#Winslow case

[lifewithaview]

Jeremy Northam and Rebecca Pidgeon in The Winslow Boy (1999)

Dir.David Mamet

In early-20th-century England, while toasting daughter Catherine's engagement, Arthur Winslow learns that the Royal Naval Academy has expelled his 14-year-old son Ronnie for stealing 5 shillings. Father asks son if it is true; when the lad denies it, Arthur risks fortune, health, domestic peace, and Catherine's prospects to pursue justice. After defeat in the military court of appeals, Arthur and Catherine go to Sir Robert Morton, a brilliant barrister and M.P., who examines Ronnie and suggests that they take the matter before Parliament to seek permission to sue the Crown. They do, which keeps Ronnie's story on the front page and keeps Catherine in Sir Robert's ken.

*Neil North, who played the First Lord of the Admiralty in this adaptation, played Ronnie Winslow in the first adaptation, The Winslow Boy (1948).

[saliosis]

she's so excited to be

[vash-o-vision]

poor shitty 💔💔

and some doodles (also first image without the text cos i also like it)

[redclown19]

doodle dump! hi! ive mostly been drawing on all the paper i didnt use throughout the year.

for some reason i got really into toyman, so, since the 4th of this month hes been pretty much all i draw. i might post those drawings later.

blood, non realistic gore and nudity under the cut!

metaphor for intimacy and how jon sees it as being vulnerable and how exposing all of itself to jervis is painful while jervis just want to know everything about and love each psrt of jon but is scared of breaking its boundsries , or something like that.

i didnt use any references so the anatomy is whatever! ill just stop looking at it now.

[thisbluespirit]

Films watched (1990s): THE WINSLOW BOY (1999); dir. & screenplay David Mamet (adapted from the play by Terence Rattigan). Starring Nigel Hawthorne, Jeremy Northam, Rebecca Pidgeon & Gemma Jones.

"No, not justice. Right. Easy to do justice. Very hard to do right."

[transjester64]

He is so normal.

[dramagodesss]

five : king of the ice

playin' the players

friday. 5:18 PM. campus library, second floor.

you were halfway through uploading jj’s portraits to the university's virtual platform when a shadow passed over your table. familiar cologne. expensive sneakers.

“winslow,” came the voice, smooth like static before a storm.

you looked up, already smirking. rafe cameron stood there, casual but very much aware of how he looked—white tee snug across his chest, hair a little messy in the way that said on purpose. eyes trained on you like he’d planned this moment.

“cameron,” you replied, leaning back in your seat. “you lost, or just missed me?”

he chuckled, the corners of his mouth twitching like he couldn’t help it. “nah. just saw the jj maybank thirst trap drop and thought… huh. wonder if winslow takes requests.”

you tilted your head, gaze skating over him like you were thinking about it. “i mean… if you’re hoping for your turn in the spotlight, you better bring your A-game, ice princess.”

he blinked, caught off guard—and then laughed. a real one. head tilted back, teeth flashing.

“ice princess?” he echoed, shaking his head. “they usually call me king of the ice.”

you grinned, propping your chin on your hand. “that so? why ‘king’? ‘cause of your skating? or ‘cause you’re insufferably dramatic?”

“bit of both,” he said easily. “but mostly ‘cause i’m good. like… scary good.”

“uh huh,” you drawled, clearly not sold. “guess i’ll have to see it to believe it.”

rafe leaned on the back of the empty chair across from you, voice low and a little smug. “then come to tomorrow’s match. friendly game, nothing major. but… you might like what you see.”

your brows lifted. “oh? are you inviting me to photograph you or to be impressed?”

“both,” he said, eyes locked on yours. “and maybe get coffee after. or lunch. your call.”

you pretended to think, tapping your lip once. then: “okay. but only if you shower after.”

that got him. he laughed again, mouth parted like he didn’t expect you to go there.

“deal,” he said. “clean and charming, just for you.”

you smirked, pulling your phone out like you weren’t flustered at all. “text me the time and place, your highness.”

he raised a brow, slipping his phone from his back pocket and handing it over. “thought you'd never ask. help the universe out—drop your number.”

you took it, thumbs tapping slow, deliberate, before handing it back. “winslow,” you said. “in case you forget who to thank when your pictures go viral.”

rafe glanced at the screen, then back up at you, grin sharpening into something a little more dangerous. “oh, i won’t forget.”

rafe stood, a slow grin pulling at his lips. “see you tomorrow, winslow.”

you raised your cup in a mock toast. “after the shower, remember.”

he winked. “already planning it.”

and with that, he walked off—cool, confident, and just the right amount of smug. leaving you with a phone buzzing in your pocket a second later.

rafe's phone

taglist : @beewritess @davinashifts333 @lanasangelsz @littlefreak-liz @drewstarkeyswife0 @lalaloopsieparty @ethanthequeefqueen @wtfisastiles @angelicameron @moth-feeet @drewstarkeyswife-7 @hiphopstar @cokewithcameron @cameronsbabydoll @chillgal135 @ayy1234567 @pogueprincesa @isinpfortvdmen @iheartrosalia @luvrclub

[whiskeypores-a]

❛ oh, thank christ -- way less of a chance of expired pie filling if grandma is baking them in the back. ❜ lips are pulled in between her teeth as she fights back a laugh at the obviously annoyed server, letting out a huff of a laugh as the girl walks away. ❛ yeesh, you're tellin' me -- i think we interrupted their slow day. ❜ she wastes no time in pulling her plate closer and cutting a bite off the end. ❛ oh, you know, mostly more of the same. still going on hunts, still yelling at idiots in the middle of nowhere for looking up how to summon demons. why are those result so accurate? you're making my job harder. ❜

" oh, 'n' awesome news 'bout the pies - owners grandma bakes 'em fresh every day- probably gonna be the best food in this joint, ay? " it wasn't long after she sat back down that the slices were placed on the table, delivered by a waitress with one of the most done expressions Sky had ever witnessed from a service worker with such a youthful face.

" fuck me, now that was a look that'd turn milk sour instantly. " she twirled a fork between her fingers while dropping sugar cubes into her coffee. " right then, you - dish. i wanna know all the shit y' been up to lately, yeah?"

[neptuneiris]

cardigan (epilogue) (1/2)

i knew you'd miss me once the thrill expired, and you'd be standin' in my front porch light.

pairing: modern!aemond × best friend reader!

summary: being in love with your best friend since high school becomes a strong and unavoidable feeling. until it starts to become more difficult when you get to college and the two of you, especially him, meet new people.

word count: 9.9K

previous part • next part

obviously i didn't expect this to be too long hahaha, even i was surprised, i didn't realize it was too much. so i decided to make the epilogue in two parts. thank u all so much por reading❤

Life in Highgarden could not have exceeded your expectations more.

At first you felt like you were supposed to when you came to live in a new city: terrified, anxious and nervous. You didn't want to feel lonely, but it was inevitable considering you know nothing and no one.

And when you arrive at your new dorm, you immediately loved it. Your room is bigger than the one at King's Landing and you have a beautiful view with lots of trees around and green grass.

Highgarden is well known for the fantastic flora and fauna. Everything is green, there are big trees and beautiful plants, there are even lakes and the weather ¡is perfect.

Yet you didn't have much time to get to know the city, because a week after you arrived, your classes started. And a week after you started your classes, you started your internship.

You met Arthur Winslow, the psychologist responsible of your internship, owner of a mental clinic for children, teenagers and adults.

He explained to you from the beginning that, once you were prepared, you would be present in cases of children and teenagers as well as adults to start your experience.

In addition, you would also support him in administrative things, such as his schedule, phone calls and so on. The pay is at a fair price, so it's perfect.

And as a result of Aileen and Sara not making it into the exchange program, you made new friends in your classes.

Although even if your friends had gotten in, Aileen would have chosen to go to Dorne and Sara to Winterfell, so you started talking to the people in your class.

They all came from different parts of the country, only a very few came from King's Landing and you didn't really talk to them much.

And after the first month passed, you just couldn't get any better.

You adjusted perfectly to your internship, to your classes which are wonderful and you also made good friends very quickly with whom you finally had that security to go around Highgarden almost in its entirety.

You went to many places, whether it was squares, parks, museums, lakes and even aquariums. Everything was so beautiful.

You took pictures, videos, made compilations with all your visits to upload to your Instagram, and even went out for fun on weekends to parties and bars with your friends.

You kept in touch with your friends at King's Landing and also let your parents know what you were doing by sending them pictures, videos and also talking to them on the phone.

Even Helaena messaged you by replying to one of your Instagram stories asking how you were doing and how you were doing at Highgarden.

Also her older brother messaged you, Aegon. He asked you how you were doing and also told you that he hasn't seen you in a while.

In truth with Aegon you did not speak much and fortunately neither of the two Targaryen brothers mentioned Aemond and for that you were grateful.

You were not thinking about him, not since you came to Highgarden and that is why you felt so at peace with yourself.

Despite being completely focused on your classes and internships more than anything else, you didn't lie to your friends that you had met and talked to a few guys.

You mostly met them at college parties, but nothing formal, it was all just hanging out.

You didn't have the mindset to really date, you didn't feel like you needed to and really a Highgarden guy didn't suit you if you were six months from now coming back to King's Landing.

You just had fun, experienced new things and officially started your psychology training.

And with the date getting closer and closer to return to King's Landing, you realized you didn't want to leave. Neither did Vhagar. At least not yet.

You grew attached very quickly to everything at Highgarden, even Vhagar with her walks in the parks and the view of the sunset when you took her for a stroll around the lake as well.

Everything was quiet and you felt at peace. However, you admit that you miss your friends and your life at King's Landing.

It's kind of a bittersweet taste to have to leave to go home. You definitely plan to come back because you've even grown quite fond of Dr. Winslow.

Until finally the date arrives and it's time to go back.

It was six months and yet it felt like it all happened in a matter of weeks. Yet you know you enjoyed every second at Highgarden and you don't feel like you wasted any time.

You immediately text your mom that you have landed at King's Landing and you also send a picture of your arrival to the group chat with Aileen, Sara and Ryan.

You call for an Uber and soon you find yourself arriving at the dorm with Vhagar in your arms.

The man driver helps you carry your bags up to your room, which you couldn't feel more grateful for, and as you enter that small space where you started your dependency, you feel nostalgic because you had missed it and happy because you are back.

And not long after you arrived, of course your friends would pay you an unannounced visit to welcome you back.

"You have to tell us everything.”

"And you have to show us the pictures you didn't upload to your Instagram."

"Did you meet cute guys?"

"How was your dorm?"

"How is the food?"

"We have to go to a party to celebrate."

You laugh as you notice the excitement in Aileen and Sara who are the ones asking all the questions while you and Ryan watch them with a small, amused smile.

And even though you didn't answer their questions, they still say they should get something to eat and drag you along with them to tell them everything.

Ryan takes them to a fast food restaurant in the middle of the university and soon the table is filled with fries, sodas, burgers, pizza and so on.

"You have to go one day, the program for the psychology internships are the best. The school is not that big, but the teachers are amazing, they even organize tours to many mental clinics of all kinds for all the students themselves. The only bad thing | could tell you about Highgarden is the food, it's not that good."

"Ugh no, dont tell me that,” says Aileen with a long-suffering face, "Don't make me change my mind about choosing Highgarden over Dorne if | get to go on exchange next year."

"But why would you want to go to a desert?” Ryan asks her confused, "Do you like to get your ass all sweaty?"

"Dorne is a place with incredible wonders and a lot of history, in case you didn't know,” she says seriously, "l've always wanted to see Sunspear."

"Just like any other place, genius. Besides, don't you know the temperatures reported in Dorne? It's like living in hell,” Ryan tells her incredulously. "l'm more supportive of Sara's idea to go to Winterfell where, if she's lucky, she'Il be able to go beyond the North and see the Wall. l'd rather do that than be dying of heat."

"So you'd rather be freezing to death?"

"Yes. A million times yes."

"And what about the parties?"

Sara asks you, picking up the subject and leaving aside for a moment Aileen and Ryan who continue arguing about Dorne and any other place in Westeros where according to Ryan it's better.

“They're not as noisy as here, but you still have a good time," you confess.

"Of course you have a good time,” Sara tells you mischievously, "All those guys you met seemed like they would really show you a good time."

You lower your gaze with a small embarrassed smile.

"It was just for the moment, that's all."

"And you didn't have any luck with any of them?"

You deny, looking at her again.

"I didn't want to. It wasn't...” You let out a sigh, "lt wasn't ideal."

"Oh come on, why not?” she asks incredulously, offended, "Didn't you get a good look at them? They were very handsome, Y/N. And they were just videos you sent us, I'm sure they were really hot in person."

You let out a small laugh, denying again.

"I didn't want to get attached to one of them, let alone start dating because | knew |'d be back here,” you confess, "And the whole long-distance relationships thing... it's not really my thing."

Sara grimaces and gives you a look of understanding at the same time.

"Well," she sighs, "At least you had fun with them."

"Not with all of them,” you clarify amused.

"But you did, so that counts."

After talking some more with Sara, since Aileen and Ryan are still busy debating... or rather fighting, you leave your part of the money for them to pay the bill while you go to the bathroom.

When you return, as you walk towards the table with your friends, a voice you know very well despite not having heard it in a while makes you stop as you hear your name called out.

"Y/N?"

And when you turn your head, a surprised Aegon Targaryen looks at you with a huge smile, standing with him is Helaena, apparently both of them having just arrived at the restaurant.

For an instant you panic at the thought that he's probably here too, but you're relieved to see that it's just the two of them.

"Is that you? Really?"

Aegon asks you amused, wasting no time in approaching you with Helaena following him and you also smile in his direction and shorten the distance between the two of you.

"It's been a long time since l've seen you too, Egg."

"Oh you little devil, you haven't forgotten how much | hate it when you call me that."

You both laugh and he wraps you in a tight hug that you reciprocate with the same affection, because even though Aemond was your best friend, you are still fond of all his brothers and nephews who have always been very good to you.

"Where have you been hiding? I haven't seen you for years."

He tells you incredulously, separating from you and you shrug your shoulders, already anticipating that you will talk about him. And even if you don't want to, you'll still have to.

"You know... here and there,” you say without much detail, shrugging your shoulders.

"Here and there where?" he asks you amused.

"Well... at school, with my friends and also at my exchange."

“But I dont see you around our house anymore, not even on birthdays, you didn't go to the ball either," he says almost in a sad tone, "You don't talk to my brother anymore, do you?" he asks a little more seriously, "Since the ball happened and he didn't take you, I knew something had happened. It seemed strange to me since you always went together every year."

You let out a long breath, lick your lips and nod, not wanting to give more importance to that matter that already happened many months ago.

"Yeah," you smile a little, affirming, "Yeah, since then."

"Forgive him,” Helaena stands between the two of you, with a smile and a sorry look, "l told him clearly that he won't ask you about him if he sees you when you come back, but his mental capacity is so low that the idiot doesn't understand."

You can't help but laugh at this, while Aegon at her side looks at her offended.

"l only wanted to corroborate what you told me,” he says innocently.

"Corroborate?" Helaena asks him.

"Yes," he says at once, still offendead, "I didn't believe you. At least not much. The two of them were inseparable and to suddenly not be friends anymore... it was like when | found out that Jack and Rose never existed and it was just a fictional story for the Titanic movie, I couldn't believe it and i felt cheated."

"Shut the fuck up."

Helaena says to him with a bad face and then turns to you with the smile and the softest and most pleasant look so characteristic of her.

"l'm so happy you're back. I didn't even know you were back, if i had known i would have texted you and we would have gone for a coffee."

"Thank you, Hel,” you smile softly at her, "And no, i didn't say anything about coming back and i honestly don't know why. I was so sad to leave but at the same time i was desperate to be back home."

"And what about Highgarden?" she asks you excitedly, "l've always been looking forward to going there. The nature there is just wonderful. There are lots of aquariums, isn't there?"

"Yes, yes, everything is amazing," you assure her, "Except the food. That's my only complaint. Everything is too... healthy"

"Oh yes, i knew that already," she says to you in understanding.

"And where do you live now that you don't live with my brother anymore?" Aegon asks interested, "Did you rent an apartment for yourself?"

"No, no, i live in a dorm now,” you clarify, "Because of the scholarship i got a big discount, and with the money i got paid for my internship at Highgarden, i have a chance to look for another job around here for a month."

"Oh, great,” he nods, listening to you attentively.

"A friend of mine who works at a boutique nearby recently told me they're looking for female employees. She works part time, maybe you have the same schedule if i pass you her number and she gives you more information."

Helaena tells you with such confidence that you're thankful that the first day you've been back to King's Landing, she's already saved you from looking for a job.

The flower shop where you worked before is already full of employees since your quitting, Sara told you since she went to ask to let you know before returning to King's Landing.

And now Helaena has helped you with that.

"That would help me a lot, Hel. Thank you so much."

"Oh, it's nothing,” she says nonchalantly taking her phone, "I'II tell my friend and then I'll pass you her number, don't worry."

After talking and keeping up with both of you for a few more minutes, your friends call you to leave and that's when the three of you say goodbye.

They both tell you if you want to keep them company, but since you've already eaten and you also have a mess in your room that needs to be cleaned up for your return, you agree to go out to dinner next week.

And just as you say, that's what happens once you're back in your dorm.

Vhagar greets you and keeps you company as you start to get all your clothes, shoes, make-up and all your stuff out of the suitcases. You also get something in and start arranging your few pieces of furniture in different ways in your space, wanting to try something new.

You put all your clothes in your closet, not wanting to leave anything for later, that takes some time, also to sweep and rearrange everything as you had it in your small bathroom.

You even fill a basket with clothes that need to be washed and go down to the laundry room, really not wanting to leave anything for later knowing that you have busy weeks ahead of you because of college and you want to get everything ready.

You wait for the clothes to be washed and also to dry, then go back to your room and continue organizing everything.

Until the sunset starts to show through your window and realizing that you are not missing anything anymore, you can finally lay down on your bed with Vhagar and rest.

You pick up your phone and begin to entertain yourself with Facebook, Instagram and Twitter, letting the time pass.

Vhagar settles in next to you and you get more comfortable to start watching Tiktoks, entertaining yourself for another good time.

You think to yourself that maybe later you'll go downstairs to buy something from the vending machine and watch a movie or maybe a series until you fall asleep, sounding like an awesome plan for you.

Then you finally get up, grab your most comfortable clothes and take a bath. It doesn't take you long and you dry your hair, then you feed Vhagar and take money to go buy food and watch the movie or series.

When suddenly there is a knock on your door.

You watch it in silence, thinking confused that you are not expecting anyone. And you have no idea who it could be. You didn't agree with your friends that they would come here later if you've already seen each other in the morning.

You check your messages to see if any of your friends told you they were coming to visit you unexpectedly, but nothing.

So you go to open the door thinking that it must be one of your friends and they decided not to tell you about coming over, but when you open your door you didn't expect it to be your ex-best friend, Aemond.

You freeze the moment you see him, definitely not expecting it.

As his gaze lights up when he sees you and the two of you are face to face after what felt like an eternity of the two of you not seeing each other.

You unconsciously take a step back, surprised and confused, your lips parted, as he watches you intently, almost with a hopeful look, maybe because he's afraid you'll slam the door in his face.

But you don't move from shock because you didn't expect it to be him and you didn't expect to see him so suddenly after so many months.

And he… hasn't changed.

You know it's only been months, there's not much difference, but it's the same appearance since the last time you saw him. His hair is still short to your surprise and his clothing style is the same.

What you do notice are the muscles on his arms are more pronounced and you also get the impression that he is a little taller.

While you… what can you say about yourself? Really nothing.

The only new thing you've done is to start trotting in the mornings, also your hair is short below your shoulders when before you had it down to your waist and you've put more earrings in both ears.

And neither of you say anything.

The two of you are simply inspecting each other after a long time without seeing each other, you mostly feeling just as confused to see him here.

You really don't understand how he is here. Or rather how he knew you were already back.

He certainly couldn't have known, you still have him blocked from all your social media networks.

Then….?

You ask yourself but the answer comes to you in a second.

Aegon.

You think in affirmative mode. And also probably Helaena because the three of you met at the restaurant. But you know it was Aegon who must have told him everything.

You don't doubt that maybe Hel wanted to kill him.

When after a few more seconds, the two of them not speaking and just watching each other, you finally react, instantly feeling nervous, without really knowing why.

Also that little remorse comes to your chest for everything that happened between you and what happened the last time you saw each other, remembering everything you told him crying.

You hug yourself and bite the inside of your cheek, also as he is looking at you, remembering his girlfriend, the ball and also your birthday.

When he speaks first.

"Hi."

He says to you letting out a sigh afterwards, stirring in front of you, keeping his hands in his jacket pockets, which are movements you know he does when he's nervous.

Also his look tells you he's a bit worried and anxious, but he still stands tall in front of you, his lilac eye watching you intently and having a slight gleam in it.

And his sapphire in your direction… it looks just as beautiful and stunning as ever.

"Hi."

You answer him with your tone of voice a little lower and feeling a little uncomfortable, puzzled, but you also stand firm in front of him, feeling nervous.

You certainly weren't prepared for when this moment happened and you know he wasn't either, yet here he is.

"W-what are you doing here?"

You ask trying not to let your voice sound shaky, holding back.

He swallows hard and looks away from you for a moment while he presses his lips together, to look at you again with those nerves and that certain hope.

"Actually… I wasn't too sure about coming here," he confesses with a soft look in his eyes, just like his voice, "Aegon told me you had returned to King's Landing and I wanted to see it myself."

At this, you lower your gaze for a moment and bite your lips. Yet… strangely… you don't feel upset.

"He told me by accident and got a good punch from Helaena," he adds and you look at him again.

You don't say anything for a few seconds, just look away from him, swallow hard and let out a long breath.

"Well, it's true, I'm back. If that's all, you can go now…

"Y/N..."

He calls out to you this time hopefully, interrupting you in a quick tone, not wanting to waste the opportunity and clearly not wanting this to be over any faster than he wants it to be.

It's the first time you've seen each other in months and in all these months a lot has happened and he just… wants to try.

It doesn't matter that you in the end don't want to, that you're still upset and don't want to see him, because he will understand and he will finally respect your decision, but he wants to try first.

He doesn't want to leave without trying.

"I know you probably don't want to, because I know you didn't expect to see me and maybe you even want to kick me out…"

He says lowering his gaze for a second, sighing, and then he looks at you again.

"But I want to risk myself," he tells you honestly, "and I'll understand if you say no, truly," he assures you, "I just want to talk to you and after this, if you still don't want me to bother you anymore, then I won't go near you again, I assure you."

He tells you and you remain paralyzed again for a few seconds, listening to him and watching him with your lips parted.

"And if you want me to leave now, I will. But I just want to try…" he lets out a long breath, gathering his courage, "So…. may I come in, please?"

He asks you softly, watching you just the same and almost expectantly, stirring continuously where he stands, knowing full well that he is as nervous as you are, while you have no idea what to do.

Your mind starts thinking fast, considering what you should and shouldn't do.

But the truth is that nothing comes to your mind. You just have a quick, unexpected debate on whether to let him into your room or not.

Vhagar behind you barks twice, watching Aemond very intently, while repeatedly wagging her tail back and forth excitedly and looking very playful.

While Aemond in front of you watches her with excitement and some hope, to again focus on you, ready to face the decision you will make, either yes or no.

And finally after what feels like an eternity, you know that rejecting him is probably the best option, but for some reason… you can't find the courage to do it.

And not because seeing him now in front of you and having heard his words has softened your heart, but because you realize that your heart doesn't hurt like it used to.

Maybe it was all the time you stayed apart and you healed in Highgarden, helped by the change of air, your lifestyle and the new people around you, unconsciously overcoming everything that happened between you, that you don't feel that pain anymore.

However… you do feel a weight. A weight on your shoulders and in your heart.

And it is because of that weight that after considering it in depth, with your soft gaze, you step aside and open the door wider, allowing him the entrance to your room.

Aemond would be lying if at that moment he didn't feel as if he had just received the news that he won the lottery, because surprise overcomes him and also relief.

And not wanting you to take it back, he enters your room, thanking you with his gaze in silence, while you control your nerves and close the door, facing this.

He in an instant is already in Vhagar who eagerly and seemingly happily enjoys being in his arms and licks his hands and cheeks, making him laugh and give her kisses, caressing her.

You can't help but smile a little at the scene, but you are just the same neutral and firm.

When he watches you over Vhagar, he leaves another kiss on her head and sets her back down on your bed, now looking as if he has no idea what to do.

He honestly didn't think it would go this far. He thought you'd slam the door in his face.

But you're both here. Face to face with each other. And certainly with a lot of things to say that you couldn't say to each other before.

"Hmm…" he says, stirring and glancing briefly at your room, "Did I interrupt you with something important?"

He asks and watches you intently, to which you deny, crossing your arms.

"No," you answer softly, "I was just planning to go buy something from the vending machine downstairs and watch something, a movie or a series."

"Oh," he nods, understanding, "well, if you want, I'll go," he offers, "you haven't eaten anything?"

"No. You?"

"I haven't either. But I can go and buy some dinner for both of us, only if you want. There are many restaurants near here."

"Well…

You stir uncomfortably.

"Only if you want."

"Yeah, no problem," he assures you.

And again he leaves you alone in your room saying he will be back soon, making you sigh and sit on your bed with an almost terrified expression… not expecting or understanding any of this.

The fact that he's gone to buy food helps you mentally prepare yourself for when he comes back, having no idea how they'll start talking about everything that happened.

You don't even know what he will tell you first, but you calm down and use the time he has given you to not feel nervous and terrified.

You take a deep breath, you say that everything will be fine, that this shouldn't be awkward… or at least not too awkward and that if both you and he start to feel like it's too much, you can both say so.

And of course you don't want any of this to lead to a fight. It wouldn't be wise and it's totally unnecessary.

When after a few minutes, Aemond returns with Chinese food, soda and fries from the vending machine.

He actually buys you some of your favorite chips and has also ordered you the Chinese food exactly the way you like it. At this you just thank him and both of you settle into your bed.

You put Vhagar down, give him some of her food and the two of you begin to eat.

At first it did feel a little awkward, but then, as you talk about the food being delicious and ask both of you to pass such things around, the mood begins to lighten and it's like going back to when you both lived together.

The two of them are comfortable, eating, talking about anything and watching a movie, although this time there is no movie.

And he is the first to start a conversation.

"How was Highgarden?" he observes you attentively, his gaze soft, interested.

"Incredible," you answer without hesitation.

He nods, as the two of you put more pieces of food in your mouths and then you take a sip from your bottle of soda.

"You told me that's where the best psychology internship programs are, right?"

"Yes," you affirm, "When I found out I got into the exchange program, it was the first place I applied."

"And you didn't have any problems?"

"No," you observe him softly, "Because of my good grades they didn't deny me anything, they gave me one of the first places in internships for Highgarden and everything was a very fast process. And when I got there and met the psychologist in charge of me and his clinic… it was just amazing."

"Yeah," he murmurs, "yeah, I can imagine. And I'm happy for you."

He tells you honestly, with a small smile that you return. A genuine smile from both of us.

"Thank you."

"And how did it all go? What was that you were doing? Did you get to know all of Highgarden too?"

And you tell him everything.

You tell him how your first weeks were, how was your dorm, the university, the new people you met, your internship, Dr. Arthur, what you had to do and you even told him about some very interesting cases.

You also told him about the places you met, showed him pictures and videos. You tell him that you went out partying on a few weekends, all the while he listens to you and watches you with great attention, looking genuinely interested, and asking you more questions.

Until you have nothing more to tell him about your six months at Highgarden.

"What about you? Haven't you started your internship yet?"

You ask him interestedly.

"Yes, since April," he says, "Obviously it wasn't difficult. I'm going to my father's company and I got some of my friends to do their internships there as well.

"Oh," you nod, understanding, "and what do you say?"

"What do I say?" he repeats, letting out a sigh, "well, it's not as interesting as what you told me," he says with a small smile, "It's all finance, paperwork, computer programs and so on. But that's what I like and I've been doing very well."

"Yes," you murmur, looking at a spot in your room, "But it's interesting," you tell him, "I've always thought you'd end up like one of the characters in Succession, someday running your father's important company as a rich and powerful man.

He smiles softly and then looks at you, to which you also smile in his direction.

"Am I right?" you ask him amused.

"In fact yes, you are absolutely right," he assures you in the same way.

There's no more food except for chips and soda, so he then starts talking to you more about his life and everything he's been doing lately besides college and his internship.

All while you both stare at an unimportant spot in your room, side by side, eating junk food.

And you listen to him with close attention, really interested in wanting to know what his life has been like now that you are no longer a part of it.

He tells you about how he has spent more time with his family, he tells you about Daeron, Rhaenyra, Daemon and even his cousins and nephews, Jace, Luke, Joffrey, Baela and Rhaena.

He tells you how they all spent a small part of the summer on Driftmark, an island near Dragonstone where his whole family also has a property right there, but which belongs to his aunt and uncle Rhaenys and Corlys.

You knew about Driftmark, but never in your years of friendship with Aemond did he invite you there because all his family always organized anything in his huge mansion here in King's Landing or in Dragonstone.

He also tells you about upcoming birthdays and everything his mother has planned.

And in everything he talks about, he doesn't mention Alys at all, maybe for fear that you might get upset or uncomfortable and want him to leave, because you don't dare ask him about her either.

You just let him talk to you about the first thing that comes to his mind, both of you comfortable in your bed and still eating junk food.

When Aemond seems to have told you everything and you both stay in a comfortable silence, almost shoulder to shoulder, both of you watching your little room and just letting time pass by.

And that's when Aemond watches you with his soft gaze, while you continue to eat fried food, staring into nothing. He swallows hard and lets out a long breath.

"I owe you an apology."

You freeze for a moment, still looking at everything around you but him, surprised by his words and beginning to understand where this is going.

Unable to help yourself, you look at him and he looks at you with a look that is both serious and gentle, looking honest, only to look away, maybe because of nerves, and continue talking.

"I was a very bad friend to you," he says in a murmur, "what I did to you is something unforgivable, I know, something you didn't deserve," he admits, "I don't expect you to forgive me Y/N, I'm not asking for that, I just want to talk to you and that you listen to me, that….

"I don't want to listen to your apologies only if you say them out of pity, Aemond," you interrupt him, serious.

"What? No, no, this is not for pity, Y/N," he assures you, honest and desperate to clarify, "I never felt pity for you and you know it."

"I don't know," you mutter, "After what happened, you made me doubt if our friendship was genuine or because you wanted and were my friend for pity," you confess.

"Y/N…" he tells you in a sigh, sad, denying, "since you left… since we stopped seeing and talking to each other… you don't know everything I wanted to tell you, everything I wanted to apologize for even if you didn't forgive me."

"Aemond…" you call him cautiously, "you can't apologize to me just to make me forgive you and your girlfriend too, you….

"I broke up with Alys."

He interrupts you with the most honest and quickest sentence he's ever said in all the time you've been together, making you freeze once more and stare at him with your lips parted.

And he watches you with the most honest look, wanting to clarify that point as much as possible and that there is no doubt, even feeling proud to say it.

"I broke up with her days after you left the apartment, and that was the last time we saw each other," he explains, in a low, honest tone.

But even after telling you that, you don't feel entirely confident. That's why you lower your gaze and swallow hard as you consider how strong his relationship was.

"But if you go back with her, I don't….

"No, Y/N," he says to you in denial, "I'm done with her for good," he assures you, "I didn't want to and I don't want to have anything to do with her anymore. I don't care anymore, she's nothing to me and never really was in all the time we were together."

You listen to him surprised, attentive, breathing a little faster than usual, not understanding, while he then starts to tell you everything.

Everything he wanted to tell you since your friendship started to fall apart and the moment it broke.

"Alys managed to get my attention a lot when we first met. She led me to believe on our first few dates that a relationship could be good, healthy and loving. But when we finally formalized everything, she started to show herself as the real person she is when she already had me," he explains, "And I naively gave her everything she asked for, even money, because I was obsessed with her and the way she made me feel. She made me feel so unique, so wanted and so special that I-I just…" he lets out a sigh, "I let her hold me in the palm of her hand."

He brings one of his hands to the nape of his neck, ruffling his short hair with his fingers, feeling strange telling you all this, but also feeling it as a necessity for you to listen and understand him.

And you really don't have any problem, you listen to him carefully and let him tell you everything he wants to tell you, still feeling a little sharp pain in your chest.

"She would even tell me things she didn't agree with or like, either about me or my family, making me feel bad and upset sometimes, but then she would turn them into just a point of view and convince me that I had misunderstood her, when I hadn't," he explains to you, "She told me that my mother was very controlling after she met her, that my siblings, even Helaena, seemed very weird to her, and that Daemon didn't seem like a good person."

You are surprised to hear that and pay more attention, while Aemond feels ashamed of himself for telling you this, but it is the truth.

"In that instant I should have put a stop to her, I know. But like the fucking idiot I am, I kept letting myself be easily manipulated by her, because she kept telling me it was just her first impression and her views," he says in a low, sorrowful whisper, "She just had a long conversation with my father without looking bored. I even noticed she changed her attitude and looked more… kind. But only with him."

He says in a bitter tone, while you understand what he's going on about.

"And of course, how could she not be nicer to him," he says with a smile and a bitter look, "With her about to graduate, she told him about that and also about her internship with the man who owns the most important company in the country. She talked about everything she knows and her skills, almost telling him her entire resume so he would hire her."

Now you let out a long breath, must have imagined it.

You thought Alys had really fallen in love with him. That's what you always thought until today when he gave you the news that he broke up with her months ago and that there was no love in the relationship.

You always thought that no girl could reject Aemond for his personality and his looks, that no one could reject him for being him, for knowing him and in an instant wanting to know more about him.

Because that's how you fell in love with him, you didn't fall in love because of what he had and what he could offer you professionally and economically.

But that was just what caught Alys' attention, not his personality and his heart.

"It also happened that when I would talk to her about my classes or an important project that I had worked hard on and got an excellent grade, she would say that it wasn't enough and that I needed to work harder to earn my father's company. She discredited everything I did, telling me that I had to do more so that someday I could be the boss and both of us could run the company, talking about those kinds of plans and almost assuring me that it would be like that," he says seriously and bitterly, "She insulted my friends, saying that they only cared about parties, that they were alcoholics and did not care about their studies, that they were useless and did not contribute anything to me now and would not do so in the future. She also said that I should have more serious and professional friends around me."

He lets out a long breath, really at that moment with you by your side realizing more how really bad his relationship was, the kind of very nasty girl he had by his side and how very blinded he was.

"The same thing happened with you," he says to you, saddened, "Clearly you know because you heard that conversation."

You bite your lips, remembering how bad she made you feel with her words. And so does he, corroborating with her.

"I owe you more than an apology for that, Y/N," he tells you honestly, "You were right, a best friend doesn't leave her best friend aside and that time I didn't even defend you. I should have stopped her, I should have put myself firm with her… but I didn't." he says apologetic, sad and disappointed, "and I'm very sorry for that."

Then you realize that you can't accept those apologies, because it really hurt you a lot to hear that conversation and that he didn't stand up for you because of the way you are and what you like to do.

If things had been the other way around, you would have defended Aemond with all your might, because he was your best friend.

"She was the reason why I started to leave you aside on weekends, why I gradually left you living alone and also why I didn't take care of Vhagar anymore, because she doesn't like dogs," he says seriously and sighs, "She was also the one who convinced me to take her to the ball and planned everything so I would forget your birthday," he confesses to you, saddened. "She deleted messages from you that morning, she confessed it to me when I confronted her when I realized that your birthday had already passed and that even weeks later she made me stay with her so I wouldn't see you. She also planned that stupid two hour dinner with her parents to delay me so I wouldn't notice and let the whole one night go by."

You bite your lips again, not watching him, feeling the urge to cry remembering that day, your birthday, because he also made you feel so bad during and still after by not getting any explanation from him.

And all because of her. But also for him, because he wouldn't put a stop to it.

"And yet I was still with her…" he says in a sigh, incredulous and disappointed in himself, "Like I said, she had me exactly the way she wanted me to be, and she would convince me otherwise when she didn't like something or made me behave differently than she wanted me to."

He shakes his head, feeling annoyed with himself for allowing it, for having fallen so low, letting himself be moved by her as she wanted, making him start to think that his friends were less important than her, his girlfriend.

That she was more important than Y/N, his best friend, who had always been there for him in very good and very difficult times, leaving her and throwing away their friendship of years for a relationship of months.

"She knew exactly what to do and what to say to make me stay," he murmurs, "But Alys never loved me and never really cared for me. She only cared about me out of interest and wanted to be with me out of the same interest, which was all she cared about."

"Did you love her?"

You dare to ask him without observing him, with a thread of voice, while Aemond at your side watches you for a few moments in silence and with his eye wide open in surprise.

I didn't expect you to ask him that, in fact I didn't expect any questions at all, but despite that, he knows the answer.

He knows it since the last time they both saw each other.

"No."

He respond in a low tone but completely serious and honest, while you dare to observe him surprised, but with an almost expressionless gaze and your lips parted.

"At first I came to have a certain affection for her … but only at first," he confesses, "Then it became that obsession with how she made me feel, but nothing else. I never came to love her and I am very relieved by that."

You take your eyes off him, closing your eyes for a moment, letting go of a long breath.

"And after I didn't see you again and I found out that you had gone on exchange… you don't know how that made me feel, Y/N," he swallows hard, "I had lost one of the most important people in my life. life for a fucking relationship and my own behavior. I wasn't thinking, I was an idiot. And I just wanted to scream and break everything for losing you… for not fixing it sooner."

An ugly and huge lump forms in your throat, observing an unimportant point in your room, your gaze lost and your eyes beginning to fill with tears.

You really didn't want to feel that way, you didn't want his words to soften you up, yet…they did.

But you hold back as much as you can, while Aemond next to you feels the same thing that you are feeling, but he doesn't dare to do anything about it, realizing your state, wanting to give you your space.

When you finally take a deep breath and talk to him even without looking at him.

“I missed you a lot too, Aemond. I missed you throughout your relationship with Alys and after I left to Highgarden. I missed you even when you didn't even deserve it."

You confess in a low and honest murmur, completely drawing his attention, you saying nothing else for a few seconds, swallowing the lump in your throat and completely holding back your tears.

While he listens to you and watches surprised, not expecting that, since he thought that all this time you had been hating him. He even thinks you hate him now.

And yes, if it was something like that, there was hatred, resentment, anger and courage for everything that happened, but even so, you also missed it very much.

You missed him, but you didn't forgive him.

"You also don't know how much I hate myself for ending our friendship, Y/N," he tells you in a sad and regretful whisper.

When you look back at him.

“I cannot forgive you, Aemond. Not yet."

And your words are like a dagger in the heart, a wound that, despite the fact that it hurts, accepts and respects it. He certainly didn't expect you to forgive him, but telling him that you had missed him, too, lit a small spark of hope in him. But it was not like that.

And he really respects it.

He doesn't want to make the same mistakes again, and so he does, feeling less weight on his shoulders, relieved that there aren't all those negative feelings between you anymore.

Nor does he expect that after this, everything will be back to the way it was before, because it won't.. He knows it's impossible. And if everything really ends between you both, then he will respect that too.

That's why he nods in your direction, both of you looking into each other's eyes, a understanding look and a small, soft, closed-mouthed smile on his lips, letting you know he's perfectly fine with that.

"Yes, i know," he assures you softly. “It's alright, I understand."

You nod gently in his direction, also placing a small gentle smile and both of you take your gazes away from each other and immersing in a comfortable silence.

Comfortable because finally neither of you feels that weight anymore and everything seems to be… fine.

Both of you have already said everything you wanted to say.

Or almost.

Because in the middle of that silence, Aemond starts thinking fast, having an indecisive debate in his mind, telling himself that enough has been enough, that everything is fine between you now and he doesn't want to ruin it.

But his heart tells him to do it, that there is still more.

While you by his side take your bottle of soda and take a sip, comfortable, this feeling good, but also knowing that this does not mean that the two will resume their friendship.

But for the moment… you enjoy it. You enjoy the moment.

And that's when he speaks again.

"After you left King's Landing…

He starts and you watch him, getting your attention.

"Helaena told me something," let out a long breath, "Something that made me finally realize my feelings and that made me have a little hope, even though you were already gone."

You are still watching him with attention, not having the slightest idea that it could be that what his sister told him, when Aemond looks up at you and looks into your eyes with his soft and honest gaze.

"She told me that you're in love with me."

Your hands become paralyzed first, you stop drinking soda and then your whole body is the one that is motionless, while you observe it with your lips between open, with your confused, attentive and nervous look at the same time.

You don't understand anything.

It's not like you told Helaena about it, in fact no one knows.

And it only makes you feel more nervous that Aemond is there, right next to you, acting completely normal about it, now that he already knows, continuing to observe you in the same way.

But you can't speak, you're still in shock, starting to feel like your pulse is racing too fast.

"She told me that you didn't tell her anything, that she just… knows," he says to you later, still in a soft tone, still making you panic.

You turn your gaze away from him, blink several times, starting to react from panic and nerves and hold your drink tightly.

"You should go."

It's all you say in a thread of voice, not daring to look him in the eye any more and you quickly get up from your bed, wanting to put as much distance as possible between the two of you.

You take Aemond by surprise, who stands up slightly, watching you worried, desperate and a little confused as you go to your door.

When his next words cause you to become paralyzed again, tensing up completely.

"I'm in love with you, too."

He says to you almost desperately, wanting to clarify as soon as possible, watching you attentively and cautiously, slowly getting out of bed to address you very carefully, not wanting to upset you more.

And he begins to explain to you with his soft tone, waiting for the moment so that he turns to you and can talk to you in the eyes, wanting you to see how very honest he is being with you.

"I don't know since when exactly, Y/N. It was probably before we graduated from high school," he lets you know, "That's why I asked you to live with me, because I certainly wouldn't have asked just anyone, and I-I… wanted to be close to you, almost all the time."

Your pulse continues to race, listening to his words carefully, feeling again the urge to cry, even without daring to look at him face to face.

"And all those dates, all those girls I went out with or flirted with at parties…" he sighs, "I told myself that I didn't get any further with them because it just hadn't worked out, when the truth is that I was fooling myself and it was me who didn't take them any further… because they weren't you."

He confesses to you and that's when you can't take it anymore and the first tears fall, starting to shake and with the realization starting to become clear to you as you hear it.

"And I wanted to repress my feelings for you with them, I wanted to fall in love with someone because I didn't want to ruin our friendship, Y/N," he tells you honestly, "And I know it sounds stupid and it's probably tired of hearing it already… but it's the truth. You don't know how much I was terrified of losing you, of losing our friendship because of feelings that weren't reciprocated… or that I thought weren't reciprocated."

Then slowly, Aemond, dares to raise his hand and gently touch your arm, turning you towards him very carefully and tactfully, needing to see you and needing you to see him.

And you let him.

Shaking, but you let him.

And his heart breaks the moment he sees you, with your sad, surprised face, your teary eyes and red cheeks, watching him as if he can't believe it.

"I wish I had known, Y/N," he says softly, watching you with all the love and gentleness in the world, "Because then Alys came, a girl with a personality I hadn't met before, pretending to be a good person and she made me distract myself from you by falling into her games."

You bite your lips, holding back the tears as much as you can, while he continues talking to you and explaining with all the sincerity in the world.

"And I know I was very selfish with all those girls and also with you when I saw you with that guy at that party, having a good time and having fun without me," he confesses with regret, "You don't know how upset I was and how terribly jealous I felt, Y/N. That was when I thought I had lost you for good and I hated myself not only for having ended our friendship, but also for never having confessed my feelings to you and realizing too late… what I lost for a person who wasn't worth it."

He lets out a long breath, biting the inside of his cheek and watching you with all the sincerity, love and affection as he says his next words.

"I love you, Y/N. I have always loved you. Just in the same way you love me…. or loved me," he corrects with a soft sad tone, "I was just too much of a coward to tell you and I didn't give you a chance to tell me either by going out and pretending with all those girls," he lowers his gaze, "I'm sorry."

Then, it's like you're living in a dream.

You don't know if it's real or not.

But you know it's real because of his touch on your arm and the closeness between the two of you, with him looking at you like that, being so terribly honest that it scares you.

It scares you because this is just what you wanted to hear.

This is everything you wanted to hear from him towards you, being just another one of your most pathetic and impossible dreams. But here you are. He has told you.

And that's exactly why you can't control it anymore and right there, in front of him, you lose it completely and the first sob escapes your lips, just as your tears are rushing down your cheeks.

You cover your face completely ashamed, crying, only you don't know if it's from happiness or sadness… or probably both.

But you know you cry because this is what you have been longing to hear for a very long time and you cry wondering why now, why now that things between you are no longer bad but not quite right either.

But mostly you cry because you feel confused.

Since you left King's Landing, one of your purposes was to leave him behind and forget, to undo those feelings for him. But you couldn't.

You still love him.

You love your best friend just the same way he loves you too, being something that was going on for a long time, simultaneously, but without both of you knowing it.

And you feel confused because you don't know if you should finally take this thing you've always wanted, you don't know because of everything that happened, even though he has already explained and apologized to you.

But you don't feel totally confident because he really hurt you so much.

And you don't know if what happened, will happen again and that's just what you don't want. You don't want him to hurt you again.

And Aemond, surprised by your behavior, yet he understands you and doesn't judge you.

That's why he wastes no time and pulls you into a gentle, firm and comforting embrace, letting himself be carried away by his feelings as well.

And you don't push him away. You let him hold you and lock you in his arms, just like you loved him to do when you lived together or saw each other during the day because his hugs have always comforted you and made you feel safe.

And that's also where you can let out your feelings.

He starts to comfort you too with soft words in your ear, stroking your hair with his hand, telling you that it's okay, that everything is fine, that this shouldn't change anything either, that you are the one who has the last word about the two of you.

As he continues to apologize for everything in soft murmurs, holding you tightly against him, not letting you go until you are well.

Until little by little, your sobs begin to decrease and you begin to calm down, sniffling your nose and still hugging him, taking all the time you need until your whole roller coaster of emotions stops.

Aemond doesn't let go, but does so slowly as you begin to stir, watching you intently and worriedly.

You bring your hands to your cheeks, wiping away your tears and sniffling your nose, to which he quickly runs his thumbs over your cheeks as well, still watching you with all that tenderness, that understanding and that affection.

"Are you all right, my pretty one? Do you need anything?"

You deny, again embarrassed, but at least feeling better and less emotional.

"N-no. I'm just… sorry, it wasn't m-my inte…

"Shh, no, it's okay," he interrupts you softly, "it's okay. This was my fault, I never meant to make you react like this. I should have been more careful with you."

"It wasn't that, Aemond," you confess, sniffling once more, "You took me by surprise, that's all. And I-I c-couldn't control myself, i-it was too much."

"Yes, I know, I know, pretty one. It's all right, everything's all right."

And again he pulls you into a soft, comforting embrace that you allow, now no longer feeling like those earlier hugs where before between the two of you there was the word friendship.

Now it's something more… something more intimate and more… honest.

And that's because both of you finally know each other's true feelings.

But still… after this, what you need is time. And that's exactly what you're asking for.

i couldn't tag many of you and I apologize if you asked me to tag you and I didn't, I could have missed your user but thank u so much for reading 😢❤

tag list:

@winxschester @namoreno @fan-goddess @lauftivy @bellameshipper @iloveallmyboys @barnes70stark @amazingnerd @yentroucnagol @helaenaluvr @almostpurplelady @lilitheal @targaryenmoony @dangerousstateofmind @summerposie

[sweetiecelin]

The Blind Leading The Blind

Chapter 3

A Sam Winchester x Reader

Summary: You and Sam the biggest idiots. Sometimes, when you want to see something you have to take a step back. It's just you and Sam are just into being really good friends. Everyone else can see beside you dumbasses.

Chapter Summary/Warning: Violence, Killing(ish), Drinking, Creepy Guys, MAJOR jealousy

Unedited(my s/o was busy) also NEW Record

3.1k word count

--

Dean had decided that you and Sam needed to work out your issues, so he left you two to do more research while he went to “interview” the locals. Sam furrowed his eyebrows as he scrolled through old newspapers on the town’s online library. You, on the other hand, were combing through the notes gathered by you and law enforcement. The stories were too similar, the kids were perfect, stayed home, went to school. It was irritating you at this point, something had to have been covered up or atleast manipulated.

You sighed and looked up at Sam, “Hey, do we have any police reports in the area where the kids went missing?”

“Do you really think I haven’t checked that already? Why don't you ask your little deputy?”

Pleading with him, “Sam, please just check again.” Throwing him your best puppy-dog face. His features softened, sighing he started going through the report log.

“Huh; There was a party called in at an abandoned lot the night the first kid was killed,” He chuckled to himself, “I guess you weren’t totally distracted.”

“Sam! Christ on a cracker, I wasn’t distracted at all. I was getting more information,” you scoffed and rolled your eyes, “You get more flies with honey than vinegar.”

“We’re not going to do this again, let’s just focus on the case alright.”

“Fine, who reported the noise disturbance? Cranky old lady?”

Sam held back a chuckle, “Maybe. It says that it was- Huh that’s weird, it was made from the farmhouse on the property.”

You shrugged, “Okay, so ghost? That house is abandoned too, right?”

He shook his head, “No, it’s owned by some ‘cranky old lady’; Dahlia Cromwell. It says here she used to live in it with her husband but he died about two years ago.”

So it wasn’t clearly a ghost, but it still could be. There’s no clear connection to the Winslows, but after a few more hours of researching with Sam, the link should appear. Eventually, after Dean had returned from “interviewing” and smelling a little bit too much of women’s perfume. You had found it.

Jumping from your place on one of the beds, “Here it is! I found it! Not all the Winslows died, the ones that weren’t killed were just kinda kicked out of the town.”

“How’d you figure that one out?” Dean inquired, looking at you from the table with beer in his hand.

“Okay, so I looked into the museum’s online section on the founding of the town. It was vague on what happened to the other Winslows, after Melinda’s burning,” You raised your hands as if to silence the Winchesters before they spoke, “ Yeah, I know what you're going to say, if she’s the spirit, we can’t burn the bones. BUT going through the genealogy records kept in townhall, it was easy to see if Winslow's left and if some stayed.”

“Okay, so what did you find out? The family kept a low profile, no news on them since Melinda,” Sam interjected, as if you weren’t about to get to the point.

You resumed, “What I was going to say was the plot of farmland was owned by a member of the Winslow family, the great-great grandniece of Melinda; Dahlia. It was in the family, so when she married, it became the Cromwell farm.”

Sam and Dean shared a look, Dean spoke out,  “So what, Dahlia’s a witch? Cursing the families that got her whatever many aunt?”

“This is what’s really interesting, I think she’s not really a witch but manifesting and controlling the spirit of Melinda,” You excitedly explained.

Sam gave you a quizzical look, “Shouldn’t she need remains, the bones or something to even conjure the spirit?”

A light went off for him, “It’s probably an object. Something that passed from Melinda all the way to Dahlia.”

“But the motivation, it shouldn’t have just picked up but it should’ve continued throughout the generations,” Dean tried to reason with the concept.

You shook your head, “If the spirit had been called forth or something, someone brought it back for a reason.”

Sam agreed, and Dean just went with your idea because it sounded plausible. You were determined to figure out what could’ve been the reason. You and Sam started scouring any and all sources that you two could get hands on.

Eventually, Sam found a real estate listing. It was the plot of land that Dahlia lived on, it was settled; It was Dahlia who must’ve been the one summoning the spirit and getting revenge. You knew you had to figure out how to make up with Sam, in order for the hunt to go smoothly. There couldn't have been something causing discord if the three of you had to take this thing head on. 

You glanced at Sam, even when he was unbearable he was your best friend with some of the nicest eyes you ever saw. You managed to gather the courage to apologize, despite what your ego.

“Sam, I’m sorry for snapping at you. It’s just-”

Sam cut you off, “I’m sorry I stepped in and was over-protective.”

“You weren’t overprotective, you wanted to put the case first without complications. I get it,” You replied, starting to tap your fingers against your thigh. “Let’s not focus on that, we’ve got to figure out the plan.”

Dean chuckled to himself, “FInally you two idiots but this behind you. As for the plan, why don’t we just go confront the kooky bat and stop her?”

You looked at Dean with slight bewilderment, it wasn’t the smartest plan but it was a plan, “I mean, we could do that. Knowing you, how could've I thought of any other plan but going in with guns cocked.”

Sam and you shared a look, before he settled and agreed to the plan.

Soon enough you three were getting out of the impala, waiting until the sun was a bout to set when you walked into the house. You and the boys were walking down the side of the house, when you heard something from inside.

“I don’t feel good about this, we could just move on. Like we should’ve at the start of this. Children are dying.”

Another voice cut in, raspy and almost silent, “They didn’t think about that when they took my child away from me. They have to pay for their sins.” 

Starting to bite the inside of your cheek, you were torn from listening to the rest or carrying on and getting this case over with. The look Dean had was determined, Sam’s was solid like stone; you figure you should just follow their lead from this point. 

Dean and Sam made their way to the porch, trying to make the least amount of noise as possible. You were trailing behind them when you stepped on a plank of wood that made a sound that caught the attention of those inside.

Sure enough, there was a cold feeling behind you causing goosebumps. Sam was lunging forward when you felt a cold hand shoved into your chest. Heart beating so long and so fast, you were scared to move. Yet you couldn’t freeze and accept the fate, you swiped at the spirit with the hand an iron ring was on. 

The spirit disappeared and Sam held you as you trembled, then you saw the scared face of Dahlia from inside. She was terrified, and then you saw the other woman. She was in tattered clothes that looked straight out of an old western movie.

With a shrunken and withered hand, she went after the old woman in front of her. Now, sticking her hand through the chest cavity of the poor woman who thought the spirit would help her. You watched as the heart ripped out of Dehlia. Her shirt and sweater that she was wearing. Now drenched in blood that quickly spread, she dropped to the floor. 

In but a minute, the spirit started coming for you and Winchesters again. You motioned for Sam and Dean to cover for you while you went in to search for the object tying that woman to the plain of the living. You saw a locket in the middle of a table with candles circling it. You ran for it, flipped around and turned on the gas stove in the kitchen. You took a peak at the boys, they were almost out of time and quickly running out of shotgun shells. Tossing the locket into the flame. You watched as the spirit started burning herself before *poofing* out of existence.

Making it outside, you quickly check the boys for any injuries. Dean had a torn up back from being thrown into a wall, while Sam simply had a sore shoulder from a similar stunt.

“So, case over? Time to hit a bar?” You joked smiling at the boys. Dean nodded in agreement while Sam wore a face you couldn’t recognize. Eventually he agreed as well and the three of you headed to Baby. 

The guys and you arrived at the bar, it was a dingy little place; It smelled like cigarette smoke, regret and booze. While the boys went to find a table, you beelined to the bar. Opening a tab and grabbing your first round of drinks, you walked over to the table Sam and Dean chose. 

Placing the drinks down, you took a seat across from Sam. You were still unsure where you two stood, despite apologizing to each other. You meant it but you didn’t know if he did. He could still be mad at you and just wanted to ignore it. He was a little sad that you didn’t choose the seat next to him, but the one next to Dean. He just grabbed his beer taking a swig of it.

“So that was fun,” Dean was just trying to make conversation while the two of you just avoided each other.

You let out a quiet ‘ha’ while Sam just shook his head a little. He was trying to look every where except you, he paid attention to Dean, “I guess so.”

You nodded along to Sam’s note on the case, but you wanted him to look at you, even in the smallest amount. Looking around the bar, you caught a look from a group of men. You smiled, if they were looking at you with googly eyes then maybe you could get something out of it.

You got up from the table, feeling Sam’s eyes on you, and strolled over to teh table the men were sitting at, “Hiya boys.”

One of the scruffier men decide to speak for the group, “We were just wondering what a pretty girl like you was doing with those two. Didn’t seem like they were paying you any of the attention you deserve.”

You giggled a little, trying to lead them on to get a round of drinks, “Yeah, my brothers can be that way. Sometimes, it feels like I’m not even there. But men like you, I’d love to spend more time with.”

“Really, how about we buy you a drink and you come spend more time with us. You’re the kinda girl we love spending time with,” He continued with a glint in his eyes. You were beginning to realize maybe you had made a mistake, nothing about this group felt right to you.

You turned back to steal a look at the Winchesters, “How about you buy me and my brothers a drink, impress them and they might let you take me home. They’re really protective of their sister.”

He thought about it for a second, debating if it was worth it. He nodded, “Yeah, yeah I’m willing to pay for it.” With slimy intentions in his voice, you walked to the bar with him and helped him carry the drinks. Sam had this look in his eyes that you couldn’t decipher, Dean looked a little bit proud that you just windled this man for a round of free drinks.

“So, I’m back here and- Wait what’s your name again?” Turning your head to the man, “I don’t think we got to names.”

He shook his head, “No, I don’t think I did. But isn’t that half of the fun?”

Dean went to shake the man’s hands as he introduced himself, “Well I’m Dean and this is Sam.” Then he introduced you.

You shot them a ‘go-with-it’ look, “I guess my big brother wanted to ruin the mystery you had been building up.” It was time for the boys to shoot you a look, Dean seemed confused and Sam just clenched his jaw.

Sam finally spoke up, “She’s not our sister.”

The man immediately turned to you, with this kind of pissed off look, “You were lying? You just wanted free drinks for you and your boyfriends.”

You started to get a little nervous and your voice confirmed it, “I-I thought you were cute and I just didn’t want you to think that. They’re not my boyfriends, they’re my friends who I think of as brothers.”

Sam felt a sharp pain from your words. Of course, you didn’t have any of the same feelings, you just thought of him as a friend, a brother. He began beating himself up, he was stupid enough to think that. Why would you ever think of him as more than a friend? He always just gets his hopes up before it backfires on him. 

“Yeah, I’m sure you do. You know what, you're just a little slut,” The man began to snap in your direction, beginning to seriously pissed.

That’s when Sam and Dean began to get irritated by this man. Dean started to get out of his chair while Sam practically jumped out of his chair to get in between you two.

“Why don’t you back the fuck off, you were the one dumb enough to fall for it. It’s not on her,” Sam growled at him, getting in the man’s face. His friends started getting up from their seats to walk over and get involved.

Dean saw this, “Hey man, no true hard, no foul. We’ll just leave and here,” Dean threw some money on the table, “This should cover your tab. Let’s go guys.”

Sam still had this pissed off look in his eyes and roughly grabbed you by your arm, dragging you out. You were a little surprised at how quickly things had turned, usually Sam is the one to go along with your lies that Dean then rolls with. This time it was different, Sam seemed truly pissed at what you did, he’d never had done this before. It was different, it was like he was jealous. 

You tried to get that thought out of your head but you couldn’t. Was he actually jealous or was he just being a little overprotective again like he had been with the deputy? You went with the latter, it just made more sense. He was probably still mad about the situation before and he hadn’t truly meant the apology he said earlier. 

You three piled into the impala and went back to the hotel. Leaving the question of ‘whose going to sleep in the chair or share a bed’ you knew sharing with Dean, you end up with a sliver of the bed and no blanket. If you shared with Sam it’d be uncomfortable with the situation that just unraveled at the bar. You decided to announce you were going to take the chair.

“You two are larger than me, I’ll just take the chair. It’s okay, I don’t mind-”

“You’re not going to sleep in that damn chair again, just shut up and choose a bed to share. It makes the most sense so we all are rested for the long trip back home,” Sam declared as he cut you off.

Dean also butted in, “Well, I’m not sharing. So it’s either Sam or the chair. You decide which.” He threw himself on to his bed.

“I could just sleep in the impala,” You replied meekly, “So you both have a bed-”

“No, damn it, just get in the bed with me. It’s not like we haven’t shared a bed before,” Sam snarled, getting more upset as the conversation continued longer than it should’ve. He was just tired of fighting, he just wanted to forget about the whole thing. A part of him just wanted to hold you and pretend that you were his.

You just stared at him, he’d been upset with you before but never gotten like this with you. It made you uneasy but you just went along with it. He wasn’t going to let you take the chair, you knew even if he was mad with you. You wanted to pretend that everything was alright but you couldn’t.

You quickly went into the bathroom to change after gathering your clothes while the boys changed in the actual motel room. It was nauseating with the situation with Sam, you cared about him and he cared about you but you couldn’t admit you have feelings for him. It just felt like you loved him like a best friend, nothing less. 

You came out of the bathroom to see Dean already fast asleep on his bed while Sam was standing next to your bed just staring at it.  You were looking at it too. Both of you are unsettled by the thought of sleeping in the bed together with where you two are at right now.

“I say we just get this over with. Get in the bed,” Sam decided, clearing his throat.

“I-uh I guess, yeah sure,” You nodded, heading to the bed and pulling the bedsheet back. “You want to sleep over the sheet, I’ll sleep under it? Seperated?”

He shook his head, “I hate how we are right now, let’s clear the air. I’m sorry for yelling at you and I’m sorry for just being a dick in general.”

You laughed a little bit, “Yeah, isn’t that what you said last time? Then you did the exact same thing?”

“Yeah but I’m not going to do it again, this time. If I do, free shot.”

“Oh my lord, you’re gonna let me smack you next time you do it? Deal. I’m sorry for flirting with every Tom, Dick and Henry. I didn’t think that you’d be so overprotective of me.”

He shook his head, “Just get in the bed.”

You got under the covers and Sam followed suit. You turned on your side to just look at the window while he turned his back to you.

[culturalflesh]

ᛝ ﹒— – — – — – — – — ⤵︎

⊹ ♪ ࣪ ˖ My name is Kay (PRONOUNCED KAI), I am 15. I'm a girl, though honestly I'm not too fussed on what you call me pronouns / gender - wise.

♪· ` I am TCC ( I do not glorify or condone the perpetrators actions. All of my respect goes to the victims 🕊️)

The cases I am most interested in are; Sandy Hook, Thomas Crooks, Weis market, Artur. A, Dnepropetrovsk maniacs, The Milwaukee cannibal, Isla Vista and Dollyflesh (even if he doesn't really count..)

Some fandom's I am apart of are; Ranfren, Welcome to N-H-K (my favourite anime), Watamote, Serial experiments Lain, SpongeBob, MLP, Danganronpa, Lucky Star, Life is Strange, Vocaloid, Evangelion, Zero Day (2003), DC (especially batman). Undertale, blah blah blah.. there's more I just can't think of them.

Music I like; Haunted Mound (Sematary and Ghost Mountain are my favourites, but I also like Oscar18), Heelflip, Mayhem, Morbid, Burzum, LifeLover, psychonaut 4, Him, Type O Negative, Winslow House, KMFDM (yes I'm basic..), Mindless self Indulgence, Negative XP, Fried by Fluoride, 2hollis, The Beatles, The Smiths, Morrissey, Hole, Chappell Roan, Alex G, Bo Burnham, Weezer, The Beach Boys, Sublime, System of a down, Mook and tons more!

I ALSO LOVE PLAYING DANCE DANCE REVOLUTION. I LOVE IT SO VERY MUCH!

I will most likely be posting TCC related stuff but I will definitely post / Reblog things related to my other interests, such as movies, music, art, etc.

[bonzlydoo]

Morning broke with a hard edge to it. The slow sting, that yesterdays unraveling memories were not a tasteless joke off the back of some dream. His saving grace was Edward's sleeping presence. To wake in company was a mercy after yesterday. He revelled in it, thinking on the fact that this was the first time any other human had slept in this bed.

A half hour and Edward didn't stir. Scuffed up as bad as he was, he needed his rest, and Winslow knew his anxious mind would only bother it. Another fifteen minutes. The musician slipped his way out of embrace, carefully. Ed was sweet, he deserved this break a little longer from reality. God, the bruises were forming now. He was so beat up, but damn if he didn't look like the image of sweetness wrapped up in the old oversized jumper of his. Another minute. He admired that chiseled face softened by sideburns, packing the mental image up into that special mental space. He dressed comfortably. Left quietly.

Winslow had missed his work shift and didn't care.

For the second day in a row now he'd made the mistake and fallen asleep with a contact in, and it hurt with dryness in his good eye. He'd stick to glasses today, what he was used to, thinking, maybe he'd get a lens put in his old helmet. It felt good to compose in, a little inspiring even.

Compose... feelings bundled up in a knot in his chest. That'd help, composing. First coffee. He didn't feel hungry.

The collar was still at his neck and the voice box was surely out of charge but he had spare batteries.

The clock in the kitchen ticked. A loose kernel crunched under his foot when he sat down. It must have gotten away when they... when Cherik cleaned up the other day... Winslow stared at the wall. He replaced the needed pieces. The clock ticked. There was a stain on the sofa from where coffee had spilled. These things made him melancholy. He didn't cry. He knew he'd compose.

Coffee warmed his hands. He stared at the wall as he drank up. He wrote as he drank. It was on a loose sheet of scrap envilope.

Winslow thought he should probably tell work he was off sick, away on a family emergency... bereavement leave.

He placed a phone-call that didn't specify either one thing, nor how soon he'd be back. He sipped his coffee. He wrote. The clock ticked. He wrote. He sipped. The cup was empty...

Winslow looked back to the bedroom door. Edward still slept.

Sink. Cleanup. Drying.

His good eye caught something on the kitchen countertop now. the tin of hot coco. Guess he never put it back. He'd have to pick up something decent for when Cherik got back. Yes, when Cherik got back, that's what they agreed on.

Winslow threw the tin into the trash. He needed something better before then. He'd get something better.

That scrap paper stared him back from the kitchen countertop now. The pen twitched in his fingers, wiggled back and fourth, impatient as he. Compose... He could make breakfast or he could put something to this. With Edward still sleeping, he decided he'd compose. Maybe take the man to the diner when he woke up, if he had the energy, get out the house. He knew his food was shit choice for a healing man.Yeah, the diner would be good.

Winslow spent the next two hours wrapped in headphones, behind fallen curtains. It all came surprisingly fast, the music. Papers seemed almost to fill themselves, and the only thing that stopped Winslow's fever, why, it was the fact he'd finished. Plane and simple, that was it, the song, something for all these emotions to go into. He didn't feel fixed, but felt a little better now, a little clearer. Clear enough to notice hunger. Sheet music, Winslow put sheet music down next to sheet music. Here was a song for Cherik, there was a song for Henry, the thing he'd written and couldn't sing. The sight of them faded against piles of songs, ten years worth never recorded.

He shook his head. Still no sign of Edward. God he was out cold, knew he'd better check on the man. He'd check on the man.

Winslow's thin angular body slid in that bedroom one last time this morning, casting gaze upon the man wrapped safe in his childish jumper. Wondered, how'd it look so much better on him. Hmm... maybe... maybe it'd be alright, just a few more minutes next to him couldn't hurt. Winslow looked for a few more things that might actually fit Ed when he woke. Good luck. His smallest shirt, fresh underpants, a pair of shorts. They could make a stop somewhere for better things. His clothes were wrecked after all...

Winslow placed them in front of Ed, then slid back in to that perfectly empty space he once lay safely in. If it woke Ed he'd wake, if it didn't, maybe they'd wake together in another hour... hmm... Just a little longer.

-- writing excerpt. This version of Edward Hyde belongs to @dross-the-fish --

[greenfiend]

The horrific true crime case that inspired Stranger Things...

CW: physical and sexual ab*se, and m*rder...

For real guys this is REALLY dark and disturbing...

The movie Changeling staring Angelina Jolie is based on the 1928 Wineville Chicken Coop murders in Mira Loma, California.

A single mother named Christine Collins, manager at a telephone company, had to work and sent her nine-year-old son Walter to the movies. She never saw him again.

She searched endlessly for him, to no avail. The police were not helpful. Until one day, a boy in Illinois claimed to be her son Walter.

The thing is- that boy was not her son. She was told still to "try the boy out", despite her insistence that they had the wrong boy.

So she was forced to take in this random boy. She continued to tell them that he wasn't Walter and they had made a mistake but instead of admitting their mistake... they claimed she was crazy and forced her into a psychiatric ward.

Meanwhile, a man named Gordon Stewart Northcott was convicted of killing three boys on a chicken ranch. Apparently, he had murdered at least three possibly up to twenty young boys.

(CW here it's VERY dark) "A gas station attendant in Glendale, Richard Strothers, reported seeing a dead boy wrapped in newspaper in the back of a car."

"Other tips came in about a couple traveling across the state with a boy who was begging them to let him go."

"Sanford told investigators that his uncle kidnapped him and had physically and sexually abused him. He also said Northcott had forced him to watch the abuse and murders of Walter Collins, Nelson and Lewis Winslow, and other boys. Sometimes he even made him participate in these acts. Northcott abducted boys to rape them and when he got bored, he would lead them into the incubator room to see hatching chicks and kill them with an ax. To destroy the evidence, Northcott covered their bodies in quicklime."

Northcott was eventually sentenced to death.

The "fake" boy admitted that he was not Walter and Christine was finally released from the psychiatric ward.

Christine never found out the truth of what exactly happened to Walter. She never stopped looking for him.

Source (truth is stranger and darker than fiction... I left out some things here).

Some thoughts:

Byers means "someone who lived by a cattleshed"

Will vanishing in a shed...

The farm next season...

Hatching chicks, eggs...

Now, I do not think Stranger Things will be a 1:1 comparison with this case, BUT they obviously are heavily inspired by it. So, expect some very dark stuff next season... (and in that Lonnie post I'm working on...)

The name of the movie that was inspired by this true crime case is called "Changeling".

A changeling is a mythical creature found in European folklore and exists within DnD.

A changeling was a substitute left by a supernatural being when kidnapping a human being. Sometimes the changeling was a 'stock' (a piece of wood made magically to resemble the kidnapped human), more often the changeling was a supernatural being made magically to look like the kidnapped human.

Basically, a changeling "swaps places" with a kidnapped human.

Thoughts?

[transjester64]

I lied about there being a final vampire thing, I guess. Based on what Shitlord's response to getting criticized about consuming copious amounts of caffeine plus what if they did the haha funny gay sex.

@majesticcorn2000

[cha0ticr0b0tic]

continuing to Nosferatupost because Robert Eggers you madman I love your work and gender commentary <3

I think first and foremost, this film is about the horrors of being a woman who isn't believed by men -- this includes issues like medical misogyny alongside things like how patriarchy can be intertwined with classism (Friedrich Harding, the man of his house, clearly saw Ellen as a burden. That said, Ellen & Anna had such a sweet relationship built on nothing but love and support.) The Witch explored this with a teenage girl, but what happens when that teenage girl grows up and is still seen as strange and misunderstood?

Alongside that, I really think Nic Hoult deserves his flowers as Thomas because it's a thankless role that I think was received really well! Jonathan Harker is a dedicated Wife Guy and that's like 90% of his personality. (The other 10% is pure dedication to killing the fuck out of Dracula.) I've seen folks on here with bigger brains than mine talking about the masculine competition between Thomas and Orlok; where the latter emasculates the former both through feeding on him as he would for his female victims, and through manipulating Ellen, who calls her husband weak. (This is meant to be seen as out-of-character, because she loves him as much as he loves her.) But there's also an anxiety which is present even before Thomas arrives at Orlok's castle, and it's all about financial stability.

There's a scene in The Lighthouse where Willem Dafoe's character Wake asks Robert Pattinson's character Winslow why he took the job as a lighthouse keeper, given that Winslow had been working as a lumberjack up in Canada. It's a huge shift, not everyone can handle the isolation, Winslow clearly isn't knowledgeable about maritime lore and superstitions, etc. Winslow responds that he just wants to be able to make his own way -- and, later on, when Wake threatens to fire him without pay, Winslow insists that "he works as hard as any man."

We also know that in Nosferatu, Thomas feels the (masculine) pressure to Protect and Provide, especially because he and Ellen have rich friends and there's this sense of being behind. This is played straighter than in The Lighthouse, because Winslow is also on the run after having committed a murder, but in both cases, both men are drawn into increasingly horrifying situations because it's Part Of The Job. And, as Part Of The Job, both Thomas Hutter and Ephraim Winslow (or Thomas Howard -- T.H. initials again!) find themselves forced to do things against their will. Orlok insists that Thomas stick around, he insists that Thomas refer to him as "my lord," he makes Thomas sign paperwork in a language Thomas doesn't even know! In The Lighthouse, Winslow feels emasculated by being forced to do housework, but even more concerning is that Wake essentially forces Winslow to drink alcohol on their (supposed) last night working together, despite Winslow doing his best to stay sober until then. In both cases, the boss demands it, and the younger employee must obey. This should be obvious, but bosses are perhaps vampiric.

[dramagodesss]

three : hottie on watch

playin' the players

rafe's phone

you adjusted the strap of your camera and stepped toward the rink, boots echoing faintly on the concrete. warm-ups were already in full swing—sticks clacking, blades carving arcs into the ice. a few heads turned as you approached, but it was rafe who straightened first, like someone had tugged a string attached to his spine.

"hey john b," you said with a small smile as you passed him. he grinned back, relaxed and familiar, nodding like he remembered exactly how much fun you’d had at the welcome party.

then you turned your attention to the taller figure just a few feet away.

“rafe, right? i think we met at the welcome party friday?”

he blinked. “yeah. uh—yeah, we did.”

his skates were only half-laced, one of them still dangling from his grip like he’d forgotten what he was doing. you watched the hesitation, that half-second stutter of recognition.

"you’re y/n. winslow," he added quickly, almost too quickly—like he’d rehearsed it.

you smiled. “wow. full name recall? i’m flattered.”

“alright,” one of the older girls from the photography team called, clipboard in hand as she scanned down her list. “we’re pairing off for solo profiles—coach wants everyone to have updated shots for the media kits.”

she looked up, eyes landing on you. “y/n, you’ve got cameron and routledge.”

you blinked. rafe and john b. two sides of the chaos coin.

“got it,” you said easily, tucking a strand of hair behind your ear as you stepped forward. “where do you want us?”

“use the south wall—natural light’s best there right now. we’ll rotate you in for group shots after.”

you turned back toward the boys. rafe had clearly heard—he was already watching you, jaw tight, expression unreadable. john b, ever the contrast, gave you a casual thumbs-up and a bright grin.

“guess i’m yours for the next ten minutes,” you said to rafe, voice lilting somewhere between playful and daring.

he hesitated, just for a second. “you sure that’s enough time?”

you lifted your camera slowly, lining up the shot. “depends how well you behave.”

he let out a short breath—almost a laugh—and stepped under the light.

“what do you want me to do?” he asked, voice low.

“just… be yourself,” you said, adjusting the lens. then, after a beat, “unless being yourself means clenching your jaw like it owes you money. in that case—maybe relax?”

behind you, john b snorted.

rafe rolled his eyes, but the corner of his mouth twitched. you caught it.

click.

the rest of the shoot moved fast—portraits, candid action, a few group shots. you gave quiet direction while your teammates helped with light and reflectors. jj kept cracking jokes and stepping into your frame like he was born for it. rafe watched, saying little, his focus more on you than the camera.

kelce and topper hovered with twitchy nerves, while john b and pope stayed laid-back and helpful, easing the mood. still, it was clear: two of them were trying hard to be seen. and not just by your camera.

“alright,” you said, pulling the camera down. “you’re all free to go terrorize the campus again.”

a few fake groans. john b gave a real thank you, pope too. rafe lingered—then turned before he spoke.

you packed slowly.

jj was already waiting by the bleachers.

“yo,” he called, tipping his chin up. “you need a model for that magic camera of yours?”

you glanced over your shoulder, eyes gleaming.

“you volunteering, maybank?”

he smirked. “only if you’re behind the lens.”

you let out a soft laugh, shaking your head as you adjusted the weight of your gear on your shoulder.

“actually,” you said, pausing just long enough to make him tilt his head, “i do need a model.”

jj perked up immediately, grinning like he’d just won something.

“for a portrait project,” you added, pretending not to notice the way he instantly tried to stand taller, like he was already posing. “but if you’re too busy charming the entire campus, i can find someone else…”

jj’s face dropped into mock offense. “what? no! no need for that—you got me right here, princess.” he thumped a hand on his chest like he was pledging allegiance. “jj maybank at your service.”

you smirked. “you sure? it’s kinda artsy. real up-close-and-personal stuff. long sessions. direction-heavy.”

“sounds like my kind of thing,” he said without missing a beat. “especially if it means i get to be around you without half the hockey team hovering.”

that pulled a real smile from you. “alright then. i’ll dm you the concept and details.”

jj made a face. “ugh. dms?” he shook his head like you’d just suggested he use linkedin for flirting. “nah, i always forget to check them. plus, last time i did, i accidentally left someone on read for like... three months. it got weird.”

you raised an eyebrow, amused. “sounds like a you problem.”

“probably,” he said, grinning. “but we can prevent it. skip the ghosting risk—give me your number. make it real.”

he held out his phone, wiggling it like a bribe.

“here. go on—bless my contacts.”

you rolled your eyes but took it, fingers flying as you added your number under y/n winslow.

“perfect,” jj said when you handed it back. “now i’ve got a reason to blow up your phone.”

you turned, walking backwards toward the exit. “just don’t send mirror selfies at 3 a.m. or feet pics. we’re not there yet.”

jj grinned wide, walking backwards in sync. “yet?”

you laughed again. “we’ll see how you do in front of the camera, maybank.”

and with that, you turned and disappeared down the hall, leaving jj maybank already feeling like a winner.

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