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#you breaking some world record for longest jump because i have no idea how else you could have leapt from Point A to Point B

solaeter · 3 years

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Parenting - Satoru Gojou

I started these when I needed a distraction from my own thoughts lmao. Purely fluffy and light hearted, I hope you don’t mind the little emoticons and whatnot. I just wanted to try something different uwu.

Warning[s]: Pure fluff and possible errors I didn’t bother to check for.

❖ First of all, the moment Gojo hears the news that you're pregnant, he just kinda stares like he had shut down for a moment. Don’t take it the wrong way, his mind is just running in circles, processing the news and then the biggest, brightest smile breaks on his face and you're in his arms, being spun around. No one has probably ever seen him so happy, literally nothing could knock the smile off his face or the budding excitement and swell of love swirling in his chest.

❖ Definitely is the one to keep a copy of the first ultrasound to show off to his students, bragging that the little spec on the paper is his baby. He can't keep a secret like this, it's just too exciting so he has to let it out somehow.. If someone says they can't tell what they're looking at, Gojo will gladly point out his child.

"Aren't they precious??"

"You can barely see–"

(╬ Ò ‸ Ó)

❖ If he wasn't already protective before, Gojo is now like a looming shadow whenever he's home from work. Which he will deliberately take more time off just to be with you. There's no point in arguing with him once his mind is set, he doesn't care if he pisses off the higher ups. You and his baby are the only thing that matters to him. He's always there for you, helping you out in any way in his typical manner. Often says the most random things while aiding you too, like it's quiet and then he's just like:

"You know the longest pregnancy ever recorded was like 375 days?"

Leave it to him to look up little interesting tidbits in his free time while you rest. The whole experience is fascinating to him, especially watching you grow and change.

❖ Gojo's hands don't know how to keep to themselves. He was already handsy, but with your growing belly..my word he just loves to rub it and touch it. He can't get over that the life he helped create is in there, his heart had never been so full.

Also low key finds you even more sexy. Definitely loves spooning so he can hold your stomach gently and roam while he loves up on you. Ugh so tendy unless you want more of course. But he'll always put your comfort first over desire.

❖ The more you progress and grow, the less you get to do. Gojo doesn't want you to put yourself at risk..for anything. You want something to drink? He'll get it. If he has to go somewhere, one of his students will be with you to aid you. He'll say it's training or some sort of excuse while you just..have to take it or face his pouting self.

"You know I'm fully capable right?"

"No you rest, we can't have anything happening to the baby."

Don't argue, it won't work. But his concern and willingness to do just about anything for you under the sun is absolutely precious 🥺.

❖ On the day your baby comes into the world, Gojo probably cries more than you. It's those silent tears of awe, when his newborn is placed in his hands and that sudden realization that this little life he holds is so vulnerable and his to protect..his heart is already sealed and he's wrapped around their tiny fingers.

❖ At home, dealing with the nightly duties of parenthood, Gojo really steps up considering he doesn't sleep that much. He isn't too fond of changing times but doesn't complain and really enjoys rocking his baby to sleep after they've been fed. It's so relaxing and he thrives on the tender bonding time.

What's even cuter is if you wake up and find them both; Gojo holding the baby on his chest while his head is leaned back, dozing lightly from the peacefulness. Truly wholesome and your heart melts truly 🥰.

❖ Gojo is definitely the type to always be taking photos of his child. He captures every possible milestone he can manage. He has videos from when they first sat up on their own, finally being able to hold their bottle and even when he thought they said their first word, which was just baby gibberish..but to him it counted and he just had to have it documented. Don't get him started about the day his baby learned to walk, he's never been more proud of them and thankful to finally get rid of the evil walker that rammed his legs more times than he could count.

He will also make sure to have you in most of the moments, even if you're glaring or telling him to stop because you're tired or busy, he just wants to capture memories dammit 😤🥺.

❖ Don't blame Gojo if your child really enjoys sweets. He'll let them try just about anything he buys, finding it humorous if their face twists in disgust or from something potentially sour. He gets a kick out of it but he's more happy when they enjoy the treat and will give it to them..when you're not watching. He has to be extra cautious if it's before dinner, if there's one thing that scares him..it's his beautiful, perfect, loving, wife.

And yes, he will try to charm his way out of trouble with sweet words and handsy actions. There's just a 50% chance of it actually working hehe.

❖ He likes to say he's the lenient parent because it's true. If your child acts up, he will either encourage them or try his damndest to get them out of trouble. You have to deal with two children and one is unfortunately stuck in an adult's body. Gojo will probably teach your child one or several things that they shouldn't know at their age. Like climbing on something to jump off of or anything that raises immediate concern. While you're off having a panic attack from watching your child literally propel them off something, Gojo is just smiling like a fool.

"They're a natural babe!"

"What if they get hurt?!?!"

"You know I wouldn't let that happen."

(¬_¬)

Let's just say after a firm scolding and a promise to ban him to the couch permanently, Gojo will no longer encourage daredevil stunts to his child. Though he is a little sneaky when you're not around. He just has to pray his child doesn't let it slip when you come back or he's a dead man.

❖ Gojo cannot say no for the life of him. If his child wants anything, consider it theirs. He pays attention to everything when he's out and about with his child. If they linger on a toy, ten to one it'll be in their hands within the hour. Now he knows what not to get them considering they're just a tiny little thing, so he can limit himself. But when he comes home to you, loaded with one too many toys and nothing that you listed, he can't help but give that sheepish smile and melt.

"You know I can't say no to them.."

"Did you get what I asked for?"

(⌒_⌒;)

It's a good thing he's cute and already leaving to do what he needed to do in the first place. Which left you to go through every little toy, stuffy and whatever else he bought for your child.

❖ Now when we talk about the first day of school, Gojo is more worked up than his own child. He can't wrap it around his head that his baby, the light of his life is finally leaving the house on a daily basis. It almost feels illegal and you're the one that reassures him that it'll be fine even though you're just as sad.

Don't mind Gojo, he'll be back to his normal self after an hour after realizing that he has more alone time with you if he isn't busy 😏.

❖ All in all, Gojo was taken back by the idea of parenthood but as time progressed he became more excited and embraced this beautiful new life. He's protective and light hearted, always making sure his child isn't put through any of the stress he dealt with growing up. And most importantly, he'll love his child unconditionally and make subtle hints about wanting more down the road 😉.

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joezworld · 3 years

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Silverliner Cults and Pet Cars

So this is what happens when @rise-comics and I are left mostly alone in a discord server.

Most of this is canon.

I like to think that the one speaking english is the metroliner cab car

[12:15 AM]and all the acelas speak french just to annoy the rest of the NEC

📷Rise Comics(she/her) — Today at 12:18 AM Buzz(in a Roz voice): I have not a goddamned clue what y’all are saying

📷@Jz1 and all the acelas speak french just to annoy the rest of the NEC 📷Rise Comics(she/her) — Today at 12:19 AM Then they meet the one Charger who sounds like Arnold Schwarzenegger

📷@Jz1 Every charger has a different accent, which really does not mesh well with the rest of Amtrak, most of whom were built in Pennsylvania or Indiana and therefore have the blandest accent possible 📷Rise Comics(she/her) — Today at 12:21 AM It’s called variety

[12:22 AM]- The one Long Range Charger, currently drunk off their ass(edited) 📷Jz1 — Today at 12:23 AM It's called One train with four accents. They send a Genesis to pick up the new Chargers and he spends the entire ride home regretting ever making fun of the Acelas because at least they don't speak with an accent jesus christ this isn't in english

[12:23 AM]He gets to beech grove and is visibly twitching

📷Rise Comics(she/her) — Today at 12:24 AM When they’re at Chicago, the Genesis has started contemplating murder

[12:25 AM]Until one of the chargers offers up their stash of acid as a bribe

📷Jz1 — Today at 12:25 AM "No one would blame me" [Queens accent from the back] What? "Nothing!" [California Accent from the back] Sounded like something man.

📷@Rise Comics(she/her) Until one of the chargers offers up their stash of acid as a bribe 📷Jz1 — Today at 12:26 AM There's not enough acid to make this bearable

📷Rise Comics(she/her) — Today at 12:26 AM At some point, there probably has to be trolling involved, from the POV of the genesis

📷Jz1 — Today at 12:27 AM By the time they pass through Iowa the Genesis is spreading baseless lies about how Amfleet cars work

Jz1 — Today at 12:27 AM

The Chargers take him at his word and start setting up shrines

Rise Comics(she/her) — Today at 12:31 AM Oh god, Amfleet shrines

📷@Rise Comics(she/her) Oh god, Amfleet shrines 📷Jz1 — Today at 12:32 AM [Chargers] - We must leave offerings to THE SILVER FLEET

[12:32 AM][SEPTA Silverliner parked nearby] - The what now?

[12:33 AM]That acutally would be even funnier - they have no idea what an Amfleet looks like so they Cargo Cult the Silverliners

📷Rise Comics(she/her) — Today at 12:33 AM [The NJT F40s watching this happen] - dying of laughter, hard enough to derail without moving(edited)

Meanwhile the ACS-64 fleet is growing more and more CONCERN with each passing day

[12:34 AM]it is unclear whether they feel that the Chargers are nuts, or if they've missed a memo Jz1 — Today at 12:35 AM

They try to worship one of the Metroliners. It ends badly

Rise Comics(she/her) — Today at 12:35 AM

The Genesis that instigated it is either laughing, terrified, or both

Jz1 — Today at 12:36 AM That Motherfucker hopped on the first Empire Builder west and made this mess someone else's problem

📷Rise Comics(she/her) — Today at 12:36 AM Lol

NEW

[12:38 AM]Then an F59 just gets fed up enough to pull strings and get that guy back into Philly to beat his ass in the most Philly way possible. Jz1 — Today at 12:40 AM Poor sap arrives in Philly and the Entirety of Philly yard is like the locker shrine scene from MIB2 except they're all trying to worship some poor silverliner who is scared out of his mind(edited)

📷Rise Comics(she/her) — Today at 12:41 AM I can only imagine how scary it’d be to be in that situation(edited)

[12:42 AM]Or how funny it is for the SEPTA AEM-7 watching this happen(edited)

📷@Rise Comics(she/her) Or how funny it is for the SEPTA AEM-7 watching this happen(edited) 📷Jz1 — Today at 12:43 AM The entire AEM-7 fleet is laughing so hard they reverted to Swedish

[12:44 AM]The Acelas are laughing in French

[12:44 AM]The entire yard sounds like a fucked up version of Ellis Island

[12:44 AM]A single CSX engine rolls by on the bridge that goes over the yard, stops dead in his tracks, and runs the other way

📷Rise Comics(she/her) — Today at 12:45 AM Lmao

[12:45 AM]Woe be anyone who has to be in the yard at that moment

📷Jz1 — Today at 12:46 AM At that exact moment a Northeast regional shows up with a trainload of Amfleet coaches and a schism forms

[12:46 AM]An vainglorious RDC tries to get his own cult

📷Rise Comics(she/her) — Today at 12:46 AM Lol

📷Jz1 — Today at 12:47 AM No work is accomplished on this day

Rise Comics(she/her) — Today at 12:49 AM

Ah yes, the Amfleet Cult incident of 2016 is one acid trip of a comedy

Was Franz Kafka one of the staff?

📷Jz1 — Today at 12:50 AM He only wishes he was

📷Rise Comics(she/her) — Today at 12:51 AM Lol

📷Jz1 — Today at 12:51 AM From that point on, The Charger deliveries were done by BNSF

[12:51 AM]Surely this will cause no problems ever

📷Rise Comics(she/her) — Today at 12:52 AM It’s either four different accents or everyone sounds like a slightly different surfer

📷Jz1 — Today at 12:53 AM It's either very german, very california, very New York, Or very Florida (because brightline)

[12:54 AM]I also like to imagine that the brightline engines turn into Florida Engine the moment they crossed the state line

📷Rise Comics(she/her) — Today at 12:54 AM Yep lol

[12:54 AM]Complete with alligators

📷Jz1 — Today at 12:54 AM Fought a Gator (and won)

[12:54 AM]Fought a Gator (and lost)

📷Rise Comics(she/her) — Today at 12:55 AM Lol

📷Jz1 — Today at 12:55 AM Florida Engine does 'industrial quantity" of Methamphetamines, breaks land speed record Rise Comics(she/her) — Today at 12:56 AM Florida Engine swims across port

📷Jz1 — Today at 12:56 AM Florida engine learns to swim, fights boat

📷Rise Comics(she/her) — Today at 12:57 AM Florida Engine accidentally kidnaps entire Panama City Police Department

📷Jz1 — Today at 12:57 AM Some guy in Lake Okeechobee says he doesn't like trains - the water bubbles and a Charger erupts from the water "I heard you were talking shit"

📷Rise Comics(she/her) — Today at 12:58 AM Lol

[12:58 AM]Florida Engine busted for selling fake golden bricks

📷Jz1 — Today at 12:58 AM Florida Engine arrested for selling stolen fake golden bricks

📷Rise Comics(she/her) — Today at 12:59 AM Florida Engine derails, orders Wendy’s in a nearby drive thru

📷Jz1 — Today at 1:00 AM Florida Engine steals his own wheels, puts himself up on blocks Rise Comics(she/her) — Today at 1:02 AM

Florida Engines accidentally welded together in one consist.

📷Jz1 — Today at 1:02 AM Florida Engines try to recreate Baldwin Centipede, accidentally create a different kind of Centipede

📷Rise Comics(she/her) — Today at 1:04 AM Florida Engine gets drunk, tries to fly

📷Rise Comics(she/her) — Today at 1:04 AM Lmao

📷Jz1 — Today at 1:05 AM Florida Engine vows revenge on airplanes - claims "they've had it too good for too long"

📷Rise Comics(she/her) — Today at 1:05 AM Florida Engine arrested for attempted arson via spaghetti

📷Jz1 — Today at 1:06 AM Florida Engine arrested for screaming about "noodle incident" at 4AM

Rise Comics(she/her) — Today at 1:07 AM Florida Engine consumes too much NOs, recreates 2 Fast 2 Furious

📷Jz1 — Today at 1:07 AM Florida Engine jumps drawbridge - claims it was late for court

Rise Comics(she/her) — Today at 1:08 AM

Florida Engine breaks world record for fastest and longest sustained multi track drift

📷Joseph R (he/him) — Today at 1:09 AM and hits a signal

📷Jz1 — Today at 1:09 AM Florida Engine steals house - claims fourth amendment

📷Rise Comics(she/her) — Today at 1:10 AM Florida Engines steal shed to avoid rent(edited)

📷Jz1 — Today at 1:11 AM Florida Engine crashes off end of line - claims he was going to Orlando to "see that rat mickey"(edited)

📷Rise Comics(she/her) — Today at 1:12 AM Florida Engine bites gator - claims it tasted like chicken

📷Jz1 — Today at 1:13 AM Florida Engine invades NASA Cape Canaveral - swears vengeance against SpaceX and Elon Musk

Rise Comics(she/her) — Today at 1:16 AM

Florida Engines steal SpaceX rocket, dunks on Musk

Jz1 — Today at 1:16 AM Florida Engine Hacks Elon Musk's Twitter, Causes Dogecoin Pump and Dump

NEW

📷Rise Comics(she/her) — Today at 1:17 AM Florida Engines block port of Miami in world’s longest consist Jz1 — Today at 1:18 AM Florida Engines claim this act of sabotage was to support the container ship Ever Given "in her hour of need"

[1:19 AM]Florida Engines seemed unaware that Ever Given was freed two months ago Rise Comics(she/her) — Today at 1:21 AM

Florida Engine spills fruit train, creates jam

Rise Comics(she/her) — Today at 1:22 AM Florida car cosplays as train, wears cone as a hat

Jz1 — Today at 1:24 AM Florida Airplane lands on Train Tracks, offers Florida Engine "a fair fight"

📷Rise Comics(she/her) — Today at 1:25 AM Florida Engine and Florida Plane fight in world’s largest Wawa, Florida Boat wins

📷Jz1 — Today at 1:25 AM Hahahaha

📷Rise Comics(she/her) — Today at 1:26 AM A gator was shoved where the sun don’t shine

📷Jz1 — Today at 1:26 AM Florida Engine attacks John Deere Dealership, fights gators

📷Rise Comics(she/her) — Today at 1:28 AM Florida Engine throws pet gator at John Deere dealer(edited)

📷Jz1 — Today at 1:29 AM Florida Engine steals Car, claims he was 'adopting it'

📷Rise Comics(she/her) — Today at 1:31 AM Florida Engine sells stolen cars as ‘pet cars’ 📷1

📷Jz1 — Today at 1:32 AM Florida Engine and Florida Boat conspire to traffic in exotic "pet cars"

📷Rise Comics(she/her) — Today at 1:34 AM Florida Semi-Truck roped into exotic ’pet car’ scheme by Florida Engine and Florida Boat.

📷Jz1 — Today at 1:35 AM Florida Crane arrested in increasingly-large "pet car" bust

[1:35 AM]Florida Submarine also under suspicion

📷Rise Comics(she/her) — Today at 1:38 AM Autoracks stolen by Florida Train

📷Jz1 — Today at 1:38 AM Florida "pet car" bust increases - multiple Florida Engines suspected

📷Rise Comics(she/her) — Today at 1:39 AM Florida East Coast Railway Indicted In ‘Pet Car’ Scandal

📷Jz1 — Today at 1:40 AM Florida Plane denied bail in "pet car" arrests - deemed a flight risk Rise Comics(she/her) — Today at 1:45 AM Florida Train acquitted on all charges relating to ‘pet car’ scandal, still fined for public exposure.

📷Jz1 — Today at 1:46 AM Florida Train thanks Florida Lawyer for proving innocence - Florida Boat and Florida Crane to go to trial next week

📷Rise Comics(she/her) — Today at 1:48 AM Florida Boat was actually Egyptian fishing trawler. Florida Boat still at large.

#pet cars #headcanon #extremely specific headcanon #sentient vehicles #sentient vehicle headcanon #sentient trains #shenanigans #amtrak #florida engine #transcript of a discord chat

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newswcanonprompts · 4 years

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prompt #37 - Jedi are like Magpies and love their clones

sorry we haven’t posted in forever! to make up for it, i’m posting one of our longest and detailed prompts (maybe even the longest)- this came from a LONG discussion a few weeks back, and it was a lot of fun. this idea morphed a ton, and it became this huge thing. this is personally my favorite one, so hope you enjoy!

Jedi collect trinkets and wear them!!! Hand them to others as a very important gift

The Clones dont really get it, but they are happy

The jedi make them things like jewelry, keychains, little beaded things, colored strings, they’ll give them feathers, you name it

Its another way to show that they are individuals, and that the jedi know them specifically

The veteran clones have long keychain type things and the shiny clones want them very much and it’s something they look forward to

The padawans hand the commanders things and being sad when the CC’s tell them they can’t take them into battle

Krell gets found out earlier.

“Okay, look, i know krell is… well, he is *something* and i don’t want to accuse a master of the order but have you looked at his men?! where the hell are their keychains?!”

The padawans stage a protest at the senate because how else are they going to make sure that their troops know they are loved and get their trinkets

This idea can get angsty really quickly (finding trinkets after battles, in ship crashes, or post-order 66), but we won’t do that because of how angsty this server already is, we need some fluff sometimes

Palaptine can commit self delete

Clones will paint armor for padawans cause that is how they show honor and stuff

The clones, upon figuring out what they mean, give their jedi trinkets also

Mirialan padawan holding armor they got: “ITS GREEN LIKE ME!”

There are little figurines, some painted rocks, some little shiny things found on the battlefield

The clones who aren’t as good with their hands singing songs or telling stories

The jedi record them and keep them on little datachips that they keep on them at all times

Barriss doesn’t go bad because this is happy time

The jedi padawans start a riot / protest outside the senate building because some clones got their trinkets taken away by asshole civilians because they’re “not human”, just copies

The (now very pissed off) jedi sprung into action

If a snooty senator(s) takes away a clone’s trinket, the jedi just sit back and grind to a halt. Because if the clones, the PEOPLE WHO PROTECT THE REPUBLIC, are gonna get treated like that, the war can wait

The jedi knights and masters just meditate wherever the padawans are protesting

This is done to ‘keep the peace’

If anakin hears a snooty senator degrade the clones, he starts ranting and shouting about their individuality and accomplishments, while pointing at each trinket.

Someone live streams this

Luminara joins in (barriss is right behind)

Aayla too

Luminara, anakin, aayla, tag teamed shouted speech

Ahsoka and barriss are being held back by the CC’s (ahsoka is making some very crude hand gestures and barriss is like “i can name every bone in your body as i break it” - cause barriss has all that healer knowledge)

Once these three are done, mace windu comes along with the council. They think mace is going to scold the three of them until mace starts shouting at the senators too. The council just lets mace do all the talking.

This is the most watched live stream this year. It’s very funny and starts a ton of memes (obi wans face, yoda meditating, the look of “oh shit” on the original snooty senator’s face, the look of surprise on everyone when mace starts shouting too - there is also a gif made of the council looking at the situation, looking at themselves (mostly mace) and then they all step back to let mace do the talking, the clones faces when they see that three jedi and then the jedi high council are defending them)

Mace, rolling up his sleeves: “okay let’s do this”

The senators: backing away in fear

Obi wan might commit a war crime right now because no way people can talk about his troops like that

Obi wan: “am i allowed to kill a senator?”

Cody: “General, do not-”

This whole thing leads to a massive debate and overwhelmingly good PR for the jedi and clones

Shady sheev doesn’t like that. Good PR for the jedi? No thank you. But since this is a fixit he gets his ass kicked later on so everything’s fine (skeevy sheev has to scramble to try to fix his plans though)

All the padawans from that one lightsaber episode (the one on ilum where the younglings got their kyber crystals) are there and SHIT’S GOING DOWN

Petro in particular is very close to kicking someone’s ass

Caleb dume is there also.

“Master depa said we should never raise our blades in revenge or anger. But this is not revenge.” this is war, this is justice, this is defense of a defenseless group

Padme also joins in all of this (but much more calmly)

She also might make some passive aggressive comments about the snooty senators trash outfit

She and all her senator friends are gonna blacklist the original culprit

Padme and bail organa (they also got help from many jedi) put in the clone rights bill the next day

In the halls outside the debate chamber, padme threatens to gut people with her hair pins if they don’t vote in her favor

sure, it’s *technically* extortion, but come on, who’s gonna stop her? those pins are pointy y’all

Anakin tried to help draft / present the bill but he spent most of his time ranting about the injustices the clones have to face (leia had to get it from someone)

Anakin, out of breath: “AND ALL YOU SENATORS JUST SIT HERE, DOING NOTHING, WHEN THEY’RE OUT THERE DYING FOR YOU-”

Padme: “okay ani i got this, drink some water please”

Ahsoka also jumps in

Plo, who’s watching the debate: “little ‘soka, please don’t hurt anyone” (but he’s not about to stop her, after all these are his sons we’re talking about)

If someone said “well they’re not slaves?” anakin would go OFF. if you thought he was angry before… you got another thing coming.

“I AM A FREED SLAVE! I KNOW WHAT IT IS LIKE! THESE MEN HAVE LESS RIGHTS THAN I DID AS A SLAVE!”

If the public doesn’t know about his childhood before, they do now

Imagine the shock

Padme: “Ani, deep breaths, it’s gonna be okay.”

Also padme, to the other senators: “well i mean he’s not wrong you assholes”

Padme is also making very well timed comments and suggestions. It’s the most successful day she’s had since she became senator

She’s also revealing all the senators’ dirty secrets

Padme: “oh, senator so-and-so, i released all your finances and your voting history on the holonet. I’m sure your supporters will love that you’re embezzling funds. Oh, you lost your support? Tragic.”

The jedi also have dirt on everyone and they just casually let everything slip like they weren’t secrets

Shady sheev Palpacreep is in his little podium thing during the debate, and he is very pissed, because his plan is getting ruined, but he can’t let it show or else people will discover the truth about him

Anakin: “isn’t it great that we’re finally doing something about it?”

Sheev, pained: “Of course-”

This whole debate is still live streamed - and it’s very popular

The senate who made the original comment and started all of this is #cancelled

This is the greatest thing the galaxy has ever seen / watched because drama

If a jedi dies, and they aren’t brought back to the temple, they are burned with the other dead on the battlefield. Young padawans take their master’s trinkets in remembrance, wanting to follow their path and have tangible proof that the master passed into the force but that they left their mark in the world

You do not burn the trinkets. Krell tried once. It almost started a jedi civil war (maybe that’s how he gets found out)

Or maybe krell was found out because he gives zero trinkets to his men, and everyone caught on and were like “hey wtf man”

But if you wanna make it angsty ( cough cough umbara ) then krell tells the 501st to remove / burn / throw out their trinkets or he’d do it for them

He gives them an example by slicing a very special one that anakin and ahsoka both gave to rex

Krell also slices one of dogma’s. It was the only one dogma had because he was newish to the battalion at the time and wasn’t sure if accepting the trinkets was against regs or not. Krell slashes it and dogma doesn’t say anything but there were tears in his eyes

All the jedi who find out what happened replace all the trinkets so fast. They also give krell’s men a shit ton of presents.

Krell’s men have no idea what to do with them, but they are so touched a few shed tears when they get them

The clones get small tattoos of patterns that the little padawans drew for the men

The tattoos are small because some of them *might* just be random squiggles but the padawans looked so happy the clones just had to get them tattooed

Anakin orders japor wood with padme's bank account to make snippets for the clones because it’s not only a jedi thing, it’s from anakin's homeworld - and that’s like the highest praise you can get from him

The clones might not know exactly what it means but they know its super special

Padme figures out a way to buy japor wood in bulk. Anakin is very touched by this

When snooty senators start badmouthing clones, yoda just sits there and meditates to drive the senators nuts

“Sitting, i am, because stand you bitches, i cannot”

Padme gets many trinkets from the 501st because they all *know* about her and anakin

Any trinkets that she gets she likes to incorporate into her outfits (like the warrior fashionista that she is)

She embroiders some of them into her dresses and hairpieces

They both get a TON of trinkets when the twins are born

Padme also gives trinkets to the 501st, some of the 212th, and all of the coruscant guard. Especially fox cause she sees all the work he does and the senators he has to deal with

She’s besties with the coruscant guard. Like yeah, she knows the 501st and they know about her and anakin (and she’s one of them because of it) but the guard is who she’s always with

She probably wore red on debate day to represent them

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gumnut-logic · 3 years

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Thunderfam Appreciation Post

I’m giving this a new post to prevent scroll city, but the original and several reblogs can be found by clicking the above link. Also, it’s an excuse to post a piccy of Virg cos any excuse, really :D

Many thanks to @willow-salix for writing this question list :D

Before I start, I just want to say that I value every member of this fandom. I’m often hopeless at communicating in group settings so I don’t speak to many peeps, but that is my failing, not anyone else’s. You are an amazing group and you have supported me and each other just brilliantly over the last nearly three years that I have been hanging with you guys. Thank you ever so much for all your wonderful support and encouragement. I’ve had so much fun and created so much stuff…you guys are amazing. Thunderfam rock!

Please note that my memory is pathetic and I will fail to mention everyone. Please do not take any offence if you aren’t listed below. That does not mean I don’t value you, I do, it just means I have swiss cheese between my ears.

-o-o-o-

Your favourite writer of your favourite boy.

@i-am-chidorixblossom You are a whumper and comforter after my soul. You speak the Virg :D @vegetacide I adore your turn of phrase and your description is to die for.

The person who's stories you will always read.

I try to read most fics that come across my dash, but there are a few that have me jumping up and down. @i-am-chidorixblossom , @vegetacide , @tsarinatorment , @scribbles97 , @the-lady-razorsharp , @janetm74 Of course, I regularly fail at this as some of you write a huge amount of fic and I am often playing catch up, but fic!

Who wrote the first fic you read in this fandom.

I landed on FF.net back in May 2018. I immediately ran into @the-lady-razorsharp who I knew from another fandom ten years prior and she was absolutely wonderful, drawing me in and introducing me around. I gobbled up several of her fics in the process.

Person you can talk to for the longest without a break.

I am hard to get started, persistence is required, but once started, it is usually hard to shut me up. @scribbles97 @vegetacide and @tsarinatorment have all discovered that. Dangle a Virg, a plotline and stand back.

Person you can't be trusted to be left alone with.

Um, @vegetacide and I have plotted out the entirety of Warm Rain together…poor Virg. Add @the-lady-razorsharp into the equation and Virgil ends up with a beard, dressed in leather and riding a Harley – that was a hilarious evening. Between @tsarinatorment and @janetm74 Virgil gets grey hairs and has to go rescue Scott – because Scott inevitably ends up in the story :D @scribbles97 gets the blame for Gentle Rain – expand your horizons she said ::headdesk:: But then there was the time I left one random line about Eos visiting Virgil in the shower and went to bed. I woke up to hilarity and chaos as Thunderfam took the idea and ran with it! Love you guys :D

Person whose fic made you cry the most.

I know there were at least two fics that made me cry, but for the life of me I can’t identify them. I did cry writing my own fic – Flannel – and don’t tend to reread it for that reason. Purupuss traumatised me with A Quiet Day to the point I had to put it down and walk away for a bit ::wails::

Person whose fic made you laugh the most.

I have no idea. I know there are fic out there and I know I’ve read it, but without a complete list of everything I’ve read, I don’t have a clue.

Person whose fic made you think the most.

Aaaargh, I don’t have a master list so can’t remember everything. Staring at my paltry favourites list on FF.net (which was mostly gathered three years ago and never maintained), Purupuss’ ‘Brothers in Arms’ and her whole Quiet series has me wanting to write a Scott-Virgil telepathic fic (and she has given me permission to run with the idea, I just haven’t actioned it yet). Counterpoint by Swallow and Amazon is amazing and likely contributed to Sotto Voce.

Person you have laughed with the most.

I’m really not liking this ultimate one person idea. I’ve laughed with a lot of people in this fandom. I’ve candy cannoned a bunch of you as well :P There has been mad plot cackling, evil conspiring, fic written to stir pots and delight on purpose. Hell, I’ve even written fic that was purposefully a giant virtual hug because I’m so far away that even if half the world wasn’t in isolation, I couldn’t hug most of you. Sure, I talk with some of you more than others, and there is laughter in those chats…oh, god, so much cackling, poor, poor Tracy boys. But then there are also so many smiles both vocalised and not. Thunderfam is one of my happy places. Bring on the belly laughs :D

Your comfort fic that you'll go back and read again on a bad day.

I will often resort to my own fic when I’m really down simply because it helps me get to sleep :D and it is kinda tailored to me ::grins:: (and my memory is that bad I often forget what I wrote anyway – yes, it is that bad) But there are also a few on my FF.net favourites list. Mostly hurt/comfort in a Virg flavour. Cheesycheese, nhsweetcherry, A Small Rescue by Nalina, Breathe Easy and Under the Weather by @loopstagirl – several of hers, in fact – the Virg ones :D Pretty much anything that has Virg fainting and being looked after apparently :D Chiddi and Veggie fic, of course.

Favourite piece of fan art.

I have never been so honoured by artists before. This fandom has some amazing skills and I have been gifted some beautiful works. You guys are amazing (I keep saying it like a broken record, but you are).

Again, I’m stuck on having to list one and I can’t. I think Fanart Appreciation Month in January pretty much summed up my opinion.

Who have you known the longest in the fandom.

@the-lady-razorsharp followed by @vegetacide both wonderful peeps. I can’t miss out on @weirdburketeer either for her amazing support almost from day one.

Favourite OC.

I have to say that I really enjoy reading about Ray from @i-am-chidorixblossom ‘s fics :D He is so gentle and kind and just ::sigh:: Virg likes him lots :D Selene by @willow-salix is, of course, a major presence in the fandom and amazingly written. @hedwigstalons ‘ Claire is lovely.

Person who supports your work the most.

The Thunderfam? There have been some wonderful people who support all the time. @hedwigstalons @cg29 @janetm74 @weirdburketeer in particular have been amazing support liking and commenting on just about everything I write. I honestly don’t know how they do it. Plus several peeps over on FF.net and Ao3 who support me over there.

And then there are the poor souls who put up with me in chat and listen to my wibblies and whining and character checks and field random chunks of writing that get thrown their way. @scribbles97 @vegetacide @the-lady-razorsharp @tsarinatorment @i-am-chidorixblossom @onereyofstarlight @godsliltippy @willow-salix @janetm74 all have had random passages thrown at them at all times of the day and night by a crazy me begging for feedback. Does this work? Is this in character? Am I insane? What the hell is Scott doing? Is this John??? I give up, tell me what to do? Virgil is driving me insane! So, um, yeah

Person who's progress you are the most proud of.

I love those peeps who appear in fandom who start off poking around commenting and generally being lovely and then all of a sudden get out their own pens and start writing and they are frickin’ amazing! Both @janetm74 and @hedwigstalons come to mind in this department. Like holy cow – ‘here is my first fic and I’m not sure’ ::reads it:: Omigod! Where did you come from? That was amazing. Sit down here now, keep doing that writing thing, bloody hell! I think being brave enough to pick up a pen and join in is a major thing :D

Person who's story you think is underrated and should be read by more people.

If I find fic I like, I reblog it and shout about it. What I like is definitely skewed in a Virgil direction and this dictates often what I’m going to read first. I can’t reblog what I haven’t read. So, this equation will always be skewed by ‘reasons I haven’t read a fic’ which mostly involves either Virgil or the fact I’m juggling RL. So, my answer to this is if I think a fic needs to be shouted about, I shout about it.

Something you think people would say about you.

She’s nutty.

Silliest 'thing' you do with someone.

I’ve been known to write fic on the fly directly into chat windows to try and distract peeps going through shitty times.

Favourite pairing you now Stan because of someone's fic.

Virgil/Kayo because of @vegetacide for reasons I have blamed her for multiple times. @the-lady-razorsharp and @weirdburketeer were accessories to the fact.

Favourite headcanon from someone's fic.

Um, Virgil and coffee? I got that from somewhere and it has infiltrated my fic…a lot.

Ultimately, though, I feel most people I interact with contribute to my fic and how I’m feeling. This has been a wonderful experience. I try to return the support as much as I can, but sometimes it is a juggle between writing more, my stupid fluctuating mood, the demands of RL and my own creative drive. I hope I’ve helped a few peeps, because you guys have certainly helped me ::major group hug::

And yes, I hug a lot, because to be honest, I have no other descriptor to communicate how I feel, so you get buckets of hugs :D

Tagging the Thunderfam. Feel free to grab these questions and run with them. You’re all part of the gang whether you write, read, art, gif, screenshot, chat, babble, stare at Virgil all day...I know I do a lot of staring.

Nutty

(Thunderfam rocks!)

#thunderbirds are go #thunderbirds #thunderfam #thunderfam rock

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gofancyninjaworld · 4 years

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watching ONE write women

One of the joys of following a writer for a while is that you get to follow how their ideas develop. One of the things that ONE brought up in an interview (annoyingly I’ve lost the link) was that he didn’t think that he wrote women particularly well.

I was thinking about that. When ONE says that, what comes across to me is that he has no problem writing a female character as an individual rather than a role. All the girls and women he’s written so far have their own voices, own their problems, and have something to do within the story that would be noticeable if they weren’t there. Quite frankly, that alone is over and above what various tests of representation (such as the Bechdel test) ask for.

What he’s not so good at is appreciating what being female brings to a character’s experiences and outlook. But he’s not just left it at that. More on what he’s been doing in a bit (and under the cut).

“...the law forbids rich and poor alike to sleep under bridges...” -- Anatole France

With his sharp eye and talent for exploring the implications of whatever he posits, ONE has brought up some issues are not inherently gendered, but usually are.

A: Childcare

Metal Bat appears to be the main, if not sole, carer for Zenko. How it affects him is fascinating. He’s one of the longest-serving heroes in the Hero Association, being there before Class S was formed, literally within the first six months of its establishment. He’s been extremely loyal and is highly trusted by the HA -- they put Narinki’s life into his hands without fear. His battle strength is literally praised to the heavens.

Metal Bat makes Zenko a priority, structuring his availability around her school schedule and being present in her life. He gets very angry if these times are threatened without overwhelmingly good cause. His reward is to be perceived by the Hero Association as less committed and so they under-recognise him in terms of ranking, and since rank and pay are linked, under-pay him as well. It’s a story all too many women can relate to. But that’s not all.

Because ONE writes so simply yet conscientiously, something else comes up and has a peek: intersectionality. It’s the concept that we often have multiple social disadvantages that interact and compound our problems. The first is sexism. Regardless of whatever childcare policy the HA has, the sexist assumption that only women care (for the record: this is bullshit) makes it unlikely for them to ask Metal Bat. Second, social capital. The fact that he’s Zenko’s sole carer means that he has low social capital, that informal network of people around you who can help out -- or tell you where to find help and what things to say in order to get that help. [Aside: this is why programmes to help people, unless they reach out aggressively, tend to disproportionately attract those who need it least.] Metal Bat doesn’t have the knowledge. The third is the challenge brought by his being a 17-year old boy. He’s quick to perceive challenge as threat, and threat as something to be met by anger. Witness him threatening to smash the HA headquarters if it turns out that he’s missed Zenko’s piano recital for nothing -- completely not useful to anything. [Another aside: the importance of learning to disambiguate emotions and do useful things with them even if it means being vulnerable as a part of growing up as a man is the whole point of Mob Psycho 100.]

What do the Neo Heroes do? They ask Metal Bat if he wants help with childcare AND HE JUMPS SHIP PRONTO. If that’s not an indictment of the Hero Association, I don’t know what is.

B: Emotional Labour

Saitama has been delegating more and more of the day-to-day work to Genos. What started as an act of service to express his gratitude, respect and love for Saitama is increasingly turning into a second job for Genos. It’s not just the cooking and cleaning and the shopping and the bailing Saitama out if he’s forgotten his wallet again, it’s also the worrying about Saitama, sometimes at inappropriate times. Has he drunk enough water? Has he clean clothes in good repair? What sales is he looking forward to? Have they been marked on the calendar? It’s honestly not doing Genos any good, and it’s one of those things all too many frustrated wives and girlfriends can relate to. This doing the practical and emotional work for another is not intrinsically gendered, but funny how often it breaks that way.

It’s not doing Saitama any good either. He’s using this freed up time to fritter his life ever more aggressively away, playing games with King and finding pointless competitions to enter, all while complaining about feeling less and less connected to anything (if you don’t address the problem, it doesn’t get better, duh!). Worse, he’s started to take that gift of service for granted, witness him airily telling King how he’ll just have Genos go clear up the mess of monsters he’s left outside the flat. I was heartened to see what happened when Saitama went a little too far and asked Genos to go cook and instead of jumping up, Genos gave him the the evil eye and let the awkwardness hang there. That was good -- there’s hope for this guy yet.

Speaking of Genos, he also over-functions for something else Saitama struggles with: advocating for himself. He tends to have Genos be the ugly one so he doesn’t have to be. You can see just how bad he is at self-advocacy when Forte and friends could invite themselves into Saitama’s house at will despite his protests -- and it stopped the instant Genos showed up.

In a sense, it’s not surprising that Genos can do that. When you’re differently-abled (and for once, this is not a euphemism) as he is, being able to clearly ask for what you want and need is life-and-death necessary. If Genos was shy about it, he’s long since had to discard that. But! Let me point to a nuance the story touches on. How pushy you can be without being punished for it depends a lot on who you are, intersecting strongly with race, gender, social status, etc (remember my mentioning intersectionality before). What’s called assertive in a man is called bitchy or sharp-elbowed in a woman. Even taking gender and race out of the equation, there’s still a noticeable difference in the way the world treats Saitama and Genos. You don’t need to be Sigmund Freud to understand the way the short, ugly Dr. Kuseno sweats making sure that Genos positively radiates youth, beauty, wealth and power. That’s part of his right to ask and be taken seriously. You can see how drastically different it is for Saitama, even from his middle school days. Genos notices, and makes sure to leverage his social power for Saitama.

What I love about these examples are that by not automatically heaving a woman into these characters’ roles, ONE’s brought a less frequently seen angle that illustrates the problems they deal with are not ‘womens’ issues per se but are rather inequities that disproportionately affect women -- which is at the heart of what feminists keep saying. When you read Makai no Ossan, you can appreciate that ONE could have gone with female characters and done a great job, but his choosing not to has brought a very welcome dimension to the story.

Women proper

“I’m not like other girls”

Still, bit by bit, ONE has been working more women into his stories. After his interview, the next thing he worked on was the single-volume sequel to Mob Psycho 100, Reigen. He took his challenge head-on by making the POV character Tome and putting her in an all-girls’ high school.

Throughout the story, we see Tome thinking of herself as special, better than her fellow classmates, whom she sees as vapid and shallow. The denouement comes with Tome being humbled as she gets to know her classmates better and realises that they pursue interests just as varied and weird as hers -- only they’re also practicing being socially adept on top of that.

It’s a gentle story, but it’s still a great side-swipe at self-internalised misogyny, the idea that it’s shameful to be like a ‘girl’ and it’s something to distance oneself from. Fortunately, Tome can laugh at herself and grow up.

“Ha ha ha”

For a long time, the only (named) women we had in OPM were Tatsumaki and her younger sister Fubuki. We’ve gotten more women both good and bad: in particular, it’s been very gratifying to find that one of the most dangerous, story-shaping villains in the story is Psykos.

In the webcomic, ONE’s pushed even further. A recent Tweet featured him talking about how hard he finds it to draw women. And he’s added several. No same-face for him! I’ll talk about the new heroines he’s added, but first, let me draw your attentions to something most artists don’t realize they do: massively skew the gender distribution of crowds, even when it is incredibly illogical to do so. With ONE, even drawing the crowds at the fair who gaggle at Amai Mask, he’s got a far more even balance of women and they’re not all young and pretty -- which is much more true-to-life. He’s in the business of drawing people.

ONE has featured microaggressions before, particularly in the way Fubuki can have perfectly sound things to say and be totally ignored, but he brings it properly to the fore with Suiko. No one calls her incompetent, but the little put downs she gets when she puts herself forward for the hero test in lieu of her brother, oh they’re well-observed The look on her face just makes it. I love the way she shut the recruiters up subsequently.

Let’s conclude this tour with a look at Webigaza’s lonely figure. We have another mono-manically focused cyborg in the story. Genos has been called a lot of things -- determined, obsessive even, but crazy? Never. Notice who it’s been reserved for instead. It’s no slip of the tongue.

Wrapping Up

I’m of the impression that ONE really wants to try to capture as much of the human experience as he can in his stories, however whimsical or fantastical the stories themselves are. I’m disarmed by his humility in accepting that he’ll never have the lived experience of half the world’s population but he sure as hell can put some effort into learning how to to writing well-realised, believable, female characters.

I watch ONE’s continued development as a writer with interest.

#OPM #Reigen #ONE #meta #long #women #female characters #I like that ONE treats women not as creatures whose problems and experiences can't possibly be understood #but as people first and foremost #perfect? No and who is #ongoing and adding to his understanding -- yes

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theda-rison · 4 years

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Camp Nano July 2020 - Results, Discussion, and Conclusion

the Like, wow, Scoob!

Camp Nano July 2020 is done, and here are some thoughts:

I always knew that writing a comic script was going to be a learning experience - I’ve never written a comic script so it really couldn’t be anything except for a learning experience - but hoooooo boy, was it ever!

Before starting I couldn’t find anything on how long comic scripts normally are; I don’t know why, that just seems information that isn’t really shared? (If anyone knows of a resource, please send it to me!) I’m guessing it has a lot to do with there just being less comic writers than there are say, book writers and movie writers. That’s probably what happens when your interests are niche in some way, it’s just harder to find anything about them.

FORTUNATELY, I have the fancy library-bound volumes of The Sandman, and there’s excerpts of the scripts in the back. Which like… thank you @neil-gaiman, or whoever made that decision, because being able to look at an actual script and see how it’s formatted and what’s included has been the biggest help. Even the “How to Write a Comic Script!” videos I found on YouTube didn’t have example scripts which... I don’t know, I don’t get it. Please include examples, comic YouTubers. I am confusion.

Now is the time for a sexy graph, because we are the kind of people who keep Excel spreadsheets of word counts and make graphs for fun.

Anyway, let’s look at…

youtube

[Good. I was listening to As The World Falls Down by David Bowie over and over, and now this is stuck in my head again. I don’t know why I do these things to myself. Also, I love Peter Tork’s face during some of the “AAAHHHH”s lol]

I can’t remember if I stated this before or during Camp at any point, but my goal was 60k words. I dislike aspiring for un-round numbers like “1667″ every day. Any number I could possibly pick is arbitrary, but for some reason the classic Nanowrimo number of 1667 seems even more arbitrary. “2000″ is a much better number. And, I can generally write 2000 words in two hours before running out of steam, so it works out well. It also divides better.

Having said that, you might be thinking, “Theda, the end Actual number on your graph is a lot closer to 90k than it is 60k,” and you would be right, good eyes. Were I Brandon Sanderson and you were one of my students, I would toss you a gummi bear. As it is, you’re not my student and I have no gummi bears and I’m not even Brandon Sanderson… so life is just upsetting I guess.

[But I am back to listening to As The World Falls Down, so I suppose it all works out.]

Back to the graph: The Actual. Look at this wavy-fucking-scalloped-fucking progression. Look at it. I can’t tell if it makes me happy or angry or what, but I know it gives me some kind of feeling. I think I like it from a purely aesthetic point of view, but from the point of the view of the person who made it, it annoys me.

I had a couple of days where I - in my infinite stupidity - didn’t really elaborate on what was supposed to happen in some of the scenes in my scene list and so I spent my “Writing!” time (as it’s labeled in my planner) not writing, but looking at the page cursing myself for not having written any directions for me, a directionless person.

You may also notice that the Goal bars suddenly jump up on the 24th day,. That’s because - in my infinite wisdom - I redid my goals after reaching 60k. It just makes more sense to me to be like, “Well, I punched that goal in the face. Let’s try and go WAY overboard,” because I have the Too Much gene and as Henry Rollins says: “Don't do anything by half. If you love someone, love them with all your soul. When you go to work, work your ass off. When you hate someone, hate them until it hurts.” I wouldn’t say that’s a personal philosophy so much as a Thing I Am Compelled To Do Or I Will Die.

But that’s just me.

As for the trend line, I prefer it looking more steep because that’s way more gratifying, but that’s what I get for writing parts of my scene list like, “That’s okay, Future Me will take care of it!” Past Me, you are a dick and you need to stop doing these things. You are a bastard.

Now for the table!

[I’m sorry if that’s very small.]

And this time I’m showing you the actual table I use to write down my words. Complicated? Yes. Sexy? Very yes. A little annoying? Also yes. Do we get a little worried that she works too hard and refuses to take a vacation? We do, but we also know that she does it because she loves her work, and we love and support her and bring her snacks throughout the workday to keep her going. What a great table.

First of all: Yes, my first writing block is at 4am. It’s because I have a day job and if I write from 4-6 I can use my brain right when it’s freshly slumbered instead of using it for nonsense at work all day and being unable to write and aggravated because my mental capacity is nil and I no longer know what words are. In an ideal world I would be able to write all day but, here we are.

You might notice there’s a lot of 0’s in the 4am block, especially in the fourth week, and that’s more so because - in my infinite infiniteness (infinity?) - I am secretly an ice giant (but like, smaller) and it’s summer and the northern hemisphere is Too Hot and I literally will not be able to sleep at night until about December. Until then, I am forced to understand what it’s like to be a jacket potato for half of the year so I can empathize with their starchy pain because this is, for whatever reason, Important.

It me. (Recipe)

Anyway,

My record day was 7519 on the 10th, which is just sexy and fun and cool and everything we want, and my lowest was a big fat 0 on the 16th.

I felt super motivated for reasons I don’t remember on the 10th. This is because I didn’t have my planner yet and was not keeping notes anywhere else at that time. (It’s an undated Daily Passion Planner, in case you’re also a slut for planners and wish to know ;) ). I think I was trying to do a 10k day just for funzies? Which, technically, at 2k words in 2 hours I should be able to do 10k in 5, but cell phones exist (and are too distracting), and until I shed my corporeal form I still have to do things like “make food and eat it,” and “get up to pee,” and “experience all the vagaries and horrors of human existence.” I’m hoping it clears up soon.

The 16th was the day that Future Me took Past Me by the hand and said, “My good bitch, you need to stop doing that thing where you leave shit for me because you run out of motivation or executive function or whatever the fuck is happening where you decide you don’t want to do something anymore, seemingly at random. You deciding to leave school before the day even started because you were bored may have been cute when you were a kid - and also annoying for everyone around you, and just alarming that time they had to pry your hands off the door molding as you held on to it and screamed - but as an adult you are both the cause of and the person who has to deal with this bullshit, and you need to stop.”

On the 16th I went to the Shrine of the Self (sorry, I’ve been reading a lot of manga lately) and made an offering for forgiveness, and then hunkered down and added a TON of notes and partially written scenes to my scene list. You can see how much that helped; it’s almost like having direction is actually useful, lol.

BUT, despite all that direction and despite punching my goal in the face, breaking it’s glasses, and taking it’s lunch money, the script is not finished!

Here’s some math as of the 23rd:

There are 124 points in my outline On the 23rd, I had completed 44 of those points, at 363 pages or 59,601 words 124 / 44 = 2.81 Now we check: 44 * 2.81 = 123.6 (close enough) So as of the 23rd, the projection for completing the script was: 363 * 2.81 = 1,020 pages 59,601 * 2.81 = 157,479 words

Now, I don’t know what the fuck that means because I don’t really do numbers, but at the time of the 23rd it looked an awful lot like I wasn’t going to finish this Camp project. And uh… hey, that was correct.

So I’m going to be continuing Camp Nano July 2020, but also in August 2020, over about 20 more days (providing I hit my goal every day.)

So:

IF -> I need to get up to 158,000; 158,000 - 86,000 = 72,000 words need to be written. (I'm rounding the total up because I canNOT imagine this script being somehow smaller than that at this point, and I’m rounding my Camp total down because who cares about 72 words?) I divided 72,000 from a few numbers until I got a word goal I was okay with, that I think I can do, here’s that one: 72,000 / 20 days = 3,600 words a day (This would mean I can either do 2k in the morning and then 1600 later, or the reverse. You know, whatever way I feel spicy that day.) THEN -> I need to write 3,600 words a day for 20 days to (hopefully) finish this script before work picks up at the end of August.

And then I’ll chill from the end of August - October (except for maybe some short stories or essays. I have a lot of Thoughts and they need to be purged from my brain for my own good). And then I’ll use Nanowrimo Classic (November) to edit this fucker.

SO… that’s some stuff.

As I said at the beginning this endeavor was only ever going to be a learning experience. Having to write 158k words total doesn’t scare me, the longest thing I’ve written yet was something like 190k words. Trying to finish it before the end of August is the daunting part. Especially since being able to be creative right now just keeps making my brain puke out more ideas, and then there’s too many ideas and I’m just writing them all down and hopefully I can get to them later.

Anyway, good job on Camp Nano July 2020 everyone! We did it!

And if you didn’t do it: don’t worry, you’ll do it next time :D

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stupidwithu · 5 years

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arms to fall right into

I heavily considered not posting this. I was really excited about writing it, but I’m not crazy about the end result. it’s different from what I usually write and what I planned to post on here, and idk how to feel about that yet. regardless, I decided to upload it because I don’t know if this ‘verse I accidentally thought up the other day will make much sense without this little bit of background.

*FFH SPOILER* basically, it’s a post-ffh au where Peter hides out in Tennessee with Harley after Mysterio reveals his identity. the idea is that they work together to formulate a plan to save Peter’s ass while they develop Harley’s Ironlad persona. I’ll probably never write much detail on that though, which is why I’m posting this. this fic is a little angsty, but expect mostly sickfics and fluffy drabbles from this ‘verse (and feel free to send prompts, please :))

longest and most annoying author’s note aside, here goes nothing

Peter Parker x Harley Keener (MCU)

Passed Torch AU (forgot to mention, bi Peter)

__________

Harley’s fully engrossed in the open panel of his suit’s arm when he hears the first knock. If he’d been listening to music like he usually was, he probably wouldn’t have even heard it, for how soft and hesitant it was; to the young mechanic’s surprise, it erupts into an orchestra of chaotic slamming before Harley can even close the program. His hand extends to the drawer on his right, fingers dancing along the surface of his newest canon prototype, heart racing.

“Open the door, please.”

Harley lets the weapon fall back to the bottom of the drawer, where it lands with a quiet ‘bang.’ Instead, he shuts the panel and kicks back his desk chair as he rises to approach the bright red door. The window – at his eye level, now – is far too filthy for Harley to properly see his guest. He should probably do something about that.

“Please, Harley,” the voice begs. It booms over the sound of the knocking, but it’s far from powerful. It wavers beneath the volume and breaks between words.

Harley cracks the door open hesitantly, but the masked man – boy, probably – pushes it the rest of the way, barging in with a clumsy apology after the metal nearly knocks Harley on his ass.

He takes a few steps before doubling over, his back to the entrance. A skin-tight black mask is peeled from his face, a gloved hand running over his own forehead. The fabric lands on the ground between his legs as Harley locks the door again.

“Turn around. Now,” Harley demands with faux discipline.

So, he does. The boy – Harley can only assume he’s young; he towers over him by a few inches – rises slowly, turning to face Harley with his hands risen in surrender. Harley almost laughs at this, but stops himself at his new friend’s appearance. The poor kid’s hair is plastered to his face with sweat, skin flushed and colorless, minus his red-rimmed eyes and the subtle hue of the faded bruises that litter his cheeks. He’s shaking from his finger tips to his suit-clad legs. He’s crying, too.

“Peter?” Harley remembers. He was in a similar state when they met. Swap his current attire for a black suit and tie and Harley might think he was reliving the day. That reminds him, “Is that a stealth suit?”

“They know.” Peter ignores him. He’s looking at Harley, but it sounds like he’s talking to himself.

“Uh, who?”

“Everyone.”

Harley can’t help the look he gives Peter. He shows up at his garage – unannounced and certainly surprising – just to barge in and torment Harley with this ominousness and that gorgeous suit. He’s intrigued, but mostly concerned.

“What do they know?”

Now it’s Peter’s turn to look confused. He hiccups, then, “that I’m Spider-Man…?”

“Oh my God!” Harley follows the inappropriate shout by clamping a hand over his mouth. He chuckles into his own palm. “That actually makes sense... Wait, why wouldn’t you want people to know you’re Spider-man?”

“Fucking… Mysterio!” Peter shouts without warning. In one sharp movement, he bashes an arm into the nearest table, scattering Harley’s equipment across the floor and leaving a fist-sized dent at the impact site. He just sobs. With both hands pressed to his face now, he muffles choked cries into them. Harley watches in horror. When Peter’s legs eventually give out, he lurches forward in an attempt to catch him; he’s off a beat, though, and both boys collapse into Peter’s mess.

“I don’t- I’m sorry,”

Peter tries to reconcile by cleaning up after himself, but each piece of tech he attempts to pick up just slips from his fingers. Harley tells him not to worry about it, but he insists. He reaches for the computer monitor – anxious to see the state of the screen once he flips it from it’s face down position – but Harley catches his wrist halfway. “Peter, stop. You’re makin’ it worse.”

Peter obliges, finally, sinking in on himself. He makes an effort to control his breathing (in for 8, hold for 4, out for 8, like May always preached). It takes a few minutes and multiple failed attempts, but he manages. Harley doesn’t offer any help, really, but his hand lingers over Peter’s the entire time.

“I’m sorry,” Harley chuckles, once he’s sure Peter isn’t going to hyperventilate. “What the hell was that?”

“I don’t know.”

Harley stands finally, swiping his hands over his sweatpants to rid some of the dirt from the floor before extending his arm to Peter. “What are you doing here?”

Truth be told, Peter isn’t really sure. He was gone before Beck’s recording could fade to black, Happy’s words taunting him as he rushed to the location of his backpack. He took it to the roof of Tower 28, the same daunting question echoing. You’re all alone, your friends are in trouble, what are you going to do? The first time Happy asked him, he felt invincible. He meant to thank Happy for that – for helping him get his head on straight, realize what he needed to do, what he could do… But the whole conversation felt like a joke now. In that jet, Peter felt like he could breathe for the first time in, well… years, technically. Now, though, he was right back to square one.

Looking out over Queens, Peter had two choices. The first one was to just jump, but even he could see it was a little dramatic (besides, the suit had parachutes). So, he resorted to his preferred method of damage control: What would Mr. Stark do? In hindsight, coming to Harley was a stupid idea. Sure, it’s something Tony might’ve done – Hell, he did do it, but those were different circumstances.

Once Harley pulls him to his feet, Peter shrugs. “Couldn’t go anywhere else.”

Harley cocks his head to the side, dirty blonde waves draping across his forehead.

“I thought, you know, if people knew I was Spider-Man, they’d come after the people I love.” Peter explains. “And I guess I was right, because Beck knew, and he tried to kill MJ and Ned… and Betty… Happy too…”

“Who?” Harley catches him just before he spirals.

“I made a stupid mistake, and I put my friends in danger. Now, I’m a fucking terrorist! And my name – my name – is plastered on every TV screen in the world... May,” Peter cuts himself off. He blinks, a few tears streaming rapidly down his cheeks before he can wipe them away. “Happy, my friends… None of them are safe as long as I’m around.”

“You’re a terrorist?” is all Harley says. He looks around the garage, then, “Maybe I’ve spent too much time cooped up in here…”

Peter pinches the bridge of his nose, exhaling shakily. “Harley, please.”

“Okay, fine.” Harley sighs, suddenly serious. “My sister’s up there.”

He motions to the staircase in the center of the room. “I appreciate you stormin’ in here and puttin’ me in danger – very Tony of you, by the way – but my sister-”

“I- um, I didn’t- I’m sorry.” Peter panics, tripping over his words as he physically stumbles. He takes his mask back into his hand, clutching it tightly. “I shouldn’t have come here.”

Harley gulps. He should probably take a glimpse at the news before deciding what to do. There’s no time for that, though, and he knows he can’t let Peter leave like this.

Harley stops him breathlessly just before he can unlock the door, wrapping his hand once again around Peter’s, this time to stop him from puling the handle. “Wait,”

“I just don’t understand,” Harley tries to explain, but Peter isn’t listening. His eyes go unfocused, confusion then fury practically reflecting from his irises. Harley scrambles to follow his gaze.

“What is that?”

“Nothin’,” Harley tries to step between Peter and his half-finished suit, but Peter pushes him to the side easily. Harley staggers, reaching for the note that resides just beside the half-drunk Redbull Peter initially distracted him from. He’s just seconds too late.

Peter takes the card between his fingers, glossy eyes scanning the calligraphy.

For the next Ironman,

don’t make me regret this.

Your friend,

The Mechanic.

__________

** the part about Happy was inspired by this post

#my fic #passed torch #peter parker #spiderman #harley keener #ironlad #parkner #peterharley #marvel #mcu #fanfic #fanfiction #ffh spoilers #spiderman spoilers #spiderman: ffh spoilers #spiderman: far from home spoilers #far from home spoilers #parley #spiderlad

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pokesception · 4 years

Photo

Whelp, started playing pokemon sword. Have complained quite a bit here about dexit & related issues, and honestly I would have skipped at least the initial versions of these games entirely, or at least held off on purchasing them until we could see just how egregious pokemon home will be. But my brother got shield, and my problems with sword and shield are not so severe that I’m going to refuse to play a game with family.

Thoughts so far? Setting dexit entirely aside it’s... another pokemon game, for better and worse. Largely for the better. The new monsters, at least those I’ve encountered so far, are fun and good. Music is nice. Tone is bright and cheerful. I love my team, and my protagonist. It’s been nice.

As expected going to a more powerful console, it looks better, but it’s not a huge jump from the 3ds games, not least because lot of the visuals of this game are ported over directly from those games, and the stuff that is new has been made so as to not clash aesthetically with the older stuff. If you’ve seen mods of usum that display the games at higher res and without the black outlines, it’s very much like that. Closer to that even than to the let’s go games in ways that I find difficult to articulate. In and of itself that’s not a complaint, really, the game looks plenty good enough for a pokemon tame. It’s just not a major leap forward in presentation like the leap from gen 5 to gen 6 was.

Gameplay is mostly what you might expect. Tall grass battles are an interesting mix of pokemon you can see on the field and engage or avoid as you wish and random battles that appear in the grass. The random fights appear as a rustling in the grass that again can be pursued or avoided, you just can’t tell what they’ll be before you bump into them. Finding rarer pokemon in a route is often a matter of sneaking or dashing between the new pokemon to get to the random fight, then crossing your fingers and hoping for the pokemon you want. I’m not sure if there’s deeper levels to it, like chaining or whatever. At the surface level it’s engaging enough.

The new pokemon are great so far. There’s a bunch early on that you won’t have seen if you avoided leaks, and that was really excited. I went into gen 7 knowing every new pokemon and with a particular desired team all worked out in advance. This time around I’ve avoided spoilers, and gamefreaks official previews have kept a lot more hidden, so it’s been really fun to meet a lot of cool new faces early on.

The game does let you skip some early tutorials, but still frustrates to no end by stopping you every three seconds for another unnecessary explanation or detour, so it’s still pokemon in that unfortunate regard. Routes are, if anything, more linear than ever before, at least early on, with the exception of an early expedition through the wild area which... I’ll talk about later.

Experience share is always on and cannot be turned off. It scales shared xp based on the level of the pokemon, with lower level pokemon getting a higher portion, but not by enough so it’s still a pain to keep everything in the same level range, and you’ll still probably be wildly over leveled from very early on with nary a challenge to be seen even if you try to avoid grinding.

You can access the box from anywhere, which can be used to help overcome both the maintaining-a-level-range and over leveling problems of the experience share, but it’s a hassle to do, and wouldn’t be necessary if you could just toggle off shared exp in the options menu. And on another level it makes the game even easier, since attrition is much less of a problem when you can swap in fresh pokemon whenever you feel like.

The online functionality is... kind of bad. Maybe it’s just my internet, but being online in the wild area causes all sorts of slowdown. Worse, there’s no equivalent to the pss functionality from gen 6. No way to just see which of your switch friends are online and directly offer to trade or battle with them. No instead you have to contact them *outside of the game* to share a 4 digit password, and then hope that nobody else happens to be using the same password as you when you try to connect with each other. Raid battles are neat, but infuriatingly use the same password hassle. You can’t just have easy friend-only raids from within the game itself.

It’s marginally better then gen 7′s festival plaza, but it remains miles and miles behind gen 6′s pss system that was simple and intuitive, and just centuries ahead of anything that came before or after.

Apart from raid battles, the wild area is... interesting? Not all that different from having just a really big route with subareas of various level ranges. Not bad, but not as big a departure as I had made it out to be in my head. An idea with some potential that future games might expand into something great but that, knowing this series, will just be dropped after a single generation instead. I’m still pretty early in the game, so my opinion on it might change after returning to it later.

The biggest frustration of the wild area, and something that brings it down tremendously, is that while you can encounter, and with some effort defeat, pokemon there, you cannot catch them at all if they’re above an arbitrary level range set by your number of gym badges. This runs so completely counter to everything almost good about the wild area that I basically swore the whole thing off until I get to the end of the game, and frankly they might as well have just made it a post game area at that rate.

It’s extra frustrating because the problem of a player getting access to a pokemon too strong for the game too early on is one that the pokemon games already solved infinitely more elegantly all the way back in gen 1! Just make pokemon that you acquire at too high a level uncontrollable, exactly like traded pokemon, so you can catch that over leveled onyx or whatever, but can’t use it until you’ve progressed far enough in the game for it not to be over leveled anymore. How hard is that? And who cares if a player gets an over powered pokemon early and steam rolls the game? If that’s how the player wants to play, why is it a problem? It’s not like the main game is challenging to begin with, thanks to always on exp share its almost impossible not to have over leveled pokemon anyway, what does it matter if it’s because you caught them that way or because they just outleveled the game curve? A better exp scaling system would fix all those problems anyway.

Pokemon games not only failing to progress and solve problems that return game after game, but also repeatedly forgetting solutions that the series has already implemented is the longest running and most frustrating and most justified complaint to level at the entire series. Of course, in the past pokemon as a series always had one core feature that none of the other - often more innovative - monster hunting games that sprang up in its shadow could replicate. Backwards compatibility, the ability to maintain your collection in full going forward from generation to generation in a chain unbroken since gen 3 on game boy advance. And that’s where dexit puts a sour note on the whole business.

The last several pokemon generations have failed to significantly improve on the core gameplay of a nearly two decade old franchise, but for many that has been largely forgiven because each new generation could easily be viewed not as stand alone games but rather as major expansions to the same existing game. Dexit breaks from that, and forces the new games to be viewed as stand alone games and... well they aren’t pad at all. They’re still cute. I’m having fun so far. Sword and Shield is no Anthem, no Fallout 76, no singular disaster to turn an otherwise largely positive track record on its head, and the extreme negativity directed against the game has been way overstated, even probably by myself. In particular any vitriol directed at the devs is almost certainly unwarranted, the problems that have been growing in the pokemon series generation after generation almost certainly come down to corporate decisionmaking way above the heads of anyone who actually *worked* on the game.

Still, now that gamefreak’s pattern of cutting progressively more and more corners has reached the point of cutting actual pokemon, it’s shouldn’t be surprising that a lot of people who had been giving all those issues a pass suddenly aren’t anymore.

And while pokemon sword and shield isn’t a bad game, it’s hard to compare it to something like oras or usum and say it’s worth 50% more up front cost AND an added monthly subscription to access features like GTS that used to be just part of the game to begin with.

The dex cuts would have been more forgivable if the games had been a major leap forward, whether in graphics or gameplay. Monster Hunter World, for instance, had /dramatically/ less content in terms of sheer quantity than the games that came right before it, but it also completely overhauled the visuals, heavily revised and updated the core gameplay, and completely changed how the area maps worked.

Alternatively, I think all the people currently complaining about models and trees and balance would have been fine with ‘just another pokemon game’ if it had maintained the backwards compatibility, just as they’ve been alright with ‘just another pokemon game’ for game after game after game until now. Imagine if gamefreak had announced sword and shield as the last main line games to maintain all previous pokemon instead of the first games not to. Then at least everybody’s personal faves would have had the chance to see play on a home system, and sword and shield could advertise themselves as the biggest pokemon games ever and actually mean it, and players would have time to adjust to what was coming.

I’m reminded of a scene from the Gravity Falls Halloween episode in season one. Mabel & Dipper had always trick or treated together, but this year dipper decided to ditch mabel to try and go to a teen party, arguing that they were getting too old for trick or treating. To which Mabel says something along the lines of “I knew some Halloween would be our last, but I didn’t realize it had already happened.”

And that’s the feeling I have with pokemon right now, the wet blanket draped over all the bright colors and fun new characters and monsters in sword and shield. I knew eventually pokemon games wouldn’t be able to keep supporting all the pokemon, I knew eventually my collection would be left behind. But I didn’t think it had already happened. And to find out that gen 7 of all games was the last ‘complete’ pokemon? That’s just kind of sad to realize. And while I am on balance enjoying sword and shield, it’s a realization that keeps coming back uninvited to sour the experience.

#pokemon #swsh #non spoiler thoughts #mixed feelings #still early in the game #time yet to win me over or drive me away #some dexit griping #Only two gyms in yet #still avoiding spoilers myself #still miss pss #honestly so far that's an even bigger complaint then dexit #though that's likely to change once I get to postgame #or subsequent playthroughs

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lets-talk-appella · 5 years

Note

26. "The diamond on your engagement ring is fake."

Thank you for the prompt! Hope you don’t mind that it took so long for me to get to and that I threw in a lap dance and some smut?

Shine Bright (Like Cubic Zirconia)

Summary: Starts with an engagement and a pissed off Beca, ends with pure smut.

Also contains a lap dance and some French. (Thanks to @isthemusictoblame for the idea on that!)

Word Count: 10k, with 5k of plot and 5k of smut.

Rating: E

AO3 and FFN

“This cakeis horrible,” Beca grumbled around the mouthful of what was supposed to becarrot cake but tasted like orange chalk.

“You saidthat about the last five,” Jesse sighed, rubbing a hand over his face.

He lookedtired, Beca thought. It annoyed her.

This wholething had been his idea from the get-go. He’d been the one to get a ring anddrop down on one knee only a week after the Worlds competition. The timing hadbeen shitty, too; she’d already told Chloe and Amy she would move to New Yorkwith them, so she’d felt like a dick for cancelling the Original Plan (as shecalled it) to move to LA with Jesse instead. They’d been understanding aboutit, thank god, but she hadn’t missed the disappointment and sadness in Chloe’seyes and the accusation in Amy’s.

It wasn’t her fault, though, because it had beenall Jesse’s idea. Maybe if he’d talked to her about it beforehand instead ofjust jumping in and assuming she was on the same page, he’d have realized itwasn’t the best move to make.

She’dstill said yes, though. So, in a way, she had kind of agreed to all this. Themove to LA, the ensuing job hunt and successive hiring at BFD Records, and thespur-of-the-moment wedding planning, because for some reason, Jesse wanted thewhole thing to happen right away. Since then, Beca had also agreed to the venuechoice, the save-the-dates, the table seating, the band, and, yes, the cakeselection. Which, normally, should have been a good time – who doesn’t love sitting and eating cake forhours? – but nothing tasted right and something was missing.

“Perhapsthe red velvet?” their wedding planner, Amber, suggested in a clipped tone.

Beca’sirritation only grew and she chewed with a renewed vengeance.

She hadn’tseen the point of a wedding planner. They were overpriced, bossy, controlling,and, especially in Amber’s case, annoying.If she had it her way, they wouldn’t even have a wedding planner. They didn’tneed one. Not when she had Chloe Beale as her Maid of Honor and the rest of theBellas as her bridesmaids. They knew her better than anyone else, and theywould have actually listened to her, unlike the blithering idiot standing infront of her.

Not thatChloe and the rest of the Bellas could be much help in the wedding planningdepartment when they lived across the country.

LA didn’t smell very good.

“Emilydoesn’t like red velvet cake,” Beca reminded Amber and Jesse.

Besideher, Jesse rolled his eyes impatiently, but Beca didn’t care. She’d been sureto ask the Bellas their cake preferences before the tasting for this exactreason. Their opinions mattered to her, especially when she was supremelyindifferent to the whole thing. Was cake choice really such an important partof the wedding that they needed to sample more than 30 different kinds?

No. It wasnot.

Amber’slips visibly thinned, her knuckles turning white around her clipboard. Becawatched her with amusement, wondering just how far she could push her.

God, shehated wedding planners. It was one day of a person’s life – a few hours,really. Did there need to be an entire career path dedicated to the profession?

No. Theredid not.

“Beca, itdoesn’t matter what Emily likes,” Jesse said, obviously forcing himself toremain calm. “What matters is what we like.”

Becashrugged. “It matters to me what Emily likes,” she said stubbornly. “I want mybridesmaids to be happy.”

Ambercleared her throat loudly and said, “Well, when you have that many bridesmaids, that’s going to be a challenge. Not to berude,” she added with an extremely fake, simpering giggle that made Beca clenchher jaw.

LA wasn’tas sunny as she’d thought it was supposed to be.

She had totake a deep breath. Amber had made it no secret that she thought 9 bridesmaids anda Maid of Honor was too many. Realistically, Beca knew that it was a littleover the top, but she certainly wasn’t going to admit that to anyone, much lessto Amber. And besides, it wasn’t like they weren’t paired on Jesse’s side withthe former Trebles.

“Yeah,well, sorry I have friends,” Beca grumbled. Then, out of spite, she added,“Maybe they should have been here. Or at least, Chloe.”

Jessesighed, pinching the bridge of his nose. Served him right for dragging heracross the country on a stupid romantic whim.

“That’sgoing to be hard when your entire wedding party is across the country,” Amberquipped, then added, “Not to be rude.”

The truthof the statement sliced into Beca like a knife. She missed them, more than shecared to admit. She missed Chloe the most.

“Look,Beca, maybe with a different frosting?” Jesse pleaded, leaning forward.

“You know,Amber,” Beca drawled, ignoring Jesse and leaning back in her chair, “I’m prettysure Chloe would have at least let me play mymusic at my own wedding. And she’dhave let me dance how I wanted.”

Amber’sexpression soured further. “Not to be rude,” she started tersely, “but we’vebeen over this. A professional band will bring more to the table than your…little projects.”

Becaopened her mouth to respond, only for Amber to lift a hand to cut her off.

Amberplowed on, “And I know you didn’t enjoy the dance lessons – you made that abundantly clear – but don’t you wantyour first dance together to be a statement rather than a sideshow?”

“Have wetried the chocolate yet?” Jesse tried, searching the table of cakesfrantically.

“I’m justsaying that my Maid of Honor should be present for big decisions,” Beca repliedicily.

Amber’slips twitched upward into what looked like an excruciatingly painful smile. “Ithink I know my way around wedding planning more than some friend you pickedoff the street. Not to be rude.”

LA didn’tfeel as welcoming as she thought it would be. It was missing something.

“Amber,” Beca fired back in the same simperingtone Amber was so fond of, “would you please fuck off? Not to be rude,” sheadded as an afterthought.

Amber lookedlike she’d been slapped; her eyes widened and her mouth dropped open somewhat comically.A deafening silence fell over the room as Beca sat staring smugly at herwedding planner, waiting for the inevitable explosion.

“Did youtry the coconut and lime?” Jesse asked loudly, clearly trying to break thetension as he steered the plate with cake right into Beca’s face, all butshoving it up her nose.

Becajerked back sharply. Glaring at him, she hissed, “Chloe’s allergic to coconut.”

As theyalways did, Jesse’s eyes hardened at the mention of Chloe; Beca immediatelywent on the defense, ready to defend her best friend to the death. Before Jessecould even get a word out, though, Amber slammed her clipboard down onto thetable with a deafening crash that caught the attention of everyone in aten-mile radius.

“I’mdone,” she spat, glaring hard at Beca. “I’m done dealing with your bullshit. Iquit. You are the most stubborn, rude, and unfeeling wretch I have ever had themisfortune to work for.”

“Thankyou,” Beca replied easily.

Amber’sface turned an interesting shade of puce. Her eyes flicked down to Beca’s lefthand, which rested on the table; for a moment, Beca wondered if she was aboutto go for a cake knife.

Instead, however,Amber simply smirked, drew herself up to her full height, and declaredpompously, “The diamond on your engagement ring is fake.”

She spunon her black stiletto heel and marched out of the room, back ramrod straightand head held high as she shoved the door open with an almighty crash.

Becastared after her, confused. That hadn’t been the reaction she’d been expecting.The quitting, sure, but the ring comment? That was just pathetic. Okay, maybeAmber had been around enough jewelry in her time to guess at its quality, butthere was no way she could be right about Beca’s ring being fake.

No, shewas obviously just saying that as revenge, to throw Beca off.

Becaturned to Jesse, fully expecting to have to apologize and promise to find a newplanner before moving on to the next (almost certainly awful) cake sample onlyto pause at the nervous, cornered expression on his face.

“Jesse?”she asked, her stomach flipping.

Hewouldn’t look at her.

“Ignorethat psycho,” Beca tried. “I know she just said that to get in my head. It’sfine.”

Jesseshook his head slowly and didn’t respond.

Becastarted to feel weird.

“Jesse?”she asked again, allowing an edge to creep into her voice. “It’s not… she waslying. Right?” she added a moment later, leaning forward.

The nextseconds were quite possibly the longest of her life. Finally, Jesse exhaledslowly before looking up to finally meet her eyes.

The guiltshe saw there stunned her.

“I wasgoing to get a real one later,” he confessed, his voice tight as if every wordpained him. “I wanted to wait until… after the wedding.”

“Why?”Beca asked, utterly aghast. If it was a financial problem, she didn’t care. Ifit was an honest mistake, that was fine too. The jewelry didn’t matter to her,not really.

Jessewinced before replying, “I wanted to wait in case… in case we didn’t work outand it was called off. Then, after the wedding, I was going to switch it outwith a real one.”

Beca felther mouth fall open.

Thejewelry didn’t matter, but the reason behind it sure did.

“Don’tlook at me like that,” Jesse defended himself in a rush, “I didn’t know whatyou were going to do! I mean – Jesus, Beca, you’ve been fighting against thiswedding since the moment we started planning it!”

His voicerose at the end, becoming steady louder as his face reddened.

Beca hadever been so disgusted with him.

“You meansince you and Amber stared planningit?” she fired back, her anger growing by the second.

“Hard toplan with someone who’s obviously so against it!” Jesse half-shouted. “Andyou’re no help with decisions! It’s not like I can trust you to make acommitment!”

He cut offabruptly, blinking rapidly as the true meaning of his words settled betweenthem, filling the space like cement.

“Then why’dyou even ask me?” she whispered, even though she already knew the answer.

He’d askedbecause it was what people in three-year relationships were supposed to do.He’d asked because if he hadn’t, they’d have been living across the countryfrom each other. He’d asked because it’s what would have happened if life was amovie.

Lifewasn’t a movie.

LA really,really sucked.

“Why’d yousay yes?” he shot back, quieter but no less angry.

“Because,I…” she trailed off.

She’d saidyes because she hadn’t had another option. She’d said yes because Jesse wassafe, Jesse was easy, Jesse was… boring.

She’d saidyes because Chloe hadn’t asked her first.

“I don’tknow,” Beca finally lied, the reality shaking her to the core.

His facefell, his expression crumpling until she couldn’t bear to watch anymore. Shelooked instead at the ring on her finger, at what must be cubic zirconia orsomething instead of diamond.

She kindof hated that Jesse had been right. With her right hand, she slipped the ringfrom her finger to place it on the pristine tablecloth, between the chocolateand coconut cakes. She sent him a tight smile and rose to leave out the samedoor Amber had, not quite having it in her to slam it open with as much gusto.

LA wasmissing Chloe.

Shewondered if Jesse would run after her. It’s what would happen in a movie.

He didn’t.

As she hitthe street and waved for a Taxi, Beca had to blink back the unexpected sting oftears in her eyes.

She didn’tknow what was worse: that Jesse had planned for them to fail, or that she wasrelieved they had.

Everythingwas surprisingly straightforward after the breakup. Amber had already quit astheir wedding planner, so she didn’t have to deal with that. After that, all ittook was a simple text to Chloe (thewedding isn’t happening) and within hours, Chloe – still in New York, threetime zones away – had managed to cancel the venue, the band, the catering, andeven the church service without a hitch. She even managed to get Beca refundedfor everything, including the $300 venue security deposit, which was supposedto have been impossible.

Becawasn’t sure what she’d said to make that happen, but she knew she’d never againunderestimate the power of a vengeful Chloe Beale.

Becauseeven though Chloe hadn’t said a single thing against Jesse – hadn’t even askedBeca for the full story until afterthe practical details were taken care of – Beca knew Chloe had to be livid.Because she would be if their roles were reversed.

Becapacked her bags that night, and after checking with Chloe (You’re always welcome here Bec.), bought a one-way ticket to NewYork on the next available flight, figuring it was time to go back to theOriginal Plan. She’d called her boss at BFD records and told him she’d like totransfer to the New York branch for the foreseeable future, and, surprisingly,he’d said it would be an easy switch. Jesse, once he came back to theirapartment (three hours after Beca had returned the ring), helped her carry herbags to a waiting Taxi and agreed to ship the rest of her things to her. Whenhe asked for the address and she told him Chloe’s, his grip on the straps ofher bag tightened momentarily before he placed it into the trunk.

He mighthave waved as the Taxi drove away, but Beca didn’t look back.

It wasn’tuntil she was through airport security and waiting at her gate, playingabsentmindedly with her phone, that Beca realized she hadn’t told the otherBellas. Their group WhatsApp had been suspiciously silent since it hadhappened, and she wondered if Chloe had warned them to leave her alone for awhile.

She took adeep breath and closed the Duolingo app (her French was coming along nicely,not that she’d ever get the chance to use it), already dreading the torrent ofsympathy that was about to be flung at her. Reluctantly, she opened the groupchat and told the rest of the Bellas the same thing she’d texted to Chloe hoursbefore, adding the details of Amber’s meltdown and the fake engagement ring.

As soon asthe message was sent, the floodgates opened; her phone buzzed and beeped somuch that several other people waiting at her gate stared. Wincing and tryingto ignore the glares being sent her way, Beca unlocked her phone, silenced it,and read through the messages. It was about what she’d expected. Amy dismissedJesse immediately, more upset about Beca missing her bachelorette party (whichAmy had chosen to plan, rather than Chloe) than anything; Emily offered anexcess amount of sympathy; Flo offered to make her as many smoothies as sheneeded to recover; Cynthia-Rose cussed Jesse out and called him too “clingy andhappy”; Lilly just said “dead,” which made Beca question Jesse’s safety;Jessica and Ashley both sent emojis; Aubrey wasn’t surprised that Beca haddriven Amber to snap, but thought it happened for the best; and Staciesuggested sending Amber a fruit basket as a thank you for severing what wouldhave been “an awful marriage anyway.”

Chloe was notablyabsent from the chat, but Beca chalked it up to having talked to her separatelyabout the whole thing sooner.

Becawondered vaguely if Cynthia-Rose would think Chloe was too clingy and happy.

Sheignored the still-exploding WhatsApp momentarily (Amy was still lamenting theloss of the bachelorette party) to text her dad and Shelia about the breakup. Heresponded surprisingly quickly for the late hour, offering his condolences. Heseemed a little disappointed – he’d always liked Jesse – but agreed that endingthe relationship was the best thing to do. For some reason, he hadn’t seemedsurprised that Chloe had helped her so much.

Thecrackle of the airport sound system startled her, and she looked up. The gateopened, and her boarding zone was called by a man with a scruffy goatee and abored voice. She rose, shoved her phone in her purse, hefted her carry-on overa shoulder, and stepped in line for boarding.

She shouldhave been scared, she supposed, as she shuffled forward in the slow-movingline. She was giving up her dreams in LA – though, really, LA wasn’t all thatgreat after all – to restart at BFD’s sister branch in New York. She had endeda long-term relationship that had led to an engagement. She had no idea what toexpect from the miniscule apartment they’d all picked out together before Jessehad changed everything and ruined the Original Plan.

But shewasn’t scared. If she was honest with herself, it was because she knew she wasgoing to see Chloe.

Shereached the front of the queue waiting to board, handing the airline employeeher boarding pass with a tight smile. As she did, she half-wondered if shewould hear her name being yelled in desperation and turn to see Jesse standingthere, hair windswept and clothes crumpled like would happen in a movie. Shewondered if she would still get on the plane if he did come.

Somehow,inexplicably, she knew that if it were Chloe she was leaving, Chloe would havedone it. Chloe would have come after her.

Shestepped into the tunnel without a backward glance.

And ifBeca was really, truly, and completely honest with herself, she knew that thereal reason she wasn’t scared was that she’d known that it would come to thissooner or later.

LeavingJesse to go to Chloe. As if there had ever been another option.

Fromthere, things were easy. Much easier than they really should have been, Becathought.

She’darrived in New York at an ungodly hour only to be swept up in a massive hugfrom Chloe. The instant she’d fallen into Chloe’s arms, everything else had fallenaway. She’d just held tight, inhaling Chloe’s familiar perfume, a sense of calmwashing over her instantly.

Only to bedisrupted by Amy saying loudly, “Honestly, Beca, you’re much better off herewith Ginger and I than with the annoying puppy.”

Beca hadbroken away and faced Amy’s tackle of a hug, even as Amy had droned on abouthow much of a pain it would have been to fly to LA for a quick wedding and backanyway, and really, LA smog was so bad for the lungs that living there wouldhave drained Beca’s soul even more than being married to Jesse probably wouldhave.

And justlike that, everything seemed okay. They’d walked out of the airport togetherand took Beca to the small apartment she really should have been living in for twomonths already. Sure, sharing a bed with Chloe wasn’t exactly ideal (eventhough it could potentially be fun), but it had always been a part of theOriginal Plan. So, it all worked out in the end.

Itshouldn’t have been that easy. Beca felt guilty it was so easy.

She had anew relationship status, a new job, and a new home. And it was all totally fine,because she had Chloe.

The restof her things had arrived three days after she did, Jesse shipping them expressto her at his own expense. She hadn’t spoken to him beyond coordinatingpractical details and suggesting that he look for a new roommate to cover thecost of the LA apartment.

It was so,so easy. It really shouldn’t have been.

But itwas. And Beca thought she knew why.

It was allChloe. Chloe kept the loneliness at bay. Chloe reminded her every day that herjob was cool and amazing and everything she ever hoped for, just in New York.Chloe was her real home.

Beca felta little guilty about that, too. She figured it wasn’t the best thing in theworld to realize she was falling for her best friend only a week after ending anengagement to someone else.

But that’swhat happened.

She wasn’tsurprised, not really. It had always been there, she supposed, and she justhadn’t noticed.

Maybe itshould’ve been weird; she’d asked Chloe to be her Maid of Honor, for Christ’ssake. Beca really wanted to punch herself for that one. Thankfully, thought, itreally wasn’t weird at all. Chloe was the same as she always was, maybe even alittle happier and bubblier than her usual.

She hopedChloe felt the same about her. Chloe had done so much for her and had spent theweek at her side while Amy had found convenient excuses to leave them alone(“Bumper and I really need to perfect the horizontal monster mash.”) so theyoften had the place to themselves.

Which washow, a week after Beca’s plane landed in New York, she found herself alone yetagain in the small apartment with a happily humming Chloe sitting next to heron their shared bed. Beca worked on her laptop (her new job had her much moreinvolved in the process already than the one in LA ever had) while Chloescrolled through Instagram on her phone.

“Ooh, Bec,what do you think?” Chloe asked, lifting her phone to show Beca something.

“Huh?”

“Beca,look.”

An elbowin her side finally tore Beca’s attention from her laptop and she turned to seea blurry video of someone she vaguely recognized swinging around on a stripperpole.

Becasquinted at the phone, wondering exactly what Chloe was getting at.

“Uh… hertechnique needs work?” she tried.

Chloerolled her eyes affectionately and sighed. “No, I mean what do you think ofpoles at a bachelorette party?”

“Oh, uh…”Beca frowned, still not understanding.

“This isTaylor’s bachelorette party.”

“… Okay.”

“Taylor.From the High Notes? Taylor. Come on, Bec, you know. Taylor.”

“Okay,saying her name over and over isn’t going to make me remember,” Beca laughed,even as a dim recollection of Taylor drifted through her memory. “I think Iknow her. She had a pole at her bachelorette?”

“Yep!”Chloe enthused, apparently happy that Beca was getting the point. “What do youthink of that?”

Anyoneelse might think it was tactless to talk about bachelorette parties just a weekafter Beca cancelled her wedding, but that was just Chloe: no boundaries.

Becashrugged. “I mean, good for her. Honestly, Amy probably had something similarplanned for my party before it all blew up,” she joked.

The guiltylook that came over Chloe’s face really should have been a warning sign.

“Oh my –no way!” Beca half-shrieked. “You knew she was planning something like this?!”

Chloecringed, holding up her hands defensively as she replied, “Okay, not this exactly, but, like…”

“What, exactly?”

“Ithinkshewasgonnahirestrippers,”Chloe said in a rush, looking at anywhere but Beca.

Becastared.

With adeep breath, Chloe repeated, “I think she was gonna hire strippers.”

Beca felther face twist in mild disgust. “Male ones?”

Chloeraised an eyebrow curiously. “I mean, I kind of assumed. Maybe both?”

“Bothwould have been better,” Beca replied smugly, enjoying the way Chloe’s othereyebrow rose to join the first. “Now I’m bummed I missed out on seeing that,”she added, not missing the way Chloe had let her phone screen fall asleep inher lap.

Becaturned back to her laptop and resumed working, feeling Chloe’s eyes on her. Shecould all but hear Chloe’s brain whirring, processing the information, butbefore Beca could tease her more or ask her what she was thinking, Chloe brokethe quiet.

“I coulddo it, you know.”

Beca’sfingers froze at her keyboard and her breath caught in her throat. She whippedaround to stare hard at Chloe, positive she’d misheard her. She had to havemisheard her. There was no way Chloe had actually just offered to strip forher. She’d definitely misunderstood.

“What?”Beca choked out, trying hard to ignore the way her heart started hammering againsther ribs.

A cornerof Chloe’s mouth quirked up and she lifted one shoulder. “I could. You know.Strip.” She shrugged again, a little awkwardly. “I had those exotic dancelessons,” she said softly, her gaze dropping to where her fingers played with thebedspread between them.

Beca waspretty sure she’d died in some freak accident. There was no way Chloe wasactually doing this. It had to be a joke. That could be the only explanation.She started to smile, waiting for Chloe to burst out laughing; instead, though,a pink tinge appeared on Chloe’s cheeks.

Beca’sstomach dropped through her toes.

“You’re –you’re serious?” she managed, hearing the disbelief coloring her own tone.“You’re actually serious?”

Chloe drewher lower lip into her mouth and nodded at the bedspread.

Beca feltlike she’d been hit over the head. Her mouth went dry and her hands started tosweat, which was a strange combination. Her first impulse was to run far away.It didn’t make sense; why the hell would Chloe offer to strip for her?

Her secondimpulse was to say yes. It was shocking, almost, how badly she wanted to sayyes. She had definitely developed feelings for Chloe, and the idea of seeingher do that was beyond enthralling.

Beca wassingle for the first time in three years. Amy was gone for the rest of thenight. She and Chloe were both adults, and Beca knew Chloe would never doanything to hurt her.

She heardherself as if from a long distance say, “Yeah. Okay.”

Chloe’seyes snapped up to meet hers.

Becastared back, her tongue suddenly useless. A weird tension filled the spacebetween them.

“I’m notreally… dressed for the occasion,” Chloe finally said, her voice a littlehoarse.

She waswearing tight jeans and a casual, light blue-colored top with a plunging V-neckthat hinted at cleavage and left the strength in her upper arms on cleardisplay. She was barefoot – they both were – because she was in bed.

She lookedamazing.

“I mean,what you’ve got on is, like, it’s good,” Beca shrugged, trying to seem offhand.By the way Chloe smirked at her, she knew she’d sounded anything but offhand.

“Right!”Chloe chirped, clasping her hands together. “Let’s do this.”

“Uh,right,” Beca said, shifting in the bed awkwardly, “where… where should…?”

Thankfully,Chloe seemed to understand. She looked around the small apartment, her gazelanding on something in the kitchen. She rose from the bed, stepping forward tograb the back of one of the three wooden chairs at the small table. She liftedit so it wouldn’t scrape on the floor and positioned it to sit more centrallyin the room, between the bed and the table. Beca couldn’t help but watch her, drinkingin the grace with which she moved and the strength in her arms as she moved thefurniture.

Itsuddenly felt very warm in the apartment.

Becastared at the chair for a moment, then glanced up to see Chloe already watchingher, looking… excited. She definitely looked excited.

Jerkily,Beca scooted herself up in the bed so she was sitting more than laying, thenswung her legs over the side to stand up. Her knees trembled a little, shenoticed idly as she made her way to the chair, sinking into it with a quietexhale.

“Comfy?”Chloe asked, her voice low and sultry.

Becanodded once, allowing herself to relax more fully into the backrest. She triedwiping her hands on her jeans inconspicuously as Chloe crossed the room to pickup her phone again, unlocking it. Beca assumed she was connecting it to theirBluetooth speaker.

Becashifted a little in her chair as she watched Chloe scroll, brow furrowed inconcentration. She crossed her legs, then uncrossed them. For some reason, shecouldn’t make her heel stop tapping on the floor.

“Bec?”

Chloe’svoice, soft and cautious, surprised her.

“We don’thave to do this if you don’t want to,” Chloe said quietly.

Beca’sheel stopped tapping abruptly.

“I wantto,” she said quickly, “I’m just – nervous.”

She cursedherself internally; she hadn’t meant to let that slip out.

Chloe’seyebrows arched again, but she didn’t comment. Her eyes searched Beca’s facefor another second before dropping to look back at her phone.

Scroll,scroll, scroll.

Beca hadno idea what was going to happen. She half-expected the whole thing to still bea joke, that Chloe wasn’t actually going to give her a lap dance, that at anymoment, Meghan Trainor’s “Me Too” or something equally ridiculous would comepouring out of the speaker.

She’d seenChloe dance with the Bellas; as the group’s choreographer, she was really goodat it. She knew how to dance well and knew some sexy dance moves that had beendistracting at times. But still, the idea of Chloe – sweet,sunshine-out-the-ass-Chloe – giving her a lap dance didn’t quite compute.

She reallyshould have known better.

When thesound of dreamy, slow strings filled the air, Beca froze in her chair.

And whenChloe put her phone (now playing “Gooey” by Glass Animals) facedown on hernightstand and turned to shoot her a confident smirk, Beca’s hands balled intofists in her lap.

This wasmost definitely one of her lady jams (to use Chloe’s words). And by the wayChloe walked toward her, gliding over the floor in time with the music, Becawas pretty sure Chloe knew.

Icome close

Letme show you everything I knowChloe wasn’t doingmuch, just walking toward her leisurely, swinging her hips a little more thanusual, but Beca couldn’t tear her eyes away.

Thejungle slangSpinning around my head and I stare

Shestopped a foot away from Beca, staring down at her. Her hips lifted andswiveled agonizingly slowly to match the music. Beca swallowed hard, warmthcreeping up her neck as her eyes flicked between Chloe’s hips and her face.

Whilemy naked fool

The songpicked up, soft beats adding another layer to the music, and Chloe’s hips movedfaster at the same time her hands tangled into her own hair. She bent forward,the soft vanilla smell of her perfume reaching Beca’s nose as their faces weredrawn dangerously close together. Chloe’s eyes flicked down to Beca’s lips andit took all of Beca’s willpower not to extend forward to meet her.

Dopeso good, a silky-smooth perfume

But then,Chloe smirked and arched her back, flipping her hair like she’d done thisbefore and Beca’s breathing stopped.

Ridemy little pooh bear, wanna take a chance

The beatpicked up further, and Chloe’s hands dropped to her hips, resting there toguide them in what Beca soon learned was a never-ending circle. The motionguided the rest of her body in a slow pivot until her back was to Beca. Becacouldn’t stop herself; her eyes dropped just as Chloe widened her stance,dropped her hands, and bent forward, and that was definitely Chloe’s ass in herface.

I’dsay I told you so but you just gonna cry

Becacouldn’t look away; though Chloe was in jeans, they were tight, and she couldsee the perfect shape hidden under the denim. She imagined how easy it would beto reach forward and touch, sliding a hand in the space between her thighs.Before she could act on the urge, Chloe rose and turned around again, movingeven closer, lower lip snared between her teeth, and Beca knew she’d beencaught. Her face warmed and she was ready to blurt out an apology but –

Mindmy simple song, this ain’t gonna workMind my wicked words and tipsy topsy smirk

By the wayChloe’s eyes bored into hers, she didn’t think Chloe cared. Beca’s mouth wentdry and she shifted again in her chair, doing anything she could to hide herreaction to seeing Chloe’s ass up close. But then Chloe’s hands reappeared onher hips only to trail up, snagging the edge of her shirt, lifting it a littleto expose a few inches of skin before the material dropped back down.

Of courseChloe would have perfect abs.

Ican’t take this place, I can’t take this place

Chloe’shands didn’t stop. They rose over her chest, reached her collarbone, andtrailed back down. Beca snapped her eyes back to Chloe’s face, wanting to be lessobvious, but she knew Chloe had seen. The look on her face, some combination ofamusement and curiosity mixed into a small smile, told Beca that Chloe knew exactly what effect those simplemoves had on her.

Truthbe toldI’ve been here, I’ve done this all before

Chloe’shands reached her hips again and started on their path back up. Again, herfingers caught on the hem of her shirt, but this time, she kept lifting. Shelifted the shirt up until her black bra was showing, then even higher until totake the shirt off completely, dropping it to the side.

Icut it up and puff it into bloom

And thenshirtless Chloe was standing in front of her with a sexy smirk on her face.Beca stared and stared and she was definitely objectifying her best friend, butChloe looked amazing, all ab lines and what was surely perfection under her blackbra and then Chloe leaned forward, her cleavage most definitely on display, torest her hands lightly on Beca’s knees.

Ridemy little pooh bear, wanna take a chanceWanna sip this smooth air, kick it in the sandI’d say I told you so but you just gonna cry

The suddencontact after minutes of watching Chloe move made Beca whimper involuntarily.The smirk on Chloe’s face grew and she applied pressure to Beca’s knees and –and Chloe spread Beca’s legs.Mind my simple song, this ain’t gonna workMind my wicked words and tipsy topsy smirkI can’t take this place, I can’t take this place

Beca’spalms were definitely sweating again and she was uncomfortably warm, but thenChloe sank to her knees, her upper body settled between Beca’s legs. The handson Beca’s legs slid up to her mid-thigh. Beca’s toes curled and her back archedinvoluntarily to rock herself forward, but she stopped the movement before itreally began. Chloe noticed; the heat of her gaze seared right into Beca tosettle in her lower stomach.

Holdmy hand, flow back to the summer timeTangled in the willows, now comes the tide

Chloe roseup, moving through Beca’s legs to brush her barely-clothed chest along Beca’sentire upper body. Beca heard herself make a strangled choking noise and herhands rose automatically to rest on Chloe’s lower back, meeting hot skin.Instantly though, Chloe grabbed her wrists, pulling her hands away and pressingthem back to her sides as she stepped back and out from between Beca’s legs tosend cold air rushing between them.

Beca gotthe message; look but don’t touch.

Somehow,it only made her want to touch Chloe even more.

Howcan I believe you, how can I be niceTripping around the tree stumps in your summersmile

Chloestepped around Beca, moving to stand behind her chair. Beca tried to twist tosee her, but soft fingertips pressed into her cheekbones from behind, keepingher head turned forward. She felt Chloe lean over her from behind, heardChloe’s voice humming along to the music softly as something soft and wetbrushed her ear.

Lips.Chloe’s lips were at her ear.

Heat shotbetween Beca’s legs and her thighs clenched automatically. All too soon,though, Chloe pulled back, dropping her fingertips from Beca’s face, and movedagain.

Ridemy little pooh bear, wanna take a chanceWanna sip this smooth air, kick it in the sand

At thereturn of the fast chorus, Chloe swung a leg over her hips and straddled her inthe chair, knees bracketing her sides. Chloe’s arms fell to rest over hershoulders as her body started rolling into Beca’s, pressing down and into her.

Becamoaned at the teasing contact, her hands flying to support Chloe’s lower back.This time, Chloe didn’t stop her; Beca’s fingers traced along Chloe’s spine,down to the waist of her jeans and back up, caressing around her ribs.

Theirpositioning had Beca’s face level with Chloe’s throat.

Mindmy simple song, this ain’t gonna workMind my wicked words and tipsy topsy smirk

Withoutthinking, without considering what she was doing, Beca extended forward topress her lips to the neck she’d been wanting to taste for nearly four years.

She feltand heard Chloe’s sharp gasp; her rolling rhythm shuddered to a halt. Fingersappeared in Beca’s hair, pulling her away and tilting her head back to make eyecontact.

Chloestared down at her, eyes wide and dark. They flicked between both of Beca’s intensely,making panic pool in Beca’s chest.

“I – Chlo,don’t –”

Chloe’slips crashed down onto hers, capturing them in a searing kiss that sent adrenalineshooting through Beca’s entire body. Beca responded as well as she could,moving her lips in time with Chloe’s. She felt Chloe’s tongue trace her lowerlip; stunned, she gasped, and then all she could taste was Chloe. She grippedmore tightly to Chloe’s back, drawing a soft whimper from her throat.

Chloe sankinto her lap, sitting on her rather than straddling her, making the angleeasier on Beca’s neck. Beca heard herself groan, and then Chloe resumed movingher hips, this time grinding down into Beca.

Beca dimlyregistered that the music emitting from the Bluetooth speaker had changed;instead of the hypnotic quality of “Gooey,” the electronic, sexy opening chordsof SoMo’s “Curve” filled the room. Beca groaned again, clutching at Chloe’sback; “Curve” was most definitely another of her lady jams. Immediately,Chloe’s grinding shifted to match the beat, hips rolling into Beca’s again andagain.

Getout of bed with me on your mindBaby, you know it’s a matter of timeDrop me a line, whether it’s three in themorningRaining, but it’s you that’s storming

Chloe’stongue was in her mouth and her hair was between her fingers and her hips keptrocking forward, driving the heat between them higher with every second. Thehands at the base of her skull slid back down to rest on her shoulders at thesame time Chloe broke the kiss to instead drop her mouth to Beca’s neck.

Runit back, done with thatThought you were never coming back, ohDon’t do that, heart attack

Beca heardherself keen at the feel of Chloe’s tongue dragging over her skin. Her fingerswound even more tightly into Chloe’s hair, tugging slightly to make Chloewhimper.

Breakingaway from Beca’s neck, Chloe leaned back as well as she could while sitting inBeca’s lap and for a second Beca wondered if she’d done something wrong, butthen Chloe’s hands were at the hem of her shirt and lifting. Beca’s breathcaught in her throat and she raised her arms to help until, suddenly, she was asshirtless as Chloe.

Chloeswooped back down, their lips crashing together even as Beca’s hands skimmedover Chloe’s back, finding the clasp on the black bra she wore. She fumbled atit, unclasping it relatively quickly, but then Chloe pulled back again.

Beca sawthe question in her eyes, the slight hesitation, but Beca was sure. She noddedand leaned forward to reunite their lips. She felt Chloe’s hands slide aroundthe strap of her own bra and start to work at the clasp.

You’rethe only one that I wantAnd I’ve waiting for this call for so long

The momenther bra gave, Chloe’s hands were on her, reaching under the material to cup andexplore, running her thumbs over taut skin. Something in Beca snapped; herhands dropped to the button on Chloe’s jeans, tugging it open and unzippingthem in one movement.

Chloe roseoff her lap, standing and pulling her bra off the rest of the way. Beca stared,her mouth going dry even as she stood from her chair and tossed her own braaside. Chloe’s eyes dropped to her chest instantly, her hands already reachingfor the button on Beca’s jeans.

Youknow I’ve been waiting so damn long

Becaguided Chloe backward toward the bed, knowing that maybe they were going toofast too soon, but all she could think about was how good Chloe’s breasts feltin her hands and how much she loved the little mewling noises that tore fromChloe’s throat every time Beca ran her thumbs over their peaks.

The backsof Chloe’s knees hit the bed and she stopped; Beca tried to push her onto it butChloe shook her head and flipped them so that Beca was the one with her back tothe bed.

“I onlywant you,” Chloe whispered as she shoved Beca back to lie on the mattress.

Igot to, I got to, I got toHold onto, hold onto, hold on (no)I hold onto the curve in your backWhile you lie on your back

Chloe wason top of her immediately, straddling one of her thighs, her hands on eitherside of Beca’s head to hold herself up. She attached her lips to Beca’s neck,sucking and nipping at the skin there until Beca knew she was going to bruise.

The firstroll of Chloe’s hips into her sent Beca’s hands flying to Chloe’s back,clutching desperately. Chloe thrust her hips forward again, and Beca was on fire. She heard herself groan, and thenChloe was kissing down her neck, down her chest, until, with a devilish smirkup at her, Chloe stooped her head to close her lips around the peak of Beca’sleft breast.

Oh,you like it like that, ohI want to, I want to, I want toHold onto, hold onto, hold on (no)I hold onto the curve in your back

Becakeened loudly, her back arching off the mattress and hands turning to claws onChloe’s shoulders. Chloe released her breast with a hiss, and Beca knew shemust have scratched her but Chloe didn’t seem to care; she switched to Beca’sother side, tongue prodding and soothing, her hips still swiveling until Becafinally had the presence of mind to bend her knee to give Chloe something tobear down on.

Chloe’sbody trembled above her and she ground down on Beca’s thigh with a deep moan. Shedropped to an elbow, more of her weight resting on top of Beca as she draggedher free hand along Beca’s side, her nails scraping lightly.

Oh,it’s getting (hot)I can feel your (pulse)Whispering, “don’t (stop)”

Beca archedup again, needing more, needing Chloe. Her body was overheated, her corethrobbed and she saw stars with every press of Chloe’s hips into hers, but itwasn’t enough.

“Please,”she managed brokenly. “I – I need, Chlo, I –”

Chloelifted her head to meet Beca’s eyes. The sight of her tangled hair and blownpupils flooded Beca’s veins with want. She let her hands drop to Chloe’sbackside and pulled to bring her pelvis down into her own and moaneddesperately.

Chloemoaned, too, before scrambling back to stand at the end of the bed. She reachedfor the cuffs of Beca’s jeans. Beca lifted her hips to help and Chloe ripped herpants off in one smooth motion before working on taking her own.

Therewasn’t any question of where this was going anymore, so Beca reached down toremove her own underwear, but before she could, Chloe was on top of her again, restingon an elbow, this time cradled between her open legs.

Ineed you the (most)How many nights have I blessed ya?How many nights have you called my name?Don’t play, I know you wanna stay, and so let’sjust-

Chloe’shand was instantly on a breast, kneading and pressing, making Beca seefireworks. Beca’s hips canted upward, searching for friction, desperate forChloe to get the hint. The hand on her breast slid down her stomachfrustratingly slowly until the throbbing between her legs threatened toovertake her other senses; Beca squirmed and tilted her hips, wiggling down andagainst Chloe, needing more contact.

Chloeunderstood instantly; the hand on her stomach stopped teasing and instead droppedto cup her crotch over her underwear. Beca’s jaw dropped and she tried to gasp,but all she could hear was Chloe moaning above her. Beca scrabbled at Chloe’sback, running her nails up and down, trying to wiggle down in the bed for morecontact and attempting to open her legs even wider.

Chloelifted back to create a hair of space between them, her fingertips moving totrace the waistband of Beca’s underwear.

“Is this–” she started, only to be cut off by Beca pulling her down into a kiss andlifting her hips again.

“God, yes,just –”

The restof her sentence got lost in how it felt to have Chloe’s hand slip down thefront of her underwear.

Becaalmost came right then, at the very first touch.

“Bec,you’re… soaked,” Chloe breathed, her fingers stroking and exploring.

Beca triedto respond, but all that came out was a garbled mess of syllables; her mind wastoo focused on how Chloe’s fingers felt gliding against her.

Chloedidn’t waste time teasing, instead finding Beca’s throbbing bundle of nervesinstantly and circling it tightly, adding pressure with each pass. Beca’sentire body jerked and her head pressed back into the pillow. Her hips rockedat the rhythm she let Chloe set, a fast, staccato one that made her breath comein gasps.

“Ah – fuck – that’s – don’t stop,” Becapanted, another slew of curses falling from her mouth when Chloe’s fingersdropped to circle her entrance.

“Can I?”

“If youdon’t, I swear to god –”

Chloelaughed, a breathless chuckle that was at odds with the casual way she slid onefinger inside. Beca grunted, her hips lifting as Chloe pulled back then pressedin, adding a second finger. She moved slowly at first, then increased her paceuntil she was thrusting hard and fast into Beca.

Beca’seyes rolled back and she crossed her heels over Chloe’s back, trying to pullher in further, trying to take more of her. Chloe moaned and moved faster,using her hips to drive into Beca more firmly with each thrust.

The bedhad started making a cacophony of noise, but Beca was too far gone to care; shewasn’t going to be stopping this for anyone, angry neighbors be damned. Herbody burned and she knew she was digging her nails into Chloe’s back too hardbut then Chloe started curling her fingers as she pulled back to rub at that one spot inside.

Beca’sbody tensed, her jaw clenching against the near-constant stream of syllablesflowing from her mouth as she was hit with the realization that this was Chloe,best friend Chloe, former Maid of Honor Chloeinside of her. Her hips locked in place and she felt herself starting totighten and twitch around Chloe’s fingers.

“I’m –I’m, Chlo, I’m –”

Chloeredoubled her efforts, twisting her hand to press her palm against Beca andadding a third finger. Beca cried out; her senses were so overwhelmed and shewas so full and her legs tensed andher back arched and she felt herself clenching so that Chloe was held in place,palm pressing there, until, with afinal flutter of the fingers inside of her, Beca came harder than she ever had.

She bitdown onto Chloe’s shoulder to keep from yelling out. She thrashed againstChloe, wave after wave making her body shudder. Chloe kept her hand where itwas, moving her fingers gently to prolong it until, with a shaky breath, Beca’sbody gave out and she melted back into the mattress.

Sheuncrossed her heels from Chloe’s back, wincing when Chloe eased out of her.Almost reverently, Chloe stroked through her length, the barest brush againstsensitive nerves sending aftershocks through Beca’s body and making her twitch.

“Don’teven think about it,” Beca groaned in response to the question in Chloe’s eyes.“I can’t again.”

Chloepouted a little but pulled away, removing her hand from Beca’s (completelyruined) underwear. She wiped her hand on her own thigh before rolling off ofBeca – whose legs immediately collapsed and fell to the side – to lay on herback next to her.

Becastared at the ceiling for a moment, breathing hard, her head spinning. Shecouldn’t believe she’d just gotten the best orgasm of her life from ChloeBeale.

And yet –when Beca turned her head to make sure, there Chloe was, watching her sotenderly that it made Beca’s chest fill with happiness.

“So, wheredid that come from?” Beca asked, still catching her breath.

Chloeshrugged. “I guess… you could say I’ve been wanting to do that for a while.”

Beca’sheart throbbed at the uncharacteristic shyness in Chloe’s voice. She felt Chloeshift next to her and realized with a pang how uncomfortable she must be.

The secondthat occurred to her, she found herself moving like she’d been possessed,rolling so that she hovered over Chloe, hips between her legs. Chloe blinked upat her, stunned, and Beca almost wanted to laugh. She settled for a smirk thatmade Chloe whimper and caused hands to appear on her back before she descendedwithout preamble onto Chloe’s chest.

Theguttural groan that tore free from Chloe’s throat almost made her come again.

MimickingChloe’s rocking motion, Beca drove her hips forward, feeling the heat andmoisture even through Chloe’s underwear as she rolled her tongue aroundpebbling skin. She held it between her lips, sucking as she pulled back untilit slid from her mouth. Beneath her, Chloe collapsed back into the bed with agasp, only for Beca to drop her mouth to the other side.

Becastooped to one elbow, her free hand roving gracelessly over Chloe’s side,skimming Chloe’s previously attended to breast and tracing down the lines ofher abs. As she circled her navel, Chloe’s hips bucked up into herstantalizingly. Beca had to freeze for a moment, releasing Chloe’s breast fromher mouth while she struggled to control herself.

She wantedChloe.

With ashaky breath, Beca reached down further to cup Chloe’s crotch like Chloe hadfor her. Chloe moaned and pressed herself into Beca’s hand; even through thecotton material, Beca could feelChloe, and knowing that it was all for her sent tremors through her body.

“Please –ah – I need –” Chloe writhed beneath her, hands digging impatiently into Beca’sback, tugging her hips down.

Becaunderstood completely.

Sheremoved her hand and dropped her mouth back down to Chloe’s chest, kissing andlicking and sucking before continuing the journey south. Chloe’s hips tilted upinto her chest, so Beca didn’t waste much time; she pressed only a few kissesto Chloe’s stomach, dipping her tongue into her navel with a teasing grinbefore moving to crawl backward until she was half on the bed, half off, hershoulders settled firmly between Chloe’s legs.

“Pillow?”she asked, glancing up.

“What? God,Bec, yes,” Chloe hissed, flinging one down for Beca to prop under Chloe’s hips,lifting her.

Beca couldfeel the heat radiating from Chloe against her face, Chloe’s panties doingnothing to hide how much she wanted this. Beca pressed her lips high on Chloe’sinner thigh, her tongue tracing over wetness that had streaked down to makeChloe gasp and jerk. It was everything, and her fingers dug into Chloe’sthighs. She ran her nose along the same path, feeling Chloe squirm above her.

Sheglanced up, catching sight of Chloe watching her, looking pained, one handtangled in her own hair while the other fisted the sheets.

With that,Beca’s restraint snapped and she reached for the panties, yanking them down andtwisting out of the way so she could take them completely off. She dropped themon the floor and half-collapsed back to her stomach between Chloe’s legs.

She barelysettled before a hand appeared in her hair and Chloe parted her legs evenfurther. On a whim, Beca reached to hook her arms under Chloe’s thighs, restingher hands on Chloe’s hips to hold her in place.

“Bec,fuck,” Chloe breathed, her eyes squeezing shut again and hips starting to rock,already setting a rhythm.

That’swhat pushed Beca over the edge; hearing Chloe swear like that. She’d beenplanning on teasing more, but Beca knew she didn’t need it.

“Tu es si belle,” Beca murmured, “J'ai hâte de te goûter.”

Strangethat something as vulgar as “I can’t wait to taste you,” should sound so goodin French.

Chloe’seyes flew wide at the French and her back arched off the bed and Beca could see the effect it those few simple wordshad had on her. With a desperate groan, the last of Beca’s self-controlunraveled and she leaned in and pressed her tongue against Chloe to swipe upthrough her length.

It madeChloe cry out and Beca’s hips ground down into the mattress on instinct,finding little relief. She kept going, licking broad paths through folds; Chloewas soaked, and it was the best moment of Beca’s life. Breathing became aproblem, but she didn’t care, just kept licking and sucking on soft skin,reveling in the noises Chloe made. She looked up, watching Chloe’s reaction asshe swirled her tongue around, noticing how a flick there made Chloe’s eyesflutter and a broad press here made her mouth drop open.

“Bec – I –oh my god,” Chloe panted, writhing and bucking against Beca’s mouth, obviouslytrying to encourage some kind of rhythm.

Becawaited, licking and sucking, humming occasionally to press vibrations from herthroat into Chloe’s center, purposely avoiding a specific bud of nerves. She alternatedbetween licking broad strokes and flicking, occasionally prodding with her noseto draw deep groans from Chloe.

It wasn’tuntil the hand in Beca’s hair started to claw almost painfully and the heels onher back kicked into her that Beca attached her mouth fully to press her tongueinside.

Chloe’shead crashed back against the pillow and her hips rose into Beca’s face until sheused her grip to force them back down into the mattress.

“Fuck – that’s – yes – shit –” Chloe panted,the muscles in her stomach rippling and twitching. Her thighs started to closearound Beca’s head, and Beca had to tug to keep Chloe open.

She draggedher tongue along Chloe’s walls deliberately slowly, pressing hard, beforepulling out and pushing back in. It made her jaw cramp a little, but she keptgoing, her hips again pressing into the mattress desperately as if she’d nevergotten relief. She kept the steady rhythm, in out, in, out, until Chloe’s hipsjerked wildly and she lost her grip. Chloe set a frantic pace, fast thrustspunctuated with curse words Beca had never heard her say before.

She’dnever done this before but god she’dbetter get to do it again.

Freed fromBeca’s grip, Chloe’s thighs came up to close around her, holding her in placeso that they were rocking together. Beca reached a hand around, pressing herfingers to the swollen bundle of nerves begging for her attention. Chloe’sentire body jolted and she cried out, so Beca pressed harder, making firmlittle circles with her fingers even as she continued to push in and out withher tongue.

Suddenly,Chloe tensed, her center pulsing a little around Beca’s tongue. Beca movedfaster, focusing on the sensation she’d felt before in herself but never insomeone else, and especially never around her tongue. She pressed in closer,curling her tongue to rub inside and circling harder with her fingers, brushingand stroking, flicking the bud side to side.

“God– Bec – don’t stop, I’m so – shit –keep doing that – I’m going to –”

She kepther rhythm steady, fingers pressing and circling endlessly as Chloe’s backarched and her hips locked in place, teetering on the edge until, with onefinal nudge of Beca’s fingers, Chloe spasmed, pulsing around Beca’s tongue asshe came.

Beca lookedup to watch it happen, taking in Chloe’s furrowed brow, open mouth, and closedeyes, memorizing every detail as she pulled her tongue back and moved herfingers gently, easing Chloe down. She finally relaxed with a deep groan, herbody sagging down into the mattress and her thighs falling open to send coolair to Beca’s face.

But Becadidn’t want to stop yet.

“Look atme,” Beca said, waiting until Chloe’s dazed blue eyes met hers. “I’ve beenwanting to do this for a while, too. Tues tout pour moi.”

And beforeChloe could even blink, Beca ran her tongue over her again, making her squeakand throw her head back. The second time she did it, she felt Chloe’s entirebody quake, and the third lick made Chloe’s hips lift with a groan.

Beca keptgoing, licking and pulling still-swollen skin into her mouth. Chloe’s handswove into her hair again, pulling her closer and closer as Beca worked, nudgingher tongue and nose against nerves, suckling and lapping until Chloe waswrithing and bucking under her again in a matter of minutes.

She tookanother broad lick through Chloe to latch her lips on the bundle to suck andChloe fell apart with a cry for a second time. Beca kept going, ready to takeher to a third (or fourth or fifth) when she felt Chloe push at her. She glancedup to see Chloe smiling weakly and shaking her head.

“Get uphere,” Chloe sighed, her face and chest still flushed and so, so sexy.

Reluctantly,Beca pressed one last kiss to Chloe’s center – smiling at the way it made Chloeswear softly – before she lifted herself up from the mattress. She crawled overChloe’s body on her hands and knees to hover over her as she leaned down for akiss. Chloe responded eagerly, her tongue flicking out to taste herself onBeca’s lips.

“Okay?”Beca asked somewhat sarcastically as she rolled off Chloe to lay beside her.

Immediately,Chloe cuddled into her, her face in Beca’s neck, an arm slung over her waist,and one leg thrown over her hip.

“More thanokay,” Chloe breathed. “Can we do that again sometime?”

Beca laughedand said, “I think I’ll die if we don’t.”

Chloehummed in agreement, then asked softly, “When did you learn French?”

Becacouldn’t stop the smug grin she felt growing on her face. “Let’s just say itwas a relatively recent development.”

She feltChloe shudder against her, pressing closer to melt even further into Beca’sbody.

“I likeit. And remind me to send your former wedding planner a fruit basket,” she murmuredsleepily.

Becatrailed her fingertips along Chloe’s back, smiling into the darkness of theapartment.

“I mightsend her one myself.”

#bechloe #bechloe lap dance #my writing #bechloe smut #dialogue prompt #beca x chloe #starts jeca ends bechloe #beca mitchell #chloe beale #Anonymous #pitch perfect #bechloe fic

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oohlovergirl · 5 years

Text

4 Times Brian Tries to Say I Love You, and the 1 Time He Does. [Gwilym!Brian x Reader]

Pairing: Gwilym!Brian x Reader

Word count: 2646 (this is the longest fic I’ve posted so far!)

Contains: PURE PURE PURE FLUFFINESS

A/N: This is kinda a part two to this fic where the reader is a guitar tech (so check it out if haven’t read it already). ALSO: I LOVED WRITING THIS & I’m currently in a Brian/Gwilym mood, so if you have any requests for either of them, let me know! If you want to be on my taglist, message me :)

PREFACE:

Brian doesn’t remember exactly when he started loving you. Can’t pinpoint the moment where he stopped in his tracks and declared, I am in love with Y/N Y/L/N.

It crept up on him, really. Crept up on him when he sees you laugh as if you don’t have a care in the world––a laugh that brightens up the whole room––makes others laugh as well. Crept up on him when he sees the way you furrow your brows when you’re trying to figure something out, a pen held between your teeth. Crept up on him when he wakes up to your warmth seeping into his side, the light streaming in from the gauzy curtains embracing you in an angelic glow. It truly crept up on him one day while eating the pancakes you two made together, and he realized with a jolt that he would happily spend the rest of his life with you.

–––––––

“Does he talk about anything else besides Y/N?” Roger asks from his seat on the recording studio’s sofa, legs sprawled wide.

“Oh, Roger, darling, just because Brian’s found the love of his life, doesn’t mean you have to be so bitter about it,” Freddie says.

Just as Roger’s about to respond, Brian cuts in, “I––I don’t––I mean, love is a really strong word…”

“Oh come on, Brian, are you honestly telling us that you don’t love her?” Freddie asks, arms crossed.

Brian pauses. No. That is not what he is telling them. He really just didn’t realize it––loving you. Loving you––well––it crept up on him, really. Truly.

“I love her,” he whispers, more to himself. “I really, really, really, really love her.”

“What was that? I couldn’t hear you?” Roger says with a shit-eating grin and a hand up to his ear.

“I love her!” he exclaims, a bit too loudly. “I love her so much, I feel like my heart is going to burst. I don’t know what to do!”

“You know for someone who has a PhD, you are so stupid sometimes.” Brian stops pacing to glare at his friend.

“And what do you suggest I should do Mister ‘I Know Everything’?”

“Say it to her, you dumb idiot!”

Brian stops at that, his hand stills in his hair.

“Dumb idiot?” he asks, surprised at Roger’s pretty moderate word choices.

“You said I shouldn’t say ‘fuck’ so much.”

“And you listened to me?”

“No, I just thought it would be funny to sound like you for a bit.”

“Rog, I hate you.”

“You love me.”

ONE:

It shouldn’t be this hard, he thinks, frustrated at himself while waiting for the coffee to finish roasting. But it is. He’s scared. Scared of rejection. Scared of vulnerability. Scared because he cares so much for you and doesn’t want to mess it up.

After pouring some cream and two cubes of sugar into yours (he keeps his black), he pads back to the room where you’re currently buried beneath the covers, trying (futilely) to escape the frigid morning air.

“Good morning, beautiful,” Brian says, handing you one of the two steaming mugs of coffee he’s holding. He puts his down on the table next to the bed and sits on the mattress. You take yours with two hands, giving him a grateful smile. Taking a small sip, you sigh in content.

“Thanks, Bri,” you say, your voice still a little scratchy from sleep. His heart melts at that. Melts at you in his bed, his shirt hanging loosely off your shoulders, hair messy, eyes still hazy with sleep. Melts because you look absolutely stunning. Melts because he absolutely, positively adores you.

You catch him staring and put down your cup on the bedside table.

“You know, staring’s rude,” you tease, flicking his nose. He covers up his embarrassment from getting caught by pulling you down for a kiss, making you squeal in surprise and delight. You’re now laying wholly on top of his body, elbows resting on his chest as you look down at him. His heart skips a beat.

“I––” he starts. You look at him, your face centimeters away from his, so close he can see the way your eyelashes graze the tops of your cheeks. “I––I should be going over to Fred’s. We have a few more songs we want to hash out.” You groan, flopping off of him.

“Fine then, leave your poor girlfriend all alone on this cold winter’s day,” you lament, flinging an arm across your face. He chuckles, flicking your nose, causing you to stick your tongue out at him.

“I’ll be home soon,” he says before giving you a quick kiss and rolling out of bed to start getting ready for the day.

TWO:

Brian storms into Freddie’s living room where the band has been holed up all day writing new songs. He just arrived after spending the morning at your apartment.

“I almost said it. I almost did. And then I backed out,” Brian babbles, hands roughly running through his hair, making his curls stand up even more than they already do. “God, I’m such an idiot.” Freddie and John whip their heads up from the song lyrics they were scribbling down in a notebook. Roger mumbles something incoherent with a cigarette dangling between his lips while lazing against the couch.

“Well, hello to you, too,” Freddie says.

“Almost said what?” John asks.

“That I love her––that I love Y/N!” A pause. “I’m just gonna call her,” he says in an impulsive “I just need to get it out” kind of moment. He reaches for Freddie’s landline that’s sitting on the small table to the side of the couch.

“What? NO!” John yells before slapping his hand away. “That is a terrible idea.”

“Why are you so nervous for this anyway?” Fred asks, now absentmindedly stroking his cat who had just sauntered over and perched itself on his lap.

“I don’t know! I just don’t want to mess it up,” he mumbles, a blush tinting his cheeks. “I––I just really care for her.” What he doesn’t tell his best friends is that, he really, really, really cares for her. That he’s absolutely in love with her––knows that he wants to spend his whole life with her. He doesn’t tell them that he feels unworthy of her love. That he thinks that she deserves so much more. She deserves so much better.

Roger finally pipes up, head looking up at the ceiling as if in deep thought. “Which part of the car do you think is sexier––the grease gun or––”

“Rog, did you even hear a word I just said?” Brian asks, sighing.

“Roger, not this again,” Fred says.

“What the fu––what is wrong with you?” John asks, slightly disgusted but honestly unsurprised.

THREE:

The band agreed to play a small gig as a favor to one of their favorite pubs. And so, one can find Brian May backstage of said pub, currently jumping up and down and shaking out his shoulders while Roger’s slightly hunched over, hands on his knees.

“So what are you going to say?” Roger yells, trying to pump Brian up.

“I’m gonna say that I love her!”

“What? I couldn’t hear you!”

“I’M GOING TO SAY THAT I LOVE HER!”

“Huh? One more time!”

“I LOVE YOU, Y/N!”

“Bri, Rog, you guys are up in ten,” you say, popping your head into the room. Brian screams a very high, almost shriek–like scream. Roger just slowly puts his hand up to his open mouth, eyes wide, the sound of a low “ohhhh,” coming through his fingers. You look at them in confusion before taking off your headset.

“You guys got that?” you ask, a bit slower, having heard nothing that was said in the last few minutes with the stage manager constantly yelling through your headpiece. Brian realizes this and lets out a breath.

“Yeah, yeah,” he says, overcome with relief. You smile before pecking him on the cheek.

“Good luck,” you call out to him before exiting the room.

“Mate, you gotta stop yelling confidential information in the dressing room with your doors closed when you’re girlfriend is the bloody guitar tech,” Roger says as he lets out a chuckle, running his hand down his face.

Brian just flops down on the couch, face down. Freddie walks in.

“Ooh what did I miss?” he asks, clapping his hands together. Brian simply groans in response.

“Fred, I have a serious question, how do you think Brian managed to get a PhD with a brain like his?”

Brian flings a pillow at Roger, catching him on the head, and thus, knocking the black RayBans off of his face and messing up his hair.

“Oi! Watch the hair!” Roger says before hurrying to the mirror to try to fix it. Deacy walks in a few seconds after.

“‘Lo, mates, did I miss anything good?” he asks, his usual smile on his face.

“Deacy––I have a serious question for you––”

“ROGER.”

FOUR:

Brian tiptoes into the room to see your figure already fast asleep underneath the covers. It’s around two o’clock in the morning, and he just got back home from a recording and writing session. He changes quickly and quietly, running the sink as low as possible. After he stripped down to his boxers, he gently worms his way under the blanket which causes you to shuffle in your sleep.

“Bri?” you ask, sleep heavy in your voice.

“Yeah, it’s me, love, sorry for waking you. Go back to sleep,” he whispers, stroking your hair. You yawn, knuckling at your eyes and sitting up a bit.

“How was the studio?”

He smiles. “I’ll tell you in the morning,” he says before pressing a kiss to your temple. You yawn again and snuggle into his side, wrapping an arm across his middle. Your soft breaths hitting the bare skin of his chest.

“I love you,” he whispers into your hair. But, you’ve already fallen back asleep, soft snores breaking the silence of the room. He sighs because he knew you were asleep when he said it. Knew that he could finally whisper these words aloud without having to worry about your reaction. He leans over to turn off the lamp before pulling the covers a little higher over your sleeping body and wrapping his arm a tad tighter around your shoulders, bringing you closer.

Placing a gentle kiss onto your head, he whispers, “Sleep well, my love.”

FIVE:

The boys thought it would be an excellent idea to drive a couple hours down to the beach for a bonfire and s’mores night as a break from writing and recording songs. So, after hanging out at a small pub they used to perform at and grabbing a quick dinner, you all pile into the car for the drive. You finally make it to the beach (after approximately two hours––it would’ve only taken one, but Deacy had to stop for the restroom every ten minutes).

Once finally setting up the bonfire (which took way too long as no one knew how to do anything––Mary ended up saving the day), you all settle down around it, blankets on your shoulders. Soaking in the cozy warmth and smell of the fire crackling in front of you. Each holds a stick with a marshmallow stuck at the top near the flames.

“Hey! Stop hogging all the marshmallows, Roger!” John accuses in which Roger responds with a noise of disbelief.

“What? I didn’t have dinner,” he grumbles, but grudgingly hands the bag over.

“That’s because you were too busy trying to flirt with that girl at the bar and in doing so, rudely ditched having dinner with us instead,” Fred says promptly before carefully assembling his own s’more.

You snort into your palm, and Roger looks at you with a betrayed expression on his face, as if saying, “Hey, I thought you were on my side,” as you and Roger have grown quite close as friends (and partners in crime when stirring up mischief). You shrug your shoulders with raised brows, replying, “Sorry. Your fault, and that girl was rude.”

Hours in, after all the chocolate and marshmallows and graham crackers were long gone (thanks to Roger, they ran out before the first hour), you and Brian pick a spot on the beach away from the others and lay a large blanket on the sand beneath you. You both plop down, stretching out your legs, watching and listening to the waves crash onto the shore.

Eventually you lie back, both of you side-by-side, shoulder-to-shoulder, looking up at the night sky. The stars are so much clearer, so much brighter––finally able to shine––without being smothered by the city smog, and they’re beautiful.

You lean your head against his shoulders as he points at the sky, identifying all the different constellations to you. His eyes are bright, and you love seeing him like this––talking about the things he’s passionate about.

“And that’s the Big Dipper,” he says, drawing out the little outline with his pointer finger in front of you.

His other hand rests on your stomach where you play with his fingers. Mindlessly twisting his rings around and around. He rolls over onto his side, gazing at you, gazing at the stars, and you turn your head too, smiling at him. His face is soft, and his eyes are serious.

“I love you,” he says softly although his heart is thundering in his chest. He waits with bated breath, waits to see your reaction.

He sees your face light up with pure joy, which makes him want to say “I love you” a billion times again just to see your reaction a billion times more. You place a hand to his cheek and press your lips to his for a long kiss.

“I love you, too, Bri,” you say when you pull away. And just like what he saw in your face, you see in his what you imagine could only be pure, unadulterated love. That pure, unadulterated love directed at you.

Silence stretches on as you simply look at each other, your fingers dancing along his jaw, his cheeks, his nose. He leans in to give you a kiss on your cheek, and then on the tip of your nose (you scrunch up your face when he does that), and then on each of your eyelids, and then the corner of your mouth. Impatient, you tilt your head to catch his lips with your own.

“Say it again?” he asks after you separate. Vulnerability shining bright in his eyes.

“I love you, Brian May. I love you with all of my heart,” you whisper with a smile. He closes his eyes––almost reverently––a soft smile on his lips as he listens to your voice.

And you––your heart swells in your chest, and you feel like crying. You don’t even realize you are until you sniffle, and he reaches out a hand to brush a tear from your cheek. You move closer to him, resting your head right above his heart. You can feel its rapid beat, and he places a large hand to cup your head to his body, stroking your hair.

And you know this is so cliché, but lying down with the stars as your ceiling, the love of your life’s warmth pressed against your side, and the laughter of the others and the waves as background music, you feel like this moment is completely and utterly perfect.

“FUCK,” you hear Roger yell.

“Why the hell would you put your hand in the fire?” John asks, exasperation and incredulity in his voice. You break down in giggles, Brian chest shakes as he laughs alongside you.

Yep, absolutely, completely, utterly perfect.

Permanent taglist: @thefirstkillerqueen

#gwilym lee imagine #gwilym!brian #brian may x reader #brian may imagine #gwilym lee x reader #gwilym lee #bohemian rhapsody #queen imagine #queen #roger taylor #john deacon #rami malek #joe mazzello #ben hardy #roger taylor imagine

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vlightndarkv · 5 years

Text

Reactions to Yu-Gi-Oh: Dark Side of Dimensions

Okay so, this started as one reaction to something, but then I had more reactions and just kept adding on aaaand... Yeah. XD

Now obviously there will be some spoilers, but most should be fairly out of context.

I have no idea if this will even be of any interest to anyone, probably not, but I had fun doing it so eh. *shrug*

I'll keep the first few visible but will hide the rest under a read more cause this got kinda long. Whoops. >.>

Also, I intend to write a proper review of this movies because I have many thoughts on things, but that will be tomorrow. Is quite late, much later than I had intended on staying up, and I need sleep.

(Also I will apologize now to anyone who likes Kaiba that happens to read this. I distinctly am NOT a fan of Kaiba and it very much shows throughout this.)

---

"It's true, I went through a great deal of trouble recreating the Pharoah's deck, strategies, even his perfectly quaffed hair. In fact that part is what took the longest."

Oh my god what even is this movie??? XDXD

(Quick note, this was the original reaction I was going to post on it’s own, but shortly after I had another and that’s how this whole thing came about. After this they’re in order as the occurred in the movie, it’s just this one that’s out of place since it started the whole thing.)

---

*movie opens with us flying through space, comes to a space station with the letters KC on the side*

Me: Oh dear god, his ego had reached space!

---

Uh... Excuse me what? Why do you have that???

---

*people digging stuff up, dude has a picure of the Millennium Puzzle on his phone*

Me: Uh... Okay... So are these Kaiba’s guys or...

---

*Yugi and his grandpa talking about Tea*

Me: Oh? Will there finally be some eluding to Yugi and Tea?

*little further along*

Me: Guess not.

---

Sploosh!

---

*Bakura surrounded by girls, completely flustered*

Me: XDXDXD

(I’m glad they included this because it’s never played up in the show despite being canon)

---

*gang goes around, talking about what they’re going to do after graduating*

Me: But what about Bakura? (No I’m not a Bakura fangirl, no not at all >.>)

---

*Aigami is introduced, gang standing around trying to remember his name*

Me: He hasn’t been in their class the whole time has he.

---

Geh, what is up with these character designs? What’s with that dude’s head??

---

What is this these characters and jumping off things?

---

*Joey tumbles into his landing*

Me: *snort* Nailed it.

Joey: Dat was on purpose!

Me: Close enough. XD

---

Aigami: You’re Joey right? And Tea? And you... You’re Yugi Moto, am I right?

Yugi: Yeah but, don’t we already know each other?

Me: Yeaaah... He definitely hasn’t been around this whole time.

---

That whole thing was a set up wasn’t it?

---

Joey: How do we know him and not know him at the same time?

Yugi: I wish I had an answer.

*conspiracy theory continues to grow*

Dirty water dogs...

---

Seriously this dude’s head!

---

Well. They certainly didn’t waste any time revealing you as the villain did they?

---

*shadow people start showing up*

Is... Is that Bakura??? The hell???

---

Aand the whole thing was recorded.

*Aigami picks up the camera after having been seen walking away through it*

Wait. How did-But you just- HUH???

---

Pharaoh? Uhhhh... what?

---

*Kaiba immediately summons three blue-eyes*

Me: Doesn’t anybody know the rules of this game? (Throwback to Yu-Gi-Oh abridged. XD)

---

*Kaiba internal monologuing about how he’s better, how he’s done so much to get to this moment, how he’ll finally show he’s the best*

Me: *groans and rolls eyes so hard it’s a wonder they didn’t pop out of my skull*

---

Kaiba: You set me up. *attack happens, things explode, Kaiba still stands* But I knew you’d set me up.

Me: Aand of course. Wouldn’t be Yu-Gi-Oh if there weren’t constant, “But wait!” moments.

---

*Kaiba unleashes attack, Pharaoh doesn’t try to counter, things explode*

Me: ... This wasn’t real was it?

*world begins to fade away*

Me: Yup. Only way he’d actually beat the Pharaoh.

---

Crystal cloud network... How far does that go exactly? Dear god that’s a terrifying thought...

---

Okay so wait he... doesn’t... have it yet? Then what was up with the beginning of the movie?

---

Duke! Wasn’t expecting to see you.

---

Kaiba: It is I! Seto Kaiba and once again I am about to change your lives.

Me: Oh lord here we go...

---

Huh... Well that’s certainly interesting how they played this.

(This was in reaction to Diva and his friend overlooking Yugi and his friends at the mall. I went into this movie having seen a rather key scene involving Diva and Bakura so was impressed at how they mislead us early on)

---

Kaiba can't you just wait for the plane to land like a normal person? You really had to jump out of it? Seriously, the characters in this series and jumping from things.

---

The guns aren't invisible!

---

Kaiba... Only you would be extra enough to have an automatic trap door build into your coat.

---

"There are no limits when you're as brilliant as Seto Kaiba!"

Me: Ugh...

---

How may different types of Blue-eyes White Dragons does this guy have???

---

*Kaiba internal monologuing about how it can't end here, I've come too far done too much*

Me: I swear to god if he says something about the heart of the cards I'm done.

---

Uh... Whut.

Whut

Kaiba you're breaking the world.

---

What is that? Wait... Is that...

Aigami: It's Obelisk the Tourmentor!

Me: WHUT. He still has that???

---

*glowing coming from the hole the items fell into, dude teleport down, Millennium Ring is poking out of the rubble*

Oh dear.

---

Huh. So they're actually graduating.

---

Kaiba why... WHY do you need a space station?

---

*computer goes through a bunch of techno babble*

Kaiba: Don't you think I know that? I invented the blasted thing.

Computer: Affirmative. But my AI has recognized your affinity for being reminded of your genius.

Me: UGHHH!!! MY GOD YOUR EGO.

---

Huh. Well THAT just threw a bunch of my Bakura head canons out the window.

---

Oh dear. Well that's not good.

---

Tristan: Come on! Something's happened to Joey!

Me: How do you know that?!

---

*Aigami’s friend shows up acting all creepy*

Oooh snap.

---

Okay so is the ring manipulating this dude's emotions or is this the spirit talking and he's pissed at Bakura.

---

Aigami: The ring didn't do it it was you!

Aigami: *2 minutes later* Manny the ring is doing something to you!

Me: Dude! Make up your mind!

---

*Yugi and co. running around, calling for Joey*

Me: No concern for Bakura though. As usual. *sigh*

---

Friendship is magic!

---

Kaiba. Go. AWAY.

Seriously, I feel like I'm watching two different movies here.

---

HOW DO YOU KNOW HE HAS THE PIECES?!?!?!

---

Mokuba: Hey Yugi what's up? Lookin good!

Me: How are these two related...

---

Mokuba: *cocky* We know were the second piece is and it's practically ours.

Me: ... Okay now I see the family resemblance.

---

I swear to god just when I start to think Kaiba can't get any more extra...

---

*Kaiba goes through long-winded, ego boosting speech that I've already forgotten most of*

Me: Ughhhhhh......

---

Kaiba: Behold! The Millennium Puzzle!

Me: Dude, you are LITERALLY one of 7 people in that entire stadium who even knows what that thing is.

---

Yeah Yugi! Put that egotistical prick in his place!

---

These poor people have NO IDEA what's going on.

---

Yugi: Dimension dueling? Guess I'll have to learn as I go.

Me: Ladies and gentlemen, Yu-Gi-Oh in a sentence.

---

Must we do the DBZ power up scream?

---

Oh boy, these things again.

---

Ah... But... He... Hm... *me trying to work out a plot point*

---

Kaiba: (card name)'s ability allows me to to summon Blue-Eyes White Dragon!

Me: Of course it does.

---

Seriously, HOW MANY DIFFERENT BLUE EYES DOES THIS GUY HAVE???

---

APPLE Magician Girl??? Dafuq?

---

And now Lemon Magician Girl. He's got a magical fruit salad in the works here.

---

*Diva comes across Millennium Ring*

Me: Oh shit.

---

*Kaiba plays Monster Reborn*

Me: Oh hey, a card I know!

---

Geehh.

---

EIGHTH Millennium Item??? Sure why not.

---

Yugi and Kaiba having a back to back bad ass moment to team up against the bad guy... Not sure how I feel about this.

---

*Kaiba shows concern for Yugi, Kaiba sacrifices himself for Yugi*

The ease in which he changes his focus depending on the situation is... Something else. Because I know when this is all over he'll be right back to, "Yugi I will defeat you!" mode.

---

When did you pick that up?!

---

Heart of the cards. Knew that had to come up at some point.

---

Return of the Pharoah! (?)

---

He's... Not gonna say a word is he?

*Pharoah poofs*

Nope.

---

HIS SPACE STATION IS SHAPED LIKE A K AND A C. HOW DID I MISS THAT. Dear lord this guy...

---

*Kaiba is shown to have Diva's cube thing*

Me: Uh oh...

---

... Whut...

SERIOUSLY DUDE??? DEAR GOD GET A LIFE!

---

*credits roll, remixed version of original theme plays*

Me: *cackles*

---

*credits scroll through songs, three of which were on the shows soundtrack*

How did I miss those??? (Though to be fair its been a LOOOONG time since I last listened to that soundtrack)

---

THERE WAS NO POT OF GREED.

On one level, I’m relieved. Back when I watched the show I came to despise that card because despite it being played ALL THE DAMN TIME they STILL felt the need to explain that it, “Allows me to draw two cards” EVERY.FRIGGIN.TIME.

But on the other hand, because of that it became such a part of the series that it almost seems wrong for it to have not been included.

#Yu-Gi-Oh #dark side of dimensions #my various reactions to things #Kaiba is a prick #BUT BAKURA FINALLY GOT SOME FOCUS!!!

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wrongfullythinking · 5 years

Text

Are we down to 4?

Some are tolling the bell for Biden. I think it’s early, but I do agree that he’s got probably two more debates to figure out something. Honestly, I don’t see any of the top five dropping out before California, but if one is to get out early, could it be Biden?

The Facts For... He seemed pretty reluctant to get into this thing to start.

He’s not Obama.

He has the longest record in the field, and long record are not a boon. In this world of context-free revisionist history that is sweeping the left (seriously Nike?), the longer your record, the more shots you are going to take.

He’s not Obama.

Biden has never shown resiliency. On one hand, it is hard to point to the big losses in his career (even his previous aspirations at higher office) because he’s always back, smiling as he signs some paper or deal. But the problem is, he’s always back because it seems like he never wants to dive in with both feet. The perfect Vice. Hard to see it as presidential.

The lack of a platform. You know, when Bush was up for re-election, I said “The democrats will never win on a platform of “**** Bush”.” They tried it, they lost. Trump may not be Bush, but he probably has a stronger base, and I don’t think “Not Trump” is a platform. And frankly, I’m pretty excited that Warren and a few others are not going to let the primary be about beating Trump, a trend that I hope continues.

He’s still, really, not Obama.

The Facts Against He has reached deep into pockets that, although very deep, may be a little miffed if he drops out and “wastes” their money at this point.

The racist argument is a terrible way to go after him, because it almost guarantees you’ll lose the General Election. Any candidate that calls Trump a racist will cede the high ground that the moderates really want from a candidate. Yes, I know that Trump is hardly a high-ground candidate. But he’s an incumbent riding a recovering economy that still has remarkably low interest rates on mortgages (and I know, simultaneously low interest rates on savings account, but Americans are terrible at saving anyways). It doesn’t matter if it is true, but a mud-slinging match with Trump is a poor way to go about the matter. And starting out the Primary with mud-slinging the racism card at a pretty solid candidate is a really, really bad idea. Because this is a bad idea and it will play it, riding it out means Biden should stay in.

We’ve not heard from a single voter with a primary vote yet, and Biden is still likely to pull either Iowa or NH. If he does, it is hard to see him dropping out. However, if he doesn’t outright win at least one of those two, I think that’s it.

The Obama Endorsement has not dropped yet. Until Obama endorses somebody, it is hard to count Biden out. Honestly, this whole primary could end up in a murky mess, and Obama might have to step in and sort it out with a personal endorsement. The problem there is... he’ll regret not doing it month agos, as well the entire party.

How much does the Debate matter? Remember at this point, we’re more about eliminating candidates than confirming them. It is not about “who is in the lead” but rather “who is out.” And that means the casualty of the debate isn’t Biden, because he’s so far from out. If I was an analyst, the only camp I’d be jumping out of is Beto’s. If I’m working for Beto, I’m giving Warren, Harris, or Buttigieg’s campaign a call.

Did anybody else break out? Harris did well, but I already had her as a known quantity. Warren was exactly as good as expected, but she’ll survive this first bit of the race no matter what happens, so it is too early to say. There seems to be two “early-ins” from the pundits: Booker and Castro.

First off, can you imagine “President Castro”? That just sounds... I mean, I’m sorry, but remember Cuba? Is that a thing that will hurt older voters? Possibly, I’m not sure. Can you be done in by a name? Likely not, because I remember at least half a dozen times in the early days of 2007 when “Senator Osama” was referenced on national television. He got that sorted pretty quick. Still, I’m not seeing Castro commanding anything other than a percentage of the LatinX vote, and a percentage of the LatinX vote wins you nothing.

Booker never came off as the Obama-Successor he wants to be. Maybe it is the shouting, maybe it is the anger, maybe it is the height and the frank problem that our country is scared of large black men. Jon Bones Jones for President, by the way, he will take anybody on. But I’m not sure what Booker can do to beat Harris. He’s sounding a little like Harris-lite, and that’s not a good place to be in. If she drops out, I think he could slide into a slot that takes the minorities away from the older, whiter candidates, but while Harris in the field, I think her argument there is stronger and her momentum is certainly riding high. If Harris gets sunk by a wave of anti-prosecutor “she’s too mean” liberalism [I dearly hope not, but it’s happened before], it is hard to see Booker not getting hit by that same wave. So although I see Booker being relevant, I don’t see him getting past Harris, and that leaves him no path through Sanders, Biden, or Warren.

Updated Percentages? To win the nomination: Warren: 35 Biden: 30 Harris: 15 Sanders: 15 Buttigieg: 5

#politics #democrats #debate #biden

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thotyssey · 5 years

Text

RePoint: Frankie Sharp

One of nightlife’s biggest movers-and-shakers has us shook with all he’s up to these days: parties in Brooklyn, East Village and Chelsea; a live singing show; GLAM nominations; Drag Race Judys aplenty; and everything that is 3 Dollar Bill. And soon, the classic kiki that made him a nightlife name will be resurrected! Frankie Sharp catches up with Thotyssey since our first chat.

Thotyssey: Hey Frankie! Thanks for talking to us again today! It’s been a minute!

Frankie Sharp: Firstly can I just say, you are literally my favorite interviewer to talk to!

Aw shucks, and you’re one of our favorite ever interviewees! So last night at Club Cumming was the year anniversary of your hit live revue MARY! How did it go?

Even a year in, its always so nerve-racking! I think because it’s the most vulnerable thing I do. Literally putting myself on stage, and next to such great singers... I still feel like a wannabe next to them. But it was a beautiful night. It was very celebratory. I’m very proud of MARY. As well you should be! It’s a super popular night for Club Cumming, and it’s a GLAM-nominated cabaret this year!

The GLAM awards are so fun! But they seem very localized with recognizing talent. It’s very uptown-focused, so I’m very honored to be recognized when I am for having mostly downtown and Brooklyn productions these days.

Yes, you actually have a bunch of GLAM noms this time around... what’s your track record with winning those?

I used to win every year Best Party and Best Promoter when Westgay was happening... but understandably so, Westgay was a very specific night that beautifully bridged downtown and uptown, Manhattan and all the surrounding boroughs--which I think is the ultimate goal usually with events. But Westgay actually achieved that.

You’re doing so much right now!

Yes I’m nuts right now. But I like it that way. A wasted minute is hell to me.

Do you have in your mind very specific ideas on what potential acts or DJs you could work in what space, or is it more about just getting those people and fitting them into any gig you can based on their schedule?

No, it’s very, very conscious and calculated. Just because one DJ or performer is successful in one space, that does not make them right for another. There’s many things that come into play... location, demographic, personal perspective.

It’s so much to be aware of! I picture, like, a dozen thotty assistants in a dungeon somewhere updating Frankie Sharp spreadsheets all day and night.

Can you believe for the first time I just hired a full time assistant? And even then I do most of it, because I’m also very hands on and maybe even a control freak. I’m constantly finessing the approach. Everything is about fine-tuning and being aware of every aspect of an event before, during and after. Its all stimuli though, again... no wasted minute.

I was just at Metropolitan Bar in Brooklyn last night--

Metro is just THE SPOT, you know? Its ol' faithful. And they're so incredibly supportive. and I adore the staff, and Steven the manager is one of the hardest working men in the biz.

Yes! And when I was there I saw a poster for an upcoming Metrosensual, which will have Cynthia Lee Fontaine! Metrosensual is the Saturday weekly you produce, and your longest running party now; very often it features Drag Race girls like Cynthia. So many RuGirls have come through for a Frankie Sharp event, are there any who have remained elusive to you? Not really, honestly. Everyone is very supportive, and most girls I have personal relationships with and reach out to them before I reach out to their agents. I take great care of talent and they all get paid well and on time, so there’s no reason to pass up one of my events. Also, most managers of the girls know that I produce 100+ events a year, so they're very responsive.

I’m bummed I missed viral sensation Florida Man’s Metrosensual! How was she?

An actual genius. And a lovely person. It’s so refreshing to get girls from the Bay Area in NYC; there’s almost NO ego attached to the person. It’s all heart and professionalism.

You’re also now the Man behind REBAR’s BOYS, the Friday night party that delivers on its name. Lots of cute dancing boys and top DJs. How are you enjoying the night so far?

Honestly, fab! The crowd keeps growing every week, and it’s quickly becoming the spot to get classically cruisey and bring home a piece of trade you’ve never seen before.The crowd is hot AF, and no one has their phones out unless they’re filming the gogo boys’ group number. Its very Magic Mike up in the club at BOYS. I clearly have a stripper fetish. I grew up around them. Also, I DJ at BOYS for the first set, so I’m having fun myself, too.

Do you get to DJ as often as you like these days?

Honestly the 3 Dollar Bill the Producer Hat has gotten tighter on me... so no. DJing is my favorite thing to do. It’s how I got to where I am now. But it comes in waves. I wish other promoters would book me to guest DJ; I don’t do that much anymore. Although, "busy" is an understatement for me right now.

3 Dollar Bill is such an interesting space. How did it come to be that you’re the event producer there?

Well, I came to see the space for my Halloween party... and while I was doing so I became very fond of Brenda the owner, and we quickly became the best of friends. She expressed some concern over the space--that it was so vast and beautiful, but nothing was happening--so I decided to step in and help.

The partnership thus far has been unreal. I knew I could do everything I always wanted to at 3 Dollar Bill. I’ve just now started to scratch the surface with my, ideas for 3DB.

There is a lot that can be done with the space! It’s a huge cavernous dungeon, but also there’s a giant stage with great tech, and additionally an outdoor space. What is, like, the craziest thing that comes to mind, i.e. something that you’ve always wanted to try and can maybe be done there?

We’re doing an immersive theatre show in January and February from Neon Coven. And MARY is going to start a new production in the giant Club Room as Mary Presents, an immersive club / bar experience where the cast is at the party but also a part of the scripted show. But being that we also have live music venue capabilities, I have BIG plans with some huge performers doing full concerts. I have massive plans for World Pride, but I have to keep those hush for now.

Lo and behold, 3DB will be the home of a Westgay revival on December 29th, starring Alyssa Edwards. Westgay was your Mona Lisa! 2018 has been all about revivals in pop culture, with nightlife being no different... Wigstock returned this summer, too! What made you want to bring back Westgay now?

The best part of my job is helping young producers with their ideas and help turn their events into larger scale forms. In doing so, it was hard to book a Tuesday night; no one was brave enough to do so. WestGay was a Tuesday night, and I posted a Facebook post that said "Can’t anyone up-and-coming do another WestGay?" and some commented "W3STGAY at 3 Dollar Bill?” A light bulb came on.

Ack! Are you excited for the return? A little nervous, maybe?

Very Excited. Like I said before, I get nervous before anything I do. Putting yourself out there is the name of the game, though. But more than the nerves, I’m excited because it feels like a true family reunion.

You were involved as an event producer with a club in BK called Lovegun a few years ago that lots of people remember fondly, but sadly didn’t last. Did you learn a lot from that experience as far as how to make 3DB work?

Yeah... not bring Manhattan to Brooklyn.

That’s true! No matter how much time passes, those scenes are still two distinctive worlds! And in my fledgling work as an event producer, I find it sooooo hard to get friends to break their cycles and travel to “new” neighborhoods.

That was one of the most major problems with 3DB when it first opened. It felt like a Manhattan club landed in Brooklyn, and demanded its revenue and support with no real attachment to the community. My entire career is about not only honoring Manhattan, but also Brooklyn and surrounding hoods... so just New York as a whole. My approach above all else is having this space be a gift to Queer Brooklyn. Its stage, its dancefloor... it’s Brooklyn's, but everyone's invited.

These days, we’re all a bit furious, scared and hypersensitive thanks in big part to this administration and its open hostility to the queer community and minorities. Has any of that effected how you go about things, or changed your role as an event producer in any way?

I think everyone feels anxiety because as a queer community we may lose our rights, our people are being threatened and some even hurt or murdered. Honestly, I blame Hollywood. Hollywood created a false and dangerous narrative that everything has a happy ending, and since we’re not experiencing that we can feel that pain in our gut right now due to all of this shaky, racist and chaotic rhetoric. Also, it was Hollywood that brought this reality shit show of a president to us, too. It’s affected my business because people are feeling more confrontational than ever. So in some ways, what I do in creating spaces is punk rock, which in turn feels celebratory of just being queer... but conversely within the community it has somewhat made it segregated.

The only other way I can think of how the administration and the world in general have changed my event production is that my social media presence has been more conscious. It feels a lil’ strange to witness wildfires in California or massive shootings across the country, and then beg people to come to my weekly Rager. It feels so disingenuous. So I try to express words out of love and good intention. I like to talk about my sobriety, help young people get a jump start on professionalism, and treat others with kindness and respect. The coolest thing you can do right now is be an incredible neighbor.

One thing that’s surprisingly inspired the Right to rage is young children’s exposure to drag--either in Drag Queen Story Hour, or the kids themselves doing drag. Desmond is Amazing is one of the higher profile kid drag stars, and your showcasing them on Saturday at 3DB!

Desmond is a showgirl. It’s gonna be a great show, and that’s what I love. And I honor the hard work they put in, and what hard work their mother puts in, too. The performance is happening a lot earlier than my usual 2AM showcase.

I’m more focused on getting Desmond's rider right, with crackers, berries and Coca Cola. Everyone seems really obsessed with Desmond's rider. Capri Sun and Sour patch kids.

That is a pretty great rider!

Its not much different than my rider, honestly. Most riders are just sugar.

is it weird to set up these big weekend nights at 3DB when you are basically competing with yourself, like with Metrosensual in the same general hood?

The way that I set up 3DB on Saturdays is when it’s MY production, like WestGay or Club Whoa, I make sure the target audience is specific for each space. Metro is a bar party and always always will be bangin’ and busy... and the reasonable cover is always $5-10. 3DB is a club experience with a higher cover, and frankly the demographic is very different. If you like the DRAMA, go to 3DB... but if you like less aggressive vibes but still wanna dance and get laid on a Saturday night, go to Metro. It’s no different than one club night having two rooms with two different DJs and sound systems... these rooms just happen to be a few miles from one other.

Understood! And finally: will [*pop star’s name redacted*] perform at 3 Dollar Bill in 2019?

Real T? I don’t really see her. Perhaps it’s something I should explore, but I just don’t get it. I’m just mystified about her appeal. I just need someone to explain it to me. Maybe it’s a Kardashian thing? I think people find comfort in simple ideas. Thank you, Frankie!

Frankie Sharp produces MARY at Club Cumming (monthly Tuesdays, 9pm), BOYS at REBAR (Fridays, 10pm), Metrosensual at Metropolitan Bar (Saturdays, 10pm) and events at 3 Dollar Bill throughout the week. Check Thotyssey’s calendar for a full schedule of his events and appearances, and follow Frankie on Facebook and Instagram.

Previously: Frankie Sharp (3.17.2018)

On Point Archives

#onpointwith #frankiesharp

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the-shawfords · 4 years

Text

Chapter 1

Jamie Shawford

“No, Marty McClaren. I said no. I can’t go on about some tennis racket that I’ve never even heard of,” Jamie Shawford groaned into the phone. The life of a famous tennis player was rough, said no one ever.

She stood just outside an exclusive indoors tennis court with her favorite racket tucked under her right arm, and the phone against her ear. Jamie was dressed in short cut white shorts, and a matching shirt with blue trim. It was among one of her favorite outfits to train in, and she specifically chose it when practicing indoors. The glass she was leaning on pounded occasionally when tennis balls hit against the other side, a sign that the other players were still practicing.

“It’s the perfect time to make people hear of it,” Marty argued back. “Plenty of rackets owe all their fame to a tennis player. It's three sentences, please cut me a break.” Marty was practically begging. Marty McClaren was the ever capable manager. Jamie relied on her not only in a professional way, but in a friendship way as well. Jamie was pretty sure when they were both old and gray, they’d still be friends.

“I just don’t have it in me to lie like that.” Jamie was laughing now. The exasperation spilled over in Jamie’s voice and she was well aware of it. Marty rarely begged for anything.

Jamie was sure Marty had more to say, but before she got another argument in, Jamie’s phone buzzed with another incoming call. Jamie pondered the caller I.D. for a moment before deciding to pick it up. Jamie set down her racket and switched the phone over to her right ear.

“Marty, my brother is calling. I’ll call you back in a few.” Jamie didn’t wait to hear Marty’s response back before clicking the accept button. There were a few grand moments of silence before one of her youngest brothers spoke.

“Jamie, it’s Andy.” There was a pause. “Dad- dad passed away last night. I just thought you should know.” Andy’s voice was quiet. Andy and Jamie had never been close. With almost a fifteen year age gap between them, Andy had barely been able to speak before Jamie got kicked out of the Shawford house for good.

Jamie couldn’t form the words she needed. Couldn’t manage to even get out a lousy “I’m sorry for your loss”. Because it wasn’t her loss, was it? She spent years wishing for that man’s death. She wasn’t upset about their father dying because he had never really been a father, had he? Not to her, at least. No, Jamie wasn’t sad. She just was shot speechless.

“I’ll come home.” Jamie finally managed to choke out. For all the days she wished that man would drink himself into a grave, Jamie never actually thought it would happen.

Daniel Shawford

As far as allnighters go, Daniel set the record for the longest time spent awake and simultaneously working on a thirty six page essay at six days. Granted, intermittent naps and coffee breaks were allotted, but rare.

In the back of Daniel’s mind, he thought about scrapping this crappy idea and rewriting an essay about why no one should ever stay up this long. Or better yet, why procrastination was the only real sin in this world.

Daniel rubbed his eyes. His brain was fogging up with undeserved sleep as he stood to brew another pot of shitty coffee. If he had known double majoring was going to be this hard, Daniel would have stayed at home like his younger brothers.

Once the coffee machine was doing its job, he popped the fridge open and peered inside. Daniel hadn’t eaten food in quite a while. There was no time to waste eating. With drinking coffee, he could type one handedly at the same time. Eating? No such luck. He spotted his roommate's energy drink in the back corner, and muttered darkly to himself as he pulled it out.

The coffee machine dinged to alarm Daniel it was finished doing it’s duty for humanity, and Daniel poured himself half a cup in an old mountain dew bottle, and then cracked the energy drink open and poured the other half into the bottle.

“If I die, I die.” Daniel shrugged and quickly downed the coffee-energy drink mess. There was truly no taste like it, but Daniel was too tired to taste anything but the bitter black coffee. He missed those stupid sugar coffee drinks he couldn’t afford anymore. After chugging an entire bottle of the forbidden mix, Daniel felt ready to sit down again and continue hating ever word he added to this stupid essay.

Daniel checked the date. It was officially May 6th, 4:22. It was due in four hours and he still needed another four pages to meet minimum requirements. And Daniel hadn’t even edited or read over a single word written yet. This teacher was going to have a field day with his paper. But turning in whatever crap he wrote was better than getting a zero for not doing it at all. At least, that’s what Daniel told himself.

His phone rang and startled Daniel off his chair. It was so loud in the silent dorm room that he had jumped out of his skin because of it. On the way down, he cracked his forehead against the arm of his chair, and let out a string of unprotected cuss words. Daniel grappled for the phone as he helped himself up.

“Andy? It’s four in the morning. Are you okay?” There had been a few times in the past that Andy or Ryan had called and needed a place to stay. Usually they called Matt though. He was much closer than Daniel was. It would always be alarming for his youngest twin brothers to call him at such an hour. Daniel had college friends who called him at all hours of the night, but none would worry him like this. Daniel knew their father, and knew their history.

“Is Matt not picking up his phone? I can come and get you.” Daniel really couldn’t come get them, but he’d call Matt until he picked up the damn phone. He was probably staying over at Patricks… Daniel shook the thought from his mind.

“No…” Andy’s voice was shaky. “It’s dad. He-” Andy sniffled a bit. Daniel shot up from his chair. It was partly fueled by anger, but most of that energy came from his crazy coffee concoction.

“Did he hurt you?” Daniel practically bellowed into the phone. Personally, Daniel had never been hit by his father. But all the blood drained from his face when he remembered how his drunk father beat up Matt for being gay. Or Jamie… for being a she instead of a he.

“No, Daniel,” Andy said almost exasperated. He was talking through tears now. “He’s dead. He died and mom doesn’t want you to know. Or Jamie, or Matt even.” Andy was whispering into the phone now, like he didn’t want anyone to know he was talking on it. It clicked in Daniel’s mind.

Andy was calling his older brothers to tell them what happened because their mother wouldn’t. Daniel wasn’t sure how to take this news. He was numb, really. What else was he supposed to feel? He stared at the unfinished essay that had stolen six nights of good rest from him. Was God finally taking pity on him?

Once off the phone with Andy, Daniel formatted an email to his professor saying he was unable to finish the essay because of his father’s death. He requested a week of extra time and promised to finish it by then.

And then, unceremoniously, he closed the laptop and passed out in his chair.

Matt Shawford

Matt Shawford was suffering through yet another family lunch at the Colgait house. Lunches were a ritual for the Colgaits in a way Matt had never seen a family do before. Not that he was complaining though… lunch is the best. In-laws are the best. Sometimes.

But right now? They were freaking him out.

“Well when you get married, you’re going to hyphen your names, right? Shawford-Colgait is nice, isn’t it?” It wasn’t. But Mrs. Colgait, Patrick’s mother, was undeterred by Matt’s unnerved expression. Jonathan Colgait Senior cut in.

“when you adopt, will the kid get to share the hyphenated names? Or hyphen with its original last name? That’s a lot of names there.” Jonathan Senior was as old as the hills, but managed to be more open-minded than most people in this town alone. Jonathan Senior sees family values as the most important part of his life, and the rest of the Colgaits believed that too.

The problem is, Matt isn’t ready for those kinds of talks. He isn’t ready to discuss kids. Hell, Matt was barely able to say yes to Patrick when he asked Matt to marry him. Matt worries about everything. What if his father comes out of his five year silence to stop the wedding? What if getting married at twenty three is too early? What if he decides he doesn’t want kids and becomes a huge disappointment to both his family and Patricks? The panic must have been evident because Patrick gripped his hand under the table.

“We’re not really ready to-”

“I won’t hyphen. I’m taking the Colgait name when we marry,” Matt paused, as if he were only just now remembering his manners. “If that’s okay with you.” He added. His declaration seemed to shock everyone, even himself. Jonathan senior choked on one of the roasted carrots. He beat his hand against his chest as he struggled to catch his breath.

“Are my ears hard of hearing,” Jonathan senior coughed and beat his chest with his fist again, “or did you just say you're giving up your father's name?” Jonathan Colgait slammed his hand against the table as if he were disgusted by the idea. Even if Jonathan Senior was open-minded, he didn’t approve of such effeminate behavior.

“You are your father’s son. A man. It’s not right to give up your family name.” Jonathan Senior admonished. Jonathan Junior, Patrick’s father, cleared his throat. Matt was sure he was going to step in and defend him. Matt couldn’t have that.

“I’d be honored to take the Colgait name any day over my father’s. If he were even half the man you are sir, I might have considered a hyphen.” That’s the proper amount of ass-kissing to give to your father-in-laws parents. Patrick’s grandfather looked thoughtfully at Matt, and then smiled a yellow toothed smile.

Matt Shawford hated his surname. It said he was related to his father, and Matt didn’t want anything to link him to that man. His father’s son? Matt would rather die. If there was one thing Matt promised never to become, it was him. And since he was technically kicked out of his home, Matt technically didn’t have to keep his father’s last name. That might have been the best thing about getting married - other than the lovely man at his side squeezing his hand reassuringly. Someday soon, He’d be Matt Colgait, married to Patrick Colgait of Colgait and Sons Organic Farms Co.

Jonathan senior set down his fork like he no longer needed to wield it like a pitchfork. He sat quietly, glaring a whole into the nice white table cloth. Perhaps the ass-kissing Matt offered really did a number on the old man.

“Your daddy…” The old man paused. He looked a hundred years older as he chose his next words carefully. “He’s a diligent worker, and strong willed, but a good man? He is not.” The rest of the family members nodded agreeably. Matt was sure Daniel and Jamie wouldn’t blame him for leaving the family name. The Shawfords valued family names like any true conservative catholic family would, but somewhere along the way, Matt had lost that. He lost the pride that made his name feel good to say aloud.

Matt smiled appreciatively before diving into his own roasted carrots. They were organic, afterall. He glanced at his phone when it started vibrating under the table. It wouldn’t look good that he brought his phone to the table with him, and decided to ignore it. Whoever it was, they’d leave a message if it was important.

Only, as soon as he declined the call from his brother, it came again. Matt glanced at the Colgait family, apologized, and stood. He took the phone call to the front porch.

“It better be important Andy!” Matt growled into the phone.

“Would I call during your all important lunch if it wasn’t?” he growled right back. But Andy’s growl and normal sarcasm cut shallow when Matt heard the crack in his voice.

“Andy? What’s wrong?” Matt switched from being angry to being concerned on a dime. It wouldn’t have been dad, right? Dad had no reason to hit Andy… but what about Ryan? Matt rubbed his temple as he started overthinking everything. Ryan struggled with talking on a normal day. What if he chose to stay silent at the wrong time and got himself hit? Matt started pacing.

“It’s dad,” Andy said slowly. Matt was about to abandon his all-important-lunch to throw himself in the way of dad’s blows. Nothing in Matt’s life was more important than his younger twin brothers. “He died yesterday night. Mom didn’t want me to tell you guys, but… you deserved to know.” Andy finished. His voice came out steady, like he’s had this conversation a million times by now. And Matt figures that he must have. Matt wondered what Jamie and Daniel’s reactions were.

“Listen, I normally wouldn’t ask this but dad usually picks us up from school on mom’s chemo days but…” Andy couldn’t finish. Matt didn’t realize he was nodding through the phone until Andy asked if he was still there.

“It’s no problem. I’ll be there.”

While Matt was panicking on the front porch, Patrick had a strong word with his family. He set down his fork, and glared up at his parents, and his grandparents. As the youngest child of the Colgait family, that glare didn’t have much of a scare factor to it.

“I told you to lay off the kid thing. He’s not ready to think about that kind of stuff yet, and honestly, neither am I.” Patrick tried to sound angry. He wasn’t, not really. Unlike the Shawford house, the Colgaits were warm, loving, and took you in any shape you turned out to be. Meaning, they didn’t care that their youngest son happened to like guys.

“We’re just trying to make sure we have grandkids. Your older brother is about as interested in marriage as that toaster over there,” Grandpa Colgait admonished. Luckily, Patrick’s older brother Johnny wasn’t here. Patrick sighed. His grandpa wanted to see grandkids before he died, and that wasn’t a lot to ask, considering. Patrick figured he would marry Matt, get their own place off the farm, and maybe, MAYBE after a few years adopt a kid. Patrick was pretty sure he couldn’t do surrogacy in any capacity. Women are scary.

“I know, but… you’re going to scare him off with talk like that.” Patrick tried to explain. The amount of effort that went into even getting Matt to date him was off the charts- not that it wasn’t worth it. Patrick loved Matt, and was glad they’d met when they did.

Matt burst through the door with the phone still to his ear. The nice clothes he wore to the nice lunch were rumpled and there was sweat on his forehead from all the worry.

“Patrick, can I borrow your car?”

#The Shawfords #Chapter 1 #novel #book #its gonna be good

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getalittlecountry · 7 years

Text

Shape of You (Epilogue)

Guys. We’ve reached the end of this story (although I might have an idea for another little short epilogue; but I haven’t written it.) I love this ending. I loved this story. Thanks for reading it and loving it with me =)

Previous Chapters

Epilogue

Living with Cassian was perfect. He was sweet and he was mine. He came home from work and we made dinner together. He never told me it was my place to clean up. We fought, of course we did. We were good at fighting. But we always made up, we never went to bed angry with each other. And making up was becoming one of my favorite activities.

I loved learning new things about him. Like his obsession with war novels, or that he slept with only a sheet and left me all of the blanket. In the mornings he usually woke up before me and went for a run. He slipped back into bed before I was even awake. Sometimes he would wake me up by pressing kissing all along my body.

Falling in love with Cassian was an everyday adventure. I thought there was one moment when I finally loved him. But every day he showed me something new I fell deeper in love with him. I looked at him and I saw my future, I saw my life beside him. There wasn't anyone else as beautiful, as kind and sweet as this man here beside me.

How I had gotten so lucky I wasn't sure. My track record proved how terrible I was at choosing men. But Cassian was the exception.

Elain and Az had finally told us all they were officially engaged. Seven quiet months of them dodging our questions and they finally broke. But they were adorable. Shy and awkward, always afraid to let others know how much they truly cared. I was happy for both my sisters. We had all finally found someone who made us smile.

We had been in the waiting room for over eight hours. We hadn't been allowed back to see Feyre, but Rhys came out and gave us an update every once and a while. She had started pushing five hours ago.

"Remind me not to have kids," I leaned into Cassian and he pressed a sleepy kiss to my forehead, "if it takes this long for them to arrive."

He laughed, "I want kids one day. One or two. I didn't have any siblings, I was lonely. I wouldn't want that for my kids."

The way he spoke, soft and slow, I knew it was the truth. I looked at him, my fingers lacing through his, "you do? Want kids?"

He shrugged, "I never thought I'd be a good dad. But something changed this last year. I think kids would be fun. I think yeah, I'd like to give it a try. What about you?"

I smiled. I never wanted kids. Not until this very moment, "I always thought I'd end up alone. I never thought about it. But I think. I think I'd have kids. Not like, right now or anything. But. Someday, when everything is right… and with you.”

Cassian smiled as he pulled me closer, "I love you."

I nuzzled his chest as I rearrangement myself to sit closer to him. I was exhausted, but I wanted to meet my niece or nephew before we left. Feyre had called me crying, saying the baby was coming and she wanted us here. I wasn't leaving until the baby was born. My baby sister needed me.

"It's a boy!" Rhys voice hit me right before I closed my eyes. I jumped up as Cassian grabbed for my brother in law and hugged him tightly, "I have a son."

I laughed when it was my turn to hug him, "can we see them?"

"Of course! Feyre's been asking for you two," he looked at me and then Elain.

Elain had been leaning into Az, both of them talking quietly together. Elain’s ring was beautiful, it was shaped like a rose and sparkled under the hospital lights. I couldn’t stop watching them, amazed at how they seemed to fall together. It seemed weird how last year I thought him and Mor had been the cutest couple ever. But I realized now that hadn’t been a balanced relationship. He had always loved her more and now I could see how much he adored my sister. I could see how she felt for him whenever they looked at each other.

They were a perfect match. I couldn’t help but wonder if Cassian and I looked like that.

I grabbed my sister’s hand as we stood up and Cassian fell back to stand with Az. We walked in together, Feyre beaming through her exhaustion. She looked tired and worn down but even in this moment she looked beautiful, holding the tiny little bundle in her arms. He had dark hair, hair from his father. But when he opened his eyes, they matched ours.

"He's beautiful," I whispered as I touched his cheek, "oh Feyre. I'm so happy for you."

"His name is Ash. Ash meet your aunts.” I smiled down at him, so full of love and adoration I couldn't tear my eyes away. Feyre held him up towards me, "take him."

I lifted the baby into my arms and then Cassian was beside me. There were tears in his eyes as I bounced the boy lightly. He didn't cry, he looked up at me in wonder. He was so innocent, so full of potential that my heart squeezed inside my chest. This was the wonders of the world, a tiny baby entering the world.

A lump formed in my throat as I looked up at Cassian, his eyes as wide and as full of light as mine. Maybe this was what we were all searching for. Maybe this was where we were all supposed to end up. Holding the hope of a better future in our hands. In they eyes and the smile of a new born baby.

I looked back down at him and he smiled, “hi. You're beautiful, Ash. And you are strong. You're lucky you got your parents."

Cassian put his hand under mine as I turned to face him. He let out a breath, "he's so cute," his deep voice was soft, Ash's eyes searching for him as he spoke, "I want one."

I laughed, Feyre and Rhys laughing with me. My eyes found Cassian's and I blushed, "well. One day."

He leaned in and kissed me before I handed the baby to Elain. Az came over and they shared a moment with our new nephew. Feyre was crying as she watched her son introduce himself to all the new and important people on his life. It was truly a beautiful moment. Rhys held her hand, half sitting on the bed with her.

"He's so lucky," I heard him whisper, "he's already loved by so many."

She nodded, her eyes finding mine, "yeah. He is."

The nurse came in once Elain gave him back and told Feyre it was time to try feeding him. Cassian all but ran out the door, Rhys laughing loudly at his pale face. I kissed my sister and then my nephew and told her we would be back to see him again tomorrow after we all got some sleep.

Her eyes fell on my hand, "I'm sorry I messed up your night."

I kissed her forehead, "you didn't mess anything up, Fey. All we were going to do was have dinner. But you! You just had a baby!"

She shrugged, "call me later. After tonight."

"Okay."

It was like she knew something I didn't. I sighed as I said goodbye to everyone else, hugging Rhys, and then I found Cassian outside the room. He took my hand and we made our way back home.

“Ash is so cute," I said in the car, "the perfect blend of Fey and Rhys."

Cassian kissed the back of my hand, "yeah he really is."

“Earlier when I told you that I never wanted kids, that was the truth. I never thought I would want them. But now," I shrugged thinking about my sleepy declaration a few hours ago, "I don't want just anyone's kids. I think I can see myself having your kids.”

He looked at me and I smiled. I leaned against his arm and I felt his lips against the top of my head. Cassian drove slowly through the night, as if we had all the time in the world. And we did now that Tomas was truly gone.

His trial had lasted forever. I had to testify, I had to tell my story to the jury. In the end that's what got him a longer sentence. The fact that I had almost died, my retelling of the horrors and the pictures they had taken at the hospital. The only reason I made it through that week, the longest week of my life, was because I had Cassian beside me the entire time.

Once he was sentenced, we stopped talking about Tomas. We moved on and our lives belonged to us once again. Every so often I had a nightmare. I would wake up and Cassian would have to calm me down, promising me it wasn't real. But I was still healing and we both knew one day I wouldn't ever dream about him again.

The house was quiet when we got back. I smiled at my boyfriend. This was our home, our life. My sister just had a baby. My sisters were back in my life. I was more than happy at where my life had ended up.

"Nesta," Cassian said my name softly before I went to the bedroom to change. I pulled my dress off and swapped it out for my favorite shirt of his. I couldn’t sleep in anything else. It was soft and fit perfectly against my body. It smelled like him, and when the smell faded I made him wear it for a day and then give it back to me. He was my home, this shirt was my reminder of that.

I sighed as he called for me again. When I turned I found him staring at me. His hands were in his pockets, but there was something weird about his gaze.

"I um. I had this big night planned before Feyre called. But now I realize this is perfect, you standing here in our home. Wearing my shirt. I don’t need a big fancy dinner to do this,” he seemed nervous and ran his hand through his hair. He took a step forward, “Nesta. This was always just a house to me until you moved in."

I smiled as he closed the gasp between us and took my hand. I stayed quiet as he went on, "our love story is one that doesn't make sense. But it's ours. I love you Nesta. Even when we fight there's no one else I'd rather make up with. You're my heart, my soul, my warrior. I don't need everyone to know that, or have everyone here to declare my love for you."

My eyes filled with tears, "Cass."

"Shh," he gave me that crooked smile, "for my entire life I've tried to become better. My parents never cared. You've seen the scars. I never thought someone could love me, not when my own parents tried so hard to break me. But then I met you and our hearts and our souls knew we would need each other. So I guess what I'm trying to ask you is," he knelt down on one knee, “will you make me the happiest man in the world and marry me?"

I gasped, my hands flying to my mouth. Cassian was holding a beautiful diamond ring in his hand. The light scattered across the room as it caught on the stones. It looked old, as if it had a story that had been told and was going to hold ours now too. I couldn't stop the laugh, the tears as I nodded my head.

"Yes. Yes I'll marry you."

He slipped the ring on my finger and I pulled him into me. I kissed him hard, my arms going around his neck. When he pulled back Cassian looked like a little boy who had gotten everything he could ever possibly want.

"You know this means you're stuck with me," I whispered between kisses. He wrapped his arms around my waist, his smile as big as mine, "I'm your mess now."

He laughed against me, "I think I'm okay with that. I love you, my beautiful little mess."

"I never thought we'd end up here," I whispered brushing my thumb over his bottom lip. My eyes searching his for any fears. When I didn't find any I knew this was the man I was supposed to be with. Always and forever, "but I'm sure glad we did."

"Me too sweetheart. Me too."

I kissed him softly. My ring sparkled in the light of the dining room. It was beautiful and I couldn't tear my eyes from it. He had done amazing, he was amazing. I was truly in awe of the man who had just asked me to be his wife. The man who wanted to spend his life with me.

I never knew where my life was going. But now I was happy, now I knew nothing else mattered as long as Cassian was still beside me. If he was here with me then I knew that life would be more than just beautiful; it would be perfect.

#nesta #nesta acheron #nessian #nesta x cassian #nessian fanfiction #cassian #acotar #acotar fanfiction #acomaf #acomaf fanfiction #acowar #acowar fanfiction #au fanfiction #shape of you

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