#medical assistant: yeah i never saw that show but i heard it was popular in the 90s?

[powpowhammer]

faded blue house portrait hanging on the wall at the local urgentcare

#medical assistant: yeah i never saw that show but i heard it was popular in the 90s? #me: (takes lethal psychic damage) #house md #good post good post

[plussizeappreciationfics]

Series: Just the assistant..?

Pairing: Tom Hiddleston x Plus sized reader

Summary: [Y/N], Tom's personal assistant knows that she shouldn't have fallen in love with her employer but she just couldn't help herself. When she thinks that her biggest wish is about to come true, a third party arrives and makes her question whether she'd ever have a chance to escape her situation and simply be loved back by the person she loves the most...

Warning(s): adult language

Word count: 2,3k 

Picture(s) found on: Pinterest/Google

CHAPTER TWO: The boundaries have been overstepped

“I’m fine, just make sure that the stylist closes the door behind her once you’re gone” [Y/N] spoke into her phone before letting out a soft cough, her throat sore and itchy. She heard a long sigh from the other end of the line and rolled her eyes.

“Tom, this isn’t the first time I’m sick. So what, I caught a cold a three days ago, it’s not the end of the world” she couldn’t see the actor’s frown increasing on his face as he listened to her weak voice explaining her situation. 

Hours before, the assistant had been tossing and turning in her bed for quite a while, her body not being at peace because it longed to be held again by Tom. She couldn’t stop thinking about the dinner, how intense his stares has been and how he suddenly seemed so interested in her. [Y/N] was staring at the dark ceiling of her room and shook her head in contentment, having a feeling that something special would happen to her very soon.

He felt bad because he technically had been the reason his assistant had gotten sick in the first place; After their celebration dinner, Tom had ended up not being able to fall asleep, so he had called [Y/N] over and they ended up stargazing in his backyard, barely speaking a word with each other. They just sat next to each other, shoulders and arms touching and looked up the beautiful sky with a faint smile ghosting on their lips.

By the time [Y/N] had returned home, she was a coughing and sneezing mess and thus resulted in her having to take a week off because she had caught a nasty cold. She was on her 4th day off and pretty much enjoyed not having to do much physical activity besides feeding herself and taking her medication on time.

“Tom? Are you still there?” the assistant asked, wondering why he was being so silent. The actor cleared his throat and felt his stomach churn in discomfort, the intense need to take care of [Y/N] making it hard for him to focus on anything else. He couldn’t have a good day while knowing that she was in poor health and discomfort, he wished that he could heal her with a simple hug but that was obviously impossible.

Her thoughts had been interrupted by Tom calling her, nervously asking her if his call wasn’t a disturbance because the world was fast asleep. [Y/N] gently told him that she hadn’t been able to sleep either before happily accepting his invitation to stargaze in his backyard as he had one of the best views.

“Yeah, yeah, I’m still here…Just let me know if there’s anything I can do for you. Anything. I-need you-I mean we need you strong and healthy again” Tom added a quick fake cough at the end as he had realized that he was starting to slip, he had been thinking about his assistant a lot the past few days and had found himself calling and texting her more than usual, she reciprocated to his mood and energy though. So he knew that he wasn’t bothering her at all.

Her stomach was fluttering in delight and she couldn’t help but smile and stare into space. Something is happening, Tom has been very attentive and kinda needy of my presence the last few days…Maybe he’s starting to feel the same way…Or maybe he’s going through something and is gathering the courage to finally share it with me…

“I’ll be fineeeeee, just don’t forget to tell me who your costars will be on the play. Bye” and with that, [Y/N] quickly hung up the phone before releasing the breath she didn’t know she was holding in. She had heard the slip up and forced herself to not read too much in between the lines. 

“Anyhow” [Y/N] muttered to herself while getting comfortable under the warm sheets of her bed. She still had three days of peace and quiet and was enjoying them by getting as much sleep as possible and catching up with her reading list. Today she would’ve had a busy day ahead; Tom had 2 talk shows appearances. 

She thankfully already had helped him arrange his wardrobe for the appearances through her phone and laptop, the stylist only had to come by and deliver the suits, which would be in an hour, but [Y/N] already had strictly (but kindly) instructed her to do her job and make sure that everything was alright with the clothes.

Tom had gotten a fresh trim the morning and had decided to let his long curls stay the way they were (because [Y/N] had voiced a nice compliment about the way it looked so the actor silently decided to grow it out a little more).

His driver was also on his way as he preferred to be driven to public events. Tom’s fans were known for blocking entries and streets once they’d know he’d be present somewhere. He loved his fans to death, but he knew that driving himself through a sea of frantic people (with his already bad eyesight) could cause a serious accident. 

Everything that had to be done, was done. So, [Y/N] was able to relax and focus on getting her health back on track.

She took one final glance at her phone before locking the screen and placing it on her nightstand, feeling tired and sore. It didn’t take her long to fall asleep, with her special someone lingering in her mind…

“What are you doing here?” [Y/N] wondered in confusion upon seeing Tom welcome himself into her home, his jacket already removed along with the shoes. He then made his way over to the couch where she comfortably seated, her phone in her hand and looking through her mails. She silently was thankfully for the shower she had taken thirty minutes ago because she looked like her normal self and also smelled good.

“I am here to keep you company on your final days off as I know that you have missed my presence oh so much” the actor added a dramatic sigh while sitting next to his assistant and appreciating her beauty from up close. “Of course did I miss you, I can’t stand to be parted from you for so long, oh my dear Thomas” she reciprocated his dramatic and sarcastic tone, although she was being completely honest.

Three days later

“Then we shall enjoy each other’s company before the hectic and busy world seeks our attention again, M’lady” the actor spoke with a chuckle, the bright smile on his face still very much present. He was wearing a simple pair of blue pants and his famous dark blue sweater, he looked as scrumptious as always. 

[Y/N] had to swallow hard as she forced her eyes to not scan him from head to toe, it would make it obvious that she was attracted to him, emotionally and physically. These next few hours certainly would be trick and tempting…

“Do you want to watch a movie?” Tom suggested, placed his arm around her shoulder and gave her a gentle squeeze for no reason at all (Well…we all know the reason, don’t we?). “Sure, you can pick one out!” [Y/N] spoke with excitement, euphoria pumping through her blood as she now knew that she was addicted to his touch. No one had ever made her feel so comfortable. She was a confident woman but to feel this extra layer of security and comfort just soothed her soul on the daily.

“We can watch whatever you want, darling” Tom mumbled, feeling a rush of contentment himself from purely having her this close to him. [Y/N] took the remote in her hand and opened the Netflix app, she looked through her daily suggestions and the top ten of most popular movies that were currently trending. Tom’s soft fingers were playing with the material of her shirt, reaching the hem of her sleeve and then smoothly drawing random patterns on her soft skin.

“How about Spirited Away? It’s been years since I’ve seen that masterpiece!” [Y/N] happily suggested, “Plus the movie also shows how love can be so strong, even when the two people barely acknowledge or talk about it. It’s all about the actions”. Hearing the short description had the actor instantly curious and so he agreed to watch it, despite never having seen it himself.

Both relaxed against the couch (yes, Tom’s arm still around [Y/N]’s shoulder, now having moved even closer so that their bodies were in constant contact), before the movie was playing on the screen. [Y/N] randomly explained certain scenes that had the actor a little bit confused and once he’d understand the reference or meaning behind it, he couldn’t help but lean in and whisper his thanks into her ear. To say that the tension was thick, sizzling yet light and delicate was an understatement.

__

[Y/N] slowly opened her eyes, letting out a tired sigh while slowly acknowledging the conscious world again. “Mhm” she mumbled, realizing that she had fallen asleep sometime during the movie. She was about to sit up straight when a strong, but gentle grip around her thick waist pulled her back.

Fuck.

She turned her head to look behind her and saw Tom sleeping peacefully, having lied down behind her at some point. He grumbled softly in his slumber before pulling her warm body closer to him again. [Y/N] felt like she was about to have a heart attack. But she still slowly repositioned herself in her previous position and stared at the TV screen.

She knew that they had overstepped a heavy boundary of their professional relationship. But did she feel bad? Nope. She felt so at ease, it was like his arms were made just for her. The current moment was one she had often dreamed about and to actually have the privilege to experience it was just indescribable.

“[Y/N]….” Tom whispered in his sleep, his voice low and rich with smoothness. He was literally trying to pull her into his body, his hands gently squeezing one of her stomach rolls. She felt his toned chest against her back along with the body heat he was radiating onto her, his head now nuzzling in the crook of her neck. When his soft breaths tickled her sensitive skin, [Y/N] thought that she was about to burst into flames. The acts were so intimate yet tender, everything she had always assumed about him now being true.

Tom Hiddleston was a clingy sleep cuddler.

“Fuck” she whispered again when he let out a content sigh, already having tears brim her eyes as this all felt like dream. The man she had been loving for three years now was finally reciprocating her love. 

[Y/N] closed her eyes and enjoyed the amazing feeling of pure love and joy, she even reached her arm out and gently ran her hand through Tom’s soft curls and sighed in pure delight herself. She wished that she could stay like this forever, just the two of them. 

__

“[Y/N]?”

Her eyes fluttered open and she (again) took acknowledgment of her surroundings. She still was lying on her couch, But Tom was now sitting next to her, along with two bags of takeout resting on her coffee table.

“Mhm? I’m awake” [Y/N] mumbled once her brain recognized the sound of Tom’s soft voice calling out for her.

“Are you hungry? I ordered Thai as it’s almost six in the evening and you haven’t eaten anything yet” his gaze was soft and kind. The assistant nodded her head and slowly sat up, silently comprehending that Tom had woken up after she had fallen back asleep again. She felt a pang of disappointment churn in her stomach once she also realized that he was pretending like nothing had happened.

“Thanks Tom, I must have fallen asleep. My bad”

But she also understood and accepted why.

“Nothing to be sorry about, I fell asleep myself and actually had a great rest. The past few days had been very stressful, and I had really needed an afternoon of peace and quiet. So thanks again, [Y/N], for letting me enjoy your company”.

Tom’s appreciation speech actually mended the disappointment she felt, she hadn’t known about the few sorrows and stressed he had had because he hadn’t voiced them to her at all, despite having texted and called her plenty of times throughout the day.

Wow…

“You’re welcome, Tom” was all she was able to respond before reaching for the takeout bags and looking at what deliciousness were awaiting her. She ignored his piercing stare, not knowing why she suddenly was the sole focus of his attention. It was hard doing so because she felt like his eyes were burning holes on the side of her face.

“You’re very beautiful, [Y/N].

She turned to him, a bright smile creeping upon her face as her heart skipped a beat. “Thank you Tom, you are handsome yourself”. He chuckled and finally looked down at his lap, a slight crimson shade appearing on his cheeks as he felt flustered and appreciated.

[Y/N] handed him the second bag of food before removing the items in her own bag. 

“That’s amazing! Do you want me to book a table at your usual restaurant?” [Y/N] asked while feeling happy for Tom’s friends, she knew that he’d have a blast with the play and that sole thought left her smiling to herself while the actor continued to share the details of the upcoming play to her, still sitting very close to her and barely being able to keep her eyes off her beautiful face.

“By the way, I have great news”, [Y/N] hummed as in indication that she was listening while continuing to unpack her food. “Charlie and Zawe have been casted as the other two main characters in the play! We’ll be all going to dinner tomorrow!”

Tag list: @jamesbarnesappreciationclubub  l @pleasantdreamqueen l @disneymarina l l @harleycativy  l @sparklemichele l @melaninmarvel l @amethyst09 l @the-force-of-imagines l @bossyboyd03 l @pebblesz892 l @stars8melanin l @brittyevans l @toc1985 l @janeyboo l @badassbaker l @winters-beauty l @cannonindeez  l @ilovefanfic86  l @adorablespecialsnowflakes l @brittanyovens l @kanupps06 l @jazmynejack l @thebookwormslytherin l @theunsweetenedtruth l @talannalew l @littlexmissxfandomxlover l @amethyst-dreams-and-candy-canes l @crimsonash330 l @booklover2929 l @aranelgrey l @panda-duuu l @thisismysecrethappyplace  l @titty-teetee l @honey-anon l @princess-evans-addict l @hp-hogwartsexpress l @malindacath  l @letsdisneythings l @scorpionchild81 l @shado-raven l @alisoncdariel l @plutoneu l  @queenoftheworldisdead l @briannab1234l @miyaeadys-blog l @thenamelesscorpse2185 l @hihellogoodbyebruh l @nackrosor l @nerdgurl1985 l @2darkskinbeauty l @bugngiz l @african-melanin-goddess l @barnes-wilson-love l @ktiz90 l @let-the-love-in l @forlornfortitude l @robinredboob l @hopefuloperaangelnerd l @kola95 l @partypoison00 l @alwaysadreamingoptimist l @reniescarlett l @g0thicdream l @mayasopinions l @captaintightpants58 l @leillee​ l @kayleighsimone​ 

-Emmanuelle 💋❤️

#tom hiddleston #tom hiddleston x reader #tom hiddelston imagine #tom hiddleston x plus size reader #plus size reader

[waywardwrestlewritingwaif]

Raise the Stakes, Part 10

Hope you've enjoyed the pic/ inspiration spam I've ben posting! Here's the next section. YOu can find previous sections on the Master List.

Do I have an ending for this coming up? No. I have about 6 and I haven't decided which direction I'm going to go in. I've pretty much resigned myself to the fact that I'm not going to be able to "pick" an ending until after they have their match at Resurgence next week. But please feel free to message me and tell me what should happen. In the meantime...

Pairing: David Finlay x OFC x Jay White

Word count: 1,943

Content advisory: nothing really, although I guess there's some behavior that could be interpreted as creepy

You’re dimly aware of someone lifting you and carrying you and by the time you get backstage, you’re more or less fully conscious.

“Are you ok?” one of the production assistants comes running over.

“Yeah, I just haven’t had a lot to eat today,” you mumble. “I’m not hurt or anything.”

“I know it’s hot out there with the lights and everything.”

“Really, it’s ok, I just got a bit dizzy.”

The security guard looming over you, the man who brought you back here, looks a little skeptical.

“What happened?”

“You fainted.”

“No, I mean, what happened with the show? I saw that… Switchblade showed up.” You chuckle a little. “Did the other guys beat him up or are they all together?”

The production assistant smiles. “It was pretty cool. They kind of stared down but before anything happened, Juice and David went running out, so them and Callihan cleared the ring.”

“Nice.” You very much like the sound of that. “The good guys got one back.”

“Yeah, I mean Jay hit David and took him out at the end but it was pretty positive.”

“He what?”

“Yeah, after they’d driven everyone off, Jay jumped back in and did his blade runner thing on David. Looked pretty cool.”

Panic sets in.

“Is David ok?”

“I’m sure he is. Maybe his ego’s a bit bruised.”

“Where is he?”

You and David aren’t “out” as anything, you’re not even sure if you are anything, but you don’t care what anyone makes of it because you need to see him.

“I think he’s with the doctor,” the PA answers confusedly.

You’re immediately on your feet, all of your faculties returned, running for the medic’s office. When you get there, Juice tries to grab your arm but you dodge him and go skidding into the room where David is seated on the examination table. He looks at you like he’s surprised to see you.

“Are you alright?” he asks.

“Fine. Are you? I sort of fainted and… I heard you got hurt.”

He gives you a wink. “Nothing I haven’t felt before. This is just a precaution because I wasn’t expecting the…” He stares at you hard before addressing himself to the doctor. “Could you give us a minute?’

“No problem,” she sighs. “You look fine.”

David thrusts his chin out at Juice to tell him that he should back off too. His partner looks a little unsure but steps back a few paces.

Once you’re alone, David raises his arm, inviting you to come closer. When you’re within reach, he pulls you against him.

“I didn’t know,” you croak. “I had no idea about any of this, you have to believe me, I wouldn’t-”

“Hey,” he says softly, touching your cheek, “if you say you didn’t know then I believe you.”

“This is my fault, though. I made it worse.”

“Stop that. Jay’s an asshole. He always has to be angry about something. I beat him in Japan and you ditched him to come here.”

“For you,” you remind him.

He gives you a sweet kiss and runs his finger along the shell of your ear. “What do you mean, you fainted?”

“I just got dizzy. I haven’t really eaten.”

“Well let’s fix that. I’ll just finish up with the doc and we can go get something to eat.”

“You mean it?” It’s such a relief that he still wants to spend time with you that you feel like you’re going to pass out again.

“Yeah I mean it.” He grins and calls out for the doctor to come back in. She does a quick final check and determines that he can go.

He slips off the table and, as you go to leave, slips his arm around you. You respond in kind and it feels like your body is glowing.

Until you get into the hallway. There he is, talking to some of the guys, laughing away, the arrogance just rolling off him. He glances at the two of you with a sinister expression, his eyes locking onto yours until you turn your head away.

“You should kick his ass right here,” you growl.

David looks at you and shakes his head. “Not worth the trouble.” He gives you a squeeze before continuing, “Now what do you feel like eating?”

“At this point, anything that doesn’t eat me first.”

“I never did get my cheat pizza.”

“I think you deserve it,” you grin.

“So let’s go pick up some pizza. Then we can go back to your place and you can take care of me.”

A broad smile spreads across your face. “You aren’t getting sick of me yet?”

“Not even a little bit.”

He pulls you in front of him and kisses you full on, not wildly but enough to make it clear to anyone who sees you what’s going on. He chuckles when he lets you go and glances down the hallway where Jay is still holding court with his hangers-on.

“Jay,” he calls, waiting until he’s sure he has his enemy’s attention, “you lose.”

*

When you arrive at work on Monday, it’s with a considerable level of anxiety. Things have definitely gotten more complicated. Jay is, after all, a New Japan performer, and as the liaison between New Japan and US promotions, that means you’re supposed to work with him. Even the idea of being in the same room with him makes you shake a little. You and David finally spent a night apart so that he wouldn’t have to get up early when you did, but you’d still been texting until you both fell asleep. Truthfully, Jay hadn’t been on your mind as long as you were with David but now you can’t avoid thinking about him.

What you have with David feels amazing but it’s also new and fragile, a tiny shoot rising up from the soil, still trying to grow and lay down roots at the same time. You want to protect it and you know that Jay wants to kill it off because no one embarrasses him the way the two of you have. You don’t know what he’s planning to do, you just know you have to be wary of it.

For the first part of the day, it’s just backstage people and the production team going through what’s needed for the day’s tapings. Talent will arrive in the afternoon, followed by a small audience. You make your notes on who needs to be where and making sure it lines up with what Tokyo tells you they’re expecting. Some of them have to fly to California to do shows there and you need to make sure the tapings happening in the next few days aren’t going to interfere with any of those plans.

“Did you get it out of your system?”

He pounces on you out of nowhere, crowding you against the wall, eyes incandescent with anger. It’s hours before any of the performers are supposed to be here, which makes it a perfect time for him to ambush you.

“Get what out of my system, Jay?” you gasp, trying to hide how much he’s scared you.

“Don’t be coy,” he hisses. “This little romantic excursion you decided to send yourself on.”

“I told you, I felt like I’d accomplished all I could in the job and so I decided to grab this new opportunity-”

“I know exactly what you did and not because you told me anything. I got your cute little note. Blocking me on social media and everything was an especially nice touch. After everything we’d been through, everything I’d done for you, you didn’t even have the guts to say any of that bullshit to my face.”

“Ok, I should have done that. I owed you that. I apologize and I hope it didn’t cause you any…”

You look into his eyes and just freeze. He’s so sickeningly beautiful and frightening at that moment that there’s nothing you can do, not appease him, not flatter him, not reject him. You were right when you said you needed to get away from him to get over him, you just didn’t expect that he’d refuse to give you the chance.

“Aren’t you cute with your little prepared business speech. ‘I’m so sorry, Jay, I hope you found another person to do my job because that’s all that was going on, just me being your secretary.’ How long have you been memorizing that for when you finally had to see me again?

“You’ve had your fun, your laughs at my expense, but it ends now.”

“How fucking dare you!” Now you’ve found your voice and your strength. “You think you get to order me around like I’m something you own? I don’t work for you anymore. My job is here now. My life is here now.”

Jay straightens up to his full height, regarding you with a smirk. “Your life? Is that what you’re calling him now?”

“I meant just… everything.”

“Aw, David must feel so happy thinking this is where it ends.”

“As far as you and I are concerned, it has ended.” You glare at him. “I love him.”

The soft laugh he gives you is utterly unnerving. “You love me. You’ve loved me for years. Nothing’s changed. You ran off here because you got it in your head that you could make yourself love him, because you wanted to get back at me for whatever it is you think I’ve done to you. And you couldn’t even be around me and convince yourself at the same time that you really want him.”

“You arrogant prick. What the hell do you know about what I want?”

He laughs a little and captures your face with one hand, pressing his lips close to your ear.

“I love how angry you get when you know I’m right. And I love having you trapped like this.”

“Trapped how? I’m going to walk away from you and it’s going to be like this never happened. I’m going to have fun imagining David wiping that condescending look off your face for a few weeks until I finally get to see him do it.”

“Do you seriously think anyone in New Japan is going to think twice about dumping him if I tell them that I won’t work with him?”

“Whatever. He’s doing fine here.”

“Oh yes, he’s doing so well in Impact, the company that’s riding a wave of popularity because they’re working with other, bigger companies. I’m sure they’d stand up for him against all of their partners. I’m sure he’s so much more important to them than being able to work with me or any other real stars.”

He chuckles a little, pressing his face against yours.

“That’s the funny thing about forbidden doors. When they close, they all close at once.”

“Oh, so you’re threatening to get him shut out of every wrestling company just because you’re annoyed he stole your assistant.”

“You sell yourself short. But if you want to put it that way, yes.”

“You don’t have the attention span. You’ll get distracted by someone else you think has wronged you by the end of the week.”

“If that’s how you want to approach this, go right ahead. If I were a betting man, I wouldn’t like your odds of being right but I already know you’re going to do what you want.”

He grips your head firmly and plants a hard kiss on your forehead before backing off and sauntering down the hall as if nothing’s happened.

You were right when you told David he should stay away from you. This is bad.

#david finlay fanfic #david finlay imagine #jay white fanfic #jay white imagine #njpw fanfic #njpw imagine #impact wrestling fanfic #wrestling fanfiction #wayward wrestle writing

[thehelleniclunarwitch]

Oh To Be a Barton (Chapter Two)

@justgrits

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

A special lunch was to be held today. Today was a very special day for the performers and crew of the Traveling Wonders. Three years ago today, the Barton children had joined their family. In the end, Marcy was happy that she didn’t have to get rid of the kids they had grown on her the past three years and she felt motherly towards them. She adored all of them and wouldn’t change a thing.

Seventeen year old Barney, had made his way up through the ranks from bottom of the fish bowl to the top as the head of security guard proving his worth to Marcella. He trained under Jacques Duquesne, the Swordsman. Jacques mentored the boy over the past three years and helped him make his way up the ranks. Even though the man was a good teacher he was harsh and mean. Barney didn’t really trust the guy, but he appreciated what the man did for him.

Fifteen year old Clint, found himself under the wing of Buck Chisholm, or better known as Trick Shot. Clint discovered that he had quite the skill in archery. With the training of Trick Shot and his own skill he was able to earn himself the nickname, Hawkeye, and a part of the circus’s performance. People were always so amazed at the young teens talent. From his brother, Clint was taught to defend himself, some cities got out of hand and some fights broke out and Marcy liked knowing that her young crew members could take care of themselves.

Eight year old Emily, was left out to the dust by her brothers. Of course they always made time for their baby sister, but when it was time to work or train Emily had nowhere to go. Marcy convinced Clint to at least teach his sister enough moves to escape from anybody that attacked her. Emily didn’t like it at first. She didn’t like the fact that her brother was so rough on her, but the more he pushed her and with Barney’s watchful eye, Emily caught on easily. When Emily wasn’t able to train with her brother she followed Marcy around the whole compound.

Emily had become Marcy’s little personal assistant. The girl was incredibly intelligent and could hold better conversations with Marcy than most of the men and women that had worked for her for years. When Marcy had introduced Emily to the wonders of technology, Marcy swore she created a monster. Emily soaked up everything she read on the internet. Between her schooling with Marcy, training with Clint, and her own research on the computer the young girl really never had any other time to enjoy being a kid.

Marcy of course blames herself on that one for even introducing the girl to the computer, but as always it helped her out in the long end. Emily began looking up popular cities that would catch them more attention to bring in more money. She began doing research for Clint. Emily would find archery tricks, mixture them together so that two different tricks could mesh well, teach it to her brother and make Clint even better at performing. Having the kids around was definitely making her place so much better.

“Clint!” Emily shouted as she wove herself through the pitched tents.

“Hey sweetheart.” Clint greeted his sister when she finally came to a halt.

“Come on! Come on!” Emily urged as she pulled on Clint’s arm.

“What’s the rush?” Clint asked.

“Remember? It’s our special lunch today!” Emily exclaimed.

“Ugh, that’s today? I have to practice for tonight’s show.” Clint replied.

“Nobody is going to care, Clint. This lunch is for us.” Emily grinned.

Clint sighed and placed his bow back in it’s holder. Emily didn’t wait to hear his arguments. Instead she yanked him up out of his spot and started dragging him through the compound. Clint let out a small chuckle as her short legs stumbled in excitement as she pulled him along.

“Barney is already there.” Emily told him.

“Well if Barney is there.” Clint said.

“Yeah, exactly, you butthead.” Emily told him.

“I think you’re mistaken. Barney is the biggest butthead.” Clint pointed out.

“Nuh huh, Clint. The biggest butthead award goes to you.” Emily said.

Emily let out a squeal as Clint rushed forward and scooped her up. She laughed as Clint tickled her before flipping her around so she was clinging to his back. Clint carried Emily the rest of the way to the mess tent where mostly everyone was getting their lunch and spreading out onto the tables. Barney saw his siblings coming and left Marcy in mid conversation to join them. As usual he ruffled Clint’s hair and then pressed a kiss to Emily’s temple.

“What took you two so long?” Barney asked.

“Clint was going to be a party pooper.” Emily informed.

“Loser.” Barney said plucking Emily from Clint’s back.

“Shut up.” Clint scoffed rolling his eyes.

“Come on, now. We can’t be upsetting the baby today. It’s her favorite day of the year.” Barney replied.

Emily wiggled herself free from Barney’s grasp. She ran from her brothers earning herself a sigh from Buck and Jacques as she squeezed her way past Marcy to get something to eat. Barney looped an arm around his brother’s neck and dragged him towards the food table. Marcy smiled at the brothers as they both grabbed a plate and started to fill it mountain high with several different types of food.

Once the food was finished and cleaned up nobody really wanted to get back to work. The crew sat around the tables still talking with each other. Emily had grown tired, but was too stubborn to admit and take a nap. She did however measled her way over to Buck who had happily picked up the girl and carried her around. She enjoyed listening to Buck’s silly conversations with the other adults.

Buck stood with Emily plastered against his chest. Her face buried in his neck soft snores were coming from the young girl as she slept against Buck. Barney had offered to take Emily from him and put her down in Marcy’s trailer to sleep, but Buck didn’t mind. He thought of the Barton kids as his own younger siblings. He paced back and forth to keep Emily asleep as he watched Clint’s new training with Swordsman. Buck wasn’t too thrilled with Jacques offer to add to Clint’s training, but in the end it was up to Clint.

“You’re not concentrating.” Jacques scolded as he tapped Clint on the forehead.

“I’m tired and it’s hot here. Plus Buck never makes me train on a Sunday.” Clint explained as he rubbed the kinks out of his shoulder.

“That’s your problem. You whine too much and don’t train enough.” Jacques replied.

“The boy trains enough.” Buck snapped.

“Just stay out of it.” Jacques growled back.

“Clint, it’s your call. If you’re done for the day you can walk away.” Buck said ignoring Jacques growl.

“No he can’t!” Jacques growled.

“Buck’s right Jacques, I’m tired and being tired isn’t going to do me any good.” Clint said.

“He’s obviously hurt Jacques and that’s affecting his outcome. Just let the kid be a kid for the day. That’s why I don’t make him train everyday.” Buck replied.

“You’re just making excuses for him.” Jacques snarled in annoyance.

Emily woke with a start and looked around with bleary eyes. Buck rubbed at her back before putting her down so he could check on Clint’s shoulder. Emily mumbled something about going to look for Barney. Buck paid her no attention he was more concerned with Clint and his injury. Out of the corner of his eye Buck could see Emily walking in front of the targets as she crossed the wide area to where Barney sat talking with Stevie.

“How bad is it?” Buck asked.

“Just sore. I can’t work it out.” Clint said as he kept rubbing at his shoulder.

“Let me see it.” Buck ordered as he pushed Clint’s hand away.

“I know of the perfect way to pump your adrenaline.” Jacques spoke.

“Just knock it off.” Clint snapped. “I’m done for the day and I mean it.”

Both Buck and Clint looked over to where Jacques stood. He had his own bow raised and aimed. Buck’s eyes widened when he saw Emily bend down to pick up a dollar that someone had dropped. Clint was scrambling to his feet pushing Buck out of the way. Emily stood and shoved the dollar into her tiny pocket of her jean shorts.

“Emily!” Clint shouted as he sprinted towards his sister.

Barney whipped around to see his sister standing in the middle of the target field. He saw Clint sprinting towards their younger sister. He looked back from where Clint came from and saw Jacques standing there with his bow raised right at his Emily. There was no way that Clint was going to make it to her in time. Barney jumped to his feet and began running full force towards Emily.

His heart stopped when he heard the familiar snap of the bow string and the whizzing sound of the arrow. A small scream escaped from his sister two seconds before Clint tackled into her knocking her to the ground. The whole compound went dead silent as everyone froze in pure shock of what they had just seen.

Marcy, her father Mr. Carson, and Buck started running towards where Clint and Emily lay. Barney could hear his little sister crying as Clint rolled over to check her. The arrow lay embedded in the ground next to her, but there was a large gash on her thigh from where the arrow had grazed her. Barney dropped down next to his siblings. He ripped the bottom part of his shirt and pressed it to Emily’s leg.

“What the hell happened?” Mr. Carson asked.

“He shot her! He shot her!” Clint snarled.

“Jacques was punishing Clint for quitting for the day.” Buck snarled as he lifted the young girl up.

“Jacques!” Mr. Carson shouted before storming over to the man.

“We need to get that bleeding to stop before we do anything else.” Marcy said.

“Do you want me to go to town and fetch a doctor?” Stevie asked.

“We don’t have the time.” Buck hissed.

Marcy led the others over to the medical tent. She cleared one of the tables so Buck could lay Emily down. Her tears had stopped, but she was still sniffling. Marcy pressed a hand to the girl’s forehead before pressing a kiss to her chubby cheeks. Emily clung to Clint’s hand as Buck and Barney examined the wound. Blood was still pouring out, but it was no longer gushing. Buck had pushed Barney away so he could put gauze against the wound to help it stop.

“She’s going to need stitches.” Buck said.

“No.” Emily pouted.

“It will be alright, sweetheart. You won’t feel a thing.” Buck told her.

“You promise?” She asked.

“Promise. And if you’re an extra good girl I’ll buy you a big ice cream cone.” Buck said.

“Deal.” Emily said as she wiped the tears from her face.

“Marcella, will you be able to help me?” Buck asked.

“Yes, I’ll get the right instruments.” Marcy replied.

Buck looked up to the two Barton boys. “Are you two going to be able to be present without causing a scene?” Buck asked.

“Yes, sir.” Both boys answered.

“Good, because your sister needs you and she needs you on your best behavior.” Buck replied.

“What about Jacques though?” Clint asked.

“Let Mr. Carson handle it.” Buck answered.

Clint stayed where he stood and held onto Emily’s hand. Her tiny fingers played with his while she tried to keep her mind off from what Buck was doing. Barney moved to stand on the other side of Buck blocking Emily’s view from the older man. Barney knew she was going to be traumatized enough with being shot with an arrow he didn’t need her being even more damaged at the sight of her leg or the giant needle Buck was going to have to prick her with.

“You’re going to feel a little pinch, your leg will feel sleepy, and then you won’t feel anything else, okay?” Buck told her.

“Okay.” It came out as a whisper.

“Emily,” Clint said.

“What?” Emily asked looking up at her brother.

“Do you remember when we took you horseback riding?” Clint asked her.

Emily nodded. “Yeah, my horse didn’t like your horse and he kept biting your horse’s tail.”

“Yeah and you were supposed to tell him to stop, but you were too busy giggling.” Clint replied.

“I couldn’t help it! The one time he bit your horse right on the butt! Then your horse went crazy and you fell off.” Emily said with a small giggle.

“Oh, so you still think that’s funny?” Clint asked.

Emily quickly covered her mouth to hide her giggles. Clint narrowed his eyes at her, but Emily couldn’t stop. Her hand slid away as the tiny giggles escaped her once more. Clint gave her an angry growl before pretending to eat at her fingers.

“I’ll make a three course meal out of you.” He threatened.

“Barney won’t let you!” Emily gasped.

“I don’t know. A three course Emily dinner sounds so scrumptious.” Barney teased.

“No! You’re supposed to save me from the big bad Clint.” Emily fake cried.

“Oh! You’re right I’m supposed to be the knight.” Barney said.

“Duh.” Emily said.

“Alright our little damsel. You have been saved.” Buck said.

Clint helped Emily sit up so she could see the gash on her leg. It was all closed up with a nice line of stitches. She counted them quickly. Twenty three stitches covered her left thigh. When she was finished counting every stitch Buck covered the wound with a new gauze and taped it to her skin.

“It might hurt to walk, but you’ll just have to be extra careful.” Buck told her.

“Was I a good patient?” Emily asked.

“Extra good. Want that ice cream cone?” Buck asked.

“Yes, please!” Emily exclaimed happily.

Buck picked Emily up. Marcy followed behind as Emily excitedly talked about the kind of ice cream she wanted. Barney and Clint stayed behind. They both knew what was coming. When Buck was finally out of earshot with Emily, Barney turned around to face his younger brother. Clint was already standing with his fists clenched.

“I told you Clint. I told you not to mess with Jacques.” Barney said.

“He was giving me extra training.” Clint snapped.

“Yeah and I told you that he’s too much. I can barely make it through a training without falling over dead from a heart attack. He’s not just mean, Clint, he’s ruthless. And because you didn’t listen to me Emily got hurt.” Barney snarled.

“I didn’t tell him to shoot Emily.” Clint hissed.

“No, but he damn well knows that our biggest weakness is Emily.” Barney snapped.

“So what do you want me to do Barney? It’s not like I can take it back.” Clint asked.

“Listen to me!” Barney roared. “Stop training with him. Stay the hell away from him. Do what’s best for Emily.”

“I am doing what is best for Emily. I am making myself a better protector!” Clint shouted. “I’ve seen the way those perverted men look at our sister in every city that we go to. I’ve seen the look of the crazy moms that want to give her a better life. She’s too young to protect herself, to know any better, but the better I become the safer Emily will be.”

“Do you honestly believe that?” Barney asked. “You’re an idiot Clint. Put our sister’s needs before yours. That’s what all of this has been about. We were abused, Clint. Beaten, cursed, and hated by our own parents. The crazed look Jacques gets in his eye is the same look our dad used to get before he’d beat us. Dad knew that Emily is our weak link and so does Jacques. He knows that we would do everything to save her.  I can fight off Jacques, but you can’t, you’re not strong enough.”

“I won’t let her get hurt again.” Clint hissed.

“Damn right you won’t because you’re going to stay the hell away from Jacques, do you understand me?” Barney snapped.

“Or what? What are you going to do Barney?” Clint asked angrily.

“You’ll wake up one day and we’ll be gone. I sneaked away once before, but that was with you. Don’t think for one minute that I wouldn’t do that again for Emily, but leave you behind.” Barney explained.

“You can’t take her from me!” Clint shouted the panic rising in his chest, he couldn’t lose Emily.

“If you keep putting her life at risk then I damn well do what I please. All of this has been for Emily. I could care less about being strong, about this damn security job, or this whole damn circus. But Emily loves it here and the crew. She’s safe and she’s loved, but if you keep messing with Jacques then I will take her from you.” Barney threatened.

“Over my dead body.” Clint snarled.

“You really think you can take me on?” Barney asked.

“No, but if you try and take Emily then I will try my hardest to stop you.” Clint replied.

“I don’t want to separate us, Clint, but I’m thinking of Emily here. She was hurt today because you didn’t listen to me. If you don’t start listening to me then I will leave and I will take Emily with me.” Barney said.

The boys’ conversation was cut short when Mr. Carson came over to join them with Jacques dragging behind them. Clint was heaving from the argument with his brother. Barney unclenched his fist and shoved his hands into his pockets to keep him from punching the man in the face. Mr. Carson grabbed Jacques by the arm and yanked the man forward so he was standing in front of the Barton brothers.

“I never meant to actually hit your sister.” Jacques stated.

“Yeah, but you did.” Clint snapped.

“I only wanted to get you motivated.” Jacques explained.

“Jacques, I appreciate you taking me in, but I just don’t think we’re a match.” Clint said.

Jacques nodded. “I agree. I think you’re better off with just training with Buck.”

With that said, Clint stormed off leaving Barney to level with Jacques. Mr. Carson stood with his arms crossed over his chest. He watched the pair with careful eyes. He didn’t trust Jacques and he understood what Barney was doing. The young boy was just trying to keep his siblings alive and play the game at the same time.

“I hope we have no hard feelings?” Jacques asked.

“Listen,” Barney began. “We’ll let bygones be bygones, I’ll still train with you, but if you ever go after Emily again it will all be over. Do you understand?”

“I completely understand.” Jacques answered.

“Make sure you stay away from Emily.” Mr. Carson added.

“Don’t worry, I will.” Jacques said before leaving.

Mr. Carson turned towards Barney. “You need to be careful boy you two just made an awful enemy.”

Barney nodded. “I know.”

“Somebody is going to have to stop him.” Mr. Carson sighed.

“What is that supposed to mean?” Barney asked.

“Oh it’s nothing. Just watch yourself.” Mr. Carson said.

“Sir, if there’s more going on,” Barney started.

“Don’t you worry your young head over my problems. You have your own problems to deal with.” Mr. Carson said.

“I’ll drop it for now, but if you need help.” Barney said.

“I appreciate your offer boy, but I’m alright.” Mr. Carson said before leaving the young teen.

Barney went looking for his sister. When he got closer to the ice cream hut he saw Buck and Marcy were standing off to the side talking. Clint had already beaten him there. Emily’s ice cream had been abandoned on the table. She had her small arms wrapped around Clint’s neck. Clint was practically clinging to the girl and Barney could hear his brother apologizing a thousand times over and over to his sister.

“Don’t worry Clint, I’m okay.” Emily said.

“I should have gotten to you sooner.” Clint told her.

Emily pressed a soft kiss to his cheek. “I always wanted a cool scar.”

Clint let out a pained chuckle. “Emily, I really am sorry.”

“No more sorry Clint. I know that you will always protect me.” Emily told him.

“You don’t hate me?” Clint asked.

“I could never hate you, silly Clint!” Emily exclaimed.

“Do you still love me?” Clint asked her.

“I love you to the moon,” Emily began.

“And back.” Clint finished.

“Now can I finish my ice cream?” Emily asked.

“Of course.” Clint said putting his sister down.

Emily went back to enjoying her ice cream and Marcy dropped down next to her. Clint and Buck disappeared around the corner. Barney ran a hand through his blonde hair before walking over to join Marcy and his sister. Emily greeted him with a large chocolate smile. Barney laughed, grabbed a napkin, and then wiped Emily’s face clean from the chocolate ice cream.

“Marcy said that she’s going to take me into town tomorrow for some shopping and girl time.” Emily beamed.

“Now that sounds like a fun time. Can I come?” Barney asked.

“You’re not a girl, Barney!” Emily laughed.

Barney smacked himself in the face. “Oh yeah, I forgot.”

“Goofy Barney.” Emily smiled.

Stevie came running over to the table. He dropped down next to Emily and stole a bite from her ice cream. Emily swatted at the man’s face but he licked at the melted ice cream before pressing a sloppy kiss to her cheek.

“Guess what?” Stevie said.

“What?” Emily asked with wide eyes.

“Alec and Roper are setting up the slides. Wanna come with me?” Stevie asked.

“The big slides?” Emily asked out of curiosity.

“Oh yeah the big ones.” Stevie grinned.

Emily jumped off the bench and started to sprint away with Stevie, but she slid to a halt and whirled back around. Emily ran back towards where Barney sat with Marcy. Marcy grinned at the young girl as she grabbed Barney by the face and pulled him down. She pressed her nose to his and rubbed it.

“To the moon.” Emily whispered.

“And back.” Barney replied then kissed her forehead.

Releasing her brother Emily ran back to Stevie and took his hand. Marcy and Barney watched Stevie and Emily skip away. Emily was talking manically about her plans for the big slide. Barney let out a sigh and rested his head against the table. Marcy reached over and patted the young man on his back.

“Marcy, that scared the living hell out of me.” Barney admitted.

“Me too.” Marcy said.

“I’m afraid Marcy.” Barney said.

“Afraid of what?” Marcy asked.

Barney picked up his head. “That I’m going to lose my family.”

“You’re not going to Barney. You three are too close to let a little mistake destroy you.” Marcy said.

“You call Emily getting shot by an arrow a little mistake?” Barney asked.

“Yes, I do. Jacques is a trained professional. He usually aims to kill. If he wanted Emily dead she would have been dead no matter how fast you and Clint were.” Marcy explained.

“He was really making a point, wasn’t he?” Barney asked.

“Damn straight he was.” Marcy hissed.

“Marcy, what is going on?” Barney asked.

“It’s nothing you need to worry about. Let us adults handle it.” Marcy replied.

“I’m seventeen, Marcy, that’s pretty close to being an adult. I’m the head of your security.” Barney pointed out.

“You’re great at what you do, Barney, but what is going on is bigger than what you can handle. Please trust me and stay out of this.” Marcy said.

“Fine, I’ll drop it for now, but if you need help, come to me.” Barney said.

“Thank you Barney.” Marcy said.

Marcy left Barney to his own and went to check on the fun going on at the water slide. Barney ran a hand over his tired face. The past three years have been nice, but in the same time a living hell. Jacques wasn’t a man that you messed with. Barney has the bruises and the scars to prove how ruthless he can be. He hated that Clint went against him and began training with him. Barney was more upset with himself that he couldn’t do more to save his sister. Yes, they were lucky that she walked away with just stitches, but that ‘what if’ scenario still played in his mind.

Barney had to get them out of here. It was time. They needed something different and somewhere much safer than here. He knew that Jacques had no plans leaving the circus so Barney was going to have take the Barton children out of the circus. Emily would be crushed to leave the only family she has ever known behind, but Barney knew that he would be able to convince her to go with him. Clint, well his brother would put up a fight, but if he could convince Emily to go then Clint would follow his sister anywhere. Barney was a patient man. He’d watch and wait. When the perfect opportunity came he was taking his siblings and getting out of here. It was time for the next chapter in their lives.

#Clint Barton #Barney Barton #original character #Emily Barton #MCU au #I bend things to my will because I can

[ncfan-1]

ncfan listens to The Magnus Archives: S1 EP034 (’Anatomy Class’), EP035 (’Old Passages’), & EP036 (’Taken Ill’)

A bizarre kind of comedy episode (at least it is to me), and lots of juicy, juicy plot.

No spoilers past Season 1, please!

EP 034: ‘Anatomy Class’

- There is something bizarrely hilarious about the story this episode. Yeah, the seven ‘students’ killed at least one person and drove a professor to suicide, but there’s just something so ridiculous about beings who are pretending to be human but are so bad at it that they have to take an anatomy class, and can’t hide it well enough to keep their professor from noticing. And they used placeholder names, and presumably had to exert a considerable amount of supernatural influence (presumably the same influence that keeps more people from noticing that they’re really bad at pretending to be human) to keep people from noticing how off that is. It has all the makings of a weird, gory comedy.

- Here is, I believe, our third statement so far given directly by the statement-maker. This time, it’s a college professor who seems more than a little rattled by everything that happened to him.

- And now we have our first indication that people from outside the Institute know there’s an infestation problem.

- So Dr. Elliott walks into his class to find it populated entirely by pod people. He takes this as well as you might expect.

- The fact that these people are so uncanny and that there seems to be a lot of supernatural “interference” radiating off of them (the fact that Dr. Elliott can’t remember what any of them looked like, and the fact that he didn’t notice anything odd about their names) makes me think a little of Not-Graham. At the same time, though, their ability to manipulate their own bones puts me in mind of Jared Hopworth. I wonder if a bone turner could create a new person from pilfered bones and black magic.

- The detail about Dr. Elliott suddenly being able to hear them breathing is… something. Although he doesn’t seem to want to think about it, the fact that he could only hear them breathing after a certain point implies that they weren’t breathing before.

- They’re very brazen, these seven, altering their bones right in front of the professor, when they must know he can hear them, and probably guess what’s happening. It implies that they are very secure in their ability to escape any and all consequences, which means it’s just as well that Dr. Elliott never confronted any of them about what he had been seeing and hearing.

- I’m sorry. I know the thing with the hearts is supposed to be horrific, but it’s funny. When I listen to this scene, I find myself close to snickering by the end.

- What really makes it funny is that the ‘students’ were polite enough to clean up the lab after they coated it in blood.

- And the tooth-apple is so bizarre I start giggling to myself when I think about it. Jonathan’s reluctant “Did you… eat it?” just makes it even better. Why would they do that? How would they do that?

- I know there’s no reason to believe the other professor didn’t commit suicide, but the first time I listened to this episode, I’d assumed he was so bad at teaching to the ‘students’’ satisfaction that they had killed him, and left that note because they thought that even his corpse would be worthless for educational purposes.

EP 035: ‘Old Passages’

- This is another favorite, not least because we have another appearance of Gerard Keay, and because I think this is the first episode where we’re really presented with a vague outline of the other forces at work in the world besides humanity.

- So I looked them up (being an American, I don’t know these things off the top of my head), and apparently Pall Mall is a swanky shopping district/home to prestigious clubs. The Reform Club is one of those, a private club that was men-only until 1881; if Wikipedia is to be believed, it was the first of London’s gentlemen clubs to open its doors to female members. It’s a popular haunt of political progressives.

- Robert Smirke was a real-life architect. As best as I can tell (I didn’t dig too deep; I don’t have that kind of time), his association with the occult is native to The Magnus Archives.

- And here comes Gerard, a skinny teenager in 2002 with a band t-shirt and a portable CD player. I had one of those. I’ve noticed that people heavily associated with the supernatural shrug a lot.

- The implication here seems to be that Mary Keay sent her kid down to some incredibly dangerous tunnel network to pick up a Leitner book for her. Lady, why don’t you do that yourself instead of sending your kid to risk his neck? What the hell.

- I think this is also my first semi-direct glimpse of Jurgen Leitner, and he sounds about as sketchy as I had thought he’d be. “Some things are too powerful to be owned.” And yet you’re meddling with them anyways.

- “Can you smell it?” Can Gerard sense the supernatural, or something?

- I wonder what the scream was about.

- There are fourteen passages out from the star, including the one Harold, Rachel, Alf, and Gerard went in through. And several of those fourteen are extremely reminiscent of entities/phenomena that’s been experienced in other statements in Season 1.

1. The one they walk in through out of the basement gives Alf and Harold a sense of claustrophobia, similar to ‘Lost John’s Cave.’

2. One is so dark that the flashlights could only penetrate a couple of feet before the light failed—‘A Father’s Love’ and ‘Growing Dark.’

3. One, if you look into it, makes you feel like you’re falling into it—the sense of vertigo induced in some readers by Ex Altiorā in ‘Page Turner.’

4. One makes you feel like you’re burning—‘Burned Out’ (and ‘Confession’), and the later ‘Burnt Offering.’

5. Pages covered in cobwebs—‘Arachnophobia’, ‘Burned Out’ (Tangentially).

6. The one Gerard runs down to get the book has walls covered in what is almost certainly blood—‘The Man Upstairs’ and ‘Killing Floor.’

7. One has at the end of the corridor a stranger Harold was certain meant him harm—the Not-Them, perhaps, seen in ‘Across the Street’, and later in the finale.

So… Fourteen passages, fourteen parent entities? Or was that just Smirke’s assumption?

- Jurgen Leitner has definitely been messing with things he shouldn’t have been.

- The inscription on the date stone, “Balance and fear,” makes the audio distort.

- I wonder if there’s any significance to Robert Smirke having built this in 1835.

- The book Gerard grabs seems to drop small animal bones behind it; this is almost certainly the book the ghost of Mary Keay (if that was even Mary Keay at all) showed Dominic Swain in ‘Page Turner.’

- I’d say the owners of the Reform Club know at least part of what’s up with that star and those passages, for them to insist that the builders rebuild the wall and not pry into it any further. So what’s up with them?

- “And I can’t help but wonder whether that was where they were found, or just where they were stored.” Which suggests that Jurgen Leitner’s books are far more vital to the plot than even past episodes would suggest.

- Tim’s interest in architecture, and Robert Smirke in particular makes me wonder if said interest will come up again.

- Smirke wanted to design churches? Uh, Jonathan, I wouldn’t be so certain he wasn’t designing churches, or at least chapels, considering the one we saw in ‘Growing Dark.’

- I think this is the first time we see worms loose in the Institute building.

- The last bit of the episode is devoted to Martin running into two deliverymen who it’s safe to say are from Breekon & Hope, delivering something to the Archives. Which is fairly ominous, to be honest.

EP 036: ‘Taken Ill’

- This one has a great atmosphere to it.

- As Jonathan pointed out, the way Nicole talks about her fears, and about insects and decay, and her use of the phrase “bleed into” is very similar to Jane Prentiss’s narration in ‘Hive.’ I get the impression that perhaps whatever was behind the deterioration of the nursing home in this episode is connected to the Flesh Hive, or is perhaps part of the same parent entity. After being touched by the pus oozing from that corpse, maybe Nicole got a flash of that visceral feeling, too.

- This one is kind of hard, because both of my grandfathers live in nursing homes. My maternal grandfather has dementia and can’t be cared for at home. It would be perhaps more accurate to say that my paternal grandfather is in assisted living; he’s close to ninety and has gotten to be very frail, and after he had a stroke, he decided he needed to be somewhere he could get immediate medical attention if something went wrong again. I don’t like the idea of someone exploitative taking over their homes.

- “I don’t know why I wrote ‘disease’ just then.” I think I do.

- It’s interesting that Alenka was still trying to call Nicole after the nursing home was decommissioned and John Amherst came in and started enforcing the “new order.”  It sounds like he tried to enforce that new order unilaterally, without the consent of at least some of the staff who remained after it was decommissioned.

- The detail about the heat is important to the episode, I think. In my experience, the summer heat is oppressive, and especially so because summer here is so humid. It’s thick and close and cloying; the air is too damp for your sweat to evaporate and cool you off, so it just sticks to you while you get hotter and hotter and hotter. I’ve heard it’s very humid in the UK as well, so I imagine summer feels much the same there as it does here.

- I’m guessing John Amherst is one of those people who’s only human in appearance. I can’t see any normal, conscious human not reacting as a fly crawls over their eye.

- It sounds like Amherst was trying to turn the entire building into one big pus-oozing wound.

- The fact that the pus could make Nicole’s skin burn even through a (presumably latex) glove gives the lie to Amherst’s claim that what killed Miller wasn’t contagious. If you didn’t automatically assume he was lying, that is.

- Nicole’s uncle seemed to grasp at least part of what had happened to Bertrand Miller. Why the calls he made didn’t result in the nursing home being cracked down on, I can’t imagine—I can only assume the reasons fell under some category of “Not my problem.” At least he tried, anyways.

- I can just imagine the uneasy pall over everything as Nicole drove back to Ivy Meadows that last time. I can just see the sky turning red as the afternoon grew older and the shadows growing—no breeze, nothing to break the rolling walls of heat. Just still air, so close it’s hard to breathe.

- The detail about the plants turning white reminds me of the plants in front of the farmhouse in The Colour Out of Space.

- Alenka banging on the window, it becoming clear her last phone call was a last-ditch cry for help, is a horrible moment, even before the flies enter the picture. Because we just see her. What about the residents still trapped in the building with her?

- It’s clear that the man who tackles Nicole is Trevor Herbert. This is the first time since ‘Vampire Hunter’ that we’ve seen someone out and about with the explicit purpose of hunting down and destroying supernatural threats (Well, asides from Gerard Keay, but there’s a caveat there in that I can’t tell if he proactively hunts them, or if this shit just sort of happens to him). They’re thematically linked, and the physical descriptions match up. This, despite the fact that Trevor Herbert is supposed to be dead. Don’t know who the woman with him is supposed to be; I hope we’ll see her again.

- The fact that John Amherst doesn’t seem to even officially exist further suggests that whatever he is, he’s not human.

- “Workplace accident.” Yeah, sure. I hope, at least, that getting rid of the hand means that the infection can’t spread any further.

- And Jonathan finds out about the deliveries. The smaller of the two packages is a lighter with a spider web design on it, and the larger is… worrying. The table from ‘Across the Street.’ Oh, that’s not good.

#ncfan listens to The Magnus Archives

[ramblingthoughtsofayoungadult]

My Favorite Nerd-Edward Nygma Imagine

Requested: No

Warnings: Some eeriness but nothing too bad

  As soon as Edward saw Y/N, his breath hitched in his throat. Though the woman had acted as Lee’s assistant for the past year, her stunning features never failed to, well, stun him. Her y/h/c was pulled away from her face, revealing her focused gaze on the files she was organizing in the medical examiner’s room. 

   “Good afternoon, Miss Y/L/N,” Edward finally said.

   Y/N almost jumped out of her skin and dropped a couple of files when she heard Edward’s voice. Slowly, she relaxed as she turned to face  him. “Goodness!”

    Edward’s eyes widened as he felt himself fill with embarrassment and guilt. “I’m sorry if I frightened you, Miss Y/L/N. That certainly wasn’t my intention.”

    Y/N sighed with a laugh and set the files on a table. “It’s fine, Ed, and don’t you think we should be on a first name basis by now? I have known you for a year.”

   Edward could feel his face beginning to flush as he glanced down at the tips of his shiny black shoes while pushing his glasses further up against his face. “Of course, Miss, I mean, Y/N.”

   No one made Edward feel as nervous as Y/N did----not even Kristen. Y/N had that same shimmering aura the popular cheerleaders in high school did except Y/N was much kinder than any of those girls were----and much more intelligent. Just hearing her laugh made his heart skip a beat and a compliment from her would have him grinning from ear to ear like an idiot. 

     Y/N grinned and shoved her hands into the pockets of her lab coat. “I suppose if you’re here that means you have a riddle for me to solve.”

    “What is always on its way here but never arrives?” Edward asked.

    Y/N bit her bottom lip and scrunched up her nose, a tick of hers when she was in deep thought. “Tomorrow?” 

   Edward grinned. “Yes, exactly right. You’ve gotten better.”

   “I know. You come up with some complicated riddles, Edward----it’s one of the things I like best about you.”

   If it weren’t for Edward’s riddle habit, he probably never would have spoken to Y/N in the first place. He had been giving Jim and Harvey some information about a case they were working when he’d asked “What has neither nails or bones, but has four fingers and a thumb?”. Neither detective could come up with the answer nor tried to when Y/N said, “Isn’t it a glove?”. When Edward faced her, it was love at first sight----something he never believed in until that moment. All of a sudden, talking to Kristen didn’t seem too important to him anymore since Y/N actually showed interest in him and listened to him prattle on about whatever was on his mind. 

    “Thank you,” Edward said, noting the files strewn around the room. “What’s going on here?”

   “Lee wanted me to pull some other burn cases from the past month and note similarities I find between them and the last burn victim.” Y/N gestured to the files on the table. “Those are the ones I have to look at and the others have my notes.”

    “Have you found any similarities?” Edward asked.

    “Just the basics: only the victims themselves were burned, nothing around them, so it’s most likely an act of arson.” 

    Edward glanced at an open file, sensing the dark Ed trying to break through the more he stared at a picture of a charred man’s body. “It’s amazing how easily the human body can be reduced to nothing but ashes.”

    “I suppose.”

    Edward blinked, forcing Ed back in his cage, before turning to Y/N. “I’m sorry about that, I have no idea where that came from.”

   “It’s fine, Edward, I’ll see you later.”

   “Definitely.”

   Edward turned on his heels, angry with himself that he wasn’t brave enough to ask Y/N on a date. Of course, he knew that she only thought of him as a friend but he wasn’t bold enough to try to break from that mold.

   “You’ll never be bold enough, Eddie. Y/N needs a real man and you’re not him,” Ed hissed.

   “Stop it,” Edward muttered.

   “It’s fine, Eddie, I’m man enough for the both of us. Y/N will love me. Let me out.” 

   “No, she doesn’t deserve that, she deserves so much better----better than both of us.” 

   “Eddie, it doesn’t get better than me.” 

   It actually did, but Edward didn’t say anything. He shook his head as he tried to push the darkest form of himself as far away from him as he could. Later on that day, he saw Officer Daniels, a tall brute of a man, leaning against the doorway of the medical examiner’s room, obviously flirting with Y/N. Y/N covered her laughing mouth with her hand as she slapped his chest flirtatiously. Edward felt a hole burst open in his chest as he watched their intimate exchange. He felt so incredibly broken and with that brokenness, he felt rage coming from Ed. Edward knew that Y/N was out of his league but she was also far out of Officer Daniels’ league.

    “No one touches what’s mine,” Edward grumbled.

     That moment he promised himself that he would make himself worthy of Y/N, and make himself worthy he did. Over the following months, he began honing his darker side and learning the best techniques on how to kill people and dispose of their bodies without getting caught. Finally, Ed had gained some control over Edward, making the once shy and nerdy forensic specialist much more confident. When Edward sauntered into the medical examiner’s room, both Lee and Y/N knew something was different: he stood up straighter, his hair was combed back instead of parted, and his smile was close-lipped.

      “Hi, Edward, how are you?” Lee asked.

     “Good morning, Lee, I’m doing just fine.” He turned to Y/N. “Morning, Y/N.”

     “Edward, I’m so sorry it’s been so long since we’ve spoken. I got caught up with Alex, then we broke up, and I feel like I completely abandoned you.” 

    “It’s fine, I’ve been quite busy myself, but I can’t say I’m very sorry about your relationship.”

    Y/N blinked. “Huh?”

    “If you hadn’t, then I couldn’t ask you out for dinner tonight. I’ll pick you up at eight?”

     Y/N blinked again. “Um, sure, yeah.”      “Great, see you then.” Edward turned to walk away, smirking to himself at his conquest when Y/N’s voice stopped him.

    “Don’t I get a riddle?”

     Edward paused and faced Y/N. “Of course. A nightmare for some. For others a savior I come. My hand’s cold and bleak. It’s the warm hearts they seek. What am I?”

     Y/N bit her bottom lip and scrunched her nose. After a few seconds, she smiled bashfully. “I don’t know.”

    “Death. I’ll see you tonight, Y/N. Good bye, Lee.”

     “Bye, Ed,” Lee said. 

     Y/N didn’t say anything as she watched Edward walk out of the medical examiner’s room, which made the man swell with pride. He never thought there would be a day when he left her speechless, but his darker side seemed to have that effect on people. 

#edward nygma imagine #edward nygma x reader #gotham imagine #dc comics imagine