Tumgik
#tj: but he loves them all and wants them to be happy!
navybrat817 · 5 months
Text
We Don't Talk Anymore
Pairing: Best Friend!Bucky Barnes x Female Reader
Summary: You and Bucky have an honest conversation, but it may not have a happy ending.
Word Count: Over 2.9k
Warnings: Angst, confessions, communicating, crying, feels (it's me), Bucky Barnes (yep, he's a warning)
Previous Part of AU: Where Did the Time Go?
A/N: More Dreamboat and Butterfly from my Reconnect AU! Sorry in advance, lovelies. ❤️ Beta read by @whisperlullaby , but any and all mistakes are my own. Please follow @navybrat817-sideblog for new fics and notifications. Comments, reblogs, feedback are loved and appreciated!
Tumblr media Tumblr media
As long as you and Bucky had been friends, you rarely saw him nervous. It wasn’t an emotion he liked to show to many, even though he knew you’d never judge him. Watching him clench and unclench his jaw, the fingers on his left hand twitching before he ran them through his hair, you sensed just how anxious he was. Whatever he had to say had him on edge. 
Which had you right there with him.
“Just tell me what's going on,” you urged, putting a hand on his arm in the hopes that your touch would calm him. “Please.”
Bucky swallowed as he looked at you. Why was it a gaze like he was saying goodbye? “You asked how I knew TJ stayed at your place,” he began, moving his arm to take your hand in his. “I went to see you after Steve’s party because I had something I wanted to say to you. Something I wanted to say for a long time.”
You took a step closer, your heart racing a bit faster. The combination of excitement and nerves blended together as you squeezed his hand. “What did you want to tell me?”
The next words out of his mouth would either break your heart or heal the unnecessary pain you put on yourself by staying silent for so long.
“That you weren’t just my best friend. You were so much more to me than that,” he said, bringing his palm to your cheek. You instantly leaned into his touch. “I wanted to tell you that I was crazy about you and wanted you to be my girl.”
Butterflies filled your stomach and it took you a second to find your voice. Was this a dream? “You wanted me to be your girl?” You asked softly, like if you said it any louder you’d wake up. 
“Yeah,” he whispered, a sad smile on his face. “I never wanted anything more than that.”
It was like the ground shifted beneath your feet as you let the words sink in. The butterflies in your stomach went straight to your dizzy head. Bucky Barnes wanted you to be his girl. You longed to hear that he felt the same way you did. It didn’t feel real though. 
You were waiting for the shoe to drop.
Because you were always just out of reach of Bucky. It was like you were a step behind, but you still wanted to follow. You wanted your paths to eventually merge the way you thought they were supposed to. 
“Bucky, I…” you trailed off, trying to get your bearings. You wanted to admit that you felt the same way, but you needed the rest of his story first. “If you felt this way, why didn’t you say anything? Why were you with Dot?”
Why didn’t you just tell me?
A darkness clouded his eyes. “I didn’t feel like I was good enough for you. I never thought I deserved you. Because you’re the best person I know and I’m just me,” he said.
“Bucky, don't say that. You're more than good enough. You deserve the whole world,” you argued. Had you done something to make him think he didn’t deserve you? “I’ve always thought that.”
“When you tell yourself of something for so long you start to believe it. And that’s what I did: I convinced myself that I would never be the man you wanted or deserved to be with,” he said. It broke your heart that he didn’t see himself as worthy enough for you. “And the day I tried to tell you, I shouldn’t have listened to that voice in my head.”
“What happened?”
“TJ answered your door. Shirtless, messy hair. I immediately jumped to conclusions about why he was there,” he answered, his nostrils flaring. Was he replaying the image in his mind? “And when I asked if I could talk to you, he said you were sleeping because he kept you up all night. I left and didn't look back because I thought my assumption was right and something in me broke.”
Your mouth fell open as you realized what Bucky thought happened. “You thought TJ and I had sex,” you stated, wanting to shake him when he nodded. “We didn’t have sex. He kept me up all night talking.”
“I know that now. I should’ve known then. But I thought that was my sign that I was right all along and that I’d never have you,” he explained as tears sprang to your eyes. “You asked me why I dated Dot. It was because I settled. I thought that was what I deserved.”
“So, you thought TJ and I hooked up or were together or something and that was it? You just decided not to say anything to me. And you went to Dot because you knew that was a sure thing?” you asked louder than you intended to, an ugly feeling swirling in your gut. Was it bitterness? “You gave up on us.”
Was it actually giving up when you weren't together? In a way, yes. He bowed out without a word.
“Gave up on us?” he repeated, searching your face for something you couldn't place. “Wait, what are you saying? That you care about me, too?”
“Yes! Yes, I do. So much,” you admitted, hastily swiping at your cheeks as tears fell. “You’re the only guy I’ve ever wanted.”
“You wanted to be with me?” he asked above a whisper, wiping a stray tear away with his thumb.
You couldn't stop crying as you nodded, an ache in your heart spreading with each tear. “Yes. It has always been you. I was going to tell you how I felt, even at the risk of our friendship, but the day I planned to was the day you introduced Dot as your girlfriend. I knew it was too late.”
If someone asked you to visualize what both heartbreak and hope looked like, it would’ve been the expression on Bucky’s face. “This whole time…”
“This whole time,” you confirmed, swallowing the lump in your throat. “And I never stopped caring about you. I thought maybe I’d try and move on, but I couldn’t.”
“Oh, my God,” he whispered as his hand dropped, a shuddering breath leaving his lungs. “I'm sorry. I’m so sorry I didn’t go to you before Dot. I should have.”
“Honestly, yeah, you should have. You didn't give me a chance to explain. You didn't even attempt to fight for me,” you accused, your eyes stinging as your vision blurred again. The floodgate was open and you were powerless to stop it. “Bucky, you gave up so easily at the first sign of something you thought was a problem. I wasn’t worth it to you, was I?”
Your chest tightened as you let the hurt sink in. You wanted to be angry, but you were only left tangled up in disappointment. That was on you for expecting too much, wasn't it?
“You are worth everything to me,” he said, stepping closer as you took a step back.
It sounded like a promise, but felt like a lie. 
“If you really thought I was dating TJ, did you ever wonder why you never saw him around much after you went to my place? Or if I slept with him, did you question why I didn’t talk about him or bring him up?” you asked, feeling as defeated as he appeared to be. “Or was I already so far gone from your mind and heart that you just didn't stop to question it or care?”
“There's nothing I can say to fix it because I know I messed up. Saying 'I'm sorry' isn't enough because I shouldn't have given up before we started,” he said, daring to lift a hand to wipe more tears away. You allowed him to do so. “I never should've put you through that. You are the last person in the world I'd ever want to hurt and I hate myself for doing just that.”
“I don't want you to hate yourself,” you whispered, your chest steadily rising and falling. “But I am hurt.”
Like the cracks that formed in your foundation, his face crumbled at your admission. “Butterfly, all I want to do is show you that you mean the world to me and make up for not being there for you. It’s the whole reason I’m here.”
“So you want to fight for me now, but you didn’t fight for me then!”
“Because I’m a fucking coward!” he shouted, both of your eyes wide as he raised his voice. His shoulders slumped, like the rush of emotion went as quickly as it came. “I didn't think I could be with you and I still wanted you in my life even if we weren’t together. I couldn’t even do that right.”
You knew Dot had a huge hand in why you didn’t see Bucky as much, but it wasn’t all her fault. 
“But why didn’t you tell me how you felt?” he asked gently before you could say anything else. “I wouldn’t have been with her if I had known. I shouldn’t have been with her in the first place.”
Hearing that didn’t stop the ache in your heart. If anything, the pain expanded. Bucky said he settled for Dot because he thought that was the kind of girl and relationship he deserved. You settled by staying silent. Part of you even felt bad for his ex, even if she knew he wasn’t fully invested. Maybe that was why she didn’t want you around. She really did know that he wanted you.
“Because I thought you were happy and that's all I ever wanted for you. Even if it wasn't with me,” you told him, something simmering in your gaze as your eyes narrowed. “Do you think I'm some kind of homewrecker? That I'd be selfish enough to tell you how I felt, with no indication that you even felt the same way, to ruin a relationship you told us you were happy in?!”
Loving someone sometimes meant having to sacrifice.
“No, I don’t think that of you at all. You’re the least selfish person I know.”
“Then what kind of person would I be to destroy your path to bring you back to mine?” you asked, not waiting for him to respond as you held up a hand. “And you know what? I agree that we wasted time. Two years wasted because we couldn't just talk to each other. Two years of seeing you in bits and pieces,” you continued, each word like a punch to the gut. “Two years of trying to figure out what the hell I did to push you away.”
He quickly shook his head. “You didn’t do anything. I-”
“You know, I've imagined so many different ways that we’d tell each other we cared for one another beyond friendship. I didn't think it would end with me crying,” you said, straightening up and trying to put on a brave face as you wiped your cheeks one last time. “So what now? Where do we go from here? We can't go back and fix it and I don't even know if I can trust you to not give up on me again. Because I never would have thought in a million years you wouldn't give me the benefit of the doubt.”
“You're right. We can't go back and I made a mistake by giving up before. I have no intention of doing that again,” he said. You wanted so badly to believe him. “And I have no right to ask anything of you, but please. Give me a chance to show that you can trust me.”
It broke your heart that he chose Dot over you so easily. You also understood what self-doubt could do to a person. How many times had you told yourself that Bucky would never see you beyond anything besides a friend? Could you completely fault him for settling? 
You also wanted to trust him since you loved him.
“Give me a chance,” he begged as he leaned in, his lips a fraction away from yours. It was like you were sharing one breath. “Please.” 
All you wanted was to kiss him. To tell him you’d be his. You almost closed the gap between you.
But you couldn’t do that tonight.
“I think I need to be alone for the rest of the night. I can't think clearly with you right in front of me,” you said, you resolve almost breaking when panic filled his eyes. “I'm sorry.”
The impulsive part of you practically screamed to jump in his arms and promise him forever, but you owed it to yourself to take a little time to reflect. 
He swallowed a little. “Please, I-”
“I'm not saying 'no' to you. I'm not going to ask you to prove anything to me. I told you, I’m used to not being a first choice,” you smiled sadly, continuing before he could react to that comment. “And this isn't a test to see if you'll chase after me when I walk away. This is me asking you to give me space for the evening. If you really care about me as much as you say you do, you'll respect that.”
Bucky opened his mouth and shut it before he opened it again. His breathing became shallow as hurt and understanding showed on his face. “Whatever you need, Butterfly.”
“Thank you, Dreamboat,” you whispered, pulling free of his grasp. With a deep breath, you took your first few steps away from him. They were both the lightest and heaviest steps you ever took, your head held high despite your sinking heart. It both pained and healed you. “And thank you for talking to me,” you added when you stopped at the porch.
“I wish I would've talked to you sooner,” he said.
Your heart sank more at his wistful tone, the urge to comfort him taking over. 
As you looked at him over your shoulder, you took in the sight of him in the moonlight. He seemed like a shell of himself as he stared at the ground with drooped shoulders. You didn't think you’d ever seen him look so lost. How did someone so strong to you appear so powerless?
And could you walk away with him in that state?
“We talked now. That means something,” you said, offering him a small smile when he lifted his head. The corner of his lip tugged in a tiny smile as well, but it fell quickly. It was a heartbreaking sight. “And Bucky?”
“Yeah?” He asked hopefully.
“My feelings for you haven’t changed,” you assured him as he let out a breath. The weight in your chest lightened at your admission, likely needing to say it as much as he needed to hear it. “If anything, they’re stronger because we finally talked. I just want you to know that.”
Even if you went your separate ways at the end of the week, Bucky would always be in your heart. You didn't have to be with him to know what you felt for him was real. You also didn’t want to try and carve him out because you considered yourself lucky to experience what love felt like, the good and the bad. Some would never know that feeling.
Bucky let out another breath and stood straighter, determination filling his eyes as he brushed his hair out of them. It was a far cry from his stance moments ago. Did he ignite a fire within himself? 
Or did you light the match? 
“My feelings haven’t changed either. And they won’t,” he promised. “I'll beg for you to be with me if that's what it takes, but I'm not giving up this time.”
Your heart raced faster, but you wouldn't let it deter you. “Maybe tomorrow we can figure out where we go from here,” you suggested. As much as you wanted to see Bucky grovel, you wouldn't make him do that. “Good night, Bucky.”
“Sweet dreams,” he whispered.
Like you asked, he made no move to follow.
You avoided the rest of the gang as you went straight to your room and allowed yourself to cry in peace on your bed. Your heart was still pounding in your chest as you reached for your pillow. When did your hand start shaking? When did your head begin to spin?
You could still feel Bucky’s touch on your cheek, his voice in your mind begging to give him a chance. 
“What the hell am I going to do?” You asked out loud.
Leaving Bucky outside was one of the hardest things you had ever done and you wondered if you made the right choice to do so after his confession, but you were proud of yourself. You knew how he felt now and you opened up about your feelings as well. 
As much as you loved him though, you had to sleep on it. Even if he didn’t care about Dot as much as he did for you, he was still with her for so long. You didn’t know how he intended to prove his feelings for you, but the determination you saw in his eyes told you there was hope for tomorrow. You would figure out the next step in your relationship.
Maybe you would even allow yourselves the happiness you deserve. 
Together.
Tumblr media
I know! 😭 I'm sorry, lovelies. Things will look up. Love and thanks for reading! 💙
Masterlist ⚓ Bucky Barnes Masterlist ⚓ Ko-Fi
683 notes · View notes
turcott3 · 2 months
Text
Tumblr media Tumblr media Tumblr media
wrapped around your finger
luca fantilli x fem! reader (ft. umich hockey team and gfs!!)
warnings?: cursing, alcohol, unprotected sex (p in v, public sex, spanking, choking (not really but kinda?), hair pulling, happy ending🥳
masterlist
-
“are yall ready yet?” rutger yells from the foyer.
“yes one second.” you yell back, deciding against the extra setting spray. it wasn’t hot outside, it’s not like you were going to sweat it off.
“we gotta go, i want a good view.” luca says grabbing his keys out of the bowl and heading outside. you opted to ride with luca since the group had to split but you always found yourself gravitating to him. the two of you had never spent time alone together but you always had a slight attachment to him, better described as a little bitty crush.
“have you looked at the set list yet?” he asked you, who got lucky and sat shotgun. the group was going to see post malone, and everyone was excited to go and get sloshed.
“i haven’t, i’ll check now.” you simply state opening spotify and reading it out to him.
“fuck this is gonna be so good.” he says, excitement lining his tone.
“does this venue id?” tyler asks from the backseat.
“no.” you answer quickly.
“may i ask how you know this?” luca giggles.
“i’ve been before, got absolutely hammered.” you say, reminiscing the last concert you attended.
“sweet, tj you’re off the hook,” he says patting the ginger on the back.
“thank god. they would’ve thought i was a fucking alcoholic buying all of those drinks.” he says, relief practically oozing out of him. you pulled into the venue closely behind your friends in the other car.
“everyone got their shit?” rutger asks and everyone replies ‘yes’ before shutting his trunk and locking the car. you made your way inside the venue, quickly finding a place to sit with a decent view of the stage. you loved that this tour was all outdoor shows considering the temperature in michigan in the summer was perfect. you laid your towel out and sat down, luca sitting his towel right next to yours.
“you’re gonna be my designated concert buddy?” you ask laughing at the position he sat in.
“sure am, we never really spend any time together so i figured this was a perfect opportunity.” he smiles and you giggle in response, keeping your cheeks from turning too red.
“drinks for the lot of ya!” jacob yells in a tacky british accent, approaching the group with tj, multiple beers and seltzers for everyone in hand.
“a seltzer for you of course.” luca says, handing you one of the drinks he grabbed.
“you just know my drinking habits so well don’t you.”
“we’ve been to parties together and how many times have i held your hair while you threw up?”
“it was twice luca.”
“and? i still did it.” he says and you roll your eyes, a smile spreading in your cheeks. it didn’t take too long for the openers to begin their set. you had never heard of them so you talked through it. you spoke with a couple of the guys and their girlfriends, luca talking to adam on the phone, sipping his beer. you couldn’t help but notice that he chose to sit with you, but you didn’t want to overanalyze. you drank and drank some more, without even realizing it. you were already somewhat drunk by the time the openers were finished, which wasn’t your intention.
“hey y/n.” luca asks nudging you.
“huh?”
“are you already drunk?”
“yep sure am, you?”
“a little buzz, nothing too crazy yet.”
“i am fully prepared to be absolutely fucked tonight.“ you reply, his expression becoming more difficult to read.
-
when post malone’s set finally began, you cracked a tall boy open, shot gunning it as well as you could. when you sucked the can dry you threw it on the ground out of breath, almost instantly feeling more drunk than before.
“luca.” you said, your words dragging out in a slur.
“what is it?” he asks, shoving his phone back in his pocket, his eyes reading drunk. you step closer to the boy, wrapping your arm around his back, singing whatever song was playing. you felt him do the same, his hand resting just above your ass on your hip.
the two of you sang together loudly and obnoxiously.
“can i try that?” you ask about the beer he held.
“yeah here.” he says, watching you intensely as you took a large sip.
“that is disgusting.” you reply, wiping your face with your hand as he chuckles. you leaned your head on his shoulder as you listened to the loud music. once the song ended you looked at yourself in the snapchat camera, makeup still in place just as you hoped. you couldn’t tell if the alcohol was clouding your judgment but you were feeling things. all the touching and flirting that had gone on over the last hour had your mind spinning.
“fuck i need a bathroom. luca come with me, i don’t wanna get kidnapped.” you say with a glimmer in your eye. a smirk grows on the boys face.
“okay, hey guys i’m taking her to the bathroom.” he yells at the group before you drag him off by his wrist.
“what’s got you in a hurry, we’ll still be able to hear it.” he giggles, jogging after you. you find a single stall, family restroom unoccupied. you open the door and pull the brunette inside with you.
“ive been wanting to get you alone all night.” you admit.
“i can’t say i haven’t felt the same way.” he replies, slurring his words. you two were both plastered but you know what they say about drunk words. in an instant, the boy pushes you by your biceps against the cold cinderblock wall, attaching your lips hastily and sloppily. your hands find their way into his hair, gripping at the strands as he swipes his tongue over your lip begging for entry. you swear hours pass by before he backs away.
“you look so fucking sexy tonight y/n.” he smirks as you two find your way to the sink.
“fuck you make me so horny.” you mutter, squeezing your thighs together as he picks you up and places you on the counter. your short skirt gave him easy access to your throbbing core, running fingers over your soaked panties and sucking them clean.
“god you taste so good.” he smirks, reconnecting your lips again, giving you a taste for yourself. he pulls away with hazy eyes, squatting down quickly and pulling your panties to the side.
“oh my fucking god.” you yell at the contact. his tongue twisted your already swollen bud in circles, sucking and rubbing it in a rhythmic fashion.
“fuck.” you say, gripping onto the boys hair as you finished, quicker than you could’ve imagined. he stands back up, his face soaked in your cum.
“you’re fucking incredible.” he says and you grab him by his shirt, which you unbuttoned hastily after you aggressively reattached your lips. he helped you finish the job as he pulled away, unbuttoning his denim shorts and pulling his throbbing cock out as quickly as he could. you stared at his tip as it leaked with precum and the pure size of him. he rubbed himself harder with a few strokes before looking back up at you.
“fuck me luca. please.” you beg and he instantly caves, pushing himself into you, his hands pressed against the mirror as he pushed into you for the first time. you moaned at the sensation. his tip hit the sweet spot buried deep inside you without even trying.
“god.” you moan out and he grunts. he thrusts into you deep and hard as he pounds into you at a decent speed. your moans snapping a high pitch after the first few thrusts. the music was quickly drowned out by the sounds of your yelps in a bathroom with poor acoustics.
“such a good girl taking me like this.” he smirks at you.
“you feel so good, god lu.” you say, your fingers gripping the hair on the back of his head.
“do you think anyone can hear me?” you ask.
“i fucking hope so.” he smirks, sloppily landing his lips back on yours as he stretches you out with every thrust.
“get down and bend over for me pretty girl.” he simply requests and you do so, resting your stomach on the edge of the counter. he pushes your skirt up further.
“look at that ass, god damn.” he says spanking you once before placing a gentle hand on your, now bright red, ass cheek pushing himself back into you. he grabs onto your hips pulling you onto him as he thrusts. your eyes roll into the back of your head with overstimulation, your sweaty hand slapping onto the mirror for better stability. he pounds into you at an unforgiving speed, wanting to get a good climax out of it. he wraps his hand around your hair, pulling you up flush against his chest as he continues his quick thrusts into you, turning you from moaning to practically yelling. gently he wrapped a hand around your throat as you looked in the mirror at the two of you. your mascara now smeared around your eyes, his cheeks red and forehead dotted with beads of sweat from the steamed bathroom.
“look at you, taking me so fucking good huh?” he asks, making eye contact with you in the mirror. he bucks into you sharply, a yelp leaving your mouth in an instant. carefully, he picks you back up, placing you on the counter. you could tell by the speed that he was getting closer, but the fact of the matter was that you were even closer. he pushes back into you easily sliding back in, a sensation you could never get used to. the way he hit your sweet spot was almost more intoxicating than all the alcohol you drank that lead you to this moment.
“fuck luca, i’m gonna come.” you moan, your nails digging harshly into his back, your speech broken up by his spastic and deep thrusts. moments later, you feel your body relax as a knot came undone in your abdomen. he fucked you right through your high into his own climax. spilling his seed deep inside you. he pressed his forehead to your chest as the two of you sat, gasping for air for a few moments. he runs his fingers through the salty mix of your climaxes between your legs attempting to somewhat clean you up, his drunk mind not thinking about the toilet paper that sat on the back of the toilet 2 feet away from you. you grab his hand and suck his fingers clean, surprising him and showing him that you swallowed every drop of the nasty mixture.
“fucking god y/n you’re gorgeous, let me help you down.” he says, tucking himself back in his pants, lending his hands for you to hop off the counter. you pull your panties back over your sensitive core, and tug your skirt down.
“lu, can you help me fix my makeup.” you whine, referring to the black streaks that formed around your eyes.
“yes baby, hold still.” he says, your heart fluttering at the pet name. he licks he thumb, gently wiping away the mess from around your eyes.
“how does that look?” he asks as you turn around.
“good enough.” you giggle turning back around.
“luca your hair. i’m sorry.” you giggle as he smiles, wrapping his strong arms around you.
“i don’t care about my hair.” he says as you press your cheek to the warm skin of his chest.
“we should go back.” you say patting him on the chest.
“yeah they’re probably getting suspicious by now.” he giggles, taking your hand and unlocking the door, seeing a long line outside the bathroom. the two of you chuckle as you jog past the impatient people in line, back to your spot on the lawn.
“you missed like 6 songs, where the fuck were you gu- oh.” rutger started before getting a good look at you two.
“what?” you ask.
“oh nothing.” he giggles, whispering to his girlfriend who he stood next to.
“girl where did you go?” franks girlfriend asks, tugging you away from luca’s side.
“i had to uh-“ you start and then turn around to see luca dapping up his teammates, clearly spilling what had gone on in the bathroom, “we fucked.”
“in the bathroom?” jacob’s girlfriend says interrupting.
“yeah we did.” you smirk.
“well was it at least good?” frank’s girlfriend asks.
“oh my god yes. his dick is so big, i don’t think i would wanna fuck anyone else like ever again.” you giggle with them, your drunkness seeping back into your vocabulary.
“you guys would be cute, i see the vision.” she says stepping back and looking at both of you.
“i think we would be too, not to be vain or anything.” you joke.
“go for it babe, luca doesn’t fuck just to fuck. or at least that’s what jacob’s told me. he fucks to date.” she says nudging you on the arm.
“honestly i probably will go for it, let’s see how this goes, hey lu?” you call out, catching his attention instantly. he walks over, hugging you to his side.
“what’s up?” he asks, his thumb grazing over the fabric of your skirt.
“maybe you guys are right.” you laugh and he appears confused. the two of you enjoy the rest of the concert, hugging onto each other and singing your hearts out for the final few songs.
-
“everyone’s asleep.” luca giggles as you pulled back into the driveway.
“awe look at them so cute.” you reply.
“are you gonna regret what we did tonight?” he asks, his voice in a whisper.
“not in the slightest.” you say placing a hand on his cheek and connecting your lips softly for a moment.
“you have no idea how badly i wanted to hear you say that.” he smiles as you pull away slightly.
“i can’t let anyone else have that dick or that hair. or just that boy in general.” you say locking eyes with him. instead of replying he reconnects your lips once again, the kiss lingering for a what seems like an eternity. an eternity that you hoped would never come to an end.
“we should wake them up.” you whisper on his lips.
“yeah probably.” he smiles, pecking your lips one last time before waking everyone up to come inside.
-
346 notes · View notes
lordarsonizzzzt · 1 year
Note
If you still want fluff, may I interest you with Clef, Bright, Kondraki and Glass with an S/O who carries around a handbag (bigger on the inside) that's filled with plushies and they throw said plushies on the doctors when said doctors are having a bad day
SCP STAFF WITH A READER THAT THROWS THEM PLUSHIES WHEN THEY ARE HAVING A BAD DAY.
CHARACTERS: ALTO CLEF, JACK BRIGHT, KONDRAKI, SIMON GLASS.(all platonic)
DR CLEF
✽ Today was shitty, to say the least. He had a lot of nightmares about her
✽ Today he was trying to be the funny asshole he always is, but he was more jumpy. If someone touched him and he didn't saw them he'll literally stumble back and his breath would quicken.
✽ He was now drinking some coffee, his lip a little bloody because of how hard he was bitting it. The moment he put his cup down and got up to go and do work he felt how he was punched by something.
✽ He looked down and saw a teddy bear, he took it and started looking around confused until he spot you.
✽ You were a Safe type SCP, a humanoid that liked to make people happy. You always carried around a bag similar to Santa's and would pull anything from it.
✽ He rolled his eyes but kept the plushie the whole day, he even ranted to it about the horrible soup and tried to give it sum soup so it could know that, it was indeed, horrible.
✽ Before he left he went to your containment cell with a little box, some rings and stuff in it. Inside your cell was a normal room, white walls with some red, yellow and purple paint sprayed on it, a bed, a desk with art supplies and a TV.
✽ He looked around and frowned when he realized you weren't there, which was weird cause your time to hang around the facility was over.
✽ He almost drops the box when you hugged him from behind and he stood still as a rock to then let himself relax in your embrace.
✽ "Hey kiddo, got you something, consider it a thanks"
Tumblr media
DR BRIGHT
✩ He is always having a bad day, he's just good at hiding it.
✩ He was angry this time, well more of a mix of emotions. He just discussed things regarding TJ's situation with Mikell and his blood was boiling.
✩ He was close to just shutting off his brain and continuing his day as if nothing happened, to then unload in his house until he was hit with a plushie.
✩ He managed to grab it before it fell and he stared at it for a while, to then search around who threw it to him.
✩ He heard your laugh and it made him smile, you really were a nice addition to this site. Always running around giving people things, hugs, helping them.
✩ You never got too close to him tho, so interacting with you this first time was a new thing.
✩ He turned around to thank you but you were gone, he looked back at the plushie and then around to make sure no one was there. He hugged it hard and he let some tears drop, he thought of his little brother and how one day he will get him out of here and make him live a happy normal life.
✩ He named the shark plushie Thomas, and he lays in his in site dorm.
✩ He would try to hang around with you a little more, would become a father figure probably.
Tumblr media
DR KONDRAKI
✿ He was having a bad hangover, he had a fight with Draven, he was close to getting into a physical fight just because.
✿ He spent most of his day in the cafeteria, drinking way too much coffee. He almost left when you came running from nowhere and hugged him, he froze.
✿ Yeah it was his idea that you roam free since you only want to make people happy, but it still was weird to have a SCP do that.
✿ You then pulled out something from your bag, and he almost laughed at the plushie.
✿ It was something in between a fat ferret or a fat cat, either way he loved it and when you gave it to him he smiled.
✿ "Thank you kiddo, how about I get you some apple juice hm?"
✿ Your fast nod was enough for him, he got up, ruffled your hair and went to get you some apple juice.
Tumblr media
DR GLASS
✧ So this man doesn't have the greatest relationship with his family, today his mom called and they both had a fight over the phone.
✧ Everyone could notice that Glass was rather mad today, he would have to take a few second to answer so he didn't sound like an asshole.
✧ So everyone tried to not make that much contact with him, and he kept himself in his office just speaking to people when needed.
✧ He heard some knocks and he sighed, syaing 'come in'.
✧ So you came in, went over to him and handed him a tiger plushie, or something like that.
✧ He just started at it for a while, then he looked at you, then back at the plushie. He took it and mumbled a 'thank you'
✧ You stayed around in his office helping him until he felt better.
✧ At the end of the day, Glass was back to his normal self.
Tumblr media
526 notes · View notes
blouisparadise · 5 months
Text
Tumblr media
Today we have the third part of our angst rec list for you to check out! You can find part one here and part two here. The fics on this list are all amazing, so please be sure to read them, give them kudos, and leave a comment for the author. If you enjoy our rec lists, please like this post and reblog it to help spread the word. Happy reading!
1) Please, Don’t Say You Want Me | Explicit | 9,320 words
Prompt 496: ABO/royalty AU. Where Omega Prince Louis is forced to marry alpha King Harry by his father for the benefit of their kingdom. After the wedding, Harry lets Louis know that he didn’t want a mate and to not expect a relationship from him. Since they are already mated, Harry has to officially reject Louis’s omega to break ties. This practice is so taboo that he doesn’t know the omega has a maximum of a year left to live after rejection. As time goes on, the omega gets weaker and weaker.
2) All This Delusion In Our Heads | Explicit | 15,088 words
After Harry and Louis break up, they cope with it in very different ways. What will happen when Harry keeps calling his ex over when things go wrong in his life, but Louis just can't take it anymore?
3) Dandelion Heart | Explicit | 17,563 words
After his sister’s death, Louis is granted full custody of his 4-year-old nephew, TJ. It isn’t easy, but with the help of TJ’s other uncle, Harry, they learn to make it work.
4) Death Wish | Explicit | 22,067 words
Louis hates vampires, he lives his life trying to kill as many as he can, night after night, year after year. He hates them. Then why the fuck is he kissing one? Again. “I mean it, Harry.” Louis says, into his mouth this time. “You need to get the fuck away from me.”
5) The Games We Play | Explicit | 23,448 words
Louis is a political lobbyist who chose his career over his personal life a long time ago and has never regretted it. Then he met Harry.
6) Bloom | Explicit | 24,887 words
When they first meet at Harry’s flower truck, Harry falls hard but Louis’ unavailable. Only before long, Harry reignites a spark that Louis thought long forgotten.
7) Somebody's Got Your Trainers On (It's You) | Explicit | 28,000 words
Louis hasn't thought about Harry since half an hour after the shift started, when Krystle told him that she was binging Gogglebox last night and therefore didn't get enough sleep - a sure reminder of Harry’s temporary Gogglebox obsession. Five hours isn't much without thinking about someone, but that's as long as it gets. Louis came to terms with that two years ago. When Harry walked out the door with his stupid New Balance trainers and never looked back.
8) The Road Not Taken | Explicit | 30,393 words
The one where Harry returns back home for the holidays after a successful debut album, leaving Louis to unwrap gifts as well as old complicated feelings. Cue: hometown holiday hookups, overbearing siblings, and a disastrous New Year’s Eve party. A 'Tis’ the Damn Season' inspired AU.
9) Compass To The Soul | Teen & Up | 31,439 words
Harry Styles, alpha, is 1/4 of the perfect pack, and 1/5 of world famous boy band One Direction. He spends his time touring the world with his best friends and family. Louis Tomlinson, omega, is 1/5 of world famous boy band One Direction. He spends his time hoping his bandmates don’t notice him.
10) Like The Stars Above | Explicit | 33,759 words
Louis has a witchy little secret that is slowly ruining his relationship. When that secret comes out, it turns out that he has a lot more to worry about than just losing the love of his life. He might lose everything.
11) Close To Nowhere | Explicit | 34,589 words
Louis and Harry are psychics who kind of hate each other. They go to Tennessee to investigate a haunting.
12) Just A Pretty Boy | Explicit | 35,614 words
The alpha in front of him wasn’t only tall, but used every inch of his body to look even more threatening. He looked as shocked as Joseph felt, in his eyes he could clearly see horror and anger mixed into an odd and painful mix. It was as if he just watched a ghost or a monster from a nightmare come to life.  “Louis…” he said with a low voice. It wasn’t a question, he was calling Joseph by that name.  The crease between Joseph’s brows deepened. “Who?” Louis and Harry were married until, one day, Louis passed away in a tragic accident. Years later, he is found alive and with a thousand questions plaguing his mind. The most important ones; was his husband involved in his disappearance? And, how long did it take Harry and his best friend to fall in love after his supposed dead?
13) Best Colours For Your Portrait | Explicit | 37,717 words
Louis bites his lip in, his eyes leaving Harry's face, they are cast low as he takes a deep breath before sighing, "In solitude, I felt the liberty you spoke of." "But," The omega glances up, his eyebrows twitching as he brings his face closer to Harry's neck to overpower the alpha's scent with his scent, "I mostly felt your absence."
14) Give Me Love | Explicit | 41,041 words
Despite being an omega, Louis’ always had a blatant dislike of alphas.
15) Letters To June | Explicit | 41,150 words
It's 1915, Europe is in the middle of the Great War. Omega Louis decides to join the Letter Home Project to become someone’s penfriend. Through this he meets a lovely soldier who hasn't got anyone else to send a letter to. Along with his letter, comes a picture of the most handsome alpha Louis has ever seen.
16) Strangers In Love | Explicit | 42,207 words
Louis wakes up to find himself in a marriage with the last man he thought he'd ever end up with.
17) This Glass House | Mature | 43,072 words
While deployed, Alpha Harry gets injured by an IED explosion, leaving him to deal with severe injuries in its devastating aftermath. During his road to acceptance and recovery he learns with the help of Louis and their children just how important family can be for the mind, body, and soul.
18) Oubaitori | Explicit | 48,822 words
Note: This fic is locked and can only be read by AO3 users.
After a year away, Harry comes back to his hometown ready to shoulder the responsibilities that come with being a Styles. However, an unforeseen return will greatly setback his plans as he finds himself confronting ghosts of the past, his prejudice, and a torrent of feelings he thought were long-buried. In the midst of a battle between protection and progress, trust that was once broken will try and pierce through walls of convictions he built around himself, leaving him grasping for power he is unsure he even wants. Meanwhile, Louis merely tries to save his family and make the next day better than the last. As he faces his past wrongdoings and the scars they left, chances will be granted to him - either to repair what was once broken or finally find closure. Torn between the desire to defend himself and the fear of the truth being rejected, he will learn peace comes from honesty - and that sometimes, what appears to be the easiest solution simply was the most coveted one.
19) Untamed Hearts Align | Explicit | 55,795 words
For as long as Louis has known her, Lady Margaret Tomlinson has had two aspirations for the remaining years of her life. The first was to out-dress the Duchess of Kent at every soirée and gathering. The second was to marry off her omega nephew to the most honorable – and highly ranked – alpha suitor she could find. He does not expect for her to arrange a marriage between him and the crown prince, and he certainly does not expect to fall for him. Everything changes when Harry disappears.
20) If You’re Out There (I’ll Find You Somehow) | Explicit | 55,916 words
Harry looks so intensely into Louis’ eyes it’s as though he’s reaching in and touching his very soul. “I never thought… I never… I’ve been searching for so long, Louis, but I never gave up. I couldn’t stop, wouldn’t stop trying,” Harry says, bottom lip trembling as he strokes the backs of Louis’ knuckles. “I just knew that if you were out there, I’d find you somehow.”
21) Of Lost Things | Explicit | 57,980 words
Louis comes with a familiarity Harry has never felt with anyone else before. After their fateful meeting, their chemistry became undeniable, and soon after, Harry had felt like he hit the jackpot when it came to finding the person he would spend the rest of his life with. But all relationships come with their own unique problems, and Harry soon realizes that their relationship is no different. When their problems go from unordinary to nearly bizarre in nature, he takes it upon himself to find an answer to their troubles. What he stumbles upon are terrifying coincidences between his and Louis’ story, and the ill-fated mythological couple, Orpheus and Eury. But it’s all they are; just coincidences, ones that feel as frighteningly familiar as Louis. Except… what if none of this is a coincidence? What if everything Harry has always seen as fiction is true, and myth—or rather, history, is about to repeat itself?
22) But We Have Promises To Keep | Mature | 62,608 words
Note: This fic is the fourth part in a series. We'd recommend reading the other fics first, though none of them have smut.
Maybe, Louis thought, from the beginning to the end, he had always known exactly what he wanted. He had always heard it, a quiet song in his head never giving up, because it had never been a thing apart from who he was. Someone who wouldn’t stop. Someone who could walk out into the dark, seeing nothing, having little, and still looking. The undeniable, terrifying, gorgeous truth was always going to be this: that he had a heart, and that that heart wanted to live.
23) Sink Into Your Sunlight | Explicit | 79,601 words
Louis hadn’t forgotten about Harry as much as he tried. It wasn’t due to the strange nature of their meeting, more so the magnetic pull he somehow had on Louis. He couldn’t fathom why this complete stranger stayed in his mind as much as he tried to stop it. Any time his phone sounded his heart skipped a beat at the thought of it possibly being Harry. In all honesty, it made him feel sort of pathetic. Gay guy falls for straight guy, what a cliche he had become.
24) The Rose Of Whitechapel | Mature | 100,180 words
Jack the Ripper AU. Detective Constable Harry Styles and his partner, DC Liam Payne, lead the case on the Whitechapel murders. Louis Tomlinson, the Rose of Whitechapel, is harbouring secrets of his own, along with a dark and sordid past. When their paths cross, truths are revealed, and perhaps hearts are mended... A darkness is brewing, and it's finally come to collect on the promise it was made.
25) Our Endless Numbered Days | Explicit | 120,815 words
“Harry?” whispered Louis, his mouth dry, his nose pressing against the other’s warm skin. “Mh?” Harry’s humming was gentle, his fingers lightly caressing the younger boy’s arm, his chest steadily rising and falling beneath Louis’ cheek. A couple of seconds passed, and Louis looked up at him in the darkness of the cave, barely able to make out the expression on his face. When he tried to inhale deeply, his breath hitched. He struggled to find the words to tell Harry what he was thinking about. Another couple of seconds passed, and Louis listened to the reassuring beating of the prince’s heart beneath his cheek. He couldn’t. “Nothing,” he whispered, his voice weak. I think you’re half of my soul.
Check out our other fic rec lists by category here and by title here.
111 notes · View notes
seiya-starsniper · 11 months
Note
(angst prompts) ❛ i’m sorry, have we met? ❜
TJ I HOPE YOU'RE READY FOR THIS. I decided to continue the prompt from @valeriianz [Part 1 Here] to make it more angsty. But also kind of hopeful? Maybe???????
cw: major character death, memory loss
----------
“Will you give me a sweet dream before I go, old friend?” Hob asks.
Dream’s eyes widen, and he is sure the shock in them must be clear, because Hob startles a laugh.
“Yeah,” Hob coughs, and new blood spurts forth from his lips. “Been here long enough to figure out who you were. Why they wanted,” he hacks again, “you or your sister. I was never going to give you up.”
“I know,” Dream says. “But you must not - “
“I’ve lived a good life,” Hob interrupts him. “But I think it’s time. I’m just happy it was you who came for me, Dream of the Endless.”
“No,” Dream replies, voice trembling. “For you, you may simply call me Dream.”
“Dream,” Hob sighs, awash with a new wave of contentment. “I like that. Lovely name.”
“Thank you, my friend,” Dream says, before he steels himself for what he must do.
“I will give you the sweetest of dreams,” Dream says, trying and failing miserably to keep his voice steady. “Once you are there, you may call upon my sister, and…she will give you her gift.” 
“Sounds,” Hob stutters, “sounds good to me.”
It is little effort for Dream to call forth his sand and place Hob into a deep sleep. In the Dream, he recreates what might have been, in 1989, were Hob not captured, and Dream were a better friend. 
It is not long before he feels the presence of his sister.
“Dream,” Death says, her tone soft and kind. “You must let him go now.”
Dream clutches Hob’s body even tighter. 
“Please sister,” Dream pleads. “Do not take him from me yet.”
“You know that is not my choice to make,” Death replies. “It is his time, and he has made his choice.”
“Will you tell me what his choice it is?”
Death smiles sadly. “You know I cannot.”
Hob is running through a field of poppies, his beloved dog at his side. He has been running for some time, he thinks, and yet he is neither tired nor hungry. 
He stops when he feels himself being watched, and when he looks over his shoulder, his dog has padded over to a pale man dressed all in back. 
“Hello,” the man says, first to the dog, and then to Hob himself. 
“Hello!” Hob greets the stranger enthusiastically. “I - I’m sorry, have we met before? You look awfully familiar.”
“No,” the man answers, and Hob thinks he sounds a bit sad about that. Something lurches in Hob’s chest, and he thinks he should rectify the man’s sadness immediately.
“Well, you seem like a kind person, so I’d like to get to know you, if that’s all right,” Hob says, offering his hand out.
The man nods, and grasps Hob’s outstretched hand firmly.
“I am Dream,” the stranger says. “I am lord of all that inhabits the Dreaming. You…you passed in your sleep, Hob Gadling.”
 “You were offered a place to stay here, which you,” the man pauses, “which you accepted.”
Hobs’ eyes widen, and he lets go of Dream’s hand then falls to his knees. “My lord, forgive my impudence, my memories from when I was alive have fled me it seems.” He hopes he has not offended Dream. He does not want to be banished. He wants to stay, he wants-
“Rise, Hob," Dream says. "You may be subject to my realm but I - I was hoping that we…we may become friends.”
Hob scrambles up off his knees immediately, and before he can think any better of it, he tugs Dream into a bone crushing hug. He feels the dreamlord stiffen for just a moment, before his arms rise slowly to return the hug.
“I would like that very much, my lord,” Hob says when he withdraws from Dream.
“Please,” Dream replies. “You may just address me as Dream.”
“Dream,” Hob says. “That’s a lovely name.” Something complicated flashes across Dream’s expression, but it’s gone before Hob can examine it further.
“Thank you,” Dream answers, just the barest hint of a smile crossing his face. “Would you like a drink?”
A table with wine and cheese materializes itself next to where they’re standing, and Hob sits down eagerly. Dream follows shortly after, pouring out a glass for each of them. 
They sit, and then begin to talk.

Send me an Angst Prompt!
257 notes · View notes
bordysbae · 1 year
Note
Could you do 53 and 54 combined, with Mark Estapa? Please and thank you 💋
Tumblr media
“can i be your boyfriend?”
mark estapa x fem!reader
53. yeah i like you dipshit
54. i want you, not them
disclaimer: i’m so sorry this is definitely one of my least favorites i’ve written, but it’s been in my inbox for a few days and i felt like i need to write it sooner than later? i’ve been pretty sick lately so i truly apologize if this is actually dog shit ugh. ALSO!!! emma is a fake character, idek if ethan has cousins LOL
you and mark aren’t dating, but everyone can clearly see that you guys like each other, it’s just a matter of time until you both admit it. normally you aren’t one to get jealous, but something clicked tonight when you saw him talking to her.
ethan’s cousin came to visit him at college, and this isn’t the first time she’s been here either. last year when she came to visit for her winter break, which started a week before michigans, she had everyone’s attention. all the guys were swooning over her, but of course she chose mark. at that time you were nothing with mark, just a close friend with all of the guys, so it didn’t bother you. they never ended up working out since mark thought ethan would be pissed, and he didn’t want to do long distance on top of that.
at the beginning of this semester you and mark became very close friends, and you both developed feelings. neither of you wants to admit it, but it’s just sort of a known fact that you’re bound to date. you guys have seen other people, but once you both began hooking up it stayed that way. you haven’t seen anyone else since you guys first hooked up, and neither has he. but now you’re not so sure, since mark seems perfectly content with her obvious flirting.
you begin to chug your drink as she laughs at whatever he said to her. you can’t imagine anything mark estapa said is that funny, so obviously she’s faking it. “you need to relax, he wouldn’t do that to you y/n,” dylan says to you as he takes a sip from his red solo cup.
“dylan you saw how obsessed they were with each other last year, and it doesn’t help that she’s prettier than me! she looks like a fucking instagram model!” you throw your head back as you place the cup to your lips, finishing the last of your drink.
“relax, she’s not prettier than you. she gets botox and her hair color is fake” dylan chuckles.
“oh dylan you’re such a woman, i love you!” you exclaim as you wrap your arms around the boy. he lets out a laugh and scruffs up the top of your hair.
“let’s go get more drinks yeah?”
“oh hell yeah, i need a lot more to be able to watch this shit” you groan, making dylan chuckle. on your way into the kitchen you both run into luke and tj.
“ah my favorite hughes!” you reply, buzzed a little bit. “hi y/n, hey duker!” luke says.
“y/n did you hear em-“ tj begins to say. “shut up tj, yeah i know she’s here. i don’t really care buddy” you roll your eyes and scoff. you excuse yourself from the conversation before you show anymore jealousy.
you cant stand how much the boys talk about her. it’s always “emma this!” “emma that!” like honestly who cares? you assume ethan isn’t very happy with her at the moment either, so you go find him once you refill your drink. you spot him on the stairs looking bored out of mind as he talks to some random girl, so you decide to save him from his misery, “ethan!” you shout to grab his attention. he instantly turns around and excuses himself from the conversation with the girl. “thank fucking god, you’re my lord and savior!” he exclaims, pretending to bow down to you making you laugh.
“why aren’t you with mark? i feel like at every party you’re always under his arm” ethan asks, taking a sip from his drink.
“he’s uh, with your cousin”
“he is? of course” ethan chuckles. although he’d never admit it, ethan isn’t too fond of his cousin. she’s very touchy with all of his teammates and friends, but since she’s family there’s not much he can do about it.
“yeah, they’re over there” you say pointing to the living room full of drunken people vaping and dancing. emma and mark are sat on one of the couches, and that’s when you notice her hand on marks bicep. that throws you overboard, and makes your blood boil.
“oh you’re kidding” you mumble. ethan turns to you and gives you a confused look.
“what’d you say? i cant hear you over the music.” he says leaning down to hear you better.
“ethan flirt with me!” you blurt out, making ethan spit his drink back in his cup.
“pardon?” he asks, thinking he’s maybe had too much alcohol and is beginning to hear things.
“i said flirt with me! i need to make mark jealous”
“you’re gonna get me killed, y/n!” he cries out.
“and whys that? it’s not like me and mark are dating or anything! we’ve been hooking up, i caught feelings which everyone knows about, and now he’s all over your cousin. so i don’t really see why i cant flirt with you!” you shrug
“i cant tell you why but i just cant do that to him!”
“well he hasn’t been a man and told me he likes me, soooo just flirt with me for christ sake! i’ll go find some random guy to flirt with me if you won’t!”
“no no don’t do that, the guys here are sketchy. fine i’ll flirt with you, but if mark kills me you better speak at my fucking funeral”
“attaboy!” you say playfully hitting his chest.
you and ethan begin fake flirting, and it’s only when you lean into his ear to whisper something that drives mark over the edge. you’ve seen him glaring at you both a few times, but now he’s storming over to you guys.
“eddy what the fuck are you doing?” he drunkenly yells at ethan, making ethan’s eyes go wide. “see i told you he’d kill me! get mad at her man not me! y/n explain it to him” ethan proclaims.
“mark can we just go outside” you roll your eyes at him, he nods his head in annoyance and follows you out onto the porch. you sit against the wall and mark sits down next to you. “the fuck was all that? are we nothing to you?” mark says.
“oh you’re fucking funny mark! you’re one to talk! don’t go blaming me for this shit! first of all, we aren’t even dating so i don’t know why you’re so pissed at me! and sec—“ you begin, but mark cuts you off, “well—“
you then interrupt him back, “i’m not done talking shh! as i was saying, second of all, you were all over emma! you didn’t even seem to mind that her hand was on your arm, and that she was laughing at every fucking thing you said! so no mark, this isn’t my fault and dont accuse me of assuming we’re nothing! i like you, dipshit! is that so hard to see?! i’ve liked you for months now! i don’t want you with anyone else, so i wanted to make you jealous! im not used to seeing you with other girls mark, it’s always me under your arm not emma!” you cry out, now standing up pacing the deck.
“i like you too dumbass! i was planning to ask you out on a date and tell you how i felt, maybe even ask you to be my girlfriend, but then stupid emma came back to town and ruined it! i’m sorry i made you feel that way, but it also hurt me seeing you all over my best friend. girls use me to get to ethan sometimes, and i don’t think you’d do that but it just struck a nerve i guess.” he explains, now standing up as well.
“why did you let her be all over you?”
“i don’t really have an answer if i’m being honest. i didn’t even think about it, i’m really sorry. i get it if you’re pissed at me, i would be too.”
“i’m not pissed at all i’m just annoyed. not necessarily at you, just at everyone. they all kiss the ground she walks on and it’s just fucking annoying. i’m sorry for everything mark, i promise im not mad at you” you say, looking up at the 6’2” boy.
mark looks down at you, and cups your cheeks, “i want you, not emma. know that.” he then leans down to kiss you, and you return the act. his hands remain on your cheeks, and your hands find their way to the back of his nec. you both taste like a mixture of alcohols, but you’re both too far in the moment to even notice.
he pulls back for air and smiles down at you and your slightly swollen lips. “so what do you say, will you be my girlfriend? actually no scratch that, can i be your boyfriend?” he smiles cheesily, way too proud of himself for his romcom of a proposal.
“you’re so cringe, but yes i would love for you to be my boyfriend estapa!” you giggle, playing with the hairs at the back of his neck.
349 notes · View notes
fandomfluffandfuck · 17 days
Note
*Pops into existence right next to you with an absolutely deranged smile on my face* DID SOMEBODY SAY BIG SUB STEVE?!???
I can’t even think right.
I’m picturing a shrunkyclunks situation, personally. Maybe a 2011 era Steve with a Bucky that’s a cute little Stark Intern (maybe Bucky looks like a certain italian we’ve been talking about in dms 👀 but I also adore the idea of sort of a TJ Hammond type). 
They’ve been together for about six or so months now, and neither of them can get enough of each other. Steve was nervous about their first time, as it was his first (hey, you try getting action as a closeted chronically ill skinny kid in the 40s). But the way Bucky kissed his neck and told Steve that he was “such a good boy for Daddy” made him see stars. He didn’t even know he liked that!
Now, though, he’s laid out on the bed, whimpering and whining like it’s the only thing he knows how to do. There’s a chance it is. Bucky’s showing him no mercy with the way his hands are grabbing at his chest and the way he’s whispering the filthiest things in his ear. 
“You’re such a pretty little thing. My angel. Gonna fuck Daddy like he wants you to?” Steve nods like a bobblehead, hips jerking up as a moan rips its way from Steve’s mouth. 
It seems like a lifetime before Steve feels the tight heat that means that Bucky’s made good on his word. He does his best to be good like Daddy says he is and not fuck up into the pure bliss that is Bucky’s body. 
“Aww, is my sweet puppy a bit overwhelmed?” Bucky says breathily, making desperation surge through Steve. 
“Ah- Daddy! Please, need it! Wanna- wanna be good!” Steve sounds like himself before the serum, he’s so drunk with how good it feels. 
“C’mon, sugar. Make Daddy feel good. Be a good little puppy for me.” Steve doesn’t hesitate, making Bucky gasp and moan with how fast and hard his thrusts are. 
“G- oh, fuck! Good boy!” Bucky cries out, and Steve whines and never wants to hear anything else. 
Once Steve is all cleaned up and is wrapped up happy and floaty in Bucky’s arms, he finally looks up at him with starry eyes. 
“You alright, Stevie?” Bucky asks, worry lacing his voice. 
“Yeah, Daddy, I’m alright. I love you.” Steve says, pressing a kiss to Bucky’s cheek. 
“Aw, sweet thing. I love you too. So much.” Bucky kisses Steve’s forehead, full of adoration and care. 
if anyone wants to know, the “certain italian” is a gorgeous man by the name of Francesco Di Raimondo ;)
related to this, and this (I think, haha)
Oh my goddd
Tumblr media Tumblr media Tumblr media Tumblr media
✨️them✨️
I don't even have words, just vehement agreement because, yes.
They're both so soft and pretty, and you'd never guess how fucking filthy they get. They both have this skittish, nervousness to them. This is so new and precious and so seemingly innocent yet... Bucky opens his mouth, and immediately Steve is squirming, blushing with his sudden feverish affliction.
H-he, he didn't know that anyone could talk like that!
He didn't know someone would talk to him like that!
He didn't know how badly he wanted it!
He doesn't know, now, though, how he's expected to live without it. All he wants to do is fuck Bucky, it's all he can think about. He can't focus for shit. Otherwise, he just wants to lose himself in him, panting puppishly, thrusting, drowning in how hot and tight and overwhelming he feels. All while Bucky combs his fingers through his hair, encouraging him, keeping his head spinning.
Jesus Christ, I like this pairing too much 👀 Thanks for sending this my way!
Tumblr media
24 notes · View notes
mamaestapa · 1 year
Text
The First Week & Joes Guests
Tumblr media
•pairing: Joe Burrow x reader
•series summary: Y/N Y/L/N moved to Cincinnati, Ohio for a new start. Move in day arrives and she discovers something terrible...the apartment complex gave her the wrong lease. Instead of living with who she originally was supposed to, she's now living with the hottest quarterback in the NFL, Joe Burrow. Y/N is stuck living in the same apartment with him for a year...which the two are not thrilled about. However, as time goes on, they realize that maybe this wasn't the worst thing that could happen to them. Will Y/N and Joe stay enemies, or will they find themselves falling in love?
•chapter summary: you’ve been living with Joe for a week now, how have things been going? While you relax by the pool, Joe brings over some guests that you didn’t plan on meeting right away…
•word count: 2.7k
•warnings: language, alcohol, mentions of condoms, sex, and Joe’s teammates
Series Masterlist
——————————————————
September 16, 2022
Today marks one week. You have officially been roommates with Joe for one week.
It hasn't been terrible, just a little, awkward? It's easy to see neither of you really want to live together. He would much rather live with Ja'Marr—which you don't blame him.
Take that as you will.
Throughout the past week you’ve been trying to settle yourself into the apartment. You’ve been replacing some things around the apartment to make it known that it wasn't just Joe who lived here. Like in the kitchen, you added a vase of pink flowers. The gray cabinets and white marble countertops of the kitchen needed some color. You bought pink towels for the bathroom too, which didn't go over great with Joe.
flashback…
"Y/n!”
You sighed as you stood from your bed. You walked out of your room and into the space between the living room and kitchen.
"Yeah?!" you called out.
Joe stepped out of the bathroom, holding up a pink towel. He gave you a look, raising his eyebrows and expecting you to explain why his bath towels are now pink.
You shrugged, "Beige is boring. So I put my pink ones in there."
"You can't do that."
"Last time I checked, it's my bathroom too. If I want pink towels, I can have them in there."
Joe scoffed, "Okay well, what did you do with mine?"
"They're still in there? You just grabbed the pink one."
He huffed out a dramatic sigh.
"Y/n, I can't have pink towels in my bathroom. I don't care if you use them, just keep them in your room."
You rolled your eyes, "Oh come on, seriously? You worried your friends are going to make fun of you for having pink towels?"
"Yeah, actually, I am!"
You couldn't help but laugh. He was so worried about these damn towels.
"Okay, fine. I'll get 'em out of there after your shower. Happy?"
"Very." He said, going back into the bathroom and shutting the door.
end of flashback…
Now you didn't have to worry about making the bedroom your own. Since that was void of any of Joes belongings, you could do whatever you wanted with it. You kept it simple, yet feminine. You have a gray comforter, with soft pink pillows and a fluffy pink blanket to match on the foot of the bed. You have a full body mirror on the wall next to the bed, with decorative flowers on the sides. You also bough canvas' to put on the wall that you got from TJ Maxx before you moved here.
You already loved your room. Spending most of your time in there this week while Joe was home. You and Joe tolerate each other for the most part. You don't really go out of your way to talk to each other yet. Both of you are still trying to get used to living with the other.
Most days, Joe has practice all day and the days he gets out of practice early, he goes out and does stuff with his teammates. So the days he's at practice, you go out to the living room or out to the pool, since it still feels like summer in Cincinnati. Now you don't plan on staying inside the apartment this whole year, obviously. You are going to go into the city and find a job when Joe's in Dallas this weekend for his game. Hopefully finding a good job will keep you busy so you can stay out of Joe's hair.
You decided to add some decorations to the living room. Nothing too extravagant, just some pastel pink decorative pillows for both ends of the couch, along with gray marble coasters. They were the perfect addition to the living room in your opinion. Joe, now he might think otherwise. Just a few days ago, you were adding some finishing touches to your room when Joe barged into your room to talk about the apartment.
flashback…
"Hmm," you thought out loud, “this doesn't look right."
You were currently trying to organize your closet. Trying to color code your clothes, but it just wasn't working out for you. So you decided to reorganize your closet for the third time now.
You sang along quietly to Love Game by Lady Gaga, "Let's have some fun this beat is sick, I wanna take a ride on your disco-."
The door burst open, causing you to jump.
"Jesus," you breathed out, placing a hand on your chest.
It was just Joe.
"Sorry," he laughed, "I didn't mean to scare you."
You paused the music before splitting your attention between him and the clothes you were hanging up. "What do you need?"
Joe sighed, crossing his arms over his chest. "We need to have a talk. About the apartment."
You furrowed your brow in confusion. "Okay?"
"I want to start by saying, I don't mind if you use anything in this apartment, you know all that what's mine is yours bullshit."
You nodded as he continued.
"I just don't want you moving my...important stuff."
Oh no. You don't remember moving any of his things?
He rubbed the back of his neck, "You moved my SpongeBob shoes and condoms."
You let out a loud laugh and then instantly covered your mouth. You took your hand away and composed yourself, “Sorry, I'm sorry."
Joe just rolled his eyes as you let out a little chuckle.
SpongeBob shoes and condoms, now that's the first time you’ve heard those two things in one sentence.
"I'm sorry Joe. I won't move your shoes again."
"Thank you."
You put your hands on your hips, "But the condoms? I think I had every right to put those up."
"But they're mine! I can choose where they go."
"Okay but not on the kitchen counter!?"
He threw his hands up "They weren't used!?"
"So!? They're still condoms, Joe!"
He just shook his head as you spoke.
"I don't care who you screw, when you screw, where you-well, I kind of care where, but whatever. As I was saying, I don't care who you screw just don't keep the condoms in the kitchen."
He sighed, smiling smugly, "Fine. I'll keep 'em in the bathroom. Wait, even better my bedroom. Happy?"
"Very." you said nodding your head and giving him a tight smile.
end of flashback…
So you and and Joe aren't exactly off to the best start...
You will admit, it is partially your fault. You just want the place to look like you live here too. It's not just his place anymore!
After adding some more of your own things around the apartment, you decided to head out to the pool for a bit. You put on a bright red bikini. The top was triangle shaped and the bottoms were high leg, shaping your body perfectly. You slipped on your white flip flops and grabbed a beach towel from the closet. You went into the kitchen and filled up your water bottle before heading down to the pool. Joe wasn't supposed to be back for about another hour, so you figured you would stay out there and relax for a bit. You picked out a beach chair and laud down, putting your sunglasses on and airpods in your ears, blasting your favorite songs as you basked in the warmth of the sunlight.
meanwhile...
Joe's Pov:
"Yo! Burrow!"
I looked up from my phone, seeing Ja'Marr and Logan jogging over to me. I put my phone in my pocket and turned to the guys.
"What's up guys?"
"We still on for tonight?" Ja'Marr asked, placing a hand on my shoulder. I nodded, "Oh yeah. You guys can follow me home."
Logan nodded, "Sounds good. Let me call Macee real quick, then I'll be right over."
"Man you better make that call quick, I don't need to hear no phone sex right now." Ja'Marr shuddered.
I smirked, "You'll be hearing that on the plane tomorrow, my guy."
Ja'Marr laughed, "Not from you."
Logan smirked and clapped my shoulder, "I'm sure Burrows got a lady friend...he's just keeping her from us."
"Oh you know, wouldn't want her to fall in love with you, Ja'Marrr. You're fuckin' crazy."
"And you're not?" Logan questioned with raised eyebrows.
I shrugged, "Touché."
Ja'Marr and Logan laughed. Logan spoke, "Alright, well I'll see y'all at Burrows apartment."
I nodded. "Yup."
I got into my Porsche and turned the car on. As soon as I sat down, my eyes widened in realization.
My apartment. The guys are coming to my apartment. Shit. They don't know about Y/n.
"Ah fuck." I muttered under my breath as I backed out of my parking spot.
I had to get there before Ja'Marr and Logan did so I could talk to Y/n and maybe get her to go somewhere else for the night so the guys and I had the apartment to ourselves.
I know that makes me sound like a dick, asking her to go somewhere else for the night. But Y/n and I aren't exactly starting off on the best terms. We've started to discover how to get under each others skin and it's only been the first week of living together. Based on how we've started, who knows what it'll be like ten weeks from now.
She seems like a sweet girl and she's very pretty...I just don't think we make good roommates, at all. And the last people I want her to meet right now are my teammates, especially since she and I aren't getting along great right now.
I pulled into the lot by my apartment, parking in my usual spot. I quickly turned the car off and went to my apartment, not even caring about grabbing my bag from practice. I had more important things to do. I pulled my key out and unlocked door. Walking into the apartment, I was met with silence.
Eerie silence.
"Y/n?” I called out. Nothing. I sighed, and walked to her room. I peered into her room. Nothing.
"Great," I sighed, "this is great."
I could only hope she didn't come home while the guys were over. They'd never let me hear the end of it if they saw her.
————————————————————————
You took your AirPods out and put them back in their case. You had been outside for almost two hours, so you decided to head back inside. You picked up your phone and looked at the time. You were hoping you would still get some time to yourself, but unfortunately Joe would be back from practice by now. You slipped on your flip flops and grabbed your towel, ready to head back to your apartment and shower.
You went to unlock the door but stopped when you heard voices and laughter.
Joe never told you he was having friends over!? If you would've known they were coming over you would have never gone to the pool! Now you have to walk in in just your bikini!? Oh lord...
You took a deep breath and unlocked the door.
"Burrow, man why the hell do you have pink towels in your bath-oh."
You walked into the apartment, shutting the door behind you. You stood awkwardly at the door.
Joe was sitting on the couch with Logan Wilson. You noticed Joe's eyes widen when he saw you walk in. His eyes slowly scanned down your body. He was practically drooling at the sight of you in your red bikini. You’ll have to mention that to him later...
You wrapped the towel around your body, covering yourself up. Joe took his gaze off of you and turned to Logan instead. The two of them having a beer while Ja'Marr Chase was standing in the doorway of the bathroom, holding up your pink towel. Ja'Marr turned the bathroom light off and walked back out into the living room.
Logan looked at you with a smirk, "I knew Burrow had a special lady he was keeping from us."
You felt your face heat up. "Oh no. No, we're not dating."
"Nope. Never." Joe said shaking his head.
Ja'Marr looked between you and Joe, “Look, I ain't here to judge, if you two are fuck buddies and you're here for him to take you to pound town, I get it. If that's the case Wilson and I are gone."
"Oh my god." Joe said, sighing.
"Dude," Logan said, putting his hand out, stopping Ja'Marr, "don't ever say that again."
Ja'Marr put his hands up in defense, "I'm just sayin! Look at her, she is gorgeous. If Burrow isn't with her I may have to-."
"Okay, okay, stop." Joe said, standing up and waving him off.
You couldn't help the faint laugh that escaped your mouth as you watched the guys interact. Joe stood up and pointed at you.
"Logan, Ja'Marr. This is Y/n, my roommate." He turned to you, “Y/n, these are my teammates and best friends Ja'Marr and Logan."
You smiled, waving at them, "Hi guys, it's nice to meet you."
Logan waved back, “It's nice to meet you too. Joe didn't tell us he had a roommate."
"And a gorgeous one at that." Ja'Marr said with a wink. Joe rolled his eyes at his best friend as you smiled sheepishly, muttering a thank you.
"I don't want to intrude on your guys night, so I'm going to go shower real quick and then I'll be out of your hair."
The guys nodded.
"You're welcome to join us though." Logan said with a smile.
"Mmm..." Joe trailed off quietly.
"Thank you," you said, gratefully. However, you eyed Joe as you continued, "but I'll just stay in my room. I'd hate to ruin poor Joe's night. It was good meeting you guys though, enjoy your night."
With that, you walked off to my room, shutting the door and locking it. Ja'Marr and Logan watched with wide eyes as Joe stood with his lips in a thin line.
"Woah." was all Ja'Marr said.
Joe plopped himself back down on the couch with a huff. He grabbed his beer bottle and took a swig before he spoke.
"So that's Y/n. She's lovely isn't she?"
"Man," Logan sighed, "what was that?"
"What do you mean?"
"I can still feel the tension, sheesh." Ja'Marr replied, shaking his head.
Joe shrugged, "Well, she and I aren't exactly, friends."
Ja'Marr laughed, "Burrow, I'd say you're enemies at this point."
Joe shook his head, "Whatever. I only have to live with her for a year, after that I'll never have to see her again."
Logan chuckled, "Don't you at least want to try to get along with her? I mean, you don't want to be miserable for the whole year, neither does she."
"Yeah, I guess. I think she forgets I lived here first though. It's kind of annoying, the things she does," he sighs, "I just don't-." Your bedroom door opening caused Joe to stop his sentence. You walked out of your room and made your way to the bathroom, not even acknowledging the guys. As soon as you got into the bathroom you leaned up against the door, letting out a heavy sigh.
This has been one extremely long and exhausting week.
But if Joe thinks you’re annoying already, then he better get prepared.
Because you’re just getting started.
hey loves!!
we're finally getting into the good stuff for this book—YAY!
i'm having so much fun writing this. i've said this before, but i really cant wait for you all to see what i have planned for this book :)
some of the characters mentioned in this book are not real. obviously the bengals players are all real people, but Macee and Emma (who will be introduced soon) are not. they are made up for this book!
i hope you’re all enjoying this story so far. more coming soon!! i have chapters done from wattpad that i just need to transfer over here, but i’m trying to space them out a bit.
214 notes · View notes
stalltherain · 11 months
Text
Manifest finale spoilers. I'm about to rant.
What the f-ck was that ending?
It might as well have all been a dream. Other than Mick meeting Zeke, a few people disappearing, and Saanvi's cancer treatment coming out soon enough to treat Cal, nothing is different than if the show had never happened.
I'd have preferred the characters find happiness in their shitty world. Or heck, even all of them dying in their shitty world to sacrifice themselves for people they love (that would have required a different setup from the beginning of s4 so that we saw the people that the passengers loved).
This ending reminds me of the dilemma in scifi where a character has to chose to live in a happy fake world or a tough & gritty real world. The show writers chose the happy fake. I'd have preferred to see the real world.
I was optimistic for this season and really had hope this show was going to be better than previous shows about explaining the mystery. Of all the theories of how it would go, resetting back to the plane not crashing was the most boring one & what I really hoped wouldn't happen. I guess it's a satisfying-ish ending if you had low expectations.
I just thought we'd actually get some answers, and was also disappointed by all but one of the character's endings. Since the show chose to ignore the mystery and focus on character stories, I'm going to address my issues with those.
TJ lost Olive, but immediately seems to forget her because another cute girl shows up.
Mick ends her relationship with Jared, because he wants kids and she doesn't, but how did that never come up for them in conversation before. Took my opinion of both of them down a bit. Then, 5 seconds after Jared got dumped by the woman he wanted to marry, he's already flirting with another woman. Took my opinion of Jarod about as low as it can get. Shame because I had actually liked him.
The Cal, Olive, and Grace we knew are all gone. Never going to even exist. They're basically fake versions of themselves now. Grace is reset back to season 1, which means she's the annoying version I wanted Ben to dump. Also, how is Ben going to explain that he had sex with someone on the plane? Season 1 Grace would not be open to the whole "hey, we went to another world or whatever" story. She didn't believe anything Ben said about it until she saw it affecting Cal. There's no way she believes his story if she hears it led to him sleeping with someone else. Unless Ben plans to lie to his wife, she's leaving him soon. If he does keep it a secret that he slept with Cal's doctor, that just means she'll leave a little later. Keeping that secret will destroy their relationship. It was a really terrible writing choice to have Ben and Saanvi hook up and then just go back to their previous partners like nothing changed. I think they're great together, but I'd have preferred nothing happen if that was how it ended.
The one thing I really wanted was for Saanvi to realize that she deserves better than the person who kept rejecting her over and over, but nope. Zero growth. I felt so bad for her and feel like from what we know of Alex, she'll go right back to her family soon. Or maybe Saanvi will get enough self esteem to get angry at how Alex treated her (both by not taking the flight and by how she repeatedly rejected her in the real world).
Vance is back to being kind of a jerk who knows none of them. I suppose I'm glad he has his family back, but his character development was meaningless. I'd rather have seem him get his family back in the real world.
The only ending that didn't suck was Mick found Zeke based on what he told her in the real world. I personally wasn't attached to Mick with either guy, so I wasn't expecting her ending to be the most satisfying. At least one story we watched ended up having meaning.
After so many shows have ended disappointingly, I just really wanted one to stick the landing. (pun not intended, but I'm keeping it) This ending was a major (pun also not intended, but I'm also keeping it) bummer.
I don't know how go wrap this up, so I'm just going to drop this. In five years or less, Ben and Grace are definitely split. So are Saanvi and Alex. Hey, maybe Benvi will get back together then. Lol.
122 notes · View notes
ryan-the-dark · 3 months
Text
Claire McCallister knows Becky Botsford is WordGirl.
Tumblr media
I know! I know! Give me a second to explain and break this down.
In the very first episode of the series "Tobey or Consequences", Claire is shown to be intelligent enough to craft together devices to counter her son's robots.
This shows she's just as if not more intelligent than Tobey! There's the argument that could be made that Tobey made those devices but why would she make him? He would be able to program ways to short-wire them.
In the same episode, it was referenced that WordGirl calls Mrs. McCallister whenever Tobey commits crimes. Now I know this isn't much evidence, but let's say for this theory, she met Becky by now. This could be when she was suspicious because of how similar "Becky" and "WordGirl's" voice was.
If that ain't enough to convince you, maybe this will. In "By Jove You've Wrecked My Robot", Tobey tells Becky and I quote:
"And if you try to run off and turn into WordGirl, I'll use all the robots to destroy the city."
Now, if Claire's as smart as Tobey and we're using that for this theory, I'm pretty sure when she sees Becky, she'll put the pieces together in similar reasons. "The same hair color, the same skin tone, the same lips" as Tobey points out: "You and WordGirl are the same height, the same hair style and color... The same sparkingly smile. The same ruby lips..."
Now if Tobey put these pieces together, I think Claire, through enough time, could do so as well. I think the reason why she doesn't say anything is because one she has to make sure her son is punished for his crimes. And two, she respects WordGirl enough to not risk anyone who would use that information incorrectly to find out. The only reason she doesn't say anything to Sally who is her friend is because she either found out she doesn't know, think she knows and just playing an act and so acts none the wiser, or just don't want to ruin the current dynamic with the possibility that the Botsfords doesn't know. Another reason, she knows Tobey's happier around WordGirl and doesn't want him to be bothering Becky in her private life.
Tumblr media
This is "Robo Camp", a fairly early episode, being season 2 episode 11. At this point, she was trying to push him to cease doing robot activities:
Claire: This is going to be an important trip for you, Tobey, because you’re going to learn to appreciate nature. And hopefully grow out of this silly robot phase.
Tobey: Yes, Mother. That would make sense, except that nature is a thing of the past! Technology and robots are--
Claire: TOBEY! No robots! I don’t want a repeat of what happened last summer at basketball camp... Or two summers ago at baseball camp!.. Or last, last, LAST summer at drama camp!... I mean it, Tobey! No giant robots, end of story! You need to be more independent, and learn to do things on your own!
Btw, I think the reason why they're not very close is because they don't understand each other not that she doesn't care about him or vice versa, but I won't get into that into this blog.
Tumblr media
I can see Claire having a moment where she realizes: "Wait a minute Tobey's not happy around other kids. He's more lively around WordGirl and enjoys her company..." That type of thing. So she doesn't do much to try to stop him, not that she approves, but because she genuinely loves Tobey and values his feelings, even though she wishes he would stop with the robot attacks.
It would also explain the reason why she doesn't remove his robot privileges permanently. For people who follow abusive Claire, there's so many things to debunk this. Like in the "Talent Show Tobey" episode where she was cheering Tobey on and was genuinely proud of him until his robot destroyed the building. Given Tobey entrapped WordGirl into reading poems in this episode, you would think she wouldn't care about WordGirl. Well, do remember that it's not like Claire knows. She just thought WordGirl agreed, and was happy that Tobey was doing something she'd viewed as productive and WordGirl was kind enough to help him out.
Tumblr media
(More happy Claire please! 💯💯💯)
In the "Guess Who's Coming To Thanksgiving Dinner" episode, she was trying to enjoy the holiday, and when he left, she was searching literally everywhere for him. When he came back, she was happy to see him.
Tumblr media
(WE NEEDED MORE SCENES WITH THEM JUST BEING 😁)
In "New Year of Doom!" Tobey and Claire smiled at each other on top of a robot throughout the New Year count-probably the most touching moment between the two and shows she supports whenever he builds his robots just in a constructive way.
Tumblr media
I think if she wanted to, she would scrap all of his robots. She literally could, but she knows she would end up breaking his heart. He would be broken because he'll be forced to quit similar to when Miss Power threatened to never allow Dr. Two Brains to have cheese again. She always gave me reluctant disciplinarian type of vibes and would never do anything that would break his little heart. Off topic for a bit, that's why I wish there were more fics about Claire redeeming Tobey instead of Becky because, while I'm all for Tobecky, I feel like that makes more sense considering Tobey pressed so many buttons and disrespects her, and Becky's still a child at the end of the day while Claire is an adult so her mind is wiser, he's her son, and has more reasons to redeem him. Most of all, WordGirl's one of the superheroes of the city and don't have any obligation to redeem any of the villains besides maybe Dr. Two Brains with the whole mouse brain dilemma. She could guide them, but I feel like she would be suspicious about Tobey's change at least for a while. One last thing, while I do like redemption stories, the characters themselves have to change. Guidance is different from forcing them to switch sides. Claire redeeming Tobey stories would allow more ground to be given if that makes sense.
That aside, now, let's say Tobecky happens, and they sort out their issues especially with Tobey's (there's plenty of them as Go Gadget Go shows) I can imagine something like this occurring when a teenager or adult Becky inevitably has to tell Claire she's WordGirl because let's be honest it would avoid a lot of awkwardness. I even see her telling her family eventually, but this is how I actually see it going:
"Mrs. McCallister, I'm WordGirl..."
"...I am not blind, Becky. Though I have tried to be, for Tobey's sake. And for yours. I have suspected things about WordGirl a long time ago. I have put the pieces together as he had, though we do not speak of it. I... pretend that I don't know. And I was happy to, because it made him happy. WordGirl made him happy, when nothing else ever truly could."
If a teenage or adult WordGirl series or some other thing that continues the show ever happened where this theory was true, how do you think Becky would react to Claire knowing that she was WordGirl?
Tumblr media
This blog was inspired by:
28 notes · View notes
Text
Still beating
Tumblr media
What - dealing with grief as the dust finally starts to settle. Dealing with grief regarding one specific character's death in particular. You know the one.
Genre - heavier, but we get devoted husband/father Daryl out of the mix. And we don't end the chapter on a bummer, never fear. This ain't a French movie, slowpokes
Relationships - wife Reader and husband Daryl as well as your baby. Familial affection with Rick, and that balance between friend and clergy for Father Gabriel.
Perspective - 3rd POV Daryl, and 2nd POV You
Pronouns - she/her
When - time jump! we've briefly hopped to post season 8, pre season 9 (but before The best kind of damn weird). This chapter takes place during the earlier phases of recovery and rebuilding after the war. The previous chapter, Scary as a sleepy kitten, took place during season 2.
TWs - grief, PTSD (including after SA), depression, self-loathing, and some cussing. This chapter is also kinda lengthy, friends, and had to have exposition. (Might should've sliced the chapter in half, but then we'd have another two-parter on our hands :P)
But how long though? - ...20 minutes or so?
Story references and Masterlist link? - under the cut
And is there a pic at the end as a prize for finishing? - yes :D
Tumblr media
Have fun and happy reading!
References to other chapters - what we learned in The Interview. There is also grieving/anger as seen in The first Christmas 'without' Part 2 and its conclusion in I don't hate you, a happy reference to Happy 8th of July!, reference to those lovely tugging strings as found in Invisible Tugging Strings, Part 1 and Part 2 (Part 2 I reckon is still glitched and showing as labeled mature, the poor thing's been cleared about 7ish times via help ticket XD ).
There are a lot more details you might recognize, pop on by to the Official Masterlist here, or for those who prefer linear over non-linear, the Chronological Slowpoke Masterlist here
-----------------------
Still beating
Tumblr media
She was doing real bad. The past few days had been especially bad. Grief has nasty ways of settling in and rearing its ugly head.
He didn’t know too much about what to do to help her, he’d never been good at that stuff. And there was no fixing all that happened, especially not when the last thing that happened was the worst thing that could’ve.
Other than if TJ or Judith died, it was the worst thing. And part of his wife died right alongside Carl.
Hell, she’d been the one to wait after Carl died, then turned, to pull the trigger.
Now, she felt dead, too.
Gabe had to suggest that she check her pulse when it got bad enough.
Just then, TJ started to wriggle and hum in an attempt to root at Daryl's bicep, which pulled him out of his worry for a second.
Gently, he began to bounce to try and keep his baby lulled. He knows Y/N wanted to breastfeed only to get her production up (and so TJ’s suckle could get stronger after the surgery), but Y/N was finally asleep.
Beginning with when Denise was killed, Y/N hadn’t been making as much as she first had. Then, the Saviors stopped the RV and surrounded them, and Negan did what he did. Then Daryl himself got taken away, then there was all the fighting.
And then Carl died.
Getting her milk to come back had been proving damned hard.
A handful of not-very-good times, they’d supplemented what milk she did make with watered-down formula and/or watered-down goat's milk.
One very bad time, they’d used sugar water to fill the babies’ bellies until Jesus got back with goat's milk. Just the one time they had to use sugar water, everybody made damn sure of that.
For now, Daryl could crack into what was still left of the goat's milk in the cooler, right? The two women in the Kingdom who had little guys had sent over actual breast milk with Carol a few days ago, but it was used up yesterday. That stuff had been a God-send, he couldn’t thank the ladies enough.
Between the two babies in Alexandria, TJ and Gracie, everyone had to be smart about using what formula was left. And given that the power got cut, keeping the goat's milk fresh was another problem, hence the cooler.
There was still a shit ton of clean-up had since the Saviors nabbed Alexandria’s storage, then firebombed the town. To make things worse, those assholes had their own compound destroyed, and Hilltop and the Kingdom got screwed, too. Even the beach women took another beating. Hell, and them junkyard people were literally all fucking gone except their leader chick.
So, Y/N breastfed the two babies as much she was physically able because there was no other option right now, all while working as the only other doc left standing in all five communities; she was running herself into the ground.
And with Carl gone…
It ain’t fair that she couldn’t make enough — it was Negan’s goddamned fault.
Which leads to what just went on: so Mich had told him, Y/N’d lashed out at Negan and the new doctor kid with the facial hair, what was his name, Sidney?
Daryl hadn’t been at the infirmary when it happened, but, according to Mich, she’d had to pull her out of the room. Once out, Y/N asked her about TJ, Judith, and Gracie to make sure they were safe, then disappeared after Mich had turned around. Straight up and bolted.
Daryl had checked the escape-closet first, but she wasn’t in there or the attic it connected to, wasn't on the roof that lead to.
He’d then checked the burned church. She’d been there, he recognized her boot prints, but she'd moved on. From there, he was able to follow her sooty tracks in the direction of the place he should’ve known to check first.
Sure enough, Y/N'd been at Carl’s grave.
His wife could barely look at him when he approached. He'd simply kissed her on the head and quietly walked her back home. Once home, he'd cleaned and bandaged her hand while she, again, tried to pump enough for TJ and Gracie.
Mich had told Daryl she’d get Rick for her, so he’d be here soon.
Daryl wracked his brain, he even prayed to learn what do to try to help carry Y/N through this shit.
At first, Y/N’d been pacing around the room, crying but trying not to, arms wrapped around her picture frame with a photo of Carl in it as if it was the only thing keeping her afloat.
He'd been able to persuade her to lay down, and ended up laying in bed with her and holding her tight, TJ next to them in little bassinet.
Initially, him holding her and pressing kisses to her neck had made her feel worse. More guilty, that is. A handful of days ago, something got into her head that she needed to give him a damn "annulment."
Nah, for real, she’d even said (to Gabe) that the two of them not having ever done the deed yet was "grounds" to give him one. “Grounds to free him,” were her exact words. It was a whole thing, and the couple of failed attempts at trying to do the deed after getting hitched some months back probably made her feel worse.
Father Gabriel had Daryl's back the whole time during the conversation, though, decent dude.
And no, Daryl wasn’t angry or even real hurt that she’d thought she had to ‘free him’ and shit, he knows it was the grief and physical exhaustion that got her to that point. His woman had full-on blacked out and hurt herself that day, which is why he'd brought her to Gabe in the first place.
But the, um, the walls were thinner than Daryl had expected, which is how he overheard from the person that he was gonna love and stay with and stay faithful to until he dropped dead softly confess that she was “selfish” to keep him “stuck” with a “batshit m-mess” like her and “a baby that ain’t his.”
The fact that Y/N kept maintaining how much she loved him and how she didn’t want no annulment helped it hurt less when she’d sounded just about convinced that it was “loyalty to me ’cause we’re close, loyalty to Rick,” and because of “he’s got so much shame. He feels responsible for what the Claimers did,” that made him marry her those months ago. "He loves our ch—my child, and might love me, but it's not fair to him. He deserves better, h-he needs better, the man's been trapped all his life. I-I don't want him trapped, I want him happy!"
Gabe never played into her fears. He been no nonsense about all of it, told Y/N that she needed a damn rest, and asked her to tell him what she thought about it when she woke up.
The good thing was that after a 5 hour period of uninterrupted sleep (during which they used some of the goat's milk for TJ and Gracie), she woke up in a daze at why she’d thought an annulment was something Daryl needed or wanted.
The bad thing was, she was then socked in the gut with more unearned guilt for it, then with worry that she was too far gone, or crazy, all that.
Been a bad, bad few days.
Been a lot of Daryl showing her love that she felt not worth being shown. So that she fell asleep in his arms today was such a damn win!
After getting up to take a leak and finding that Y/N was miraculously still asleep, he thanked whoever was up there, then tried to figure out what else he could do to help her get through today…and right at that moment, TJ started to rouse, so he got his answer: keep their baby comforted. More shut-eye could only do his woman well.
Deftly lifting the little bundle into his arms, he'd kissed the scar above the baby’s upper lip and tiptoed out to the hall, where he was now.
Lightly he bounced, softly he shushed. He held TJ like a football and moved back and forth, back and forth. Babies smell so damn good, and make the cutest damn noises!
After a couple minutes, through the open door, he peeked at his Y/N.
Shit. She was already sitting up and blinking off the sleep.
Whatever it was she did and said today, she felt low as hell about it, that much was clear. Without looking, she grabbed the now-broken picture frame and clutched it to her middle.
"You're supposed to be asleep, slowpoke," he tried to tease.
Her clothes had ashes from where it looked like she’d knelt down then sat down in the burned church. There was some dirt on them, too, from when she’d been at Carl’s grave. Daryl made a note to shake the sheets out later and pick the tissues up off the floor.
That's when the front door opened downstairs.
Was that Ri—good, that was Rick’s voice, he was finally there. There was a second voice, too, was that Father Gabriel’s? It was soft like Gabe's voice was.
Daryl looked downstairs.
Yup, it was Rick with the rev.
He waved them upstairs, but it must’ve been the clunking of the Gabriel’s new cane that got Y/N stumbling out of the room.
“Rev! I would’ve come to you, y-you need to be takin’ it easy.” She hugged the picture frame in one hand, gripped the banister in the other and started to go downstairs, asking Gabe how he felt, urging him to sit down, had his vision worsened, all that stuff.
“Y/N, more rest won’t stop me from losing sight in this eye,” Gabriel responded in his quiet way, remaining on the second step, not going up or down the stairs. He smiled. “You could say I’m the one making a house call to a patient this time."
She held back a sob and bowed her head. Then, she subtly slipped two fingers around the inside of her wrist…
Rick stepped the rest of the way up the stairs and put his hands on her shoulders. “What's going on, weirdo?”
“Ricky, I'm s-sorry."
He leaned closer and took her in for a hug. “Heart still beating?” he murmured.
Her inhale was shaky. “Mmhm. Yours?”
“Beating strong.”
TJ perked up and began to whimper upon hearing her voice. Y/N unzipped her hoodie to—she still had a gun on her?
Okay, that'd been stealth as fuck, it hadn't even been printing. He'd been literally holding her, how had he not noticed?
Daryl shared a glance with Gabe. Minus her screwdriver, she'd turned in her weapons after what happened the other day.
Y/N handed the small gun to Rick, who looked wary, but accepted it without question. She hesitated before reaching into her boot to hand over her screwdriver, too.
Daryl slid his hand around his wife’s waist to guide her back to the room. Without looking him in the eyes, she cupped his cheek and told him he was a good father. Then, frame still gripped under one arm, she took the baby into the other.
“Let’s try havin’ a snack before I go with Uncle Ricky awhile, okay, chickpea?” she murmured, then unbuttoned the top of her shirt.
Daryl took off his vest to give her some more coverage. When he draped the vest around her, she turned her head to kiss his hand. He felt his cheeks warm when she did that.
Walking into the room again, she softly told Daryl that he and Rick could sit on the beds. First, she placed the picture frame on one of the mattresses. Next, she took TJ and went beside the end table at the window to sit down on the floor beside it. The way she sat, it was kinda as if she were using it as a shield.
“Rev, please take the chair,” she mumbled to Gabriel with a glance at the only piece of furniture in the room at the time, other than the bassinet, a nightstand, and the end table. Negan had specifically left the rocking chair as a 'gift' for her. The piece of shit...
Anyway, Daryl had got them their two twin mattresses back (hey, squish them together and you get a big-ass bed) the first trip to and from the Savior’s compound after the war ended, once the Alexandrians had begun to move back from the Hilltop. Only, no bed frames yet.
“And sweetheart, I’ll-I’ll take the pumps with me for while I’m in there. Wanna make sure you and Aaron have enough for them,” she said to him, voice still raw. Y/N turned to him and gave him a wobbly smile. “Sorry I used up so much of the tissue supply,” she tried making light, but got close to tears again, so stumbled through asking “Can I, um, Rick, m-might can I bring my pillow? Is that okay?”
Go with Rick where, and take the breast pumps and her pillow, why? He made eye contact with Gabriel, who looked just as puzzled. So, he turned to Rick.
Rick lowered his eyebrows as if he didn’t know what she meant, either. He squatted to sit down on the mattress beside Daryl, and looked at his sister. “Y/N, where are we headed?”
Glancing up from the baby to him then to Daryl, she adjusted TJ’s position on her breast while she figured out how to answer, by the looks of it. Another glance at her husband as if she were worried about his reaction...
“Rick, I thought you was here to…escort me?”
?
Daryl had no clear idea what she meant, it was the rev who understood first.
“No,” Father Gabriel told her gently. “Y/N, you aren’t under arrest.”
Under arrest? Daryl fought between the urge to get angry or dead-ass laugh. 'Under arrest??'
It was for real, though. His wife’s tears started flowing again as she turned her attention to Rick and began to stress, “There can’t be no special treatment—”
“—Is this why you handed me your weapons? Why would you be under arrest?” Rick cut her off to question.
She stared as if he’d grown antlers. “I s-struck a patient, and, and—”
“—And I slit his throat open, which is why that 'patient' is in there in the first place,” he cut her off again, firm.
Thankfully, TJ let out a wail the same time mama wailed, “Ricky, y-you weren’t his medic!” pausing any further arguing.
Y/N gulped, pressed down on one breast, then the other. “I know there’s not much in ’em, Teddy-bear, but it-it’ll get better. It’ll come back,” she shushed, lifting him up and tucking herself back in. With a few kisses, she shushed, “You’ve gotten so much faster at drinking, babycakes”
Daryl got on the floor with her and took TJ back.
She avoided eye-contact again, and her lip wobbled again as she pulled the top of her shirt higher. That told him there’d been not much milk in there. And he could see all over her face that it was switching her on the legs with more false-ass, unearned guilt.
The familiar string in his chest suddenly tugged in her direction—next thing, he was resting his forehead on hers. “Hey. You’re makin’ more every day, angel,” he whispered in her ear. "And you're a damn good ma."
The way her expression softened and her body relaxed toward his felt better than fireworks going off on the Fourth 8th of July.
And as if he were back in that Georgia-in-July heat, Daryl just about melted right there on the floor when he saw his TJ, neck lifted high, making a face-scrunching, gummy smile at him. "Look how strong your neck is getting, ’lil badass, you’re rockin’ it!”
Shit, their kid was the best damn thing.
Y/N leaned against him and reached to lightly fluff their baby’s hair and rub their baby's teeny feet.
Gabriel sat in the rocking chair quietly, hands resting on his cane. He caught eyes with Daryl and nodded his head toward Y/N, glad to see her no longer convinced she needed to ‘free’ her husband.
Absorbed in the photo, Rick exhaled, then spoke up. “Y/N, how about we start from the beginning? What happened at the infirmary?”
She pressed tighter against Daryl as a pained noise left her throat. “Did you talk to Siddiq yet?” sounded very small.
“I want to talk to both of you.”
“And Michonne?”
He nodded. “She told me some.”
The big watch she’d kept from Dale tick-tick-ticked on her wrist. Then came the sound of light metallic clinking. Daryl didn’t have to look to see that she must’ve pulled out her brother’s necklace and was tugging on it.
“What I did ain’t excusable,” came out raspy and thick.
“It is," Rick answered.
“It’s not, especially not what I said to Sid—” a sob choked her response. She used Daryl's leather vest to hide her face before hugging it around herself like a blanket.
“Walk me through what happened first, kiddo, before you hit Negan with this?” Rick subtly gestured to the broken picture frame.
So she had smacked Negan in the face? Hot damn, Daryl was more in love with her already.
Y/N swallowed and shook her head. “They’d been lookin’ at it, the both of 'em.”
“At the picture?”
A tiny nod. “I’d left the room, and when I got back, they was looking at it. Siddiq brought it over to him. Tried to make like Negan was sad, too. Fuck that!”
TJ started rooting on his bicep again, but Daryl was on it. “Sorry, pipsqueak, I don’t got the right parts for that.” He started to massage the baby’s belly, and TJ quieted.
“It’s okay to let ’em cry a little, it-it helps restock these,” his wife tried joking, nodding down at her chest.
“Y/N.” Rick was delicate about coaxing her for more details. “You got back into the room, Siddiq and Negan were looking at the picture.”
“Negan’s filthy hands were on it,” she grit. "Lookin' at Carl and me, you with Shaney." The sounds of the pendant being pulled across the chain filled the room along with TJ’s soft cooing.
“Is that when you hit him with the frame?” Rick asked.
“No. I told him not to look at it again or touch it, and if he did, I’d hurt him.”
“Angel, slow your breathin’,” Daryl interjected at the same time that he figured out why those words sounded familiar: it was similar to how she'd warned the last Claimer fuckhead, the one who’d had Carl pinned down and was gon——Daryl shut down this brain for a sec, it was best not to think about that night.
He turned his head to see Rick, red-eyed, tracing his thumb along the photo of Carl, Y/N, Shane and him. Seems as if Rick had recognized her words, too.
“And when was it that you did hurt him?” Rick pressed on.
Y/N swallowed. “About half a minute later when he tried to act like it wasn’t his fault.”
Rick’s composure staggered and collapsed. His voice was hoarse when he managed to say, “It’s not his fault.”
But Y/N was fast to shut it down. “Don’t for one more second make like it’s yours, Ricky, you get that monkey off your back,” she comforted and somehow scolded both at once. “Negan was doing what Negan does when he, when he told you that. It was manipulation, nothin’ real. How C-Carl—” another choked-down sob, more tears.
Daryl noticed her press her fingertips to the spot under her chin, beside her jaw, checking her pulse to prove it was still beating.
“Negan had nothing to do with how Carl got bit,” Rick whispered. “You know it’s true, kiddo.”
“No—our boy wouldna ended up out there, w-with-with Siddiq, if it hadn’t been for Negan.” Her tone got louder and angry, her stress stutter became more noticeable, the way she tugged the necklace turned rougher. “He and his followers was why we weren’t able to trust no n-newcomers like Sid, which is why Sid was still out there alone, and, and, and why Carl went to him! It, it was because of Negan and his, and his, his-his cult!”
TJ seemed freaked out by the louder voice, the baby’s dark, blue-black eyes grown big.
Daryl spoke Y/N’s name to try and bring her back to herself, but she seemed to have very suddenly calmed.
She was blinking at her hand.
Daryl looked, and then saw the two halves of her brother Shane’s chain, broken.
“How many times did Carol warn me that this would happen when I tugged it,” she muttered to herself. "Good thing I didn't decide to tug on the rosary, huh?"
Inhaling, she leaned her head against the wall behind her, staring into space, fingers to her wrist to check her pulse again.
From beside her, he covered her hand in his. Then, pressing his lips to her fist, Daryl took the necklace from it. He could fix it.
“I lost my temper again, I’m sorry,” she spoke to all in the room, her hand cupping Daryl's cheek a moment. Then, more quietly, she looked at Rick. “How many days’ll I be in there?”
Which sent Daryl straight back to disbelief he was hearing those words, what absolute bullshit. “Y/N, you ain’t going nowhere.”
“You’re not going to a cell, Y/N,” Rick echoed.
“No special treatment,” she softly repeated. “If I were anybody else—”
Rick interrupted her “—It’s not about who you are.”
Father Gabriel had gotten up and was making his way to Y/N by then.
Y/N shook her head at the conversation, tired. “If I were anybody else or had any other orle, and if he were anybody else,” she caught her breath, “there’d be reper-re-rep—” a few more tries, and she had to choose a different word, “consequences. Assault and battery on an un-unarmed person—a patient—from their medical provider, that’s serious.” Her hand was back to covering her face. She sat pressed against the wall, knees at her chest.
“You and Siddiq are the only doctors left. We couldn’t just put you in a cell even if you had earned it.”
“I ain't a doctor, at best, I’m a medic,” she grunted. “And I did earn it, just ask him and Michonne. As for my,” she made a shaky inhale, “my duties, I can be escorted out.”
“And TJ? Gracie?” Daryl put out there, hoping to guilt her out of insisting she get jail time, like, what the fuck. What kind of conversation was this?
Screw this, he couldn't even sit. He stood, shaking his head and pacing around the room, still holding TJ.
The expression on Y/N's face should’ve been enough to calm him down, along the defeated, quiet way she reasoned, “I’ll pump and y’all will visit. It’s—no, sweetheart—it’s only for a few days,” when he started to dead-ass leave. As if her being in there ‘only for a few days’ would help this bullshit make sense.
But that’s when he ended up snapping, “This is goddamn bullshit! You bopped a sick fuck on the nose with a picture frame, who the fuck will care? Rick, why you even entertainin' this shit?” and he regretted doing so as soon as he barked it out.
The old, invisible knee rammed him in the nards harder when Rick cautioned, "Brother," and Gabe finally opened his mouth, and louder than Daryl had ever heard him speak. “She cares, Daryl. So do I.”
And to make it all worse, their baby had given a start in fear when he’d shouted, and now the poor kid was screaming—and TJ doesn’t scream, shit, shit, he blew up while holding his child?
“M’sorry! M’sorry," he hushed to his baby, "I love you so much, kid, I’m so sorry I scared ya. I ain’t gonna hurt ya.” With a kiss on TJ’s wild head of hair, he murmured, “Pipsqueak, your old man is an idiot.”
Y/N rushed over when TJ screamed, but she didn’t take the baby away from Daryl. Instead, she caressed her husband’s forearm and the tricep and spoke to their child. “Your daddy’s got you safe,” she soothed.
He knew she was trying to look him in the eyes, but he couldn’t return it. He’d just scared an infant because he couldn’t check his temper. Their infant.
His wife’s quiet assurance cut through the rushing in his head. “Daryl? TJ ain’t hurt, sugar, and you’re not a bad father. Do some skin to skin, okay?” She pecked a kiss on his cheek. “And that's a dollar for cussing, pay up later.”
She then sat back down on the floor next to where the rev had made his new seat. Daryl took the now-empty rocking chair, unbuttoned his and TJ’s shirts, then nestled the kid on his chest.
Y/N then told the room the rest of what happened, how after Negan croaked out with what voice he had left, saying it 'wasn’t his fault Carl was dead', that she’d turned around and whacked him across the face with the frame.
Siddiq had reacted by grabbing her shoulders from behind to pull her away from Negan — so she had shoved back and kneed him in the dick plus rammed her head against his, dropping the frame in the process. The frame broke as a result—and when it broke, she'd lost her cool, said some shit, and threw some shit. Mich heard the hubbub and intervened, then Y/N hid herself away cause she 'knew' she was 'gone crazy.'
As far as Daryl was concerned, the new doc was lucky all he got was a shove, a knee to jewels, a clunk on the head, and some words and maybe a clipboard thrown at him, because Y/N could fight damned well. She'd had it drilled into her how and when to do it. Freely taught others moves, too.
When she’d showed Carol some techniques, way back, it was one of the things that sent him falling for her.
And…Y/N might’ve not said it out loud, but when she described how Siddiq grabbed her from behind to pull her away, everyone in that room got why it caused her to react strong.
What she described herself as doing would’ve been instinct.
Siddiq wouldn’t know why. Negan might, the fucker had watched the tape of her Deanna interview.
“See?” Y/N blew her nose again, sniffed, and stared at the floorboards. “It’s not right to Sid or the community to, to have what I did go unchecked. And what I said to Siddiq was so cruel. What’s worse is I meant it. Fuck, I still do.”
What she'd said was basically that she wished he’d gotten bit instead of Carl, and that it was just as much Siddiq's fault that the boy was dead as it was Negan’s. That 'he should be dead.'
She grimaced, then caressed the watch on her wrist. Must’ve been thinking of Dale. “Ain’t fair to…Negan, neither. If there’s anything Carl taught us, it’s that,” she whispered.
Rick lifted the frame to kiss his son’s picture, wiped a couple tears away. “When I talked with Sid, he was…alarmed. Worried. He thought it was off-character.”
Y/N went rigid where she sat. “Siddiq wasn’t there two years ago.”
Daryl lifted the baby higher on his chest and snuggled closer.
Rick shook his head. “You wishing someone dead, or, dead instead of another, is very off-character, it’s not you. No—don’t shake your head, Y/N.” Her brother maintained, “Even back then, after what happened, you didn’t wish me dead. You wished that Shane was still alive, not that I was dead instead. Even if you did say those things, it wouldn't have been the truth, just the hurt speaking.”
“I attacked you and told you I would kill you. And I-I meant it at the time, you know that.”
“And for a couple days, you left, because you didn’t actually want that. You knew it was wrong.”
“Which is why I need to get put away for a couple days. I decided to hurt a patient and his doctor, my own fr—” She wasn’t able to say what was probably the word ‘friend.’ Y/N bit her lip, and continued, “Then hurled words at him what nobody should get hurled at them.” She swallowed a cuss and grabbed another tissue.
“You’re exhausted, Siddiq knows that.” Rick pointed out. “We’re not ourselves when we’re—”
Y/N wasn’t having it. Probably too exhausted, to tell the truth.
“We’re all exhausted. C’mon, man, you just lost your son!” A sob left her and she tried to breathe through her nose. Checked her pulse again.
“You were also reacting to how he yanked you back, kiddo. That's not nothing.”
Daryl gave Rick a warning glance.
Rick saw, nodded, and held up a hand, which made Y/N turn to see what Daryl was doing. But Daryl simply kissed TJ on the head, not saying nothing.
She wasn’t fooled. When Y/N looked back at Rick after giving her husband a look of it’s okay, Daryl gave Rick another warning glare, then a nod.
“You didn’t react like that without reason, Y/N. There’s no shame to admit it was a trigger.”
She grumbled at the word. “Trauma ain’t an excuse to traumatize others.” After exhaling, she ran her hands over her face and took a moment. Hardly louder than a whisper, she challenged, “Ricky, not all my problems stem from the rapes. I’ve always been too hot-headed.”
At that moment, Daryl wanted to scoop her and TJ up and drive them away from everything, keep the two of them safe and unbothered for a month or two or four.
“Getting grabbed like that m-might, y’know, might could’ve reminded me of it—when they—" She ran a hand through her hair. "Okay, it did get me going. But, I,” she paused. “It wasn’t that I saw red or blacked out, I chose to keep goin’ once I’d started. I threw stuff because I was raging, I didn't want to stop because I thought he deserved it.”
Y/N fiddled with Dale’s watch, and turned to Father Gabriel beside her and almost smiled at him, close to the way she used to smile at Glenn, as if he were in on a joke. “Here I’d hoped I was re-domesticated by now.”
“Let us give thanks that you’re still housebroken,” he responded, taking Daryl by surprise. "You're...still housebroken, are you not?"
The way Y/N then cracked up and grinned woke up the butterflies in his stomach.
“Y/N, you’ve come miles since I first met you,” Gabriel told her softly, smiling back.
“All the way from Georgia,” she joked back, then grew more serious. “You’ve grown a whole lot, too.” She wiped her eyes, and Gabe closed his.
“And Y/N,” he shook his head. “You aren’t losing your humanity. I know you’re frightened of that, after what you told me happened to your other brother.”
It hadn’t even registered in Daryl’s mind that Shane’s memory would be scaring her. She loved her brother like hell, but she was always terrified of going down the same path he did.
He looked to Rick to see what his reaction was. His reaction was tear-rimmed eyes and a nod of his head toward TJ, silently asking if he could hold the baby awhile. Daryl nodded, Rick stood, and returned Y/N the frame as he walked by to pick up the little one.
Hands empty, Daryl took out his army knife and the broken chain from his pocket so he could fix his woman’s necklace. Wasn’t gonna be hard.
He heard Y/N whisper, “Hey, punk. Miss you. Miss you, too, loser.” He let his eyes travel to where she sat under the window, and watched her kiss the picture and well up. It was the old one of her and preschool-age Carl photobombing Rick and Shane, after one of them got some kind of cop award.
Clutching it once more to her belly, she and Father Gabriel then started to talk in low voices with one another.
“The red haze in your right sclera is so close to begin' clear. Did you talk to Rosie today? She’s been seeming less depressed.”
“I thought this was me visiting my patient, not the other way around,” Gabe gently hinted. “Y/N, please talk to me.”
Daryl heard her sniffle. “Rev, but I don’t want to have meant those words. I’ve been workin’ on it. It-it might be his fault, but I know he’s innocent, he’s humane—Sid even counts walkers like I do, man, yet still, I—” her breathing shuddered. “After whatever this mess is kicked in, every time I see him now, I hate him. Why do I hate a decent person?”
“Grief,” he offered simply. He gave her another shrug and small smile. “Keep doing what you have been. It will get easier every day, the same way your, um,” he was careful about his wording regarding her tits, “that you have more for the little ones every day.”
She huffed but didn’t raise her voice again, she stayed quiet as could be. “It don’t feel like none of that’s happening.”
“Our perception of things doesn’t always equal the truth, Y/N.” Gabe seemed to take a moment. Maybe he was praying.
Y/N’s fingers found her pulse again.
“We are all healing,” Gabriel next said, and smiled again. “Your heart is still beating, is it not?”
Y/N stared for a few moments, caught in the act. Eyes meeting Daryl’s for a moments, she removed her fingers from her neck, and inclined her head at the reverend. “What about yours?” she asked softly.
“Still beating. And that’s the proof,” he assured her just as softly. “Y/N, as for the way you understand your actions and your emotions toward him as not being right, I would like you to take it as a comforting sign. And, you just handed over a weapon you plainly wanted to keep concealed, you didn’t use said weapon to hurt Negan, either,” he pointed out, for which Daryl was grateful. “Perhaps, if you begin to make excuses, begin to feel no sense of having done wrong when you have, I will worry.”
Weirdly enough, he next grinned up at the ceiling. “But I am not, because you are simply broken and in need of healing. You’ll get there, as will I,” he held his hand out to the room. “As will your brother, your husband. All of us.” He sighed. “So long as our hearts are still beating.”
Daryl looked back at his wife in time to see her bit her wobbling lip and nod. Her gaze turned to Rick with the baby. He was kissing TJ’s scrawny little feet.
Her face softened seeing them, and as Daryl’s stomach fluttered again, she turned to look at him. His stomach full-on did a happy flip (and, yeah, he lost his grip on the necklace’s broken link and dropped it).
Y/N said to Rick, “Well, we still need to show ’em that Alexandria—that you—are accountable and fair. How many nights will do, you think?”
Rick shook his head. “Zero. But, because you have a point and won't take 'zero' as an answer,” he quickly added, “how about one?”
“For a piggy, you’re actin’ awful chicken.”
He was unmoved by the cop joke. “Bawk, bawk.”
And Y/N laughed, for what it was worth. And it was worth everything, hot damn was that laugh the best sound.
Daryl figured he might as well check, “What about bail, that still a thing?”
“Not with you owing a whole dollar. That’ll take weeks to pay off,” she said, back to doing her best to lighten up things. He loved her so fucking much, goddamn.
“Supervision when outside the cell,” she stated to Rick.
He shook his head again. “I have a better sentence in mind. When I saw you wearing Lori’s belt earlier today, it reminded me of it. See, and you left this at the infirmary.” He reached into his jacket pocket.
Recognition swept across her face when he held it out. “Do you think he’ll feel safe?”
“The headphone cord is too thin to choke him with, it’d snap.”
“Ricky, that joke was very dark,” she lightly chided.
He squinted, kissing TJ’s feet one more time first. “I hereby sentence you to one night—”
“—Three.”
“One in lock-up,” he spoke over her, then was fast to tack on, “with Daryl and this one as guards.” He motioned to the baby.
"Women shouldn't have male guards," she dryly droned.
"Overruled. You'll also get supervised outings for your duties tomorrow and the day after, including the trip to the Hilltop for Maggie’s prenatal visit. And,” he held up the music player, “you’ll need to listen to music with Siddiq on this. We know it works.” He cocked his head. “Let’s start with 20 minutes per day, like you and I had.”
Some tears slipped out even though she was smiling. She mouthed I love you to him, then asked out loud, “How many days?”
Rick squinted. “Fourteen.”
---------------------------
You
Tumblr media
“You pick the songs. Whatever you like,” you told him, staring at the photo and rubbing the ‘22’ pendant over your lips. Daryl fixed the chain for you shortly after you’d broken it. You really love him.
Sid accepted the mp3 player out of your hand.
You and he each had one earbud in, one apple beside you, and Michonne sat nearby with Judith. Supervision was your stipulation, yet being proactive about ensuring it had done nothing for how humiliating it was.
Still, you took an objective look and figured Siddiq should know that his safety mattered, that your people were fair and held themselves to standards.
Just looking around the place, it looked as if standards were a given here. That Alexandria’s power grid and some panels were already repaired within three weeks of Negan’s razing was almost unbelievable.
Sucks for the Saviors Cult that the community had been built to withstand up to magnitude 4.1 earthquakes and be fairly fire-safe as part of its self-sustaining (and for-politicians) model, so in the least, a good number of the homes were still standing.
Carl's gazebo was another story, as were other similar structures, like the church, but the ash had been washed off by the rain, and the communities' walls were back up.
Next to you, Siddiq asked you how to work the mp3, citing, “Carl had been the one to…”
Had been the one to work it when he borrowed it to visit you out there, in order to show you some kindness. Before he got himself bit because of you.
The words festered inside of you. Whatever. Let them fester, you felt dead anyway.
As you went to point to show him, the picture hung from your outstretched, bandaged hand. The pic you'd chosen this time was another older one from the before-times, not one of the newer polaroids. You'd been the one to take it, actually, using a disposable camera about five and a half, maybe six years ago.
It was blurry, Lori and Carl had been being silly and stopped posing, Rick was mid-comment. You loved this one.
It felt so unreal now, felt fake.
Felt dead.
You checked your pulse. Still beating.
“The, um, just use-use those two buttons there for up and down to search,” you mumbled, tucking the photograph into your shirt pocket. “That one is for back, that one for options. Press down on the middle to click.”
He went huh. “Here’s the Indian music playlist,” he chuckled. Appears he’d found the Desi Party! playlist. Carl told you he’d played it for him.
Before he’d gotten fucking bitten.
How could your heart rage and ache so much if you were dead?
“It’s got all sorts on it,” you replied blankly to Siddiq. Remembering your oldest sister who’d made all the playlists before handing her mp3 down to you, it felt like she was made up. Felt like everyone was made up, fake. Dead.
“My mother was a big filmi fan,” he shared.
But you simply repeated, “Pick to whatever you like, you’re in charge of the songs.”
There was no emotion in your voice. You didn’t want to chat with him, didn’t want to nerd out about Bollywood music, and also didn’t want to face him after saying such awful things to him early today.
Hating him felt right. It felt "deserved," which is a word you'd learned to not use, thanks to Dale.
Granted, hating Siddiq felt wrong, too, which invited shame to take a seat on your lap.
So, you followed the rev’s advice and took comfort in the shame because it meant your conscience was still ordered in a good direction. It meant you weren’t fully dead yet.
You checked your pulse again to remind yourself that it was still beating. Life was still going.
Father Gabriel had also told you that feeling dead didn’t make you a bad mother or a bad wife or bad person, it simply meant you were broken and grieving.
“Y/N?”
“What?” you growled — and immediately wished it hadn’t come out that way. In your head, you told Carl you were sorry, you’d do better next time. Then, you prayed to stop hating the sight of Siddiq, the sound of his voice. Wished Dale or Hershel or T-Dog or Deanna or Denise or Sasha were there for, for—advice, support, you don’t know…
And because the rev has enough on his plate and needs to rest, maybe later you’d risk everyone’s ire and sneak away to visit Mr. Jones at the junkyard. At least he wasn’t dead yet, too. Maybe visiting him would convince him to move back to Alexandria.
“I never apologized for pulling you backward like that,” Siddiq said to you, a little short. Couldn’t blame him.
In truth, you had done all you were going to do to Negan after smacking him the once, but Sid wouldn’t have known that. Wouldn’t have known how grabbing you like that would flip an alarm, either.
No use moping, if your positions were reversed, you’d have wrangled him back, too.
And yet, you just caught yourself licking your teeth and sneering in response to his apology.
But it wasn’t out of anger or hatred so much as…you still aren’t certain what the emotion was. Grief, depression, shame, all three. You supposed it didn’t make a difference. Didn’t feel like much of anything.
Briefly, you put two fingers to your neck to check your pulse again. Still beating. Still alive.
Alive, and needing to eat some crow, as it were.
“Don’t apologize, you were protectin’ our patient. What I did was wrong,” you recited. “I-I threatened a patient and then whacked him across the face.” Your conscience then prompted you to apologize again for what you’d said to him. “And, just—Siddiq, what I said to you was bullshit and lies and m'sorry I said it. Cruel bullshit, naught else. Don’t go believing a word of it.”
He wasn’t clicking through the playlists and songs anymore.
Appearing uncomfortable, he peeked at you before he put his attention back on the mp3. “Michonne said pulling you like that was a trigger, which is why you, um…I’m sorry,” he said again. “I didn’t know.”
First, you relaxed your jaw. “Ain’t your job to know. It’s mine to learn past it.” Next, you spackled on something of a smile and added quietly, “It’s good that you, that you stepped in. Thank you.” You did mean it, for what it was worth.
How many minutes until the twenty was up, you wondered, and tried to not be obvious about checking the time on your wrist. Eyeing Michonne, she seemed more preoccupied with Judith than with being punctual regarding your penance/sentence.
“PTSD is serious. That’s why I’m sorry, I, um,” Siddiq faltered. He went back to clicking through the music choices.
“We all have at least a little PTSD, bud.” With a light nudge to try and convey camaraderie or something, you attempted to tease, “C'mon, you chosen at least one song, yet?”
“Sorry, let me just, uh…” and with a few more clicks, the first song started. It was Bohemian Rhapsody.
“You chose the playlist ‘Songs Everyone Likes.’”
He chuckled awkwardly. “Yeah, figured I couldn’t go wrong with that one.”
The memory of belting out this song with Carl, Glenn, Beth, and Maggie before your group even found the prison whooshed back and you started to smile—until you remembered that Carl was gone now. He was dead.
You’d forgotten all of that for hot second, but your Carl was dead. So was Glenn. So was Beth. So was Lori, who'd joined, so was T-Dog, so was...
Maybe you were dead, too. You felt dead—so, you pressed your fingers to your neck to feel for a pulse.
Still beating.
The lyrics of the song began to register. You know, the early parts like ‘I don’t wanna die,’ and ‘carry on, as if nothing really matters.’ Sounded a little too personal, tell you the truth.
And just like that, the song was skipped. You glanced at Siddiq.
He shook his head. “Not the right mood for it.”
“Mm.”
The intro to the next song in the shuffle was very bouncy, and ‘Dance to the Music’ started to jive through the earbuds. You didn’t sway along like you naturally would have. No urge to.
The song played, finished.
“First time I heard this was in Shrek,” Siddiq made small talk while munching on his apple. “Love that movie.”
You might’ve hummed in acknowledgment, you aren’t sure. He handed your apple to you, you took it. Held it.
The next song started, ‘Young Hearts Run Free.’
The song played, finished.
Siddiq made more small talk. “I remember that one in Romeo + Juliet, the one with, um, Leo DiCaprio. We watched that version in high school after we finished reading it.”
You hummed again. Pressed your fingers to your wrist, just in case. But no, your heart was still beating.
The next song started, ‘Jumpin’ Jack Flash.’
“A lot of oldies,” he commented once the singing began. He took the final nibble off his apple.
“But goodies,” you responded, willing yourself to sound less stiff and monotone. “Modern stuff is on this playlist, too, don’t worry.”
The song played. Finished.
The next song started. ‘Another One Bites the Dust.’ Siddiq promptly skipped it once the refrain started and the lyrics sank in.
“Good call,” you grunted.
The next song started. ‘Ain’t No Mountain High Enough.’
“Oh n—please skip this one, too." You loved that one, but you’d queued it up for Glenn at his and Maggie’s wedding, and it was not the time to go reminiscing. You swallowed the lump in your throat. Checked your pulse. Still beating. "Please skip 'Thunderstruck' if it comes on, too?”
The mp3 player clicked as Siddiq skipped the song. Next on the shuffle was ‘Under Pressure.’
He adjusted his seat and coughed. “This one fits.”
A combination sigh/groan was your contribution, because he was right. The two of you were the only doctors major medical personnel left standing.
The song played. Siddiq’s knees and wrists bounced to the rhythm where he sat beside you. You stared at your boots. Where’d all the soot and dirt on them and your clothes come from, you couldn’t remember…
It was when a strong gust of cold wind blew that you noticed that the music had stopped, your earbud was out, and the sky wasn’t as cloudy anymore.
When did that happen?
You sat up and blinked a few times, your apple still in one hand, Shane’s necklace in the other.
“Hey,” you heard Siddiq call.
What, why were your cheeks wet? “S-sorry, I,” you dropped the necklace, wiped your eyes with your sleeve, and put the apple down, “must’ve, um, checked out.”
“I’m not sure how long it was after it began when I noticed the change,” he let you know. “Is…this what happened earlier?”
You closed your eyes and shook your head. “Earlier was somethin’ else. This was just—” ‘Dissociation,’ was a misunderstood word, so Denise taught you. And you didn’t want to use the word for that reason.
You really wanted to keep a shred of dignity for yourself in the eyes of that guy. He didn’t even know that you’d hurt yourself when you’d ‘blacked out’ the other day…so, you decided upon a white lie highly euphemistic layman's term. “I spaced out.”
He nodded, but his brows sunk, as if he weren’t buying it.
And when he did that thing where someone slightly opens their mouth because they’ve put together a response, you changed the subject. “Listen to anythin’ good while I was in space?”
Siddiq wasn’t swayed. “Do you still feel detached?”
“A little,” you answered truthfully, breathing deep and checking your watch to try gauging how long you’d been out. Except, you had no recollection of what time it had been earlier, so it was a bust. God save you, you were a mess.
“Sid. I’m sorry you’re trapped dealin’ with this shit, it ain’t fair to you. If, if you wanna bounce early, don’t feel obligated to stay, and, and—like, if you don’t wanna do this whole music thing, it’s fine. W-we don’t want you feelin’ unsafe.”
“Unsafe? Y/N, I…” he paused. “I forgive you for what you said earlier. And I’m not scared of you. Hitting Negan wasn’t okay, but…” another pause. “Compared to the way most others are baying for his blood and how you defended saving his life, I mean—you helped me save him, Y/N—” He lifted his hands, palms to the sky. “You’re my friend, we work together, it’s not like I can’t see that you’re drowning.”
Nothing prepared you to hear that.
He was calling you a friend and was still trying to be understanding, after all that…
You wanted to slam your head on a hard, rough surface and cry from the shame and simultaneous relief. You also didn’t want to accept it, and so pushed back: “You were alone out there too long. Friends d-don’t tell friends they wish they were dead.” And mean it, you did not confess.
But of all things, he merely raised one shoulder and snorted. “I’m a really good friend?”
Tears spilled at the same time that you almost laughed. No, it's true, you almost laughed. Things felt a little unreal again, but in not a bad way. The most you could do right then was send up thanks for the mercy that came out of the mess. You pinched your wrist first, then felt for your pulse.
“Compared to a few minutes ago, do you feel more like yourself now?” Siddiq made sure.
Huh. You used to ask Shane a very similar question, when he was forgetting his goodness.
You kept feeling the small beats at your wrist, reminding you that you were indeed alive, therefore capable of healing and growth.
“Heart’s still beating,” you sniffled, making yourself smile at him. The hatred and disgust you’d felt earlier seemed to you less like a fact and more like a bad dream.
Then, from the far right of the oak tree, you heard Aaron’s voice saying, “Not yet, man, they’ve got four minutes left.”
Aaron and Daryl then came into view. They waved to you as they walked by with the babies, another reminder that you that you weren’t fully dead inside. Gracie was in a stroller, TJ was bundled in Daryl’s arms. Your husband lingered behind, eyes on you as he absently pecked a kiss to your baby’s covered head.
Something stirred, and your chest fluttered and tugged in their direction, reminding you again that your heart was still beating. So was Maggie’s, so was her and Glenn’s baby’s, so was Rick’s, so was Aaron’s. Life was still going. You had a child, a husband; lifelines. Their hearts were still beating, too.
The unexpected wink and the way Daryl’s gaze softened as he looked at you made you feel as if you’d been freezing and someone just handed you a cup of cocoa with mini marshmallows. The way he next moved his lips to pronounce ‘troublemaker,’ however, you ought to have seen coming a mile away.
The heaviness in your body eased a bit. A smile started prodding the corners of your mouth. Shyly, you returned the wave and mouthed ‘mangy hick,’ your wrist bumping against the photograph sticking from your shirt pocket.
Aaron noticed him acting like a dope lagging and gestured for him to keep up. “Four more minutes and we’ll come back to get her.”
Daryl called out "slowpoke," and waved your baby’s little arm to the two of you as they walked away. He kept peeking behind him, too, it warmed you. When they reached far enough, you once again took the photograph out from your pocket.
With a final peek at Carl’s picture, you sent up a prayer and reaffirmed the promise that you’d made to him. That you’d live for him, do him proud.
So long as your heart was still beating, you’d try to do him proud. “Seems you and I got four more minutes, Sid. What’ll we pick?”
Tumblr media
-------------------------
> Masterlist link here
and our teeny tiny taglist :D
@spenciepoo338 @its-freaking-bats​​​​ @whistlesalot​​​​ @buffy-the-assbutt-slayer​​​​  @dreamingaboutthewonderland @kwazii-kat​ @darylsmavis​​​​​  @outlanderhornet22​​​​​ @battinsonrobs @dontputyourfckingdrinkonmytable @multiifandomhoe @writingmybeloved @boomergirl123 @iheartathena0 @moonliight-luv @suniloli
(inbox is open if you would like on or off the taglist, slowpokes. Please don’t feel bad or nervous if you don’t want to be tagged anymore,  just let me know, we’re all friends here and your comfort level is important!)  
---------------------------
And here's the picture prize for getting through the long chapter!
Tumblr media
81 notes · View notes
theamazingannie · 11 months
Text
Oh I fucking hated that Manifest ending it made absolutely no sense. Rant and spoilers under cut.
Why in hell would they go back to 2013 and undo everything that happened over the last 11 years??? Sure the passengers are forever changed, but what about Olive’s journey? Jared and Drea? All of the other nonpassengers who grew and learned and became something better because of this story? And why them? Zeke survived his death date and he didn’t go back (at least, not until he died the second time). Zeke got to have cool powers and it kinda sucks cuz he was the only one we know who survived his death date so he’s the only one we got to see be affected by it. It would’ve been cool to see what the passengers could do and also how the rest of the world would have reacted. The world HATED the 828ers and instead of getting some resolution with them finding out that the 828ers saved the world, they just all never actually experienced it?
Also, wasn’t something that was a hidden gift in the whole thing that Saanvi’s research had time to develop during those 5 1/2 years? If they go back, then Cal would still be sick and without the research this time. That undos all of that and the connection that that made between Saanvi and the Stones and how fate connected them in so many ways. And they specifically said that they needed time to finish her research and start the trials. He would’ve been dead if he waited. That was a specific point.
Because of the time pause, Olive is now significantly younger than TJ, which the show addresses by making him look at her sadly and then sets him up with Violet. Not only did they steal Olive’s story and growth, they also just completely ruined their relationship that I loved. Plus, they never really gave them a satisfying ending pre-apocalypse. All they did was have Olive say she wanted to fix things so they could have a future together, only for that to now be impossible (unless they meet again in like 10 years when it’s a less weird age gap). This is kind of a smaller reason, but it still bugs me cuz they had such potential to be a great ship and were constantly pushed under a rug, especially there at the end.
And what are they supposed to do now? This is a problem in a lot of time travel/day repeating stories where someone changes seemingly overnight with no explanation except instead of just one person, it’s almost 200. 200 people who know things about the next 11 years, who have been changed beyond recognition, who are now going to change so much stuff in the future that didn’t need to be changed. Yeah, they’re all better people now and will work to do good (allegedly) yadda yadda. What about all the passengers who fell in love with nonpassengers that they now may never meet? Or, like TJ and Olive, can’t be together because of the time jump. Yeah Mick found Zeke and now they can be happily ever after, but what about the nonpassengers who were changed in the years between and now aren’t the same person that the passenger fell in love with? So many of us are shaped by our experiences. What happened to all the other passengers, to their stories? What if the person that they fall in love with’s life is altered because of the choices another passenger makes? What if they move to another state, fall in love with someone else, die??? Another issue tule travel causes is that even the smallest action can domino into something completely different, even just one person let alone TWO HUNDRED. I know that this is probably not something most people think about and they just pay attention to Grace and Zeke being alive and all the happy moments, but it’s not that simple for me and it BUGS ME when writers don’t consider this.
Lastly, on a similar note, how is this any different than it ending with “it was all a dream”??? Like nothing actually changes, none of their callings are set in stone and they’ll have to remember every single thing they did during those 5 1/2 years, things that won’t happen until YEARS later. Ugh I just so hated the way they ended things and it sucks cuz I love this show a lot.
67 notes · View notes
gayelectro · 5 months
Note
Do you wanna talk about Aiden? I haven't seen anyone ship canon Iron Leaguers with OILs here before!
I would love to!
I know I've seen "OIL" thrown around before, but I'll be honest, I don't know what it means! Happy to hear that Aiden miiiight count as one?
Here he is!
Tumblr media
(Art by @toxiccaves! The big ref sheet is here!)
I dunno if you wanted to hear more about his backstory or his history with Top Joy, so I'll give you a little sprinkle of all of it.
Basically, Aiden was custom commissioned for a furniture store. Mostly just as a huge flex to say "we can afford a mecha". It's a teensy bit advertising, but more than anything, Aiden is a retail worker and a pro mover. He can lift very heavy things with ease and he's really precise and careful. But the thing is, in the Iron Leaguer universe, retail bots are outrageously few and far between. By and large, it just makes more sense to hire humans, they're cheaper and don't run on oil.
So overall, Aiden is a very lonely guy and super isolated from other mecha. Plus, his job (where he works somewhere between 60 to 80 hours a week) is soul crushingly boring. So, like many people, he watches sports to escape. He quickly becomes attached to his local pro basketball team. Since their home court is so close, he ends up getting to go watch live games a lot! The court is the only place he feels connected to others, even though he only spectates.
The Dark Queens is my headcanon name for Top Joy's first basketball team. It just follows what we know of that country's naming convention for DARK Federation teams; "Dark [Noun Relating to Royalty]". And DQ just happens to be Aiden's local team. He was already pretty new to basketball in general when Top Joy joined as their Super Rookie. So naturally he becomes a bit of a super fan himself.
Top Joy is sooooooooo happy to have such an enthusiastic fan, so he in turn makes an effort to get close to Aiden. After all, if Top Joy is gonna be the best Leaguer in the history of the league, he's gotta be good to his fans. They become fast friends. Both Aiden and Top Joy are inexperienced and desperate for attention, so they fit together like peanut butter and jelly. A puppy love blossoms between them. Fan meet and greets dissolve into romantic trysts after work. They're cute and giggly and sweet to each other.
But unfortunately, they feed into each other's worst habits and tendencies. Namely, Aiden is a people pleaser, thinks his opinions make him an expert at things, and jumps to put others on a huge pedestal. Which means that when Top Joy vents about his teammates being mean to him, Aiden calls his teammates jealous, because TJ is perfect and his way of playing is the most entertaining. And TJ will listen and take it to heart, mostly because it's exactly what he wants to hear.
Aaaaaaaand we all know that Top Joy's ball hogging and showboat-er-y eventually got him totally kicked off of the team. Because of how DARK handles things, Top Joy essentially just disappears one day. Aiden's boyfriend is gone without a trace and he slowly pieces together that most Dark Queens fans are glad that he's gone. This makes him further retreat back into his job.
But holy crap, the entire plot of Shippu! Iron Leaguer happens! Top Joy goes through a crazy amount of development and now he's got a soccer world championship under his belt?! The news is crazy enough and big enough to reach Aiden, even in his reclusive state. Aiden tried avoiding talking about his job as much as possible, so it would've been hard for Top Joy to find him, but thankfully it's pretty easy for Aiden to find TJ once he knows what team he's on!
They'd end up reconnecting really easily at that point. Aiden had been heartbroken that Top Joy left without so much as a word, but he genuinely believes him when he explains that it wasn't by choice. Plus, in the time they've been apart, Top Joy has grown a lot as a person. He's a lot more emotionally mature than he was. Sadly, Aiden was sort of frozen in place by the separation and self-isolation. So they probably wouldn't fall in love again, they're now in different life stages, but they would be the best of friends.
Plus, now Top Joy has lots of friends and would be eager to introduce everybody on Silver Castle to his first fan and first boyfriend. They'd love him and he'd get the chance to finally make some more connections, deeper connections, to other mecha. Hell, someone might even convince him to try playing a sport. If anyone could do it, it'll be Top Joy and Silver Castle.
Also this is his voice claim:
23 notes · View notes
redlinereblogs · 3 months
Text
so ashley (@towez) and i were talking and i wrote this sappy/angsty 1988 chat fit thingy and she encouraged me to share it.
Me: Yesterday I had the poopiest day at work so I was listening to a lot of evermore and I got champagne problems and tis the damn season back to back (so obvi I listened to those two on repeat for an hour). Anyways. I kept thinking of a 1988 version and I can’t believe I forgot to tell you about it bc of the snow!!!
Ashley: TELL ME EVERYTHING! WAIT do these versions end happy??????? Those are two sad songs Jules
Me: Of course it’s happy. We just have to get there Ashley. No worries. It’s always happy. They have to be happy. It’s the law.
Okay. So. Both Jonny and Pat attended SSM. They were on the same line and didn’t room together in the dorms but were road roomies. And they hated each other but then didn’t!!! And fell in luv!! 🥰
So they are in LOVE!! And no one knows because they are male hockey players who want to make the show and they can't be gay. So it is a SECRET!! And they kiss and hold hands and it’s all so sappy you want to die bc it makes your teeth hurt but also you can’t possibly stop eating it bc it’s too good.
So. They are together. And it’s everything. And they plan to ask for a room together next year (bc they are..like...sophomores let’s say). And it’s all sappy and adorable and I love it.
And then Pat turns 16 and Tiki and the family visit and see a game.
So Pat basically pretends Jonny doesn’t exist. And Jonny’s crushed and Pat doesn’t really know what Jon expected because “it’s my family Jonny. It’s just…it just is what it is.”
And Jon didn’t expect them to make out in front of Pat’s parents or something but “you just acted like I was a teammate. You didn’t even treat me like a friend, Pat!” And he didn’t. When Jonny’s family visited, he made it at least clear that Pat was one of his best friends on the team. Pat didn’t even make it seem like Jon was…well…anyone.
And Pat doesn’t know what to do but he’s got to go have lunch with his dad. And at lunch Tiki explains that he’s arranged some tryouts for Pat. For the junior leagues. The Q and stuff. And Pat’s all “But Dad. We agreed. I’d stay here till, you know, the draft. Play with the team and finish school and stuff.”
And Tiki just brushes off Pat’s objections. He’s old enough for the age limit now. He can do school remote and play some real games. Get his name out there more. He’s not like the others. He’s too small. Too weak. He’s got to make sure the scouts know he can play. Know he can make the difference on these teams if he wants to make it.
Pat sits at the dinner just gutted. “Can I finish out the school year at least?” He might not get to live with Jonny next year but they can at least have the rest of this school year. That's....it's something at least. Tiki shakes his head. “The tryouts are in January. We’ve talked to the school. You’ll be done by winter break.” And. Well. That’s it then.
And Pat doesn’t even know what to say. He finished the sandwich and his dad dropped him back at his dorm and that’s it then.
He goes to Jonny’s dorm because he doesn’t have anywhere else to go. And TJ answers the door and is super “He doesn’t want to talk to you. Go away.” And Pat begs and refuses to move and nearly starts to cry before Jonny tells TJ to back off and let him in. And TJ glares daggers at him but grabs some shit and leaves to give them privacy.
And Jonny’s all silent. And Pat doesn’t know where to start. And then Jonny’s just like “well…” and Pat’s crying and it’s all coming out and he doesn’t know what to do and they have to break up and he doesn’t want to break up. He never wanted to and it’s just awful
And it’s all sad and angsty and terrible. And they say they’re gonna try to go long distance but it doesn’t work at all. Pat’s parents pay his cell bill and he gets a call from his mother asking why he’s got so many long distance charges. and so they try to email and message but it doesn’t work
And then they just stop talking one day. Pat sends an email that isn’t answered. One of Jonny’s messages is left unread. It just stops.
And THEN!! (angst incoming)
Jonny gets hit. It’s one of his last games at SSM. He’s already committed to UND and is projected to go high in the draft. It’s all right there, ready for him and then. It isn’t.
The doctors (thankfully) don’t think he’ll have lasting damage from the concussion but they recommend he doesn’t play anymore. Jonny can’t look anyone in the face. His mother is a wreck. His father’s worse.
All he sees is pity and he hates it.
He doesn’t go to UND. He watches TJ get drafted and goes up to his room and cries. He turns music on and presses his face into his pillow so no one will hear. He has three emails and a dozen messages from Pat, who hasn’t talked to him in years. He deletes everything and blocks Pat.
He heals and moves back home. And figures out a way to have a life without hockey in it.
He and Pat don’t talk.
Until one day, Jon’s got the radio on as he drives into work and there’s a sports segment. That’s how he hears how Pat’s been injured. He’s a big enough star now that it’s news even up in Jets territory that the Hawks star winger is gonna be out for the rest of the season.
Jon winces when they talk about the hit. And then he turns off the truck and heads inside to open up the rec center.
As he pulls in his driveway at night, he pauses. There’s someone on his front porch…
He turns the key and opens the door to see what the fuck is going on. He stops at the bottom step.
“Thought you busted your knee cap.”
“Hello to you too, Jonny.”
And then Pat’s suddenly back in Jonny’s life. And yeah. He’s injured. And can’t really walk well. And the flight up here didn’t do him any favors. And he just keeps taking nonsense about flights and Ubers and lost-and-then-found luggage and Jonny eventually breaks in with, “What the fuck are you doing here, Pat?”
And Pat doesn’t really know how to answer that because the question he’s really been asking himself for nearly a decade now is “What the hell am I doing so far away from Jon?” Every time they played Winnipeg he told himself he’d reach out. And he never did.
He even broke down once and got TJ’s number so he could ask him how Jonny was. TJ told him to fuck off and then blocked him.
So Pat doesn’t really answer. And says he’s gonna go.
And Jonny (being Jonny) says he doesn’t have to leave now. It’s late. You can stay here.
And Pat does.
And Jonny feeds him. And eventually. They talk. And they joke. And laugh.
And Pat ends up staying through the weekend.
And then it’s a week.
And then, one night, he doesn’t go into the guest room. He shyly slips under the covers of Jon’s bed. Jonny watches him do it and doesn’t say a word. Pat leans over him a bit. “Is this alright?” He whispers. Jonny nods and puts a hand on his cheek, pulling Pat down for a kiss that’s sweet and soft. And then the opposite of that.
And then they’re just together again. In this small, sacred little bubble.
Jon tells himself it’s temporary. It’s just until the Hawks medical team green lights Pat’s surgery. It’s not real. It’s fake. It’s all fake.
But then Pat calls him “Babe” and Jonny doesn’t want it to be fake anymore.
He wants it to be their life.
He works at the rec center. Pat can teach math at the high school.
They spend summers at Jon’s small cabin and in winter Pat coaches one of the local peewee teams.
They fuck and fight and live.
They save up to go on a cruise with Jon’s family. And spend American Thanksgiving with the Kanes in Buffalo.
And then Jonny overhears one of Pat’s phone calls bc he gets home early. Pats arguing with someone. He’s saying that ‘No. It needs to be delayed again. No. No. That’s not going to work—Well I don’t care if I’m violating my contract. They can just sue me then!’
And Jonny knows it’s over again.
He’s lived this nightmare before.
Pat’s life is bigger than this. Pat’s life doesn’t have room for him.
AND THEN!!!
Jonny tries to break up with Pat and Pats like “no!” And Jonny’s like “yes!”
And then they fight and Pat finally breaks down.
"I’m not losing you again Jonny. I’m just—I’m not. It almost killed me the first time and I just…I love you. I’ve always loved you. It’s always been you. I…I love you so much."
And Jonny is just gutted and “I…I love you too…”
And then they kiss and hug and figure out how they’re gonna make it work.
And then they do!!!! 🥰🥰🥰🥰🥰🥰🥰🥰🥰🥰🥰🥰🥰🥰🥰🥰🥰🥰🥰🥰🥰🥰🥰🥰🥰🥰🥰🥰
Ashley: YESSSSSSSSSSSSSS, that was wonderful. I love a good angsty fic with a happy endingggggggg
Me: It’s even angstier in my head. There was so much DRAMA and I LOVE IT
Ashley: what are some more angstier bits????
Like Pat going on dates with women bc he’s supposed to and hating it. And then going home to google Jonny instead. He finds an account he’s pretty sure is Jonny’s insta but it’s locked so he doesn’t send a request in.
And Jonny watching the Hawks win the cup in ‘10 and seeing the joy on Pat’s face. They talked about winning the cup together. He’d known it was a stupid dream. They probably wouldn’t be drafted together. But it still burns. That maybe, in another life it could have been them.
Pat’s sister gently trying to tell him that they like his girlfriend well enough but also ..it’s…you know…okay if you don’t like her that much….
Jonny putting on skates again for the first time since the hit. He got a job at the rec center part time to rent out skates and run the Zamboni over the ice every so often.
The ice is empty for his first pass and he spots at center ice to cry when it all gets to be too much.
Pat trying to convince Jonny to move to Chicago with him. Jon knowing he can’t. Not because he doesn’t love Pat. But because being that close to Pat playing while he’s not would break him. He thought he processed not playing. He hasn’t.
Ashley: All of this makes me feel things and I love ittttttt Me: I KNOW!!! It’s just. 🥰🥰🥰
16 notes · View notes
scottpetersen · 2 months
Text
How I Think Certain DuckTales (2017) Characters Might Interact With Certain Recess Characters
Tumblr media Tumblr media
Ok. Here I’ll be going over how I think certain DuckTales (2017) characters might interact with certain Recess characters. It occurred to me that some of these have quite a bit in common but are also a bit different. Also, Spoiler Alert for the DuckTales (2017) TV series, the Recess TV series and the Recess: School’s Out movie. With that out of the way, let’s dive right in.
Tumblr media Tumblr media
I think that TJ Detweiler might get along just fine with Goldie and Louie. After all, as shown in the episode ‘Economics Of Recess’, TJ is pretty smart and is willing to use his wits to make money just like how, as shown in the episode ‘Happy Birthday Doofus Drake!’, Goldie and Louie were willing to outsmart their competition to make money. And @boingodigitalart called Goldie and Louie as well as Gosalyn the Scheme Team in his fanart posts. So, given what I said, TJ would be welcomed as a member of the Scheme Team. However, Goldie, Louie and TJ might have an interesting conversation when it comes to the concept of a childhood. After all, Goldie, as shown in the episode ‘The Golden Lagoon Of White Agony Plains!’ is more than a century old which means that she left her childhood a very, very long time ago and is probably pretty cynical about it whereas TJ, as shown in the Recess: School’s Out movie, strongly believes in making the most of your childhood and having fun before you eventually have to grow up while, as shown in the episode ‘Day Of The Only Child!’, Louie wanted to be a rich kid rather than just another kid but, at the same time, wanted to have fun just like any other kid which all probably means that he might try to be the voice of reason between Goldie and TJ. So, they might disagree a bit on a few things but might eventually come to an understanding. After all, as shown in the episode ‘The Substitute’, TJ hated authority figures and really hated Mr. E for his strictness and no-nonsense attitude but they eventually grew to respect each other. So, if TJ was able to come to an understanding with an authority figure which is the type of person he usually hates the most, he’ll certainly be able to come to an understanding with another troublemaker which would probably be the type of person he loves the most.
Tumblr media Tumblr media
How I think Webby and Lena might interact with Spinelli and Gus pretty much comes down to Spinelli’s and Gus’ history with fighting for Webby and how Spinelli and Gus handle their emotions for Lena. Webby, as shown in the episode ‘Escape From The ImpossiBin!’, loves fighting and was trained to be a great fighter by her grandma Beakley. Spinelli, as shown in the episode ‘First Name Ashley’, is very aggressive and loves to fight. And Gus, as shown in the episode ‘Gus’ Last Stand’, learned to stand up to a bully thus inspiring a whole playground of kids to stand up to him as well which Webby might like to hear about given that, as shown in the episode ‘From The Confidential Casefiles Of Agent 22!’, she can be quite optimistic and inspirational. So, given all that, Webby might like to spar with Spinelli and Gus and give them some training. Spinelli, given what I said about how she loves fighting, would probably be very enthusiastic about the training, especially after finding out that Beakley, the woman who trained Webby, was, as also shown in the episode ‘From The Confidential Casefiles Of Agent 22!’, a secret agent. After all, it’s not every day you get to be trained by someone who received training from a secret agent. As for Gus, he would probably take to the training too considering that, as shown in the episode ‘The Substitute’, he accepted some martial arts training from Mr. E and, as shown in the episode ‘Gus’ Last Stand’, he seemed to look up to his dad who is a U.S. Army Officer. On that note, I noticed that Webby, Spinelli and Gus were all raised by people who were involved with the military in some way. Webby was raised by her grandma Beakley who, as shown in the episode ‘From The Confidential Casefiles Of Agent 22!’, was a secret agent who worked for SHUSH. Spinelli was raised by her parents who, as shown in the episode ‘Parents’ Night’, were government agents. And Gus was partly raised by his dad who, as I already pointed out, was a U.S. Army Officer. As for how I think Lena might interact with Spinelli and Gus, I think that Lena would respect Spinelli and Gus quite a bit. Lena might respect Spinelli because, as I pointed out earlier, Spinelli is quite aggressive and Lena is quite aggressive too as shown in the episode ‘The Split Sword Of Swanstantine!’, where Lena wanted to smash a tile containing a piece of the Sword Of Swanstantine with a hammer in order to get the piece. So, both Lena and Spinelli are fully willing to embrace their aggression and anger to get the job done. Also, despite their aggressive sides, Lena and Spinelli both have their artistic sides too. After all, as shown in the episode ‘The Shadow War Part 2: The Day Of The Ducks!’, Lena wrote a poem explaining how she came into existence and, as shown in the episode ‘Spinelli’s Masterpiece’, Spinelli made a gigantic drawing of the school and its playground. And Lena and Spinelli both learned a thing or 2 about accepting emotions given that, as also shown in the episode ‘The Split Sword Of Swanstantine!’, Lena coached Huey to accept his anger and, as shown in the episode ‘That Stinking Feeling’, Spinelli learned to accept her feelings for Johnny V which allowed her to then overcome them. So, Lena and Spinelli have quite a few similarities which means that they both might respect each other. As for Gus, Lena might respect him too since he, as I already pointed out earlier, stood up to a bully which then inspired the whole playground to stand up to him too. After all, that might remind Lena of how she, as shown in the episode ‘The Shadow War Part 2: The Day Of The Ducks!’, stood up to her aunt Magica De Spell. So, they both overcame their fear to stand up to someone.
Tumblr media Tumblr media
As shown in the Recess: School’s Out movie, Gretchen is pretty smart and loves science. And, as shown in the episode ‘The Most Dangerous Game…Night!’, Gyro is a very smart scientist who was able to make a shrink ray. So, Gretchen might want to learn from Gyro. However, as shown in the episode ‘The Great Dime Chase!’, Gyro can be quite arrogant to an extreme fault and is quite cynical. So, that might make working with Gyro a bit difficult for Gretchen. But Gretchen has had experience with very cynical people she wanted to learn from before as shown in the episode ‘Gretchen And The Secret Of Yo’ where she was able to learn from and get through to a yo-yo expert named Tommy Tate and even pretty much became friends with him despite him brushing her off at first. Plus, as shown in the episode ‘Astro B.O.Y.D.’, Gyro seemed to be optimistic back in the day and also learned to treat BOYD like a real boy and even grew to respect Fenton. So, Gretchen might be able to get through to Gyro and learn from him. As for what Gretchen might think of Gyro’s relationship with BOYD, I think that she might be rather perplexed by it at first before then coming around and accepting it and the fact that BOYD is just like any real boy. After all, as shown throughout the Recess franchise, Gretchen never encountered a fully sentient AI before and, as shown in the episode ‘The Last Adventure! Part 2: The Lost Library Of Isabella Finch!’, Gyro developed a father-son relationship with BOYD as well as Lil Bulb, another fully sentient AI. So, Gretchen might have a difficult time wrapping her head around it. But I think Gretchen might come around and accept it and the fact that BOYD is just like any real boy after observing how BOYD feels emotion and reacts to situations in a similar way to how a real boy would. After all, as shown in the episode ‘The Experiment’, Gretchen makes conclusions based on observation just like pretty much any scientist. Also, this all might get Gretchen intrigued by BOYD and his sentience to the point that she might be curious to see if the AI in her handheld computer, Galileo, can be made fully sentient or not. After all, as shown in the episode ‘The Experiment’, Gretchen can be quite curious and inquisitive and, as shown in the episode ‘The Girl Was Trouble’, Gretchen went through a lot of trouble to try to get Galileo back. So, that might mean that Gretchen might be curious about if Galileo were to be fully sentient.
Tumblr media Tumblr media
As shown in the episode ‘The Principals Of Golf’, Vince really likes playing sports. And, as shown in the episode ‘The Golden Spear!’, both Della and her son Dewey really like going on adventures. And, since playing sports and going on adventures both involve great athletic abilities, I think that Vince might get along just fine with Della and Dewey given that they all spend quite a bit of their time putting their athletic abilities to the test. Also, I think that Della and Dewey would both like to talk about sports with Vince albeit for different reasons. As shown in the episode ‘Raiders Of The Doomsday Vault!’, Della is a seeker of thrills who likes to face off against danger. So, Della might enjoy playing sports that might really get her adrenaline pumping like boxing for example. As for Dewey, he might want to ask Vince to show off his sports skills on his Dewey Dew-Night show. And, as shown in the Dewey Dew-Night! shorts, Dewey wants his Dewey Dew-Night show to become popular. And I think that Vince might say yes since he, as shown in the episode ‘The Principals Of Golf’, helped Principal Prickly beat his brother Paul and Paul’s teammate Foster in a game of golf. Also, I think that Dewey and Vince would really enjoy hanging out with each other given that they both can be pretty eccentric. As shown in the episode ‘The Duck Knight Returns!’, Dewey is really passionate about the Rule Of Cool. And, as shown in the episode ‘The Barnaby Boys’, Vince was really passionate about a mystery book. And I think that Della might enjoy seeing her son Dewey hang out with Vince. After all, as shown in the episode ‘Nothing Can Stop Della Duck!’, Della cares about her sons and really loves them. So, Della might enjoy seeing her son have a new friend. And I also think that Della might want to join in too. Also, I think that Della would like to do some stunts as well as play sports with Vince on her son’s Dewey Dew-Night show to help Vince make Dewey’s show more popular. After all, as shown in the episode ‘The Richest Duck In The World!’, Della let Dewey interview her on his Dewey Dew-Night show.
Well, that’s all for this post.
See you all next time.
18 notes · View notes
georgiapeach30513 · 4 months
Note
Happy December 16th and another day in December Fun & Silliness Challenge!
Tumblr media
Today's challenge: Our dear Sweet Georgia Peach I think you'll all the answers for this one!
What would be the favourite holiday cookies of our guys below? Snickerdoodle? Gingerbread? Sugar cookie?
Andy Barber Cole Turner Johnny Storm Jake Jensen
Bucky Barnes Jefferson T.J.Hammond Chris Beck
*******************************************************************
Jake is a sugar cookie guy. The sweetest cookie for the sweetest guy.
Cole's favourite will be whatever @annislittleshopofhorrors bakes. Maybe some Pfeffernusse?
Bucky seems like a gingerbread cookie guy.
As the cookie queen what do you think? I know you'll have Andy's favourite all figured out!
I love this!! This oddly is something I think about is what type of cookies people would like 😂
Andy is our traditionalist. He’s all about some good ole chocolate chip cookies.
Cole Turner is simple, but a bit more lighthearted and let’s face it he’s very babied. Anything his mama cooks will be good for him. But there’s something about a chocolate crinkle cookie that makes him happy.
Johnny is fun but also thinks that the more expensive things are the better they are. He wants a giant kitchen sink cookie. Full of flavor and personality.
Jake Jensen is so playful. He wants colorful and cute. So a frosted sugar cookie with colorful sprinkles is right up his alley.
Bucky will eat anything you feed him. Especially if it’s with love. But your no bake cookie. He’s even going to lick the pot while he waits on them to set up.
Jefferson loves the art of cookies. He wants those fancy cookies with royal frosting and designs. He may have a few that say “Eat Me” or he may surprise you with something like “On Your Knees”
TJ Hammond needs some maracons! All the flavors. And he’s getting dozens at a time.
Chris Beck is so warm and fuzzy. He needs to have something just as warm, but also a bit fun. A fluffernutter cookie with marshmallow fluff in the middle. And he makes sure to get some around his mouth so you can lick it off.
15 notes · View notes