#need to see jess and frank meet

[witchofthemidlands]

going mildly feral at thought of seeing frank castle again tonight, hope he rocks up to matt's hospital room during a conversation between matt & heather in full punisher gear, nods at heather, throws matt's daredevil suit at him at tells him they've got some shit to fuck up.

[bullet-prooflove]

Scar Tissue: Jesse Boone x Reader

Tagging: @yezzyyae @thiashazzywriting @kgkslgohogkdlslgk @whateversomethingbruh @kmc1989

Companion piece to:

Raincheck - Jesse finally decides to get that raincheck.

Last Night - Jesse can't remember the night before.

Perfect Gentleman (NSFW)- Jesse has a certain reputation.

Feel Just Too Damn Good (NSFW) - Jesse has never felt as good as he feels with you.

Happy - You and Jesse have a frank conversation when you see an email from Heather.

Makapipi Falls - Jesse and you take a trip together.

Wild (NSFW) - Jesse realises what he was missing in his marriage. Prequel to:

Black Dress - Jesse makes a decision about your saftey when he discovers some pictures in your door step.

You’ve never told Jesse why you made the move from LA to Hawaii, or the reason you decided to step down as a detective and become a criminalist instead. He thinks it’s something to do with the scars that are hidden underneath the ink of your tattoos. He’s kissed the raised welts underneath the rose that decorates the space between your breasts. He’s traced his fingers over the divot that’s hidden within the stem, surrounded by thorns.

Whenever you talk about your life before it’s with a wistfulness, you skirt around a few things, he can tell, but he never pushes you. Your secrets are your own. When you’re ready to share, he’s here, ready to listen.

It’s Detective Marty Deeks that changes things. The instant he sees the two of you interact he knows you used to date. He only sees the exchange from a distance but there’s a familiarity in the way the detective touches you, one that indicates intimacy. There’s a guilt there too, a sadness, he sees it in the both of you as you talk.

When you cancel your plans with him that night, he knows it’s because you’re seeing Deeks.

Something’s come up, you text him. I need to take a raincheck.

There’s no further explanation and Jesse doesn’t press you. He simply replies with a thumbs emoji.

The two of you haven’t put a label on your relationship, you’re free to see who you want, when you want. The thing is he hasn’t looked at another woman since he met you and he was pretty sure up until now you had no interest in other men.

You’re illusive over the next couple of days, too busy to respond to his messages. When he drops by your desk with lunch, you’re absent, nobody seems to know where you are. It’s then that he sees the casefile, the photocopied one from LAPD. It’s tucked under a bunch of paperwork in an attempt to hide it. It’s when he flicks through the first couple of pages that he starts to understand what’s going on with you.

All the lights are on at your house when he turns up that night, he has a takeout bag from Wally’s in his hand and a four pack of Coconut Hiwa Porter in the other in case he needs to beg for forgiveness.

When he knocks, it takes you a minute to unlock all three bolts. You’ve never used all of them, not in the time he’s known you. When you open the door, he sees the exhaustion in your features, there’s dark circles under your red rimmed eyes. You’ve been crying he thinks.

“Jesse.” You say, your voice pained. “It’s not a good time.”

“I know.” He responds holding up his offerings. “I just wanted to drop these off, make sure you eat.”

You take them from his hands, your mouth pursing into a grim line. You don’t meet his gaze, your shoulders are slumped, dejected. He hates seeing you like this, so upset, closed off.

“Are you ok?” He asks you and you shake your head in response.

“Do you want to talk about it?”

You raise your eyes to the ceiling, trying to blink away the tears that sting your eyes.

“Zoe.” He says softly. “I saw the casefile, I know what happened to you in LA. I know why Deeks is really here.”

You swallow hard against the well of emotion in your chest. This is the last thing you wanted, you’ve worked so hard to put that shit behind you, to claw your way out from underneath it but it just keeps coming back to haunt you.

“Zoe?” Jesse says again and you find yourself staring into those warm hazel eyes of his.

Right now you’re at a fork in the road. You can shut down, walk away, forget about Jesse, Hawaii and the life you’ve built here or you can face it head on, stop being a victim and start being proactive.

That’s the decision you’ve been trying to make over the past couple of hours.

To stay or to go.

You still haven’t made up your mind.

“You’d better come in.” You say quietly, holding the open the door. “There’s some things we need to talk about.”

Love Jesse? Don’t miss any of his stories by joining the taglist here.

Like My Work? - Why Not Buy Me A Coffee

[hinge]

Hinge presents an anthology of love stories almost never told. Read more on https://no-ordinary-love.co

[phantomwritezstuff077]

The Runt - Billy the Kid

Warnings: none

Chapter Eighteen

Laurie gently pulled Artax to a stop outside the general store, staring at the building for a moment before she dismounted and hitched the young stallion to one of the hitching posts next to Billy. The young girl followed them inside, taking off her hat out of respect for the place as she looked around while sticking close to Billy.

She wasn’t sure how this was going to play out, but she knew she stood out from everyone in the gang. She looked like a stray puppy trying to be intimidating in the crowd of a group consisting of much bigger and much more vicious dogs. The gang walked into a housing area attached to the store where a man stood in the living room, gulping down a glass of either whiskey or scotch. The man looked between the group.

“Jesse, Frank,” he greeted, nodding at them as Jesse crossed his arms, shifting on his feet a little bit.

“Mr. Murphy,” Jesse greeted back, giving him a nod of acknowledgement. “Great to see ya’s again.” The man’s eyes suddenly landed on Billy and Laurie and he chuffed, smiling a little bit as he studied the two of them as he walked over. “So, you’re Billy the Kid?”

“Yes, sir, I am,” Billy replied, getting up from leaning against the wall as Murphy looked at Laurie.

“And you must be Lauren,” Murphy said as he shook Billy’s hand before shaking Laurie’s. “Jesse was right, you’re a scrawny little thing.”

Laurie tensed, bristling at the remark Murphy had made but she said nothing, simply nodding as she shook his hand. “I prefer to go by Laurie, Mr. Murphy.” 

Murphy nodded in acknowledgement, “Well, Billy, I want to say it is a great honour to finally meet the two of you in the flesh. Great honour.” Laurie’s face creased a bit, she didn’t quite understand why Murphy felt it was a great honour to meet her and Billy. And Billy seemed to think the same.

“Why’s that?,” the outlaw questioned.

“‘Why’s that?’ he says,” Murphy chuckled, turning to look around at the rest of the gang before his gaze fell back onto Billy and Laurie. “Because you both have a reputation, Billy more than you kid, but a reputation nonetheless.” He paused. “But, from where I’m standing, it’s a great reputation. You know how to look after yourselves. That’s what I’m lookin’ for. I’m lookin’ for tough people who can take on any challenge!” Murphy looked around at the gang once more before he turned back to Billy and Laurie, his eyes landing on Laurie. “And who aren’t afraid to take on new challenges. Am I right in saying that?”

Laurie wasn’t sure who had told Murphy that she was strong, she was still the weakest of the bunch despite putting on a little more muscle during her time with Billy. And she was still scared of things, but she kept that all quiet. She didn’t want to ruin this for the people around her, even if most of them had treated her like shit. Billy glanced at the kid that stood next to him before he met Murphy’s gaze.

“I guess so,” he replied with a nod. Laurie nodded silently. 

“‘Course I’m right,” Murphy stated, seeming to now disregard Laurie’s existence and focused more on Billy. “Billy, you’re an Irishman, just like me.” He turned to gesture to two men. “Just like my partners here, Johnny Riley, Jim Dolan.” The men nodded in greeting as Murphy turned back to walk into the center of the room.

“Now, Billy, Laurie, I don’t know what these lads have told you two, but we pay well here for a job well done,” Murphy continued as he held up a cigar.

“An important aspect of your work will be to enforce our business interests,” Johnny said, “You may have seen this new store down at the end of the street.”

“This fellow, Tunstall, he’s bought a herd of cattle, and he’s already grabbing land and hiring cowboys,” Dolan continued, “And we need that to stop.”

“What’s wrong with that?,” Laurie questioned, her face creasing. The more she listened to these men talk, the more she began to feel like this wasn’t right. 

Murphy gave her a look before he spoke, “You see, what you need to understand here, Billy, Laurie… is that this is my kingdom.” He moved the glass on the table. “My kingdom. I founded it, and I built it from nothing.” He poured himself some more whiskey and lifted up the glass to his lips. “And I’ll be damned if I’m gonna let a stranger, let alone some prick Englishman, take it away from me. That’s not gonna happen. Not gonna happen.” He paused, looking directly at Billy. “Not with you around, Billy. That’s for sure, right?”

When Billy nodded, Murphy lifted his glass. “So, here’s to the new partnership. You, Jesse, and your friends, are all welcome additions to The House.” He paused. “I sincerely hope that this ongoing partnership enriches all of us.” 

The air was tense as Laurie watched Murphy chug the alcohol in the glass. She could feel a sickening pit forming in her stomach. Her heart raced as she stood next to Billy quietly. It was hard not to notice Laurie seemed off when everyone began to disperse out of the house, saying goodbye to Murphy as they unhitched their horses. Laurie rode alongside Billy, wanting to stay with him while the others went back to the camp. So, it was just her, Billy, Jesse, and Pat. They arrived at the shop that the man, Tunstall owned. Laurie quietly dismounted and loosely hitched Artax up to the post. She stroked his nose as she waited for the others. This didn’t feel right for some reason, but she also felt like she had no other choice. 

Once everyone had hitched up their horses, Laurie walked into the store – still keeping close to Billy as she looked around. It was a damn nice store, only to hear Pat calling her name. She turned around to see him toss her an apple, only for her to drop it when trying to catch the thing. The teenager scrambled to pick it up, feeling awful about dropping the produce. She picked it up but she didn’t put it back. She thought she might as well just buy it when all of this is over. She could hear cans falling to the ground and she could only assume it was Jesse being an asshole and destroying some things. The teen watched as Jesse gave Pat a cocky smirk, grabbing his knife and slicing open one of the bags, spilling grain everywhere. Laurie stood back silently while Billy propped himself onto a bag of rice. A man came rushing in from the back, clearly upset with the vandalism.

“What the hell are you doing?,” he shouted, seeming to freeze slightly when he saw the three cowboys plus Laurie standing off to the side like a scolded animal. 

“You know where Mr. Tunstall is?,” Jesse barked. “We’d like to have a word.” Laurie flinched at the tone. She knew that tone all too well, he had used it on her countless times and it never failed to make her feel small and nervous – even if he wasn’t specifically talking to her.

The air was thick with tension, Laurie glanced at the worker, her blue eyes filled with empathy as she watched the scene happen. She knew what it was like to be intimidated by people who had the upper hand. 

“Mr. Tunstall is currently in Santa Fe, buying stock,” the worker replied, wearily looking around at them. Pat took a handful of the grain and sniffed it.

“This grain smells musty,” he said simply, holding his hand out. “Must’ve got damp.”

“Everything here is piss poor. Not like Mr. Murphy’s,” Jesse stated as he walked around the store, seeming to target where Laurie stood. “I think even the kid agrees, and she was eatin’ horse feed when I found her.” He placed a hand on her shoulder, giving it a harsh squeeze before he let go and approached the worker again.

“I can assure you, sir, that everything here is of the same quality as that is sold in Mr. Murphy’s store,” the worker replied calmly, looking at Laurie for a moment before he looked at Jesse again. “And what the kid was eating before you found her is none of my business to know.”

“Don’t get smart with me, boy,” Jesse warned and Laurie swallowed. She was tense, she hated that tone. 

Billy noticed how panicky Laurie seemed and then he saw Jesse itching for his revolver, he decided that enough was enough and he spoke up, “Hey.” He got up from where he sat, walking over to Jesse and Pat. “We’re done here.”

There was a long beat of silence before the other two men fanned out, leaving the store and the shaken worker be. Laurie trailed behind, the apple still in hand. She wanted to pay for it but she couldn’t bring herself to face the worker after what had just happened. She slowly approached Artax and gave him the apple, her hands shaking as he began to eat the treat while she untied him. Billy noticed this and he led his horse over, gently resting a hand on the teen’s shoulder.

“You okay, kid?,” he asked softly. He felt incredibly concerned for Laurie. He hadn’t seen her this shaken up since the night they ran off together. He knew that there was something on her mind but he didn’t want to push it. But he felt this paternal instinct over this kid, he wanted to know if she was truly okay. 

Laurie nodded, looking over at Billy as she sucked in a breath to calm herself down. Her shaking had mostly subsided but she was clearly still a little upset. “I’m okay… just the way Jesse spoke to the guy brought up unwanted memories.”

Billy felt his heart crack for the poor kid as he watched her gently mount Artax. He knew that Jesse hadn’t exactly been good to Laurie, but the more little things or reactions he saw from Laurie, the more he began to realize how much damage the treatment she had received had truly done, and that the best thing he could do for her was be the positive male figure in her life that she never had.

Tag:

@slutforsnow

[pynkhues]

Oh you know I need your dream cast for a Succession prequel, Sophie

(x)

Okay okay okay, SO first thing's first, my dream Succession prequel is set against the 80s clusterfuck expansion into parks because every little bit of canon we got about that era just cooks. You've got Logan meeting Frank (and probably Gerri), Logan's whirlwind romance then toxic marriage to Caroline, Logan starting to have the golden trio and reconnecting with Connor and dealing with the aftermath of what happened to, and with, Connor's mother! Plus Ewan may or may not be still involved in the company? (I choose to think he is!)

As a result, a lot of my casting is partially determined by the age the characters would be then, which means I've had to change some actual dream casting (Romola Garai as 40yo Gerri, my beloved), but it's also a pretty fun era to think about so that's fine.

Anyway, let David Tennant as Young(er) Ewan invite you in:

I really love the Snr. Roy's being from Scotland, and their backstory feels so entwined with Scottish WWII history, so I wanted to honour that a bit in the fancasting, but all the same, I think I probably would've cast David Tennant anyway. I think he can sell that simultaneous moral superiority and absolute hypocrisy in a way that Ewan needs, and honestly, I just love the idea of him reading Jesse Armstrong's dialogue, haha.

Was Karl working for Logan in the 80s? I choose to believe yes, because I love him. Jack Lowden's been one of those actors who's popped up in a few things I've watched lately - Fighting with My Family, Small Axe and Slow Horses in particular, and I've been consistently pretty impressed with him? I think he's got a good handle of comedic timing (important for anyone taking up the Karl mantle) but also is a compelling dramatic actor and I think he could kill it opposite...

David Rysdahl as Young Frank! I've always figured Frank would've been a bit younger than Logan, and I love that little glimpse we got in canon of Frank having been brought in to advise on the parks acquisition and then Logan basically making him an offer to stay. There's something extra crunchy there for me if Frank's a little wide-eyed at the time and Logan oozes that charm that we know that he can turn on when he wants to. I like the psychosexual drama, and I also like the idea of Frank having this weird sort of connection to Caroline and Kendall because he met them while he was still impressionable / in the midst of being swept up.

But yes, haha, David Rysdahl I think is a bit of an up-and-comer, which is kinda funny given he's been in a lot of stuff. I've liked him though in the newest season of Fargo, and lowkey think he looks a bit like a young Peter Friedman.

Honestly, I just loved her in Swallow a lot, and she played the smart, unhappy, unhinged, WASP-y wife there to such perfection that I think she'd be ideal for a young Gerri who's still better known as Baird's wife than as counsel. There's such an attitude and vulnerability to Haley too which I think would match J's quite well, plus they have a bit of a similar look too which works for me? I want to see her claw her way in! And I also want to see her toxic relationship with Caroline which leads to her being Shiv's godmother.

Speaking of...

Honestly, I went through a few people for Caroline and she was surprisingly hard to cast. A lot of actresses who felt like they might fit the bill - Michelle Dockery and Claire Foy were two that sprung to mind - didn't really work as I didn't think they could quite balance the acidity with the blunt charm and playfulness that Harriet Walter just does so well (and honestly is a testament to what an actress she is). But then! Jessie Buckley! I've loved Jessie in everything I've seen her in, from Women Talking to The Lost Daughter, but it was actually thinking about her turn in Misbehaviour which made me think of her for this, exactly because of how she can play, well playfulness.

Plus I think she'd be a lot of fun opposite...

I did say I''d go with a Scotsman! Ewan McGregor's been in a few mmm, less good things lately, which makes a turn in a role like Logan Roy could potentially be pretty great. He's always been a remarkable actor, and one who, I think, can find the heart in any role, which is arguably what any actor playing Logan needs. Plus I always tend to think Ewan has chemistry with everyone he acts opposite, and I think he could really sell Logan's naked charisma in this era in a way that would make sense given he's making some pretty questionable choices across the board in the 80s. Plus, y'know, to the point of the post that inspired this one, I think him playing Logan would do a lot of psychic damage to people who could only ever see Logan as perpetrator of abuse and never as product or victim.

[roboraindrop]

What? Rain writing for the first time in over a year??

Here's the first part of my fix-it fic for Virgil! I have more planned, but right now this felt like a good place to end. So, here's me getting too emotional over an obscure horror anthology character :'D

--

"Frank and Jesse James never planned an ice cream warehouse robbery…" Virgil muttered to himself as he waited outside for the next truck to load. He always hated waiting, especially when he knew he had something important to do that day. His brother Billy had plotted his revenge against the man who had reported him for robbery and sent him to prison two years ago, but Virgil just wasn't sure why he had to be a part of it… At least until he'd messed up a part of the plan in his recount the day before.

"We're brothers," Billy had been so quick to remind him after a swift, sharp smack to the face, "You and me are all each other got! Forget about your damn Jesse James comics, forget about the nothin' runnin' through your head all day, and think about me. Who's always lookin' out for you?"

"You are, Billy." Virgil had responded, looking down at his hands, "You're the best."

He always caved when Billy brought up their bond. Ever since they were kids, it had been the two of them. Billy was the one who got him his job at the warehouse, Billy was the one who went to jail trying to steal for the two of them to have a better life. His whole life was thanks to Billy. If his brother wanted him to do something, who was he to argue? If he got smacked around a little, called an ableist slur or two, that was just what he deserved for not being able to contribute like his brother could.

"Let's go over the plan one more time."

They had recounted again and again, and as Virgil stood outside, he mouthed his plan silently. First, he would tell Tom to go pick up a delivery from the distric supervisor. After he left he woudl wait for Cooter to take his break, then… Then…

"Excuse me…?"

Virgil looked up quickly at the sudden voice, his bright blue eyes meeting briefly with another pair. He hadn't been expecting anybody- Well, that wasn't true. He was expecting the next truck, but he had been so long in his own thoughts of the robbery that he had entirely forgotten that fact. The eye contact didn't last long as both he and the other party looked away swiftly. "U-um, hi. Can I help you?"

The person before him wore a bright yellow dress, something that greatly contrasted the overcast day. It was almost too bright to look at, like they were the sun. When they spoke, it was with a woman's voice, but the facial hair they sported was saying otherwise.

"Actually I uh, have an order. I'm here to pick up for Rain Badd."

"Oh! Oh, yeah, Miss Badd! Or u-uh… Mister…. Um…"

"Mx, actually. I use they/them pronouns."

"R-right! Mx. Badd. We've got your order, just go ahead and sign-" As Virgil pulled out the clipboard, he couldn't help but notice the comic book that Rain carried under their arm. "Ain't that a Jesse James comic?"

"Hm? Oh! Yeah. I actually just picked it up, I'm a collector! Kinda silly, someone my age reading comics, but…"

"I don't think that's silly at all, Mx. I'm a big Jesse James comics fan!" The smile Virgil felt on his face was the first genuine one he'd had in what felt like ages, and he didn't even realize it. "Would you mind if I looked at it?"

"Not at all, go ahead!" They untucked it from its safety and handed it over. Still brand-new in a sleeve to keep the dust off was a copy of Jesse James Great Train Robbery. "This is the last comic I needed to complete my collection! I mean, of Jesse James at least. I'm still starting out, but someday I'd love to have a full collection of all my favorites."

"That's incredible!" Virgil handled the comic with care as he turned it over in his hands, then looked up with wide eyes. "I guess if you collect 'em they just sorta sit there, huh? You don't read 'em or nothin'?"

"Y'know, you'd think so, wouldn't you? See, I've got this thing… I just can't keep things up! I love to read and reread them. That's what they were made for, after all."

"Wow," He breathed as he handed the comic back, "I never knew you could collect stuff and still use it! I wish I could read all the Jesse James comics- He's my hero!"

Before he had the chance to apologize fully, the heavy footsteps of Ms. Grafungar, his boss, approached. "Virgil!" She screeched, "You quit talkin' that lady's ear off and you get her truck loaded right now, or there'll be big trouble!" She hesitated just a moment, "And wipe that stupid smile off your face, this ain't a damn funfair."

"Your hero robs trains," Rain teased lightly, but smiled so genuinely at him that it was contagious, and he couldn't keep the smile off his face as well. "You mind if I go ahead and sign the slip now?"

"O-oh, yeah, right! Here you go." Virgil scratched the back of his head nervously, "I'm real sorry about that, I just get carried away--"

The smile disappeared right quick off of Virgil's face, and he nodded quickly. "Yes ma'am, but uh, Mx. Badd ain't no lady, Ms. Grafungar."

"You keep that smart shit to yourself, dammit! That's a woman if I ever saw one! Tryin' to tell me that's a man…"

Virgil frowned, his brow furrowing. He didn't understand her reaction. "I didn't say that…"

"You gonna stand there like a brainless idiot or are you gonna load the truck?" She snapped, but when she turned back to Rain, her tone was as polite as ever. "I'm sorry ma'am. He's a little slow- He's usually workin' in the back freezer and not allowed to talk to the customers." At this, Virgil shrunk in posture and shuffled his feet. It seemed as if this were a common occurance by the way he took it in stride, quickly getting to work loading the truck to avoid getting reprimanded futher.

Rain looked up to the manager and tilted their head with eyes narrow. They didn't even bother to correct her on their title; They had something more worrying on their mind. "Why not? There's nothing wrong with him- He's been a delight to talk to!"

"What- Did he talk your ear off about those damn comic books?" She spotted the one in Rain's hand and quickly crossed the gap between them, snatching it in one swift motion. Rain, taken by surprise at the audacity of the woman, allowed it to happen… For the time being. It wasn't until Ms. Grafungar stomper her way over to Virgil with it and raised it as if to strike him that they snapped out of their shocked state.

"Now what the hell did I tell you about bringing these goddamn picture books to work with you?"

The cornered stock boy flinched at the raised hand, and it was obvious to any bystander that this wasn't the first time he'd been threatened with violence- And even worse, it wasn't an empty threat.

"Now you wait one minute!" Rain hurried over, placing themself between the two. If there was going to be an impact, they were dead set that it would fall on them and not the innocent Virgil. "For starters, that comic book belongs to me, thank you very much!" They plucked the book from the raised hand of the woman, "Second, who do you think you are, talking to him like that? Don't you realize you're talking to a human being?"

"We're the only vendor in town- You'll need to drive three towns over before you find another ice cream vendor of our size! You're just starting out in this business, you need us!"

The fire in the gaze of the supervisor wet out as quickly as it was lit, and Rain's chest ached to think of the hell her employees must go through on a day-to-day basis. "Oh my, I'm so sorry! I didn't realize that literature was yours!" She quickly straightened herself up, ignoring the comment about her cruelty to her employee. "I didn't damage anything, I hope. To make up for it, how about I add an extra box of ice cream for your truck? No charge!"

Rain shook their head, "That won't be necessary, thank you. After witnessing how you treat your own employess just because they're a little different from you, I won't be placing an order with you again."

"At the prices you're offering, I think you need my business more than I need you. What I do need, ma'am, is for you to take a good, hard look at how you treat your employees. You turn it around and maybe I'll reconsider."

Fuming, Ms. Grafungar turned on her heel. "Have a good day, Miss Badd."

Virgil nodded, but still had that kicked puppy look in his eyes. "I hate her. She's always mean to me, and insultin' me and my brother…" He remembered his brother, and their plan. He started going over it once again, but another thought crossed his mind, as if he had just put it together. "You stood up for me… Nobody ever did that before…"

As soon as she turned her back, Virgil made a face at her, and Rain raised their middle finger in what was an accurate description of just where she could put her bad attitude and shitty business practices. After a moment, Rain approached Virgil.

"Are you okay?"

"Of course I did! You don't deserve to be talked to like that. You especially don't deserve to be hit." They knew it was stepping over some boundaries, but they felt a strange desire to protect Virgil, and they leaned in slightly, placing a hand on his arm, "She's done it before, hasn't she?"

Starting to get nervous, Virgil shook his head.

"N-No, she hasn't…."

"…But someone else has." Rain finished for him, and he looked at the ground.

"Just my brother Billy, but he don't mean nothin' by it. He just gets angry sometimes, that's all. See, its true, like what Ms. Grafungar said. I'm a little slow. Sometimes I deserve it. "

Rain's heart nearly shattered on the spot at this, and they frowned deeply. "I don't know you, Virgil, but I know that you don't deserve that. Nobody deserves that. I'm sorry that you've had to live with that."

"You don't gotta be sorry or nothin'," Virgil said softly, the kindness in Rain's eyes making his stomach feel all fluttery. Nobody had ever looked at him like that before. He was experiencing a lot of firsts today! "I'm used to it. Besides, it don't do no good to stand up to Billy like you did Ms. Grafunger. She backs down, but Billy don't. It'd be big trouble if you ever talked to Billy like that."

"Big trouble, huh? For me, or for you?" When his expression fell and he began to shrink into himself again, Rain spoke softly. "Hey, I know that I don't live your life, and I'm just some stranger you met at work, but… I want you to know that there is more out there for you. You don't have to take the abuse. You're worth more. Don't forget it, okay?"

Falling silent, Virgil felt a few tears prick at his eyes, which he didn't dare let fall. Billy said tears were for wussies, and the DeLuca brothers weren't wussies. "… You're really nice, Rain. You said things to me that nobody else ever has… I sure won't forget you, or what you said."

"Good." They smiled, and the warmth that spread through the quiet stockboy was more than he ever imagined from something as simple as a grin. He was so distracted by this warmth that he harly even noticed Rain taking out a small notepad and scribbling something down. "If you ever need anything, and I mean anything…" They tore out and handed him the page, their phone number scrawled across it, "Give me a call. I may not be able to do much, but, well… Everyone needs a friend now and then. Maybe we can read comics together sometime."

"I'd like that…" Virgil smiled again, feeling the paper crinkle under his clumsy fingers. "I'll give you a call, promise, I will!"

With that, the vision of the sun climbed into their ice cream truck and drove off. Now, Virgil could focus on what he was supposed to- His brother's plan.

[fearsmagazine]

EXORCISTIC: THE ROCK MUSICAL - Review

DATES: October 8th thru October 23rd, 2023 COMPANY: HRS Productions and Orgasmico Theatre THEATER: The Box, 189 Chrystie St, New York, NY 10002 ACTORS: Emma Hunton, Brian Logan Dales, Leigh Wolf, Jesse Merlin, Marissa Jaret Winokur, Nick Bredosky, Kim Dalton, Mitchell Gerrard Johnson, Gabby Sanalitro, Tyler Olshanksky and Lindsay Heather Pearce. CREW: Book, Lyrics, & Music - Michael Shaw Fisher; Directors - Chadd McMillan & Alli Miller-Fisher; Musical Director/Arrangements - Michael Teoli; Choreographer - Camal Pugh; Costume Designer/Lighting Designer - Chadd McMillan; Prop Designer - Kelly Stavert; Sound Designer - Thomas Queyja

SYNOPSIS: EXORCISTIC: The Rock Musical is a parody within a parody. Inspired by the 1973 movie, it is the story of a movie star whose daughter becomes possessed and is helped by priests who try to save her. The audience watches a struggling theater company at work as they develop the production on its way to Broadway. By the second act their lead, Emma Hunton, has taken “method acting” a step too far and is replaced with a Broadway star. However, things go awry as Emma returns and everything goes to hell.The production is packed with nineteen musical numbers, offering a rock take on show tunes, as the cast runs amok through the venue like the Marx Brothers meets the Animaniacs.

REVIEW: The unauthorized parody of The Exorcist was “Best Musical Winner” of the Hollywood Fringe Festival 2013 and returns ten years later to celebrate the 50th Anniversary. It comes to New York fresh from their sold-out run at The Three Clubs in Los Angeles.

This wickedly delightful parody spews its wit over a variety of themes and a period that ranges from the 70’s to present day. They don’t simply break down the fourth wall, they take over the entire performance space, in some instances on the audience’s tables and into their laps. To say it is intimate and in your face would be putting it mildly. The production is a hybrid of theater, cabarete, sketch comedy and slapstick that felt like Frank Oz’s cinematic adaptation of “Little Shop of Horrors” on acid. The jokes fly fast and furious, there is something for everyone, leaving the audience little time to recover in between. It is no wonder that there is an intermission, permitting the performers and audience time to catch their breath.

This is a fabulous ensemble cast. They move through the material and dance numbers with surgical precision of wittiness, moving about the space with a fluidity that feels like a classic Warner Bros. cartoon. Their voices belt out showtune rock ballads with clarity and mastery that transcends the cast recording, which I would recommend giving a listen to before seeing the performance - HERE, music and lyrics sounding like “Twisted Sister” meets “Monty Python,” with a big “Parental Advisory” needing to be slapped on something here. Emma Hunton’s performance is a tour de force, and I believe she has the most physical role in the show. She goes through numerous vocal changes that must wreak havoc on her voice by the end of the night, she belts out several power rock songs, and does a variety of gymnastic maneuvers, including one in the second act that is a la “Cirque du Soleil.” Actress Gabby Sanalitro is an utter delight as she seems to be possessed by the ghost of the neighborhood as she simultaneously channels the spirits of Fyvush Finkel/Zero Mostel and Lenny Bruce. The entire cast maintains an infectious high level of energy that leaves one wondering if it is wrong to feel this good by the end of the show.

The production designs and props are perfect for the jokes, sublime, yet minimalistic. The lighting was perfect in enhancing the performances and accentuating the jokes. There were times I wondered how they might achieve a certain scene and loved the execution with simple and clever props and designs. The costume designs were suited to the controlled chaos of the performance, clearly not Broadway costumes, but delightful touches to the tone and atmosphere of the moment.

EXORCISTIC: THE ROCK MUSICAL is a wickedly delightful treat perfect for the Halloween season. Having recently come away disappointed by the new Exorcist film, this take on the bawdy irreverent send up of the material left made for an excellent evening of theater. This big blasphemous, bodacious rowdy rock musical parody is not for the faint of heart, so be prepared to get your demon exorcized and your evening rocked.

Each night there will be a different special guest performer who will be played by: Marissa Rosen (For the Girls, Water for Elephants, Modern Love) Nick Cearly (The Skivvies, You’re a Good Man Charlie Brown) Jillian Schiralli (CATS, now that’s what i call 90s) Gerard Canonico (Almost Famous, The Dude Ranch) Jordan Donica (Camelot, RENT, Hamilton) Jamie Cepero (SMASH, The Function) and more!

The Box, located at 189 Chrystie St (look for the velvet rope and the gentleman in the tux or you’ll miss it), with the doors opening at 6:30 pm (full bar on site to get you into the spirit of the evening) and the show starting promptly at 7:30 pm. Tickets can be purchased HERE.

Review By: Joseph B Mauceri

[hinge]

Hinge presents an anthology of love stories almost never told. Read more on https://no-ordinary-love.co

[quellmythirst]

House Hunting: Epilogue

Summary: It's been 6 months since everything happened. You and Billy have moved out of the city, needing some time alone and a fresh start in a town where no one knows you.

Pairing: Castle!Reader x Billy Russo

Words: 2.4k

Warnings: Fluff, smut, teasing, 18+ ONLY

Part 22

The morning sun filters through your small hotel window. Rolling over in the empty bed you blinked your eyes open, setting your eyes upon the beautiful snow capped mountains, the picturesque town beneath you and the handsome man holding a cup of coffee in your doorway.

“Mornin’, little girl,” Billy said, moving from his perch on the doorframe. His eyes scanned up along the short hemline of your silk nightdress as he approached, his teeth sinking down into his bottom lip.

“Morning, handsome,” you yawned, sitting back up against the headboard, your dress inching up your leg when you moved.

“You ready for today?” he asked, handing you your mug, wrapping his arm around your shoulders and leaning his head onto yours.

“Yes, I can't believe we're doing this,” you tried to sound as excited as you were, instead sounding half sleep.. After everything that had happened, the Feds started to investigate Rawlins, Frank suggested that you get out of dodge. You'd been staying in this town for a few weeks when you decided you'd like to stay a bit longer. The town was big, but felt small. Like a village but on a bigger scale. You'd rented a room in the local resort, though it felt more like a ski lodge to you. It was a perfect little hideaway for you both. You’d seen the posters for the winter festival coming up and you were keen to get settled into the town.

When Billy suggested running away to a small town in the pacific northwest, you were a bit apprehensive. It was so far from your family, but now that you were here you couldn't imagine being anywhere else, with anyone else.

“Where'd you go, baby?” Billy asked and you realised you had been lost in thought, staring absentmindedly out the window at the people walking by.

“Imagining how our new life is gunna go,” you nuzzled your head into his neck, sniffing at his cologne.

“I can't wait." he leant down to kiss your forehead, "We need to meet the real estate agent soon. Why don't you get ready and I'll make breakfast?”

//

The drive to the first house wasn’t long, the detached building sitting almost in the middle of town. Your rental car pulled up to the curb and your eyes bulged as you took in the colourful paint they had used on the exterior. Sure, hot pink looked good in theory, but why would anyone paint their whole house hot pink? The yellow and purple guttering was not doing the best job of accentuating the home's period features. "Just give it a chance," he whispered to you, taking your hand and helping you from the car.

Approaching the house, you linked arms with Billy and could see the real bones of the house. It was cute and in a less bright colour could really be something, but you were finding it hard to see past it.

“There ya are,” said the woman as she approached, “names Jess, I'll be showing you around today.” She said, opening the gate to the small picket fence that lined the border of the garden. The rose vines twirling up the arbor and along the fenceline, purple hydrangeas  jutting out below the porch. The colourful flowers dwarfed by the garish house.

“Nice to meet you,” shaking her hand, before looking up at Billy and seeing him mirror the excitement you felt in your bones. He laughed when he noticed a little skip in your step as you approached the house. 

You try to remain polite as Jess walks you through the violently colourful interior of the house. The bones seemed good, but would any amount of wallpaper or paint be able to cover this up? Tugging you close to him Billy's peers down at you, noticing your apprehension.

“This sure is something,” he said to Jess sarcastically, pointing out the orange tiles around the fireplace.

“Yeh, sorry,” she sighed, “I just have to show you this one, it's on the list. If you want to have a look around I’ll wait outside,” she offered, pointing towards the back of the house, “You’ll want to see that, maybe take a picture,” she laughed to herself before heading back out the door. 

“What do you think?” your hand slid down Billy's arm to take his hand, dragging him behind you as you head towards the kitchen.

“Haven’t we seen enough of this?” he groaned, the colours hurting his eyes. The only thing keeping him sane was your hand in his.

“No, I want to see what she was-” you stopped dead in your tracks at the sight of the kitchen.

“What?” Billy said stepping up behind you, his eyes locked on your ass instead of the sight before you.

“Holy fuck,” you can’t stop staring, "this- No wonder the house was so fucking expensive." The large floor to ceiling windows seemed like a painting, the lush green forest sprawling out before you, the crisp blue sky littered with clouds. It was perfect. 

“Holy fuck is right,” Billy’s arm encircled your waist, his strong legs pressing into you as he begins to walk you forward, towards the kitchen counter. Your hips pressed into it, his hands on you when he grinds into you. 

“Ow,” you shouted when the spikey cabinet handle stabbed into your thigh.

“Little girl,” he growled, lifting you up on the counter, “Show me where it hurts,” his soft lips pressing into the inside of your knee.

“Here,” pouting you pointed to the red mark.

“Poor little thing,” he cooed, kissing his way up your legs, taking a large inhale, “Fuck, you smell good.”

“Billy, she’s outside,” you tried to push him off you, but he was so much stronger. Trapping your wrists in his large hands and pinning them to your side. 

“You saying no to me?”

“Yes, what if she comes in?” your panicked eyes darting towards the door when you hear a creak.

“Well,” he said, standing and helping you down from the counter, “We better get going then,” his hand slapped into your ass before he leant down to whisper in your ear, “You can make it up to me later,”

“When we’re alone,” 

“Yes, little girl,” his hand squeezed on your ass, his breathe skating along the line of your throat, “When I get you alone,”

You arrived at the next house with a bit of trouble. It was a lot further out of town than the last and Billy had almost crashed the car when your hand landed on his thigh, inching closer and closer. Until your fingers brushed along his growing length. Billy said nothing, his hips thrusting up into your hand when you pressed down. “Wow, look at that,” you said, removing your hand and looking out the window. The house was adorable, a cute little white cottage set into the surrounding forest. Vines covering the exterior walls, the garden full of evergreens, ferns and trees littering the large yard. A winding stone path leading through the overgrowth towards the tiny cabin.

“You’re going to pay for that,” Billy snipped, yanking you back into the car for a harsh kiss.

“Hope so,” you winked, before running up towards Jess, who was rolling her eyes at you both when he started to chase you up the path.

Jess opened the double front doors when you reached the top of the stairs. Both of you panting as Billy’s arm wrapped around you. “Got you,” he whispered, his teeth nibbling on your earlobe.

“Umm..” Jess said, trying her best to not look and encourage you through the large wooden doors.

“Sorry, miss,” Billy apolosiged, snaking his fingers down your arm and taking your hand in his, “Show us the house,” 

Your eyes nearly left your body as you step inside. The vaulted ceiling made it seem massive, the large open area sectioned off by a couch and the granite island. It was somehow bigger on the inside, it looked so tiny on the street. How could it be this big?

“You can see here, all hardwoods are original,”. She continued to point out the architectural features of the home as you and Billy strolled through, mostly focusing on the lush trees that surrounded it. His hand holding you close as you ooh and ahh your way through the home. The fretwork framing the doorways at the back and the large corridor that led down towards the bedrooms. The kitchen seemed brand new, the large wooden benchtops just what you had always dreamt of. It was adorable, a perfect little hideaway, you were falling in love with this house.

Your eyes caught sight of something out of the window, a small deer peaking its way through the dense forest. Fuck, this house was like a fairytale. 

“Bet I could bend you over that counter, little girl,” Billy whispers, “It’s the perfect height,” you feel a shiver run down your spine, shit. You needed to get him alone.

“Yeh, right”, Jess said, tapping away on her phone, pretending she hadn't heard that, “that's not even the best bit,” she walked down a corridor opening up the doors to the master bedroom and you could see what she meant. The large glass doors led out into a patio covered in wisteria and ivy, snow gently falling onto the space. Your eyes lit up at the possibilities, morning coffees shared after a long night of fucking, late nights laying out under the stars. Billy hugs you a tight, knowing the look on your face meant you were pleased. 

“If you just turn around,” Jess indicated with her pen behind you. 

“What could be better than this?” you whispered in disbelief, as you watched the wisteria collect snow. You let out a squeal when Billy picks you up by the waist, your legs flying out from beneath you and you let out a gasp when you see the large clawfoot tub. The dark tiles accentuating just how long and deep it was, the sides of it almost coming up to your hip.

“Big enough for two,” Billy breathed in your ear, “could clean all those dirty thoughts you have in that head of yours baby,” he teased, his long fingers pinching you on the ass.

“Is there a catch?” you asked, hoping to distract yourself from what Billy's hands were doing.

“Yeh, it's chill,” she shrugged, “it's just super far away from town and noone wants to be out here,”

“Is that all?” he didn’t sound convinced, “Did someone die here or something?”

“Probably, it’s an old house, that an issue?”

“Don’t think so,” he raised an eyebrow at you, trying to read your mind while your hands clung to his biceps.

“Wouldn’t be the first time,” you shrugged, indifferent. If it was haunted, well you did need friends in this town. Even if they were dead.

“What you thinking?” he asked, letting go of you so you could take a closer look.

“I love it, Billy. It’s like a fucking dream,” 

“Let's get it then, little girl,” he winked, leaning against the wall as he watched you spin around the room with glee.

“Are you sure, it's so expensive?” you stopped on the spot, you didn’t really have an income at the moment. Just the money Billy had stashed offshore and the money you had saved from your few months at ANVIL. Which you guessed was actually Billy’s anyway.

“Nothing too expensive for my little girl. Plus with Erica running ANVIL, we’re still getting paid,”

“We?”

“Yeah, baby. We. It’s our money,” you squealed at that admission, fuck he was so sweet.

“So?” Jess asked, reminding you that you still had company.

“We’ll take it!” You said jumping up into Billy's arms and wrapping your legs around him. You kissed him so hard that Jess ended up leaving, after reminding you to lock up on your way out.

“Finally got you alone, little girl,”

“I think you mean I finally got you alone Daddy,” you winked, “What do you wanna test out first?”

“The island?”

“Read my mind,” he smirked, tightening his grip on your ass as he started walking towards the kitchen. His nose buried in your neck, your hands combing through his hair, while your pussy ground down onto him.

The wood was cold against your ass when he set you down, his warm hands pulling your panties down your legs torturously slow. Your own hands making quick work of the buckle of his belt and button of his pants, your fingers encasing his cock. You glided your hand down slow, drawing him closer to your aching pussy, “Need you inside me,” you moaned as his teeth sank into your throat.

“Beg for it,” he said in that cool tone that made your bones quake, he leant back, watching your small hand pump his big cock, “Did you hear me?” he took your wrist, removing your hand from himself, “Beg,”

“Please, Daddy, please,” you pleaded, inching yourself closer to him, your ass almost falling off the counter, “Need you to fuck me. Need you to fill me up,”

“Such a good baby for me,” he praised you, “Lay down,” when your head hit the counter you felt his cock slide into you, inch by delicious inch, he stretched you. Your hand still ensnared by his wrist, hitting the bench beside your head and the wonderful burn filled you from every angle, as he plunged deep into your pussy.

“Fuck, YEs!!” you cried, your nails digging into his back, leaving red streaks in their wake. His fingers snaked up from their clutching hold on your wrist to twine your fingers together beside your head. Your eyes meet as he pounds into you, the tender and loving gaze a stark difference to the almost feral way he was fucking you.

“Fuck, you’re so perfect for me,” he panted, “Such a tight little pussy,” he lifted your leg wrapping one around his waist so he could fuck deeper into you.

“Billy, please- FuC-,” you moaned, your eyes rolling back into your head, your body started to shake and you could feel your orgasm approaching.

“Be a good girl and keep your leg there,” he instructed you when he let go of it. You couldn’t, they were too shaky, too heavy, how did he expect you to? “Aww, to exhausted already little girl?” he teased in his low raspy voice, hooking your knee over his elbow and leaning down, “Guess we’ll just have to do this the hard way,” your leg pressing almost all the way back when his hand came around our neck, “Fuck, I’m so deep in you, can you feel that?” he ground into you and your brain became scrambled, his body brushed past your clit while his hand closed around your throat. Your pussy pulsating and dripping, “You gone all dumb on me? Answer the question,” his hand tightened on your neck.

“Yes, fuck! I’m clos- Please,” you cried, thrusting back up into him. Grinding your clit into him, “kiss me,” you begged, unable to move your head. He leant down, sucking your lip into his mouth, his tongue lathing over it. “Please, more,”

“You're too sweet, little girl,” he kissed you like he wanted to devour you, like being this close wasn’t ever going to be close enough. He wanted to be inside you forever, to have you like this always. Dumb and drunk on his cock, begging and begging for more. With that sweet, stupid little smile on your face, like you didn’t have a care in the world.

TagList:

@imperio-peetata @fictional-hooman@profoundme444 @nikki-sixx-is-daddy @musicalggirl @spear-bearing-bi-witch @mrs-billyrussooo @pedropascalfanclub @blackbirddaredevil23

@eginv-blog @skyfallingstartaylorsversion @emmamooney @nyctophiliiiaa @lyn07 @duchessoftheheart @restingbitchsblog

[blackbat05]

See You Again (Part 2)

Frank Castle x Reader

A/N: I did not expect this idea to hit me but here I am! Enjoy!

Genre: PG-13

Notes: K-dramas really giving me all those ideas! Part 1 HERE

Tags: @crazycookiecrumbles @wint3r-h3art (For giving me the idea of Part 2!)

I really love this drama ok don’t @ me

***

'The streets are a mess.' Foggy slides the door shut, wiping sweat off his face.

'High ranking officials have been shot left and right,' Matt seethes. 'What? I'm stating the facts as it is.'

Karen shakes her head at the two men, sitting with you at the dining table.

Three years had passed and things had only changed for the worse. Corrupted individuals had swarmed their way into the positions of their assassinated predecessors. Life had suffocated those who did not wield money, status, or power.

You've seen the newspaper that Foggy brings back every day. The unforgiving gaze of William Rawlins as soldiers stand beneath him, willing to be a pawn in his quest for supremacy.

At least Frank will no longer be blamed for those murders.

Rapid knocking could be heard outside the kitchen. Matt puts a finger to his lips, telling everyone to stay quiet. Standing beside the door, Matt pauses for a few seconds before opening the door.

'Jess, Luke,' Karen comes to greet the familiar faces. 'What are you doing here? We aren't supposed to meet until next month.'

The pair exchange glances before Jessica speaks up.

'Rawlins and Russo. They'll be at the town hall in two days.'

***

'I'm going. Don't try to stop me.'

'Y/N, if Rawlins sees you-'

'He'll kill me? He already did.' You respond soullessly, checking your ammunition. Karen remains silent.

'You of all people should know that I wasn't living for all these years. The least that you could do is to let your comrade go down fighting. Frank may have been forgotten but I'm going to clear his name.'

As you left the room, Karen runs a hand through her hair in frustration, retreating to her room soon after. It was best to get some rest.

She was going to need it.

***

A group of uniformed men marched in unison, but at the right pace to keep a distance from the two men leading the pack.

'Castle?' The first man questions, clearly impatient.

'I've taken care of him, sir.' Billy Russo reassures his superior who only becomes tenser. 'My men are searching everywhere for any sign of the rebels. Including his wife.'

Rawlins grunts. 'I do not want those meddling, good for nothing rebels in my way. Do you understand me, Russo?'

'Every bit of it sir.'

The group finally reaches the town hall amongst the prying eyes of merchants and buyers. Rawlins removes his coat, passing it to the soldier beside him.

He doesn't say anything, but Billy knows that he has to do this right. There was no more room for another mistake-

'BANG!'

Billy's foot flinches backward, as a soldier falls. The bullet hole has caused the blood to seep through his uniform, covering his chest in record time.

More gunshot sounds follow, breaking up the crowds and adding to more confusion.

'RUSSO DO SOMETHING! DON'T JUST STAND THERE!' Rawlins roared at him, taking cover behind a cart.

Billy follows suit, finding shelter behind an abandoned stall. The shot had come from above, so Billy starts his search from higher ground.

Then he sees it. Someone on the nearby roof.

***

You reloaded your rifle, pointing it in the same direction where Rawlins had stood.

No more chances, you were going to trap him like a rat in the cage.

Two shophouses away, you see Karen perched on the rooftop with her own weapon, taking out two soldiers with ease.

Now, it was time to nip it in the bud.

Moving from your position, you gained momentum to jump towards the next rooftop for a better shot at Rawlins.

It happened all too quickly.

A jolt of pain shoots up you right leg, causing you to lose balance. Stumbling off the roof, you prepared for the imminent impact.

Crashing onto a display of fruits, you find yourself lying in an awkward position.

Red substance starts to seep from under your leg and you are unsure if it’s the cherries that you had smashed from the fall or your own blood.

Panic slowly takes over as your priority is now to get as far away as you can. Who were you kidding? You were no good with this mangled leg.

Shouting could be heard from afar. You didn’t have much time left before the enemy would descend on you.

Should you crawl to the nearest shelter you could find? But merchants and residents alike were rushing inside, shutting their doors against you. Perhaps you should bite your tongue? But you didn’t even have enough strength to blink.

‘There she is!’

You turn your head weakly to the side, seeing the group of soldiers jostling past the remaining group of stragglers, making their way towards you at an alarming pace.

Is this how you were going to die?

Multiple shots rang out in succession, causing the soldiers to fall like dominos. Despite your blurry vision, you could make out the familiar masked figures dropping in on the remaining flustered soldiers.

Luke and Matt do efficient work, wiping out the opposition with minimal effort. A third figure that you are unable to identify makes their way over, carefully picking you up.

‘We got this, get out of here.’ Matt addresses the unidentified individual.

Fatigue starts to win as your eyes start to droop. You don’t bother to fight it. If Matt trusted them, you could too.

If only you weren’t this helpless.

***

‘Thank you. I’ll let you know if I need help again.’

He bows in gratitude to the sympathetic old woman from the medicinal hall who leaves soon after to give the two of you privacy.

Frank sits beside your bed, taking your hand in his. Deep in slumber, you looked like you didn’t have a care in the world. He wished that it would stay this way, he wished it would be under better circumstances.

‘Don’t you regret it?’

‘Regret what?’

‘Marrying me. You could have been living a comfortable life with a rich noble or something. Not having to be on the run with me.’

You snort at the choice of his words, adjusting the position of your body to move closer to him.

‘If I were to be a flower, I don’t want to be displayed in vase. I want to burn brightly, before wilting away.’

Frank lowers his head, letting a tear fall onto his hand that is still holding you. He doesn’t want you to see him shed tears of regret.

A small groan pushes him out of his misery. You slowly blink open your eyes, adjusting to the artificial lights.

You stared at the calling, registering that you were probably at the medicinal hall that was one of the Defender’s hideouts.

Moving slowly to quell your nauseousness, you see Frank hovering over your bed, a concerned look plastered over his scruffy features.

‘Must be the painkillers,’ you mumbled. ‘No way this is real.’

Frank can only stare at you, waiting for you to come back to your senses.

You see the ring on his finger and the fog starts to clear from your brain. ‘So this isn’t a dream?’

Your husband gives a watery chuckle. ‘Hey princess.’

You forget that you are probably high on painkillers as you falter in trying to push yourself up. Frank rushes over, catching you right before you fall sideways.

Feeling the familiar touch of his hand on your waist, you are sure that you haven’t gone insane.

‘I saw your body… I thought Russo killed you…’

You’re unable to process the current situation so you do what was the next best thing. Hands curled into fists, you launched an assault on Frank’s chest, hitting it repeatedly.

‘I THOUGHT YOU WERE DEAD YOU JERK! I STAND BY YOU ALL THIS WHILE AND YOU REPAY ME BY MAKING ME THINK YOU WERE DEAD FOR THREE YEARS?’

Frank doesn’t bother to stop you. He figures it was best to let you vent out your anger that was starting to die down.

To hell with your injury as you launched yourself towards him for a hug.

‘Please don’t do that again,’ you whimpered into his shoulder. ‘I don’t want to relieve those years again.’

A man of little words, Frank only hugs you tighter, afraid of letting you go again.

At least not in this lifetime.

There are so many things he wants to tell you. Most importantly, that he’s sure he can clear his name and stop the tyranny of Rawlins.

For now, Frank wills his mind to slow down. There was no need to rush. He wasn’t going anywhere. It can wait.

As he helps you to lie back down, you hold his wrist as a silent plea.

He wasn’t going to make the same mistake again. Caressing your tear-stained cheek gently, Frank says it almost in a whisper, as if it was only for you to hear.

‘I’m here. I’ll always be here.’

***

A/N: Last part to round things up? God this was so impromptu but hope you liked it! We shall see how things goes (when I meant things I meant my brain lmao)

[hageny]

Succession Thoughts: Gerri x Roman 

AN: Credit goes to @thinkingfixatingobsessing​ for the idea for point number one in this post. Also, this post is my lengthiest yet, but I promise it’s worth the read, lol.

1. Come Over?

This moment between Roman and Gerri is a small one, but presents an interesting thread that starts in this episode--Vaulter--and gets threaded into their phone sex scene in Safe Room. During his time working through the documents and foundations of Vaulter, Roman is stuck in the middle of the proxy battle and feeling the heat of the moment, which comes to a head in this scene. We see him wrestling with himself about what to do, throwing his phone a pathetic glance, hesitating, and then finally deciding to call Gerri for help. He divulges to her that he essentially has no clue what to do and throws out a weak ‘pivot to video’ idea that Gerri instantly reminds him was tried by the Vaulter team already and presumably fell flat. Finally, Roman breaks and asks her meekly, “Can you just come over? I want you in the room.” This is interesting because it is one of the first scenes where the show establishes the fact that Roman seeks out Gerri for comfort. This, of course, comes on the heels of their trip to Japan, so we can deduce that Roman has realized that Gerri could’ve screwed him but didn’t, and sees how he was exposed to her nurturing side when he needed it most. What’s interesting is how the dialogue in this scene mimics what comes later. He first asks her for her help, and when she balks at his request, he immediately says, “Yeah, could--yeah--fuck you!” and hangs up on her. The move from gentle and comforting to caustic is an interesting one, but it’s fascinating because for once it isn’t built into the scene to showcase that Roman needs degradation to achieve sexual pleasure. Here, he flies off the handle at Gerri, but when we think about this scene the reason why is obvious and not tied to sex: Roman gets angry because in his one weak moment the response he receives is not the sympathetic one he wants, and so he pivots back to caustic to shield himself later on. He knows that should Gerri brings this up later he can tell her he was fucking with her and didn’t mean it, but in truth, he did mean it--he did want her and need her, and Gerri didn’t understand this, and was too busy with things on her end to meet him where he needed her. Part of Roman’s hang ups, sexually, are tied to the degradation he experienced as a child, but there is also a link between his need for degradation and his realization that he never got the comfort he needed, so seeking insult was easier. He is a walking example of the quote, "All attention is good attention.” Because Roman never received the comfort he desired, he shields himself from rejection by pretending to be hardier than what he is and striving to be insulted, because to him, at this stage, it’s all the same. He could get a hug, but getting walloped and getting off are faster so he settles for that instead. This thread is later carried into the ‘shirt-button’ scene in Hunting, where Gerri walks up to Roman’s room to look in on him. Now, she has the understanding of him that is necessary to respond appropriately, and instead of berating him for being a mess she comforts him, and he responds not by pushing her away but accepting her gentility, however brief. Roman doesn’t so much need humiliation to get off--he only needs it because it’s all he thinks he deserves, and it’s served him well enough so far. It’s the key to his inability to have sex with his other girlfriends: it’s not that he can’t, it’s that sex requires intimacy and sensitivity, and Roman isn’t close enough to himself emotionally to comfortably tap into these feelings and deliver. 

2. Rejected.

As I’m re-watching the series in preparation for Season 3, there is a thread which is established early on between Kendall and Gerri that begins in Lifeboats and is expounded upon later in the show. We see Kendall at the helm of Waystar during Logan’s absence as he makes his infamous ‘Lifeboats’ speech, gathering his team together and asking for their help in moving Waystar into the future, inviting them to pool their ideas and deliver them to him, essentially attempting to depart from his father’s style of management by ostensibly establishing an ‘open door policy’ with his team. This move, however, is ironic, as immediately after this scene we have the scene between himself and Gerri, pictured above. Really, in hindsight, Kendall is as manipulative as Logan, but he is weaker in the sense that he is not as combative openly, and therefore comes across as a softer, better version of his father, which isn’t always true to his nature. We see Gerri follow Kendall after the meeting and tell him, “I want to talk options to you, okay? I’ve got some thoughts I’ve been working on for a long time--”. Kendall immediately interrupts her and replies, “I don’t want the sloppy seconds, Gerri. I’m taking five to think big.” When she presses the issue again, promising that she has some good ideas, he flat out rejects her without even listening to her, and it is here where we see shades of his father in himself. It’s also what makes Gerri’s manipulation of Kendall easier later on. We can deduce that this is not the first time that Gerri has been pushed to the sidelines by one of the Roy family members, and at a time when help is sorely needed--and on the heels of Kendall openly asking for it--he outright rejects Gerri’s and essentially makes it clear to her that her help is second-rate help--only useful to him when it can get him out of a tight squeeze, but not so useful that he believes her worth listening to when the stakes are higher. This ties into her relationship with Roman as well. While Roman is always showcased as being the one who needs her, if we pay attention we can clearly see that Gerri’s need for him is equal to his. Gerri has been a part of Waystar for decades--at one point in Pre-Nuptial commenting to Kendall that she and Frank are reminiscing about their first visit to Caroline’s estate in 1986--making her one of the most senior members of staff. But what she has--it is implied--never had is someone who genuinely valued her ideas and her input. This is also what she gets from Roman. She tells him to do something, he does it. She throws an idea out, he listens. He becomes her voice, often using the phrases, “Gerri thinks” or “Gerri says” during Season 2. Through Roman, we hear Gerri, and through Gerri we see Roman’s potential. They carry each other. Roman is always depicted by his family as being stupid, and yet who was smart enough to seek out advice from the one person with the most experience at Waystar aside from Logan? Not his siblings. Because they believe they know better, their ego will be their downfall. 

3. In Logan’s Shadow.

In Sad Sack Wasp Trap, we see shades of Gerri’s eventual betrayal of Kendall begin to take shape. Having tasted his first drops of power, real power, Kendall’s ego immediately starts to swell in little ways. We hear him telling Jess that he wants to do a run on the late-night TV circuit, having gotten the idea while traveling in L.A. Gerri reacts to this with disbelief, and Kendall retorts, “What does that mean? I was fuckin’ king of the Lampoon.” Kendall’s use of the word ‘king’ is used to purposefully emphasize the way he has begun to see himself--finally in the position he desired for so long, finally out of his father’s sphere of influence. His high is interrupted by Jess’ telling him that his father has dropped into the office and wants to see him. When Kendall asks Gerri if she knew about this, she denies this, but when he says, “Shouldn’t he have told you?” all she does is shrug coolly in his direction. This begs the question: did Gerri really not know? On the surface, it seems obvious she didn’t, but we have to consider that this moment comes right after Kendall’s complete disregard for her in the previous episode. Gerri’s motivation to help Kendall would be at a fairly low point, and what could be more amusing to her than to watch him fall flat on his face so quickly again, especially considering Logan’s outrage at Kendall’s decision to bring Stewy in to help their debt issue. Maybe she genuinely didn’t know, but given what she does later on, it would seem pertinent to wonder. 

4. Take the piss.

Later in Sad Sack Wasp Trap, Kendall finds out that his father has pissed on his carpet and brings Roman, Gerri, and Frank in to assess and discuss the situation. He starts by lecturing them about what could happen if people knew Logan had done this, pointing out that this bit of knowledge could spear the company’s already flagging public persona, and trying to use that as a way to keep his father from attending the RECNY ball. He tries to drop the responsibility for fixing the situation into Gerri’s hands, telling her she needs to talk to Logan and tell him that if he intends to come back he has to do so via the proper avenues, and that he can’t just show up on a whim. Gerri listens for a while, and eventually delivers a barb that is subtle but effective. She asks Kendall, “What did you do, Kendall, when you realized he’d done this?”, referring to Logan’s pissing incident. Kendall immediately falters, stuttering that he didn’t want to embarrass his father in front of Stewy and basically admitting he did nothing. The camera sweeps over her and Roman’s faces, and they give Kendall the same look, suggesting they are disappointed but not surprised at his ineffectiveness. This moment also mirrors what Roman does later in Vaulter, undercutting his brother in front of his father to get the result he wants. The point of Gerri’s remark is to showcase her opinion of him. To Gerri, Kendall is nothing but a papa’s boy with a golden spoon in his mouth, someone who wants the power but is unwilling to work for it. And who can really blame Kendall? Considering the way his father treats him, he has learned from Logan that working is one thing, but using a by-way to get to the top faster is better, and he attempts to see this come to fruition by taking control of a company he is ill-equipped to lead. Gerri’s disgust for Kendall is fairly obvious, but to Kendall’s great misfortune, he is a swimmer in a shark tank, completely out of his league in her waters. She is faster than him, more subtle, more cunning, and lacking in conscience enough that when she disposes of him later she feels no remorse. Kendall has bad traits but he is overall not a bad character, and we see his better parts shine when he is not chasing power. But to Gerri, his better characteristics are a moot point. She undercuts him later once again, and we see how she delights in what she’s doing, how his weakness and trusting nature to her are disgusting, and if anything make it easier for her to do what she does. While Roman makes her prove herself equal, playing with her, seeing if she can give back what he puts out, Kendall takes for granted her abilities, wanting only a menial servant, and sees himself eaten alive. 

5. I Will Guide Thy Hand.

During the RECNY ball, we find out--via Connor--the Kendall has plans to make a retirement announcement in Logan’s presence, allegedly so he can usurp the throne for himself. Though Kendall later denies this, we do know that he does not want his father to speak at the ball. Allegedly, this is out of ‘good will’, his concern for his father and the company mainly influencing his decision, but truthfully Kendall is also motivated by a desire to take hold of a position his father always had at the ball--as a speaker--and be on the receiving end of the adoration Logan is so used to. He wants to be seen by the public the way his father is: competent, powerful, totally in control; he also knows that there is a chance that Logan will declare himself CEO again, knocking Kendall from his throne--which eventually comes to fruition. Gerri knows this, is smart enough to intuit why Kendall is afraid, and is calm when Kendall once again comes to her for assistance, wanting her to handle his father. Unlike earlier, she doesn’t throw any barbs his way. She calmly promises to talk to Logan about his supposed speech and to try to dissuade him--while not so convincingly claiming she knew nothing about the speech at all to begin with. Instead of doing what she promised, she walks over to Logan and simply tells him, “Good luck tonight. Gonna knock it out of the park.” She gives him the motivation he needs to move forward with his plans, especially at a point where his health is so precarious. Gerri knows this, knows Logan well enough to understand that a little reassurance will ensure that Logan will do as planned and follow through with his decision. We see her later in the episode watching the whole thing play out during Logan’s speech, a self-satisfied smirk on her face, already knowing the end from the beginning. What we’re witnessing is the blooming of the flower on the end of the thread that started when Kendall disrespected her in Lifeboats. All he had to do to save himself was listen to Gerri, and yet he chose not to, believing he knew better than her how to reposition Waystar and lead the company into the future. He, who has been to rehab, fallen prey to his addictions and vices, and only played in the big leagues when he wanted to while Gerri--and the other members of Waystar--had to be there regardless of the circumstances in their personal lives. Again we can’t solely blame Kendall--he is the person his father has allowed him to be. We can also see that what Kendall lacks is the thing that makes Gerri so capable of remaining in power--detachment. Gerri is emotionally detached enough to do her job well and not worry about what amoral things she does to maintain her position of power. This is another trait she shares with Roman, who, after hearing how beleaguered the employees of Vaulter are, still guts the company and costs them their jobs without a second thought to the damage he is doing. With regard to her relationship with Kendall, for Gerri destroying him is not only easy but pleasurable. She knows that Kendall stupidly trusts her, and will remain none the wiser to her duplicitousness, and so she operates in the background, doing what she can to ensure he will lose what is so precious to him because of her--all while believing she did what she could to help him. This theme reminded me of the movie The Witch, hence the title of this particular post. Thomasin ends up in the hands of the Devil at the end, and--believing he will give her what she wants--she gives her soul to him. Like Kendall, she doesn’t realize that the person who is giving her what she wants is really taking everything, and she, like Kendall, is left with nothing in the end. Am I comparing Gerri to the Devil? Only superficially. She is certainly not totally like Satan, but from what we see here, she has the ability to operate like him: swiftly and maliciously. 

[phantomwritezstuff077]

The Runt - Billy the Kid

Warnings: gunshots, Jesse Evans existing is his own trigger warning

Chapter Thirteen

The next morning Laurie was sitting on the fence of the small horse pen, watching a few of the guys play baseball as Artax stood by her, gently nuzzling her with a nicker. His brown eyes were still the softest and kindest looking things Laurie had ever laid her eyes on, she believed that this horse truly understood her, knew how she was feeling. Her arm was feeling better, it just hurt a lot whenever she moved it a certain way and she needed to change the bandage every now and then, but she was okay, mostly.

A gunshot sounded from the top of the hill, catching everyone’s attention and causing Laurie to jump and fall backwards, falling right in front of Artax with a grunt as all the guys rushed over to the fence, grabbing their own rifles before taking aim at a few riders trotting down the hill. Billy made sure he was deliberately standing in front of Laurie to make sure she was shielded from any crossfire if this was an attack.

“Jesse, it’s me, Baker!,” one of the riders called as he and his buddy came trotting over on their horses, Laurie immediately identified both of the horses as mustangs. 

“Hold your fire, hold your fire!,” Jesse demanded, making everyone lower their guns as Laurie climbed back over the fence. She was curious as to what was going on but she was also wary, she didn’t know these unfamiliar men. Jesse walked over to the man as he and his friends pulled their horses to a stop. “Fellas, allow me to introduce you to a very old friend of mine, Frank Baker.”

Artax pinned his ears as he snorted, pawing at the ground from the pn, he clearly didn’t like this Frank Baker guy, and if Artax didn’t trust somebody, Laurie didn’t either. The teenager stuck close to Billy, eying Frank like a spooked doe.

“Sure am happy to see all of you. Me and Jesse go back a while,” Frank said, “Always talked about going into business together. That’s why I’m here.” His eyes landed on Laurie. “Didn’t know you guys were accepting runt girls now, too.”

Laurie looked at the ground. Great, another person in my life to call me that, the young teenager thought. Billy shot Frank a look, oh, if only looks could kill. Frank seemed to completely ignore Billy’s glare and he continued to speak, “We have an opportunity for you boys, and girl, opportunity to make a great deal of money, as well as have some fun.” 

Frank sat up from his horse as his little business offer continued. “You know, I know you need to quit this place. I read the papers. And I also think that you need the money to put some meat on that kid’s bones, too.” His gaze averted to Billy, who was standing next to Laurie and often looking at her to check in and see if she was okay. “I understand that you’ve got William Bonney here with you.”

“Yeah, I’m here,” Billy confirmed, looking back at Frank. “And that ‘runt’ as you call her has a name, it’s Laurie.”

Frank tied his reins to his saddle horn and dismounted, removing his riding gloves as he slowly approached Billy, who instinctively tucked Laurie behind him, keeping his blue eyes trained on Frank. 

“It sure is a real pleasure to meet you,” Frank said as he shook hands with Billy, “We’ve all heard a lot about you. It’s my understanding that the kid behind you has been your travel buddy.”

Billy didn’t say anything as Jesse glanced over at the interaction and Laurie could tell he wasn’t really happy. But she couldn’t figure out why exactly he seemed upset. Her train of thought was interrupted, however, after Jesse suggested that they go inside. However, Laurie didn’t follow, instead, she turned back to where Artax stood. The young stud seemed antsy, snorting and pawing at the ground, pretty much chomping at the non-existent bit in his mouth. Something was really bothering the quarter horse, Laurie wasn’t sure what it was, but whatever it was, it was something bad. 

A/N:

Super short chapter, sorry!

I haven't updated in a while omfg

Tag:

@slutforsnow

[mmikmmik2]

If you were to sort the Infinity Train cast(s) into the Major Arcana a la the Persona games, which Arcana would you give everyone?

anon I had SOOOOO much fun thinking about this, thank you so much for sending me this. I sorted all the major characters, plus a few other entries, based on a mix of Arcana symbolism, Persona series character archetypes, and general vibes. I came up with answers I feel pretty good about for all but four of the Arcana. (Was really tempted to say Strength is every human character who doesn't board the train because they can handle their problems on their own lol.) This is going to be a long-winded post, so I thought I’d post just the list as an image (which hopefully won’t be too blurry!) rather than wrestle with Tumblr formatting trying to make a short list, and put a big text wall under the readmore talking more about my picks.

If this list does end up illegible, the same info is under the readmore as text! Plus some characters for Magician, Strength, Justice, and Death that I didn’t want to add to the “official” list because they’re more based on headcanon. (Although my reasoning for some of the “official” picks is pretty weak lol.)

One-One as 0. The Fool

Oh my gosh, what am I?

IT is great at fleshing out character backstories and families, so One-One at the beginning of S1 is one of the few characters who really feels like a blank slate. He's got a lot of his baggage back by the end of the season, and I think One and One-One are more similar than they seem at first glance, but S1 does seem to have been very formative for One-One and how he thinks about what he's supposed to be doing and how he relates to other people. So it does kind of feel like his fool's journey.

Alrick Timmens as I. The Magician

The magician begins the journey... by beefing it on a dirt bike, dying, and sending his wife flying off the deep end. Rip.

Alrick was an engineer like Amelia, so I could see him suiting some of the themes of the Magician, like conscious thought and manifesting ideas. His apparent playfulness and insecurity are similar to the Magician characters in Persona.

Kez as II. The High Priestess

“We can’t make this decision for you, Kez.” “You know what to do.”

I thought really hard about making Kez the Magician because just like every Magician since Persona 3, she's dumb, horny, and insecure dlkjasfdkl

(and also her showing up at the start of the story arc and being helpful but also super needy is very Magician)

But the idea of "intuition" really does suit Kez. Sometimes her intuition is as bad as her conscious reasoning, but I think that's a lot because she's so confused about what happened with Jeremy, and Morgan making Kez feel like she did a bad thing by helping him.

Tuba as III. The Empress

She made me feel like I was warm all the time.

Tuba's a mom. Sorry, this one's not that deep, haha.

Simon Laurent as IV. The Emperor

Highest number! I'm the leader now.

Simon has a lot of issues, but the one that felt the most prominent to me was his unhealthy relationship with power, authority, dominance, and rules. Another quote I considered using here was what he said in Grace's memory of meeting Amelia: "I never thought I'd get to see the Conductor with my own eyes. He's perfect! Everything finally makes sense again." In his emotional crisis, he thought everything could be fixed just by the existence of a huge, scary, powerful, male authority figure, even if they weren't doing anything helpful or informative.

Atticus as V. The Hierophant

I like to think that our stones are sturdy and handsome, like the Corgis that crafted them.

Atticus is a figure of traditional authority who deeply loves the history, society, and culture of his people. He often provides spiritual wisdom and encourages Tulip to get out of her own head and engage with the world around her. Also in Persona, Hiero is the Dad Arcana so it's very funny to me (a) to make the little dog be Hiero and (b) that the little dog really does have the strongest Wholesome Dad Energy of the whole cast.

Jesse Cosay as VI. The Lovers

Don't tell me what to do. I'm not going to be a part of anything like this, on or off the train.

This was my first and easiest pick lol, Jesse is sooooo Lovers. Like, the focus on choice and personal values and relationships? Yep, that's Jesse. It works on an "actual meaning of the Arcana" level and a "vibes with the Persona characters" level lol... popular, upbeat, and having such an identity crisis.

Lake as VII. The Chariot

I'm my own person, who is getting off this train!

I don't know if Chariot captures all the ways Lake grew over the course of S2, but I feel like they had the most externally focused conflict of all the IT characters, which suits Chariot. They've been fighting to stake out their personhood from start to finish, and they took action and used their willpower to achieve that goal. Also they have at least a little jock energy which is a prereq for Chariot tbh.

Frank as VIII. Strength

I dunno, I kinda imagine him as a simple man and easily underestimated, but with a lot of heart. The Cat may say they're keeping things casual but I don't think she'd take him with her on her private vacation unless he had some kind of inner toughness that would let him stand toe-to-toe with her.

Morgan as IX. The Hermit

I need to be alone right now. Kez... maybe... we can talk later.

I like that Morgan embodies toxic self-isolation and stonewalling and rejection, but that she seems to be moving towards the positive aspects of Hermit and taking some time to calm down and process and think. I like it when characters can embody the best and worst of their Arcana.

Tulip Olsen as X. The Wheel of Fortune

We have to adapt to the changes in our lives. It's the only way things can get better.

Tulip has a lot of themes and conflicts, but this one is a clear standout as the most important. I also like it for Tulip because, while she has to handle a lot of difficult and even traumatic situations, some of the change that challenges her isn't as unambiguously bad as e.g. the death of a loved one. It really is just change itself she's struggling with, and that's Fortune babey. Also, from the perspective of the train itself and lots of other characters, by reversing Amelia and One-One's positions again and changing how One-One administrates the train, Tulip is the one giving the wheel a spin. That's fun.

Lucy as XI. Justice

One of my friends once described the Justice characters in Persona as "the ones the player character is ultimately accountable towards", and I like to think of Lucy as kind of being that for Grace (...since Hazel has excused herself). Lucy is the Apex kid we see Grace interact with the most, the first Apex kid Grace admitted to herself that she had harmed (see Grace very briefly showing distress and then regret when Jesse points the harpoons at his face and she stops him), and the first person to confront Grace when she came home in The New Apex.

Min-Gi Park as XII. The Hanged Man

I don't know if we'll sell a single album, but we'll figure that out as we go.

Min-Gi sacrifices his "realistic", "sensible" goals for a more personally (spiritually, even?) enriching life that's beyond his control and outside of the expected norm. Like the Hanged Man, who dangles foolishly upside-down, but as a deliberate choice and in a state of serenity and enlightenment. I also think this arcana suits a reading of Min-Gi's character development as starting off going slower as a way to stall and live in denial, but then going slower with deliberation. Compare his arrogant insistence on refusing to act in The Astro Queue Car to his patience and care in The Castle Car and The Train to Nowhere.

Jeremy as XIII. Death

This isn't about the death of his family - I'm thinking of his reluctance to admit his number was going down. He cared about Morgan and Kez, and it's possible both that he may have really wanted to stay with them despite his exit and that that might even have been a healthy choice - they're real ass people with feelings and everything, not holodeck characters. But I also think Jeremy was using his life with them to avoid moving on out of that fog (because it was hard and it hurt and he didn't want to think about what that would mean for him and Morgan) and Morgan was enabling him.

Ryan Akagi as XIV. Temperance

Maybe the experience is the point. I wasn't just rushing you. I was rushing myself.

I think this one speaks for itself. Also, the other quote I considered putting here, from The Art Gallery Car: "You told me I can't appreciate the song without taking in the rest of the album. I need the whole package."

The Cat as XV. The Devil

I always do the right thing.

Honestly, this is one I really wasn't sure about. The Cat isn't a great pick for a lot of the meanings of Devil. She is definitely consumed by material comforts, and the short-term rewards of ignoring her issues at a long-term cost, though. This is more of a "vibes with Persona characters with this arcana" pick... Devil characters tend to start off being somewhat exploitative or even antagonistic towards the player character, and gradually showing a more conflicted and genuine side.

Amelia Hughes as XVI. The Tower

There's a hole in the universe where Alrick used to be.

Amelia's life is defined by catastrophe and upheaval - both those she's suffered and those she's inflicted on others.

Hazel as XVII. The Star

I'm going to keep loving you like you're still here.

When I think of "The Star" as a small but inextinguishable light in the darkness, Hazel seems like the obvious choice. Although we left her deeply wounded, I think she still has a flicker of her hope, faith, and purpose.

Grace Monroe as XVIII. The Moon

But it's unfair for me to tell you how to understand yourself. I mean, I don't even fully understand me.

Grace is probably the most complex and dynamic character on the show and hence one of the most difficult to place. I considered Empress, Strength, Devil, and Judgement for her... I think ultimately, lies and illusions are the most unifying theme of her character arc. Also, from a Persona angle, her pursuit of status out of a lack of true self-worth reminds me of Ai and Mishima.

Alan Dracula as XIX. The Sun

Brought together by the majesty of a superpowered deer!

I'm sorry dkjasfklads this is largely because I thought it was funny to have this completely inexpressive dead-eyed deer as Sun akfk but also... like... it kind of works okay!!! Think about the genuine joy and comfort and positivity he brings to Lake and Jesse (and me)!

The New Apex as XX. Judgement

"Then what are we gonna be?" "Guess we'll have to figure it out?"

This is kind of a Persona mythology gag again because of Judgement being a group social link near the end of the narratives of P3 and P4, when the protagonists have pierced through the lies and actually figured out who the villain of their game is and are ready to really start making progress.

0 as XI. The World

Ah, train does it again!

It's an ending and the completion of a journey, but also the beginning of a new one. And the world is literally what the passengers receive at the end of their train journey. Welcome home.

[weclassybouquetfun]

Step right up and keep your arms inside the attraction as you take a journey down a South American river in search of adventure...

This is beginning to sound to much like “The Love Boat”. It’s not. It’s JUNGLE CRUISE

and it’s a grand bit of fun.  Helmed by Jaume Collet-Serra who has done some great, underrated films like Liam Neeson’s RUN ALL NIGHT, ORPHAN and HOUSE OF WAX (next up: BLACK ADAM);  JUNGLE CRUISE takes two actors who I feel can have chemistry with a bowl of tofu - Dwayne Johnson and Emily Blunt and throws them into this charming, nostalgic take on films past like “ The Mummy”, “Indiana Jones” (the early ones, not the bastardizations that keep coming) and another Disney franchise “Pirates of the Caribbean”,

Dr. Lily Houghton (Blunt), a scientist and her assistant/brother MacGregor (Jack Whitehall) are seeking the fabled Lily’s Tears of the Moon, a tree whose leaves are said to be a cure-all; something Lily needs to help make strides in medicine. A tree that conquistador Don Aguirre (Edgar Ramirez) and his men, lost their lives trying to find. 

The pair team up with Frank (Johnson), a skipper of a broken down boat  who is better at navigating the river than he is at telling jokes (which, in keeping with Disneyland’s actual Jungle Cruise are so corny they tumble over into being actually funny). 

But Lily, Macgregor and Frank aren’t the only ones seeking the tree. On their nautical heels is Prince Joachim (Jesse Plemons) who wants it for his own nefarious gains. 

We’ve seen this film before, many times but there is something comforting about how quaint it is. It’s fun, sweet and crowd pleasing and everything that film should be now and again. It won’t win awards or top any critics lists but it taps into the spirit of childhood imagination and adventure. 

And it’s great seeing Jack Whitehall dress like his dad. 

- Flashback to worlds colliding: Team “Mary Poppins Returns” (with Ben Whishaw’s husband) meets “Team Jungle Cruise”. 

If you’re a Jack Whitehall fan, see him now in “Jungle Cruise” because Paramount has pulled CLIFFORD THE BIG RED DOG from it’s September 17th release date due to concerns over the Delta variant and how it may affect box office. 

[jerakeenc]

many kidfics i’ve read and loved

look who’s reccing a million year old fics now. kidfics, very many. posted to dw for snowflake, thought I’d copy here as well. will be reading most, if not all. if you don’t hear from me again, this list is the culprit.

101 Ways To Get Lucky (In Love) by lenore

18,200 words | SGA, McKay/Sheppard

Rodney McKay is rich, gorgeous and at the top of his game—except someone just moved the goalposts! Now Rodney realizes he is sorely lacking the one status symbol that everybody seems to have…the perfect family. Rodney needs help, so he hires a relationship coach. Single-dad John Sheppard may be an expert, but not when it comes to his own relationships! And every day he spends with Rodney makes him wish that he could be the one to fill the vacancy in Rodney's life…

A Beautiful Lifetime Event by astolat

29,000 words | SGA, McKay/Sheppard

Life is what happens when you're busy making other plans.

An Earlier Heaven by regann

67,400 words | X-Men, Erik/Charles

In the wake of Cuba, Charles and his students are ready to pick up the pieces and work toward achieving Charles's dream of a safe haven for young mutants. Those plans, however, take a surprising turn thanks to a very unexpected complication. As he slowly builds a future for his students and for his child, Charles struggles with the loss of Erik and the secrets he's willing to keep to protect his family, but those strides are shattered when Erik makes a startling reappearance into his life. [mpreg, kidfic, ensemble]

And everything nice by noelia_g

30,200 words | Social Network, Mark/Eduardo

The one where Mark somehow ends up with a child and of course needs a nanny for the amount of time he spends at the office. Only problem is a string of nannys keep trying to get into his pants for what he assumes is his money. Cue Mark's assistant hiring a male nanny, enter Eduardo.

asking to be born by longtime_lurker

26,500 words | Bandom, Pete/Patrick

"Don't worry, it's probably just his big gay freakout," Andy yells cheerfully and unhelpfully into Patrick's ear as they're hustling Pete over to the nearest private clinic.

Better with You by harriet_vane

38,100 words | 1D, Liam/Louis

Based on this prompt at the kinkmeme:

Single parent and solo artist Liam Payne hires Louis Tomlinson to be a full time nanny to his four year old son Sammy. Although the two men don't quite click from the start it's love at first sight between Sammy and Louis. Eventually Louis and Liam warm up to each other and get on like a house on fire, in fact the two become a little too fond of each other.

I refuse to apologize for how sweet this ended up, okay? It's kidfic, I am forever writing kidfic, and this one is even kid-fic-ier than usual.

Can't Get Enough of You (Baby) by eternalbreath

22,100 words | Inception, Arthur/Eames

Eames vanishes from dreamshare and Arthur goes a little crazy looking for him until he stumbles across him -- with a baby.

Chelsea, Chelsea, I Believe by empathapathique

300,800 words | Hockey, Kane/Toews

Patrick meets a girl his rookie year.

Don't You Shake Alone by dsudis

62,180 words | Generation Kill, Brad/Nate

Nate looked exactly like Brad always pictured him: exhausted in the full life-in-a-combat-zone sense of the word.

Dude, what's a bulwark? by kellifer_fic

12,150 words | Teen Wolf, Derek/Stiles

Beacon Hills is the kind of small town where everybody knows everybody, and what everybody knows is that surly diner owner Derek Hale and free spirited single dad Stiles Stilinski have been in love with each other for years. If only they knew it too.

Every Other Beautiful World by rhiannonhero

43,280 words | SGA, McKay/Sheppard

Some things are unexpected but still inevitable in every beautiful world.

Forever, Now by harriet_vane

227,100 words | Bandom, Frank/Gerard, Jon/Spencer, Brendon/Ryan, Brian/Greta

Brian rescues kid!Gerard and Mikey from life on the streets, and eventually everyone finds a family.

here comes the sun by oflights

56,600 words | Social Network, Mark/Eduardo

This is a story about growing up, sad 70's rock songs, too much hair gel, "Maxwell's Silver Hammer", a baby with curly hair, a Geiger counter, a dog that isn't named Max, the Chicken Dance, Cheerios, pepper-spray, drugs, sex, and a stuffed chicken named Cluckerberg, nicknamed Cluck. or: Mark raises Sean's accidental baby, and I write the fluffiest thing ever.

I Got a Love (That Keeps Me Waiting) by svmadelyn

163,700 words | Hockey, Kane/Toews

There's a lot of different ways this summary could go, like:

Patrick Kane gets more than a gold medal in Sochi.

Or, the classic: It's too late to pull out now.

Or: Patrick Kane continues to thrive in high pressure situations.

Or: Patrick Kane gets knocked up, goes to White Castle, and finds love, not necessarily in that order.

But, ultimately, all that really matters is this: Patrick Kane is keeping his baby.

I Would Be by cathalin

20,290 words | American Idol, Kris/Adam

AU. Adam and Kris meet a few years down the road, when down-on-his-luck Kris and his young daughter Katherine show up to rent a room from Adam, who never made it to an Idol audition.

Ice Ice Baby by uraneia

51,340 words | Hockey, Claude/Danny

A gold medal isn't the only souvenir Claude brings home from Prague.

OR: The one where Claude gets drunk, gets pregnant, and gets convinced to move in with Danny, whom he's been secretly in love with for years. What could possibly go wrong?

my heart is bigger than the distance in between us by estrella30

15,000 words | 1D, Nick/Harry

Nick chuckles quietly but grabs the remote and follows Emma, Aimee coming up close behind him. It’s indeed Harry on the telly, singing along to his latest radio hit and smiling slowly into the camera far too seductively for half eight on a Friday morning, if you ask Nick. He presses the volume just in time to catch the crowd’s roaring applause and see the pink flush Harry’s cheeks. Nick watches him duck his head as he gives a small wave to the audience, and it hits Nick that Harry is still the most humble and appreciative billionaire Nick’s ever met.

Good job, popstar, Nick thinks to himself.

or, Nick is a single dad and Harry is his bff and it's a bunch of years into the future and they fall in love

Once Upon a Furry Octopus by skoosiepants

11,270 words | SGA, McKay/Sheppard

He was an intelligent, intuitive pet, but he wasn’t going to start sniffing out ZPMs or hidden Ancient weaponry or detailed instructions on how to kill a Wraith with a common household item. A pen, for instance.

Reconcilable Differences by astolat

40,000 words | Smallville, Clark/Lex

Luthor Family Values.

Shelter by harriet_vane

63,500 words | Social Network, Jesse/Andrew

From the kinkmeme prompt: Some sort of AU vaguely based on Shelter! For whatever reason, Jesse has to take care of Hallie and give up his dream of being an actor. He ends up working in a dead end job when former, now successful friend (Andrew) returns home. They fall in love, etc, only Jesse can't go away with him because he has a responsibility to his family. CUE ANGST.

Show Me The Way Back Home Baby by stilinskisparkles

15,000 words | Teen Wolf, Derek/Stiles

In which Lydia and Jackson produce the world's cutest baby, and the pack goes crazy-- the good kind of crazy. Except for Derek, who is afraid of tiny cute babies and Stiles who plans to be the best Uncle ever. Even if Danny called dibs on Godfather.

Skybird by windsweptfic

33,785 words | Inception/White Collar, Arthur/Eames

Arthur and Eames adopt a kid and raise that kid into Neal Caffrey.

Small Cells and Fibers by sevenfists

7,830 words | Bandom, Frank/Gerard

Tuesdays were finger-painting days. Frank made sure to wear his oldest pair of jeans, because even with his full-length apron and his constant reminders that paint belongs on paper and not on clothing, he always ended up with tiny, multi-colored handprints all over his clothes. There wasn't a thing he could do about it, so he just wore pants from 1995.

Small Primes and Square Roots by liviapenn

12,500 words | SGA, McKay/Sheppard

"I hope you picked someone really intelligent, otherwise it seems like it would be kind of a waste. Of incubation time, if nothing else."

So Wise We Grow by deastar

81,250 words | Star Trek Reboot, Kirk/Spock

"Commander Spock, we have located your son," the Vulcan lady on the screen says, which would be great, except Jim can tell by the look on Spock's face that he's never heard of this kid before in his life. "If it is expedient, the child will be sent to join you on the Enterprise within the week."

Something Better by lovelypoet

18,350 words | Bandom, Frank/Gerard

"We all have to take jobs we don't like sometimes, you know?"

The Next Time You Say Forever by Thistlerose

27,300 words | Star Trek Reboot, Kirk/McCoy

After his ex-wife's death, McCoy is forced to leave the Enterprise to look after his teenage daughter. Under normal circumstances, this would be the end of…whatever it is he has with Kirk that's more than friendship, but less than what he wants. But the universe has other intentions.

The Reeducation of Misters Kane and Toews by jezziejay

15,900 words | Hockey, Kane/Toews

In which Kaner sort of has a kid, and Mr. Toews doesn't know which of them is the bigger brat.

AU featuring teacher!Jon and hockey-player!Kaner. With bonus 'Hawks characters, love notes, pasta jewelry, Be Better Pizzas, pirouettes, a sprinke of angst and guest appearance by Derek Jeter.

The Road Delivered Us Home by keelywolfe

117,430 words | Hobbit, Thorin/Bilbo

In the years since Bilbo left Erebor, he has lost his respectability, gained a nephew, and gotten on with life at Bag End.

He'd left aside adventure for the comforts and peace of his little Hobbit hole, and for the love of a child who needed him. Though perhaps, adventures can yet find him.

This Story Was Brought to You by Our Sponsors by scaramouche

29,500 words | Supernatural, Dean/Castiel

Dean's post-apocalyptic life is a friggin' soap opera. Romance! Angst! Separations! Reunions! Pizza Dinners! A Child Dean Never Knew He Had! It's all very dramatic.

throw a little sparkle all over it by etben

26,000 words | Bandom, Frank/Gerard

"Hey, Ma," Mikey says. "No, everything's fine—well, I mean, Gerard accidentally adopted a baby—no, he's changing her now, he can't talk."

Tiny Houses by ohmyjetsabel

77,130 words | Teen Wolf, Derek/Stiles

"So this is what Stiles does. He lies in Scott’s bed and waits for Melissa to say she’s found someone to get it out of him, to cure him of the wrongness and the bad, and he dreams.

God, he dreams.

He dreams of fire and swollen bellies and that scene in Alien, of giving birth to jackals through his urethra, the whole horrific nine yards. His head is a terrible place to be, he can’t imagine his stomach is much better, why anyone would want to put a thing inside of it."

Tip, Slide, Tumble by j_s_cavalcante

42,900 words | due South, Fraser/Kowalski

Ray knew when he found the body in the alley it was going to change someone's life. He just didn't expect that life would be his.

Turn by saras_girl

306,000 words | Harry Potter, Harry/Draco

One good turn always deserves another. Apparently.

Unless it's lies or it's love by sprat

25,300 words | American Idol, Kris/Adam

In which Adam (a rock star) meets Kris (a single dad) at an Emergency Room in Arkansas at the end of a particularly shitty night. Also features: San Francisco, fresh starts, baked goods, OCs, cameo appearances by Matt and Megan, pirates, monsters with garbage heads and a recording studio.

What Child Is This by lamardeuse

30,150 words | Merlin, Arthur/Merlin

A modern AU with Merlin, Arthur, mayhem, a baby and a jingly elf hat.

What to Expect by arsenic

29,200 words | Bandom, Bob/Mikey

Mikey has his band, and his little girl, and that's enough. Really, it is.

Winter's Children by neery

66,890 words | Marvel, Bucky/Steve

When their attempts to recreate the super soldier serum failed, Hydra started trying to breed Captain America clones from his genetic samples. Unfortunately, the serum's effects aren't passed down genetically, so instead of an army of tiny Captain Americas, they get a bunch of tow-headed, asthmatic, allergic, immuno-compromised little Steves.

And then the Winter Soldier stumbles across Hydra's failed experiment...

With Six You Get Eggroll by speranza

31,000 words | due South, Fraser/Kowalski

"Kick 'em In The Head: A Guide To Parenting."

ETA: Bonus! Because I apparently lost my bookmark for this one but have the memory of an elephant for kidfic, so it came to me eventually. :D

A Farm in Iowa 'Verse by sheafrotherdon

166,000 words | SGA, McKay/Sheppard

John inherits a farm, Rodney ends up entirely out of his element, and there is much ado about baseball.

[love-bokumono-fics]

Fresh Crops - Week of July 12 - July 18, 2021

All fics found under the General 'Harvest Moon and Story of Seasons' tag on AO3

Grandfather - by EmeraldHaze15; Completed, 1/1, 1.4k

Rating: General Audiences; Archive Warning: No Archive Warnings Apply; Category: Gen

Fandoms: Friends of Mineral Town

Relationships: Barley | Mugi & May | Mei, Barley | Mugi & Joanna, Joanna & May | Mei; Characters: Barley | Mugi, May | Mei, Joanna, Hana the Dog

Additional Tags: Abandoned Child, bad parent, Good Grandparent, Yodel Ranch, Mineral Town, Extramarital Affairs, broken relationship, Strained Relationships, Father-Daughter Relationship

Summary: It's been years since Barley last set eyes on his daughter, but this is far from what he expected to find on a windy night...

(100) words to make you mine - by indoorsy; Complete, 1/1, 1.1k

Rating: Mature; Archive Warning: No Archive Warnings Apply; Category: F/M

Fandoms: Friends of Mineral Town

Relationship: Claire the Farmer/Doctor Trent; Characters: Claire the Farmer, Doctor Trent | Torre

Additional Tags: Drabble Collection, Fluff, Light Angst, Slice of Life

Summary: Doctor and Claire go on a picnic and other slice-of-life drabbles inspired by unusual English words.

Aurora Borealis - by durotos; Complete, 1/1, <1k

Rating: Not Rated; Archive Warning: Creator Chose Not To Use Archive Warnings; Category: F/M

Fandoms: Friends of Mineral Town

Additional Tags: characters will be revealed as plot advances, Angst, Family, Drama, Broken Love, Married Couple

Summary: Neither the cold nor the late hour could stop them from making their solemn journey.

Winter's End - by ModernTsunami; WIP 42/70, 210k

Rating: Teen And Up Audiences; Archive Warning: No Archive Warnings Apply; Category: F/M

Fandoms: Friends of Mineral Town

Relationships: Claire the Farmer/Cliff, Ann the Innkeeper | Ran/Cliff, Claire the Farmer/Doctor Trent | Torre; Characters: Claire, Cliff, Ann the Innkeeper | Ran, Carter the Pastor, Duke, Manna, Doctor Trent | Torre

Additional Tags: Slow Burn, Grief/Mourning, Slice of Life, Hurt/Comfort, Friendship, Pining, Found Family, Eventual Romance, Love Triangles, Cliche, especially in the beginning, Alcohol Abuse/Alcoholism, Other Additional Tags to Be Added, Other Ships Not Mentioned in Tags

Summary: Cliff's life in Mineral Town changes with the arrival of a new farmer in need of guidance. As his relationships grow more complicated throughout the year, he finds himself grappling with the doubts of his past and present.

Sakura Sisters - by LuluRuru; WIP, 1/?, 2.6k

Rating: Teen And Up Audiences; Archive Warning: Creator Chose Not To Use Archive Warnings; Category: F/M

Fandoms: Friends of Mineral Town

Relationship: Ships will be revealed soon!; Characters: Claire, Female Farmer | Naomi, Brandon, Cliff, Doctor | Trent, Gray, Kai, Rick, Elli | Elly, Jennifer, Karen, Mary the Librarian | Marie, Popuri, Ann the Innkeeper | Ran

Additional Tags: Slow Burn

Summary: Mineral Town is the destination for these two sisters. Claire appears dainty and sweet but really is childish and a loudmouth. Naomi appears shy and uncaring but is perceptive and a go-getter. The two of them are here for different reasons, but both of them have to manage Sakura Farm together. Will Claire be able to find her childhood friend and the boy who saved her? And will Naomi be able to find her true calling in life? The road ahead will be tough, but these two can do anything if they put their minds together. After all, that's what sisters are for, right?

Lady Of Grasstrail Farms - by FromADenOfBeasts; WIP, 35/?, 45k

Rating: Teen And Up Audiences; Archive Warning: No Archive Warnings Apply; Category: F/M

Fandoms: Pioneers of Olive Town

Relationship: Female Farmer/Lars; Characters: Original Female Character(s), Female Farmer , Lars, Laura, Angela, Clemens, Damon, Jack, Emilio, Reina, Victor, Gloria, Simon, Jesse

Additional Tags: My First AO3 Post, Alternate Universe, Alternate Universe - Canon Divergence, spoilers obviously, Slow Burn, Fluff and Angst, Supportive Big Brother, honestly the best big brother ever

Summary: Pioneers Of Olive Town AU where Lars is single. That's not all that happens but it is the reason I wrote this. A young woman named Vallon quits her job and follows her heart to Olive Town, where her family has roots deeper than she ever thought. Now she has to contend with new neighbors, ancient magic, and getting the hang of farming a wild land. Can she cope on her own, or can she at least find someone to share it with?

Here You Come Again - by SeasonSuite; WIP, 15/?, 62k

Rating: Teen And Up Audiences; Archive Warning: No Archive Warnings Apply; Category: F/M

Fandoms: Trio of Towns

Relationships: Female Farmer/Wayne, Minor or Background Relationship(s); Characters: Farmer, Wayne, Frank, Lisette, Ford, Ludus, Trio of Towns ensemble

Additional Tags: Crushes, Falling In Love, Love, farming, Fluff, dolly parton references, Friends to Lovers, cowboy aesthetic, idiots to lovers, Day At The Beach, Flowers, Romance, My First Fanfic, Bonding, Feelings, Humor, Slow Build, Did I Mention Fluff

Summary: On the first day of her new life, June meets a handsome, smooth-talking postman. Caught between his seemingly earnest words and his philandering reputation, she writes him off as bad news. Over the year, as June struggles to build her new farm, Wayne proves her wrong—then right—then wrong again. or, Westown's charming postman is known for being perfect, and he's usually happy to play the part. But when a new farmer tries to get to know the real him, Wayne learns that to be loved, he has to submit to the mortifying ordeal of being known.

Forest Stroll - by konbini_kitty; Complete, 1/1, <1k

Rating: Mature; Archive Warning: No Archive Warnings Apply; Category: M/M

Fandom: Pioneers of Olive Town

Relationships: Iori/Male Farmer

Character: Iori

Additional Tags: Making Out, First Time, Neck Kissing, Biting, Grinding, Dirty Talk

Summary: A stroll can turn into anything when you're with the one you love.

Seedlings and Sprouts - by TheBeckster; WIP, 10/?, 8k

Rating: Teen And Up Audiences; Archive Warning: No Archive Warnings Apply; Categories: Gen, Multi

Fandoms: Friends of Mineral Town, Story of Seasons (2014), Trio of Towns, The Tale of Two Towns

Relationships: Carter/Doctor | Trent, Claire the Farmer/Cliff, Fritz/Raeger, Gotz/Vesta; Characters: Cliff, Claire, Doctor | Trent, Carter the Pastor, Fritz, Raeger, Gotz | Gotts, Georgia, Iluka

Additional Tags: Tumblr Prompt, prompt collection, I'll figure out tags later

Summary: A collection of tumblr prompts I've filled over the last couple years based on Harvest Moon/Story of Seasons games. Every chapter is a different prompt. Should be posted in chronological order from oldest to newest. Prompt themes and ships will be included in the chapter titles.

Sugar and Spice - by Chibimiie; WIP, 16/?, 20k

Rating: Teen And Up Audiences; Archive Warning: Creator Chose Not To Use Archive Warnings; Category: F/M

Fandoms: Animal Parade

Relationships: Chase/Molly, Angela/Luke; Characters: Molly | Hikari, Angela the Farmer, Chase, Luke

Additional Tags: first fic, Slow Burn, at least molly and chase are, oh god how do you tag fics, beginning is kinda rough, angela chapters tend to be shorter, mentions of eating disorders, ya girl was making it up as she went along, alternating povs, Friends to Lovers

Summary: Wanting to get away from past hurts of the city, sisters Molly and Angela decide to respond to a flyer advertising an abandoned farm on the faraway island of Castanet. Leaving behind their closest friends and brother Kasey, the two take a chance and move to the tiny island hoping for a new chance at life.

Red Velvet Valentine - by Juliko; Completed, 1/1, 5k

Rating: General Audiences; Archive Warning: No Archive Warnings Apply; Category: F/M

Fandoms: Story of Seasons (2014)

Relationship: Lillie/Raeger; Characters: Raeger, Lillie, Maurice, Melanie | Meruti, Angela

Additional Tags: First Dates, Tooth-Rotting Fluff, Romantic Fluff, Valentine's Day, Domestic Fluff, Cute, Awkward Romance, Romance, Short & Sweet, Originally Posted on FanFiction.Net

Summary: Raeger wants to give Lillie, Oak Tree Town's local weather girl and celebrity, something nice for Valentine's Day to show how much he likes her. But nothing he can make or buy can come even close to showing how much he loves and appreciates her. What to do?

Winning the Hammer competition Manuela’s special reward - by Thefallen1986; Completed, 1/1, <1k

Rating: Explicit; Archive Warning: No Archive Warnings Apply; Category: F/M

Fandoms: Pioneers of Olive Town

Relationship: Eiji/Manuela; Characters: Manuela, Eiji

Additional Tags: [See Fic For Full Tag List], Cheating, Older Woman/Younger Man, Kissing, Braids

Summary: Manuela gives Eiji her own reward for winning the Hammer Competition

[moons-and-stars-and-shit]

Hey! If it’s not too hard, could I get a 🍰 matchup for a haikyuu character?

I’m pretty tall, 6’0, with blonde hair and green eyes and I’m a Pisces! I’d like to consider myself an ambivert since I’m mostly introverted but still have that extravertedness, especially when I’m around my close friends! I’m friendly but pretty shy at first but once you get to know me and I become more comfortable around you, I open up more! I’m also that one friend who everyone goes to for an advice and usually the one to lend an ear to vent, or a shoulder to cry on. Idk if that is helpful, I’ve seen people send it so I might as well include it, but I’m an INFJ!😂 I actually study public health and medical sciences and planning on going to med school in the future. It is probably obv that I like science but I’m also a huge art history (especially renaissance omg), photography and music lover (I play piano and sing haha). I’m also a part of a ballroom dancing team at my uni:). I’m a huge romantic so things like a long walk in nature/evening city, stargazing for hours and listening to music, etc, is something that I adore! And I’m a huge geek about astronomy as well lol. Sorry for such a big post and thank you so much for taking time and working on my match up!❤️😁

🍰 for @barbarachern

Sorry this ones a little short! Hope you still enjoy ❤️

Romantic Matchup

Sugawara Koushi

How yall met

He had met you in an art class!

You guys had been partnered to research art from the renaissance period and recreate a piece from that era

Poor suga thought he was screwed

Now don't get suga wrong

He loved art just as much as anybody else

But the renaissance?

He didn't know anything about the renaissance????

But little did he now that his lovely partner knew enough about it for the both of them

Now you still needed to do a little research on this project

And of course grab some references to draw

So you and suga would meet up at least 2 times a week to work on your project

If suga was being honest he would spend every day working on this project with you

You were just so smart

And funny

And overall just a treat to be around

And he always had a good time when he was around you

It had taken the month that you two had to work on the project for him to fall for you

He told you how he felt after you had turned the project in

And he was pleasantly shocked when you had returned his feelings

What they love about you

He loves how passionate you are

Whether it be about art,your hobbies,your dreams

Suga will never ever get tired of listening to you talk

He sees the passion for these topics in your eyes

And it just makes you all the more beautiful to him

He loves how caring you are

Suga sees how you seem to always be there for your friends

And it makes him want to always be there for you

So he makes sure that you know you can always count on him for ANYTHING

He loves how smart you are

He swears he's never met anyone smarter than you

You take your schoolwork seriously and it shows

He's very very proud of you :))))

Favorite things to do together

Stargazing hands down

He loves just going somewhere quiet with you and just looking at the stars

Sometimes you guys will bring a speaker and listen to music

Sometimes you two will plan a picnic under the stars

It really just depends on your mood

And he loves to listen to you go on and on about the different constellations and about astrology

If suga could control time he would never let the sun come up again

Random Hc

Suga is a ballroom dancing KING

Oh to waltz with him

Suga is also really into astrology

He actually really doesn't mind that you're taller than him

He supports all of your passions and goals in life

Like you wanna go to med school?

Then gosh dammit your going to med school

#1 cheerleader right here

One time you both fell asleep in the middle of a field when you went stargazing

He likes to play the piano with you

Sometimes he’ll play while you sing

Or vice versa

Or you two will just play together

Astrology

Pisces + Gemini

Alright imma be honest

Not the BEST match when it comes to the stars

Gemini and Pisces are squaring signs that often don’t have that much in common.

They are both usually positive enough to have a superficial enjoyable relationship and go well together at large social gatherings. They could both forget to call each other when they agreed to, and they can both change their opinions in two seconds.

As a strongly mental and a strongly emotional sign, their lack of understanding can be hurtful for Pisces and sometimes for both of them.

However, there is a beauty in the creative side of this relationship and if Gemini decides to truly listen to Pisces, they could help them use their talent in a constructive way

If they are to succeed in their persistence to be together, they should work together and socialize a lot.

The most important thing for both of them in this relationship is to reach for their emotional cores and give in to true intimacy, or they will never manage to communicate.

Overall Aesthetic

Art Hoe

Songs-

Chanel (khalid)

Ivy (frank ocean)

Still dont know my name (labrinth)

Bloom later (Jesse)

[jean-harlow-bombshell]

Saratoga (1937)

Bookie Duke Bradley (Clark Gable) stops the bank from taking the stud of Grandpa Clayton (Lionel Barrymore). Carol Clayton (Jean Harlow) calls from England that she is going to marry the wealthy Hartley Madison (Walter Pidgeon). Duke tells her father, Frank Clayton (Jonathan Hale), and Grandpa. Broke, Frank gives Duke the deed to the family farm to pay his gambling debts. At the races, Duke takes bets and meets Hartley and Carol. Duke greets Fritzi (Una Merkel) with a kiss. During a race, Frank collapses and dies.

Carol asks Duke to sell her the farm, but Duke assures her he won't foreclose on Grandpa. They quarrel about her marrying for money. Fritzi tells Duke that her husband Jesse Kiffmeyer (Frank Morgan) is allergic to horses. When Jesse sneezes during an auction, Duke sees to it that this is considered a bid, and Jesse ends up buying a horse that Fritzi wanted. Grandpa tells Duke that Carol is selling her horse, Moonray; Carol tells Duke she needs money to pay him off. Duke bids Hartley up to $14,000 for the horse. Hartley asks Grandpa to train Moonray.

Carol studies horses and wins money from Duke. Tip O'Brien (Cliff Edwards) sings "The Horse With the Dreamy Eyes" with Fritzi, Duke, and Rosetta (Hattie McDaniel), Carol's maid. Carol is friendly with Duke until he asks her to get Hartley betting. Duke calls on Hartley and tells him to help Carol's nerves. Hartley calls Dr. Bierd (George Zucco), who says Carol is emotional and should marry soon or not see Hartley. Duke gets Hartley to bet and win $6,000, telling Tip it is bait. Carol tells Hartley not to bet with Duke, who learns Hartley is leaving. Carol asks Hartley to stay.

At the track, Hartley bets with Duke and loses $5,000. On a train, Duke dines with Fritzi and Jesse, who is jealous. Fritzi knows Duke is in love with Carol, and Duke says he plans to win enough money to marry her. Carol tells Duke she loves him and has broken off her engagement to Hartley. When Duke objects to losing Hartley, she gets angry. At the races, Hartley loses. Hartley hires a new trainer for Moonray. Carol gets Jesse's contract with the jockey Dixie Gordon (Frankie Darro) so Duke will lose, but Fritzi tells Jesse that if Duke wins, he will marry Carol. Dixie is riding Moonray. Grandpa quarrels with the new trainer. The race is a photo finish, but Moonray loses. On a train, Carol and Duke celebrate.