#and Arthur got turned into a donkey again

[itbeaheadcannon]

hc that merlin and Gwen (who are besties btw) are absolutely running shit. Got a problem? Go to them - always to them. They're the ones who know the most about the castle and have full control of the royal schedules.

Uther does not know about this and neither does Arthur - however whenever either one of them pisses Merlin or Gwen off or they just do something like seriously fucked up (looking at you Uther you absolute ass) they bury them in work.

and I mean like bury them: making them wake up at like first light for an 'emergency' (apparently someone thought they saw a sorcerer) straight to training the Knights, to a meeting with the council to deal with the non-existant sorcerer, to confirmations of a celebration

they don't know what the celebration is for. (in truth it's not for anything, the castle just wanted an excuse for a party, and it's funny gaslighting the royals into thinking they approved some random ass celebration a few weeks ago)

The servants know and 100% annoy them with inane shit because their "input" is needed (no the fuck it's not, but getting to fuck over royalty is fun for them)

random servant #1 to Uther: Apologies for interrupting Sir, but the seamstress wanted to confirm time for your fitting for your outfit for the celebration tonight?

Uther, baffled asf running on 5hrs sleep: celebration? there is no celebration??? and what colour scheme

Servant #1 trying not to cackle: yes sir there is? you advised of it just last month - the seamstress just wanted to take last measurements

Servant #2 elbowing #1 to get their shit together: and the blue and purple scheme? You approved it over a month ago, and Prince Arthur confirmed last week before preparations were made.

(all the food is stuff Arthur and Uther barely tolerate and mildly hate and their alcohol is weak asf - meanwhile the knights and everyone else are eating amazingly, drunk off their asses)

more in the tags lol

[mlmxreader]

Starlight Confessions | Arthur Morgan x m!reader

『••✎••』

requested by anonymous

↳ ❝ hey there!! if you still write for arthur morgan, can i req a m!reader fanfic with prompts 17, 18, and 295? thank youu hehe i love ur works ❞

: ̗̀➛ Arthur comes to visit you in the middle of night, and knows that he should tell you that he can never come back, but he can't do it.

trigger warnings: ̗̀➛ swearing, mentions of gun violence, smoking

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spotlight fundraiser : ̗̀➛ Help Wafa and her Family to safety.

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The ranch was quiet.

The cattle were all locked in the barn for the evening, settled and nestled away amongst one another from sunset until sunrise; the sheep were all locked in their pen and huddled together in their expansive shelter near the back.

The chickens and geese were in their coops and tucked away; the donkey and mule were in the stable and sound asleep.

It was all so quiet when Arthur made his way up the ladder and onto the roof of the small shack; the stars were all shining so brightly and he could see the wild horses amongst the trees getting what sleep they could.

When he looked at the back of the shack, he could see a horse with a green saddle that had the head of a red dragon sewn into it; the horse itself was a medium sized horse with an awfully shiny, metallic, black coat and hair.

Its steely dark brown, almond shaped eyes were familiar when it looked up at Arthur and let out a soft huff. Beside it, his own horse was half asleep already; he couldn't say that he was surprised.

It had been a long day for them both, and Arthur had been forced to steal away in the night instead of making up a lie about a job to come over during the day.

He sighed as he lit a cigarette and turned his attention back to the wild horses ahead; he wondered if he should have just left. It wasn't fair on you to drag you into his life, and it wasn't fair to force you to give up your life to be with him either; he wasn't a good man, and he was far from deserving of the company of a man like you.

The ladder creaked, and he moved over before holding the cigarette out; you grabbed it as you sat next to him and laid your head on his shoulder like you always did.

Fuck.

Arthur started to chew at the inside of his lip, not really sure how he was going to start to tell you that he wasn't going to come by anymore; he needed to keep you safe, he needed to keep you far, far, from anything that ever got near him. He needed to keep you away, just so that you could live a normal life like you deserved.

"You're late," you said quietly. "Everything alright?"

Arthur shrugged as he took the cigarette back from you and took a long drag. "I can't sleep 's all."

You nodded slowly, humming under your breath as you tapped his thigh. "You're doing that thing again. Going all quiet and coming by late because you're gonna tell me some bullshit about how I deserve better and you need to keep me safe without realising that I do not fucking care about any of that."

"What'd you mean?" He grumbled, refusing to look at you, as he knew that he would fall apart the moment that he did.

You laughed softly, muttering his name under your breath. "I don't fucking care if you're dangerous, if what you do is dangerous, I live on a fucking ranch and deal with wolves, bears and fucking mountain lions at least once a day... do you really think that a gunfight or two is gonna scare me away?"

"No..." he mumbled.

"Arthur, look at me," you commanded softly as you pulled away and grabbed the cigarette again. "I... I care about you, a lot more than I should and a lot more than what people say is okay for a man to feel for another man. But it's like the Mississippi River, and it ain't gonna dry up no time soon."

Arthur shot you a pleading look, then frowned. "I don't wanna see you get hurt."

"Oh, trust me," you grinned. "Ain't no damage... don't think twice about it, it's alright."

Slowly, he nodded as he swallowed thickly and took the cigarette. "Is there anythin' I can do or say to make you change your mind?"

"No, I mean, did you ever think we'd end up like this? A... a cowboy and a gunslinger, it's not a likely pair, but..." you told him quietly. "Bottom fact is... Arthur, I love you."

He froze, dropping the cigarette as he stared at you; his jaw clenched as his features turned a light pink and his head began to swim with all the things that could possibly go wrong. But then you grinned, and you said it again, and suddenly it was like you had made everything just right. Just fine.

He reached for your hand, and held it gently. "Promise me you won't go and wake snakes."

You gave his hand a firm squeeze. "I won't, don't worry. Besides, you're the troublemaker - not me."

Laughing softly, he nodded before clearing his throat and glancing up at you from under the brim of his hat. "Don't go lookin' for me when I leave. You gotta stay."

"Well, yeah," you scoffed. "I got cattle and birds and shit to look after, I can't go nowhere... Arthur, you don't have to worry, I'm a big guy, I can look after myself and I can sure as shit make sure I keep my nose clean while I'm at it."

Relaxing a little, Arthur coaxed you to sit on his lap with your back against his chest; he pointed over to the wild horses nearby, and smiled when you leaned into him. He could have gotten used to that, even though he knew it was terribly wrong of him, he really could have gotten used to it - the way you so eagerly leaned into him and encouraged him to tell you about the horses.

He smiled, daring to allow some of the tension to drop from his shoulders and his back as he held onto you as much as he would allow himself to.

He would have to leave in the morning, before anyone noticed he was even gone from camp, but he could at least have a few precious hours with you before that.

That was enough.

[purplemoonabove]

Mini rant here: I saw both the new trailers of the new Smurf film and Shrek 5’s cast reveals.

I personally have no hope for Smurf because (1) you have Rihanna as Smurfette — and it does not work at all! Love Rihanna, but her voice isn’t her. Not even pitching in the sound booth would help! And (2), there’s an Influencer Smurf… Need I say more? I haven’t caught up with the Smurf films since the start of them, with Neil Patrick and Sofia Vergara, so finding out about this is disappointing.

Shrek 5?! I have mixed feelings on this.

At one point, we got the original cast (unsure about Antonio playing Puss again) with Zendaya included as Felicia, Shrek and Fiona’s only daughter out of the triplets. At the other hand, the animation… Like, it’s them but also not them, you know? And especially Donkey! Dude is seriously old now like he had a difficult life with Dragon! It’s kind of heartbreaking when seeing him despite him having that same chaotic energy we all know and love. Not to mention how we see original Shrek in a photoshop pic, and then see the Shrek they made today. I rather copy the original and just age it up a little (I’m not expert in this kind of technology, so I’m assuming it’s possible and effective than AI).

To get my point across, what really pissed me off is the inclusion of modern exposure within these films.

A Smurf being an influencer, while also living in the woods where satellite let alone WiFi doesn’t even exist? (I never saw any live action films before this new one, so correct me if the technology is now included in the village.)

And the magic mirror displaying random videos and photoshop pics of Shrek as we would see on our social media apps, swiping up to see each post?

Like, this is what really pissing me off about certain film making like this. There’s a point in the universe of a story, regardless that it’s fictional, where today’s modern life is unnecessary to an extent! Films like Hotel Transylvania is an exception; it was made to have fictional story characters to be included in the modern life, advancing while also sticking with their own universe’s exposure that is present in their personalities. (Once Upon A Time, a former ABC tv show and something to watch if haven’t seen it, was the same except the fictional characters lost their memories.) The live action Smurf films, at least the ones that started out, had also an exception as they were transported into our modern world.

How did similarities of social media get into Shrek’s universe?! May I remind you of Shrek the Third, where we had Merlin, Arthur, and such involved? I don’t need to know the time difference to be aware that if somehow, someway our exposure to modern life gets into Shrek’s world… He’d be dead by now.

Honestly, unless it was planned to have fictional characters “act” like they’re aliens in our modern world – any sense of our modern life shouldn’t be in these films! I don’t care if it’s supposed to ��relate with the new generation” and have them feel more “connected” with the films by having them less attentive to the apps and more on the films again by having these social media concepts shoved in.

That new Megamind sequel pretty much did the same thing, didn’t it? How did that go…? 🤨

Anyway, to sum things up, I don’t have hope for the Smurfs. And while I do prefer the original concept work of Shrek, I am hoping for the best on the fifth film, even though I’d rather have this franchise concluded with the fourth film as it was intended.

Movies before social media were at a strong connection with storytelling. Wicked (while based of a book-turned-play) and Sonic (based off a video game franchise) held their own sense of storytelling, and one had exposure to modern life in the correct way. Smurfs and Shrek, however, got work to do.

I won’t be surprised when Shrek gets more money than Smurfs, though. I just won’t.

(There’s some hope for this.)

[mydearthisbe]

Ayesha Liveblogs Shrek 3 and 4

The wild gendered expectations they have on Pinocchio to hate dinner theatre LMAO

"I am the rightful King of Far Far Away." On what grounds, Prince Charming?

Why does Shrek have to do all the knighting and christening of boats when Fiona is the royal heir? Even in Shrek we cannot escape the misogyny of inheritance laws

"Imagine an Ogre baby. They extra cry, and they extra poop." This is unfortunate foreshadowing for how many babies they're gonna have

"I am proud to call you my Frog-King Dad-in-Law." Ghkjhgkjhg Shrek is as preoccupied with Harold being a frog as Harold was with him being an Ogre

"You and Fiona are next in line for the throne." Again, I feel like Fiona has this whole like, princess her whole life thing going for her. Why does Shrek need to be ruling in any way

NOT KING HAROLD BEING SENT TO REST IN YE OLDE FOOT LOCKER BOX:

Why has Doris been thrown out of the bar!! Who is Mabel!!

"And you, Frumpypigskin." "Rumplestiltskin." "Where's that firstborn you were promised?" I think this is supposed to be foreshadowing for the next Shrek movie

"How does it happen?" said Donkey, as if he did not have at least five children (six if we count the missing baby, whose name is apparently Éclair)

"My stomach aches and my palm just got sweaty. Must be a high school." Relatable. Also the implication that Shrek went to high school. Was it an Ogre high school or a general high school for fairytale creatures

"My friend Tiffany thinkest thou vex her so soothly. And she thought perchance you would ask her to the homecoming dance." Tiffany confirming that the Shrekfucker community is alive and well

Not Arthur Pendragon being bullied by the nerds omg

Fgjkhkghkgjh Guin being repulsed by Arthur. Rough

I guess we know where Doris is!! At Fiona's baby shower

"I got you the biggest one, because I love you the most." HAHAHAHA not Snow White giving Fiona a PERSON as a present

HAHAHAHAHA I love Pinnochio double negativing Charming into confusion

"He'll never fall for your tricks!" [Nose grows] Pinocchio knows Shrek is very gullible

Most of Shrek's problems are related to just being too strong to handle his own body

How long does Shrek think he can hide the fact there are other heirs to the throne. Does he think if he waits til they're in Far Far Away, Artie won't turn back?

"Somebody help! I've been kidnapped by a monster trying to relate to me." This movie strongly feels like it was written by the parent of a teenager LMAO

"Please leave any bad vibes outside the healing vortex." Me trying to talk to my parents

"My dad wasn't really the fatherly type either." 1) The plot of this movie is simply Daddy Issues: Shrek Edition and 2) Are we finally going to find out where some of the other Ogres are?

I guess we have taken until the third movie to confirm that some, if not most, Ogres, are pro-eating each other, at least. Shrek's father said, I put you in this world, I can take you out

"People used to think I was a monster. And for a long time, I believed them. But after a while, you learn to ignore the names that people call you, and you just trust who you are." SOMETHING SOMETHING METAPHORS FOR OPPRESSION SOMETHING SOMETHING MY HEART

"That Charming makes me hotter than July." Why did Rapunzel say 'ew,' isn't she the one that Charming calls Kitten Whiskers lmao

Update from 30 seconds later: I got an immediate answer to this question in the form of Rapunzel betraying them

Also: Is the topiary supposed to be Lillian or is the implication Charming's first act in this coup was to replace the garden sculptures jkhgkjhg. I've been thinking it for a while but Lillian and Charming really do have the same hair and general face shape:

"Shrek will be back soon, and you'll be sorry." Fiona why do you need Shrek, you can take out a band of ten Merry Men by yourself!! Are you hesitant to fight because you're pregnant? This movie should really be about Fiona and not Shrek

"Get yourself back to Worcestershire, kid." Bold of them to choose this name for Artie's hometown hahahah

HAHAHAHA Artie defeats Merlin's magical insecurities by having a tantrum

Efhjkfhkfjh the implication that Donkey has been suppressing his inner heehaw for two whole movies. Poor Puss in Boots

"He's a star, people! Hello? I'm so sorry about this, Mr. Shrek." Artie's best quality as a leader is his ability to think on his feet

"I wasn't right for the job. I just needed some fool to replace me." IT'S A GOOD THING YOU'RE NOT THE ROYAL HEIR OF FAR FAR AWAY SHREK, FIONA IS! IT'S HER THRONE AND HER DECISION, U DINK

Shout-out to Cinderella's slowly dwindling mental health, she's got some of the most labour-intense and psychologically difficult backstory kghkhjg

Oh hell yeah Julie Andrews as Mama Lillian showing where Fiona got her fighting skills

"Okay girls, from here on out, we're gonna take care of business ourselves." AS THEY SHOULD!

HAHAHAHAH Snow White's singing scene is all I remember from this movie. Get 'em girls!!!

Cinderella throwing her glass shoe, Sleeping Beauty tripping them with her narcolepsy, Doris tripping the men up with her leg that didn't fit into the shoe. I love that the mechanisms of their fighting are the same as their confines in the story

"Shrek only said those things to protect you." And because they were true! He was also dishonest with Arthur lmao

Awwww the Shrek fan club in the audience. He really is a beloved by the people, in his way

"If you don't mind, could you kill me, and then sing?" Charming really should've put a muzzle on Shrek if he wanted him to be a silent participant in this play

Shrek's strongest asset by far is the community of people he and Fiona have built (the fairy tale creatures, the princesses, Doris, the dragon, the citizens of Far Far Away)

"Don't you ever wish you could be something else [other than a villain]?" Arthur yet again comes through with his gift of gab

"What Steve's trying to say is it's hard to come by honest work when the whole world's against you." Steve and Ed the Evil Trees raise very point

"I grow daffodils, and they're beautiful." Love this for Captain Hook

"It's yours if you want, you know. But this time it's your choice." WHY IS IT NOT FIONA'S CHOICE!!!!!!!!! YOU'RE NOT THE PRINCE, SHREK!!!!

You know, if the only remaining complication of switching bodies is losing your tail for a bit, that's not the worst

"I think the kid's going to be a great king." "Well, for what it's worth, you would have too." SO WOULD YOU, FIONA, AS HEIR TO THIS KINGDOM!!!! Raised as a princess!! The plot of this movie is so bizarre

I love how much Lillian loves her weird little family. No Judgement Mum

Tag yourself, I'm the "Where's the Baby" Dwarf kjghjghjh

Well, even if it's not something Fiona specifically identified as wanting for herself instead of ruling, I'm happy they get to have their happy little family in the swamp and a nap

Onto: Shrek 4

I will not lie to you, I am mostly watching the fourth Shrek because I went to Shrek trivia and we missed a bunch of questions related to the fourth movie LOL

Why does the animation look so funky in this one? It's giving a bit of Monster by Mistake/direct-to-video sequel

How are Shrek's babies old enough to speak but Donkey's still look the same even though they're at least 9 months older?

Is the plot of this, much like the second Incredibles movie, 'I can't believe that I, a father, have to parent'

I know people have been committing Ogre Microaggressions all day and that he wasn't the first to destroy the cake (Donkey licked and the Pigs ate the first one) but what kind of a father destroys his own children's birthday cake. Get some therapy, Shrek

"I wouldn't expect you to understand, it's not like you're a real Ogre. You spent half your life in a palace." "And the other half locked away in a tower." 1) What a thing to say to someone who became an ogre permanently FOR YOU, and 2) She got a point there, Shrek

"You have three beautiful children, a wife who loves you, friends who adore you. You have everything." Shrek said: God Fiona, have you ever heard of an introvert

Lmao @ this movie retconning the fact that Shrek and Rumplestiltskin have already encountered each other when Arthur took the throne

Shrek representing the very real experience of not reading the terms and conditions every time you sign off:

"It's me, Shrek, your best friend." After four movies Shrek finally admits that Donkey is his best friend hahaha

Gingey being in a cookie fighting league jkhfkfh on brand for him

Why is there such a large proportion of witches in Rumpelstiltskin's palace hahaha, I get that there were more than a few, but Rumpelstiltskin seems to hang with witches exclusively?

"I ended Fiona's curse." Technically yes, but did u really Shrek? You just ended the switcheroo to her original human form, not the resultant transformation

I gotta say, the soundtrack moments in this film are so far a lot weaker, BUT I do love Shrek rescuing Donkey, His Best Friend Who Doesn't Know Him, and covering his eyes as they go through the roof:

As if to challenge me on that last point, they had Shrek sing an off-key rendition of "You've Got a Friend," which was delightful

Donkey looks particularly off in this movie and I've just realized it's because of the texture of his fur. It was smooth and growing in a similar direction for three movies, and now it's super coarse and messy

"You should never sign a contract with Rumpelstiltskin." Not Donkey having more common sense than Shrek HAHA

"You gonna have to take me to dinner first." I will take this as Donkey coming out as bisexual

"Fate has delivered us a comrade-in arms and for that we are thankful." The implication that Ogres do have a society and Shrek just chooses to never interact with them bc HIS FAMILY is the only one who loves terrorizing is VERY FUNNY

I love how Shrek also seems to be one of the smallest Ogres. Little man

I thought the idea of Fiona staying an Ogre was for her to subvert the beauty standard (which like, another conversation, 'cause she looks fine as an ogre) but they had to make a point of her being a sexy warrior ogre HAHA:

(I can see why this film didn't do that well with audiences)

Why is Fiona the ONLY female ogre? Where are the women!!

"Well, I see who wears the chainmail in your family," said Donkey, both correct about Fiona's fighting prowess and unaware that his wife is a Dragon ten times his size

Took me a sec to realize why the water would be threatening to the witches kjhgjghjgh (not poison, just dealing with Dorthy Dousing Disease)

OHHH Cookie is an Ogre who loves cooking, I had wondered about that in the Shrek trivia

"Shrek, do my babies have hooves or talons?" Donkey is SO excited to be a father!! I love that for him

Lmao @ them suggesting Shrek stresses Puss into being physically fit with the fights he causes

"[Candy]'d work on me." I guess there is another woman Ogre, but not with a scanty outfit! Only Fiona gets Ogregectification

I do love the falling in love while sparring. Couples MMA league:

I love that Puss in Boots is immediately Team Shrek/Fiona

"You are a catastrophe." "And you, are re-donkulous." [Shared laughter] Hahaha I like that the only obstacle in Puss and Donkey's friendship was they needed to meet sooner to avoid the competition for Shrek's attention

"I can't believe I let this happen, and it's all because of you." In fairness to Shrek, no one could see inside the carriage

They spent the entire animation budget on this frame of Puss in Boots:

I do like them subverting the expectation that just a kiss would solve their problems when love is what they need

"Then where were you, when I needed you?" Thinking of ways to become an absentee father

"Please stay tuned for a message from our tyrannical dictator." I wish all political announcements were this honest

There is something fun about the circling back to Shrek 1 Mob

"If your life was so perfect, why'd you sign it all away to Rumpelstiltskin in the first place?" "Because I didn't know what I had until it was gone, alright?!" Fiona even reminded you! Get some therapy Shrek

"What are you talking 'bout, cracker?" I CANNOT BELIEVE THEY GOT AWAY WITH PUTTING THIS IN A CHILDREN'S MOVIE (point of clarification: It was said to the Gingerbread Man)

DID PUSS IN BOOTS JUST KILL GINGEY???? AH?????

"I'm just a frightened old man." "Don't listen to him, these Ogres are crafty." "That is your father painted green." Pinocchio finally gets his revenge on his dad for selling him to the Duloc Guards hahahaha

Shrek giving up his freedom to save the other Ogres 😭😭😭😭😭😭

"Nobody's smart but me," said Rumpelstiltskin, while leaving the only two people who could break his spell together to fall in love:

HAHAHAHAA how could they have Trojan Horse'd Rumpelstiltskin SO QUICKLY after being freed?? It is the SAME NIGHT, 2 MOVIE MINUTES LATER:

"I'll call you! We're in love." If there's one thing Donkey is willing to do, it's commit to the bit

I love that the way they keep Dragon at bay is both a callback to the first movie and a callback to the phrase Fiona has tied knots with throughout the movie. A rare moment of good writing it in this funny little movie

I guess in lieu of Shrek's other friends knowing him, it's an Ogre-only revolution

"Looks like we're having curly-toed weirdo for breakfast." So ogres eat ogres AND people. Four movies for someone to confirm it explicitly!!

"You know what the best part of today was? I got the chance to fall in love with all over again." A very sweet reflection about a problem Shrek caused himself

Lillian is genuinely so accepting of her bizarre family 💞 She doesn't care if she married a frog or if her grandkids are ogres

I can't believe they saved two of the best soundtrack songs and this fun character montage of moments throughout the series for the end credits!

Overall, I would say I prefer the first three Shrek movies (and especially the first two) but if they put out another one, I would probably watch it LOL

[charliedawn]

How would they escape ?

You were organizing some paperwork when you hear a loud crash and multiple screams. You run to the window to see..Arthur ?! He had just jumped out of the window and crashed on a car. You run outside to see Arthur surrounded by the hospital's guards.

" Hands up, Joker ! You're going back to your cell !"

You try to make your way through the heavily armed guards to check on Arthur, but a whistle makes you turn around to see Five with..

" Oh no.."

A remote. And not any remote, the one controlling the anti-powers system.

" Be careful, Five..You don't know what you would release.."

You warn him, but he only grins widely before playing with the remote in his hand.

" That little thing ? I'm sorry, Y/N. But, you see, I already activated it the moment Arthur jumped to make a distraction. It is too late. The monsters are out now."

You hear a low growl behind you and turn around to see Penny. You know what is to follow and the soldiers seem to understand as well as they immediately draw their weapons out to fire. However, Five gives the order with a sadistic smirk.

" Penny..Attack."

In a moment, Penny is on the soldiers, opening his mouth wide and ripping the them into shreds to your utter horror. Some run away, while some continue shooting as you get down on the ground. You see Five running away, but to your horror, one of the soldiers spot him and shoots him. You hesitate, should you go and help him ? You look at him and you know. You know that you can't leave him. You run towards him and take a piece of your uniform to apply on the wound.

" Why did you do that ?! Why now ?! I don't understand !"

You ask while wiping your tears, your hands drenched in blood as you trie to think of anything to stop the bleeding.

" I..I had to do something.."

He simply answers as you hold his head on your knees, trying to make him stay awake.

You hear the loud screech of a car and look up to see the rest of the slashers in a car. They stop just next to you and Jason gets out of the car to grab Five.

"Stop !"

You shout and, to your surprise, Jason obeys you. He stops and faces you. His face is unreadable, but you know that he is listening to you.

" Five won't survive if you take him now ! Please, come back in with me ! And we can help him !"

You can see that he is hesitating. You extend your hand towards him, hoping he would take it. He looks at your hand and is about to take it when his eyes darken and he shields Five. You don't understand until you see a new set of guards arrive that open fire at Jason.

" Stop ! What are you doing ?! Stop !"

You shout, but they don't listen to you and only push you out of the way before resuming shooting. You sob as Jason kneels on the ground. The shooting stops, the soldiers thinking that they had finally gotten Jason. But, to the astonishment of all, Jason stands up again and turns towards you, cribled with bullets but still alive.

" I'm sorry, Y/N..I really thought you would be the one to save us."

He finally says to you, his hands covered in blood before he jumps in the car that starts again. The soldiers start shooting again as the car tries to dodge the bullets. Penny is getting rid of most of the soldiers, biting their heads off and ripping their limbs. You know that if you stay here, the same fate awaits you. You want to escape as well, when one of the soldiers takes you by the arm and digs the end of his gun against your temple. Penny suddenly stops to look at the two of you with wide eyes, dropping whoever's body he had been feasting on.

" One more step, and the nurse gets it !"

Penny nods in understanding, his chin covered in blood and raises his hands in surrender.

" Let her go.."

The soldier is shaking, but doesn't seem to want to let you go any time soon.

" Not a chance ! She's my ticket out of here !"

You both step back as his eyes are fixed on Penny that stares at him with animosity and glances at you with a glimpse of worry. You smile through your tears and try to reassure him, even though you had seen what he could do.

" It's okay, Penny. Everything is going to be alright.."

However, before you could make one more step, the soldier is transpierced by something: very sharp blades. He lets you go and you see that it's Freddy that came to your rescue. He winks at you before tilting his head towards the car to Penny, signaling him to get in the car. Penny nods understandingly and jumps on the top of it. Freddy then looks at you and extends his hand towards you. You close your eyes tight, thinking that he would kill you as well, but you only feel his fingers softly wrapping themselves around your wrist. You open your eyes to see a certain tenderness in Freddy's eyes as he smiles at you.

" I'm not gonna hurt you, nurse. You're the only good thing that happened to us in that asylum. This is why I'll give you a choice. Do you want to come with us or not ?"

Your eyes widen in surprise at his proposition. You look at the car and him repeatedly, hesitating. Finally, you open your mouth to give him an answer when someone else does.

" You're both not going anywhere."

Suddenly, someone shoots at him, and this time ? It's with a grappling hook. Both you and Freddy are surprised as he coughs blood and falls to his knees. Suddenly, he is dragged forward, not able to grab anything as he is dragged harshly through the snow. You turn around to see new soldiers, different from the earlier ones as they are covered in black and their weapons seem more unusual. They get a hold of Freddy that tries to get away, but seems unable too. Freddy understands that he will not be able to get away, so he looks up at the other slashers in the car and yells through gritted teeths.

" What the f*ck are you waiting for ?! Get out of here ! Do it !"

Pennywise gets out of the car, his eyes glowing yellow in the dark. He is about to come try to free Freddy, but Freddy shakes his head negatively. They both stare at each other until Freddy forces himself to yell at him.

" What are you doing, you dumb f*ck ?! I said f*cking go !"

Freddy is harshly punched as a result and Pennywise stops dead in his tracks and looks at Freddy that spits blood. A harsh contrast in the white snow. Pennywise's hands clench into fists and he growls menacingly at the soldiers. But Freddy stands up bravely and Pennywise stares at him with pain in his eyes. Freddy's eyes are filled with tears as he yells again.

" Do it !"

As he doesn't move, you decide to act as well and shout.

" Run !"

At that, Pennywise seems to snap out of it and returns in the car. They drive away and you sigh in relief. Your relief is short-lived as one of the strange soldiers punch you hard in the stomach, cutting your breath out of your lungs.

" Let her go, you f*ckers ! You got me ! Let her go ! She is just a nurse !"

One of the soldiers who seem to be the leader nods at the soldiers holding you that throw you in the snow. You take a moment to get your breath back before standing up again. You see them entering in two black cars and Freddy smiles reassuringly one last time at you before being shoved into the car. You feel a lump in your throat and run towards the cars, but they drive away as well and you fall in the snow again. You feel angry and scream so loud that it becomes painful. You then stare at the hospital with tears in your eyes and curse the day you had first entered those walls. After a while, some of the nurses come out to get your shivering form back inside.

Inside the car, as Five is the only one besides Freddy that knows how to drive, he forces himself to stay awake and brings the slashers to the address he was given. He gets numerous shocked stares from other drivers and finally shouts at one of them.

" What are you looking at, donkey ?! Yes. I'm a kid driving a car. Get over it."

However, he knows he is losing blood and needs medical care, fast. He parks in front of the appointed building and the slashers get out of the car. The building is a very gloomy tall greyish hotel that seems to have been taken straight out of an old horror movie. They are then greeted by a man that Five knows all too well.

" Hello gentlemen. Welcome to the Redemption."

But before anyone could reply, Five collapses on the ground.

[weakforarwen]

Goblin’s Gold

I think Beauty and the Beast and Goblin’s Gold are cousins, except one is a lot grosser, yet somehow more serious, than the other. 

Kudos to Richard Wilson for playing the goblin so well. He nailed it. On the same note, Angel nailed her parts as well. Her embarrassment around Arthur was so cute and funny. She had great facial expressions and reactions. 

The funniest part of the episode was definitely the flatulence bit. Usually that sort of humor’s not up my alley, but the fact that it happened to Uther of all people, who was wearing a hilarious, and not at all period appropriate, aviator hat, and Morgana, the resident Ice Queen, made it a lot funnier. Angel’s reactions were priceless as well. Uther and Morgana tried to act cool and noble, but my girl Gwen looked ready to walk herself to the town square and light herself on fire. It’s not often that Arthur’s the least ridiculous person in a room. 

I gotta say that Uther’s baldness and special hair loss treatment were also very appreciated. I was reminded of a scene in Modern Family in which Gloria asked Jay to slap around a chicken in honor of her culture and Jay was too white to realize she was messing with him.

It’s hard to believe no one thought Gaius had been acting strangely. He beat a huge dude, half his age, at arm wrestling and no one called bullshit on that? I suppose no one had a good explanation for Gaius’s behavior, or wanted to get on the bad side of an esteemed member of the court. This was one of the few times Merlin actually tried telling people the truth about magic wrecking havoc in the castle, but, like Gaius always said would happen, no one believed him. No one but Arthur.

Even stranger than no one noticing Gaius’s suspicious behavior was Arthur being the one to figure it out. But let’s not give him too much credit. After Merlin exposed Gaius, it was only a matter of putting two and two together. Surely even Arthur can do that. After all, in what planet would Gaius be so gleeful about Merlin’s death? Uther didn’t notice it because he doesn’t care for his servants, and Morgana was all too happy to see Merlin go. 

Speaking of Morgana, the episode got unexpectedly dark during her scene with Gaius. That scene was perhaps the only real thing in the episode, apart from Arwen being lovesick fools. I guess it was undeniable proof that the old Morgana was entirely gone. It was the only time Goblin Gaius got serious about anything.

The episode’s honestly too silly to belong to season 3. In Beauty and the Beast, Arthur and Arwen had some development, so it wasn’t all just nonsense, but this episode is about 99% nonsense. It’s not too bad though. At least, Arthur didn’t just accept Merlin’s execution, and we had plenty of Gwen (and Gaius)!

Gwen was a cutie this episode. She got to help Merlin save Gaius (so, yay for screentime, and, also, I love it when those two work together), and she really had the best reactions. Gwen loves Arthur so much she didn’t even laugh at him when he became a human-donkey hybrid. She thought he looked cute and even tried to pet him but Arthur felt too emasculated to let her (although he was clearly enjoying it). Merlin really had to convince her to face Arthur again though. It’s a testament to their love that Gwen and Arthur weren’t turned off of each other for good after all this; instead, they chose to be mature and pretend nothing had happened. In any case, it was nice, and different, seeing them be silly with each other. But, still, the best goofy Arwen scene is, no contest, the one where Gwen and Gaius stop Arthur from death by bath water. It was a good job, indeed. 

Sadly, some of the humor in the episode fell flat. Arthur as a donkey wasn’t particularly funny. It was too ridiculous. He already embarrasses himself enough and looks like a buffoon around 70% of the time. His character was funnier when seriously reacting to Uther, Gwen, and Morgana losing it in the throne room. It’s funnier if he looks like the smartest and most dignified person present; Uther, Gwen, and Morgana are usually very poised, so it was amusing to see them lose their composure. But the donkey bit was tacky, and Merlin’s laughter felt forced. 

[a-small-batch-of-dragons]

Nothing Wrong

Prompt: Writing prompt for Merlin (preferably time passes?): Modern Day everyone try to explain to Arthur how life works now and Arthur trying to get Merlin to therapy because JESUS DUDE and coming up with a somewhat workable alibi for what can essentially be called immortality angst. Hope you're having a lovely day!!

Thanks for the prompt, babe! This is part of a series over on my Ao3 but it can be read as a standalone

Read on Ao3

Pairings: merthur, can be platonic or romantic you decide

Warnings: none

Word Count: 2217

 So it turns out that Merlin, to no one's surprise but his, could benefit from seeing a therapist.

“Thank you for coming in today, Mr. Emrys,” Dr. Lerchen says as Merlin sits down in the plush chair, “it’s good to meet you.”

 “You as well, Dr. Lerchen.”

 “Please, Melanie is fine.” Dr. Le—Melanie smiles and fixes her glasses. “I understand that you’ve never been to a therapist before?”

 “Can’t say I have.”

 “Well, I’m happy to have you. May I ask what you’ve heard about therapy?”

 “That it’s something I should definitely do.”

 “Well, I make no judgments about that, but what else?”

 Merlin hesitates. He’s never had someone who’s…paid to listen to him. Whose job it is to help him sort through the mess in his brain. It feels…counterintuitive.

 Melanie nods when he says as much. “You’re not the first person who feels a little awkward asking a therapist for help. Nor are you the first to think you don’t actually need it.”

 Merlin blinks. “I didn’t say that.”

 “No—“ Melanie gives him a look— “but am I right?”

 He fidgets in the chair.

 “You don’t have to answer me if you don’t want to,” she says after a moment, “but I want to reassure you that you don’t need to have a reason to see a therapist.”

 “I don’t?”

 She shrugs. “Some people see me because they’re having issues at work that they’re struggling to manage. Some people see me because they’ve got mental issues they need help with. And some people see me because they’ve never actually had someone to talk to.”

 “…really?”

 Melanie smiles. “Yes, Mr. Emrys. You don’t have to need therapy to have therapy.”

 A weight begins to lift off his shoulders. Judging by Melanie’s smile, she can see it. She sits back in her chair too and tilts her head.

 “Is that all this is,” Merlin murmurs, mostly to himself, “is this…therapy?”

 “Well, I’m not sure if it’s as easy to tell from the two minutes you’ve been here,” she laughs, “but…yes. I ask questions, and if you like, you answer them. Or we simply talk. About…whatever you’d like.”

 “Whatever I like?”

 “Believe me, I’ve spent sessions discussing nothing but movies and favorite colors.”

 “With children?”

 “With adults.” She gestures between them. “I’m here to provide the support you need to work through things. Does that sound alright?”

 “…yes,” Merlin breathes, “that sounds…that sounds great.”

 “Wonderful. May I ask you a few questions about why you’re here today?”

 “Yes.”

 “Do you mind if I write them down?”

 Merlin shakes his head and she retrieves a notepad.

 “In your request for an appointment, you mentioned that you’d been referred to me by a friend of yours?”

 “Yes, um, Leon Camlynn.”

 “Ah, yes, I see.” She makes a note. “Had you been discussing therapy with him prior to the referral?”

  “You should try it, Merlin,” Leon says encouragingly as Arthur sits down on the couch, “it’s just talking.”

  “I’ve had experience with therapy before, Leon.”

  “Not like this,” Leon promises, his eyes shining with the understanding of what type of ‘therapy’ Merlin’s been put through, “I promise.”

  Merlin sighs. “Look, I appreciate the offer, but I’m fine, Leon, I—“

  “Merlin,” Arthur interrupts softly, “I think you should try it. Just once, at least.”

  He doesn’t blink at Merlin’s look of betrayal.

  “Leon says it helps him, and maybe it’ll help you too.”

  “There is so much between us already,” Leon says softly, drawing Merlin’s attention again, “so much history—“

  “So why would I want to talk to someone that I’d have to explain things to?”

  “—that you might not be able to talk about it with us,” Leon finishes, “and you’d only have to explain as much as you were comfortable with.”

  Merlin sighs. “I don’t believe you. There’s—I—I can’t—my—hmm.”

  “You don’t have to explain everything all the time, Merlin,” Leon says, “and you definitely won’t have to during the first session.”

 “I agree,” Melanie says, patiently writing things down, “I’m not here to pressure you into telling me things you’re not comfortable with, nor am I going to tell you what to do.”

 “He said that I should get used to talking to someone.” Merlin toys with the end of his shirt. “Someone that wasn’t…him.”

 Melanie nods. “How long has it been? Since you spoke to someone other than Leon?”

 1500 years. “…a while.”

 “And is Leon your closest friend? Do you have anyone else?”

 “I know people at work, I talk to them, they drag me out for pub nights. But Leon’s my only…friend-friend, really.”

 “I see.” She looks back at the appointment record. “It says here you’re also considering whether or not you have some sort of PTSD?”

  Damnit, Leon.

 “…yes.”

 “You needn’t tell me anything you feel uncomfortable telling me,” Melanie reminds, “but whatever you do tell me will be useful in how I can help you.”

 Merlin can’t help glancing at the door.

 “Doctor-patient confidentiality,” comes the quiet reassurance, “nothing you say will leave this room.”

 He takes a deep, slow breath. He hasn’t talked about this to anyone. Not even Arthur. Not really. There are so many secrets that no one knows that he doesn’t know how to tell one without telling all of them.

 “Pick something small,” Melanie suggests when he says as much, “something innocuous. A memory, perhaps, one that makes you happy.”

  “Come on, Merlin, this way!”

  Merlin rolls his eyes as Arthur drags him through the woods. “Whatever creature you’re hunting is going to hear us coming from yards away, as you’re so fond of telling me.”

  “We’re not hunting Merlin, now come on!”

  “Then why are we out in the middle of the woods for no reason? And why am I carrying all this food?”

  Arthur bursts through the edge of the woods into a clearing, spinning around with a blinding smile. “We’re having a picnic.”

  Merlin blanches. “A what?”

  “A picnic, Merlin,” Arthur repeats, taking the basket from him, “we’re going to sit down and eat.”

  And they did, in the field, as butterflies flew around their heads.

 “That sounds lovely,” Melanie says, smiling, “and how long ago was this?”

 Merlin’s smile dims. “A long time.”

 “Was it near where you grew up?”

 “No, no, it was…quite far away. I, um, I grew up in a smaller village and went away to a big city to work.”

 “Was it hard, being away from your family for such a long period of time?”

  He misses his mother’s smile.

  He misses the smell of the barn when he walks outside—not the big, Camelot stables, but their little barn with the cinnamon and cloves stuffed into the corners to keep the old donkey happy.

  He misses Will, the shouts and yells of the other boys as they rush up and down the streets.

  He misses the old man’s warbling in the late night as he walked back and forth with the lantern, putting out the lights on his market stall.

 “I’d never been farther than walking distance away from my home,” he says quietly, examining his hands, “so it was…hard to adjust.”

 “I’m sure. Did you go back to visit them ever?”

  “The winters are harsh in Ealdor,” his mother says, pleading in front of the tightly Uther Pendragon, “and there are many children. Some of them just won't be strong enough to survive. We barely have enough food as it is, and if Kanen takes our harvest, our children won't live to see another summer. Please, we need your help.”

“Ealdor's in Cenred's kingdom,” Uther says dismissively, “your safety is his responsibility.”

“We've appealed to our King, but he cares little for the outlying regions. You're our only hope.”

Uther regards his mother with what can only be described as forced pity. “I have the deepest sympathy for you and would have this barbarian wiped off the face of the earth.”

“You'll help us?”

“I wish I could.”

Perhaps sensing Merlin’s dismay, Arthur speaks up. “Surely we can spare a few men?”

“…once.”

 Melanie tilts her head. “You sound sad.”

 “…my friend died when I went back,” Merlin says, “he…I’d known him since I was a little boy. He was…important to me.”

 “I’m sorry to hear that.” And she does sound genuinely sorry, Merlin realizes, as she leans forward. “What was his name?”

 “Will.”

 “Will,” she repeats, “I’m sorry he passed.”

 Merlin shrugs. Out of all the people he’s lost, he can’t afford to hurt over all of them all the time.

 “What did you do afterward?”

 “I went back to work.”

 Melanie blinks. “Just like that? No time off, no time to grieve?”

 “…where I come from, that wasn’t really a thing.”

 “…I see.”

 Merlin shifts. “Is something wrong?”

 “People need time to process things,” she says, “to reconcile what’s happened in order to learn how to live with it. And if you weren’t given that time…”

 “It wasn’t the most pressing thing on my mind.”

 That gives her pause. She raises an eyebrow and nods for him to continue. Merlin fidgets a little in the chair.

 “…I have a secret,” he says finally, “one that Will died to protect for me.”

 She makes a soft noise.

 “I couldn’t tell anyone,” Merlin continues, staring at a spot on the carpet, “it—they would’ve—“

 He breaks off. He hasn’t thought about his magic like this for centuries. He hasn’t thought about his magic for decades. He hasn’t actually looked at himself for…a long time.

 He’s been hiding for almost as long as he can remember.

 “What would they have done,” Melanie prompts softly.

 “Killed me.” Merlin looks up. “They would’ve killed me.”

 To her credit, Melanie doesn’t look shocked. Instead, she smiles softly.

 “No one will kill you for a secret, Mr. Emrys, not on my watch.”

 That shouldn’t make him feel as warm as it does, but he finds his own mouth turning up into a smile.

 “Does your family know your secret?”

 “My mother did. My father…yes, he knew.”

 “Does Leon know?”

 “Yes.”

 “Anyone else?”

 Merlin hesitates. “Yes. Yes, someone else knows. Even though I…I didn’t…I didn’t tell him when I should have.”

 “You’re the only one who gets to make that decision,” Melanie reassures, “no one else.”

 “But he felt so betrayed when I didn’t tell him. He was…he was angry with me.”

  “You’ve lied to me. You’ve lied all this time.”

  Merlin can’t quite hear his heart crack in two, but he can feel it.

 “Why did you decide to tell him?”

 Merlin shrugs. “He was going to get hurt if I didn’t show—if I didn’t tell him.”

 “Hurt?”

 “He…”

  Ygraine, his mother, gone on the day of his birth because of magic.

  Uther, turned bitter and cynical, making enemies upon enemies of magic while hoarding it for his own selfish purposes.

  Morgana, his own sister, twisted and tortured by Uther, by Arthur, by Merlin, until she was barely recognizable.

  Arthur had lost so much to magic that Merlin can’t bear to give him something else to lose.

 “…he’s already been hurt by it,” Merlin says, shutting his eyes, “I didn’t want to hurt him too.”

 “What happened to him?”

 “He—“

  Mordred steps out from behind a rock and walks toward Arthur, he raises his sword...

  Arthur either hears him or sees his reflection in a sword on the ground. He stands and blocks the attack, he goes to stab and stops, realizing it's Mordred. Mordred stabs him and withdraws the sword, fatally wounding him.

  Arthur goes to a knee.

  Merlin can’t find the breath to scream.

  “Merlin. There is nothing you can do.”

  “I’ve failed?

“No, young warlock, for all that you have dreamt of building, has come to pass.”

  “I can't lose him! He's my friend!”

  “Though no man, no matter how great, can know his destiny, some lives have been foretold, Merlin...Arthur is not just a King-he is the Once and Future King.”

  Once and Forever.

  “Take heart, for when Albion's need is greatest, Arthur will rise again.”

  Merlin. Merlin is all that’s left.

  “It has been a privilege to have known you, young warlock-the story we have been a part of will live long in the minds of men.”

  1500 years…

  “Merlin? Merlin!”

  He’s back.

 “…he went away. For a very long time.”

 “And now?”

 Despite everything, Merlin finds himself smiling. “He’s my flatmate.”

 “I’m glad to hear it,” Melanie says softly, smiling too, “you two deserve your soft epilogue.”

 Wait, what?

 “I’m afraid that’s all we have the time for today, Mr. Emrys,” Melanie says, standing and holding out her hand for him to shake, “but I’d be happy to set up another appointment.”

 “Uh, yeah, yeah,” Merlin says, scrambling to his feet and shaking her hand, “and please, Merlin’s fine.”

 “Merlin.” Her handshake is firm, grounding. “Be in touch.”

 “I will.”

 “And one last thing,” she calls as he goes to leave, “there is nothing wrong with being gay, Merlin.”

 Wait, what?

[dontcare77ghj]

Breaking the News

Natasha x reader x Bucky

Note: Direct sequel to Witches. Honestly want to start a series in this universe and the Parenting universe. Requested by anon.

"There you are. I was just about to get Clint to check if you were dead." Tony said, raising a mug in your direction.

"Like I would go up there without warning them." Clint snorted. "I don't need to be permanently scarred."

"Didn't Tony you walk in on a naked, drunk Tony once?" Wanda asked the archer.

"How did you know about that?" Clint spluttered as Tony turned his attention to his drink.

"Telepath, remember?" She reminded him. "The only person's thoughts I can't hear are Y/N's."

"I think Occlumency could help you with that." You hummed. "Guess you already know the news?"

"I do." She grinned, moving over to hug you. "I'm so happy for you. All of you."

"You feel left out, Barton?" Tony asked the archer, watching as Wanda hugged Bucky and Natasha too.

"Can we join the party, or are Tony and me just going to sit here wondering?" Clint asked, watching the four of you intently.

"You're going to be an uncle, Barton." Natasha shrugged, struggling to keep her expression blank and the smirk off her face.

"Nat, you better not be joking," Clint said, looking between the three of you suspiciously. "I've already been fooled once."

"That was your fault for eavesdropping." Bucky shook his head. "But it's not a joke."

"We're pregnant." You grinned, gaining matching grins from the men.

"That's fantastic, Y/N!" Clint cheered, moving forward and pulling you into an enthusiastic hug. "Remember, Clint is a fantastic name." He said, pulling back and nodding at you.

"Nowhere near as good as Anthony." Tony scoffed, stepping towards you. "Can even be changed to Antonia."

"What makes you think we're naming our kid after any of you?" Natasha scoffed. 

"Clint is a great name! And one of my kids is named after you!" 

"You could convince me to have it as a middle name, depending on what you've made for lunch," Natasha smirked, leading you over to the kitchen table.

"That is considered bribery, Romanoff." Tony scoffed as he and the others joined you at the table. "I could be extorted for much more."

"The only thing I want is for James and I to be relieved of duty for the next year minimum," Natasha said, taking yours and Bucky's hand as she stared the billionaire down.

"You don't need to give me the assassin stare," Tony said, raising his hands in innocence. "Honestly, you could say you're out entirely, and I wouldn't say a word."

"I would like to add as a request, Wanda comes to visit at least once a month." You said as Clint placed a plate in front of you. "Even after the baby's born. They'll need to get to know their big sister."

"Big sister?" Wanda asked, eyes going wide.

"If you want the job, that is. No pressure." You told her with a smile.

"No, I'd love to. If that's okay with you all?" She said, looking between the three of you.

"Wanda, Y/N already wants to adopt you. And at this point, I'm inclined to agree. We'd love for you to be apart of the baby's life." Bucky assured the girl.

"Y/N, I want joint custody," Clint said, sitting down. "I already promised Laura that she could meet Wanda, and I refuse to anger her." 

"Wanda lives with me. That means you need to include me in this custody agreement." Tony announced. "Give me your lawyer's name, and I'll have my people contact them. We can have the papers drawn up within minutes."

"Are either of you idiots going to ask Wanda's opinion?" Natasha raised a brow. 

"No, because they know she likes it here best," Bucky smirked.

"Says who?" Clint and Tony exclaimed in unison.

As the four continued their playful banter, you snuck a look over to Wanda. The girl was watching the exchange with a wide grin and slightly misted eyes.

'You alright?' You mouthed as you caught her eye.

'Never better.' She assured you with a bright smile.

"Okay, I think that we've practiced enough for today." You said as Wanda finished her spell. "I think we might have to get you another year level's books." You smiled.

"Really?" Wanda questioned you. "You really think I'm ready?"

"I think you're as ready as a house-elf is to clean." You told her. "And I want to talk with you anyway."

"What's up?" Wanda asked.

"I wanted to see how you really feel about what we talked about yesterday." You began. "I wanted to see if you were actually okay with being apart of this child's life."

"I wasn't lying when I said I want to be around," Wanda told you. "I lost my entire family. I thought I was alone, and then I got the team. And I was so happy because they were becoming my family, I was getting control of my powers, and I thought everything was finally working out. But then my inner witch was spiraling, and I thought everything was going to disappear. I thought they'd all hate me, and I'd end up alone again.

But they didn't, and instead, Bucky and Nat invited me to your home. Introduced me to you, and you have not once acted like I'm, like I'm a monster. You've taught me I'm a witch, you taught me what it means to be a witch. That I don't have to be scared of any of my powers, or who I am. I want to help pass that along to others." Wanda explained with a soft smile. "I want to be around and help you teach your child that message."

"I don't know if I've said this before, but you are too sweet for this shitty, shitty world." You said, making the girl giggle. "You remind me of someone I knew long ago."

"Is that a good thing?"

"The best thing." You said, moving next to her. "And Wanda? You're never going to be alone again. I swear to you. You have so many people in your corner, and we might not be your biological family, but we'll be your family as long as you want us to." You told her, wrapping your arms around the girl.

"Thank you."

"Are you sure it's okay if I come?" Wanda asked, chewing her lip nervously as she looked at the three of you.

It had been three weeks since you'd announced your pregnancy to your partner's family, and now it was time to tell yours.

The war had left you an orphan, but you still had family you wanted to tell. 

It was time to tell the Potter's and the Weasley's.

"Of course it is, Wand." Natasha smiled as Bucky handed her her coat. 

"I've been talking everyone's ear off about you, and I think Hermione will wack me if I don't bring you along." You said, causing Bucky to chuckle.

"That woman is terrifying." He shook his head. "I'll never forget the donkey incident."

"To be fair, she was pregnant at the time." You defended your friend. "And Ron was kind of asking for it."

"Do I even want to know?" Wanda asked with a smirk.

"No." Natasha shook her head. "You really don't. Now put your coat on, it's cold."

"And it's going to be colder at the Burrow," Bucky added.

"Where exactly are we going again?" Wanda questioned as she did what Natasha asked.

"England." You told her. "Molly and Arthur still live in the Burrow and have invited us all there."

"But they don't know me. What makes you think they will be okay with me coming?" Wanda insisted.

"Hon, Y/N has been talking everyone's ear off about a little witch who is the brightest, sweetest, and the kindest person she's met. Everyone wants to meet you." Bucky said, wrapping his arm around her shoulder.

"Plus, Molly loves having new people to smother and feed." You smirked.

"Expect a jumper come Christmas," Natasha told her. "All right, is everyone ready to go?"

"How are we getting there? Plane?" Wanda asked as you and Bucky nodded.

"We're witches, Wanda." You reminded her. "We have a better way." You said, holding a hand out to her and Bucky as Natasha took your hand. "Hold my hand tightly, keep your eyes closed, and don't let go." You instructed as Wanda took your hand, and Bucky placed his on your shoulder.

"I hate apparating," Bucky whined.

"Do you want to try the floo again?" You raised a brow.

"Just apparate already." He shuddered, causing Natasha to snicker.

Closing your eyes, you let out a deep breath, and within seconds you were all in front of the Weasley family home.

The tall, spindly, home, which was only held up by magic, was still standing as tall and proud as it had been in your childhood.

The land had not changed much, despite the tragedy of your sixth year, and it brought you a feeling of nostalgia.

"Aunty Y/N! Aunty Nat! Uncle J!" An excited voice squealed and was followed by pounding footfalls.

“Lilly-petal!” You grinned, kneeling to hug the red head. “Look how big you’ve gotten.”

“I missed you, Aunty Y/N.” She said, squeezing your neck.

“What no hug for your favorite uncle?” Bucky asked, drawing her attention to him. Lilly giggled and moved to hug him.

“Y/N!” A male voice called as you stood. You grinned widely at the sight of the man before you.

“Hiya Harry.” You chirped as he brought you into an embrace.

“You know you’re late, right? You’re just lucky Molly knows you’re always late.” Harry smirked, causing you to wack him in the head. “Blimey Y/N!”

“He’s not wrong, dorogoy.” Natasha said. “You’re always late.”

“Nat.” You groaned, watching as she hugged her niece. “You’re supposed to defend my honor.”

“He’s still right.” Bucky agreed. “You’re rarely on time to anything.”

“I will divorce the two of you.” You deadpanned.

“No you won’t.” Natasha and Bucky replied in unison, causing Wanda to giggle and you to sigh.

“Harry, this is Wanda Maximoff.” You said, pulling Wanda to your side. “Wanda, this is Harry Potter and this is his daughter Lily.”

“It’s very nice to meet you, Mr. Potter.” Wanda stuck her hand out.

“Nope, none of that.” Harry said, pulling her into a quick hug. “It’s Harry, and if Y/N considers you family, then you’re my family too. Okay?”

“Okay.” Wanda smiled.

“Great. Let’s get the four of you inside, everyone’s waiting to see you.” He said, taking Lily’s hand.

“Look what the Hippogriff dragged in.” Ron smirked, holding an eight year old Hugo in his arms. “Is this the brilliant witch you’ve got ‘Mione so excited to meet?”

“Yep, Ron this Wanda Maximoff.”

“Nice to meet to meet you, Wanda. We’ve heard a lot about you.” Ron smiled at her.

“Y/N has told a lot of stories about you all too.” Wanda told him.

“Oh God, you’ve heard some shit then.” Ron chuckled.

“Ronald, you better not be swearing in front of Hugo.” Hermione scolded, entering the hall with her hands on her hips.

“No, never. I would never swear in front of our son.” Ron stammered as Harry laughed. “Uh Hermione, Y/N has someone for you to meet.”

“Oh Y/N, is this Wanda? You must be Wanda! Oh it’s so nice to meet you, I have so many questions for you.” Hermione said almost in one breath as she launched forward and embraced Wanda.

“Nice to see you too, Hermione.” You shook your head.

“Oh, it’s good to see you three too.” Hermione said, pulling back. “Now, Wanda, would you like to sit so I can ask you some questions? Is that okay with you? Y/N?”

“Breathe, Hermione, you’re going to scare her away.” Harry laughed.

“Oh I’m sorry, it’s just so nice to meet you.” Hermione sighed. “Y/N has told me so many things about you, your magic, and your other powers. I just would love to talk to you. If you want, no pressure.”

“I’ll sit with you if you want.” Natasha said as she took Hugo into her arms. “Just in case.”

“I’d like that.” Wanda smiled.

“Excellent! I have a whole list of questions for you. Oh Y/N! Molly’s in the kitchen and wants to see you.” Hermione said, before pulling Wanda and Natasha away.

“Your wife is a tornado.” Bucky said to Ron.

“Don’t I bloody know it.” Ron smiled. “You better get going, mum’ll throw a pan at you.” 

“She loves me.” You shrugged. “You want to come see nanna, miss Lily? Maybe we can find chocolate frogs somewhere.”

“Chocolate frogs!” Lily exclaimed, latching onto your hand and began pulling you towards the door.

“Have fun boys.” You laughed, following the little girl. “Hi, Molly.” 

“Oh, Y/N! It’s so nice to see you.” The short woman said, giving you a hug as Lily searched for sweets, having no interest in the conversation. “How’s my newest grandbaby?” Molly asked, placing a hand on your stomach.

When you first suspected you were pregnant there was only one person you could think to ask for help. Molly had been the first to know you were expecting and promised to keep your secret until you were ready.

“They’re doing really well.” You promised. 

“Have you told Natasha and James? And how’s my other grandchild?”

“Tash and Buck both know along with their family. And Wanda’s amazing. I would’ve brought her in with me, but ‘Mione snatched her up.” You told her.

“I’ll get to meet her at lunch.” Molly waved you off. “Sit! You’re carrying precious cargo.”

“I’m not an invalid, Molly.” You said, still taking the seat.

“Have you thought about how you’re going to tell everyone else?” Molly asked as she returned to making lunch.

“I have. I’m going to say during lunch. Gives everyone a chance to settle and I have the perfect way to say it.” You told her.

“Am I going to be included with everyone or can I know before?” She raised a brow.

“I want you to be surprised.”

“I’m not a fan of surprises, dear, but I suppose I can wait.” She sighed. “Go join everyone else, lunch will be ready in ten.” She said, shooing you out of the kitchen. “Lily, go with Y/N. No sweets before lunch.”

“Okay, nana.” 

You led Lily into the living room where everyone, bar Arthur, was sitting.

“Have they scared you away yet?” You asked as Lily ran to her mother and you took a seat next to Wanda.

“We’re not scary, Y/N.” Hermione rolled her eyes.

“Well you have your moments.” Ron smiled, receiving a thump to the arm from his sister. “Bloody hell, Gin.”

“Everyone’s been very nice.” Wanda assured you. “Hermione says she has some books she wants to send me.”

“Of course she does.” You grinned. The fourteen of you were continuing your light conversation when you were summoned into the kitchen where Molly and Arthur were waiting.

You all served yourself lunch and continued with your conversations.

“How is the Avengers?” Ginny asked Natasha. “Driving you up the wall?”

“Always.” Natasha chuckled, sipping her wine. “It’s like being stuck with a group of children.”

“You must be itching for a vacation.” Ginny smiled.

“They’re about to take one.” You told her.

“Y/N bully you into it?” Harry asked Bucky with a smirk.

“Harry James Potter, you take that back. I am not a bully.” You gasped.

“You hit me in the back of the head not even an hour ago.” He pointed out.

“You were being a bloody git that’s why.” You grumbled. “But I did not bully them into taking a vacation.”

“Did you miss aunty Y/N too much?” Lily asked as Ginny cut her meat.

“We always miss aunty Y/N.” Bucky smiled at her.

“Actually they’re taking a vacation for other reasons.” You told your niece. “They want to be around when the baby’s born.” You casually said, drinking your water.

The room went silent for several seconds before cheers rang out.

“Congratulations!”

“How wonderful!”

“Bloody hell you three!”

“The kids absolutely love her.” Ginny said to you. Lunch had turned into dinner. The four of you had made no want to return to your home and decided to stay with everyone else. 

It was currently almost dusk and you had all made your way outside. The kids had dragged Harry, Bucky, Ron, Arthur, and Wanda to play while the rest of you sat watching.

“Everyone loves her.” Hermione corrected, smiling at her children. “She’s incredibly sweet.”

“Clint’s wife said the same thing.” Natasha said, squeezing your hand. 

“She’s so smart. For someone who never attended a school, and has only been learning a couple weeks, her progress is incredible.” Hermione added.

“Hopefully this ones the same.” Natasha commented. “Otherwise we might need to stock up on fire extinguishers.”

“They could come out muggle.” You reminded her.

“At least you’ll have plenty of help with the baby, magic or no magic.” Molly said. “For this one and any of kids in the future.”

“Definitely in the future. We’ve already got two.” You said, watching Wanda and Bucky laugh as Natasha kissed your cheek.

None of your family was actually related to you. None of your family shared your last name, but they were still your family.

It didn’t matter you were a L/N, and they were Weasley’s, or Potter’s, Maximoff’s, Barton’s, Stark’s, or whoever. It didn’t matter weather they were muggle, witch or wizard.

Your family was your family. And they always would be.

Taglist

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[hayleysstark]

Hat

Words: 709  Warnings: Swearing Summary: "This is a time-honored tradition of the court," Arthur says. / Merlin hurls It down on the end of the bed. "This is not a tradition! You just made it up!"

Read on AO3. 

"No," Merlin says.

He looks down at the thing in his hand like it's a spider, or a snake, or a leech scraped off the inside of Gaius' filthy tank, like he can't believe he even has to hold it in his fingers at all, and he's bright red all the way up to the tips of his ridiculous, overlarge ears, and his blue eyes are absolutely enormous in his face, and all in all, he looks like he might, actually, crawl under the bed, and barricade himself in there, or toss himself out the high tower window, open wide, ten feet away.

Arthur wonders if he can get his Once-Per-Day Merlin Headache more than once per day. Could Merlin maybe act like this is not the literal end of the world as he knows it? For two seconds? Maybe? No? That's fine. Completely fine. Forget he even asked. "This is a time-honored tradition of the court, Merlin." He clasps his hands behind his back. "It's been this way for centuries. It's not going to change just because you happen to dislike it, so you might as well get used to it."

"This is not a tradition!" Merlin hurls It down on the end of the rumpled, unmade bed like he can't stand to touch It at all. He even wipes his hands clean on the thighs of his trousers. "You just made it up!"

So it looks like Arthur can, indeed, get his Once-Per-Day Merlin Headache more than once per day. Good to know. "No, Merlin," he says, much more patiently than the idiot deserves, because he is a damned saint, "I did not make this up. Every Court Sorcerer in the history of Camelot has—"

"How would you know?"

Arthur frowns. "What?"

"How would you know," Merlin folds his arms over his chest, "the traditions for all of this, anyway? Camelot hasn't held this ceremony since before you were born, Arthur."

Arthur blinks. Is it not obvious? "Gaius."

"Gaius?" Merlin screeches right back, at the precise octave of a tea kettle left over the cookfire too long.

"Gaius."

"You did not," Merlin says, "get this," he jabs a finger at It, like It personally invaded his home and slaughtered his entire family before his eyes, "from Gaius!" Like he thinks It is some sort of unforgivable betrayal Gaius would never commit against him.

Arthur huffs. "For God's sake, Merlin! It's a hat!"

"It's pointy!"

"It's tradition!"

"Look! Look at this!" Merlin rips It up off the bed again and shakes It at Arthur. "It's pointy! Look? See?! It has a—" he waves his empty hand around, like he can't find a word bad enough, "—a spire at the top! I'm going to look like a castle!"

"It's majestic!" Arthur insists.

"No! Not a castle!" Merlin shakes his head, because he is clearly not even listening to Arthur now. "I'm not going to look like a castle! I take it back! I'm going to look like a damn unicorn!" He puts a hand up to his forehead like he can already feel the sharp horn there.

Arthur's Once-Per-Day Merlin Headache is quickly turning into an All-Day Merlin Headache. "Look, just try it! Go on! Try it on! Put it on!"

"Absolutely not!"

"Maybe you'll like it!"

"I'm going to look like an idiot! I'm going to look like a—" Merlin sucks in a breath, "—like a unicorn castle idiot!"

"Put it on!"

"No!"

The Hat goes on Merlin's head.

Now, Arthur doesn't really see the point in getting all hot and bothered over who did what, or who grabbed who up in a chokehold or who pinned who to the floor or who maybe possibly got hit full in the face with a stray spell, and ended up with a very long, very furry pair of donkey ears for ten straight minutes.

The important thing is, The Hat goes on Merlin's head.

It stands up straight. On its own. Like a castle spire. Like a unicorn horn.

It looks completely and utterly ridiculous.

But Arthur has come much too far to admit that to Merlin's face.

"See?" he huffs, a little bit breathless, and he eases his iron grip enough to let Merlin out of the chokehold. "Majestic."

[yan-senna]

The Keeper of the Diamond 3 (Severus Snape x reader, Lucius Malfoy x reader & Negan x reader)

By yan-senna

Other links to the story: Wattpad / AO3

Want to be tagged when I post a fanfic?

Book 1 / Chapter 1 / Next chapter / All chapters

Chapter 21

The next day, the girls prepare before their guests arrive. They have cleaned up the entire house. They have bought snacks and sodas. And the Switch and Wii U are ready to be played on. All the gaming equipment is in Laura’s room, of course, so that’s where they will all stay.

When it’s all ready, the girls suddenly hear voices in the living room. They are here! They enter the room to greet them. “Hey, guys. Ready for some video games?” Laura asks.

They all eagerly nod. “I told my dad about it. He can’t bloody wait to hear more when we return to the Burrow” Ron exclaims, sounding excited.

Draco looks at the Gryffindor. “Merlin, you kind of sound like me, Weasley” he says as he smirks.

Ron glares at him. “I do not!” he defends himself. Everybody laughs. He does sound like Draco.

Y/N clears her throat. “Well, let’s head to Laura’s room, shall we? Will you stay, Professor Lupin and Black?” she offers the two grown wizards.

They both chuckle. “We appreciate the invitation, but we have promised Arthur and Molly Weasley to join them for lunch at the Burrow” Lupin states as he smiles.

Black grins. “That is right. Have fun, kiddos” he says as he winks. The two men then apparate to the Burrow.

All the teenagers then enter Laura’s room. The wizards and witches look at the Switch and Wii U in awe including Harry and Hermione. “That’s bloody cool!” Ron exclaims, astonished.

Laura then gains everyone’s attention. “Okay, guys, we got snacks and sodas over here” she says as she gestures to a table.

“We were thinking of playing something called Mario Kart on the Wii U. Four people can play that at once” she states.

“And then we were thinking of playing Miitopia on the Switch. Sadly, only one person can play it at once. But don’t worry, we will all switch up after each turn” she says as she finishes giving the information.

Nodding, they all agree to play Mario Kart on the Wii U first. Laura demonstrates how to play and what the different buttons do.

They then make four teams. The first team to play is Harry, Ron, Draco and Laura. Harry chooses to be Mario, Ron chooses Toad, Draco chooses King Boo and Laura chooses Princess Peach.

During the game, Harry, Ron and Draco focus way too much on hitting each other that they don’t notice Laura at all.

Which of course results in her being way ahead of them as she wins. Harry is second place, Draco is third place and Ron is fourth place.

The three boys groan. “This is your fault, Potter and Weasley!” Draco exclaims.

“Us? It was you who kept going after us, Malfoy!” Harry snaps.

Sighing, Laura then hands over the controllers to the next group which is an all girl’s group. Ginny, Luna, Hermione and Vera. Vera chooses Pauline, Ginny chooses Daisy, Hermione chooses Toadette and Luna chooses Rosalina.

There’s a big competition between the four girls. They all keep hitting each other, going after first place.

In the end, Luna wins. Vera is second place, Hermione is third place and Ginny is fourth place. Finally something Hermione isn’t the best at.

The next group is Neville, Dean, Seamus and Y/N. Neville chooses Koopa Troopa, Dean chooses Shy Guy, Seamus chooses Donkey Kong and Y/N chooses Yoshi.

Both Dean and Seamus are pretty good at the game. Neville and Y/N - not so much. They are having a good time, though. They are all laughing.

Dean wins the game. Seamus is second place, Y/N is third place and Neville is fourth place. At least they had fun.

The last group is Fred, George, Ginny and Ron. They all agree that this should be a family group, which is why Ginny and Ron get to play again. Fred chooses Wario, George chooses Waluigi, Ginny chooses Daisy again and Ron chooses Toad again.

“May the best Weasley win,” George starts. “Which is either George or I” Fred ends as they both give a mischievous grin.

As the race is pretty heated, Ginny ends up winning. Much to everyone’s surprise. “Good job, Ginny!” Hermione praises her friend. Ron is second place, George is third place and Fred fourth place.

The twins groan while Ron smirks. “Bloody hell, at least I got a better score than you guys” he says as he looks at the twins who glare at their younger brother.

Laura then turns off the Wii U and turns on the Switch. “Okay, let’s play Miitopia!” she announces.

Even though only one can play at a time, everyone is having a lot of fun.

They all agree to make Voldemort the Dark Lord. Yes, they agreed to use the name Voldemort. Harry Potter is the Great Sage.

As there can only be ten people on the team, they have agreed to use other people than themselves. They have, after some discussion, agreed that Snape is the Hero which is the main character. Y/N is obviously the one who convinced the others.

Then there’s Lucius, Narcissa, Black, Lupin, McGonagall, Dumbledore, Molly Weasley, Arthur Weasley and Hagrid.

They play for a long time. As they finally defeat the Dark Lord, all the wizards and witches are shocked to see a Darker Lord - Harry Potter the Great Sage.

“Bloody hell, Harry. You are more evil than You-Know-Who!” Ron exclaims as everybody laughs.

“It is getting pretty late, we should probably head back to the Burrow since we are all staying there for a few days. Otherwise your parents, especially your mother, will just get mad at us” Hermione says to the Weasleys, giving a serious look. Nodding, the twins apparate them to the Burrow as they are the only ones who can apparate in the group.

Draco stays behind. “Well, you are going to stay at the Manor, right, Y/N? Then we can go there together” he suggests as he looks at Y/N.

She smiles. “Yeah, of course. I have already packed my bag” she says as she grabs her weekend bag which contains the two diamonds, her phone, her Snape t-shirt, a Harry Potter book, some extra clothes, her hairbrush and toothbrush.

She then hugs Laura and Vera. “See you guys later. I think I will stay there for a few days” she tells them.

The two girls nod at their friend as they wave goodbye. Draco and Y/N then go to the Manor by using Y/N’s powers.

[wouldpollyapprove]

Farmer’s Daughter

Requested: Could we get a soft but strong!OC or Reader with Arthur and have her softness be appealing to Tommy so they are friends as well! I did not like Linda from the moment she came into the show. 😅

Arthur Shelby x Reader

Word Count: 2.2k

Waringings: Language, alcohol

A/n: This feels like the start of something, so I might not make it a series but do small add ons to it. Maybe? Let me know if I should

Masterlist 

Part Two

Farms are quiet. That was the basis of them. They are meant to be quaint and peaceful, the perfect place to settle down and raise a family. That’s what Y/n’s father decided to do. Farming the only work his family had ever known and when given the chance to take a job in a factory, he chose what he had always known. He’d seen what factory jobs did to men. They created violence, allowed companies to kill innocent young men, and the sane to be driven crazy. It was a line of work that he didn’t want to be apart of, one he didn’t want his children to be apart of. 

So, George Y/l/n took over the family farm once his parents died, starting a family that he hoped to pass it down to.

Y/n had never known any life but that of the one her parents had given her on the farm. With her siblings, she went to the small school in the village nearby, played in the large fields that the cattle grazed in, and went swimming in the pond across the road. It was a happy life. Her loving parents stopped at nothing to make sure that their children had everything they could ever want. They gave and they gave and they gave so that their kids could go out into the world with all the knowledge they would ever need. 

Stretching her arms above her head, Y/n let out a sigh as she stretched her muscles. God only knows what time she had woken up that morning, she found it better to not look at the clock. But she was up before the sun, that was generally the best time to get up and get chores done. In the early morning, it wasn’t too hot, maybe a little chilly, but you could always but a coat or shawl on. Y/n also found it a better time to work as most of the animals weren’t awake yet and she wouldn’t have to worry about them getting in her way. 

She brought her arms back to her side and searched the barn for a large pale that her brothers had used the day before. She knew it wasn’t going to be where it belonged, because why would they want to put things back where they belonged. She was just about to give up when she heard a car out in the distance.

Y/n peaked her head out the barn door, spying an automobile a ways down the road. It wasn’t odd to see vehicles pass by, but it was unusual. Many people in the area still used horses and donkeys to get around, it was just easier. They used them on their farmers and what else were they supposed to use to pull their wagons. The only people in the village nearby that had cars was the owner of the tavern. He often went into Birmingham and bought supplies for everyone.

The car slowed and turned down the lane to the farm. It looked expensive, a shiny blood red color. Four men were piled inside and they all looked like businessmen with gray suits that matched their gray peaky caps. They weren’t from around here, Y/n could tell that much. The car came to a stop, the men stepping out, the tallest of them walked up the front door of the farmhouse. Y/n wondered if they were debt collectors or something like that.

But her family had no debts.

Her mother opened the door a second after the man had knocked. There wasn’t a smile on her face like there normally was. A blank expression stared at the men before moving aside and allowing them in the house. 

Once they were ushered in and the door was shut, Y/n hurried out of the barn. She knew it was best to mind her own business, that’s what her mother would tell her if she asked about it. But there was in harm in going to the house for a bite to eat. She’d had a small breakfast anyway, so having a snack would be good for her. 

Y/n entered the house, careful to keep the door from squealing and revealing presence as she shut it. The kitchen was empty, her mother probably off doing the laundry. She opened the cabinet a pulled out a jar of jam and then opened the bread box. Opening a drawer, she pulled out a knife and she was about to cut a piece of bread, the conversation in the parlor caught her attention.

“I haven’t heard from in years, Thomas, I would have told you if I had,” George said, voice filled with sympathy. 

Someone sighed and said, “You know this is important, George. I wouldn’t be here if it wasn’t. So I’ll ask you again, have you seen James Withney?”

Y/n raised a brow, who was James Withney. 

This time, her father sighed and she knew he probably ran his hands through his thinning hair as he did so. “As I said before, I haven’t heard from the man in ages, but that doesn’t mean that snake hasn’t been in the area.” There was a pause. “Damon McCall and him used to be good pals before the war, they probably still are because they’re both fucking bastards. He’s probably heard from James.”

A smile spread across her face, her father never swore. Well, he rarely did. Y/n’s mother found swearing distasteful so it wasn’t allowed in the house, but that never kept it off George’s tongue. It made Y/n wonder, then, what these men had done to get her father rilled up.

“Where can we find him?” a different man asked, his voice rough like sandpaper.

“The tavern in the village,” her father replied. “My daughter can take you there.”

Wide-eyed, Y/n took a bite out of her jam covered bread. How about no. There was no way she was taking anyone anywhere.

“That won’t be necessary,” Thomas told him.

“Oh, yes it will. The people around here don’t like outsiders. If you’re not with a local, you’re not getting anything you want.” 

“I-”

“Violence won’t get you anything around here, Thomas Shelby,” George interrupted and stood up.

The floorboards creaked under his weight, telling his daughter that he was heading to the kitchen. He was probably on his way to the barn to tell her what she was about to do. Y/n stuffed the rest of the bread in her mouth and decided it best to dash out the door and at least be outside. Anywhere was better than being found in the house, she didn’t want to know how mad her father would get if he found out she was eavesdropping. Quickly, she was out the door and made it as far as the flower bed outside before her father was out of the house. 

“Y/n, I need you to do something,” he told her, walking up to her.

A little winded from her not so mad, mad dash, she nodded and took a deep breath before asking, “What would you like me to do?”

“I have some friends here that I would like you to take to the tavern.”

She nodded, already aware of this information, but for the sake of playing along, she said nothing. “Do they own the car outside?”

He nodded, “Yeah, they do. Come on, I’ll introduce you.”

George turned on his heel and walked back in the house, Y/n right behind him. From the conversation she had heard, Y/n wasn’t so sure she wanted to meet these men. It wasn’t like her father to get tangled up with bad people. He was a good man, a catholic that believed in love and kindness. The men in the parlor, they didn’t sound like the type of men he would want anything to do with.

They entered the house and headed straight to the parlor. Entering the room, the four men from the turned, standing to their feet. Y/n stayed behind her father, normally a confident young woman, she didn’t want to expose herself to the men before her. There was something about then, their clean-cut suits and blank, tough expressions that were off-putting. All the men seemed to be in their thirties from what she could tell, one was younger, probably not even twenty. The youngest one should have caught her eyes, he was attractive, but one of the older ones, he looked to be the oldest, held her gaze. 

There was something about it.

He held a stern expression, dark ginger hair, falling to the side of his face. Y/n’s eyes darted away from him once she noticed him looking her over.

“This is my daughter, Y/n,” George introduced her to them, moving so she could step forward.

Y/n smiled lightly, doing as her father instructed. 

The men all gave her light smiles, probably not something they usually did. But this interaction wasn’t usual, she guessed. They probably were from the city based on their clothing and car, and they probably didn’t deal with dainty girls in dainty dresses in the middle of the English countryside. 

Her father turned to her. “This is Thomas-” He pointed at the taller of the four men. “-John-” His finger moved to the one next to Thomas, with a dorky smile plastered on his face. “-Arthur, and Finn.”

Arthur.

The man who’d caught her eye was Arthur. What a lovely name. It reminded her of the stories of King Arthur that her mother used to tell her before bed. This Arthur, perhaps, he could be a king.

“You will be occupying them to the tavern. Make sure people stay out of their way,” he continued, giving you an encouraging smile.

You nodded, not sure if you were ready for this adventure.

*~~*~~*

Thomas brought the car to a stop in front of the tavern in the little village. People in the village square stared as the men got out of the car, Arthur helping Y/n get out. Once they saw her, though, they all went back to what they were doing. If they were with Y/n, all was well or so they assumed. 

“Whatever you hear-” Thomas turned to her. “-stay calm.”

She gave him a puzzled look but nodded anyway.

“Let’s go,” Arthur said, lightly pushing her towards the tavern.

Y/n led the men into the tavern and pointed out where Damon was. He always sat in the back office so he could go over bills and orders. Everyone knew, though, that all he ever did back there was drink. Thomas told her to wait behind while they did their business, so Y/n went up to the bar and ordered a drink.

She wasn’t one for pubs, but where else could she go. As long as she was in the building, she knew that no one would start anything with the four men. With a woman in the room, no one wanted to start any fights, that was just against their morals. So, she sat at the bar, stirring her drink while she waited for the meeting to be over.

It couldn’t be over soon enough.

Charles Dearin took a seat next to her. A sigh of annoyance leaving her lips once he turned toward her.

“What are you doing here, Y/n?” he asked and grabbed her drink, taking a sip.

Y/n closed her eyes and took a deep breath before answering. “That’s my drink, thanks,” she said, snatching her drink back. “And I do whatever I want, you know that.”

He smiled at her, the same smile that he used to get whatever he wanted from the ladies. Too bad it stopped working on her a long time ago. “Come on, Y/n, don’t be like that.”

“Don’t be like what? A bitch that doesn’t want to be your whore?” She rolled her eyes and knocked back the rest of his drink.

In a second, Charles grabbed her arm, nails digging into her skin, and pulled her close. “Watch your tongue, Y/n,” he whispered.

She didn’t even think twice when her free hand-formed into a fist and connected with his jaw. Charles was knocked off the barstool, falling to the floor. Y/n should have done that a long time ago. He was always an asshole, trying to get any woman he could, harassing those that wanted nothing to do with him.

The commotion from his fall caused Damon’s office door to open, Arthur stepping out with his brothers behind him. 

“What’s going on behind out here?” he yelled, eyes landing on Y/n.

She smiled and hopped off her barstool. “Oh, nothing, but I do believe it’s time to leave.”

Arthur nodded and lead the way out of the tavern, Y/n walking beside him. He leaned toward her, “What happened?”

She shrugged. “Oh, just an arsehole being an arsehole.” She looked back to see Charles picking himself up off the floor.

Arthur smiled to himself, now she was a woman. He didn’t know anything about Y/n, but he liked what he’d seen, the fire in her eyes, the smile on her lips. She was definitely someone he wanted to get to know.

“Did you get what you came for?” Y/n asked as Arthur helped her into the car. 

He nodded, “Yeah, we got that and more.”

*~~*~~*

Let me know if you would like to be added to the tag list.

@amirahiddleston

[rachelkaser]

Stay Golden Sunday Reissue: The Heart Attack

Note: This is a repost of an older Stay Golden Sunday that had to be redone for housekeeping reasons.

Sophia becomes very ill one night and is convinced she’s going to die. The Girls confront the idea of mortality.

Picture It…

The Girls bid farewell to their guests as a storm rages outside. They praise Sophia for the meal she cooked for everyone, and Blanche says it was even better than the food she ate in Italy. The Girls tell Sophia to take a load off in the living room. They start the dishes in the kitchen, while Rose talks about her family’s Scandinavian cooking.

Back in the living room, Sophia says she’s got a “bubble” of pressure in her chest. Rose thinks it might be gas, but Dorothy says her mother isn’t looking so good. Blanche goes to call the doctor. Sophia clutches her chest as the bubble turns to pain. Dorothy lays her down, while Sophia worries she could be having a heart attack. Blanche says the doctor was out, so she called the paramedics.

DOROTHY: Ma, you know, you don’t look good. SOPHIA: I’m short and I’m old. What did you expect, Princess Di?

The two discuss their family’s deaths – which include a fall from a donkey and misfiring a gun while taking out the garbage – to rule out the possibility of heart disease. Blanche and Rose talk about how death should come without pain or illness, getting sidetracked until Dorothy shuts them up. They go to make coffee, while Sophia begins to worry she’ll die. She starts giving Dorothy instructions on what to do after she’s dead, and says Dorothy was always her favorite, even if she never showed it.

In the kitchen, Rose and Blanche discuss death. Rose says her family members live to their 90s and 100s, which Blanche attributes to the Minnesota cold slowing down the aging process. They also discuss cremation vs burial: Rose wants to be buried with all her sentimental items, while Blanche wants to be buried in Arlington Cemetery because it’s full of men. Sophia tells Dorothy she loves her. When Rose and Blanche return with the coffee, she thanks them for keeping her company. She decides to rest while Blanche goes to call the paramedics again.

BLANCHE: Do you want to be buried or cremated? ROSE: Neither! BLANCHE: What do you want to be, flushed down the toilet like a goldfish?

Rose tells Dorothy it’s probably not a heart attack, as she’s seen one and they’re bigger. She recounts Charlie’s heart attack to Dorothy, which happened while they were making love (she told Arnie this back in Episode 3, but this is the first time she’s told one of the other Girls). She dressed him before emergency services arrived, and his last words were that he loved her. Blanche returns and says the paramedics are held up by the storm, and they’ll just have to wait… and pray, as Rose adds.

The Girls crowd Sophia, who wakes up and tells them she had a near-death experience and saw Heaven. She describes seeing her husband and asks Dorothy to get her rosary. Blanche’s main interest is if there are lots of men in Heaven (which… why wouldn’t there be?), and eventually goes to help Dorothy. Left alone with Sophia, Rose bugs the crap out of her by recounting farm stories.

BLANCHE: What about men? Are there lots of men in Heaven? ROSE: Oh Blanche, come on! BLANCHE: Well you asked her about God and Jesus!

In Sophia’s room, Dorothy’s going through Sophia’s things, looking for the rosary. She tells Blanche that she’s not ready for Sophia to die, and that she’ll still feel like an orphan at her age. She breaks down in tears at the thought, and Blanche comforts her by saying Blanche and Rose are her family too, and they’re there for her.

In comes Dr. Harris, presumably Elliott’s replacement as their house-call doctor. He inspects Sophia and finds her side is sensitive, so he asks her what she ate recently. The girls list a truly disgusting amount of food, including scungilli, fried mozzarella, and two boxes of Milk Duds. Dr. Harris says it’s not a heart attack, but more likely a gallbladder attack from overeating. Sophia is instantly relieved, but takes back what she said about Dorothy being her favorite now that she’s not dying.

Later that evening, the Girls minus Sophia (who’s presumably resting) talk about mortality in the kitchen. They question the reason they worry about things like dieting when they’re going to die eventually – a thinly veiled excuse to eat some chocolate cake and ice cream. They do eventually get turned off of the dessert when they realize that, while they are going to die eventually, they’ll feel the negative effects of overeating immediately, like Sophia did. They decide to go out for a walk (one hopes the storm is not still raging), and Blanche brings it back around to her favorite topic:

BLANCHE: Let’s go for a walk. ROSE: Right, burn it off! DOROTHY: Are you kidding? After what we ate, we’d have to walk to Canada. BLANCHE: Oh, Mounties! I love Canadian men!

“You couldn’t say ‘belch?’ What is it, a Viking curse?”

This is the first episode that centers around Sophia, and given the multiple references to her age and health in the preceding nine episodes, it’s fitting that it’s about a health scare. Estelle Getty, who has mostly played comic relief up to this point in the series, gets her shot at carrying the dramatic half of an episode – and she definitely delivers.

To be a little real with you, this episode has been hard for me to watch the last few years, ever since my mother died. She was the one who introduced me to Golden Girls, and episodes like this hurt both because I know now she and I will never have that Dorothy-and-Sophia rapport in old age like I always assumed – my mom was not even 60 when she died – and because I was basically in Dorothy’s position at the time. If I could have chosen a quote to describe the months of my life after my mother died, it’d probably be this one:

DOROTHY: It doesn’t matter. You lose a parent, you might as well be six. It’s scary. And it pushes you right up to the head of the line.

I appreciate that, when confronted with the possibility that she might die, Sophia’s not accepting or serene even though she’s very old. I think there’s a perception that, when you get old, you just have to accept that you might die soon and be okay with it because you’ve “lived a full life” or some such nonsense. Instead, Sophia outright says “I’m not ready” and that she’d take even one more day of life.

I leave it to other shows to try and teach people to accept death with grace. I prefer Golden Girls’s way, which is to say “Screw that,” and portray the octogenarian matriarch as not wanting to die. There’s something very real in Sophia saying she never really thought she would die.

SOPHIA: 80 years old, and it would come as a complete surprise.

There’s quite a bit of real-world backstory to this one, too. Originally, it was intended to be broadcast live, which is why it’s the first episode since the pilot to take place entirely within the confines of the Girls’ home. According to Golden Girls Forever (quite a treasure trove), NBC had done a live episode of Gimme a Break and attempted to replicate its success with a night of live shows, ostensibly to promote Saturday Night Live. Golden Girls would have been one of about five shows to air its episodes live.

At first all the other shows were onboard, but then showrunners protested the final offering of the night, a detective show called Hunter, couldn’t be filmed live. So the live plan was scrapped. Director Jim Drake remembered it as being for the best, since the actresses weren’t really equipped to do the show in a single live, continuous taping. While their shows were filmed in front of a live studio audience, they still had the option of doing multiple takes. Somewhat relevant, but here’s a video of Golden Girls bloopers:

The other real-world issue that influenced the filming of this episode was one that also cast a pall over the previous episode – the death of Bea Arthur’s and Betty White’s mothers. But while it seemed to throw off the chemistry of the previous episode to a certain extent, if anything it helps this one. There are differing accounts as to whether Rose’s monologue about Charlie’s death was drawn from the deaths of White’s mother or her husband, Allen Ludden. I suspect it’s a combination of both, but you can see she’s genuinely crying while talking about it.

My only real criticism of this episode is that the final scene doesn’t really seem like it’s attached the rest of the story. The Girls talk about their own mortality, and how the fact of dying makes things seem trivial. They don’t even mention Sophia, despite the rest of the episode revolving around her. It feels like a discussion they might have after a friend died – or, more accurately, a scene inserted by a writer who wanted to opine about death for five minutes.

That’s not even mentioning the fact that the way the Girls behave in this scene is very at odds with the rest of the episode. It’s just strange to me that they’d come to the conclusion that, since they’re going to die, they might as well gorge themselves on rich food, when doing so is the exact reason Sophia had a gallbladder attack – and they just heard a doctor tell her that.

Regardless, this is another great Susan Harris episode, and the first episode that puts Sophia front and center. While it’s a bit melancholy there are enough jokes interspersed throughout to keep it from being a downer.

Episode rating: 🍰🍰🍰🍰 (four cheesecake slices out of five)

Favorite part of the episode:

The Girls crowd around a sleeping Sophia (see the image at the top of the article), and she wakes with a shout, scaring them all. When Dorothy asks her what’s wrong, she says:

SOPHIA: What? You’re sitting on top of me. I open my eyes, I see pores like that, I think I’m on the moon!

[firelinphd]

Making up after a fight | Headcanons

gender neutral

-> Benimaru Shinmon, Arthur Boyle, Vulcan Joseph, Tamaki Kotatsu.

Benimaru Shinmon

The main source of your fights with Beni is the fact that he’s putting work first, and sometimes can spend 2 whole days without talking to you. This week, he had been barely talking and never once you fell asleep and woke up by his side.

The thing with Beni is also that he actually doesn’t notice it when you’re mad at him and never sees what the problem is. And today, you were mad at him, and as usual, everyone had noticed it but him. Hika and Hina tried to throw some hints at him, but he was too busy to notice.

You were yourself a member of the 7th company and was also fighting, as you were a 3rd generation, so you were also working a lot. Still, you could find some time for him. Of course he had huge responsibilities and the whole village was considering him as a savior. Still, he only needed 2 seconds to say : « Good night, I love you. »

He gave you some orders during a mission, and you weren’t unconscious so you followed them, but you didn’t reply to him or asked him questions during the whole mission. And for once, you didn’t take decisions on your own, despite taking good ones usually. That made Beni wonder a bit what was going on.

For another night, you were about to go to sleep alone. However, as you couldn’t find sleep, you decided to dress yourself and go outside. This time, Beni noticed you. ‘’I thought you were sleeping.’’ You didn’t reply. Silent treatment.

‘’Are you going outside ?’’ He asked, seeing that you were dressed. You only nodded, before walking out and finding something to do in Asakusa. As he saw you almost not looking at him and not replying, he walked after you, grabbing your arm. ‘’What are you even doing ?’’ He was calm, but his eyebrows were furrowed.

‘’You’ve been acting like this for a whole week ! I do this one night and you’re mad ?! Imagine me !’’ You said, making him release you. ‘’I... did I really do that ?’’ He asked. However, seeing you nod while crying made him lose it, hugging you and kissing your head. ‘’I’m so sorry... I won’t do it again. Let’s go home, okay ?’’ You guys had a big discussion about his behavior when you got home, and he promised to be more careful.

Arthur Boyle

Maybe you had gone too far, but Arthur had started it. He was being an idiot when it was time to get serious, and as you were visibly getting annoyed, he didn’t stop and that made you snap at him. You said that he looked ridiculous with a donkey around his waist to act like it was a horse.

To others, it wasn’t that much. But for you, it was one of the most horrendous things you had ever told someone. You had been irritated the whole day already, and as much as you loved him, Arthur was being a pain in the ass today. And you felt so bad.

Since that remark of yours, he stopped talking. Arthur. Silent. He actually did all his paperwork -he looked still mad about it, but he wasn’t sighing or saying he didn’t want to do it anymore- and everyone knew it was because of you.

They actually thought it was Arthur who had started it. Still, you knew you had your part in that fight. But your ego was so big, you needed many hours before actually talking to him. At dinner though, you noticed him pouting whenever you were talking to someone else. That made you chuckle and Tamaki looked at you as if you had problems.

‘’Arthur, (Y/N), it’s your turn to clear the table.’’ Obi said, widening his eyes when you looked at me to make you understand it was a purpose for you two to talk. Thus, you did clean the table. ‘’I saw your face while we were eating. You miss me that bad ?’’ You asked your blond boyfriend.

‘’I did that face like twice. You’re the one who misses me so bad you were able to notice it.’’ He replied. You only chuckled at his words. ‘’I’m sorry I made you mad. You’re always trying to be nice with me but I was an idiot, like always.’’ He said.

‘’You weren’t being an idiot, Arthur. I was just already angry and I wasn’t patient today. And even if you were an idiot, I shouldn’t have said that. I know you’re a real knight.’’ You replied. It only made him giggle, kneeling in front of you like a knight to illustrate what you were saying.

Vulcan Joseph

You had been clingy and it was entirely your fault Vulcan was mad at you. He was welcoming you and even accepting your help when he was working on an invention, and you had been all over the place and destroyed a thing he had been working on for weeks.

You immediately panicked when you broke it, telling him you could fix it. He didn’t want to get mad at you, but he had a short temper. That’s why he only told you to get out, and not to try fixing your mess. He didn’t want to say hurtful things and that’s why he told you to leave his workhouse.

You felt incredibly guilty, and even asked your friends if they thought he would leave you. ‘’Why are you being that dramatic ? You only broke his invention. He won’t break up with you for that.’’ Tamaki said, an eyebrow arched. As if she wasn’t a drama queen herself.

When Vulcan came out of his room, you tried to apologize to him, but he only turned, sighing. ‘’(Y/N), I don’t want to be mad at you. So please, leave me alone until I’m calm down, okay ? I’ll talk to you when I’ll be better.’’ He said. You felt sad, but you knew you would’ve felt even worst if he had snapped at you.

He actually walked to you after dinner time. You were putting on your pyjamas, and he knocked on your door. ‘’Come to my workhouse. I wanna show you something.’’ He said, and you followed. ‘’I’m really sorry for your invention.’’ You muttered on the way.

‘’I know, it’s okay. It wasn’t even done.’’ He said, opening the door to his workhouse. ‘’And I wrote everything, remember ? It’ll take much less time now that I’ve done it once. And I can change whatever I didn’t like now that I have to re-do if from scratch.’’ He said, comforting you.

‘’Still, I’m very sorry. I know you don’t like people being around, still you let me, and yet I broke something.’’ Then, he finally turned to look at you, showing you something. ‘’I saw that you felt sad and guilty so I made you this.’’ It was a mechanical heart, playing a music you really loved. He kissed your forehead, wishing you a good night right after that.

Tamaki Kotatsu

Let’s be honest, you always fought a lot with Tamaki. She was clingy, she was annoying, and she was always thinking she was the center of the world. But if you fought with her that much, it was because she was the person you loved the most, right ?

Well, today wasn’t just a random fight that you could get over with minutes later. This morning, she had been very annoying and you were already angry because you had failed upgrading your power and you were frustrated.

You had yelled at her, because after 3 times you told her you were mad and needed some time to calm down, she kept telling you about how awful her day was. She teared up when she heard you yelling, but you brushed it off.

Maki and Iris were mad at you, that you had made Tamaki cried. But Arthur and Shinra thought she was a crybaby anyway, and you shouldn’t feel guilty. But of course you were feeling guilty, she was your girlfriend, after all.

You were mad at her for the whole day, and were mad overall. Still, you managed to sound nice with others despite your face showing otherwise. At dinner time, Tamaki sat next to you, surprisingly. But you didn’t say anything.

During dinner, she served you and gave you some extra food from her own plate. She felt guilty as well. She realized she was wrong, but she just needed to make sure you were okay and calm enough to hear her apologies.

As she saw you gave her some of her food back, she took it as a good sign, and ended up leaning against your arm once she was done eating. You played with the fabric of her shirt while Hinawa was cleaning the table, and you heard her mutter : ‘’Sorry. I only thought of me.’’ She said. You only giggled, and apologized too.

[supercalvin]

Aawwww, I adore your ficlets so so much! If I may be so bold and prompt smth too? I loved your Brynn canon time story - Do you feel like maybe writing a modern setting version with Brynn? Maybe Merlin and Arthur adopt her or somehow find her or to her? And they just know she belongs to their little family? That’d be so wonderful, but just if you like. Thank youuuu! 💞💞💞💞

YAY! I love this idea! I probably should have written this for Father’s Day, but better late than never. 

Also, this ficlet doesn’t have anything to do with the first ficlet, but if anyone is interested >>> Canon AU Kid!fic

Prompts + Ficlets

***

Gwen had been working at the adoption agency for close to ten years now. So when Merlin and Arthur, some of her closest friends in the world, tentatively asked her how they could go about adopting, she was over the moon.

They went through the paperwork and screening fairly quickly, since Gwen knew all the ins-and-outs. She could tell that they were both fairly nervous, although in their different ways. Merlin was anxiously talking about all the statistics and best ways to help a child adjust from foster living to a forever-home. Arthur was quiet most of the time, which wasn’t altogether that odd, except he would get this terrified look in his eye every time Gwen talked about the two of them becoming ‘fathers.’ Knowing Arthur’s own father hadn’t always been the best role model, Gwen didn’t blame him for looking like he was about to be sick at the word.

The adoption agency set up a picnic for a small group of potential parents and foster children, with plenty of food and a few scheduled activities. Gwen was working, so she couldn’t keep a close eye on her friends as she facilitated the event, but when she went to check up on them, they were doing alright.

The next activity was group painting, and Gwen paired everyone up and started them by telling them to paint anything they wanted and see where it took them.

Barely a minute into the activity, her coworker pulled her aside, and said she needed help with one of the kids.

Gwen had noticed that Brynn hadn’t been particularly enthusiastic about today’s picnic. Gwen didn’t blame her. She was ten years old, which was much older than all the other kids here, most of whom were five to seven years old. She was sitting on a nearby bench rolling her ever-present football under her feet.

Gwen sat down next to her.

“I don’t want to finger paint.”

Gwen did not want to point out that the kids weren’t finger painting and did not mention Brynn’s tone either.

“You don’t have to, love,” Gwen said with a sigh. “Do you want to stay, or do you want me to call your foster parent to pick you up?”

Brynn shrugged.

Most parents wanted to adopt young kids. Six years old was usually the limit. The older kids got, the less likely they were to be adopted. Brynn knew that just as well as Gwen did.

“Hey,” Gwen looked up to see Arthur, a crease in his brow as he looked at the two of them. “Everything alright?”

Gwen nodded, “We’re just taking a break.”

Arthur nodded, “I don’t blame you. It’s kind of overwhelming. Mind if I join? I already knocked over half the paint tins. I’ll leave the painting to Merlin.”

That’s when Gwen noticed that Arthur’s leg was covered in blue and green paint.

Brynn snorted and Gwen felt something like hope tighten in her chest.

Arthur sat down in the grass in front of the bench and Brynn automatically looked hesitant again, eying Arthur suspiciously.

“I don’t want to talk,” She said to Arthur.

Arthur nodded, looking rather serious. “I don’t want to talk either.”

Brynn looked a little affronted that her own game had been turned on her.

Despite outward appearances, Gwen could see that this was going well.

“I have to go help with the painting. Are you two going to be alright taking a break?” She looked for confirmation from Brynn that she was alright being left alone with Arthur.

Brynn nodded, and Gwen patted her on the shoulder, “Just let me know if you need anything. Don’t forget to get a snack later too.”

Gwen went to help with the paint (it was a rather messy activity, but that usually encouraged bonding) but she kept a close eye on Brynn and Arthur.

She saw that Arthur had laid in the grass next to Brynn and they didn’t seem to be talking, just soaking in the sun and getting away from everyone else. Gwen had always noticed that Arthur would easily get overwhelmed at parties, and often found him taking breaks out on patios or front porches before going back in to mingle.

When she looked back again, Arthur was sitting up and Brynn seemed to be talking. Arthur nudged the football under her feet and soon enough the two of them were teasingly knocking the ball between them. Arthur juggled the football for a few seconds and Brynn tried it out too. Gwen could tell that Arthur showed her how to balance the ball on the end of her foot and encouraged her when it didn’t work. They were in their own little world, running in the grass and kicking the football back and forth between them.

“How old is she?”

Gwen startled. She hadn’t even noticed Merlin standing next to her, watching his husband and Brynn.

“Ten,” She said, knowing Merlin would know what that meant.

Gwen turned to look at him, and she could see tears in his eyes, a clenched fist nervously held to his chest.

“Go,” Gwen nudged him.

Merlin hesitated, “I can’t kick a football for the life of me.”

She pushed him, “Go fall on your arse. I’m sure Brynn will love it.”

Merlin took a halting step forward, taking a breath and running over to the pair. There was a quick introduction that couldn’t have been more than, ‘Merlin, catch!’ as Arthur nudged the ball over to him. Merlin got in a few good kicks to Brynn but sure enough, Merlin was horrible with a football. Brynn kicked the ball to him and he slipped over it and fell on his arse.

Brynn looked scared for a second, like she thought she’d done something wrong, but then Arthur burst out laughing. Gwen always loved Arthur’s real laugh. It was obnoxious and sounded more like a donkey’s bray than a laugh.

“Shut up! I’m not a football lad like you!” Merlin threw the ball at Arthur, who easily caught it in his hands.

Brynn visibly relaxed and Gwen saw her smile, which was a rare sight that made Gwen’s heart fly in her chest.

Arthur gave Merlin his hand and hauled Merlin back onto his feet, mockingly dusting him off before Merlin pushed him away. They resumed their game, passing the ball in a triangle between the three of them. They didn’t seem to be talking a lot, but Gwen didn’t think that would work for Brynn. She would open up only when she felt comfortable, and if football was the way to do that, then Merlin and Arthur were leaps and bounds ahead of any other potential parent.

Gwen told her coworkers to start the next activity without her, and she went to the food table to grab a couple snacks and a few juices.

When she approached the trio, Brynn was talking about her favorite footballer, “-won the football world cup and she’s one of the best ever.”

“Sorry to interrupt, I just wanted to make sure you stay hydrated.”

“Oh thank god, Gwen, save me. Is that juice?” Merlin took the bottle from her, looking grateful. She laughed as Merlin looked absolutely desperate, after only a few minutes of sport talk.

“I’ll take some crisps, if you’ve got them,” Arthur said and Brynn followed his lead, which Gwen took as a great sign.

Soon enough, Gwen was settling them down in the grass munching on their snacks as they chatted. The rest of the potential parents and foster children eventually got their own snacks and joined them out on the grass, and the picnic was coming to a close.

The parents said goodbye, some good connections made and Gwen hoped for the best. The kids were ushered into the bus to be dropped off at their foster homes. Brynn lingered at the bus door, football under her arm. Merlin and Arthur were also lingering on the other side of the park. Their heads were bent close together and Gwen could tell they were talking rather seriously.

Brynn looked over to them and then back to Gwen, as if to ask if she really had to leave.

“Come on, Brynn. You’ll see them again. They already made an appointment with the agency.”

“An appointment?” Brynn asked looking up with big eyes.

Gwen nodded, trying to hold back a smile, “You’ll see them next week. Come on,” She ushered Brynn onto the bus and Gwen took a seat next to her.

“Merlin and Arthur are some of best friends. I’ve known them since I was in uni,” Gwen said, not looking at her, trying to be casual. “Merlin’s a doctor and Arthur’s a personal trainer.”

“Do they have kids?” Brynn asked quietly.

“No,” Gwen said, “They really clicked with you. Did you have a good time?”

Brynn nodded, still hugging the football to her chest. “Mr. Arthur promised to teach me how to juggle the football.” Brynn was quiet again, but that was alright. It had been a long day and Gwen had never seen Brynn as open as she had been on grass.

Soon enough there would be more visits and more paperwork. Soon enough Merlin and Arthur would be bringing Brynn her own luggage to move her out of her foster home to their home. Soon enough there would be official documents and a celebration to Brynn’s official adoption.

But for now, Brynn leaned against Gwen’s side with her football clutched in her chest.

***

Prompts + Ficlets

[just-a-caffeine-addict]

Quotes Accrued in a Decade

“…as you well know, the source of the Nile remained invisible to those who lived next to it for a thousand years. Identifying it required a stranger. (A fresh pair of eyes may see what others miss)” –Sherlock Holmes (From The Perils of Sherlock Holmes: Short Stories)

“A couple of years before he died, I kissed my father goodbye. He said, ‘Son, you haven’t kissed me since you were a little boy.’ It went straight to my heart, and I kissed him whenever I saw him after that, and my sons and I always kiss whenever we meet.” –Terry Wogan

“A wise man makes his own decisions, an ignorant man follows the public opinion.” –Chinese Proverb

“All great truths begin as blasphemies.” –George Bernard Shaw

“An army of donkeys led by a lion is better than an army of lions led by a donkey.” –Genghis Khan

"An error does not become truth by reason of multiplied propagation, nor does truth become error because nobody sees it." –Mahatma Gandhi

“Art should comfort the disturbed and disturb the comfortable.” –Cesar A. Cruz

“As we let our light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same.” –Marianna Williamson

“Ask not what your country can do for you –ask what you can do for your country.” –John Kennedy

“Being deeply loved by someone gives you strength, while loving someone deeply give you courage.” –Lao Tzu

“Better the devil you know than the devil you don't know.” –English Proverb

“Beware of false knowledge; it is more dangerous than ignorance.” –George Bernard Shaw

“By three methods we may learn wisdom: First, by reflection, which is noblest; Second, by imitation, which is easiest; and third by experience, which is the bitterest.” –Confucius

“Can you really have a bad experiment? I don’t know. But can you have a bad result? Yes.” — EvanAndKatelyn (From Can Resin Preserve a Pumpkin Carving?)

“canon is but the sandbox in which i strike lightning to form glass. trouble me no more with your quibblings and quorums, lest i grind you to dust beneath my heel and build stories from the remnants of your bones. Avast, foul fiend” —taako waititi (From Tumblr)

“Civil war? What does that mean? Is there any foreign war? Isn't every war fought between men, between brothers?” —Victor Hugo

“Cucullus non facit monachum (A cowl does not make a monk).” – Fool/Feste (From Twelfth Night)

“Demons run when a good man goes to war…” –River Song (From Doctor Who)

“Due to high cost of ammo, there will be NO WARNING SHOTS FIRED.” –Warning sign

“Every couple needs to argue now and then. Just to prove that the relationship is strong enough to survive. Long-term relationships, the ones that matter, are all about weathering the peaks and the valleys.” –Nicholas Sparks (From Safe Haven)

“Everyone gives the title of barbarism to everything that is not in use in his own country.” –Michel de Montaigne (From Of Cannibals)

“Families are the compass that guide us. They are the inspiration to reach great heights, and our comfort when we occasionally falter.” –Brad Henry

“Fiction reveals truth that reality obscures.” –Ralph Waldo Emerson

“Fools take a knife and stab people in the back. The wise take a knife, cut the cord, and set themselves free from the fools.” –Unknown

“Forget injuries, never forget kindnesses.” –Chinese Proverb

“Genius is one percent inspiration and ninety-nine percent perspiration.” –Thomas Edison

“Herr, wirf Hern vom Himmel -oder Steine, Hauptsache er trifft (Lord, throw some brains from the heavens -or stones, as long as he hits the mark)!” –German Proverb

“History is for human self-knowledge...the only clue to what man can do is what man has done. The value of history, then, is that it teaches us what man has done and thus what man is.” —R.G. Collingwood

“Humor is emotional chaos remembered in tranquility.” –James Thurber

“I can pretend I’m a fish, but I shouldn’t try to breathe underwater.” –Unknown

“I have the patience of a saint. Saint Cunty McFuckOff.” –Words on a cup

“I have not failed. I’ve just found 1,000 ways that won’t work.” –Thomas Edison

“I made some good deals and I made some bad ones. I really went in the hole with this one.” –Quote on a grave

“I occasionally think, how quickly our differences worldwide would vanish if we were facing an alien threat from outside this world. And yet, I ask is not an alien force ALREADY among us?” –Ronald Reagan

“If I have seen further than others, it is by standing on the shoulders of giants.” –Isaac Newton

“If our impulses were confined to hunger, thirst, and desire, we might nearly be free; but now we are moved by every wind that blows, and a chance word or scene that that word may convey to us.” –Victor Frankenstein (From Frankenstein)

“If the world tells me I’m mad, whereas I know I’m not, which of us is right? Thus, being mad is what? Inventing a life one hasn’t lived or loving a woman met in another lifetime? Is it clinging to unsatisfied desires?..” Doriel (From A Mad Desire to Dance)

“If you’re afraid - don’t do it, - if you’re doing it - don’t be afraid!” –Genghis Khan

“If you’re going to be a writer, the first essential is just to write. Do not wait for an idea. Start writing something and the ideas will come. You have to turn the faucet on before the water starts to flow.” —Louis L’Amour

"If you're not asking the questions in a thoughtful way, you're not going to get any results that are useful or interesting." –Tony Wagner

“If your actions inspire others to dream more, learn more, do more, and become more, you are a leader.” –John Quincy Adams

“I'm the one that's got to die when it's time for me to die, so let me live my life the way I want to.” –Jimi Hendrix (From Axis: Bold as Love)

"Imagine a world in which every single person on the planet has free access to the sum of all human knowledge." –Jimmy Wales (Founder of Wikipedia)

"In caucus terrae, luscus rex est (In the land of the blind, the one-eyed man is king)." –Latin Adage

“In the end, it’s not the years in your life that count. It’s the life in your years.” –Abraham Lincoln

“In time of universal deceit, telling the truth is a revolutionary act.” –George Orwell

“It is better to be hated for what you are than to be loved for what you are not.” –André Gide (From Autumn Leaves)

"It's not that I'm so smart. But I stay with the questions much longer." –Albert Einstein

“It’s true. I forget important things sometimes… Sometimes I do think I should give up-- just let the crown win and the world freeze, with me in it. Some days I can’t remember a single reason to keep fighting. Some… Some days I-- I can’t remember her. But giving up’s EASY. You know what’s hard? To BELIEVE in your own worth, to KNOW you’ve got something special in you even if nobody else can see it. Even when YOU can’t.” –Ice King |Simon Petrikov from Adventure Time

“Learn yesterday, live for today, hope for tomorrow.” –Albert Einstein

“Learning to trust is one of life’s most difficult tasks.” –Isaac Watts

“Life is a dream for the wise, a game for the fool, a comedy for the rich, a tragedy for the poor.” –Sholom Aleichem

“Love is friendship that has caught fire. It is quiet understanding, mutual confidence, sharing and forgiving. It is loyalty through good and bad times. It settles for less than perfection and makes allowances for human weaknesses.” –Ann Landers

“Love takes off masks that we fear we cannot live without and know we cannot live within.” –James Baldwin

“Memory is a way of holding onto the things you love, the things you are, the things you never want to lose.” —“The Wonder Years”

“My family is my strength and my weakness.” –Aishwarya rai Bachchan

“Names are the sweetest and the most important sounds in any language.” –Dale Carnegie

“No man chooses evil because it is evil; he only mistakes it for happiness, the good he seeks.” –Mary Wollstonecraft

"No mortal can keep a secret. If his lips are silent, he chatters with his fingertips." –Sigmund Freud

“No one realizes how beautiful it is to travel until he comes home and rests his head on his old, familiar pillow.” –Lin Yutang

“NO TRESPASSING. Violators will be shot; Survivors will be shot again.” –Warning Sign

“Nobody knows you as well as our spouse. And that means no one will be quicker to recognize a change when you deliberately start sacrificing your wants and wishes to make sure his or her needs are met.” –Stephen Kendrick from The Love Dare

“Notice: Anyone found here at night will be found here in the morning.” –Warning Sign

“"One thing nature is very good at is creating incredibly complex microscopic structures. That's because nature's machines are the size of molecules, while our crude versions are the size of rooms." –Theodore Gray (from Molecules: The Elements and Architecture of Everything)

“Only the sufferers know how their bellies ache.“ –Burmese

“People never lie so much as after a hunt, during a war, or before an election.” –Otto von Bismarck

“People think intimacy is about sex. But intimacy is about truth. When you realize you can tell someone your truth, when you can show yourself to them, when you stand in front of them bare and their response is ‘You’re safe with me’ - that’s intimacy.” –Taylor Jenkins Reid (From The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo)

“Play taps for my ass, cause it’s dead as hell.” –Unknown Quote

“Six of one, half a dozen of the other. (It doesn't matter which one we choose; Equally involved, equally responsible)”

“Sometimes people are beautiful. Not in looks. Not in what they say. Just in what they are.” –Markus Zusak (From I Am the Messenger)

“Speak softly and carry a big stick; you will go far.” –Theodore Roosevelt

“Start where you are. Use what you have. Do what you can” –Arthur Ashe

“Take nothing but pictures; Leave nothing but footprints; Kill nothing but time.” –Caver’s Creed

“Take with a pinch of salt (Don’t completely believe what’s told).”

“The bond that links your true family is not one of blood, but of respect and joy in each other’s life.” –Richard Bach

“The end of one thing is only the beginning of another.” –Unknown

“The family is a haven in a heartless world.” –Attributed to Christopher Lasch

“The helper seeks to help others because he knows what it is to be helpless.” –’ Zen’ Wander (From Wander Over Yonder)

"The million-dollar question: Why aren't we kinder? The second million-dollar question: How might we become more loving, more open, less selfish, more present, less

delusional?" –George Sanders

“The need for a body of common knowledge and common reference ...grows more necessary so that people of different origins and occupation may quickly find common ground and, as we say, speak a common language...it also ensures a kind of mutual confidence and good will. One is not addressing an alien, blank as a stone wall, but a responsive creature whose mind is filled with the same images, memories, and vocabulary as oneself.” —Jacques Barzun

“The ones that stay with you through everything - they're your true best friends. Don't let go of them.” –Marilyn Monroe

“The only thing we have to fear is fear itself!” –Roosevelt

“The only time you should look in your neighbor's bowl is to make sure you have enough.” –Louie CK

“The only way to deal with an unfree world is to become so absolutely free that your very existence is an act of rebellion.” –Albert Camus

“The sacrifice which causes sorrow to the doer of the sacrifice is no sacrifice. Real sacrifice lightens the mind of the doer and gives him a sense of peace and joy. The Buddha gave up the pleasures of life because they had become painful to him.” –Mahatma Gandhi

“The secret of a good memory is attention, and attention to a subject depends upon our interest in it. We rarely forget that which has made a deep impression on our minds.” —Tryon Edwards

“The secret to humor is surprise.” –Aristotle

“The surplus wealth of the few will become, in the best sense, the property of many, because administered for the common good.” –Andrew Carnegie

“The true soldier fights not because he hates what is in front of him, but because he loves what is behind him.” –G.K. Chesterson

"The word 'why' not only taught me to ask, but also to think. And thinking has never hurt anyone. On the contrary, it does us all a world of good." –Anne Frank

“The world breaks everyone and afterward many are strong in the broken places.” –Ernest Hemingway From A Farewell To Arms

“There is no satisfaction in vengeance unless the offender has time to realize who it is that strikes him, and why retribution had come upon him.” –Jefferson Hope From Sherlock’s Adventures

“There will be something you hate in every job. The trick is finding a job where you love the good parts enough to make up for the crappy parts.” –post

“There’s a name for you ladies, but it isn’t used in high society… outside of a kennel.” –Crystal (From The Women of 1939)

“Though we tremble before uncertain futures… may we dance in the face of our fears.” –Gloria Anzaldua

“To forget the dead would be akin to killing them a second time.” –Elie Wiesel (From Night)

“Un sot trouve toujours un plus sot qui l’admire (A fool always finds a fool to admire him).” – Sherlock Holmes (French translation)

“We’re taught Lord Acton’s axiom: all power corrupts, absolute power corrupts absolutely[...] I believed that when we started these books, but I don’t believe it’s always true anymore. [...] What I believe is always true about power is that power always reveals. When you have enough power to do what you always wanted to do, then you see what the guy always wanted to do.” –Robert A. Caro

“We call that person who has lost his father, an orphan; and a widower that man who has lost his wife. But that man who has known the immense unhappiness of losing a friend, by what name do we call him? Here every language is silent and holds its peace in impotence.” –Joseph Roux

“What we have done to ourselves alone, dies with us; what we have done for others and the world remains and is immortal.” –Brother Albert Pike

“When everything seems to be going against you, remember that the airplane takes off against the wind, not with it.” –Henry Ford

“When you wish upon a star, you’re a few million light years late. That star is dead. Just like your dreams.” –Unknown

“When you’re a brat, running fast is enough to make you popular. When you’re a middle-schooler, the guys who can fight will be popular, and after that it’s the guys with brains who can get the girls.” –Master of Protagonist (From The Fruit of Grisaia)

“Where we love is home –home where our feet may leave, but not our hearts.” –Oliver Wendell Holmes, Sr.

“Wise men speak because they have something to say; Fools because they have to say something.” –Plato

“You are the company you keep.” –Unknown

“You must be imaginative, strong-hearted. You must try things that may not work, and you must not let anyone define your limits because of where you come from. Your only limit is your soul" –Chef Gusteau (From Ratatouille)

“You walk around a drunk, you get a tired drunk. Splash ‘em with water, you get a wet drunk. Give ‘em a coffee, you’ve got a wide-awake drunk…” –Unknown

[psycheswritings]

Nothing’s Fair in Love and War - Three

Title: Nothing’s Fair in Love and War Fandom: Peaky Blinders Pairing: Thomas Shelby x Daphne Scott (OFC) Warnings: Swearing, I guess. Word Count: 5019 Author's Note: Sorry for the delay. Life has been a bitch this week and I was hating everything I wrote. Thanks to everybody that liked and commented on the fic, honorary mentions to @blues022​, @livingmybestfakelife​, @livvtheangel​ and @stressedandbandobessed7771�� - thank you all for taking your time to review this, it makes my heart swoon with happiness. @livvtheangel​ kindly asked for me to add some kind of separation between the scenes to make it easier to read, I have already done it on the other parts and will do it in every chapter from now on. It was supposed to have a blank space between the scenes but God knows what happened. Let me know if its better this way. And, finally, before I go, @stressedandbandobessed7771​ asked to be tagged in the series, which I'm going to do from now on, and I wanted to let you all know that if anybody wants to be tagged too, let me know. As always, this haven’t been proofread, so feel free to report any mistakes back to me; warnings are expecific for each chapter. Also, your feedback is also highly appreciated. I relly hope you like this one. Disclaimer: All publicly recognizable characters, settings, etc. are the property of their respective owners. The original characters and plot are the property of the author of this story. The author is in no way associated with the owners, creators, or producers of any previously copyrighted material. No copyright infringement is intended.

Masterlist

Chapter Summary: Daphne receives a very unexpected invitation while the Shelby's have to deal with Sabini's retaliation. Tommy buys a new horse and gets to know a possible new asset at the same time that Polly tries to understand what is the nature of his interest in the woman working with Solomons. Ada has a heart to heart with her friend and Alfie makes a surprise for Daphne.

Three

“Next month?!” Daphne’s shocked expression and high-pitched tone of voice made the engaged couple laugh. William was a little behind them, by the door, a smirk on his face. “Now I understand what you’re saying about them hushing things.”

“You never believe me.” Daphne just rolled her eyes at his mockery before Jane quipped in her defense.

“Well, you have a habit of overreacting about things.” The doctor narrowed his eyes to looks at his sister.

“Always knew that you were going to be a little traitor.” They all laughed, apart from William, although everyone knew that it was just an act.

“Nothing like a little display of sibling love by the Weston’s.” Alfie commented, surprising Daphne with his good mood. The last few days had been a little strange for them, both had totally ignored the episode of the window, but his words kept coming back to haunt the woman every time she looked at him. She was distracted observing him when their eyes met, Alfie gave her a heartwarming smile that Daphne promptly returned.

“We are always happy to entertain, Alfie.” There was false mockery in his tone.

“But we didn’t come here for William to complain about everything.” She turned to face the other woman, her expression was serious but joyful. “I want you to be my maid of honor.” Daphne blinked a few times, shock washing trough her. She expected to be invited to the weeding, of course - the two of them were good friends, after all – but being Jane’s maid of honor wasn’t something that she had in mind.

“Oh, I… Of course. It will be my pleasure.” Jane got up to embrace her friend, bubbling with happiness.

“William here already accepted to be the best man, despite his constants complains.” That resulted in Charles receiving a slap on the back of the head, given by his future brother-in-law, making them all laugh aloud.

“In all these years that I know him I never saw William do anything without complaining.” He looked at Daphne shaking his head.

“What’s this, a plot to ruin my reputation?”

“What reputation, mate?” Charles chocked in laughter and soon the others accompanied him.

“Et tu, Brute?”

“What can I say, mate. You make it too easy, aye.” When they all recovered from their laughter, Jane addressed herself to the gangster.

“Of course you’re invited too, Alfie.”

“And I will be there, for sure. Wouldn’t miss William’s speech for anything.” That was something that Daphne had missed, the friendly banter between Alfie and William, that brought a genuine smile to her face that didn’t escaped Alfie’s eyes.

“The betrayal. I thought we were friends, Solomons.” The doctor complained while Alfie just shrugged.

“What can I say, business is business, my friend.”

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“This had better be good to interrupt my holiday.” Polly rushes into the betting shop after John has opened the door that connects it to the house. It’s clear that she is in a hurry and in no mood to small talk.

“Where's the boy?” Arthur asked when she was putting her things on the table.

“In the back room. I only brought him because afterwards we're going to the museum.” Another obvious thing was that she didn’t wanted Michael involved in the family business, even though she knew it was an herculean task.

“He wanted to come in and say hello but...”

“Shut up, John. There is nothing of interest to Michael in this room.” Said nephew stopped talking altogether, looking a little dismayed. “Tommy, get on with it.”

“Last night, one of our men had his throat cut in Winson Green. This morning, I had a telegram to say it was Sabini who ordered it.”

“And it says here that Thomas Shelby's next.” Arthur added, ripping said telegram into pieces. Despite the death threat on his life, Thomas didn’t looked that concerned, like he wasn’t with most things. Just another day in the job.

“If our men think we can't look after them in prison, they'll not work for us. Sabini knows that. So we need to get the Green sorted out. Scudboat, you and one of the boys. Break a couple of windows and get yourselves arrested. I'll have our coppers get you into the Green and you can find the bastards who did it.”

“Instead of breaking a window, can we pinch a car?” All of the men, besides from Tommy, start laughing. “What? Everybody else is getting a bloody car. I'm still on a donkey.”

“All right, just get yourselves fucking arrested, it doesn't matter how. And before you all laugh, a boy is dead. He was just a kid. We'll start a fund for his family, Pol.”

“Agreed.” The woman says, solemnly. “So is that it? Can I go now?” She starts picking up her things just to hear Tommy talking again.

“Well, as company treasurer, I need your permission to spend a thousand guineas.” That makes her stop and look at him.

“On what?”

“On a horse.”

“A thousand guineas on a horse?”

“That's right.”

“When was this decided?” She starts passing, deep in thinking.

“You've been busy with Michael.” He knew that she would question it but this was a means to an end. Sometimes it was difficult to make people see what he saw. Even Polly.

“Oh, my God. So, in the absence of common sense, you boys have had an idea.”

“Polly there's a thoroughbred quarter-Arab filly up for auction at the Doncaster Blood Stock.” Polly looks at him.

“What do we want with a thousand guinea horse?” Tommy sighs, before explaining.

“When we make our move on Sabini's racing pitches, any men we get into the betting enclosure will be lifted by Sabini's police. A good racehorse is a passport to the owner's enclosure.”

“We'll be in there with all the toffs. Coppers won't know where to look.” Arthur adds and John accompanies him, excitedly.

“Yeah, the Epsom Derby, Pol. We'll be drinking with the bloody King.”

“The Derby? Did he say the Derby?” The glare Thomas gave to his younger brother erased the smile in John’s face while he lowered his head. The leader of the Peaky Blinders took a deep breath and cleared his throat before speaking.

“That's right. For the last ten years, Sabini has made it his race. If we're going to take him down, might as well make it there as a symbol.”

“Did you come up with this idea in a pub by any chance?” Her tone was drenched in pure sarcasm.

“Pol a good racehorse is an investment, like property. We need to diversify the portfolio.”

“So when is this sale?”

“Tomorrow.”

“And Tommy's had a death threat so we'll have to go with him for protection.” The older of the Shelby siblings explained.

“So, you're going to close up the shop, go out on a piss-up and blow a thousand guineas on a horse that's not even whole Arab?”

“Quarter Arab is better! Quarter Arab, it means...” Polly cuts him off.

“Curly, shut up.” The door that connects the betting shop to the house open to reveal Michael. Polly instantly looks reprovingly at John. “I thought I told you to lock that door.”

“He did. I used the key on the nail.” The younger boy explains. “Look, I've been listening. I want to go with them.”

“You see?!” The Shelby matriarch throws her arms up in exasperation while Tommy looks at his cousin.

“I love horses. I could even help!” The excitement mixed with hope that his mother would allow him to go with his cousins was evident in Michael’s face.

“Over my dead body.” The older woman said, crossing her arms.

“It'll be all right, Mum. I've been to loads of horse auctions before with my uncle. They're very respectable. People bring their butlers.”

“Yeah, and their posh wives!” Arthur said, smirking and taking a sip of his whiskey.

“And their mistresses.” Added John, elbowing his cousin while they laughed.

“Let him come, Polly.” Arthur tried to convince the woman. “We'll go there, buy a horse, come back.”

“I'll drop him back at the house in Sutton before it gets dark.” Promised John to his aunt.

“No. Fucking no.” Michael left the room slamming the door behind him, clearly upset. Polly looked at Thomas and after a minute that seemed to last too long, he treated to clear the room.

“All right, that's it. Back to work.” All of the men started to leave, going back to his own tasks. John stayed behind, approaching his aunt.

“Come on! Aunt Pol, when I was Michael's age, I'd killed a hundred men and seen a thousand die. If you want to scare that kid away forever, carry on how you are going. If you want him to stay, let him come.”

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Thomas couldn’t say that he was surprised to see his aunt entering his office later that day. After the incident with Michael earlier he expected that she would come around, he just didn’t predicted the reason why she wanted to talk to him.

“How’s Michael?” He asked when she took a sit in one of the chairs in front of his desk, his eyes not leaving the papers he was analyzing.

“Beaming with happiness now that he wored me down to go with you lot, tomorrow.” She answered with a sigh. “But that’s not what bought me here.”

“What it is then?”

“That woman” Polly started, waiting for his attention to be back on her, but he ignored it completely, the only reaction that she got was his pen freezing for a couple of seconds “the one you and Ada were taking to at the Garrison.”

“What about her?” His tone was dismissive, however, his aunt wasn’t foolish. She was pissed off with him that night at the reopening of the Garrison, but she most definitely saw his interaction with the unknown woman that had arrived and departed of the pub like smoke, but not before drawing all eyes to her.

“Who is she?”

“She is the woman who works with Solomons.” He hoped that would end with the interrogation but he wasn’t that lucky.

“The one you were curious about?” Tommy exhaled loudly, dropping the document he was currently reading to look at his aunt.

“Yeah, that would be her.”

“She knows our Ada.” She would have asked Ada about the woman if she had had the chance, – her niece certainly would be less evasive than Thomas -but her son had appeared at her door and the subject escaped to the back of her mind. Also, the gipsy woman needed to see his reaction to know if they were going to have another problem like they had with that barmaid.

“Yes, they know each other from London.”

“I want to meet her.” He wrinkled his forehead.

“Why?”

“Because the last time a woman caught your attention your judgment became clouded and we both know that it didn’t end well.”

“It’s not like that.”

“Maybe not yet, but I know the look in your eyes. She intrigues you. I noticed the first time you talked about her. I brushed it off because I thought it was just because of the business, but the way you behaved yourself around her that night at the Garrison tells me otherwise.” Thomas takes a deep breath but does not confirm or denies her suspicions.

“I’m certain that Ada can schedule tea for you three...”

“No. I want you to be there.” She wanted to see firsthand how he reacted to this girl because the last thing that Polly trusted was in men and their cocks. Thomas wasn’t the worst of the Shelby brothers in this topic – John was the man whore of the three of them – but since he was in charge of things in the family, the potential of trouble was higher.

“I will see what I can do.”

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“To the premises of Mr. Charles Strong, Small Heath.” The man wrote down on the book before looking up at Tommy. “What kind of premises?”

“Boat yard.” The Brummie answered unamused.

“Yachts?”

“Canals.”

“I'm curious. What is your business, Mr. Shelby?” The man asked, giving Tommy a piece of paper.

“Import, export.” Before he left, Tommy added. “But I also sell pegs and tell fortunes.”

“You beat us to it.” The feminine voice made him stop and turn around - it was the woman of the auction. The one who had been stealing glances at the gangster since they arrived.

“Did I?”

“I was trying to nab a filly for my stud.” Thomas knew that she was only trying to catch his attention, but he played along.

“Sorry.”

“Thomas Shelby from where?” He took a deep breath before answering.

“From Birmingham.”

“Goodness!” There was a certain amount of surprise in her voice, mixed with shock.

“No, not much.”

“May Carleton.” She extended her hand for him and he took it. “I breed racehorses and train them. What is it you do?”

“I rarely answer questions, is what I do.”

“Tommy, come on, hurry up! We've got to go!” Arthur shouted in the background, laughing.

“Well, before you go, if you ever decided to put that filly out, I'd be interested in having her.”

“I plan to race her.” She looked at him surprised.

“Do you have a trainer?”

“I know people.”

“I know people, too.” The woman replied giving Tommy her card.

“Tommy! We've got to get this kid back before dark or Polly will have your balls!” John shouted this time while they all laughed.

“She will have 'em!” Arthur quipped in.

“We know different people, I would guess.” Tommy just ignored his brother’s giggles in the background.

“My father knows Mick Hancock. Trained three Ascot winners.”

“Oh, so that was your father?” He was right, them. She was talking to him for a reason – a reason that didn’t involve the horse at all.

“Yes. We're joint owners of the stud. He took the majority share when my husband was killed. Ypres.”

“Tommy! We've got to get back to the caravans! The chickens are hungry!” May looked at them and chuckled before asking.

“So will you consider me?”

“I will consider you.”

“You still didn't tell me what you do.” Tommy turned to face her again.

“Oh, I do bad things. But you already know that.” She could be a good asset for their plan and maybe – hopefully - help him get his mind off of the damn mystery that was Daphne Scott.

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Things have been quite calm for Daphne since she received Jane’s invitation to be her maid of honor. She saw the girl almost daily now, helping her prepare everything that was needed for the ceremony in such a short time. To say that the youngest of the Weston’s siblings was beaming with joy would be an understatement – she was all smiles and compliments and it ended up rubbing off on Daphne, even if just a little bit.

She had met William a couple of times too, since he was involved in the preparations as much as her seeing that he wasn’t just the best man but also the bride’s older brother. He tried to sound annoyed in every meeting, but Daphne knew that he was happy for the couple, just worried that his little sister would be out of his sight from now on.

Alfie was an entirely different matter. Things had been as normal as you would expect between them. No more visits from Thomas Shelby, no more employees being knocked out cold, everything seemed to run smoothly. However, Daphne knew in her heart that something wasn’t right. More than once, she had caught him staring at her from the distance with a frown on his face, deep in thinking. He usually did not even noticed that she had caught him staring, but when he did, the Jew made quick work to turn the other way, pretending that nothing happened.

In all the years she had known him, Daphne never gave too much though about the reasons why he kept her around. Alfie wasn’t exactly what you could call “a man of his word”. She had seen him betray his associates for his own benefit more than once - and being brutally honest, she couldn’t say that if the roles were reversed she would have done different. With her, thought, he always had been anything but loyal. He had helped her in the moment she most needed and they constructed a strong bond. Strong enough for her to consider him family.

In all the years they have worked together, they learned how to read each other – that was one of the reasons why they functioned so well as partners. And that’s why she knew she wasn’t going crazy because he was, most certainly, hiding something from her. His words kept hammering in her head: “Do you trust me? Because sometimes I wish you didn’t.”.

“You look like Tommy.” Daphne blinked a few times while looking at Ada.

“What?”

“You do this thing of looking straight away, to nowhere, not blinking or moving while you’re deep in thinking. He does that sometimes.” Ada laughed when the other woman raised one eyebrow at her. “I can’t help it if you two have so much in common.” There was a pause while she poured the both of them another cup of tea. “He’s been asking about you.”

“Who?” Ada rolled her eyes, sitting down on the chair again.

“You know who. My knucklehead of a brother.” Daphne laughed at that while the other woman just observed her carefully. There was a hint of concern in her voice when she asked “Why is he so interested in you, Daph?”

“It’s not in me he’s interested in, it’s in my relationship with Alfie.” Or so she had been trying to convince herself. Since she last talked to Harriet Daphne had been trying to figure out what she felt towards the Brummie gangster, with no luck so far. It seemed that the much she thought about it more confused she was getting.

“Forgive me if I don’t believe in that for a second. I know my brother and the way he looks at you has nothing to do with curiosity about your relationship with Solomons.” Daphne had no answer to that so she took a sip of her tea trying to ignore Ada’s scrutinizing gaze.

“Just be careful, okay.”

“Ada, even if he is interested in me it doesn’t mean that anything will happen. Even if I was interested in him too.” Daphne regretted her words the moment they left her mouth.

“Are you?”

“Am I what?”

“Interested in him?” There was a long silence where the two of them just stared at each other. “Just have in mind that Tommy usually gets what he wants and this not necessarily means that it will be what you want too.”

“Ada…”

“I really like you, Daph. And I know that deep down my brother is a good man. He’s just… Not the same since he came back from the war and I would hate to see him hurt you.” Neither of them had the time to address the subject further since Karl entered the room in a rush going straight to Daphne’s lap. As they both giggled at something that the little boy had done, the topic dissipated in the air. The unfinished conversation had to wait for another time.

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When they entered the pub everyone stood up, clapping their hands as they passed. Daphne just looked at Alfie and he only shrugged, a hand on her back to guide her through the crowd. Some of the people greeted her on their way to the mezzanine just beside the stage.

“I’ll bloody kill you, Solomons.” She said to him through clenched teeth and he laughed at her, whispering into her ear.

“No, you won’t love.” Despite being pissed off at him for ignoring her wishes of not doing anything at her birthday, Daphne couldn’t help but feel touched by his gesture.

“You tricked me into this.” He made her stop at the base of the stairs that lead to the mezzanine beside the stage, turning her to face him and resting his hands on her arms.

“I knew that it was the only way for you to come, don’t blame me for wanting to see you happy.” The young woman just nodded, ignoring all the eyes on them, before she let him lead her upstairs. She recognized almost all of the faces that turned to look at them when they arrived on the mezzanine – Ollie and his wife, Jane and Charles, William, Harriet, some of their work associates, Ada and Karl, but her eyes were instantly draw to a pair of blue irises fixed on her. His stare was so intense that she felt like getting lost in them, but the connection was broken when Karl escaped Ada’s arms and run right to her screaming “Dee Dee”, making everyone smile. She caught him by reflex while he hugged her.

“Mommy said that this was for you. She said it is your birrr…” He gave her a package that Daphne knew contained a book all the while struggling to say the word birthday. She smiled and kissed him on the check.

“Birthday, sweet pea.” Alfie chuckled behind them while Ada walked to them.

“That it.”

“What have I told you about running away from me, Karl?” It was always amazing to see Ada step into her motherly figure.

“But it was Dee Dee!” The boy protested snuggling into Daphne’s neck while the woman smiled.

“It doesn’t matter, you can’t do that, Karl.”

“It’s okay, Ada. He won’t do it again.” Karl straightened himself to look at Daphne. “Will he?”

“No, Dee Dee.” She smiled at him again and he gave her a kiss on the check. Ada could do nothing but shake her head.

“That’s a good boy.” Daphne placed him on the ground and Ada stepped closer to hug her.

“Happy Birthday, Daph. I know you hate it, but try and have some fun, will you?” They looked at each other for a moment.

“I won’t promise you anything.” The two smiled at each other and Ada hushed Karl back to where they were sitting so Daphne could talk to the other guests.

Jane almost knocked her out to the ground in a very good mimicking of what Karl had just done while everyone laughed. Charles was right behind her - the couple seemed to be stuck into a bubble of unbreakable happiness. William was trying – and failing miserably – to hide a smile right behind them.

“Trying to maintain your reputation of ‘The grumpy Weston’, I see.”

“Somebody has too.” He smiled, before hugging her. “Happy Birthday, Daph.”

“Okay, can you release her now? She’s not exclusively yours, you know?” They separated themselves from the embrace and laughed at Harriet standing right behind them, hands on her waist as if she was about to give them the scold of their lives.

“You and your wonderful timing, as always.” William huffed, rolling his eyes and receiving a slap on the arm from Daphne.

“Get away, lover boy.” The courtesan jested, smiling bright at Daphne before taking her in a hug like the others. “Are you okay?” The question was asked quietly, just for Daphne to hear. They kept each other close after they parted from the hug.

“I will be.” Harriet knew that it was a lie – Daphne was not okay, she would never be okay, not entirely and the sadness in her eyes proved that. She wanted to convince her friend that she could be happy, she should be happy, but sometimes the woman could be as headstrong as Alfie. Harriet just nodded and Daphne moved onto the next person that was waiting to greet her, with the Jew following her closely.

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The blood red of the dress contrasted with her skin and for a moment, Tommy let his eyes wander down her body. The sleeveless piece of clothing was sophisticatedly draped with intricate embroidery at the front, the velvet was loose on her curves, marked only at the waist but the back had a low-cut that showed a good amount of her skin, since her hair was loosely tied. The golden locket always around her neck.

Thomas felt pulled by her presence like a moth to a flame. He observed, curiously, as she crossed the room with Alfie right behind her, all eyes on her. Then it took him by surprise the way his nephew had run to her, hugging and kissing her as if she was family. He already knew that she and Ada were close but he was right in assuming – after Ada called her by a nickname – that their bond was stronger than he had predicted.

Polly noticed the way Tommy’s eyes were immediately attracted to the woman the moment she entered the pub. She took her time observing the girl too. It was undeniable that she was beautiful – all soft curves, long hair and a smile that could light up the whole room – but there was something more, something about the way she carried herself that made people captivated by her.

She watched Thomas observing the girl and immediately recognized the spark in his eyes – there was no denying that he was attracted to her, Polly wanted to know in what extent. The older woman saw the same spark in Daphne’s eyes when their eyes crossed just before Karl jumped into the woman’s arms. Her relationship with Ada was something that Polly would explore later, because there was no way that her niece would have left Karl around someone she didn’t trusted.

“That woman over there isn’t Harriet?” John’s voice broke the spell and Tommy looked at the woman his brother was talking about – it was the brunette, dressed in a tight navy blue skirt and white blouse mocking a the man who was hugging Daphne at the moment.

“Harriet? You must be crazy Jhonny, boy. This can’t be…” Arthur’s mouth fell open before he could finish the sentence.

“The owner of one of the most famous brothels in London?” John looked at the older Shelby, smugly, but Tommy’s attention was securely held by the interaction between Daphne and the man that had just hugged her. He seemed like one of those rich gentlemen that every mother wanted for their daughters at the same time that he held an air of rebellion. What made Thomas wary was the way his touch lingered on Daphne who seemed unbothered by it.

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Daphne graciously greeted everyone in the mezzanine – everyone except for the group of people watching her on the other side of the mezzanine. She looked at Alfie that just motioned for her to follow him.

“And I took the opportunity to invite the rest of the Shelby clam, so we could get acquaintance, aye. Now, you already know Tommy here, this is the rest of his family.”

“Arthur Shelby, at your service.” The eldest of the brothers kissed the back of Daphne’s hand, making her smile.

“Daphne Scott.”

“John Shelby, it’s a pleasure to meet you.” He mimicked his older brother moves, a flirtatious smile on his face.

“Likewise. You aren’t supposed to have a wife, somewhere?” Arthur almost spat his drink trying to contain his laughter and John cleared his throat, trying to regain his composure. Alfie chuckled behind her.

“She had to stay home with the kids.”

“Send her my regards, then.” He nodded at her, clearly not used being caught flirting like that. Daphne’s eyes then stopped in the older woman beside Thomas. She was staring at her quizzically but there was a hint of a smile on her features.

“Polly Gray.” She took a second too much to extend her hand for the younger woman to take, probably trying to make a point. Her grip was firm but so was Daphne’s – two could play at this game.

“It’s a pleasure to meet you. Ada talks greatly of you.” The girl knew how to play, Polly had to give her that. The way she handed John’s flirting showed that she knew how to handle herself and, most importantly, that she had done her fair share of research on them. By bringing Ada into the conversation right now, she was trying to gain the older woman’s good graces.

“Funny thing is that she never mentioned you.”

“I had to keep her away from the bunch of you or otherwise she would have left running.” Ada quipped in, having just arrived back at the mezzanine after going to the bathroom, before Daphne could say anything.

“Well, she is not running.” Her hazel eyes encountered Tommy’s when he spoke, keeping himself beside his aunt. Daphne held his gaze when she answered.

“It takes a lot more to make me run.”

“I hear that a happy birthday is in order.” He extended his hand to her, that she took without question, the touch lasting a minute longer than it should.

“Dee Dee, are you going to have a cake?” Daphne released Tommy’s hand to lower herself to Karl’s level before talking to the little boy.

“Maybe. Why? Will you want some?”

“’Cause when it��s your birrr…” She smiled again.

“Birthday.”

“Yeah, you have to blow the candles, right?”

“That’s right, lad. Do you want to go see if Daph’s cake is ready?” Daphne was amused at how shocked everyone looked when Alfie lowered himself at her side to talk with the little boy, who looked at him shyly. Karl looked at his mother who nodded at him, before looking at Daphne again.

“Will you help me blow out the candles?” He only nodded excitedly, before taking the hand that Alfie offered him and the two of them walked to the kitchen. When Daphne straightened herself, observing Alfie and Karl going down the stairs seemingly in a happy conversation, she directed herself to her friend. “That was a low blow, even for you.”

“What can I say, we play with the cards we have.”