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cyn-write · 3 months

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RAMSHACKLE; Based on the Pumpkin King's Curiosity

Disclaimer: In my AU, Night Raven College is a College/University so all characters are aged up 4 years. There are also mentions of alcohol.

Ramshackle is one of the oldest dorms in Night Raven History and is based on one of the oldest stories in Twisted Wonderland's history. A dorm that often attracts troublemakers, delinquents, and outsiders, the dorm often houses NRC's worst of the worst. The dorm was shut down over 200 years ago after the mirror stopped sorting students there as no one was "curious enough." But after the arrival of the first female student at NRC, Cynthia Widow, the first Magicless Student, Grace Wilde, and Magic Meniace, Grim, the dorm has reopened and welcomed 10 troublemakers that uphold the Ramshackle name and embody the Pumpkin King's domain.

History

The tale of the Pumpkin King dates back to the beginning of Twisted Wonderland's history. Halloween was the King's domain, but after ruling Halloween for years and years he became bored. The kingdom filled with huants and magic was not stimulating to the king. After a visit to Winterfest domain, he felt rejuvenated and decided he would take over Winterfest! His kingdom was excited to take on this challenge, but they did not fully understand the concept. Despite the warnings from his future Queen, he went through with the takeover and put the Sandy Claws,the ruler of Winterfest, in the care of "The Boogy Man," unknowing the danger. Despite his excitement, the takeover was a failure to others but not him. He was rejuvenated with excitement and returned to Halloween with a new vigor! He and the Sandy Claws came to a truce with the aid of the Pumpkin Queen, and the kingdom reigned for years to come.

The Dorm was the second dorm to be installed to house the troublemakers of NRC. Supervised by ghost, the dorm has an essence of haunts and spooks. The dormleader and vice are the strongest mages in the dorm in magic and spirit, as they have to run a dorm of rulebreakers. The dorms uniforms are based on the residence of Halloween town dressed in black and white with the dormhead being the only member to have color in their uniform. The dorm was often made up of the exciled members of other dorms as well as those placed in it, making for an interesting combination.

After being out of commission for 200 years, the dorm has returned with a new batch of troublemakers thanks to the suddent apperence of 2 female students, a talking magic cat, and merging with Thatch Academy for Troubled Mages. The new dorm has a new style, new faces, and a new Vigor that would make the Pumpkin King proud.

Uniforms

⬇️Ramshackle’s Housewarden Uniform and Designs for the New Ramshackle Uniforms⬇️

The term "uniform" is currently very loosely interpreted by Ramshackle. It is more of an aesthetic with color rules. The aesthetic is "Delinquent Chic" with a main color of black with pops of purple and/or green. There is a variety of selections with each student having a unique uniform to embody the members of Halloween town. Some of the peices are from the students own wardobe while others are refurbished from the attic or scraps from other the other dorms. The unifying factor of the dorm is the headpieces and dorm emblem armband or patch. The headpieces (mask or hairpin) are of one of 7 designs: A witch, a devil, a skeleton, a bat, a pumpkin, a ghost, or a spider. There are a multitude of combinations that could be made and all must be approved by the dorm head and/or Professor Crewel to ensure it fits the dorm's guidelines.

The exception to this “free-for-all” as it is called by most is the Dorm Leaders uniform which was redesigned by Crewel and the current Housewarden. Current Dormleader, Cynthia Widow, has designed a purple gown and overcoat with a web collar, black corset, and spider motifs. Crewel aided in the design and recreation of this uniform. The uniform also has the "kings scepter" and the "Web Crown" which signify its holder as the head of the dorm.

There are designs for the new uniforms for Ramshackle based on the styles of the current students as the original designs were, as Crewel put it, affronts to fashion and sight. Crewel called it "prison chic" with the original uniforms being reminiscent of prison uniforms with the color palette being black and white uniforms with a pop of color somewhere, and the dormleader and vice’s uniforms being closer to "warden" outfits than the school standards. Despite enjoying the cruel joke, Crewel decided to revamp the uniforms to be less.... prisioner and more modern, fitting the current “delinquent chic” of the residence. He, housewarden Cynthia Widow, and Vice Housewarden Grace Wilde have been debating designs, with Housewarden Widow still against the idea of uniforms all together as "The dorm of CURIOSITY should be able to dress as curious as they please." So new uniforms are coming along... slowly.

Note From Administration: "To address the complaints from fellow students and parents, Ramshackle WILL be given a uniform in the same manner as the other dorms starting next year. We are currently designing and updating the uniforms. We are not giving the dorm special treatment. Uniforms will be reinforced next year."

Note from Housewarden Widow: "I'd like to see you try."

Dorm Members

There are 10 members of Ramshackle currently since the merging with Thatch Academy for Troubled Mages.

Housewarden Cynthia Widow

Name: Cynthia (Cyn) Mazikeen Widow

Twist: The Boogy Man from "Nightmare Before Christmas"

Nicknames: Cyn - Friends; Barracuda - Floyd; Reine de l'araignée - Rook; Miss Spider - Lilia; Crowley's Dog (or Crowley's B*tch) - Some... Most Students (and Leona); Boss/Housewarden - Ramshackle Residence

Birthday: January 19th

Class: 1-B

Cynthia Widow is one of the first female students at Night Raven College, and the first student stored into Ramshackle in years. As the first member of Ramshackle, she was the defector for Dormhead, but most of the Housewarden duties are handled by Grace unless it is magical. Cyn is a half-fey student in class 1-B with a love for bugs. She excels in ancient magic and is a member of the board game club. Little to nothing is known about her past but the fact she just "appeared" out of nowhere and has a grandfather she loves and misses dearly. She is often referred to as "Crowley's Dog" as she does a lot of the mage's dirty work. She doesn't mind, though. Beacuse, as long as she does Crowley's dirty work, she can get away with a lot more than she legally should *wink wink*.

Vice Housewarden Grace Wilde (Yuusona)

Name: Grace Elizabeth Wilde

Twist: Yuu! and Jack Skellington from "Nightmare Before Christmas"

Nicknames: Gracie - Friends; Shrimpy - Floyd; Mademoiselle Tirckster -> Mademoiselle Pettie - Rook; Child of Man - Melleus; Henchmen - Grim; Anglefish-Azul (in Private)

Birthday: February 2nd

Class: 1-A

Grace Wilde is the only magicless human in NRC and is often paired with Grim, but after being provided with her service familiar, Kerby, and an alchemist ring from Trein, she is now an independent student. Specializing in animal handling and alchemy. She is the first female student to be sent to NRC and the second to be inducted into Ramshackle. She was named Vice by Cyn as she was dubbed the "mother" of Ramshackle due to her talents with troubled individuals. She is in class 1-A and the horseback riding club. She is also the founder and head of the NRC weekly book club, which she started after accepting the fact that she is never going back to her world (on the account she died there) as a way to learn about this new world through books, and force some of her friends (cough*Riddle*cough) to relax and read. She checks in on the Overblot students often as well as the new Thatch Students since they worry her, and Crowley put her in charge of getting the “comfortable”.

After the first 4 overblots and 60 visits to the nurses office, Trien, Crewel, and Nurse Pinklee "convinced" Crowely that the best way to avoid lawsuits or accidentally get the magicless human killed is to listen to Pinklee's "prescription" and get her some protection. So he gratiously gifted her a certified service familiar!

Name: Kerby the Hound

Twst: Zerro from “Nightmare Before Christmas” and Cerberus from “Hercules”

Nicknames: Kerbs- Grace, Ace, Deuce, Ivy, and Cater; FLUFFY - Ramshackle Residence; Hernch-Dog -Grim; Blobfish - Floyd; Monsieur Kerby - Rook; Good Boy/Example Student - Professor Crewel

Birthday: December 25

Kerby is a Grytrash and has some magical abilities such as his Bark (which can knock people back), he can grow 2 sizes and carry 1 person, and he can dissappere into shadows on comand. Trein and the faculty thought a magical familiar was nessassary to protect the magicless student/student-employee. Plus, they owed it to her after she had dealt with the overblots (AKA Trien and Crewel pressured Crowley for funds). Kerby service familiar is a Psychiatric service familiar that alerts her to panic attacks, aids her in difficult tasks, and acts as a protector (seeing as she has been involved in a multitude of overblots and magic duals). Grace and Kerby are the friendlier faces in Ramshackle and are always willing to provide a helping hand.

Residents of Ramshackle

Name: Grim the Great

Nickname: Grims - Grace; Grimsie - Cyn; Baby Seal - Floyd; Monsieur Fuzzball - Rook; GRIMMM - Ramshackle Residence

Birthday: ???

Class: 1-A

Grim is the feline member of Ramshackle and is often seen with Vice Housewarden Grace (dubbed himself the "Vice-Vice Housewarden"). After his turbulent entrance and a rough start, he was accepted into Ramshackle and recently named an independent student in class 1-A. He has not declared a club and prefers to float around with whichever henchman he has latched to that day. As one of the original members of Ramshackle, he sees himself as a mentor to the newbies, but he is more an encourager of chaos.

Name: Reyna Francessca Bouc

Twist: Salley from Nightmare Before Christmas

Nicknames: Rey -Friends; Tiny Tetra - Floyd; Mademoiselle Electrique - Rook; Doc - Ramshackle Residence

Birthday: June 11th

Class: 2-B

Reyna Bocu is one of the 3 fey triplets that joined NRC with Thatch Academy (Romella <twst Mother Gothel> is in Pomefiore and Rhea <twist Tinkerbelle> is in Ignanhyde). The Doc of Ramshackle is one of the quieter members of the dorm but fits in perfectly. She was a master of combining science, alchemy, and magic, which got her into trouble originally. She was a child protagy with an idetic memory and a fascination with biology. She was so fascinated with the delicatcy of being that she took the idea of life in her own hands. Her lab is off-limits, but there are times a cat that is sewn together can be seen playing with an undead toad, but that is Ramshackle's little secret.

Name: Ivy Calliope Shroud

Twist: Megara form Hercules

Nickname: Ivs - Friends; Lantern Fish - Floyd; Mademoiselle Flamme - Rook; Miss Ivy - Malleus; Sis - Idia.and Ortho; Annoying Girl - Sebek

Birthday: November 1st

Class: 1-D

Ivy Shroud is one of the 25 students who joined NRC when it merged with Thatch. Ivy is the half-sister of Ignanhyde Dormleader and "Vice"- Idia and Ortho Shroud - though few would make the connection based on how Ivy acts, but if the Shrouds were somehow in the same room, aised from the hair, the likeness is uncanny. She is one of the biggest troublemakers of Ramshackle as she often starts fights and leaves school property with a very valuble and very royal Fey. She is a skilled fighter as she studied under both Captian Alina Dobbler and Professor Korra Thatch with fists and swords. She is a student of class 1-D (due to being held back in high school), a member of the Gargoyle Studies Club (She thought it was a fan club for the "Gargoyles" T.V. Series), and a serious gamer when she has time. Ivy fights for her friends and loved ones and does not back down. Despite her attitude, she is an incredible tactician and extremely intelligent (professors often comment that she would be a star student if she showed up).

Other Dorm Residence

Lucifer Locke (Twst Locke) - 2nd year (Half-Fey)

Estella Shocke (Twst Shocke) - 3rd year (Electric EelMer)

Benjamin Barrell (Twst Barrel) - 2nd year (Human)

Marshall Frost (Twst Marshmellow) - 3rd year (Human)

Lysandra DeBrock (Twst Mordue) - 2nd year (Bear Beastwoman)

Dorm Holiday Activates

Halloween Dorm theme: Haunted Doll House (Based on Coraline) - The dorm based on Halloweens KING serves up some serious flights for Halloween. They want to scare the pants off every visitor. Tho Crowley has forbidden them from doing their original idea (a recreation of Halloween Town with accurate dead bodies) because it needed to be PG-13. So Grace suggested theming there haunt after a book. What could go wrong with a Haunted Doll House, especially based on a childrens book??? (Note: Crowley Regretted this decision quickly but it was too late)

Winter Holiday: Dorm Voluntary Outing to the middle of the sea with Dr. Dobbler and Captain Alina Dobbler (Based on 'Treasure Planet' and 'The Lost Empire') or staying on campus for dorm repairs.

Beanfest: The Dorm is off-limits, but they use it anyway.

Ghost Wedding: Ivy is plotting a Missions Impossible-esque ploy to get her brother back. While poor Marsh is forced to offer himself to the ghost bride... he got slapped for having a weird smile. (Note - Marsh is a big teddy bear, and Ramshackle spent the next day consoling Marsh and telling him his smile is lovely)

Fairy Gala: Ivy and Grace are forced into Modeling.

Camp Vargas Survival Camp: Grace and Grim go to both; Luci, Estella, Benni, Lyn, and Marsh are in Athletic, and Reyna, Ivy, and Cyn are all in the Artistic group.

Weekly Game Night and Movie Night - Tournament-style weekly event for all Ramshackle members, members can bring 1 guest to have as their partner. Everyone contributes a thumark, and the winners gets the pot! On weeks everyone is poor: They switch it out for a movie (usually horror or spooky)

Summer Research Trip: The Summer Research Trip is led by the former Thatch Professors (Dr.Dobbler, Captain Dobbler, Dr. Thatch, and Professor Thatch). Since most, if not all, the members of Ramshackle and the other former Thatch students are either banned, cannot, or do not want to go home, the Docs and their wives take the students on an archeological dig in the Jungle's of the Sunset Savana. Since they are now part of NRC, the professor's extended the invitation to other students as well. The excursion last most of the summer and can stay the entire summer if they wish! (based on Tarzan and The Jungle Book)

Glorious Masqurade: Grace and Grim Go as assistance, and Cyn goes as a guest! The only reason this was allowed his beacuse Ramshackle agreed to be on their best behavior so they could make mechanical dead people! All in the name of Halloween!!! (And Marsh and Lyn were put in charge).

Playful land - Grace, Grim, Reyna, and Ivy go to Playful Land and see that Fellow has a very uncanny likeness to a fellow Thatch students... so Ivy gets in trouble "investigating" Fellow and Rey gets introuble "Investigating" the puppets and invading their privacy.

Misc/Notes

After Cynthia and Grace were admitted into Night Raven officially, Crowley went through with negotioations on obsorbing The Thatch Academy For Trouble Mages into Night Raven. He knew if word got out that there were 2 lone female students who attended NRC, it would be an HR nightmare, and the press would have a field day. Thatch has been in negotiations with NRC to join schools for over 5 years, but Thatch not only had female teachers but mostly female students. Crowley turned them down since NRC was traditionally all male, but seeing as circumstances have changed, he went through with the deal! A win-win in Crowley's book. (Extept the Anti-Magic force agent, Detective Cyra Thorne <Twst Enchantress>, attached to the school due to the students' "records." She makes Crowley nervous.)

Crowley allowed the Ramshackle Students to renovate the dorm as long as their overseers (Dr. Dobbler and Captian Alina) approve, so there are a bunch of hidden trap doors, tunnels, and a few labs in the basement that no one is "supposed" to go in but Ramshackle residence.

Cyn, Ivy, and some of the other members throw parties in one of Ramshackle's basements that people pay to go to (They basically run a club), and not everything there is exactly school-sanctioned, but Crowley looks the other way since Cyn does his dirty work.

Grace was put in charge of keeping everyone out of trouble and in one piece (Aka, she was labeled Den-Mom). So whenever someone is in trouble, they go to Grace for help (even if it is over her head). Whenever they throw parties, they find someone to distract her or make her stay in another dorm for the night.

That being said, they have a speak-easy style club run by the ghosts and Cyn. No one knows how they get booze, but it appears every Sunday at 5, and Crowley gets a new bottle of wine on his desk at 6. (AKA, he is bribed, so he doesn't mind)

Ramshackle is very protective of its Den Mom. With her being Magic-less and being not of this world, they treat her as family and protect her from those who dare look down on her (One time Cyn heard a Scarbia guy say she should be kicked out for beimg magicless and he magically dissappered... and reappeaed 4 days later scared of his shadow and trembling at the sight of the Ramshackle emblem).

Somewhere in Ramshackle is a remote to the kitchen t.v. and the person who finds it gets 20 thumarks and control of the Kitchen t.v. for a week.

If you made it this far, thank you!!! I hope you enjoyed reading about Ramshackle and its residence! They are all part of my Twst Fic "A Tale of Two Yuus," and the 4 Oc's highlighted at the top are the 4 main characters. I will (eventually) link all their bios to their sections if you want to learn more about them! If you have any questions, want to interact with one of them, or want tagged once I post chapters, please comment!

Huge thank you to @/cozymochi, @/the-trinket-witch, and @/bunnwich! I commissioned the art of Ivy, Reyna, Kerby, Grace, and Cyn from them!! I did the dorm uniform designs and used base models as mannequins. I also wrote the notes on the designs, so excuse my handwriting.

Comments, Reblogs, and Likes are appreciated!!!

Do not steal!!!

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victoriansimmer · 9 months

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Moderately Mournful: A CC Collection

Behold, the birth of a series of Victorian CC dresses for the Sims 2. Do your Victorians die at an alarming pace that makes cholera chic look fashionable? Have you run out of mourning gowns for your widows whose husbands perished in the mines? Look no further (tbh you should probably keep looking, I have no idea what I'm doing)!

The first dress I'm throwing out into the ring took me an abominably long time to create, because, as I've mentioned, I am a noob. And BodyShop wouldn't load. This heavily-textured dress features a delicate lace collar and copper buttons. She ain't perfect, but she's a start. Mesh included.

Download (SFS): Moderately Mournful -- Edith

#sims 2 #historical sims #victorian sims #sims 2 cc

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silent-raven13 · 11 months

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Okay for my Modern Welcome Au fanfic, I’m making a Mother’s Day chapter, and I decided to draw all the moms. Everyone except for Miss Beagle is my own thoughts how they would look.

Miss Beagle belongs to Clown aka PartyCoffin. I just fan drew her in a cute Barnaby’s paw print apron (You can see his pup print and the large one) and I decided to give her a first name for the fanfic, since she needs one and a cute mama nickname. “Big Mama Betty”

Anyway in order!

Monique Dear “Mama Dear”: Mother of Eddie Dear lives in Louisiana and is a post-man. Her husband die in a terrible truck accident before Eddie was born. She is a feisty, spunky woman that loves to go out doors, train for anything survival. She is a sweet mother and big tiger mom. When she sees her groan son, she would give him a bear hug and pick him up like he was a toddler. Very accepting and would sound like Carol from OK KO (VA: Kate Flannery) She’s always working out, since she have to lift heavy packages, and can cook!

Eleanor Frankly “Mother Frankly”: Mother of Frank. A calm, soft spoken woman. She is a Neurosurgeon, has the most steadiest hands. When she uses knives or scissors, she always cuts beautifully; one thing Eddie finds amazing because hello Crafting! She’s very intelligent, comes from a very wealthy family. Lives in New York, specifically Mid Manhattan with her husband. Yes, they are happily married, but once they saw Monique... 🤭 let’s just say they wanted to do a poly relationship.

Serenity Joyful “Mama Llama”: Mother of Julie. A funny nickname Jonesy came up when he was a toddler and stuck to the Joyful family. Don’t mind the colorful vomit skirt, rainbow monsters love to represent their family. Since, Serenity is all about Maximalism boho-chic outfits, she loves to represent her children’s colors. Believes in nature, spirituality, crystal healing, and listens to trees. Very laid back, sweet, and always goofy. Believes problems can be solved with yoga and Chamomile tea. Lives in the Rainbow Forest not far from the Welcome Home Residents.

Charlotte Partridge “Mama Lottie”: Mother of Poppy. She’s exactly like Poppy, but sweeter like honey! Very caring, hates cursing, and she knows how to cook. Her socks were made by Poppy, when she learned how to sew. Loves to support and protect all her children. She will treat everyone like her own kids. Lives in West Virginia!

Maria Gloria Pillar Garcia “La Jefe or Tu Jefe”: Mother of Howdy. In my fanfic, Howdy is Mexican American. As a joke, him and siblings like to call their mom, the boss or say, “Tu Jefe esta llamando” It’s a thing I noticed with Latino Americans say about their parents like the joke, “Your mom is calling you or My mom...” You don’t have to get it if you don’t. It’s a thing I’ve seen. Anyway, she’s the boss of the family, and knows how to run things. I mean this woman gave birth over 300 caterpillars, so she has the right to run her family and the family’s ranch. What I can say about her? She’s a Monarch butterfly, lives in Michoacán, Mexico. Used to live in East LA.

Chantelle Darling “Mother Darling: Mother of Wally. Lives in Atlanta, Georgia. She’s funny, nice, but cross the line with her and she’s the first to fight. Very protective of Wally, and his a widow. So her and Monique are gonna get along just fine.

Miss Beagle “Big Mama Betty”: Mother of Barnaby. That dog is a HUGE mama’s boy! Everyone in the neighborhood knows her, she’s sweetest Mother Hen.

I’ma say this too. If they were Humans, All of them except Maria and Monique would be African American/black! Monique would be biracial. Maria would be Mexican American with dark brown skin tone. My Au is about inclusivity for BIPOC/POC.

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lescarnetsdehaku · 9 months

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what's your favorite kind of clothing? like what would you wear if practicality and cost etc weren't issues

My main vibe are chic vintage, where I oscillate between 2 states:

- "little twink man in the 60s waiting to find a sugar daddy in the italian cost" & "new widowed woman who just inherited and wears the biggest earrings you've ever seen"

- Trying to be the brightest and more colorful pantone block you've ever seen, a stabilo highlighter just vomited on me, the brightness of my pants will give you a seizure

If I were to take aside every issues my broke ass artist life is giving me, I would dress everyday like a 30s dandy in a smoker jacket, a 40s housewife in nightwear, 50s Dior model, a 60s formica funky little guy or a 1400 rich woman because, let's face it, 1400/1500 had the funkiest headwear.

#ask

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anika-ann · 2 years

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Love on the Brain - part 1

Ch1: Red Alert

Type: MCU x Criminal Minds crossover series

Pairing: Steve Rogers x reader Word Count: 3700

Summary: Finding out Steve has a stalker is some seriously bad news... but then it gets worse.

Series masterlist

Warnings: series includes criminal behaviour such as stalking or kidnapping; graphic violence, gun violence; (mentions of) death; allusions to dub-con; possible PTSD and flashbacks; sexual innuendos and foul language. Loads of fluff and teasing. I’m covering my bases here to make sure - probably sounds worse than it is. If you’re interested in specific warnings for individual chapters, let me know.

A/N: divider by @firefly-graphics; for non-CM readers - it is customary to start an episode with a quote, I shall keep up the good habit :)

“Humble souls are fearful of their own strength.”

William Gurnall

Tony Stark was without doubt a genius.

As you found out on multiple occasions – and today was apparently set to become another – he was also a douche.

Heading straight for Stark’s office, you practically forced Steve to shoot a text to Natasha to join you as well; because you meant what you said: Ironman and Black Widow, at least.

If you were contemplating making a phone call to people who would have much better insight than the Russian spy and a genius, billionaire, playboy, philanthropist, douche, no one needed to know just yet.

Because they would think you were crazy; even more than they were thinking now.

You presented the photos to Steve’s friends – dare to say your own, even if they were more of acquaintances still, your relationship with them not nearly as tight as with Steve – and earned yourself dubious looks.

And naturally, that was exactly what Steve was looking for: a confirmation.

A confirmation that you were freaking out over nothing.

He wouldn’t say it to your face – he was too kind for that and he was too well-aware you had every reason to have a ‘screwed’ view on this �� but it was obvious that it was what he was thinking all along and had only played along from your sake. For you to have a peace of mind.

Which was very thoughtful of him; and you wanted to very thoughtfully smack some sense into him before his stalker did it for you.

The haunting dead eyes of a man who had initially dismissed potential threat too followed your every move; and you were not inclined to add another pair or stormy irises to them.

Steve cleared his throat, gaze flickering between you and equally doubtful friends.

“So, we can all agree it’s a bit of a problem, but I honestly don’t think-“

“Steve, you have a stalker,” you jumped in, grinding your teeth when you heard him take it lightly, again, as the four of your stood around the table with the pictures splattered all over it. “I’m not sure I care what you think just this once.”

Steve’s eyebrows flew nearly into his hairline at your brisk tone.

Good for him.

“Don’t you think you might be exaggerating a bit, Squirt?” Tony asked, eyebrows raised as well, one corner of his mouth up too. Damn, that smirk of his irritated the hell out of you. “I mean, yes, it’s creepy, but it’s probably just some chic who wanted a pic of him. Do you know how many Cap girls are there?”

“Well, it’s not great this chic knows where he lives…” Natasha opposed gently in support, despite her stance clearly saying you were making bigger deal of this than necessary.

But at least she wasn’t dismissing it, unlike someone. At least she used her brain.

“Okay, fair. But still-“

“Tony, you can’t honestly think this is some chic who wanted a pic of Steve,” you spat his own words back at him, sarcasm dripping from every single syllable. “There’s 23 pictures! Pictures of Steve from various places. Whoever took them, they’ve been following him around, quite stealthily I might add---- and for all we know, there could be more than one of them, whoever they are.”

“I hear you, but-“

“No buts! They’ve been following him around, taking pictures of him, they know where he lives and he didn’t even notice. None of us did,” you argued, getting worked up by the second.

Surely they weren’t so stupid? How could they—how could Tony think this was just an excited fan? Christ, this was absurd.

And the little light on his Stark’s watch blinking for almost a minute now notifying him about god-knew what was really getting on your nerves too, reminding you that Tony Stark was probably too busy to care about something as insignificant as his friend being in grave danger.

“The fact alone that we missed it should ring some serious alarm bells. But then the note? Not worthy – what does that even mean? We have no idea! That’s not a crazy fan, Tony. The crazy fan you have in mind sends naughty pics, a love letter, their underwear for god’s sake-!“

“Ew.”

“They have been known to be delivered to the Tower mail, yes,” Tony confirmed with a grimace.

“This is a stalker,” you insisted, imploring gaze set on the supposed genius who still refused to get on board.

In search for help, you moved your gaze to Natasha and then to Steve who stood by your side, arms crossed. He was frowning now and you could practically hear the wheels in his head turning as he thought hard.

Perhaps he would finally realize you were right.

“Alright,” Steve spoke at last, relaxing his defensive stance a little, turning to face you more. “You’re providing enough arguments, I’m convinced.”

Thank God.

You had no idea what exactly caused the change but you were not to question it.

“But even so, I can deal with a stalker. I’m not exactly a normal target, I’m a supersoldier.”

Spoke too soon.

You breathed in and out, slowly, to calm yourself and find the right words.

“Sure you are, Steve. But we don’t know what we’re dealing with. This might as well be a warning – that person might be saying I’m watching you. I know things about you. And we don’t know what their motivation is,” you argued.

With a sigh Steve’s shoulders fell, his eyes roaming your face. And damn, was it driving you crazy as he was watching you with that damn concern, concern for you instead of him-

Your gaze flickered to the photos on the table. Bingo.

“Plus, if not for you, it’s important to find whoever took these pictures for the women in the photos. They might be in danger too,” you added quickly, knowing not only that this would work, but also that you were right.

Just because you were more focused on Steve, it didn’t mean you didn’t give a damn about other people. It was less likely, but the women could be a target too.

“She’s got a point,” Natasha chimed in and you shot her a small grateful smile, throwing your hand her direction.

“Thank you!”

Finally someone who understood. You could kiss her at the moment, really.

“…I hate when you’re right,” Steve sighed.

Your smile widened as you patted his bicep lightly. “I know, GG.”

He glared at you, unimpressed; but when you let your hand rest on his arm instead, squeezing lightly to remind him you were doing this because you cared, not because you wanted to make him miserable, his expression softened, large palm covering yours.

From the corner of your eye, you noticed Natasha and Tony exchanging a meaningful look, but you ignored it, just like the fact Bruce Banner was quickly approaching the automatic glass door, a file in his hand.

“Okay then,” Steve hummed, squeezing your hand before releasing it and leaning his palms against the desk. “Let’s focus on the women first. I don’t think I’m in any real danger-“

“Uhm, whatever it is you three are talking about,” Doctor Banner interjected as he had just entered, frowning harder when he noticed the pictures, “you might want to rethink that statement. Do you ever check your messages, Tony?”

Tony rolled his eyes, tapping absentmindedly on his watch to dismiss the blinking light.

Steve sighed, probably knowing that the answer to Banner’s question was no; but he seemed intrigued by the way the scientist rushed in.

You just fought the nausea that hit you when Bruce’s words punched you straight to your gut; even if you agreed.

“What’s that now?”

“The interns have been taking stock in the past week,” Banner replied hesitantly, talking more to Tony than anybody else despite Steve being the one to ask.

“Yeah…? Yeah. I knew that.”

Sure thing, Tones.

“There’s… uhm, there’s… something missing.”

The sentence itself said little next to nothing; Bruce’s significant look to Tony however, spoke volumes.

It took the billionaire a few seconds, but then the change was instant. His face turned paler, all cockiness vanishing as his gaze flickered between Steve and Bruce, that genius brain racing thousand miles a minute.

“And by something, you mean…”

“The bullets, yes.”

“Fuck.”

The remaining trio of you, Steve and Natasha watched the exchange intently, looking between the two scientists with no avail.

Was that a code for something?

Or did someone actually steal some bullets? More importantly, why were they so bothered about it?

Tony’s usual nothing-can-touch-me-cause-I-have-no-heart face showed signs of worry. Tony Stark worrying was worrisome, to be frank.

--no, take that back; he looked guilty.

Oh god, what?

“…what am I missing here?” you asked, suspicion rising with every second of silence between Tony and Bruce.

“I’m missing it too,” Steve hummed, crossing his arms on his chest again.

Tony licked his lips, exchanging another silent conversation with Bruce.

“They need to know. Apparently,” Bruce added, eyes straying to the table.

Steve’s photos. Missing bullets. Was there a connection?

You hoped not. Even if there was, you couldn’t fathom it. Because the easiest connection seemed to absurd to even think it, no?

Tony cleared his throat, his mask of confidence slipping back on. Just because of that, you already knew that whatever he was about to say was going to skyrocket your blood pressure.

Nevertheless, you promised yourself you wouldn’t yell – because that wouldn’t help anyone, right?

Except maybe you.

You took a deep breath, bracing yourself.

“Alright, before you eat us alive, little miss firecracker, I’d like to remind everyone that aliens have invaded Earth before-“

“Tony…”

“-and one of them knew how to control minds so… you know,“ Tony smirked humourlessly, vaguely gesturing with his hands as if his words would make more sense then. “We aren’t exactly unreasonable here.”

Steve remained silent as you were beginning to understand; but Natasha was faster to put one and one together.

“Tony, tell me you didn’t,” she demanded, voice ominous.

Tony just shrugged and grimaced again.

“Look, he’s not Barton, okay. Even our resident Robin Hood made quite a mess. And Rogers would be a lot harder to contain, serum and all that.”

A lot harder to contain?

Sure, you were familiar with what happened during the Battle of New York, you joined shortly after and you heard all about it, including Clint being mind-controlled and earning himself a very hard blow to the head to snap him out of it, but…

What the heck did Tony mean by ‘contain’?

“Tony… what exactly did you do?” you asked, menacing as you straightened your posture.

Slowly, you were constructing an image from the keywords you heard – and it was a nasty one.

You didn’t think you could keep your promise; you were about to yell. Because you could feel the pressure inside you building astronomically fast.

“We developed, uhm, well, let’s call them modified bullets that would help us contain Capsicle just in case-“

“I beg your fucking pardon,” you hissed.

Your blood felt both icy cold and nearly boiling, brain short-circuiting. He did what again?

“Look, he’s the muscle okay!” Tony justified himself, raising his hands up defensively. “We just added a modified neurotransmitter-“

“Which could technically stop his heart-” Bruce chimed in silently, his words colouring the edges of your vision red.

“Not helping, Banner-“

“The fuck did you just say?” you whispered, sounding surprisingly calm.

Scarily calm, you supposed. The calm before the storm.

Anyone with a single shred of reason would have kept quiet, waited with batted breath.

And yet, Tony had the audacity to open his mouth again, even as you were still processing the incomprehensible grand reveal.

“Oh come on, don’t look at me like I’m the bad guy here! It’s not like it’s not justified! I wasn’t alone to do this. And we have an antidote ready too, they didn’t take that, so we’re fine-“

“YOU INVENTED BULLETS TO KILL STEVE SPECIFICALLY AND HAVE THE AUDACITY TO SAY IT’S FUCKING FINE?!” you shrieked, voice jumping an octave and about forty decibels up as you did so.

Every single person in the room winced, including you, but fuck it.

This was a nightmare. A nightmare you were about to wake up from any second, any second, because there was no way Tony and Bruce were that daft and then let someone steal such thing, Christ--- not this wasn’t real, silence never lasted that long in a fight either, this wasn’t-

Steve cleared his throat loudly.

“Well,” he started, levelling Tony with a disappointed and yet somehow compassionate glare. “He didn’t say kill. Clearly, they are meant to incapacitate and I hate to say it, but… he’s got a point, actually. It’s understandable-“

Your heart skipped a startled beat as your head snapped back to Steve.

He was kidding. He must have been.

“Understandable? How is that understandable? Did you not just hear him?” you questioned incredulously, gesturing to Banner to prove your point.

“Banner’s overselling it,” Tony sighed wearily. “The chance of a cardiac arrest is like 10% and only if he’s hit in-“

The change of a cardiac arrest within you in the next five seconds was around 89%, violent shudder composed of horror and rage shaking your spine.

“That’s still 10% too many, don’t you think?! Are you crazy? What if someone got their hands on--- oh wait. They already HAVE!”

The satisfaction of proving your point was rather bittered by the fact that the worst-case scenario was already happening.

Not only Steve had a stalker – he possibly had a stalker with bullets designed to shoot him dead.

You felt an icy fist squeeze your heart at the mere prospect, the image empty eyes of every single person you had sworn and failed to protect before flooding your mind; the warm browns of Kyle Meyers right at the front.

You couldn’t even imagine—you could not have Steve add to the sea of people, you wouldn’t-

“I know, goddammit! But look, if--- if these two things are connected and if it’s a stalker obsessed with taking pictures of him, they have a crush on Steve here, right?” Tony babbled, trying to save the situation. “So they’re not gonna use it. They’re probably-“

“Not all stalkers have a crush on their target!” you exploded again, fist hitting the table and making things rattle.

You didn’t give a damn. You were seething.

How could they be so stupid? How could they even invent such thing? How could they not guard it with their lives once they had?

“We don’t even know for sure these are related. And if they are related, the unsub could be holding Steve on a pedestal and the moment he doesn’t live up to the image the unsub has about him – or the moment they reveal themselves and he rejects them – it’s a game fucking over! Not to mention the bullets might be the more important thing for them! The photos might as well be a threat following the theft! Do you really not see the immense danger you put him into?!”

You were employed by idiots.

The smartest idiots the world had ever known and they just happened to join forces with a reckless punk you had the misfortune to fall for.

Goddammit, you should have never transferred, at least Hotch knew what he was doing most of the time.

The moment Steve chose interrupt your furious thoughts and speak again – a sarcastic “I’m still here, you know.” – Tony tilted his head, curious. “Unsub?”

Really?? That was what he took from your speech?

God, you were going to strangle him.

“Unknown subject,” Natasha muttered absent-mindedly, “it’s a term used-“

“You put his life at crazy risk!” you interrupted, because clearly Tony’s skull was simply that thick. Genuis your ass. And a fucking hypocrite. “You think Steve could be dangerous if someone messed with his mind? Fair enough then! Where’s your bullet, Antony? Or Banner’s for that matter?”

“We’re actually working on Bruce’s... And are we on the full first names thing now?”

“We are if you’re being an idiot!” you snapped, hitting the table again, feeling your blood boil because his cockiness and his lack of conscience was just.

So.

Fucking.

Irritating.

A rough yet tender hand covered your fist, making your hand twitch, unfairly unbothered voice reaching your ears.

“Come on now, there’s no need for insults. We can discuss the need or lack of need for those bullets later. What’s done is done. We need to focus, be rational. Let’s take a breather, calm down a bit.”

The moment the words left Steve’s lips, he looked like he wanted to take them back. Your hand slipped from under his as you stood chest to chest with him, face to face – even if you were looking up to do so.

“There’s a stalker out there with bullets that could kill you – as in bullets that are more likely to kill you than any other. I’m sure as hell not gonna calm down. How are you so calm?” you accused him, angrily stabbing your index finger into his right pec.

You were furious you were the only one taking this matter really seriously even now.

Did they not read papers? Did they not know the statistics on even normal stalking cases?

You knew Steve was brave, hell, he was the bravest and strongest person you knew, but there was someone out there for blood, his blood and he— oh.

Oh.

You were such an idiot.

Of course he wasn’t concerned as much as he should.

He was always reckless about his safety. He was a supersoldier after all. Dumb, arrogant man with serum coursing through his veins-!

“How would you feel if it was someone else on the team in such danger?” you whispered, voice levelled as you looked up, knowing you hit the nail on the head when you saw his expression falter.

How would you feel if it was me? was left unspoken, but Steve heard it.

And the truth was he’d punch Tony in his face already, more than once, hoping some blood would smear that cocky grin of his.

But you didn’t know that.

Just like he didn’t know that you killed Tony in ten different ways in your head already, because he endangered the life of someone you loved. And was being a dick about it.

“…point taken,” Steve murmured simply.

Good. Finally.

It seemed it was a good time to start calling the shots now that you were on the same page.

“Good. You’re gonna sit on your ass and not take a single step out of this building,” you said slowly, touching your fingertip to his chest as did so, gentler this time, then moved onto Nat. “You are gonna make sure he’s not wandering off.”

And lastly, you shot a stern, downright murderous glare at Bruce and Tony – because seriously, what the hell was wrong with them.

“You two are going to fix it and get the antidote right now. Understood?”

The fact no one dared to joke and say yes captain or a similarly obnoxious thing would be a victory if it wasn’t a testament to how bad the situation was.

With a huff, you spun on your heels, stalking away.

“And you?” you heard Tony called after you, inclined not to give him the answer.

But Steve deserved to know. And maybe Natasha.

You replied without bothering to even falter in your step.

“I’m gonna call in the reinforcements.”

As you left the room, you regretted that the doors were automatic and you couldn’t slam them to let out some steam; you truly truly wanted to hit something. It seemed a dial icon on your phone would have to do.

The door slowly closed behind you, leaving the four Avengers slightly dumbfounded by your dramatic exit.

“Reinforcements? What reinforcements? We got this… we’re the Avengers. There’s no such things as reinforcements for us.”

“Try saying reinforcements one more time,” Natasha peeped silently towards Tony, a poor attempt at lightening the atmosphere.

The corners of Steve’s lips twitched despite the circumstances, while Tony shot the redhead a glare.

“Har, har. But seriously. Where did miss firecracker go?”

Despite the confusion in the room, Steve sighed – because he understood what you meant.

He didn’t like the situation one bit, he was going to have words with Tony after this mess was over, but he had enough reason to see that at the moment, it was not the time – and that Tony and Banner were not completely wrong in their efforts.

He wasn’t sure reinforcements were needed, but he understood your need to at least try. Because unlike Tony, Steve was conscious of the fact he hadn’t seen half the terror you had, at least not of the same kind.

Steve was used to dealing with unspeakable crimes that human hands could do, had seen rivers of blood and he had scars, physical and mental to prove it; but your previous job had had you see the horrors of the human mind. And the images left scars just as deep as his.

Steve didn’t like this, but he understood that for you, it must have been hundred times worse. And he had enough self-awareness to see that had it been you in the same danger he potentially was, he would order every single agent working under the Avengers Initiative not to get a minute of a shuteye until you were safe again.

So frankly, your plan to call reinforcements was only natural.

“I think she’s going to call her old team,” he said simply, only earning a puzzled and offended look from Tony.

“Didn’t she used to work for FBI? I mean, seriously? She’s gonna call in the FBI to help the Avengers? That’s like brining a knife to a gunfight… and I mean, both the guns and the knife are on the same side and the other side has guns too-“

“Great analogy, really, Stark,” Natasha praised him, voice dripping with sarcasm.

“It’s a specialized unit,” Steve explained, only earning a frown.

“Specialized in what?”

“Human behaviour,” Natasha spoke this time, clearly having done her research on you.

Or perhaps Steve wasn’t the only one you confided in, at least on the basics. He wasn’t the sole owner of the right to know important things about you after all; as much as privileged he felt when he thought he was.

“Huh?”

“Profilers, Tony,” Steve sighed, glancing after your retreating figure as you turned corner, phone on your ear. “She’s gonna try to bring in profilers.”

→ Next part

Series masterlist // Steve Rogers masterlist // Misc masterlist

Your response to the prologue was the kindest, thank you for that 💕 I’ll try to keep it up!

I also LOVE you’re invested enough to think of theories 🥰 I won’t be confirming nor denying them🤐 BUT if you decide to do continue (nothing wrong with that at all 🥰), please mark them as POSSIBLE SPOILERS... I mean, one day you might get it right, so give others a heads-up👀 thank you 🙏

#fanfiction #steve rogers x reader #mcu x criminal minds #steve rogers x you #steve rogers imagine #criminal minds imagine #crimnal minds crossover #captain america x reader #captain america x you #captain america imagine #steve rogers fluff #steve rogers #captain america #criminal minds #criminal minds fanfiction #love on the brain #anika ann

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lifeandlies-of-regulusblack · 6 days

Note

🌍 🏆 💡

Please please please do tell!! 👀👀👀

hi villain!!!!!

🌍 What is your dream AU?

Ok why is this so hard to answer? I think i have more than one. and i love them all equally.

Atomic Blonde AU - what a good movie, first of all. i can't stop thinking of reg, playing charlize theron, being this extremely sexy and lethal assassin, sent to Germany just before the Berlin Wall falls. I just want reg in a high stake, assassin mission where he has to kill an entire espionage ring while looking like an invitation to fuck. charlize was chic in the movie but i want regulus to be elegantly slutty. I want him fighting like black widow but with his ass out and skin showing. I want men after him to call him a bitch, then after, have regulus knife their eye out and ask them, "who's your bitch, now?"

BDSM AU - there's a need in my bones for a good, honest to god, BDSM fic!!!!! PLEASE OH MY GOD. with anyone else, i am BEGGING for regulus to be the sub. but with jegulus? I WANT SUB JAMES SO BAD. PLSSSSSSS. i want james dropping and regulus just pressing kisses over his body to bring him back! i want james being regulus' cock warmer >:( i want regulus having james fuck other men and james not even giving single fuck about who's dick he's bouncing on because the one thing that matters is reg's praise. i want james trying so hard to be the bestest boi for regulus and having a panic attack because he thinks regulus didn't like this one certain thing that he did, only for regulus to come gather him in his arms and tell him he was such a good boy. I want a pouty james that gets jealous once he finds out that he's not reg's first sub! || for moonseeker, bartylus, and [redacted ship] i want regulus to just, just, have the time of his life being a brat and being punished accordingly~ i want regulus pissing off his doms so much and then giving them whiplash the instant he turns into a princess. AHHHHH BDSM AUUUUUUUU.

Supernatural AU - well, well, well. It all starts and ends with the brothers. oh gods. this au. i fucking- I CAN'T EVEN. Sirius finding Regulus because he wants Regulus in on Alphard's mission to hunt demons, while Regulus wants nothing to do with that world anymore. Think Black Brothers! But prophesied to either save or end the world. One is destined to be the vessel of archangel Michael (Sirius) while the other is destined to be the vessel of Lucifer, himself (Regulus). AHHHHHHHHH fuckkkkk. Regulus slowly struggling with bloodlust while Sirius is the one stable thing that keeps pulling him back OH GODS. Regulus having a panic attack while Sirius whispers promises to his ear about how he'll never let anyone take his little brother from him, and that he won't ever let Regulus lose himself. Cue Sirius telling demons of hell to go fuck themselves because they're never going to get Regulus. Think the brothers going all around the world killing demons, running from angels (wanting to collect Sirius), hunting monsters, exorcising ghosts!!!! One of them gets cursed and one has to make a deal with a devil!!! THE SHEER POTENTIAL OF THIS AU. long roadtrips where it's just the brothers talking, fighting, healing, and crying. If there was EVER a good au to show how codependent and unhealthy these brothers are, THIS, THIS IS THE ONE. I want Regulus travelling through the depths of hell because Sirius was taken, in the hopes to kill the vessel of Michael (Albus). I want Lucifer (Riddle) trying to take Regulus under his wing while he's in hell desperately looking for Sirius. I want Regulus to find Sirius at the cost of his humanity <3 and Sirius despairing because he wanted Regulus to live a normal life, because that's why he gave himself up! And Regulus telling him to stfu and focus because now they gotta fight their way out of hell. Oh, and James is Castiel but falls in love for Regulus. Remus is Crowley.

🏆 What do you wish more authors in your fandom would write about?

Regulus not being a punching bag or a FOIL for sirius ://

To be honest, I guess just a little bit more nuance when it comes to the brothers? and a little honesty, too. like if you're going to write about the black brothers and say you'll be exploring both sides, then please explore both sides? Don't play at doing so, and then end up favoring one brother over the other too.

Like, i think we all know that both kids were stupid and cruel to each other, so have them both apologize. Or own up to their shit.

I'm so sick of these two being caricatures for badly written trauma and childhood abuse, especially when it's clear the author has no idea what they're talking about and is going off of the fumes of fanon, where regulus is this meek child while sirius is this brave victim kid who fought against his parents ://

Hmmm... and maybe I'd like to see more morally gray regulus having fun with not giving a fuck.

I think I'd also like to see Regulus having a solid support system.

💡 Tell me a headcanon (and who you wish would write it)?

When Sirius falls into the veil, it's his brother's hands that catch him.

@queerregulusablack @woobyo

When Regulus tries pushing Sirius into the floo to get him to the Potters (because Sirius has to leave and he doesn't want his brother to die in their home), Sirius grabs hold of him and they come tumbling right into Potter Manor. Sirius thinks he can convince Regulus to stay but... Regulus just tells him to live like he's always wanted to. He walks right back into the flames, with his brother telling him not to go.

cait, morgan, ghostie, and villain because they hurt me so well <33

#asks #villain #regulus black #the black brothers #sirius black #marauders era

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stevecinematicuniverse · 2 years

Text

Saturday, August 6, 2022

#scarlett johansson #black widow #marvel #fashion #style #work outfits #chic #chic outfits #chic style #classic style #business chic #feminine style

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ae-neon · 1 year

Text

The House of Mirrors

Chapter 7

The boutique on Helena Avenue was bigger than Nesta had imagined it would be. The building, like most in the silver quarter, was chic; new; metal and glass. A part of the city that shined as well as the metal from which it got its name.

While she was glad Rhysand had gotten them the invitations – certain it was the first step in the right direction to ensure Feyre’s happiness – they had come at such short notice that it would be almost impossible to find anything suitable to wear.

On the slimmest chance, Nesta had followed a link from her favourite designer to see they were partnered with a store in the city which boasted a small circle of designers all being sold under the same label: Astra Ardour.

She’d emailed the designer, banking on some favour as a long-time client and received a reply that while they themselves were out of the country, they had made a special arrangement with the store managers.

It was even more luck that on arrival Elain was somewhat familiar with the twin managers, Nuala and Cerridwen.

After some back and forth it became clear the Astra Ardour and Elain’s florist shared a large pool of clients with respect to weddings. Elain charmed them with stories of designing bouquets to match their beautiful dresses, recounting some in detail that had the women grinning.

In turn, the consultation and fittings seemed to breeze by with Nuala and Cerridwen showing off not only their fashion expertise and diverse selection but their ability to mediate between Estanna who insisted on more modest, traditional clothing and Feyre whose personality could only be captured in the bold and modern.

In the end, it was their mother forced to give in to a sleek, high waisted suit on which the pair offered to print one of Feyre’s own artworks.

Elain was matched with a fitted pink dress with a heart shaped neckline, subverted by an almost scandalous thigh slit, hemmed in soft pink ruffles that drew even more attention to the skin it showed.

Nesta opted for something simple she could buy on the spot, citing time constraints and wanting to pay the designer back for the favour.

Modest. Black. Repentant. Widow.

Her mother approved, at least; mouth less tensed once she saw Nesta wave off a white dress with daring cutouts along the side.

Nesta had noted the difference before, most recently in the way Feyre threw herself onto the couch between their parents to show off the Gala tickets and the names of the artists attending.

At that age Nesta had been well behaved, academically outstanding and ready to marry a man she did not know without question.

She did not resent Feyre. But it was difficult to not feel some envy.

Feyre had prodigious art talent that set a clear purpose early in life; a pursuit their parents encouraged, pleased when they received just as much praise for her achievements as she did.

And later, when puberty hit, Feyre had Nesta and Elain to fix what they could and cover what they could not – fearful they might shoulder the blame of not setting good enough examples.

Feyre moved through life with open heart – unafraid to express as freely and as fully as it felt.

And even now – violet eyes and an easy grin, art on the wall and the best cheesecake she had ever tasted...

Nesta caught the thought before it fully formed. She would not allow herself to envy that.

He had not heard from her in a week.

In truth he had no reason to, was sure she was busy preparing for the Gala if Mor’s to and fro from fittings was any indication of how much more women had to endure simply out of expectation, and he would be reunited with all three Archerons at the Gala anyways.

But he had sworn to himself he would uncover the mystery of Nesta, that it was a necessary precaution and having her go dark was not a good start.

He knew, at least, that she had not made any further contact with Amren and made no attempt to contact Azriel either.

So how had she been spending her days?

His distraction had cost him when it meant Cassian caught him off guard during their early morning sparring.

“You’re distracted,” Cassian had warned.

“I’m thinking.”

“About something more important than my fist flying into your face?” his cousin, hair up in a small bun and tribal tattoos inked across his chest, took a step back and relaxed his stance, “Whatever it is, get it out of your system somewhere else.”

From anyone else, the words might have been a jab meant to rile but Cassian knew enough about the damage humans could inflict on one another to respect it.

They were both better at fighting than they should have been, had been raised by hard men who sought to instill iron into their sons. And had been honed into weapons under the heat of their mandatory military service in Illyria.

Cassian’s steel had at least been born out of some sense of love and pride in tradition, one that grew a ferocious passion in him.

Rhysand’s had come with a crueler sense of purpose. “Hit them so they don’t get back up. Hit them so they get scared to ever question their existence below you. Hit them so that you never question it either.”

When Azriel began joining them, he sensed a similar cold brutality behind the mercenary's eyes.

Only someone as deranged as Cassian, who somehow grew more deadly with each hit, could match them in a fight.

In the ring at least.

Cassian swore as Mor won again.

They sat on the sofa, console controllers in hand, as Azriel and Rhys watched them duel from the dining table.

Mor had almost torn Rhys’ head off when she spotted the bruised swelling of his right cheek. She’d also challenged Cassian in retribution and whoever lost would be in charge of meals for the week.

“She cheats.” Cas said, shoving his controller towards Azriel who met the blonde's bloodthirsty grin with a worried frown.

“He’s just saying that because he’s the worst one here.” Mor said, picking her fighter.

“She definitely cheats.” Rhys warned in Illyrian before he turned back to his laptop and the financial report on Veritas Industries that let him know Keir couldn’t afford to play too close to the edge.

The current financial situation would slow his uncle down enough to give Rhys time to focus on pulling the strings that would secure his foothold in the inner city.

At the gala, Mor would let it slip to some chatterbox socialite that Rhys had his eye on someone there. Then at the New Year’s Starfall ball, Feyre would appear at his side with a ring on her finger.

By the beginning of Spring, they’d be married in a lavish ceremony and all the while he would have gained everything he needed to drive the Hybernians out of the city.

Everything was going according to plan…and yet he couldn’t shake the feeling that he was still missing some piece of the puzzle.

#the house of mirrors #acotar modern au #nesta archeron #rhysta #acotar fanfic #my writing #nestaweek2023 #day 7: free day

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russosafehaven · 1 year

Text

There Are Widows and There Are Men - Part 4

A/N: This is mainly just filler until I figure out where I want to take this.

Series Title: There Are Widows and There Are Men

Chapter Title: Part Four - You drew stars around my scars

Song: cardigan - Taylor Swift

Pairings: Billy Russo x Black Widow!Autistic!Reader

Warnings: Not many in this chapter, it’s just some light banter. It’s also going to be much shorter cause I’m so stuck. It does get slightly suggestive though, but no full of smut or anything

BR Playlist: @snowkestrel

TAWATAM Taglist: @thefictionalgemini @woowwwee @celestialams @noortsshift

Billy’s apartment was nice, really nice. It reminded you of your targets back in your assassin days. The walls were tall and empty, the lounge area sleek and looking untouched. If you didn’t know any better you’d have thought no one lived here. You knew a few tidbits about Billy and you had been learning more about him as the both of you traded traumatic anecdotes. He had a hand on the small of your back as he led you through the penthouse. The couch looked expensive, at a rough guess it looked like a FAO Double Sofa from Monc XIII. It went for nearly $30,000 and it shocked you that Billy would spend that much on something that looked unused. He gestured to the sofa and you took a seat on the plush seating. Rubbing your hands up and down the cushions as you lowered yourself down.

Billy walked out of the room, you turned around to watch him walk off. He headed into the kitchen and pealed his sweatshirt off revealing his toned arms. The look of them made you foam at the mouth like a rabid dog. He looked hauntingly attractive, his eyes were still cold. Most likely mulling over the events of these past couple of days. His fridge, like the rest of his apartment looked expensive and chic. A reflection of the man he had become since the horrors of his childhood. A bottle of what looked like some sort of fruit juice left the fridge as he retracted his hand. You watched with intrigue as he poured to glasses, walking them back over and taking a seat next to you.

“So…”

He started but trailed off just as quickly. Guilt settled in your stomach, if you had been more careful this wouldn’t be happening.

“So”

You echoed gently not knowing what else to say or do. After everything that had happened you were yet to process it entirely. Being shot, getting caught in an explosion and for Billy to witness it all. The one person you wanted to keep as far away as you could from the Red Room. From your life as the Blood Widow. Some people knew, Trish and Jessica being prime examples. Three others also knew, Luke Cage, Danny Rand and Matt Murdock. Along with you and Jessica, you all made up the Defenders. Although in this team you weren’t the Blood Widow but Eclipse. The midnight protector of young women and kids against trafficking.

“I can understand why you lied to me. I do, I think. Just… fuck it’s a lot to take in”

You hummed in agreement, it was a lot to take in. Especially when he hadn’t seen the world as you had. The two of you sat in silence, trading anecdotes between one another. Billy opened up to you more, discussing what happened in Cerberus, how Rawlins pinned it all on him in hopes Frank would kill him. If you were anyone else you would’ve been more shocked, but you were the Red Room’s perfect weapon. A genetic replica of not only Natasha Romanoff but the Winter Soldier.

“Sounds like we’ve both had fun lives Russo”

You took a sip of the fruit juice, savouring the flavour. It wasn’t often you entertained cravings like this. Being a former Black Widow had led to some less than healthy eating habits. Dangerous but it was ingrained in you, like you were a robot that had been coded to self destruct.

“Sarcasm isn’t a good look on you darling”

He had a beautiful smirk gracing his features. It made you sappy to your core, the way he looked at you. Never in your life had you felt this way, so accepted. Especially by a man who had power over you and your choices.

“So what are we going to do about the Widows coming after me?”

Your voice was fragile, on the verge of breaking. Even being trained to hide all your emotions, in this moment all you wanted to do was cry. Billy placed his cup down on the coffee table, reaching his hand over to you. You watched as he placed his hand on your knee. Rubbing up and down your thigh. It was strangely comforting, even if it was similar to what your ‘father’ had done it the Red Room. With Billy it was different, it was sweet.

“I’m gonna make some calls to Homeland and Frank, you’re gonna make some calls to your vigilante friends. You’re gonna be safe baby. I’m not gonna let anyone hurt you”

It took you a minute to process what Billy called you. The casual affection was unknown to you. By Billy’s reaction it was unknown to him as well. He threw himself up off of the couch, walking away from you. Ears tinged red.

“What did you just call me?”

Billy was nearly out of the lounge area when you asked him the question, voice heavy with a Russian accent. He turned around to face you, bright red from embarrassment. Trickles of sweat were appearing on his hairline. It was admirable in a way, a big tough Marine, CEO of a huge security company, embarrassed over such a normal thing. Except it wasn’t normal, not you or Billy. You’d never received affection from many people nor had Billy. Closest you got was Nadia and your ex girlfriend while closest he got were the Castles.

“Nothing, I said your name that was it”

His answer was curt and you couldn’t fight off your smile muscles as you grinned wildly. You stood up, walking short strides over to him. Taking your time as panic consumed Billy’s entire being.

“My names not baby милый мальчик”

Your hand travelled up Billy’s body, pressing gently on his pressure points. A force of habit from your assassin days. To him it was a reminder of how deadly you were. His dark eyes looked into yours, for a moment you felt like a cliché, getting lost in them.

“Fuck…”

He groaned softly as you pressed into his neck. Fingers digging into his supple flesh. You moved closer to the alcove of his neck, teeth nipping gently at him. Billy let out another groan, deep and primal.

“Call me baby again”

Pulling away you looked up at him. Staring into his eyes once again. His face was still flushed, even more so after the playful biting. Billy was slowly becoming putty in your hands.

“Okay baby”

He smiled at you. Your instincts took over as you pressed your lips to his. Living in the moment, savouring his sweet taste. The feel of his lips against yours, the way his hands never left your back. Refusing to travel in order to make sure you feel safe. As you pulled away you stumbled out a trail of apologies in Russian.

“Baby I don’t speak Russian, although I gotta say it’s very hot”

Was this what love was like? When you weren’t a mind controlled assassin but a normal person? You looked up at him, eyes widened in shock.

“You.. you like it?”

He nodded at your question. Moving a hand from your back to your cheek, cupping it delicately.

“I love it. When you speak Russian, or even just English with your accent. It’s really fucking hot”

You felt your face warm at the sentiment. Once again you connected your lips to Billy’s. It was harsh, causing the two of you to topple over. For the moment you forgot about the near death experience, forgot about the Red Room, about everything. It was just you and Billy laughing like idiots on the floor of expensive apartment. Kissing one another between breaths.

#billy russo #billy russo imagine #billy russo x reader #billy russo fluff #the punisher imagine #ben barnes #x reader #there are widows and there are men #the punisher #black widow!reader #black widow

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mermaidsirennikita · 6 months

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Hi! First I want to say that I love reading your blog/reviews, you always help me find something new to read. I was wondering if you can recommend me some books with a specific trope I usually enjoy and been craving to read lately. I don't know if you've read ''Just Imagine'' by Susan Elizabeth Phillips, but I really loved how the heroine was poor in the beginning and was kind of unrefined and an ''ugly swan'', but then grew up to be elegant and beautiful and smarter. Any similar recs?

Oh, thank you so much! That is extremely flattering. I try my best!

First off, if you haven't watched Sabrina (both the one with Humphrey Bogart and Audrey Hepburn AND the one with Harrison Ford and Julia Ormond, if I'm being real) you absolutely should, because those movies are EXACTLY that and pure romances. Heroine is the shy butler/driver guy's daughter who of course is not noticed despite being played both times by stunners, and she's in love with this cold, grumpy tycoon's playboy younger brother. She forlornly goes to Paris for a while and returns super chic and sophisticated. She immediately catches the attention of the guy she believes she's in love with, but he's engaged to this woman and his marriage would be strategically important for the company, so the older brother decides to distract Sabrina from him... and of course... falls in love for real.

When the Duke was Wicked by Lorraine Heath might hit for this! The main reason why the hero didn't notice the heroine is that she's a good bit younger than him (nine years) buuuut she was infatuated with him from a young age. Her father is a duke and her mother is formerly lower class, and she was brought up around a gambling hell, so she was seen as like... kind of a semi-tomboy card shark who spent a lot of time with her brothers. She asks the hero to help her find a good husband, and he's immediately like "well shit, she sure has grown up... a lot hotter". An all time favorite of mine--so romantic and passionate.

I hate to recommend this, because I don't... dislike it, but I have a lot of issues with it. But you might want to check out Romancing Mr. Bridgerton by Julia Quinn. Penelope is seen as gauche, largely due to her mother, but begins getting noticed (mostly by Colin) later. A thing I do dislike about this is that like... a part of this is that she lost weight. Lol, I often describe When the Duke Was Wicked as "Romancing Mr. Bridgerton if it didn't suck" so idk, proceed with caution.

Ever Yours, Annabelle by Elisa Braden. Heroine was this a tomboyish type who followed her brother and his best friend around, totally infatuated with the best friend. Then tragedy strikes and they're separated for yeeears. She and the hero meet up again, and he's like "oh. She's DIFFERENT".

I JUST finished Goddess of the Hunt by Tessa Dare, and it's so good. The heroine's parents died when she was young, and she was basically raised by her older brother, who's like, not super responsible and a really hands-off guardian. So she always tagged along with him and his friends and become this hellion known for riding horseback and running around barefoot and being a total tomboy. When her brother's rake friend is about to get engaged, she goes to his other friend and asks for his help in breaking up the relationship, because she's in love with the rake. Supposedly. The friend she asks for help is super exasperated, but begins realizing... Oh damn...... she's like.... super alluring now. It's very hilarious, because she still is super rebellious. She's not very elegant, but she is everything else.

Olivia and the Masked Duke by Grace Callaway may give this to you. The heroine is kind of a childish hoyden type, and the hero is a good bit (11-12 years) older than her and is a widower. When she's like, 18-20 she catches him..... disciplining.... a woman... very consensually. And she becomes determined to have him. Of course, she is all grown up now, so he finds it more difficult that expected to have him.

A Rogue by Any Other Name by Sarah MacLean. The heroine was this kind of wildish girl, who was best friend with the neighbor boy until he disappeared after losing everything while gambling. Years later, he finds her again and she's now this like... spinster, but elegant and very respected. He forces her to marry him for Plot Reasons and they kind of need to reconcile with their feelings. Bonus: this Penelope is plump and stays plump, and Bourne cannot get enough of her. One of those "they have sex and he lays there and has an existential crisis" books.

The Kiss Curse by Erin Sterling has elements of this! The hero and heroine first meet briefly when they're in college, and he's from this locally famous family and is sort of refined, whereas she has purple hair and is kind of a mess. They don't see each other again for about ten years, during which she becomes this very flirty, admired girl in town (if a bit of a wildchild). Not very elegant, but like--he doesn't even remember her as she was lol.

Some of these aren't exact matches, but I do recommend checking them out because they may hit the vibe!

#romance novel blogging #book recs

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