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cas-kingdom · 2 years

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Erik Lehnsherr and sister reader for the 5-line-fanfic challenge. The 1st sentence: 'Mutations are a bitch.'

A/N: Set the moment the elevator doors open in DOFP. OC!reader has 2 mutations (can control metal like Erik, and stopped aging at around 16–the latter of which was discovered in their time apart).

Mutations are a bitch.

If there was one thing you had learnt in the unconventional years you’d been alive, it was that. Mutations, whatever they happened to be, were a bitch. It didn’t matter if you could use it for the good, or you could hide it from those less accepting. Mutations meant abnormal. You were abnormal.

The elevator doors opened. Charles punched Erik. Erik saw you as he nursed his jaw.

“Y/N?” Confusion passed like a wave across his face, and pain washed over yours. It had been years. Years since the day on the beach, and the moment you had decided you’d rather live a life in relative peace with Charles than continue to seek vengeance with Erik. Years since you’d learnt the truth of your mutation. That controlling metal wasn’t all.

You swallowed back a swell of emotions. You had expected to feel something, of course. Once, you and your brother had been all each other knew and loved. In the time away from each other, both of you had grown—and hadn’t—in unimaginable ways.

“Hi, Erik,” you said, your voice quiet and trembling. One part of your ached to run to him and hug him, if only to make up for lost time. The other needed to stay back, just to gauge his reaction. Because it had been a long, long time.

“You…you haven’t changed.” He stepped out of the elevator. Everyone was silent. Charles, his fists balled, moved to stand behind you, his eyes fixed on Erik. He’d been your brother for the past eleven years, there to help you harness your powers, there to comfort you when you missed Erik, there to support you through the discovery of your second mutation. The mutation that stopped your growth.

“Mutations are a bitch,” you said. There was no hint of cockiness or sarcasm. Nothing to suggest you were at all angry at him for not being there. Which you were. But it had needed to happen.

“Alright,” Logan said, his voice hesitant. Charles had spilled the basics of the situation between brother and sister on the plane over, but there was a lot the Wolverine still didn’t know. “We need to get out of here.”

Charles took your hand in his own and began to tug you away. Erik’s frown deepened and he rapidly shook his head, moving quickly forward and snatching up your other hand. “Why haven’t you changed?” He looked at Charles. “Why does she look the same, Charles?”

“We can talk about this on the plane,” Charles said firmly. He turned at the sound of men filing into the room, but you and Erik remained locked on each other, years of unspoken agony flowing between you. He seemed ready to argue against Charles’s words, too focused on you to recognise the danger you were all currently in, but you took your arm from his grip and clasped his hand before he could open his mouth.

“It’s okay, Erik,” you spoke quietly, squeezing his hand. “I’m okay. I’ll tell you everything, but right now, we need to get out of here alive.”

Erik’s jaw tensed. His eyes flicked to Charles, to Peter and Logan, and then back to you. He rolled his shoulders back and nodded. “Alright,” he said.

Abnormality had no room for smooth sailing.

X-Men Masterpost

send me the first sentence of a fanfic and i’ll write the next five, except i don’t know when to stop writing so i guarantee there’ll be more than five

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kingofthering · 2 years

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Idk if you are still taking requests (or what form you are taking them in), but if you are can you do

“Hooking a thumb into your lover's belt loop/pocket as a crowd surrounds you, making sure that you don't lose them in the people”

with Pierre and Charles?

13. Hooking a thumb into your lover's belt loop/pocket as a crowd surrounds you, making sure that you don't lose them in the people.

2005. Charles isn’t sure how he went from meeting Pierre at France’s Karting Championship to having him on his couch in Monaco a couple of weeks later but here they are now, ready for the beginning of the race.

(he thinks it has to do with their parents all getting along, what with their mom sharing the same name and all that) (not that it matters or anything, Charles thinks Pierre is pretty cool and good at racing and he’s just happy to be able to spend more time with him)

“Pierre, you’re going to miss the beginning of the race,” Charles calls for him when they’re starting to show the order of the pilots on the grid.

Pierre is quick to arrive, chuckling an “I see, I see” when he takes in the state of the couches and the space left for him. Charles is sitting criss-cross style, he’s not even taking much room.

Without another word, Pierre sits down next to Charles and quietly lifts Charles’ knee to let it rest over Pierre’s thigh, Pierre’s feet ending up on the ottoman in front of him.

Charles doesn’t even find it in him to protest when Pierre balances his bowl of ice cream over the top of Charles’ knee. He even gets to steal some, so, it’s all fine.

2011. “Missed. You’ve got two shots left.”

Charles winces and looks down at the two darts in front of him and the three ballons floating in their little case a couple of meters ahead of him. There is no way he’s going to explode them all now. Trying this attraction at the fair was just stupid.

“Come on, Charles, I know you can be more precise than that.”

Pierre’s voice surprises him and it’s probably a miracle that Charles doesn’t startle when two hands land on his shoulders, Pierre’s chin almost resting on Charles’ hair, the warmth of his body behind Charles making Charles blush all of a sudden.

Pierre hit his growth spurt a couple of months ago and Charles had always distantly been aware that Pierre was older than him, but seeing him having one head on him is still taking some getting used to.

The hands move to his hips and Charles follows the directions when Pierre taps on his leg, forcing one of his feet forward, his body more sideways now.

Pierre’s left hand stays on his hip and his right moves back up, arranging Charles’ arm in a position to throw, his fingers wrapping around Charles’ where a new dart has been deposited.

“Okay,” Pierre says, his voice so close to Charles’ ear. Charles can feel his heart beating way too harshly against his ribcage. “You have to align your body with the target, close your left eye, and then, we just wait for the blue balloon to go in front of the green one and—”

Boom.

The dart leaves Charles’ hand when Pierre takes over the movement and sinks the dart in two balloons at once.

Pierre’s laugh echoes against his ear and Charles feels cold all of a sudden when Pierre steps back and situates himself next to him.

“Allez, just one more effort and you’ll be able to get a big bear plushie you can offer to Camille, right?”

Charles’ blush deepens and he grabs the last dart, tries to focus on the last balloon instead of the smirk his friend is throwing in his direction.

Maybe Charles had paid the 5 euros just so he could win the dog plushie and (not so jokingly) offer it to Pierre but that’s something Pierre is never going to learn about now.

Charles throws the last dart right in the center of the yellow balloon. He gets the bear. Pierre goes home plushie-less.

2018. “Honnêtement, si on m’impose des limites, enfin, je les accepterais pas.”

When Charles turns his head at the end of his answer to the Canal+ journalist, he finds Pierre looking at him with something in his eyes that he can’t identify. For one second, he wonders if he took it too far. He’s used to being asked about Pierre and sometimes, his heart takes over his brain.

(he just needed to make a point of not accepting any barriers that could be put between them next year because they’re both going to be driving for top teams) (it’s very important for everyone to know that)

Pierre must sense that something is going on in his head because he smiles at him, soft and private even with the cameras still rolling, and he lightly knocks his knee against Charles’. Charles immediately feels the weight lift in his chest.

The rest of the interview goes quickly. They share a few jokes, tell a couple of other childhood stories, and then they have to endure an admittedly pretty short filming session on the boat for the future intro of the video.

Once they’re finished and back to what Pierre likes to call “their civilian clothes” (“sure, branded stuff is cool in the first months because it reminds you where you belong now and everything, but there is no way I’m taking you to a restaurant like this”).

Charles doesn’t know if his white sneakers, black jeans and burgundy button-down are classy enough for the place Pierre wants to take them to but considering the look he sends Charles when he first sees him, Charles thinks it’s okay.

(he won’t call it an appreciative look or something like that, because then he’ll blush and gets his hopes up and that’s just fucking stupid)

In the cool air of the restaurant, Charles can’t do anything about the warmth that settles on his cheeks when Pierre puts a hand on the small of his back as they’re being guided to their table.

It has an incredible view over Abu Dhabi. Charles is not about to have a crisis over it. He’s fine.

2021. Charles feels good about Silverstone. He’s starting 4th on the grid -and considering the season Mercedes and Redbull have been having compared to them, it’s a pretty good thing- and he kind of has this podium streak going on, only missing the top spot.

All-in-all, he’s feeling confident before the race. Maybe he’s a little too focused on what’s coming and not enough on the present because he manages to miss a step on his way up on the bus for the drivers’ parade.

The only thing keeping him from falling down are hands at his hips, squeezing him briefly.

“Easy,” Pierre chuckles against his ear, now up to Charles’ level, his body warm behind Charles’ back. “You might wanna make a move, I think we’re holding up the stairs here,” he adds when Charles has been staying frozen for too long. The light tap that Pierre makes against his side finally makes him move.

“Taking yourself out before the beginning of the race, Charlie?” Lando asks around a laugh when they reach him a couple of meters further. Carlos is shaking his head by his side. “Please don’t, I was planning on passing both you and Checo in turn 1, brilliant move and everything.”

They all laugh and then there’s another squeeze of his hips before Pierre lets go of him, still keeping himself close to Charles for the whole duration of the parade.

2022. The club in Monaco is packed. They’re in the middle of the summer and the influx of people coming there for their vacation is making every place crowded.

Charles is pretty sure his shirt has been stuck to his back because of sweat since the moment they got in.

Right now, Charles is stuck on the dancefloor, suffocating a little and dying for some fresh air. There is a woman dancing close to his front, her heels making her taller than him, her hands getting close to his chest, and Charles wishes he could figure out a way to escape.

Dread fills Charles’ stomach the moment he feels fingers on his hips, a warm body plastering itself against his back, but he instantly relaxes when he recognizes the voice close to his ear. “Easy, baby, it’s just me.”

Charles feels himself flush and he knows chills run down his spine when Pierre dips his head and brushes his lip against the skin of Charles’ neck. Not thinking about it, Charles closes his eyes and moves his head to the side, making room for Pierre to move and press a kiss close to his collarbone.

When he opens his eyes, the woman from before is gone. His heart is beating way too wildly inside of his chest.

Pierre’s hands don’t leave his hips when Charles turns around to face him. His look is hot as he looks Charles up and down, his stupid stupid cross necklace hanging against his chest hair, the first three buttons of his white shirt undone.

God. Charles wants him. He has for so long now.

His hands find Pierre's pants, hooking his thumbs in the belt loops, wrapping his fingers around Pierre’s hips, and then, by some miracle considering all the people around them, Charles finds a way to push Pierre against the nearest post.

“Hi,” Charles smiles, voice a little loud to be able to be heard over the music.

“Hi,” Pierre chuckles back, the hint of his trademark smirk threatening the corner of his lips. “Thought you could use a hand with your situation.”

Charles’ hands leave Pierre’s hips to move up his chest, over his shirt. “Right. My prince charming.” When he reaches Pierre’s necklace, Charles grabs it, running his thumb over the cross. He thinks he can feel Pierre’s heart beating against his knuckles. It might just be all in his head. “What would I do without you?”

Pierre tilts his head, faux-considering. “Or what could you do with me, hm?”

There is no mistaking what the stakes are right now, not when Charles can feel the imprint of Pierre’s fingers burning his waist, not when he can see the heat in his eyes from up close.

All things considered, Charles is distantly aware that this is not their first what-if moment but he’s never been so close to caving in. He always told himself he would never let them have a drunken hook-up that Pierre would regret the next morning or pretend never happened. Now, Charles might be finding his resolve crumbling.

“I haven’t been drinking, by the way,” Pierre adds, a little soft. “I can take your carriage home if you need me to.”

It’s a faux concern considering they all took Ubers to get there.

It’s stupid, sweet, Pierre.

It’s still the one thing that tips Charles over, making him giggle before he closes the space between them.

When they kiss, Charles can feel Pierre’s smile against his lips.

#pierre gasly #charles leclerc #f1 rpf #1016 #prompt fill #my writing #very sorry about the delay #i didn't exactly follow the prompt but kinda?#hope that's fine #once again wrote a too cheesy/easy ending again oops

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thebreakfastgenie · 2 years

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80s business mash is a medical equipment company. They're located somewhere in the US, maybe New York City, because it's the most 80s business city, but it might not ever be specified.

Henry Blake ran their department. He never seemed to do very much work, but they were the highest-earning division in the company, so no one cared. He had hoping to transfer to a regional plant and had finally been approved, but he was sent on one last overseas business trip and ended up on Pam Am Flight 103. Some of the guys are still in touch with his widow, Lorraine.

Potter has run the department since Henry's death. He's old school, and a little paternalistic, but Margaret will call him out if he gets sexist. He's been with the company for a long time and they transferred him from another department. He's nearing retirement

By some combination of connections and luck, Frank is number two in the department despite total incompetence. He was hoping to get a promotion after Henry's death, but the company brought in Sherman Potter instead, which Frank sees as a slight. He's hoping to get promoted once Potter retires. Frank is married, but had an affair with Margaret, and still isn't quite over her ending it.

Charles is highly qualified, and was transferred in from a branch elsewhere because his old boss found him irritating. Technically holds the same title as Frank, and they share responsibilities. Frank believes the company is trying to replace him with Charles. The official line is Charles was added to keep pace with rapid growth. Charles is independently wealthy.

Trapper, Hawkeye, and BJ all have the same position, and work together often. Trapper has worked there the longest. BJ is new, having recently been transferred from San Francisco, something he's not happy about because he had to move his family. BJ is seen a little bit less because he's religious about getting home on time. Hawkeye and Trapper have a still hidden in the boiler room. BJ knows where it is, but he doesn't drink during the workday.

Francis Mulcahy is a devout Catholic who may have attended seminary school before ending up in his current job. His role in the department is different than the others, and he's technically a lower level than Trapper, Hawkeye, and BJ.

Margaret also has a slightly different job. She's not paid as much as Frank or Charles, which she's unhappy about. Margaret and Hawkeye were once sent on a business trip together and were stuck in an airport hotel when their flight was cancelled and ended up sleeping together. They haven't really discussed it, but sometimes they get drunk and make out at office parties.

Radar is also in a technically lower role due to inexperience, but he's invaluable, especially to Henry and then Potter. Everyone thinks he's going places, but he's not overly ambitious. He just likes his job and does it well.

Klinger is in another lower position. He's not specialized like Radar, but he starts learning some of Radar's skills.

Kellye is the head of the secretaries and organizes them. She gets along well with the guys but she'll take them to task when necessary.

Oliver Jones, Ugly John, and Ginger Bayliss work in the department too.

Sidney is Hawkeye's therapist.

#mashposting #80s business au #there's more to come these are just a few thoughts #i have to figure out everyone's actual jobs

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fabbyf1 · 10 months

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Hello Kate! What a wonderful and magical surprise have you dropped on us today!! Really loved the fic and I already commented this on ao3 but this really was such a lovely read!!

As always let me tell you my fav parts of this lovely part of warming! verse! Part 6 you are my fav you usurped my fav part 4!

1) The writing! Oh my god! This was one of your best writings so far!!!! Each sentence and paragraph was a banger after banger!! Hence, why I was going back and forth after each and every paragraph! There were many more but I had to pause for the sprint 😔 I always fall more and more in love with your writing with each fic you post!

2) the clothes sharing! A classic fabby. Always loved and appreciated trope in the fabby writting universe! The boxers. The pants. THE JACKET!!(the jacket part needs a appreciation on its own, i’ll get to that later)

3) the smut part, while wasn’t as smutty as other parts but it was amazing to read nonetheless. Especially Max coming undone because Charles has him wrapped around his fingers. Them not caring if they’re being loud and Charles hoping for a exhibitionism moment!?!! Max just praising his baby!

4) Charles’ growth. We have come so far from part 1. Max is really so good to him. 🥺

5) the unhinged behavior from both of them!! The press conference teasing, the texts (a classic warming verse moment), the impromptu blowjob idea!?!! Charles enjoying having the upperhand and feeling powerful and smirking. So much smirking!!!

6) them being in love. So so in love!! Disgusting(affectionate)!! I have never wanted to be in love more than I did when I was reading the fic today! The both of them thinking/saying about wanting to spend forever with one another!?!! GTFO. So in love!!!!!!!

7) Charles’ ability to shock and make Max speechless with dropping bombs out of nowhere is an art only done well in warming verse!! The power he has over the dutch man I swear to god!!

8) the whole jacket thing and the conversation and Max caring about Charles and thinking about Charles’ career. And them just being soft after sex!!! 🥺🥺 them knowing the risk they are taking with Charles wearing the rbr jacket and still doing it because they love one another!!!! 😩😩

9) the ending!!!! Charles who always has second thoughts, like in part 3, when charles goes to max’s and stands outside the door having second thoughts, but here while waiting in Max’s driver’s room having no second thoughts about a risky move! And them walking out hand held!!! And not letting go!! God!!!

Sorry this is long!!! I just wanted to appreciate this fic!! I don’t think I felt this much feelings about other warming!verse parts as much as I do about this part! Maybe it has something to do with yesterday’s magical quali and today’s sprint disappointment (from charles’ side). But really I just loved every single bit of this fic!!! 💕💕

bestie, oh my fucking god?????

I am spiraling about this.

You are so fucking sweet and I love you so much for taking the time to write all of this out for me. I cannot tell you how special it is for me to hear your favorite parts of the fics and your thoughts on the little moments I've written. It is like... the best most gratifying feeling in the world 😭😭😭😭😭😭

Thank you again, from the bottom of my heart.

I want to print this out and frame it and put it on my wall.

.......... i'm an adult.... with my own apartment..... and nobody can stop me from doing just that. huh. interesting. just kate things

#i love you so much #also please never apologize for sending me long-winded comments and thoughts on my fics #i cherish them all so much #this really made my day thank you forever #warming verse

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digitaltariq · 10 days

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Stocks making the biggest moves midday: TSLA, GS, CRM

Check out the companies making headlines in midday trading. Tesla — Shares fell 2.8% after an internal memo said the electric vehicle maker is planning to lay off more than 10% of its global workforce . "As we prepare the company for our next phase of growth, it is extremely important to look at every aspect of the company for cost reductions and increasing productivity," CEO Elon Musk said in the memo. Tesla had almost 141,000 employees as of December 2023. Goldman Sachs — Shares climbed 3.4% after the investment bank beat Wall Street's first-quarter earnings expectations , reporting a 28% jump in profit to $4.13 billion from the year-earlier period due to a rebound in capital market activities. Goldman posted earnings of $11.58 per share on revenue of $14.21 billion for the period, while analysts surveyed by LSEG had called for earnings of $8.56 per share on revenue of $12.92 billion. Logitech — Shares dropped 6.4% after Morgan Stanley downgraded the computer peripherals stock to underweight, saying the market is "mis-pricing" the company's "future growth algorithm." Analyst Erik Woodring forecast only 3% annual revenue growth through fiscal 2027, which is below consensus. Salesforce — The customer relations management software stock shed more than 5%, becoming the biggest loser in the blue-chip Dow Jones Industrial Average, after The Wall Street Journal reported the company is in advanced talks to acquire data-management software provider Informatica . Masimo — Shares added 1.6% after getting an upgrade to buy from hold at Stifel. The firm sees a return to high-single-digit growth and a steady margin expansion trajectory for the health technology company. Reddit — Shares dropped more than 5% after Wall Street firms initiated coverage of the stock following its public debut last month. Morgan Stanley initiated coverage of the social media platform at equal weight, saying shares are already trading at fair value. JPMorgan and Goldman Sachs each gave Reddit a neutral rating. Others were more bullish on the stock. Deutsche Bank called Reddit a buy, while Raymond James said the social media stock is a strong buy. Medical Properties Trust — Shares jumped nearly 20% after the real estate investment trust said it would sell majority interests in five Utah hospitals to a new joint venture for a total of $886 million. Trump Media & Technology Group — Shares of Trump Media plunged more than 15% after the company filed to issue up to 21.5 million shares. Since the company, which created the Truth Social app, began trading on March 26, its share price has fallen more than 62%, from an opening price of close to $71 to around $27 on Monday. Coupang — The South Korea-based e-commerce company climbed 3.6% following an upgrade to buy from neutral at Citi. The bank thinks there is still room for Coupang's margins to expand as the firm raises its subscription fees, anticipating little customer pushback due to its strong delivery service. Snap One , Resideo Technologies — Snap One shares jumped 30% after the provider of smart living products said it will be acquired by Resideo Technologies , a home automation company, in a deal worth roughly $1.4 billion, or $10.75 per share in cash. Resideo fell 3.6%. Charles Schwab — The online brokerage and money manager added 2.8% after posting mixed first-quarter results. Schwab reported earnings of 74 cents, matching an LSEG estimate, while revenue came in at $4.74 billion, slightly higher than analysts' consensus forecast of $4.71 billion. — CNBC's Yun Li, Lisa Kailai Han, Sarah Min and Michelle Fox contributed reporting. Read the full article

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sketchy--doodles · 4 months

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ok, last of the reference sheets for now. Here are some of the student athletes at Rose beach High. Experimented with shape language here.

left to right:

Leopold Lez: he/him 18 straight toon leopard

Leopold is a repurposed character I made back in 2016. He is a friend to Forrester and the other guys within his friend circle. Leopold is the captain of the bowling team and constantly wears bowling shirts. He convinces Forrester, Charles, and Virgil to do bowling nights with him, which they usually do, even when they don't want to. Leopold is just a jolly dude and makes the whole room happy. Has a habit of not letting go of the bowling ball and rolling with it (toon logic hehe), but its allowed in the toon world, and it wins the school many championships so it's ok. Leopold is the boyfriend of Sandra. Often gets told that he's not good enough or too fat for Sandra, but easily ignores it. He kinda looks like a combo of a Beach Boy and Ken from Barbie

Sandra Speeders: she/her 18 straight toon cheetah

she's a runner she's a track star

jkjk

ok so Sandra is the track team captain. I mean, she's a cheetah, it's so obvious. I made her back in 2010 and she is one of my oldest characters ever in use. Sandra is very competitive, but can be very subtle about it. She tries hard to keep her track speed records, even when she is still the fastest toon in the school by far. Others find her kinda odd for wanting to practice all day, when there is little to no competition for the records. Sandra sees competition from Deidra. She knows that Deidra is sporty and is always very wary of and internally competes with her. Is dating Leopold Lez. Her friends think it is odd that an athletic girl like her would date a portly dude such as Leopold, but she doesn't care because he makes her feel happy. She is also very intelligent and has good grades because she also internally competes with classmates in other classes.

Deerslayer Roman: he/him 18 straight toon italian greyhound

ok, so this guy I based on someone from my high school. I also thought that it would be funny if the captain of the wrestling team was some lanky greyhound. As for his name, I chose Deerslayer because I was looking through a list of common names given to dogs during the Roman Empire and it was the most striking one. And his last name is Roman because greyhounds were a very common dog during the Roman Empire.

Deerslayer is a gym bro. He is constantly in the gym when he's not in class. Even when in class, he brings a jug of water that he uses in the gym around. Deerslay thinks that lifting and wresting would make him become an alpha male, but others think he tries way too hard and is often perceived as the opposite. There is a rumor at rose beach high saying that Deerslayer lifted weights too much, that it stunted his growth. Now, is that true, idk. He is actually a goos wrestler though. Usually, it is unexpected how good he is because the other teams can't imagine a lanky greyhound being so powerful. He tries to use his wrestling prowess to attract girls, but he comes across as creepy more.

PLEASE REBLOG! IT HELPS A LOT!

#doodles #reference sheet #reference #references #dog #greyhound #athlete #leopard #cheetah #toon #those toony kids #anthro #furry #oc #ref sheet

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everythingcanadian · 6 months

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An Offering

Pairing: Abigail Roberts Marston/John Marston/Arthur Morgan

Rating: Teen

No Warnings

Summary:

John finds a little dirt road that leads off the path he takes to his job he has to keep his head down. Arthur and Abigail explore it with him one afternoon. It's as if they've incited a ritual. Day 18 or Promptober: Cathedral Enjoy the spoopy.

AO3 Portal

The little cathedral sat abandoned at the end of an overgrown dirt road. John had come across it not too long ago when he had been going to and from some stable hand work to keep his head low. He would explore it later.

It was later.

Both Arthur and Abigail had come with him for this little adventure. Jack was with Charles and Uncle, safe and sound. It let the trio enjoy a bit of trouble where they only had to worry about themselves.

The stone church looked older than it should have been. Hundreds of years older. It felt like it too. An old soul attached to the mossy and water shaved stones. The tower at the back of it held firm and tall yet through the openings there was no bell to be seen. It blended in among the thick tree canopy and hid from view. The wooden roof had nearly rotted away, only the bare bones of the curved ceiling stood now.

Wooden pews rotting away and teeming with life lined the sides of the aisle. Waiting for a long gone congregation to sit and listen to a sermon. Glassless windows half intact with thin stone in patterned columns let in natural sunlight and fed in more moss and leaves. On one side of the main room stood a small birch tree trying its hardest to grow in the mostly shaded cathedral.

What could have been decades or centuries of dust, debris, bugs, and an assortment of other things littered and carpeted the stone floor. The nearly gone ceiling and semi-dense treetops let in the late afternoon sun, illuminating the somewhat still bright stone slabs and walls, leading the eyes to the main piece of the whole church.

The altar at the far end of the gran room stood bare. A simple carved slab of stone. Yet it was clean of debris and moss or growth. The arches in the sides of the stone looked near new with minimal erosion, as if it was never used and just the wind and rain and snow damaged it.

There were no statues. No grand window panes. No frescoes or paintings. Nothing that called to this little cathedral’s small grandeur.

Abigail giggled as she took their hands, one in each of her own, and pulled them to the front of the church, climbing the one step up to stand in front of the altar. “We should have a little ceremony. Make what we have official.”

“Darlin’ I don’t think what we have here is ever going to be official. In the law or the lord’s eyes.” John said it with a roll of his own eyes.

“Humour me Marston.” Abigail smiled at him, raising her eyebrows in a challenge.

John huffed and Arthur laughed at him. “Can’t hurt I suppose.”

“A lady officiant for John and Me? Well I’ll be.” Arthur teased their woman.

Abigail tsked and moved to stand with her back to the altar and beckoned the two men in so they faced each other. “C’mon now. Hold hands.”

“Yes dear.” Both John and Arthur said at the same time, smirking at each other as they did as she directed.

“I don’t know it all but I’ll try what I can.” She cleared her throat. “Do you Arthur Morgan, take John Marston to be your husband. In sickness and in health. In wealth or poverty. In heaven or hell. To love unending. Till death do you part?”

Arthur smiled at John, feeling his chest ache in a welcomed way. “I do.”

Abigail grinned and continued. “And Do you John Marston, take Arthur Morgan to be your husband. In sickness and in health. With money or nothing. In heaven or hell. To love eternally. Till death do you part?”

John had to blink a few times and it made both Arthur and Abigail inhale. “I do.” It was a bit choked.

“Perfect. Kiss the groom and seal the vows.”

“That’s not how that goes.” Arthur teased.

“Arthur.” Abigail huffed.

“Yes dear.” He leaned in and took John’s lips with his. Enjoying the light press together as they signed their love together with this.

John pulled back and sniffed. “Alright, you and Abby. We’re already hitched so can’t really do it again.”

“You can and you should.” Arthur’s warm affection took hold of the other two. A blanket of comfort surrounded them. “C’mon now, Abigail, come stand here. I’ll officiate your vows first.”

“Fine. Just nothin' fancy.” John groaned as Abigail and Arthur switched places.

“You better pay attention to this one John, or so help me.” Abigail brushed down her skirt.

John smiled. “Y’look beautiful.”

“I look like I’ve been cleaning all day.”

“As I said. Beautiful.”

Abigail’s expression melted at that, a lovely flush gracing her cheeks. “John.”

The smile John held was soft on the edges and pulled his scars lightly. But it was still his smile.

“Abigail Marston, do you take John Marston to be your unlawful husband. For wealth or poverty. For better or worse. For sickness or health. In your pledge. Till death do you part?”

“I do.” Abigail’s own smile matched John’s.

“Alright then. John Marston. Do you here take Abigail Marston to be your unlawful wife? For wealth or poverty. For better or worse. For sickness or health. In your pledge. Till death do you part?”

“Damn right I do.” John swallowed.

Abigail snorted as Arthur laughed. “If I have any power in me, I pronounce you wedded. You may kiss.”

Arthur watched as Abigail tugged John in and nearly crashed together. The soft sigh from her ripped through Arthur like fire in a match. Bright hot in a flash.

“Alright. Your turn, you two.” John pulled back and looked down at Abigail’s kind eyes. As Arthur swapped with John for the last of their three weddings John shuffled a little. “Abby, I’m going to do this properly.”

“Oh?” She caught on almost immediately. “Yeah sure.”

Arthur didn’t get it.

John coughed and stood with his hands behind his back. The light filtering in hitting the stone altar behind him just right to brighten the back of the room. “Do you, Abigail Roberts, take Arthur Morgan to be your husband?”

Arthur felt his knees go weak. John suddenly was taking this seriously.

“Through thick and thin, meagre and plenty, sickness and health, till death do you part?” John’s raspy voice held power like this, a little joke of a ceremony feeling deeper than anything official they could ever have.

It stole Abigail’s breath and she whispered. “I do.”

John nodded. “Do you, Arthur Morgan, take our dear Abigail Roberts to be your wife? Through thick and thin, meagre and plenty, sickness and health, till death do you part?”

Arthur dumbly nodded before catching up. “I do. Yeah.”

“Then it is with my pleasure to pronounce you husband and wife. You may kiss the bride.” John’s words had a bit of cheek to it.

As soon as Abigail and Arthur sealed their own vows with a soft kiss they all heard a great clap and rumble. John scrambled away from the stone altar while looking behind him. Abigail stumbled back a bit and looked towards it. Her gasp drew Arthur’s gaze.

From the very centre, in three, too clean lines, were cracks going down to the floor through the whole altar. Faintly they could hear the crisp ringing of a church bell coming from the empty tower above them.

Looking at each other they thought it best to leave. Silently and quickly. Whatever had just happened, they did not want to know. Their horses were still where they tied them to the disintegrating front fencing of the church.

They didn’t dare speak until they had left the dirt path of the cathedral and returned to the main road. And even then it was still quieter than normal as they rode home.

When John had left the next morning to go to the ranch, he realized that he never passed the semi-overgrown path to the eerie church. Coming home, he tried to find it. It looked as if there was no path at all. He didn’t dare bring this up to Abigail or Arthur. They couldn’t even explain away the faint circular scarring around their ring fingers when they had gotten home. As if the scars had always been there.

#morgston #Arthur x john x abigail #promptober 2023 #promptober #fic #my fic

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elina28d · 1 year

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The relationship between Pip and Estella.

Pip’s affection for the heartless beauty Estella is one of the main motifs of Charles Dickens’s Great Expectations [1] and Pip’s main stimulus for becoming a gentleman. Will Pip’s expectations come true and will he be able to win the heart of the indifferent Estella? His expectations and aspirations are all associated in some way with his desire for her. There are endless changes in the relationship between these two young people.

At the beginning of the novel, Pip is a poor orphan living with his ruthless sister and her husband, the blacksmith Joe. Surprisingly, he is very fond of Pip and treats him more like a son. Mrs. Joe Gargery is quite abusive to Pip during his youth both physically and emotionally. In addition to her physical abuse of the boy, Mrs. Joe torments Pip by incessantly reminding him of all she has done for him.

According to Chapter 8, Pip is sent to Miss Havisham’s estate, Satis House, where he is met at the gate by a charming little girl. Comparing the book to the series ”Great Expectations 2011”, directed by Brian Kirk [2], Satis House is described as gloomier, colder, and dustier than the series. Estella leads Pip into a dark room, where he meets Miss Havisham, abandoned on her wedding day, she is sitting at the table in a bridal dress [3]. An incredible Gillian Anderson played this character in the film. From my point of view, Anderson isn’t old enough to be a crone who grows gloomier every day. However, she feels like Mrs. Havisham - bitter and vengeful, brutally manipulating Estella.[4] Personally, I imagined her in a completely different way when I was reading the book, so this moment didn’t coincide with reality, which astonished me. The boy was supposed to entertain the lady and play cards with her and her adopted daughter, which Mrs. Havisham has raised to be cold and unfeeling towards men. In fact, Mrs. Havisham, with Estella’s help, wants to break Pip’s heart, as a male. For instance, she repeats, “Break their hearts, my pride and hope, break them without pity!” (63).

The first change in Pip and Estella's relationship occurs when Pip inherits a fortune from an anonymous benefactor and moves to London to become a gentleman. He believes that his newfound wealth and status will make him more worthy of Estella's love. However, Estella continues to treat Pip with contempt, making him feel inadequate and unworthy. She says she has no heart, and will not have any feelings for Pip even if he grows to be a gentleman. This shows how there is not much hope in their affairs, because Estella will never have affection for Pip. Furthermore, Estella also still calls Pip "boy" as if he was just a common boy, even though he has become more of a gentleman. That is shown by the quote "You silly boy, how can you talk such nonsense" (248)?” It reflects how Estella's attitude toward Pip has not changed and probably will not change, which does not bring much hope to their relationship. Pip's obsession with Estella leads him to believe that place in society and richness are the only things that matter, causing him to abandon his humble origins and become someone he is not.

The second transformation in Pip and Estella's rapport occurs when Estella marries the cruel and abusive Bentley Drummle. Pip is devastated by this news, realizing that his dream of being with Estella is now impossible. This awareness marks a turning point in Pip's growth as a character, as he begins to understand the futility of his pursuit of Estella and the emptiness of his dream of prosperity and status. He also begins to see the negative effects Miss Havisham's upbringing has done to Estella and its toll on her emotional well-being.

The third transition in Pip and Estella's affair occurs towards the end of the story when they are reunited after many years of separation. By this point, Pip had lost his fortune, and Estella was a widow after running away from her husband. Both characters have been humbled by their experiences and are able to communicate on a deeper level. Pip admits that his feelings for Estella were based on a superficial idealization of her beauty and prestige and that he never truly knew her. Estella, on the other hand, was aware of the loneliness and consequences of being raised by Miss Havisham. She is able to show genuine compassion for Pip, which was previously unthinkable.

To summarize, love can be of different types, and this book is a study of various stages of life and how they affect the growth of the protagonist. Love also knows to make amendments and it is also clear in this novel too (Jordan 1211-1223).[5] The depiction of affection in Victorian England and how the social structures influence love is one of the most prominent topics of the story that makes it a timeless classic. Actually, it is the availability of love, acceptance of love, rejection of love, and the ultimate transition of love that becomes significant in the text and evokes mature love at the end of the novel.[6]

List of sources

Charles Dickens.Great Expectations.1861. https://www.gutenberg.org/files/1400/1400-h/1400-h.htm

Great Expectations (TV Mini Series 2011-2012) https://www.imdb.com/title/tt1949720/

Great Expectations (TV Mini Series 2011-2012), episode 1, 20:30 min. https://www.imdb.com/title/tt1949720/

[Retrieved from https://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/2011/dec/27/great-expectations-review-sam-wollaston on 3th March, 2023]

[Retrieved from Jordan, John O. Global Dickens. Literature Compass 6.6, (2009): 1211-1223, on 3th March, 2023]

[Retrieved from https://compass.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1111/j.1741-4113.2009.00664.x on 5th March, 2023]

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daisydaisybilly · 3 years

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i'd wait a million more | c.b

summary: Your husband has been away for weeks and today is the day he comes back. but you can't help but worry.

pairing: Mr Bingley x Reader

warnings: angst, fluff, maybe some swearing and maybe some classic oldie standers

word count: 1k

a/n: short and sweet. was so happy to get this request because Bingley doesn't get enough love. edited but might be a mistake or two still there.

MAIN MASTERLIST | REQUEST OPEN

The west wing was the best place to sit and watch the road just past the front gate. It had been three weeks since Charles left, three long weeks for wandering the halls of Netherfield with little to nothing to do. Not only were you alone all of the time you had been sleeping terribly.

You were heartbroken when shortly after the wedding Bingley told you he had to leave on business and did not know when he would return. He made too sure to send you letters whenever he could to lessen the distance but you wished he was with you rather than the letters.

In his recent letter he promised he would be home in the coming week, which meant you spent your days looking out the widow trying to spot his carriage. So far, no sign of him and to make thing worst the letters had also stopped.

Your mother’s voice rose in the back of your mind, saying this is what she warned you about, this is how all marriages ended up and that you were foolish to think yours would be any different. It was how your mother’s and father’s marriage was, why should it be any different.

You hated you were doubting Charles, he had been nothing but kind and loving.

On the sixth day of nothing you gave up with waiting by the window and went to the gardens instead. Huffing annoyed with yourself you kicked the gavel as you walked. You felt like an impatient child, stomping around unhappy with things when you were better off than most people.

The anxiety over your marriage and Charles had growth. In the hours where you couldn’t sleep but laid awake thinking about where things went wrong. You tried to think rational that he was most likely busy or something came up but missing Bringley eclipse everything you came up with.

The clouds above turned grey, you sighed getting annoyed again now you had no other choice but to sit inside and wait, for what you didn’t know. Risking a cold you walked slowly back to the house. You stopped by the lake at sat in the centre of the garden, you stood staring at the surfaces watching as your reflection was disturbed by the rain.

Without thinking you started to strip down to your under things, stepping into the lake. You kept walking until the water was at your chest. Taking a deep breath you lowered yourself down until you were completely covered in water. It had a strange charming effective.

You gasped rising from the water letting the rain fall down on you. Lying back in the water you felt like Ophelia but without all the trauma she went through. When you finally started to feel better you walked back to your pile of clothes.

After you had struggled to get redressed you headed back to headed to the house again. You were expecting strange looks from the staff but instead you found Mr Darcy standing by the fire with Bringley.

“My dear” he smiled stepping forward kissing you on each cheek then pulling away seeing you fully. “Oh my what happened?”.

You were dumbstruck, “I- mmm. I fell into the lake?” you said more as a question.

“You fell into the Lake” Darcy asked from the fireplace looking confused.

“Well not exactly” you admitted.

“Then how did-“ Bringley voice wandered indicating to your state.

“I went for a swim” you explained, “I did not think anyone would be back yet”.

Neither men said anything too confused to form a sentence. Poor Bingley must be thinking you had lost your wits.

“Well if you will excuse me” you nodded to them both before hurrying off to your room.

-x-

At night after bathing and getting warm you waited for Bringley to come to bed. You were far too embarrassed to go back down and face anyone. You told the maid to past a message along that you were tired and had taken to bed early.

Lay across the bed you waited.

“Did you enjoy your swim?”.

You looked over to the door as Bingley entered.

You put your hands over your hands, “I do not know what came over me” you murmured.

“If it wasn’t for the rain I wouldn’t of gave it a second thought” he laughed settling down beside you.

You made a strange crying sound. “And Darcy saw me too. God knows what he thinks of me”.

“I wouldn’t worry, from a story his sister told me he did something simple when Elizbeth first turned him down” he laughed trying to reassure you.

You sat up uncovering your face, “He did what?” you giggled.

Seeing you look happy again he grinned pulling you into his arms. “There’s that laugh I love”.

“Oh I have missed you” You sighed pressing yourself into him, breathing him in. “Please tell me you won’t have to go away anytime soon”.

He ran his hand down your back going up and down. “Not that I know”.

“Good” you said moving to face him, “These last few weeks have been hell without you. I did not think I could miss someone as much as I missed you”.

“I missed you too my love. Like you said it was something I did not know I could feel so strongly”. He kissed you softly once on the lips then on the check. “I will not be leaving anytime soon”.

You smiled kissing him again, humming against his lips. Wrapping your arms around his neck.

“If you promised to always come back, I would wait a million days for you” you said with your face a breath away from his.

“Of course I would” he looked at you in disbelief, “Look who I have to come back too”.

You lent against him, “Now tell me the story of how Fitzwilliam Darcy went for a swim in a lake” you giggled.

He moved so you were both said in bed wrapping his arms around you. “Well… you met Elizbeth of course so you know what a pair they make” as he spoke, he ran his finger down your arm. After a while he voice bended away and you slowly drifted to sleep, sleeping better than you had in weeks.

#mr bingley #mr bingley x reader #mr bingley x yn #mr bingley x you #mr bingley fanfiction #mr bingley fanfic #charles bingley x reader #charles bingley x yn #charles bingley x you #charles bingley fanfiction #charles bingley x fanfic #pride and prejudice #pride and prejudice fanfic #pride and prejudice fanfiction

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maranello · 3 years

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you're right. And people often talk about how - basically the whole grid - has yet to reach their peak and have room to grow, but with charles they talk as he is already arrived. he is learning how to be a complete driver, on top of having raw speed. Example, it's 2021 and people still think he is only good because he can qualify higher than others, ignoring the many solid drives he had since 2019

yeah it's bizarre how british commentators (derogatory) is like:

"oh, look at the young rising stars lando and george! max verstappen is the best there has ever been, wow we are heading to a golden generation, remember how charles leclerc was so good in 2019? shame how he's been so quite since haha"

charles, pushing the 3rd/4th best car to lead races, park it on pole, and, often matching the pace of leading cars: quit telling people i'm dead

"sometimes I can still hear his voice"

but really, I think it's super underrated how charles has consistently grown and is still growing. yes he exploded onto the scene with ferrari on 2019. but if you look at his sauber year, it was an incredible rookie season already. and when you think back on 2019, his one lap pace was lethal but he didn't have that kind of edge against seb in a race and he struggled with tyre management. people remember his 2020 for his styria and sakhir mistakes or his turkey L, but completely overlooked how he consistently performed above and beyond with the car. like his 70th anniversary p4 was a superb drive. his stunning p4 qualifying lap in sakhir too. the fact that it's such a character-building year for him to be able to keep morale in the team and how to be patient (because you can tell there was some immaturity and impatience in 2019!!). that's understated but I think will be so important when you're trying to win a title fight.

and look at his 2021! he has been consistently performing and while not a perfect season on his end, he's never made the same mistake twice and has been pretty good about picking his battles. just look at his past two races even. not only was he able to deliver a good qualifying in monza, one of the most difficult tracks for the car on paper, his race pace in the first stint was incredible. this is an engine that has 20 less horsepower than the mclaren, but charles was keeping up with lando and lewis in front of him consistently. and his sochi performance was stellar- his clean super start jumping what 6-7 cars in the first lap? his wheel to wheel battle with seb? how he was fucked over by the slow pit stop but he went and gained back places like he's a hot butter knife slicing through the field? moreover, his tyre management in sochi too is so underrated on the hard compound. I kept waiting to see him pit but he was one of the last to pit and he was just keeping up that strong pace for so long on his first stint, matching the pace of the red bulls (p much the fastest car this year!!) consistently but still making the hard compound last!!

it's so frustrating that he has been putting in these really incredible performances and have consistently been growing- multiple races this year he has said has been the best of his career, and it only goes to show that he's only gotten better since 2019 when he was on podiums and in contention for race wins. while everyone is focused on the title fight or other drivers, his results don't often earn him the appreciation he deserves for his continued growth. but I am, personally speaking, Seeing and Perceiving. and I cannot wait for when he smokes the rest of the grid with his continued improvement.

#maranello.ask #anon #oops this got long #but yeah I just think charles leclerc

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theotherhufflepuff · 3 years

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Simon Snow Trilogy Tarot Cards...

Ok so, a little while ago I saw this frankly stunning artwork by @vkelleyart and I started thinking about the Major Arcana archetypes and how characters from my favourite book series could fit into them.

So I made this list. It took a lot of thought and I’m still not 100% sure on some of them but I have explained my thought process for each card.

I don’t know how much crossover there is in the Venn diagram of “Simon Snow fans” and “tarot readers” but I’d love to hear your opinions and/or alternative suggestions (be respectful though, obviously). I’ve left “visual prompts” for most of the cards explaining what they looked like in my imagination and if anyone wants to draw any of these (or their own alternative version!) please tag me; it would make my day! I can’t draw for toffee so I am 1000% never gonna try to illustrate any of them myself.

List under the cut because it is loooong.

Spoilers ahead for the whole series!

0 The Fool - Shepard - Shepard just follows magickal creatures around and says “yes” to everything... he is the pure embodiment of the Fool archetype to me; care-free, innocent... prepared for everything and yet totally clueless. Visual prompt: Shepard about to (attempt to) step into the fog as he follows a fairy into the forest.

1 The Magician - Penelope - “Penelope Bunce is a fierce magician, I don’t mind saying” Baz, at least once in each book. Penny never worries about not having the power or words available to do whatever she wants; she is comfortable in her power and it is always there, ready to be wielded however she sees fit. Visual prompt: Penny wearing her Stevie Nicks cape, standing by a chalkboard in the classic “Magician” pose, ring clearly held aloft.

2 The High Priestess - Dr Mitali Bunce - Dr Bunce is possibly a more formidable magician than her daughter. Highly intelligent, straightforward and, let’s be honest, judgemental. But she does have all the answers. Visual prompt: Dr Bunce carrying around her laptop, phone sandwiched between her ear and her shoulder.

3 The Empress - Lucy Salisbury - Lucy exudes the nurturing, Earth Mother vibes that are central to the Empress archetype. She saw the best in everyone and all she wanted was to love Davy and live with him in their cottage with her chickens and their child. Visual prompt: Lucy, barefoot and pregnant, feeding the chickens outside of their cottage.

4 The Emperor - Lamb - This is one of the ones I’m not totally sure about. I went through a few different ideas but ultimately settled on Lamb as the “Vampire King of Las Vegas”. He is an imposing figure, ruling his city with an iron fist; if you are in his favour, Vegas is your playground, but cross him and you will suffer the consequences. Visual prompt: Lamb sits on an antique chair in his opulent suite at the Katherine, the lights of night time Vegas visible through the window behind him.

5 The Hierophant - The Mage - Again, this one took some thought and I’m sure some people will disagree with this interpretation... I’m not completely sold on it myself. The Mage was all about reforming the old traditions of the World of Mages and he amassed a following by doing so. But he turned out to be somewhat of a false prophet; abusing his power to oppress those he deemed “the enemy”. Visual prompt: The Mage in his Robin Hood costume, sitting at his desk at the top of the Weeping Tower, surrounded by his piles of banned books.

6 The Lovers - Simon and Baz - Obviously. As stated at the top of this post, I love @vkelleyart’s version of this card, but there are a lot of scenes across the series that could be used to illustrate this archetype. I personally always love to see the original “and then he kisses me” scene.

7 The Chariot - Fiona Pitch - I struggled with this one a bit and I don’t really think that this is the ideal version. But the image of Fiona, rolling up to Blackfriars bridge in her vintage sports car to rescue Baz from the Numpties really stuck with me so that’s what I went with, for lack of a better idea.

8 Strength - Ebb - Ebb is often dismissed and underestimated by other magicians but she is wicked powerful. But more than that, the Strength card is about inner strength, self control and the wisdom to know when to fight, and when to rest. Ebb is highly intuitive about the people - and goats - around her and is always careful not to talk about her twin brother, only conceding that she knows of his presence once a year and never giving in to the temptation to talk directly to him. Ebb saw the war coming and knew that she could probably end it all by herself with the power she had; but she also knew that she didn’t want that and she had the strength to say no, to eschew the expectations the rest of the World of Mages placed upon her and live quietly, instead. Visual prompt: Ebb in the hills behind the school with the goats, she wears a flower crown that the Dryad made her.

9 The Hermit - Agatha - the Hermit eschews the outside world in order to take an inner journey of self discovery, knowing that this is the only way to find real answers and achieve real growth. Agatha, jaded by the World of Mages, took herself off to California, leaving her wand at home. She didn’t know what she wanted but she knew it wasn’t magic. Visual prompt: Agatha sits on the beach at twilight by a small campfire, Lucy the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel by her side.

10 The Wheel of Fortune - The Crucible - The Crucible’s decisions, like the Wheel’s, are unpredictable and inevitable. Once it’s happened, you’re stuck with the consequences - sometimes bad (being stuck with a toff vampire who hates you) and sometimes good (getting the best room in Mummers house).

11 Justice - Natasha Grimm-Pitch - Natasha needed justice to find peace; her whole story is about justice. She was swift to act when the vampires attacked Watford, dispatching them without hesitation. When she came through the veil to find Baz and ask him to bring her murderer to justice, she knew that would also provide some closure for him, too, both for her death, and for his. Visual prompt: Natasha Grimm-Pitch appearing from beyond the veil, looking for Baz and finding Simon.

12 The Hanged One - Nicodemus - The Hanged One is about feeling stuck, but also about finding peace where you are when there’s nothing you can do about it. Nicodemus chose to cross over for eternal life, but he was stricken from the book; his (considerable) magic effectively taken from him and his fangs removed. He was stuck in between - not a full vampire, not a magician; he exists on the fringes of both communities. He got himself there and then he had to figure out how to get by, carve out a place for himself in order to survive. Visual prompt: Nicodemus sits in the tree in the garden of his mother’s house in South London, waiting for Ebb to come and sit on the empty bench beneath him.

13 Death - [scene on the Great Lawn] - Ok, so.. this might need some explaining. My immediate thought for this card was that it should be the Humdrum but Death is all about clearing out the old junk in your life that doesn’t serve you in order to make space for the new. And the Humdrum isn’t making space for anything. So I was thinking about times that has happened in the story and I thought about how the death of the Mage made room for real progress and an end to the war with the old families. Visual prompt: Penny and Baz (literally) run into a fleeing Agatha on the Great Lawn; the Weeping Tower looms in the background, the Mage and Simon visible through the blown-out stained glass windows.

14 Temperance - Simon and the Humdrum - Temperance is, as you might expect, about balance and harmony. Simon used so much magic at once that he couldn’t control it and it tore holes in the magickal atmosphere. Simon had to fill the Simon-shaped hole to restore equalibrium and stop the magickal firmament from collapsing altogether. Visual prompt: Simon kneeling in the Weeping Tower, pouring his magic into the Humdrum as he fades away.

15 The Devil - Smith Smith-Richards - The Devil is about feeling trapped by temptations in your life, often because we’re afraid of what we would do with the freedom we’d have if we let them go. Which got me thinking about Smith-Richards (that name never gets any less ridiculous) and all the magicians who were taken in by the temptation of “fixing” their magic. But it was a false promise and those magicians who narrowly escaped taking Smith-Richards’ spell were all freed from the idea of their magic being “broken” in the first place. Visual prompt: Smith-Richards (looking like the guy who would be cast to play Simon in the Netflix series) standing on a stage in the packed-out White Chapel, rapt audience hanging on his every word.

16 The Tower - The Humdrum - Originally I wanted to use the Weeping Tower for this card because the imagery is on point but the meaning doesn’t match. The Tower is about absolute destruction, the crumbling of something you thought core to your being. The Humdrum steals magic and renders magicians homeless because of it. The Tower is about having to start again from the ground up - just as the Grimms did when all the magic was drained from Hampshire. Visual prompt: The Humdrum, wearing Simon’s face, stands in the grounds of Pitch Manor, laughing. (I have always thought of the holes looking like a burn in a piece of paper - sort of glowing and smouldering at the edges as it eats away the atmosphere. I know the holes can’t actually be seen - the Normals would freak out - but that is imagery I would use here)

17 The Star - Lady Ruth’s candles - The Star is about hope and healing after the devastation of the Tower. Lady Ruth’s candles were a symbol of hope that kept her going when she thought she had lost her children. They provided comfort and, at the end when it became clear the Lucy was gone, the healing of knowing that her child had finally found his way home to his family. Visual prompt: Lady Ruth’s candles in front of a window, a bright star can be seen through the window.

18 The Moon - Agatha and Simon - So, the Moon is all about examining blurred lines between illusion and reality - nothing looks totally clear in the moonlight. It reminded me of how Simon never really seemed to have a clear view of his feelings for Agatha and what their relationship was. When he properly examined his feelings, he found that he didn’t love Agatha and was going through the motions because he thought it was what other people expected of him. Agatha was doing the same. It also brought to mind Simon, going out of his mind worrying about Baz when he was missing - as well as basically every other thought Simon ever has about Baz before Christmas Eve 2015 - and somehow mistaking it for hating him?? Simon is not stupid but sometimes he’s real dumb. Visual prompt: Agatha and Simon meet on the ramparts, both looking for Baz, and break up.

19 The Sun - Simon - This card is all about innocence, optimism and joy. Nothing about this series personifies this more than Simon flying above Shepard’s truck in America, feeling free and hopeful about the future for the first time in over a year. Visual prompt: Shepard’s truck drives through the vast empty desert, the sun beating down. Simon flies above the truck, joy on his face.

20 Judgement - Niamh and Agatha - Ok, this one was hard to figure out and this is maybe not the right solution, but I was very stuck. Judgement is about self improvement through self reflection. As a small twist on that theme; Niamh and Agatha challenge each other’s view of themselves and their interactions with the world around them. Visual prompt: Agatha and Niamh, sweating to death in Niamh’s “shitty Ford Fiesta” (I’m very salty about that line; my Ford Fiesta is lovely and it has aircon). Niamh is frowning, obviously.

21 The World - Simon, Baz, Penny and Shepard - The World is about completeness, the ending of a story, fulfilment and belonging. At the end of AWTWB, Simon has finally found his biological family, he is starting to accept that his boyfriend and his found family love him for who he is, magic or no, and he can finally start to imagine a future for himself. Baz has learned new information about his vampirism, Penny has found new confidence and Shepard is finally fully accepted into the group. Visual prompt: Baz, Penny and Shepard sit on Simon’s sofa (possibly still pink from Baz’s spell, possibly he spelled it navy blue again) Simon sits on the floor. They’re all eating leftover sandwiches and cake from Lady Ruth’s.

#carry on #carry on rainbow rowell #rainbow rowell #simon snow #simon snow trilogy #wayward son #any way the wind blows #awtwb #tarot #tarot cards #major arcana #baz pitch #Penelope Bunce #shepard love #snowbaz

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funkymbtifiction · 2 years

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Hello! I have two unrelated questions.

I came across this description by Udit Patel.

Self-Preservation Fours focus their envy and hypersensitivity on their concerns about their immediate environment and on their quest for physical comfort. They attempt to deal with emotional issues by surrounding themselves with as much luxury and beauty as they can afford, by indulging in their favorite foods, and by giving themselves "consolation prizes" for their suffering. They might be disappointed about a job situation or a failing relationship, and so stay up late at night drinking expensive cognac and watching a favorite movie. Self-Pres Fours are particularly sensitive to comfort issues—the temperature of a room, the quality of the lighting, the humidity or lack of it, the weather—all produce powerful emotional responses. Self-Pres Fours become frustrated that the environment is insufficiently attuned to their personal needs. Attempts to control the environment and self-indulgence in rich foods, drink, drugs, or other sensual distractions can exhaust Self-Pres Fours, leaving them unable to function well outside of their own narrowing world.

I very much prefer the description written (for sp-4 too) in John Luckovich's book, however I like to read all authors and come with my own conclusions.

The mentioned description doesn't look somehow like sp-9? Self-comfort through sp-needs (food, drinking, bingeing movies, drugs); specially sensitive about physical comfort (temperature, lighting, humidity) instead of the emotional resonance that 4s tend to inject into their homes, no me-ness, but just overall comfort.

I think it's 4 mixed with 9, because there IS some 4 in there (the emphasis on 'luxury' is 4w3-ish), but yes, self-soothing is more 9. I like what John said about their physical environment needing to be me to display their personality. There's a really great scene in the most recent season of The Crown, where the queen goes to visit her son, Charles, at his country estate, that is a good example of an sp4. He complains that he never liked her castles, because they were too uniform, and says he wants creative chaos in his garden -- for flowers to grow wherever they wish, because that is what he wants. He talks about how exhausting but satisfying it is to make every aesthetic decision for the house itself be an authentic expression of "me." Being a 9, his mother was like "...." but I'm sure sp 4s can relate.

And the second question, are we doing the lines of integration and disintegration on a daily basis, or only when in moment of change or stress? Also, do the instinctual stacking come into the picture with the lines? I believe the lines, regardless on the frequency of moving through them, are not as strict as it's told in literature, in that we took positive and negative for each of the two lines.

I think you access the lines all the time through your core, and experience the ups and downs of them regularly. And yes, whatever your core stacking is, is also what you would 'go into' in the other two numbers. So if you are an sp/so 4, your growth line is sp/so 1, and your stress line is sp/so 2. So, you would be also positively borrowing from sp 2 whenever you are attentive to others' needs, or being ultra-picky about your environment being done 'right' through sp1.

With the previous example, would a 4 sp have occasional flashes of attending a loved one's practical needs (cooking, cleaning) but inserting somehow their 4-ness on it? Or am I totally off with my understanding?

Yes. I know an sp/so 4 quite well who has a healthy line to 2 -- she is highly attentive to others' needs when she puts her mind to it, is considerate of their feelings, and likes to do things for them (she will run across a parking lot to loan her umbrella to an older couple), but her focus is still frustration, rejection, and everything needs to be 'me.' She is also a Christian who has taken Jesus' words about loving and 'serving others' deeply to heart, so that I think has grown her healthy side of 2.

#question #enneagram #enneagram 4

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hournites · 3 years

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Charles mcnider was a literal doctor. Even in the comics the third midnite (Pietre cross) was more of support then active field member. He saved their lives so many times because of his medical knowledge and abilities. (There was even that great story in which the villain was holding people hostage unless midnite could rumor a tumor from his grandfather.) The problem with Beths character is that the need to make her the same age as the others robbed us of seeing a black, female doctor fighting crime. Honestly she should have been older (she could have been a prodigy or something. Maybe even 25 because there are 7 year college and med school programs. The she could have been a first year resident when the show started). But the Beth we got doesn’t actually do anything on her own. It’s the goggles. At the very least, Courtney, Rick, and Yolanda all bring something more to the tools they have. I just hope that we get an explanation on how beth got the goggles back online that explains her sudden ability with that kind of tech and then we can explore like an oracle side to her.

I understand what you're saying and where you are coming from, I do. But I don't think it's fair or accurate to say Beth has not actually done anything on her own. On her own, the JSA exists.

From her debut Dr. Mid-Nite episode in 1x05, it establishes narratively that Beth is useful to the team at that point in the same way it was established Artemis was not. Beth is a communicator, a mediator, and without her, there would have been no Rick on team JSA. With Beth, there is no more source of income from the ISA. All of the decisions she's made are her own. The goggles never told her what to do, merely gave contexts and provided assistance when prompted. The goggles never told her she should make the move to donate all of the Gambler's money to charities. They never told her she needed to investigate Cindy Burman's house. Honestly, I don't even think the other kids could handle the multitasking ability required to handle the goggles with Chuck. It's a sensory overload if not managed properly, and she's still keeping up with the rest. It takes intelligence, determination and bravery to put herself in such a position in light of her limitations.

A high school student who has rarely ever paid attention in class cracking a master chemist's equations in the span of two months is no more believable than a lonely girl with an above perfect GPA to teach herself coding/soft engineering over 6 months.

Also, while I am pretty sure Beth is likely to go into medicine and become a doctor, a doctor is not what a hero makes. Beth earning credentials is not going to suddenly validate her position on the team. I love comic!Beth treating Henry Jr. and rushing out to help the both the wounded JSA and villains they come across. She's awesome and I felt SO happy reading comics with her because Beth Chapel truly was a hidden inspiration of her era. But our Beth has compassion and empathy and from what we see again and again, I see Comic!Beth developing through our Beth that we know.

The girl wants to fight. Why can't we let her?

Absolutely, Beth needs to train more and learn to be comfortable combatting, and this season is the time and place for her to do it. She has Hourman watching her back as a defence, and is entering an environment where she may become the only JSA member with a full visibility to see what is going on in the dark.

Beth is only going to grow up. She's going to get older and more experienced just like the rest. We can speculate she'll develop an interest as a team medic but at the end of the day it doesn't exactly matter with where she is right now. Right now, Beth hasn't even had that much character room to grow. But it's nitpicking to fault her for this. She didn't get her own full episode, she didn't get her own training montage or special instructions from Pat. Anj has said Beth goes through tremendous character growth this season, and I believe it based on what we are already starting to see. Let's give this 16 year old a chance and come back at the end of the season.

#dr mid nite #beth chapel #stargirl #hn talks #Anon we are on the same page #I understand what you mean and I appreciate it too #but the point of a journey is having a journey #courtney and rick and yolanda are neither perfect themselves and it's very much satisfying to watch heroes grow into their best selves #rather than seeing them show up already as experts #it's not realistic #anon #ask

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amyscascadingtabs · 3 years

Text

rare as the glimmer of a comet in the sky

It’s the perfect little getaway, exactly what they needed. It would be even better if she could only stop thinking.

“So, tell me.” Jake holds her hand over the table, forcing her back to reality. “Five top moments for us 2019, go. Countdown-stylez.”

Three different New Year's Eves, as celebrated by Jake and Amy (and Mac).

read on ao3 💕

december 31st, 2019.

The hotel guests checking in before Jake and Amy are a family. A little girl with blonde hair, maybe four or five years old, is carrying her own pink backpack and making up dance steps around her father’s feet as he goes through the information with the receptionist, and an even younger boy is hiding behind his mother’s legs as he watches the people in the lobby with wide eyes. Looking up, Amy realizes that the mother’s open coat is revealing a baby bump, too. She’d put her at six, maybe seven months pregnant. Three kids. Amy feels a pang of jealousy.

Even with the observation skills of an experienced detective, it shocks her how good she’s become at picking out families and pregnant women in any crowd. It’s an interesting talent, but measured against the pain it causes her, Amy wouldn’t call it a very useful one. She notices Jake looking at the kids as well, a daydreaming look on his face, and somehow, that makes her pain worse.

The idea behind going away to a hotel upstate for New Year’s was so they could get away from the stress for a moment; go somewhere else, rest and relax, forget about the pregnancy master calendar they’ve stared themselves blind at for a few days. Amy didn’t realize how impossible it would be to get away from all the other reminders.

She draws a breath of relief when the family in front of them gets the keys to their room, the little girl running first towards the elevator and her brother laughing as he chases after.

“Cute kids,” Jake whispers, watching them longingly.

“Yeah.” Amy tries not to think about the negative pregnancy test she threw away in the bathroom trashcan before they left. “Really cute.”

“I’m excited you said we could drink tonight.” Jake toasts his White Russian with her glass of Sauvignon. “It’s been a while.”

“I know, “ Amy feels the guilt wash over her. “Well, it’s not New Year’s Eve every day. I think we’ve earned it.” And I already took a negative test, she thinks.

“We sure have.” He gives her a closer look, pressing his lips together like he always does when he’s worried about her. “Hey, are you okay?”

“Just tired,” she says. It’s not technically a lie. “I didn’t sleep that well last night.”

“Lucky we have a huge hotel bed to help with that tonight, then. Seriously, this place rocks.”

Amy’s prepared to agree on that part – she did her research the moment it stood clear they would both get New Year’s Eve off. After getting their room, they’ve spent the evening getting massages in the hotel spa, dining at the surprisingly nice restaurant, and now they’re admiring the view from the bar on the top floor, waiting for the fireworks. It’s the perfect little getaway, exactly what they needed. It would be even better if she could only stop thinking.

“So, tell me.” Jake holds her hand over the table, forcing her back to reality. “Five top moments for us 2019, go. Countdown-stylez.”

“Number five!” She rolls the r and holds on the i, earning herself an amused look from the older couple next to them. “Okay, I’m going to go with… that date you took me on for my birthday. I can’t believe you got into the puzzle bar this time!”

“I might have convinced the guard to let me in because it was your birthday, but still a good one. Number fooo-uur… the Cinco de Mayo-heist. God, that was fun, even if the tasing hurt like a bitch.”

“Agreed. Number three – when Holt finally invited us to that dinner party and I almost didn’t lose my cool once.”

“You keep telling yourself that, babe. Number two… the Jake way. Seriously, I still think we should try that again. It was awesome.”

“It was, but also way inappropriate,” she reminds him, but he just shrugs. “Number one, then.”

“I know which one is mine, but you go first.”

Amy swallows, then sighs. “Mine is after the manhunt. When we decided to start trying. That’s still my favorite moment.”

“Mine, too.” Jake looks her in the eyes, and she knows the bittersweet feeling is shared. “It’s going to happen, Ames. I know it. Maybe this month’s the one.”

Amy doesn’t have the strength to correct him, tell him she’s already taken an early test and that she’s lacking any confidence there’s going to be a second line when she tests again in a couple of days. Luckily, she doesn’t have to, because right then, the fireworks that have been going off a few at a time in the distance begin to multiply as the countdown starts.

Ten, nine, eight, seven, six, five, four…

Amy leans forward so she can be kissing him already when the new year begins.

Three, two, one… happy new year!

The crowd around them erupts into cheers as the sky glows with colorful explosions when burning bits of metal lighting up the darkness outside. Jake kisses her deeper, seeming to forget that there are people around with a bit of alcohol in his system and his hands cupping her face. For a moment, Amy lets herself just be happy.

december 31st, 2020.

The instant Amy closes her eyes for the more-than-well-deserved nap Jake told her to take while he made dinner, Mac begins to cry from his crib again.

“McClane, please,” Amy pleads, as if reasoning with her two-month-old would solve his discontent. “You can't seriously be hungry again, that’s insane.”

She tries with the pacifier first, checking his diaper, even standing up and walking around with him for a bit to eliminate anything else, but Mac is still clenching his fists and only looking even more furious with her, so Amy gives in. She sits down with him again, unhooks one side of the bra and lets him find his grip, exhaling when the peaceful suckles begin and the desperate crying finally ceases. She swears it looks like her son is side-eyeing her for taking too long, but to her defense, she fed him for a good forty-five minutes only a little over an hour ago and it's exhausting being used like a human pacifier. Growth spurt, Camila Santiago said when Amy called her in tears yesterday, and the problem-shooting section in the 0-3 months baby-binder had agreed. Amy would argue that sounds way too innocent for something which is turning her otherwise happy and smiley baby into a constantly hungry and crying mini-monster who won't close his eyes for more than twenty minutes at a time.

There's a soft knock on the door after a few minutes, and Jake peeks in. He’s wearing his fancy kitchen apron, which Charles gave him for Christmas with the comment that there’s nothing sexier than a dad who can cook. It hasn’t magically improved his cooking skills, but Amy’s willing to admit that it does look good on him.

“You guys doing okay?”

“He is, for now. I’m going crazy. How’s our dinner going?”

“Well, I haven’t burnt it yet, but there’s still time,” he grimaces, sitting down at the foot of the bed. “Do you need anything, babe?”

“Sleep, but that’s not going to happen.” Amy rubs her eyes. “It’s fine. He’s got to fall asleep at some point, though, this is nuts.”

“Don’t challenge him, he’s breaking records,” Jake says, leaning forward to tickle Mac’s feet. Mac reacts by kicking at the boob he’s not currently feeding from, making Amy curse. “Oops, sorry. Anyway, I’m sure he will fall asleep at some point, and we can have a nice, calm New Year’s dinner. I mean, he has to be exhausted, right?”

“God, I hope so. I’m starving.” She can see Mac’s eyelids getting heavy, but every time she thinks they’re about to fall closed, it’s like he twitches and stares at her, wide awake. “He’s lucky he’s cute.”

Jake grins. “Lucky indeed.”

Mac starts pulling away at that moment, a little bit of milk still dribbling from his cheeks. Amy reaches for one of the muslin blankets that’s never more than a few feet away in their home nowadays, lifting him so he’s upright against her shoulder and patting him on the back. She expects a burp, but instead, she gets an unpleasant surprise when he spits up, managing to get sour baby puke down her back and in her already greasy hair. She groans, giving Jake an exhausted look when she sees him stifling a chuckle.

“Hey, I’ll take him. You go take a shower and I’ll put him in the BabyBjörn. Maybe that will do it.”

“That’s the hottest thing you’ve ever said,” Amy mumbles, and she’s not entirely kidding.

She makes the shower as long as she possibly can. Most days, she has to shower with Mac in the baby bouncer on the bathroom floor, so even the chance to be alone in the bathroom for more than five minutes feels like a luxury. She lets the shampoo really lather and the conditioner take its time to sink in, trying to massage the knots in her neck and shoulders under the hot water. She can hear Mac still fussing from the kitchen, and it makes her feel guilty even though he’s barely left her arms today.

“He’s fine,” she whispers to herself like a mantra. “He’s fine. Jake can handle it. He’s perfectly fine. Everything’s okay. You deserve this.”

She still skips the make-up and nicer clothes she had been planning to put on, throwing on a pair of maternity leggings and one of Jake’s old hoodies instead.

The dinner looks fantastic, some sort of chicken baked in the oven with rice and a lemon sauce, and Amy’s actually impressed. She imagines it would have been even nicer if she could have eaten it warm and together with Jake, but they only make it through toasting in orange soda and the first two bites before Mac wakes up from his ten-minute-nap, wailing as if he truly believed he’d just been abandoned. They end up having to take turns eating and walking laps around the living room with him, because he starts crying again if they stop moving for a second or as much as make an attempt to put him down. Amy is suddenly relieved they said no to her brother Tony’s New Year’s party-invite.

She can barely believe it when after what feels like the fiftieth or so feed of the day, Mac falls asleep. Curled up like a little frog on her chest and letting out the cutest of baby snores, he finally seems to relax, and Amy doesn’t even dare to breathe too sharply for the first ten minutes. Eventually, though, once it seems like he’s not going to wake up from the slightest movement or a raised voice anymore, Jake tucks them both in under a blanket and gets the Ben and Jerry’s from the freezer and orange soda from the fridge. Then he gets another blanket for himself, and they snuggle up together in the corner of the sofa in front of the tv. From live footage at Times Square, Amy can see crowds of people waiting for the ball to drop.

“Wishing you were there?” Jake winks, but she just laughs.

“Are you kidding? Cold, crowded, and you can never even get a good view. This is better in every way.” She strokes her thumb over Mac’s dark hair. “I have this one and you. That’s all I need. And ice cream,” she adds, digging out a piece of cookie dough from the tub.

“You’re right, it’s pretty damn close to perfection. Top five moments of 2020?”

Amy shakes her head, pointing to Mac. “No point. They’re all about him, anyway, and they’re all too good to compare.”

“True that.” Jake shakes his head. “Hey, isn’t it crazy that although he’s been kind of a nightmare today, I’ve already forgiven him?”

“No, it makes perfect sense, because I’ve almost wanted to give him away several times and now I can’t even remember why.”

“Having a baby makes us kind of crazy, huh?”

“Oh, absolutely. I wouldn’t change it for the world, though.”

“Me neither. Not even if I was offered a role in the next Die Hard-movie and Taylor Swift did the soundtrack.”

“That’s pretty big,” Amy laughs, leaning in for a quick kiss. “Would Taylor Swift do the soundtrack for Die Hard, though? Realistically speaking?”

“It’s a daydream, Ames!”

She has no time for a comeback, though, because right then, the countdown starts on the tv and Jake raises the volume a few bars so they can hear.

Ten, nine, eight, seven, six, five, four…

“New Year’s kiss,” Amy says, holding Mac up slightly so they can both reach him.

Three, two, one… happy new year!

They both smother his cheeks with kisses at the same time as the fireworks explode over the sky in the distance outside their windows and the crowd begins to cheer on tv. Mac doesn’t even flinch, completely oblivious to the celebrations going on outside. Amy sighs.

“How can he magically sleep through all of this, but wake up the second I put him down in his crib at night?”

Jake shrugs. “Babies, man.”

december 31st, 2021.

Amy has only started to take off Mac’s winter overall before he starts trying to flee, kicking wildly with his boots and pointing towards the kitchen where he’s already spotted Rosa. Jake notices her struggle and is quick to help her, and the instant the toddler is free, he hurries off towards his best friend.

“Wo-wo-wo-wo-wo-wo!”

“Mac! Hey, happy new year, man!” Before Amy can even take off her own jacket, Mac is already in Rosa’s arms and babbling excitedly as he plays with her gold necklace. Amy wonders how much of what Mac’s saying actually makes sense to Rosa, but she’s nodding and smiling and seems to have abandoned whoever she was previously talking to in favor of the one-year-old.

“Jake. Amy.” Kevin appears to take their coats, shaking their hands. “Welcome. Drinks and hors d’oeuvres are in the living room, and I see your small child has made himself at home.”

“He found Rosa, yep.” Jake grins. “And he has a name.”

“Ah, yes… McClane.” Kevin nods. “Very well. I have to go check on… the kitchen. Enjoy your evening.”

“He’s never going to like me,” Jake whispers to Amy the moment he’s left.

“Well, I think we both might have lost a few points with the name choice, babe.”

“He’s one to talk names, he’s got a dog named after a cheese!”

“I know, but we can’t tell him that. Come on, Jake, I have to find something to chew on before I get sick.”

“You can always blame it on the alcohol, if you do.”

“Jake.”

“Just kidding,” he grins. “You go check on Mac and Rosa and I’ll locate the snacks.”

It turns out Rosa is more than willing to guard Mac for the evening, currently showing him the model train she's found in the library. Mac is watching with focus as Rosa helps him turn on the button that makes the train drive around the tracks, laughing as it lets out a choo-choo sound.

“Your son is much cooler than the rest of these lame partygoers,” she shrugs when Amy asks her if she's sure it's fine. “He says what he's thinking, unlike the rest of all these dum-dums.”

“Dum-dums,” Mac repeats, proud. Rosa nods.

“Exactly. I’ll call you if something happens.”

And so, in an unexpected turn of events, Amy finds herself able to sit down for most of the evening without having to chase a wild toddler around to keep him from whatever dangers he could somehow manage to get himself into in Holt’s and Kevin’s house. She supposes it looks quite antisocial of her, and maybe it is, but she’s six weeks pregnant and the early symptoms of nausea and fatigue seem to be coming on both stronger and faster the second time around, so Amy doesn’t really care. She’s got lemon sparkling water for a non-alcoholic drink, a paper plate of carrot sticks, salted crisps and almonds, and she’s not going to talk to anyone unless they sit down next to her. It’s practically heaven. Jake checks on her from time to time, assuring her multiple times that they can just leave early if she wants to, but however tired she feels, Amy doesn’t want to insult Holt that badly. They’re staying until midnight as per proper New Year’s party etiquette, and then — and not a second later — they can go home so she can crash in bed.

Rosa finds her again when Mac begins to get sleepy, rubbing his eyes and yawning but still shaking his head when Amy asks if he's feeling a little tired. He crawls over to her arms anyway, laying his head on her shoulder and hugging his arms around her chest.

“Thanks for looking after him,” she tells Rosa, but she just shrugs.

“No worries. I don't get to hang out with him enough. Your kid is dope.”

“Douh,” Mac whispers, mimicking her, and Rosa laughs.

“Repeats every word you tell him, too,” Amy says. “Yeah, he’s pretty awesome. Come over to our apartment at five-thirty in the morning on any weekend and you can hang out with him all you want. I won't stop you.”

Rosa scrunches her nose. “I’ll consider it.”

“He’s in a great mood then, I can assure you that.”

“I'll take your word for it. Also, Jake was tipsy talking baby names with some etymology professor when I saw him last, and he seemed very intense about it for a guy who's not currently thinking of naming any new babies. Or?” She raises an eyebrow.

“No, he just get thats intense when somebody implies McClane is a weird name,” Amy says, and makes a note to herself to remind Jake about their agreement not to tell anyone else at least until the twelve-week mark. “Which, to be fair, I warned him that people would think. But here we are anyway.”

“It is a weird name. Couldn’t imagine him being called anything else, though, even if I still don’t understand why you agreed to it.”

“There was a really good PowerPoint involved.”

Rosa looks at her questioningly, but Amy shakes her head, knowing there’s no point in explaining the unexplainable.

“Hmm. You guys are weird. You make pretty great kids, though.”

“Yeah.” Mac has fallen asleep by now, drooling a little bit on Amy’s shoulder. She kisses the top of his head and thinks of the abstract idea of her second kid, the thump-thump of an already present heartbeat they got so lucky as to hear on an early ultrasound yesterday. “The best.”

As midnight draws closer, most of the guests take on jackets, scarves and shoes to venture out into the garden to watch fireworks. Not wanting to be left out, Amy and Jake manage to get a half-sleeping Mac, who wakes up suddenly interested when he hears about the promise of fireworks, into his overall and join them. It’s a surprisingly good view from the garden, the cold winter air waking them up, and Jake points out the vibrant displays in the sky to a drowsy Mac, who blinks at them dazedly. It’s so cute it makes Amy tear up. Being both a mom and newly pregnant does that to her; she’s given up trying to fight it.

It’s hard to believe that two years ago, she was toasting in champagne in a hotel bar and wondering if they would ever make a baby together, and now she’s standing in a garden watching Jake with their one-year-old son and knowing that next New Year’s, if all goes well, they’ll be parents of two.

“What are you thinking of?” Jake must see her tears, because he looks worried, but Amy just smiles.

“Just how quickly things can change. How happy I am. And how much I love you.”

“Love you, too. Top three-hundred-and-sixty-five moments of this year,” Jake says, hugging her close so they’re standing in a little family bubble. “Every single day I get to wake up with and then come home to my family.”

Ten, nine, eight, seven, six, five, four…

They both lean in so they can smother their son with kisses, and he laughs as he figures out what’s about to happen.

Three, two, one… happy new year!

The sky explodes with color, Jake and Amy attack their son with kisses, and as the new year begins, Amy thinks she might just be the luckiest person in the entire world.

#happy new year!#my writing #b99 #peraltiago #jake x amy #b99 fic #peraltiago fic #i've spent twenty minutes trying to fix the spacing on this and it still won't work because tumblr is a fucking hellsite #read it on ao3 if you want spaces

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