#I’ll do it as Moira if I have to I’ll protect you | Explore Tumblr Posts and Blogs

moirasdolly · 7 months

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Digitally Yours, Moira x Fem!Reader ⊂⊂ ౨・)

Synopsis: Feeling more confident in the way you and Moira’s relationship had been going, you request a facetime date with her. She obliges, of course, and you set a time and a day. It was the only thing occupying your mind for the entire week.

Contains: NSFW, implied plus size reader, age gap, face sitting, vaginal fingering, etc,… moira is a bit freaky (in a good way)

Listening to ♪ ིྀ: Surprise - Chlöe

Chapters: 1 2

𐙚 Chapter 2: Sweet Dreams

Chats between you and the woman you had met on one of your impromptu streams had been continuing for a few months now, and you couldn’t be more happy talking to her. The parts of your day where you finally got to drop everything and text her were what you looked forward to the most. You had even exchanged phone numbers instead of using the streaming website to communicate. Of course the site wasn’t completely abandoned though. Some nights when the both of you were feeling particularly needy, you would set up a private stream just for the two of you. You dressed up for her, and she repaid you with praise and large sums of money. That’s how your “relationship” was at the moment, but you wanted more.

You lay sprawled out on your bed, your hair splayed all over your pillow as you angle your camera above you to show your face and the top of the sweet little gingham bra you wore for her tonight. “Moira…” you whine “I have an idea, I’m not sure if you’ll like it though…” You trail off softly.

Doctorsorders: I’m listening, sweetheart. Use your words you know I’ll do everything I can to make you happy.

Your heart flutters at her declaration to protect your happiness, and for a moment you can’t help but think that maybe she also felt the same way about you. It had only been a few months since you started talking regularly, but you knew you were developing feelings for the older woman.

You look to the side, contemplating if you should make the request or not, but her earlier words gave you the confidence to go ahead. Your eyes meet the camera once more before proposing your idea, “Would you maybe like to FaceTime with me? I would love to see your face… hear your voice.” Your eyes were practically pleading for her to say yes. A moment goes by without any word from Moira and you’re afraid you had scared her off, “I’m sorry if I overstepped, I just thought maybe we were at that stage.” You hesitated before finally you saw a message pop up from her.

Doctorsorders: My sweetheart, of course you didn’t overstep. In fact I’d be more than happy to set up a video call with you.

Doctorsorders: Maybe we could even discuss meeting in person as well, my doll.

A smile graces your lips almost immediately, and you squeal in joy. A million thoughts of what you should wear, how to do your makeup, and how to do your hair ran through your mind after she had agreed to reveal herself to you. “I’m sure you’re the most attractive woman I’ll ever see.” You tease her with a quiet giggle.

Doctorsorders: If you’re looking for the most attractive woman you’ll ever lay your eyes on I suggest taking a look in the nearest mirror. Look at your beautiful, plush curves, your perfectly soft stomach, and those sweet thighs of yours.

Doctorsorders: Oh how I’d love to open those thighs up and make you sing a chorus of lewd little mewls. I’d make you unable to say anything but broken cries of my name.

You press your thighs together at the thought of Moira pleasuring you, you bet her fingers were perfectly lithe and long, and her tongue thick and dexterous. You could just imagine all the things she’d do to you when you met. Another comment from her snapped you out of your daze and you’re embarrassed with how under her spell you had become.

Doctorsorders: My doll, I can practically see the cogs in your mind turning. What is it that's occupying your thoughts so intensely?

“I’m just thinking about how badly I want to see you, speak to you, have you hold me.” You confess. “I need you so badly.” You feel heat rush in between your thighs, you were already getting worked up over the prospect of meeting her.

Doctorsorders: Oh darling… my needy girl. What do you say we schedule a call for this upcoming Friday night. In only two days you’ll be able to see me. How does that sound?

A hum of agreement emerges from your throat almost immediately as you nod your head frantically. “That's all I’ll be thinking about until then.” You admit as you sit up on your bed and set your camera back on the stand.

Doctorsorders: Perfect, mo stór. I will spend every moment, every second of my days until Friday thinking about your sweet little face. You’re so perfect. I never want to end our time together, but unfortunately it is late, and I have early lab work that is calling my name for tomorrow.

Doctorsorders: Goodnight, mo stór. I expect you to get a full night of sleep. I’ll be in touch in the morning to ensure you had nice dreams. Sleep tight, doll.

Your eyes flit across the screen and you hang on to every word she tells you. You scoot forward until you’re close to the camera and give the lens a quick kiss. “Goodnight, Moira. You’ll be the very first person I message when I awaken.” You beam at the camera. “I don’t wanna leave…” A frown plays on your lips as you get ready to turn off the camera, but the sooner I sleep, the sooner tomorrow will come and then there will be just one more day ‘til we can talk face to face!” You give her a small wave before shutting off the camera and falling back onto your bed. Shortly after ending the stream, your phone lights up from another goodnight message from Moira.

Moira ♡: Goodnight mo stór. Send me a picture before you sleep. I want to see your face in my dreams tonight.

You slipped into an oversized tshirt and comfortable panties before plopping down onto your bed and snapping a quick picture of yourself. Moira always loved the cuter side of you, so you decorated it with cute little bunny and heart emojis before sending it to her.

Me: [Image Attached]

Me: Goodnight, Moira! ♡

Moira ♡: Perfect, you look lovely darling. Sweet dreams.

And with that last message, the both of you drifted off into a deep sleep, both dreaming of each other.

#moira x reader #moira o'deorain #moira x fem reader #dolly fics ♡

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5millioncatipilars · 1 year

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Tips for playing Overwatch, to dps and tank mains, from a support main

I’m in an overwatch mood tonight so I’m just gonna spam some thoughts before I go to bed.

As a support main, fuck you

Protect me if I’m getting targeted, I can’t heal you if I’m dead and I’m very squishy

I also can’t heal you if you’re halfway across the map, stay with the group. I don’t play Kiriko so I can’t just teleport to you and most support characters are slow af.

If you charge into the enemy team alone, I’m not following you. Don’t even ask for heals.

Supports’ main priority is to keep ourselves alive. I will leave my last teammate with low health to die if the enemy team starts to turn to me. Call it a tactical retreat.

Again, I can’t heal you if I’m dead.

Stop feeding the enemy team. Wait for at least one support before you go charging in so you don’t just die again.

I have to turn off game chat periodically bc if someone’s being an asshole to the supports in chat I will just stop healing them. Even if it means we loose. Be an asshole —> get no heals.

Sorjorn you do not need heals. Stop asking

Ash you do not need heals. Stop asking

Genji you are actively dying. Come back here and get some heals

Someone please remember the point of the game and go to the objective, I’m alone on here and the enemy team is on their way

Tank you do not need heals you still have half health I’m trying to make our dps with less than 10 health stop dying

Widow you can’t just stand in the middle of the road and snipe. Also if you’re getting shot at, you need to move positions, they obviously know where you are now.

Stop standing in Sorjorn’s ouch bubble. Please

Reaper I love you. You always shadow walk to me when you need heals

Hanzo that was real polite of you to just stand behind me until I noticed you but next time please ask for heals you are at 20 health and I did not know you were there

Reinheart I love you

Winston your bubble doesn’t make you immortal. If you jump into the enemy team and die, it’s not my fault. I tried

Doomfist you’re pretty squishy for a tank. Stop charging in without your heals

Roadhog if I’m actively healing you don’t use your health pack thing. Save it for when you need it

Why is Junkrat always dying? Like they’re always at critical health. What happened I healed you two seconds ago

Stop asking for heals right when there’s a break in the fight. I’ll top you up just gimme a sec to see who’s the most dying

If the support is doing more dps than you while also having more than 5000 heals you’re playing the game wrong

If the support switches from mainly heals to dps, you’re doing something wrong and they have taken on a “if you need something done right, do it yourself” attitude. Good luck finding health packs for the rest of the game

Don’t yell at me before you see the 11000 heals I’ve done. It’s not my fault you’re bad at the game

Don’t get mad in casual play. It’s just a game, we’re here to have fun. If you want to be sweaty and get mad about it, go play competitive mode

Stop dying. Just like, chill out.

Can someone come kill this dps that keeps flanking us and targeting our support? No? Ok.

Fyi: Baptiste’s lantern stops you from dying. If I put it down by you, stop moving. I’m gonna heal you, but you have to stay right here so you don’t die while I do it.

Fyi pt, 2: Baptiste’s ult amplifies healing and damage that goes through it. It’s like having Ana’s ult on the entire team of you use it right. Stop walking through it to charge into the enemy team. I can kill a tank at full health with a pocket healer on my own as a support character with that thing. It’s pretty op if you actually use it

Moira has very limited healing capabilities, so sorry if I’m not healing you right now, it’s recharging

As Anna, if you’re not getting any heals from me, one sec, I lost line of sight, I’m very slow, just give me a minute

Ana’s splash grenade stops the enemy from healing. Target whoever I just splashed

Lucio’s healing is passive. If you need heals, come find me

Stop running from me you fucking idiot I’m trying to keep you alive

Phara and Echo, pretty please with a cherry on top just land next to me for two seconds so I can heal you. You’re really hard to heal in the air, and for some characters impossible

Supports that heal other supports I love you. Come kill the flanking dps with me it’ll be fun

Support isn’t just there to heal you. That’s why it’s called support, not healing.

Goodnight 😌

#overwatch #support main #y’all stress me out #thanks for watching watch mojo #ramblings #it’s 5am #goodnight #haters gonna hate #support mains deserve to be a little passive aggressive #as a treat #I’m done with overwatch posting for tonight #promise #tomorrow we’ll be back to our regularly scheduled program

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greatbritishsimchallenge · 1 year

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Kennedi and Adrianus pushed the doors open to Offa’s settlement. Blaed and Brandon dropped the bodies of Moira and Haca at Offa’s feet while Kennedi held Edward close to her side.

“It’s over, Offa,” said Kennedi flatly. “Surrender and I’ll give you a quick death.”

Offa looked down at the bodies of his son and sister in disbelief. “How dare you?” he said quietly, then louder, “HOW DARE YOU!”

“Surrender,” Kennedi repeated.

Offa pulled out his sword, “Never. If you want Northern Willow Creek, you will take it after my last breath, which, as I am outnumbered four to one, seems pretty much a guarantee.”

“Surrender, Offa.” Kennedi repeated.

Offa shook his head, “No - but I will make you a deal: I will fight you and only you. This fight is only really between us anyway. If you win, I am dead and you take Northern Willow Creek. If I win, I take Southern Willow Creek, and I promise not to kill your loved ones as you have killed mine.”

Kennedi looked away, thinking.

Offa could tell he was convincing her. He surveyed them all, “I cannot fight you all - you know that. But you also know that to fight me when I am so outnumbered would be weak and cowardly. I know you well enough, Kennedi, to know that you are not one for cowardice.”

Kennedi stared at Offa. He could see her temper rising.

“You also know I will manage to kill at least one of you. Which one will it be, Kennedi? Will I manage to kill your daughter before I am struck down? Your husband? Your son? Take my offer, Kennedi. Do the truly Queenly thing. Protect your children and come and take your crown.”

Kennedi nodded, “Let’s finish this. Just you and me.”

Start (Iron Age) | Start (Roman Britain) | Start (Anglo Saxon) | Previous | Next

#ts4 historical #ts4 history challenge #s4 history challenge #s4 historical #sims 4 historical #sims 4 history challenge #ts4 legacy #s4 legacy #sims 4 legacy

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capricorn-0mnikorn · 1 year

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📖Persuasion📖 Listen- and Read-Along, Chapter Twenty-Three

Note: This is the Chapter where 99% of the Plot is Wrapped up; Chapter Twenty-Four is short, and mostly a coda).

Discussion of Chapter Twenty-Two Starts Here.

Audio of Karen Savage’s LibriVox reading on YouTube, starting at Chapter 23, part one (Parts one and two, together ~36 minutes at normal speed)

Moira Fogarty’s Reading at LibriVox (~40 minutes)

Text of Chapter Twenty-Three at Project Gutenberg

Synopsis:

Anne, the next day, continues to put off her meeting with Lady Russell, because she promised to meet Mrs. Musgrove, Mary, and Henrietta at the inn where they are staying. When she arrives, she finds Mrs. Croft there with Captains Harville and Wentworth, though Mary and Henrietta have gone out early, with instructions to keep Anne there until they get back.

While Mrs. Musgrove tells Mrs. Croft all about Henrietta’s engagement, Captain Wentworth writes a business letter that Captain Harville can’t bring himself to do (requesting a portrait of Captain Benwick be reset, with a new inscription to Louisa, replacing the dedication to Harville’s sister, Fanny). Captain Harville and Anne have a friendly debate about whether men or women are more faithful in love. And Captain Wentworth, eavesdropping, finds a crafty way of joining in without divulging their shared, secret, past to all within earshot.

(I’ll leave the synopsis there)

(the Not-so-Obvious) Quotes that stood out:

She had promised to be with the Musgroves from breakfast to dinner. Her faith was plighted, and Mr Elliot’s character, like the Sultaness Scheherazade’s head, must live another day.

Mr Elliot is protected by the Plot Clock; Lady Russell can’t be informed of his true character until after Anne’s future with Captain Wentworth is assured. I do like the simile Miss Austen chose, though.

“Yes, dear ma’am,” said Mrs Croft, “or an uncertain engagement, an engagement which may be long. To begin without knowing that at such a time there will be the means of marrying, I hold to be very unsafe and unwise, and what I think all parents should prevent as far as they can.”

Anne found an unexpected interest here. She felt its application to herself, felt it in a nervous thrill all over her; and at the same moment that her eyes instinctively glanced towards the distant table, Captain Wentworth’s pen ceased to move, his head was raised, pausing, listening, and he turned round the next instant to give a look, one quick, conscious look at her.

Ooh. So -- So -- close.

and the unaffected, easy kindness of manner which denoted the feelings of an older acquaintance than he really was

And:

“Ah!” cried Captain Harville, in a tone of strong feeling, “if I could but make you comprehend what a man suffers when he takes a last look at his wife and children, and watches the boat that he has sent them off in, as long as it is in sight, and then turns away and says, ‘God knows whether we ever meet again!’

Have I mentioned how deeply I love Captain Harville?

Okay, one obvious quote:

“Perhaps I shall. Yes, yes, if you please, no reference to examples in books. Men have had every advantage of us in telling their own story. Education has been theirs in so much higher a degree; the pen has been in their hands. I will not allow books to prove anything.”

As true 200 years ago as it is today: Own Voices matter. Always ask: “Who’s telling this story? And to what end?”

And Yes, of course The Letter that Captain Wentworth writes to Anne while eavesdropping on this conversation is very romantic. But that’s not the part that made me actually catch my breath when I first read it. This was:

and sinking into the chair which he had occupied, succeeding to the very spot where he had leaned and written, her eyes devoured the following words:

That chair would. have. still. been. warm. Just think about how intimate that is, for a moment.

There have been fleeting moments when they’ve touched before, in this novel: When Captain Wentworth lifted her into the Crofts’ gig, and they almost touched when he lifted little Walter off her back. But other than that, the power of the secret between them, and the pressure of social expectations around them have been, like a static electricity force-field around each of them, keeping them apart. And now, as Anne reads Captain Wentworth’s most intimate confession of love, she can still (literally) feel the warmth of his presence.

Anne could do no more; but her heart prophesied some mischance to damp the perfection of her felicity. It could not be very lasting, however. Even if he did not come to Camden Place himself, it would be in her power to send an intelligible sentence by Captain Harville. Another momentary vexation occurred. Charles, in his real concern and good nature, would go home with her; there was no preventing him. This was almost cruel. But she could not be long ungrateful; he was sacrificing an engagement at a gunsmith’s, to be of use to her; and she set off with him, with no feeling but gratitude apparent.

I tell you, as a person who grew up with a physical disability, with a caring circle of well-meaning friends and family who want to help, But ... I Felt This. When they’re doing their best to help, because they really do care for you, but the help they’re giving isn’t exactly helpful. You can’t be truly angry with them. And maybe next time, they’ll be there to give the right kind of help...

And remember: At this point in her life, Jane Austen was, herself, dealing with chronic pain and used a cane. I can’t help but read that passage as a bit of autobiography.

They were on Union Street, when a quicker step behind, a something of familiar sound, gave her two moments’ preparation for the sight of Captain Wentworth. He joined them; but, as if irresolute whether to join or to pass on, said nothing, only looked. Anne could command herself enough to receive that look, and not repulsively. The cheeks which had been pale now glowed, and the movements which had hesitated were decided. He walked by her side. Presently, struck by a sudden thought, Charles said—

“Captain Wentworth, which way are you going? Only to Gay Street, or farther up the town?”

��I hardly know,” replied Captain Wentworth, surprised.

This is almost as adorable as their conversation in the concert hall lobby.

And none of the previous filmed adaptations capture it to my satisfaction. The 1971 BBC Television adaptation comes closest, being sticklers for book accuracy as they were, but the framing, and stilted 1970s acting, completely miss the suspense on Anne’s side, or the uncertainty on Captain Wentworth’s. The 1995 adaptation has Wentworth standing just outside the inn. And the 2007 adaptation has Anne receive the letter second-hand from Captain Harville, after which she runs a frantic sprint the full length of Bath (2000s concept of Drama!, I suppose).

In his preceding attempts to attach himself to Louisa Musgrove (the attempts of angry pride)

Captain, Sir. If I may be so bold to suggest: If you think attachment is formed through deliberate. concerted, effort, you may very well be somewhere on the aro-ace spectrum*. Just saying.

But I too have been thinking over the past, and a question has suggested itself, whether there may not have been one person more my enemy even than that lady? My own self.

[. . .]

I have been used to the gratification of believing myself to earn every blessing that I enjoyed. I have valued myself on honourable toils and just rewards.

As I said, after Louisa’s fall: he’s a man who has packed his entire sense of self into what he can do, and when the moment came when there was nothing he could do, he broke down a bit.

Like other great men under reverses,” he added, with a smile. “I must endeavour to subdue my mind to my fortune. I must learn to brook being happier than I deserve.”

*Chuckle* Get yourself a life partner who can admit when they’ve been wrong.

*By which, I also mean the author, in this case.

#📖Persuasion📖 Read-Along #Chapter Twety-Three #TV Adaptations #YouTube video (no captions)

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trianglesusage · 1 year

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Jones actually this isn’t about you

I ended up telling the school about Moira and they’re getting the child protection involved. Absolutely none of this is to do with you. But yet. As soon as I tell you about it you say “I guess they’ll have to talk to me and I won’t hold back. I’ll tell them about Moira”

No you fucking will not

I need her sadly

#Moira #jones

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extremelyblackandwhite · 2 years

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run | rockstar!bucky

pairing: rockstar!bucky x popstar!reader

warnings: smut (18+), oral (female receiving), enemies to lovers, sexual themes, toxic behaviour, swearing, toxic media

masterlist (false god)

and the note from the locket, you keep it in your pocket since I gave it to you. there's a heart on your sleeve, i'll take it when i leave and hold it for you. and run, like you'd run from the law. darling, let's run, run from it all. we can go like they're trying to chase us, go where no one else is, run ...

Bucky thought to himself if he was dead several times. He constantly toyed with mortality, weaving his own life string as if he was his own Moirae. He’d stop caring about if he died young the moment his name was written in bright lights. Now he just wondered what dying would feel like; he always thought it would feel like driving in the Mustang through a hot scorching dessert while Hotel California played in the radio. This sense of calm yet dread was what he thought dying would feel like.

Today he realised he was wrong. Dying for him would have to feel like her with his arms wrapped him in minutes which felt like decades yet were never enough for him to be satisfied. It would have to be the fragrant notes of her perfume mixed with the familiar scents of his house and the feel of her hair on his neck. They remained there on the floor for an hour and they would’ve stayed longer had it not been for someone knocking on the door. She took her head from his shoulder, looking at him puzzled yet before they could even question who was knocking at the door, they were hearing yet another banging and screaming.

- Bucky, open the door! - she heard Val’s voice from the other side. - I know she’s with you. Open the door!

Bucky looked at Y/N who just sighed, getting up from the floor and making it over to the door. She unlocked the door, slightly opening to see a very pissed Valery who waited for no invitation to walk inside the rockstar’s home.

- Your whole team is looking for you, Y/N and they keep bothering me about it.

- Just ignore it then. - Bucky walked behind his ex-girlfriend, almost maintaining a protective stance over the woman in front of him. - Why should it be any of your business?

- Back off, Barnes.

- Stop it. - Y/N put her hand over Bucky’s chest. - I’m sorry that I didn’t tell them where I was, Val, but right now I don’t particularly want to be in meetings.

- But they’re spinning stories ...

- I know they are. - she interrupted. - But I can’t stop them. I can’t send all the media outlets cease and desists. I’m tired, Val. I’m tired of this already and I just want to be away from it.

- With him? - she pointed at Bucky. - Y/N, we’ve been over this before.

- I’m a grown woman, I can make my own choices!

Valery cocked a brow at her, expecting that she would fall on her senses and realise that running towards the same man with whom she was being criticised over, but Y/N never did. She was certain of her choices, more certain than she even was about mundane ones and so the woman merely stared at the couple, sighing and grabbing her purse before walking out. The harsh sound of the door shutting had her jump every so slightly before breathing out. Her teeth munched on the inside of her skin as she attempted to be okay. It felt too much to her, it felt uncontrollable. It was a ball of emotions all within her which she felt she had no outlet to express. All the spectrum of emotion seemed too small for her to even attempt to express it in one. It was too much, she wanted to cry, scream and laugh. She didn’t know what to do. It just felt like ripples of hot and cold going down her body but there was nothing she could do. There was no stopping the cogs of a machine which would run her over. Instead, all of this came out in short breathes, almost like someone accepting death.

- Hey ... - he kissed her shoulder. - You’re safe.

- I’m okay. - she turned around, stretching her lips and pushing her hair behind her hairs.

- No, you’re not. - he wrapped his arms around her. - I’m so sorry for all of this, princess.

- I don’t even know what I’m feeling. - she sighed, holding onto his bicep. - I ... I’m so angry but it’s not just that. It’s ... urgh, I don’t know.

- I’m here for whatever you need. Anything.

- I just want it all to end, James. - she cuddled against his chest. - I never asked for any of this and I don’t know how this will end.

- It’ll die down. - he moved to cup her face and while he looked vastly different from the man she had loved eight years ago, those were his eyes, those blue eyes which always seemed to comfort her. - We can sue him for property theft or privacy invasion.

- For what? - she moved away from his hands, moving towards the living room in nothing but disarray. - For it to drag along and probably lose?

- We’d be likely to win. You’re incredibly liked by everyone.

- I was liked. I spent my whole career trying for them to see and listen to what I write but instead all they care about is that I dated you. You know no one ever looked at us when we were actually dating.

- Princess ...

- No one gave a fuck about any of us 8 years ago. - she interrupted him, turning around to face him. - The moment anyone cares is when it destroys some fictitious idea of purity as if a 28 year old woman would’ve never dated before. You’ve slept with half of New York and no one bats an eye, meanwhile I’ve been branded a slut for as long as I decide to be in this godforsaken business.

- Don’t say that.

- Why not? - she smiled sarcastically. - No, you were right. This is a fucked up business, they only care about what’s degenerate.

- BECAUSE YOU’RE NOT A CYNIC!

Silence settled on his living room as he attempted to catch his breathe while staring at her. His finger nails dragged against his scalp as he walked closer to her, his hand coming to meet hers. His thumb dragged across the top of her soft hand as she bite the inside of her lip.

- I’m the cynic. - he continued. - And I made so many fucking mistakes because I was a cynic and I got where I am because I’m a cynic but I stepped over so many people to do so.

- James ...

- No, let me finish. - he interrupted her. - I stepped over you to get my first hit because of this idea that you need to grab and take it to make it but you made it without making any people angry at you. You’re good at what you do and this is a fucking terrible situation but you’ll be ok because you’ve been ok with worse. You can’t become a cynic.

- So I should just be a hopeless romantic with rose coloured glasses?

- You never were a hopeless romantic. - he cupped her face as she slightly tilted her head to look at him. - But you were always positive about life. You’re so bright, princess. This is not gonna change that about you.

- My reputation is ruined.

- Then maybe you need a new one which you decide.

She thought to herself about that. It was true that she’d never really gotten to decide how she was portrayed after she was first noticed by the Hollywood glimmering lights. She was a good girl, compared to most, but she hadn’t been allowed any breaks from that. She would smile and say thank you all the time, she couldn’t swear in her songs, and she’d have to have her wardrobe approved by everyone in her label before she could step out onto a red carpet.

Her lip pouted out as all the anger from inside her dissipated and instead she was left feeling restless. Her eyes gazed to the left before looking back at him with a look Bucky was sure he knew way too well but refused to acknowledge. Her palm rested against his chest and climbed up to his collarbone, her finger tracing one of his tattoos. She slightly lifted her gaze from her tattoos to his eyes before her lips met his. Bucky dropped the hand he was holding to hold her body flush against his. He groaned against her lips, moving to kiss down her neck and her sweet spot. Her hands gripped his shoulders as he moved them into his bedroom.

- I don’t want to take advantage of you, princess. - he broke the kiss, attempting to ground himself.

She smirked, sitting on top of his bed. Maintaining eye contact with him, she leaned her head against her shoulder, her hand sliding down her chest to her hips and under her dress. Slowly, she pulled down the lacy black fabric down her thighs and calfs, swiftly taking it off her legs while not breaking eye contact. Pushing her hair behind her shoulder, she got up, placing the black lace on his hand before turning around. Like a wild animal, he walked up behind her, pulling her flush against him, his dick against her ass.

- You’re playing a very dangerous game, princess.

- I thought you liked dangerous games.

Bucky spun her around, his lips meeting hers as they both laid down in his bed. Fuck, this is where she belonged in his bed. His hand traced the inside of her thigh, inching closer to her aching core. He traced his index through the middle of her folds, her wetness coating his finger and making her moan as she looked at him with parted lips. He bit his lip, giving her a bruising kiss before kissing down her body through her pretty cherry patterned dress. How fitting.

The dress was bunched over her hips and her legs over his shoulder as Bucky dove in. His mouth was pressed against her clit, flicking his tongue against her nub and moaning against her.

- James, fuck. - she moaned, pushing his head against her core as her head pressed against the pillow. - Fuck!

- C’mon, princess ... - he smirked before licking a stripe through the middle of her folds. - You taste so fucking good.

She whined at how it felt. Bucky had always been good at knowing what she wanted, what she needed, but he also had an ego on him. It pleased him to edge her, to please her. Her emotions were climbing a high, legs shivering as he continued to kiss and suck until. However, just as quickly as she was climbing that high, he took his mouth from her. She pouted, rubbing her legs to try and stimulate the feeling but it wasn’t the same.

- Bucky, no. - she cried out.

- Shouldn’t have left me in that bathroom, princess.

- Seriously? - she pouted as he kissed up her body, pulling her dress away from her and into the floor.

- Don’tcha want the real thing? - he smirked before kissing her again. - Hm? I know you fucking missed it, didn’t you?

She ignored his teasing, her hands instead moving to unbuckle his belt and push down his jeans with his boxers. Y/N thought she’d remember it, after all they had dated for 2 years; however, she was almost certain that hadn’t been there before. He fisted his cock, the swollen tip red with precum, yet it was the piercing, the curved piercing with a ball at each end, going through it that made her jaw slightly dropped. She was both aroused and intrigued.

- Don’t worry. - he leaned down to kiss her. - You’re gonna like it.

She was hypnotised by the way his hand stroke his cock over her belly, the piercing there almost teasing her, before he guided it towards her pussy. The breathe was knocked out of her as he thrusted in her, her hand grabbing his bicep as he growled at the mere feeling of being inside of her.

- You’re not gonna fucking leave this bed for a month. - his head jerked back as he gripped her hips and started to move in and out of her. She couldn’t do anything but moan, her head only thinking of how stretched she was, of how the metal felt against her walls. - I missed you so fucking much, princess. I’m gonna fuck you all night until you beg me stop, but that’s not gonna happen, is it?

Her nails dug onto his bicep as he thrusted into her with no gentleness. No, Bucky needed to fuck her. She was his, his girl and she needed him. She needed to be full of his cock, it was hers after all. Besides, how could he not fuck her when she looked like that; body covered in sweat and lips partially open, moaning and begging for him.

- James, more. - she can feel everything, from the vein of his cock to the piercing touching just all the right places.

- Look at this. - he pushed her chin down for her to stare down, where his dick was going in and out of her pussy. - Look at the mess you’re making on my fucking dick, princess. Hm? Greedy girl.

- James!

He pulled one of her legs over his shoulder as he pistoned his hips into her and she could no longer think of anything but how it felt. Fuck, it felt the good. The stretch, the feel of the cold metal, she could just disappear. His hand grabbed her chin, silencing the moans and whimpers coming of her mouth with a bruising, wet kiss. Her eyes rolled back as the piercing brushed over her spongy spot, making her see black dots in her vision. Along with that, Bucky dropped a hand from her hand, his finger rubbing her clit in circular patterns. A high pitched moan broke from her lips as it became to much but Bucky didn’t stop, he continued on, his movements becoming angrier.

- I know you got another one for me, princess. - he whispered against her ear.

- James, I can’t. - she cried. - I can’t.

- Yes, you can.

He turned her around in bed, her chest hitting the mattress as he continued to thrust inside of her. Her hand gripped the sheets as he held her hips up, not caring if she was sensitive or not. Tears dripped down her face, her mascara staining his sheets as she cried out.

- Don’t be so dramatic, princess. - he mocked, spanking her ass before returning to snap his hips against her. - Be a good girl.

- James, I can’t ...

- Yes, you can. - he turned her around once more, moving to be flush against her. - I wanna see your pretty face when you do.

Her nails dragged across his back, leaving red lines which were sure to remain there until everything became too much. She cried out, her hands holding his glutes as he came inside of her.

- Fuck. - he groaned, kissing her before leaning his forehead against hers. - Shit, didn’t mean to cum inside of you.

- Shut up, you know I like it. - she smiled, leaning her head against the pillow. - When did you get ... the thing.

- The thing is still inside of you and you’re calling it “the thing”?

- James, stop it. - she playfully slapped his chest. - I love you.

- Love you, too.

He reached over to his bedside table, opening a drawer to grab a towel to clean between her thighs.

- You’re prepared. How many girls have been here before?

- None.

- Oh, c’mon ...

- It’s true. - he interrupted, moving so she was laying on top of his chest. - I don’t bring one night stands to my home. You can consider yourself the first girl in this mattress.

- It’s my mattress now.

- You can take whatever you want, princess.

- I think we should give this another try. - she drew abstract shapes all over his chest. - We still love each other besides the media already thinks that I’m your whore.

- They clearly haven’t realised that I’m the whore in this relationship. - he attempted to make her laugh, which he successfully did. - It’ll die down, princess.

- Or it won’t and we could put up a show.

taglist: @prettywhenicry4 @bubblespeare @blackwood-bodecker-housewife @silkeiy @rowanthomasknapp @smallestsnarkestgirl @broco8 @eclecticpatrolroadlawyer @cosmicevans @davten74 @rowanthomasknapp @queenofshinigamis @peaches1958 @rebeccapineapple @spideysimpossiblegirl

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nightfall-kachiniko · 3 years

Note

How about mikasa with a Pregnant s/o? I hope you get better btw!

Ah thank you anon! I hope I do aswell! And I love mother kasa concept! :D

『Mikasa with a pregnant s/o』

➽───────────────❥

[ MAJOR! AOT SPOILERS UP AHEAD! ]

THIS CONTIANS MAJOR SPOILERS REGARDING TO 139 AND CHAPTER 138

- after you guys left the survey corps,she practically BEGGED you both to be parents. And all thought you wanted to, you wanted to spend some years alone with her.

- Ever since Eren passed away, your girlfriend never smiled the way she used to. But that all changed when you told her you were pregnant with a baby girl. This woman bursted into tears smiling a smile you hadn’t seen in a while. She picked you up and spun you around the room kissing you as you to began to cry tears of joy.

- You told her you were pregnant with a small version of her scarf, hinting at it. And as soon as she got it, she looked at you shocked, making sure you were serious, “d-darling are you serious..?” She said a small smile on her face. She looked at the small scarf and the baby clothes that laid in the box that you gave her as a gift, twirling around the outfit examining it.

-you gave her a soft nodd as you wiped away a tear, “Your going to be a mommy” you said with a smile. She put down the baby clothes and looked at you, still in shock. “Your not joking R-right!?” She said a bit more happier. “No I’m serious!” You said, beaming with a smile.

-she scoffed a bit as tears began falling down her face. Mikasa smiled as she picked you up, twirling you around, while crying tears of pure happily ness and joy. “T-this is all I’ve ever wanted” She said, kissing you while wiping away the both of yours tears.

- Throughout your whole pregnancy, all she would do would show you support in every way possible. She may be a bit over baring at time but this woman just wants to insure that your safe and well token care of. If you try to even pick up something, she’s scolding you, saying its dangerous and what if you fall or trip? All you’ll hear is, “y/n! Be careful dear! Let me take care of that.”

-Oh you best believe she gives you baths. One wrong move and you could get hurt, to her at least. Mommas wants to take care of youuuu ૮₍˶ᵔ ᵕ ᵔ˶₎ა! Plus, if you think she’s overprotective then, SHEESH BUDDY YOUR IN FOR A RIDE DURING AND AFTER PREGNANCY.

- This woman goes out her way to make sure you and the baby are safe. She doesn’t like you going out into town since a ton of people would crowd there and god for bid if someone knocks into you.. Let’s just say they are gonna get beat to the ground.

- For names, i think she’d like something unique, mystical even. I think she’d like something like a word that means a unique feeling, like the word Heriath; Homesickness for a home you can’t return to, or that never was. That’s my OC’S kid with her’s name anyways lol. Lacuna, Moira, jouska and others i think she’d like! You suggested if it was a boy that you wouldn’t mind naming the baby after Eren. She turned to you and smiled saying that she loved the idea of that, but, she couldn’t call him that without bursting into tears. You understood completely and was accepting of that aswell : D

— AND BOY OH BOY WHEN YOU WERE IN LABOR- Mikasa tried her best to stay calm. You both decided earlier on to have an at home birth with (just in case) a widwife to make sure you were okay. She held your hand and hugged you as you gasped for air, pushing as hard as you could. Mika would tell you things like “It’s okay baby.. your doing such a good job..” hike holding your hand, reassuring that you would be okay.

- When the baby came out, all you both could do was cry. I’d say if its a girl, she’d look more like mikasa with black hair and her Asian eye shape with your eye color. But if it was a boy, they’d look more like you with mikasa’s eye shape and mouth shape.

- She knows how sentimental of a moment you both as parents were experiencing, so she made sure you as the one who gave birth should hold the baby first. She kissed your head as you held the baby, caressing your hair.

- when mikasa held the baby, the first thing she did was wrap the baby in her red scarf. After Eren died, she turned the meaning of the scarf around. Eren showed her how to live, so she made a promise to show you how to live. And now that she has a baby, another piece of family, she vowed over her life to keep the both of you safe and sound.

- Her first words to your both’s baby was “I will always protect you, I promise you, over my life” She was so happy to be a mother. After all the chaos, she was so happy to finally live peacefully with the person who she loves the most.

- She has SO MANY DAMN RULES FOR WHEN ANNIE AND ARMIN COME OVER LMAO- No holding the baby standing up. All sharp objects aren’t allowed on you when touching the baby. No turning into a titan or she’ll cut off your face (these mainly apply to Annie LMAO) But after a while she chilled down. Annie was allowed to hold the baby ofc ofc.... Under MIKASA’S supervision ÙnÚ.

— the day your baby first walked, mikasa Litteraly cried at how big they had gotten and you had to calm her down like “Mika! Chill they aren’t even 1 yet and your already acting like they are going off to join the military!”

- Oh and speaking of military, your baby’s not going into the military- Hell n o. Momma mika would lose her shit even at the thought of her baby going out into gunfire. So if you wanted a military baby, sorry its not happening with her kid.

- The baby’s first words were “Muma” which was when they were referring to you. Everything this child does makes her so emotional. Litteraly even if the baby just picks up a spoon she’s almost in tears. She a proud momma dont let her down >:3

- I think our both’s baby would call her a unique version of mom. Like they would call Mika “Ummie” or “ummuma” But sometimes they’d just call her “mommy” so your momma and she’s ummie and mommy. (Lmao you call mikasa mommy too dont lie ;)

-OMI- YOUR KID AND ANNIE AND ARMINS KID ARE LIKE BEST FRIENDS. Your baby loves when they come over so they can see armin and Annie’s kid :D! AND OML- YOUR BABY LIKE LOVES ANNIE- She calls her “auntie awnnie” and always likes pulling at her bun while mikasa just stands and watches from the kitchen, eyeing annie down making sure she ant gonna touch her bby 😤

- Your child LOVESSSS Annie’s titan roar and everytime she comes over, they beg for annie to turn into a titan and do the roar. All you’ll hear is, “awuntiie awmmie! Titan! Titan!! 🥺” While annie rolls her eye with a small “fine” As she goes outside and transforms into her titan, roaring while your chid giggles. MIKASA HATES IT SO DAMN MUCH- SHE’LL ALWAYS SAY “You better be careful or I’ll kill you”

- of course, over the years Mikasa lightened up to annie and they are now best friends, but she cant help it... Over protective strong momma. but she wont allow armin to do it since his titans to big and dangerous ad trust me armin completely understands.

- Overall, she’s such a good momma. Always caring for you and her baby, making sure you both are safe and okay. She wouldn’t ever wish for a different life when she’s with you, and the sweet little one you two made <3

BRO THIS WAS SO LONG TO WRITE -

#aot #attackontitan #aot4 #mikasa #mikasa x reader #ackerman #mikasa aot #shingeki no kyojin mikasa #attack on titan #mikasa headcanons #mom MIKASA #mother MIKASA #mom reader #mikasa x pregnant reader #mikasa x reader mom #child MIKASA #Ackerman #x reader

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mackeydoodledoo · 3 years

Text

Go Home Daniela

Pairing: (DragonBat!)Daniela Dimitrescu x (Fem!)Reader

Summary: one walk out in the woods would change your life. One encounter with a Royal Dragon Bat changes your views on the four lords.

Warnings: Bittersweet Ending part 1

A/n: This one is about to be emotional my readers :’)

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As you open your eyes, your eyes are only met with darkness. You thought you were dead, but you could move your fingers, toes and your eyes.

“D-Daniela?” You groan, trying to move

However, the grip on your shirt doesn’t subside. However, you snake your arms around her neck as you begin standing.

“I’m alive Dani...” You assure her

I swear Daniela you have better made this human prepared for food time-

In one swift motion, Daniela wraps her wings around you to shield you. You look over to her rising head as she shoves her head into your body, your hands cradling it.

Daniela- What is the meaning of this?! After many times-

I love her Mother... She spared me from death all that time ago... I didn’t want to go home because I was falling in love with her.

Daniela...

But, Darling, this is a mere human.

A human who has survived the odds. She even went as far as to nearly dying to rescue me from hunters.

“Daniela...” You speak up

What if she decides to sell you to hunters for money?

If she wanted to do that, she would have a long time ago.

“Daniela...” You attempt to call out to her

You have changed quite a bit when you protected that human... However, you are not safe down here...

Mother we can protect each other and-

“Daniela,” You call to her

She turns her head to look at you.

“Your mother is right,” You sigh, finally admitting defeat

She turns to you almost immediately, her slit eyes turning into very rounded pupils. You walk up to her, gently running your fingers along her smooth and beautifully scaled body.

“You’re never going to be safe out here,” You say, “You’re better off in the castle, where you can be safe...”

But- but what about you?

“I’m going to be fine,” You give her a reassuring smile

Mother, Is everything okay?

Daniela?!

Who are you?!

Daniela immediately steps in front of you; shielding you from what looked like a dragon bat with very dark, close to black fur and yellow scales. The other, the exact opposite; bright blonde fur with blood red scales.

She is my human... Neither of you touch her...

You could hear the growl in Daniela’s dragon bat voice. You found that amusing and cute when she gets all defensive when it came to you.

“I’m... Y/n...” You introduce yourself before the dragon hybrids

Like I said. She is my human.

You were gone from home.. For this... Human?

“Hey!” You say, slightly offended

She... She can hear us?

Of course she can! How could she and I communicate then?

You watch the dark and light hybrid looking at you. However, they’re unable to get close enough for the both of them to observe you closely, thanks to Daniela.

She’s survived the massacre?

She did... I.. Accidentally fell into one of her traps... But, she got me out and tended to me! I owed her a great debt.. I enjoyed being with her...

That still doesn’t help the fact you ran away from home, disobeyed mothers’ orders and never came back!

Now now daughters... This human has proven her worth. We shall not kill her.

Besides!

The dark dragon bat immediately sweeps you onto their back, catching you off guard.

Might be fun to have a rider!

The dark dragon bat had taken flight as Daniela and the bright dragon bat follow suit.

Cassandra! Be careful with her!

Your little lover is fine! Mother said so, we won’t kill her!

Your grip on the dragon bat’s fur subsides as you begin to freefall, freaking out Daniela as she dives after you. However, the dragon bat with the brightest fur that gleams in the sunlight catches you; your grip tightening once more.

See? Your lover is fine! She’s having fun!

Your head peeks out from the bright, gleaming fur to look out towards the landscape that was the abandoned village. But, beyond that, was the mountain range that the village was hidden in.

“Whoa...” You say, breathlessly

Daniela catches up to you and Bela. She notices how your eyes were dilated as you watched the mountain range and the sunset.

You’ve never been this high before?

“I’m human,” You say

Once Bela, Daniela and Cassandra had ceased the flying, you embrace Daniela.

“I need to do this more often,” You look up at her, smiling

I’m afraid that’ll have to cease...

You and Daniela look up at Alcina, Daniela almost beginning to cry.

Why mother? She can come visit!

The Moira would eat her alive.

That’s why we keep her above the dungeons.

“Daniela,” You say, “You need to go home. There’s nothing left here...”

You’re the only one left.... I can’t leave you behind...

“I’ll be fine...” You reassure her

You step back to give Alcina and her two eldest daughters space. You begin watching them depart. One by one they take to the sky. However, Daniela remains behind.

“Hey,” You coo, walking up to her, taking her head in your hands, “One of these days I’ll come visit... Or even move in with you.”

You try to hold in your tears however, no luck as you watched her take to the sky to catch up with her mother and sisters.

“Thanks to House Dimitrescu- there are no more Lycans,” You smile to yourself, trying to hide the fact you were about to cry, “Now, you get to go home...”

One foot takes one step back, your arms beginning to stretch away. You place a kiss on the tip of her nose and gently move your fingers away from her head, finally letting her free. You watched her head dip slightly closer to the ground Daniela was trying to get the feeling of your hands under her chin. Your fingertips had departed from Daniela’s chin last.

“Go home Daniela...” You begin letting the tears roll down your cheeks

Not wanting to show you the same, she turns and begins to get a running start. You watch her follow behind her family as they slowly disappear behind the clouds.

When Daniela landed on the balcony to her room, she shakes off her sadness and begins reaching to the doorknob to her chambers. However, she looks down and realizes her dragon claw had turned into a hand.

I- What?...

She continues to step into her bedchambers and she notices how close the floor has gotten. She stumbles to her vanity and places her now fully transformed hands onto her desk. She looks up and gasps.

“I’m- human again?...” She asks herself

“Daniela darling?” Alcina calls out for her youngest daughter

She opens the door and slightly gasps at her daughter.

“My dear have you- changed back into human?” She asks

Daniela turns to her mother and nods, still looking confused; looking towards her mother for answers as she herself turns back into a human willingly.

“Noe don’t tell me that mere mortal had done-”

“She did!” Daniela raises her voice, defending you

Daniela’s head immediately shifts down to the floor as soon as she realizes the action she had just caused.

“IF this human means so much to you...” Alcina sighs in frustration, “You may bring them back to the castle. But, you are responsible for her. Understood?”

Daniela nods enthusiastically as she immediately hops right back out of her window, turning back into the dragon bat hybrid form she’s so used to. Cassandra and Bela, now in their own human forms, enters the room.

“Mother, we heard a loud crash,” Cassandra says, “Is everything alright?”

“Where’s Daniela?” Bela asks

“To find that... Human,” She says, “She’s found her soulmate...”

As Daniela lands right into your property, she lets out a little squeak; a squeak you’re only familiar with. However, she begins worrying after you hadn’t emerged from your home. She lets out the squeak once more; no response. She peers her head through the non-broken windows to see if you were inside. You weren’t.

My... Love...

Daniela lets out a wailing screech as she realized you had left.

Daniela returns to the castle, same way she had exited; but sheds her scales and into her human form; slumping right on top of her bed.

“Daniela dear?” Alcina knocks on the door, then opening it, “Are you okay?”

Daniela doesn’t answer her mother as she tries to forcefully hide her tears. Daniela feels a dip in her bed and then her hoodie being removed.

“My sweet child.. What happened?” Alcina asks, actually concerned for her daughter

It pained Alcina to see her daughters in distress.

“She’s gone...” Daniela finally answers, “Y/n’s gone...”

“She’s-”

“She left...” she sobs, “I know she isn’t dead... But, I know she’s already out there somewhere...”

Alcina then lays herself into Daniela’s bed as her youngest daughter turns to face her; sobbing into her breast.

“Mommy.... I love Y/n...” Daniela cries, “What do I do?...”

“I... I wish I have the answer for you my child,” Alcina sighs, brushing her daughters’ hair, “But, if Y/n loves you back, she’ll come back to you. But, it may take time for her.”

“Time for what?” Daniela asks her mother

“Anything,” Alcina answers

#daniela dimitrescu #daniela dimitrescu x reader #female reader #bela dimitrescu #cassandra dimitrescu #alcina dimitrescu #resident evil village

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moonbaby26 · 3 years

Text

Title: The Battle

Pairing: Peter Maximoff x Reader

Summary: Continuation from last chapter. Set during X-Men: Age of Apocalypse, you and the others fly to Cairo to confront Apocalypse and his soldiers in an attempt to rescue Xavier.

Warnings: Apocalypse being a leg breaking, hero strangling jerk. Characters fighting for their lives, but bookended with fluff from Peter x Reader pairing.

Chapters: Previous Chapter | Next Chapter

Taglist: @drikawinchester , @n0obmaster69 , @alexloveskili , @what-a-silver-lining , @bluesprings18 , @weakmoony-stuff , @slytherinsi-mp, @wintwrsoldiwr, @tommy-braccoli, @amourtentiaa

Peter Maximoff x Reader Masterlist

———————————

You’d at least gotten to clean up somewhat. Earlier as Hank and the new woman you’d just met, Moira, had worked on readying the jet, you’d found some bit of helpful supplies. Clean rags to wipe off the blood, and bandages that’d you’d hurriedly applied to your shallow claw wounds.

All the remnants of your restraints were gone, and your old, torn clothes you’d just tossed in favor of the thin jumpsuit and lightly armored black flight suit over the top of it. You all wore these suits, commandeered with this experimental jet now rumbling beneath you as you shot off to Cairo together.

There was silence for a good while, after some initial nervous chatter and joking from the others. It would have been too easy to fill this quiet with any of the myriad of questions still rushing through your brain, but you really had just listened and little more when they’d filled you in earlier with the gist of what they’d learned.

All that really mattered was that the Professor was being held captive by a seemingly omnipotent mutant. One that had now declared war on all and recruited his own powerful soldiers. This was a rescue mission, with likely all your lives at stake.

You leaned your head back, wondering if anyone else would really even know or care what had happened to you if you never came back from this.

The escape from Stryker’s lab had been life threatening as well of course, but it was so different when it’d just been one thing after another. Events unfolding too quickly to really develop any sense of dread, it’d been all adrenaline and luck really.

But even in a jet like this, flying all the way to Egypt was more than just a skip and a jump. It was well enough time to dwell on your own inexperience and shortcomings, to wonder if this was the last time you’d ever do anything at all.

“Hey,” Peter’s voice was quiet, just to you, as you glanced over, having been mired only in your own thoughts until that moment.

He was sitting beside you, both of you strapped in these jump seats that ran along both sides of the jet. Vaguely you realized the others had started talking once more as well then. Maybe that was why he felt more comfortable speaking to you again now.

He hadn’t addressed you directly since you’d reunited with the others. Though you wouldn’t blame him if he was just as nervous as you were deep down. But from his self deprecating jokes in front of your friends earlier, about still living at home with his mother, he would at least seem better at hiding fear if he did have any.

“Hey,” You answered back reflexively, looking at him fully again.

“So uh....” He was chewing a piece of gum, as if some part of him still had to stay in motion in order to remain comfortable. “That car, that was pretty sweet. That yours or what?”

Honestly it took you a very long, awkward pause before you could piece together any idea of what he was referring to. But being that you’d only known him since literally just earlier today, there wasn’t anything else he could possibly mean. “The yellow convertible?” You questioned anyway, not really surprised by much of anything now.

“Yeah, I mean, I take the road if there is one. I saw you guys on the way to the house,” He answered, still offering a little explanation regardless. “Looked like you knew what you were doing though.” There was a more sheepish grin emerging. “I was going to stop and say hey I guess. But then I saw the, you know, fireball coming out the house and all, had to go see what that was about. Save everybody or whatever...” He trailed off after a bit, maybe realizing that you were just letting him ramble.

It reminded you of how you’d acted with him during the whole lab fiasco. He seemed the more confident one down there, while you got easily flustered. You really wondered if having your friends here now was making the difference. As if he was more unsure of himself when there was a potential audience to hear what you might say back to him.

It was interesting, getting to put more of those pieces together, or at least starting to be able to when it came to him. For putting on the display of an extrovert, and if you could finally admit it, even him being an outright flirt, you felt more and more sure that that was only skin deep really. That was just the outer layer he protected himself with.

“It was one of the Professor’s cars,” You smiled genuinely, probably the first one since they’d told you where you were going in this jet and why. “We were on our way back from the mall.”

That warmth from you seemed to ease him back into his normal tone, maybe a slight relief in him that you didn’t find it off putting that he’d already taken notice of you before you even knew he was anywhere around.

“Oh, mallrat, huh?” He quipped, “I can picture that.”

He was teasing, but you gave it right back. “There is no way you can tell me that you don’t end up in music stores wherever you live, like a lot.” You hadn’t forgotten his band t-shirt after all. You thought you’d seen him putting away headphones at some point too. “And that leather jacket and pants you had? Come on, that didn’t come from some bargain clothes rack.”

You might have had him for just a moment there. Just a flicker of surprise in his eyes to know you really had paid him that much attention, before he retorted, “Hey, what’s the point of a fast car if it has no style, right?”

“Says the guy who most people can’t even see until he slows down.” But you were purposeful to make clear in your tone that that wasn’t an insult at all, just continuing a little more bravely afterward, “Though their loss I guess.”

There was no mistake then, he really did pause. You could feel the slightest bit of heat in your face again, but you were not about to take that back. Not when you didn’t even know what was really awaiting you all at the end of this flight.

And you were still the next one to speak, that resolve remaining. “If we make it out of this, maybe you can come with me back over there to our mall. Help me pick out some new stuff.” You tried not to make it sound funny, but on some cosmic level it still was. “Seeing as how my room and everything I owned was incinerated and all.”

“Deal.” He said immediately. Only a little afterward seeming to realize that maybe he sounded a bit too eager. He cleared his throat, shifting in his seat. “I mean, I’m pretty good at Ms. Pac Man too. They have an arcade, right?”

“Yes.” You answered, trying not to look too amused, and going along with him to help him feel more comfortable. “I can’t say I’m actually any good, but they do have a Flash Gordon pinball machine I always play. And a couple of air hockey tables. That’s my go-to.” No question with his speed that he would likely annihilate you on both. But the idea of being in a much simpler, safer place like that with him some day was a pleasant one right now.

“Oh yeah. I can show you a thing or two.” He was clearly back in his element then, looking smug once more.

“I’m sure you will.” You could only wonder if the god complex mutant and his lackeys you were now off to go challenge would have any idea that in the back of your mind you’d now be dreaming of a simple date in an arcade as extra motivation to get back home in one piece.

———————————

It wasn’t long before things had started spiraling in quick succession again. You’d all arrived in Cairo to find it essentially destroyed, save for what this fake god had already erected in monument to himself. A huge pyramid in the style of the ancient Egyptians, one he’d taken Xavier hostage inside.

It hadn’t been clear though how much of the destruction was done by this mutant, and how much had actually been at Magneto’s hands as it was with more shock that you’d found him in the middle of this as well. Now serving this apocalyptic mutant.

You knew enough about Magneto to both fear and respect him. Even though his history with the Professor went back so many years, Erik Lehnsherr as he was actually named was always more on the side of peace through violence. While Xavier preached ideals of tolerance and education for regular humans to one day accept mutant kind, Magneto thought them incapable of such, and had no qualms on preemptive strikes against non mutants as well as eye for an eye type vengeance.

But even for Magneto this seemed surprising. He would really just give Xavier up this way? As you’d gotten closer, Jean had sensed that Apocalypse (what you were now calling the new enemy in your own mind) intended to take over the Professor’s body, possessing him permanently to gain access to his mind control powers and become basically omniscient. He’d be unstoppable with everyone as his puppets then. Free will would cease to exist.

“You guys help Nightcrawler get into the pyramid!” Raven called back to all of you as the jet was landing. “Get Charles and I’ll take care of Erik.”

You’d snapped back to attention at the orders, and you saw that Peter was suddenly at her side.

He looked so focused all at once, “I can get you in there,” He told her, referring to the debris field of broken buildings and all else now churning, stuck in a huge magnetic orb with Magneto at its center. When she didn’t look sure, he continued quickly. “I came here for him, let me help you.”

Raven nodded to Peter then in agreement, knowing there was no time for more back and forth. “The rest of you, get Charles on this plane and get him out of here!”

You too knew what was at stake, there was no reason to argue, even if there still must have been concern on your face. You didn’t understand Peter’s change and sudden fixation on Magneto.

But it was only Kurt that spoke up immediately, yelling back to Raven and Peter, “We’re not leaving without you!”

Peter looked back at that, “Don’t worry.” In fact, you realized he was looking directly to you for one moment. “We’ll catch up.”

———————————

While Peter had sped Raven out of sight to try and reason with Magneto, Moira had stayed with the jet and Hank had come with you, Scott, Jean, and Kurt.

But as you all ran along the rubble, trying to make your way to the pyramid, it hadn’t been but moments until you encountered Apocalypse’s other soldiers, mutants set on stopping you all from interfering by any means necessary.

A tall, blonde man with wings made out of metal, a ninja seeming woman with a pinkish purple energy she could wield from her hand like a blade even while also carrying a katana, and a girl nearer your own age with stark white hair and seemingly the most power out of the three as she’d flown right towards you throwing lightning bolts from her hands.

You’d had no choice but to split up. Which you were sure was what they’d wanted even as you’d chosen to try and take the white haired girl’s attention. You didn’t really want to find out what would happen if one of those bolts struck you directly, but you could guess you had the best chance of anyone to maybe absorb some of it in your energy form.

You’d immediately powered up, glowing white as she’d chased you around the sky, both of you darting and flying in some kind of bizarre dog fight.

Your heart had been racing though, no amount of training at the mansion could actually prepare you for dueling with someone who actually wished to harm you. Everything to this point had just been about learning to control your powers, maybe even firing an energy blast at a dummy or paper target or two. But you’d never tried to hurt anyone. Not on purpose.

“Why are you helping him!?” You yelled out to her, swerving again as she tried to get close enough to you to land a hit. You generated an orb of light energy from one hand, letting it destabilize before you threw it towards her. It collapsed into itself, exploding to make a shockwave through the air that pushed her back again.

“He’s going to make it so we never have to hide what we are again!” She growled back in frustration, steadying herself in the air before her eyes hazed over into solid white.

You doubted that could be good, and of course it wasn’t as she raised her arms, a tornado like blast of wind then trying to knock you from the sky. You were able to shield yourself somewhat with your force fields, but the barrage of debris and wreckage that came with the winds made it too difficult to keep track of her as she did nearly land a direct lightning strike then.

“You’re wrong!” You yelled back, even as you felt numb and disoriented briefly, like the electricity surge was messing with your own energy. “He’s just using all of you! He only wants slaves, nothing more! And you’re just going to hand us all to him!”

She didn’t answer back after that, but you knew it wasn’t as if you could change anyone’s mind for them. She’d have to live with her own choices, just as you’d have to live with yours.

After a good while of this tit for tat though, you were really trying to take her out of the sky at last, knowing you needed to find and help the others as this had already been going on for far too long. You started trying to get her in the chest with white energy beam after energy beam shooting from your hands. She was fast, but you were able to at least get her in one shoulder at last as she spun with the force, losing altitude quickly with the hit.

Even as she fell, you could see her already correcting course though, trying to take aim at you again as she glared upwards.

But you didn’t get to see what happened next. A three fingered hand grasped your left arm suddenly from thin air, and then you were collapsing onto the floor of the jet you’d come here in.

“Gotcha, time to go!” Kurt spoke quickly as you looked to him in surprise, that strange burning smell hanging in the air briefly that always accompanied his teleporting. It was as instant a feeling as moving with Peter, but thankfully without the subsequent vertigo as you stood quickly, powering down, even as you were already looking around for the speedster.

With relief you did see Jean cradling the Professor’s head as they sat on the floor, Xavier unconscious but still breathing. But you did not see Peter or Raven.

Moira and Hank were already firing up the jet engines and you grabbed hold to the wall as you felt the craft quickly rising. “What about Peter and Raven?” You called out over the noise of the turbines spooling up faster and faster.

“We’ll have to trust them to figure it out, we’ve got to get Charles out of here now!” Hank answered back, leaving no room for debate.

You felt an unease building in your stomach, but it was true that if Apocalypse got Xavier, that Peter, Raven, or anyone else would then no longer matter anyway. At least for now you could hope Peter would just take Raven and run somewhere far from here. Xavier and Jean could use their psychic abilities to find them later and you could reunite.

But a hard thud above you left you all looking upward as the jet rattled.

“What the hell was that!?” Moira called out.

As soon as you saw that pinkish energy blade emerging through the jet’s hull, you had already powered up again, glowing and ready to shield the others as best you could. Apocalypse’s soldiers were proving too difficult to shake.

Yet Jean had other plans, “Everyone, grab onto Kurt!” She yelled.

You didn’t know what altitude you were already at, but you knew it wasn’t a survivable one for the jet itself if it was ditched now. Yet a fight in this close of quarters with all your powers would likely end in the same result. So her choice wasn’t as irrational as it first seemed.

You reached one hand quickly back, firmly grabbing onto Kurt’s shoulder, even as you kept your other hand raised towards where the metal winged mutant and the blade wielding woman were now trying to force their way in through the breach they’d created in the hull.

“I’ve never done it with this many people!” Kurt warned as you all held to him.

“Get us out of here!” Jean commanded, her desperation bringing out a forcefulness you hadn’t yet seen from her.

But Kurt was still straining, the sound of his opening whatever portal he used clearly heard but not bringing you anywhere as he tried several times.

The man with the metal wings jumped down into the cockpit, now just feet away as you realized what you had to do.

“Go without me!” You screamed over the rush of wind now coming through the hull breach. You let go of Kurt, making direct eye contact with Jean.

You could get out on your own. At least you were going to try. It was the only way. Kurt wasn’t able to take you all.

You felt that Jean was listening, that she heard your thoughts and that as difficult as it was, she agreed just as quickly. It was the only way.

“Do it!” She urged Kurt even through the horrified look he gave you both.

“I’m taking it down.” You also heard her voice say in your head almost simultaneously. That briefest warning to ready yourself before she willed the controls to throw the plane into a nosedive and cause Apocalypse’s soldiers to lose their footing.

The last you saw of your other friends was still their shocked and frightened expressions as they disappeared from right in front of you. But this was your only chance as well, propelling yourself as fast you could, right through the fading cloud of gas they left behind and past the now tumbling winged mutant as all your focus went to that small square of sunlight that they’d cut into the hull.

It was your one window of survival. For just the briefest moment, you felt him try to grab hold of your leg as you flew past him. But you kicked him with the other leg as hard as you could manage, breaking free into the open air as the jet plummeted on without you.

Out the corner of your eye you saw the woman had remained on the outside of the jet, but jumped free from it as well. You lost sight of her as you both fell, focusing only on trying to slow your descent to a survivable speed. It was one thing to levitate yourself up from a neutral position, and wholly another to try and control your energy field around yourself enough to reverse the terminal velocity transferred to you from being within a crashing plane.

The ground still came too fast, too hard. You blacked out on impact, laying alone in the dirt as your light energy faded, receding back inside you.

————————————

An unknown time later, something jolted you awake. You could hear screaming as you opened your eyes. You were laying on your side. Everything hurt and you could taste blood in your mouth.

But you were already forcing yourself back up as you swallowed. Disoriented as you were, you still recognized that voice. It was Peter. He was hurt.

You were looking all around you, and it didn’t take long to see the source and reason for the screams.

Not far from you at all, Apocalypse stood in a clearing from all the rubble. Peter right beside him, half crumpled to the ground. One of Peter’s feet was encased in the earth, trapping him there like an animal in a snare. His other leg was clearly broken, twisted at a grossly unnatural angle.

You felt a foreign rage beginning to burn up inside you, but before you could even physically react you saw the woman with the katana again. Nowhere in your mind did you take any time to consider how she would look so clean and uninjured having just come from the same circumstances as you of barely escaping the crashing jet.

All you saw was her walking towards her master, sword at the ready to finish Peter.

“Stop, (Y/N)!”

Charles screaming inside your head was the only thing that kept you from revealing yourself at that moment.

“It’s Raven! I’m telling you, it’s Raven!” Even Charles was struggling to break through your flaring emotions, as he repeated himself desperately. “He’ll kill you, (Y/N)! Stay in place, I beg you!”

The Professor had never spoken to you in such a way before. You gripped onto the broken wall in front of you, still only just obscured from their view as you saw Apocalypse grab Peter by the hair, jerking the young man’s head back roughly to expose his throat to the woman.

“It’s Raven, please trust her!” Charles did not let go. You could feel him actually starting to control you even, something he had absolutely never done before, though your emotions were exploding like they also never had. He didn’t want you to make a life ending mistake.

“(Y/N), please.” He called again and you realized you were being held in place, unable to move out any further. You were forced to only watch as the woman raised her blade, Peter wincing in fear and pain beneath her as she swung it.

But it was only Apocalypse’s throat that ripped open. Yet even in your surprise, any sense of victory was still non existent. No blood poured from the wound, and it healed completely within moments as he only grabbed his supposed traitor by the neck, holding her up immediately.

Raven’s feet hung in the air while she choked, her blue skin and true appearance quickly returning as she could no longer control her disguise as Apocalypse strangled her.

And it was only then that you felt Xavier letting go of you, in his own shock as Apocalypse tried to bait him out.

“Charles! Come! Rescue your weaklings!” Apocalypse challenged aloud, still dangling the now helpless Raven while Peter stayed trapped at their feet. “Give your life for theirs!”

He was going to kill her right in front of you. You powered up, knowing there was no other choice. You had to-

“No. I’m still connected to him. Let me get in his head, (Y/N), then you can go to them.” The professor spoke quickly, yet with a touch of new resolve.

“Charles! Will you do nothing?” The false god continued to bellow.

This time you listened without being forced to. You did see Apocalypse pause as if Xavier was indeed making contact. It was still an agonizing wait, but when he finally let go of Raven, you allowed yourself some shred of hope. You’d never seen anyone be able to overpower the Professor mentally, once he was fully in.

But that hope was also short lived as just moments later Apocalypse raised his hand abruptly. At will he dissolved the outer wall of a nearby building. You could see Scott and Hank then exposed, themselves just as surprised and staring out. But you knew it could only mean that Apocalypse had used Xavier’s connection against him just that quickly to root out his hiding place.

This could be the end then. You resigned yourself that the only choice was to die fighting if that is what it had to be. But you weren’t as alone as you thought.

As Apocalypse had left Peter and Raven behind, now striding confidently to his prize, two massive steel beams suddenly shot into his path. They buried themselves into the ground, crossing into an X to block him.

You looked back into the sky, glad in this single moment that you had been right about at least one thing. Magneto wouldn’t give Xavier up in the end. Not without bloodshed anyway.

“You betray me?” Apocalypse asked, already turning to deal with Erik instead.

“No. I betrayed them.” Magneto unleashed hell then, every bit of metal he could pull shooting towards Apocalypse in an unending assault as the other raised a shield that incinerated each and every piece as it hit. But doing so clearly taxed him, allowing the perfect moment for the rest of you to join the battlefield.

You got to Peter almost simultaneously as Hank got to Raven. You and Beast were clearly in the same mindset of getting the injured out of the immediate firefight before you would join in.

“I’m sorry I didn’t come sooner, the Professor froze me,” You spoke in quick apology to Peter, using a small energy blast to break up the earth that had been hardened around his trapped foot. Once cracked, you broke the rest of it free just with your fingers.

He was obviously surprised, grateful, and maybe even confused all at once as you gently lifted him with the help of your powers. You wrapped his arm around your shoulders, trying to mind his broken leg as you helped support him while gliding over to a safer spot some distance away.

“Stay here.” You spoke, sitting him down so his back was against a mostly still standing wall to shelter them.

Hank was sitting Raven down in the same manner beside him as Peter suddenly spoke up to you. “Wait.”

You were still crouched in front of him, you’d been about to stand back up when his hand went around the back of your neck and pulled you in closer.

Before you could register anything else, you felt his lips press against yours. It was a bit harsh, desperate even, and then it was over just as fast as you pulled back in surprise.

“In case we don’t ever get to make it to that arcade,” he responded to your shocked expression that was still evident even in your energy form like this.

You took a breath, now was not the time for verbalizing any of this. But you wanted to show you agreed with the sentiment. You leaned back in, kissing him yourself for one longer moment, one hand gently cupping the side of his face before you stood back up. He allowed the contact readily and you could only wonder what it felt like to him when you were enveloped in light like this.

Hank and Raven just gave you both the most confused of looks, but nothing was said as you and Beast had then rushed back off to throw yourselves into the fight.

——————————

(Continued in next chapter here)

#quicksilver x reader #quicksilver x y/n #quicksilver x you #quicksilver #x men #marvel #peter maximoff #pietro maximoff #xmen #x men fanfiction #peter maximoff x oc #peter maximoff x you #peter maximoff x y/n #pietro maximoff x you #pietro maximoff x y/n #pietro maximoff x reader #xmen apocalypse #pietro maximoff x oc

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verticordial · 2 years

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sacred to the horae

This will be my last post in this specific series about the Horae, the rest of which you can find HERE. I’ll introduce this post by saying there isn’t really much definitive information we have for them relating to things like holidays and offerings but I’ll do my best to share what I’ve found.

HOLY DAYS AND SACRED PLACES

The Horae were celebrated at an annual festival, the Horaea (or Horaia). Very, very little is known about it and information about the festival is usually summed up with “it was a festival.” The Encyclopaedia Britannica gives one definition which is commonly quoted - “In honour of the Horae a yearly festival (Horaea) was celebrated, at which protection was sought against the scorching heat and drought, and offerings were made of boiled meat as less insipid and more nutritious than roast.” - but the sources I’ve found for this suggestion are all in German which I cannot read (lol). It can be assumed then that the festival took place in the summer*, and that it was about protection for crops and seeking a bountiful harvest.

The Horaea as it was celebrated on Lemnos (and perhaps at other places) had more of a focus on transitions, manumission of slaves, and both the life-death cycle of crops and the metaphorical life-death cycle of a released slave. (I will admit to not being knowledgeable about manumission or Ancient Greek slavery, so if you’re looking for further information I suggest reading Kabeiroi, manumitted slaves and Xenoi: the manumission inscriptions from Lemnos by Rachel Zelnick-Abramovitz and the older authors in her sources. In this work Zelnick-Abramovitz also notes that it’s possible this Horaea was a completely different day than the festival to the Horae celebrated elsewhere.)

*It’s suggested that, at least in Lemnos, the Horaea was celebrated on the 7th day of Hekatombaion.

Also, Eirene equivalized as Pax (Roman peace) had an annual festival on the third of January.

*** EDIT: in a previous version of this post I mentioned that Dike is associated with the 5th day of the month because perjury and false oaths are punished by the gods on this day (Hesiod). While this comparison can still be drawn, my original source of commentary of Works and Days that I used for this post to support this idea has since been criticized for lack of its own sourcework/historical evidence, so I will no longer include that statement.

(Described as five Horae, or three Horae joined by two other goddesses) At Athens there was a temple to the duo of Horae Thallo and Karpo. I’m uncertain if this was the only temple to the Horae, but their likenesses could be found at temples in Argos, Olympia, Erythrae, Megara, and Mycenae, typically alongside Zeus, Hera, the Kharities, or their sisters the Moirae. Outside of temples, green pastures and general city-space are sacred to Eunomia by virtue of her name but are probably sacred to her sisters as well as Dike and Eirene have the same relationships with the city and rural growth.

THE CHORAL DANCE

The Horae are described as being in a constant choral ring-dance which represents zodiacal circling. In Ancient Greek festivals, choral dancing was extremely common and used as a way to extend the pleasure of the activity as an offering to the gods - the Horae take up this action (along with goddesses like Artemis and the Kharites) at the festivals and banquets held on Olympos. In this way their dance is both a celebration to the other gods, typically at weddings, and a metaphor for the revolving of stars and the consistent pattern of the changing seasons.

So it can be said that dancing on it’s own is important to the Horae, but the act of ring-dancing with three or more people joined by music or singing is specifically sacred to them.

(The Dance of the Horae)

OFFERINGS

The Orphic Hymns call for aromatic herbs and frankincense to be used as incense for the Horae. Philochorus says that offerings of meat to them were boiled and not roasted (it would appear this applied generally, and not just to the Horaea). Flowers and garlands are also sacred to the Horae, and were probably given as offerings.

Outside of that is mostly guesswork. Along with flowers we can presume that oils, perfumes, and cloth dyed with flowers would be given as offerings. Things which are typical to offer to other Ouranic gods were also likely given, such as wine, milk, honey, and fruit - probably also produce from a successful harvest was offered to them as goddesses of fruit and agriculture.

#the Horae #the Horai #Dike deity #Eunomia deity #Eirene deity #greek pantheon #greek religion #hellenic polytheism #helpol #hellenic pagan #personal

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bamfdaddio · 2 years

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Uncanny X-Men Abridged: 1983

The X-Men, those punk mutants that have sworn to protect a world that hates and fears them, are a cultural juggernaut with a long, tangled history. Want to unravel this tapestry? Then read the Abridged X-Men!

(X-Men 165 - 176) - by Chris Claremont and Paul Smith, Walt Simonson, John Romita Jr.

There are many iconic panels to choose from in 1983. This one only won because of Illyana’s ice-cold burn in the third panel. You go, Magik. (Uncanny X-Men 168)

1983 is fucking iconic! Which is fitting, giving that it’s the twentieth year of the X-Men. Whattayear! We’ve got Rogue joining the X-Men, the introduction of the Morlocks, Storm going punk… We even get a wedding and, what’s more, we get our very first fucking spin-off!

I’ve never found much to love in the pragmatic Moira MacTaggart, but I do love how well she can play Xavier like a fiddle. (The key is appealing to his vanity and his savior complex.) (Uncanny X-Men 165)

Funny how, in retrospect, Moira and her lost children can not only refer to Proteus, but also to the first brood of Krakoa-saviors: Petra, Sway, Darwin and the fourth third Summers brother.

Anyway, Moira strongarming a mourning Xavier into taking care of his third batch of mutants leads directly into him saving five wayward newbies from the clutches of one Donald Pierce. (Pierce, predictably, is still an incompetent asshole. It’s hard to be the most awful person in the Hellfire Club, but he’s really giving it his all.)

But wait, shouldn’t Charles be taking care of his X-Men? Well, the X-Men (and special guest star Carol Danvers aka Binary) are trapped in space, stranded somewhere near the vicious Brood world and, in a thinly veiled Alien-pastiche, incubating a very special Brood-egg each. (Except for Wolverine, whose healing factor killed off the egg, and Binary, who never got one.)

When we last left the X-Men, their ship had run out of juice, Storm used an escape pod when she realized she was becoming a Brood mommy and Binary, furious that that her X-buddies were becoming sleazoids, went to take the attack back to the Brood, inconsiderately leaving cliffhanger-y hole in the side of the ship. When we return, the remaining X-Men are quickly patching up the hole and determining their next move. But what happened to Storm?

I fail to see how killing both the egg and the host in a murder/suicide plot preserves the sanctity of life more than either one of those options, but go off, I guess. (Uncanny X-Men 165)

I’ll try and explain what’s happening. Storm does not want to kill the brood egg, because it is sentient, but she also does not want to kill herself, for more obvious reasons. Her ship then drifts off into a space nebula storm (sure why not) and this powers her up enough to stave off the metamorphosis and incinerate the ship, knowing the shock of being exposed to space will kill her Brood-baby and herself.

Look, I don’t know enough about space weather to call bullshit on all of this, but man, does this make little sense.

Anyway, Storm miraculously bonds with a prematurely born space whale Acanti whose mother was succumbing to the virus the Brood use to enslave them as living space ships. Apart, they would have died; bonded, they survived.

I don’t know if Claremont was high while writing this, but I sure wish I was spaced out of my gourd while reading this nonsense.

Storm is spiritually a space whale. What the fuck.

We’re skipping over Piotr comforting and then kissing Kitty back at the ship (sigh).

Space whale!Storm picks up Binary and her stranded teammates and together, they all go and attack the Brood capital. Storm and Binary provide aerial support, while Lilandra and the rest of the X-Men cover the ground. There’s a sub-plot of the Brood being helped by one of the X-Men (there’s a mole?!) but it’s not terribly interesting. (It’s Scott.)

Just as Binary is taken out, she is saved by the Deus Ex Starjammers!

On the ground, Kitty is separated from her team. She is chased down a cavern by some Brood, but then…

Of course a European style mini-dragon would be the natural enemy of a bunch of scifi Alien bugs. What the fuck am I reading. (Uncanny X-Men 166)

Apparently, the Brood’s natural enemies have been hiding in the planet’s core and Kitty’s new pet is one of them. She calls it Lockheed. Lockheed and Kitty lead the X-Men to an, er, Holy Chamber? The Brood are in hot pursuit. And then Binary somehow uses her solar affinity to distill the soul essence of the chamber and restore to the young Acanti melded with Storm. Apparently, that one's the chosen one? Using its Acanti Song, it restores the X-Men (including Storm) to health, purges the embryos and also turns the Brood Queen to crystal.

I swear I’m not deliberately making any of this less random, this is what happens.

Before the Brood Queen died, however, she revealed there was another Brood Queen Egg back on Earth. Wolverine quickly deduces that there can only be one suspect incubating that egg: Professor Xavier! (Gasp!)

The Starjammers deliver the X-Men back on Earth, where they attack the mansion and spook the New Mutants (who put a valiant fight, but in the end prove no match for the more seasoned mutants.) Xavier begins his final transformation to Brood Queen, but the X-Men pummel the Brood Queen long enough for Xavier to gain the upper hand. Xavier begs for them to kill him, but Scott refuses. (It reminds him too much of not being able to save Jean from the Phoenix.)

As a third option, they freeze the host body and Sikorsky (the Doc Bones of the Starjammers) clones a new body for Xavier and they implant his memories in there. (Is this where Charles got the idea for Krakoan ressurections?) As an added bonus, Xavier’s new body can physically walk again!

With a new lease on life, Xavier decides to behave somewhat like an actual teacher and decrees that Kitty should be demoted to the New Mutants instead of being a teenage superhero. This sensible decision leads Kitty to call Xavier a jerk. She tries every weapon in her arsenal to sway Xavier’s will:

An Examination of Father-Daughter relationships during Puberty in 4 images (Uncanny X-Men 168)

In the end, Kitty manages to convince Xavier by discovering a stowaway (Lockheed, the alien dragon) and by defeating a vicious Sidri hunter that followed them home. Because of her long-standing experience as a superheroe, Xavier decides to keep her on the X-team on a probationary status. If her grades start slipping, she’s off! Oh, Charles, you got so close to making a solid and informed decision befitting a teacher.

So close.

Claremont then proceeds to throw a lot of subplots into the air. Wolverine is off to Japan to deal with some shit, while Corsair takes Cyclops to meet his grandparents in Alaska. (Aw.) Kurt reconnects with Amanda and Lilandra asks Charles to help her overthrow Deathbird, who took hold of the Empire while Lilandra was dealing with the Brood. Charles refuses, because there are more and more mutants appearing every day. Somewhere else, Emma Frost is put into a coma by an unknown assailant.

All these are placeholders for the next big plot: we’re going into the sewers! Well, mostly Angel, who’s kidnapped out of his house and dragged down into the sewers. The X-Men mount up to follow him there, and one detail I like is Storm asking Xavier for Wolfsbane’s help, because the lack of Wolverine means they lack a proper tracker. Charles holds his ground and says no: the New Mutants are not a part of the X-Men! Good going, Xavier.

Also proud of Storm for going down in the sewers. (She’s come a long way with her claustrophobia.) Equipped with a mini-Cerebro, they go down, down, down… until they are jumped by the Morlocks! They’re a bunch of sewer-dwelling mutants who don’t fit in topside because of their mutations. Their leader is Callisto, a tough-as-nails eye-patch wearing Barbarella-expy, and an old lady named Plague, whose touch can cause incurable disease. A scouting Kitty finds this out the hard way: Plague can even work her infectious magic when Sprite’s phasing.

A deadly ill Kitty is recovered by Caliban, while the rest face down Callisto who wants to take Angel as her husband. (Can’t blame her, honestly. Also, it’s the first time it’s a female villain doing the whole marriage-bit instead of, say, Doom.) I have no idea how she thinks this will work, but I imagine it involves keeping him chained up to a cross for as long as possible.

The X-Men try to free Angel but are overwhelmed. Plague repeats her trick, infecting Storm, something the Morlocks ruthlessly exploit. Nightcrawler tries to appeal to them - aren’t they mutants, like them? - but Callisto bitterly replies that the Morlocks are nothing like them.

In the end it’s Caliban who helps the X-Men by revealing that they can duel their leader to win back their freedom: the winner will become the new leader. (Caliban is bewitched by Kitty and she promises him anything, anything, to help the X-Men.) Despite Callisto saying the duel will be to the death, Storm steps up.

This is what happens when you put Storm up against the wall. Damn. (Uncanny X-Men 170)

I’ve always loved the addition of the Morlocks to the X-Universe, because it paves the way for mutants becoming a community and a culture, a minority that exists beyond superheroes and supervillains. For every mutant like Storm and Avalanche, there’s got to be mutants who have sprouted horns and scales without any really powerful powers. Those would be ostracized by their parents, terrorized by the communities they used to be a part of. Where would they go? Where would they hide?

Some of them go down in the sewers and join the Morlocks. They are the first attempt at a Genosha, a Utopia, a Krakoa. What they lack, however, is a big enough stick to establish a real safe zone.

It also changes the vision of Xavier, however. He has to be aware of all this mutant presence underneath NYC. Has he tried to reach out to them? To save them? Or does he consider the mansion too small for hundreds of mutants? In the sixties, Xavier and Magneto were basically running a recruitment drive for mutants, trying to gather all neo-mutants they found into their flock. This is where that stops, officially.

The Morlocks are the first group of mutants that aren’t heroes or government agents or disco starlets or freedom fighters or villains or whatever: these mutants are just trying to survive. When Callisto indicts the X-Men with a “You’re nothing like us”, she means it. The X-Men are the pretty, powerful ones, privileged in terms of their mutation, able to blend in topside. (The only exception to this is Kurt, something the narrative points out.) Attacking someone like Storm in a dark alley is a mistake you only make once, but a gang of four armed with a few baseball bats can easily take out someone like Caliban.

Following Callisto's defeat, Storm assumes the leadership of the Morlocks, orders Angel freed and her and Kitty healed, and then tells them (essentially) stop attacking people who have done nothing wrong. With that, she leaves them in the sewers, for now. (Callisto, by the way, survives the stab to the heart because she has another one, but she is no longer the Morlocks' leader.)

While the X-Men sloshed around in the sewers, Scott went off to Alaska to meet his grandparents. He also meets a fetching redheaded pilot called Madelyne Pryor. She looks just like Jean! Scott, predictably, falls in love with her and Madelyne with him. But the coincidences do keep piling up. Scott does not notice the subtle firebird motif that accompanies Madelyne wherever she goes, but he does get suspicious when Madelyne turns out to nearly have died in a spectacular plane crash - on the same very day that Jean Grey died on the moon.

Still, that doesn’t prevent Scott from popping the question one amorous evening:

Oh, Madelyne, if only you’d trusted the instinct to punch Scott in the face rather than forgiving him and marrying him, you would have spared yourself so much grief. (Uncanny X-Men 173)

Scott finds himself easily forgiven when it comes to Madelyne, however (something that will become a running thread through out his X-career), and she ultimately agrees to marry him.

Back at the mansion, Rogue, member of the Brotherhood, asks Xavier for help: her powers have gone out of control. She can’t touch anyone without taking their powers, their memories, their personality. This is an awesome story, so I’ll go in depth later, but for now, suffice to say that Xavier lets her join the fold. Binary is furious and leaves the X-Mansion, but the rest of the X-Men begrudgingly allow for her presence..

The X-Men (including Rogue) go to Japan to attend Wolverine’s wedding, which ultimately falls through because of Viper, the Silver Samurai and someone manipulating events from the sidelines. (Also, Storm goes punk!)

Cyclops introduces Madelyne to the X-Men and everyone is all: Jesus fucking Christ, she looks just like Jean. (So much that Lilandra wants to straight up kill her before coming to her senses.) Everyone is worried that the Phoenix reincarnated as Madelyne.

And then, uh, she kind of proves them right. Madelyne goes Phoenix, takes out the Professor, sabotages Cerebro and toys with the X-Men before disappearing. She then (seemingly) kills the Starjammers and devastates New York. (Including Captain America et al.)

When Cyclops figures out this isn’t real and someone is manipulating them, the X-Men turn on him, suddenly believing he’s the Phoenix. In what turns out to be a cool moment for Cyke, he manages to use the danger room to take out the X-Men one by one, before formulating a plan to draw out their enemy in the open. While the culprit - Mastermind - explains to the Madelyne that she's under his thrall that he’s doing this for revenge because the Phoenix oh-so-casually lobotmized his mind. He can’t take it out on Jean for obvious reasons, so he takes it out on her beloved X-Men. He wants them to kill Scott, a moral blow they will never recover from.

He also subtly implies he’ll fuck Madelyne while she’s hypnotized by him. Creep.

Cyclops lets Rogue swipe Xavier’s powers so she can fight back against Mastermind. (He would never do this so cavalierly later, when it became more obvious what Rogue does and how it affects her.) With Rogue’s help, he convinces the X-Men that Mastermind has been manipulating them. Storm, Jean’s best friend and rightfully unhappy that someone would abuse her memory like that, is unleashed.

Ew, ew, ew, Mastermind even has a little porn ‘stache. (Uncanny X-Men 176)

Ostensibly, Ororo’s transformation to a more ruthless leader - visualized by her transformation to a leather-clad punkster - is caused by her semi-death in space and her losing touch with the balance of nature because of her carrying a Brood-egg. The narrative points out there is more to it than that, however. Storm has to be in control at all times because otherwise, weather will go very inclement very fast. After becoming the leader, she also has to be in control as a team member as well. Pressure of responsibility, heavy is the head that wears the tiara, etc. Her adventure with Yukio in Japan has awakened a repressed wild side, a tempeteous Storm that is capable of stabbing her enemies through the heart and sacrificing her teammates to garner a victory.

It’s a dramatic reversal for Storm and I, for one, am here for it. Claremont has always been able to make Storm one of the (if not the) most multifaceted of his characters, uniting her various sides organically. (This also makes Storm one of the harder characters to successfully pick up for other writers, I can't imagine anyone writing her just as good as, something I can't say for some of his other darlings, like Wolverine, Rogue and Shadowcat.)

After Mastermind is trounced, Scott says farewell to Jean by her grave and subsequently marries Madelyne, capping off 20 years of X-Men! (The marriage will be a disaster but at least Madelyne has the dubious honor of becoming the X-character who is shafted the most narratively. Poor girl. You have no idea what’s in store for you.)

While the X-Men celebrate these nuptials, the government is making moves too. We’ve met Henry Gyrich before, but there’s a new face too: Valerie Cooper! (smattering of applause)

Call Department H, Val! They’re historically really terrific at hiring superheroes to do their dirty work for them. (Uncanny X-Men 177)

Meet Valerie Cooper, who will become an ancillary cast member of the X-mythos in the 80’s and 90’s. Whereas Gyrich fuels the government’s paranoia and natural distrust of minorities and their attempts to gain a foothold, Valerie Cooper appeals to a somewhat less seedy aspect of society: the desire to make use of resources at your disposal and the need to outpace your enemies. Mutants are a tool, she says, a dangerous tool, but still a tool.

Valerie provides a new voice in the ongoing discourse on mutants and a direct friendly connection to the government. Too bad she has a terrible tendency to be blinded by her ambition and put her trust in the wrong people and things, as will be revealed later.

To end the year on a slightly less ominous note, Madelyne and Scott take their honeymoon to Borabora. (Do people even still go to Borabora?) Sure, their trip is briefly interrupted by a freak hurricane and a giant squid attack (of course it is), but it ends on a generally positive, love-affirming note.

Also, we get Scott in booty shorts being manhandled by tentacles, which I’m sure appeals to some of you. Maybe even me.

This is peak himbo Scott. (Uncanny X-Men 177)

So proud of myself for not putting shirtless Dukes of Hazzard!Scott on the cover picture.

Didn’t you take Art History? Paul Smith is not an iconic name like Byrne or Cockrum, but I never realized how long Smith was the main artist for the comic, or how many iconic panels the man drew, but damn, he got some good shots in. His style is more cartoonish than I’d like, but oh so dynamic. Kind of digging it.

Best new character: Viper. A stylish and clever new antagonist who will remain a thorn in the side of the X-Men for years and years to come. Loves green and being someone you can't trust.

Wife me up: Callisto tries to snag Angel through marriage; Mariko leaves Wolverine at the altar and Scott and Madelyne actually tie the knot. For once, the genuine weddings outweigh the villains trying to marry a hero. Progress!

What to read: Uncanny X-Men 169 - 174: the introduction of the Morlocks, Rogue joining the team and Wolverine’s wedding in Japan. The rest is gravy.

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cloudy-leonhart · 3 years

Text

Paubaya.

[Author Note: I watched the Paubaya music video, I suffered bad, so you guys are going down with me :)) Jean stans, sorry in advance <3]

Summary: you and Jean had a happy relationship, so what went so wrong? You both never knew until you both got the closure you need at the very same church you left Jean standing at the altar. (It’s kinda a songfic? The original song was in filipino so i translated it.)

Female Reader.

Recommended Song: Paubaya by Moira Dela Torre.

Theme: Angst, Breakup, Modern AU.

Pairings: Jean x Reader.

TW: breaking up, swearing, crying. (Can’t rlly tell if this is cheating because the song is rlly just about ghosting someone and forgiving, I’ll put it in anyway.) cheating.

Jean had no idea why he kept coming back to the same church. He had no reason to, and here he was sitting in once of the polished benches. Churches were supposed to give you hope, it was where people gave prayers of all kinds. He’d never hate a building so much.

Where did everything started to change, when was I not enough anymore?

It was nearing midnight, the church will soon close and Jean’s finding it so hard to stand, he was soon the only one left inside the marble building. It was warm due to the candles that lit the altar in the front, he could see the ghost of you standing up front with him, a reminiscent feeling washed over him, god you looked so beautiful that time.

Why didn’t you tell me from the start, I’m the one you needed but not the one you love?

He couldn’t help but shed a tear, the white lace caressed your skin so beautifully, he was so awestruck on how your hair fell perfectly on your face. He was so whipped, and he wasn’t afraid to show it, he could remember how he reached his hand out, connecting with yours as your father passed you onto Jean’s hand. He pulled you in front of the altar, holding your hand tightly.

If only he knew how much you didn’t want to do this.

Where did my love lack, I gave everything just to make you smile.

He had so many things he dreamed of doing with you, it was a shame it would never happen, he gave it up, so many things he gave up just to keep you in his arms, but when did you start falling out of love? Jean watched as the ghosts of your supposed happiest day faded from him eyes, leaving him alone in that church.

Why didn’t I see you don’t want us anymore, I’m the one you’re with, but you’re looking for him.

He missed you so much, a year went by so fast, a second you were stargazing with him, and the next, he’s alone, reminiscing on something long gone. Jean doesn’t even know where you are anymore, god knows if you’re having the most fun in your life, he’s hoping you are though.

And if you’re happy with his company, I won’t insist no more.

Jean wonders if you were to go through with your wedding, would you be happy? He looked at his watch, 11:03 pm, it read. A sigh left his mouth as a hand ran through his ash grey-brunette hair. He remembers all the things you did in your relationship, a smile unconsciously planting itself into his lips.

All I wish for him is to never make you cry, and to take care of you.

He could remember when you and him went on a trip to have a picnic, your were smiling the biggest that day, he could still remember how the sun showered you both in warm gold, Jean felt like he remembered that one moment like it was yesterday. His hands ran up his arms, trying to replicate the same warmth you gave him when you jumped into his arms that day.

Where did the faithfulness stopped, every time you say you loved me?

Where did it all go so wrong, why couldn’t Jean hear you didn’t want to do this anymore? God, why were you so silent? He knew could never blame you, even if he tried hard to, you weren’t at fault, at all. Everyone breaks out of phases, relationships all the time, but damn it, it fucking hurts.

It wasn’t your fault, neither of you. Jean never blamed you, he hopes you don’t blame him either. Maybe he lacked in something. He doesn’t know what, it was just something. Maybe you knew?

Why didn’t you admit that there’s somebody else? I’m the one you embraced, but you’re thinking of him.

Jean laughed at his state, he felt dumb thinking of something that happened a year ago. He felt his eyes tear up as his laughter died down, why is it still painful? it hurts so bad, he needs to let go, god it’s hurting him so bad. Jean laughed through his tears as he tried his best to wipe them away from his vision.

He moped no longer and stood up from his spot, walking towards the altar one more time.

Why didn’t I think, that there’s a finale?

He could hear footsteps coming up to the front of the church, he turned around to walk away, when he saw you, the girl he’s been hurting over, bad. Jean thought it was just a figment of his imagination until you stood in front of him, his nose picked up your familiar scent. He knew you were standing in front of him, the real you.

“Hi..Jean..” You looked up at him, a similar pain in your eyes, matching his.

Jean couldn’t speak, he felt he was gonna sob if he even spoke a word. You took it as a sign to continue what you wanted to say. “I..I’m sorry.”

“God, I’m so sorry..Jean.” Jean’s eyes widened slightly. You could feel your eyes sting with tears, as your throat started to close, a familiar feeling. You recognized it as you starting to breakdown.

“I, am so sorry,” your voice starts to quiver, “I got tired. I’m sorry I had to disappear.” Jean turned his gaze to the side, feeling himself start to tear up. “I tried, jean. I really did.” your gaze was long on the floor. “I gave you everything, I truly did, I was just emptied.”

“I’m sorry that I hurt you.”

Jean felt himself sigh, his sigh was shaky, and he felt himself take a big gulp, “I’m sorry.” He found his voice to say something. You stood before him, your gaze was on the floor, feeling too shameful to look at the eyes of the one you used to be in love with.

He continued either way, “I’m sorry..that I wasn’t there when you needed me.” Jean forced himself to muster the courage to say what he needed to say, he needed to, for both of you. “I’m sorry if I didn’t protect you.”

“fuck, I didn’t even get to protect you.” Jean’s voice started to pitch, he felt a tear run down his cheek. “I got scared.” You looked up at him, “I was so scared.”Jean confessed his fear of not being good enough for you and the relationship. “But, I wanted to be there, Reader, I really did. I wanted to be there when you were hurting so badly.” Jean ran a hand down his face to rid of the itch from the cold wind hitting his wet cheeks.

He could start to hear your sniffles and your attempt to try your best not to sob right then and there. “But, I wasn’t.” Jean laughed through his shaky voice. “Maybe because, I was slowly realizing that..we weren’t meant to be with each other.”

You tried to smile through your pain, an attempt of a smile was on your face as you quivered, “We tried, right?” Jean looked at your face, tracing over every small feature. “We gave it out best fight, right?” You asked. Hopeful, that he too believed you both did your best, trying hard to keep the relationship together between you.

Jean gave a painful smile back, nodding. “Yeah, we tried.” You sniffled, wiping your tears, fiddling with your hands. “I uhm..wanted to thank you for the memories you made with me,” Jean confessed, a pained smile still on his face. “Even if we couldn’t do what we always dreamed of doing.”

“I’m happy with the life you shared with me.” You wiped your tears away, listening entirely to Jean and him only. Not the buzzing silence, not the wind outside swaying the trees. Just him.

“I’m..happy that, you’re happy.” You looked at the side, trying to catch a breath, even if it’s hard to do so, with every breath you took taunting you to let out the sob you keep supressing. “I want you to be happy, too.” You confessed, looking at him. He felt relief, maybe because you both needed to talk this out, or maybe finally feeling like you could both let go of the things you kept holding on about each other.

Your eyes closed shut as you whispered out, “Thank you.” Jean reciprocated with a thank you of his own. You hiccuped, a line of thank you’s coming out of your mouth, maybe from the fact that you’ve finally told him and you’re finally getting the closure you needed.

You felt comfortable enough to reach out for his hands, those same hands that held you during the coldest nights. He welcomed you into his hands once again. Your gazes met each other once again, as one hand cupped your cheek and the other cupped both of yours.

“Oh, God.” The overwhelming feeling of nostalgia and hurt started to resurface and slowly start to fade away, as he glanced up. He could feel your smooth skin, his fingertips caressing it ever so gently. “I want you to know, that I forgive you.” He mumbled out, making sure the moment of intimacy were for both you and him only. “I forgive you, too.” You replied, holding on the hands that held your face lovingly.

You felt your head become weak as you cried into his shoulder, relief coming out. You felt so relieve that he forgives you for the pain you’ve caused him, you couldn’t believe that such a wonderful man was once yours.

Jean looked at you as if it was the last time you’ll see each other, and it probably was. He scanned over every single detail, every speck of light in your eyes, he wiped the tears that cascaded down those beautiful eyes of yours.

And for one last time, laid a gentle kiss on your cheek. before he nuzzled himself into your neck, holding you tightly. He pulled back, “I need to go..” You looked at him with pleading eyes and mumbling incoherent pleas. “I need to..” He felt like he was going to break if he stayed a second longer.

“Take care of yourself.”

You nodded and sighed, starting to pull away, Jean planted his lips one more time on your forehead, his beard tickling your face, before he started to pull away from you. You looked at him one last time, also trying your hardest to memorize his face.

I was the first, but he is the last.

With every step Jean took, he felt the guilt and the burden become lighter, he knew both of you needed to let go, and god had given both of you one last time to recieve that closure.

And it can really be seen in your eyes, why he’s the one you chose.

You wiped your tears away, watching as Jean left you alone in the church you both used to hate so much, and for once, you could see the ghost of your past self leaving with him.

I can’t go against your destiny,

both of you had to let go, and with this, you needed to release the burden of still being in pain, both of your guys’ pain and hurt are no longer’s each other burden, you realize that it’s okay to entrust things to fate and destiny.

But, I forgive you.

Jean knew you and him forgave each other, and that finally releases the heavy weight of pain and guilt both of you held, you both feel like you could breath so freely, and even if you both won’t see each other again, at least, you both got to hold each other one last time.

I’m setting you free.

Jean was happy that he no longer has to feel chained up to your guys’ relationship, and you were happy that you no longer have to deal with the guilt of causing Jean pain and leaving him unanswered. Jean’s footsteps faded away softly, as you stood in the church, crying your final feelings out.

I’m letting you go, and entrusting everything to him.

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softlass27 · 3 years

Text

an ibhfc version of emmerdale's first pride (plus another one in the future) to make up for this week's upcoming episodes with aaron and the village's resident kayaking creep

AO3 link here

Pride 2021

“Right, that’ll be £7.99, please.” Victoria pushed Aaron’s lunch towards him.

“Cheers.”

“Oh, almost forgot!” She grabbed a brightly-coloured collection tin that was sitting on the end of the counter. “We’re taking donations for the Pride festival if you’ve got any spare change?”

Aaron frowned. “What Pride festival?”

“Oh, didn’t you hear? Charles is organising it.”

“In the village?”

“Yeah, he says it’s mad that we’ve not had one before. Apparently it was always a big event at his last parish. He’s not wrong, really, it’s about time we did more than your mum sticking a bit of multi-coloured bunting up behind the pub each June.”

“Huh.”

“Think you’ll go? It’s next weekend.”

“I – ”

“From what Charles and Ethan said, it should be fun,” Vic spoke over him, hands waving animatedly. “There’s music, food and games, all sorts! It’s family-friendly too, so you can bring Seb. We can go together if you want? I was planning on meeting up with Matty and Amy but – ”

“Vic, stop for breath would ya?” Aaron huffed a laugh. “Yeah, I'm up for it.”

On the morning of the festival, Victoria let herself into Mulberry Cottage and cast an appraising look over Aaron. He shuffled uncomfortably.

“What?”

She gave a quick wave to Seb, who was sitting on the sofa, and looked Aaron up and down again. “That’s what you’re wearing, is it?”

He glanced down at his black t-shirt and jeans. “What’s wrong with it?”

“Nothing! Except, well, it’s not very colourful is it?”

“You’ve known me, what, 13 years? When have you ever seen me do colourful?”

“But it’s Pride!”

“So?”

“Oh come on, you have to get into the spirit of it. Speaking of which – ” She rummaged in her oversized handbag and pulled out a small, light blue article of clothing, passing it over. “I saw this in town and I couldn’t resist.”

As Aaron unfolded it, he realised it was a child-sized pair of dungarees with a bright rainbow stitched across the chest. His mouth quirked upwards.

“Alright, that’s pretty cute.”

“I know, right? Should’ve got something for you too, you big grump.”

The retort Aaron was about to give her was cut off when he felt tug on his trousers and looked down to see Seb standing next to him.

“Is that for me?” He asked, looking at the dungarees with curiosity.

“Yep, Auntie Vic got them for you to wear to Pride today. What d’you say?”

“Thank you.”

“You’re welcome, sweetheart. You’d better hurry and get ready, though, or we’ll be late!”

Seb grabbed Aaron’s hand and started tugging him towards the stairs. “Daddy, come on!”

Although he was a little young to quite get what Pride was all about, he’d been full of beans about the whole thing ever since Aaron had told him they were going to a party, especially once he’d found out Isaac and Dotty would be there, too.

“Alright, let’s get you changed.” He looked back at Vic and rolled his eyes. “I’ll get changed, too.”

She grinned at him.

“Did you and Robert ever go to Pride?” Vic quietly asked as the four of them made their way to the field where the festival was being held, Seb in his new dungarees and Aaron in the one green t-shirt owned (“It’s a colour that’s on the flag, Vic, that’s as good as you’re getting.”)

“Nah.” Aaron shook his head. “Never got round to it. We used to talk about maybe going to the one in Leeds or something, but somethin’ always came up. Then we'd always say we’d go the next year but… ”

But we ran out of years.

“Yeah.” Vic’s face fell a little and she squeezed Aaron’s hand lightly. “But we’ll have a nice time, won’t we?”

“Daddy, there’s music!” Seb called from where he was walking just in front of them. They could indeed hear the sound of upbeat pop music blasting through a speaker as they got closer to the festival. “Hurry!”

“Coming, mate.” Aaron called after his retreating back, smiling at his enthusiasm. He sighed and squeezed Vic’s hand in return. “Yeah, we’ll have a good time.”

Considering Emmerdale’s tiny size, the village’s first Pride event had a pretty good turnout. The festival was full of so much colour and noise that Aaron ended up hoisting Seb up on his hip, slightly wary of losing track of him in among the chaos. The three of them wandered around for a while, taking in the party-like atmosphere and watching Charles and Ethan both make heartfelt speeches on the small stage that had been set up.

At some point Marlon called Victoria's name and she went over to catch up with him and April, leaving Aaron and Seb to carry on exploring alone. The little boy seemed to love it so far, taking in the sights and sounds with increasing delight.

“You wanna get your face painted? Aaron asked, pointing to a tent where Matty and Amy were emerging hand in hand, both of them covered in body paint.

Seb clapped his hands enthusiastically. “Yeah!”

They made their way inside and sat across from a girl who looked barely 20 and was covered head to toe in paint and glitter.

“Hello.” She smiled brightly at Seb, who predictably turned under the attention bashful and tucked himself against Aaron’s chest. She tilted her head down to catch his eye. “What’s your name?”

“Seb.”

“Nice to meet you, Seb, I’m Freya. Do you want some rainbows?”

Seb nodded shyly and sat as still as a three year-old could while she carefully painted a small pride flag on each of his cheeks, Aaron holding his waist to stop him from squirming too much under the tickle of the brush.

“There, all done.” She brandished her brush towards Aaron. “Are we doing your face as well?”

“Uh, no thanks.”

“Yes.” Seb smacked a palm on Aaron’s cheek enthusiastically. “Rainbows for you, too!”

Aaron sighed. The things he did for his son.

“Alright. Do your worst.”

When they emerged from the tent five minutes later and bumped into Vic again, her eyes lit up with glee.

“Aaron Dingle with glitter on his face.” She fumbled frantically for her phone. “Don’t move, I need a photo.”

“No, don’t – ”

“Moira!” Vic ignored him and called over his shoulder. “Both of them, can you believe it?”

Aaron turned around to see Moira coming towards them with Cain just behind her – Cain whose cheek was adorned with a rainbow flag identical to Aaron’s. He let out a snort that had Cain’s eyes narrowing dangerously at him.

“Not a word out of ya.”

“Wow, how’d they get you?”

“This one made me.” Cain gestured to Isaac, who dropped his hand to run towards Seb, the two of them immediately chasing each other in circles around the adults' legs.

“Come on, you two!” Moira was stood next to Vic, both their phones held up. “Smile!”

Neither of them smiled, but they let them take a couple of snaps.

“Perfect,” Moria smirked down at her screen and turned the phone so Aaron could see a photo of himself and Cain both with matching scowls and rainbows on their faces. “This one’s going on the fridge.”

“You have fun today?” Aaron asked Seb as he carried him home.

Seb’s arms were wrapped loosely around Aaron’s neck and he could barely keep his eyes open, exhausted like most of the other kids in the village. The daytime part of the festival was over, only the child-free people sticking around into the night to keep drinking and dancing.

“Mhm,” Seb hummed tiredly, head flopping around on Aaron’s shoulder. “C’n we do it again?”

“If they do another one next year, then yeah. We can go again.”

He unlocked the door to Mulberry Cottage one-handed, depositing Seb on the sofa and carefully easing his shoes off. He glanced at the photos on the mantlepiece, Robert’s smiling face looking back at him. Aaron straightened up and moved to stand in front of them, adjusting one of the frames slightly.

“Finally went to Pride,” he said quietly. “Can you believe it?”

Just wish you could’ve come with me.

****

Pride 2025

“Morning!” Vic let herself into Mulberry Cottage, Harry in tow. “Happy Pride.”

“Happy Pride!” Seb shouted back from where he was fiddling with Molly’s rainbow-coloured leash (a purchase he’d talked Aaron into making from one of the stalls the previous year).

“Hiya.” Aaron jogged down the stairs. “Thought you’d be goin' with Ryan this year. He’s got the girls, right?”

“Yeah, we're spending the day together but I told him that me and Harry would meet him there. Us lot always go to Pride together, I’m not breaking tradition now.” She gave Aaron’s blue jeans and red t-shirt an approving nod. “Wow, red and blue this year. Really pushing the boat out.”

“Shut up, you.”

“Where’s that brother of mine?”

“He was just dropping some stuff from the cafe off at the festival, cakes and sandwiches an’ that. Said he’d come back before we set off, though.”

“Well he’d better hurry himself up, I don’t wanna miss whoever Ethan’s got opening the festival this year. And it’s Robert's first one, we can’t be late!”

“Alright, keep your hair on.” Robert appeared in the doorway, nudging past her to come inside. “You can’t be late to a festival, Vic, they’re sort of all day things.”

“You get the food sorted alright?” Aaron asked, shoving his wallet and phone into his pockets.

“Yeah, Jimmy and Nicola are all set up. They’ve roped Angelica into helping out, poor kid.” Robert ruffled Harry's hair before grabbing a bottle of suncream from the coffee table and kneeling down in front of Seb. “Right, suncream on then we can go.”

“I can do it myself,” Seb protested, batting Robert’s hands away from his face.

“Hm. See, I believed you when you said that at the beach the other weekend and we ended up coming home with you looking like a lobster. Keep still.”

Seb sighed and let Robert rub suncream all over him with only a bit of squirming, giggling when Robert finished by poking him sharply in the ribs.

“Dad, not on my t-shirt!” He said, smoothing a protective hand over his new rainbow-striped top. “Don’t get it dirty.”

“Alright, you big fusspot,” Robert teased, kissing him on the head and rising to his feet.

“Leave him alone, you’re no better,” Vic said with a tut. “Right, come on. Chop chop!”

She opened the door to let both Seb and Harry run outside, following closely behind them. Aaron picked up Molly’s leash and held out a hand to Robert.

“Ready?”

Robert grinned and took it.

“Let’s do it.”

The thing about Charles and Ethan was, they always had to one-up themselves. Aaron had no idea how they did it, but every year they somehow managed to increase their budget enough to make Emmerdale Pride bigger and better until now, four years on, the first festival they held looked tiny in comparison. Huge crowds of people swarmed the village, taking in the countless stalls, games, music, drag acts and and live bands playing all day. There were even a few rides this year.

As they made their way through the madness, Aaron gave Robert a quick nudge.

“Okay?”

They were only in the village and they knew a lot of the people there, but there were still some days where Robert and large crowds didn’t mix well. Thankfully, it seemed that today wasn't one of those days, as Robert shot him a small smile and nodded.

“I’m good.”

“Dads!” Seb shouted, running back to tug both their hands. “Can we do the face-painting first?”

Robert let out a mock groan. “Do I have to?”

“If I’m not getting out of it, neither are you,” Aaron muttered.

“Doesn’t have to be rainbows,” Seb said to Robert, shrugging matter-of-factly. “You can get the bisexual colours if you want?”

Aaron watched Robert’s eyes widen ever-so slightly in surprise, before he nodded and let Seb lead him towards to the face-painting tent.

After a few hours of exploring and mingling with the other villagers, Aaron and Robert collapsed with a couple of pints at one of the picnic tables, both of them in need of a breather. They’d picked a spot in the shade, keeping half an eye on Seb playing with a group of other kids while they listened to the band currently playing on the stage. Molly drank from the bowl of water they’d put down on the grass for her, before jumping up into Robert’s lap.

After sitting in comfortable silence for a few minutes, Aaron took a long, cooling gulp of his pint and looked away from Seb to glance at Robert. His husband was absently stroking Molly, watching the festival with a slightly pensive look on his face that made Aaron’s brow furrow.

“You alright?”

Robert blinked and turned to look at him. “Yeah, I’m fine.”

“If you're tired, we can go home, y'know.”

Robert gave him a reassuring squeeze on the wrist. “I know. Honestly, it's nothing, just... ” He trailed off and stared once more at the festivities around them. “Could you ever have imagined anythin’ like this in the village when we were growing up?”

That was an easy question to answer.

“No.”

Aaron knew for a fact that the teenage version of him would have never imagined in his wildest dreams seeing the village transformed this way, decked out in bright colours, full of people like him, every resident open and accepting. And he knew the idea would’ve seemed even less likely when Robert was a teenager.

“Bet your dad’s rolling in his grave.”

Robert barked a surprised laugh. “Yeah, probably.”

They watched the party for another couple of minutes, then Robert nodded towards where Seb was tackling Dotty in an overly-enthusiastic game of tag.

“I’m glad that he gets to grow up in this version of the village,” he said softly. “Whether he turns out to be straight or gay or bi – whatever – I don’t want him to ever be scared of being different, like you an’ me were back in the day.”

“Don’t say ‘back in the day’, makes us sound ancient.”

“Well if you keep complaining about your back aching every time we – ”

“Oi!” Aaron gave his shoulder a punch, before trailing his hand down his arm to link their fingers together as they both watched Seb. “Yeah, me too. It is different for him, he knows he can be whoever he wants here. No one’s gonna have a go at him over who he does or doesn’t fancy. And he knows we love him no matter what.”

“Course he does.”

Robert grinned warmly at him and leaned across the table to press his lips to Aaron’s. The two of them kissed lazily until Molly jumped up between them to lick at both their chins and they broke away with a laugh.

“Can't go more than five minutes without needing attention, can you?” Robert pulled her back into his lap, scratching her behind the ears until she settled again. The pink, purple and blue stripes on his face were smudged from where Aaron’s thumb had just rubbed over his cheekbone.

“Sounds like someone I know.”

“Piss off.”

Aaron drained the last of his pint and put the glass to one side, resting his elbows on the table. “Good first Pride, then?”

“Great first Pride.” Robert quirked an eyebrow at him. “It’ll be even better if we carrying on celebrating at home. Y’know, once the kid’s in bed.”

“Oh yeah?”

“Think we've got a bottle of champers in the fridge; I say we crack that open, take it upstairs and then – ”

“Daddy!” Seb ran up to them, grabbing Aaron’s elbow with a pleading look in his eyes. “Can we go on the dodgems? Isaac says him and Uncle Cain are going on.”

Aaron groaned and stretched his arms over his head. “Right now?”

“Yeah, we have to get them!”

Aaron huffed a laugh and dropped his arms. “Well in that case.” He paused and turned to Robert. “Unless you’d rather have a go?”

Robert shook his head rapidly. “Nah, me and Molly are good here, we'll save the table. Go crash some cars, boy racer.”

“Come on, then.”

As they headed in the direction of the bumper cars, Aaron looked back to see Vic appearing at Robert’s side, looking a little tipsy as she sat down next to him. By the time they were standing in the queue for the ride with Cain and Isaac, he could see the Sugden siblings had been joined by Ryan and his girls, plus Diane and Harry, all of them piling onto the table and surrounding them. Robert was laughing at something Ryan was saying, eyes crinkling. When he saw Aaron watching, he shot him a small wave. He looked happy and content, and the sight of it made something warm settle in Aaron's chest.

It wasn't his first Pride, but it was the best one he'd had so far.

“Dad,” Seb piped up, grabbing his attention. “It's our turn”

“Alright, let’s show Cain and Isaac how it's done.”

#ibhfc #the pride ep hasn't even aired yet and i already felt the need to do a fix-it fic #my writing #robron

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