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jeyusos-girl · 4 years

Text

Expecting

Part 2: My baby.

Summary: Samantha finally told Erik that she’s pregnant. How’s he gonna react? Is this gonna make or break their relationship.....?

A/N: I attempted to write this twice, the first attempt was horrible, and i always gave up on the second attempt but i went to work and had time to let the ideas marinate and this was the final product😙. i went a little crazy with this one, i could’ve written so much more but it would’ve been long as hellllll. *the italics in the beginning indicate a flashback*

*READ PART ONE HERE*

Word Count: 1872

Warnings: some cursing

Samantha stared down at her phone screen, reading the words from her period tracker, ‘5 days late.’ it read. She sighed, trying to come up with a reason for why this might be, but to no avail. This wasn’t normal for her and she knew that. Her period always comes on time and even if it was late, it was never this late. She set her phone down on the bathroom sink and ran her hands over her face, she looked in the mirror, “Please don’t let it be true. Please.” she whispered to herself. Just then she heard a knock on the bathroom door, “Babe, you okay?” Erik asked. She hadn’t realized how long she had been in the bathroom,

“Uhh yeah, I’m good”

“You sure? You’ve been in there for a while, you feeling okay?”

“Yeah I’m fine, I’m coming out now,” she grabbed her phone and walked towards the door. She opened it to see Erik standing there, a worried expression on his face, “sorry I just got distracted by something on my phone.” she smiled hoping her bullshit excuse was enough to make Erik believe her. He side-eyed her, “Hmm, you sure you wasn’t texting another nigga?” he accused jokingly.

“Boy shut up,” she started, wrapping her arms around his waist, “I don’t need anyone else but you baby.”

“Is that so?” he arched a brow.

“Mhmm,” she smiled, leaning up to capture his lips in a sweet kiss.

*a few days later*

Samantha's period still hasn’t come, and at this point in time, she knew. But she had to confirm, and that’s how she ended up at her best friend's house. “Okay, you ready to take it?” her best friend, Layla asked.

“Not really but- I guess we have to find out,” Samantha shrugged. Layla and Samantha have been friends for a little over 5 years. They have been through so much in such a short amount of time and they told each other everything. When Samantha missed her period, Layla was the first to know. She insisted that she take the test at her house so she wasn’t alone when she found out, knowing she was too nervous to tell Erik just yet.

”Cmon Sam, you're gonna be fine, I'm here with you. We're gonna find out together and everything will be fine, whatever the results are.”

”Yeah but what if everything isn't fine, what if I’m actually pregnant. Erik hasn't even mentioned wanting kids. What if he gets scared and leaves me? How am I supposed to raise a baby alone?”

”Are you crazy? He is not gonna leave you, that man is in love with you, girl, you know that.” Layla exclaimed, grabbing Samantha's face in her hands.

”I know but- I'm scared”

”It's gonna be okay, I promise. I got you, girl, you’re my best friend, I’m gonna be here for you no matter what. Come on, let's go to the bathroom.” They made their way to the bathroom, Samantha unpacked the box of pregnancy tests and ripped one of them open. She looked down at the test in her hands and sighed, she set the test aside and pulled her pants down, sitting on the toilet. She followed the test directions carefully and set a timer for 3 minutes.

They sat in silence for the duration of the 3 minutes, both too nervous to say anything. Samantha was shaken out her thoughts as the shrill sound of the alarm went off, she looked up at Layla with worried eyes. She grabbed the test with shaky hands. She closed her eyes and took in a deep breath. She opened her eyes, and gasped, “Oh my god!”

…………………………..

“I’m pregnant. I found out last month. I wanted to tell you sooner but- I just didn’t know how.”

Silence filled the room, the air felt heavier. Samantha stared at Erik’s face, trying to read his emotions. His eyebrows were slightly raised and his lips parted ever so slightly. His grip on her hands loosened as he slumped back into the couch. She could tell his mind was racing a mile a minute, his eyes looking anywhere but at her face. She was getting nervous, her hands getting clammy, throat getting tight, the corners of her eyes getting wet. “E? Say something, please.” she whimpered as she felt herself beginning to cry. He leaned forward and she removed her legs from his lap and straightened up on the couch.

“I- I’m sorry I just- I’m in shock right now,” he replied rubbing his palms over his face.

“I know baby I- I should’ve told you as soon as I found out but I- I didn’t know how you’d react and I was scared. We didn’t plan for this to happen and I really didn’t want this to affect our relationship negatively. God Erik, I’m so scared, I don’t know shit about being a mom,” her tears now flowing freely down her face, he looked at her as she spoke, “I’ve been trying to wrap my head around it, and it still hasn’t really processed. I’ve been trying so hard to work up the courage to tell you but I never could. Don’t be mad please.”

He furrowed his brows, “Mad? What are you talking about? Why the hell would I be mad?”

“I don’t know, we never really talked about kids are anything like that, I didn’t think we were ready for something like this,” she whispered.

“We are most definitely not ready,” he chuckled, “but that’s okay, we have time to figure this shit out. We’re gonna get through this together baby, you know I got you.” Samantha smiled as more tears flowed. Erik grabbed her face and wiped her tears with his thumbs, “Don’t cry, baby. Look at me,” she glanced up at him with her glossy, brown eyes, “remember when I told you I was gonna take care of you and love you no matter what? I meant that shit. You’re the one I wanna be with, you’re the one I want to grow old with. These past three and a half years have been the best years of my life, baby girl. I’m not going anywhere anytime soon, you hear me?” at this point, Samantha was full-on ugly crying. She nodded her head and smiled sweetly.

“Erikkk baby. That was so sweet. Ughh I feel like a weight has been lifted off my shoulders. I hated keeping this from you, Layla kept bugging me about it but I- what?” she cut herself off, confused as to why Erik was giving her a dirty look.

“You told Layla’s crazy ass before you told me? Ain’t that some shit,” he shook his head in disbelief and Samantha rolled her eyes laughing.

“Of course I told her before you, bros before hoes.” Erik looked at her with raised brows,

“Oh really? That’s how it’s gonna be, ma?” Samantha nodded her head with a smirk. Before Samantha could react, Erik tackled her into the couch and started tickling her sides, knowing how weak it made her. She shouted for him to get off through her excessive laughter.

“E, pleaseeeee, I’m sorry pleaseeee,” she was laughing so hard she started tearing up, “ERIK STOPPP, I’M GONNA PEE MYSELF.” Erik’s hands came to a halt as he backed away from her and shot her a dirty look, “Eww you nasty as hell,” he laughed.

“You know I can’t help it, and it’s even worse now that I have a baby growing in me,” she sat up fixing her clothes, she looked up at Erik to find him already looking at her, a dumbstruck look on his face, “what?”

“That sounds so crazy, you really got a baby growing in there. My baby. That’s my baby in there. What the hell!” he exclaimed jumping up from the couch, “I’m gonna be a fucking dad! I swear this shit is really just sinking in.” Samantha giggled from her spot on the couch, watching him as he shook his head with a huge smile on his face. She got up from the couch and walked over to him, wrapping her arms around his neck.

“I can’t believe it either baby, this feels so crazy. Just think, in a few months we’re gonna have a little nugget crawling around. Ugh, I can’t wait. Our lives these next few months are gonna be so different. My belly is gonna get so big, my feet are gonna swell up so bad. And you know I hate throwing up, jeez I hope this baby is good to me.” she exclaimed.

“You’re still gonna be beautiful as ever, big belly and all. I’ll be right by your side through all of it. I’ll hold your hair back when you’re throwing up, I’ll rub your feet whenever you need it, anything you want mama.”

“Anything huh? You’re gonna make late-night food trips for me whenever I ask?” she raised a brow.

“Uhh I already do that,” she giggled, agreeing with him. She leaned into him as he hugged her close to him. It was silent for a while as they enjoyed each other’s company. Erik broke the silence first, “You know what this means right?” she hummed in response, “We have to tell your parents.” Samantha leaned back in his arms and stared at him with wide eyes,

“Uhhh……” Erik raised his brows in anticipation, “do we have to?”

“Uhhhh, yes. You gonna wait till you pop the baby out then tell them?”

“...... Yeah…” she mumbled.

“Babe, you are crazy,” he chuckled, “you know we can’t do that, we gotta tell them soon.”

“You tell them then.” she pouted, furrowing her brows.

“Stop pouting before I bite that lip of yours. We’ll tell them together, baby. We can invite them over for dinner and break the news. How’s that sound, hm?”

She rolled her eyes slightly, “Fine. You’re cooking then.”

“That’s fine with me baby, we can invite them over next sunday, butter them up with some good food, then we’ll tell them.” Samantha nodded in agreement, giving him a small smile. She sighed, her head filled with so many different emotions.

“We’re gonna be good baby, I promise you that,” he spoke sincerely.

“I know, E. I can’t wait to be a mommy.”

“I can’t wait either,” he crouched down in front of her, hands rubbing the soft flesh of her stomach. She was only seven and a half weeks so she wasn't showing much, but that didn't stop Erik from kissing her belly, “Hey baby, it’s your daddy. Me and your mommy love you so much already, I can’t wait till I can finally hold you, and kiss your little face. Just hurry up in there, okay?” Samantha couldn’t stop herself from giggling at the man before her,

“You’re so silly, baby. Gimme a kiss,” she puckered her lips waiting for him to come back up. He leaned in and they’re lips moved in sync against each other.

This was gonna be a long eight months, no doubt, but knowing she has her man by her side makes all her worries go away…. Except for one.

How are her parents going to react to the news?

...............................

@fd-writes

#Erik Stevens #Erik Killmonger #erik stevens imagine #erik killmonger imagines #erik killmonger smut #erik stevens smut #Erik killmonger x Reader #erik stevens x reader #killmonger fanfiction #black panther imagine

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tiptapricot · 4 years

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Okay uhhhh fanfic request. Batman Beyond where Terry ends up getting a Robin, (either Miguel from the episode Unmask, or Dak from Where’s Terry) and Matt finds out, that a) his big brother is Batman, and b) Terry got ‘some random kid’ to be Robin and not him, his own little brother.

Thanks for the request anon! You can find this on AO3 here. Enjoy!

Matt was home alone when it happened. Terry had gone out to run errands for Mr. Wayne and their mom had gone shopping for dinner. It wasn’t anything unusual. The same exact thing happened every few weeks. Matt had the TV to keep him occupied and there were snacks in the fridge if he wanted anything. The evening had been going as per usual, and Matt had even managed to dig out one of the boxes of Valentine's chocolates Terry never ate, when he had heard something from down the hall. He had turned down the volume of the TV and gotten up, walking as slowly and quietly as he could towards the sound.

His mom had always told him to be careful of intruders. They had good locks on their windows and doors, but like she always said, you could never be too careful in Gotham.

As Matt got closer, he realized the sound was voices, two of them, coming from Terry’s room. Of course, his first thought was that Terry had snuck Dana into the house, and he was getting ready to throw open the door and tease them, when he realized that the second voice didn’t sound like Dana at all, it sounded like a little boy.

“You can’t just follow me home! How am I gonna explain this to my folks?”

“I wanted to see where you live. It’s been almost two months now and what do I get? Your name. I don’t even get to see your face, and it’s really starting to get on my nerves. You know how much a name means in Gotham? Nothing! There are like, what, a million Terrys? And what kind of lame name is ‘Terry’ anyways? I mean you can’t blame me for—”

“Okay, okay, you can come over for a bit, but as soon as my mom and brother get home you leave, okay?”

“Yeah, whatever.”

There was a slight shuffling sound, and a bump that sounded like someone falling over, before the voices picked up again.

“This is your room?”

“Yeah, yeah it is.”

“It’s lame. Do you not like pictures or something?”

“I don’t exactly spend a lot of time in here you know?”

“So do I get to see your face now or what?”

Matt pressed his ear closer to the door. What on earth was going on?

“Only if you promise not to make my life hell if you see me in public.”

“Hey! You know me. I don’t snitch.”

“Fine. There, happy?”

The kid laughed.

“You’re just as lame as your name. You look like one of the pretty boy biker kids in my neighborhood.”

“Gee, thanks. Now remember what I said, my mom and Matt are out shopping right now but they should be back soon. The second the car rolls up you’re right back out that window. Understand?”

“I’m not some dumb kid, man, I know what I’m doing.”

“Right, because you totally knew what you were doing when those dregs beat your ass tod—”

Matt almost fell over when the door opened in front of him. He stumbled and jumped back, eyes wide as he came face to face with a great, big bat symbol.

“Holy…” he breathed.

“Matt?” Terry’s eyes went wide. “What are you doing here? Didn’t you go out with mom?”

He couldn’t… Terry couldn’t be Batman. Batman was strong and schway, like the schwayest hero ever, and Terry… Terry was just his lame older brother. He wasn’t special, he was a huge jerk if anything. A boring guy who never made time to spend with his family. Because he can’t. Because he’s Batman. He’s standing right there, he’s wearing the suit, he’s Batman.

Matt took a step back, then two more. Terry followed, still trying to come up with an explanation.

“I— it’s not what it looks like I swear it’s just a, it’s a…It’s a school project! One of my friends made this for me and I was just… I was just trying it on!”

“What’s goin’ on Terry?” The other voice came from inside the room and the kid himself followed.

Robin.

It had been a media sensation when Robin had first been sighted a few months before. Matt had gotten all the toys that had burst onto the shelves. Robin had quickly become his hero, almost more than Batman was. He loved to tell his mom “He’s my age! I could be a hero like him, just watch!” And now here the kid was, standing in the middle of his brother’s room like it was the most normal thing in the world. He was a bit taller than Matt, and he’d pulled back his mask to reveal a round faced kid with dark eyebrows and a permanent smirk.

“Woah…” Matt looked between the two of them. Batman. Robin. Terry. Robin. Terry. Some random kid.

“You’re Batman?!” He didn’t mean to yell. He also didn’t mean to trip over himself as he ran for the living room. Some kind of trick, it had to be. Maybe Spellbinder, or some new villain that messed up what you saw.

“Woah woah woah, hey Twip, where’re you going?!” A pair of smooth black arms wrapped around Matt’s stomach, hoisting him up into the air. The texture felt so wrong. It was soft, almost like skin, but it was too smooth, too cold, too firm.

“Let me go!” He tried to wriggle free but the arms were too strong. Too strong to be human.

Definitely Spellbinder. Or something worse.

“I said let go!” Matt twisted around and hit Not-Terry as hard as he could. Not-Terry let go of him with a grunt of “What the hell Mattie?” And then Matt was running for the door again.

It wasn’t Terry. It wasn’t Batman. It was something, someone, who had broken into their house or was making him see things or…

“Hey bud, can you please look at me?”

“No.” Matt tried to open the door but it was locked. His mom must’ve locked it when she left. He didn’t turn around, he just pressed his face into the door and crossed his arms.

The voice, the voice that sounded so very much like Terry, but that couldn’t be Terry, laughed.

“What are you doing Mattie?”

“You’re not Batman. You’re not Terry.”

“Oh bud. I wanted to tell you. Could you turn around, just for a second, and let me explain?”

Matt pressed his forehead even harder into the metal of the door, counting to ten.

One.

It wasn’t Batman because Terry wasn’t Batman.

Two.

Terry wasn’t Batman because Batman was a hero.

Three.

Terry wasn’t a hero, not really.

Four.

He made Matt laugh and he hugged him a lot, but he always left.

Five.

Just like dad.

Six.

Dad left and Terry came back into his life like he hadn’t been gone for nearly three years.

Seven.

Terry never had fun, he was too tired and too serious.

Eight.

He didn’t want to do things with Matt, even though he wasn’t that much older than him.

Nine.

Terry wasn’t schway or strong, he couldn’t do cool flips or fly a jet or beat up bad guys.

Ten.

So Terry wasn’t Batman, and the person behind him wasn’t Terry.

So who was he?

“Mattie, please?”

“Your brother’s acting like a big baby.” Anger flared in Matt’s chest.

“I am not!” He spun around without a second thought.

The kid, the kid that looked like Robin but wasn’t Robin, just smiled.

“Not now Dak.” Not-Terry hissed. He looked back and met Matt’s eyes. It was a look he’d seen a few times, like when he’d come home after Batman had saved him from Stalker, or after Matt had scraped his knee at Cheesy Dan’s. It was the look that Terry gave him that was soft and worried and… and Not-Terry looked so much like Terry.

“You… you are Batman.” Matt’s eyes widened, then went wider, his fingers reaching out to touch the red of the symbol covering his brother’s, his actual brother’s, chest.

“I didn’t think I’d have to tell you like this, and I definitely didn’t expect you to run.”

Matt was speechless. He guessed he finally understood what people meant when they said the word starstruck.

It wasn’t an illusion. Terry, Terry his brother, was Batman.

“Schway.” he whispered.

“Are you done freaking out now? I tell you, none of my friends would react like that. That was real weird.”

Terry glared at the kid. What had he called him? Dak? What kind of name was that anyway?

“Listen, I guess I better go. See you when something interesting happens and we can kick some butt. Thanks for finally letting me see your face by the way.”

Dak pulled his mask over his eyes and walked back into Terry’s room. Matt heard the click of the window lock and a whoosh of air and then there was silence.

“So… I guess we need to talk.”

***

Terry got a call when he was changing in his room. He was trying to talk quietly but Matt heard him loud and clear.

“Yeah I know, but some stuff came up okay? Tell the commish I’ll be there in half an hour or something.”

“...”

“No it can’t wait.”

“...”

“Uh… Mattie found out.”

“...”

“Yeah I know but I can’t erase his memory or anything! He saw what he saw and now we have to deal with it!”

“...”

“Yeah I’m gonna talk with him right now. Right. See you later.”

Terry came out of his room a few minutes later dressed in his normal clothes. He was carrying the batsuit, folded up nice and neat in a little square with the cowl pinched between his fingers.

The shock still hadn’t fully worn off, and it was still weird to see the costume sitting in his brother’s lap when he joined Matt on the couch, but at the same time, Matt was excited. He was talking to Batman for Pete’s sake.

“What’s it like to fight bad guys? How did you become Batman? Can you show me any moves?” It all tumbled out like a dam breaking.

“Alright Twip, calm down.” Terry was smiling, but it didn’t quite reach his eyes. “Before anything you gotta promise me you won’t tell Mom about this, okay?”

“Yeah yeah, whatever.”

“Or any of your friends.”

“Okay okay I get it!” Matt reached over to feel the suit again. It was still that weird texture, almost like silk skin.

“Alright then. What do you want to know? One question at a time.”

Matt opened his mouth but paused for a moment, thinking. He wanted to ask a lot of things but… there was one question he had to ask.

“Is this why you’re always gone?”

Terry blinked owlishly.

“I—uh yeah it’s a pretty time consuming job bud.”

Right. Batman had to fight bad guys and Gotham had a lot of bad guys. Still…

“Mom wishes you were home more y’know. I’ve heard her talk to her friends about it.” He tried to be casual about it, staring intently at the red and black material of the suit. That was all he could really focus on, it was weird to look Terry in the eyes.

He heard his brother sigh and felt him lean back into the couch cushions.

“Yeah I know. I’m working on that. You’ve been a real help, I’ve heard her talk about that too.”

“You’ve been gone even more recently, I think she’s starting to worry. Is it some big thing? Like when the Joker came back last year?”

“No, no, I’ve just been busy training Dak. He’s the new Robin, that kid that was with me just now.”

“Yeah Terry, I know. I’m not blind.” Matt picked a piece of dust off the suit.

“Oh… right.”

“How hard can it be though?”

“You mean besides the fact that he never listens and my boss has us training almost 24/7?”

“I’d listen. I bet I could be a great Robin.”

“Sure bud.” The way Terry said it was so off handed, almost joking.

Matt felt his face heat up, the anger from before resurfacing.

“I could! And you know me already! He’s just some random kid!”

“Woah hey. I’m not saying you wouldn’t be a good hero, but Dak needed Robin, just like I needed Batman.” Terry was using the calm voice, the one he used to get Matt to listen or do what he wanted, but it wasn’t going to work this time.

“How? How did he need Robin?”

Terry sighed again, pushing the hair out of his eyes.

“That’s a big question bud. It’s a long story. Dak helped me out of a sticky situation a while back. I didn’t see him for a long time, and then a few months ago I was beating up a gang and he stopped one of the guys from hitting me with a pipe. He got knocked out though, so I tried to bring him home. Turns out his folks died in a house fire while he was at school. My boss knows a thing or two about that kind of stuff, and told me it might be a good idea to take him on. I was the hesitant one at first, if you can imagine, but in the end it was the best option. He’s with a foster family now, and he works with me as Robin on the side. If I hadn’t given him that… who knows where he’d be now.”

Matt was mistaken. The excitement he’d felt earlier had just been anger.

“But what about me? I lost someone too, I lost Dad! Why don’t I need Robin? Why is he so special? Why didn’t you ask me?” Feelings were hard sometimes. Sometimes they were big, too big, for Matt to handle. He was standing before he knew it, his feet sinking into the cushions, his finger pointing accusingly at Terry.

“Oh Mattie it’s not like that.”

“Yeah? Then what is it like? You chose some street kid who you barely know over me!”

“Matt—”

“I need help too! You think it’s been easy? Everyone’s already moved on but I haven’t! I still miss Dad and I—” he didn’t mean to start crying, “and I—I… I can’t remember his face that well anymore, Terry. I can’t rem—remember what he looked like.” A hiccup interrupted the sentence, sounding much closer to a sob than he wanted it too.

“Oh bud I’m sorry.” Terry pulled him into a hug and Matt heard a dull thump as the costume slid onto the floor. Terry’s arms were solid and warm, his fingers combing comfortingly through Matt’s hair.

How did feelings just do that? How did they change so fast? From so big to so small, so angry to so sad? Matt pressed his fists against Terry’s chest and cried harder, his voice wobbling and cracking and shaking like a bowl of jello.

“Hey, I’m here. I’m sorry I haven’t been, and I’m sorry I didn’t tell you sooner, but I’m here now, Mattie, okay?”

Matt nodded into Terry’s shirt.

“I love you bud.” Terry said, pressing a kiss to the crown of his head.

They sat like that for a few minutes, Matt’s sobs slowly quieting, the tears drying in sticky tracks down his face. Terry didn’t move, he continued to hold Matt tight and rub his shoulders, and they just sat like that.

“Can I… can I be Robin someday?” Matt finally asked. “I think I need it too.”

He could feel Terry smile against his hair. “We’ll see. I don’t want you getting hurt, and Robin’s taken right now, but maybe you can be someone else, okay?”

Matt looked up at Terry and smiled.

“Okay.”

Terry gave him another kiss on the forehead and got up. He stretched, groaning, and made his way to the kitchen. “I have a thing I need to get to. Wanna come with?”

“What kind of thing?” Matt scrubbed at the tears on his cheeks, wiping his hands on the couch cushions.

“Hero stuff. It’s about a case but it’s nothing major.” Terry started rummaging in one of the drawers.

“What about mom? We can’t just leave.”

“I’ll leave a note, say I’m taking you to Cheesy Dan’s for a bit or something.”

“Okay.”

Terry paused when he pulled out the sticky notes.

“Hey Matt?”

“Yeah?”

“You know you’ll always be more important than any Batman business right?”

Matt stared.

He stared at his brother, still tall, maybe a bit less lanky than he’d been before, more muscle, his hair falling thick and dark in front of his eyes. He stared at that dimple on his chin that Matt had always wanted, and he realized that it was the same brother he’d always had.

He stared at Batman, the hero who was standing in his kitchen, who had saved people countless times on TV, who had saved him more than he could count. He stared at the way Terry held himself, just a bit differently than he remembered, at the way his eyes looked tired but aware, and the bruise that was becoming more visible on his jaw. He stared and he realized that Terry was Batman. He stared and he realized things weren’t the same, and maybe they hadn’t been for a long, long time.

He stared and he thought about those words. He thought about the boy in the Robin costume who was not him and who needed the suit. He thought about how he didn’t understand his feelings, and about how things were confusing and he didn’t know if they would ever stop being that way.

“Yeah. Yeah I know.” He said after a moment. And he meant it.

Sometimes things were simple, sometimes they weren’t. Sometimes people were there, sometimes they weren’t. Sometimes Matt was alone and sometimes Terry was dragging him into a clean limousine and driving him to a big house and dragging him down a secret passage and introducing him to a legacy.

Sometimes there was Batman, and sometimes there was Terry.

And that was okay.

And Matt was okay.

#batman beyond #matt mcginnis #terry mcginnis #batman #fic #fanfic #my fic #fic requests #dc #my-fic

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purplesurveys · 4 years

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649

Are you attracted to the last person that kissed you? Yeah, of course. What did you do yesterday? I spent the morning hungover because I drank the night before, but I had to be in class by 10 AM so I had no choice but to drive to school. My classes were thankfully pretty chill, and the most random thing that happened was my prof making us take a speed typing test in the middle of our class lol. Otherwise, it was a normal school day. Something you really want right now? More moneyyyy. I blew most of it last Wednesday when me and my girlfriend had drinks up in Marco Polo. Hotels obviously jack up their prices on everything, and alcohol is no exception so what I’d pay for a cocktail in my school’s area got quadrupled in Marco Polo. But I had a loooot of fun that night, so I can’t say I regret it even though I lost most of my allowance. If you could seek revenge on someone would you? [continued from yesterday because I just had suuuch a hectic week] Like I’ve said, the idea of revenge is something I daydream about just to feel internally satisfied, but I never feel the need to act on it. How long have you liked the person you like? Six, maybe even seven years.

Are you happy with the way things are going? For the most part. I could go with less worry/anxiety, but I mean I can’t say I’m miserable. Would you ever get a tattoo? Only if I feel like the time is right, which is a FAR cry from “get tattoos of all the things you love”-era Robyn lmao. Do you think you will be in a relationship 3 months from now? Yes. April is my birth month, and I’d hate to be single by then lol. What plans do you have for tomorrow? I finally have my rest day tomorrow, which I’m fuuuucking stoked about. It’s been such a busy busy week and I’m just so relieved that all I have to do tomorrow is sit and lounge around. Has a friendship ended recently that you wish had not? Not really. I kinda cut off friendships with two guys because they annoyed me over some issue, but the thing is they’re part of our high school group so I can’t avoid them forever – I see them when we have reunions, but I don’t mingle with them. What are you listening to right now? I can hear the electric fan whirring in front of me but in my head Simmer by Hayley Williams is playing as loud as ever. Do you and your last ex hate each other? No. What are you afraid of? I hate uncertainty the most, but some other things I’m afraid of are failing in general, videos that make me stressed like footage of collapsing/fainting people or racist people making tirades on public transport, flying cockroaches, sharp objects, and fire. When was the last time you were sick? Some time last year, I got a fever for like two hours but I was totally fine after. But the last time I was SICK sick was sometime in 2017 – but even that was only an overnight thing. I don’t remember the last time I was sick for over a day. Do you tend to waste a lot of money? LMAOOO don’t even remind me. I literally have a single P50 bill left in my wallet – that’s less than a dollar to ya. Do you have trust issues? No, not at all. Do you think this year will be better than last? I’m genuinely unsure, and I’d rather not guess or mull over it. 2020 is going to be a year of so much change – graduating college, getting my first job, maybe moving out for the first time?, not knowing if my girlfriend is going to pursue a master’s abroad, what that means for us, etc. Big things are waiting, and I HATE the uncertainty of it all. I take surveys to forget, so please don’t remind me of things I go here to forget, haha. Have you ever regretted kissing someone? No. Are you a jealous person? I can be, but like I’m not obsessed with being jealous. When was the last time you got a haircut? 2018. I desperately need a dramatic haircut. Do you know anyone that smokes weed? Yeah I know people who’ve told me about it, but I’m sure there are more people I know that haven’t told me they do weed. Who is the last person you rode in a car with? I was with Luisa and Hannah and for the first time in a long time, I wasn’t the one driving! Do you look more like your mom or your dad? I ask people this and they always tell me I’m a perfect mix. Apparently the top half of my face looks like my dad, and the bottom half is all my mom. Are there any stressful situations in your life? Yep a little bit yep yep yep. If you were caught cheating would you fess up? If I was already caught, I’d be incredibly stupid to still deny it so yeah, I’d confess. The last time you honestly felt broken? Maybe Monday? Idk, I cried pretty hard that day, harder than I normally would. What do you really want right now? I want this stupid internet speed to be faster because I need to send emails ASAP, and I need some good fucking food. I am not the happiest camper right now lmao. Best thing about the last person you chatted on facebook? He’s literally the most reliable dude ever. I can always depend on him to help me out no matter how last-minute it is. Best thing about the last person you talked to in person? She’s generous. When was the last time you shaved your legs? Yesterday. Is there someone you wish you were closer to? At this point, not really. I’m happy with my circle and there haven’t been new people who entered my life recently. Have any addictions? Nope. Are you anything like your siblings? We’re all reserved, but then again out of all the three of us I’m still the biggest extrovert and I’m also probably the one who finds it easy to blend in with most groups. But yeah, we all definitely have a layer of extreme shyness in us. We’re also never upfront about our feelings, so when we cry we do it in the privacy of our own rooms, or if we’re upset we rant about it to our own friends. Have you ever had a stalker? I don’t think so. Have you ever received an injury from a hook up? LOL what? No I haven’t. That sounds wild though. What did you last eat? A brownie and a sip of coffee. What was the best concert you have been to? PARAMORE. UGH. THEY HAVE THE BEST CONCERTS. I’ve seen them twice and I plan to see them three, four, and the next bajillion times. Paramore forever <3 Who is the last person you hugged? I’m not 100% sure. Maybe Laurice. Do you have any good friends of the opposite sex? I have a couple, yeah. Are you keeping anything from your best friend(s) now? This survey is a big secret for one, lmao. Where do you get your clothes? It depends. I shop everywhere so I get my clothes from a variety of places. They’re mostly from independent shops/stalls that pop up once in a while at malls, though. Do you have a secret you've never told anyone? [continued YET AGAIN from last night because I am just one big exhausted bean] Again, this Tumblr is a pretty big secret. Is there one person in your life that can always make you smile? There are several people who meet this category. Would you rather sleep alone or with someone? I like sleeping with someone only if they’re my significant other. Otherwise, I like my own space when I sleep. Have you ever lived with a girlfriend/boyfriend? No, I haven’t. When was the last time something bothered you? I am bothered at this moment, hence the survey-taking haha. Who was the first male you talked to today? My dog. But if he doesn’t count, it was Andrew. Are you completely over your past relationships? I’ve only been with one person. Do you get attached to people easily? No, it only ever happens with select people. But when I get attached, it happens hard. Are you currently looking forward to anything? Uhhhh sure. I’m dreading most of this week but my high school’s annual school fair is happening this Friday and Saturday and that’s the only thing I’m excited for. Do you believe in love? Yes. Let's be honest, have you ever been played by someone? Can’t say I have. Have you ever played someone? Yes, this I’ve done. I still feel bad about it occasionally but I’m sure the person has long gotten past it. What is currently on your mind? How sad I am and that I have to focus on this survey so I can be distracted. Would it hurt seeing the last person you kissed, kissing someone else? Of course. How many piercings have you had in your life? Just two. Who else is in the room with you? I’m the only one in the dining room but my brother is also here downstairs. Have you ever been beside someone while they were throwing up? [It’s 12 hours later. This is the absolute slowest I’ve ever worked on a survey lmao] No, it was always the other way around HAHAHA Did you eat breakfast today? I haven’t yet but I’m not feeling hungry so I might just settle for a cup of coffee. When was the last time you cried? A few minutes ago watching a clip from an NBA game having a moment of silence for Kobe Bryant. I was never into basketball but we DID have a copy of NBA Live 2003, and whenever I played it I always used the Lakers team so that I got to play as either Shaq or Kobe, so I’m sad and shocked, to say the least. Do you like tea? Just sugary iced tea. None of that herbal stuff. When was the last time you took a nap? Yesterday afternoon. What song is stuck in your head? Simmer, by Hayley Williams. As has been the case in the last four days. Do you have a TV in your room? I used to, but my brother would always be the one using it to play his video games so I eventually just gave it to him. Have you ever broken a bone? Nope. And I’m always extra careful so that I never have to go through such an injury. Have you ever had stitches? ^ Same answer. Are you wearing a sweatshirt? No...it’s starting to get warmer for sweatshirts now :( Have you taken a shower in the last 24 hours? Yes. Are there things in your life that you'll never be able to get over? Of course. There’s been a fair share of deaths, betrayals, abusive family shit that I’ve had to go through and that aren’t easy to forget. Can you remember who you liked this time last year? Yes. What's one physical flaw you'd like to fix about yourself? Straightening my teeth. What do you do when you're feeling extremely nervous? Uh it depends on whatever helps me at that time. I’d pace around, fiddle with my eyebrows, breathe deeply, shake my hands rapidly, bite my nails, etc. Do you have a hard time letting go? Yes. Do you think someone is thinking about you right now? I doubt it. What do you plan on doing now? Making my cup of coffee and taking another survey to make up for the embarassment that is taking three days of finishing this one lmao.

#survey #surveys

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jbuffyangel · 5 years

Text

The Good Soldier: Arrow 7x19 Review (Spartan)

Uhhhh....

Let’s dig in...

John Diggle

It has taken seven years and 157 episodes, but we are finally getting John Diggle’s backstory and IT’S JUICY.

Diggle and Oliver procured an A.R.G.U.S. vault drive during a run in with Virgil. For the life of me I cannot remember that guy’s connection to Emiko and her super villain organization, so I’m just slotting him in the “henchman” category. Does that work for everyone? Fabulous. Moving on.

Unfortunately, Felicity is unable to hack the protocols protecting the drive. Feel free to roll your eyes. A drive Felicity Smoak can’t hack? Please.

She does, however, recognize who created the protocols – the Department of Defense, or Arrow’s fake version which is the Defense Intelligence Agency.

Source: paigeOTA

John says something like, “Hey I know a guy.” OH YOU DO? John knows a guy at the Department of Defense? Not just any guy, but a GENERAL.

Gee, Diggle this information would have been super handy all the times Team Arrow has been fighting ARMIES like Slade and the Mirakuru soldiers, Ra’s Al Ghul and the League, or pretty much any bad guy to grace Arrow’s screen during May sweeps.

But okay, Season 7 he’s coughing up this info. Great. Helpful. Thanks big guy.

John is super nervous prior to the meeting with said General and even Oliver is wondering, “Dude what’s up with you?” So obviously this is an authority figure for Diggle, which means parent of some kind. This is all, but confirmed when General Stewart starts criticizing John’s career choices. Oh yeah, this guy is definitely a parent.

General Stewart is Diggle’s stepfather. Get it? Stewart as in John Stewart aka the Green Lantern. It’s completely okay if you missed that detail. I was about 15 minutes into the episode before I put that puzzle piece together.

General Stewart: I’m sorry to say you’ve lost your way.

I like this guy. Not for nothing, but “lost” is how I would also describe John the last couple seasons of Arrow. The more evolved and independent Oliver becomes the more adrift John becomes. Sure, he ditched A.R.G.U.S. to keep Lyla safe (Thank goodness. That storyline was terrible), but it doesn’t mean the General is wrong about his stepson. John needs direction outside of Oliver Queen and he’s been searching for it for awhile now.

Diggle: I left to protect my family and that’s not something you would understand, is it sir?

SHOTS FIRED! Daaaaaamn. Diggle is extra salty about this guy. What gives?

The Ninth Circle steals Archer from Smoak Tech (shiiiiiiiit), but General Stewart’s DIA soldiers save Felicity and Alena. Stewart is aware there’s a Ninth Circle mole inside A.R.G.U.S., so he’s been tracking their activity which led them to Smoak Tech headquarters aka the loft. The drive contained a list of DIA assets, which is why Emiko stole Archer. She’s planning on using the program to track them down and gain access to their intel.

Alright, that’s enough bad guy plot. Let’s get down to the goodies. Diggle is super pissed step daddy didn’t share his wealth of information, but Stewart argues it was classified. Oliver is basically a family counselor this entire episode and he slides in between to break up the tension. It’s hilarious.

Source: paigeOTA

Diggle leaves in a huff.

Source: paigeOTA

This is a theme throughout the episode. John Thomas is quite huffy. Oliver finally gets a chance to ask if there is any reason why John failed to mention during the last seven years that he has a stepfather at the DIA, particularly since he’s been up Oliver’s ass about honesty. But Oliver says it in a much nicer way.

This is why I love this man.

Source: 1-crazy-dreamer

He’s not a hypocrite. John never spilling the stepdad details over a glass of vodka is hinky and Oliver knows it. However, he’s not going to rub Diggle’s face in it because Oliver also understands he’s told much bigger lies through the course of their friendship. Oliver makes many mistakes, sometimes repeatedly, but it makes him an incredibly compassionate person.

SO HERE’S THE TEA. Stewart was John’s father’s best friend and commanding officer. An op went bad and John’s father stayed behind to hold off insurgents, saving the whole unit in the process. Stewart survived and Diggle’s father didn’t. John blames Stewart for his father’s death. He believes Stewart, as commanding officer, should have been the one to stay behind. AND THEN six months later, Stewart married John’s mother.

Excuse me, where has this soapy goodness been for the last seven years? The Young & the Restless writers are taking notes y’all! As @callistawolf pointed out this sounds a lot like Diggle’s history with Carly, his brother Andy’s wife. Diggle may hate his stepfather for marrying his best friend’s wife, but he kind of did the same thing with Carly. Sure, he didn’t marry her, but they definitely had a relationship. It seems this behavior runs in the Diggle family. John was always very uncomfortable with Carly being Andy’s widow and this backstory certainly brings another level of understanding why he felt that way.

Stewart is a total hard ass too, which doesn’t help his relationship with John or Andy very much. He focused on running “Spartan” survival drills with the boys and by the time John turned 18 he couldn’t wait to leave home. The whole nod to Spartan is interesting. This might be the first time we are given any background for why John’s helmet looks like a Spartan warrior. Felicity anointed Diggle with the code name, because she is Queen, but I think John was involved in designing the initial suit with Cisco. So, the overall Spartan look would have come from him and General Stewart is why.

Emiko kidnaps Diggle and General Stewart and thus they join the prestigious line of kidnapping OTA and their parents.

Source: ebett

This almost feels like parental initiation on this show. You can’t bond with your kid until you’ve been tied up by a mad man or woman in this case. Moira and Mama Smoak send their sympathies General.

Source: ebett

Dante tortures Diggle to get some codes out of Stewart and he folds pretty quick seeing his son in pain. Stewart being willing to do anything to keep John Diggle safe is quite an endearing quality and it makes me feel all the feels. What can I say? I like this guy.

Dante wants access to a secret DIA experimental weapon called CYGNUS X-1. It’s genetically engineered bacteria which can consume the byproduct of nuclear fission or as Felicity explained, “It’s a biological weapon that can literally eat through anything. That’s terrifying.” Listen, if she’s scared then I’m scared. Where Felicity Smoak goes so goes my nation.

Oliver: Archer. They are going to use the intel they get from the assets to locate the DNA of the people involved with CYGNUS X-1.

Nothing Oliver said sounds good,

but I’m only half paying attention to the bad guy plot, because I am way more focused on Oliver dropping the daddy bombshell, which he does after finding Diggle brooding about his father. Superhero Jesus to the rescue! John’s father didn’t die saving everyone. He died because he was negligent and took two marines with him. The reason the rest of the unit survived was because of John Stewart. He was the real hero.

Again, this is quite reminiscent of Diggle’s relationship with Andy. Maybe Stewart and John’s father weren’t biological brothers, but they were best friends just like Oliver and Diggle. So, they were brothers all the same. There seems to be a generational thread of the good brother and the bad brother in the Diggle family. One we find that continues in the flash forwards.

Stewart: I know you might not feel the same way, but you will always be a son to me.

Felicity is able to stop Emiko from using Archer, but she’s still able to steal the weapon. John confronts his stepfather with the truth after the mission is over. Diggle cannot understand why Stewart let John hate him for all these years. And the answer is simple – because that’s what parents do. General Stewart didn’t want to take the memory of his father away from John. Diggle believed his father was a hero, so he became one. Stewart believes the lie made Diggle who he is, but John disagrees.

Diggle: If I’m a hero it’s all because of you, sir.

The Stewart last name is no accident. The man who made John Diggle a hero has the same last name as one of the greatest heroes in DC history. If John ever truly wanted to honor the General he could change his last name and become John Stewart,

but I doubt we’ll ever see that happen nor do I think it’s necessary. John will always be Diggle. Our Diggle doesn’t need a ring because he’s is already a hero.

Source: @oliverqsmoak

John calling General Stewart “sir” is no accident either. Diggle, always the good soldier, has refused that courtesy the entire episode. But now he softens his voice; his eyes filled with tears, and calls the man who made him a hero, “sir.” John is showing respect, but also trust. He finally sees his stepfather for who he truly is. Diggle knows General Stewart is not only a good soldier, but a wonderful father. This “sir” carries more significant than “I love you” for these two men.

The gifts General Stewart gave Diggle go beyond merely survival. John is a good solider because that’s how General Stewart raised him to be. Just like Diggle’s father would want him to be.

The two hug and part with a deeper bond than the one they had before – a tradition when it comes to OTA and their parents. “Call your mother” is probably the best exit line of any character on Arrow. I loved it. Ernie Hudson was an absolute delight.

Unfortunately, we are seven years in. I’d rather have this episode in Season 7 than not at all, but there is an element of too little too late. “Spartan” makes sense in Season 1 or Season 2 at the latest. Felicity’s backstory episode was in Season 3 and I thought that was late.

It’s hard to understand why Arrow waited so long to give us this story. The only reason I can think of is DC. They have a long history of shooting down John Diggle storylines because they intend to use them somewhere else. The Suicide Squad springs to mind. David Ramsey has been very honest about DC’s refusal to allow John Stewart/Green Lantern on Arrow in the past, so they finally must have signed off in some capacity.

Do I think the Stewart name is important enough to wait seven years for an episode like this? No. I don’t, particularly if Arrow can’t develop the Green Lantern storyline for John any further. If they can then I understand holding off, but if “John Stewart” is just another Green Lantern Easter egg then I don’t think it was worth putting off the storyline.

Arrow did their best to explain this massive hole in John’s backstory. Oliver and Felicity were understandably dumbfounded by the revelations, but John’s explanation was pretty weak. How is a stepfather in the DIA not pertinent information? Of course it is, particularly when Diggle so strongly advocated for Oliver to clean out the skeletons in his closet. It just puts the episode in an awkward position and while I enjoyed it, the writers didn’t overcome the timing hurdle for me.

Flash Forwards

The Flash Forwards are rapidly becoming my favorite part of the show. If I don’t get a spin off I’m gonna… well I don’t really know what I’m gonna do because I don’t actually have any power but I’ll do something!

Felicity needs a thingamajig to fix the helmet Laurel helped Mia procure, so the Princess That Was Promised heads into Star City to track it down for Mama. Connor comes along because he’s in love with Mia and can’t stand to be separated from her for more than five minutes. Yeah, I know this hasn’t been explicitly stated, but it’s facts. #SmoaknHawke

Source: amunetblack

Mia has to get the thingamajig from the Deathstroke Gang. Can we just take a minute and appreciate there’s a Deathstroke Gang? That’s kind of amazing. I mean… it’s bad.

We’re in luck because Connor knows the leader of the Deathstroke Gang who is… drum roll please… John Jr. Diggle aka JJ!!!!!!!

YAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAASSSSSS!!!! According to Connor, Lyla and Diggle’s hero gig put some pressure on the kids. Connor went one way and JJ, in an attempt to rebel, went the other. This continues the good brother/bad brother Diggle family tradition!

Source: amunetblack

Listen, I was seriously just kidding around when I said there should be a Connor, Mia and JJ love triangle like Stefan, Elena and Damon, but if the Arrow writers want to take me up on it then FINE BY ME.

I have an opening in my television viewing schedule for a good brother/bad brother and the woman they both love storyline!

They are totally going there because Mia asks, “When do I get to meet him?” The “him” being JJ of course. Oh girl, you gonna meet him alright. Just you wait.

Oliver’s baby girl will have her pick of Diggle brothers and I CANNOT STAND IT BECAUSE IT IS TOO PERFECT. Why you ask? Because we don’t have to take sides. You can ship both sides of the love triangle because no matter which way you shake it Oliver and Felicity’s daughter ends up with one of Diggle and Lyla’s sons. THIS IS THE SHIPPER DREAM!

But we aren’t meeting JJ until the spin off. So settle girl. All in good time. There needs to be some surprises left for this show. Even though they haven’t cast the role yet, I bet you dollars to donuts there will be a chemistry read with Katherine McNamara for whoever they cast.

Source: amunetblack

In the meantime, we get to watch Kat and Joseph steam up the television screen with moments like this. Damn kids. It’s getting warm in here. Wowza.

I absolutely adore how the writers are flipping the expectations. It’s almost as if they anticipated some kind of resistance to William or Connor because they aren’t biological children. Trust me I’ve seen plenty of “William isn’t really Olicity’s kid” or “Connor isn’t really Dyla’s kid” crap out there. It’s pretty horrifying the perspective some have about non biological children, so consider me thrilled the writers took those opinions and shoved them where the sun doesn’t shine. William is Mini Felicity and the good solider is Connor, not JJ. It’s amazing.

Felicity Smoak and Alena

“Felicity Smoak now entering Smoak Tech."

This gives me a happy every time I hear it. Smoak Tech and Archer are basically Felicity’s babies before she has a baby. I particularly love the part when Felicity says she needs more than Team Arrow. Yes, she loves being Overwatch, but she wants to save the world as Felicity Smoak as well. She essentially wants to go hoodless too.

I think it’s great the writers are exploring a legacy for Oliver, Felicity and Diggle outside of Team Arrow. Felicity thus far is the furthest down the road, which is good because the character is leaving in three friggin episodes.

But we’ve seen in the future John finds an outlet for his passions as well with Knight Watch. We also know Oliver is going to save the universe (such an underachiever that one).

But it’s particularly important with Felicity because we have a tendency in our culture to pigeonhole women into one thing. You’re a mom or you’re *insert career choice here.* Once we pick a path then it’s our only path.

The reality is women, like men, can be many different things all at once.

Yes, the mind reels at the thought. The fact Felicity is still searching for something when she’s found happiness as Overwatch and as a wife & mother isn’t a radical concept, but it’s one rarely portrayed by television characters.

Nor do Felicity’s interests have to happen one at a time. I think the reason Felicity is exploring these multi faceted aspects of her character is because Emily is leaving the show and the writers didn’t want to leave anything on the table. But I’m not complaining. Even when the actress is about the leave the show this exploration seldom happens, so I’m taking the wins where I can find them.

Alena wants Felicity to sell the company and this irks me. If I’ve said it once then I’ve said it a million times I DO NOT TRUST ALENA. Girlfriend is there all of five minutes and she’s already trying to sell Felicity’s baby to the highest bidder. This is my essential problem with Alena – she always has an angle.

Felicity’s hactivism was about making the world a better place, but when it comes to Alena I cannot help but feel her motivations are more selfish. Even if that’s wrong and Alena has altruistic intentions, her morality line is deeply skewed particularly when compared to Felicity’s morality. It makes this partnership dangerous in my mind. Alright. Alena rant done.

Or maybe not because Alena just did something super sketchy!!!!

After Emiko steals Archer, Felicity realizes how incredibly dangerous the program can be.

Source: paigeOTA

I love how Alena sweetly reassures Felicity she is not a mad scientist.

Source: arrowdaily

I would have added she’s a cupcake genius with extra sprinkles, but that’s me. It’s moments like these I wish I trusted Alena, but I don’t.

Felicity is literally the furthest thing from a mad scientist or her father, but she is self aware. She understands her genius can create miraculous things, but that people can use those miracles in ways she never intended. It’s basically the “With great power comes great responsibility” hero code. Felicity accepts the responsibility of her superpower and is completely altruistic with it. If her creation hurts innocent people then she will destroy it even if the intent was to help. That is selfless heroism.

Unfortunately, Alena does not share this code. And this is my essential problem with her. Yes, I love the adorable banter and a female friend for Felicity to geek out with. I particularly love that Alena replaced Curtis Holt’s mansplaining ass. But Alena has no problem crossing lines to get what SHE wants regardless of who it hurts in the process.

This is why Felicity’s arc this season is so crucial. Felicity thought she was that kind of person. Someone who would do whatever is necessary to get what she wants. It’s incredibly important to remember Felicity was trying to save her family, which is nowhere near the same as Alena trying to save a computer program that can make billions. The two don’t equate.

However, Felicity discovered she retains a moral integrity even in her darkest moments. She has the capacity to do “whatever it takes” like we all do, but ultimately Felicity realized holding to her morality makes her strong. Alena is different. She has no integrity, which is why she cannot be trusted.

And yet, it seems like in the future Felicity blames herself for how Archer was used and not Alena. Sometimes she is just like her husband.

Stray Thoughts

I love that even though I know Felicity will pull that trigger, and she did, her hand was shaking. It’s so beautifully human and one of the reasons I connect to this character so much.

This girl can really zero in on the point of the episode, can’t she? Source: arrowdaily

“That’s not very fair John.” Indeed. Very un-Yoda like behavior.

Diggle wore a shirt during the kidnapping scene. I’m extremely disappointed Arrow. You had one job!

Oliver racing to Felicity’s side the minute she says, “Hey!” will always be amazing and a trick I need to teach my husband. Source: lucyyh

Olicity finishes each other’s sentences. Your OTP could never. Source: 1-crazy-dreamer

“Normally I’m off by myself staring into nothing.” Oliver jokes about his broodiness now. Oh how far we have traveled my friends.

Oliver not saying "I'm glad you're both okay" took a lot of self control. Way to keep a lid on it Superhero Daddy. Source: olicitygifs

Felicity hacks the helmet while Mia and Connor look on mind blown.

Oliver is so chill when people insult him.

My poor babe is used to being dragged by these ungrateful twats. #OLIVERQUEENDESERVESBETTER2019 Source: 1-crazy-dreamer

The foremost expert on robotics wouldn't call Felicity back when she was CEO of Palmer Tech & now he wants to BUY Archer. I guess Ray didn't have anything he was interested in. Yes, Arrow is saying Felicity Smoak is way way way way smarter than Ray Palmer. The sky is also blue.

Even when it’s not an Olicity focused episode, Emily and Stephen do such a wonderful job of showing us Oliver and Felicity’s love and connection in the small moments. These little touches are among the many things I’m going to miss the most next season.

Source: lucyyh

Disclaimer: Any gifs on the blog are not mine. If you would like a gif removed from my reviews, please message me. 7x19 gifs credited.

If you’d like to support the blog, please buy me a cup of tea!

56 notes · View notes

gingers-writing-blog · 4 years

Text

New York Bound

Chapter 1

The story starts in April 1899.

Triggers: Mild Swearing, One Punch, Mention of Blood

New Words: /

Word Count: 2,819

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

"Come on guys! Wake up and get a move on! Those papers ain't gonna sell themselves!" I shout over the noise of the busy London streets below. It's only half-past seven but some people, like the blacksmiths, maids and landlords, have been up for at least an hour; and these lazy newsies are still asleep! It had been rainin' last night, so there were some puddles on the roads and pavements and the cold wind was blowin'. It blew a few stray paper bags from the shops down the street. It was only just light outside, but it's April, so what's new...

I hear a few people stirrin' from their sleep.

"Aye! Lucky! Ya should be up by now. I can't run this place all by myself!" I twist around from the window and call over to the girl that helps me run the Westminster Newsies. She's barely awake!

I saunter over to my boyfriends' bed and try and shake him awake. We both laugh as he waves his arms around blindly tryin' to shove me away.

"Come on Tommy! Get ya lazy arse up!" I shove him playfully, and he almost fell off the bed, but he grabbed onto my hand and pulled me, so I was lyin' next to him. He put his arm around me and I almost forgot about sellin' papers...

"Mornin'." He said quietly, while tracin' the outline of the small birthmark next to my left eye. He was really warm, and it was a nice change from the freezin' cold of the lodgin' house. His cute Aussie accent came through a lot in the mornin', and sometimes he would make it really thick and I would try and guess what the hell he was sayin'! Yeah, I love him with all my heart.

"Mornin'," I said back. We ended up starin' into each other's eyes. I love his eyes, amazin' deep brown; they were like the fancy chocolate that ya see in shop windows in the rich part of the city.

"For Christs' sake, get a room! So much for wake up and get a move on, ey' Cat!" Our little moment was interrupted by none other than Lucky. I turn my head around and see her pickin' up her dice that she always takes around with her, ya know, just in case she gets tied up in another gamblin' game...again...

"Right! This is payback for all the times I have to listen to ya and Smalls swoonin' over each other!" I reply, flashin' her a cocky grin.

'Scuse my manners, I should introduce myself. My name is Caitlin. Caitlin Barnes to be precise, but I go by Cat. I am 15 and I live in Westminster Borough, London. I am one of the two leaders of the Newsies here; the other leader is a girl called Lucky. Our lodgin' house is in Westminster City, which is quite near the borders of Lambeth and Camden; and it is a mess, I mean, there are clothes, shoes and caps everywhere! If ya borough rankin' was based on how tidy ya lodgin' house is, we would be right at the bottom!

The boroughs are ranked by one thing and one thing only. It's not how many people there are in ya borough and it's not how tidy ya Lodgin' House is. Thank god! It's by how much money ya make every month, and we make a fair amount. Mikey, the Polish kid, is the resident maths genius and he always adds up all our money every night.

Westminster is actually one of the smallest boroughs in London, but we all look after each other. Turf wars are a nightmare! Ya can usually tell which boroughs are run by boys because they are the quickest to get into fights; whereas the boroughs run by girls, like Camden, City and obviously here, are more diplomatic and don't want to get anyone killed! Although Angel's Bromley ain't on my list of allies...and that system ain't always correct.

We always think of the famous Spot Conlon and Jack Kelly when we need to defend ourselves. Sorry, I'm probably borin' ya with this, they probably don't know it, but they're famous over here!

There's a kid named Roger who was sent over here by his aunt in New York, he's from Brooklyn and he told us all about Spot Conlon, his borough leader, and Jack Kelly, the leader of a borough called Manhattan. He called them the best leaders their side of the pond!

Anyways, after we were rudely interrupted by my co-leader, Tommy Boy released me from his warm, tight hug, gave me a quick kiss on the cheek and we both got out of his bed.

I walked away from him while he chatted to Albie, one of the few people who actually live with their parents, but he was doin' stuff, so they let him stay here for the night. Mikey was stuff.

Yeah...

I made it over to Elise and Adelaide's beds. Those girls came over from France, just like my father, but they don't speak any English.

Luckily, my father did. So, he taught me and my mother, I tried to learn, but I don't have the right head for it, my brain prefers English and reading things in English. I only know a few basic phrases. Seams knows French though. She's the only one who can talk to them with any certainty of what they're sayin'!

"Tres bien mesdames! Il est temps de porter la banniere!" I said to them I saw someone, Red I think, glance over at them. They're new and I don't think they knew what Seams said!

That means "Alright ladies! Time to carry the banner!" by the way! Meanin', time to get up and sell the papers before it's too late! It's pretty much the only phrase I know for sure.

I chatted for a bit with Chase and how he flirted with his girlfriend last night! I know that doesn't sound very interestin', but he was either drunk or just really tired, but when he asked if she was single, he cried! It was way funnier if ya was there...

The two of us laughed for a bit. He went red and smiled, embarrassed. I left him to get dressed and walked back to my bed, clappin' him on the back as I went! I weaved my way back to my bed and kissed Tommy as I passed him.

I got my clothes out of my bedside drawer and laid them out on my bed, pushin' my recently-finished book aside. I put my bra on backwards, then twisted it around under my shirt. I pulled the straps up and took my nightshirt off.

Tommy Boy looked up and blushed when he saw me. I saw him out of the corner of my eye and grinned back at him.

"Whattaya got for me today babe?"

"Alright! Uhhhh...try and guess what this means!" There's this thing Tommy and I do every mornin'. He tells me some Aussie slang and I have to guess what the hell he means, and then I say somethin' in French and he tries to guess what I mean.

I looked over at him from where I was changin' into my day clothes.

"What are daks?" He said, with a cute little smirk.

"Ya what?" I laughed. I had absolutely no idea what he meant by 'Daks'. I love this idiot!

"Y'know! Daks! Ya wearin' 'em right now!" I stood there, lookin' down at myself. I was standin' next to my bed in my bra and trousers.

"Does it mean trousers?" It sounded ridiculous! I bent down and grabbed my blue and off-white striped undershirt and pulled it on as he replied.

"Yup! Well done! Ya gettin' betta at guessin'! That was an easy one though..." He grinned at the last bit.

"Right," I decided I was gonna give him a hard one. I clapped my hands together, rubbed them together and stuck my tongue out a bit while I thought of my plan. "Got it! Journaux. Take a crack at that!"

I pulled my mother's old red and grey shirt on and laughed at the look of complete confusion on his face. It was adorable, and he started laughin' with me. I gave him some time to think while I did up the buttons and put my black waistcoat, socks and shoes on as fast as I could. I had to time this perfectly.

The laces of my brown work boots were still undone when I walked over to him, wrapped my arms around his neck and looked up at him. God, I hope I timed this right!

Ding! Ding! Ding! YES!!!

"It means newspapers!" I said as the distribution bell rang out! I kissed him quickly and left him to get dressed. He was still shirtless and had only managed to put his trousers, socks and shoes on! Whereas I was fully dressed if ya don't count my hat.

I grabbed my hat off the end of my bed and yelled out to my newsies.

"Come of guys! Carry the banner!" I yelled out to everyone. They went thunderin' down the stairs. Most of 'em went two at a time and I'm really surprised that someone doesn't die or get really hurt every day!

"Ey! CAT?" I heard someone yell from the doorway to the stairs. I turned around to see who it was.

"Yeah, Fletch?" That's Fletcher. No one really knows where he came from, but we soon found out that he's wicked strong. Like, unnaturally strong, we had a bit of a situation and we needed to clear the main room. Fletcher just came up and lifted up a chair, Patch was still sittin' on it! And he just lifted it up like it was nothin'! Boy, crutch and all!

"What day is it?" His head bobbed up and down as he jumped to see over the few remainin' people.

"Uhhh...Tuesday 25th." I said just as everyone else made it out the door and down the stairs, Fletcher nodded to me, turned and ran down the stairs. I turned back to Tommy and we chuckled a bit about his slightly strange question, but we shrugged it off soon enough.

Once everyone was out, it was just me and Tommy. I bent down and did my shoes up and put my hat on and let my hair hang down. It fell past my waist and there was so much of it, I could rarely fit all of it in my hat!

"C'mon! Ya nearly ready?" I wandered over to the door leadin' to the landin' and the stairs down to the ground floor. The dormitories of the 'Mayfair Lodging House' - and every other lodgin' house, for that matter - were on the 2nd floor. The middle floor had the kitchens, but we don't use that much, and the near-permanently locked storeroom.

The storerooms were only to be unlocked in an emergency, and only the leaders of the boroughs had the key. Now, I have a feelin' about what ya goin' to say...But Mayfair has two leaders!? That's definitely true, but if a borough has two leaders, the first to actually become leader gets the key.

And that would be me. I was made leader when I was 12 because of some emergency from the old leader, Note; then when I was 14, last year, I "promoted" Lucky to become my co-leader. I always keep the key on a long black ribbon around my neck and tucked into my bra. I even sleep with it on because Angel snuck in and almost stole it from my bedside table. From then on, I kept it on at all times. No one that lives in the Lodging House has seen the inside of it...I don't even know if it's ever been opened before and the many times I've looked under the door, all I could see was darkness and dust...

I stood there thinkin' and waitin' for Tommy to finish tyin' his shoelaces up and grab his hat before he ran over to me. I thought he would stop next to me like he did every other day...but I guess every other day we haven't been this late. So instead, he planted a quick kiss on my lips and bolted down the stairs!

"Race ya to the gates!" He called out.

"Hey! Ya got a head start!" I yelled after him, jumpin' down the stairs two at a time. He bolted out the door and closed it after him!

"Really!?" I said, laughin' under my breath. I opened the door quickly and then slammed it shut and ran after him.

Now, what he didn't take into account, was that I was one of the fastest runners in all of the Westminster Newsies, but he knew he was always faster. I guess he just wanted to let me win...for once!

We got to the Distribution Gates with about five seconds to spare before they locked up! The Jordan Brothers were just about to lock the gates when we got right up to them and I stuck my arm through the gap between the rapidly closin' iron gates.

"Oi! Dan! Joey! 100 each!" Tommy yelled. Dan opened the gates reluctantly.

"Why was you two late?" That was Mr Fink. He is a literal weasel. He's the Jordan Brother's uncle and he is the paper distributor for Westminster. Despite bein' a complete arsehole, he's a fat man, he always looks like he's got a permanent hangover and he has a face a potato would be proud of. But 'e can throw a hard punch...

He sneered at us as we walked up the slope to the hatch.

"None o' ya business, Fink." I retorted.

"It's Mister Fink to ya." He slammed his hand down of the countertop.

He wanted money.

I slammed my 50 pence piece with just as much force as he slammed his hand down. The price of the papers is two for a penny. So, its 50 pence for 100 papers. Most of the time it's an alright price, but if it's cold, or windy, or rainin'...then not so much. Fuck it! It's England! It's like that most of the time! Our Septembers are usually pretty good though...

I laughed under my breath and took my papers once he put them on the countertop.

"What's so funny? Huh?" Dan Jordan grabbed onto my arm as I jumped down from the platform at the top of the slope; he was standin' near the raised platform, but on the floor instead of the ramp.

"Oh, nothin'!" I replied sarcastically, fakin' innocence.

"Don't believe ya!" His grip on my arm tightened.

"Get offa me, Dan." I gave him my death-stare, full of anger and hate. I wouldn't let him bully us. He didn't loosen his grip at all. I clenched my fist, preparin' for a fight. I wasn't scared to fight the Jordan Brothers! They might be a few years older than us, but I know Tommy and I can take 'em.

Then he said somethin' that would've scared me shitless a few years ago...

"The Foreman says hello." My stare wavered and I looked down for a second, before raisin' my head again and death-stared him again. I was tryin' to form a plan of attack that wouldn't end up in either or both of us endin' up dead in an alleyway in the East End.

By that time, Fink had given Tommy Boy his papers, and he managed to get behind Joey without gettin' punched. Tommy grabbed Dan's left shoulder with his right hand and tore him away from me, his hand comin' away from my arm.

Tommy threw him to the ground and punched him hard in the face. The punch drew blood and Joey looked even more pissed off than usual.

"Run Cat!" He yelled. I was lookin' around for Joey and Fink, but a massive stack of papers had fallen, or had been pushed, in front of the door they had to get through to get to us. Joey and Fink were swearin' at us through the barred window of the door.

"Run!" I looked back at Tommy and Dan. Dan had a small cut on his face and Tommy was sprintin' towards me, his 100 papers still under his left arm. I still had mine and he grabbed the arm that wasn't supportin' the papers and tugged me out of the distribution square.

I locked the gates and we ran away from them as fast as we could, down slippery streets and across rain-soaked roads, until we collapsed out of breath with laughter on the wet, cold grass of the Victoria Tower Gardens, near my sellin' spot; I swear I didn't plan it this time!

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A/N I really hope you enjoyed this first chapter! I’m looking forward to you reading the next ones! Please like and roblog. Have a perfect day!

#newsies fanfiction #newsies #tommy boy newsies #tommy boy #gingers-writing-blog #new york bound chapter 1

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