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ennui-gt · 3 years

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Here it is. A Piece Of Borrower Content Written Entirely In Stream Of Consciousness:

AN: so this is incomplete and very…needs revisions to the timeline to incorporate some things I added later! It’s the original universe that Mira’s from! I edited it like Slightly to just change Ross’s name to Ross (if u see Max anywhere that’s his old one I just felt like changing it so that’s just him but different. Anyway) Everything's under the readmore tab, cheers!

The Library Fairy:

Basic Plot (Chrono, comic starts from human perspective abt the ‘legend of the library fairy’ ig maybe. Nothing here is permanent cept the characterization)

Part A

1- Mira is borrower currently chillin in a college library

2- She lives off of the cafe on the second floor nd reads lots and lots of stuff about everything when the upper floors close (lower floor open 24/7 but upper floors r vacant p much after 12:00 AM)

3- she starts getting increasingly curious about human stuff cos she’s literate nd books r pry neat

4- it starts one night when she spots an unattended notebook and a half eaten blueberry muffin, nd it’s 12:30 so nobody’s coming back in atm (it’s the 80s so no laptops for the plebians quite yet)

5- so she goes ‘welp’ nd takes part of the muffin, then sees the work on the page and goes ‘hmmmm this is incorrect’ so she helps our and leaves notes here n there to point the kid in the right direction and puts down some book refs for further study bcos at this point she’s been there for 2 years and she knows where most things are

6- she stays behind to see if the human comes back for it, hidden in a hidey hole near the desk

7- human comes in, sees notebook, practically melts w relief nd stuffs it in his bag

8- next day human comes back nd leaves nother notebook and a cookie, along w a hidden camera

9- Mira goes ‘o boy, this a trap, innit’

10- Mira then decides ‘eh whatever I haven’t had contact w anyone in years now so I might as well’

11- she steals the camera film nd leaves a lil scrap of paper saying ‘nice try ;)’ on it

12- student comes back, sees paper, goes ‘dammit’, then leaves note addressed to the ‘library fairy’ and another cookie, as well as more of their work for her to help with

13- bout a decade goes by and now the “Library Fairy” is an urban myth, it’s currently 2003 so she’s also wound up on the school’s unofficial Wikipedia page under ‘local cryptids’

14- most library employees know of her but they don’t go looking out of fear stemming from superstitions bout her, somehow the legend grew from ‘can’t be photographed’ to ‘a student once saw her and died that day’

15- there’s now a small shrine devoted to her where ppl bring offerings hoping to get good grades in return, sometimes they will leave papers for her to proofread nd stuff

16- new prof (named Alexei) finds online article thinks he Knows What’s Up bcos he had a borrower friend as a kid, but they left when borrower’s fam found out about them knowing each other

17- he leaves note wedged in one of her secret entrances behind outlet, asking if she can meet w him at some point

18- Mira, already In it, goes ‘Okay. Alright. This has gone on for long enough. Time to go and never return’ but ofc she’s curious as all hell and like she decides she will at least honor the guy’s request for a convo b4 she goes, but on her terms and w/o speaking face 2 face

19- they Talk in the library after hours, bcos he paid off the janitor to let him stay after hours nd most of the student employees recognize him as a prof nd leave him alone

20- they talk again for every subsequent night

21- she uhhhh finally decides to reveal herself nd prays that her hunch was right nd he won’t try to grab her or anything

22- he doesn’t but she’s nervous so she winds up gettin caught in her own climbing rope like idiot, is now dangling from ceiling in tangled mess

23- he stifles chuckle nd she says smthn sarcastic

24- he moves closer and offers to untangle her

25- she’s like ‘please’

26- so he do, but her grip on the rope slips nd he has to catch her

26- so now she’s in his hand and he just sets her down and now he’s a bumbling embarrassed mess bcos he said he wasn’t going to hold her and he just did and o dear pls forgib him

28- nd she’s like ‘dude u just saved my life it’s fine ur fine chill’

29- internally she’s going HOLY FUCK AAAAAAA but externally, her human’s already worked up enough as it is so she’s gotta b the level headed one

29.5- after a while they both kinda get used to each other more, he gets tenure, they celebrate, some more stuff happens, Aleksei got married (not to Mira, Mira hasn’t actually rly thought about being in a relationship w anyone cos she’s laser focused on gaining as much knowledge as possible)

30- eventually Alexei’s like ‘hey so I’m dean of faculty for the biotech branch now uhhhh would u like actual job teaching students? Cos, uh, you can do it remotely thru online lectures n stuff, no in person interaction, and I uh was just kinda wondering—‘

31- she’s like ‘yes. Yes!!! LET ME HELP PEOPLE OFFICIALLY KINDA’

32- so now she’s a professor, and has revealed her Secret a few times here n there to a number of the faculty, nd she has recorded her own findings in a personal journal

33- ‘humans will treat u like a human if they think ur human first. The kids call it ‘catfishing’’

34- enter Ross, an mall goth who accidentally tripped headfirst into a premed program

35- Mira’s favorite field of study is bio so naturally she’s his prof for a majority of his classes

36- being the good boy that he is, he now knows Mira’s secret. There is an Entire Chapter on him finding out and legit just continuing their conversation as if everything was normal bcos he thought that was how he was supposed to handle the situation

37- then she says ‘u can ask questions, u know’ he’s like OH THANK FUCK CAUSE I HAVE SEVEN HUNDRED OF THOSE

38- and now he kinda knows what to look for in terms of ‘do borrowers live here check yes or no’

39-in his apartment, the answer is yes and he mistakenly kinda stumbles upon the mom one night when he wakes up in the middle of the night for Snack and opts to pretend like its not happening. Unfortunately the thing she was trying 2 borrow (piece of crumb cake for Son Boy’s birthday) is the thing he wants 2 eat so he’s like “uh. ‘Scuse me, ma’am.” and he peels back the saran wrap on the other side of the plate, takes piece, nd then leaves some there for her

40-so now the woman is like ‘welp guess it time 2 Leave’

.1- she and husband Talk

.2-they decide it best 2 go

.3-theyre Packing

.4-lil bab Ellie confused

.5-hawk attacke

.6-cut to Ross

41- Ross also happens to work at a bar and he goes outside for a break

43- he finds smal child—smol smal—on the sidewalk and said child is missing an arm, nd has lost a lot of blood, so he’s uhhhhh Losing It highkey

43.5-parents r nowhere 2 b seen, but the hawk is nearby and circling. Ross gets an idea of what just happened

44- he up and leaves work, thankfully his apartment is above the shop so he jumps up the fire escape w the child and

45- he make tourniquet

46- he calls Mira nd asks her 2 come over to ASAP. he’s A Mess at this point

47- it is Very touch and go, kid needs blood, Mira is the only viable donor so she’s just gotta pray that the blood type is fine and won’t kill him

48- and then eventually they manage 2 stave infection thru antibiotics properly dosed to his size, Mira does Math and Prays basically

49- ‘bout a month in, kid wakes up

50- kid doesn’t rember much since he’s only 3

51- hes v scared of Ross at first but over time he gets used 2 the human

52- kid (elliot) starts 2 call Ross ‘dad’ after a while

53- Ross: *internal screaming but in a good way*

54- the end kinda for now

Part 2

A- New Borrowers In The Building

—three of em. paranoid dad, mom, nd daughter that’s Elliot’s age so he’s pumped

B- Elliot offers them a place 2 stay briefly

C- he knows by now bout like, how borrowers don’t typically interact w humans and Auntie Mira’s a bit of a weird case so he just doesn’t tell em bout his dad being the human

D- the kid finds out first nd doesn’t tell the parents, but they figure it out later kinda and think that it’s a ‘o god he’s being kept as a pet’ sitch so they’re >:| abt it

E- they move out and try to take Elliot w them (by force bcos they think he’s brainwashed) but he escapes and makes it to Ross, who’s like “uhhhhhh”

F- and the mom come out the hole near the counter n starts yelling at Ross, who is…kinda used to it since Mira brings in ppl who need help from time 2 time and they typically don’t react well when they’re lucid enough to understand what’s going on. He’s just not used to being questioned about his own kid

G- so they’re like “WHAT DO YOU THINK YOU’RE DOING WITH HIM”

H- and he’s like “r…raising him???”

I- and Ellie steps up and he’s like “this is my dad. I decided he was my dad when I was three. He’s being a good parent”

J- and Ross is like “yeah what he said. I’m a good parent.”

K- Ross is riding that high til the end of fucking time but like back to the story at hand

L- this is when the husband comes out nd is like “lissen. wifey. ily but that is a very big human and he hasn’t grabbed us yet so let’s count our blessings and gtfo”

M- but she’s like “uh no we stay until I’m sure Elliot is Safe and fucking Sound”

N- so they stay for dinner nd stick around a little longer.

O- Val (the kid) gets closer 2 Elliot and also Ross a bit

P- Mira shows once or twice, first time she shows up they’re like “oh god it’s the crazy doctor lady this all makes sense now” (bcos Mira does check up on as many borrower families as possible in her free time so word has got around by now Of her, and the number by which to contact her in case her services r needed)

Q- After a month or so, then they decide to leave bcos they’re like “look we get that ur son is ur son and he only has one arm and in our profession that is kind of a death sentence but we can’t have our kid getting used to dealing w humans who know about our existence” so they go and leave on a kind of sour note bcos Ellie can do anything he wants to do just as well as any other borrower Thank You Very Much and Ross is ready to fite anyone who thinks otherwise

R- Elliot starts trying 2 b more independent, basically from now on he’s like ‘I can do everything my Damn Self Thanks’

S- but uh he does it to a point where he’s going out of the way to endanger himself

T- so they get into a fite about it and ross Yells and Elliot is like ‘kthxbye’

U- and the boi just. Fuckin bolts. Runs Away. Ross is a Mess, he starts smoking again (he quit cold turkey the day he took Elliot in) to curb the depression, he’s jus. Not doin good, worried that his son is dead and the last time they talked it’d ended badly

V- FREEDOM!!!1! Except Ellie doesn’t kno how to take care of himself so it’s a rough month or so and then he runs into some other borrowers livin in their own town in the wild ig, chillin, being hella independent, and he’s like “uh yes ofc I will join u, I was w my dad for a while but.........” he neither confirms nor denies that his dad’s dead but everyone kinda just assumes.

Part 3

W-anyway a year goes by and then the borrower group gets hit hard w some kind of sickness ig. Elliot gets it too he’s basically incapacitated n drifting in and out of lucidity. So. They contact the weird crazy doctor lady who hangs around humans, a.k.a. Mira, and she’s like “oh. fuck. I know this kid.” bcos she does, u kno, and she jus treats em all for their ailment and shows them how to make antibiotic poultice thing in case smthn like it happens again. Mold. Penicillin is basically what it is

X-she and Elliot hav a Chat (Mira basically yells at him a lot) once he’s fixed up and he decides he’s gonna visit his dad but he makes it very clear that he is a Grown Up (he’s not, he’s literally sixteen), and he is living on his own now

Y- he agrees to stay for a week tho since he misses his home a lot tbh and Ross is just. Over the fucking moon to know he’s ALIVE, he’s not gonna fuck up their relationship by insisting that he stay. Or like, by keeping him ofc he would never

Z- unfortunately the borrower community put two and two together and figured out his dad’s human so they have his stuff packed up when he gets back w mira, who’s ready to go the fuck off on them

End 1:

-Ellie is living at Ross’s place atm and hopeful about the future basically. He eventually will go off on his own but he’ll keep in contact w his dad and stuff

Part C.5

55- few yrs later

56- elliot is Adult now he does adult borrower stuff

57- he moves out

58- finds nice borrower gf (her name’s Tess)

59- doesn’t tell her about his dad being human but talks about his dad a LOT

60- so when she asks to meet said father he’s just like “uh. Maybe we don’t do that actually”

61- and she’s like “y tho”

62- and he’s like “bcos”

63- anyway she decides to look into it cos she knows he goes to see his dad nd keep in touch but his dad is allegedly “a recluse who lives in the big scary human’s walls to avoid other ppl”

64- which is. Not true in the slightest tbqh he’s def not an introvert he’s just a workaholic and he Is the big scary human

65- anywho they run into Val and her wife and she’s like “how’s Ross been?” And Elliot is acting Very Suspish so she, being Smart, calls it immediately and is like “oh shit u haven’t told her yet have u”

66- Tess: “told me what”

67- Val: “El’s dad is a human, bro.”

68- Tess: “I’m sorry?”

69- this results in a Big Fight and they separate for like, a month. Elliot blames Val bcos he’s being irrational and doesn’t wanna admit to the fact that lying to his girlfriend for over a year was Real Bad Actually, but over time he’s like ‘yeah it’s my fault sry for snapping at u’ cos he works thru his emotions n stuff

70- Eventually gf comes back cos she’s like “ok so. I understand why you lied to me about your dad. It was a dick move but I do get it and I still care about you a lot. I would like. To meet him.”

80- this is a lie she does not want to meet him she is doing this bcos she does not want to lose Elliot and that outweighs the fear of his dad

81- so they go to meet him but she’s just kinda. Behind the wall at first like “that’s a crazy big human this is crazy ur crazy it’s time to gO”

82- Val is also there bcos she hasn’t seen Ross in a while

83- they eventually coax her out of hiding

84- and by that I mean Val picks her up and drags her out into the open by force bcos she basically freezes up the second she catches sight of Ross and Val’s like “u didn’t come all this way for nothing, bich”

85- they have a Painfully Awkward First Meeting, Tess is trying her best but oh god he’s just too fucking. Larg. Ellie ur dad too big

86- tbh tho the ice kinda breaks after Ellie and Ross get into a fight over smthn stupid (im thinking Elliot grumbles bout Ross’s hair being unruly and he’s worried that mira’s using it like a personal storage system again and Ross is like “I’ve been keeping better track of that actually” and then like a little line of paper clips and a few hand-bound notebooks tied together w some string fall out of his fucking mane and he’s like “I can explain”

87- “dad you can’t keep letting her use your hair like a fucking NEST”

88- Tess is laughing now cos god damn this was not what she was expecting

89- that’s it the end it ends w Tess laughing at them being idiots good times r had by all

Uhhhh that’s it so far. I have More but it’s kinda jumbled rn and I need to fit stuff in places. Anyway.

#was gonna make this into a comic lawl #if I like actually manage to get off my ass over the coming weeks I probably will be able to do that! but yeah #also this was once posted b4 and I deleted it but it’s back now say hellow #Library Fairy #oc: Mira #oc: Ross #oc: Elliot #oc: Tess #oc: Val #oc: Alexei #anyway yeah here it is behold #the uhhhhh most slice of life thing I have ever created

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stacispratt · 3 years

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unnatural as it feels

okay i do not feel like this is a good piece of writing at all BUT it’s the first thing i’ve finished in over a month so i’m gonna try n cut myself a little slack. so here’s a john/wes/ell thing i’ve been writing for way too long!!! thank you to @consumedkings for letting me write with your girl, i love her <3 also tagging @oorah22 @lilwritingraven @ohfaiths !!

“Okay, close your eyes.”

“I’m not closing my eyes.”

“Come on," John drawls, "be a good sport now, dearest.” He squeezes her hip, all while he has a shit-eating grin on his face. Every inch of him screams pleased beyond belief, which almost, almost makes Elliot smile back at him. She feels a caveat coming, though, so she just gives him a very, very dry look.

“John.”

“Fine, spoil all the fun," John huffs and squeezes her waist affectionately once more. She smacks at his arm. "The present will still be a nice surprise," he says, and takes her over the threshold to the dining room. He gestures wide, both hands extended toward her present, fingers spread wide.

Ell stops short, a foot past the doorway. “... You’re not serious." She looks from the dining table to John, face blank, gone flat with disbelief at her husband. "You’re fucking shitting me.”

Wesley Beltran is chained to one of their fucking dining room chairs. Literally, actually chained. Bound all over, across his shoulders, around his midsection, all the way around his forearms, his calves. Like John is unwilling to allow any possibility of a repeat of Wes's escape from his Confession.

“No," John says, grin barely contained, so near bursting onto his lips that Elliot can hear it in his damn voice. "Not kidding. I got him. Presenting, Deputy Wesley Beltran, over for dinner.”

Elliot stares at Wes, then cuts her eyes to John. “He’s fucking unconscious, you moron.”

“Yeah, and?" John huffs, arms crossed over his chest. Elliot levels a capital-L Look at him. "The point is that he’s here, and you got what you wanted. What’s the problem?” he snipes. "You wanted Wes over for dinner, you've got him."

"Are you fucking deranged?" Elliot snaps. "I said I wanted Wes to accept our invitation to dinner, not for a second attempt at his Confession in our dining room!"

"It's not a Confession! He's just— you know, here! Like you wanted!"

"You're insufferable," Ell hisses, but she tugs him in by the shirt collar for a kiss anyway. "You idiot," she mutters against his lips. "Sit the fuck down."

Wes wakes up to see a plate set before him on a dining table.

He blinks. Maybe it's a hallucination from the Bliss. His vision is a little sparkly, but nothing bad— nothing like when he's with Faith, when he normally hallucinates. His vision's not cloudy, not tainted green, and normally that means he couldn’t be hallucinating, but there's a plate with a– a stupid fucking steak on his plate, so he has to be hallucinating.

"There, he's awake," someone says, with a kind of are you happy now? tone of voice.

Wes blinks, slow and sticky, then, as delicate as he can so his head doesn't pound, raises his eyes.

John and Elliot.

He's– sitting at a table with John Seed and Elliot Honeysett.

"Oh," he mumbles. He tries to move his hands, but metal digs into him from his elbow to his wrist. He glances down. Chains are pretty much… everywhere. "Oh," he says again, then shakes his head a little. "Are we– dinner?"

"See?" John says, gesturing to Wes as he looks to Ell. "Even Wes gets what's going on. He's fine with it."

Fine with it. Wes lets out a clipped, hysterical laugh. "My– m'hands are bound. I can't eat dinner."

John scoffs. "We're not going to fucking eat," he snaps. Then he settles on the arm of Wes's chair, grabs his jaw in one hand, and kisses him.

Wes grunts but leans into it anyway, shoulders flexing against the chain. John purrs and slips his hand up to cup Wes's cheek. "Yeah, there you are, my good boy. Our good boy."

Elliot scoffs as a chair scratches back against the floor. "He's not good. He's terribly behaved, just like you."

"Mm." John doesn't pull from Wes to hum, just keeps their lips pressed together. Coasts his hand up into Wes's hair to slowly curl his fingers into it, closes his fist and tugs gently to make Wes whimper. John leans away with an inhale. Smiles as he watches Wes list toward him and pull against John's fist in his hair.

John turns his smug smile onto Ell. "See? He can behave."

"He can speak for himself," Wes mumbles.

"Yeah, but you can't," Ell huffs from somewhere behind Wes, completely ignoring him. "Get off our houseguest."

John huffs but crawls off Wes all the same and stands just to his right, while Ell settles at his left. She smooths her hand through Wes's hair, eases John's fist to relax and slip away. "John's so indelicate," she murmurs, as if in apology. "I tell him I'd like you to accept my dinner invitation and he drugs you. Dumbass." She sighs. "I am the one who married him."

Wes nods listlessly. "Would've loved to have steaks with you," he mumbles. "Wanna—" he pauses to cough, then picks up again, "Wanna let me, uh– simmer off the Bliss and we can… continue like civilized people?"

Ell sighs and strokes her hand through his hair again. "God, you are just like John," she mutters.

Wes's eyebrows scrunch together. "You take that back," he slurs.

"Watch it," John growls. "You're lying anyways. The only reason I had to drug you is because you refused to come over in the first place, after my wife and I invited you over kindly. Three times."

"I hate to break this to you," Wes mutters, eyes lidded and fixed on Ell's face while she continues to pet his hair— trails her fingers down from his curls to his jaw, then up and back down again. She smiles at him, sugar-sweet. Wes shakes his head a little to focus back up. "But– but the two of you keep… keep me pretty busy. I don't… have time."

"Hm." Ell rubs her knuckles into his cheek. "You have time now. Why don't you sleep it off, huh? We can eat when you wake up." Her eyes cut away toward John. "Isn't that right, dearest."

Wes eyes her cautiously. "If you drug me again I'm going to be so fucking pissed," he mutters.

"We're helping you get sober," John informs him, and curls his palm over the back of Wes's neck— over the angel wings he has tattooed there. "Try to keep up."

Once Wes is unbound from all the fucking chains, John handcuffs his hands in front of him, and he and Ell guide Wes into bed, sandwiched between the two of them. John presses his chest to Wes's back and braces a hand over his tummy. Ell pets his eyebrow with her thumb methodically. "Comfy?" she taunts, somehow affectionate even while she does.

"You're using me," Wes murmurs, because apparently he still has no filter, even as he's starting to come down from the Bliss. "It's… not like you want me."

John huffs against the back of his neck, then leaves a kiss at the notch of his spine. "What gave you that impression, Deputy?" Wes feels him grin against his skin. "Is it because we're sharing a bed with you? Cuddling up?"

"You don't want me," Wes insists, bleary, eyes heavy with Elliot's petting, but still determined to get his point across. "I'm just a p– a pawn. You don't care about… about me."

"Well, I'm embarrassed now, Wes," Ell coos. She looks much softer like this, blonde hair half spread over the pillow and half over her shoulder. It's pretty. She's pretty.

If Wes was less sober, he’d tell her so.

"Were John and I the only ones affected by that night?" Wes locks up. Fuck, he'd hoped they'd forgotten about that— they'd never mentioned it, and Wes figured they'd rub that kinda thing in his face if they remembered. "Don’t you remember?" she cajoles.

Wes whines and cringes back from her, eyes squeezed shut, but he can't get more than an inch away. Elliot only smiles. "You do remember," she drawls. She slips her fingers from his face to his hair. Wraps one of his curls around her finger and tugs gently. "Behind the Spread Eagle. You were havin' a smoke out back when John and I stepped out… I thought we all felt a little something. Hm?"

Felt a little something. Wes had been damn close to going home with them when Staci stepped out, looking for him, and whisked him away.

Ell smirks and taps her finger on Wes's cheek. "Yeah. We've wanted you since then. The rest of this has just been… complications." She sighs affectedly. "You're not a pawn, honey."

"Fuck," Wes breathes, eyes still shut. "Fuck."

"Get some sleep, Wes" John purrs. "We'll talk more when you're sober."

When Wes wakes up, they're both asleep.

I could escape, is his first thought. If I can sneak out of bed, I'm home free.

Hard, but not impossible. Wes has a feeling they’re both light sleepers. Wrangling himself out of bed, from between the two of them, from under the blankets, and levering himself up in bed, all with his hands cuffed together… it wouldn't be easy. He would almost definitely be noticed, which either means a hasty escape, handcuffed with no backup, or recapture with more precautions that time.

But it would be easy to kill one of them, is his second thought. His hands are bound in front of him— strangling one of them would be easiest, but finding a weapon isn't out of the question either. It would— in theory— be quick work to damage either John or Elliot beyond repair, before the other was awake enough to do anything about it.

And finally, very small and very quiet, in the back of his head, exists, or I could stay.

Wes could stay.

He could pretend to be asleep until one of them wakes up, or even… let his eyes shut and genuinely drift back to sleep, warm and comfortable in Seed Ranch, fucking spooning with Holland Valley's most dangerous couple. With his fucking back to John Seed.

Christ.

He'll blame it on the drugs, if it comes up, but he closes his eyes. He studies Elliot's face (remarkably, painfully peaceful in her sleep) and shuts his eyes, forces his muscles to go loose, and measures his breathing. Wills sleep to come.

God help him, Wes decides to stay.

#this is a choppy mess #i am fr so scared to tag people ahekgheg #my fic #oc: elliot honeysett #oc: wesley beltran #john seed #fc5

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orionares · 3 years

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BTHB: Comatose, Part 3

---------------------------------------------- The tears come easily.

For the next hour or many, Elliot lets the tears fall for everything in the nine month battle against William Lewis.

He cries for the pain- the cigarette burns, the days without sleep, food or water, the trial, the damn Russian Roulette. His heart shatters at the dangerous possibility of Lewis inflicting the one trauma they had spent over a decade fighting against together.

When he runs out of tears, Elliot lays his head on the edge of the bed and blocks out the cacophony of nurses, doctors and staff working busily in the hall. There’s a throbbing headache that builds with every passing second of the truly dark, guilt fueled thoughts itching to spill over.

He’s already inches above the abyss; he can’t let this push him over.

“You know,” Elliot whispers, “I didn’t have any plans of how we’d discuss why I left. Writing the letter wasn't an impulse, but giving you the letter after Kathy’s death. Now, I- I wish I could rewrite it.”

He pauses to wipe the sudden heat from his face. “I- I would say that you shouldn’t forgive me. You shouldn’t, Liv. I don’t deserve- I…”

The stress induced twitch that Eli had identified during the failed intervention returns as Elliot twitches while pushing away the same dark thought that’s repeated in his mind since opening the file- This is on you.

A knock on the door breaks into his thoughts and he lifts his head to see Fin standing at the door, eyes flickering between Olivia and him.

“She’s fine,” Elliot yells out. “I, uh, know about Lewis.”

“Damn,” Fin mutters under his breath. He shakes his head before closing the room door closed behind him. The sergeant’s fatigue is clear as he moves slowly to an open chair on the opposing side and lowers himself down slowly. “Rollins tell you?”

Elliot glances back to Olivia. “You didn’t tell me about it.”

“Because it wasn’t something to say over the phone,” Fin shrugs, “and it wasn’t my story to tell. I wasn’t going to say You're alive and coming back? Great! By the way, Liv almost died while you were gone.”

“I think I had created some imaginative world of where she moved on but was ok while I was overseas. And then I’d created another fantasy where things settled and I’d close the case on Kathy’s murder and we’d,” Elliot reach out and rests his hand on Olivia’s, “reconnect. I’d beg, plead and woo my way back in earning her trust. And now-”

“Elliot, you screwed up,” Fin states, maintaining his calm demeanor, “You have your reasons for going radio silence and I get that, but it doesn’t change the fact that you abandoned her. And with Lewis- blaming yourself for what happened isn’t going to change the fact that it happened.”

Elliot opens his mouth to respond but Fin continues without missing a beat. “You think that you're the only one feeling guilty about that day? I was here, Stabler, and I still blame myself for what happened.”

Elliot nods weakly as Fin stands and circles the edge of the bed. The detective winces when Fin rests a hand on his shoulder and asks, “You are staying, right?”

The answer catches in his throat, leaving him left with another weak nod.

“Do you love her?”

“Am I that obvious?” Elliot chuckles. Fin rolls his eyes and repeats his question, “You love her?”

“Yeah.” Every time he says it aloud, finally admitting his love for Olivia, somehow brings a mixture of relief and guilt.

“So fight for her,” Fin advises. He pats her shoulder and heads for the door, calling for his shoulder, “Start by going home, getting something to eat and see your kids. And if you can’t bring yourself to leave, at least go get something to eat. Alright?”

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

She dreams of life as ‘the other woman.’

In this possibility, she meets Kathy in a cafe while dropping off Eli; however, unlike the handful of times she had met Kathy with Eli in reality, the usually hidden tension between them is out on the surface. She still has Noah, now no older than two years old. He's sitting in her lap babbling happily as the two women sit across from each other in thick silence.

Kathy fiddles with her coffee mug in her hands and avoids eye contact with Olivia. Her jaw is clenched, highlighting the tension across her face.

"Eli had a great week with us," Olivia stammers to Kathy, who puts up a hand to cut her off. Every weekend starts like this, the two women in Elliot Stabler's life staring each other down.

"You don't have to play nice, Olivia," Kathy retorts. She glances over her shoulder towards the bathroom where seven year old Eli has run off to. "You can just drop the kids off and then leave with your son. You certainly don't need to do it for me."

"But Elliot-"

"Elliot's gone, Olivia!" Kathy snaps. She pushes the cup to her left and ignores the drips of coffee that spills over the edge. "My husband chose you and my God, this arrangement of having to see you every other week feels like a jab in my heart!"

A jab in her heart.

She'd scream those words back at Kathy and plead for an understanding to her allowing Elliot to ghost her if she had the chance.

But Kathy had never believed Elliot had completely locked her out of their lives. Reality or not, to Kathy, she will always be the other woman.

The sound of Noah’s happy babbling disappears under the sudden ringing in Olivia’s ear. She isn't shifting seamlessly between possible outcomes like she had before- no, as the ringing intensifies, Noah, Kathy and the patrons of the small café disappear into darkness.

And for her? Olivia drifts into the darkness, unaware if she'll end up back in another possibility or back on solid ground.

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“Oh My God.”

His eyes widen at his daughter’s voice from the doorway. Elliot sighs and lifts his forehead from the soft edge of the bed to see Kathleen staring mouth agape at Olivia.

And also Eli.

His youngest has his head low with his hair covering his eyes. Eli appears hesitant to be near him as he’s been so since the car accident and the failed intervention over a month earlier. Kathleen leads him into the room, fighting off the tears forming in her eyes at the sight of Olivia.

“Dad, I’m so sorry,” Kathleen sniffles. She approaches his side slowly and scans him head to toe with the same uneasiness and concern Kathy once would. “Is she- will she wake up?”

“They’ve weaned her off some medication that was allowing the brain to heal,” Elliot replies. He runs a hand over his face and then looks past his daughter to Eli. “Hey, Buddy.”

“We wanted to come by,” Kathleen explains with a quick glance to Eli warning- We came to this conclusion together, right ? Right?

“Yeah, I should have come home,” Elliot stammers. He stands up before his body rocks slightly with fatigue. Kathleen immediately grabs his arm and guides him back down in his seat.

“Dad, when was the last time you slept or gotten something to eat?” She asks. Eli’s eyes flicker with worry but he doesn’t move from the door frame. The fatigue that’s been at bay since speaking with Fin comes in the form of a tension headache.

“I’ll grab something from the cafeteria downstairs,” Kathleen exclaims without a further word from her father. She quickly pulls off her grey peacoat jacket and lays it on the foot of the bed. Kathleen quickly walks over to the door, whispers something in Eli’s ear and is out the door before Elliot’s rattled brain realizes it.

Eli takes a step closer to the bed and tucks his hand in his pocket. Half expecting him to pull out his cellphone, Elliot straightens up in his chair when his son instead stairs directly at Olivia with trepidation.

“Did Mom like her?” Eli asks in a small voice. It’s one of the few rare times that Elliot’s heard Eli ask about his Mom directly since the funeral. That’s on me, he thinks anxiously.

“She-uhm- I...your Mom and Oliva had a unique relationship,” Elliot states as blankly as he can. The conversation about the ‘other woman’ has been one that he’d hope to have years from now. “They got along-”

“Why did she keep asking about Olivia?”

Elliot watches his son avoid eye contact with him, instead choosing to stare at his father’s hand, once more resting on top of Olivia’s. “Because your mother didn’t believe that I cut her off. Your mother was so good at hiding things from you about what had happened in New York. We tried our absolute hardest to build a life for you in Rome outside of the life we had in New York.”

Eli takes another step closer, leaving an inch between the foot of the bed and himself. He opens his mouth and then shuts it, scrunching his nose while rethinking his next words. “Did you and Olivia break up?”

“What?” Elliot exclaims. He snorts out a laugh and then mutters, “No, Eli. Olivia and I were never together. She respected your Mom, your siblings and you.”

Elliot watches his son’s brow furrow in concentration just as Noah had done the night before. “Everyone kept talking about Olivia behind your guys’ back. I thought she was a story or a secret that we weren’t allowed to talk about. And then we came home,” Eli admits shyly, “ You look at her different than Mom.”

The detective fidgets with his wedding band with his thumb and index finger, replaying the bits and pieces of the failed intervention that he can remember. His kids had gravitated to Olivia like muscle memory, especially Kathleen and even Eli, from his memory, had appeared somewhat trusting of the strange woman in the apartment.

“Dad?” Eli’s voice breaks into his thoughts with awe, “You like her.”

Elliot looks over to his unconscious ex-partner and sighs as he takes in the half inch cuts on her chin and forehead. Admitting the truth he’s dodged for two decades to his youngest feels like a betrayal without Kathy by his side.

How does one tell their child- I stayed with your Mom even though I shouldn’t have?

He flinches when the presence of his son appears right next to him. The absence of an answer, a denial or an attempt at a misdirect is more than enough to admit what everyone around him already knows.

“Did Mom know?”

Elliot nods and chokes, “Yeah. She did. I’m sorry, Eli.”

Elliot once more expects an outburst or a retreat from his son but instead he feels his son’s long hair and chin rest on his shoulder.

It’s everything he needs at this moment.

“..Sty…”

Elliot turns his head towards Eli and asks, “What?”

Eli jerks back, eyes wide from the sudden move. “ I didn’t say anything.”

Elliot’s heart drops into his stomach and he freezes up. His ex-partner- the love of his life- may be waking and all he can feel is fear. Questions explode in his mind- what if she doesn’t remember what happened? What if there are lingering problems? What if she decides that she doesn’t want anything to do with me?

What if she never forgives me for Lewis?

“Dad, I think she’s waking up!”

What if I lose her?

“Dad! Should I call the doctor?”

Breathe.

Elliot finally brings himself out of his daze and finds himself looking directly into a pair of brown eyes. He’d cry in relief if he could.

Instead, Elliot runs a hand down her cheek, whispering, “Hey, Liv. Welcome back.”

A/N: One....ish chapter left.

#olivia benson #elliot stabler #law and order svu #svu #bad things bingo #bad things happen bingo #bensler #law and order oc

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harryskalechips · 4 years

Text

Flash Part 2

A/N lol I think I have to stop with the angst I’m beginning to get chest pain as I write ahhahhahahah

Decided to post this early, thank you for 300!

Harry comes home to see the reaction of his wife and the very messy video

word count: 2352

Part 1! click here to waste more time and read¡!¡

Spending the night in a club, you would think your heart is beating fast because of the adrenaline and the body heat surrounding you. Spending the night in a club, you would think you can get away from all the external factors in your life that make you feel weighed down. Yet Harry was far from the satisfaction the club promised to give. Yes, his heart was beating fast but definitely not from the loud music. Yes, he did forget about his bad day in the office earlier today but now he’s got a bigger issue at hand.

While he was too busy swirling around the dance floor having the time of his life, he decided to make his way to a pretty girl and maybe get to know her better. Get to know her better could have ended Mr. Styles’ night in many ways and although he stopped himself from cheating on his wife, he still got dragged in the mud. You see, when Harry was still in college with his friends, he was a total frat boy and he did get drunk every other night with a new girl in his bed but as adulthood kept coming his way, his past life soon began to fade. Harry’s new life consisted of his company, his family and friends but most importantly his wife, Y/N. I guess this is why tonight was not only shocking for him but very disappointing. He’s ashamed of himself that not only was he tempted to cheat... he got caught in the stupidest way ever! You have to admit, approaching a random girl on a dance floor, you wouldn’t expect them to steal your phone and send your wife a video of you rubbing yourself on her while she moans! In reality, Harry was trying to grab his phone from her hands but he was scared that he might hurt her or harass her in some way. So, continuing where we last left off, Harry was still angry but more like shitting his pants

“Fuck, fuck, fuck fuck, Fuck!” Harry yells over and over again as he stares at his phone. He can’t take his eyes off the text messages with his wife. He thinks the more he stares at the delivered video the more likely it would disappear. Maybe, he’s drunk? Maybe, the video wasn’t actually sent? So, he taps the phone and raises it to full volume bringing it closer to his ear, He’s really praying that the music drowns the audio out but what difference would it make? He’s grinding on her for fuck’s sake! Harry is religious but he wasn’t much of the man who would practice his faith... now, however, seemed like the perfect time to start.

The unnamed girl was just leaning on the wall, seeming to look too bored at the picture she painted right in front of her. Did she take too many drinks tonight? Yes. Was she high too? Yes. Does she care that she’s practically a homewrecker now? No. “You know you can use other words to express your anger than fuck?” She laughs as Harry’s eyes narrow at her.

“Fuck you.” He replies almost instantly and leaves her by herself. He couldn’t make the time to look for his mates and bid his goodbyes and most certainly not was he going to say bye to this random chick that fucked up his whole night. As he makes his way to the exit, he calls his driver, Elliot so he can drive this poor man home.

The car ride home was probably the most crucial part of this all. Harry couldn’t stop staring at his screen. He wanted to see if the “delivered” would turn into “read” but knowing Y/N, her read receipts were off anyways. His mind was in a total frenzy. His head was fucking hurting as his thoughts yelled at him for being stupid while his heart was aching, aching in pain. He didn’t know what to do. He could have the hardest problem at his work right now but no level of stress can make him feel like his heart was going to be torn apart!

“Sir, we’re here.” Elliot says calmly as he observes his boss’ body language.

“Thank you, drive home safe Elly.” Harry replied rudely as he tries to stabilize himself as he slams the door shut.

“Baby!” Y/N calls as she stands in the front of the big doors of their lovely modern house. Harry’s eyes turn into hearts as he watches his girl standing there waiting for him in her tiny tank top and sweats.

“Hey.” He says coldly as he hugs her and keeps one arm around her waist as he guides her back inside their home. “I thought you were asleep love, it’s late.” He frowns. He looks into their living room. The TV was still on and her favourite wool blanket and pillow laid recklessly on their couch.

“Well yeah I know.” She pouts as she turns off the TV “But it’s also 2 AM and I was worried about you, you know. You never go out to clubs that often and I was scared something might happen to you.” She takes him into her arms and cuddles into him. She misses him a lot. Y/N silently takes his hands and holds them against her back as she leads them into their room.

Harry stands quietly as he watches his wife take his tie off and unbutton his polo. “Harry, you okay? Did you drink a lot?” She asks sweetly as she makes eye contact with her husband. She doesn’t stop unbuttoning though and when he doesn’t reply, all she can do is take the side of his face so she can caress it. Maybe, he’s just tired, she thought to herself. After Harry was changed, he charged his phone sitting on the bed, staring blankly at the wall. He couldn’t think, the guilt was eating him alive. Y/N was in the bathroom, doing her night routine and all Harry could think is fuck.

His wife walks in a couple minutes later. As she rubs the towel against her neck, she looks at her husband who’s been too quiet. Throwing the towel on one of their chairs, she makes her way in front of her husband. Without another word, she puts herself in his lap and brushes the hair away from his face. “Can you please tell me what happened?” She asks quietly. Harry kept his hands to himself and tried his best to not look her in the eyes. “Baby, you’re crying.” Y/N calls Harry out in schock. What could possibly happen? Tonight was supposed to be fun for him. She wanted him to spend time with his mates.

“Where’s your phone, Y/N.” He replies coldly. Y/N didn’t know how to react. He seemed angry and all.

“Ha-”

“Give me your phone!” He pulls her off him as he stands up quickly, looking around the room if he can find it. “Where is it! Where is it!”

“Why do you need my phone Harry?” Y/N soon began to grow frustrated as she watches the man in front of her loose his fucking mind.

“Where the fuck is your fucking fuck ass phone!” He screams as he’s full on heavily crying now.

“Baby, tell me why you need it!”

“Y/N please. Just give it to me!” He pleads as he finally makes eye contact with her. Both of their hearts dropping as Harry’s eyes and distance hurts them more.

“It’s on my nightstand, it died after I texted you. Haven’t been on it yet.” She pouts as she watches Harry quickly snatch it off the wireless pad. She was stuck. She didn’t know why Harry wanted to see her phone so badly. A part of her wanted to take the phone first, see what’s on it so she can know what he’s screaming at her for but another part of her knows she has nothing to hide.

Funny thing is it’s true she has nothing to hide but her husband did. The real question now is if Harry was going to show her or just delete the message off her phone so she won’t ever see it again. She will never know about it.

Marriage is a tricky thing. With all the love and butterflies, the real foundation was trust and unconditional acceptance. In a second, Harry had to make a decision that could either make or break his marriage. Of course, he wanted this whole night erased from his memory. He didn’t want his love to know, he approached another girl! Yet the other side of him, his heart was screaming to tell the anxious girl in front of him. If she really loves you maybe she’ll stay? He thought. If she really was smart, she should probably leave now. You’re going to always fuck up one way or another. He thought again.

“Harry. Can we talk? What’s on my phone that you need it so badly? Why are you crying?” She walks towards him with fear in her eyes. She was scared. She thought when Harry came home, he would come back at a reasonable hour and make love to her as they fall asleep but instead, he’s acting cold and crying.

“I fucked up.” He cries and goes on his knees, clenching his missus’ phone to his chest. “I’m sorry baby you have to believe me!” He cries harder. Y/N eyes widen. He cheated on her...

“What the fuck. Don’t tell me… don’t tell me you cheated please…” She steps away from him, looking at the window. This was a never ending nightmare.

“I didn’t! I didn’t” her heart feels relieved. “But this girl took my phone and recorded me while she was moaning and she sent it to you.” She turns around to look at him.

“Why would she do that?” Y/N was far from confused.

“I approached her on the dance floor, she saw me reading your text and-”

“You approached her? Why?” Harry cries harder as he watches the disappointment in her eyes rise.

“Niall pointed her out to me because she looked like the type of girl I would go for back in college. I-I was drunk I didn’t mean to-” “You were going to cheat on me?!” Y/N finally screams in anger. She walks into their ensuite and slams the door. Harry quickly rushes to the door, finding it already locked.

“Baby please I was drunk… I- I would never cheat on you I swear to God! I fucking love you please don’t fucking leave me please!” He screams as the tears feel salty in his mouth. Call him over emotional but he never thought there would be a day where his fear of his wife leaving him would possibly be true. She unlocks the door with a cold face.

“Show me the video.”

“Baby I don’t-”

“Show me the fucking video Harry! God damn it!” She yells and snatches her phone back. She sits at the end of their bed. Harry watches her as he stands far from her, only staying near the window.

Y/N puts her volume to the highest level as she taps play. Messy, nasty moans can be clearly heard as she watches Harry too close to the unnamed girl. She watches his hands near the phone’s camera, as if he was pinning her hands there. His eyes glanced at the camera but quickly looked back at the girl. His mouth close to her ear saying give it to me repeatedly.

Y/N quickly deletes the 6 second video twice and shuts her phone. Harry looks at her with tears still in his eyes.Y/N however is just about to start her water works once again. “Harry come here.” He comes close to her and kneels in front of her.

“In this video, you really look like you were grinding on her.” She pouts as Harry rubs her thighs. He’s always quiet when they get into fights. It’s not like he felt weak or anything to retaliate but with Y/N, he learned to stay quiet and let her talk. He taught himself to speak little in their fights and let her express her anger when she’s mad. He taught himself that in their marriage, he’s ready to lose arguments as long as he doesn’t lose her. “If I’m being 100% honest with you. She seems like a whore who was too bored and she wanted to mess around with you. I trust you. I love you so much that I trust that this video is not proof you cheated on me. I love you.”

“Baby, I love you-”

“I’m not done.” She whispers quietly and draws a heart on his forehead with her thumb. “I’m a bit mad that you almost cheated on me. What happened if she didn’t take away your phone, would you be sober enough to realize what you were doing? Drunk or not, I’m the type of girl who would cushion you for that.”

“Baby, I’m sorry. Please I don’t know what was in me.”

“You don’t have an answer for going up to that girl do you?” She frowns as her fingers play with his hair. His tears fall again.

“Y/N, I love you fucking much. You’re right, I don’t have a reason but I promise you that I would never act on anything or think like that ever. That girl and the amount of shots I had… I felt so drunk that I couldn’t comprehend my decisions. I love you and I promise I would never put you and I in that position ever again.” Y/N leans down to kiss him, to reassure him that although she’s a bit mad she understands him.

“You think I’m going to let a whore ruin our marriage?” She laughs, “Baby, we’re playing the long game here and nothing is going to change in a flash. You got me and I got you.”

#Harry Styles #harry styles fanfiction #harry styles fanfic #harry styles angst #harry styles smut #harry styles fluff #harry styles oneshots #harry styles imagines #harry x reader #one direction #one direction one shots #flash

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abundanceofsoph · 3 years

Text

SkyFire 3: Chapter 10

I’m free as a bird when I’m flying in your cage: Nov/Dec 2017

Word count: 3k

SkyFire 3 MASTERLIST

Please for the love of god, if you like the story just hit the reblog button. I really don’t know how to say it nicely but it’s really starting to bother me and maybe that makes me a dick but so be it.

>Instagram posts

Thankfully, after a day and a half of vocal rest, Harry was ready to go for the Manchester show and he very much dialled his performance up to 11 for his hometown crowd. Just as she had told Grimmy, Aurora stayed off social media in the days following the interview, but she heard from others that a small section of the fandom was absolutely furious with her and the social media manager that Mark had hired years ago to clear out her comment sections was working overtime to keep some of the nastier shit from her feeds. As much as Aurora herself was able to avoid it all together, she knew that a lot of her fans would be reading the comments and she wanted to keep it safe for them. Harry’s team was also working to keep his own accounts clear as well, and while they couldn’t hide from what was being said about them or Louis and Elanor, they could try to filter out the worst of it. This was the one part of celebrity that they all agreed was the worst. It was the unfortunate consequence of having such passionate fans. Ella had no such inclination to avoid the comment sections and was spending her free time picking fights with Larries and attempting to set them straight on the reality of Harry and Louis’ relationship as nothing more than brotherly love. Aurora tried to urge her to let it go, but unfortunately her best friend was feisty and easy to anger which was not a good combination with how overprotective she was about her loved ones. By the time they stepped out onto the Manchester stage, both Rori and Harry were happy to put aside the drama and focus on the music. Things started to cool down over the following week which took them up to Glasgow and then on to Stockholm, Berlin, Amsterdam, and Milan. By the time they returned to London on the 11th, the music video for Kiwi had been live for 3 days and the fans had thankfully moved on from Aurora’s interview in exchange for raving about the new video.

They spent the first few days relaxing at home before Rori headed to North London to meet up with Liam at the recording studio he liked to use to work on the song he had mentioned at Niall’s launch party. Aurora had spent the last few weeks listening to the demo on repeat while pouring over the sheet music Liam had emailed her. She was obsessed with the song and the two had been messaging back and forth constantly, discussing the arrangement and which parts each of them would take. Stepping back into a recording studio, even one she’d never visited before, felt like coming home after weeks on the road and her face lit up immediately as soon as she caught sight of Liam, wrapping her arms around him in a rib crushing hug.

“Ready to jump straight in?” he asked after letting her go.

“Absolutely,” she replied excitedly before following him as he introduced her to the producer and technicians that they would be working with for the following few days.

With a full week before Harry and Rori were due to fly to Shanghai, neither she nor Liam were on a tight schedule to finish the song. This meant that the environment in the studio was very chilled and there were many tangents and breaks taken while they worked.

“How attached are you and Lou to the lyrics?” Rori asked on their second day in the studio.

“Of course, you want to change something,” Liam laughed in a response. “Wouldn’t be you if you didn’t.”

“I’m sorry,” Rori replied with a laugh of her own. “I am who I am.”

“I know,” Liam agreed. “So, show me what you’re thinking.”

“I’ve been tossing around the pre-chorus and I was wondering if instead of what you lads have there, instead we go with this.”

I'm free as a bird When I'm flying in your cage I'm diving in deep And I'm riding with no brakes And I'm bleeding in love You're swimming in my veins You got me now

“Well fuck,” Liam replied. “Think I need to stop writing with Louis and start writing with you more often.”

“You like it?”

“Rors, I love it,” he said. “It’s way better than what we came up with. Let’s get back in the booth and record it.”

They ended up spending four days finishing the song which left Aurora with a few remaining days to catch up with Ella and also relax at home with her husband before they were thrown back into work.

xXx

The day before they were set to fly to China, Aurora headed over to Ella’s flat in Wimbledon. “I brought cake,” she yelled as she let herself into the flat with the spare key Ella had given her when Rori first moved back to London.

“Fuck yes!” Ella cheered in response, her voice carrying down the hall from the kitchen. “I’m just making us tea,” she continued as Rori made her way inside. “Get yourself comfy on the sofa and I’ll meet you in there, babe.”

Rori made herself at home in the living room, Ella’s elderly tabby cat Elliot, immediately padding over to make himself comfortable in her lap.

“You were recording with Liam this week yeah?” Ella asked as she joined Rori on the sofa, placing mugs of tea in front of them. “How was it?”

“God, it was so much fun El,” Rori sighed. “I didn’t realise how much I missed being in the studio. I mean don’t get me wrong, I love touring and I’m having an incredible time on the road, but it felt so good to be back recording again and it just has me itching to write again.”

“You should make sure to do more of it over the Christmas break then,” Ella pointed out. “Speaking of which are you going to be in New York or are you coming home for winter?”

“We’re planning a bit of both. Christmas and my birthday in New York with my dads and then we’ll come back here for February before the tour kicks off again in March. I think Gemma and Anne are going to join us for Christmas too and then when we get back Liam and I have made plans to have a writing session together. ”

“Sounds like a good plan,” Ella nodded before taking a sip of her tea. “Selfishly I’m glad you’ll be spending a decent chunk of time here. I miss you.”

“Urggh,” Rori groaned. “I miss you too. Was thinking of maybe doing something for Harry’s birthday and getting you, Lou, Liam, and Niall over to our flat for a game’s night or something. I feel like Harry could use something a little more lowkey this year after the insanity of tour.”

“Don’t feel like you need to invite me,” Ella replied awkwardly. “I mean, if you’re inviting the band over, I’m not really part of that group.”

“Oh bullshit,” Rori laughed. “They boys love you just like I do. You all get along great whenever we were all together for wedding stuff or the album launch. Why on earth would you feel like I shouldn’t invite you too?”

“Rori,” Ella sighed. “While yes, I have gotten along with yours and Harry’s friends in the past, that doesn’t mean that I run in the same circles as they do. They’re celebrities, you are a celebrity and I just think that sometimes you forget that I’m just your old friend from school. It’s two separate worlds that you live in.”

Aurora rolled her eyes in response, taking a sip of her tea while she compiled her rebuttal. “That’s such a load of shit El. They are mine and Harry’s friends and so are you. When we are away from the paparazzi, they are no different to you and me. I get that we grew up with their pictures on our bedroom walls but once you put that aside they’re just a bunch of really great guys that I think could become your close friends too if you let them in and stop freaking out around them.”

“Ok fine,” Ella agreed after a moment of silent staring between the two women. “I’ll try to get over myself and give them a chance next time we’re all in the same room. Can we change the subject now?”

“That’s all I’m asking for and absolutely we can change the subject. How’s things with Tim? Feel like we haven’t talked about him in a while.” Ella made a face and Aurora felt her heart break for her best friend. “When?” she asked softly. “What happened, love?”

“He broke it off a few weeks ago,” Ella explained. “Said he didn’t feel a spark or something.”

“I’m sorry babe, things seemed to be going so well when I left for the tour.”

“They were. At least I thought they were. We barely made it past 3 months before he gave up.”

“Why didn’t you tell me?”

“You were half a world away having the best time,” Ella replied. “If I’d told you then you would have just felt guilty for not being here.”

“And now instead I feel guilty for not even being able to be a sympathetic ear since I couldn’t provide a shoulder. How are you now?”

“I’ll be ok. I’ve been a bit down in the dumps, but I think it’s for the best. He made some good points about me not really knowing what I wanted and he’s right. I think I’m gonna swear off dating until I really figure out who I am and what I’m looking for.”

“Well if you ever want help figuring out who you are, I think I know you pretty well by now.”

“I might take you up on that offer,” Ella said with a small smile before changing topic. “Now enough moping, you said you brought cake with you? You are never going to believe the scandal that’s broken out amongst some of the girls in my Colonial History class.”

xXx

Occasionally something would happen in Aurora’s life that would give her pause and remind her how incredibly ludicrous her life had become. Standing behind her keyboard in the middle of a Victoria Secrets show in Shanghai while her husband sang and danced his heart out in front of her while literally supermodels strutted past them was one of those moments.

It was hard for her to believe that only 2 days ago she was sitting on her best friend’s sofa eating a chocolate cake from Sainsbury’s and discussing the latest high school drama playing out in Ella’s classroom. She found herself thinking about how her mother would react if she somehow had a way to travel back in time seven years and tell her about this moment and all the other life changing moments that had occurred since they parted. It was while her thoughts were caught on her mother that Harry turned, catching her eye, a mile-wide smile lighting up his face as he winked at her, causing her own smile to grow in response. No matter how strange her life had become and how much everything had changed since she was an average teenager living above a small bar, she knew that she wouldn’t change a single thing that had happened if it meant ending up here with Harry smiling at her like that.

xXx

Following the Victoria Secrets show, the band arrived in Singapore early and spent a few days exploring before their show there after which the flew on to Australia, a country that Harry had toured many times over the years with One Direction, but Aurora had never managed to visit herself. They had a week in the land Down Under, with shows in both Sydney and Melbourne and Aurora made it her mission to see as much as she could of the 2 state capitals, often dragging Harry or other members of the band along on her adventures. Given that it was the last week of November everywhere was getting into the Christmas spirit, however since it was the southern hemisphere the weather was scorching hot and the group found the combination highly entertaining, if somewhat baffling.

While in Sydney they took in the iconic sights such as Bondi beach, the Opera House, and the Harbour Bridge, as well as a day trip out to explore the Blue Mountains. In Melbourne they visited the Eureka Tower with it’s Skydeck that offered an amazing view of the city spread out beneath them. They also spent some time at the Melbourne Zoo and National Gallery of Victoria, then the day after their show at the Forum, they were taken on a drive out of the city and down along the coastal Great Ocean Road.

The tour stop in Auckland was similarly packed out with touristy opportunities where Aurora’s highlight was the art gallery Toi o Tāmaki. While the laid back vibes in both Australia and New Zealand captured Aurora’s attention, it was the week they spent in Tokyo that held Harry’s, so much so that while everyone else headed home the day after the last show, the young couple made a last minute change to their travel plans and extended their stay by an additional week to explore the city more.

Once again, Tokyo was somewhere that Harry had visited many times with the band while Aurora had never been, and he enjoyed to opportunity to show her his favourite parts. Something Aurora noticed almost immediately about Tokyo was that unlike in the US or the UK, people either didn’t recognize them when they were out and about or they did but respected their privacy and left them alone. She pointed this out to Harry on their second day wandering the city streets and he smiled back at her, agreeing that it was something he’d also noticed in a previous visit and had definitely played a role in him falling in love with the city.

They spent their days wandering the streets, ducking into quirky shops that caught their eye and just revelling in the normalcy of being together in public. As they walked, they both realized that they had never had this; a chance to be like everyone else crowding the sidewalks around them. Save for stolen moments in the early days of their relationship like their first date in Hampstead Heath or when they were able to sneak into galleries on quiet days, they’d never really been able to be themselves within a crowd. They’d always needed to wrap a scarf that little bit higher around their chins or wear a hat a little lower on their heads or glasses a little bit larger. To walk hand in hand like any other couple was freeing in a way that Rori hadn’t realized she’d been missing, and she soaked up every moment of their time in Tokyo. If only for a week she felt like she was living the life she would have had if her mother hadn’t died. If she had continued living as a normal girl from Wimbledon instead of being thrust into the spotlight, free to live her life without the scrutiny of the press and the public. Of course, it wasn’t lost on her that the man holding her hand wouldn’t be Harry in this parallel universe and for that she would happily trade in her freedom. She could accept that the price she paid to be married to Harry and be Steve and Tony’s daughter was that she would never really be allowed to have this normality, so she simply tried to make the most of their time before they flew on to New York for Christmas. They never spoke about any of this during their little vacation away from their lives but even without voicing her thoughts, Rori was certain that Harry was thinking the same thing and would willingly make the same sacrifices for the life they had built together.

xXx

Both Aurora and Harry were exhausted by the time they reached New York and were grateful to find Happy waiting for them as soon as they exited the arrivals terminal at JFK. He offered a quick hug to Rori before collecting their bags from them and leading them to the town car waiting for them. She leant against Harry in the back seat as they made the hour long drive into Manhattan. Her blinks began to lengthen as the airport shrank in the rear-view mirror and she was fast asleep before they reached Queens. Harry had to gently coax her awake once they finally reached the tower and she slowly made her way out of the car and into the elevator up to the penthouse. Tony and Steve were waiting up for their arrival and excitedly pulled their daughter into tight hugs the moment she stepped out of the elevator. It was Steve that noticed the way both Rori and Harry’s eyelids seem to droop and their gazes glazed over while Tony asked them a dozen questions about their recent adventures, and Rori was grateful when her Pops shooed them both off to bed with promises that they could catch up properly over a homecooked breakfast the next morning. They were barely conscious by the time they stripped out of their clothes and crawled into bed, however Aurora remained awake just long enough the think about how good it felt to be home.

NEXT CHAPTER

OR CONTINUE READING ON AO3

#skyfire fic #Husband Harry Styles #harry styles fanfiction #dad!tony #domestic fluff #iron dad #step dad steve rogers #aurora stark #harry styles #tony stark #live on tour

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gingerwritess · 4 years

Note

Tbt to that one Hozier song that reminds me of soft Loki and his darling during a rainy afternoon ('Like Real People Do')

have some pregnant reader (with frigg heh) cause i don’t contain my brain to a timeline pshh no i am so sorry

i’m trying to finish frigg’s birth cause that’s LONG overdue and i told myself i can’t write anything for asgardian royalty/the twins until that’s done!! so enjoy this prep work

— — — —

Green grass shouldn’t look so sad.

Drip.

You can’t bring yourself to move.

The drops, fat and heavy, plink onto your shoulder, run down your arm, and finish their journey to the ground under your watchful gaze.

One earbud plays softly in your ear, the other left empty to let the downpour mix with the melody.

You know shouldn’t be out here; it’s too cold, you’ll become sick, but it’s so beautiful. So dark, so rainy and gloomy and yes, you’re making yourself sad, but it’s a beautiful, wonderful sadness that twists your heart in the best way.

What did you bury, before those hands pulled me from the earth?

One of your hands floats to your baby bump, and you lean against the porch post, blinking tears out of your eyes.

This song always gets to you.

And right now, with the flood of hormones streaming through you, the pouring rain, and this newfound craving for tearful release, you’ve crafted the perfect escape.

You let yourself cry.

You want to, and you don’t know why; the baby hurts and makes you consistently cold, but that still doesn’t seem like that’s the answer.

The porch is lonely, out here in the dark grey clouds, wood stained with raindrops and wet footprints.

In some sad way, I already know.

You want to hold this baby, now. Her in one arm, Elliot tight in the other.

The front door opens with its usual annoying creak, slow and cautious, breaking you out of your teary-eyed daydream.

“There you are.”

Loki.

“Leave me alone,” you whisper, not wanting him to see you crying—again. “I’m…I’m rather morose, at the moment.”

Loki knows better than to find this amusing.

“Don’t let me interrupt,” he replies softly, but you feel his gaze on the back of your head and know he’s still there, leaning against the doorway.

Fine, you decide. He can watch.

You try to think yourself back to tears, wishing all these bottled up emotions would just get on with it and leave, streak your face with tearstains and tell you what you’re doing wrong.

The last few chords of the song echo through your head, and you quickly start the song over.

For the seventh time.

I had a thought, dear, however scary, about that night, the bugs and the dirt. Why were you digging?

Loki’s slow breaths mix with the raindrops.

“I’m a bad wife.”

You still don’t turn around, but Loki is by your side in an instant.

“No.”

“I’m a bad mother,” you try again, gazing out over the glistening grass blades.

Loki sighs. “No.”

Another tear races down your cheek.

“I’m doing something wrong,” you whisper, eyes filled to the brim. “Like always. I just know it.”

This time, Loki catches you starting the song over for the eighth time.

“You’re making yourself feel this way,” he reminds you. “Enough of that song. You know it makes you cry.”

“But I want to cry.”

Your husband lays his hand on the wooden railing you’re leaning against, his palm up and waiting for yours.

“May I offer you my shoulder instead?”

You just sit there, staring at his hand, heart flipping over in your chest. A good chunk of the song finishes again before you move, and you only do when a new flood of heavy sobs overtakes you, flinging yourself into his arms to bury your face in his chest.

His arms wrap around you without a second to spare, holding you tight against him as you clutch at him.

“Let it out,” he murmurs, hands stroking down your back. “It’s alright. Let it out.”

The two of you stay right there, swaying gently in the cold air on the porch. Compared to the rainy weather, Loki’s warm in your embrace—he may be doing that on purpose, seeing how cold you are out here, but either way, it’s ridiculously comforting.

You take a shuddering breath, tucking your face further against him. “Where’s Elliot?”

“He’s inside, reading,” Loki answers, still slowly swaying back and forth. “Don’t worry.”

You almost have the strength to look at him, but hearing that, you break down in tears again and hide your face back in his shirt.

“Sorry.” Your voice muffled, you tuck your arms tighter under his.

Loki carefully reaches up to take the earbud out of your ear. “Don’t listen to it anymore, darling, you’ll just make yourself worse.”

Unsurprisingly, you shake your head and grab the earbud back, putting it right back in and starting the song over.

He almost rolls his eyes.

This isn’t the first time you’ve made yourself cry, but normally you do just to have a reason to be held. Loki always assures you that you don’t need an excuse, you can come hug him anytime, but he has a hunch you feel guilty.

“Do you want to go back inside?” He gently asks, his thumb stroking over the back of your neck. “We can, ah…cuddle. On the couch, or in bed, where it’s warm.”

A crack of thunder makes you start, grip tightening in his shirt.

“And dry,” Loki adds.

But you shake your head, intent on staying in the rain for as long as possible.

So you stay, huddled in each other’s arms as raindrops splash up against your bare ankles, and Loki takes the other earbud and puts it in his ear.

Might as well, if you’re so intent on listening to this song.

For the first few chords, you both just listen.

I will not ask you where you came from

I will not ask you, neither should you.

Loki lowers his head to your shoulder, ghosting his lips over the curve of your neck as his arm drops to your waist.

“Honey, just put your sweet lips on my lips,” he sings in nothing more than a whisper, breath tickling your skin. He takes your hand in his, the other tight around your waist, and nudges your hip with his to start moving. “We should just kiss, like real people do.”

You let him move you, coaxing your feet to move as he guides you back and forth, face buried in the crook of your neck while he hums.

“I knew that look, dear, eyes always seeking…was there in someone that dug long ago.”

His slightly-muffled voice wraps around you just as secure as his arms and you give a quiet, teary laugh when he slowly spins you.

“There you are,” he smiles, pulling you close again and pressing a kiss to your forehead. “Mm…I will not ask you where you came from, I will not ask you and neither would you…”

“Neighbours,” you mumble, hiding your face in his neck again. “Neighbours can see us, Loki.”

“Don’t care,” he hums, lifting you gently down the porch steps. “Honey, just put your sweet lips on my lips…we should just kiss, like real people do.”

Twirling in the damp grass, Loki kisses you, still humming quietly as the rain soaks through your thin jacket and catches on his eyelashes.

“Mm. Sweet,” he whispers when he pulls away, giving you another soft peck on the lips. “We should kiss again. What do you think?”

He’s an idiot, getting the both of you soaked in the rain and getting your bare feet all muddy, smiling and singing and dancing in the grass without a care in the world. An idiot, an adorable, perfect idiot.

“Yes, please,” you whisper, winding your arms around his neck to pull him in. “Really hard, please.”

He obliges, of course, letting go of your hand to cradle the back of your head and tug you closer by the waist, lips moving against yours and smearing your tears onto his cheeks with the raindrops.

“Better?”

He’s breathless when he pulls back, resting his forehead on yours and gazing at you expectantly.

“If I say no,” you mumble, gaze cast to your hands where they play with the top buttons of his wet shirt, “will you kiss me again?”

He just kisses you, quick and firm and out of the blue, nipping once at your lip like he just can’t help himself.

“If you say anything, darling, I will kiss you again.”

So Loki does just that, pulls back to brush away your tears, then kisses you again and kisses you and kisses you and kisses you until you’re bent backwards and laughing, unable to breathe without the help of his lips and he keeps nibbling his way down your neck until he’s dropped to one knee before you, lips pressed to your rounded belly.

“Any better that time?” He grins up at you, hands warm against your wet skin.

“Getting there,” you giggle, rubbing the tears from your eyes. “Couple more times should do the trick.”

“Good gods, woman.” He presses his lips firmly to your belly again. “Your mother is insatiable, little one. What ever shall we do with her?”

You give a broken laugh, the last of your tears disguising themselves as raindrops on your cheeks. “Well,” you sniff with another laugh, “you could kiss me again. And I wouldn’t say no to a really tight hug.”

He taps a finger on your baby bump. “Excellent plan. Now, to business.”

Pulling himself to his feet, he takes your face in his hands, palms warm against your wet skin. He breathes heavily, eyes boring into your own, just staring and staring and staring, brushing his thumb along your cheek.

“What’s wrong?” You ask quietly, unable to look away from the ocean in his eyes.

“You’re making me emotional.” He shakes his head. “Damn this song.”

“Damn this rain,” you giggle, knowing he won’t last much longer with the way he’s gazing into your eyes.

“Damn this baby, making you emotional so you can just pass it all along to me.”

“Damn you, Loki.”

Raindrops glisten on his eyelashes and roll down his lips; you gently pull his hands off your face and lay your own on either side of his.

“Damn you for the perfect little kiddo in there reading, and damn you for this little monster on the way.”

Nodding down towards your belly, you brush your thumb across his lips before tugging him in for another soft kiss.

“I want to cry all the time, make out with you for hours, and eat a truckload of tortilla chips.”

Loki, tousled hair dripping rainwater down his forehead and neck, just smiles. “I might be able to arrange…most of that.”

Ignoring the fact that you’re standing barefoot in a muddy grass in the midst of a rainstorm for a moment longer, you wrap your arms around his waist and hold onto him tight.

A long, quiet, content moment passes when Loki holds you even tighter, wet and cold but ever so warm between the two of you.

And a few more minutes pass.

A car drives by, kicking up a small wave of rainwater from the gutter.

“Darling…”

“Uh-uh.” You squeeze him tighter.

“I’m guessing…this is the really tight hug you wanted?”

You nod, still not letting go.

“How about we go inside,” Loki offers, pressing a kiss to your forehead. “Before Elliot gets worried and you catch a cold.”

You are a bit cold, now that you think about it. Soaked to the bone, actually.

“Fine,” you mutter and let him go. “But—”

“But nothing.” Loki grins and sweeps you into his arms, carrying you back to the house and through the door, straight to the bathroom. “You shower, warm up, and get into something more comfortable. I’m going to check on Elliot, and I expect you out on the couch when you are done.”

Your heart warms as he sets you on your feet. He hardly ever directly orders things of you, but like this, that gentle threat darkening his eye, it’s…it’s…

It’s something, that’s for sure.

“You’re a bit bossy today.” You grin and turn on the shower to warm.

“I am simply trying to appease your every need,” he replies. “What’s the saying you all use…happy wife, happy life?”

You laugh, starting to peel away your layers of soaked clothing. “Yeah, that’s the one.”

“Ignoring the implied ideas of marriage as a prison,” Loki hums, watching your every move, “it’s quite true. The happier you are, the happier I am. What a lovely cycle to be stuck in.”

You peek your head out of the shower, just to smile at him.

God, he looks so calm. Yes, he’s soaked through with rainwater and his bare feet are a little muddy, but leaning against the bathroom doorway, gazing happily at you and ranting about love…

“Get over here, Loki.”

His eyebrows shoot up, but he does as you say.

“We’re real people, right?” Hooking your fingers in his collar, you tug him as close as you can—without just pulling him into the shower with you altogether, as tempting as that may be.

“Mm, it’s debatable.” His cheeks flush, and he gives you a boyish grin. “Why do you ask, love?”

“I think I’m done letting that song make me sad,” you giggle, nudging his nose with yours. “I think it’s actually good advice.”

“What, that we should kiss?”

You just nod, already locking your sweet lips with his.

“Y’know, like real people do.”

― ― ― ―

fuel the writer?

feel free to send me ideas!!

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taglists will now be done through reblogs right after it’s posted!

#loki x reader #loki reader insert #loki imagine #loki fluff #domestic!loki #loki x pregnant!reader #loki requests #loki fanfiction #loki drabbles #loki laufeyson #loki x reader fluff

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mydearsaddiary · 4 years

Text

This is a Speakeasy Tonight fanfic on how I imagined Neil Season 3 would go like. This is chapter 2, here’s a link to chapter 1: https://mydearsaddiary.tumblr.com/post/618558632607514625/neil-season-3-chapter-1-1933-little-curiosity

WARNING: Includes a hot scene and mention of drug use

Little curiosities: Hey guys!, this chapter we’ll be traveling to Columbus! MC’s family will be here and Neil will meet them, but younger sister Hazel gets the spotlight here!

Author notes: This chapter is a bit longer but I hope you guys enjoy it! Thank you for your feedback on Chapter 1! I plan on continuing this story and posting as much as I can! If you like this story please like and reblog!

-Candy, My Dear Diary (05/21/2020)

Neil Season 3

Chapter 2- I love you, my dear sibling. Even when you irritate me.

1926

-It’s not that small-Neil said, looking incredibly uninterested on his first look of the town. He carried our luggage, after all I could still take some advantages of being a lady. We walked out of the Columbus Train Station and into the cab I signaled to

-Whaddya expect? Dairy farms and corn fields? - I teased him getting myself comfortable in the taxi seat. I knew those were around not too far from Columbus, but I wasn’t going to let him win

-From the way you talked about it, I really thought it was the middle of nowhere- He closed the door on his side. However, he couldn’t keep his cynical façade for long. I did catch him trying to take a peek outside- It’s definitely not Boston, or Chicago.

-There’s the Armory me and the others used to beat our gums about nothing for hours, besides wetting our whistles- I whispered that last part- It’s a bit far but you can see it there! Oh, and there’s the church Momma would take us to every Sunday. It’s your mighty luck we’ll be scrambling out of here before Sunday an-

I turned around to notice he wasn’t paying much attention to me. His right leg was restless and he rested his chin on his hand, fixated on what looked like nothing outside

- Are you alright? - I asked, he didn’t reply right away and just gave me a blank stare. I noticed outside the sights changed from a more commercial area to rows and rows of houses, and then it dawned on me- Are you… Is the calm and steady Dr. Dresner nervous to meet my parents? - I fluttered my lashes at him

He chuckled turning his head away again- Don’t get any ideas, tomato- He paused for a few seconds- I’m just missing my bourbon.

-I’ll say!-I couldn’t argue with that, I’m sure he did. For Momma and Poppa, Neil had to pretend to be the ritziest Boston Brahmin, high society upstage type, and the biggest bluenose they’ve ever seen. Lucky for Neil, he had plenty of experience. No morphine, no practicing medicine illegally and that also meant: No bourbon. For him, I bet the hardest part of all of it was the last one.

I had my job to do too. Uncle Charlie was supposed to turn me into Mrs. Grundy and my acting lessons from Elliot and playing the part for the temperance meetings sure made me the perfect Jane for the job. Thanks, Graham.

The taxi stopped in front of my childhood home. The houses were close together in Columbus, far apart enough for barely any privacy. As Neil once mentioned, the middle-class in me was very noticeable, and it was in the place I grew up too.

There it was, the humble castle. The white exterior presented everybody with windows and more windows along with the corny reddish-orange roof. I could see my old room’s window from the cab and it made me giggle with nostalgia from the times I snuck up there from my secret parties at night. Neil gave the cab driver his coin and went to get our luggage

While he played gentleman, I turned around to see the wooden-colored door open and Momma along with Edith and Hazel appear. I could see Poppa and Oliver, Edith’s husband, right behind the excited dames.

I chose the right outfit to impress my parents, a long sleeve loose dress that ran its course to right below my knees. It was cream-colored with some rose flowers on its pattern. At the hip it had a bow that matched the one on my rose-colored chicken-platter hat. My delicate heels were the same rose color. From her eyes I could see Momma appreciating the finesse

Neil carried our bags behind us as I walked towards the porch to greet them

-Mary Catherine!- Momma yelled. Gee, she made me sound like an old bug-eyed Betty.

-Heya, Momma!- I smiled giving her a hug- I sure did miss you guys-I stepped away looking at everyone else- Edith!- I went to her next- I thought I’d have to go over to your house to see you

-I thought I’d make it easy for you-She smiled hugging me

-That’s a lie, Mary, Edith wouldn’t stop talking in my ear until we were here- Oliver, the only stuffed bank fella to ever look like a redneck, came by her side and she took his arm.- Nice to see you back- He should tell that to Sweeney. We particularly never got along.

-Well, couldn’t stay away for too long! - I replied to him, turning my attention to Edith again- You’re glowing aren’t you? And starting to show too, have you thought about names yet?

-No, not yet. We thought we’d wait a little- She said and I was happy for her. Her eyes started to shine at the mention of her pregnancy. The thought scared me. I couldn’t put myself in her shoes right now and still imagine me with a grin like that on my face

-I got you something- I gave her the little bag from the maternity shop I had chosen with Cleo

-Thank you, MC- She held it close to her body- It’s beautiful- She smiled- We all missed you. I’m glad you’re staying with us for a few days

Momma interrupted us with Poppa asking me about Chicago, I told them Uncle Charlie regretted not being able to be there and Poppa mentioned I had to tell the “old geezer” he was coming to pay a visit to him in Chicago soon.

-MC- Edith said- You’ve been keeping this fella a secret for long enough- She mentioned Neil

-I have, haven’t I?- I walked back to him, I couldn’t tell what he was feeling with that stone-face- Well, there’s someone I’d like you guys to meet- He put the our bags down and took his hat off to shake hands with Poppa and Oliver

Momma looked Neil up and down and anyone could tell she liked what she was seeing. Neil was from the high society and one could tell. I mentioned he was from Boston in the letter I wrote her, and I felt bad about having to paint such an upstanding snobbish figure of Neil. He understood it and didn’t complain about it once. Whatever did I do to deserve this man?

-It’s a pleasure to meet you Mrs. Granger- He said. I don’t think Neil had much pleasure in meeting people like my parents. However, he knew everything about acting like he was raised. Although I do think they had a pass to be on his good side due to the fact they were my and Uncle Charlie’s family.

-Well, come on in. Dr. Dresner, right?-She said hurrying him inside. Uh… Hello? Daughter you haven’t seen in months?! Ugh, no use.

Neil sat down in the living room. The place seemed to be set to gossip, it reminded me of how Momma and her lady friends would sit on the relatively old sofas and seats around the coffee table to talk about the neighborhood and how the youth behaved extremely improper these days. Poppa would have his own seat by the radio, but right now, he was interested in the man I’d brought home with me as well. Even Edith and Oliver sat around him, but not Hazel. She was still outside

Her eyes looked down and she was as further away from the party as she could be. I took my hat off hanging it in the coat rack by the door, then made my way to her

-You look so blue people would think you’re the summer sky- I sat next to her on the porch- What’s eating you, Hazel? Didn’t you miss me?

-I missed you MC… Or do you go by Mary now?-She looked at me, reluctant and reserved

-You just call me how you always did- I snuggled up to her- Momma and Poppa have been giving you too much trouble?

-And how! Since you went away, Ted’s been inviting me for dances. It’s fun and all but now they are watching me closely so I can never stay too late- She shrugged- Guess life changes, even for you, huh?

-Whatever do you mean? - I distanced myself a little to be able to look at her face

-Well, I’m happy for you, MC. You know, you’re putting on the Ritz and everything- She motioned to my get-up- Almost didn’t recognize you

-Hazel, you must know I’m just putting on a show for Momma and Poppa

-Yeah, says you! - She gave me an angrier look- You brought in the high class, ritzy man, Boston Brahmin Doctor. Bet he has a deep pocket to go with it too. Momma and Poppa are all over him. Edith, you, and now they’ll be expecting me to marry some boorish stuffed fella

-Neil isn’t like that, Hazel- I took her arm- I’m sorry things have been hard for you. But I’ll tell you not to change who you are. I am the same MC that left. Say, how about I take you out for a spin tonight to the armory, after dinner? We can say we’re going to the movies. Well, if you don’t mind Neil coming along

She looked up at me- Really? Stuffed-shirt is going to go for that?

-He ain’t the bluenose you think he is- I giggled lowly- We’ll keep it secret, like old times.

-Alright-She smiled brighter this time, a little disconcerted, like she was embarrassed about something- So you really didn’t go off to turn into some Mrs. Grundy

I hugged her- Same little old me- I got up- Well, I better rescue Neil from the claws of Momma and Poppa

However when I went inside, Neil seemed to be doing just fine without me. He sat and talked about his Med school, how he went on to the war (But he kept it clean, nice and short), and how he came back and finished school and went to work. He basically told them everything everyone already knew about him and nothing else. He mentioned how he took care of Uncle Charlie and the neighborhood around and that’s how he met me. He painted a pretty picture of how respectable I was. Made me think of how many times he had to do that when he was younger

I sat by his side and even Hazel joined us- I hope they aren’t tiring you out

-Can it, Mary Catherine, he was just updating us on Charlie- Momma said

Poppa then spoke- Charles really got you on the straight and narrow. This one’s got my blessing- He shook his hand all Rotarian-like and Neil shook it back like it meant something- Charles tells me you’ve been working with the Temperance folks up in Chicago?- He asked wanting a confirmation from my own lips

-Yes, I go to the meetings when I can. Uncle Charlie can’t handle going to them anymore because of his health so I go instead. I have been helping him around the appliance store too.

-Oh, look at our girl, Eddie- Momma said looking like the cat who ate the canary- I’m so proud of you- It really looked like she was going to cry. Seems like she really thinks I just found my way back to heaven again- You take care of our little girl, now, you listen!

Neil nodded- I’ll take care of her- He said in a low tone, but looked at me and gave me a secret small smile, the one that let me know all was right in the world

However, with my traditional parents it meant me and Neil had to sleep in separate rooms, but it didn’t mean we had to be separated all the time when they weren’t looking. I declared I wanted to take a nap since I was tired from the trip and Neil suggested he was doing the same if they didn’t mind. Momma hushed us to go “to be all rested up for dinner”. I left my bags in my old bedroom. It now gave me a weird feeling, like I wanted to be out of there as soon as possible, so that’s what I did

I knocked softly on the spare room’s door Neil was staying in and walked in. He gave me a side smile and I closed the door behind me. I had a more comfortable dress in my hand which I put on top of the dresser- Thought I’d change in here

He answered coming up to me, pulling me close and kissing me deeply- Awfully dangerous to do that now, since I worked so hard on building a good reputation for your parents.

I laughed- Sorry. But the worst is over, right?

-If you say so. How likely is it we’re going to get away with this?- I could see the fire in his eyes

-Shh- I put my finger up to his lips, listening. I could hear Poppa listening to the radio and Momma talking to Edith and Oliver downstairs, activities they’d could be engaged in for at least an hour. Hazel wasn’t much to worry about- If we’re quiet, I’d say we got about forty minutes, it’s not much time…

-Plenty of time- He whispered crashing his lips onto mine. The feeling was electric. His hands on my lower back pulled me closer and roamed around that area with urgency. I don’t know if it was the excitement of hiding away and doing something that would get us in so much trouble if we got caught, but I was burning up inside. From the way Neil unzipped my dress he was too.

He pulled it down so aggressively the zipper came off in his hands and he had to force the dress open the rest of way. I would’ve cared if for it being expensive if I wasn’t so lost in him at the moment

We breathed heavily in between hot and desperate kisses as he basically teared my dress out of me in one quick strong pull. I swear I heard it rip before it fell on the floor. He picked me up and I was sure his strong hands were leaving marks on my thighs where he held me.

He put me down on the bed, this time kissing my neck. I made him back away to start working on his clothes. I undid his tie, throwing it away. Next I got rid of his jacket. His impatient hands got rid of his shirt and undershirt while I undid his belt and pushed his pants down.

It wasn’t long before there was nothing more in between us, only my stockings remained on my legs, but without their support they were soon falling out. Neil kissed, licked and touched everywhere he could. I breathed loudly, too loudly. When he got to work around my most sensitive area I let not just a gasp but a moan come out.

-Quiet-He said from down below in a demanding tone

-I’m trying- I whispered back. He knew he wasn’t making it easy for me and I knew he enjoyed knowing that. I placed my hands on my mouth as he continued his work. His tough grasp on my legs weren’t helping either. I wanted to scream and just let everything out.

He did something that made another noise escape from me. This time I looked down and I could meet his fiery eyes. Something in them had more fire than before- I told you to stay quiet- His tone of voice and the look he gave me made me weak on the knees.

He backed away to turn me around to lay on my stomach and I could feel his weight on top of me- Since you can’t keep your mouth shut, seems like I’ll just have to do it for you- He whispered in my ear, and I felt his strong right hand cover my mouth completely

And then we were one in our repeated motions. The only noise now was from our bodies colliding, which somehow he made it not loud but the feeling still feel just as deep. I was still sure I was moaning, but Neil’s hand on my mouth prevented the sound from going any further. It was hard to breathe and I could feel his hot breath on my neck as he moved.

The feeling grew higher and higher until it reached its peak and I knew I’d be crying out his name if it wasn’t our need for discretion, which he enforced by his hand still on my mouth

Even as we quiet down our panting, I didn’t want to leave just yet. My head rested on his chest. A thought occurred to me and I turned around to grab my dress on the floor. This thing was just rags now!

-Hey, buster!- I turned around to show him- You owe me a new dress.

-I’d say it was worth it-His smug face looked pleasantly satisfied and I threw the pillow on his face, to which he whispered an “Ow!” and threw it away on the bed – Alright, fine. But I’m getting you something from Boston.

-Oh, something too expensive for my shallow pockets?-I teased sitting up, putting on the other dress I thankfully brought into the room

-I’m not really a person to give presents around, so take it and don’t say anything about it

-Fine, Doctor. Get dressed. We’re going out- I fixed my hair on the mirror

-To where, exactly?- He looked at me this time- I thought we were staying here for dinner

-We are, and then after we’re taking Hazel down to the Armory

-God forbid you take me to one of those bathtub gin escapades you used to go to- He started getting dressed himself either way- What is that fella name you used to date, “Teddy” was it? You want me to go meet up with nineteen-year-old Teddy and fit in with the youth?

-Don’t worry he’s not nineteen anymore, he’s twenty- I said it like it made it any better

-It’s out of question, MC-He gave me that stern look he thought could convince me as something. He knew I was stubborn

While we got ready for dinner we fought back and forth about it and we ended up in “Yes, you’re going, even if I have to put a leash on you and walk you out.”

----

Dinner was uneventful. Me and Poppa talked about Uncle Charlie some more and I gave Poppa the letter he gave me. Then came Momma asking the big question

-So, when is the wedding?

I looked at Neil then back at her- Well, I was thinking maybe we should wait until the cold went away, like late April or May. It’d give us enough time to plan everything and not have to get married in the cold.

-Why wait that long?! People start talking if you’re engaged for too long!-She complained and Edith agreed- Besides, are you planning on marrying here in Ohio?

-We were thinking about Chicago, Momma- I didn’t want to make any big moves about the whole situation and Chicago felt like home, but I still needed an excuse that’d convince them- Uncle Charlie took really good care of me and now I’m helping him out. I’d like for him to attend the ceremony too, but with the health and all he can’t travel much.

-Well, Momma- Edith started- It’d give us a chance to go see his place up in Chicago, get out of the state and go visit the big city!

-Heh, that ain’t so bad- Poppa said- Chicago seems like a nice place to have it. That old geezer Charles better be looking sharp when we go

-I still think it should be sooner, Mary Catherine- Momma said, but before I continued to disagree she talked again- But, I understand. As long as it doesn’t take any longer than that.

-You got it Momma!

----

After dinner I dragged my cat Neil on a leash to the car. I told Momma and Poppa the three of us were going to a movie night. He said we could borrow his old jalopy and didn’t even give us a time to come back. I think he felt weird giving a thirty-two year old a curfew.

-Well, you take care of this one-He said to Neil pointing to me- And our little Hazel, it will do some good her spending time with you all. She can be a lot though

-I’m sure Mary will be able to handle her- Neil said. Didn’t like any responsibilities he didn’t care about put on him.

-Yeah, I’m sure- He looked at me and I agreed. After all he did believe my change to the bluenose side

Me and Neil waited for Hazel in the car, who said she’d come in a minute

-Your sister, she… She seemed restless today, like something was bugging her- Neil started

-Oh, Momma and Poppa have been hard on her. I told you before, they interfere with her life all the time now

-No, it’s not that- He had a weird look on his face- It’s… Never mind

-C’mon, spill it out

-It’s, the shakiness, the goosebumps on her arms, she was sweating like she was the Niagara Falls.

-You know I don’t speak doctor, right?-I looked at him, now worried. I was with her, but I didn’t notice those things- You think she’s sick or something?

-No. But I know the symptoms of withdrawal when I see it.

-Withdrawal? That’s applesauce! - I looked at him in disbelief- You think she’s hooked on morphine?

-Morphine is hard to get, you need a prescription or access to it like I had. If I’m right, it’s something easier to get

-I think you’re over the edge here. Hazel was always crazy, but she never did anything worse than I’d done

-If you say so-He turned his attention to outside- You know her better than I do

Hazel came outside looking ritzy, wearing a nice dress, lipstick and everything. She went in the back and yelled- Well, let’s scram!

Neil started to drive and I turned to talk to her, occasionally stopping to give him directions

-You’re all dolled up! Is there someone you’re trying to impress?- Realization dawned on me- You have a beau!

-Well, we started seeing each other a while ago. It’s not just for fun, but I ain’t gonna go and get hitched like you!

-Who is it? Do I know him?-I was interested. Neil on the other side drove in silence, like he tuned out the whole conversation

-Well, yeah, actually…

-It’s not Johnny Phelps is it?-I looked at her disapprovingly- You carried a torch for him before and he always seemed like trouble to me

-Martin Phelps’s little brother? No! I only had to go on one date with him to realize he was a flat tire

-I’ll say! Well, who is it then?

-Well, it’s Denby…-She shrugged, this time she was blushing- A few weeks ago he told me he thought I was always hotsy-totsy

-Teddy’s little brother Harry? I mean… He’s alright, but he always seemed like a goody-goody, I never even imagined him hanging around your crowd

-No… Not Harry, Theodore. We have been going out and-

-Teddy Denby?! You have been going out with Teddy?

-We’re not just going out, MC, we’re steady too. The real thing!

Neil snorted- Seems like he’s going around the family

-Hazel Rose Granger, you are not going steady with Teddy Denby!

-Why not? Just because you went out with him in high school once and then like three other times after that? I thought you guys were history

-Of course that’s history, Hazel but he’s a real flat tire too!

-Might have been for you, he treats me well.

I knew Teddy enough to know what he was like. He didn’t treat no girl like a lady and he definitely was after getting under skirts

-Tell me you didn’t sleep with him!

-How’s that any of your beeswax?- She retorted.

Out of the corner of my eye I could see Neil had become more entertained with our conversation, even though I know what he was thinking about it.

-Ugh!- I turned around- Neil, turn left here! You’ll see a HUGE armory, there’s no way to miss it! Big huge double doors!- I said with a bummed out emphasis on my voice, turning back to Hazel- Teddy Denby ain’t a real man

-People can change, MC. I don’t know why you’re making such a huge deal out of it.

I didn’t have any more energy to discuss with someone as stubborn as I was, so I let her be, besides, Neil parked in front of the armory. I let Hazel go ahead in front of us and into the big space

-So, this is the object of your doom- Neil said

-It sure is, but you wouldn’t really fit in with the crowd. I used it more as an excuse to make Hazel happy and get you out to show you around for a bit!

Neil and I were gone for about an hour. He seemed a relieved I didn’t drag him into a teenager/young adult party where he wouldn’t fit in. It was all dance and no bourbon. But I dragged him to have dessert in one of my favorite ice cream spots in town. Even though Columbus didn’t burst like Chicago it still had its night life.

Once we were back to pick up Hazel I opened the double doors on the armory, revealing the party happening inside. The people were all around my age. A Victrola was set up that played hot jazz, some of the kids stole liquor from their parents houses or paid bootleggers to give them some. It was always watered down so everyone could drink it. They’d dance and drink and there were petting and necking parties everywhere. Some of the kids would go out in cars and their necking would evolve to more than that. Teddy Denby tried it on me a couple times, but I’m glad I saved myself for Neil. There were about fifty or some kids there, I recognized most of them as kids I went to school with

-It’s a playground- Neil said- It’s literally a playground

-Make fun of me, will ya? I had to have my fun the only way I knew how!-I crossed my arms looking for Hazel

-Well, let’s get your sister and get out of here.

-That’s all fine, but I don’t see her

I scanned the room and someone came up to me- Look who’s back into town!- Tall, brown-haired and blue-eyed. Great, just who I wanted to see- MC Granger. Missed us?- She looked past me and gave Neil and appreciative look. Ugh, she was always a little floozy- Who’d you bring here?

-Neil. Meet Millicent Shumway- I said with a tone in my voice that indicated I wanted her to go away

-Pleasure, mister- She said extending her hand

-Juliet from English class, right?-Neil talked to me and ignoring her hand, but she continued like he talked to her

-Oh, MC was always jealous she didn’t read as well as I did- She replied. Gosh, she was still just as childish. I didn’t like her, but I wasn’t going to start a Dumb Dora contest over here with her, not in front of Neil anyway

-Did you see my sister?-I decided to make use of her if she wasn’t going away

-Hazel? Little poor thing fell in the spell of your ex-squeeze.

-Yeah, I did hear she and Teddy were seeing each other, that wasn’t the question though. Where is she?

-Seeing each other? Guess you didn’t hear the whole thing

-The whole thing?

-Teddy asked Hazel to marry her. They worked it out with his parents, they were planning on going tomorrow to go tell your folks

I was at a loss for words. Didn’t she say this was a couple weeks ago?- You’re over the edge! Marry her?!

-Yeah. Rumor is she’s got the bun in the oven. That’s why they’re going so fast at it

My expression got darker and darker- Applesauce! Where is she?!

-She and ol’ Teddy were necking before going out on his Model T. They screw every night. She’s definitely pregnant

I didn’t even stay to talk to her any longer turning to go outside, but Hazel and Teddy came back in from the back, cuddling too much. She was in disarray, dress all messed up along with her make up. She was definitely jazzed and so was he, but it was obvious what they were doing in that car

-Hello Hazel, how was your stay on the hotel on wheels?

-MC Granger!- Teddy Denby looked surprised at me. He had this characteristic blush on his face that appeared there when he drank. Teddy was a handsome young man, that’s why I had the hots for him when I was in high school and why many girls did too. He was always a sheik among the girls. He was not as tall as Neil, but he was still taller than most. He had a handsome face, bright green eyes and a light brown hair that turned blonde in the sun, he always had a wicked smile on his face that made the girls swoon. We all were under the spell of the “bad boy”. He liked to play gangster and do illegal things because it made him feel powerful. No one could blame Teddy Denby for wanting to be a little rebellious, he was young. However, nothing was just a little with him

-I didn’t know you were back into town-He looked embarrassed

-Well, here I am Teddy. Sure been keeping my sister company- This time I turned to her- What’s this I hear about you getting married?

-Who told you that?-Hazel looked too surprised to me

-Millicent didn’t hide anything, is it true?

Teddy opened his mouth this time- Who said anything about marriage?

Neil observed from behind me, he left but I didn’t even notice out of madness and disbelief

-Hazel, we’re going home! Right now!-I grabbed her hand and left Teddy Denby behind. I got in the car and she got in after me. It was the first I noticed about Neil being gone, but as soon as my eyes looked for him, he opened the door in the car and got into the driver’s seat- Can you take us for a spin around town? Just drive us around and I’ll tell you the way to go home from wherever we are- He didn’t make a fuss about it and did as he was told

My attention turned to Hazel now- Start spilling! You have a lot to clear up

-Alright, alright!- She shifted uncomfortably- I don’t need you on my case too- I was about to yell again but she got the message loud and clear and started talking, very agitated- I’ve always had a thing for Teddy Denby, alright! But you were always around him and all that and I wasn’t just about to steal my sister’s squeeze. But a little while before you moved to Chicago you said Teddy Denby was a killjoy and you didn’t like him so I thought when you were gone I knew there wouldn’t be no hard feelings because you weren’t interested in him anyway! After a while, I went after him and told him I liked him and he asked me out on a date three days later. It’s just the two of us together, we’re not seeing anyone else. It’s steady.

I breathed more calmly this time- Teddy isn’t a great guy Hazel, but… Who am I to say what you can and can’t do- I turned around- So that’s it huh? You’ve been going out and you fell for him? And he treats you nice? That’s all there is to it, no marriage or pregnancy?

-I thought you knew better than listen to Millicent Shumway, she was just trying to get a rise out of you. There’s no marriage and God, no pregnancy! And he does treat me nice

-Nicer than you’d imagine- Neil said, this time tossing me something wrapped in a cloth

I opened it and there was a glass bottle, and a… Syringe- What’s this?

-Heroin. – His tone was brute and simple and my heart sunk. Neil was right, Hazel was feeling the withdrawal symptoms earlier. I looked back at Hazel who had the ashamed look in her face again- I found it in his car when you’re having your sisterly conflict

I was at a loss for words, so Hazel talked instead- Teddy doesn’t use. He didn’t get me hooked on the dynamite. I found my own trouble.

-How long…?- I asked

-A few months. Some fella at a drug store corner said it’d was better than booze and I tried it once. I didn’t know it was bad

-You thought it was a toy, huh?- Neil said

-What do you know about it?!- She yelled at him- Perfect stuffed-shirt are you?

I was going to talk back to her but Neil said something first- It’ll be hard to be off it, but there’s a way. You sweat your way through it and you can go back to just doing your bathtub gin- Neil, Mr. Compassion for the sick, ill and the incapacitated. I imagined he felt for her, even though the circumstances of him being hooked on morphine weren’t the same as my sister and her case was pure stupidity, I think he was putting himself in her place- You want to be off it, don’t you?

-I do. It was fun the first night, I felt incredible. But then I thought that was all there was to it. The night after I felt pain, I couldn’t sleep, I felt like my heart was going to burst out of my chest. I did it again and it eased it, since then I can’t stop doing it… It’s the only thing that eases me- She hugged herself- You’re not going to tell Poppa or Momma are you?

-We’ll be back in Chicago in a week and a half. We could convince your parents of you paying a visit to stay with Charlie for a week alone, it should be enough to get you started- I started telling Neil where to drive to as he talked- You pack your bags and I can get you off the worst part. You come back and you just have to keep it going. Think you can handle that till then?

-A trip to Chicago sounds just like what I need right now. Time away from the folks and all that- She sighed lowly looking at me

-If there’s anyone who can help you it’s Neil. I promise to keep it a secret if you work with us.

-Alright…- I could tell she didn’t know how to react, but it was always interesting to watch people appraise Neil when he started talking doctor- I can… I can hold on till then. Thank you Doc Dresner- She said as Neil parked in front of the house.

----

That night I was talking to him before we went to bed- You know you didn’t have to do that

-I’m a doctor, MC- And I knew what he meant when he said that. Duty. Can’t turn a patient away- Besides- He looked at me smiling this time- I’m also doing this for you too. She’s your family

I smiled back, knowing that Hazel was going to be okay now- Thank you- I hugged him, giving him a gentle kiss on his lips- I can’t believe her.

-“Old enough to find my own trouble. Not enough to know any better”- He reminded me of a conversation we had. That was Hazel, alright.

That was the most eventful night of Columbus. We spent a few more days going out and catching up with the family. It wasn’t long before it was time to go.

Everyone said their goodbyes, Momma, Poppa and Edith were still in awe of Neil. He talked to Hazel one last time about it, telling instructions to keep her in check until he saw her again.

I left Columbus that time with a much better feeling than when I left before. Even if it has its ups and downs it was a good feeling. One that made me prepared to face whatever Boston held in store for us

-Seems like your parents had your hands full with their daughters- Neil said when we got to the train station- Makes you wish ours don’t give us nearly as much trouble

-Ours…?-I blushed slightly

-Sorry, I didn’t mean to suggest that-

-No, no!- I cut him off- I was just surprised. We just never really talked about the future like that you know. This is the first time you mentioned kids, our kids- It was scary to think about kids right now, I’m not going to deny it. However, it was a warm feeling knowing Neil thought about our future together- But yeah, one day when we do have them, I would hope they don’t give us much trouble- I laughed- But with my genes, I’m sure all they’ll do is fight each other and create hell on earth

-If they have your genes, I’m sure they’ll be just as frustrating- He teased me and I hit him in the arm

1933

-Alton...- Charlie shook her older brother- Alton…!-She said it louder to wake him up

-What is it, Charlie?! I’m sleeping here!- He turned around to face the girl

-I’m sorry. I had a nightmare, can I sleep in your bed tonight?-She looked at him with big pleading eyes

-No! You shake too much and kick me off the bed when you do!- He turned back the way he was

Charlie shook him again- Please! I promise I’ll stay quiet, please, please, pretty please!

He turned around again- Alright, fine!- He lifted the covers and she went underneath them

-Thanks, you’re the best brother ever, Alton. Don’t tell Luke I said that!

-I know! Go to bed, I’m tireeeed!- He closed his eyes again

-I love you, Alton- She said, now closing her own eyes

-… I love you too, Charlie.

Little curiosities: I thought I’d tell you guys a little sneak peek into the next chapter! MC and Neil are going to Boston next before returning to Chicago. In Boston they’ll meet Neil’s family and the high society! Neil’s mother, father, his siblings Lucille, Maude and Warren and Neil’s ex-fiancée Lillie, who’s is Lucille’s best friend and Cornelia’s Godmother. I also decided to make her Alton’s younger sister in this story! After Columbus, the whole gang will participate in the story and the speakeasy business story will be back! (Along with a quick visit from Hazel)

Author’s note: Thank you guys so much for reading this chapter! I hope you guys are enjoying it and as always, like, reblog and send me any private messages with suggestions, criticisms or any comments! Love y’all!

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consumedkings-archive · 3 years

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“I am not babying you, I’m showing you I care!” with Elliot and John?

bb!!! thank u thank u thank u <3 it was so nice to write some domestic fluff with these two since they’re always like angst-town nonstop skdjfhskdf. i hope you enjoy!

john/elliot + “i am not babying you, i’m showing you i care!”

words: ??? bruh idk it’s just like. a blurb!!!

warnings: none! just some good, old-fashioned fluff

Elliot was always the one that got sick. She was always coughing, sneezing, fighting off a cold or a headache or muscling through the word of a 24-hour-flu; her immune system was in tatters. This was a universal truth which could not ever be denied by anyone who had spent even five minutes in her presence; yet, no matter how many times John found her popping a tylenol into her mouth or brewing a particularly strong cup of coffee to clear her sinuses, Elliot never got so sick that she had to be trapped in bed.

Which is why, at first, John thought for certain something was really wrong when she wasn’t out of bed before him. She always got out of bed first. The dogs would be a mess all day if she didn’t take them on a run, and she would be a mess all day if she didn’t go on a run. So when eight-thirty rolled around and John shifted to a more comfortable position in bed—pulling Elliot against his chest and burying his face into her neck—he thought very little of it.

Until he did. And then he thought about it a lot. And then a feverish heat seeped through Elliot’s sleep clothes, and she coughed, the sound rattling in her chest like someone had just dropped a bunch of marbles in her rib cage, and then he couldn’t stop thinking about it.

At first, he was concerned. Anyone would be. Elliot was the kind of woman who went, and went and went and went until she absolutely couldn’t anymore (and then went again); she’d never, ever missed a day of work for being sick, and she’d certainly never spent an entire morning bedridden, let alone a whole day. That first day was spent with John frantically going around the house, trying to keep the dogs (and the kids, quite frankly) from sprinting around like maniacs while still making sure that Elliot had everything that she needed.

“You’re hovering,” Elliot said through bleary eyes when he swapped out one cup of tea, half-drank, for a hot one.

“Am not,” John replied. “What’s the point of the tea if it’s not hot?”

“I can get my own tea, John.”

“Well,” he said, and then didn’t elaborate, because she said she could get her own tea, but her hands shook weakly when she lifted the mug to her mouth. “Then I’m going to run downstairs. Jacob is picking up the kids and—”

“Why?” Elliot groaned. “It’s a cold, that’s all.”

“Mommy,” Faye said from the doorway, “why do you sound yucky? Are you going to die?”

“Mommy wouldn’t die from a cold,” Wesley told his sister as he hovered behind her. “People don’t die from colds.”

“That’s not true,” John said. “Plenty of people have died from colds.”

Faye blinked big eyes at him. “So mommy is going to die?”

“That’s—not necessarily what I’m—”

“John,” Elliot said, her voice bridging on a warning, “please.”

“Mommy isn’t dying, but she’s going to kill all of us if we don’t leave her alone,” he told his children, ushering them out of the door and back down the stairs. “Your uncle is coming to pick you up—”

“Yay!”

“Yes, Uncle Jake is your favorite, I know. Take the dogs and be good.”

True to his word, Jacob rolled around, packed Faye and Wesley and the hounds into his truck, and hauled them back off to the mountains; it left the house in blissful, peaceful silence, and by the time John made his way back up the stairs, Elliot had fallen back asleep.

That was the first day of being sick. The second day of being sick—Jacob being more than happy to keep the kids out of their mother’s contagious sphere—Elliot stubbornly stuck to her guns about getting things done herself. Getting her to call out of work was like pulling teeth, but John did it for her and she slept through the majority of the day again.

“John,” she mumbled tiredly, having only just broken her fever as the late afternoon started to turn golden, “can you get me something?”

John glanced up from the book he’d been reading. “Sure, baby,” he said cautiously, as she’d refused to ask him for anything and shrugged off his doting up until now. “What do you need?”

“The drawer on the bedside.”

“Uh-huh.” He stood, opening it. “The only thing in here is your gun.”

“Yeah,” Elliot said. “End me. Put me out of my misery.”

“Jesus fucking Christ, the dramatics,” he sighed, closing the drawer. “Just let me take care of you.”

“No,” she snapped, face flushed and body shivering. “Don’t fucking baby me.”

“I am not babying you,” John insisted, “I’m showing you I care! Now stop being a baby and let me help.”

She stared at him with her brows pulled together, teeth chattering as she pulled the blankets up to her chin again. Elliot looked like she wanted to kick up a bigger fuss, but something had softened her expression, and she looked more sulky than anything.

“Fine,” she said.

“Fine,” John agreed, straightening up. “Now that you’re done agonizing, I’m going to heat up some soup and you’re going to go sit out in the sun, get out of this stuffy room.”

Elliot sighed, closing her eyes in a show of relenting. The next few hours were something close to painless—aside from her rattling cough and her occasional complaint, she quieted her moaning about having to rely on him and let him coddle. Not a lot, just enough that it felt like there was a difference, even a little one; getting her to eat, and drink something other than just water, and be outside for a little while he swapped the sheets on the bed and aired the room out seemed to do wonders for her mood.

When night came, Elliot crawled back into bed laboriously. She rolled over and buried her face into his shoulder and stifled a little sigh.

“Thank you for taking care of me,” she murmured, her voice slurring a little as the Nyquil kicked in. “And sorry for being a baby.”

“I can’t believe I got a thank you and a sorry out of you in one go,” John remarked, brushing the hair from her face.

“You’re the sexiest, most handsome, most intelligent, never-does-anything-wrong-and-never-could husband,” Elliot droned, her voice so dry John thought it might catch fire, “and I am but a humble—”

“Okay, fuck!” he laughed. “I was just trying to enjoy my victory.” Pausing, he added, “No thanks required, but you will have to take care of me when I’m sick, you know.”

“I’m used to you being a baby,” Elliot replied slyly, “so that shouldn’t be a problem.”

“Great.” John turned back to his book. “So glad we’re on the same page.”

It was her turn to laugh, and she draped her arm over his midsection and nuzzled the side of his neck, already in a mood legions better than what she had been in.

After a moment, she murmured, “I will, you know.”

John quirked a brow. “Hm?”

“Take care of you. Even when you’re old and sick and the most fucking annoying.” She paused. “And try to be better about letting you take care of me.”

Leaning over, he planted a kiss on her forehead. “I know,” he said. And then: “But that is nice to hear, since you’ve been sweating germs all over me, I’m probably next.”

“How long does Jacob have the herd?”

“He said to call,” John replied. Jacob would keep the kids as long as he could, even if he liked to act like it was a hassle whenever Elliot or John asked him; he never, ever wanted to bring them back.

“Good,” Elliot said, nosing his jaw affectionately. “Then you’ve got plenty of time to get sick.”

#my writing #lilwritingraven #asks #!!!!!!!!#i love writing elliot being Weak #I LOVE HER HAVING TO LET JOHN HELP HER AROUND #hc? elliot's the biggest baby between the two of them change my mind #ch: elliot honeysett #ch: john seed #ch: faye honeysett-seed #ch: wesley honeysett-seed #love my babies #love that uncle jake wants them around all the time skjdfhasd #fc5 #fc5 ocs #far cry 5 fic #<3 <3

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go-events · 4 years

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GO Rom Com Spotlight: @epi-vet

The most excellent @epi-vet (also Epivet on AO3 and epivet on Spotify) has claimed Persuasion to adapt for Good Omens in the Good Omens Rom Com Event.

For reference, here’s a little background about the source material!

About Persuasion: Eight years ago, Anne Elliot rejected Frederick Wentworth, the man she loved, out of a sense of duty and obedience. Now an ignored and faded spinster, she follows her financially stricken family from their home, only to be reintroduced to the now successful and wealthy Captain Frederick Wentworth. With their roles reversed and Captain Wentworth the eligible and wealthy bachelor, Anne navigates the scheming society that still tries to keep them apart.

We spent some time chatting about how the adaptation is coming so far, as well as future plans for it! Now, get to know @epi-vet a little better!

* * *

goromcom: You know how if you open a Tumblr chat with someone you haven't chatted to before, Tumblr tells you two things they post about? I wanted to tell you that yours reports that you post "about #geeky data and #good omens". I can appreciate someone with an affinity for geeky data. Can you share any sort of interesting geeky data with us?

epi-vet: #Geeky data is fun, but my favorite homegrown tag is #QuantifiedFandom. In the real world, I work with a lot of data for modeling and prediction. I liked the idea of using those skills to understand the fandom better by looking at the data crumbs around it. Right after I saw the show, I was intrigued by how quickly Good Omens playlists multiplied on Spotify. Then I did what any totally health sane person would do. I downloaded 300 Good Omens themed playlists and started crunching numbers. Throughout the summer and fall, more and more playlists were popping up. I did a second pretty exhaustive pull of 1400 playlists in December. I analyzed the most common songs, length of playlists, artists, differences between playlist themes (Ineffable Husbands versus Demon Crowley), and more. Two of the top four songs weren’t even in the show (#1 Good Old-Fashioned Lover Boy and #4 From Eden). Bob Dylan’s You Angel You is the most underappreciated Ineffable Husbands song. “You angel, you; You got me under your wing...” Really. Google the lyrics, we’ll wait.

I’m epivet on Spotify where you can find the top 100 songs from Good Omens-themed playlists, the top 50 Ineffable Husbands songs, and my own scene by scene playlist with links to a Google doc explaining each selection and identifying key lyrics because, again, totally healthy sane person here. I’m also running the GORomCom discord-created playlists as well.

goromcom: And I listen to those playlists a lot! Thank you! But on to your rom com! You chose to adapt Persuasion. Has this story been a favorite of yours, or is there some other reason you chose it?

epi-vet: I’m a longtime Jane Austen fan. I love how she pokes at the constraints and absurdities of her time. Persuasion is my favorite because the characters are more mature, more human. Anne breaks off her engagement with Wentworth, and while she regrets how things have turned out 7 years later, she also can still see the reasonableness of her choice. The story has one villain and some unsavory characters, but many of the characters are complicated people who make the best decisions they can (except for Anne’s father who is ridiculous).

The 1995 movie is infinitely better than the 2007 one; I will brook no argument.

goromcom: I wouldn’t dare! :) What's your favorite moment of the story, and are you looking forward to presenting it in your adaptation? Any loose plans for that scene that you can share?

epi-vet: Wentworth’s letter to Anne in the dramatic climax: You pierce my soul. I am half agony, half hope. Tell me not that I am too late, that such precious feelings are gone for ever. I offer myself to you again with a heart even more your own than when you almost broke it, eight years and a half ago. *swoon*

I’m still working that scene out, so I’ll instead share some fun I’m having making poor Gabriel my comic relief. The book opens with the Anne’s father reading his own entry in the Baronetage. His rank defines him, so reading a Who’s Who provides him the reassurance he needs. Gabriel begins my RomCom loudly reading his visitation of Mary, especially loving the “Fear not, Mary” line. He soon after complains to Michael “[the humans] don’t even cower before us. Really, when was the last time we had to say, ‘Be not afraid?’” He also serves as my Lady Dalrymple in the Italian concert scene from the 1995 movie. Aziraphale is trying to keep Crowley from leaving (due to genre typical misunderstandings), and Sandalphon is pulling him back saying Gabriel needs him to explain the buffet – he’s worried he’ll Fall if he eats shellfish.

goromcom: Oh goodness, so many angel/demon shenanigans. I can’t wait. Other than those details, do you plan to stick very closely to the beats of the original story, or make bigger changes?

epi-vet: I think one of the best Jane Austen adaptations ever is Clueless. When we watch a period drama, we view everything through a buffer of temporal distance. Everything is slightly foreign, and it can soften the impact that a contemporary reader would have felt. I suspect viewers of Clueless, in some ways, have an experience much closer to Jane Austen’s readers’ experience of Emma.

I’m taking the plot of Persuasion and applying it as closely as I can to our characters from the moment the tv show ends. I did lots of character mapping and tried to stay true to the heart of the work, like Amy Heckerling did to Emma in Clueless. I did end up with one original character because I just couldn’t figure out how to work the plot with only Good Omen canon characters.

goromcom: I’m actually a big fan of Clueless as an Austen adaptation too, so I like where you’re going with this.

Let me see if I can get one more tidbit out of you before I stop! What's an interesting decision you've made in your planning so far--a notable casting decision, a changing of venue, or some other plan you have to paint Good Omens all over your rom com?

epi-vet: Since I’m writing it as post canon in the Good Omens universe rather than putting Aziraphale and Crowley into Regency Britain, I get off easy there. I am trying to take a lot of the dialog between Aziraphale and Crowley from the show and flip it. So Aziraphale is the one who needs to do something or Crowley will never speak to him again. Aziraphale is unforgiveable. Also, I’m including some nods to the Good Omens book. Crowley takes the properly demonic activity of gluing coins to the sidewalk into the tech age with an app. It, of course, backfires spectacularly. I also have a hopefully charming and funny Golden Girls reference.

goromcom: Always down for a Golden Girls reference. Rose is my homegirl. But let’s leave some things undiscovered until your story debuts, and move on to the final question. I am blatantly stealing this last question from The Good Place: The Podcast, but here goes: Tell me something "good". It can be something big or small. It can be a charity you think is doing good work, or you can talk about how great your pet is.

epi-vet: RIPMedicalDebt. For pennies on the dollar, you can wipe out someone’s medical debt. For everyone outside the US, this is a completely bizarre concept, but it’s a big deal in the US. Medical debt happens when you lack health insurance or have limited health insurance. You didn’t charge too much on your credit card. You didn’t buy a house you can’t afford. Something happened to your health, you sought the care you needed, and you are now destitute. These debts don’t get paid back often so they get bundled and sold to various institutions. RIPMedicalDebt buys those debts cheaply and then forgives the balances owed. Individuals, community organizations, churches, and other groups have used them to do immense good.

goromcom: So important, and I had no idea this existed. Thank you for sharing it with us.

And also, thank you for sharing details of your upcoming GO adaptation of Persuasion, coming very soon now!

#goromcom #goromcom spotlight #good omens #epi-vet #persuasion

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valkerymillenia · 4 years

Text

Umbrella Academy

season 2, episode 4

New episode, new post!

This was the other post I had written out that got accidently deleted so I'm writing it all again.

1993? And Lila was 4? TOO MUCH COINCIDENCE! I still stand by my theory that Lila is one of the 43.

Yes, she has a father but that could just be her mother's husband. It's just too coincidental that the show would make her exactly the same age as the Hargreeves for no reason.

Ah the red heels. Hi Handler. These heels are really pretty though, very wicked witch with the ruby slippers. Even that outfit kind of screams wicked witch meets Cruella de Vil 😏

Kill parents, adopt child. Interesting MO, Handler. Like an evil Bruce Wayne (does this make Handler Owlman? I know, I'm not funny).

Oh, Handler pulling a Reginald with Lila!

Except, you know, she actually gives Lila positive reinforcement and affection, unlike Reggie. But her training seems just as brutal and inhumane for a child (and possibly even more violent) as Reginald's...

It's curious and interesting, a nice foil. Handler succeeds where Reggie fails- creating a loyal and effective soldier will into adulthood- because she was willing to give the kid affection and compassion. Reggie saw himself as some sort of hero creating heros but he failed at the most basic and human thing that even the villain understood.

-The filmography in these training scenes is brilliant.

-Ah, that prom look is the same as half of my classmates when we graduated 🤣 down to the blue makeup.

I'm guessing Lila's "prom"/"graduation" was her first solo assassination?

Wait, Handler wants to protect Five...? What the hell is she up to now?

Talking about killing people like it's a fun hobby 🤨

Oh, so the Swedes are triplets? I suspected but I like the confirmation.

Oh, Handler is lying ~~~~ 🎶

She's definitely following her own agenda here and she's leading Lila into danger. The question is if she's going to undermine the Commission for revenge of if she wants to prove her ability to get promoted back into administrative ranks of the Commission.

Either way, this will not end well for Five.

Lila is going to end up having to choose between Diego and Handler, isn't she?

Five stays in the car to give Luther space... No matter what Five says he actually cares about his siblings' feelings, doesn't he? He's the most overprotective of them all and always has been. It's sweet.

Ah, Luther and Vanya bonding over Five being an asshole. ☺️

"very warm and cuddly father" 🤣

Of course Vanya figured out Five was sparing her feelings, because she's not dumb

Oh, thank you for the honesty, Luther! Gotta love that.

I'm actually really happy to see Luther owning up to his mistakes instead of trying to act like the flawless leader. I think he grew a lot after accepting that Reginald wasnt perfect and I'm glad to see that growth still happening as he learns how to be an independent person. I just hope his guilt doesn't turn into even more self-hatred.

"you had kind of a bad childhood" -understatement of the century, Luther!

Luther, you have pissed off the mobster, you moron. You're on big trouble now.

Dramatic wall punch! 🙄

"when you get angry shit blows up" 😂😂😂

"you're our sister and a member of the umbrella academy" - oh, now you want to include her? The irony of this is that it's the one thing Vanya wanted for the first 29 years of her life and if anyone had said it then, the apocalypse would probably have never happened.

🖕🙊🖕

"I wonder if it's too late to be un-adopted" -ah, you know you love them, Five

Honestly, Allison actually keeps her cool really well, if I went through that phone call I would have broken something.

Why the hell does Klaus want menudo first thing in the morning?? Ew...

Klaus butchering "the frog and the scorpion"... You were doing so well but ended up completely missing the point of that story, dummy.

Diego's stab wound is healing really quickly...

Wait, he's healing quickly and Allison doesn't have a neck scar... Plus Klaus is immortal... Hmm, I wonder if quick healing is an ability they all share? Though that would put Diego's scars (and maybe Ben's death) into perspective...

Does Diego wax his chest? Those pecs are real smooth for someone who spent over two months in a 60s mental institution. 😆

"we've all had the urge" 😂 and Diego's sarcastic laugh 🤣

Who's the 12th of the Magestic 12? Oh, I WONDER WHO THAT COULD BE??? Maybe a certain monocled asshole?

"Mamie pink" is Klaus's new nickname, I don't make the rules.

Klaus, you are freaking the boy out with all this new information...

Oh no, the homophobia 😡😡😡

You know what's more heartbreaking about this homophobic disaster? Dave is likely in the closet and this whole situation here and the hate his uncle is showing must be so painful to him, it would probably bury him even deeper in the closet...

Klaus... The punch... Oh, baby... 😢 Oh no, I'm going to cry 😭😭😭

Is Raymond really implying that Allison is a spy? Damn...

Just tell him the truth, Allison! How do you marry a person without telling them something so big about yourself??

Oh, so Klaus has been sober for 3 years... Interesting.

No, Klaus! Don't start self-destructing again! 😢😢😢

It must be so painful for Ben to watch this and not be able to stop it...

Oh shoot, the cult found him.

"prophet"? "holy wanderer"? Interesting.

Poor Klaus just wants peace.

They seriously couldn't get a suit for Five too? Is he not allowed to wear anything else?

Five is onto Lila 🎶

Luther, are you stress eating? Well, at least you're not going on a bender again.

Awww, Luther- Allison reunion. Cute. Please don't make it weird.

Oh God, the awkward small talk is back 😩

I'm glad Luther is being so mature about this. I like this dynamic better.

"Vanya is on a farm. And happy" and Allison finds the happy part weird. Diego in the "nuthouse" and Allison doesn't find that weird at all, even does that 'yeah, ok makes sense' face. Klaus "cult leader" and Luther isn't surprised at all, that little "eh" was so funny.

Lord, this family is mess.

"Doomsday" *awkward chuckle* -you guys are getting way too used to this.

"Diego, try not to do anything too stupid" 😆 ah, brothers.

Lila in red heels, like mommy... 😏

Reggie taught them ballroom dancing? And Handler had the same idea?

Um.... Ok, so new theories! Do Handler and Reginald know each other? Could Reginald have been in the Commission? I'm going to be thinking about this for a while...

Just let the girl lead, Diego. Stop being a little bitch.

GRACE?!

So mom!Grace is either a cyborg or she was modeled after this woman... Makes curious about Reggie's relationship with this lady.

Diego going through the universal horror every kid goes through when realizing that mommy and daddy are "together". 🤣🤣🤣 "I can't picture it on my head. That's nasty"

She didn't tell him her name was Grace but apparently it is.

Am I the only one getting weird desperate and co-dependant vibes from Sissy?

Oh no! Save the baby!

Holy shit! HOLY SHIT! Vanya's powers are incredible! The special effects in this scene are unbelievable!

Save the child!

How did his lips get blue so quickly?

THE RETURN OF THE MAGIC ALIEN LIGHTS! AAAHHHHHHHHHH!!!!

Ok, I need to pause to gather my thoughts... Ok, things I hope don't happen-please don't magically "fix" the disabled boy, and please don't make the powers transferrable (that's just lazy writing, don't rehash "Misfits").

However, other than that I'm just very curious what those lights will do to Harlan. Will they just save his life? Will he gain powers? Will he have some weird connection to Vanya now? I'm dying to find out!

Anyway, back to the ep.

Baby boy is ok!

Luther, did you think pissing off the mobster would end well?

Elliot just starting up at Luther in awe and visibly fighting not to poke him. 😆

HELL NO, LUTHER! NO DRUGS! DON'T YOU REMEMBER THE LAST TIME?? YOU GOT YOUR BROTHER KILLED!

Oh, Sissy... Poor woman.

There going to kiss, aren't they?

Melancholic music kicking in. Sad emotional talk. Sitting way too close. Yeah, they're going to kiss.

Aaaaaand there's the kiss! ☺️

But now I need to pause and digress again...

Yeah, Sissy's feelings for Vanya are not healthy at all. In fact they mirror Vanya's feelings for Leonard- she's unhappy with her life and clinging to the first person that gives her attention. She wants help, she wants to be rescued, she's touch and attention starved. She's co-dependant and emotionally manipulative.

I'm not saying Sissy is a bad person, she's not, she's a sad person stuck in an unhappy marriage, terrified of being abandoned (almost paranoid) and exhausted under a lot of pressure dealing with a disabled child. And then in comes Vanya, who is perfect with Harlan, so loving and kind and has nothing else to pour all her attention towards. Of course Sissy sees salvation in Vanya and is desperate to keep her.

I'm not saying Vanya and Sissy can't have a beautiful healthy relationship, they can, but not like this. Sissy is clinging too tight and using Vanya to make herself feel better and make her life easier. They both deserve better than that and I hope they get it.

I'm starting to think that all relationships in this season might be doomed to fail:

-Sissy and Vanya have a co-dependant and emotionally unhealthy infatuation and Sissy is married to a man that, while not great, still clearly loves her;

-Raymond and Allison have too many secrets between them that are causing a major rift, they can fix it but there's also the chance that Ray might not be able to accept the truth about her;

-Lila is a double agent using Diego to get close to Five, she seems to be developing feelings but the fact that she's lying about who she is and working for Handler is obviously toxic;

-Klaus is pining over a person that Dave has not yet become and while he only wants to save Dave's life, it's obvious there's too big an experience and culture gap between them for a relationship to flourish;

-Luther and Allison have become one-sided and less innocent and puppy-love than before, now it really is just creepy and unhealthy (whereas before it was understandable because they grew up together under an emotionally unavailable father and isolated from the real world, naturally they became attached and confused their feelings, their attachment wasn't healthy but it was justified and almost innocent... Not anymore though);

-we have no concrete proof yet, but it seems Ben MIGHT be pining over a girl that might not even see him, he's dead, it might be an interesting dynamic storywise, but it's not going to happen, it's unhealthy and unfair;

Some of these couples might still survive and become great, it's still really in the season after all, but they have a lot of growing to do before they get there.

Anyway.... Back to the episode.

Oh Klaus... Off the wagon...

Allison being a good sister and taking care of her brother. My heart ❤️

Luther, you idiot... Well, at least you're getting high in a safe environment.

Luther and Klaus are self-destructing, my poor boys.

"you are super weird" - Luther, you have no zero right to call anyone weird, have you looked in the mirror??

"the woman I love loves someone else" -the woman you love is. your. SISTER!

I really like poor Elliot, I hope nothing bad happens to him.

Jesus, that's creepy, Luther.

Didn't I say Reginald was the 12th? 😏

Roswell? Reggie probably has a vested interest in that.

Blink out of there, Five.

I love that Five's main move is always 'teleport onto their backs and go for the throat'.

Wait, why did Five's teleportation glitch???

The music!!!!

Wait, did Diego's aim just glitch too???

Could these power glitches be connected to Vanya's magic lights going into Harlan? Or could it be something about the Swedes? Or about Reginald's presence, seeing as he dodged Diego's power before? Hmm...

Oooh, Lila has to choose between Diego and her mission already? Interesting... Of course she chooses to save Five.

Badass Lila is amazing!

So she could have helped Diego after helping Five but instead she just walks away? Huh, unexpected.

Diego, you adrenaline junkie. Good moves though.

The ancient Greek is a surprise! I really want to know what Five said to Reginald!!! What did he say? I need to know!!!

Another great chapter!! Very emotional too!

I want more!!!

#tua #tua s2 #tua s2 spoilers #reactions #live blogging #theories #spoilers

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thatbookishasiangirl · 4 years

Text

Are We Still Dreaming?

“Elliot, wake up.”

I am drifting somewhere in between the vast, ever-expanding space of the waking world and deep, unrelenting slumber when I feel your lips press against the back of my neck, drawing me gently out of my sleep. My eyelashes flutter lightly as a smile pulls across my lips, my nose wrinkles and I draw the sheets over my eyes, murmuring under my breath that I need ten more minutes. Just ten more minutes. Every tender, careful touch igniting sparks of little fires across my skin. Another kiss on my shoulder and then the sharp, deliciously painful jolt that comes from a tiny nip of the teeth. I roll over and attempt to glare at you to convey my false annoyance, but I am aware that my expression is one of unabashed adoration.

“What do you want, Connor?” I ask.

You lean forward and press your lips to the tip of my nose. “It’s time to get to work,” you whisper.

“You’re a real pain in the ass, you know that?” I grumble, shoving half-heartedly at your chest. “Don’t you remember? The editor doesn’t need those revisions until next month. It’s May 2nd. I’ve got plenty of time.”

“I remember that you put things off, and you put things off, and you continue to put them off until there’s one weekend left and you’re up all night panicking because you haven’t even started yet.” I roll my eyes. “And you put yourself through all this unnecessary stress when it could have been avoided by simply getting a head start.”

I flop onto my back. The piss colored wallpaper above is peeling and flaking and the old ceiling fan rocks back and forth as it spins rapidly, threatening to come down on us both at any moment. Crushing us. Well, I think, to hell with it, if it happens it happens. I throw my arm over my eyes, knowing that you are right. Not wanting to admit it, this project is taking its toll. Everything happened so fast. On New Year’s Eve, completely and utterly shit faced, I stumbled down the street to the nearest mail bin and had shoved the thick manila envelope containing my thirty page novel proposal, addressed to my editor Lucy, and the very next morning I got an email from her declaring that this would be my most successful creation yet.

“You always do this,” you say, not unkindly.

“I know,” I grouse.

You wrap your fingers around my wrist and move it away from my face. You smile and brush a piece of stray hair off of my forehead. “You haven’t written something new since 2015. It’s been five years. The people are dying for your next bestseller.”

I inhale sharply and reach for your hand, interlocking our fingers. “Will you make me something to eat?” I ask.

“Avocado toast with crispy bacon?” you muse.

“You know me so well,” I say, bringing your hand to my lips and kissing each knuckle in turn, before I lift my other hand and cup the side of your face bringing your mouth to mine. “Do you really want me to get to work?” I murmur against your lips.

You laugh, your deep, beautiful laugh, reverberating through my whole body, sending chills down my spine. I could listen to your laugh forever. “Come off it,” you say, pushing my chest.

“Connor…” I whine.

“Elliot,” you say teasingly.

You push back the sheets, exposing us both to the cold, and you swing your legs over the side of the bed. There is a soft thud as your feet land on the floor and you stand there in nothing but your questionably tight black underwear and you stretch your arms over your head. You look over your shoulder and grin, showing each and every one of your frustratingly perfect teeth.

“What?” I say.

“Nothing,” you reply, shrugging with just one shoulder as you grab one of our pillows and throw it at me. I catch it in both hands. “It’s supposed to be nice out today,” you say. “Maybe you can work outside.”

I’m rolling my eyes again but by then your back is to me and you are walking out the door. For a moment I just lay there on my back, listening to the clatter of pots and pans as you move through our kitchen. I know you are right. With a deep sigh, I get out of bed. I walk to our shared dresser. It’s small, coming up to the chest of my tall body and there are visible signs of wear, like the peeling wood on the legs, but it was cheap and we didn’t have that much clothing anyway. I shrug on a dark gray hoodie with my alma mater’s logo across the chest and a pair of old baggy sweatpants.

You wolf whistle as I emerge from our bedroom. “Looking hot, babe,” you say.

I flip you off. “Do you think Stephen King writes in a suit and tie?” I question. “I would bet you real, actual physical money that he doesn’t.”

You turn towards me, smirking. “Let’s call him up and ask,” you say.

“Shut up,” I retort. “Don’t be a smartass”

“What was that expression again? Dress for the job you want?”

I raise an eyebrow. “The job I want is to be able to work from home dressed in whatever the fuck I want because no one is going to see me.”

“Oh, but I see you. Don’t you want to impress me?” When I glare at you in response, you chuckle and raise both of your hands. Your head quirks to the side in the subconscious, curious way it does from time to time. “In all seriousness, and for the record because I know you keep a record in the back of that brilliant head of yours, you would look good in anything. Hell, you could pull off a potato sack.”

“Shut up,” I say again.

“What, it’s true? Am I supposed to lie to you?” You place a hand over your heart with mock offense. “Because lying goes directly against my code of honor and if you’re asking me to lie, then that might be a deal breaker.”

“You’re full of shit,” I laugh.

And there’s your smile again. “Get to work!” you exclaim.

I press the side of my hand to my forehead and salute. “Yes, sir,” I say.

My laptop is resting where I left it last night, open and sitting on the couch in a sea of blankets, empty soda cans, and snack wrappers. It was the result of not hours of hard work, but procrastination fueled Netflix binging; a result of you not being there to force me to be productive. You had been out catching up with some old friends from college. I grab my laptop and my cell phone and walk out onto our balcony. We are lucky enough that our apartment has one. It’s small and there is barely enough room for the pair of fold out chairs we have, but it’s better than nothing. And hey, you’re right, it is nice out. The sky is blue and the air warm.

I open my laptop and go to the document. I stare at the screen. The text cursor blinks mockingly at me through the glass. All that vast white page. The blank space. The blank space that I need to fill. I take a deep breath and press my fingers onto the keyboard. I’ve been writing, or attempting to write, for about twenty minutes when you step out onto the balcony.

“Here you go,” you say, handing me my plate.

“Thanks.” I put the plate down at my feet and take your face in my hands, kissing you with intention.

You kiss back, but for not nearly long enough. “Work,” you say. “Eat and work. I know how you can get on an empty stomach. You can take a break in an hour.”

I nod in agreement. “Thanks again,” I say.

You walk back inside, leaving the sliding door open. I pick up a piece of bacon. It’s burnt. You burnt the bacon. It’s never happened before.

I take a bite and it crunches and crumbles in my mouth. Several arms lengths away there is another apartment complex and another shoebox balcony. Through the sliding glass door I see the elderly couple who have been living in Boston long before we moved in across the way. The woman is standing at the sink, hand washing dishes. Her motions are slow and careful. She stares determinedly down at her hands, as if the dishes and the water and suds are her lifeline. If she were to stop washing those dishes then everything would unspool; her fragile bones would collapse and her skin would cave in on itself. I watch as she lifts a vibrant green plate in her hands, moving it around clockwise as she scrubbs every inch of the round surface.

The old woman’s hands shake and her long silver hair falls over her face as she bends her head further over the sink. Her shoulders rise and fall and I realize that she is crying. The plate slips from her hands, splashing in the water filled sink, sending suds everywhere. Her husband appears soon after, hugging her from behind and rubbing his hands up and down her arms, whispering something into her ear. She spins around and collapses into his arms. I can hear her sobs through the glass and it’s entirely too much.

I place my computer on the floor and stand, stepping back into the apartment. You are rummaging through the cabinets and when I come back inside, you stand straight with our largest mixing bowl in your hands.

“How would you feel if I made some chocolate chip cookies?” you ask.

“Breakfast and now cookies,” I say. “You’re on a roll.”

You smile and shrug. “I watched some Chopped on my phone after you fell asleep. I’ve got the cooking bug.”

I can’t help myself. “I’m surprised you could stay awake after last night. I was beat,” I say, smirking and crossing my arms over my chest. The porcelain pale skin of your cheeks turns bright red and I know my words have had the intended effect. “I would love cookies.”

You duck your head for a moment, staring into the bowl, and god, you’re so cute when you’re embarrassed. “Great,” you say. “And you can have as many as you want.” You raise your head again. “But only after you’ve finished at least one chapter.”

I groan. “But the cookies will be cold by the time I’m done.”

“And they’ll still be perfectly edible.”

“Oh but, Connor,” I say and I walk closer to you until we are only a foot apart. “Don’t you know that the prime eating time for a chocolate chip cookie is exactly two minutes after they come out of the oven?”

You snort, but you are still smiling at me and I can tell that you want to throw that bowl aside and kiss me. More than kiss me. But you’re a good boyfriend. You won’t distract me no matter how much your fingers twitch with the overwhelming desire to reach out and touch me. I know that this is how you are feeling because I am feeling the exact same way. Our emotions, our desires, our every whims have always fallen perfectly in sync. I swear sometimes, that I can read your mind. I anticipate your needs and you anticipate mine. Your breath stutters when you are about to sneeze and I pass you a tissue just in time. I wake up from a long nap with an empty stomach and you’ve already prepared soup for me. In the middle of the night, when you are restless, you won’t say it, but I know you want me to hold you tighter. To tangle our limbs into a knot that cannot be easily pulled apart. I know your body better than my own. Where to touch you and how, to strike stars across your vision. You don’t need to speak for me to be sure of what you want.

I take the bowl from you and place it on the kitchen island. It is barely big enough to be called a kitchen island, though, but we make the best of it. When we eat at it, we have to stand so close that our shoulders brush which really isn’t something I am complaining about, but it certainly makes things like baking quite difficult. I cup your face in my hands and tilt my head up to kiss you. You’re not that much taller than me, but you’re tall enough that I have to make an effort; I am forced to stand on my toes and strain to reach your mouth.

“You’re procrastinating again, sweetheart,” you mumble against my lips, but your hands are curled in the front of my sweatshirt.

“You’re not complaining,” I point out.

I watch as you bite down on your bottom lip, teasing the pretty pink flesh between your teeth and I feel my own face grow hot. The air is still between us.

“You promised me,” you say, sounding quieter and smaller than you ever have before. I don’t like it. “We would treat today like a completely normal day.”

You have never been much of a crier. You hate crying. It makes you feel weak. Even at times when it would be perfectly reasonable to cry, you still never cry. Not even when you came out to your beloved parents, hand reaching for mine and clutching it nervously, and they both looked at you like you were lower than the scum in the New York City subway. But right now your eyes are watering and I can tell that you are trying to fight it and becoming frustrated that you are losing.

“This is normal,” I say softly.

You shake your head. “No. You’re never this…” you hesitate and I reach down and take your hand in mind, squeezing it reassuringly. “Loving.” And I can tell you regret it the moment you say it because your eyes go wide. “Shit. I didn’t mean it like that. I know you love me. I do. It’s just- I’m not complaining, I-”

“No, I get it,” I say. “And I’m sorry about that. I guess I was thinking maybe I could make it up to you.” I take a deep breath. “Please don’t make me go back out there. I don’t want to spend our last day together with my face in front of a screen, going crazy over a book I will never finish.”

“It really would have been a masterpiece,” you say, your voice wet with those yet unspilled tears.

“You give me too much credit,” I say.

“You don’t give yourself enough,” you counter.

You touch my face, your thumb stroking my cheek. “Will you tell me about it?” you ask. “We can go for a walk, just down by the park in the Boston Commons, and you can tell me everything.”

I swallow hard, and it feels like something is catching in my throat, making it difficult to breath, and for a brief moment I think I might expire early. “That sounds nice,” I say.

“And then I can take you out to dinner,” you say. “I hear they’re having an end of the world special at the Capital Grille.”

“Can we go dancing afterwards?” I ask. “It’s been so long since we’ve been dancing?”

You grin, even as a single drop of liquid salt escapes from one of your brilliant cerulean eyes and slides down your face. I reach my hand up on instinct and wipe it away before kissing your eyelid as it flutters closed. “I thought you hated dancing,” you say.

“I am incapable of hating anything so long as I am doing it with you,” I tell him.

You nod. “I’d like that.” You sniffle and repeat, “I’d like that.”

“Hey?” I say, gripping the back of your neck and squeezing lightly. “Just another day?”

You laugh and another tear falls. “Just another day,” you echo.

#lgbtq #prose #short story #writing #my writing

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