So if Joan, Alex, or Lindsey are interacting with either Dewey and/or Ernest but don’t know who it exactly and they’re using their right hand for something, the speaking quirk is their guide.

(By the ASOUE period, Ernest and Frank successfully taught themselves to use their other hand. Frank had the harder time though.)

The Snicket Siblings: The Snicket siblings, not long after picking up on the speaking quirk, discovered the Denouement style their three (3) hairstyles differently. Their first style -short hair with bangs- has Dewey leaving his bangs alone, Ernest sweeps his bangs more towards the right, and Frank sweeps his bangs more to the left. Their second style - hair down to their neck nickname ‘the Mane’- their ends are all different; one of Dewey’s ends goes down while the other ends flips upward, both of Ernest’s ends flip up, while both of Frank’s ends goes down. Their third style is the ‘growing out’ stage between hairstyle one and two; Dewey never tucks and runs a hand through his hair, Ernest tucks and runs a hand via his right hand, and Frank tucks and runs a hand via his left hand.

(By the ASOUE period, it was agreed via Dewey’s insistence that they rotate one another in a cycle, to keep it lively. During the period of TPP, all three brothers were in their ‘Mane’ phrase, copying Ernest’s style.)

Bertrand: After picking up on the speaking quirk, Bertrand discovered the Denouements react differently regarding hugs and handshakes. Dewey accepts and gives them out with glee. Ernest is always shock when receiving them and ends them quick; he also rarely initiates them but when he does, he does it in a friendly/casual matter. Frank reluctantly accepts and gives them out. Frank is also the sole Denouement willing to tackle/throw someone to the ground if they’re very suspicious, VFD member or not.

(By the ASOUE period, Ernest and Frank managed to act like Dewey regarding hugs and handshakes. Frank also managed to stop tackling/throwing people to the ground, making others do it in his place, like the waitress in TPP who threw that man on the floor after he asked for sugar.)

Beatrice: After picking up on the speaking quirk and hair quirk, Beatrice discovered the Denouements wear different colors socks, even if they’re all dress identically for reasons. Dewey wears blue socks, Ernest wears green socks, and Frank wears red socks. Beatrice also learned another 100% sure way to tell them apart if all three are in a matching suit and tie (they don’t wear bowties) with matching socks; Dewey always has his tie properly on, Ernest’s tie is slightly loosen, and Frank for whatever reason is missing a cuff link, or has one unbuttoned cuff.

(By the ASOUE period, the Denouements decided to wear white socks only. Ernest and Frank also decided to copy Dewey’s dressing habit. Ernest constantly fights the urge to loosen up his tie. Frank quickly adapted to wearing both cuff links/have buttoned cuffs.)

Can 100% tell apart the Denouement triplets. HOWEVER...

R: R learned the Denouement triplets dressing quirk of different color socks, taking weeks to figure out which color each triplet associated with. However, when it comes to a matching suit and tie with matching socks, R for some reason, thinks Dewey is missing the cuff link/has the one unbuttoned cuff, Ernest has the tie properly on, and Frank has the slightly loosen time. R discovers she got this particular quirk wrong post-canon, after an accidental meeting with the sole Denouement triplet survivor.

Monty: Monty learned of the Denouement triplets hair quirks for hairstyle one and two after several rapid conversations with each brother in under an hour. However, Monty never did figure out the quirk for their third hairstyle, and so he keeps quiet on who he thinks he’s talking too to avoid trouble. In Monty’s defense, he rarely interacts with the Denouements when they’re growing out their hair; Monty has the odd luck of interacting with them with either short hair with bangs or with ‘the Mane’.

Widdershins: Widdershins picked up on the Denouements’ speaking quirk after a few years of interactions. However, Widdershins can be trick into thinking he’s talking to the wrong brother. The only Denouements who does the tricking is Ernest, but that’s only in the month of April. Widdershins is mainly trick by his associates who also can 100% tell the brothers apart due to them wanting to prank the Denouements, or are angry at the Denouements and are using Widdershins as their stand-in.

Can 100% tell apart Ernest and Frank, but throw in Dewey...

Gregor and Hector + Josephine: The three discovered that Ernest is right-handed and Frank is left-handed. Because Dewey is ambidextrous with a leaning of using his right-handed, they will make the mistake of thinking Dewey is Ernest, and vice versa until correct, which in that case, they’ll apologize to both. At least Hector and Josephine. Gregor will apologize to Dewey, but not Ernest. Ernest has no idea why he never gets the apology.

Miranda and Olivia: The two Calibans discovered together that Ernest is a bit of a motor-mouth, and Frank is a bit of a slow talker. Dewey’s steady, polite pace has him getting mistaken as Frank by the two. In their defense, they don’t interact much with the Denouements, so they will apologize when corrected. Olivia does it more so, especially to Dewey.

Can 100% tell apart Dewey and Ernest, but throw in Frank...

N (Nestor) Caliban: Like his sisters, N. discovered that Ernest is a bit of a motor mouth. However, his discovery was made when Ernest was with Dewey. As such, Frank’s slightly slow speaking matter is mistaken at times by N. as Dewey trying to get his point across. N. usually realizes he’s wrong after thirty seconds, apologize, and continue on with the conservation.

Haruki: Haruki, because of all the coffee drinks Ernest partakes in with him and Larry, knows the man’s quirks. But Haruki doesn’t know the quirks of Dewey and Frank, for Haruki rarely visits the Hotel Denouement. As such, whenever Haruki runs into Dewey or Frank at a party or meeting, he avoids saying their name or says ‘Denouement’ when talking to one of them.

Can 100% tell apart Dewey and Frank, but throw in Ernest...

The Sebald Siblings: The reason why Sally and Gustav can’t tell Ernest apart from Dewey and Frank is because they interact with Ernest the least. Every quirk known for Dewey and Frank, the Sebalds know. It’s just Ernest’s quirks they lacking knowledge of. They’re as such, apologizing constantly.

Can 100% tell Ernest and Frank apart, but they don’t think Dewey exists (because they got the luck of never interacting with Dewey properly):

Ike: Ike discovered the sock quirk by accident, and the dominate hand quirk after observations. One of the two SBG fire-fighter members to think Dewey as non-existent, sort of. Ike thinks Dewey was a brother to Frank and Ernest (in that order because Ike assumes Frank is older due to his demeanor), but died after choking on an avocado pit. Attempts to tell Ike the truth about Dewey never happen due to Ernest finding it hilarious to stop anyone from telling Ike (this is why Gregor never apologizes to Ernest).

Larry: Larry is the other SBG fire-fighter members to think Dewey as non-existent, sort of. He too, thinks Dewey was a brother who died after choking on an avocado pit, and also not told the truth due to Ernest finding it hilarious to stop anyone from telling Larry. Larry learned on his own very quickly Ernest and Frank have different hairstyles after accidentally getting coffee with Frank once. Larry does learn Dewey is, or was, real, post-canon, and promptly punches the sole surviving Denouement triplet in the stomach for making him [Larry] thinking Dewey died by other means.

Olaf: After interacting with Ernest and Frank after so many years, especially Ernest, Olaf picked up on their hair quirk. Regarding Dewey, Olaf thinks of him as their dead brother who didn’t survive childbirth that comes to ‘life’ every April Fool’s Day. Attempts to tell Olaf the truth are always interrupted by outsiders, before attempts just stop happening.

Esme: Esme picked up on their hair quirk after an accidental night out with Frank (best night Esme ever had). Regarding Dewey, Esme thinks that Dewey was their brother who died as a child in the same fire that also killed their parents, and goes with the ‘joke’ every April Fool’s Day that brings Dewey back to ‘life’. Attempts to tell Esme the truth never happened.

[Regarding the matter of Dewey faking their death and his funeral, which would reveal to the four that Dewey is a real person, they were all conveniently out of the City and Land of Districts at the time of it happening. On the matter of Ernest ‘joining’ the fire-starters while Frank ‘stays’ loyal to the fire-fighters, their return had them learning of a family schism that drove the brothers apart, and weren’t given more information about it.]

100% can’t tell Ernest and Frank apart, and has no idea Dewey exists.

Jerome: Not part of the SBG or VFD, but his association with Beatrice and the Snickets (mainly Jacques) puts him on the list. Jerome, try as he might with Beatrice’s help, he just can’t tell Ernest and Frank apart. Jerome managed it twice, but they were lucky guesses due to Frank swearing. Jerome didn’t get better even after learning of VFD during the ASOUE period.

Charles: Not officially part of VFD, but because he offer his services and has knowledge of VFD and its working, he gets put on the list. Charles, to avoid embarrassment on being wrong, refers to Ernest and Frank as ‘Denouement’, even in less formal settings. This actually works to Charles’ favor, for either one will always say, “Please, call me [X].”

Fernald: Not part of the SBG, but he is a lump member. Fernald legit can’t tell Ernest and Frank apart, even with help from his stepfather (before he became a stepfather). And Fernald didn’t get better after joining the fire-starters. Fernald as such, keeps quiet and hopes others like Olaf or Esme, will recognize they’re talking to Ernest, before jumping into the conversation himself.

100% can’t tell the Denouement triplets apart and doesn’t bother to make the attempt to learn their quirks:

Georgina Orwell: Because Georgina doesn’t see herself as part of the SBG and never makes the attempt to associate/interact with them as if she is, this is chalked up to rare interactions between them. The Denouements rarely are in need her services, and Georgina rarely goes to their hotel (she prefers the Preludio). When they do interact (usually in a meeting or party), Georgina takes the polite route and calls them ‘Denouement’.

Bonus: A lump OSG member who 100% can tell the Denouement triplets apart, but pretends otherwise:

Adeline Montgomery, Monty’s older sister: Adeline is four years older than Monty. When the schism broke out, Adeline being ten and Monty being six pushed her into being lump with the OSG. Adeline can tell the Denouement triplets apart by their hair quirk. The reason she pretends not to is because she feels bad that Monty, who also uses the hair quirk, still makes mistakes, so she makes herself worse in comparison.

#asoue #a series of unfortunate events #denouement triplets #dewey denouement #ernest denouement #frank denouement #book verse #headcanons #sugar bowl gen #sugar bowl generation #being mainly focus on the denouements #not going to make the attempt to tag everyone

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