#future laurent right there

[ruegoreos]

[rickybaby]

Top 10 12 Daniel and the media moments of 2024

1. When Edd Straw and The Race were irrationally mad at the renaming of the team’s name to Visa CashApp RB such that Edd Straw called it the worst thing to happen in F1. Unfortunately for Edd Straw, I am now in agreement with him.

2. When Daniel was catching the plane for his home Grand Prix and a Perth journalist asked Daniel if he should be worried for his future. There were already rumours that he was to be replaced at the following race in Japan after finishing right next to his teammate in the first two races of the season.

3. When Mat Coch revealed on the Pit Talk podcast at the beginning of the season that there were journalists in the media room who very personally wanted Daniel out of the sport.

4. When Crofty point-blanked told Laurent Mekies that they probably would rather a lighter driver in the car.

5. When Jacques Villeneuve continued his one-sided vendetta against Daniel at the Canadian GP because he was especially triggered by Daniel’s special helmet celebrating the 10 years of his first win

6. And all of the motorsport media went on to make cute graphics of his comments because why not 🥰

7. When the media pushed him to the point of a menty b in Singapore

8. When he was specifically asked why he was still smiling after his qualifying didn’t go well

9. When he joked about being found face down in the water and no one went ‘damn dude let’s take a step back’

10. When Daniel had said menty b and cried in front of Lawrence B and then Sky sports proceeded to show him a montage of his career (that he couldn’t even hear) after one of the most gruelling race of the season.

11. When Daniel was pictured wearing a hat in a photo posted by a friend and this somehow led to a 500 words article.

12. When an FIA accredited journalist decided to quote tweet a fan’s video of Daniel smiling to plug his own article and to somehow intimate he is 100% right about what he believes Daniel’s mental state is.

[callsign-rogueone]

glad it was you

Bodhi Durran x reader (darling) words: 2.2k 🏷: no book spoilers, set pre-FW (year of the revolution). mentions of parental death (reader's and Bodhi's -- Calldyr executions), lots of crying on everyone's behalf, Bodhi is a sweetheart :( bb bo and darling are awkward lil cuties, more husband!bo coming soon maybe (I really want to continue this storyline... so much glorious fluffy angst planned for them pre-Basgiath), proofread with intense brain fog so uh. yeah

June 628 

You wake to the feeling of a warm hand on your shoulder, shaking you gently. You hum sleepily, turning to see your parents sitting on the edge of your bed.

Something must be wrong, very wrong, if they’re here right now, waking you up, but they don’t seem panicked — so this emergency, whatever it is, must not fall into the same category as the house being on fire.

You rub the sleep from your eyes, sitting up. 

“There’s something we need to tell you,” your father says softly. “Your mother and I have been involved with the revolution, helping them transport weapons and gather information, funding them through the company.”

You blink, still trying to wake yourself up, and to process the information. Your parents, involved with the revolution? You’d known that Xaden’s family was involved, and Bodhi’s, but… 

You suppose that explains how your parents met them.

There’s a sinking feeling in your chest. “Why are you telling me this now?” you ask softly, even though you already know deep down — this is a conversation that would have happened in broad daylight, if it could, yet they’d woken you up in the middle of the night, and they’re fully dressed, ready to go out… 

“We’ve been discovered. If Riorson’s scout is to be believed, then we have about an hour before Navarre will be at our doorstep.”

Your heart drops, your mind racing. “We could run — to the summer house, or leave Tyrrendor entirely, and…”

He shakes his head, taking your hand gently. “We will not spend the rest of our lives in hiding. We have given so much to this cause, this fight — we will not stop now, and we will not turn our backs on friends.”

The look in his eyes tells you that they’ve both accepted this, that they’ve seen it coming, that they are as prepared to be carted away to gods-know-where, to whatever cruel fate that Navarre will give them, as they can be.

You cling to them both tightly, realizing that this may very well be the last time you can do so.

“You’ll be okay, dearest,” your mother soothes, fixing your sleep-mussed hair — always searching for perfection, even at a time like this. “You’ll be the lady we raised you to be, and Bodhi will protect you. He’s a good man. I hope that you can learn to love him.”

It all makes sense now. They’d rushed to marry you off because they knew this was coming, and needed to secure a future for you before… this, whatever it will be. You don’t want to imagine it.

The look in your father’s eyes is enough to confirm your suspicions. “I’m so sorry, princess. We did everything we could to keep from being discovered — and that meant keeping this from you, until now.”

You finally start to cry. He hasn’t called you princess in more than ten years, when you ran to their room during a thunderstorm and begged to sleep in their bed with them, where it was safe. You certainly feel like that scared little girl right now, not the lady they want — need — you to be.

“It’s okay,” you whisper, your voice breaking. “Laurents don’t stand idle.”

Your father holds in a sob at the words, the reminder he’d given you dozens of times over your seventeen years — ranging in meaning from go socialize with the party guests to speak up for what is right. 

“Our dear girl, all grown up,” he whispers, shaking his head. “We love you so much. I’m sorry we didn’t say it often enough.”

Your mother continues stroking your hair. “We left everything to you, as you’ll be of age in a few months. Look after your brother and sister.”

Oh, gods, the twins. They’re still asleep in their rooms down the hall. Is it better to wake them, so they can say goodbye, or to let them have one last peaceful slumber, unknowing of their parents’ fates?

“We’ll tell them,” she says softly. “Not the whole truth, but… that we’ll be gone, for a while. And we might not be back.”

Your head is still spinning, but you shove down the swirling thoughts and pull back the covers. “I’ll go with you — to talk to them. I should be there.”

You throw a silk robe atop your nightgown, not bothering with slippers as you follow them down the hall for what may very well be the most difficult conversation of your life.

------------------------------------------------------

one week later

You manage to gather the twins into your arms, letting them hug your legs and hide their faces in your skirts. “Don’t look,” you say softly. “Hold on to the stones. They’ll protect you.”

You grip your own tightly, holding it in a fist that you rest on your younger brother’s back as he shakes with sobs.

You have never met the rest of these kids, only Xaden and Bodhi, but your heart breaks for all of them — there must be over a hundred here, from teenagers to infants. You pray that some of them are too young to remember this moment. 

Someone guides you back by your upper arm, turning you to face him — Bodhi. He lays a hand on your back, the other on your sister’s.  

You know what is going to happen in a few seconds, but for a moment all you can focus on is the warmth of his touch, the look in his eyes as he pulls you closer, silently tucking your head into his collar.

He hardly knows you, but he is holding you as tenderly as one would a lover, shielding you from the sight behind you and wrapping you in warmth and security.

You close your eyes just before you hear the screaming — then it stops. You nearly crumple to the ground, knowing what that silence means, but he holds you steady, keeping you upright as you tremble.

There’s a muffled sob from your left hip, distracting you from your own grief. 

They’re both still covering their eyes, as you’d directed. Thank the gods.

You settle onto the ground, not caring about the rocks that dig into your legs nor the dust that covers your skirt as you embrace your siblings, letting them cling to you and cry into your chest.

“Just keep looking at me,” you tell them, sniffing away your own tears. “We’re okay.”

There’s the sound of shifting gravel as Bodhi kneels down beside you, one hand still on your back, smoothing up and down idly. 

You don’t know how long you remain there, the four of you wrapped up in each other, crying wordlessly.

Evidently too long, as a soldier comes by to shoo you away. How much more cruel can they be, to force you to watch your parents be killed, and then chase you off like animals?

You glare at him, but know better than to say anything.

Bodhi hefts your sister into his arms, letting her cling to him and sniffle into his shirt collar.

You take your brother's hand, momentarily stunned by the sight of your arm, the spiraling black pattern that runs from your wrist past your elbow. You can see a matching one on your sister, and another peeking out from Bodhi’s sleeve.

“We’ll be okay,” you whisper down to your brother, as much of a reassurance for yourself as it is for him. “We have each other.”

------------------------------------------------------

another week later

“She’s in the sitting room,” Anna says quietly, gesturing to the left. 

Bodhi thanks her, entering.

He hasn’t been here since that party your parents had hosted, the one to celebrate your engagement — that had completely blindsided you both.

The house looks different now, dim and bare; walls that were once covered in paintings now decorated only with rectangular patches of darkened wallpaper, furniture missing, likely having been taken away for auction.

You sit not in the two great chairs your mother and father would always occupy, rather at the end of a small couch, your sister asleep with her head in your lap as you stroke her hair absentmindedly.

He supposes you’re the lady of the house now. You look the part, poised and refined even without an audience. He’s never seen you with your hair up like this before. It looks remarkably similar to your mother’s, a neat and simple updo.

He can barely spot the black swirls peeking out from the top of your gloves — the fabric extends past your elbows, a bit longer than is fashionable, but you’d likely chosen them to hide the mark you’d tried so hard to wash away. You’d scrubbed your skin until it cracked and bled, to no avail; this is magic, that can’t be undone with soap and a washcloth.

You finally notice him standing in the doorway — with nearly all of the staff gone, there is no one to announce his presence. “Bodhi,” you greet, flushed. “I’d stand, but...”

He gives you a soft smile. “It’s okay. We don’t need to be so formal anymore.”

He has a point — you are legally married, and with your parents gone…. You motion for him to sit across from you. 

“How are the twins?” he asks quietly, nodding toward your sister.

You gaze down at her — she finally looks peaceful, for the first time this week. You wonder what she’s dreaming about.

“They’re sleeping through the night now,” you answer, “but she’ll hardly let me out of her sight. I think she’s afraid I’ll be next.”

He exhales, sitting with the admission for a moment. He himself is old enough to understand the situation, but a child… he can’t imagine what it must be like for those even younger than the twins.

“How are you?” you ask gently. 

“Managing,” he answers, truthfully. He looks like he hasn’t slept well, deep creases under his eyes and exhaustion dragging his shoulders down. 

He takes a breath. “I wanted to talk to you about… us.”

You smile at him softly. “I will not hold you to the terms decided for us by our parents, if that’s what you’re asking. I know neither of us had any say in the matter.”

You can’t tell if the fleeting look on his face is disappointment or relief. You haven’t been able to label many of your own feelings lately, haven’t had the time to.

“If you want to have it annulled, I understand. But even if we don’t have a… traditional partnership, I’d like to be there for the three of you. I enjoyed what little time we had together, and I hope we can become friends.”

“I’ll leave the decision to you. But I’d like that,” you say quietly. “It would be nice to have a friend — someone who understands.”

He realizes that while you and your sister are dressed in mourning black, there are no condolence cards on the table, no flowers... It had taken a few minutes for someone to answer the door, and the woman who had looked genuinely surprised to see anyone.

There will be no callers, no cards, no flowers. You’re entirely alone. Your family’s allegiance to the revolution has ostracized you. You’ve been shunned.

“Of course,” he says warmly. “I’ll continue to write, but… maybe I could start coming by once a week? Or whenever you want, just… just to talk?” he rubs the back of his neck nervously, wondering if he’s overstepped.

“I appreciate the offer, and I’d like that very much, but we’re going to move in with my grandmother next week,” you say quietly. “In Tirvainne.”

That explains all the missing pieces, and the lack of staff — you’re slowly letting go of everything, and everyone, before you leave.

“That’s where Xaden is moving, too. So I’ll have twice the reason to come visit,” he says with a soft smile. 

You return it, but there’s still a profound sadness in your eyes as you do. “You’re a good man, Bodhi. I’m glad it was you.”

He looks a little flushed at the comment, but takes it in stride. “I have no doubt in your ability to care for them, but you shouldn’t have to do it alone. If you ever need anything, I’m only a letter away,” he says softly, standing to take his leave.

“Thank you,” you whisper.

Your sister still hasn’t roused, finally sleeping soundly — you won’t disturb her, lest this be the only sleep she can get. She deserves the peace, anyway. 

So you stay in place, not having moved an inch since Bodhi’s arrival a few minutes ago, watching him leave.

You wish he would have stayed longer, but what would you have done if he had? What would you possibly have discussed, if not the events of the last week? Would talking about anything else be a dishonor to your parents? It certainly wouldn’t feel right to enjoy anything right now, but sitting with him in complete silence would be preferable to being alone with your thoughts.

You run your fingertips over the cover of the book you’d brought down as a distraction, but had been unable to pay attention to, your mind otherwise occupied.

In another life, marrying Bodhi would have been nice. You’d have a calm, comfortable existence, with charity functions and needlework and nights at the ballet, walks along the river in summer and ice-skating in the winter when it freezes over… and eventually, a house full of children to do it all with. Your parents would come to visit every month, and spoil them rotten. The two of you might have even fallen in love.

Maybe it’s selfish of you, but you’d pick that story over this one, a thousand times over.

[epiphanyepica]

Thoughts on Prince's Gambit, Chapter 4

Damen and Laurent are having long nights of tactical discussions, then? Damen is full on helping him/playing house-commander with him 🤭.

Laurent actually took Damen's advice that he needed at least a month to get the men into fighting shape. Aweee!!!

Laurent leading his men and they're barely his men so far. He'll make a great king someday. Fuck the Regent. Burn that pedophile in hell.

Laurent, Jord, and Damen having a girl's night in as they discuss the rest of the gals and how to shape them up into upstanding soldiers within a month. Woowee.

Jord’s not even questioning Laurent having Damen be part of the discussions, LOL. He's probably thinking: “what a multi-purpose slave.” 🤦‍♀️

DID LAURENT JUST SAY DAMEN WOULD HAVE BEEN A GOOD CHOICE FOR THE CAPTAINCY? IS HE ABOUT TO QUESTION WHO DAMEN WAS BEFORE HE BECAME A SLAVE???

Laurent just casually saying how Damen would have been a good captain, LOL. I think he's starting to like him.

Laurent and Damen having late night conversations that are actually pleasant. Oh, they're going to fall in love.

Damen being all “honorable” and tanned while he's definitely going to fall for a pale, blond, blue eyed prince. Oh, Kaladin Stormblessed, is that you?

Damen’s starting to have slightly complex feelings for Laurent and I AM HERE for it.

Laurent canonically having such a goddamn filthy mouth is so funny. I can imagine him being a power-bottom with Damen, LOL.

Jord has the hots for Aimeric? This could end well or end horribly. Either way, my JORTS. It would have been perfect.

Damen being the best wingman for Jord, omg. Future besties right there.

I don't think Laurent likes to be non-sober.

Laurent became an amazing fighter so he could someday get revenge for Auguste and kill Damianos? Oh nooooo 😭.

Oh, Laurent is going to be PISSED when he finds out the slave he's been slowly growing to trust is Damianos.

Auguste would have protected Laurent from anything and I suspect the Regent sexually abused him after Auguste died, and NOOOO 😭😭😭.

Also, Damen thinking Laurent doesn't need to be protected from anything is so sad. He's so biased against Laurent.

[cheriladycl01]

In your Dreams - Lewis Hamilton x FrenchOlympicBadminton! Reader

Plot: Lewis loves Golfing, Surfing and Skiing, so you’d think if he’d end up with an athlete he’d end up with one in one of his secondary sports. But no, hes with you on the red carpet of the debut of a movie airing about your life and your struggles before becoming the youngest Olympic Gold Medalist in Badminton, and having the most consecutive medals too.

Warning: lots of dark themes and undertones about your backstory in this one’s, specifically abuse in the system, parental pressures, grooming and SA (by an ex partner) etc

You walked along the red carpet outside the Leicester Square cinema where the exclusive showing of your new movie was occurring.

Lewis couldn’t keep his eyes off of you in that pretty red dress he loved. The moment he saw you in it, his brain had pretty much short-circuited and his only thoughts were off you.

He knew in the red carpet photos you’d be there radiant as ever and he’d be looking at you like some love sick puppy. But he really didn’t care, this was your night and he was here to support you … his fiancé.

“Thank you for being here tonight. I know it wasn’t easy to get time away” you smile up at him, holding him close to you and looking at him with an adoration he saw often. You knew he was busy with the season as it hadn’t started off as Mercedes Gad expected and he was under a lot of pressure from Toto that he’d been feeling overwhelmed most days.

“You know I’d do just about anything for you my Cherie” he said using the nickname you loved.

“I needed you here tonight” you smile pulling him into a kiss, the camera flashes instantly picking up speed and consistency making you giggle into the kiss.

“I know darling” he says keeping his hold on your waist tight as you walk past the photographers and paparazzi posing every now and then when they ask you to stop.

You eventually get to the people interviewing you, happier to be in a calmer than the one at the start of the carpet.

“Y/N it’s amazing to have you here tonight on the premier. Feeling right now?” She asks and a grin comes into your face.

“Amazing, honestly to have my personal story but out in such a raw and public way is such a helpful step for people who maybe or may have suffered the way I have an gives a message of hope to anyone who has ever felt the way I did that the road doesn’t end there!” You nod loving that you will be helping millions of people who have shared the same experience as you.

“So before we go in, tell us a little about the film!” She probes.

“Well, it’s starts on the note of me growing up pretty tough and with no outlook for my future, being tossed from foster to foster home, the hard times and abuse I went through there before I come across Patrick DuPont, who we know very well as my trainer and the main reason I ended up where I am today. It moves through my teens and realising I’m talented and some things and how I was naive enough to not see the manipulation and abuse I was put through as a result of that and how I was used by many. It guides you through my most important relationships with people both the most gnarly and the most pure. It’s a really moving and emotional movie that I know will being lots of people including myself to tears” you explain the rough synopsis to her, making her nod and check her pad in-front of her that an assistant was holding out for her.

“And obviously adding onto those relationships, who will we be seeing a lot of?” She asks and you nod.

“Obviously towards the start in my early childhood, you’ll see a lot of my foster parents and my childhood best friend Emilie Bustlen, as I grow up you meet Patrick and my main foster family. For legal reasons we had to change names around because of this so they are know as the Laurent’s before we meet Hunter Goshill, my ex partner and some of my competitors. Before we finally find a safe haven, in this man right here beside me” you smile pulling Lewis forward and closer to you, he looks a little shocked that he’s now in the full shot of the camera rather than off the the side and has a mic code to him.

“You guys met when Y/N was 19 and you must have been what 25, 26? How did that work in 2011?” She asks knowing that’s when you met.

“Obviously I met Y/N at a race, she was there alone walking through the paddock and I just fell in love with her. Once I worked out who she was having an Olympic gold medal I was introduced to her by my then team principle Martin Whitmarsh and I proceeded to win that race. Was Germany! Obviously the year after she was travelling to London for the Olympics and as my home country of course I came with her as it tied in nicely to my summer break. After that she was the one that convinced me to make the move to Mercedes and apart from proposing to Y/N that’s probably the best thing I’ve ever done” he admits.

“Woah, what a lovers story obviously prior to that, Y/N you were in a if you don’t mind me saying quite a pressured and dare I say toxic relationship with ex partner Hunter?” She asks and you nod looking down for a second before feeling a squeeze on your hand in reassurance.

“I mean it shows it better in the film that I can get into words, but I was very young and naive. I looked for anything that would give me the slightest bit of affection which I would often just confuse with attention. And of course that came from someone who was older than me, and knew how to take advantage of me, without it ever feeling like he had I’ll intentions because I was so desperate to feel. Lewis has thought me many things but being loved the right way is the best thing” you smile looking to your soon to be husband with pure love, no other intentions just two souls mingled together as they should be.

“Really a beautiful couple and a beautiful story, just is heartwarming finding out what you’ve been through and how Lewis has helped break those walls you spent years building. I’m so excited to see this movie, and everyone at home watching this is your sign to get to your local cinema and buy a ticket for In your Dreams: The Story of Y/N Y/L/N ” she smiles.

You nod beofre saying a polite goodbye and heading off.

You answer some more questions, some about the movie some about your goals for 2024 in Paris if you’ll get your 5th gold medal for Team France, some were as trivial as what and who you were wearing.

“God, I just want to go home to Roscoe now” you sigh as you enter the theatre, going to get some treats for you and Lewis while the movie is on.

“I know baby, just a little longer. Then we can get started on our wedding planning hmmm?” He asks looking over you and making you smile and pull him into a passionate kiss, teeth clashing and you pulling him in by the nape of his neck.

You walk past some critics giving them smiles and some small talk before they let you on your way.

You eventually sat with Lewis at the front row will all the cast and directors next to your guys as the film came up on the screen.

It was everything you’d envisioned. Tear jerking, heartwarming and moving. Lewis was brought to tears and many others in the theatre who didn’t know the full extent of your story were coming up to you after the film talking to you about your life and how your success had a whole new meaning to them now.

y/user

Liked by lewishamilton, nicorosberg and antonia.desplat

y/user: I’ve loved you since I was 19, now that I’m 32 and engaged to you, I wouldn’t want my life any other way. I love you Lew ♥️.

Thank you so much for paramountpictures making my story come to life in the new movie In your Dreams: The Story of Y/N Y/L/N

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paramountpictures: truly amazing to bring your story of strength, resilience and success to life.

-> y/user: thank you for putting your heart and souls into this project it really is magical 💥 Also thank you too, all of the actors and actresses in the movie antonia.desplat who did a fantastic job!

-> antonia.desplat: thank you for giving me this opportunity. This movie has been my big break as a struggling French actress! Merci Du Fond Du Coeur 🇫🇷♥️🥐

lewishamilton: I love you with all of my heart. I’m so proud of everything you’ve achieved this far and am proud to say I’ll be in your life for the remainder of your future successes and achievements. Je vous aime! 🐻❤️

-> y/user: Sir Lewis Hamilton - the man you are 🫶🏼

nicorosberg: that picture is so old, I took this years and years ago!

-> y/user: Nico Rosberg the OG Y/N-Hamilton shipper 🫶🏼

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Back on the grind ����‍💨

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[trashandthangs]

Some thoughts on Daryl's romantic life

This post about Daryl and Connie by @theyreunderadumpster made me think about how disappointed i was in both of Daryl's romantic storylines and how much potential was wasted.

Now i can't stop thinking about it. I actually think they could still do something with this. There is still potential. Maybe Daryl had feelings for Connie? Maybe even some initial attraction to Jesus.

He has grown as a person so much from where he started. He now has a family that loves him and doesn't abuse him, so he knows how to be a part of a family and how to show he cares, he's gained some confidence and knows better how to handle his feelings. These things he has gained by exposure.

But he has never really had much exposure to a healthy, loving relationship. His father was abusive to his mother and she died when he was young. I doupt Merle has had any healthy relationships. Carol and Ed, the whole Rick, Lori and Shane situation, Andrea and The Governor. Negan's wives.

There are some good relationships around him, sure, but most of those have ended in tragic ways. And he doesn't have any personal experience. So he hasn't really grown in that area. Then they meet Jesus and he feels a pang of attraction.

And it terrifies him to the core.

He reverts back to the angry, scared season 1 Daryl, just glaring at Paul because what the hell is happening right now. Why do i wanna smell his hair? He doesn't know how to process these feelings.

In that episode he acts very much like he did in season 1. He glares and pouts and chases jesus around because he's so annoyed that this smug prick made him feel like that. And he's so petty and sassy, just like in the early seasons.

Then the saviors happened and Rick died and he met Leah. He's grown a lot in that time and actually processes his feelings somehow. He's still clueless on how to proceed (put the fish down, babe), but he manages to still form an actual relationship with this woman. But he get's so scared when things start to get serious and she asks him about their future and he runs. Then he manages to process some of this fear and he changes his mind and comes back, but she's gone.

And then that whole reaper shit happens and he is so fucked up and is convinced that there are no happy endings in relationships.

So when he finds himself falling for Connie, he's just like nope, nuh uh, not for me sir, we're friends. It's not like that. Even tough i learned a fucking language for her. Friends because it will end badly otherwise.

He leaves The Commonwealth to find Rick and Michonne and finds himself in France. He meets Isabelle. He feels lost, doesn't know if he'll ever see his family again. He helps Isabelle and Laurent and grows to care about them. He feels like he's a part of something again. Part of a group, a family. He has a purpose. His feelings for Isabelle scare him at first but then he thinks about Jesus. About Leah and Connie.

He still thinks about the way he felt when he met Jesus. He sometimes wonders what could have been if he wasn't so damn scared. He wonders if things would've ended differently if he'd stayed with Leah at the cabin. What if he had asked Connie to that dance? If he'd kissed her on those train tracks.

He goes for it. And then it ends badly. But he realizes he doesn't regret it. They had good memories. It hurt to lose her, but he still has the memories and he doesn't regret any of them. He had a moment of happiness even if it ended badly. He still would've felt the same pain when she died even if he didn't go for it, but then there would be regret too. What if's and almosts.

So after he and Carol are done with their Europe tour and they get back to America and back to The Commonwealth, their family is there waiting for them. Connie too. And he sees her after so long and he feels like a complete fucking moron for not going for it earlier because his legs still feel like noodles when their eyes meet.

So he goes for it.

[d-criss-news]

How Maybe Happy Ending Became the Surprise Hit of the Broadway Season

DO ANDROIDS DREAM? The leads of Broadway's Maybe Happy Ending: Darren Criss, in Saint Laurent by Anthony Vaccarello, and Helen J Shen in Michael Kors Collection. Swarovski ring. Hair, Edward Lampley; makeup, Kuma. Photographed by Norman Jean Roy. Fashion Editor: Edward Bowleg III. Vogue, March 2025.

---------- Bringing the androids to life, as it were, are stage veteran Darren Criss and Broadway newcomer Helen J Shen. Backstage in his dressing room before curtain, Criss, 37, is bursting with chattiness, hazel eyes flashing and ring-laden fingers aflutter. He credits much of Maybe Happy Ending’s success to its extensive Korean incubation, comparing it to a nearly decade-long out-of-town tryout. “The level of nuance we focused on from the beginning is stuff that you don’t typically get until months in the weeds,” he says. “The trial and error has been happening long before us,” says Shen, who’s 24 but could easily pass for far younger, sitting serenely in a Winnie-the-Pooh sweatshirt. A classically trained pianist who competed internationally before studying theater performance at the University of Michigan (where Criss is also an alum), Shen has had a busy 2024, starring off-Broadway in The Lonely Few and Teeth. Meanwhile Criss is best known for the five seasons he spent as the endearingly charming, openly gay Blaine Anderson on Fox’s Glee. For this performance as an android with creakier movements than Shen’s, he drew on something he’d never put to use professionally: his college semester spent studying commedia dell’arte in Italy. “Stereotypical modern acting is about what you don’t see, and what I’m doing here is what you do see,” Criss says. His robot had been programmed to display unsubtle emotions: happy face, sad face, surprised face. These expressions and Criss’s faintly wooden physicality, inspired by the harlequin figure, “immediately make people more willing to connect to the show’s nonrealness,” he says. In rehearsals, he kept top of mind a note from Arden: “Just because it doesn’t feel real doesn’t make it not true.”

GROUP INTELLIGENCE Shen and Criss are joined in the cast by Dez Duron (center left) and Marcus Choi (center right). Costume design by Clint Ramos. Hair and wig design, Craig Franklin Miller; makeup, Suki Tsujimoto.

Underscoring that feeling of unreality is the shape-shifting set, involving a rotating turntable, proscenium LED tiles, and hologram-like projections. “The backstage mechanics are so unbelievably intricate,” Arden says. “My hope is that it’s working so well the audience doesn’t even notice.” The set was inspired by how we consume media on our phones; Arden estimates that the show spends more time in a vertical orientation than horizontal. Likewise, switching between sliding rooms on tracks emulates the effect of swiping on a personal device, and simple theatrical techniques like irising, created with black panels and neon, mimic how we pinch and zoom. Another influence was manga, which can tell big stories briskly, gracefully pushing readers from one image to another. The emphasis was on containing and focusing the audience’s point of view, Arden explains. “I wanted to take the audience on an adventure, leaving more to their imagination rather than trying to show everything.” Within those silently whizzing frames is a comforting, retro future-scape that the director compares to 2001: A Space Odyssey. “There’s this mix of cold futurism with warm sentimentality that’s also present in the score,” Arden says of the set. “You’re watching a classic Burt Bacharach musical, even though we’re driving a flying car.” The team has been floored by the rabid army of fans. Dubbed Fireflies, after a magical moment in the show, they range from repeat viewers dressing up as their favorite characters to those creating art inspired by HwaBoon, the emotional-support potted plant that many find the production’s low-key true star. (Arden calls her “a fabulous silent diva” who appeals to wallflowers in the audience.) A significant portion of those waiting by the stage door to meet the cast are Asian American, and while nearly all the actors in this production are also of Asian American descent, Shen shies from labeling the show narrowly. “It’s important to mark accomplishments, but whenever we put that pressure on to be a mouthpiece for any group of people that is multifaceted and contradictory and complicated, it’s going to fail.” Although actors of various races and ethnicities have previously portrayed the robots, almost every production has been set in Seoul. Yet Criss maintains “the show is as distinctly Korean as Romeo and Juliet is distinctly Italian...It’s where we set our scene, and some aspects of the show might spring from the culture.” (South Korea has the world’s highest density of robot workers.) “But it’s a story with universal themes: We all live, we all end, we all, hopefully, at some point, love or are loved.” The offbeat premise and ingenious staging prove that no algorithm can yet prescribe a hit Broadway musical. “As we enter into this world of AI, theater is one of the last completely human-made, -operated, -performed, and -received art forms,” Arden notes. “And that’s why we go to the theater—to learn something new about what it is to be alive.” How delightful that it’s possible in a musical about robots.

[thebookofcarol]

i'm very much in my caryl feels right now. it's my safe bubble, and i feel very much protected in here. i'm also feeling very hopeful for the future. DISCLAIMER: i've already seen the whole season - the good, the bad, and the wonderful.

WARNING HEAVY FULL TBOC SPOILERS AHEAD-

the whole theme of the show since s1 is Daryl wanting to go home. at first, he doesn't care about anything else but going home. slowly, he starts to care about people, he develops a strong bond with Laurent, and a shockingly surprising romantic connection with Isa, but there's one thing that never changes - DARYL WANTS TO GO HOME. even when he accepts L&I have become his surrogate family, he still plans to take them home to the Commonwealth. his desire never wavers - DARYL WANTS TO GO HOME. he doesn't want to be like his grandpa, who fought someone else's war and ended ruining his family. DARYL WANTS TO GO HOME.

i know i'm going around in circles repeating myself, but what i want to mention is the song that ends the season, the same song that Laurent and Daryl sing together.

🎵You can't always get what you want, but if you try sometimes, well you might find, you get what you need. 🎵

for Laurent, what he wants is a life with his aunt and his hero Daryl, but what he actually needs is a normal life as a normal kid. and that's exactly what he gets when his new daddy Ash flies him away to the CW.

so when it comes to Daryl, it's fairly obvious to me, what he truly wants is TO GO HOME, but he gets what he needs - CAROL. as they walk out of that tunnel into their new Spanish adventures TOGETHER. he's got everything he needs. that's it.

to find home is to find each other.

despite my dislike and side eye to some of the Daryl narrative/storyarc decisions, i can't help feeling, that like Carol, he is also dealing with his own trauma and abandonment issues. the Isa hallucination is about her telling Daryl he won't die there, he won't be like his grandpa/father as she turns into fireflies.

speaking of fireflies, i don't have to like Daryl's arc, but i think the story they are trying to tell here is Daryl is Peter Pan - he is lost in Neverland, and the longer he stays, the harder it is to remember everybody back home. Isa is his tinkerbell, so he says and she literally turns into fireflies ffs. Tinkerbell (Isa) is in love with him, but Peter loves Wendy (CAROL). Wendy who risked everything to get Peter back. sounds familiar? and there you have it.

and if you're still not convince Caryl is coming, then i suggest you wait for ep 4 when Carol and Daryl meet an older version of themselves, who not only see Caryl's love for each other (thinking Carol was Isa - holy mistaken identity trope!), but also comment on them bickering like an old married couple.

i apologize in advance for my aggressive/toxic Caryl positivity. CARYL ON!

[tototalks]

Two thirds into Prince’s Gambit and it is NON- STOP 🤩

I am having an excellent time and brain is firing on all cylinders!! 🚀

- “No one expects me not to be a snake, so in a dramatic turn of events, I’m not gonna be a snake.” Gotta respect Laurent’s self-awareness and reputation lol.

- ORLANT??!! Damn bitch, you didn’t last five minutes. No way he’s the real snitch surely?!

- “Bro, you may be a slave but you saved the wine. YOU’RE ONE OF US.” - Honestly, I remember a similar conversation happening back in uni with bottles of vodka lol.

- Laurant first initiating contact with Damen and ordering him to sleep 🥺

- Ooooh you know that blue dress is coming out on EVERY anniversary at some point in the far future. What a gift. Respect sex workers folks.🩵

- If Jord is the traitor I’m gonna actually cry and y’all will NEVER hear the end of it.

- I keep hearing about Nikandros!! VERY intrigued about Nikandros!! Already sensing I will be a big fan of Nikandros from the way Damen speaks about him. Plz tell me we meet him!??

- Damen somehow manages to always end up in Jord and Aimeric’s business. They could literally decide to screw on the moon and Damen would be there accidentally poking his head around the corner.

- I’d work for Halvik. She’d give me health insurance. What a girlboss. - I appreciate that she looked at Damen, then looked at Laurent and went “oh yeah, he needs to fuck” - later solves their heir problem I suppose! 😂

- My only gripe is that you’d think she’d provide a bath after, because sex without washing is NASTY. Damen is gonna regret it when that UTI hits.

- I also like how even though Damen just had sex with however many women, it still manages to be a bonding moment for him and Laurent afterwards. In many ways, I think the coupling fire was a way for Laurent to ‘test the waters’ and learn about Damen in a way he’s comfortable and safe.

- Guion, Ambassador to Akielos, turning up and going “ew what’s an Akielon doing here?” ✨Diplomacy✨ no wonder there’s a fuckin war.

- Aimeric sees ONE SUGGESTIVE THING and is immediately like Dearest ✍️ Gentle ✍️ Readers ✍️ and the whole camp is up in their business. Payback I guess 😂

- Damn. That dying Akielon managed to rip the heart out of Damen’s chest before accidentally putting it back in calling him the true heir. And he was so right. My king 👑

- AYO DAMEN WITH THE SWORD THROW!!!🗡️ But wait! There’s more! The symbolism of him taking a Veretian sword against his own countrymen for Laurent! HAHAHAHAHAHAHA I’M CRYING NOW THANKS C.S. PACAT!

- And okay we’re getting kidnapped now??!! What an evening.

[wrenaspun]

hennike and her little duckling smaurent spending time together!

This became more of a Hennike centric fic SORRY but Laurent does make an appearance !! She does spend time with him !! -

Hennike was very newly married when she first fell pregnant. The signs became apparent only a handful of weeks after the ceremony, and the tests that the old physician had her take proved her snooping cousin Julia right, which was galling.

“I told you,” said Julia smugly. “I’m never wrong. Some Women — ” the capitalisation was audible “ — always Know.” She patted Hennike’s cheek. “My mother always said you had the best hips in the family.”

Later, Hennike would look at Auguste and find it impossible that he should have come out of her, that he could be of her blood. Even while he was in her belly he had only really been Aleron’s. Julia insisted on predicting smugly that it would be a boy, because she was carrying so low, and then to a lesser extent he became Vere’s, the hoped-for heir, loved before he was anything more than a cluster of cells.

For a long time, at the start of the pregnancy, Hennike’s stomach felt oddly divorced from the rest of her, a separate compartment for an object which had been misplaced inside her and which its true owner was waiting impatiently to retrieve. Then, as the physicality of pregnancy made itself known, it became impossible to consider any part of her as separate. Her whole body ached and throbbed and grew swollen, and she began to feel like she was the compartment, that the compartment-ness of her stomach had expanded to encompass the rest of her until she was transformed into a vessel for the future of Vere. She ate healthily and slept regular hours because that was good for the baby. She took light exercise for the baby and avoided stress for the baby. Aleron spoke about the baby as though it were here and his wife as though she was somewhere far away. Well, she thought, when she remembered to think, her mother had said this would happen. Her mother had said: for nine months, you will be more than yourself. It was nine months she had to live through. Her mother had had four children, but only three pregnancies; Hennike’s older brothers were twins. She thought more than usual about the fact that twins ran in her family, even after the physician assured her that she was only carrying one.

It was such a relief when the baby came out of her that it was almost like love, right away. Then it really was love — she wasn’t heartless. Auguste was such a sweet, good-natured baby that it was impossible not to adore him. He conquered waves of nursemaids and scores of servants with his gummy, sunshiney smile. Even Aleron was sometimes seen smiling down at him, bouncing him on one hip, letting the royal regalia be drooled on.

Auguste was so ceaselessly healthy that Aleron made only the occasional desultory effort in Hennike’s bed, which suited her just fine. One of her maidservants offered, quietly, to procure an herb that was commonly taken in the south to prevent pregnancies; the king’s brother had recently managed to open a new trade route to Bazal. Hennike brewed the tisane for herself without a pang of guilt.

When Auguste was five, it was thought that a sibling might be a good addition to the royal line; but it never took. The same when Auguste was nine. Hennike quashed the desire to send Julia a stupid letter. The court was vaguely discontented, but Auguste’s boisterous misadventures in the marble halls made sure that never took, either. Hennike peacefully let him smash several old Kemptian vases and the court was cheerful for months about his liveliness.

When Auguste was eleven, it happened again. Hennike, thirty-five, had not seen it coming; neither she nor Aleron had been making much effort; but there you had it. The pregnancy was different because Hennike was different; easier to remain herself, but harder in every other way. She no longer had a young woman’s body: she was sorer, sicker, more swollen. It was another nine months that she had to live through. Auguste was terribly sweet to her, bringing her little pastries that soothed her stomach and fresh-cut fruit that made her sick again.

But it was worth it. Laurent was Hennike’s, entirely Hennike’s from the top of his downy head to the tips of his perfect shell-pink toes. This, she thought, was a baby she had made deliberately, so it made a certain kind of sense that he was less perfect than the older brother she had not played any part in. Laurent was not frail, but he was smaller and more delicate than Auguste had been. He could scream more in one night than sunshine-personified Auguste had in a whole month. His smiles were very rare, only given begrudgingly, and his default expression was a wicked frown which was almost enough to send his poor nurses running. Auguste had been indiscriminately happy with the gifts which had been sent to him by foreign embassies; Laurent developed a particular attachment to a Vaskian horse-toy and spurned the rest, refusing to touch them, sulking savagely if his horse was taken away even briefly, even just to be cleaned. He was so fussy, and Auguste such an indulgent older brother, that after a few months he wouldn’t sleep unless he was walked around for half an hour first in Auguste’s arms.

It was not the done thing, but Hennike loved to hold him in her arms and sleep, the weight of him pressing down into her chest. Aleron did not know what to do with this strange and decidedly opinionated new baby; he was not easy, the way Auguste had been easy. But he had such a martial light in his eyes that from the very beginning, Hennike was sure he would achieve anything he wanted.

[kybelles]

so after a recent conversation with my friends we’ve come to a realization: fandom loves Slave Rights Advocate laurent trope. whether it be an arranged marriage au, a time travel au, an auguste lives au or any kind of setting where slavery is still in motion; it’s always laurent who opens damen’s eyes to the horrors of slavery and insists they can’t be with each other until slavery is abolished, that slavery is a deal breaker on whether they can be together or not. now i certainly don’t want to sound like i’m policing anybody’s creative choices but it’s become such a common trope in the fandom that it is baffling at this point because. here’s the thing. slavery isn’t one of laurent’s battles. at all.

allow me to explain further before i make people angry. it’s clear laurent is against the fundamental premise of slavery and finds it inhumane. but through the series (counting out taofc where he and damen are trying to build an empire together), he doesn’t actively fight or challenge the system or slavery. i don’t even think this is a hot take when you remember that he;

i. didn’t protect the akielon slaves in arles until damen begged him to and sold them to torveld for personal gain (which was the best course of action he could take under the circumstances but as i said, he wasn’t above using them)

ii. referred to damen as his slave constantly in both a technical and romantic sense

iii. got turned on by playing master and slave and master and pet

iv. used isander as a way to get back at damen: was fed by isander in the feast, stroked him, allowed him to kiss his feet and boots etc.

in fact here are plenty of instances where it’s clear laurent enjoyed the type of power he had over damen:

and here’s the only part where i can remember damen and laurent discussing slavery after damen’s identity is revealed and they have the possibility of a future together. as you can see, laurent’s attitude towards it is pretty neutral. he doesn’t approve, but it’s clear he’s not a passionate champion of the anti slavery movement.

let me make it clear that none of this is a criticism towards laurent. it’s important to remember that capri started as a slavekink fic (in pacat’s own words) and though it evolved, by the final draft she still kept some of those elements: like making the first night between lamen a romantic, sacred, precious thing between them; laurent telling damen he’s his slave by feeding him as a slave would, damen calling himself laurent’s slave as a sign of submission/love/romance before their first kiss, laurent saying damen is still his slave before sleeping with him… the narrative still eroticizes slavery to some extent and uses it as a vehicle of romance.

the thing is, laurent finding enjoyment in these practices is not the problem. when the fandom loves to pretend like laurent would be so disgusted by the idea of slavery (even though the text repeatedly shows he’s not) , that he; a perfect civilized blonde veretian angel would come to akielos and educate those barbarians about how horrible slavery is and damen would only open his eyes to the truth through laurent’s guidance, that’s when my issues start. because, like i said, this was never laurent’s battle and it pretty much reads like laurent is some sort of white savior, someone who comes to damen’s country to “fix” the problems of akielos without understanding their history, needs, or the region’s current state of affairs.

another very important thing to underline is that the whole slavery ordeal in the series was damen’s character arc, not laurent’s. he’s the actual slave in the scenario, and as much as laurent doesn’t like slavery, damen didn’t come to the conclusion that it was bad because of laurent’s preachings. it leaves a bad taste in the mouth that damen was the one who actually experienced slavery and faced countless humiliations in vere and yet people still insist on making laurent educate damen about why it’s wrong, even though he himself has never experienced slavery in his life. (one might argue in aus where damen was never sent to vere as a slave he wouldn’t come to the same realizations but that still doesn’t mean laurent would have a passionate agenda regarding slaves. at best i believe he would demand damen to stop sleeping with his slaves as they are monogamous.)

choosing laurent as The One who firmly stands against slavery is bad from a narrative pov too. making this specifically about laurent makes no sense because it's got nothing to do with him. it's not his country! he doesn't care about akielos the way damen does. everything about it thematically relates back to damen; who exists as a metaphor for akielos - any insult or injury done to him is an insult to akielos. he embodies it’s values and it’s people, and by becoming a slave he’s reflecting the current slave state of akielos, and through finding liberation for himself he’s also finding liberation for akielos. it’s a powerful symbolism for how akielos is changed and freed directly BECAUSE of his own personal liberation. laurent has nothing more than an intellectual interest in anti-slavery and he only ever begins to care about akielos because he cares for damen. but damen was raised with it and experienced it and cares very deeply about it. it’s his country! it's his story!

tldr; through the series, it was damen’s journey to experience what it was like to be a slave, to see the true horrors of this practice and decide he doesn’t want to rule his country that way anymore. so taking his agency and giving it laurent, someone who was neutral at best about slavery, feels incredibly insensitive and wrong.

[daniiwrites]

Three Kings - Ch. 1

Pairing: Sean Luther and Dr. Janelle Laurent (Idris Elba x Rochelle Aytes)

Ben Luther and Sasha Laurent (Aaron Pierre x Kreesha Turner)

Jacob Luther and Deija Laurent (Trevante Rhodes x Logan Browning)

Warnings: Minors DNI. No smut in this chapter but future chapters will be smut and kink filled. If that's not your jam, tap out now.

Summary: We find love in the strangest places.

Word Count: 2.1k.

Chapter 1

The day had been an endless sea of people wanting either his money or his time. It came with the territory of being the brains behind and the face of a billion dollar corporation. Sean Luther was the CEO of King’s Landing International. His typical work days tended to start around 6AM and last into the evening, especially if he was dealing with his overseas clients. Put simply, it costs to be the boss. It was a little after 2 PM and Sean had insisted on leaving the office to grab some food. No one could bother him if no one knew where he was going. His driver and right hand man, Anthony, hummed softly along with the radio as they drove through downtown Los Angeles, towards Grand Street Market. They had the cheapest and best tacos there. It didn’t take too long for it to quickly become his favorite late night spot to grab dinner when he was stuck in the office. 

Doctor Janelle Laurent rolled her eyes as she upped the speed on her windshield wipers, frustration building as fast as the traffic seemed to be. Driving in the rain, even a sprinkle, was a royal pain in the ass. When it rained in Los Angeles, the already horrible drivers seemed to get worse. And dumber. But, she’d promised her sister and cousin that they could all meet up for lunch later at this amazing ramen spot. Between Janelle’s crazy hours at the hospital, her sister Deija’s class schedule and Sasha’s production hours… they hadn’t all gotten to be in the same room together in over a month. The three Laurent girls were super close and Sasha was more of a baby sister than a little cousin to them. 

Anthony’s gaze was sharp as he drove through the drizzly streets. In addition to being Sean’s personal driver, he was also his bodyguard. He knew that Sean was more than capable of defending himself in a fight, but when it came to a man, especially a black man, who was worth billions, it paid to be smart about things. In this day and age, it was easier than ever to kidnap a wealthy person for ransom. Anthony was paid to make sure no one got close to the boss. Their relationship extended back to their teens. They’d met in high school and become close friends. After graduation, Anthony went off to the Marines and Sean had a full ride to Cambridge. After he was honorably discharged from the Marines after injury, Sean had given him a job when  finding one had seemed impossible. A few months after he’d been hired, Sean’s company went public, amassing him the kind of fortune most people only dreamt about. Anthony was proud to say that he’d been there through it all. Sean built King’s Landing with his brothers, both of which were silent partners. And now, through the company, Sean was giving back to the community that built him through various programs that focused on tech and education for youth. Black children already had it hard enough in this world and the Luther brothers were determined to make life easier for them any way they could. Although he was closest to the eldest brother Sean, he knew Jacob and Ben pretty well. Jacob shared a military background with him and Ben’s intelligence allowed them to bond over their favorite books. All three were good men in a world seemingly devoid of them.

“Damn. Forget lunch, mate. Follow her,” Sean said with a deep laugh as he stared over at the woman at the light next to them. She was laughing at something her passenger must have been saying and she was absolutely gorgeous. The mystery woman blushed when she noticed that she’d caught his attention. Anthony laughed softly at his boss’ antics. If it was one thing Sean wasn’t lacking, it was female company. Beautiful women flocked to the businessman like bees to honey.  

The light turned green and Anthony waited a second before proceeding into the intersection. The hit seemed to come out of nowhere, slamming into the front driver’s side of the SUV and spinning it into the mystery woman’s car. Anthony’s head slammed into his window and he fought to maintain some kind of control of the vehicle. When they finally came to a stop, he looked over at Sean.

“You ok, boss?”

“Yeah… what the fuck happened?” Sean said, shoving the airbag out of his face.

“Fucker ran the light.”

Janelle groaned softly and looked over at her younger sister.

“Are you ok, Deij?”

“I’m fine. I just got a bit rag dolled.”

Janelle looked over at the other car and yanked her seatbelt off. She reached into her purse for her pin light and gently grasped Deija’s chin, checking her pupils for a reaction. Satisfied that her sister didn’t seem to have any head trauma, she turned her attention to the other vehicles involved. 

“Call 9-1-1 and wait for me on the sidewalk ok?”

“Gotcha.”

Janelle shot out of the car and grabbed her medical bag from the backseat. She made her way over to the black Audi that had been next her at the red light. The entire front end of the car was destroyed and it looked like one or more of the airbags had deployed. The driver’s side window had been shattered and she managed to wrench the door open, with a little help from the burly man in the driver’s seat.

“Stay still for me, ok? I’m a doctor. I need to make sure you’re ok.”

“Check my boss first,” Anthony said with a deep groan as he touched the gash at his temple.

“I’m going to check you both ok, alright? Just stay calm. My sister is calling emergency services.”

“What hit us?”

Janelle glanced over the hood of the car, spotting the huge Yukon that was idling on the side of the road. The driver, a young blonde woman, was in tears and a random pedestrian was trying to calm her down. 

“Distracted driver. She ran the light. Does anything hurt?” she asked as she quickly checked his pupils.

“Just my head.”

She slipped on a pair of latex gloves before grabbing a bit of gauze and dabbing at his wound. 

“Hold this here for me.”

Satisfied that he was holding the gauze in place, Janelle made her way over to the passenger. She tried to focus on assessing his injuries rather than focusing on the simple fact that he was the most beautiful man she’d ever seen. He had rich brown skin and when his dark eyes focused on her, she felt her nipples harden in response. When he’d smiled at her at the light, she couldn’t ignore the burst of excitement she’d felt. It had been a very, very long time since a man that good looking had looked at her. Janelle cleared her throat as she quickly looked him over for obvious injuries. His airbag had deployed, causing a small burn on his right cheek.

"You're the woman at the red light.”

The first think she noticed was his British lilt. Janelle smiled as she gently dabbed at his cheek. 

“It’s me.”

He chuckled softly as he looked down at her.

“I always knew my guardian angel was a Black woman.”

Janelle grinned, shaking her head as she bandaged his cheek. She could hear sirens approaching in the distance. 

“I just happened to be in the right place at the right time.”

“Your passenger… there was someone in the car with you.”

“My sister. She’s fine.”

“Thank goodness.”

“Considering how hard you were hit, it’s a blessing you and your friend are alright as well.”

Sean watched her as she tended to him. The last thing on his mind was the current state of the SUV. Judging from the lovely doctor’s lack of urgency, he had to assume that there weren't any bad injuries. 

“I still want the both of you to go to the hospital to get checked out… make sure there aren’t any head injuries.”

“Yes, ma’am.”

Janelle raised her dark eyes to his, smirking when she saw the mirth shining in his eyes.

“You’re lucky. Just a bit of a burn from the airbag.”

Janelle checked his pupils, making sure he didn’t have signs of head trauma. She could feel his eyes on her face, quietly searching.

"What's your name?" she asked softly.

“Sean. Yours?”

“Janelle,” she murmured as she placed a small bandage over the burn on his cheek.

“Pretty name. It’s very fitting, doc.”

She snickered as she gave him a quick once over. Out of the corner of her eye, she saw police vehicles and an ambulance pull up. 

“That’ll be your ride.”

Janelle stood, smiling as Deija approached. 

“Your sister?”

She nodded as Deija reached her side.

“Deija, meet Sean. Sean, this is my little sister Deija.”

Janelle chuckled when her sister shot him a smile and shook his hand. Sean unfolded his long lean body from the car and Janelle fought to make sure that her mouth didn’t fall open. She was tall at five foot eight, but Sean stood at least six or seven inches over her head. She didn’t miss how well dressed he was either and lord knew how much she appreciated a fine ass man in a well tailored suit who smelled like heaven. Sean ticked all three of those things. One of the medics from the recently arrived ambulance made his way over to them. Janelle introduced herself and gave them a quick rundown of what had happened. Out of the corner of her eye, she could see her sister doing the same with a police officer. Janelle watched as Sean climbed into the back of the ambulance, along with his friend. She sighed softly, shaking her head. It just figured that this was how she’d managed to run into a beautiful black man in Los Angeles. She headed over and peeked into the back of the ambulance, smiling back when Sean shot her a dazzling smile. 

“How are you feeling?”

“Already missing the tacos I was going to have for lunch,” he said, his dark eyes unabashedly drifting over her. 

“From Grand Central Market?”

“Yeah. How’d you know?”

“Best tacos downtown,” she said with a little chuckle.

“Maybe you’ll let me take you there once I’m all patched up.”

Janelle blushed again when he gave her that beautiful smile.

“I can’t… I don’t date my patients.”

“Technically, I’m not your patient. Just a random bloke who happened to be in the other car that hit you.”

“You don’t give up do you?”

“It’s not in my nature,” he said, flashing that smile again. “At least let me give you my card,” he murmured, reaching into his jacket and pulling out his business card. “If there’s any way I can thank you, please let me know.”

Janelle took his card, her nipples peaking when his fingers brushed hers. He shoot her a knowing smile, almost as if he knew how his touch was affecting her.

“How’s your head?”

“Feeling better already.”

Janelle chuckled softly, shaking her head as he sat back in the ambulance. Her sister walked up next to her, slipping her arm around her shoulders. 

“Girl… that man is fine as hell,” Deja whispered in her ear as they watched the EMTs close the doors at the back of the ambulance.

“Oh, trust me. I didn’t miss that. Fine and smells like heaven.”

“Whew… Gimme one of those.”

Janelle snickered as the two of them made their way back over to her car, surveying the damage. 

“Well… at least it’s not totaled. Hell, her car looks way worse. The cop I was talking to said she’s gonna be ticketed for running the red and distracted driving. I already called your car insurance while you were off saving the hotness and a tow truck is on the way.”

“Thanks sis. I’m definitely gonna need a margarita when we’re all done here.”

“I’ll call Sasha and have her pick us up.”

Deja pulled her cell phone out and quickly dialed their younger cousin, Sasha. Sasha was her uncle’s only child, but the three of them were more like siblings instead of cousins. Their uncle died when Sasha was eight and after her mother was unable to take care of her, Janelle and Deja’s father stepped up and took his niece into their home, raising her alongside his daughters. In addition to being cousins, Deja and Sasha were also roommates.  

“Sash is on the way,” Deja said before tucking her phone back in her back pocket. “So…”

“Don’t go there. You know I don’t date my patients.”

“He isn’t your patient. He is, however, fine as hell and could be the perfect man to blow your back out a few times.”

“Dej…”

“What? Am I wrong? Is that tall, fine ass chocolate gawd not exactly your type?”

Her little sister shot her a look and Janelle shot her one right back.

“Whatever… you know I’m right.”

She was right. Very right. 

As always, please let me know if you want to be added or removed from this list.

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[epiphanyepica]

Thoughts on Prince's Gambit, Chapter 9

It's been like two days since I've read a chapter, so be prepared for too many reaction notes as I get back into the swing of it.

Lazar has no chill, man. “WhAt’S iT lIkE hAvInG oRaL sEx WiTh A rIcH gUy?”

Aimeric not taking any shit from Lazar, LOL. He's growing on me.

Damen being supportive of Aimeric and Jord is actually so sweet. They better be invited to Damen and Laurent's inevitable future wedding 💍. Hell, Aimeric and Jord better invite Damen and Laurent to their future wedding.

Annnnd Aimeric just had to turn it back on Damen and Laurent. Fucking hell. But also, I see you Aimeric, I see you.

The only person who will ever get to shut Laurent up is Damen. I'm CALLING it.

Damen not only will bed that panther, but I bet he won't see a panther; he'll just see a beautiful cat.

Oh god, Laurent was pretty when he was a teenager? The Regent must have done something to him when he was younger given his track record.

Damen wasn't really feeling Laurent up in the baths. He just got distracted and Laurent panicked–I think.

Orlant was such a traitorous bastard, but I kind of liked him 🥺.

I love how Damen just said they will arrive at the border intact. Great. So, guess that's not happening, then.

Oh? Is Damen feeling conflicted about Laurent in a quiet, melancholic way?

OMG, Laurent and Damen were so soft together that morning. They're SO falling in love.

Damen. What you are feeling towards Laurent is more than camaraderie in facing down a common enemy.

“A heady elixir” that's certainly one way to describe how you feel about Laurent currently, Damen.

Laurent hid out with the prostitutes at the brothel to escape the people following them in the morning? LOL.

WAIT, DID LAURENT WEAR THAT BLUE DRESS?

Oh my god, if Laurent wore the blue dress that the woman who hit on Damen wore… oh my god. Like Laurent saw that woman hit on Damen, too. He encouraged it.

The Regent’s a misogynist as well as a pedophile. Lovely. Hell is hot.

I wonder if Damen's going to wonder if Laurent bedded any of the prostitutes.

Damen may not greet Lauret with warm, happy expressions now, but–no, he probably never will because Laurent is super cold at the moment, but it COULD happen and that's what matters.

Oh, poor Jord. He was friends with Orlant for longer than he's been Laurent's guard. That's so sad. Orlant is such a piece of work for doing this.

Orlant did almost kill Damen that one time, during the practice fighting, and Damen fought him off easily, but still that should have been telling.

Even Jord doesn't like the Regent. No one likes this guy. All of my buddies and I hate this bitch.

Also, oh, no, is Jord going to die fighting the Regent? Like is he going to sacrifice himself for Laurent's cause? Noooooo. I see the signs.

I saw the signs. They were right in front of my eyes and I saw the signs.

That stupid song is stuck in my HEAD.

Oh, is Laurent exchanging secrets with the Vaskian messengers?

Laurent wants to speak Akielon with Damen instead? Awe, but also OOOH. Love that he added that it was for safety, but also privacy.

OH? IS DAMEN GETTING ALL FUZZY AND HOT ABOUT LAURENT SPEAKING HIS OWN LANGUAGE WELL?

I mean… if I were in his shoes, I would totally find Laurent speaking my native language hot.

Damen can't help but smile at Laurent’s accent when speaking Akielon, OH. AND LAURENT is like, “this bitch is up to something with that smile” when he narrowed his eyes, LOL.

Damen, you like Laurent trying to speak your language because it feels intimate and private. It's just for you two.

Damen is so into Laurent speaking his language with his Veretian accent. Once upon a time, if Laurent spoke his language like this, he'd have insulted him and recoiled, but now it's his favorite thing in the world. He loves him.

You don't have to be fastidious to not want to pick up a whole ass soiled handkerchief with the entirety of your hand. It's called being SANITARY.

Awe, Damen is happy to be speaking his own language again.

Laurent asking Damen if he likes Laurent using his language to command him around or not, oh 😭. I don't know if I should be interested or worried.

OH MY GOD. Laurent wants Damen to teach him how to command a bed slave in Akielon. I'm super interested, but also super worried.

I don't know what's happening. Is this a threat or sensual or both? I'm so confused, but also elated.

Damen cutting the tension by making an excuse to leave. COWARD. But it is reasonable if he could sense that Laurent was reaching a limit with their teetering interactions.

Oh my god. Damen had to take a cold bath because he got turned on by Laurent. LMAO. But also, YES.

Damen being too distracted by Laurent to really talk to Lazar, LMFAO. Oh, you in deep, DEEP, buddy.

LAZAR DRYLY CALLING DAMEN OUT BECAUSE THERE'S NO WAY DAMEN IS THIS OBSESSED WITH LAURENT IF HE AND LAURENT WERE FUCKING.

As if Damen wouldn't be MORE obsessed if they were, LOL.

Also, Damen is finally starting to admit he might be a wee bit attracted to Laurent. And by a wee bit, I mean a fucking lot a bit.

[mustelidsinlove]

A few favorite Dramione time travel & time loop stories

Things Without Remedy by onebedtorulethemall [E, 156k, 2023] It’s been twelve years since the war ended. Ten years since Draco Malfoy was forced from the depths of his depression by a mother and friends who refused to let him die in peace. Six years since he became an Auror for all the wrong reasons. And for the next month, he's been assigned to protect Hermione Granger as she completes her latest invention: a new type of time travel. You can’t change what happened, she told him. There could be catastrophic effects, cascading like ripples in a pond. So when they find themselves at the centre of a dark conspiracy that leaves them trapped in a past he’s been running from his whole life, they need to find a way home without unravelling their future.

Art: The Buildings of the Asiatic Company, Vilhelm Hammershøi, 1902

Where the Broken Ends Meet by TheCorrosivePen [M, 103k, 2020]

In which Tom Riddle is a charming, manipulative mastermind, Draco Malfoy's hands are soaked in blood and Hermione Granger can't remember a life beyond suffering. Or the Time Turner fix-it attempt that goes horribly awry. With all hope lost, Hermione turns to desperate measures to rid the world of Voldemort and his crimes, but she doesn't count on a Death Eater hitching a ride to the past or her target being quite so alluring.

Art: Georgia O'Keeffe—Hands and Horse Skull, Alfred Stieglitz, 1931

Past/Present/Future by neilistic [E, 154k, 2024]

After a very bad week in which Crookshanks died and Ron left her via four words on a scrap of parchment, 30-year-old Hermione is forced to take a week's holiday from her job. Unfortunately, it becomes clear her work was the last thing keeping her sane. When she finds out Harry is investigating the unexplained disappearance of Draco Malfoy, now an Unspeakable in the Department of Mysteries, she finally has a problem to solve. The case sucks her in in more ways than one, and she finds herself tangling with a very powerful magical object, as well as Draco's weird and wonderful subconscious. tl;dr Hermione gathers extensive material for an inevitable 'Am I the Asshole?' post

Art: The Anatomy of Melencholy, Laura Makabrescu, 2023

Once More with Feeling by Kyonomiko [M, 65k, 2018]

Sometimes taking a second look can give you a new perspective. Hermione has difficulty analyzing people once she's made up her mind, but, circumstances as they are, she might not have a choice but to try again.

Art: The Enigma of the Hour, Giorgio de Chirico, c. 1910-11

The Fool, the Emperor, and the Hanged Man by ianthewaiting [E, 227k, 2008]

Ten years after the fall of the Dark Lord, Hermione Granger leads of life of self-imposed obscurity, that is, until the day Headmistress Minerva McGonagall is murdered and a certain 'hero' is responsible.

Art: Studies into the Past, Laurent Grasso, 2009

Best Shot by AccioMjolnir [M, 24k, 2021]

It's eighth year and Hermione is trying to navigate her post-war friendship with Draco Malfoy and a relationship with Ron Weasley when she gets an unexpected visit from someone who knows her better than anyone: herself. Thrown back from the future, an older Hermione drops a bombshell on her: she has only three days to set things right, or Draco dies.

Art: Gothic Windows in the Ruins of the Monastery at Oybin, Carl Gustav Carus, c. 1828

Through the Clouds a Path is Torn by galaxy_skies [E, 39k, 2024]

Every Death Eater is allowed to make one final request before their execution. Draco Malfoy asks to see Hermione Granger. And somewhere, a butterfly flaps its wings.

Art: The Earthly Paradise (Sir Lancelot and the Chapel of the Holy Grail), Edward Burne-Jones, c. 1890

Reset by provocative_envy [M, 4.5k, 2016]

And the fear—the fear that he’s learned to swallow, choke on, bury the crushed and fragmented shards of—it's turning the space between him and her and the last six weeks, the last six months, into a gaping yawning brutally invincible chasm; a wall to scale and a cliff to jump and a step he’s never quite been brave enough to take. She takes it for him. Of course she does.

Art: Joan of Arc, Date Gabriel Rossetti, 1882

The Troublesome Thing About Time by LadyKenz347 [M, 40k, 2020]

Hermione was sick of adventure. She'd had her fair share, and taking a seat at the desk in the back of the DLME was all she could have dreamed of -- until it wasn't. One day Hermione is summoned to the bowels of the Ministry where she is met by the lead Unspeakable who has a rather odd situation that needs to be dealt with. Draco Malfoy has just arrived from twenty years in the future and insists on speaking to his wife, Hermione Granger. The only problem is that the Draco Malfoy she knows is still the snarky, button-pushing boy upstairs--and not the man in front of her now.

Art: The Morning Room, Patrick William Adam, 1916

Enekpe's Clock by sunshinesundae [T, 26k, 2017]

An Order mission gone terribly, terribly wrong leaves Draco dead and Hermione trapped in a time loop, doomed to relive it. Can she save his life, or is fate a force too strong to fight?

Art: Time, Leopold Widlizka, 1898

Chronos Historia by in_dreams [M, 98k, 2018]

Hermione and Draco stumble upon a mysterious portal and find themselves hurtled back through time a thousand years. Forced to team up to find a way home, they quickly realize that much of the history they believed to be fact, wasn't true after all. A founders era, time travel Dramione.

Art: The Meeting on the Turret Stairs, Frederic William Burton, 1864

Love and Other Historical Accidents by PacificRimbaud [M, 154k, 2021]

Hermione Granger and Draco Malfoy never intended to blow up their life's work, but that's rather what they've gone and done. Now they're trapped 200 years in the past, with a broken Time Turner, a missing snuff box, a handful of overly-eligible daughters, and a House-elf in a cable knit cardigan. It will require the combined power of their keen intellects to get them home, if they'd stop arguing long enough to use them. As it turns out, history is just one damned accident after another.

Art: Polesden Lacey, Surrey, from the East, John Varley, c. 1778-1842

now i hang from your lips (like the gardens of babylon) by cosmic_kate [M, 2.5k, 2024]

Far in the east, deep in the desert, a king once erected a vast garden of greenery for his beloved queen. She was homesick, longing for some time or place far, far away, with rolling green hills and wet, humid summers. Later, much, much later, historians would say it couldn’t be real. That it couldn’t be more than a myth, or poetry. The architecture was too advanced for the time. The irrigation systems were state of the art. And the beauty of it—exquisite, the poets said—was far too good to be true. Hermione knows better. She knows the hanging gardens of Babylon very well did exist. She knows this because she knows magic. She knows this because she was there.

Art: The Hanging Garden of Babylon, N. Wood, c. 19th c

Ash by artemisgirl [M, 2.8k, 2019]

The world repeats, the Final Battle replaying itself out in front of Draco's eyes each day, ending in a cloud of ash and fire. No one else seems to realize it, that they're trapped. It's only when Draco realizes that Hermione's aware of the time loop too that he begins to understand what's happening, where he is, and exactly what it means.

Art: Ragnarök, Emil Doepler, 1905

How Soon is Tomorrow? by eevilalice [T, 5k, 2013]

iIt's the day before winter hols, and Draco can't wait. Except he's going to have to because the day won't end unless he saves Hermione Granger. A lot.

Art: Cloister in the Snow, Carl Friedrich Lessing, 1829

[real-fire-emblem-takes]

I can see the Awakening Future Kids, like the moment they aren't fighting for their lives, arguing over what animal Lucina would be.

"Are we talking heroic songs of valor or our dear friend Lucina?"

"Both, they'd surely be the same right? She's a butterfly? Monarch, regal, the butterfly effect thing Laurent was harping about. The mask?"

"Wouldn't she be like a firefly or something, the spark of light in a doomed future, help me out here Owain."

"Are our two best options really both bugs?"

"I think she's a ferret."

"Elucidate us."

"I dunno, ferret"

.

[frangipanilove]

I just watched the entire season of TBOC, and I loved it

Mild spoilers below the cut

I’ll do other posts on it, this is just a couple of sentences on my first impressions. The Beth mention from the leaked script pages was cut and yes that is disappointing. It’s fine though, it wouldn’t have fit, and we have other things to be excited about. I predicted the season to have insane Beth callbacks and dialogue parallels, and there really truly was. I wrote about some of them in the Green(e)land post, and I’ll get more into it in later posts.

Guys, this season was all about Daryl and Laurent. It wasn’t about Daryl and some woman, or any woman, it was about a father and his son. The entire season is watching Daryl develop a strong bond with Laurent, and by the end he has mentally adopted him and is ready to do anything for him, and I’m 100% here for that. I don’t understand anyone who says that Daryl acts out of character this season, I’ve personally never seen him more in character. He’s going through tons of character development, and it’s beautiful. Norman’s acting is absolutely stellar, I was a sobbing mess at times. I thought Laurent’s actor was a bit weird and awkward in season 1, in season 2 that’s all changed. I thought the chemistry between Daryl and Laurent was spectacular, which is why the father-son storyline works so well.

The relationship between Isabelle and Daryl makes more sense when you watch the entire season imo. I agree there was little build up and the kiss seemed random and awkward, but there’s a purpose to it, and it isn’t just more man-pain. At least that how I feel. And then of course others might feel different, and that’s fine too.

The song Daryl and Laurent sang was “You can’t always get what you want” by The Rolling Stones, and that’s what reduced me to a sobbing mess. The lyrics continue with something along the lines of “but you gotta pray you get what you need”, and that’s basically what the season is about. Daryl typically can’t have nice things. Everyone he loves dies or disappears. But what he needs this time isn’t primarily a woman (although there’s always room for that some time in the future) it is a child that loves him and needs him. Daryl is actually a terrific parent, and I love to see it.

Imo, that’s what drives Daryl’s character development this season. He can’t help himself, he reluctantly starts caring about Laurent, and he recognizes how incredible vulnerable that makes him. He doesn’t automatically welcome it, because of course having a child is genuinely terrifying. What if they die? And in TWDU they do, constantly. Just ask Carol. Daryl knows that.

This season was imho TPTB’s big fuck you to shippers, probably of all varieties but especially to the most rabid ones, I’m sure we all know who they might be. The love Daryl needs right now isn’t that of a woman, but that of his child. He has mentally adopted Laurent now, and feels and acts like his father. You can’t always get what you want, but you gotta trust you get what you need. What Daryl needs right now is to be Laurent’s father, and I’m here for it.

I loved this season, I thought it was absolutely brilliant! Norman was stellar, MMB was stellar, everyone was stellar. And then, not everyone will agree. We’re all different and that’s ok.