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k7l4d4 · 3 years

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Midnight Striga: Fairy Tail/Owl House Cross Fic Episode 7 Part 1

Hello all, today I bring you my adaptation of Lost In Language, through the world of Midnight Striga! Everybody Clap Your Hands!!

“So then,” Luz casually stated, looking over the stacks before her. “You want me to return these books for you, eh?” She glanced over at King and Eda, the two doing their best to follow her instructions in gathering their mana. King was admittedly doing better, and it honestly had nothing to do with him having more experience with Human Style Magic (she should think about getting that name trademarked). Eda just so severely chafed against any and every attempt to define what she could or couldn’t do that whenever she tried to focus and meditate, she would squirm, and growl, and complain. If it weren’t so utterly Eda, Luz would’ve found it exhausting.

“Yup.” Eda tersely replied, forcing herself to keep her eyes closed and her mind centered; it wasn’t going too well. Feeling her will waiver, Eda cracked an eye open, and just barely kept her eyes from snapping open incredulously; King was absolutely focused, a visible aura of energy surrounding him, resembling grey-colored rings rippling off his form. Screwing her face up, Eda did her best to center herself, “Those have been sitting around enough that I’ll probably need to do some sweet talking the next time I go back, and it gets you out of the way while King and I practice.” It came out harsher than she intended, but Eda was dead set on figuring this out with as little help as possible. The fact that King was somehow rocking at this just made that determination stronger.

Luz snorted good-naturedly; she completely understood where Eda was coming from, and didn’t begrudge her for it. “Alright then. It gives me a chance to see what passes for quiet entertainment around this place, and maybe find something new to read. Heck, I might even get a chance to organize my collection of… ‘borrowed’ books and scrolls!” She casually detailed, slinging her pack over her shoulders, the stack of books swiftly stored within. She shook her head in amusement at Eda’s answering grunt, walking for the door. Opening it, she noticed Hooty’s odd smile; following his downward gaze, she instantly spotted what had caught his eye. While a bit confused as to why he hadn’t tried to eat it, Luz hunkered down, pulling the note placed on top of the basket left on their doorstep. “‘Take care of my child till morning. Yi yi.”

“Nope, not happening. Babies are awful, and I’m busy trying to figure this whole, *Shudders* meditation thing out.” Eda groaned, not wanting to deal with the new interruption.

Luz rolled her eyes, but continued reading, a smirk crossing her face as she did so. “‘You will be handsomely rewarded. X-O-X-O-X-O-X. Bat Queen.’” She knew there was no chance of Eda saying no now, her love of rewards was too strong. Plus, the canny witch had more of a soft-spot than she was willing to admit.

“The Bat Queen!? The most influential and wealthy demon on the Isles?!?” Eda demanded, twisting around to look in Luz’s direction. Glancing around briefly, she huffed, pulling herself to her feet, and strolled over. Taking the basket, she glanced inside, seeing a baby inside. “Ugh, now I can’t say no! If I do, BQ will have my head on a platter, and for once it won’t be while I’m alive. Aw well, at least kids are easy- Why are you speed walking away!?” She demanded, even as Luz booked it before the fireworks started, laughing her head off. Glancing down, Eda was caught off guard as the baby burst into screaming, startling the prematurely aged Witch. “Gah! How are you so loud!?” She demanded, completely unprepared to deal with the noise. Glancing back, her eyes widened in shock. “And how are you not affected by this!?” She shouted at King, still meditating away.

Luz chuckled to herself, a slight skip in her step as she wandered through town. Eda was definitely in for a rude awakening, though Luz herself had once made the same mistake when she had to babysit kids, and she could honestly look back at that moment and laugh at herself over it. Glancing around, she idly noted the whispered mutters surrounding her, the way that parents pulled their kids aside as she walked past, though this time they weren’t as blatantly fearful of her presence at least, just more… hesitant. Luz shrugged, unwilling to begrudge the mild shift in treatment, as even a slight improvement was still an improvement.

“Luz!” Gus’ voice called out. Glancing ahead, she was pleasantly surprised to see Gus and Willow waving her over. Cheering up slightly, she hurried her pace, closing the distance between them. Reaching out, she pulled the two into a one-armed hug, smirking at their embarrassment at the affection. “Ah, please let go!” Gus comically begged, feet dangling below him. With a smirk, Luz released her grip, Willow stumbling slightly while Gus plopped to the ground.

“Please don’t do that so suddenly.” Willow said flatly, a look of good-humored warning in her eyes, prompting a chuckling Luz to raise her hands in surrender.

“Okay, okay, just a little joke.” Luz said calmly, lowering her arms, idly noting the increased fervor of the whispers and mutters around them. Tuning them out, she asked, “So, what are you guys doing in town?”

“Eh, Principal Bump has been having teachers give out more combat-based homework, and we decided to find somewhere we could practice in peace.” Willow replied, giving a shrug.

“Cool. I’m looking for the library to return Eda’s overdue books.” Luz stated, patting the pack on her shoulder.

Gus beamed. “We can show you where it is!” He shouted exuberantly, prompting Luz and Willow to trade amused looks at their friend’s eager nature. Shaking their heads, Willow and Gus casually followed behind Gus as he ran up ahead. “Come on!” he called.

As they walked forward, Luz’s attention was drawn by a figure ranting to a small crowd nearby. She slowed, Gus and Willow pulling up next to her.

“And I’m saying that this is ridiculous!” The figure shouted, scaly head scrunched up in outrage. He glanced over his muttering audience. “How can we honestly say we trust the Emperor’s Coven when they let themselves get slaughtered by those damn humans!?” He shouted, a small smirk playing across his face at the sounds of agreement started cutting through the crowd.

“But they couldn’t have known the humans would’ve attacked!” One brave fellow called out, only to reel back at the glare the speaker up front sent his way.

“That shouldn’t matter! The Emperor’s Coven say they’re the best of the best, but they got butchered like Beast Demons!” The speaker rebuked, flames barking out of his throat. “They say they can protect us, but they can’t even protect themselves! They say they’re the strongest, the best, but they’re just a bunch of thugs and goons! Look at their leader, she had to cheat her way to where she got!! How can we trust them to keep us safe from those monsters!?” The rumbles of discontent and agreement at his words grew louder, the speaker basking in it all.

Gus and Willow exchanged nervous glances, while Luz just watched on, an inscrutable look on her face. “We should get moving.” Luz finally said, quickly walking away, the two Witches nodding in agreement, following after. None noticed as the speaker followed them with his eyes as the guards forcibly started breaking up the crowd, the audience noticeably less frightened about it as they normally would be, with a few even glaring at the guards openly. The speaker glanced at his nascent flock. It wasn’t much… but it was a start. He smirked.

King easily tuned out the shouts and screams around him. It wasn’t hard, seeing as he was screaming himself raw inside his own mind. In his mind’s eye, he glared hatefully at that damn pig who had dared to humiliate him. He was a King, no matter what anyone said, and a King protected their own. He had failed to protect his own; he had failed to help Eda. He growled internally, sinking into a stew of resentment. Luz had given him a gift, a way to regain his power and prestige as a fierce and powerful ruler, and he had been squandering it. He… felt small, weak, helpless like nothing else had managed.

Breathing deep, he felt the magic building, pooling in his throat, his lungs. He racked his brain, forcing it to recall more details from the book Luz had shown him, her words and lessons.

“So, what can I do with this?” He asked, glancing up at a smirking Luz.

Luz kicked back, leaning against the wall. ‘I honestly can’t say, really. At its most basic, that book will let you solidify sound and attack with it, but how far it can go is up to you.” She stated matter of factly, even as King squealed in rage.

“That tells me nothing!” He shouted, stomping his foot. He flipped through the book, eyes glazing at the words and odd depictions.

Luz shrugged, unconcerned. “Sorry, but magic is a personal journey. Education can give you a place to start, and a way to profit off of it traditionally, but to truly wield magic, you have to figure out what you want to do with it, and go from there.” She finished, clapping him lightly on his back, walking away.

“Hmph! What do I want? I want to be a powerful ruler, to make others bow before me!” He shouted, slamming the book down. “If I can use my magic to bring my enemies to my knees, I need nothing else!”

‘Making others bow didn’t work the way I wanted it to.’ He grunted internally, shaking off his reverie. Forcing himself to calm down, he recalled his fight, if you could call it that, with that annoying pig. He had left himself wide open, and nearly suffocated when the jerk bum rushed him. He could almost taste the idea on the tip of his tongue, could see the pictures from the book shifting into something new, something that would be able to wipe that smug little sneer off that pompous prick’s face.

He was a King, nothing would EVER change that. And he would not fail again. He forbid it.

“Late.” A librarian droned, passing Eda’s books through a magic circle. “Late.” He grabs the last one, quickly flipping through it. “Coffee, grass and bloodstains?” He glanced at Luz almost balefully. “These are Eda’s, aren’t they?”

“That was a wild night.” Luz sheepishly admitted. The librarian sighed, pulling out a scroll.

“I’ll just put it on her tab.” He muttered, quickly writing it down. “Just to let you know, we’ll be closing up early today for the Wailing Star meteor shower.”

Luz cocked an eyebrow, intrigued. “Wailing Star, eh? I’m gonna need to look that up. And speaking of Eda’s tab,” She pulled out a sack of assorted treasures she had… ‘borrowed’ over the year, “do you think I can pay some of it off with this?” She asked.

Blinking in surprise, the librarian quickly schooled his features, easily moving through the contents of the bag, sorting them with a clinical and considerate eye. Without missing a beat, he pulled the scroll with Eda’s tab listed on it, moving down and striking off bits and pieces as he scanned each jewel and bit of jewelry in the bag. Finishing, he sent the scroll away, giving Luz a grudging grin. “That should cover about four ninths of Eda’s tab. Thanks for that, not many people pay their tabs, and I can’t remember that last time anyone thought Eda would ever clear out part of hers. Keep your nose clean, kid.” And with that, he walked off, Luz heading into the library proper a second later.

She glanced about, and noted how similar, yet different, it was from the libraries back home. The kids were sitting at desks with crystal balls in front of them, which Luz had begun equating to Archive Terminals and Lacrima Receivers back home, scrolling through whatever mundane bit caught their eye, with a few seeming to actually be working on scholastic details.

Ducking quickly, Luz just barely avoided being brained by a flying book, grumbling at the unnecessarily dangerous methods the Isles used for almost everything. Spotting a nice table, she plopped herself down, sighing to herself. Without any form of prompting, she quickly pulled out the reference texts she would be using when she finally started her job, carefully monitoring each and every volume, eyes roaming the texts for damage.

“Man, I wish Gus and Willow didn’t have to head off.” She sighed. Technically, they said they didn’t want to spend their day in a den of nerdiness for fun. She just laughed, understanding not everyone would have similar interests as her. Carefully arranging her texts, she stood up, heading over to the stacks for anything that could be of use for explaining her subject matter to her students, and wasn’t THAT still a weird thought!

Casually leaning forward, she grasped a book, “Basics of Bile: A Studying Tool for Understanding Magic,” only for another hand to grab it at the same time.

“I believe my hand touched the book first.” A male voice said next to her. Turning, she shot the Witch boy an unimpressed look. A surly gaze stared back from tired looking red eyes, blond hair swept back, a small scar on his cheek. He cocked an eyebrow, a note of frustration entering his voice, “Are you just gonna stare, or are you gonna let go?” He challenged.

Luz blinked, stumbling back slightly. “Oh, I am so sorry.” She blustered, internally kicking herself. Normally, when she was analyzing someone, it was during a fight or from a distance. She had forgotten how off putting it was up close for others. “Just… looking into the basics, you know?” She shrugged.

The boy scoffed. “Yeah right. Considering what you did at the Covention, I doubt you need brushing up on the basics, particularly of magic you can’t use.” He marched off, throwing one last glare her way, an almost envious look in his eyes. “If you’re gonna lie, at least plan it out a little.”

“But I wasn’t-!” She started, only to trail off as he rounded a corner. “Lying. Ugh!” She groaned. Hopefully, she’d never see that guy again. He already got on her nerves.

#the owl house #fairy tail #owl house au #fairy tail au #owl house crossover #fairy tail crossover #luz noceda #eda clawthorne #bat queen #king the owl house #hunter the owl house #willow park #gus porter #magic

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translations-by-aiimee · 3 years

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Dig a Grave to Dig Out a Ghost - Chapter 31

Original Title: 挖坟挖出鬼

Genres: Drama, Horror, Mystery, Supernatural, Yaoi

This translation is based on multiple MTLs and my own limited knowledge of Chinese characters. If I have made any egregious mistakes, please let me know.

Chapter Index

Chapter 31

"Stop staring. It's not like I can run away." Lin Yan couldn't help muttering.

"What the hell is wrong with you?" He grabbed Xiao Yu's wrist. Hadn't they buried the hatchet?

"I said I wouldn't drive you away."

Xiao Yu turned his head and looked out the window like he couldn't hear him. For some reason, Lin Yan felt that his demeanour made him look sad, like the shadow standing alone under a street lamp on a rainy night, waiting for him quietly outside the car window for the day that he opened the door.

However, there had been some strange developments during this period. Lin Yan found that when he was concentrating, he could close his eyes and perceive a greenish-black shadow in Xiao Yu's direction. The butterfly orchid on the windowsill had a warm, pale yellow glow floating around it, but it was much fainter than the one he had seen around the little Daoist priest on the mountain. Lin Yan found an explanation for this in a journal devoted to Daoism. All living creatures in the world have yang energy. When ghosts pretend to be human, looking at their aura of yin-yang energy can usually break the illusion.

In ancient times, this ability was called "Opening the Third Eye." It usually took a long time to practice and it was extremely rare to acquire it accidentally like Lin Yan had. He sighed as he stared at the dream-repellent talisman on the paper and thought that this was a good thing. The next time he came across a strange person, he'd be able to tell whether they were alive or dead, meaning he wouldn't get tricked by the little girl again.

Since the little girl had shown up Lin Yan and Xiao Yu were basically inseparable, which really made him feel embarrassed. He wasn't sure why but Xiao Yu’s presence seemed to have completely aroused his hidden desires. Lin Yan couldn't remember ever having these kinds of urges before. Now, he was taunted by the slender figure in front of him, and he had to rush to the washroom for the third time to relieve his uncomfortable situation.

After a steamy dream, the habits he had abandoned during his adolescence suddenly made a resurgence. Lin Yan locked the bathroom door, pressing himself against the door and wrapped his fingers around his shaft. He slowly reached moved to the tip, pressing it, rubbing it; the whole thing feeling like it was on fire. Lin Yan bit his fist and muffled a groan, impatiently adding more pressure. When he stroked the underside, the top pulsed painfully. When he stroked the topside, the emptiness underneath him made it so uncomfortable he could cry. Nothing he did was enough to satisfy him. He held onto the sink to catch his breath and roughly splashed his face with cold water to extinguish the heat in his belly. "You pervert," Lin Yan scolded himself, staring at his reflection in the mirror.

Fortunately, Xiao Yu didn't stick to him like he did before. He even took the initiative to stay by his side a few times and he never moved to avoid him. Lin Yan wiped his hands with a towel and suddenly remembered what time it was, making him slightly aggravated.

Professor File Folder's secretary had called him a few days later than planned while Lin Yan was in the middle of being constantly tortured. When he heard the sweet female voice on the phone, a shock of fear ran through him. Since the girl in red had appeared, he was instinctively wary of any female stranger. The female secretary said somewhat apologetically that the team had just returned from a business trip with the feng shui master, and was finishing the roster of the Ming tomb archaeology artifacts.

"It's a bit late today. Are you free tomorrow or the day after tomorrow? You can come directly to the institute to see the materials you need."

"Let's do it tomorrow." Lin Yan casually drew a talisman on the paper, a charm meant for deception. "I can come at 10 o'clock if that works for you."

"That works." The female secretary paused: "Umm. . . can you not tell the professor that I'm just calling you now? I've only been here for a short while, it'd be embarrassing if he found out."

Lin Yan hung up the phone and saved the secretary's number on his phone. When he looked up again, Xiao Yu was still sitting in the same posture, as if he didn't care about that discussion at all. He threw the pen into the sofa and rubbed his forehead against Xiao Yu's shoulder. He murmured: "I found something that might explain your situation. Come with me tomorrow?"

Xiao Yu's eyes went cold. Lin Yan guessed that he would react that way. He sighed and said: "I know you don't like it, but I think this whole thing started when I entered your tomb. The two of us are connected, and now even Second Immortal Gu's spirit is being dragged into it. As the saying goes, it is better to take the initiative than wait around for death to show up. Maybe the person who brought me to your tomb will know something."

"It's dangerous." Xiao Yu frowned.

"I know." Lin Yan dragged his pillow into his arms. He thought for a second: "I still have you. Really, you make me feel much safer."

Xiao Yu didn't deny it. He gently touched Lin Yan's hair, with something he couldn't read hidden in his deep eyes. Lin Yan grew anxious and subconsciously grabbed Xiao Yu's wrist. He asked: "You'll come with me, right?"

Xiao Yu remained silent for a while and then nodded.

---------

When he brought A-Yan some dinner, Lin Yan mentioned how he was being forced by Xiao Yu to learn Daoism at home. The little Daoist priest was so excited that he didn't even touch his dinner, instead pestering him to share more details. The books made Daoism out to be much simpler than it truly was. Each spell required a focused mindset in order for it to work. The most talented people only tracing out the symbol might get a measly tenth of the intended effect, but most would only get a scrap of useless paper.

"I-I'll teach you when I get out of the hospital." The little Daoist's pale face flushed with excitement and his eyes were gleamed brightly: "It won't be as good as my master's lessons, but it should be fine for a beginner."

Lin Yan didn't know how to react. He lay down on the next hospital bed with his head resting on his arms, staring at the ceiling of the room in a daze. He said that he was unlucky enough. Not long ago, he was sitting in his classroom and talking about his archaeological experience with the shy girls in the class, freaking them out whenever he mentioned the corpse. The youngest man in the dormitory pointed to the little Daoist sitting in the corner and told Lin Yan to glance over at him and that he should be careful. There were rumours that people who offended him in their freshman year said they saw ghosts. He squinted his eyes and made faces, making everyone laugh.

But now he was being targeted by a ghost. He was worried about things that he didn't know how to fix. He had even bought a can of cinnabar to learn how to exorcise ghosts from the little Daoist priest. Lin Yan sighed and lamented: "I want to learn, but I don't want to be forced to do it."

"He's been weird recently. He has a lot on his mind, but he won't tell me what he's thinking." Lin Yan rubbed his face. "A-Yan, what do you think ghosts think about all day long?"

The little Daoist was silent for a while, and answered the wrong question: "You care about him very much."

Lin Yan turned to face A-Yan, subconsciously playing with the sheets with his fingers. He helplessly said: "Obviously I care. We're stuck together 24/7. Even my girlfriend wouldn't get this kind of treatment." He glanced at the phone and frowned, pushing himself up on the bed: "I have to go. It's Weiwei's birthday. I promised I'd be there and I shouldn't be late."

"Weiwei?"

"The one who upgraded our tickets for us during the lecture." Lin Yan glanced sheepishly at Xiao Yu.

A-Yan tore off a loose thread from the blanket. The little Daoist priest twisted the cotton thread around his fingers loosely. He gestured his sharp chin towards Xiao Yu, and inquired: "He's letting you go?"

Lin Yan was going to just nod his head but suddenly clued into what the Daoist had said. He threw the pillow towards the little Daoist priest, and said happily, "There's nothing to let go of. Even people being stalked by ghosts have basic human rights, don't they?"

The little Daoist put his chin on the pillow. He shook his head: "I-I can see that he likes you."

Lin Yan stiffened. His tone was somewhat unnatural: "Stop talking nonsense. What does it matter who he likes." Lin Yan packed the dinner containers and hurriedly changed the subject: "What do you want to eat tomorrow? I have ribs at home. I could make soup for you?"

A-Yan stared at him for a long time. His skin was very pale but his eyes were very dark. His pupils were more dilated than usual. In addition, he was covered with a sheen of sweat. At first glance, he looked a bit like a reptile. After staring at Lin Yan, his whole body was covered in a cold sweat. A-Yan's mouth twitched. A trace of coldness flashed in his eyes and he said softly: "Ghosts are very possessive about what they want. Don't mess with them."

Lin Yan's hands stopped moving. After A-Yan spoke, he suddenly felt that the room had grown too quiet and he panicked. His eyes fell from Xiao Yu's back and moved all the way down to his black boots standing on a small section of floor tile. Lin Yan barely squeezed out a smile: "Don't worry, I know. We're just strangers, really. I want to live a normal life again."

Lin Yan had always tried to avoid going to the same events as Weiwei, but he couldn't really avoid it this time. On one hand, he promised he'd go. On the other hand, he was getting sick of staying looked up in his apartment recently and was bored. Just looking at the talismans and spells plastered all over his house, the thread-bound books on the table, sofa, and his bed, Lin Yan felt like he had become an old witch in a fairy tale. All he was missing was a broomstick to fly out of his twelfth-floor apartment. He just wanted to hear another human voice. Lin Yan sighed. Any human voice other than Xiao Yu, A-Yan or Yin Zhou.

But, in the end, once Lin Yan showed up at the address, he was regretting it. Weiwei always loved to have a good time. He didn't make it in time for dinner and was dragged directly to Houhai for the second stop of the night when he showed up at the restaurant he was supposed to meet them at. The summer night was warm and humid, with bars lining the lake's shoreline. The evening breeze was filled with the light scent of lotus flowers. The atmosphere reminded Lin Yan about the old days. After dinner, he and Weiwei would walk along the lake with a street lamp casting their shadows on the ground. When the jazz musician took off his hat and whistled at the two of them, Weiwei unceremoniously blew kisses back, and Lin Yan smiled warmly at her side.

In all fairness, his past with Weiwei was pretty good. It wasn't perfect, but it was simple and heartfelt.

At that time, he also seriously thought about proposing to Weiwei. He had thought out a future that he could see her being a part of.

So what happened?

The background music of the bar was wild, the strong drum beats hitting his eardrums, and even his heartbeat synced with the rhythm of the music. Lin Yan was bored out of his mind. He sat in the corner with a cup of Chivas whiskey infused with black tea. Men and women embraced in the dark, twisting their bodies between the small gaps between the tables, like a frenzy of madness. The amount of tea in his cup was slowly going down and the whiskey burned his throat. When he drank it all, Lin Yan felt that the world was spinning. He dizzily lay across the table, whispering a name over and over again.

. . . Xiao Yu, Xiao Yu.

His brain was muddled from the alcohol and it didn't have a filter anymore. It took Lin Yan a long time to understand what he was saying. "You're a fucking pervert." He smacked himself.

#dig a grave to dig out a ghost translation #dig a grave to dig out a ghost #english translation #chinese bl #chinese novel #bl novel #yaoi novel #yaoi #danmei novel #danmei

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coeurdastronaute · 4 years

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Essays in Existentialism: Stud 9

Previously on Stud

“It’s been awhile.”

“Near a decade?”

“Well there was that convention in Prague. Maybe six, seven years ago?”

“And the reunion at the Hargrove Estate.”

“The presentations in Oslo?”

“I think… I think that was right around when m mom--” Lexa furrowed as she tried to place the time that seemed to slip away from them. “I guess Prague was the last time.”

“Five years then,” her old friend from college nodded thoughtfully. “Time is a dangerous thing. I hate it.”

The lounge was intimate, dimly lit and clean, freshly modeled despite being an ancient and ritzy institution in its own right. Dark woods were illuminated by soft lights, large paintings covered the walls in dark gold frames. The chairs were velvet and the drinks were perfectly crafted from the best labels. The clamor of the familiar crowd in suits and ties and diamonds and dresses was just a murmur behind their secluded table

Maggie James hadn’t changed a bit, just matured into a fulfilled version of herself, or so Lexa liked to imagine. She still had deep brown eyes and a heart-shaped face. Still had a soft smile. Her hair was cut shorter now, above the shoulders and wavy. Her demeanor was more assured, more herself, than the unsure girl in college, or even the graduate assistant at a presentation in Prague.

“I have to say, I hadn’t expected to hear from the CFO of one of the largest companies on the planet after reading my lowly article and research.”

“I don’t know about lowly,” Lexa smiled after sipping her drink. “I thought it was a good article. And your research was thorough.”

“I just observe and postulate. Those other companies were the ones doing the hard part.”

She was naturally demure. Maggie was not someone who had to work for a living. Her family owned an ancient merchant conglomerate and she was vaguely related to a Kennedy and a Duke or something. And though she had her phases, Lexa remembered her from school as someone who wanted to do her own thing. She didn’t cut up her black card, but she sure didn’t care to rely simply by biding her time. Lexa always liked that.

They hadn’t been especially close, just gravitated to similar circles and were in the same degree program, naturally leading to an affiliation that boarded somewhere between acquaintances who knew too much and friends with no actual ties.

The real surprise had been when Maggie actually returned the phone call Lexa gave after a few weeks of obsessing over the research and generally annoying her girlfriend with facts and tidbits, filling up a notebook with her own questions, ideas, and things she’d read. She’d garnered a lot of attention with her article and research. It almost wasn’t worth it for her to return the call of a somewhat acquaintances, somewhat friend that she hadn’t seen or heard from in upwards of six years. But Lexa’s last name was on buildings in almost ever major city, and regardless, she got a return call.

“I did call you about the article, but also to catch up,” Lexa promised.

“And remember those good times in college?”

“We did have a few of those, didn’t we?” she grinned, looking over her glass, earning a shaking head and heavy sigh and smile.

“Much to my girlfriend’s chagrin.”

“You actually told her some stories?” Maggie raised her eyebrows and chuckled. “And she let you come tonight?”

“Encouraged it actually. She’s sick of hearing me rave about your work and research. I’m allowed to have an intellectual crush on you, and that’s it.”

“She’s a saint.”

“You have no idea,” Lexa agreed and signaled for another round. “Last I heard, you were engaged to some Lockeridge. Didn’t work out?”

Maggie held up her hand and wiggled an empty ring finger.

“He didn’t particularly care that I was interested in anything other than the usual marriage retirement activities like kids and needlepoint or whatever.”

“A shame.”

“I heard you decided to go outside of the pool or acceptables,” Maggie shrugged. “I only have a few questions: How, and how did your father take it?”

“You know my dad. He wouldn’t know acceptable if it shook his hand. He actually adores Clarke. And it was sheer luck. She just happened to be best friends with a mechanic I use to fix up old cars.”

“Kismet.”

“How did your parent’s take the loss of a Lockeridge hyphenation?”

“Mom went into full mourning, black outfits for a week and three weeks in Italy,” Maggie recited as Lexa laughed. “Dad complained about his lost deposits on venues.”

“And now?”

“Now, I research sustainable and ethical management in corporations.”

“I meant--”

“I don’t even own a car, so I haven’t run into any mechanics, and I was almost hoping you’d broken up with your saint and that’s why you’d called.”

“It actually our three year anniversary next month.”

“Disgusting. You’re buying the drinks.”

They both shared a smile and shook their heads, amused at themselves and the situation of their lives, both wondering how they hadn’t taken the time to be better friends, although a few drunken make outs had certainly ended any hopes of that back then.

“I’m assuming you want to talk to me about the article and your company?”

“I was having fun catching up, but I take sex off the table and now you’re all business.”

“I know your time is valuable, and I don’t want you to think you have to waste it catching up,” she explained, leaving Lexa slightly baffled.

“Your time is valuable too, and honestly, I am kind of having fun catching up. I kind of fell out with the old gang after Mom.”

“I heard you did the falling.”

“Probably,” Lexa nodded in agreement as she swapped out her empty glass for a new one. “I worked myself raw for three years straight.”

“But you still hear some of the rumblings from the old guard?”

“Some. Care to fill me in on more before I proposition you?”

“Intellectually?”

“Strictly.”

Maggie took a large sip from her drink and eyed the girl across from her, at ease and amused at their conversation, ever charming and wildly sexy without even meaning to do it, Lexa was someone who made her attention feel like nothing else mattered, and anyone would want to be within her company to experience it. All were welcome, but it was a blessing to hold her focus for an extended period of time, in any capacity. Maggie remembered making out with her in the bathroom of a club. She remembered making out with her at a party on the Lower East Side. She remembered Lexa’s messy waves, leather jacket, and fiery eyes that remained, even a decade later. But they weren’t for her anymore, and she was alright with the disappointment if it meant working with her.

“Did you know Emma Hunton-Blather?”

“Not biblically.”

“I wouldn’t imagine so. She’s an ultra-religious mommy blogger now.”

“Yikes,” Lexa winced.

“And Francine Christenson already divorced twice.”

“I think I saw one of those.”

The evening was easy. The drinks flowed and the two caught up with their previous acquaintances. Lexa was grateful that it was going well considering how nervous she was about approaching an almost stranger.

The drinks kept coming and before she could talk shop, Lexa was drunk and just enjoyed having fun.

XXXXXXXXX

“I love her.”

“Oh god, not this again,” Clarke groaned, rolled over, and tugged the pillow with her over her head.

“Not like I love you. I just am fascinated by her research.”

“Is that what you call her boobs?”

“Oh no,” Lexa shook her head, wobbling slightly as she plunked down on the edge of the bed and began awkwardly tugging off her shoes. “I can’t even seen boobs that aren’t yours boobs. I am boob-blind now.”

Despite herself, Clarke smiled at her drunken girlfriend. It wasn’t often that she came out, and when Drunk Lexa did, she often enjoyed it. There wasn’t any jealousy against Maggie James, just that Clarke liked a little more attention than she was getting with this new project. She also wished this old project hadn’t made out with her girlfriend, but that was neither here nor there. She’d feel the same way if Lexa was obsessed with recycling. She’d hate it and vote for global warming to make her stop fixating.

Before she could finish with her shoes, Lexa flopped backwards, fully clothed and half on the bed.

“Clarke. Hey, are you sleeping?”

“No, darling. I’m up.”

“I wish I’d never made out with Maggie, because I think we could have been have friends.”

“Good. Keep not making out with her and you can be.”

“Ahhhh,” Lexa pointed at Clarke and laughed before letting her arm fall back down.

“Plus, you could use more friends.”

“Nah. I don’t.”

“You do.”

Clarke moved, putting the book she’d fallen asleep reading on the night stand and moving her way around the bed to help the pitiful thing that couldn’t get undressed. She stayed at Lexa’s strictly because it meant sloppy drunk needy Lexa. She also expected her about two hours earlier.

“You need more friends. It’s good to have them.”

“I have Gus,” Lexa listed, counting on her fingers as her girlfriend tugged off her shoes for her. “And Aden, and Anya, and Dad, and Indra, and um. And Maggie. And, um… uh…”

“Only one of those are age appropriate, not related to you, and not salaried.”

“And you! You’re my best friend. Who needs more than that?”

She didn’t mean to, but Clarke smiled at that as she moved to unbutton Lexa’s shirt, earning a smile and laugh despite already closed eyes.

“Oh, are you getting me naked, Ms. Griffin? Naughty naughty.”

“How much did you drink?”

“A little bit.”

Clarke just shook her head and pulled Lexa up so she could pull off the shirt. She moves to the pants next, instructing her to lift her butt so she could tug them off. Lexa remained fairly still as Clarke searched for a spare shirt for her to sleep in.

“Hey, hey, Clarke. Hey,” Lexa called in a whisper.

“Hm?”

“You really are my best friend.”

Clarke smiled, her cheeks growing warm as she slid the shirt over the drunk’s arms and head, careful not to poke an eye or pull hair. Tenderly, she got a rag from the bathroom and wiped her face as best she could, earning almost purrs of contentment with the treatment.

“Are you ready for me to fuck you?” Lexa ventured, wiggling her eyebrows. “I’ve been thinking about it all night.”

“You’re drunk.”

“And you’re beautiful.” Clarke pushed her girlfriend’s shoulders so that she fell back in bed easily. “Perfect. You can be on top.”

“Get under the covers. It’s time for bed.”

“Fine, but you should know that I am a good lay.”

“I’m aware,” Clarke grinned as Lexa climbed in obediently.

“I’m like really good at giving you orgasms. And you seem to like them.”

“Oh, I do. But I’m tired and you’re drunk.”

“Those are two true facts,” Lexa nodded and yawned, rolling into her usual spot. Her arm was held open until Clarke joined her in bed.

The lights off and the pair finally ready for bed, Clarke snuggled into her spot and felt Lexa’s warmth, enjoying the feeling of having her back.

“Hey Lex?” Clarke whispered as arms held her tightly.

“Change your mind about sex?” Lexa returned. “I’m still down.”

“No. I just wanted to tell you that you’re my best friend, too.”

“Good.”

Her arms pulled tighter and Lexa kissed Clarke’s shoulder before falling into a very contented drunken slumber.

XXXXXXXXX

Lexa loved her office. She loved that it was quiet and that even though she had taken a smaller role in th day to day operations, it was still there for her to work, uninterrupted and unimpeded. She loved her desk. She loved her view. She loved the certainty that came behind sitting her name plate, as if it told her who she was. There was a certain power that she took from it all.

“Thanks for coming down,” Lexa offered as Maggie took a seat across from her desk. “I think i forgot to explain what interested me most about your research at drinks the other night.”

“Yeah I think the fourth round of whisky made it a little difficult to keep track of complex ideas.”

“I had a good time.”

“Me too.”

“My girlfriend let me know that I need more friends. The problem being that I don’t particularly like or trust most people.”

“Or you’re too busy to put the effort into it. I get it. Trust me,” Maggie nodded, relaxing slightly as Anya brought in some coffee and placed it between them. “Thank you.”

“I was told that all my friends work for me or are related to me,” Lexa explained as she sipped her coffee. “And even though I would consider us friends, or potentially friends. I want to hire you.”

“I already have a job.”

“Yes, but I have lots of money.”

Maggie snorted at that, smiling, amused at Lexa’s candor.

“I have lots of money too.”

“I knew you would say that. I also knew that there wasn’t much I could offer you to sway you away from a fun research and doctoral position at a great university. I’m sure you find teaching rewarding.”

Lexa stood from her desk and grabbed a folder from the corner, carefully looking it over in her hands.

“The interesting thing I found in your report was that you were advocating for a system that not one single major corporation would even contemplate putting into existence.”

“I’m sure some--”

“Free housing? College tuition? Four day work weeks? Work from home? Private insurance? Officer salary cuts? Who in there right mind is going to do that?”

“I thought you were interested in my research.”

“I am. Because my job was killing me. And I have a hypothesis for you.”

“I think that’s my job.”

“You haven’t accepted yet,” Lexa reminded her as she leaned against the front of her desk. “If I implement your suggestions, will I not hate my job anymore?”

“There’s no way for me to measure that.”

“True. Will I feel better if we are a more ethical and knowledgeable company?”

“Yes.”

“Will we turn a profit?”

“According to my data, yes. Although the scale of your business,” Maggie shook her head. “I wouldn’t even know where to start hypothesizing on when.”

“Hypothetically,” Lexa continued, smiling at how easy it was to get her interested. “What would you need to start testing your hypothesis? In real time. At this company.”

There was a quiet that settled as Maggie stared at the CFO. Long and tall, Lexa crossed her arms over her chest, the mystery folder tucked under her arm. Her shirt was folded precisely up to her elbow, her collar pressed and pointy, her glasses perched perfectly and her hair coiffed with enough effort to look like it wasn’t trying at all. She didn’t betray a thought though.

“Off the top of my head, I’d need access to everything. I’d need months of internal research and auditing, plus at least a handful of accountants and assistants. I don’t think you understand what you’re asking.”

“I do.”

“You can’t.”

“In this folder,” Lexa grinned, and held it in front of her friend. “Is one of our middling branches based in London. I want to give it to you.”

“A company?”

“Kind of. I want you to hire your team. I want you to help me implement your changes. I want to create a better world. I had to think of something that no one else could give you, to entice you. Is it working?”

“Consider me enticed,” Maggie nodded, slowly accepting the folder and flipping it open, her mouth slightly agape.

The buzzer on Lexa’s desk sounded and she pushed off, walking back to her chair.

Ms. Woods, the car is here to take you to the airport.

“Thanks, Anya. Give me a few more minutes.”

“Going somewhere?”

“Three year anniversary weekend,” Lexa smiled. “I had a bit of a rough year last year, but it’s all coming back around.”

“You are incredibly good at multitasking. You’re pitching me while planning an epic event and doing how many other things.”

“Take the week to think about it. Everything you need is in that folder.”

“I’m going to need more than a fifteen minute meeting with yout see if this is even for real.”

“It’s real,” Lexa promised. “We can figure everything else out together, when you accept.”

“If.”

“I’ve been told I’m very persuasive. Take the week. I’ll be back next Tuesday and we can talk more then, if you’d like.”

“I thought maybe a consultation, but this is…” Maggie shook her head and stared at the folder before shutting it quickly. “Hell of a friend.”

“Come on, I’ll walk with you out,” Lexa offered as she grabbed her bag.

XXXXXXXXXX

The ranch was still slightly visible in the sunset, the timing only slightly off with their arrival for the romantic weekend escape. Tall pines and cedars eclipsed it while the mountains stood tall and purple in the distance against a firestorm of clouds in the fading summer light. The cabin was one of her favorite places on the planet, and she couldn’t think of anywhere more secluded and perfect to hide away from the world with her beautiful girlfriend to celebrate three absolutely life-changing years.

“I would have been happy with just a hotel room downtown,” Clarke chided as she entered the giant house. “This is too much.”

“I figured it was a good excuse to use this place. It’s been years since I’ve been out,” Lexa explained as she dropped their bags in the foyer.

She made sure everything was stocked and prepared and the staff wouldn’t be around. The caretakers didn’t mind a week off, and she was just excited to be away from the city and back somewhere quiet.

“Is this the ranch your mom liked?”

“Yeah, she’d make us spend a lot of spare time out here.”

“I can see why. It’s beautiful.”

“She designed it. Found an old hunting lodge and decided to convert it to a modern home. It was her labor of love.”

“Thank ou,” Clarke smiled and hugged her girlfriend before kissing her cheek. “Show me around.”

Lexa wasn’t particularly good at feeling so good, but she’d been excited and planned everything for the past month. So she took Clarke by the hand and showed her the grand room, the high ceiling and giant windows that looked out at the trees and the mountains as far as the eye could see. The fireplace was already roaring and inviting, but she took her toward the pool and hot tub area that went from outside to inside. She excitedly told her stories about being a kid, and all the stuff her and Aden would do.

By the time they made it to the bedroom she wanted, Clarke flopped onto the bed and gave up trying to figure out where she was in the maze of a house.

“So we get this whole place to ourselves for the next few days?” Clarke asked as Lexa gracefully slid beside her in the giant bed.

“Mhm, so go ahead and just take your clothes off now. I actually should have told you that at the door.”

“But I brought very cute lacy things you like me to wear.”

“Oh, wait, yeah,” Lexa nodded eagerly. “That’s all you can wear.”

“You’re ridiculous.”

“I’m yours.”

“And sappy.”

“Incredibly.”

But it was perfect, and Lexa didn’t care that her girlfriend was mocking her. She leaned forward and kissed her. She pressed Clarke into the bed and went about the task of celebrating.

XXXXXXXXXX

“I need you to carb up because I have a few more things planned for you,” Lexa explained as she reached forward and took another slice of pizza.

“Shut up.”

“I mean it. Dad keeps the W stored in the garage and I have waited three years to--”

“You can’t be serious,” Clarke laughed and shook her head, pressing her palm over her chest with how amusing she found it.

They were tangled in the sheets. They were tired and sated and happy and now nearly full from the dinner of pizza and beer.

“That’s the real reason I decided to come here,” Lexa grinned. “The romantic, candlelight bath and fireplaces, and privacy were all a ruse. You’ve been ruse-d.”

“I can’t believe I’ve kept you around for three years.”

“Me neither.”

“I should get a medal.”

“I agree completely,” Lexa decided as she hopped up from the bed. “Wait right there.”

Nearly tripping over herself, the CFO took the corner out of the room so quickly, Clarke was certain she hit the wall. The sound of padding bare feet could be heard in the bed, and for the life of her, Clarke wasn’t sure why it made her fall a little more in love, if that were even possible.

In a flash, Lexa returned, hopping into the bed, quick to hide whatever was in her hands.

“This was supposed to be a year of no gifts,” Clarke chided.

“I’m terrible at following directions. I don’t know if you knew that or not yet, but it’s a harsh truth you should start to understand.”

“You should listen to me.”

“I should,” she nodded and held out a velvet box. “I’ll start tomorrow.”

Clarke eyed her girlfriend warily and frowned at the blatant lie. But Lexa shrugged and smiled, nudging her to open the box.

“Oh, Lex, this is…”

The keychain was a tiny logo of Lexa’s company. It was plain and simple and cost exactly $2.95, and now it was dangling from Clarke’s finger as she furrowed and smiled at it despite all else because it was certainly not what she was expecting.

“It’s too much. You shouldn’t have.”

“You deserve the best,” Lexa explained, scooting closer. “Last time we did this, I wasn’t read. You weren’t ready. It wasn’t right. But now...I think it’s right. I think I want to be with you all of the time. I want to come home from business trips and see you. I want to cook dinner together. I want to sleep with you every night. I want to live together.”

Her hair was a mess, and when she was nervous, she talked with her hands. Clarke watched the entire thing without moving a muscle, because she might scare Lexa if she did. Instead, she looked at the key chain in her palm and listened.

“You’ve been making a lot of moves lately, Woods.”

“Well, the girl I love keeps pushing me to do better.”

“What if you get sick of me?”

“I won’t.”

“What if I get sick of you?”

“We’ll get a big place, so you can ignore me when I bug you,” Lexa promised.

“You’re ready for this?” Clarke asked, giving her a hard look.

“Very. Are you?”

“Very.”

Before she could say anything else, Lexa launched herself at her, and Clarke was tackled and kissed happily.

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magical-grrrl-mavis · 3 years

Text

Sibling AU

because apparently this is a thing I've got on my mind now. (Probs won't be writing it any time soon but I have a primal need to info dump, and maybe I'll inspire someone else.)

Characters

Eda Clawthorn - Canon Eda: She's Eda. She loves all 3 Noceda girls but is closest to Luz

King - Canon King: He's King.

Lucia Noceda - Beta Luz: Her weirdness is sorta toned down compared to Canon Luz. She's a bit more angsty. Reeeaaaally needs to smile more. Absolute D E L I N Q U E N T. Get’s into trouble on purpose, be gay do C R I M E. Feral. Totally down to help with Eda’s less honorable schemes. Tries to seem more “over it” and grown up but is secretly just as enthusiastic as Luz. She's more closed off, her life’s been a bit harder. Very protective of Luz and Laia, DO NOT fuck with them in front of her. Ready and willing to throw down. Deeeeeefinitely not hopelessly in love with Amelia. Age 17

Luz Noceda - Canon Luz. You know her, you love her. Age 14

Laia Noceda - Pilot Luz: Just as weird as Luz but a bit more laid back and shy. Doesn’t like putting herself out there quite as much as Luz, but gets dragged into her schemes a lot. Huge nerdy bookworm but perfectly capable of being flirty. Actually pretty confident with Anna. Too precious for this world. Is babey. Sits back and observes her sisters antics bc she's actually got a little sense. Age 13

Amelia Blight - Beta Amity: Cold but F E R A L. Doesn't even try to be the little miss perfect anymore but will pretend in front of parents. C H A R I S M A. Will fuck you up. Sorta pyromaniac but not like crazy, just good w/ fire magic and feels calm when she watches flames. Will burn you to ash if you hurt Amity or Anna. Rolls eyes at the twins antics. “You were going to do WHAT with Amity’s diary!?” Lotta internalized shit from her treatment by her parents. THIS CLOSE to burning down Blight manor. “If I have zero friends nobody can hurt me”. Lucia really throws a wrench in that plan. Toooootally not madly in love with Lucia. Natural greenhead but constantly dyes her roots brown as a form of small rebellion and solidarity with Amity and Anna. Age 17

Edric Blight - Canon Edric: You know him. Age 16

Emira Blight - Canon Emira: You know her. Age 16

Amity Blight - Canon Amity: Our girl! Age 14

Anna Blight - pilot Amity: Is babey. Loves books. Shy and tries to stick silently to the background. Just so sweet and precious. PROTECC HER. Tries to do the right thing. Like, ALL her siblings do their best to protect her from her parents. Not good with people at all. Age 13.

Winona Park - Beta Willow: You've seen Dana’s drawing of her. This shady bitch. She knows all your secrets. She will use them against you. Likes a little trouble but doesn't get caught. Ever. By the time you figure out what rule she broke she's already won the game. Don't. Touch. Willow. T R O U B L E. Loner until Lucia came along. Just does not care about anything. Doesn't even try in school but is still almost as good as Amelia. Not quite as powerful as Willow but still powerful. “What happens if I press this button.” Age 17

Willow Park - Canon Willow: You know her, stronk cinnamon roll. Age 14

Gus Porter - Canon Gus: Boy needs more character development. Age 12

(Story might not go quite like I'm describing it here but it's pretty close.)

Eda was going to eat King when they first met, they tell it like it's just some cute story.

Camilia was going to send both Luz and Laia to normal-person-camp but didn’t even try with Lucia bc she's clearly a lost cause. Lucia waited for the bus with them though, and she and Laia both followed Luz through the portal. Luz was the one who decided to stay on the isles, Laia just agreed bc she also hated the idea of camp, and being a witch sounded fun. Lucia agreed bc “well I'm not leaving my fucking siblings in another dimension on their own” but also was jumping up and down inside at the idea of being a witch.

Lucia and Laia were just vibing at the owl house during Witches Before Wizards because nobody told them shit.

Luz and Laia both went to the school in I Was a Teenage Abomination, Lucia didn’t bc “school? Why would I willingly go to school?” so she wandered off to town to do GOD knows what. Laia just hid in the bottom of the pot, but wandered off, Anna helped save her and get her out in the end. Later, at the covention, Laia gave Anna the “thanks pal” drawing.

Luz and Laia were both captivated by Eda’s magic lesson in Intrudor, Lucia was just hanging back with her arms crossed like she didn't care but inside she was going “I'm gonna be a witch! I'm gonna be a witch!”. Luz discovered the light glyph but Lucia came up with the idea of sticking it on the wall.

At the covention, Lucia saw Amelia and was actually gonna go over and be flirty bc Hot Witch Girl, but then she overheard her talking to Amity about her fighting Luz and instantly big sister mode. They got into a fist fight out back over “my sister’s better than yours.” their relationship after that is just Lucia constantly antagonizing Amelia and almost getting burned. Anna just stayed by the sidelines at the covention and Laia didn't see her until the very end, talked a bit and gave her the drawing b4 being dragged out by Eda.

Laia helped w/ the moonlight conjuring, but Lucia heard "night market" and sneaked off there. She didn't see Eda'z predicament but did run into Winona, who was making trouble and just being generally shady. Lucia helped her out with the shady business because why not and they were instantly friends, their friendship has a lot of Lucia going “you scare me sometimes.”

Laia went to the Library with Luz, she saw Anna just hanging out reading in the corner and immediately went over and sat by her. They were in Amity’s hideout sitting real close reading when Luz and the twins walked in, they left immediately, Anna red as a tomato.

The second Eda said body swap Lucia scooped Laia up and noped on out. It sounded fun to Lucia but for some reason she didn't feel comfortable subjecting Laia to that.

Laia and Lucia went with Eda when she talked to Bump abt enrolling them and just sat back and watched Eda clean up all her messes. Lucia was impressed.

Laia was just as excited to go to Hexside as Luz. But Lucia hated school, even magic school. She only decided to go to keep an eye on her sisters and fuck with Amelia.

Neither Laia note Lucia were interested in going to the Grudgby match. Laia stayed home and read (on the couch. She was so engrossed in her book she missed king walking out with half-transformed Eda) and Lucia went to hang out with Winona.

Laia and Anna worked together on a book for the writing contest. It won. Lucia wrote one too but it git rejected for being too graphic. It made one of the judges who read it start seeing a therapist.

All three went to the knee. Lucia went along with Eda'z crazy teaching because it seemed hysterical to her crackheaded mind, she missed the whole Slitherbeast thing bc she was off with moss in her ears, dirt over her eyes and pine needle mulch in her nose. Laia was incredibly disappointed that Anna wasn't there with the other blights. She didn't even try to stop Luz from stealing the wand bc she knew she wouldn't listen. She was just as impatient as Luz, just not rash. They figured out the ice glyph together.

Lucia chose the bard track in First Day bc she wants to be in a band. Laia couldn't choose just like Luz and got stuck in the Oracle Coven. Lucia got caught just like Luz and ended up in the detention track, Barkus was a bit more wary about her. She helped fight the basalisk I guess. Laia just stayed in class. Both Luz and Laia got to be in every track, Lucia chose only Bard, Beast Keeping and Illusion.

When Luz and co were shrunk at the carnival, Laia was off hanging out with Anna, and Lucia was doing something crackheaded with Winona. (Seriously, you could write such good fluff fics about Anna and Laia, and insane crack fics about Lucia and Winona.)

Idfk what Laia and Lucia were up top in Understanding Willow

Anna and Laia went to Grom together. They're such unassuming people that the only people who noticed were Eda and King bc they helped Laia get ready, and Amelia. Who had very mixed feelings bc 1- that's Lucia's sister, but 2- she actually kinda likes Laia and Luz.

Lucia begged Luz to let her take over as Grom queen but no dice. She ran to help too when Luz ran off but was too slow, she didn't get there until the very end of the dance.

Look, Laia is too much of a bookworm to care about sports and Lucia just thinks their stupid, so neither of them watched Luz play in Wing it like Witches.

Eda made cloaks for all 3 girls. Lucia and Laia were in the wrong year to go on the field trip to the emperor's palace. After school Laia went to the library with Anna and Lucia went to hang out with Winona. Laia and Anna fell asleep reading in Amity's secret room and Lucia and Winona lost track of time hanging out, neither got home until the next morning, and they found Luz crying on the floor.

Imagine with me, all 3 noceda girls breaking into the conformatorium to save Eda. All three wailing on Belos, Laia with a fuck ton of glyph papers, Luz with Eda's staff and some glyphs, and Lucia with a red aluminum bat covered in glyphs. They don't beat him but they do a lot more damage than just chiping his mask.

Imagine all 3 sisters agreeing silently to destroy the portal. For Eda.

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howaminotinthestrokesyet · 3 years

Text

No Stones Unturned: Keith Richards

Keith Richards’ interest in the guitar began at a very early age due to his grandfather. Gus Dupree had been a jazz musician during the big band era, who actually toured with a group called Gus Dupree and the Boys in Britain. His interest in the guitar began when his grandfather placed the guitar on a shelf out of reach of the young Richards. He made a deal with the young child that if he could reach the guitar, then he could play it. In interviews, Richards talks about using all kinds of boxes, cushions, chairs in order to get that guitar, His grandfather began to teach him very basic guitar lessons. The first song that he ever learned was “Malagueña,” a Spanish song. He was able to keep the guitar, but his father a war veteran who have been injured at Normandy did not share his son’s musical enthusiasm. Speaking of his father, upon his death Richards was given his ashes, which led to another humorous story about the guitarist. He said in an interview that he actually smoked his father‘s ashes.

Keith Richards attended Wentworth Primary School until 1954 with fellow classmate Mick Jagger. He also lived as his neighbor until family moves separated the two. The pair met again by chance years later on a train when Richards admired an album Jagger was holding. At the time, the latter attended the London School of Economics. He had sent away for Muddy Waters and Chuck Berry albums by mail to Chess Records in Chicago. They immediately bonded over their love of music. Soon after, they formed a band with mutual acquaintance Dick Taylor called Little Boy Blue. A few years ago, a recording for that very short-lived group was discovered and eventually put up for auction. An anonymous person purchased the recording, who turned out to be none other than Mick Jagger. The band folded when Brian Jones approached Mick Jagger about joining his blues group. This led Jagger to bring Richards along to the Bricklayer’s Pub to meet anyone else interested. Here they met Ian Stuart. The Rolling Stones were officially formed.

As previously discussed, a couple of key observations can be made about Richards and the band. First of all, unlike other bands that revolve around the rhythm of the drummer, the Rolling Stones has their tempo always set by Richards. They look to him in order to determine how fast or how slow they should be playing. On stage, this makes him more of the unquestioned leader as far as the music goes. Off stage, that role has alternated between him and Jagger, but now the singer runs everything. The other thing to be noted is that just like Ron Wood and Brian Jones each guitarist like Richards plays both rhythm and lead sometimes within the same song. This guitar weaving was developed by him and Brian Jones, but it is the talent of Richards that allows this to work so seamlessly. Actually, if you were describe his guitar playing overall you would notice that it stands out as in no way flamboyant or showing off. His solos get right to the heart of the matter, but you never see him venture off like his contemporaries Jimmy Page or Eric Clapton. Another quality of his guitar playing emerges in the acoustic guitar. He believe that playing acoustic was the key to maintaining his excellence as a guitar player. Certain songs like “Street Fighting Man” and “Jumpin’ Jack Flash” were actually originally recorded with acoustic guitar, then placed in a tape recorder and overdubbed using a louder speaker. In 1967-1968, he began to experiment with what are called open tunings. I will try not to get too technical here, but his inspiration for it was how a banjo is tuned. This became a trademark of the guitar sound in later years most notably the 1970’s like “Honky Tonk Women.” Vocally, Richards has sung on almost every Rolling Stones studio album with background vocals. He is also occasionally sung tracks on his own with the most notable one being “Happy” on Exile on Main Street in 1972. The song entered the regular concert set list, which led the band to have Richards sing one or two songs at every concert from then on. Another notable track was on Voodoo Lounge entitled “The Worst.” At a young age, As a student he stood out as an excellent singer in the choir, but when adolescence hit his voice changed, which led him to concentrate more on guitar from then on.

Jagger and Richards began their songwriting collaboration beginning with Andrew Oldham Loog coming on board as their manager. Coincidently, it was Oldham that told Richards to drop the S from his name for a time. A few years later he would add it back. Their first top ten hit was actually not for the band, but Gene Pitney. Another hit was “As Tears Go By” featuring Marianne Faithfull. Their first hit featuring the band emerged with “The Last Time” in 1965. Their major breakthrough came with the song “Satisfaction,” which included a famous riff Richards would later say came to him in his sleep. One of the qualities of their songwriting comes in the sheer variety including r and b, folk, reggae, disco, psychedelic, country, funk, and punk. Unlike other bands of the era, as popular music changed, so did The Rolling Stones. The basic process of the pair actually writing a song usually started with Keith producing the first chords and harmony. Mick would then complete the song with lyrics and a bridge. For the longest time, Mick would have to wait for Keith to create the music before he could start in on the track. This became the case with the recording of Exile on Main Street as he alternated between music and shooting up heroin.

Keith Richards has been active as a producer for the better part of his career, as well. Since 1974, he and Jagger have been credited as the producers of every studio album the band has made. The duo also has contributed as a producer for other artists working alongside other producers. For those albums, the pair are usually listed as the Glimmer Twins, which writers will sometimes refer to them in general. Some of the notable artists that Richards has produced for include Aretha Franklin, Ronnie Spector, Johnny Johnson, and a band signed to their record label, Kracker. In 1987, Richards formed the band the X-Pensive Winos as a solo project, which led to the release of the album, Talk Is Cheap. The album would go on to attain a gold status, and it still sells consistently to this day. The reason for the solo project came about because at the time of Jagger was increasingly interested in pursuing a solo album. This stood out as a time referred to in the band as World War III as Jager and Richards had a monumental fight in endangering the very existence of the band. An interesting sidenote to all of this was the band first originated for the Chuck Berry tribute film, Hail Hail Rock ‘n’ Roll. They would release a second album in 1992 entitled, Main Offender, while Richard‘s most recent release as a solo artist came in 2015, Crosseyed Heart.

As popular culture can attest, Richards has a reputation well deserved for his drug use. The interesting thing about it is that he fundamentally embraces that reputation. He has been arrested on drug busts at least five times throughout his career. The most famous one being at his Redlands estate in England in 1967 along with Mick Jagger. The bust cemented the reputation as the bad boys of rock and roll as well. Surprisingly or perhaps not, he has only served time in jail for the first bust. He was subsequently arrested twice in 1973, 1977, and 1978. Yet, one must know that for the Redlands arrest, which in retrospect was completely overblown by the authorities and the media; he only served one day in jail. As previously noted, he was arrested in Toronto in 1977 for heroin possession. At the time, they were planned to charge him with trafficking, which represented a fairly serious charge. His visa was confiscated, so Richards had to remain in Toronto for at least two months until the case came to trial. Thankfully for the guitarist the charge was reduced to possession. He was finally allowed to leave Canada to travel to United States on a medical visa in order to be treated for heroin addiction. For the most part, his use of heroin has always been the number one contributing factor to his legal problems. This final bust was probably the straw that broke the camel’s back when it came to his heroin use. The legal troubles from this caused such an inconvenience in his life along with court ordered heroin addiction treatment led him to being able to stay clean since 1978. Since that time, he has only used cannabis and alcohol, but never in moderation at times because that would just not be his style.

As previously stated, his decision to get clean in 1978 led to the end of his relationship with Anita Pallenberg. As that relationship was going downhill, he met model Patti Hansen in 1978, who the guitarist would marry in 1983. They have two daughters together born in 1985 and 1986. He wrote a children’s book about his grandfather introducing him to the guitar co-written by one of his daughters, Theodora in 2014. Her participation in the project made it all the more meaningful because she was actually named for the grandfather.

Actor Johnny Depp, who played Captain Jack Sparrow in the popular Pirates of the Caribbean film franchise previously stated that Richards was partially the inspiration for the character. He utilized a few of his mannerisms for the films. As life will sometimes meet art, the Rolling Stones guitarist actually appeared in the third and fourth films of the franchise. The name of his character was Captain Edward Teague. Coincidently, the other influence Depp used for the character was the Warner Bros. cartoon, Pepe Le Pew. These influences that were mentioned by Depp did raise concerns among Disney executives at first because they did not represent the wholesome image of their brand.

Growing up, Keith Richards was hugely influenced by a few notable artists. One of the first emerged in Elvis Presley in the mid-1950’s. The interesting thing about his admiration for Elvis came in the fact that Presley‘s guitarist Scotty Moore was probably much more influential than the king himself. Richards has stated previously that he listened to Elvis records more for the band, not just the singer. The second influence was Chuck Berry, who he later performed on the same bill with early in his career. This led to a funny story looking back, but maybe not so funny at the time. The Rolling Stones guitarist had picked up Berry’s guitar while he was out of the room. Berry came back seeing Richards holding his guitar, then promptly punched him in the face. He told him that nobody ever touches his guitar. Years later Richards would participate in the Chuck Berry tribute film Hail Hail Rock ‘n’ Roll, so time had healed those wounds apparently. The final influence emerged in many of the blues artists of the day, but if you had to name one it would have been Muddy Waters. The famed blues musician emerged as a giant influence on the band from creating their name to the music that they played. Richards played live with him a few times leading to a lifelong friendship. In 1982, in a BBC interview he was asked if the Rolling Stones could keep going for another 20 years. He answered that it is entirely possible using the example of Muddy Waters still performing and looking vibrant on stage at 80.

Keith Richards currently has three residences including ones in England, Connecticut, and Jamaica. The residence in England is actually the same house, the Redlands estate, where he and Mick Jagger were arrested for drugs in 1967. At home, his favorite dish to eat is shepherd’s pie. In his 2010 autobiography, he actually devoted a paragraph on the best way to cook this very British dish. The drummer from the band, the Stereophonics, once told a story that he had accidentally eaten some shepherd’s pie meant for Richards. He was immediately confronted by him, but no punches were thrown. If the guitarist is not working on any music, one thing that may surprise some people comes in the fact that he likes to read books. Although he never attended college, Richards reads quite a bit with a preference for history. He would say in an interview that if he had not become a musician, then he probably would have been a librarian. During his days of using heroin, he once said that he really regretted the fact that it prevented him from doing things like going to a movie or reading a book. Funny guy.

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dorkshadows · 4 years

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BBC Dracula (2020)

I finished BBC’s Dracula LOL. Decided to take my own advice and judge it for myself. So I guess this is my informal “review” of it, spoilers and all. Apparently it’s only 3 episodes, which was... not a good choice given the way it went. But anyway, I went in expecting it to be objectively bad because the trailers were not good and nobody was hyped for it. But I rarely like things the internet is actually hyped for, so ofc I had to give it a chance ;)

Disclaimer: All my personal opinions. Also, the truth is I have never actually finished (or enjoyed) a Moffat show so everything I know about his and Gatiss’ writing comes from tumblr posts I’ve seen in passing (some praise, some complaints, mostly complaints)

Overall, I found BBC Dracula entertaining and it was a lot better than I expected. So things I liked and didn’t like below the cut.

Things I enjoyed:

-Dracula himself was actually kinda hilarious. Did I think the character’s design was attractive? NO. But he was funny to me; there are characters who are so over-the-top bad TM that they become so problematic they circle right back to being non-problematic and he fits into this category. What a hammy villain. Honestly enjoyed his personality and “I’m so evil whatever hahaha” attitude, but I think the creators thought the character was more physically appealing than he appeared.

-Agatha Van Helsing!!! Both of her! My favorite character! You can never go wrong with fem!Van Helsing and even this series couldn’t ruin that. She was so cool.

-My dad’s galaxy brained review: “This feels less like Stoker’s novel and more like a Gu Long book.”

-For 0.3 seconds, Harker and Mina were Edgar and Shelly Parker and I was weak for them.

-My standards for Dracula romances are very low, so I was already on my knees thanking the moon and stars when nothing happened between him and Mina. No attraction, no reincarnation, no forced romance!

-The main “ship” of the show was Dracula and Van Helsing, and like, they actually had good chemistry. They had a pseudo early!Barnabas/Julia vibe minus the romance. Drac was into Agatha because she’s smart, strong, and cultured. Maybe I’m giving this show too much credit, but I actually do think it deserves a kudos for basing Dracula’s attraction to Agatha entirely on her personality. I was down for it, like not in an OTP way nor do I think a ship like this could work without one of them becoming better or more evil, but I was down for it.

Stuff I’m on the fence about:

-Harker’s casting choice. He just didn’t feel like Jonathan to me. I mean, his acting was good- he just didn’t look the part. But on the other hand, I’m glad he was... not typical fangirl fodder because I’m not strong enough to handle the idea of there being a 500k word b/dsm a/b/o of this version’s Dracula/Harker on AO3 and there being whole essays about how toxic this ship is. Just the idea of any of this happening is too objectively unsexy to me

-I liked the twist at the end of ep 2 lmao. Because I was like “what??” and wanted to see how the hell they’d carry on. The Harker Foundation gave me major Hellsing vibes and for a second, I thought that was they way this show was gonna go lol

-Zoey being able to access her ancestor’s ghost/getting possessed by Agatha by drinking Dracula’s blood. I mean, OK, but it all seemed very convenient and awkward (and a flimsy excuse to do the reincarnation thing without actually doing reincarnation). On the fence bc I love Agatha and IDGAF if she possess her descendant

-Van Helsing’s always one step ahead of Dracula, but it never humbles him for long. Nothing gets to him for more than 5 minutes and 99% of things keep going his way. I mean, it’s fun to watch a villain enjoy being a villain- no tragic backstory or anything, just villainy for the sake of it- but 3 eps down, it’s hard not to call Drac a “mary sue”

Things I did not enjoy:

This screenrant review sums it up better than I ever could:

https://screenrant.com/dracula-2020-bbc-netflix-bad-disappointing/

-Quincey was not Quincey at all. Arthur was cut (or was he the gay best friend? Hard for me to tell. The treatment of non-straightness in general was #lmao on this show). Lucy’s arc could have been good if it was done less shallowly, but the above review rightfully calls it out. She was being punished for her “vanity.” And I didn’t buy her “in love with death” thing at all- the whole time, it felt like she was being fake-deep and Dracula was dumb enough to take her seriously.

-Mina had it the worst though- reduced brain cells, reduced importance, just reduced in general.

Other thoughts I can’t quite categorize:

The ending was less poetic and more confusing because so little time had passed. I said I was down for Dracula/Agatha but not like this lol. This ending felt like it should have happened after like, 10 episodes of character development with at least 2 instances of villain/hero team-ups. So now he doesn’t fear death because she told him he actually fears death? He’s willing to die with/for her because... ??

It’s a very interesting idea that he can’t feed from Zoey/Agatha because of her cancer. He literally holds no power over her and he can’t save or damn her no matter what he does (unless his blood can cure cancer and I was half expecting that to happen because he’s a mary sue). The only thing he can do is kill himself by drinking her blood so they can die together. It all sounds very poetic and star-crossed rival-lovers-ish on paper, but it was so ??? to watch.

Dracula and Van Helsing had 3-4 memorable encounters, but no real bonding moments (as enemies or otherwise). I could see why Dracula was so weak for Agatha- they succeeded in that. But there’s nothing to support the feeling as mutual. Sure, she thought he was interesting because he was a sentient vampire. But as a person? Nothing happened to justify their “together in death” thing as this great consummation of a relationship. Also, she died as Zoey but he was into Agatha and um... ok.

Also, Dracula’s plan for world domination was forgotten really quickly and had nothing to do with the plot in the end. BBC Dracula honestly would have benefited by becoming a Hellsing ripoff where Zoey Van Helsing keeps the count captive and uses him to solve supernatural shenanigans. At least there would have been a coherent plot and something to justify their attachment to each other.

Final verdict: It had a strong start and could have been a 7/10, but the writers betrayed themselves and now I give it a 4.5/10. The half point is an award because I laughed many times.

#dracula #bbc dracula #seward felt like a seward though #and agatha was very van helsing-ish #that 3rd ep was the definition of a trainwreck though #so many potential ideas and THIS is how they use them #listen as someone who's seen what CURSED truly is thanks to jttw adaptations #this is small fries #this is not even remotely in the realm of 'cursed' yet

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jazy3 · 5 years

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Thoughts on Grey’s Anatomy: 15X22

I thought I would hate this episode, but it wasn’t as bad as I thought. Which should really be the new tag line for this season. Meredith and DeLuca are getting it on. It’s boring to watch. Also why is Meredith wearing a crop top to bed? Who does that? What was the wardrobe dept. thinking? Have they never slept before? She kicks him out so as not to disturb the kids. While I don’t like them together and I wish she would date someone else she does appear to be having fun and feeling joy again which is great.

Annnd he runs into Zola! This idiot can’t even sneak out of a house properly. The shade! Her face! She’s not having it! Zola’s face speaks for the majority of the fandom here. Can someone tell the writers? He comes back to Meredith’s room and tells her what happened. Apparently, Zola said nothing and went back to bed. Meredith tells him, “My kids know you as the sad guy from the couch.” Which is partly we hate him. He’s a loser! DeLuca says that was an embarrassing chapter in his life and apologizes again for it.

Meredith says she had a plan for telling her kids she was dating him. They were going to have ice cream and talk about their feelings and now that’s blown. I love what a great mom she is. DeLuca’s smiling like an idiot because she was planning on telling her kids about them. Mer rolls her eyes as do we all. Way to miss the point dude. Mer checks to make sure the coast is clear this time and then has him leave.

We cut to Owen. He’s holding a crying Leo and talking to Megan on the phone. She booked him a therapy appointment and is making sure he goes. Now we’re at the hospital. Oooh! I love Mer’s outfit! The blue jacket is fire! They’ve upgraded her wardrobe this season and I like it. Bailey’s on the phone. Her ex Tucker heard her son Tuck call Ben Dad and now he’s throwing a fit and making it her problem.

Tuck feels bad and Ben’s oblivious. Which is all pretty rich for someone who gave her an ultimatum after over a decade of marriage and cheated on her. What a bitch baby. Bailey is SO much better off without that jackass! Bailey says she’d rather talk about Mer’s problems, so they do that instead. She tells her about Zola seeing DeLuca but before Bailey can respond Alex walks up to them. Jo’s back.

Amelia, Link, and Tom work on the patient that became a quadriplegic and try to use an experimental treatment to give her back the use of her arms. Nico and Schmitt are talking. Nico’s fellowship is almost up and he’s applying to hospitals across the country which upsets Schmitt. It’s reminiscent of when Jo was applying to hospitals across the country.

Qadri treats a patient who thinks she has a bowel obstruction. I think it’s weird that they show her in the beginning misdiagnosing the patient and then she disappears after that. Per protocol she should have followed the patient’s treatment all the way through. Instead she disappears. DeLuca takes over part of it and then Richard takes over another part. Then a woman walks in with high heel shoes impales in her chest! Now we know what the title was referring too! She needs heart surgery to repair the damage. Richard recognizes her. Her name is Gemma and she’s an alcoholic too. He knows her from AA. Ollie was her sponsor too. It’s not a happy reunion.

Nico and Schmitt work on a young patient who needs cement injected into his spine to correct an issue that��s causing him pain. Bailey recognizes the boy’s grandfather. He’s a reoccurring bowel patient of Bailey’s. They’re very close. Meanwhile Alex is still treating Gus the autistic patient who needs rare blood to get better. He’s built a LEGO arc de triomphe! Alex goes and talks to Mer. Time is running out for Gus. Mer’s called Cristina and Marie Cerone trying to find some of the rare blood they need. No dice. I love the Cristina reference here! Mer asks how Jo’s doing. Alex says it’s happening again. They’re happy for a while then they break then they leave him. Mer says it’s not happening again. Poor Alex!

Mer gives Alex advice and says this isn’t like the other times. That they’re not broken, and they’ll be fine. Jo will talk when she’s ready. I love their friendship! Jo’s depressed and sitting in the lab not working. Jackson comes to see her and recruits her for his research. Owen goes to see the therapist Megan found for him. He’s sceptical and dismissive and a terrible patient, but he agrees to try. Qadri’s patient is in the CT machine and is in a lot of pain. DeLuca’s running the scan. He pages Mer for a consult.

He asks how Zola was this morning. Mer says she was surprisingly normal. DeLuca wonders out loud why they feel so guilty when they’re not doing anything wrong. That’s not exactly true. Meredith is an Attending. DeLuca is a resident. She’s already been down this road. It doesn’t usually end well and they really shouldn’t be dating. She asks him if he even likes kids because they haven’t really talked about it and she’s got 3 of them. DeLuca says he has 16 first cousins and tells stories about them. He says he likes kids and tells her jokingly that her kids might like him more than her. Mer thinks that’s a load of crap.

While that’s nice and everything it doesn’t change the fact that DeLuca’s a danger to children. He lost a kid who escaped, fell down a manhole, and almost died. He attempted to assault a child and should have been fired for it. I hate how they keep ret conning his character EVERY SINGLE EPISODE this season! There is no consistency and he’s really on my nerves.

The scans are up. Their patient’s pregnant and in labour. Meanwhile Richard tries to talk to Gemma whose having none of it. Back at the CT machine. OB is busy so Mer’s running this one. Bailey looks at the scans and realizes the patient has two wombs! But she’s only pregnant in one which explains the weird symptoms. Jackson tries to reach out to Jo. He doesn’t get very far. Eventually he figures out she’s drunk at work and has vodka in her water bottle. He tells if she ever does that again she won’t be met with compassion.

Amelia and Tom talk at the lab. He laughs at her for missing Link and calls him ‘ortho barbie’. Awwww he talks about how much he loves Teddy and gives her advice about Link. Bailey comes to see her friend and his grandson to see how the procedure went. Everything seems good until he tries to go to the bathroom. He’s halfway across the room when he collapses. Richard and Maggie have a heart to heart in the scrub room about Gemma. We learn that Richard paid the bar he smashed up a lot of money to settle the charge so he wouldn’t go to jail or lose his medical licence.

Bailey and Meredith have a heart to heart about their dilemmas. Bailey is way over Tucker’s nonsense. Aren’t we all? Mer asked how she told Tuck that she was dating Ben. She said on some level he already knew. That all you have to do is show up, make it clear what’s happening, and answer their questions because all they want to know is that you’re there for them and you’re not going anywhere no matter what. Sage advice. Owen’s at therapy. He’s trying the touch therapy with his therapist. We find out that Owen doesn’t trust joy because of what happened when his Dad died when he was a kid.

It’s a painful but necessary process to let go of the fear. I’m glad they’re finally addressing this part of Owen’s story. They’ve touched on it but never explored it. After a lifetime of abusing women this man needs help. Full stop. Amelia tells Tom about what really happened in Germany between Owen and Teddy. Amelia tries to help and tells Tom that Owen and Teddy are inevitable. I get where she’s coming from, but I disagree. I get that she’s trying to help, but nothing is inevitable. Owen has a lot of work to do to be whole and he’s a long way off. Teddy deserves someone who loves her, puts her first, and treats her well. Tom does that. Owen never has. Tom isn’t scared of inevitable! I love him!

Meanwhile Maggie is trying to save Nico’s patient. He screwed up somehow and now the patient’s pulmonary artery is destroyed. Richard comes and talks to Gemma. He makes her laugh and they talk it out. He tells her about the bar incident. Bailey’s on the phone with Tuck trying to smooth things over. She tells him she knows he didn’t mean to upset anyone, but it hurt his father’s feelings, so he’ll have to go back to calling Ben by his first name instead of Dad.

I’m not sure I agree. Neither Tuck nor Ben has done anything wrong. Ben is involved in Tuck’s life in a way Tucker isn’t and Tucker’s failings are the main reason him and Bailey are divorced. Who cares what he wants? That’s what you get. Bailey has to end the call because she sees her friend in the waiting room and is confused. He tells her something went really wrong with his grandson and she goes to find out what’s going on.

She enters the OR to find out he’s died. His heart gave out as a result of the complications from the ortho procedure. Bailey wants answers from Nico. He tells her the cement leaked causing a blood clot and he went into cardiac arrest. Bailey calls him on his crap. He screwed up and made a mistake and now a healthy 21-year-old man is dead. He was about to go to business school. Now he’ll never get the chance. Maggie leaves and Bailey tells Schmitt to close. She tells Nico he’s going to stand next to her while she tells the patient’s grandfather and that if he’s a good surgeon he’ll remember it and never make this mistake again.

‏Back at the lab Jackson tells Jo it was Meredith that asked him to look in on her. There’s a nice cover of Say Something here! Bailey gives her friend the terrible news. It’s gut wrenching to watch. I can’t imagine this man’s pain. Link invites Amelia to dinner. She accepts but stays back a minute to talk to Tom. Amelia speaks some real truth here. However, I still don’t agree with her advice to Tom. I hope he continues to fight for Teddy.

Schmitt comes to talk to Nico whose prepping for his Skype interview. He encourages him to postpone his interview because of what just happened. I agree with him. He suggests he re-schedule and they knock off for the night. In response Nico yells at him and says he doesn’t get it because he’s let failure rule his entire life and that it’s basically his identity. All of which is really unfair and uncalled for. Yes, that was true at one time, but it hasn’t been in a while. Schmitt’s made real progress. Also, he’s right here. Nico is in no condition to be interviewing.

He just killed a man through his own incompetence. Also, you don’t yell something like that at the person you’re dating especially when they’re right. Nico’s outburst proves that. Poor Schmitt. He deserves better. Nico goes ahead with the interview. Schmitt slams the door and walks out. Maggie and Jackson talk. He asks her to move in with him. Owen’s at home napping while Leo plays. His phone dings. It’s Teddy asking if he’s okay. He says yes and asks why. She says Megan texted her and said to check on dum dum because he had a hard day. I love Megan!

Owen texts back and says it was hard but good. He picks up Leo and plays with him. Alex arrives home. Jo’s still not talking to him. He calls her out for drinking at work. He says he’s done and he needs her to talk to him and that he loves her but he can’t do this. She says if he loves her he’ll leave her alone. He says he’s done playing that game. Alex starts yelling and says he should just go to Pittsburgh and find out what the hell happened to Jo. Jo says she’ll talk to him when she’s ready. She says if he ever threatens to go to Pittsburgh again she’ll leave him. He says if she ever comes to work drunk again he’ll tell Bailey. Jo says they have a deal.

Mer’s at home in her Dartmouth lounge wear. She brings the kids ice cream. She tells them that her and DeLuca have been spending more time together. Zola asks if he’s her boyfriend. She always knows what’s up! Mer says he is. Bailey asks what that means. Mer says it means she likes him a lot. But not more than them. Zola asks if she’s going to kiss him. Mer says probably. Bailey thinks this is super gross! Zola asks if he’s going to sleep on the couch again. Haha I love her! Mer says no, but that he might be coming around a lot more. But says that she’s not going anywhere and that they’re stuck with her. Zola asks if he can leave his guitar at home! They all laugh because they all equally hate his guitar playing. Some things never change.

So that’s that! Now onto next next week’s promo! It’s a cross over with Station 19. Schmitt comes in with the paramedics with a John Doe. Bailey recognizes him which presumably means he’s a Station 19 crew member. Meanwhile Mer and Alex are operating. Mer’s wearing her pink scrub cap with the swirls on it. Richard calls her into his office. Apparently, she does something that could cost Mer her medical licence! Someone almost falls off something really high. Jo talks to Ben about screwing up and then we see her running somewhere crying after she crashes into Richard. It looks intense! But the second half of this season has been super lack lustre so I’m trying not to get my hopes up too high.

Until next time.

Au revoir!

#grey's anatomy #Meredith Grey #reveiw #thoughts #critique #season 15 #15X22 #head over high heels

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thederailedtrain · 5 years

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The Mark of Oblivion: Loose Ends [One]

As if to answer Kira’s question, Cedric’s cellphone began to ring. Kira actually jumped at the sound, coming back to reality. For a moment, she’d forgotten that the world was bigger than the shop basement and the four people occupying it. Bigger than herself and her magical meltdown from just moments ago.

“Oh, hello, Alvaro,” Cedric said into the receiver. He gave Kira one last once-over before slowly standing. “Is everything alright on your end? I notice you didn’t come back to the shop with the rest of us.”

Suddenly, Kira felt a wave of self-consciousness wash over her. She wiped at the still-drying tears on her face, even though she knew Alvaro couldn’t see them. Cedric could, however. Kira felt his eyes on her as he listened to whatever Alvaro was saying on the other line.

“Don’t worry, I haven’t forgotten,” Cedric sighed. “I’ve been trying to think of solutions on my end, but we got a little-“ He paused, gaze meeting Kira’s. “Sidetracked.” He blinked a couple times at the response Alvaro gave, then began moving into a more private corner of the basement to continue the conversation.

Kira struggled to her feet, limbs feeling like jello. She was so drained that she nearly fell over once she was fully upright. However, Gus was there to catch her. Kira muttered a quiet “thank you” in his ear as she leaned against him. She hadn’t even heard him make his way down the stairs, but now both he and Toni were standing at her sides.

“What’s he talking about?” Toni asked, pointing a thumb right at Cedric. The incubus continued to listen to Alvaro silently, but threw a frown in her direction.

“It’s Mill,” Gus answered after a moment, blinking at the realization.

Mill. The name sent wave of anger rolling through Kira’s chest. She had yet to forgive him for attempting to kill her back in the fall, but farther away she got from the incident, the easier it was to forget. And then he’d done nearly the same thing to Cedric earlier that night. Kira had been inside Cedric’s mind for the entire thing. She felt his fear, his confusion, his betrayal. This time, she knew forgetting wasn’t on the table.

“Oh, yeah,” Toni spoke up before Kira could say anything particularly biting. “What are you gonna do about that guy? Something tells me he won’t get the same ‘community service’ treatment I was saddled with.” Her tone was so casual, only added to by her use of air quotes.

“That’s what they’re trying to figure out,” Gus replied. “Apparently this is going to be a Council decision. Cedric’s working on where to hold him until then.”

It was still fascinating to Kira how good Gus’s hearing had become after the change. She could barely make out Cedric’s lips moving from this distance. “Where are they going to hold him?” Kira asked once she processed Gus’s previous answer.

“Oh, I don’t think you’re going to like the answer to that,” Gus winced.

Before he could clarify, Cedric hung up and began walking back over to them. “I assume you caught our conversation just now?” He asked.

“Part of it,” Kira nodded, readjusting her stance, but keeping her arm over Gus’s shoulders. “What did you decide on?”

“Well, now that Salazar’s in hospital, my guest room is again free,” Cedric trailed off with a sigh.

Oh, god, Salazar. If Mill’s name hit her like a wave, then this was an explosion. Kira was bombarded with emotions of all kinds; panic, loss, hope…Something in her chest called out to the familiarity of the name. Her free hand flew to her heart. The skin was still warm and the sensation of touch burned. Kira winced through the pain and kept her hand there, willing both her panic and the thrumming magic to subside.

Once it was back to something manageable, Kira found herself left with anger. “Gus was right. I don’t like this,” She grimaced.

“Unfortunately, it’s not as if there are magical holding cells. At least, not in my Ward,” Cedric shook his head. “The basement is, of course, another option. But Mill is a nymph. Nymphs need things like sunlight and we’re not…”

“Dicks?” Toni supplied. Cedric opened his mouth to object, only to find himself nodding in reluctant agreement.

“But what about Mill’s magic? It’s not that hard to find your way out of a bedroom,” Kira argued back.

At that, Cedric gave her a look that was almost a smile. “That’s where you come in,” he told her. “The bedroom isn’t that large. It should be easy to set up anti-magic and binding wards around it.” Cedric offered her an encouraging nod. “Actually, Alvaro was hoping we could bring him back at our earliest possible convenience.”

“I…” Kira stumbled. She looked around at each person’s face, feeling her confidence waver. “I can’t. It’s too dangerous for me to go anywhere right now. I don’t know if you felt it earlier, but I nearly had another telluric meltdown. Keeping me in the basement where I can’t hurt anyone is probably for the best right now.”

“Alright,” Cedric sighed, but his nod was one of understanding. When he spoke again, he was looking right into Kira’s eyes. “Please get some rest, okay? You’ve had a hell of a night.” Not really sure what to say, Kira just nodded and looked away. “What do you say, Toni? I still need some magical assistance.”

Toni shrugged. “Why not?”

“I’ll stay here!” Gus spoke up. He even raised his hand like he was in class. “You know, keep Kira company.”

“Well, that sounds like something resembling a plan,” Cedric said, glancing at the other three. Then, to Toni, “What do you say we head over to Central Park? The traffic shouldn’t be that bad this late at night.”

“Why bother with a car?” Toni smirked. She placed a hand on Cedric’s shoulder. “I know a shortcut.”

Realization flashed in Cedric’s eyes and he looked up at Kira and Gus. “Just sit tight while we-“ was all he managed to get out before he and Toni disappeared in a cloud of black smoke.

“So, that just happened,” Gus said to the space Cedric and Toni used to occupy. He turned to Kira. “Alright, you heard the bossman. Start getting comfortable. I’m gonna bring, I dunno, a couch down or something.”

Kira found herself shaking her head. “No, I shouldn’t.”

“Shouldn’t what?” Gus asked. “Sleep?”

“Yeah,” Kira replied, with probably a little more force than was necessary. “Look, I’m barely holding onto this as is. There’s no way I can keep a lock on it in my sleep.” She sighed, letting go of Gus and attempting to stand on her own once more. “Actually, um, why don’t you head upstairs anyway? Make sure everyone’s doing alright up there.”

“Sure, sure,” Gus said slowly, watching her. Kira hated the careful tone of his voice. “Do you want me to start sending them home or something?”

Yeah, that was probably a good idea. Kira nodded back to him. “If they’re able,” She answered. “Tell Josie she’s in charge of making sure everyone’s alright. Actually, just make her in charge of everything.”

After nodding a few more times, Gus disappeared up the stairs. The moment she was alone, Kira collapsed to the ground once more. She was really running on fumes. Holding the power of the Mark at bay took more out of her than she thought she had. Only the knowledge of what would happen if she gave in kept Kira awake.

That was the only clear, coherent thought in her mind. The rest of her thoughts were a jumble of emotions, none of them positive. Alone, she was forced to sort through them. There was anger, confusion, doubt, depression, and something else familiar that she couldn’t name.

It was loss, Kira realized eventually. She’d grown accustomed to the lingering frustration of not finding the grimoire in their weeks of fighting the Harbingers, but she hadn’t dealt with a loss this serious since the Harbingers had first stolen the book. Actually, this time was worse. The Harbingers had finally succeeded. They had actually raised Layla.

“I’m not afraid of you!” Kira had told her numerous times in her dreams, and finally aloud just hours ago. She wasn’t sure that was true anymore. Coming face-to-face with the embodiment of Chaos was different than seeing her in a vision. Layla was so much more powerful than she could’ve imagined. Just her presence was enough to take almost everyone out of the fight. What was she capable of if she actually used her powers?

“Kira!” Gus’s shout of her name broke through her thoughts.

Suddenly, Kira found herself not on the Great Lawn, but on the floor of the magic shop’s basement. One hand covered her heart, the Mark, while the other kept her from falling over. Just like before, Kira could feel the magic thrumming from it threatening to take her over. She shouldn’t have allowed it to get this bad, but she’d let her guard down.

“Kira, are you alright?” Gus repeated, materializing at her side. She tried to nod, but it wasn’t exactly convincing. “What can I do?”

This was just magic, Kira thought. It was ruled by her emotions like everything else. The source of every flare was the same. Anything she could feel in her chest, that made her heartbeat speed up.

“I need a distraction,” Kira realized the same moment she said it out loud.

“I’m great at distractions!” Gus blurted. Kira actually found herself laughing, or trying to. She certainly couldn’t disagree with that statement. “Hey, now! It’s a skill I carefully honed after the whole ‘being turned into a werewolf’ thing.” He paused, considering. “This is a bit like that, actually.”

“You’ve always been good at distractions, Gus,” Kira told him. “I nearly forgot to submit a term paper junior year because of you.” She shook her head at the memory, attempting to move into an actual sitting position. Cold concrete was uncomfortable under the best circumstances, but being cross-legged was a lot less harsh on the knees. “Not complaining. I could use some of that right now.”

Gus joined her on the floor. “Alright, that’s fair,” he sighed. Scratching his head, he added, “Argh, I’m usually so much better at pointless conversation than this. What do you want to talk about? Umm, the- the battle just now was...that was a lot, huh? Was Layla like that in your dreams too, or-”

“Not that,” Kira cut him off sharply. The hand over her heart tightened. “Anything but that.”

Before Gus could say anything, something chimed. Kira vaguely recognized it as the victory jingle from a video game, but mostly as Gus’s text message alert. She couldn’t see the message from where she was sitting, but based on her friend’s reaction, it wasn’t great.

“You want something unrelated?” Gus grumbled, holding up his phone for Kira to see. ‘new message from SOPHIE❤️’ the screen read. Oh.

“Wait, but I thought you went to see her last night? Well, the night before last, I guess,” Kira amended. “Did it not go well after you said ‘I love you’?”

In lieu of a response, Gus just let out one of the most put-upon groans she’d ever heard and flopped backwards onto the floor. “I don’t know how it went. After I said it, I kinda...left.”

He’d said it so quietly, Kira almost didn’t hear him. Even then, she was almost sure she hadn’t heard him right. “You did what?” Kira blinked. She would’ve laughed if she weren’t so mortified for her friend.

“My fight or flight response kicked in,” Gus said, rolling back so that he was almost sitting again. “And I definitely wasn’t about to fight Sophie. I mean, I kissed her and she seemed into it, but then I panicked and legged it out of there before I could even hear her response. That’s bad, isn’t it?”

“It’s not good,” Kira said, eyes wide. When she spoke again, her voice was a lot softer. “Are you...not sure anymore?”

This time, Gus took his time to respond. “It’s more complicated than that,” He replied quietly. His hazel eyes bored pleadingly into Kira’s own. “I nearly told her, Kira. About this. About- about everything! She started figuring things out. Not magical things, I mean, but she definitely knows you’re involved somehow. I was this close.”

“Gus, you can’t…” Kira trailed off.

“And I didn’t because I know it’s not just about me,” Gus sighed, glancing back down at his hands. “That’s why I wanted to ask you and Cedric first. See what you were okay with letting her in on and all that.”

“This isn’t a question of what I’m comfortable with sharing,” Kira replied. “There are really strict laws about magical exposure. Otherworld laws - which, as the Warden’s second-in-command, I’m sworn to uphold. Even the Harbingers don’t risk magical exposure.”

Gus only shrugged back. “I don’t see how I can move forward in this relationship without letting Sophie know that she’s dating a werewolf. Cedric didn’t seem to mind when you let me in on everything.”

“Because I think he knew you were an Otherworlder all along,” Kira offered her friend a concerned look. “Normal humans aren’t meant to know about magic.” Gus didn’t seem convinced. In fact, he looked like he was just about to argue the point. However, a simple raise of Kira’s hand was enough to stop him in his tracks. Oh, history and magical law; this was just the distraction she needed. “Gus...have I ever told you about what really happened in the Dark Ages?”

#writing #my writing #the mark of oblivion #n: the mark of oblivion #the magic shop #katie writes sometimes

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theoddcatlady · 6 years

Text

Youth Potion

> Subject: ‘Husband Is A Cheating B******!!!’

Bella_Gardner I cannot BELIEVE my husband. We have been married for twenty years. That’s right. Twenty years. Twenty years of me keeping our home clean, taking care of our kids, and planning every anniversary date. I never complained. I was happy with our life, with what we had.

Apparently Robert wasn’t. I come home early because the gym was closed and I find him plowing into this twenty year old blonde hussy on our couch! Our couch! We picked that couch out after we got married! And he was fucking someone else on it!

Well I threw her ass outside, barely gave her enough time to get her clothes on before I turned my rage on my husband. He’s sleeping on the couch tonight. He’s lucky he’s not on the curb with her.

When did I stop being enough, ladies? I stepped on the scale last week and I’m up seven pounds. I blame the holiday overeating. We all do it. I’m saggy, I barely have the energy for sex anymore. Not like he’s been interested in it lately, and I think I can guess why. I feel lost.

Deanna_Osborne Reminder that harsh language isn’t acceptable on the forum, but I’ll absolutely let it slide this time. Pour yourself a glass of red wine and get a tub of ice cream, I’d come over if I wasn’t across the country. It’s going to be okay. You never stopped being enough for him, he stopped being enough for you honey. <3

Addie_Miles Time to have a niiiice chat with the lawyers. Listen, Bella, men are superficial pigs. Once you hit forty, they start looking at the ‘new models’. This isn’t something you forgive and forget. It was rough but I had to do it too. He cheated on me so. Many. Times. Sometimes you just gotta realize once they start, they don’t change. Forget about winning him back. He isn’t worth it.

Bella_Gardner I would, honestly Addie. But I have the kids to think about. The oldest is sixteen, my littlest is eight… I can’t put them through that. You know how badly it screwed me up when my parents divorced? All the fighting, all the moving from house to house, all the pettiness. It was just a giant war and I couldn’t do that to my own kids.

If anyone has a good idea to make me look twenty again, I’ll take it. Anything but plastic surgery. I can’t afford that.

Autumn_Hubbard Lol. When you find that method, tell me. He hasn’t done it yet, but my husband’s getting a little too ‘friendly’ with the neighbor’s nineteen year old daughter. For christ’s sake. She’s young enough to be his kid.

_ _ _

>Subject: ‘Been wanting to shed ten years off? I can make it twenty.’

Gus_Katsoros Hello, ladies. :) My name is Gus. And I’m here to make you the deal of a lifetime.

I might seem like your average high school graduate, but I’m also a young entrepreneur. I’ve come up with several blends of herbs and plants from the home country of my parents’ parents to create several different products with mind blowing possibilities. My products can make you more attractive to the opposite sex, boost your confidence, but today I’m here to tell you about my newest invention- The Fountain of Youth collection.

Plastic surgery ain’t worth it. Sooner or later you’re gonna have to go back to the knife, and then back again, and you’re honestly screwed if it’s botched. Thousands of dollars all down the tube and you’ll look like melted plastic. However, nature has already created the answer. In the form of a cream and drink, I guarantee you in a WEEK you’ll be seeing phenomenal results. You’ll not only look younger either. You’ll feel younger. Your husbands won’t be looking at the other ladies anymore- they’ll be wondering how they’re worthy to kiss the feet of the goddess they live with!

I’m here to offer a free three day trial. That’s all. In those three days you will look, at minimum, five. Years. Younger. A seven day course of the drink and the cream is 35.99, but in those seven days, you will look ten years younger! A fourteen day course will have you looking like a college student again. Send me proof of the Fountain of Youth NOT working and you will get double your money back. That’s right. That’s how confident I am.

Contact me at [email protected] for more information.

Deanna_Osborne I can’t even BEGIN to tell you how many rules you’re breaking just by being on this forum.

1. This is a forum for women, particularly middle aged women who are usually married or have children. Transgender women are allowed. Young women seeking out advice from their elders are allowed. Men and boys are not allowed. This is our space. Find your own, it won’t be that hard.

2. Advertising is forbidden. We do allow you to promote books, an etsy, and other forums in this section, but explicitly selling products is banned.

3. False advertising, do I even need to go into this here? Offering false promises to make fast cash is low.

You’re lucky I’m on mobile right now, otherwise I’d be freezing this thread and banning you. If I get back to my computer tonight and you haven’t gone though, I’m absolutely going to do that. This is unacceptable.

Autumn_Hubbard What the HECK. Oh man I laughed so hard I think I ripped the sides of my shirt. Who would seriously BUY this garbage?

Constance_Alexander … So the first three days are free?

Gus_Katsoros Absolutely!

Bella_Gardner Constance, no. Don’t even entertain this troll… I think that’s what the internet calls them. He’s just trying to mess with us.

Constance_Alexander My husband left me for a women who’s twenty three. You’re going through the same thing or will soon, don’t tell me you’re not tempted!

Bella_Gardner I’m not crazy and I’m not stupid. No cream or smoothie is going to smooth my wrinkles and take away the body of a woman who’s given birth to four kids. Nice try Gus.

Gus_Katsoros What do you have to lose by trying though?

Deanna_Osborne Back to my computer and wow, seriously? You’re not gone? Freezing this post, banning your account. Goodbye, and good riddance.

_ _ _

>Subject: ‘So I Bought the Fountain of Youth…’

Constance_Alexander I know, I know I’m crazy. I’m so tired though. I’ve never been sexy my whole life, and I’m not exactly aging like a fine wine. So I contacted that kid through his email and got more details. We exchanged like a dozen messages and well, he seemed sincere in his project. So I’m doing the week long treatment.

I wouldn’t have brought it up if it never arrived, but it did? In really good timing too. I’m a little impressed. The box is nice, the containers for the cream and the drink look really nifty too. I’ll attach images to the end of this post to show them off.

The cream is put on before bed, and you take the drink at morning and night. I’ll be posting about it here. Maybe it’s crazy, but like he said. What do I have to lose?

[IMG ATTACHED]

Bella_Gardner Constance… I got the free trial. I’m sorry for being a bit of a bitch. I really don’t have anything to lose, I’m so tired of wondering what my husband’s up to whenever he goes out, and if he’ll just take off with some whore who likes his stupid cars.

We’ll do it together, ok? Just to see if it affects different skin types.

Deanna_Osborne If only I could record my incredibly loud sigh at this moment. You know what, I won’t tell you to stop, but I will judge you. Especially you Constance. You paid money for some kid’s science experiment or hoax. But hey, do what you want. Its your cash.

Gus_Katsoros1 *It’s ;D

Deanna_Osborne Oh for god’s sake! I banned you already! Just wait until I get back to my computer.

Gus_Katsoros1 I just wanna see the results. :(

Constance_Alexander My first impression isn’t that good Gus, I’m sorry. The cream smells really metallic and its pink tinge makes me look drunk. It’s making my face tingle quite a bit but at least it doesn’t burn. I don’t know if I can leave it on all night though, it smells awful.

Bella_Gardner The drink’s worse. Oh god, I might hurl. It tastes like a nosebleed. Literally like a nosebleed. I don’t care how old you are, I’m SUING if I get sick.

Gus_Katsoros2 You’ll get a refund if it doesn’t work, Constance, but not much I can do for you Bella. It’s a free sample. :/

Deanna_Osborne How many times do I have to BAN you?

_ _ _

>Subject: ‘Holy Crap.’

Bella_Gardner I take it back. I’m not going to sue you Gus Katsoros.

I’m going to nominate you for the Nobel Prize.

I’m stunned. It really did take five years off! The wrinkles are already smoothing out. I feel more energetic in the morning. I think I’ve even dropped a pound? I’m buying two more weeks of the product, hands. Down. Constance, get another week for yourself, and then go out on the town in a little black dress. If this kid’s promise is half true, you’ll have your husband regretting every moment of his life without you.

Thank you. Thank you so much.

Gus_Katsoros5 I made another account to thank YOU, Bella! :D It’s nice to know I’m making someone else’s life better.

Deanna_Osborne … Wait. It worked?

Bella_Gardner See for yourself. ;)

[IMG ATTACHED]

Deanna_Osborne Holy… okay Gus, I’m gonna have to ban you again, I’m sorry, I can’t make exceptions to the male rule, but sign me up for a two week treatment.

Gus_Katsoros6 It’s cool. I’m basically making a new account every time I post anyway.

_ _ _

>Subject: ‘The Fountain of Youth WORKS!!!!’

Constance_Alexander I’m crying. One week done and I really have taken off ten years. Weight, wrinkles, I feel like even my bone structure has changed! Pardon my language Deanna, but my ass looks like one of those Kardashian’s. Shut up and take my money, Gus, that’s what the kids say nowadays right?

I’m going out tonight with a twenty nine year old. He has NO idea I’m so much older than him. He runs his own company and when he sent me a message through that dating profile I made, he said I looked like the Queen of Heaven.

Thank you, Gus! Thank you! Ladies, you HAVE to invest in the Fountain of Youth!

Bella_Gardner I couldn’t agree more. My husband can’t leave me ALONE. He even, get this, brought me to a dinner with his friends and their wives. He’s showing me off like he used to when we were young.

My self-esteem has never been higher!

Unfortunately though Gus, I don’t only have praise for you though. I seem to have developed some skin sensitivity since starting the Fountain of Youth. I thought it was just some leftover pigment from the cream at first, but I’ve gotten a sunburn. Not a serious one, mind you, but I only spent maybe fifteen, thirty minutes outside? Definitely not more than an hour. I think I’ll go off the cream and give the rest to some of my girlfriends at work.

Addie_Miles No, it’s not just you, Bella. I had to do some gardening yesterday and I have a WICKED sunburn.

Deanna_Osborne I think it is definitely the cream. I’ve never had a sunburn in my life, but my skin hurts so badly right now. Only when I go outside though. Other than that, it’s fine. Better go back to the drawing board kid. Come up with something that doesn’t give you sunburns. I’m gonna stop the treatment for now, I already look younger and I don’t feel like making my husband look like a sugar daddy, if you know what I mean.

Gus_Katsoros9 Skin irritation? Damn. I thought it wasn’t going to happen this time.

I’m so, so sorry ladies. If any of you want a refund, I’ll absolutely deliver. I advise definitely stopping the cream if you’re really bothered. Again, I’m really sorry. I guess it’s just back to the drawing board again.

Gus_Katsoros10 Also sorry for the late notice but I’m going out of town. Dunno when I’ll have internet again. I’ll start filling out orders once I’m back, I promise. Hope that all you who ordered got what you wanted, and thanks for your support.

Deanna_Osborne I haven’t even had time to ban accounts eight and nine and you’ve already made ten. It’s fine, I got what I paid for. I haven’t felt this good in ages. Minus the skin pain of course. It’ll go away soon now that I won’t be using the cream anymore.

_ _ _

>Subject: ‘Ummmm?’

Autumn_Hubbard K I’m a little… concerned. After I started getting sunburns like the rest of you I threw the rest of my stuff in the drawer. I already looked thirty when I’m forty one so what’s the point?

The point is I wake up this morning and I look almost exactly like I did when I was twenty five.

I swear to GOD I haven’t even taken the drink. Heck I look better than I did when I was twenty five! I was trying to shed pregnancy weight then. Now my stretch marks are gone and I’m shaped like Marilyn Monroe. The sunburns have only gotten worse too. I’m taking a few sick days from because of how much light HURTS. Five minutes outside and I’m in bed for hours puking into the trashcan and in agonizing pain.

Is this just the stuff working its way out of my system? Because I’m not onboard with this shit at all.

Bella_Gardner No, it’s not just you. Jesus Christ, I ended up pitching it when I honestly thought I’d burst into flames after taking the trash out. It’s probably just the stuff working its way out of your system. I’m absolutely taking a few days off. I love how I look, but Christ. It’s just not WORTH it.

Deanna_Osborne I caught my husband using my leftovers. Apparently I’m not the only one who feels uncomfortable with their appearance, who would’ve thought?

I told him about the side effects but he told me how damn GOOD I look. Like I’m his Venus and he wants to be my Mars. It’s kinda attractive, I’m not gonna lie, but I’m a little concerned for him.

Although he did used to be a football player in his college days…

Addie_Miles You better tell us if it works on your husband.

Also is anyone else becoming an insomniac?

Bella_Gardner YES. Holy shit. All day I’m a couch potato. I can barely get out of bed. When the sun goes down though, it’s like someone gave me a straight shot of caffeine. I’ve been going for jogs in an attempt to burn it off, but it’s not working. I can get all the chores done without all the kids underfoot at least but dear God.

I’m tempted to have my husband use it. I mean he wasn’t ever a real LOOKER but that beer belly isn’t exactly my favorite feature of him…

_ _ _

>Subject: ‘He’s Leaving Me.’

Bella_Gardner Not even looking like a twenty five year old model is good enough for this jerk.

He’s packing his bags, he tells me he loves ‘Kayla’ more than he EVER loved me, and he had the nerve, the NERVE, to tell me that ‘at least her looks aren’t fake’.

Fake.

He thinks I’ve ‘faked’ what I look like now.. I’ve lost thirty pounds, my skin is smooth, I’m stronger and have more energy (at least at night) and the only mark on me is the scar on my belly where my youngest son was cut out of me.

And yet the only money I’ve spent is about seventy dollars on the Fountain of Youth. Yeah. Sure. Fuck you too. He’s already told me that he won’t be sending me money, if I have enough for surgery I have enough to care for our kids.

I would be guzzling wine and shoveling down ice cream but to be honest my stomach’s been super touchy lately. I don’t think I’ve kept anything down lately.

I just don’t know what to tell the kids.

Autumn_Hubbard Tell him their father abandoned them because he’s a shallow fucker.

Constance_Alexander Slit his throat and drink his blood.

Bella_Gardner WHOA, overreaction, Constance! Although it has absolutely crossed my mind to kill the bastard. I’m alone. With four kids. I can’t leave the house during the day without being in agonizing pain.

I swear if I get my hands on him I’m wringing his neck. And that is absolutely the wine talking, apparently my stomach doesn’t mind alcohol.

_ _ _

>Subject: ‘I Think We Got Played’

Deanna_Osborne My husband ended up taking a higher dose because he thought it wouldn’t affect him as easily, given he’s a bigger man. It just made it kick in faster. A lot faster. He looks exactly like he did in college.

But it’s more than that. Like I said, he used to play football, but quit when a tackle messed up his left knee. It’s fixed. Years of physical therapy, constant exercise, and heavy painkiller use. And it’s fixed within a matter of a week thanks to this ‘Fountain of Youth’.

It’s not stopping. The change isn’t stopping. And it’s not going to stop. I’ve nonstop emailed that stupid goddamn kid. You guys can try, I actually encourage that you to try, but I don’t think he’ll be responding any time soon. I think he realized what was going to happen and BAILED.

Those groups of teens that went missing from two different highschools last year? I dug deeper. At the first school there was a senior named Gus Katsoros. He went missing at the same time as the others. God be with the kids who were this psycho’s first test subjects. God be with me and my family, our canines have fallen out and are being replaced by fangs, the twins must’ve been stealing the rest of the drink. We’re not human anymore.

And God be with Gus as we are all going on the road to find this little creep.

Constance_Alexander I’ll be joining you. I’ll meet up with you in Wyoming.

I don’t know what I did last night, but I woke up soaked in blood and for the first time in days no longer hungry. Last night’s date is nowhere to be found and he’s not picking up his phone.

This little jerk took advantage of the fact I was insecure and he will pay.

Bella_Gardner I’ll catch up with you guys.

After I have a little date with my husband…

#horror stories #scary stories #sixpenceee stories #writers on tumblr #creative writing #my stories

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wazafam · 3 years

Link

Skyler Lambert White was the perfect mother but when it came to her relationships, things were a bit complicated. During her time in the series, she was involved with two men: Walter White and Ted Beneke. Though her marriage to Walt received more focus, her affair with Ted heavily impacted her life too.

RELATED: Which Breaking Bad Character Is Your Soulmate, Based On Your Zodiac?

One can't help but wonder which of the two men was better for her. Walt became difficult and stubborn after his foray into the drug trade while Ted was an irresponsible boss, almost running the company his father left him into the ground. Despite their flaws, there are arguments for both men as ideal long-term partners for Skyler.

10 Walt: He Was The Perfect Breadwinner

Walt might have had dozens of flaws but he was the perfect provider. He did everything to ensure his family didn't lack a thing. He went as far as to become a methamphetamine manufacturer so that his family would never have financial troubles in the event of his death.

He wasn't too proud to work as a high school chemistry teacher despite the fact that he was a top-tier scientist who had contributed to a Nobel-winning project. Not to forget that he worked at the A1A Car Wash too whenever he was free, so that he could earn extra income. A man who'd do anything to provide for his family is an admirable man.

9 Ted: He Was There For Her During Childbirth

When Skyler went into labor in Season 2, Ted was the one who took her to the hospital. Walt was nowhere to be seen because he had just been instructed to deliver 38 pounds of meth to Gus within an hour. Jesse had also passed out from an overdose hence Walt had the additional task of going to his house to get the meth himself.

After delivering the meth, Walt rushed to the hospital. There, Skyler asked him to be quiet. She was clearly upset. On the far end of the room, Walt saw Ted standing. He had been there for Skyler during her most vulnerable moment yet, something Skyler deeply appreciated. The incident proved Ted was more reliable during moments of need than Walt.

8 Walt: She Was A Perfect Accomplice To Him

Even though Skyler didn't like the fact that her husband was in the drug trade, it can be argued that she was at her best when she was helping him launder his millions. The manner in which she was able to procure the A1A Car Wash after Walt's failure to do so was magnificent.

RELATED: 10 Hilarious Breaking Bad/Malcolm In The Middle Crossover Memes

During the period that she worked at the car wash, she was comfortable as her own boss. She also had a say in Walt's drug income, even forcing him to pay for Hank's treatment. One can't help but get the sense that if she had continued on this route, she and Walt would have built a great drug empire.

7 Ted: She Was Ready To Do Anything To Get Him Out Of Trouble

Skyler reacted very differently when she discovered that Walt was a criminal, compared to how she reacted when she discovered Ted had been committing financial crimes. She couldn't stand Walt after she found out his secret but when she realized Ted would be in trouble with the IRS, she was willing to even cook the books for him.

She was able to fool an IRS agent by pretending to be an ignorant accountant. By doing this, she got Ted off the hook. She also took $621,552.33 of Walt's drug money and gave it to Ted so that he could solve his IRS problems. It appears she was more of a ride-or-die to Ted than to Walt.

6 Walt: She Genuinely Cared For His Wellbeing

Skyler made her way to Jesse's house and threatened him when she thought he was selling marijuana to Walt. She also reminded him not to "yo yo" her. She didn't want her husband to be addicted to any kind of drug.

She also pushed Walt to start going for chemo sessions and undergo surgery when he was totally against it. She even organized for family intervention, with Hank and Marie present. And when she had separated ftom Walt, she made sure to check up on him at his new apartment. All their troubles aside, Skyler truly loved Walt.

5 Ted: He Was More Fun Than Walt

Ted proved how fun-loving he was when he urged Skyler to perform her rendition of Marilyn Monroe's "Happy Birthday, Mr. President" in front of everyone in the office. As the employees at Beneke Fabricators were celebrating Ted's birthday, Skyler went on to do the rendition before kissing Ted on the cheek.

RELATED: Breaking Bad: 10 Greatest Betrayals, Ranked

Walt, on the other hand, was a decent family man but he was fun. He was all about Chemistry and drugs. There wasn't a single moment when Walt danced or did anything that could be considered fun, a trait that was clearly important for Skyler.

4 Walt: He Forgave Her For Cheating

Fans of the show have always called out Skyler for her occasional hypocritical nature. She often crucified Walt for his sins yet she hurt him badly too and he forgave her.

Skyler's marriage was on shaky grounds when she cheated with Ted but there is never a justifiable reason for infidelity. She had made vows to Walt hence her actions could not be excused. Her betrayal was a major one but Walt didn't cut her off for it. Instead, he tried even harder to keep the family together.

3 Ted: They Were In The Same Industry

Having similar interests is important in a relationship. It's even better when both are in the same profession. Such was the case with Ted and Skyler. Ted was the boss at Beneke Fabricators while Skyler was the accountant.

While Skyler could connect with Ted professionally, she had no knowledge about Walt's fields of interest. Chemistry concepts were alien to her and so was the drug trade. Walt would have been better off staying with Gretchen since she was passionate about Chemistry like him.

2 Walt: He Was A Good Father

Walt might not have been a good husband but he wasn't that bad of a dad. With him, Skyler could be assured of a proper family unit. And most of the time, the family was indeed adorable.

RELATED: Retro-Cast: If Breaking Bad Was Made In The '90s

Walt was always nice to Walter Jr. aka Flynn. He bought him a cool car, against Skyler's wishes. And even went Walter Jr couldn't stand him in the final season, Walt made sure to leave $9.72 million with Elliot and Gretchen so that they could give it to his son on his 18th birthday.

1 Ted: He Never Stopped Loving Her

Ted was more than willing to give Skyler her job back after she burst into the office, despite being advised not to do so by the accountant. She had quit the firm a couple of years earlier after Ted made a drunken pass at her. Realizing how badly he had messed up, Ted apologized profusely. Good partners never hesitate to apologize.

The fact that Ted was willing to bring Skyler back proved how deeply he cared about her. It also didn't bother him that she was pregnant with another man's baby. She was all he wanted.

NEXT: Breaking Bad: 10 Things You Didn't Know About Los Pollos Hermanos

Breaking Bad: 5 Reasons Skyler & Walt Were Good Together (& 5 Why She Should Have Been With Ted) from https://ift.tt/3eHK2Zf

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nevillwallace97 · 4 years

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Acquired Premature Ejaculation Dumbfounding Tips

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What Do I Do If I Have Premature Ejaculation

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Premature Ejaculation Dsm 5 Criteria

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