#and it scares me. the idea that I might not get better...

[sunflowerry-vol6]

IF YOU WERE MINE || CEO Harry x Reader

characters count:

summary: your husband opens your marriage, while his best friend Harry is determined to steal you

first part

Harry’s POV:

The next morning unexpectedly doesn’t start with Tom shouting. I wake up to the smell of something tasty — I don’t even know when the last time I ate something home-cooked was. I mean, I do know how to cook, but when you operate a billion-dollar company, you don’t really have time to use all of your skills.

I rub my eyes softly, assessing the situation. I’m in the guest room where I slept with you, in your house, where you took me after yesterday. God, when Tom finds out, I bet he’ll be furious. See, the thing about Tom is that the man is in constant competition with me. Ever since school, he always wanted to get better grades, earn more money, get more girls — but he always failed. I was better at everything. The only thing he had that I didn’t was you.

When he got shitfaced at his bachelor party and I was the responsible one taking him home, he confessed to me that, more than anything, he was afraid you’d leave him for me. But how do you fumble so badly after that? Oh, y/n, I’m sorry, but I don’t think he ever truly loved you. I think he loved the idea of someone like you on his arm, making every man in the room jealous. You’d think he’d treat you like a goddess, worship the ground you walk on, do everything you asked just to make sure you wouldn’t leave him. But Tom became too brave, and the way he treated you seemed to worsen every day.

Well, it’s always the ugly men that get confidence out of nowhere.

I put on my suit pants and shirt from the pile of neatly folded clothes I left on the chair last night. I button it halfway and glance through the window. His car’s not here. I check my watch — there’s no way he went to work at this hour. That’s when it finally hits me: he didn’t come home last night. It shouldn’t make me this giddy — he’s hurting you, after all — but it does. This fucking wanker is making it easier for me. He’s leading you right into my arms after years of being afraid this might happen.

I can’t hide my smug expression when I walk downstairs, but my smile immediately softens as I see you in your pajamas with the most serious expression ever, flipping the omelet. You look like you’re performing a science experiment and a million lives depend on it.

“Morning, sunshine,” I say softly, my voice still groggy from sleep. I press a kiss to your cheek. “It smells good.”

You let out a satisfied sigh. “I made you coffee. No sugar, with milk.”

Of course you know how I like my coffee. I can’t count how many times we’ve gotten coffee together.

“Thank you, love,” I say, sitting down at the table and taking a sip. “He didn’t come home last night, did he?”

“No, but I’m glad he didn’t. I don’t have the mental capacity to deal with him this morning,” you say, grabbing two plates.

I chuckle. “You know he’ll blow up like a pufferfish when he finds out about us.”

You place the plates — omelet, cherry tomatoes, and some greens — on the table. It makes me feel warm and fuzzy inside. It’s so simple, domestic, and soft. You always take care of your body — vitamins, greens, fruits, fiber. The idea of you caring enough to make sure I eat well is already enough to get me on one knee for you.

“Tom always cared more about beating you than being a good husband,” you say, sitting down across from me. “He’ll blow up for sure, but you know… I don’t think I’m scared of him anymore.”

“You shouldn’t be. He should’ve been scared of losing you a long time ago.”

I look down at my plate — the omelet is perfectly cooked, fluffy, folded.

“God, I don’t even know why I stayed that long. Maybe I thought if I worked hard enough, I could fix him. Or maybe…”

You sigh. “Maybe I just didn’t want to admit I was that unhappy.”

“He didn’t deserve your effort,” I say softly but firmly.

“You always say the right thing, don’t you?”

“No,” I smile gently. “I just don’t lie to you.”

You return the smile. “Eat or it’ll get cold,” you nod toward my plate. I finally take a bite and almost moan. I missed homemade food so much that this omelet just melts in my mouth. Oh, y/n — what can’t you do?

“God… can you turn from my right hand to my personal chef?” I ask with my mouth full.

You chuckle, chewing thoroughly before speaking. “Just come here more and I’ll cook for you.”

There’s a moment of silence. We eat in a kind of peace neither of us really knew we needed. The kind of quiet that doesn’t ache. When you finish, you lean back a little in your chair, your fingers wrapped around your coffee mug.

“So what happens now, H?”

I meet your gaze. “Now? We do this properly.”

You raise one eyebrow. “Properly?”

I lean forward, elbows on the table. My voice is calm and dripping with sincerity. “I’m not going to be some secret affair, y/n. Not for you. I want to be the man you come home to. I want to wake up to you — without the guilt, without looking over our shoulders.”

Your breath catches.

“And when the divorce papers are signed, I want the world to know. I want to take you out, hold your hand in public, tell people you’re mine. I’ve waited long enough, haven’t I?”

Your lips part. There’s that flicker of hope again.

“And if Tom doesn’t let go easily?”

“Then he can drag himself through the mud, and I’ll still be here. Standing next to you. Protecting you. Loving you.”

A quiet laugh escapes your lips, soft and bitter. “God. You always loved me better, didn’t you?”

“Always.”

You put your mug on the table, softly grabbing both of my hands. “I can’t promise I won’t mess this up.” Your voice is quiet.

I gently squeeze your hands. “Then we’ll mess it up together. But you won’t run alone anymore. I’m in this, y/n. All the way.”

You lean over the table, softly placing a kiss on my lips. It’s short — but when your lips find mine, it isn’t shy or hesitant.

It’s earned. Years in the making. The kind of kiss that doesn’t ask what happens next, because this — me and you — is what’s next.

And Tom?

He can keep the ashes of what he ruined.

We’re building something real.

Pleasing office building, 9:03 AM

My hand brushes against yours, intertwining our fingers as the elevator door closes. We’re both dressed impeccably — you in your tailored navy suit and silk button-up, me in an all-black suit that screams don’t test me. Who would’ve said that just a couple of hours ago, we were kissing in your kitchen after eating omelets you made?

“You sure you want to be here today?” I gently brush a strand of hair behind your ear.

You take a deep breath. “Tom isn’t the reason I run my business. And I’m not giving up the empire I helped build because he wants to play games.”

“That’s my girl,” I say, smiling proudly.

Boardroom, 10:45 AM

I sit at the head of the long glass table. You’re next to me. Your laptop is open, your posture is queen-like — effortless, commanding. The room is filled with department heads and investors, but all eyes subtly flicker between the two of you.

Tom hasn’t shown up.

“Mr. Styles, shall we proceed?” one of the investors, Mr. Hale, asks.

I nod. “Yes. Let’s begin. y/n…” I turn slightly toward you, inviting you to lead. The look on my face makes it clear to everyone in the room: she’s not just an investor’s wife. She’s a force to be reckoned with.

You launch into the quarterly projections without missing a beat — clear, eloquent, deadly smart. I watch you like you’re giving a symphony performance, leaning back in my chair with the slightest hint of pride.

“We’ve noticed a huge rise in sales after global pop stars Jennie and Rosé wore our Pleasing crewnecks from a PR kit,” you explain. “We can’t ignore the global rise of K-pop stars and their influence on fashion. They have the ability to sell out luxury items from Chanel, YSL, Gucci, and other household brands. Their fanbases are loyal enough to buy out every item they wear or collaboration they create. Groups like Blackpink, NewJeans — they could be our chance not only to raise sales and reach a younger audience but to break into the Asian market.”

You change the slide. “Lastly, our pop-ups have been a great success, giving us significant recognition on social media. If we combine that success with a collaboration with global pop stars, we’ve got ourselves a win.”

By the end, everyone is nodding. Once again, my love — you proved yourself.

I smile softly. “Brilliant. Thank you so much, y/n.”

“Damn, where do you get those ideas in that little head of yours, Mrs. Harrington?” Mr. Hale says, impressed.

“If I told you, you might take my job away,” you reply with a soft smile, returning to your seat as the voting begins.

My Office, 1:15 PM — Lunch Arrives

We’re seated on the long leather couch in your private office. Glass walls, skyline view, privacy glass engaged.

You open your takeout container, clearly starving.

“You know… I’m aware of how smart and hardworking you are, yet every single time you take over that boardroom, I’m speechless,” I say softly.

“I always wondered if you ever regretted hiring me, investing in me… I thought there must be a reason Tom wouldn’t, while he invested in your company.” You take a bite of your pasta.

“Tom invested in my company only to get shares and a seat on the board. But as you know, he only cares about cashing out — not actually showing up for meetings. And to your question…” I gently grab your hand. “No. I don’t regret it. I’d invest in you again and again. I know you don’t see it, but I’ll make a damn graph of how much our sales have grown since you took the position.” I grin, and you return my smile.

There’s a knock on the door. My assistant opens it carefully.

“Mr. Styles… Mr. Harrington just arrived. He’s heading to the lobby.”

“Hold him there. I’ll come down,” I say calmly.

“I can talk to him—”

I don’t let you finish.

“No.” My tone is low, firm. “Let me handle him.”

Taglist: @pauli-loveslouistomlinson @cherryberrystompers @hontpwk @avensgreenvans @venusnettles @nanaisinmars @sincerely-yours-marsbar @fallingwillow @myonlyangel13 @lexiecamposv @emmie2308

[opiumwings]

prank’d — lara rajagopalan

– you pull a prank on lara, calling her your current gf – word count: 1081 words

pulling pranks used to come easily to you, but it was always different with lara. you could mess with your friends, your parents, even random strangers. but with her? one wrong look, one second of silence, and your whole chest would tighten. you only ever wanted lara to look at you with love. the idea of her being upset with you made you already want to crash out.

if you’d run the idea by anyone sane, they would've shut it down immediately. told you, straight-faced: “absolutely don’t do that unless you want to die.” you should’ve gone to sophia, or manon, or daniela. even yoonchae would've had more judgment.

but no, you went to megan. and of course megan was all in, practically begging you to commit to the bit, to actually say those cursed words.

now here you were, standing in front of the camera, trying to keep a straight face.

“so i was just grocery shopping today and got this idea to do a cooking video,” you said, gesturing to the ingredients spread across the counter. “you probably know her already, but for those who don’t—my current girlfriend, lara raj, will be helping me cook today.”

lara’s head whipped toward you so fast you could’ve sworn she gave herself whiplash. you kept your cool, casually naming off the ingredients, acting like nothing was wrong.

but before you could get through half the list, lara walked over and turned off the camera. 

you’d expected that. fortunately, you had a backup camera rolling from a different angle.

lara turned back to you slowly, too calmly. okay, now you were scared but you had to keep this prank going.

“are you okay, baby?” you asked with an exaggerated pout.

“i’m great,” she said, her smile painfully fake. “why wouldn’t i be?”

“um, because you just turned off my camera midway through filming,” you said, eyeing the now-black screen.

“i just felt like we needed a redo. i wasn’t feeling that take.”

“oh. that’s fine,” you said lightly. “you could’ve just said that.”

lara restarted the camera, pressing record. you redid your intro. this time, she was smiling big, and you knew exactly why. you weren’t backing down, though.

“and this is my current girlfriend, lara raj, who’ll be helping me cook today,” you said with the same cheerful tone.

lara turned to you, still smiling, but now with her eyes narrowed in warning.

“now i feel like you’re just fucking with me,” she said with a soft laugh. “or is that how you really feel?”

“lara, what’s wrong?” you asked, feigning confusion.

“i gave you a chance to correct yourself. apparently you just want to make me mad, which is wild considering we’re in a kitchen full of knives,” she said casually, glancing around.

“okay, baby, you’re gonna have to explain, because i genuinely don’t know what i did.”

“you called me your current girlfriend.”

“oh,” you said, blinking like it had genuinely slipped your mind. “my bad. didn’t mean to say that.”

“so it just slipped out, huh? must think that way a lot.”

“no! never,” you said quickly, shaking your head.

“then why are you making it sound like i’m temporary?”

“well... i mean... technically you are my current girlfriend,” you said, turning to the camera like it might protect you.

lara was on you in seconds, hands gently around your neck, her face barely an inch from yours.

“wanna say that again?” she asked sweetly.

you smiled, eyes drifting to her lips and back up. “i think that was really hot,” you whispered. “you’re literally the most beautiful person i know.”

“see, i don’t know if you actually mean that. right now, you should be apologizing, not flirting,” she narrowed her eyes. 

“i’m sorry. truly. i deeply apologize to the love of my life, lara raj. you’re the only girlfriend i ever want,” you grinned wider.

“mmhmm. much better,” she said, pressing a kiss to your lips before releasing your neck.

“although,” you added, “technically, nothing i said was wrong. you are my current girlfriend.”

“y/n, don’t play with me. i will fuck you up.”

“i’d probably like it,” you muttered.

“of course you would, freak,” lara muttered with a laugh, shaking her head.

“can we please cook now? i’m starving,” you said.

“actually... i feel like you should cook for me now. you owe me.”

“then what’s the point of the video?” you stared at her. 

“you got your prank, baby. that’s enough content.”

“but that wasn’t the main plan—”

“tell that to your next girlfriend,” she said with a smug grin.

“oh my god,” you groaned, rolling your eyes.

“and the food better be top tier. i want to feel changed by it,” she added.

“yes, baby,” you said obediently.

“and i want it plated nicely. no lazy presentation.”

“whatever you want.”

“you should even make dessert. i deserve the full package.”

you sighed, but nodded, smiling. might’ve been the scariest prank you ever pulled, but something about the way lara got worked up over you? it made you feel wanted. lara would never miss a chance to prove that to you.

“i really do love you, you know,” you said quietly.

lara’s expression softened in an instant. the shift from playful to sincere was immediate—you’re glad you have the same effect on her that she has on you.

“i love you too,” she said, smiling. “now hurry up and cook for your current girlfriend while you still have her.”

“stop. i only want you. forever,” you said, finally pulling out pots and pans to get started.

“if you really wanna make it up to me, you should let me shop while you’re cooking,” lara said.

“you can buy whatever you want with my card; i wouldn’t complain.”

“don’t say that unless you mean it,” she replied. “i will max it out.”

“it’s okay—i only make money to support you.”

“that’s cute,” lara said, smiling sweetly at you.

“while you’re at it,” you added, “you should buy us some couples outfits.”

“wait—that just gave me some ideas,” her eyes lit up. 

before you could ask what those ideas were, she was already up and heading to the bedroom, no doubt to grab her laptop... and probably your wallet.

once she was out of sight, you turned back to the cameras, did a quick outro, and ended both recordings.

honestly? you were scared for your life. but hey, you survived. that’s all you could really ask for.

[only-lonely-star]

so your post abt your concerning amount of injured reader requests inspired me. you should totally do a gang x reader who just got out of surgery. like still under anesthesia that makes you act all high and stuff. i don’t remember if you do hcs involving the entire gang (separate ofc) or not, but if you don’t, then you could do this with dally or ponyboy— tysm ily and your writing 🤞🫶

Curtis gang x anesthetized!reader HCs

Curtis gang x gn!reader

Warnings: Reader is under anesthesia. Brief mentions of bruising and blood. Reader experiences mild pain.

Author’s Note: I decided to specify this request for wisdom teeth! I got mine taken out a few years ago so I have experience lol. enjoy!! <3

+ my little story time of when I got my wisdom teeth taken out at the end bc why not :)

✦ . 　⁺ ✦ . 　⁺ 　 . ✦ . 　⁺ 　 . ✦ 🦷 ✦ . 　⁺ ✦ . 　⁺ 　 . ✦ . 　⁺ 　 . ✦

Ponyboy

As soon as he saw you being pushed outside from a wheelchair, he just felt bad. Not because he had done anything wrong, but because it feels so scary to see someone he cares about so out of it.

I feel like his idea of someone being anesthetized is like ‘they zone out for a bit and slur their words’, but your experience was totally different.

If you were crying, he definitely thought you were in pain from the surgery. (For reference, some people cry when waking back up from confusion, stress, etc.)

Just by hearing your rambling, he was genuinely thinking ‘What the fuck…? Did they put you on anesthesia or something else?”

He’d try to be as helpful as possible, especially at first when you were numb inside your mouth. I think he would make a great nurse for the day and help talk you through your discomfort.

Maybe Pony would read you a book once you calmed down enough to understand what he was saying. At first you can’t do much else besides lay there and mellow yourself out, so he could easily kill time reading to you.

Ponyboy would remind you of what you’re allowed and not allowed to eat/drink/do within the first few days. The thought of dry socket scares the SHIT out of him. He wants absolutely noooo part in that.

Johnny

Johnny would laugh his ass off when you’re first rolled out of the operation room. Deep down, he’s a little scared of the possibility that he might have to have his wisdom teeth removed, so he disguises it with laughter.

He would try to fuck with you a little bit because he’s aware you can’t form coherent thoughts just yet. He thinks it’s sooo funny to watch you panic like that 😭 “Where’s your tongue?? They removed that too?!”

Okay, after he’s had a good laugh, I think he would try to comfort you a little. Especially if you were more emotional when waking up, he’d probably feel slightly guilty for teasing. I can totally see him letting you rest your head on his shoulder or blab about whatever as his way of showing you he’s there for you.

If you WERE a crier right off the bat, Johnny wouldn’t joke like that. He imagines that would feel like pure torture.

Since you can’t smoke, he’d do you a favor and exhale towards you so that you can get your dose of second-hand smoke in until you’re better.

He isn’t fazed by your all-liquid diet. Hard times have led him to consume soup, broth, and whatnot even though he can chew. I think he might try and keep solid foods out of your sight as a sign of respect.

Dallas

Similar to Johnny, I think Dallas would take one good look at you before bursting into laughter. He’s familiar with various drugs and such, but anesthesia isn’t anything like the party drugs he’s used to.

He personally thinks your swollen, gauze filled cheeks are hilarious.

No matter if you’re crying or not, I think he would try to straight up interview you on the spot. “How’s your mouth? Does it hurt? You remember who I am?”

He would take advantage of your state and try to get you to confess the most embarrassing things. Stories he can recall from ages ago that he knows you would never retell would just slip out because of your lowered inhibition.

The never ending teasing Dallas would commit to is just ruthless. You’ll be “chipmunk cheeks” to him forever.

He wouldn’t know better when it comes to post-surgery rules. He would try and be nice for once by bringing you a milkshake just to find out you need to be spoon fed instead of using straws like normal. As much as it would grate at his nerves, he would go back and out of his way to find you a spoon to slurp from.

Sodapop

He would be concerned at first glance, noticing the bruising on your cheeks and the swelling around your jaw. Soda would try and comfort you physically whether it be holding your hand or letting you lean on him for support. (This can be interpreted romantically or platonically)

When you’re rambling, he would simply nod along and go “mhm” every few mumbles so you felt heard.

During the car ride home, he tried to keep you as calm as possible. Crying or not, there’s usually a bit of a panicked reaction when first waking up from the anesthesia. I actually think Soda may have gotten his taken out before, so he knows it’s not super pretty.

Constant reassurance if you were one to cry a lot. “No, no it’s okay. It’s over now. You’re doing great.”

Once you’re a little more conscious of your surroundings, he would sit and listen to you talk about how you feel, what you need at the moment, etc. Overall, I think he would be super caring (partly because he has experience).

Steve

He would make a 😧 face when he first sees you because of how fucked up you look. He would be on the more stunned/amused type rather than comforting.

He would poke at your cheeks in fascination. The slight bruising on your jaw is “tuff” according to his judgment. “Looks like you took a few blows. I mean, it looks pretty tuff if you ask me😼.”

I think he would save the teasing until after you’ve gained full consciousness again.

He would be the type of person to try and make you laugh/cheer you up if you were crying from the anesthesia. I assume he would think you’re crying in pain or because of the blood on your gauze because he doesn’t have personal experience in this area.

If this was a modern au, he would definitely try to sneak a phone in and record you to embarrass you with videos later. Not in a mean way, but in a playful & teasing type of way yk?

He leans your head against the seatbelt in the car, trying to NOT touch your puffy cheek. His worst fear in the moment is for your gauze to fall out of your mouth and land anywhere on him.

Two-Bit

He covered his mouth like 🫢 when he first saw you, trying his hardest to not laugh IN your face.

He would talk to you like a child, and it surprisingly worked well. The slower, more simple sentences could actually be comprehended even though you were still under anesthesia.

Tries to get you to open your mouth to show him where they operated on you because he thinks the concept of surgery is so fascinating.

Similar to Soda, I think he would play along with your loopy rambling. If you’re speaking straight up mumbles that only make sense to you he’d try to mumble back like you’re speaking a language only the two of you know.

He’s oddly gentle with you. I think he would offer you something to eat (liquid foods) right away. He would try to take care of your needs because being on anesthesia does NOT look like him to fun. Funny? Sure. But fun? He would pass.

He hypes you up HELLA. I’m thinking in an encouraging but also impressive way like, “Look at you, you’re all done. It’s over! I couldn’t ever get my teeth taken out.”

Two-Bit makes you feel ‘guilty’ when he assists you. Obviously he’s just teasing, but under anesthesia you can’t take the hint. He would wipe your drool or adjust your bloody gauze and proceed to say something like, “Who else would do this for you? Mhm, exactly. Exactly! You owe me.”

Darrel

He’s so gentle and attentive with everything. He’s used to the role of a protective, caring, selfless big brother, but it’s like something snaps within him when he sees you so drugged and out of it.

He tries talking to you immediately, surveying how you feel, if you’re in pain, etc. Bonus points if you’re crying- he’ll try to ask if there’s anything he can do to help.

He tries to read the little pamphlet with care instructions from the nurses but he can’t even focus on it because he’s so concerned about you.

I feel like Darry would try and shadow you 24/7 post-surgery. If you’re asleep or simply resting on the couch he would pop his head in just to make sure you weren’t laying on one cheek or eating solid foods.

Again, this is more of a modern au type of deal- I think Darry would try and scold anyone who tried to record you. BUTTT he would take a picture for himself to keep as a silly memory, not to tease you endlessly.

He would probably be the one to drive you home post-surgery. He volunteered himself since he trusts himself enough to bring you back safely.

He shushes you when you try to ramble, he doesn’t egg you on like the others.

Story time:

My story isn’t all that interesting, but it was pretty funny to me when I retell it from my own perspective. I wanted my parents to record me so bad, but my mom insisted on not doing so. Okay so— I was brought into the operating room and sat down like normal. After about 30 minutes, who I think ended up being my surgeon came in with a thick ass needle. I knew right then and there that was the anesthesia. He starts asking me about school, what grade I’m going into, and what my favorite subject is as he’s injecting the anesthesia into my arm. I was talking like normal and I swear I blinked ONCE and I was suddenly in the backseat of my dad’s car. I remember closing my eyes for .2938384882 seconds and opening them to find myself sobbing and asking something along the lines of, “but how did I get from there to here?” and “Is it over?” repeatedly. I was sort of hunched over my lap/the back of the passenger seat with my hand stuck out towards my dad. I remember him holding it and trying to comfort me because he thought I was in pain or something. I’m 99% sure I was just confused and a little overwhelmed with the surgery feeling like a LITERAL blink of an eye. I wasn’t sad or hurting or anything like that. What’s cute is that my best friend got her wisdom teeth taken out just months before I did and claimed she was crying for me. I ended up doing the same thing, asking both my mom and my dad if she was okay and if I could text her to tell her I was awake. I also remembered seeing my brother get escorted from the exit doors into the backseat next to me. He had his eyes closed and mouth open saying shit like “I am fully awake and fully conscious” knowing DAMN well he was nowhere near planet earth. He swears he never said that but I remember him trying to act all hard so vividly. OKAY THIS IS GETTING LONG—. To conclude my little story time, I have to specify that this happened the summer after 8th grade and my Outsiders obsession was still so new to me because I read it 4th quarter of 8th grade. I was a lot more awake by the time I got home, so I could somewhat slurp down some of the milkshake my dad bought me. My mom and I laid down in her bed and we binged the Karate Kid movies together since she grew up as a Ralph Macchio/Michael J. Fox kind of girl lol. She also knew that I was really into The Outsiders and said I would like Karate Kid because I thought Ralph was sooo cute. My cheeks were bruised and puffy for WEEKS and I literally hated every single second of recovery. It felt like I could taste my own flesh because there were literal holes in my mouth from where the teeth used to be. To end this (for real this time) on a better note, I think it’s safe to say the surgery wasn’t all that scary. I was really nervous beforehand, but it turned out just fine. I recovered quickly and safely, and that’s all that really matters. So if you’re scared, don’t be! It wasn’t bad at all.

IF YOU READ MY LITTLE STORY YOU HAVE MY WHOLE HEART LOL (ts was NAWTTT little, it was longer than all of the headcanons combined)

TYSM FOR READING!!!

-Sophia 🫶🏼

[tookishcombeferre]

It's so funny you tagged me in this.

I was literally just cleaning up a section where Roland talks about Elena potentially recognizing Cedric and trying to "tease" him back into the way she remembered him as a child when Tilly had the Amulet. I also think that her having been exposed to that much magic for that long made her more conscious of magic inside others, so as you said @shychick-52, I think she could tell Cedric wasn't all bad.

I also kind of described it in that section as Elena "drawing Cedric back" to Sofia because she knows their destinies are intertwined in the same way hers and Alacazars were.

Additionally, I'm also working out some bugs in a conversation between Cedric and Roland where Cedric describes his desperation to get Sofia out of the Amulet coming from the fact that Elena was **technically** born 3 years before Cedric. Cedric explains that it's hard for him to hold the reality that the record of Elena's birth would state that she was born in the same calendar year as Cordelia, and, yet, to him, she looks like a child and has all the lived experience in this Realm that a sixteen-year old child would have.

For according to what Sofia has/would have told Cedric at that point, Elena was unable to age, and she couldn't have any meaningful lived experiences outside of what she could perceive from the Amulet while she was inside it. Elena lived *FORTY-ONE-GOSH-DARN-YEARS* as a SIXTEEN YEAR OLD in COMPLETE fracking ISOLATION!

I'm sorry.

I can't get over this fact.

Like, as someone who is now thirty, I cannot imagine, and I am APPALLED, by the idea of being SIXTEEN for FORTY-ONE freaking years, under any circumstance. Sixteen/Seventeen was the *worst* year/years of my *ENTIRE* life, so that might be part of it. (Truly, when they say it gets better, it does, in fact, get better kids.) However, still, being sixteen for forty-one years in solitary confinement should be grounds for murder.

How is she even mildly sane?

Needless to say, Cedric wasn't about to let Sofia watch everyone around her age from inside that death-trap only to come into a world where her parents didn't exist, and Amber and James were Roland's age, or quite likely, closer to Baileywick's age. For, if that came to pass, when Sofia was finally removed from the Amulet via ritual, she would still be just twelve.

Cedric couldn't live with that. He wouldn't. So, he didn't.

I think *that* might be what Cedric and Elena end up talking about.

Like the absolute insanity of what Cedric did for Sofia and why he did it.

The whole first episode is about getting to Avalor because there's a ritual that needs to be done in order to get Elena out of the Amulet. The ritual can't just *be done* by anyone anywhere. There are parameters to this ish.

Like, the *amount* and *specificity* of ritual that it took to get Elena out of the Amulet to retake her throne was both highly specific and intense.

I think they ended up trying ... twice?? ... maybe they got it on the first try? I can't remember.

(We haven't watched that one in a while because it's a little hard for Squish to follow, and they're just starting to hit the "things in TV actually scare me because I understand just enough to make them scary" stage of development. So, Shuriki has real fear factor for them.)

But, regardless, Cedric's like: "Nah. Who needs a ritual? I've got a spell for that. I'm just going to pull her out. Why not? Bonus points, I'll bring Prisma with her. Can't be that hard." (I mean ... it was ... but like ... also ...)

So, to me, I feel like that's the thing they discuss. She's, like, on paper as old as Cedric is, or even as old as his sister.

Elena OUGHT to be an adult.

She should have been allowed to grow up with her "peers," who are now old enough to be her parents. The world must feel so woefully confusing.

Thankfully, she still has some ties to the life *before.* She still has some consistency through her sister and grandparents.

But, is it enough?

Or are those lines still blurry?

And, I think she needs someone who would just *listen.* Someone who wouldn't try to put her in her place. Someone who wouldn't tell her that they need her to figure out this, that, or the other thing. Someone who would ask the question and just give her the space to talk about the blurry lines between the past and the present, and the person she might have been, the person they all could have been if it hadn't taken forty-one years for things to line up.

Cedric is good for that.

She knows this.

As put out as he sometimes pretended to be, he always listened. To his crotchety bird, to the twins, to people complaining about him to his face, to Sofia, Cedric always listened.

So, for once, Elena allows herself to be listened to.

And, Cedric just says simply.

"This confirms that I would do it again. Even if it killed me, I would do it again."

And, Elena realizes that she was right to just tease him because he was never really bad. He had curses enough. He just needed someone to mess with him, to remind him of the pranks he pulled, and to help him recall better days.

And, so, they stand there. Together. Better for it.

The two characters from Elena of Avalor I would have loved post-redemption Cedric to meet are Mateo (both royal sorcerers, both have overbearing mothers, both have young girls as their apprentice) and Elena herself (I would think it's obvious why, heehee)!

[cowcowwow]

Hey y'all. So, you guys might have noticed that I've been kinda inactive/not responding to messages quickly. I wanted to apologize, but also warn that this might not get better soon?

The main reasons I haven't been responding is because either, my wrists are hurting so bad that I can't type for long (or my other chronic pain is acting up), I'm so tired that I can't think of interacting, I'm helping out my family, or I'm having a bad episode(?) (Not entirely what's going on on those days, to be real)

I'm sorry, but I do have a happier note!! I want to say, thank you all so much if you have messaged me, interacted with me, reblogged from me, anything, recently. It makes these days so much lighter, makes me so much happier, even if I can't respond.

And to my friends who message me frequently: thank you. I love you all so, so much. I really really want to reply soon hopefully, but in the meantime know that you guys are so sweet, so fun, so awesome, and I love you 💙💙

(And to my friends who I haven't talked with in a bit, love you guys too <333)

[bits-and-beasts]

I'm still not over the pitch bible revelation I had.

I am genuinely worried about the safety of the Terrans, Dorothy that mech is not who you think he is,

[isolatednights]

"just 'cause we're in a confined space doesn't mean you can't leave me," lord knew there were plenty of ways to avoid one another, as she'd been subtly doing to him over the last few days. and while she wanted to trust what he was saying, it would take action and time to prove them to be true. still, it doesn't stop eyes cracked open to look at him - searching for any lie within the words. once satisfied with her inspection, lids flutter shut - but not before a hand flops forward and fingers wiggle, clearly demanding his own to grasp. as if demanding he start proving it right then and there. "can see why they paired us together," she murmurs. "and that scares me."

"pretty sure i could use this to lock the others out, so if you ever wanted this place to yourself, the options out there," he quips, pointing to the tablet with a small grin. perhaps there is something genuine in the offer, but silas knows that he'd have difficulty truly doing so. they might have all joined this little expedition from differing walks of life, but now? this? it put them all on even playing ground and he wouldn't take that from anyone.

"unless you tell me something really absurdly out there, i don't think i'll laugh." lord knew the rich and famous he'd meant had plenty of odd tastes and preferences - many of whom he later came to avoid - and he couldn't see the woman beside him falling into a similar category. silas listens in rapt attention, already knowing there's bound to be movies stored away somewhere within the artificial intelligence system onboard - and even if he's unable to provide her with the junk food, perhaps he can still make some sort of experience out of it. "i get it. the putting on a face to try and fit in - how exhausting it gets? i didn't come from money and some of the things people said or did... it was just... odd. i'd smile, act as if i wasn't phased but the number of days i just... stayed in my apartment, alone?" a recharge away from everything. "here... with all of us. there won't be a social pressure. no need to act. just be you.." a shoulder shrugs awkwardly. "bet we could find a white sheet. hang it up over one of the windows or from the ceiling. get some blankets for the grass. snacks. movie nights in the park sort of thing, you know?"

the protests and tension in her frame only lasts a minute before she's easing entirely against him. it reassures him in his decision and offers some relief - he wouldn't have been overly thrilled with the idea of being stuck within a closet a majority of the evening while she slept off the alcohol in her veins. "you don't wanna sleep in there," he remarks with a snort, adjusting her slightly in his arms as he begins up a set of stairs. "you'll regret it in the mornin' if you do. a proper bed would be better, but we'll settle for whatever they've got in the med bay." cots - likely not the most comfortable think in the world, but better than a horrid crick in the neck.

he's quiet after her comment about liquid courage - the realization about how stupid they both seem to have been smacking him sharply in the face. releasing a harsh sigh, he nods. "yeah, i'll stay til you're awake. then we can see how you feel about me in the morning. you still want me to stick around then, then, well..."

"no sweetheart, never teasing, just trying to take care of you, and make sure you feel even a tiny bit better when you wake up." he didn't understand a word of turkish, he had no idea what she was mumbling about, but it didn't change that cade sat and listened regardless of that. he sat wondering how he might be able to find a book or something on turkish, maybe get the artificial intelligence to help him learn some basics, do something to prove he really was serious about trying to make them work and learn anything and everything about her.

"we're on a space ship, flying for years and years.. you don't gotta worry about me going anywhere, i wouldn't up and leave, not only because i can't, mainly because i'd never dream of it, i wouldn't want to leave you, i'd not go anywhere." he smiled a bit softer, watchin her snuggle in, even moved to dim down the lights real low. "i'd stay, because i want to stay aiyla. promise."

"so for today, and tomorrow.. we quite literally have the sun on a string?" and yet she'd be quite happy, with tonight and tomorrow, then they could share it.. because it meant that something on this ship for even a small snippet or time, belonged to them. something to remember, when everything else had been ransacked through.

"no no no, you'll laugh at what i miss." there was a bit of a groan but then, there it was.. something that made her smile, reminiscent, but given she thought this room was the sun on a string, did she not realise part of it's warmth was already in her? somewhere deep down, when she wasn't thinking about it.. it was there. "the movies." she admitted, then moved her cup down to briefly hide her face in her knees. "it's for such a stupid reason to, or a few.. like.. like it sounds silly if you don't get it, but i used to like having something like that where i didn't have to.. speak?" she sighed, ran her hands over her face. "i didn't feel so much social pressure going to see a movie, i didn't have to keep up and act or, anything like that. i couldn't take a break from trying to be what people expected me to be, just to be more likeable. i liked not having to talk, i liked that it was dark.. i loved horror films so much, the cheesy kind. you know what else i loved? terrible theatre popcorn and nachos. those huge sodas. terrible, but terribly delicious, cinema junk food."

"no no really! really i'll be- you'll-" she couldn't help the squeak of a noise that left her when he got to his feet, had her cradled right into him and she shouldn't be blushing as much as she was but he'd called her sweetheart, and maybe it was the wine but she was so locked into the heat of his chest and how... how nice it was. she could've stayed right there and slept this whole thing off, forgot all about the wine, about everything. for a moment or two she was stiff and then she just.. eased, right into him, hooked her arms around and rest her head right into his chest, right over his heart. there was this noise, this relieved breath that left her in a soft sigh. ben would have liked him, the little thought crept in.

"but you'll stay, right?" sober, she'd never dare ask, or say anything she was staying. "you'll stay? 'coz... well 'coz what if i wanna sleep right here?" she half mumbled that, like she really could sleep like that. "i want you to stay and i can't tell you that normally, wine courage. plus i think i'll be too busy dying form embarrassment tomorrow morning to say anything."

[deoidesign]

.

[anxeious]

is cropping dogs' ears basically always animal cruelty? only because humans think it looks better?

simple answer: no, not necessarily! let’s talk about it!

also i know i might ruffle some feathers here but please look at this w an open mind (adding a read more i know most people prob don’t care) this is long sorry lol <3

i used to be super against cropping (ears) and docking (tails) (will abbreviate as c/d) too until i learned more about it. i also used to be super against the breeding of dogs in general and was very adopt don't shop, i have since educated myself a lot more on the topic (i support ethical preservation breeders of purebred dogs ONLY i do NAWT support backyard breeders or puppy mills who breed mixed breeds, designer dogs or poodle mixes/doodles for profit, people who mass produce dogs, or breeding outside of the standard) now that we have that clarified let's get into it

in the case of livestock guardian dogs (lgd), farm dogs, or working dogs, it actually prevents injury! in the case of a lgd who protects livestock from predators (think coyote, wolf, bear, etc) something like an ear or a tail would be a great spot for a predator to grab onto in the case of an altercation. the ears have a lot of blood vessels and would bleed a lot, having an ear ripped off in a fight with a wolf wouldn’t be very good. with farm dogs similarly, as well as docking tails so something as heavy as a cow doesn’t step on it. working dogs used for personal protection same thing, nobody could grab onto their ears/tail during a fight. also, for the work that they do the ears would hit their face and can split or a hematoma can form, when this happens once it is likely to keep happening/be a reoccurring issue. this is very very painful. as well as cropping ears it’s meant to give them a look of alertness instead of approachability, that’s the part people confuse with “just to look scarier”. while it did help them to “look scarier” it also helped deter potential attackers which in turn keeps the dog & person safer. the dog in the pic that i rb'd that ur referring to is a lgd

so ear cropping non working dogs of cropped breeds for aesthetics is a thing yes and is obviously highly controversial. i’m not gonna sit here and say it isn’t for aesthetics. some people argue it prevents ear infections which might be true but that doesn’t negate that it’s primarily for aesthetic purposes. plus basset hounds and spaniels get a lot of ear infections and are not cropped. but as long as it is done by a licensed vet under anesthesia with multiple ways to control pain (nsaid, nerve block, injectables, etc) in a sterile environment by someone experienced who knows how to do it properly while being closely monitored by professionals before, during, and after the procedure, followed up with proper aftercare, pain management, ointment, antibiotics, cleaned regularly and taped/posted (this is so the ears sit up straight, cropping is done when the puppy is weeks old so the cartilage hasn’t hardened yet) it is perfectly okay, the dogs do not notice, play like normal, it heals nicely and the dogs have little to no pain (this can be clearly observed w people who have c/d puppies) the puppies are back playing with littermates nearly as soon as they wake up. also, dogs CAN communicate when c/d. dogs like huskies have upright ears and communicate just fine, regardless, the ears/tail aren’t only way dogs communicate with one another. the issue is when people diy this procedure with no anesthesia or pain management in an unsterile environment, with no experience or knowledge on how to do it properly, and end up with a botched crop that gets infected and causes the dog a lot of pain. THIS is the issue and what so many people (myself included) should be against. when it’s done properly it is perfectly safe. dog ears heal very very quickly, and when done properly it takes around two weeks to fully heal, after that is just posting so the ears stand up. crops not done by vets are the horrific crops u might see pics of online, super botched inflamed, infected, red and swollen, very painful. that’s why it’s not ideal that a lot of countries ban the procedure in hopes of stopping it. people are going to do it regardless. banning it just prevents professionals from being able to do it safely and encourages people to do it at home with scissors thus causing puppies a lot of pain.

why crop? well, in a lot of cases it IS done to look more intimidating (i mean if u get a big scary dog for protection purposes, that’s kinda the idea, no?). also show dogs of c/d breeds are obviously c/d as showing dogs is about preserving the breed’s original purpose & breed standard. in the case of ethical breeders of cropped breeds (like a doberman) the puppies are almost always c/d BEFORE they go to their homes. breeders have a specific vet they trust (often traveling quite far) and would never make their buyers have to seek out a good vet on their own. the average person doesn’t know what to look for when it comes to finding a good vet for such a procedure nor would they pick up on an red flags, so the breeders get it done at their preferred vet before the puppies go home and kickstart the healing/taping process before pups go home. these breeds are cropped because ethical, reputable, and responsible breeders breed towards the breed standard, which for dobermans includes c/d. the breed standard is there to serve the breeds original purpose and is what ethical breeders breed towards. even in personal protection breeds who are not doing protection work, the ears are cropped in an effort of preservation. dobermans specifically were c/d because they were the first breed bred for personal protection. they were originally created to protect tax collectors many years ago as this was a dangerous job at the time. and being c/d makes it harder for people to grab onto them in the event of an altercation. so in an effort of preservation they are still cropped.

there are cases where it’s medically necessary as well, like a dog keeps getting happy tail but i figured you were talking about cropping for non medical reasons so i didn't include that here

[purplecelestial-buddy]

So... Art is amazing. Am I right?

[floral-hex]

finally, after waiting since November, I got to see an endocrinologist today. didn’t go great. As soon as I said I was going through with surgery, he got this look on his face like I’d just told him I beat dogs with hammers. Kinda tried to scare me away from it and get me to just take meds, but he relented and said to just take the meds anyway. Listen, dude, I get you’re pissed I got my neurosurgery consult first, but that’s only because your office dragged their feet & wouldn’t see me for months. Did you think I would sit around, do nothing, and feel like shit bc I should have waited for you? You can’t show up to the end of the game and complain about how it’s played…. So anyway, I’m very grumpy today.

[silusvesuius]

n*loth is literally a demon i mean iHold on YAAASSSSS!

i mean it 😒😒😒

[foolishfalls]

having a bad time

[girl-bateman]

Feeling sick! Like emotionally and whatnot

[vacant2007]

i never do anything with love when i get it

[ranger-danger]

Calla… she’s dead now