#28 tuxes

[violetlunette]

The Quest for Silver (aka Master post of dumb Yuu trying to get a date)

A series of dad joke level posts for my MadYuusona.

Falling for/Over Silver

Lilia meets Yuu

Yuu wants a Date

Focus and wait for the Truck

Asserting Dominance

Killing Fashion

Rook's Advice

7x13 is 28

Gathering Intel

Yuu asks Silver

Warranty

The Optimist

First Date

Don't wake Yuu at Shit-it's-early-time

Throw a "t" at it

Satan and his Pretty face

Incubus?

Rumpelstiltskin?

Moronsexual

Trademark

Horse taming 101 by Yuu

Not all there

Make 'em men

Motivation

Twinkerbell

Moonshine

Buff Apple

Tux

Dog-Chick

The secret to Love

Batman

Lie

Body Language

How Low Can he go?

He Never Knew when to Quit

Yuu's bad luck while traveling

Operate

Handing over Ramshackle Dorm

Fooled Again

Rose Thief

Rosecanon

Down the Rabbit Hole

A Rival has Appeared

Another Rival Appears

Yuus and Lilia

Leona the Landing pad

Dragon Tracking

Untrustworthy

Voice of reason

Mask removal

Swim for Silver

Idiots

Bathroom

Sand Silver

Resemblance

Beanfest

Spooky Scary Skeletons

Humerous

Flash-bomb

Recruiters

Daddy

Thick thighs

Leg Spasms

Red Flags

Happy birthday, Silver!

Confession? No!

Malleus got the dream wrong

Call Me What You Want

Obsessive

Training

Confession?

Complaint

Malleus isn't real

Malleus isn't real 2

Malleus isn't real 3

Malleus isn't real 4

Crowley and the bonemen

Bone Joke

Skelephobia

Complaints

[heimeldat]

I was thinking about the rarity of dw characters dressing appropriately for the time/place where they land and decided to see how often it actually happens (in the new show. I'll probably look at classic later and compare).

1. Unquiet Dead, Rose's adorably inaccurate Victorian costume (what she saw on tv! Her best guess at accurate period wear!)

2. Idiot's Lantern, the pink swing dress.

3. Human Nature/Family of Blood, Martha wears period attire. idk if I should count the Doctor since he doesn't know he's dressing for time travel.

4. Fires of Pompeii, well, Donna's dress is *supposed* to be period so i guess it counts

5. Vampires of Venice, Amy and Rory both dress in local clothes.

6. Pandorica Opens/Big Bang, idk if we should count Rory in armor since he's not "dressing up" in period clothing...

7. Curse of the Black Spot, Amy throws a period coat and hat over her regular clothes, so... half period attire?

8. Let's Kill Hitler, I guess we can count River stealing her new outfit from the Nazis...?

9. Wedding of River Song, the Doctor wears a historical robe.

10. The Snowmen, is the Doctor actually dressed for the period or just dressed how he feels like? He discards the Victorian accessories in later episodes, so I think he's sort of trying to be period accurate.

11. Bells of St John, the Doctor has his medieval monk robes.

12. Cold War, Clara wears the period military coat over her regular clothes, so another half-period outfit?

13. Crimson Horror, the Doctor and Clara both dress for the period!

14. Deep Breath, Clara and the Doctor are both in period clothing.

15. Robot of Sherwood, Clara's red medieval dress.

16. The Caretaker, the Doctor thinks he's cleverly disguised in period workman's clothing...

17. Mummy on the Orient Express, Clara wears clothing accurate to the period everyone on the train is cosplaying, so I guess that counts.

18. Girl Who Died, Clara puts on local clothes

19. Thin Ice, Bill and the Doctor both dress for the frost fair

20. Oxygen, I suppose wearing the local space suits counts?

21. World Enough/Doctor Falls, Bill wears local clothes

22. Kerblam, they wear workers' uniform vests, call that half-period?

23. Spyfall, mayyyybe we could count the tux outfits? it's the fam's home period but it's definitely dressing to fit in, not normal clothes

24. Nikola Tesla's Night of Terror, the whole fam dresses for the period but the Doctor doesn't

25. Villa Diodati, again, the fam dresses properly while the Doctor doesn't bother

26. Legend of the Sea Devils, everyone dresses up; they're more cosplaying pirates than really dressing for the period, but close enough

27. Devil's Chord, both Ruby and the Doctor

28. Rogue, both ruby and the Doctor.

So if we're generous with what counts as a period outfit, that's 30/161 episodes or about 19% of the time where someone on the TARDIS crew dresses for the period. Half of those episodes involve the Doctor in period dress, Clara gets 6, the fam get 5, Bill gets 3, and other companions only dress up once or twice. (though the ratios are different per companion, of course... for example, Ruby got period wear twice in 8 episodes, 25% of the time, while Rose was twice in 26 episodes, 8% of the time)

[kimmipettie]

8/28/24 - A recent Christeen Classic

12/20/23 - Holiday Formal - Wearing a tux or dinner jacket is so uncomfortable and awkward, Chris. You will be much more relaxed in your elegant gown with the soft pleated skirt and ankle length half slip caressing your thighs for the New Years festive Holiday Ball. This is your future now that Aunt Julia has made you into a Miss.

Debuted 2/18/22 on Andy Latex. Thanks Andy and Christeen. Visit Andy at SMOOTHSLICKNSHINY.BLOGSPOT.COM

_________________________________________________

Formal for Chris will always mean a lovely dress or gown and presenting as a Miss.

(0)

[magpielangs]

Lexember Day 28: Eik

eik, *imka, /ēīk/ - (vt) to cut, slice, separate, to split apart; (n) point, end, edge, border imeik, *im~imka, /ī.mēīk/ - (vi) to be sharp, to be dangerous

The Proto-SZ word *imka meant "to cut," which quickly came to refer to the place where something has been cut, and then spread to other types of edges as well. Meanwhile, the reduplicated form also was used for edges, but specifically shifted to mean sharp ones, which then was metaphorically extended to describe other dangerous things.

Chí la mimeika mizhíd eiklhu se nésó ikás yimeik turtle DEM PRES-dangerous PRES-possible cut-IRR one LOC-use GEN-rock GEN-sharp That turtle is dangerous and might cut you with a sharp rock.

The Svinık cognate is just a verb, though the word for "knife" is derived from it, literally "cut-tool."

ikh, *imka, /ix/ - (vt) to cut, to split, to break tukh, *duw-imka, /’tux/ - (n) knife, blade

[thestrangesthell]

SFW Beetlejuice Headcanons because I cannot get to sleep 🪲

(movie verse edition)

1. Betelgeuse’s “house” is an absolute mish-mash of various styles from a multitude of decades, with the very worst of each trend featured in various ways throughout

2. The house is also an absolute state.

3. Despite his house being a pig-stye, Betelgeuse takes enormous pride in appropriately folding his suits when not wearing them. He even regularly steams his wedding tux and touches up the dust incase “another opportunity arises, ya’know what i’m sayin’?”

4. Betelgeuse went straight back to the waiting room after the evenings of BJBJ. Ever the optimist, he proudly declared to the room at large that he died (again) following the blow job of his after life.

That’s one way of putting it.

5. Lydia hoards everything and has a cupboard of shame in which to hide it.

6. Lydia takes her coffee au lait with sugar

7. Lydia unironically loved the dress from her (second) staged wedding and appreciated Betelgeuse’s attempt to put her in something she might like. (Albeit against her will and something she would rather die than admit)

8. Otho refused to attend Charles’ funeral because “they’re depressingly out of fashion and black is no longer slimming.” (rest in peace to the legendary Glenn Shadix ❤️)

9. After the death of Richard, Delia would force Lydia to go shopping with her once a month in New York as a “non-biological bonding ritual.” Lydia, who often had little else to do, secretly loved those outings.

10. Delia loves cats but never adopted due to Charles’ allergies and fierce love of birds.

11. Betelgeuse believes his chances with Lydia will only improve with his next attempt as the “third times the charm” mindset perfectly mirrors his curse.

12. Lydia is no longer scared of Betelgeuse per say, but can’t help but wonder how the hell he would follow up from his last stab at marriage if he ever found a way back out from the waiting room.

13. The inspiration behind the wedding levitation (say that three times) stemmed from Betelgeuse’s knowledge of Lydia’s love for it when the Maitlands indulged her.

14. Betelgeuse also wanted to shit on the Maitland’s weak-ass levitation skills and take it to the next level.

15. Though she tried to follow through with it, Lydia never chopped up (or burnt) the model after the events of BJBJ.

16. Betelgeuse takes his coffee black and cold

17. Lydia smokes but limits herself to one pack a year for use “in emergencies.”

18. Lydia smoked the entire remnants of the pack the week following the events of BJBJ

19. Lydia occasionally smoked when she lived in the house with the Maitlands, hanging out of her bedroom window to do so. That was until Barbara caught her. After that. Barbara made her share. Adam never noticed.

20. Betelgeuse never knowingly finishes a cigarette. He gets too distracted, either extinguishing them or throwing them aside to only light a brand new one seconds later. The cycle continues and has done for millennia.

21. Delia takes her coffee hot with spiced rum.

22. Lydia’s favourite scent is vanilla and sandalwood

23. Betelgeuse’s favourite scent is old leather and earth

24. Delia’s favourite scent is patchouli

25. Betelgeuse’s third favourite scent is exactly what you think it is

26. At one stage during the 70s, Betelgeuse tried to rig his office nickname while working for Juno to be “The B-Meister.” It never caught on and he’s somewhat grateful for that.

27. Lydia tries to be Vegetarian but sucks at it

28. Delia identifies as Vegetarian “on every seventh Tuesday”

29. Lydia keeps a growing collection of dead roses in her living room. She thinks the irony is hilarious

30. Betelgeuse admittedly lost baby Betelgeuse and had no idea where it ended up.

[daveyscheezitz]

Angel-

Cassandra Alexis Montero / Shaw

♡Angel, Cassie, Alex♡

• Mexican-American

• 28 yrs old {4 yrs younger than david}

• 2 sisters and 1 adopted brother

• 1 single father.

• Pansexual.

• She / Her

Born the youngest of 3, Cassandra's life was handed to her on a silver platter. Her father was an extremely successful lawyer and had more than enough to handle 3 girls all on his own. Not wanting his daughter to grow up too prideful of the money he made, he enrolled them all in public schools. There Cassandra saw a little boy being teased for liking feminine things. Trying to stick up for him, he was hit and bruised, but thanks to the taekwando classes her father enrolled her in, she was able to fight back with minor bruses. The same couldn't be said for the other boys. The boy she protected was Jackson Smith. After that they both befriended each other, becoming very close. Jackson was considered part of Cassandra's family because of how often he visited.When Jackson and Cassandra were 14, Jackson realized his sexuality and revealed it to his extremely religious family who kicked him out and disowned him. A couple months after, Oscar adopted Jackson as his own son. Latet that year, Cassandra was diagnosed with a genetic desease called Hyperthyroidism. She was stuck drinking pills until told otherwise.

When they were both 16, Omar moved all 5 of them to San Diego, California, for a business opportunity on a high-end law firm. Cassandra went to a barber shop, and he ended up cutting off her already short hair, misunderstanding what she wanted. She dropped, wanting to go into Criminal Justice and began cosmetology. Cassandra and Jackson grew up together, attending the same collage. They both did very well in college. At 22, they both graduated and, for the first time, went their separate ways. Cassandra opened a hair salon and barber shop in the city of Dahlia. Her shop did very well and was very successful. She hired many talented hairdressers and barbers as well as trained many future cosmetologists. She adopts two calupoh mix dogs her friends husband gave to her. A Calupoh / Great Pyrenees mix and a Calupoh / German Shepard mix. She names them Roman and Halo. At 24, while shopping items for her shop, she was confronted by a man falsely accusing her of following him. They began dating. David introduced her to Asher. She was reunited with her best friend. At 25, Cassandra gave David her playlist, which consisted of many Kpop songs. Cassandra spent 3 hours talking about it. David and Asher meet their mates, Father, Oscar, and their sisters. Oscar and David bond over Cassie and their shared love for her. David swears to protect her and keep her happy. David shifts for Cassandra. It freaks her out, but she calms down after a bit. Cassandra and Jackson were both 26 when the events of the inversion happened. After the inversion, neither Jackson nor Cassandra let their mates get out of bed for two weeks. Cassandra closed shop for two weeks, giving her employees paid time off. Cassandra, along with Darlin' (Avery) and Christian, helped and took charge of the pack while David, Asher, and Milo recovered. While at home, she has a small panic attack, but David calms her down. She developed a strong fear of losing the people she loves and cares for. Thanatophobia. At 27, David proposes to Cassandra, which she excitedly accepts. David and Cassie ... *play fight* the night away. Jackson and Cassandra go shopping for their outfits and choose a beautiful black gown and a gorgeous white tux. The next year, the wedding finally happens! Two best friends married two best friends and the party is wonderful. They both get walked down the aisle by Oscar. The ceremony goes just as amazingly as the four imagined. David and Cassandra, once again, play fought the best night of their lives away.

{AN}

This is my personal Angel oc. The other listeners will be coming out soon, but I rushed this and only had the energy for 1. I'm dog dookie at writing these. K see u l8r bye bye :]

*This was not previously proofread. You will find fuck ups of mine sry about that.*

[shiftingbuddy3]

Stardew Valley DR

Full Name: Camila Astra Quinn Nicknames: Cam, Cammy Aliases: Farmer girl Gender: Demigirl  Sexuality: Biromantic, Demiromantic, Asexual Pronouns: She/Her/They/Them Languages Known And Spoken: English, French and Japanese Love Interests: Abigail (Dating) Siblings: None Age: 20 Birthday: Summer 28 Nationality: Canadian  Religion: None Height: 5,3 Hair Colour: Blonde Eye Colour: Dark blue  Hair Type: fluffy Blood Type: O+ MBTI: INTP Fears: Autophobia (Fear of being alone), Nyctophobia (Fear of the dark) Job: Farmer My pets: golden retriever: Mable, Tux cat: Finn, Horse: Stella

[real-life-senshi]

There is no way in hell Hina and Mamoru heard attack noises, but not the amount of screaming that came from the civilians that also got Usagi's attention.

Also the boom at the background sounds like Jupiter's thunder, not Moon's attacks??

Oooo, the suspense. Does Tux show up in this episode? Genuinely do not remember. lol

THIS FILM LOCATION AGAIN? They used it in Acts 27 & 28, and Act 46 too?

I'm gonna skip screencaping the fight.

[friendly-books]

Side Jobs live blog

Side Jobs

A restoration of faith 

“The kid lifted up her Oxford shoes and mule-kicked her leg back in my shin.” pg. 2 Ha I love this kid already 

“I’m up on North Avenue, and it’s after dark. I’m not leaving a nine-year-old girl out here by  herself.” pg. 3 That’s a good way for the kid to be ACTUALLY KIDNAPPED 

“What happened to your car?”

“Broke down this afternoon.” pg. 4 The Blue Beetle mention!

“It belongs on the set of El Dorando,” she snapped” pg. 5 Ha 

“Sucker,” she called back, her voice merry.” pg. 7 Ha I love this kid so much spunk 

Oh no a troll

Poor kid with neglectful parents 

“A ten-year-old girl’s world should be full of music and giggling and notes and dolls and dreams-not harsh, barren, jaded reality.” pg. 13 Did Maggie have this? Before the Red Court Did Harry have this before his dad died? 

“Her eyes were bright with excitement. “That was the most disgusting thing I’ve ever seen. I want to be a wizard when I grow up.” pg. 22 Ha

“Hey thanks a lot of help, Officer”-I squinted down at her badge “Murphy.” pg. 22 Murphy! Holy cow Murphy attacks a troll. So cool

Vignette 

“I have nightmares about Hell, where all I do is add up numbers and try to have conversations with people like you.” pg. 28 Ha 

“Yeah. Advertising is all about lying” pg. 29 Ha and Bob’s not wrong

“You suck at lying, Harry. You really do.” pg. 29 Ha and yeah Harry isn’t great at lying 

“Why do you do it?

I squinted up at the skull. “Because someone has to” pg. 30 Yep

Something Borrowed 

“Oh for crying out loud, Dresden.” Billy said, his tone amused. “He’s just fitting the tux” pg. 32 Ha 

Poor Kirby 

“For one thing, this” she said, flicking a hand at me. Then she gave me a second, more evaluating look” pg. 37 Rude

“Billy put his face in his hands” pg. 39 Ha

“Once my mouth was open and my lips stared moving, it was pretty much inevitable.” pg. 40 Ha

“Don’t get paranoid Harry” pg. 42 Given Harry’s life I feel like he should be more paranoid 

Oh no the apartment 

Oh dear Bob and Murphy meet 

Oh no Faeries 

“A faerie has taken her place” pg. 49 Oh no

“THE WORST THING about being a wizard is all the presumption; people’s expectations.” pg. 51 That’s the worst thing?!? Really? 

“I keep meaning to go back and fix that, but there’s never time

I had a marriage like that” pg. 52 Ha and which one?

“That’s why you have to be careful what you choose to Look at. I don’t like doing it, ever. You never know what it is you’ll See.” pg. 58 Harry knows that well

“I let out a battle cry. Sure, a lot of people might have mistaken it for a sudden yelp of unmanly fear, but trust me: It was a battle cry” pg. 59 Ha 

The trust Murphy has to run into the fire

The pure force bridge is cool

Good thinking with the sprinklers 

“Jenny Greenteeth would kill Murphy too” pg. 81 Oh no wait why am I oh no-ing I know Murph is going to be fine 

“The next thing I knew, I was smashing my blasting rod down into Jenny Greenteeth, screaming incoherently and pounding as hard as I could.” pg. 82 Protective Harry 

“For one second, for one teeny tiny instant, I felt her mouth move. I felt her head tilt, her lips soften, and my oh-so-professional CPR-just for a second, mind you-felt almost, almost like a kiss.” pg. 84 No that’s not how CPR works 

It’s my birthday too

“I mean, you didn’t get my dad one, and you’re friends with him” pg. 91 Harry get your friends birthday gifts 

“I’ve seen you two fight.” She lifted both pale eyebrows. “What? Have you seen how many brother and sisters I have? I know my siblings conflicts?” pg. 91 Ha

Oh no Thomas is in trouble no wait nevermind 

I can’t tell if Harry would like LARP 

“If you weren’t my brother, I’d probably tell you that you have some awfully nerdy hobbies” pg. 104 Ha and pot meet kettle 

Oh no Molly 

“The streetlights just went out” pg. 110 Oh no 

“And then it went dead, along with the lights, the music playing on the speakers, and the constant blowing sigh of the heating system.” pg. 111 Oh no

Oh no Black Court 

I love the Cobbs 

Cool gravity spell

Nice job with the garlic 

“First, anytime I’m not shooting my mouth off to a cliched, two-bit creature of the night like you, it’s because I’m up to something.” pg. 145 Ha

“Right after my dad died, they put me in an orphanage. It was Christmas time. On the television, they had a commercials for Rock’em Sock’em Robots. Two kids playing with them, you know? Two brothers” I shrugged. “That was a year when I really, really wanted to give those stupid plastic robots to my brother.”

“Because it would mean weren’t alone.” Thomas said quietly 

“Yeah” I said “Sorry I forgot them. And happy birthday.” 

He glanced back at the burning mall.

“Well,” my brother said, “I suppose it’s the thought that counts.” pg. 148 Aw my heart 

Heorot 

Gard and Harry bonding moments let’s go!

“Just basking in the glow of your compassion, Officer.” pg. 154 Ha 

Caine is terrible 

“I glowered at him. I’m not sure I could take it if my dog was smarter than me.” pg. 164 Ha

Caine starts a fight let’s see who wins 

It’s just beer Caine needs to chill 

“Marcone is behind this? That son of a bitch is going to be sorry he ever looked at that-“ 

pg. 169 Harry you should know Marcone better than that. 

Also Marcone mention!

“Me and polite have never been on close term.” pg. 179 Ha

“It hunts in the wizard’s territory. The wizard will come to face it. The Erkling will give us great favor when we bring the wizards head.” 

“Gosh. I felt famous” pg. 186 Ha 

“Enough talk” pg. 189 Gard is going into a rage fun 

Gard is a Valkyrie cool

“Then she leaned down and kissed me on the mouth.” pg. 209 Whoa 

Day off

Aw Harry’s playing D&D with the alphas 

“Again with this decision.” Andi sighed “I mean I know he’s the actual wizard and all, but Christ.” pg. 212 Ha

“Sorry about your wraith, there, Darth Wannabe.” pg. 218 Ha

“I’m a-fixin to defend myself” I drawled, Texas-style.” pg. 218 Ha 

“Molly,” I said, trying to be polite, “I can’t stand the sight of you. Go away.” pg. 222 Ha

An explosion happened and Harry didn’t cause it shocking I’m shocked 

Kirby and Andi have fleas ha

“Mister the cat, appeared exactly as he always did” pg. 228 So cool

“Andi. Please don’t tell me that you and Kirby have been getting down while you were fuzzy” pg. 230 Why would they do that?

Molly set the lab on fire she’s taking after Harry 

“At least it couldn’t get any worse.” pg. 233 Harry you know better than to say that 

What a mess Harry shouldn’t take a day off.

Backup

Oh Thomas narrating 

“He’s Gandalf on crack and an IV of Red Bull” pg. 241 Ha 

“He’ll spit in the eye of gods and demons alike if he thinks it needs to be done.” pg. 241 Yeah that’s Harry alright 

“My name is Thomas Raith and I’m a monster” pg. 242 No Thomas you’re not a monster :(

So there’s a secret Oblivion war going on 

Lara people aren’t pets 

The Hunger is terrifying 

Justine!

Oh no Harry’s in trouble

Thomas can do magic!!! 

“He’ll whip out some kind of half-divine, half-insane philosophy cobbled together from the words of saints and comic books about the importance of handling power responsibly.” pg. 258 Yep 

“Harry’s a master of the skill-as in simultaneous doctorates from MIT, Harvard, and Yale and a masters from Oxford.” pg. 258 It’s interesting to see other people’s perspective and opinions on Harry 

“Locks, though, never seemed to pose a much of an obstacle to my brother.” pg. 261 Ha

“Harry had occasionally accused me of being reckless and overconfident-which is, believe me, staggering magnitude.” pg. 267 Ha 

“He’d turned into a neat freak a few years ago, for some reason, though he’d never talked about why.” pg. 269 Ha 

“It’s a little bit creepy, actually. My brother’s got a voodoo doll of the entire town.” pg. 270 Ha

“I think that genuinely speaking, you don’t have secrets from your brother, man.” pg. 272 Yep unless you count the whole I didn’t tell you were brothers for awhile bit. 

“Bob made a whistle sound.

What the hell? How? He doesn’t have lips?” pg. 275 Ha 

The Oblivion War is scary 

Aw Bob is protecting Harry 

“Scratch one ghoul. My brother hates ghouls with a passion so pure it’s almost holy.” pg. 283 Yep it’s we deserved 

“But the bitch had messed with my brother.” pg. 285 Protective Thomas 

Thomas just feed the bad girl to his hunger 

“Sometimes I feel completely unappreciated.”

I found myself smiling 

“Wow” I said “what’s it like?” pg. 291 Ha

The Warrior 

Aw Michael’s a coach 

“I’m pretty sure there won’t ever be a place like that for me.” pg. 297 Aw Harry :( you’ll get a family home soon 

“She had a bruise on her cheek a couple of days old.” pg. 299 Oh no why does the kid have a bruise on her face? 

“Hi” I said, trying to be unthreatening as I could. I had limited success. Tall, severe-looking men in long black coats who need a shave are challenged that way.” pg. 299 Poor Harry

I love Harry interacting with Michael and Charity’s kids 

“Let me poke around and shine a light on things, so we know what’s going on. If it turns out to be nothing, no harm done.”

“And if it isn’t?” Charity asked 

“I kept a surge of quiet anger out of my voice and expression as I looked at her levelly. “No harm gets done to you and yours.” pg. 304 Yes protective Harry 

“It’d take one he-uh, heck of a serious counter measure to stop me from finding it.” pg. 311 Ha 

“I didn’t want to go off and leave…”

You 

“The sword…”

Unprotected 

“Here” I finished” pg. 311 Just your friends you’re worried about them Harry 

I don’t think Chuck should be drunk and working especially if he’s a electrician 

“I’ve been in burning buildings, man, and take it from me, this place…” I looked around at the wooden framework. “Fwoosh. I’m just saying Fwoosh.” pg. 321 Ha and you definitely caused those building fires Harry 

“Harry Dresden. Saving the world, one act of random destruction at a time.” pg. 322 Ha

“I don’t blame myself,” I said.” pg. 324 That’s the biggest bold faced lie I’ve ever seen. 

Yes you do Harry 

Butters! 

Oh someone in the church is behind it. A Fundamentalist maybe? 

“Watching life through the window and obsessed with how things might have been”

“Dear God,” she said. “You’ve just made Dickens relevant to my life.” 

“Weird, right?” pg. 341 Ha 

Oh no Alicia 

“The son of a bitch hurt my little girl.” pg. 352 Holy Cow Michael swore! :0 

Yes Michael vs Douglass 

“Michael,” I said, gently, “you can’t. If this is how it has to be, I’ll do it. But you can’t, man.” pg. 366 Is Harry saying he’s willing to murder so long as Micheal doesn’t 

Uriel’s here 

“Very kind,” he said and took a swig from the flask.” pg. 368 Uriel drinking alcohol 

I love how Uriel tells Harry how all the little things he did helped. 

“I nodded slowly. Then I said, “Let’s talk about my bill”

Jake eyebrows shot up “What?” 

“My bill,” I enunciated. “You dragged me into this mess. You can pay me, same as any other client. Where do I send the invoice?” 

“You’re…you’re trying to bill the Lard Almighty?” Jake said, as if he couldn’t quite believe it.

“Hel-uh, heck no,” I said. “I’m billing you.” 

“That isn’t really how we work” 

“It is if you want to work with me,” I told him, thrusting out my jaw. “Cough up. Otherwise, maybe next time I’ll just stand around whistling when you want me to help you out.”

Jake’s face broadened into a wide, merry grin, and laughter filled his voice. “No, you won’t” he said, and, vanished.” pg. 373 Ha and yes Harry won’t not help people 

Last Call 

Oh no Mac is hurt 

Oh no someone’s messed with Mac’s beer

Caine? Again? What is this guys problem?

Caine is the worst 

Caine attacked Murphy critical fail on Caine’s part 

“You put on a good show act, Harry. It would have fooled a lot of people. It looked…”

“Natural on me,” I said “Yeah” pg. 394 Ouch 

“I tried the door, just for the hell of it and-

It opened 

Well, dammit. I much prefer making a dramatic entrance.” pg. 420 Ha and come on let Harry have his dramatic entrance 

Oh Dionysus cool

“Then she smiled, stood on her tiptoes, and kissed my cheek” pg. 419 Aw 

Love hurts 

“They weren’t a married couple. They were brother and sister.” pg. 423 Ick doesn’t even begin to cover the feeling I felt reading that

Oh no mental magic

“We don’t exactly have orbital satellites for detecting black magic.” pg. 426 They don’t? Then what does Gatekeeper do? I thought that was his job. How did the council find out about Harry, Justin, and Molly? Gatekeeper clearly knew black magic was afoot back in Proven Guilty. 

Oh boy is it awkward between Harry and Luccio 

Evil state fair?

Don’t be mad at Will, Harry he’s concerned about you. 

“She stopped before she could say who Kincaid was like.” pg. 436 Was she going to say Harry? 

“Murph tittered again” pg. 443 Oh no they’ve been caught 

Is it the ride itself? The ride operator? The guy trailing them? 

“I bent my head down to her mouth and kissed her gently.” pg. 445 Yay Harry/Murph moment but now isn’t the time 

“It just isn’t fucked-up enough to really be you and me” pg. 447 Ha I love this is how they realize that they’ve been whammied 

“But hey. On the other hand, he had swindled me out of swindle me out of twenty dollars.” pg. 448 Harry you bribed him 

Oh no Red court vampire 

“He’s completely irrational” pg. 452 Ha

“Mortals are like mayflies, Wizard. They live a brief time, and then they are gone.” pg. 455 Scary how some immortals view humans

I’m glad Harry and Murphy burned the belt. 

Aftermath 

“I cant believe he’s died.” pg. 463 I’m still not over it. 

“I’d been able to learn a few Martian phrases over time” pg. 466 Ha 

“Lake Michigan is jealous and protective of her dead.” pg. 466 Such a good phrase 

Poor Murphy she’s not a cop anymore and now has to deal with Harry dying 

“He always told us if we ever needed him but couldn’t find him, we were supposed to go to you. That you were the person in this city who could help us better than anyone else.” pg. 475 Aw :) 

“Georgia’s pregnant” he whispered. “Seven months.” pg. 475 Yay Georgia’s pregnant nothing bad is going to happen to her or the baby. I refuse to believe it.

“And, if things got hot when we went after the bad guy, he would have been there, throwing fire and lighting around as if they were his own personal toys, created especially and exclusively for him to play with.” pg. 485 I love how other people describe Harry. It shows how Harry is viewed through mortal eyes. Yeah it would appear like Harry like that when he starts setting things on fire with his mind essentially. 

“Watching Dresden operate was usually one of two things: mildly amusing and positively terrifying.” pg. 485 That’s quite a difference 

“Quirky nerd gone. Terrifying icon, present.” pg. 486 I wonder if Harry knows this is how people view him? I wonder if Harry knows this is how Murphy views him. 

“Seeing Dresden in action filled you with the fear that you had just become a casualty of evolution-that you were watching something far larger and infinitely more dangerous than yourself, and that your only chance of survival  was to kill it, immediately, before you were crushed beneath a power greater than you would ever know.” pg. 487 Scary and such a good quote 

“Dresden was gone. His cheesy jokes and his corny sense of humor were gone. His ability to know the unknowable, to fight the unfightable, to find the unfindable, was gone.

The rest of us were just going to have carry on as best we could without him.” pg. 488 Sobbing 

“On the other hand…maybe I just give John Marcone a call and tell him how you’re helping  some of his street-level guys run some deals behind his back.” pg. 498 Marcone mentioned! 

Hendricks!

“I had to go see “Gentleman” John Marcone.” pg. 501 YES! Let’s go Marcone :) 

“He had eyes the color of several-days-old grass clippings.” pg. 509 Interesting with how Murphy describes Marcone’s eyes vs with how Harry describes them 

“Hendricks eyed Gard 

Gard rolled her eyes and withdrew a twenty-dollar bill from her jacket pocket. She passed it to the big man.” pg. 511 Ha

“Don’t confuse yourself with Mr. Dresden, Mr. Borden,” Marcone said, his voice level and cold. His eyes were something frightening, pitiless. “You don’t have the power to threaten  me. The instant you begin to change, Ms. Gard here will fire in Ms. Murphy-and then upon you.” His voice dropped to a barely audible murmur. “The next time you offer me a threat, I will kill you.” pg. 513 Nshslsbshevakbsn I didn’t learn my lesson from last time. I choked on my drink again when I read it. I think I almost hacked up my lung. Ahhh!!! It’s so bi and Harry’s not even there. Will didn’t even threaten Marcone or at least not as much as Harry usually does. And Marcone throws a knife at him. 

“Someone is rounding up those mortals possessed of modest supernatural gifts.”

“Talent search” pg. 516 Oh no

“Someone started picking up on the little guys in town within a few hours of Dresden’s shooting.” pg. 517 Monsters closing in already 

“I’m sorry. About Dresden. He was a brave man.” pg. 518 Glad Gard said that. 

“That was when we had the nightmares.” pg.528  Ah that’s the psych/bad dreams from the end of Changes.

“Dresden hadn’t been muscled as heavily as Will. Harry’d had a runner’s build, all lean, tight, dense muscle that��” pg. 535 Murphy I see that train of thought. Good Harry/Murphy moment and Harry’s not even there. 

“I mean that if Dresden just blew up the Red Court…that means the status quo is gone. There's a power vacuum, and every spook out there is going to try a fill it. The rules have changed. We don’t know how these people are going to react.” pg. 536 Yep things are going to change now. I can’t wait to see the repercussions 

“The man had gills” pg. 552 There’s fish people? What hole in Lake Michigan did these guys crawl out? Why now after Harry’s death? As far as I know there haven’t been any fish people before. 

Such a good fight 

“Dammit, Dresden,” I said into the silence in a choked voice. “Dammit. Here I am doing your job. Dammit, dammit, dammit.” pg. 576 Sobbing some more 

“That’s formor magic,” she said quietly. “One of their lesser sorcerers and his retainers.” pg. 578 Who’s the formor? 

“This is the second time the formor have attempted to move on Chicago-and failed” 578 When was the first time? 

“My boss is always pleased to find those with proper”-she pursed lips-“frame of mind.” pg. 579 Oh Donar Vadderung/Odin is hiring? Well that’s some foreshadowing

“Was she telling the truth, you think? That Marcone’s the one standing in the gap now?” pg. 582 Yes Marcone will help out in for supernatural threats 

“The Justice League of Chicago?” 

“We’ll cover his beat.”

“Until Dresden gets back.”

“It doesn’t seem to be. But…There’s this voice inside me that keeps pointing out that we haven’t seen a body.” pg. 582 Yes can’t wait for the next book. 

Final thoughts 

I love how the story shows Harry at the beginning and how Harry met Murphy. I loved Faith. I love the interaction between Harry and Bob. I loved Billy and Georgia’s wedding. I love that Thomas being Harry’s brother is the worst kept secret. The Cobbs are wonderful. I love the bonding between Thomas and Harry. I love the Gard and Harry bonding on an adventure. No one messes with Mac’s beer. I love that Harry’s D&D character says Gard’s catchphrase. Gard clearly made an impression. I love Harry playing D&D with the alphas. Harry’s day is frankly a comedy of misadventure. I can’t believe Kirby and Andi got fleas. I’m glad Luccio took the scene well. I love how sarcastic Thomas’s narrative is. I can’t believe Thomas has magic. That’s so cool I wonder why he didn’t tell Harry. I love how much Thomas admires Harry and how protective he is of Harry. I love is how much Harry helps people without meaning to. I love that Michael is Alicia's softball coach. I can’t believe Michael swore that’s such a big deal. I can’t believe Harry offered to kill a man so Michael wouldn’t. I love that Uriel tells Harry all the lives he has helped. It’s hilarious that Harry tried to bill Uriel only Harry would try to do that. I love that even Uriel knows Harry won’t stop helping people. Wow Mac gets attacked. Interesting to see other powerful characters from other patrons. So now the Greek and Norse gods are real in this world. I wonder what others? All others? Jim just giving us Harry/Murphy then taking it away. I love how they both realize that we’re hot with the spell. Oh boy still not over Changes. Everyone is in denial about Harry including me. Yay Georgia’s pregnant! I love the different pov and how people view Harry. I love how we got different perspectives on magic and Harry from Thomas and Murphy. I loved all the Marcone stuff all of it. I love how it shows that Marcone views Harry as a worthy opponent. Now the shipper in me thinks this scene is gold. Marcone really does let Harry get away with things that he doesn’t let others like threats and backtalk. I wonder if Marcone would have hurt Will if it was Harry present and not Murphy? And Marcone even warns Harry not to test him back in Death Mask while here he only does so after he’s knifed Will. I love the dichotomy between how Murphy describes Marcone’s eyes as the color of several-days-old grass clippings vs how Harry describes Marcone’s eyes as worn dollar bills. I love how Murphy then describes Marcone’s eyes as something frightening, pitiless. Harry really was a deterrent to the evil side of the Supernatural side and now they’re coming in now that Harry’s gone. I love the Harry/Murphy moments we got in this story. I hope we learn more about the Formor. 

I’ve learned my mistake now. No more eating or drinking while reading the Dresden files. 

Onto Ghost story!

[sarifinasnightmare]

Nighttime Stroll

Rating: For Everyone

Pairing: Sarah X Bucky

Author's Note: It's just fluffy.

Summary: Bucky and Sarah take a late night stroll through the French Quarter.

July 22- 28: Night Out on Town

“You know I’ve always wanted to do this.” Sarah said as she walked hand in hand with Bucky down the middle of the street on a humid New Orlean’s night.

“What? Walk the French Quarter?” Bucky guessed, they had spent nearly the whole evening in the area, visiting the museums, the shops, having dinner, then hitting the bars for drinks. Bucky couldn’t get drunk, but he still enjoyed the taste. Sarah, he discovered could hold her drink very well.

“Walking the French Quarter at night….late at night, when most things are closed and some of the tourists are gone.” She clarified. “Usually it’s too dangerous to be out like this, but you make me feel safe.” She squeezed his arm, leaning into him.

He took the moment to kiss her temple. “Thanks, babydoll.”

They walked around in comfortable silence avoiding the remaining promoters who pushed customers into their neon lit bars. There were still some people inside, drinking, laughing while jazz mingled with pop music. All the shops were closed, very few restaurants remained open, trash littered the floor and there were barriers where construction was underway.

Bucky glanced over at a house now converted into a bar. “I get that these businesses bring money, but it’s a shame that a lot of nice houses aren’t just…you know, homes.”

“French Quarter has always been an expensive place to live and after Katrina and gentrification it just got more expensive.” She lamented as she looked around them. “When I was little, I would dream about being a grand lady living in one of those fancy houses. Once when we were staying in one of these hotels with the lovely balconies and I sat out there and waved like a queen to the people below.” She elegantly lifted her arm to demonstrate.

He grinned. “Is it a coincidence that your room at home has access to the balcony?”

She gave him a sly look. “What can I say? I’m a romantic at heart.”

“You want me to climb up to it one day and knock on your window with a bunch of roses?”

“Oh, Bucky don’t tease.” She said even as she blushed at the very idea.

“I’m not teasing,” he assured her, “I would do it in a heartbeat.”

“You’re such a romantic.”

“Nothing wrong with romance.” Suddenly he picked her up, spun her around and waltzed with her in the middle of the street.

She gasped, then laughed, allowing him to take the lead. “You can waltz??”

“A little, so can you.” He said as they danced around.

“I remembered a little from my cotillion days.”

“Cotillion?”

“A party where all the girls wore pretty white dresses and danced with boys in tuxes in front of our community. It was supposed to celebrate our womanhood. Frankly we were just all excited to look fancy and meet some cute boys.”

“Did you meet a cute boy?” He asked.

“Mm-hm, my husband.” She revealed. “He planned it too, that devil. He was supposed to dance with Lisa, but he asked to be switched so he could dance with me.”

He laughed. “Smart guy. He’s a man of good taste.”

“Wasn’t he though?” She agreed. “I will always remember the first song we danced to.”

“Yeah?” He sighed. “Would be nice if we had some appropriate music for us.”

Suddenly a guitar player who had been closing up for the night spotted them and began to play.

“Huh, how about that.” He smiled, nodding at the gentleman who nodded back.

“Don’t you know French Quarter is full of magic?” Sarah grinned as they slowly danced around.

“Well consider me a believer.” He replied before giving her a kiss.

They danced until the music ended, then Bucky gave him a large tip in thanks. The guitar player was collecting his earnings and was putting his instrument back in its case when someone walked past him. The player gasped.

“Hey! Give it back!” He hollered, touching his back pocket before running after the thief who quickly sprinted.

“Stay here.” Bucky told Sarah before taking off after them both, moving with a quickness that was startling.

The guitar player stopped at a corner, shocked. “Wha- How does he run like that??”

Sarah smiled innocently. “He’s…gifted.”

“No shit!”

There was the faint sound of a scuffle that ended with something, or someone, getting shoved violently into a trash receptacle. A few minutes later Bucky jogged back with only a light sheen of sweat on his face. “Here you go. Sorry about that.”

“Nah man, it’s cool. Thanks!” He replied amazed, taking his wallet. Once Bucky turned back to Sarah, the man silently mouthed out, “Is he an Avenger??”

Sarah would’ve loved to be honest but subtly shook her head. “Done playing hero?” she said before they resumed their walk.

“Hey he played for us. It’s the least I could do.” Bucky shrugged. It seemed like no one else noticed what happened. The lampposts gave out their ember glow, the bars still had their neon lights and music still played on.

“You’re very sweet you know that?” she teased, giving him a small kiss on the cheek, then she winced a little. “I loved this night walk, but I think I’m done for the night. My dogs are barking.”

“Here,” He picked her up, carrying her bridal style as he walked with greater purpose back to their temporary abode.

Sarah held onto him. “I didn’t imply that you carry me the rest of the way, you know.”

“I know, but I rather like it.”

She wrapped her arms around his neck and leaned over. “My hero.”

Bucky said nothing just smiled and walked them home, leaving the magic of the French Quarter behind.

[faghubby]

Blushing Groom

"How's my virgin husband feeling" Jennifer laughed as she grabbed my ass. As she pushed me into the honeymoon suite.

"Your mom asked when she would be a grandmother" she laughed as she dropped her dress on the floor. She stood wearing a white corset and satin panties. We had never had traditional sex. Now at 28 years old I was a virgin. I had met Jen four years ago. When she learned I was a virgin she loved it. And insisted I stay a virgin until we where married. That did not apply to her. I often oral pleased her or used a strapon to to make loveto her. The strapon was much bigger then my 4 inch penis. She assured me it didn't matter. Jennifer also did not like me masterbating she considered it cheating on her. I had to settle for dry humping her or the occasional hand job.

But now we where married, I was so excited as she removed my tux. I stood before her naked. As we kissed I was so looking forward to having sex with her. Before we even got in bed I exploded all over her thigh.

"OH sweety, it's okay. You just had a long day" Jennifer said softly as she pulled me to the bed. She pushed my head down between her thighs. I pulled her panties off. And orally pleased her. After I had made her cum. Jen pulled me up and I rested my head on her breast. She had me kiss and suck her breast as she held me.

"I like you this way, Paul" she said. I went to ask what she meant but she just held me in place and continued.

"You are so submissive to me, I would like our marriage to be the same. I think you like it as well, you love being my submissive virgin" she told me. I lifted my head. And looked into her eyes.

"I want you to stay a virgin" she said holding my head softly.

"Jen, you said. But can't we" I whined

"Now be still, we can still have fun" she informed me.

"What about kids?" I said softly

"We don't have to worry about that now" Jen said. I had gotten another erection as we talked.

"Well your little penis likes the idea" Jennifer laughed. She pushed me aside and got up I watched as she walked across the room naked. She opened her suitcase and pulled out the strapon. I was shocked when she put it on herself and attached a smaller dildo.

"I am going to take your virginity, a different way" she said as she approached the bed. She had shoved her finger in my ass on the past.

"Jen, I think we should talk about this" I said.

"No, I don't think so" Jen said. And climbed in the bed.

"I am going to fuck your ass" she said bluntly. And pushed my legs up towards my chest. She applied lube to my ass and worked two fingers in. She also lubed her toy.

"Tell me you want this" Jennifer smiled. I couldn't tell her no. I just swallowed hard.

"Yes, I want youto take my virginity " I said softly. She pushed the tip of her toy into my ass. It was uncomfortable but didn't hurt. Jen went slow allowing me to adjust. Soon I had 6 inches of "her cock" in my ass. As she started to move in and out. She was slow and gentle kissing me. She didn't fuck me. She made love to me.

"This is how it should be" Jennifer whispered softly in my ear. I started to cry as my emotions of the day and all that was happening overwhelmed me. She continued for ten maybe fifteen minutes before she pulled her cock free. And we laid in each other's arms. I was no longer hard desired to be. I just laid there as Jennifer held me tight. We both fell asleep.

When I woke Jen was sitting at the table in the room. It was 2am.

"Hello sleepyhead" Jen smiled as she looked up. I grabbed a robe and went to her. I kissed her then looked over her shoulder to see what she was looking at on her phone.

"What are you reading about?" I asked.

"Sissy husband's roles in marriage " Jen said plainly. I again became nervous on what her plan was. She pulled me onto her lap.

"Shh, it's okay, let me show you what I have learned" she said her hand reaching inside my robe. She played with my penis as she showed me what she had found.

"Alot of husbands like to wear panties to show their wives who is in charge of the relationship" Jen said showing me several pics and articles about it. But quickly moved on.

"Disapline is also important to make sure husbands remember their place" she showed me pics of men in chastity cages or being spanked. I looked at her with surprise. But she just squeezed my balls softly. And continued

"You were worried about children, well I could find a lover a real man with a big dick to father our kids" she said calmly. " they will be big and strong. Not weak and submissive like thier daddy" she said kissing me. She kept me on edge not allowing me to cum.she then stopped.

"Why don't you pick out a pair of my panties" she said suddenly. I stood and hesitated. Jen smacked my ass. I jumped and did as she said. I grabbed a pair of white panties with a lacy waist from her suitcase. I handed then to Jen. She Ben and held them so I could step into them. She pulled them up my legs and removed my robe. She had me spin so she could check out my ass.

"You are my husband, my best friend. I love you so much. This will not change. To the outside world you are a man. Tell your friends what you please. But with me, you are my sissy husband. And will obey me" she told me. She rubbed my ass.

"How do they feel" she asked.

"They are very soft" I mumbled. She pushed me to my knees and I buried my head between her thighs and devoured her pussy with a feverish desire. We enjoyed our honeymoon I found myself easily submitting to her every wish. She took my ass every night.

Jennifer had taken me shopping as well buying me a selection of panties of my own. Since I would wear nothing but panties from now on. She especially liked me in a thong she had bought me. Having me wear it for the trip home.

At home things continued, Jen would mention things.

"I read having virgin husband's shave off thier body hair to remind then they are virgins" she would then send me articles on hair removal. And buy me razors and hair removal cream. It would continue and her mood would sour until I gave in. She again did this with chores around the house. Or letting my hair grow. She even pierced my ears.

Over the first six months she slowly added or transformed things. My mother and sister both made comments about my demeanor and style.

"Jen, we have to stop" I said almost in tears as we left my mother's house. She drove, she always drove now.

"Itisnt my fault you like being so girlie, I didn't make you act like this outside of the house" she scolded. I immediately fell silent we had not had a single argument since the wedding. I excepted she was in charge and thus right.

"If you can't control yourself you can explain your role in our marriage " Jen said rubbing my leg. I instantly got hard and had to adjust myself in the tight jeans Jen liked me to wear.

"Stop that, should we discuss the chastity cage again?" She asked. We had discussed it several times but had decided I could control myself from playing with it. So even though we had bought one I rarely wore it.

"No, it was just" I looked at her and fell silent she didn't want excuses

Jen turned the car around and drove back to my mother's.

"Let's go, I am not going to be the bad guy. You will explain why you act so girlie" Jen said taking my hand she led me inside.

Everyone was surprised and had obviously been talking about us when we walked back in.

"Paul has something to tell all of you" Jen told them.

"Mom, I um. Well I am a virgin." I spit out. My mom along with my sister brother in law, uncle, aunt and grandmother seemed confused.

"You see, I wanted to stay a virgin and well" I was just mumbled

"Paul asked me to have a different kind of marriage." Jen explained. Speaking up for me.

"He wanted to remain a virgin, and have me take control of the relationship." She told them. "To remember I am in charge he loves to wear panties, he also keeps himself free of body hair. This has led him to take on a more submissive role. The odd tendencies you notice is due to this" she told them. To my surprise my mother stood and hugged Jen.

" my poor girl, I can't believe you have gone through all this" mom looked at me disappointed.

"No, Diane I love him so much. I except al, of this" Jen said to my mother.

"Well sit I need a drink" Jen and my mom sat at the table with my sister.

"Why don't you go do the dishes for your mom" Jen said plainly I dropped my head and went into the kitchen. I didn't hear anything that was discussed. But after I finished the dishes Jen and i left once again.

"Diane, wants to be a grandmother." Jen said as she drove.

"She thinks I should find a sperm donor soon" Jen informed me.

That evening she had me take pics of her. Clothed and naked. So she could set up a dating profile on a cuckold site. I cried myself to sleep knowing I would soon being raising another man's child.

[saintmeghanmarkle]

22 Isn't Adding Up To 4: Hazbeen and NYC by u/millioneura

2+2 Isn't Adding Up To 4: Hazbeen and NYC So as I was reading all the wonderful posts about Hazbeen upcoming trip I realised 2+2 wasn't adding up to 4. I worked at 2 resorts in 2 different countries and my close friend ran events at an up scale hotel in NYC so as I was reading I realised the timeline wasn't adding up. I did some research but please Sinners help! It looks like February was when William announced he'd be heading to Cape Town - sidenote: I hope people dance and cheer in the streets for him. And then in July I could only find one magazine that stated they would be announcing finalists in NYC in September. That gives about a 2 month notice and about a month notice since William announced and then Hazbeen announced his trip to NYC. All these events sound great but when were they planned? There was no activities on the books for African Parks, The HALO Trust, The Diana Award, Travalyst and Archwell on any of their websites. Does this mean Roachel was in the background this last month since Williams trip was announced planning something at the same time? I wonder what "events" the Harkles will plan at such short notice.You don't just book a hotel ballroom/conference room during busy diplomatic season in NYC a month before. Unless you're doing Panera Bread catering, it is too late for a hotel to accomdate a catering order and space reservation (my friend confirmed a month notice would not suffice during the crazy season). The UN requires an online sign up and registration for those hoping to speak and Hazbeen missed the deadline. Anyway I look forward to the Marriot sequel. I find it hillarious that rag mags are using terms such as "overshadow." William will be spotted walking around alone because he isn't paranoid. William will be on the front page of every magazine in the world looking dashing in a tux at the most expensive prestigious hotel in NYC while Hazbeen shows up rumpled in an ill fitting tux to some random 3 star chain hotel where barely any media will be present and the seats will remain half empty. The only will they/won't they game being paid attention to atm is will our beautiful future Queen Catherine come and what will she wear? post link: https://ift.tt/pmRk8TS author: millioneura submitted: August 28, 2024 at 08:33PM via SaintMeghanMarkle on Reddit disclaimer: all views + opinions expressed by the author of this post, as well as any comments and reblogs, are solely the author's own; they do not necessarily reflect the views of the administrator of this Tumblr blog. For entertainment only.

[grumpygreenwitch]

The Witches And Wizards Job 29-30

AO3 Link

Buy me a Ko-fi?

Remember: Tumblr has no algorithm. Reblogs give me life.

1-2 + 3-4 + 5-6 + 7-8 + 9-10-11 + 12-13-14 + 15-16 + 17-18-19 + 20-21-22 + 23-24-25 + 26-27-28 + 29-30 + 31-32-33 + 34-35-36 + 37-38 + 39-40-41-42

TWENTY NINE

"Hardison has the most dangerous entrance," Ford had explained to them all. "He goes in first. I want you all watching to make sure he gets in OK."

Lucille 2.O and the U-haul van were parked side by side on the visitor's lot of the apartment complex that abutted the back wall of the gracious Roughan manor grounds. Nate stayed with Lucille; Eliot and Dresden walked sedately away from the U-haul van along the street, nearly invisible in the dark except when a pair of headlights passed over them as a car came to, and occasionally went from, the party.

Ahead of them, down an elegantly curved driveway and up a stately set of steps with wrought iron railings, Hardison was offering his invitation to a very large woman in a well-fitted tux. "You'll not find it under my name. I'm the replacement for Bartholomew Harrington." His voice was low, pleasant, elegantly British as he offered a business card that read "Alexander Worthington the Third' and 'Christie's of London - Acquisitions.'

The woman examined both card and invitation. "Where's the other man?" she asked.

"Where his delicate sensibilities won't get in the way of keeping the Sokolov portrait from being lost," Mister Worthington (the Third), replied with the most pointed disapproval in his cultured voice, pushing up his glasses with fastidious precision. Mister Harrington was actually sleeping off a hefty dose of sedatives in his hotel room. "I'm sure there's someone you can call to confirm my credentials," he suggested politely.

The woman gestured for him to wait and took a step back, speaking into her own earbud.

A call was made.

Nate picked it up in Lucille, where Hardison had already rerouted most of the normal phones belonging to the security team. Overkill, but a necessity, since he had to be feet on the ground for the job. "Lawrence Billings." His British accent wasn't nearly as elegant, but the burr on it was on purpose. No one liked speaking for long to someone they could barely understand. He listened to what was asked of him. "Well, I'm not about to tell you what our man is there for, obviously. But yes, he's a trusted agent of our organization."

Mister Worthington (the Third) was waved on.

"Don't lie," Dresden had told them all. "Dance around the truth, give it halfway. Omit. Hide. But don't outright lie unless you know for sure you're talking to a human."

Eliot and Harry moved up the steps. The hitter could feel the wizard all but vibrating, so tense was he. "Harry, are you alright to do this?," he murmured.

"Not even a little bit," Harry admitted. He was gritting his teeth so hard a muscle along his cheek had started twitching and wouldn't stop. His eyes kept losing track of where they were and what they were doing.

The wizard was elsewhere, Eliot realized, and whatever he was seeing, it was his own personal hell. "Do you want to call it off?"

"No. I'll be fine once I start talking to people." The wizard stared at his feet. "Once I can focus on what's going on here."

Eliot stared a little longer at the man. He knew what it was like, when the dragons of your past rose up and waited for you in the present. "Alright," he said mildly. "You know, you may not have a lot of sense, but you're all heart, wizard."

Dresden lifted his bandaged hand and grinned humorlessly. "Dangerous thing to be."

"Worth it?"

The wizard chewed long and hard on the question. "Yeah. It was." They climbed up the stairs and three very large people in suits immediately blocked their path.

"I think they know who we are," Eliot commented mildly.

"I think they think they know who we are," Harry replied just as casually.

"You were not invited, wizard," the woman told him stonily.

"And yet here I am," Dresden replied cheerfully, offering an invitation. "Harry Dresden, Professional Wizard. And my, uh, my bodyguard. On behalf of the Lord of Weekend Deliveries."

The woman glowered at him, eyed the invitation with utmost jaundice, examined the both of them and the piece of vellum closely. "Get Letty," she told one of the men with her, who was only slightly shorter, and somewhat broader across the shoulders.

Letty, it turned out, was a twitchy little man with very short, clumpy red hair, dressed in the most ill-fitted attempt at a bouncer's suit. It looked like he'd been chewing at the sleeves, and he was missing one shoe. His socks were slowly rotating around his feet, too big to stay in place. He squinted blindly at Harry with mismatched eyes, one brown, one yellow, the one larger than the other. "Wizard," he rasped at the woman, scrabbling at her arm with plucking, long, bony fingers.

She shoved him, caught the back of his neck and held him in place. "Tell him again," she instructed Harry.

He gave her a deeply bored look, then stared at Letty until he looked down with a little whine. "Harry Dresden, Professional Wizard. On behalf of the Lord of Weekend Deliveries. And my bodyguard, Eliot Spencer."

Every bouncer there took a long step back.

"He speaks truth, fairy truth," Letty rasped.

The woman struggled to peel her eyes off Eliot. It took a solid effort, but she managed to face Harry once again. "You packing?"

"Yes. And I'm gonna continue packing unless you tell me you went in there and defanged Ying Ying and put thumb-knots on the Blackbird."

She scowled at him, but stepped back and out of his way with ill grace. "I'll be watching, wizard. Give me a ghost of a reason."

"Oh, I'm sure I'll think of something," Harry declared jauntily. He was a study in contradictions, in elegant dress pants and fine black shoes, wearing a high-necked shirt stitched with rims of black feathers along the wrists and chest, and an elegantly embroidered black vest, all of it tucked under his battered leather duster. Eliot at least looked like he belonged, in a fine indigo tux, hair caught back in a half pony-tail. "And we're in," the hitter murmured as they both moved up to the door. "I thought you said we couldn't lie to them."

"You can't."

"Then who the hell's the Lord of Weekend Deliveries?"

An honest, sheepish little grin twitched at the corners of Harry's mouth. "The official title is Pizza-Lord. And I am."

A silver Rolls Royce purred up the driveway and to the bottom of the stairs. From the shotgun door, Nick managed to squeeze himself out. He had on a plain white suit and looked very put together, and generally amused at the universe in general and particular. From the opposite side of the car, Vanya Fedorov slipped out. The Russian enforcer was very much the dapper creature in darkest charcoal gray and deep green, his eyes ever watchful. He came around the car, opened the door, and offered a hand to his companion.

Ekaterina Yegorov took the offered hand and stepped out into the night.

Eliot heard Harry choke on a breath, and smiled. He had to, because for a moment he'd forgotten to breathe as well.

Miss Yegorov was a jewel, wrapped in frothy layers of seven different shades of indigo; the changes in hue were so subtle it was impossible to tell where they ended or began. The silk gown both hugged her body and hid it, promising everything and nothing, revealing all treasures and taking them all away with her merest motion. Her black hair cascaded down one side, pinned back on the other with an elegant clip done in platinum and black diamonds. The Rosalind diamond sat over her collarbones nestled on a double chain, the first loop tight around her neck, the other much longer. She carried a small black purse that probably fit one credit card and the hopes and dreams of most men and a few of the women watching her.

"Breathe, Harry," Eliot murmured.

"Yeah, that's me," the wizard mumbled.

Fedorov leaned close, whispered something, and Ekaterina laughed. They went up the stairs; the bouncers barely even checked the invitation, all smiles and bows, even after Fedorov pointed out his bodyguard was also coming with him. He even, all courtesy, pulled his jacket away to show the gun there in its underarm holster. He was troubled over none of it.

The trio didn't even look at Eliot or Harry as they swept by and into the manor.

"Sophie and Nick are in," Eliot murmured.

The little shard of the enchanted mirror pinning his tie in place carried the message to the shard Nate had on a platinum ear-clip.

"Here we go, then," the mastermind declared mildly. He checked on the bud tucked into the other ear. "Parker, you in place?"

Parker was sliding gracefully along a vertical stone shaft. "So this was for bringing food up and down?"

"Uh, a dumbwaiter, yes."

"Why'd they stop building houses with them?"

"Because of thieves."

"But they're so convenient!"

Nate, who knew to a nicety the humongous extra fee that a house incurred in insurance premiums when it had a working dumbwaiter, could only reply, "Yes, for thieves. Have you found the portrait yet?"

"Not yet." Parker looked at her wrist. She had a toy compass attached to it, the sort you could find in a cereal box, or buy for fifty cents. The needle on it danced uncertainly between two very specific points. "I think there's one of those tracking foil things on it. I'm not close enough for Harry's compass to beat it completely."

"Alright. Parker can't find the portrait," he relayed, "so it's up to you guys, then."

"Oh, this is something else," Sophie's voice murmured into the linked mirror shards. Her own were tiny, secured to the hair clip among the black diamonds, and to the decorative clasp on the chain holding the Rosalind diamond.

"What, what is it?"

Eliot, who'd just stepped into the main hall of the manor with Harry, gritted his teeth. "It's a Mona Lisa," he growled low. "I count three portraits in this room alone."

"There's two in this one," Sophie added, turning slightly, her arm tucked around Vanya's. They'd made it all the way to a dining room, where a slim buffet and a vast bar were set up. Nick made a little plaintive sound, and a smile ghosted over the Russian enforcer's features before he nodded minutely. His so-called bodyguard immediately made a beeline for the food.

"One more upstairs," Hardison informed them.

"There's duplicates of everything, even the ugly flute thing, there's three of those in this room alone," Sophie protested.

"It's a test," Harry murmured. "By magic or skill, the buyer's going to have to be able to tell the real one from the copies. It's not the seller's fault if they can't."

"Dresden," Nate asked. "Were the copies made by magic?"

Harry hesitated with a startled look. Yet again, Nate had caught him by surprise in throwing the word out so readily. He rallied, walking up to one of the items in display at the room, a flute carved out of a long, blackened bone larger than a femur, but thinner. He ran a hand over it, not quite touching, murmuring under his breath.

A little breeze made the flute hum mournfully, barely audible.

"No. Unless I found the one real one among all the copies, they're real, inasmuch as they can be. Magic won't tell you which ones are fake."

"Please don't touch the cursed artifacts," a woman's voice said from behind Eliot and Harry with a touch of dark humor and a very slight accent. "No one here needs another mad wizard situation."

Harry threw the hitter a warning look, and they both turned slowly.

Ying Ying Amarin was a beautiful, fragile-seeming creature, with a mantle of black hair and skin so fair it could have passed for eggshell porcelain. Her eyes were almond-shaped and the sweetest chocolate brown, and her mouth was a delicate pink blossom. She was wearing a very elegant black dress and a long string of blood-red pearls with matching earrings. "Wizard Dresden," she greeted, her voice pleasant. "Much is said of you among the circles I frequent."

"Miss Amarin. All of it bad, I'm sure."

She gave him a half-smile. "Most of it. Tell me, how does a wizard secure the services of Eliot Spencer as a bodyguard? I understood you barely keep the lights on in your home."

"Even the most careful man can end up owing favors where he doesn't want to," Eliot said mildly, belying the sudden, inexplicable and altogether terrifying hunger that had slammed into him at the sight of the woman.

"The flute, is it yours?" Harry asked.

"Interesting. The flute? No. We are not selling, merely buying. There is a Bag of Winds somewhere around here that my Hong Kong associates would like me to acquire for them. I hope we will not be competitors?"

Harry shook his head readily. "I'm only interested in one thing, so far."

The wizard didn't notice, but the hitter did. Ying Ying's shoulders shifted minutely, the corners of her mouth eased. She blinked twice. She smiled.

She'd been worried. About Harry.

"That's good to know." Then her attention came to rest fully on Eliot. He felt her power slam into him like an avalanche, calling out to the most primal parts of him in a scream that begged to be answered. It roared hunger, for food, for blood, for flesh, for breath, for anything and everything. "Perhaps later mister Spencer will tell me all about this… favor?"

The hitter tucked a hand into his jacket and closed it around one of the pins in it. The metal went immediately soft, blisteringly hot. "Perhaps," he replied, smiling automatically. He saw smug triumph and a hint of appreciation on those pink, perfect lips and walked away powered strictly by pain and self-control, Harry by his side.

"Shake it off," the wizard told him once they were far enough away. "Breathe. You did fine. It's gonna linger, but you did fine."

"That is some kind of…" Eliot didn't even have the words. "She's a vampire?!"

"Yes, of a sort. Not all of them feed on blood. She's Jade Court, so I have no idea what she actually eats."

The hitter brought out the misshapen pin. "We only have so many between Hardison and me, Harry."

"Why do you think I'm staying up here, away from everyone?" the hacker pointed out. His listening shard was hiding on the leg of his glasses. The speaking shard was pinned to his ascot.

"Vanya's uncle's here," Sophie suddenly said, and everyone quieted.

"Vanya!" Fedorov's uncle rushed up to him. He was dressed just as sharply as his nephew, and he looked vaguely flustered. He took one look at Ekaterina and he ended up completely flustered, mouth working emptily for a long moment before he switched to Russian altogether. "I didn't think you were coming."

"Your advice has never steered me wrong," the Russian mobster said. "If you believe meeting these people is important -"

"No, you don't understand, Vanya!" His uncle interrupted him urgently. "I didn't think you were coming at all, someone had to represent the family's interests -"

"Yes. You, then?"

"No. Me." A man, taller and leaner than Mikhail Sagorov but carved along much the same hard, unforgiving lines, stepped around Fedorov's uncle and spoke in English.

Ekaterina felt the man next to her go rigid, the fingers of his free hand twitching. "Father."

"Vanya."

All six members of the team immediately focused on that one discordant exchange.

Fedorov, who apparently was as shaken as everyone else, turned to automatic courtesy. "Allow me to introduce miss Ekaterina Yegorov," he said, freeing his arm from her grip and sliding his hand to hers. "An art expert, among many other things. My father, Ivan Sagorov."

Ekaterina smiled. A shard of light caught the diamond she wore as she stepped forward. Both older men stepped instinctively back, but she merely offered her hand. "It is always a pleasure to meet men who know not just how to build their power, but to hang onto it."

Ivan Sagorov looked at her with infinite wariness. He eventually relented to take her hand in his, but rather than shake it, he kissed her fingers lightly. "One finds the definition of power very subjective in this place and among these people. Miss Yegorov flatters me."

Ekaterina chuckled richly. "I do not. Perhaps there are many here that discount the power mortals have. I am not one."

Ivan grinned minutely at that, but then turned a hard look on his brother, and an even stonier glare on his son. "I did not realize I was my brother's second choice of representative at this gathering."

"You should have guessed," Mikhail replied tersely. "We both know what you think of these sort of people."

"I think they are no one's future, least of all ours." He shot Ekaterina a brief, apologetic glance. "No offense meant."

"None taken," she replied graciously.

"But it is good to know what the heir apparent believes," he added with icy sarcasm and bitter, controlled fury, "of such alliances."

A muscle showed along the line of Vanya's neck. "A wise leader considers all the tools at his disposal."

"Don't shoot my words back at me like you ever cared about them," Ivan snarled quietly in Russian. "No one here's a tool unless it's you."

Fedorov surged forward. Ekaterina caught his arm. "Vanya."

"Do you know what they are? What your uncle brings you in the guise of a gift?" The leader of the Eastern Seaboard Russian mafia stepped forward until he could just hiss at his head enforcer. "They're a noose around our neck. If it weren't because I know they'd take us all down with you, I'd wish them the joy of you."

"The sort of man who'd give his own son to the wolves is not the man I'd trust to have anyone's best interests at heart except his own," Vanya gritted out. "In the end greed always wins out with him."

The conversation might have escalated to parts both bloody and violent, but another voice joined the conversation. "Please, please!" The avuncular, condescending tone was full of cheer. "Why such long faces, this is a party, please. Drinks! Food! Bring some of those delightful little toast things for my friends here. Mikhail, please, introduce me, shan't you?"

"I find I am not hungry," Ivan ground out, stepping back. "I thank you for your hospitality, Koshan, but I think my mood and my patience are worn too thin for companionship."

Koschei gestured grandly with his glass, the brandy in it darkest gold, and stepped back, clearing the way. "Please. It was a pleasure to see you even this brief while, Ivan Sagorov Barevich. Do give my regards to Minke, won't you?"

The elder Sagorov lowered his head like a bull considering a charge, his expression gone black and implacable at those seemingly harmless words. He finally breathed out slowly through his teeth and stalked away.

THIRTY

"Goodness, what a temper," Koschei commented casually. He was wearing much the same outfit he'd worn for his portrait: fine, blousy riding pants tucked into pointed embroidered boots, the complex designs worn in silver. He wore a black shirt with the neckline decorated with tiny emerald chips, a silver sash and a long, heavy coat stitched with black ravens and white wolves. "That man needs a therapist," he said the last word in English, jarring among the fluent Russian.

"My father needs many things," Vanya noted calmly, switching seamlessly to the new language. "He cares to acquire none of them."

Koschei whipped around. "Ah, you must be Vanya. Your uncle has spoken glowingly of you." He offered his hand.

Fedorov managed a smile, just barely, and shook the offered hand. "The gentleman has me at a disadvantage."

"Koschei. Immortal, wizard, your humblest servant." The man bowed. When Vanya merely cocked a brow at him in disbelief, Koschei laughed. "Is it so hard to believe, considering those all around us? Or the company you are currently keeping?" He gave Ekaterina a pointed look, one black brow going up.

Ekaterina's smile was even thinner than Vanya's when she offered her hand. "Ekaterina," she said simply.

Everyone within sight of her held their breaths.

Koschei took that hand and lingered over the kiss. The diamond glittered. Ekaterina took her hand back, since the wizard seemed rudely unwilling to let go.

"Enchanting," he purred. "It's not often my curiosity is piqued."

"Ekaterina is here to help with our exchange. That is, if my bid is amenable," Vanya wrapped a possessive arm around Ekaterina's waist.

Koschei's smile grew. "Of course. That is only sensible. As for your offer, mm, well, it buys you the same as it does for everyone here. A chance to pick up one of the portraits. Whether it is the real one or not, I suppose only an expert could tell."

Upstairs, Hardison put a hand over his ascot pin. "Nate, I do not like this. We don't know how long he's had to make the copies. For all we know he got Sokolov himself to make them."

Back in Lucille 2.0, Nate winced. The earbuds were holding - at least the ones not close to Dresden. But Hardison was surrounded by just enough magic that there was some unpleasant feedback whistling through his line. If not for the shards of the enchanted mirror, more than half the team would have been flying blind. "It's Sophie's call and Sophie's show. Keep an eye on her."

Ekaterina glanced around her diffidently. "Well, we'd have to find the room with the real one first, I suppose," she pointed out archly.

Koschei laughed in delight. "Just so. Are you, ah, permanently attached to Vanya's office, Ekaterina?"

"My services are his tonight," she replied delicately. "They happen to include my company… and my protection."

The wizard examined her closely, but she knew better than to look into those poison-green eyes. "Just so. Very important, to be protected when purchasing such powerful artifacts from such powerful people. But perhaps I could borrow him for a little while to introduce him to a few friends of mine? They would be delighted to make his acquaintance, to watch him rise in power and esteem. That is, after all, what every man desires, no?"

"My desires and my goals are two very different things," the Russian replied mildly. "Unlike most men, I have no problem keeping them separate."

"As one should!" Koschei agreed enthusiastically, then gestured to the room at large. "May I?"

"Kate, see if you can find the real portrait. She has, of course, freedom to roam the premises?" Fedorov asked.

"Of course. The bidders and their agents may go wherever there are more copies to be examined."

Ekaterina smiled.

"Good. Nick!" The bodyguard left the buffet table and sedately made his way over, still looking like the world was a grand joke for him to enjoy. "You're with me."

Nick smiled broadly. It was deeply, deeply unsettling, and wholly aimed at Koschei, but the wizard rallied swiftly and led Vanya away.

"There goes a brave man," Ekaterina murmured.

"I did not realize he already had friends among you people," Mikhail said. "I would not have risked this invitation if I did."

"Do you not want him to make alliances here?" She asked, arching a brow up.

Mikhail was already walking away, visibly struggling with himself.

"Nate," Sophie murmured. "This isn't right. This isn't just an auction of magical artifacts. Sagorov knows something."

"Eliot."

The hitter threw the wizard a questioning glance. Harry nodded. "I'm fine, go."

"Um, Nate?" Parker said into the earbud line.

"Yes, Parker, did you find something?"

"Yes." Parker had found the space between the walls where the old pipes had run, and she'd wormed her way even further into the house, until she was flush with the floor of a large, lavish and very modern bedroom, looking out through an HVAC vent. "I found the old lady."

"You found Grandmother?" That carried to both lines of communication, since Nate was connected to both.

"Yes. And there's a bunch of those rabbit-people watching her." Parker shifted to get a better look past the grate. "They've got guns."

"Armed leshy?" Hardison, also privy to both sides of the conversation, frowned. "Why would they need weapons, so far the only ones to use them have been the humans with them."

"It would make no sense anyway," Harry pointed out, quickly piecing together what bits of the situation he was hearing. "Leshy are thugs. They are nowhere near her power level, she should be able to waltz right past them, guns or not."

"Probably. Unless hearts aren't the only thing you can cut out of people." Nate was thinking very fast, the gleaming fractal trees in his mind coming together faster and faster, facts and suspicions, knowledge old and new, weaving together into a cohesive whole -

"You'd be surprised how many things out there think we're just convenient little walking snacks."

Then there was the night the alkonost had shown up -

"There was a trap in the heart, a means for him to steal her power, if she had agreed."

- and the morning of Dresden's arrival -

"He cut out his own heart and hid it - he hid it so well that no one can find it, not even death."

It all came together with the memory of the Russian enforcer at the loft, comfortably slouched on a couch they'd purchased just so everyone could sit comfortably while they spoke to the wizard, holding onto an oddly shaped, oddly carved wooden cup, drinking vodka and telling them all ancient Russian fairy-tales - not the modern, sanitized versions but the old kind, full of blood and casual violence, where victory was measured by how badly your enemies died.

"Sophie, is Koschei gone?"

"He's introducing Fedorov around. You'd think he was the star of this show."

"Dresden?"

"I'm fine. I think no one wants to be seen with me."

"Eliot?"

Eliot had trailed Sagorov to a small sunroom. "He's on the phone yelling at someone." The hitter kept back, to the shadows just outside the solarium's door, and stiffened when he realized what he was hearing. "It's him. This isn't just an auction of artifacts, Sagorov's selling Fedorov to settle a debt of some sort. Nate, he's selling future control of the entire Eastern Seaboard chapter to one of these things!"

"Of course he is," the mastermind whispered, another section of the puzzle coming together at last. "Sophie, are Nick and Fedorov still with Koschei?"

"Yes," Sophie confirmed as Ekaterina examined idly some of the items displayed, aloof and graceful, speaking occasionally to those she found nearby. "He's just been introduced to the toad-person."

"Dresden, where are you?"

"At the bar, like you told me to be?"

"Nate." Eliot's voice sounded exceedingly tense. "Problem."

"What is it?"

Faced with two incoming bouncers, the hitter had detoured into what seemed to be a combination conservatory and library, a room of dark, rich, velvety tones. It was closed to the general public, and the only artwork present seemed to be reassuringly normal. There were no lights, which made the door off to one side, past the shelves, painfully obvious. And one quick peek had Eliot trying not to swear at the fact that, magic or not, everything was still conspiring to throw the job off the rails. "I found another Grandmother."

The team reeled to a halt, wherever they were. Back in Lucille, Nate pinched the bridge of his nose wearily. "Of course you did."

"Um." Hardison sounded deeply hesitant. "Not to rain on anyone's parade, but I just found another Grandmother upstairs." The hacker was peeking around a corner and down a long hallway into a private office. He could just glimpse the old woman past the two armed guards at the door, left open to allow a young woman in the severe uniform of the staff to bring in a tray of tea.

"What? No! I found her, she's right here!" Parker, able to hear that bit through the earbuds, protested in an irate hiss.

Sophie paused. "Nate," she breathed as she realized what was happening.

"Yup." The mastermind sighed. "She's part of the auction, too."

"Now what, Nate?" Eliot demanded. "How can we get her out if we can't find the real one?"

"Nothing has changed." Nate clipped out. "Sophie, find the original portrait. Dresden, is there any way to tell which is the real Grandmother?"

"Uh, um…" The wizard rubbed his forehead. "Her shadow. Look at her shadow."

"Parker, check her shadow," Nate relayed.

She wriggled behind the vent. "It's an old lady shadow."

"Then that's not her," Harry replied when Nate repeated that.

"Hardison? Eliot?"

"Normal, uh, old lady shadow here," the hitter reported hesitantly.

"I'm not close enough to see," Hardison warned them. "Do you want me to risk it, Nate?"

"Not yet. Dresden, go pick a fight with Sophie."

"Wh- Me? I thought you wanted me to keep a low profile as long as I could!"

"Hold that thought," Sophie breathed. Ekaterina, having wandered further away, into an elegant breakfast solarium, could feel a gaze burning a hole between her shoulderblades.

"Spider silk, right?" A rough voice asked behind her.

Ekaterina turned. "Isvinee?"

There were two men and one woman behind her. All of them were short and wiry, and they all wore matching gray suits with red ties. Their hair was cut razor-short, the scalp showing pink through for the youngest of the two men, who was very blond. The older man, flanked by the other too, was slouching easily, hands in his pockets. "The duds," he said. "Spider silk, innit?"

"Oh, trial by fire of the Veil," Harry whispered so the words were barely audible; the shards, while serving the same purpose as the earbuds, were nowhere near as quiet. "Conversation's about to get crude, Sophie, this isn't an insult, it's how it translates for them."

"It is, yes." Ekaterina replied simply.

"Well, you look fuckin' gorgeous, gal. Even if it ain't yours." He tapped two clawed fingers to his mouth and blew her a kiss.

Ekaterina smiled. "Spaseeba. Thank you. You would not believe what it cost, and you are the first to say anything, nearly an hour after I come through the door."

"No shit?" The man frowned. "Now there's a fuckin' crime." He looked at both his colleagues, who nodded stoutly. He was perhaps in his late thirties, with sharp gray eyes under heavy brows, stubble on his angular cheekbones, and uneven teeth. He smelled strongly of expensive, pine-based soap, and managed to look both profoundly at ease with his surroundings and incredibly uncomfortable in his clothing. He offered his hand after a moment's thought. "I'm Classy."

Ekaterina took and shook it without hesitation. "An unexpected pleasure to meet you and your companions," she purred. "You can call me Ekaterina, or Kate. I hope we are not to be competitors?"

Classy looked utterly surprised at her casual friendliness. His grip was dry, warm and strong, matching Ekaterina's but mindful not to overpower or hurt her. His nails were short, sharp, curving gray claws and he was very careful not to hurt her, his palms heavily calloused. "Oh, no, no. We're sellin' most of this crap, gal. You, uh, buyin' anything?" He reached for his pocket, but the woman elbowed him mildly and he sighed in exasperation.

Ekaterina gestured to one of the vast glass doors leading to the grounds outside, and began to walk. "My employer is only interested in one item."

"Yeah, everyone's here for that fuckin' painting." As soon as they stepped outside the man lit up a cigarette. "Had to jump through the Blackbird's fuckin' hoops, when this was our to-do first."

"Well, that is, uh, what is the word. Bullcrap."

"Innit?" Classy looked terribly pleased at her empathy. "We don't give a shite over all this, the copies, right?" He waved his hand vaguely at the house. "Who the hell cares. Buy the thing, get out. Eh." He sighed. "Bloody won't give our rightful property back, either."

"I am sorry, did I hear right," Ekaterina put a light hand on Classy's shoulder. "Did the Blackbird steal from you?"

"Not yet he ain't. And he won't if he knows what's fuckin' good for him," Classy declared. He'd started minutely at the touch, but he didn't look insulted or wary, merely pleased. "Look, gal. Between you and me?" He leaned close. "The portrait's not here."

"It is not?"

"Nah." He threw the butt of his cigarette down and crushed it underfoot. "He don't trust nobody. I wouldn't, neither." Wordlessly he moved to stand by her side and dipped his head toward the sound of the surf and the elegant boat-house a stone's throw from the mansion itself. "He'll be bringin' it in at some point, I suppose." He gave her a wicked grin. "'less someone calls 'im out on it."

She grinned back at him and bumped him lightly. "Excuse me," she purred, walking back into the house.

"Nice gal," the woman said as all three watched her go.

"She was," Classy agreed. "So nice. Didn't expect that."

"What is she?" the young man asked.

"I dunno," Classy admitted readily. "Smells scary, though. Let's go find our fuckin' property."

Sophie stalked through the breakfast solarium. "Nate, did you get that?"

"I did. Did everyone else?"

"I didn't!" Parker hissed; Sophie couldn't have an earbud active while carrying the diamond.

"The portrait's not in the house," the mastermind summed up. "It's out in the boat-house."

"Oh." The thief paused. "I'll go get it, then."

"No. No, Parker, n-" Nate sighed. "We need the portrait to disappear in front of everyone. For that, it has to be in the house."

"Well, why can't we put one of the fake portraits in place of the real portrait and then have the man in black bring in a fake portrait instead, wouldn't that be even more embarrassing?"

The most profound silence welcomed that impatient question.

"Dresden."

"Yeah?"

"Go pick that fight."

"Ah, Hell's Bells," the wizard sighed resignedly.

[renee-writer]

The Contractor Chapter 28

AO3

“A.” She says as she forms her baby’s hand to say it, “A.”

 

When she lets go of his hand, he grins as he forms it himself.

 

“Very good,” she signs and says, “very good Fergus.”

 

She works with him a few hours of the day. Not all at once, as her six month old son would be overwhelmed by that. They also attend a class together once a week that teaches them both to sign and allows him to be around other deaf children.

 

She is also working part time and helping to plan Geillis ‘ wedding. Fergus will be dedicated soon and then there is herself and Jamie. Her life is full and wonderful.

 

“B.” she again helps him say it, “B.”

 

Jamie walks on their lesson. He doesn’t interrupt just stands and watches.

 

“Very good  Fergus.” Her hands move quickly through the signs, “Very good.”

 

He grins and claps before waving. That is when she turns to see Jamie.

 

“Well hello. I thought you were working on the Grant house today.”

 

“We stopped early. Angus had a tux fitting,” he shakes his head as his smile gets bigger. “I never thought I would live to see the day.”

 

“Are you ready for your best man duties? Any rooster party plans?”

 

He laughs. “Are you asking or Geillis?”

 

She chuckles. “Both. She wants me to plan a hen party. The theme will be based on what you are planning.”

 

“Ah, well there will be a stripper, if that helps.” Before she can fuss at him, he turns to Fergus. “Hello son,” he signs.

 

The little boy wiggles and reaches for him. He picks him up.

 

“Hum, well then I guess we will be going to the strip club.” She is upset.

 

“Mommy is mad.” He signs before turning to her, “all him. I swear Claire. The only lass I am interested in seeing nude is you.”

 

Fergus tried to turn his head to him so he can read his lips, a skill he is quickly picking up.

 

“No. Adult conversation.” His mama tells him. “I believe you. I feel the same. We can have fun and stay true, surely?”

 

“Aye we can. It is for them.” Now he includes the lad, “ For Auntie Geillis and Uncle Angus.”

 

He signs aunt and uncle and his mama claps while Jamie slowly says, “Good on you lad!”  To Claire, “He is learning quickly.”

 

“Yes, I need to study more then he is. The classes are helping and they sign at the hospital daycare.”

 

He picks up on the last word and he frowns.

 

“No daycare today .” She says and signs, “Fergus with mama and Jamie.”

 

“So mama,” he faces the lad, “what plans?”

 

“Mama needs to do housework.”

 

“Fergus and I will help.” He adjusts him to sign with one hand, “Help mama?”

 

“Mama.” He signs back, reaching for her. He hands him over. “What needs done?”

 

He soon finds himself folding laundry with a smile on his face. Fergus sits by him, playing with a towel he handed him. Claire sings in the kitchen as she loads the dishwasher. He wants this, every day.

[nooneisstraight]

4, 5, 28, 59

on the get to know me ask you reblogged <3

4. what are you looking forward to?

choir always but especially because its our last full rehearsal before we have our concert which i am also looking forward to (i get to wear a tux !!! 😁😁)

5. is there anyone who can always make you smile?

@kaleidoskuls and my baby cousin have like a gift for always making me smile

28. ill love you if…

ill love you if you commit to whatever wacky bit ive started or if you start a wacky bit. i absolutely love improv

59. why i joined tumblr

it seemed fun and i was bored :P

[foxsoulart]

Tmnt February day 28! Prompt 'wedding'

--

It was their Wedding anniversary, and if April was being honest with herself she was a tad worried Casey had forgotten. She had not seen him since the previous day.

Master Splinter had insisted she spend some time with him. Using the excuse that he was a old rat, which worked. Practically everytime. So here she was, sipping tea and reminiscing about old times.

"Do you recall when you first met my boys?"

"Of course, I very distinctly remember being so shocked to see talking turtles I fainted right away. I doubt much could faze me anymore."

Splinter chuckled. " I was quite shocked myself, when they brought you home. Now, I am glad you became family."

"Me too."

"Heeey Aaaappprrrilll. Would ya mind coming with us for a sec?"

Mikey sing-songed from the entrance him and his brothers were hovering in. She set down her tea and stood.

"Sure Mikey. What can I help you with?"

"Don's got a new invention to show you."

"Oh? What is it?"

Donnie wiggled his finger back and forth "Ah-ah, afraid that would be a spoiler April. Now come on it's this way."

Leo and Mikey took her by the arms leading her through the doorway. After several minutes of walking (during which April was beginning to get suspicious) they led her up a ladder and through a manhole cover. From the alleyway the manhole cover led to, they then led her up the fire escape to the roof.

The setting sun cast a rosy glow over the set up in front of her. Paired with some golden glow string lights, the lighting was downright romantic.

A simple round table decorated with a white tablecloth, candles, and dinner. Was set with two chairs. Violin music gently filled the air, coming from a nearby record player. And standing slightly off to the side, was Casey. Dressed in a casual tux and doing his best not to look nervous.

"Awwwe, you did all this...for me?"

"Of course, happy anniversary babe."

April pulled him into a kiss. "I love you" "love you too"

"Have fun you two love birds!" Mikey shouted as the boys left to give them their time alone. It almost ruined the moment. Almost.

---

I love how the 2003 show ended with Casey and April's wedding, perfect ending.

Short and sweet for you today. Okay byyyyyeee!