#(i like to think miranda when she gets her crap together)

[afterthegreatunknown]

random moment in friday caliban's life in the city, featuring her mom:

something that friday very much likes about living in the city, is that she can wear so many colors. it's very different from the island, where one can only wear white. friday can't believe there are so many colors she never heard and seen before.

friday continues to search the clearance clothes rack, looking for a very fuzzy blue and green pajama bottom. mom is looking at the other clearance rack, trying to find a very fuzzy blue and green pajama top. friday has been recently into wearing multicolored clothes. the idea of wearing two or more different colors at the same time is so exciting!

something also exciting? friday just found a new color!

the fuzzy pajama top she finds is a green color. however, friday can also see how it's a blue color as well. the blue is in a way, overtaking the green. but not enough for green to be gone completely.

"mom, what color is this?" asks friday, pulling out the pajama top.

mom stops her searching, and turns to friday. mom smiles widely.

"that, friday, is the color aquamarine. it's a tertiary color found on the red-green-blue color wheel, between green and blue."

"oh..." friday nods her head. that explains a lot. "so aquamarine doesn't exist on the red-yellow-blue color wheel?"

"i don't think so. when i learned the red-yellow-blue color wheel, i was told that a blue and green combination makes teal. teal leans very much closer to blue than green."

"interesting," says friday. she looks at the top, and then back at mom.

"friday," begins mom, "do you want me to buy you fuzzy aquamarine pajamas as well?"

"yes please."

[shelbgrey]

can you do a mark sloan x reader sfw/nsfw hcs , and can she be richard webbers god daughter

please & thank you!<3 you write such amazing works

Mark Dating Richard's god Daughter headcanons

Paring: Mark Sloan x Webber!Reader

Summary: headcanons about Mark Sloan dating Richard Webber's God Daughter. -SMUT warning

MasterList ML2

You are Richard and Aele's god Daughter. They adopted you after your parents died in a car crash.

Richard has always been a father to you, but you call him uncle Richard.

You wanted to be a doctor like Richard for as long as you could remember. You worked hard in medical school and soon enough you were in the same intern class as Miranda Bailey.

Bailey is your best friend and has threatened Mark’s life if he hurts you.

Derek thinks it’s funny that Mark started dating you after Webber tried to say it was nothing personal when he hired Mark.

Richard notices how Mark looks at you almost immediately and he absolutely hates it. He thinks Mark is just looking for a one night stand, but that’s not true.

“I want you to stay away from him. There’s a reason the nurses formed a anti-Mark club”

But what your uncle said went in one ear and out the other. Honestly Richard couldn’t blame you. He knew what it was like to be in love with someone you couldn’t have.

Speaking of Love, you didn’t find out about Richard and Ellis till your intern year when Ellis showed up at the hospital with Alzheimer. You and Meredith became close friends through this situation.

You couldn’t really stay mad at Richard since it was a long time ago, but it still hurts that he could do something like that to Adele.

“It's kinda funny in a dark way, the two most important men in your life are both man whores” Bailey said, she was your person and she could say stuff like that to you without getting mad.

You know Richard and Bailey are close, but whenever they have a petty argument you're taking Bailey’s side. Yes, she's smug about that.

Adele gets mad whenever either one of you tatel on Richard. You may get annoyed, but she’ll drive down to the hospital whenever you need something.

You think it's hilarious when Adele yells at Richard like he's a child. She’ll definitely do it to Mark too if she has too. “Out of all the petty, ridiculous, infantile.. Are you running a hospital here or a playground?”

“Adele..” Richard started. “Playground or Hospital, Richard?!” Adele yelled and Mark snickered as Richard mumbled, “Hospital”

“Apologize to our goddaughter right now” Adele scolded, Making Mark hide his laughter in your shoulder. “Sorry” Richard mumbled.

“Not to complain or anything Aunt Adele, but that’s not a real apology” you said with a smirk.

“That is not an apology! You give an apology you mean, because if i have to drag myself down here though rush hour traffic again, to police this damn Jungle Gym..”

“You made your point Adele” Richard sighed. Adele huffed and turned to you. “Love ya aunt Adele”

“Love you too, Dear”

Mark and you both gave Derek crap when Richard and Derek were living together. “Derek is dating your uncle Richard”

“I am no!”

Richard does his best to be nice to Mark, but he wants to protect you from him. Especially when he found out he slept with Addison.

He definitely used his ‘Chiefʼ voice when he threatened him about dating you. “If you hurt her. IF you cheat on her, even the morgue won't be able to identify you. Are we clear!?”

“Yes!.. Yes sir”

Adele loved him when she was still alive. “RIchard you be nice to him he’s part of the family now”

Mark comforted you when Adele started getting Alzheimer. Adele was the closest thing you had to a mother, so it hit you hard when she died.

Mark had gotten close to her as well. Mrs. Shepherd was like a mother to him. Yes, when he started dating you Adele was constantly in his life. She gave him relationship advice and was like the aunt he never got.

Then Catherine showed up. She really didn’t like you or Mark that much. She had a problem with Mark because she thought Jackson was wasting his time in plastics then she just thought Richard ‘babyed’ you too much.

“You mom is banging my Uncle” you said bluntly to Jackson.

“The Chief banged my mom too” Meredith said, thinking it’ll make Jackson feel better.

Richard walking you down the isle on your and Mark's wedding.

NSFW Headcanons:

These are from the original mark HCs I posted a couple of days ago... Sorry. If you want all of them go to the original HC post.

He’s an expert at foreplay. He’ll spend as much time as he can trying to get you hot and bothered or worked up.

He's definitely the dominant person in bed and your not complaining, he'll get rough and pound hard enough were the bed starts rocking.

Mark loves bitting your neck just to hear you moan. When you finally give in to him, he'll lay you down on the couch or bed and start pealing your clothes off to reveal your chest.

The sex maybe rough, but Mark isn't not big on insults. He refuses to degrade you and will only use sweet words.

He has big chocking kink, he won't be too rough about but he loves wrapping his fingers around your neck and feeling your pulse when he's ramming into you.

Loves eating you out,your legs around his head. He loves your legs in general and loves leaving kisses on the insides of your thighs. He'd rather pleasure you for hours than receive.

There's also a tone of jealous sex. If he sees Alex shamelessly flirting with you expected to be tied to bed as fucks your brains out. If he sees Jackson touch you in a way thats reserved only for him you’re pinned against the wall.

This man is amazing when it comes to aftercare. He knows exactly what you need. After your both cleaned up, he'll pull you to his chest to cuddle.

[dinaton]

anyone who blames ethan is nuts

Oh, really? What Ethan did to Heisenberg in the game makes me hate him.

Ethan's defenders were never known for their intelligence, just like their favorite character lol. Well, I'll try to sort out this pile of crap. Let's go.

anyone who geniunly believes ethan was an idiot for not taking the deal is forgetting that he is in fact his own character and would rightfully not want to use his baby under a vague deal that doesn’t even elaborate on details

Well, clarify these details, what is the problem? Find out what your “enemy’s” plan is, and then make a decision whether to enter into a deal with him or not. Because Ethan himself has no plan to save Rose. He shouts a lot about saving his daughter, but how is he going to do it?

Yeah, what's the plan, Ethan?

When he arrives at the factory, he already has all four flasks, and all he has left is to figure out how to put his daughter back together. And the only one who offered him help in saving his daughter was Heisenberg. Which brings us to the next argument:

why should it have been on ethan to negotiate with the dude who has done nothing to prove himself as trustworthy

Heisenberg seems to know a lot more than Ethan. But Ethan, instead of listening to him properly and offering his terms, just tells him "fuck you" and then kills him. For what? Did Heisenberg's death somehow help him get Rose back? No, this dumbass still has no idea what to do. Even Miranda makes fun of him. Do I really need to describe in detail why this character is hopelessly stupid?

ethan was not stupid or wrong for not taking karls deal

No, he was. Ethan made no effort to return his daughter from the flasks to normal. Miranda did it for him. And it was just so lucky that Rose turned out to be stronger than the megamycete and was not reborn as Eve, but retained her consciousness. If anything had gone wrong during the ritual, Ethan would have lost his daughter forever. There was too much at stake, and too many lucky coincidences, don't you think? It is very risky to leave the situation to chance and expect that everything will resolve itself. It’s as risky as trusting that strange guy in the hat.

Next point: immorality. Rose is a bioweapon. Whether you like it or not. But that's what she does at the end of the game, which is absorb Miranda's powers and weaken her, making her vulnerable to bullets. (in case you forgot, before this Miranda didn't care about gunshots).

It looks more obvious in this storyboard.

So how exactly was Heisenberg going to use Rose against Miranda? We'll never know because Ethan doesn't know how to ask questions.

[ohmym1stake]

infodumping about my grey's anatomy blorbos: edition #2

this time around i am midway thru season 10.... my #1 blorbo is about to leave and im worried and scared because of some spoilers i read. but anyways here is my current analysis!

BLORBOS

- meredith grey. we started off rocky but i love and support her wholeheartedly now. has done the least stupid stuff as a doctor! bonus points for that. has gone through so much more than she deserves.

- derek shepherd. has done a lot of stupid shit and is a very stupid and reckless man. but underneath all of that he is a good man who wants to do good and help people. an amazing father!!!! and husband.

- cristina yang. the closest to perfect. i wish she would stop making awful relationship decisions. in my world she is happily married to a woman. a nurse, maybe.

- george o'malley. my perfect perfect son. ohhhhh my son. i am so sorry you died. i wish you had gotten to be happy with callie and have a great little family together and be an amazing surgeon.

- callie torres. brilliant surgeon brilliant woman. a little stupid at times. but i think her strengths are all way stronger than that.

- mark sloan. also very stupid! but in a very charming way. was amazing to watch him grow and change.

- lexie grey. deserved a better exit from the show wtffff. got used as an extra trauma to throw at meredith or something like damn. she was amazing and excellent in her own right. justice for lexiepedia.

- april kepner. BABYYYYYY. amazing and deserves the world, honestly. i have nothing but admiration for her i think.

- heather brooks. AAAAAAGH?!!!!! she was so cute and fun and brought an energy to the show nobody else has! deserved soooo much better.

HALF BLORBOS.

- alex karev. has done too many messy and problematic things to be a full blorbo but like derek he is ultimately a good man who wants to do good. amazing peds surgeon. can't wait to see him as a dad i bet he'll be a little league coach.

- miranda bailey. now normally she would be full blorbo but she's been bothering me a little lately! amazing surgeon! amazing woman! but she needs to get her life more under control or something.

BLORBO BY ASSOCIATION

- jackson avery. i was gonna put him in "it won't work" but it could eventually idk. he's great for april and a good doctor! i don't like his face tho and mostly he kinda bores me

- reed adamson. i think i would have loved her so much if she got to live longer. i think about her and april a lot.

PARTIAL BLORBOS

- addison montgomery. i think i just don't see her enough to be a full blorbo. excellent character tho.

- teddy altman. i think when she comes back on the show she'll get an upgrade but right now she's away and not on my mind. she was pretty damn good tho.

- stephanie edwards. she's really great but right now her plot is kind of just avery. i hope to love her more soon!

EX BLORBOS.

- izzie stevens. used to be my favorite.... she was so great. honestly i blame cancer for everything. Except the denny lvad thing i think that was precancer. but the romance with george that she dropped so fast? and then doing all that crap to alex? unforgivable. i hope she finds happiness in a new life with new people but i want her far away from my blorbos.

IT WILL NEVER WORK BUT I DON'T HATE YOU

- owen hunt. i DO hate his pro-life stance. treated cristina awfully there. but he is also the best love interest she had. and he's a great trauma surgeon, and the best chief i have seen! we just have too many differences to ever truly blorb together.

- arizona robbins. Honestly? most of the time i Do hate her. but i also respect her too much to Anti her. especially her growth after losing her leg! but it fucking sucked for callie. i think if the show had kept mark alive i could have gotten along with her more but she has been awful to callie way too much.

- leah murphy. Mad respect for her crazy but her emotions are also what ruined her. i hope she has a good career elsewhere.

- ben warren. sometimes he's good for bailey sometimes he makes her worse. but i respect him.

I DON'T KNOW

- jo wilson. uhhhh..... she just kinda exists i don't know. sometimes she's good for alex. but i am not very interested in her. does not spark joy.

- charles percy. i think we would have had a very rocky relationship had he lived but i think the way they killed him was very artful? it was one of the best death scenes i have seen.

ANTI BLORBOS.

- richard webber. he has done too much fuckass shit and acted insufferably FAR too many times. way more tolerable as a general surgeon and not as chief but still incredibly irritating.

- preston burke. took advantage of cristina in so many ways and never once truly considered himself and his own actions. selfish, awful man.

- erica hahn. Too bitter. involved emotions in her work in a way i disliked? i think she was never meant to be a main character.

- shane ross. Bruh what the fuckkkkk. he has done way too much wrong. maybe someday if we actually tackle the fact that he kinda Killed heather we can be at least partial or something but ..... i don't want him on this show.

- ellis grey. Noooooope. don't even care about all her groundbreaking work or her disease or whatever. i want nothing to do with her.

- adele webber. i hated her so much and there was no reason to make her so evil and irritating so much??????? the show would have been way more interesting and webber might have been more redeemable if she had been Good.

- sloan riley. this girl pissed me offffff like she went thru it she was having a bad time but ultimately she just ruined shit for mark and lexie and that sucks.

- catherine avery. whenever shes around and is rude to jackson he becomes a temporary blorbo. he doesn't deserve the shit she puts him through. frustrating character overall. But! mad respect to her work as a urologist she always brings interesting cases to the show!

[misseffect]

read your garrus/miranda piece it was AMAZING omg you have such a way with descriptions and details!!! do you have any thoughts abt how that relationship might play out for the rest of ME2 and 3?

hi anon!!!!!!! thank you so much 🥰🥰

I was actually sketching out up to the end of ME3 when I first started working on the prompt and have been chatting with @otemporanerys about it since.

Under the cut because I have Long Thoughts

(y'all can read The Woman In White here)

For Garrus, the initial shock is sort of eclipsed by the whole Shepard thing and then by the whole rocket thing, so the first time they really talk is when he's already on the Normandy.

He goes to her office after he gets out of the medbay, metaphorical cap in hand, to thank her for putting him on the crew.

M: if I'd had my way you wouldn't even have made the shortlist. get out of my room. G: aaaaand we're back to normal

Miranda stays juuust on the professional side of openly hostile from then on. Shepard picks up on the rancid vibes (obviously) and Garrus comes clean about the job.

S: you helped send experimental super-weapons back to cerberus?!? G: I didn't know she was cerberus S: give me strength

Out of sheer necessity, they end up doing each other's loyalty missions because Shepard is too paragon busy, and that's how things start to thaw.

M, realising G wasn't just on some kind of blind, ego-fuelled vendetta and actually really cared about his squad: .....shit G, realising M isn't the heartless, unattached shell of a person he thought she was and actually really cares about her sister: .....crap

Garrus even offers to set Ori's family up with some cyber security stuff; Miranda's looking for an ulterior motive like

They sleep together again before the suicide mission, obviously, because they learned nothing from the last time they thought they'd never see each other again.

This time Miranda doesn't leap out of bed immediately, and after a moment or two Garrus realises she's fallen asleep on his arm and - crap - if that's not the most disarming thing that's ever happened to him.

G: maybe we'll both die in a hail of bullets and I won't have to deal with the fact that I'm maybe possibly slightly in love with someone who hates my guts Narrator: they did not die in a hail of bullets

They go off to do their separate things after ME2. Garrus is on Palaven writing and deleting a hundred variations on "still finding time to date now the universe is ending?" and each one sounds worse than the last. He's not sure he'd like the answer anyway.

For ME3 I think their overall roles are still as per canon (Garrus on the Normandy and Miranda is sneaking around after Cerberus) so they just kind of stew until Sanctuary.

Miranda gets injured during the fight with Kai Leng (Shepard didn't pass along the warning so Garrus did it behind her back) and Garrus, feeling a Very Normal amount of fear as Miranda bleeds out on the floor, shoots Henry Lawson in the face. like he deserves.

They evac back to the Normandy and Garrus spends the next few days trying to figure out what a non-suspicious amount of time to spend in the medbay is.

Shepard: just so we're clear I do not want her on my ship and I'm doing this as a personal favour to you G: to...... me? S: I'm a pretty busy woman vakarian and even I can see you're in love with her G: * spluttering *

And that's how Miranda gets invited to the party at Anderson's apartment (never let it be said that Commander Shepard is a bad wingman) and they end up on the balcony, a little drunk, talking about ✨the future✨

Garrus doesn't want to assume, but he's getting That Night In Luminesce vibes.

M: there's going to be a lot to do, even if we win. I'm sure I won't be short of work G: that's it? just more work? M: * shrugs * G: hey, maybe you could get that cat you always wanted

And Miranda - drunk, sad, exhausted, and standing next to this person who, for whatever reason, keeps insisting that she deserves good things - bursts into tears.

She comes clean about the men she was seeing on Omega and future she desperately wants - which isn't achievable and never will be, whether they survive the war or not - and that's about when Garrus realises he's completely and utterly fucked.

I'll speed through the rest because this is getting l o n g SO

1. they bounce to go and have a lot of intense and entirely-too-sincere sex in a hotel room (again)

2. Garrus tells her he loves her (sort of by accident but not really) which goes about as well as you'd expect

3. They're both too stubborn to reach out first ofc but, facing down the final run to the beam, Garrus leaves her a heartfelt voicemail and she misses calling him back by all of 5mins

4. They make up over Shepard's now twice-reassembled body (thanks Shep) adopt a few kids, and get then set about the serious business of getting old and hot together

FIN

[kierancampire]

Percy Jackson spoilers.

I was so excited to watch the show but I think I honestly dunno if I can continue watching it. I've got 8:30 minutes left of episode 3, yet to watch episode 4. But god it's just pissing me off constantly! I know it's for younger audiences, but some of us grew up reading and loving the books! I wish there was something for us older fans! And I get it can't mirror the books exactly and it needs changes, but god I am so absolutely fuck sick of the show telling you everything and not leaving you any time to guess anything or to sit with anything! It just spells out and screams everything at you! And the changes it makes are crap!

Sally telling Percy everything instantly, Luke telling Percy the Annabeth and Thalia story, Grover telling Percy that Hades has his mum, Annabeth telling Percy that Grover was their protector, Medusa instantly telling them who she is, now Percy is immediately telling them the prophecy in full that he heard!?! What the fuck is up with this show and subtlety!?! It's leaving no complexities to the characters, it is leaving no mysteries, and it is making such huge and shit changes! Like the first Dodds fight, except oh wait, they didn't fight, Percy accidentally stabbed her. Or like the fight where Percy discovers his powers, except oh wait, that never happened either as Annabeth pushed him in a lake. Or like how the Furies show they are really formidable on the bus and they have an almost deadly encounter, except oh wait! That never fucking happens and just a queue of 4 people is apparently enough to stop a high ranking monster! Medusa was barely anything! The monsters aren't scary and have posed no threat because all they do is stand there! The Minotaur was impressive and intimidating, that's it! Then they just are constantly arguing and bickering over nothing, and they're accusing Percy of being scared and defensive when they keep starting on him, firstly he wasn't acting differently at all? So that feels out of nowhere? And of course he's gonna get defensive when they keep fighting him? They've had no kind moments together, just fighting and accusing!

Like, I will try episode 4 once this is done, I will give it a go. But if this show shows one more thing then instantly explains it, or explains a thing before it is even shown or mentioned, honestly I'm dropping it! I just do not get why they wrote it in this way where they do nothing but explain EVERYTHING in the first 3 episodes, and leave nothing for suspense! Especially when it completely goes against the story and characters! The characters in the show are so fucking flat! You are getting spoon fed EVERYTHING, even before you/Percy really know anything about it, like Thalia, they are so one dimensional and bland because they're extracting all the substance! Or like in Mr. D's case, none of his threat is there, Gabe's a pushover, Luke hasn't really shown any anger at the gods, Annabeth hasn't shown any sadness about her arrival, Grover hasn't shown any upset about his past, Percy wasn't allowed to secretly hope to save his mum, they characters have no depth! The show has written them so one note, and anything that could be deep, it just instantly explains or tosses aside! Also, I know he's a kid, but Grover's actor ain't the greatest, and just adding on everything else. If somehow people are enjoying this show, good for them, I'm glad. I was so excited to watch this and was really looking forward to it, especially with how more book accurate it was meant to be. But it's like they're actively going out of their way to ruin the story by removing all the fights, all the excitement, all the mysteries, all the depth, then replacing it with non-stop bickering. The movie did quite a few things better and no one should be saying that.

Edit: LIN-MANUEL MIRANDA IS FUCKING HERMES.

[crazybigredlove]

30th September 2013

Dear Pete, 

Even though I was still dying from my terminal cold, a message came through mid-morning from Jamie that just said: Sitting in McDonald's drinking a chai. Needed a time out. Clearly something was terribly wrong. 

Ten minutes later, after a drawn-out explanation to Miranda about needing an early and possibly long lunch, I was running through the door of the Golden Arches, and avoiding looking over at the creepy, red-haired clown (all gingers are to be ignored till they no longer remind me of Big Red). 

As her brain registered my face, Jamie's eyebrows rose higher than I'd ever seen them, heights I previously would've assumed were impossible. "Liv? What're you doing here?" "We're in our thirties, we don't have children, and we're well- paid. When you send me a message saying that you're chilling out in McDonald's I know that shit just got real. So here I am. What's going on? Are we getting fries?" 

Through tears she reached out and hugged me. "You are such a good friend." It didn't seem like the time to mention that mostly it was my desire to eat fries that had brought me here. "And it must be so hard for you to be here. You know, with the health kick and all." 

Right. So fries wouldn't be happening. I forced a smile through the pain. "Anything for a friend." "Oh, Liv. I don't even know what to do. I think my marriage is over. He did it again. He promised he never would, but he did." 

It took a moment for me to recover from that. Even though there were children running around screaming, stressed-out mothers barking orders, and cars yelling over the speakers in the drive-thru, for a second none of the noise registered. There was only this kind of white noise while my brain tried to process exactly what Jamie had said. 

"What would you do, Liv?" She reaches out across the heavily scratched, plastic surface and takes both my hands in her own. It makes me shift uneasily, the way her eyes bore into mine, searching desperately for answers. 

"Are you asking me that so you'll do the opposite?" It's hard not to be suspicious when your friends who think you're crap at relationships ask for relationship advice. Tears well in her eyes and I feel my chest tighten a little at the sight. It's hard to tell if it's anxiety at the pressure of having to handle a crying, heaving Jamie; or if it's just my heart breaking alongside hers. "Of course not, Liv. Out of everyone in the world you're the person I wanted to talk to about this. I knew you would see something I didn't." 

Not what I was expecting to hear, so as I sat a little taller and tossed my hair with a newly found confident air. I couldn't help but reflect on the fact that with my higher than average history of dating I probably am the best person to give relationship advice because I have extensive knowledge about many different types of men. I'm actually something of an expert. Hang on, why have I not been given an honorary PhD in relationship management?? 

Then reality kicks back in and floors me, forcing me to remember that I've never been married and what I’m currently known for is my ability to keep men around who belong in the trash. So why the hell would she want my help? 

Many, many years ago when Jamie and Ryan first met, he was actually already seeing someone. Something happened between him and the girl and for a brief few months he dated Jamie. Problem was he was actually seeing both of them, but neither of the women knew. Jamie fell madly in love and then one day he simply ended it saying that he and the other girl were going to get married. Jamie, devastated of course, begged, grovelled, and pleaded with him to stay, but off he went and only a week later he moved in with the girl he intended to marry. 

A month or so after they moved in together, in a last ditch effort to salvage her love, Jamie wrote Ryan a letter. In it she apologised for all that had happened between them that might have driven him away, told him exactly how she felt about him, but told him if he was truly happy she would let them be. She said that she couldn't let him go without letting him know what he meant to her. Ryan left the other woman a week later. Sounds terrible, right? Like Jamie is an awful home-wrecker? 

The thing is, Ryan and Jamie have been together for over ten years now and are so happy. The other woman has also been with someone for many, many years, and Jamie says that there are no hard feelings though as the woman is now married to someone else and admits that while she loved Ryan, the pairing was never going to last long-term. 

The twist in the story is that in the first few months when Ryan and Jamie got back together, he went out with the boys one night and hooked up with some random chick. When Jamie found out he told her that he'd been struggling under the pressure of having to choose between two women and he wanted to be with someone - even only briefly - who wasn't competing for him. 

What better way to solve the dilemma than to add a third woman into the mix, right? 

Well, last weekend, on a work trip, he did it again. There was no good reason other than she was there and he felt lonely. Overrun with guilt (or perhaps looking for an out that he was too cowardly to ask for...?) he told her as soon as he got home. She kicked him out and it seems that she is planning on spending her time crying in McDonald's. 

Now she'd come to me looking for guidance but I was totally out of my depth. "Jamie, I don't know... I mean, this is your marriage. I consider a relationship a success if we have five dates in a month, I'm not sure I'm the person to be talking to about cheating spouses..." She bursts into tears and I made a mental note to choose my words more carefully next time. 

"What am I supposed to do? He's my husband! Am I just supposed to leave him?" Nearby, diners turn their heads to observe the commotion. I start shifting again in the hard-backed plastic chair. 

"Jamie, I know you're upset. Take a breath." Through teary eyes she looks around the room. "I'm sorry." "Here." I hand her a tissue from my purse and fold my hands on the table. They suddenly feel heavy and awkward so that I'm not quite sure what I should do with them. "Well what did he say?" Dabbing at her eyes with the tissue, she begins to slowly shred it. "He says he's sorry. That is was one time. That he doesn't even know why he did it. That it won't happen again. " Slumping back in the chair the fight leaves her. "Basically he says all the same things he said last time." "Last time being more than a decade ago though when he was incredibly messed up?" 

I really don't know if that hurt or helped. Chewing on my lip thoughtfully is about the most I can give her. I should be telling her that she doesn't need him, that this is her chance to kick him out and find someone who appreciates her, but I say nothing. It feels hypocritical to say a word when if Big Red strolled through the door right now I know I wouldn't say any of those things to him. 

We sit there, mostly in silence, interrupted at intervals by her sobbing and my helpless inability to offer comfort. Finally, when I feel my chest and head are going to explode from the pressure of it all, she stands. 

"Right. Well crying never got anyone anywhere. I should go. Free for lunch again tomorrow?" 

And then she was gone. 

Liv x 

[cinderspots]

The ladies with a un-bothered germaphobe s/o -- like if something dramatic where to happen the s/o is all like "um Chile... anyways-" but if someone touches them without clean hands or gloves they just loose their shit-

Mood. Also, rip lmao MMs is so much longer and I got a teensy bit off-topic

Hope you enjoy ❤

Tag List: @minitrescu @ultimatebottom69 @imsososolesbian @luni-draws-crap @fatherse7en

Included: Mother Miranda, Mia Winters, Donna Beneviento, Alcina Dimitrescu, Bela Dimitrescu, Cassandra Dimitrescu, Daniela Dimitrescu, Alex Wesker

Mother Miranda

There's a whole thing where you kinda just vibe over hating people being unclean about their lives or whatever

But anyways

You and Miranda get along pretty well once you get to a point where you two talk and not vaguely feel threatened by the priestess

So Miranda kinda just goes by believing that youre indifferent (bc I mean so far-) and it continues like that until one day

One terrible day

A very gross lycan decides that YOU are its best friend, idk why it doesn't want you dead don't ask me hard questions

And he follows you around like a puppy at first and youre like "ok weird" until it escalates to a hug

.

Uh oh

You lose your mind, Miranda assumes danger and kills it making it WORSE as now it's gotten all over you and bestie youre having a bad time

:(

Anyways Miranda is very confused ngl

Mia Winters

You shake hands and she immediately notes the gloves and the way you use a disinfectant like a weapon

Sprayed some mf in the face was lowkey funny

She respects it and doesn't push you, besides I'd like to think that after the fucking debacle of Lousiana and the RAW meat she had to eat

Mia is a little testy about germs too, so she's got you

If someone ever has the audacity to skin-to-skin contact you not only will you be almost crying, they WILL be crying thanks to your great gf the badass mold queen Mia

Overall she's got your back

Donna Beneviento

Takes the avoidance of touch personally at first which leads to a whole series of rom-com levels of misunderstandings

Once it's explained she gets it

Angie doesn't and has to be put on a leash but it's fine

:)

Donna is extra careful which is ridiculous bc she's barely around other people so she's forcing herself to giant her own damn house

Youre mostly like "girl I'm not allergic to the air you breath"

If someone sets you off they're dead no questions

Doesn't matter if it was an accident they upset you

🔪🔪🥄

Take the spoon as you will

Alcina Dimitrescu

Ngl she's not understanding at all when you first meet

Sure once youre like lovers n stuff she's like "back off use your hand sanitizer" (idk how germaphobes live sorry)

But before she's downright disrespectful

Same as Donna, someone touched you skin to skin:)))) what? No, she's fine, the claws just needed some air :))) shell be back in a min don't worry :)))

Bela Dimitrescu

Takes it at face value and sees it as something she could like

You don't like germs which makes you one of the cleaner maids around which makes you an asset to being fucking ridiculous about cleaning rooms

You'd have to supervise for it to get done but Bela likes the mildly irrational idea of it

That's...not quite how it works all the time but she's stronger faster and drinks more human blood than you

You don't tell her that

Eventually she just sort of buzzes around you and hisses at Dani to stay away bc homegirl cannot keep things together

Unsurprisingly Dani escapes Bela's sight and lunges for you in a non-murdery way and makes contact

Game. Over.

You scream bloody murder and go into a panic attack while Dani hisses at the loudness and doesn't understand a thing

Dani briefly has no hand at dinner and everyone sort of pretends like they don't see

Cassandra Dimitrescu

Just like her mother, fucking horrible about it on purpose before she grows fond of you

THEN she gets livid at the idea of someone messing with you

Accidentally sets you off mindlessly and freaks out when you freak out making it so much worse

I think it would take a lot of time to get her to not automatically do something to set you off so idk about your relationship life span

Daniela Dimitrescu

This my bestie is a commitment

You either last like a week or for life

Because she is uh VERY into skin to skin I am living in your organs kind of thing

Daniela doesn't MEAN to set you off. Kinda does it often because she can't help herself

If you commit anyways (very unhealthy of you bestie) then after time she's the most respectful fly woman you'll ever date

And the only but that's not the point

The point is she gets angry when others set you off and everyone kinda pretends like she isn't a serial offender

And we get personality growth as she learns some self control after trial and error

Alex Wesker

She recognizes it and shockingly assists you and respects it the quickest out of them all

Like genuine shock

I'd think it'd be a game of chance working with her though, so many new people coming in and NOT knowing you don't like to be touched

She appreciates your aloofness but takes it harshly when youre touched and pretty much takes that as an instakill

:/

[thefanficmonster]

Beyond Death

Alcina Dimitrescu x Reader (Gender Neutral)

Warnings: Death, Loss, Grief, Spoilers for RE8:Village, Swearing

Genre: Angst, Heavy Angst

Summary: After fighting triumph over Lady Dimitrescu in her dragon/monster form, Ethan thinks he’ll have to face one last threat before leaving the castle but said threat happens to be nothing but a hollow ghost carrying a broken heart.

Requested by Anon. Hi hun! Thank you so much for your wonderful and extremely heartbreaking request! So sorry that it’s taken me so long to write and post it but I still hope you’ll come across it and give it a read. If so I hope you enjoy it! Love, Vy ❤

It’s over. It’s finally fucking over.

Ethan Winters lets out a heavy but shaky sigh of relief that practically deflates him as though he had been holding it in - was holding it in during the entire duel against Lady Dimitrescu who is now nothing my an ashy corpse on the floor, leaving behind only a crystal sculpture to her name - the nine foot tall vampire lady that reigned over the village with a reputation stronger than the village’s actual ruler - Mother Miranda.

And now her and her daughters remain a memory - quite an unpleasant one - for the villagers, leaving one less Lord for them to fear yet remaining a figure they cower in fear just by thinking about her.

Pushing past the cloud of confusion, relief and disbelief, a soft sound that appears to be footsteps approaching reaches Ethan’s brain, kicking his heartbeat up and forcing him back into a fight-or-flight mindset. Of course he’s gonna choose fight, of course this fool is gonna see this all till the end.

But what if it’s not a fight the person approaching wants?

What if all they want is to have made it there a few minutes earlier?

What if they are no threat now and they never have been? What if that’s why the Dimitrescus kept them safe in the hidden chambers and quarters of their castle, places not even Alcina’s dear Miranda knew nothing about.

Y/N L/N Dimitrescu, Alcina’s one true love.

They were a neighbor of Alcina’s prior to the experimentation process. The two got along nicely - well, more than nicely. Pleasantly enough for Alcina to develop feelings for them along the way. Feelings that the pain and suffering of the experiments never managed to wipe away, ones that still resided with Alica even years later and only flared up stronger when Y/N recognized her on one of their ventures into the outskirts, near the Dimitrescu Castle.

“Alcina?“ They had said, their wide and confused eyes meeting the vampire’s terrified ones.

The typically fearless Lady Dimitrescu found herself at a loss of words, her throat dry, her stomach aching and her chest tight at the sight of the one last connection she has to humanity - her feelings for Y/N. But she was left on the fence, suffocated by the suspense of how Y/N would continue onward with the interaction. How they’d react to her drastic change? How they’d address her?

“Y/N...“ Their name was barely a shaky whisper on the tall woman’s lips, trembling hands clenched in tight fists to prevent from letting her emotions show.

“I missed you.“

That was what hit Alcina the strongest. That one single sentence had her assuming her true form - a pile of shard of the past, present and the many possible futures ahead. A pile of shards glued together with a weak glue threatening to give at any moment, collapsing the tough, graceful and untouchable façade of Alcina Dimitrescu. That’s how the woman knew she still had something human in her. Or rather with her as long as she had Y/N.

And so she kept them like a precious pearl in the palm of her hand and they never once neglected showing their gratitude for all she did for them. They never once hesitated to show their love and appreciation in return to all they received from her. But, the most important gift Alcina was keen on giving was the presence of her true self around Y/N. She never bothered with an act around them. Never lied, never put on a show. She was more human than ever around them. She was fragile, vulnerable, honest and bare before them. And they never made her feel any less than the feverous Lord she was despite her human side.

“It only makes you stronger.“ Y/N would say, referring to Alcina’s human side, “As a human myself, I can confirm we humans aren’t that bad and incompetent. Not all of us, at least. I remember you aren’t, that’s for sure.“

“Who are you?!“ Gun pointed at the pale figure moving barefoot across the room to crouch down next to the ashy corpse of Alcina Dimtrescu, Ethan can feel his blood starting to boil again. It’s not real fear but it’s most definitely a feeling of hostility fueled by massive adrenaline that seems to have taken complete control of him and has him in a death grip, leading him to do and say crap he normally wouldn’t. This behavior of his would be enough to get even Chris Redfield to take a step back but this person doesn’t seem to even acknowledge his presence let alone be intimidated by him.

Focusing their complete attention on the mess of crystals before them, they gently run their fingertips over the creature’s wing but sadly even their light touch manages to crumble a small bit of ash from it, the dust falling to the floor along with Y/N’s heart.

“Hey, answer me! Who the hell are you?! What are you doing here? Are you...are you like them? One of them?“ His voice becomes more and more uncertain, decreasing from an angry shout to a shaky whisper.

“You killed her. You took her from me.“ Is the response he eventually gets, spoken by a monotone flat voice that doesn’t go with Y/N’s appearance at all. Their eyes remain fixated on the tiny spot on the wing they touched seconds ago as if their gaze will bring it back to live.

Bring her back to them.

That on its own is enough to get Ethan to keep his mouth shut, gaining a vague idea of what’s going on here and who this person might be. What the deceased means to them. In his eyes, she was nothing but a monster, but in theirs, it’s obvious she was a lot more.

And so, when he approaches them and and tries to communicate with them one last time, he says and does the only thing he sees as even moderately right in this situation: he sets the crystal remains of Alcins Dimitrescu by their side. “Have this, I believe she’d want you to. It’s all that’s left of her that you can keep.“ He knows their face is emotionless and still but something about that stillness is the exact reason why he doesn’t want to look at them while he says those words. He can’t find it in himself to apologize, not that an apology would help him much in this situation anyway, so all he can attempt is pointless. All that matters to them is gone - that’s the price of him gaining a stronger chance at getting his daughter back before it’s too late. 

And just like that, without another word, the blonde man walks out of the castle, leaving the broken heart and soul that used to be a complete human being behind him. A complete human being in love with someone extraordinary. Their love for her knew no bounds, and not even death as they sit there by their lover’s remains, refusing to leave their side even when they are not both present in this world.

A lover’s true love and devotion is shown when tested - unfortunately, Y/N and Alcina’s love was faced with the ultimate test: death. And it hasn’t faltered, nor will it ever as it seems.

[ageless-aislynn]

Okay so I lied, I can’t sleep until I write a few things down so here are some of my quick and messy finale impressions under the cut. No GIFs yet, just text.

Obviously, HALO 1x09 FINALE SPOILERS...

Please enjoy my jumbled, all out of order initial thoughts:

Awww crap, Kai killed Makee, that's not going to be good once John is himself again.

I wonder if they're going to play with having Cortana!John for a while in s2 or if they'll resolve that right away?

Kai killing Makee is going to be An Issue, I just feel it. 😒

Obviously there’s no pregnant!Makee in s2. But man, this was a terrible conclusion for her arc. I wish Kai would’ve just shot her but not killed her (I understand why Kai did it, she couldn’t “wake” John any other way but... ugh). Then she could’ve potentially gotten away... I felt just so sad about Makee’s arc, such as it even was. Man. I’m bummed. She had such a tragic story and at the end just wanted to stay in the Halo realm with John. 😥

I've been fighting some Vannak/Riz feelings for a while because I didn't want it to be like, "Oh, they're leftovers from John and Kai so naturally we'll just put them together" but dude… Him saying, "Stay with me, Riz" (not stay with us but stay with ME) and that anguished look on his face while he's holding her hand… Yeah, here come the shipping goggles flying at my face. Welcome to my Vannak/Riz feels now, hi.

Naturally Halsey had a flash clone of herself handy. I’m surprised at myself for not realizing that until Miranda was clued into it as well.

Heh, Kai committed totally justified murder on Adun and I don’t blame her one bit. BB still took her helmet off way too much but it was kinda worth it when he tried to club her over the back of the head and she just did the sloooooow turn and looked at him. *snort*

John telling Cortana that he trusted her. *chef’s kiss*

Kai teasing John about Makee. *chef’s kiss* UGH BUT WHY COULDN’T ONE OF THE COVENANT HAVE SHOT MAKEE INSTEAD??? *rage against the machine*

Could Makee have survived? She certainly looked dead but... it’s TV after all. The Covenant might save her despite having planned on killing her because they need her to try to get the artifacts back?

No Kwan or Soren, which I’m assuming will come next season. I hope they’ve been listening to the complaints about the pacing and will hopefully tighten that up a bit. 🤞 I have no problem with the Kwan and Madrigal storyline but there was just so much else I think they could’ve spent their first season of only 9 eps on. 🤷‍♀️

I bet s2 won’t be until next year since they’re still writing the scripts. 😥

[explosionshark]

31 the I cant keep kissing strangers one for jack/Miranda. U know, if u want to

I’m gonna cheat bc I remembered the prompt wrong and already wrote half of it in my head while I was showering, so

-

It’s years of experience, it’s meticulous and brutally honed control of her body, it’s her genetic predisposition to deceit and manipulation that keeps Miranda from reacting when her the alert pings, a brief series of flashes on the corner of her ocular overlay. S.O.S.

Dupont’s hand is on her thigh, just under the material of her dress, grip damp and too tight. He’s leaning in close, under the auspice of speaking into her ear in the crowded club, but she recognizes the clumsy excuse to peek down her dress for what it is. It takes every ounce of restraint not to shove him bodily away and rush straight for the rendezvous waypoint blinking on her display -- a maintenance closet beneath a stairwell at the back of the club. There’s a thrum of panic in Miranda’s chest that she squashes with a deep, subtle breath and a careful flick of her hair. She drags a teasing finger down Dupont’s chest as she leans back.

“Excuse me a moment,” she pitches her voice low, breathy, the way she knows he must be imagining it sounds in bed. She shoots him a smoldering look over her shoulder before she leaves, adding a bit of whine to her words. Desperate women are, to men like this, honey to flies. “Don’t go where I can’t find you.”

She’s careful as she slips into the crowd, gait controlled, face expertly molded into an expression annoyed enough to ward off potential interruption from men, yet still bland enough to fail to catch the interest of anyone watching.

It’s torture, keeping her pace unhurried as scenario after gruesome scenario of what could have gone wrong plays out in vivid detail. Jack wounded, bleeding out among the bleach bottles and filthy mops. A Cerberus trap, Jack captured, bait to lure her to the same fate. Dozens upon dozens of equally vivid, equally terrible possibilities conjured with each leisurely step, all laying the same accusation at her feet: Miranda’s mistake, with Jack paying the price.

Jack hadn’t been Miranda’s first choice.

Miranda’s list of trusted contacts is smaller than it’s ever been and shrinking by the day. Trusted and available? Smaller still.

She had wanted Shepard. Or, better yet, Kasumi. But Shepard was wrapped up on some affair on Tuchanka and Kasumi was running a different op for the Shadow Broker, out on the edges of the Terminus.

Jack had been an indulgence - and one that was proving to be foolish and selfish.

She was humanity’s strongest biotic and one of the most capable operators Miranda had ever known, but her strength lied in frontal assaults. Massive destruction, flamboyant, devastating attacks with lots of collateral damage. Not delicate infiltration missions like this.

She should have been safe with her students on Grissom Station, not here dying for Miranda’s cause, not--

--Grabbing Miranda roughly by the hips, slamming her back against the shelving unit along the wall hard enough to rattle the metal, laying the flat of her arm across Miranda’s chest, just under her neck, to pin her there.

“What do you think you’re doing?“ Miranda hisses. She can’t see any obvious injuries or damage to Jack in the dim light of the closet, not held in place like this. When she raises her hands to pat down Jack’s body there’s a flair of shimmering blue light in the air, and then the always disconcerting staticky sensation of stasis fields pinning them in place at her sides.

“What am I doing?” Jack huffs, fists still bunched in the material of Miranda’s dress. A shame - it had been nice. Expensive. She can feel the material ripping under the strain of Jack’s grip and despite everything, she finds it distantly erotic. “What the fuck are you doing?”

Miranda, for all of her considerable intellect, feels like she is at least three steps behind a conversation she doesn’t remember starting. She shakes her head, twisting as much as she can with her hands pinned. “Are you hurt?”

“No, I’m not fucking hurt,” Jack snaps, hips jolting forward to slam into Miranda’s rattling the shelf again. This time she hears the fabric of the dress rip in Jack’s hands, can’t contain the shiver it sends down her spine that Jack absolutely notices. “I’m fed up. I can’t keep watching you kiss strangers.”

Jealousy? Miranda doesn’t bother trying to hide her laugh. “If you’ll remember, my kissing a stranger was a key part of the plan you agreed to. I was supposed to be doing that while you were--”

“Keep him busy,” Jack growls, “You were supposed to keep him busy while I did all the hard work. You never told me your plan to distract the guy was to let him put his big stupid gorilla hands all over your--”

“Someone was taking their time ‘doing all the hard work,’“ Miranda sneers back. “I had to improvise. He was losing interest.”

“Hey, it’s your stupid hack module that wasn’t working,” Jack accuses.

Of course, at that exact moment, Miranda’s display pings again. The tracker she’d slipped into Dupont’s jacket shows him leaving the bar, headed for the elevator to his suite.

“Jack, let me go,” Miranda says quietly, urgently, and to her credit Jack does so immediately without arguing. “He’s on the move. I can try to head him off in the lobby, but-- Look, this is very important. Did you leave any evidence you were tampering with the safe or anything else in his room?”

“Uh, yeah,” Jack snorts. “I think he’s gonna notice his top secret Cerberus Reaper hacking plans are missing.”

“But you said the module--”

“Yeah, total crap. Useless. I just blasted the ever-loving shit out of the safe.”

“Jack.”

“Anyway, if he’s on the way up there he’s gonna notice uh. Pretty much right away. We should get out of here.”

“We should have been gone the moment you compromised the plan,” Miranda hisses, following Jack out of the closet, wincing at the sudden too-bright light of the hallway.

“Nag, nag, nag,” Jack drawls, throwing open the emergency exit door to the alley behind the hotel with a truly unnecessary flair of biotics.

“We went over the codes before we even got here,” Miranda reminds her. In the back of her mind, she’s counting down the seconds they have before Dupont realizes he’s been robbed, before he puts together she was involved, before he decides to come after them for the data (bad) or alert Cerberus to what happened (worse). She figures in how long it would take to stop running and strangle Jack in one of these dank Illium alleyways and realizes, regrettably, she can’t afford the slowdown. “There’s one for emergency exit, one for mission compromised, one for package acquired. Any of those would have done. S.O.S. is emergency only.”

“Well, it was an emergency, okay?” Jack says, stopping short at the curb while Miranda calls forth the skycar she’d arranged with a flick of her omin-tool.

“How so?” Miranda demands, shoving Jack into the back of the skycar first and clambering in gracelessly after her, ruined dress gaping open in the front. “This is coming out of your pay, by the way.”

“It was a pre-emergency--”

“That’s not a thing.”

“If his hand got any higher up your skirt I was gonna blow both of our covers by ripping his arms off in the middle of the bar.”

Miranda should still be mad -- furious -- that Jack had scared her so badly. Should be angry for the terribly botched mission as well, the absolute flouting of her discreet and effective plan.

But they’ve lived. Another day in a galaxy torn apart by war on multiple fronts, another day outmaneuvering the Illusive Man himself, another day Miranda gets to find herself in the company of this beautiful, blunt, maddening, impossible woman.

And they had gotten the data, despite everything. A success, however unconventional.

And if all she has to show for it is another burned identity and a ruined dress, Miranda finds she doesn’t mind as much as she might have in any other circumstance besides this -- in the backseat of a skycar with Jack, genuinely irritated to have seen someone else touching Miranda, a torn dress, the thrum of adrenaline still rushing through her veins.

“Never figured you for the jealous type, Jack,” Miranda says, relenting, twisting in the seat to pin Jack with a simmering look.

“Yeah, you did,” Jack mutters. “Were probably counting on it when you asked me to do this thing with you. Probably got off on it. Control freak.”

“Why would I do something like that?”

“Probably has something to do with you being an arrogant psycho that’s obsessed with keeping me under your thumb.”

Miranda pauses in the dark of the backseat and stares Jack down. She’s tense, pupils blown wide, breath coming in gradually quickening gasps.

Miranda has seen Jack scared and angry and hurt before. She’s seen her wound up tight on adrenaline, turned on to the point of recklessness too. Knows well enough the difference between the two to recognize this for what it is.

It’s that confidence that draws Miranda across the space between them, shrugging the straps of her dress down her shoulders in a movement that allows her to reach the zipper in the back and slide it down immediately after. Jack doesn’t move to stop her when Miranda drops a hand to Jack’s thigh, a more elegant parody of Dupont’s boorish groping earlier. The higher Miranda’s hand ventures, the further open Jack spreads her legs, nostrils flaring as Miranda leans in close, whispering into her ear at the same time as her hand slips past the waistband of Jack’s pants, to the soaked front of her underwear.

“Funny, Jack,” Miranda says, mockingly, stroking her slowly. She’ll draw this one out, as a lesson. “Under my thumb seems to be exactly the place you’re always so desperate to be.”

“Fuck,” Jack groans, a low hiss of air from between her clenched teeth.

Miranda grins in the dark. She’d been wrong, before. Jack had definitely been the right pick for this mission.

-

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[calliecat93]

When I started TNG, the biggest curiosity I had was why Dr. Pulaski was so hated. I heard plenty about why, but at the same time I wanted to see for myself and be able to draw my own conclusions. Well now that I’ve finished S2, I think that I can safely state my opinion and the reasons why she had such a bad reception.

My general opinion is… Pulaski’s fine, but she got an bad start. She’s a very competent doctor who is devoted to her duty. She’s a bit of a smartass, but otherwise a friendly enough person. She’s a VERY much based off a certain CMO form a certain other Star Trek show that came out before this one, but we’ll get to that later. Pulaski honestly had a lot working against her and she just wasn’t able to get over them despite her actress Diana Muldaur (who played Miranda Jones in TOS) doing an excelent acting job. It ultimately ended with Pulaski being dropped all together and Crusher returning in Season 3.

While I understand the hate against Pulaski and can’t say that it’s unwarranted to an extent, I think that a lot of it that I saw was overblown. Now if people disliked the character, that’s fine. Everyone has different tastes and reasons for what they like and dislike and should be free to have and express those thoughts. But a lot of the issues with her that I had were taken care of very early on and she became much better by the end of her tenure. So why do I believe that Pulaski ultimately failed? Well I’ve come up with three explanations based off my own observations from watching the show and what I got from fandom consensus. Now this is all my opinion based on those observations and is not objective fact whatsoever, so take this with a grain of salt. So I believe the reasons that Pulaski failed are:

#1. She Is Essentially a Female Dr. McCoy… Sort Of: Pulaski was clearly heavily based on Dr. McCoy from TOS. She’s an middle-aged, somewhat world-weary doctor. She’s stubborn, grumpy, and doesn’t put up with anyone’s crap. She’s witty and always ready with a biting comment. She has the dedication to her job. She has the bantery relationship with the Science Officer, which we’ll go into that here soon. She is a doctor before she is an officer and that will always be her top priority, even at great risk to herself. She has a zero tolerance towards authority and isn’t afraid to talk back to anyone no matter how much they outrank her. She even outright has a hatred of teleporters that McCoy had. The parallels are all there. It may be why I’m a bit more lenient on her since McCoy is very much my favorite character in TOS and so far all of ST. But I think it is very much the root of the problem.

While Pulaski has several of McCoy’s traits, I think the writers really only understood McCoy on a surface level. They forget to include his compassion, his empathy, his humanism, his loyalty to the captain even when he opposes his actions, all of the things that make McCoy… well, McCoy. I don’t even know if the pacifism is there. Also McCoy had over 70 episodes of TOS and at that point five films (Undiscovered Country hadn’t been made yet). Pulaski had about 20 episodes and her relevance depended on the episode. McCoy had that as well, but he also had more material so we had FAR more time to get to know him. Pulaski didn’t get to have the time to gain that depth or care from the audience. Like… can I imagine Pulaski hypoing someone so that she can be tortured in their stead and it have the same impact that The Empath did? Can I see her counseling and assuring Picard if he’s having doubts like McCoy did for Kirk in The Ultimate Computer (okay tbf that would be Troi’s job but still)? Could I imagine any of the main cast being crushed about Pulaski dying of a terminal illness and choosing to stay on essentially a doomed spaceship with someone she just met and feel as gutted as I did in For the World is Hollow…? Honestly… given time maybe but in the end no. Now could I imagine McCoy risking getting an aging illness to possibly cure a child and others of it ala Unnatural Selection? Yes, albiet I think he’d be smart enough to bring protective equipment with him to be safe. Could I imagine McCoy telling someone like Data they’d be wrong to sit by a woman giving birth because he wasn’t human ala The Child? Hell no. Maybe he would if he was worried it would cause potential distress the one giving birth, but it sure as hell wouldn’t be because they’re an android. But I could imagine that someone who just saw McCoy as ‘grumpy doctor with a bad bedside manner who says witty lines and argues with the logical Vulcan character’ would get that interpretation. Thus why I think that Pulaski may have ended up how she did.

Now mind you I do think it IS a double standard to excuse McCoy’s dickish momemts and flaws, but demonize Pulaski for her’s. It’s like saying a man can be that way because it’s just expected of them and they can be forgiven, but a woman doing so or being assertice is wrong and they are horrible and unforgivable for having these traits or having flaws even if they correct them. That being said I do think that it’s more than that and it all comes down to the fact that TOS and TNG are two different shows with different character dynamics and ways of doing things. TOS mainly followed a Triumvirate (for the most part but that’s a different post entirely), TNG is much more of an ensemble. Pulaski didn’t have a Kirk nor a Spock to bounce off of or either let her traits shine or be kept in check like McCoy did nor did she really develop any unique relations for herself aside from maybe with Troi. We hear about her empathy and humanitarianism, but we don’t really see it on-screen like we did with McCoy. She has his surface level traits, not the deeper ones that the Triumvirate dynamic along his doctor position allowed him to showcase. In other words, Pulaski was put in a series that wasn’t designed for her while McCoy was exactly where he needed to be in order to thrive. It really speaks to how much the TNG writers didn’t really seem to get McCoy or why and how his character worked, which is strange since they got him right when he showed up in the series premiere. But maybe that was due to DeForest Kelley and him absolutely knowing the character he’d played for so long. But yeah they tried to replicate McCoy, and it just didn’t work with TNG’s already established character dynamics nor did they fully get the character that they were trying to recreate. If I want McCoy, I’ll go watch TOS or AOS. I didn’t need Pulaski for that.

#2. Data and Misconstrued Character Dynamics; This is in relation to the first reason and REALLY shows how much the writers didn’t think the dynamics through. We all know how much Spock and McCoy bantered. How they are opposite ends of the spectrum and how their perspective points helped Kirk in making his decisions. Well clealry they wanted to re-create that with Pulaski and Data. Makes sense, Pulaski represents the humanism and Data the logical. But there’s one big, BIG problem with that: Data is NOT Spock. A lot fo people have pointed this out, but here’s the thing about Spock. Despite whatever he may have said, Spock DID have emotions. He kept them suppressed due to the issues in his upbringing and that wasn’t necessarily healthy, but he did have them. And despite speaking in a calm manner, he was also an utter sass bucket, could be rude, and had no issue putting down humanity if he had a point to make. He and McCoy were very much equal in their bantering and yes maybe McCoy could go too far with his insults, but there was always an equal balance and Spock was also perfectly capable of starting/escalating their spats. There were also plenty of moments to show that in spite of it, they were still friends and cared a great deal about each other with probably the best examples of this being The Immunity Syndrome, Bread and Circuses, The Empath, and plenty of moments in others like Miri and For the World is Hollow… Those who have been following me know how much I love the Spock/McCoy dynamic and I could go all day, but the point is it’s a complex relationship that may seem like disdain on the outside, but is so much more when you examine it up close.

Data however? Data is intelligent and the Science Officer with a calm demeanor, but that’s about where the similarity between him and Spock ends. Data is an android. I do not believe that he is emotionless, he just has a different wiring that causes him to feel things differently. He’s never shown disdain towards humanity at least from what I’ve observed thus far. If anything, he actively seeks to understand it and emotions more. He actively has hobbies like Sherlock Holmes. He tries things like sneezing and growing a beard in an effort to understand more. Data is more or less a child with a child-like understanding of things and he doesn’t really understand social cues or things like humor, but he DOES have emotions and feelings. There’s too much on-screen evidence to say otherwise. He just has his own way of processing it. This is what makes Pulaski look so bad. When she calls Data a machine, says he can’t understand, and even purposefully mispronounces his name, she comes across as an outright bully. She is essentially bullying a neurodivergent child. Do I need to explain why that’s awful? Data, while by no means a doormat, isn’t the type to sass back or make any biting comments back like Spock would. There is no balance. There is no equal footing. There are not enough positive interactions outside the banter to show that there is something deeper there at the end of the day like Spock and McCoy did. Heck you can even compare how Pulaski and McCoy talk to Data via McCoy’s guest appearance in Encounter at Farpoint. He DOES make a quip about Vulcans when talking to Data and when Data points out he’s an android not a Vulcan, McCoy mumbles “Just as bad.” But immediately after he gives Data genuine heartfelt advice on treating the Enterprise with care. It’s clear that ultimately it’s McCoy being his usual grumpy self who’d be acting the same way towards anyone else and is otherwise perfectly civil and encouraging to Data. We’ve known him long enough to know this. Pulaski didn’t have that luxury, coming off as condescending towards Data at best and considering that she’s a doctor, it looks especially bad.

Now to be fair this only lasts for about four episodes. Pulaski does start catching herself by her second episode, and stops completely after Unnatural Selection when Data helps her and stays with her after she gets the aging virus. After that she’s MUCH moe civil to him, even defending his choice going against the Prime Directive in Pen Pals and was at his retirement party in The Measure of a Man. But clearly the damage had been done. Data is a very beloved character and by Oulaski’s intro had already been established and well-liked character. Data was treated equally and was valued as far more than just an android among the rest of the crew, Crusher included, so Pulaski coming in a season later and acting that way also didn’t help. The writers did not think through why Spock and McCoy worked and how to try figure out a unique dynamic for Pulaski and Data. Instead they just tried to copy TOS, and it utterly failed. It ruined Pulaski’s chances before she could even really start running. But I do believe that she could have rebounded and as I said, she DID get past it. She did relapse some at the end of the season in Peak Performance to the point I wanna say that maybe it chronologically happened earlier in the season, but even then she felt realized her screw up and apologized. It’s still an improvement from early on. But things just weren’t meant to be, which leads is to…

#3. She Only Lasted One Season/She Replaced Dr. Crusher: I believe that the biggest thing that worked against Pulaski is simple: she was cut after Season 2. Pulaski was created when Gates MacFadden left the show. I’ve seen conflicting reasons as to why, but regardless she left and a CMO was needed. IDK how popular Crusher was, but I had really enjoyed her. She was essentially the mom of the ship which added something different from TOS (wel McCoy was also the mom lets be real XD), had a son onboard which also added something new, was very much capable and devoted to her job, and was a badass when she got to use a phaser. Her being written out sucked, but that’s not necessarily a reason to hate Pulaski. But as I highlighted above, she just didn’t work. They tried to make McCoy, but without the dynamics and depth that let McCoy flourish. TNG is not TOS. Whenever TNG tried replicating TOS like with The Naked Now? It blew up in their faces. The key to a spinoff or reboot is to keep certain themes and tone alive, but to not just replicate what came before. TNG flourished when it began to find it’s own footing, and ultimately lasted four seasons longer than it’s predecessor due to it.

I genuinely believe that Pulaski COULD have developed into her own character and could have found her place the same way that McCoy did. But alas that didn’t happen. People wanted Crusher back, so they managed to get MacFadden to return and thus Crusher was put back in her rightful place. Because of it, Pulaski was just forgotten about. She didn’t get the chance to form her own character. She didn’t the chance to develop further and leave her early days behind. Why? Because she simply wasn’t given the opprotunity to do so. I can’t say it was the wrong choice, but it’s an utter shame because I do believe that Pulaski was on her way to improving. But it was too late. Her bad start with Data, her character not working in the TNG dynamic, and her replacing an already perfectly likeable character who did fit the dynamics all amounted to the character’s abrupt end. And because she didn’t get the chance to develop further and find her own path, her bad reputation has stuck to this very day.

In the end, the whole thing just feels like a waste. Pulaski had potential, but it just didn’t work in the end. I can’t say that I hate her. If anything, I feel bad for her. The writers failed her at the end of the day and by the time they tried correcting their errors, the audience had already made their judgement. It may have been for the best to just drop her and bring Crusher back, but I also hate seeing character potential just so utterly wasted. I hope that if any side material used Pulaski, they were able to find a much better direction for her. I can’t say that I love Pulaski. In a more TOS-like setting maybe she’d have worked better. But in the end I think that Pulaski was a decent character who just had too much working against her and they caused her to crash and burn. Just an unfortunate case all in all.

(Image Source)

[patina-millers-biceps]

Tell us how you would redo SMASH tell ussssss

OH HELL YEH Thanks.

OK, SO in my ideal world, Smash runs for 5 seasons. Remember that bc I’ll come back to that later. Overall Tone: I would take it all... and dial it up to 100.  Remember Ellis? Now EVERY character is that fucking crazy. It’s like Glee if Glee was self-aware to how batshit crazy it was, and relished it. The problem was that Theresa Rebeck (season 1) knows what NYC theatre is like, tried to be realistic, but also make it relatable to middle America, and that Joshua Safran (season 2) does not but also tried the same things. When really they needed someone who A) knew what NYC theatre was like B) didn’t give a fuck and C) didn’t give a fuck also about if middle America found it relatable.  But Sarah! What about viewings? You ask. Well, if YOU’RE the moron who’s going to write about a hyper-specific industry I think you just gotta dive in. Commit. Make everything fucking crazy and completely unrelatable to literally everyone. Riverdale that shit but make it good writing. Ultimately, it’s why season 1 worked better. Because at least my girl Theresa knew how to write drama without resorting to burying her gays. I think she should have taken it up higher though. Like, when Uma Thurman’s character got an allergic reaction? I think Karen and Ivy should have teamed up to poison her. I said what I said.  As for the Team Ivy vs. Team Karen? We’re balancing a tricky line here bc it has to be dramatic but also not misogynistic. (that season 1 Ivy character assassination? Bad.)   Ideally, these two would go from hating each others GUTS to reluctantly teaming up against movie star Rebecca (Uma Thurman would thus have to appear earlier and stay longer), deciding that they are in love actually like each other, and cheering on their successes and hating on the MEN who force them against each other. (But while we’re on the subject... #TeamIvy).  That Out Of The Way: Season 1: The Bombshell Workshop Phase Season 1 would ONLY follow the workshop phases of season 1. Which is most of it. Here we have Ivy and Karen’s strangers to enemies to reluctant teammates to friends to lovers arc. This is the emotional core of the show. Rebecca Uma Thurman has to show up around the midway point. Julia’s adoption arc? Throw it out. Sorry Ms. Rebeck i stan you but it sucks. Focus on her and Tom’s friendship as the secondary emotional standpoint. They’ve worked with with other for years!! That dynamic is awesome!! But they were fighting the whole ass show??? Nah. Pit them against Derek. I would change nothing with Eileen.  Oh I also don’t give a shit about Karen’s shitty boyfriend. Season 2: The Bombshell Out of Town Tryout/ Enter Hit List  The first half of season two is the out of town tryout with #TeamIvyKaren against #TeamRebecca coming to a head through rehearsals and the first few previews. Like, I’m talking some Phantom of the Opera level fuckery these two are doing. Falling set pieces, costume malfunction, Ivy actually fucking putting the peanuts in her smoothie. It’s seen as OK bc in this version of Smash Rebecca is a terrible person who has no respect for the ~~**~Theatre~~**~~ The creative team still choose Karen as Marilyn (why?) but she doesn’t get good reviews!! This causes Karen to freak out if the theatre life is really right for her when she meets Jimmy and Kyle. Karen jumps ship to Hit List, Ivy rises to her rightful place as Marilyn in Bombshell. Rehearsals begin to reshape the show for Broadway, Hit List lands its Off-Broadway run. Season 3: Broadway Here I Come/ It’s Tony Time Babey!!  Bombshell opens on Broadway, Hit List opens Off-Broadway and KYLE DOESN’T FUCKING DIE (He still gets hit by a car, everyone thinks he died at first, but he’s just in a coma for a few episodes wherein he has weird out-of-body experiences.) Hit List transfers to Broadway.  BUT WE HAVE SOME DRAMA because Movie Star Rebecca has landed the role of Maggie in a revival of Cat on a Hot Tin Roof! We have some cross-show hate bt Bombshell/ Hit List/ and Cat on a Hot Tin Roof because they’re all on 45th street. There’s drama bt Julia and Kyle bc of Kyle’s fling with Tom! But will it last? No! Kyle ends up really hitting it off with Wesley Taylor’s ensemble member character when he visits Tom backstage at Bombshell! Eileen threw one too many drink in her ex husbands face and he’s legally blind now also she’s producing Bombshell AND Hit List! I’m fucking crapping that shit with Ana getting booted from Hit List and Derek being a perv. Karen and ivy still really hate Rebecca (??? it’s Smash it doesn’t have to make sense!) so they stage a coup and replace her in Cat on a Hot Tin Roof with Jennifer Hudson’s character! The Tonys happen! I liked how they worked out in the show, so i’ll keep that. Jimmy still goes to prison! Tom gets back together with Sam!  Season 4: That’s How We Keep 8 Shows A Week Fresh Y’all  Basically what it sounds like. We go back and forth between Hit List and Bombshell and the absolute CHAOS of backstage on Fake Broadway. There’s a snowstorm that shuts down the city, people hooking up backstage. Derek has an actual redemption arc. Ivy does not get knocked up bc she knows how to use birth control. The Big Story is how bc Eileen is involved with some illegal shit if it’s going to all come crashing down on the unsuspecting actors and writers. Tom and Julia start writing their Great Gatsby Musical. Fictional Lin-Manuel Miranda is there. Jimmy gets out of prison and rejoins the cast. This season takes up about 2 years of time and will be dubbed the weakest one by critics and fans alike.  Season 5: Big Finish!   Bombshell and Hit List have been running for about 3 years total by now. Eileen’s illegal shit comes out. Bombshell and Hit List have to close! It’s a really long that takes up the whole season. All the camp of the previous seasons is gone now and it actually is really beautiful and sad. Some real “What I Did For Love” shit.  At the end, Hit List is able to transfer back Off-Broadway a la Jersey Boys and Avenue Q with a new producer, Bombshell dies but goes out strong and is recorded for PBS and eventual DVD. Ivy now finds out she’s pregnant and also joins the workshop of The Great Gatsby The Musical as Daisy, Ana is Jordan Baker, Sam is Jay Gatsby, Nick Carraway is played Nick Jonas’s character who no one has seen since season 1. Derek is the director.  Another Op’ning Another Show yall.  Karen and Ivy reunite to sing “Big Finish”  End of Series.    You’re welcome everyone, even though literally only 1 person asked for this. 

[d-targaryenshoe]

Night Scares • Andrew Deluca

Notes : this is my repost of my imagine because my old tumblr got blocked lol.

Summary: Andrew has a manic episode and one of his colleagues decides to call the one person he loves.

Warnings: anxiety

Word Count: 1385

Now here you were in the bar of your dad, releasing all the steam your body was filled with after a whole day killing fires, together with one of your best colleagues, Ben Warren.

"Blowing of steam is your synonym for getting drunk isn't it?" Ben inquired, pushing the door open as both of you walked in.

"I won't get drunk when my dad is babying me the whole night." You spoke when walking towards the bar and taking a seat on a barstool.

"Hey sweetheart, you want some water?" Joe inquired when he walked up behind you and kissed the top of your head, giving Ben a clap on the shoulder before walking behind the bar with the tray on his hand.

"See what i mean?" A small laugh left your lips when you pointed your finger at your dad, filling a glass of water which made Ben put his hands up in surrender with a smirk.

"Water is healthy, alcohol makes you sing in the middle of the street and dance on top of tables in front of strangers." Ben snorted just as he accepted the glass of water your dad handed him across the bar. "That's horror."

"Whatever helps you sleep at night, Warren. That's not what Miranda told me on girl's night last week." You joked before raising your glass to your lips.

"So you're getting drunk with my wife every saturday?" The dark skinned man whispered, tilting his head to the side. "You're unbelievable."

"I'm an adopted daughter of a bartender that's very well known to surgeons that get their asses drunk in here after their shift, so yeah, i am." You admitted when throwing a glance at your dad as he talked to his costumers. "Oh crap."

"You never told me you were adopted Y/L/N?" Your best friend asked when you slightly froze, but knowing you had to explain anyways.

𝓣he feeling of your heart beating in your throat started to work it's way up and up and way more up every time.

Sure that this adoption was a big part of your life, but the fact that people always found out in a way. That incredibly annoyed you.

"What do you wanna know, Benjamin?" You questioned as your head was leaning on your hand while you swirled a paper umbrella between your fingers. "Joe adopted me when i was little, i don't know who my real mom or dad is, they probably didn't want me and Joe did."

The firefighter next to you nodded his head and put one hand on your shoulder, knowing that you were always strong on the outside but soft on the inside like a child.

"And you? Do you have a juicy detail about your life that I still don't know about after you arrived at the fire station?" You added with a light smile playing on your lips.

"Well if having a brother who has changed to a woman is a juicy detail, then there you go." Replied Ben with a roll of his eyes and a scoff.

"It's not a juicy detail, but it is a sign that she fulfilled her dream, he's a she now." You read when you patted his hand with a playful wink.

When it came to LGBTQ or transgender people, you were very protective because your father was gay? No, because every person is different and it is okay not to be normal and boring like a regular person.

"It took me time to accept it you know." He muttered, looking at the illuminated alcohol bottles behind the bar. "Miranda immediately accepted it, but i, i didn't."

You snorted, knowing that Ben also had his stubborn moments, and sometimes knew about himself.

A phone started ringing as you glanced to Ben but he shook his head so you grabbed yours out of your bag as it showed a private number.

"Hello Y/N, who am i speaking?" you asked, watching in Ben's direction as he gave you a questioning look.

"Good evening, this is Doctor Meredith Grey from Grey Sloan Memorial Hospital, are you the emergency contact of Andrew Deluca?" A female voice spoke on the other side of the phone with a soft tone as you heard yelling in the background.

"Y-Yeah i am, is something wrong with him?" and this was when you got worried, an emergency contact was all that put you off.

"Well, Andrew is acting rather weird, and since you are his emergency contact I need you to come over here as soon as you can." The woman spoke after she ended the call.

You got of your barstool and started to gather your stuff and place a few coins on the bar, hoping your dad would find them later.

"Y/N, what's wrong?" Ben got up from his barstool a wel and watched how you gathered your stuff with a hurry.

"I need to get to the hospital across the street, now." You muttered when you were done gathering your stuff and heading for the door of the bar.

"Let me go with you." Ben mentioned as he followed you across the street, not stopping for cars but only heading for the hospital. "Y/N for god's sake!"

"Not in the mood Ben." You hissed as a dark blonde female walked up to you with a slight hurry.

"Y/N?" she asked before you nodded your head, just wanting her to take you to him. So you could calm him down. "Follow me."

Walking through the hallway you soon came to a halt when you saw him sitting down against the nurse desk with his head between his knees and hands slightly shaking.

"I've got it from here." You assured her as you saw a lot of surgeons forming a small crowd around the hallway. "Could they give him some space?"

Meredith nodded as she went to go and speak to a red haired female.

Giving your bag to Ben, you strolled over to your husband who didn't saw the clarity of anything around him.

"Andrew." You whispered when bending down and placing your hand on his forearm but he flinched. "Andrew, it's okay."

"You don't know anything, Y/N." He snapped looking you in the eyes as his skin under his eyes was slightly blue. "you don't."

"You didn't have any sleep did you?" You challenged him when rubbing your eyes of tiredness as well.

"Even if i did it wouldn't mean anything to you." Your heart broke at that sentence, the tone and the way he said it and that's what made you crack.

"If it doesn't mean anything to me, then tell me Andrew. Why am i wearing this." You mumbled when atear slipped down on your cheek and get up from the ground. "We're married for 2 years, and you think i don't care?"

"Y/N i didn-" His eyes settled on his hand as it was wearing a golden ring as well. "I shouln't have said that."

"You shouldn't have, no." you mumbled whentaking your bag from Ben and walking up to Meredith and the ginger female.

"I'm April Kepner, nice to meet you." the red haired smiled when shaking your hand. "He never acted like this before."

"We didn't even know Andrew was married." Meredith spoke, giving you Andrew's clohes knowing he wouldn't finish his shift tonight. "But now we do."

"I'm sorry, he just wanted to keep it private and so did i." You answered when accepting the clothes and turing around as you walked towards your husband. "Come on, we're going home."

"Make me."

"Devo buttarti fuori di qui (do i have to kick you out of here) ?" You tilted your head to the side placing the clothes in his arms.

"No importa (Never mind)." Was the last thing he said before walking out of the hospital with his clothes in his hands.

[pinktintedmonocle]

Dedicated Followers of Fashion - A Cobra Kai Lawrusso Fanfic - Chapter 1

Daniel raised an eyebrow.  “That jacket is certainly something.  Where did you even get that?”

Johnny shrugged.  “Can’t remember.  Had it since the nineties.”

“Oh yeah?  Thought you didn’t own any clothes bought after 1989?”

When Johnny wears his sleeveless denim jacket to sparring practice, long buried feelings begin to emerge between him and Daniel.  As they try to deal with their emotions, a few iconic outfits from their past make a reappearance.

Set post season 3, so beware spoilers if you haven’t finished it yet.

1992

“John Lawrence, here for the modelling gig.”

The receptionist looked at Johnny over the top of her wire rimmed glasses, pursing her lips in disapproval.

“You’re late.”

“Yeah, I know.  I ran outta juice half a mile from the nearest gas station and me and my friend Bobby had to push my Firebird – ”

“Just sign here”, said the woman, pushing a clipboard towards Johnny.  “Then take a left down there to get to costume and make-up.”

She pointed towards a corridor with a blood red nail and Johnny squiggled his signature then set off, walking briskly.  He knocked on the door and it was quickly opened by a harassed looking man in a brightly patterned shirt.

“Are you the model? You’re very late you know, we were expecting you almost an hour ago.”

“Yeah, I know”, said Johnny. “But my car -”

“I don’t care, just get in here”, said the man, dragging Johnny into the room and starting to unbutton his shirt.

“Right, we need to get your clothes off and the baby oil on. Miranda!”

A small woman with a measuring tape around her neck materialised out of seemingly nowhere, brandishing a bottle of oil.  Together, Miranda and the man prepared Johnny for the shoot, styling his hair and oiling him up.  They gave him a pair of low rise designer jeans to change into; he quickly took off his own very much not-designer jeans and pulled them on.

“Right!” said the man, clapping his hands together and surveying his handiwork.  “I think you’re all good to go!  Oh – apart from one thing -”

He handed Johnny a sleeveless denim jacket and Johnny shrugged it on over his bare chest before the man pushed him out of the room and Miranda led him to the set.

After the shoot, Johnny walked up to the photographer.

“Hey, look I was just wondering if there are any more jobs like this going.  It’s just I could really use the money and -”

“Oh, there are plenty of jobs like this going.  For people who show up on time”, said the photographer, glaring at Johnny before walking off.

Back in the dressing room, Johnny scrubbed the baby oil angrily off his chest.  He tugged his own jeans and shirt back on before his eyes fell on the denim jacket, now draped over the back of a chair.  He slung it over one arm and left the building, more than ready for a beer with Bobby.

 2019

“Maybe our new logo could be an eagle eating a snake”, suggested Johnny, picking up a pencil and beginning a crude sketch.

“Needs to have a bonsai in it”, said Daniel, not looking up from his phone.

“Alright.  How about an eagle sitting in a bonsai eating a snake?”

Daniel tutted.  “An eagle can’t sit in a bonsai, Johnny. It’s too big, the bonsai would just topple over.”

Johnny dropped the pencil and huffed, crossing his arms.

“Yeah, well, why don’t you try and come up with some ideas, LaRusso, rather than just staring at crap on your phone?  What are you looking at, anyway?”

“Your Facebook page”, Daniel answered without missing a beat.  “And you’re right, it is crap.  Why is there a photo of you pouting while standing in front of a mural of some angel wings?”

“Oh shit, thought I’d got rid of that one”, said Johnny, pulling a face.  “Can you delete it for me while you’re there?”

Daniel sighed.  “No, Johnny, I can’t delete it for you, that’s not how it works.”  He was for silent for a moment, still scrolling, then smiled.

“This one of you and Miguel is nice, though.  You at a concert or something?”

“Yeah, Dee Snider, the most badass rocker ever.” Johnny stuck his tongue out and raised his hand to his mouth, two middle fingers held down, mimicking the pose in the photo.

Daniel rolled his eyes. “That jacket is certainly something. Where did you even get that?”

Johnny shrugged. “Can’t remember.  Had it since the nineties.”

“Oh yeah?  Thought you didn’t own any clothes bought after 1989?”

Johnny threw the pencil at Daniel across the office they had set up in Miyagi-Do.  The smaller man caught it easily and scowled, but Johnny just grinned.

“Maybe I’ll wear it for you sometime, LaRusso”, he said with a wink.

“Lucky me”, Daniel muttered, looking back down at his phone.

Johnny wasn’t sure if it was just a trick of the light, but it almost looked like there was a faint blush on Daniel’s cheeks.

**********************************************************************************

Johnny could tell before he even got out of bed that it was going to be a swelteringly hot day.  He woke in the early hours of the morning and couldn’t get back to sleep, the sheets sticking uncomfortably to his skin.

Eventually he got up and munched on cereal while aimlessly scrolling through Facebook on his laptop. (He had recently learnt that the box which asked him ‘What’s on your mind?’ was not a space for private thought, and that anything written in there could be seen by anyone else on Facebook. He discovered this after typing ‘How to take down Kreese and also what is cotton candy made of’ and Daniel had replied thirty seconds later with ‘You’re an idiot, Johnny’.)

As the heat continued to build Johnny took a cold shower before selecting an outfit for the day’s training.  He threw on shorts and a sleeveless t-shirt and was just about to walk out of the bedroom when the denim jacket caught his eye, crumpled up on the floor of his closet.

Maybe I’ll wear it for you sometime, LaRusso.

Johnny picked it up, and before he could change his mind he shoved it into his gym bag and headed out of his apartment.

**********************************************************************************

“Good work today everyone”, said Daniel, nodding approvingly as the students filtered out of Miyagi-Do, wiping sweat off their foreheads and glugging from water bottles.

“Yeah, getting badass”, agreed Johnny.  “Barely any pussies among you now.  Well, apart from maybe you.”  He pointed at Demetri.

The pale boy looked offended.  “Hey, what’s wrong with me?  I thought I did pretty well today!”

“You did, Demetri”, Daniel said reassuringly, patting him on the back as he left and frowning at Johnny.

Johnny just smirked and glanced towards the house, thinking longingly of the ice cold Coors Banquet waiting for him in the newly installed refrigerator.

“Hey Sensei!”

Johnny turned to see Miguel standing in front of him.

“You wanna come over to mine for dinner tonight?  My mom says you’re welcome to join us if you don’t have any other plans.”

“Not tonight, kid. I’m gonna stay here for a bit, work on some new moves with LaRusso.  But another time, yeah?”

“Yeah, of course”, said Miguel with a smile.  “See you later, Sensei.”  He started to walk out of the dojo, waving goodbye to Daniel as he went before looping an arm around Sam’s shoulders.

When the kids had left, Daniel turned to Johnny.

“You hungry?”

Johnny shrugged.  “I could eat.”

He followed Daniel into the house, allowing his eyes to trail down the other man’s petite form.  It had been a while since Johnny had seen Daniel train in anything that wasn’t a tracksuit or a gi, but due to the temperature Daniel was dressed similarly to Johnny in shorts and a sleeveless workout top.  Johnny watched as Daniel’s long legs carried him out of the yard and inside, a slight sheen of sweat glinting on the tanned skin.  Johnny bit his lip and fetched his longed for beer from the refrigerator, taking a swig.

“You want a cold one, LaRusso?” he asked.

“Do you have any beer, or in fact any form of alcohol, that isn’t a Coors Banquet?”

“No.”

“Then I’ll stick with water”, Daniel said dryly.  He turned around to start preparing the dinner and Johnny held up his middle finger behind his back.

As Daniel busied himself Johnny opened his gym bag, reaching inside and pulling out a towel to wipe the sweat off his brow.  He paused when he saw the jacket, scrunched up in the corner of the bag along with a can of deodorant and a packet of corn nuts.

Maybe I’ll wear it for you sometime, LaRusso.

Lucky me.

He took it out of the bag and pulled it on, feeling the rough denim scratch against his skin, before strutting back into the yard and sitting on the deck.  He sipped his beer as the early evening sun beat down, trying and failing to think of something that wasn’t Daniel LaRusso’s legs.

Daniel soon emerged from the house and strode over with two plates of food.  When he caught sight of Johnny he stopped mid-stride, mouth opening and closing a few times before he settled on just shaking his head.

Johnny grinned. “What?  Told you I’d wear it for you sometime, LaRusso.”

“You’re ridiculous, you know that Johnny?” said Daniel, joining Johnny on the deck and handing him a plate and cutlery.

“I’m ridiculous?  You’re the one who has a dojo in an ornamental garden.”

“What, as opposed to a more sensible location for teaching children karate, like a public park or a seedy strip mall with faulty wiring?”

Johnny ignored the jibe and poked at his dinner with a fork, wrinkling his nose in distaste.  “A salad?”  He put the bowl down.  “Think I’ll go and grab a burger.”

“Really, Johnny?  You want something hot in this heat?”

“Maybe I do”, Johnny replied, making eye contact with the smaller man.

This time the blush that bloomed on Daniel’s cheeks was definitely not a trick of the light.

After a moment Daniel coughed and looked away.  “Come on Johnny, eat your salad.  It’s good, I swear.”

Johnny pulled a face again but still speared a carrot and a lettuce leaf with his fork and popped them in his mouth, munching nosily.  As green stuff went it actually wasn’t too bad.  Not that he would ever tell Daniel that.

**********************************************************************************  

After dinner they discussed potential new moves they could teach their students for the tournament, Daniel diligently writing them all down while Johnny lounged on the deck, nursing another Coors Banquet.  (“Why don’t you just teach them that move you used on Kreese, the one that made his arms go limp?  Then we’d win no problem.” asked Johnny.  Daniel had rolled his eyes.  “Funnily enough, temporarily paralysing your opponent is considered an illegal move in a karate tournament for children.”  “But you can at least teach me, LaRusso.”  “I’m not doing that, Johnny.  You’d use it on anybody who annoyed you, which would mean practically everyone in the valley would have numb limbs.”)

Eventually Daniel put the pen down and stood up, offering a hand out to Johnny.  

“You wanna try putting some of these moves into action?”

Johnny nodded and clasped Daniel’s hand, letting the smaller man pull him up.  As he did, Johnny let his thumb rub gently over the back of Daniel’s hand for just a moment, noting with interest the slight but noticeable hitch in Daniel’s breathing as he did so.  He thought of the blush from earlier, the way the pink tinge had spread prettily across Daniel’s olive skin, and swallowed thickly.  The sensible thing would be to ignore these feelings, to push them back into the distant corner of his mind where they had been dwelling for the past three decades.  

But Johnny Lawrence was not good at doing the sensible thing.

Daniel started to warm up while Johnny did a few half-hearted stretches of his own.  Then they got into position in the middle of the yard.

“You gonna be able to move properly in that, Johnny?” asked Daniel, eyes flicking up and down Johnny’s denim clad torso.

“I can move in anything, LaRusso.  Don’t think you’ve got an advantage over me just because you’re wearing some fancy-ass designer workout gear and $300 sneakers.”

“Whatever, Johnny. You wanna start with the new set of kicks?”

They trained for about forty minutes, moving from the kicks to a new punching technique and then into some blocks (“Can’t we just keep punching?” Johnny had asked.  “’Cause you know, the best type of defence is just more offence.”  Daniel raised an eyebrow.  “That’s the winning attitude that got us into this mess to begin with.  Come on Johnny, let’s just try it my way, OK?”)  

The sun was low in the sky but it was still baking hot, and Johnny could feel the sweat running down his chest, exacerbated by the heavyweight denim.  It was worth it though.  Johnny hadn’t really planned what would happen once he’d put the jacket on, but the first time Daniel’s bare skin had come into contact with the fabric he had let out a breathy little gasp.  Johnny had then deliberately started to make sure his jacket touched Daniel whenever possible, and by the time they had worked through most of the new moves Daniel was looking dishevelled, hair unruly and falling into his eyes, skin slick with sweat, breath ragged.  He lashed out with a front kick and Johnny blocked as planned, but rather than backing off he spun Daniel around and pulled him into an embrace so the smaller man’s back was flush against his chest before dragging his jacket slowly over Daniel’s damp skin.  Daniel shuddered and let out a small whimper.  He went to move away but Johnny grabbed his wrist and pulled him back in so that they were face to face.  Johnny let go of Daniel’s wrist, moving his hand instead to the other man’s waist, letting his fingers rub over the slight swell of softness at Daniel’s middle.  

“Johnny”, Daniel breathed, voice breaking, eyes wide, leaning in just ever so slightly.

Johnny gulped.  This was dangerous territory; flirting was one thing, but they were now on the verge of something else entirely.  An image of Carmen and Miguel flashed into his mind, happily chatting away at their family meal, and he felt a sudden rush of guilt. Daniel was still staring at him with those big doe eyes, and he suspected that if he went in for a kiss the smaller man wouldn’t resist him.

Instead he stepped back, arms dropping to his sides, almost tripping over a rock as he put some distance between him and Daniel (who designs a dojo with freaking great lumps of stone in it, anyway?  And Daniel had the nerve to criticise him for being unsafe).

“Uh”, he said, throat dry, voice coming out low and scratchy.  “That was good.  I mean, good – uh – session.  With the new moves.”

Daniel just stared at him for a moment before he seemed to come to his senses.

“Uh, yeah”, he said, clearing his throat.  “Good, uh, good work Johnny.”

“Uh, yeah.  You too”, said Johnny, gesturing vaguely in Daniel’s direction.  They were both silent for a second and then they both spoke at once.

“It’s getting late, I should –”

“So I need to get back –”

They smiled tightly at each other.

“See you tomorrow, LaRusso”, Johnny said awkwardly.

“Yeah.  Tomorrow.”

Johnny fetched his stuff from the house and left by the front door, slinging his bag into the back seat of his car.  He pulled out of the driveway, glancing for a second in the rear view mirror.  Daniel stood in the doorway, watching him, an unreadable expression on his face.

At home, Johnny peeled off the denim jacket and threw it back into the closet.  He grabbed a beer from the refrigerator and drank it in one before cracking open another and sitting down in front of the TV.  He let a mindless action film wash over him until he felt his eyelids start to droop and he drifted off on the couch to dreams of long legs and big eyes and a soft New Jersey accent that just whispered Johnny, Johnny, Johnny over and over again.

[the-broken-truth]

Darius Beneviento - Dinner With The Silverstreams [Part 4]

Broken Truth: Hello Everyone! If you remember from the drawing of Darius Beneviento - he is the formerly ill son of Donna Beneviento from an ask by my friend @k1ngm1nt. Last time, Darius told his mother he was interested in someone and now...it's time for the dinner between The Benevientos & The Silverstreams! Huge takes to @k1ngm1nt for helping me out with it. Now, let the words weave together!!

[House Beneviento - Kitchen]

Donna peeked around the threshold of the kitchen, watching her son as he prepared divine meals for the...interlopers...she means 'guests' that would be arriving soon. Donna groaned at the thought of other people coming to her house - but if anything bothered her more than people, it was the fact those people were coming about her son. Darius told her that he was interested in the Eldest Daughter of the Silverstream Family - Stella was her name if Donna remembered correctly - and the two of them had been talking for a while but the Father - Mr. Marcus Silverstream - and his 2 twin sons - Max and Strider - weren't too fond of their only daughter/sister talking to a boy who was - according to them - a bad seed. Darius went over to their house yesterday and asked them to come to Beneviento Manor for dinner and conversation to show that he wasn't as bad as they believed; he even asked their preferred meals so they could be prepared.

"I don't get why they have to come." Donna heard Angie said Darius as he placed the finishing touches on Mrs. Silverstreams Tomato Soup.

"I've explained it before, Ang, we're having them over for dinner so they could see I'm not a bad person and hopefully give their blessing for me to date Stella." Darius explained again as he carried to soup to its tray and placed the cover over it.

"I still don't see why you want to get some stupid human girl's attention. You have Donna and I, aren't we enough to keep you happy?" Angie asked as she jumped on Darius's shoulder, only for him to place her on her feet.

"Family-wise, you and Mom are the only ones I really need but I eventually want a family of my own. I want to fall in love, Angie." Darius said as he removed the apron and smoothed out any possible wrinkles in his suit. Angie was about to say something else when Darius's silver eyes widened when he realized he forgot his grandfather's brooch on the cushion on the pillow on the nightstand in his room. He excused himself and began to power walk, then jog up the stairs.

"I don't like this." Angie said as she walked closer to Donna's side.

"I don't like it either, Angie, but I couldn't deny him this; he's been through a lot and as his mother I want him to be happy. Maybe it will be over and we won't have to deal with those...people, then Darius can continue to be happy at home with us, where he belongs." Donna said as she looked at the set table - too many plates for Donna's liking.

It would be a few moments before a knock came at the door of House Beneviento and the Blood Heir came marching down the stairs with the brooch polished over his heart as he marched over to the door and pulled it open with a smile - meeting 3 collective glares, a nervous smile, and an embarrassed face.

"Mr. Silverstream and Family, Welcome to House Beneviento. Please, come in and takes your seats." Darius said as he gave a light bow and moved aside so the family could enter.

"Hmph, what a glorified doorman." Marcus huffed as he walked in, looking around the house with uninterested eyes. His sons followed behind him with the same scowls on their face, followed by their mother who gave the boy a 'Thank you, dear' before following her husband, and finally, Stella - the one who was stealing her son from her - walked and looked at Darius; Angie and Donna glared at her.

"Sorry about my dad and brothers, Darius; they still don't want to accept that I want my own life." Stella said as Darius lifted himself to smile at her - that smile made Donna's blood boil.

"It's not your fault, Starlight. Let's just hope the dinner will go well and we won't have to...ya know." Darius looked nervous as 'ya know'. What was 'ya know'? Did he mean to break up? Oh, the very thought made Donna and the Doll smile.

"Boy! Where are food and drinks?!" The roaring voice of Marcus Silverstream called from his seat.

"Yeah, we were promised food! Where is it?!" Max barked after his father.

"One moment, please." Darius said as he and Stella began walking over to the table. The Young Heir pulled out his girlfriend's chair before standing straight. "I have a collection of wines 0r acholic drinks for you to try or even ciders if you aren't the kind for acholic beverages." Darius said with a smile.

"What do you have so much booze? Are you a drunkard?" Strider asked with a smirk.

"I don't really drink but my aunt has a wine business while my uncle tends to come into whiskey, beers, and cigars a lot; he gives them to me think that I would like them so I act them to be polite but I don't use them." Darius explained.

"Tch, yeah right." Marcus said as he rolled his eyes.

"Dear, you know the boy doesn't drink - you can tell that just by looking at his skin. And judging by the pure white of his eyes, he doesn't smoke either." Mrs. Silverstream said.

"Shelia, you don't know that. He could be doing some kind of trick to make us think he doesn't smoke and drink, he could very well be an abuser." Marcus said.

"Excuse me, Mr. Silverstream, but my son is not an abuser. I would be grateful if you watched your mouth about my son." Donna said as she narrowed her eye at Marcus.

Broken Truth: Quick Note - Darius made Donna a special eye patch that covers her Cadou Scar so she doesn't always have to wear her veil.

"It's fine, Mother. I'll be back with the food and drinks." Darius said as he excused himself with a slight bow and walked into the kitchen.

"You guys are horrible, you told me that you would be kind to him. He's done nothing to you." Stella glared at her father and brothers.

"Dear, we're just trying to keep you safe." Marcus said.

"Bullcrap, you just don't wanna accept that I want my own life that doesn't involve you or the shop." Stella retorted.

After a while, Darius came with the rolling tray holding the food and gave each person the food they ordered. He once again asked for what everyone wanted to drink and retrieved it once he was given the answers. The table was silent for a while as everyone ate their food and consumed their drinks.

"This soup is perfect, Darius." Shelia said as she looked at the silver-eyed heir, "Tell me, did you make this yourself?" She asked.

"Yes, ma'am. I got my grandmother's recipe book and I thought it would be good to see if I had the Beneviento Touch when it came to food." Darius said.

"I have to say you do, dear. This is very delicious." Shelia said.

"Yeah, it's good enough." Marcus said as he wiped his mouth with the napkin, giving Darius hope...until he said, "Good enough to be a cook but not my daughter's boyfriend." He threw the napkin down on the empty plate.

"Yeah, and this booze tastes expensive as hell. Just where the fuck did you get this?" Strider asked.

"As I've said before, my aunt owns a wine business and she gives me bottles from time to time." Darius said.

"Just who is your aunt?" Max asked.

"Lady Alcina Dimitrescu." Darius answered, making everyone look at him wide-eyed.

"That big bitch is your aunt? I guess Lord Heisenberg is your uncle and Mother Miranda is your Grandmother?" Marcus said.

"You would be right but don't call my aunt a bitch, please, it's not polite." Darius said as he tried to keep himself calm.

"Must be nice, being related to the 4 Lords - all the money you could want and get anything without having to work hard for it." Max snarled at him.

"I'm not a spoiled rich kid and none of their money is my own, I don't go around with my hand out and ask my mother, aunt, uncles, or grandmother for anything. If I want something, I work for it and I won't do anything dishonorable; that's not who I am." Darius said.

"What do you do for a job, kid? How do you get your money?" Marcus asked.

"I do freelance work around the village, if people need something do that others don't want to do, I take care of it. When no one asks, I do runs for the Duke and he gives me 45% of whatever he makes at the end of the day." Darius answered without fail.

"What do you even like my sister? We don't have money and we have an antique and book shop." Max said.

"Stella is an amazing person, she's nice to talk to and she always has something wise to say. She listens to me and doesn't hound for my money like every other girl in this village does. She has a calm aura that draws me to her and it makes me happy just being around her; I don't even need to talk, just hearing her voice is enough." Darius said - Stella blushing behind her hand.

"Tell me something - you have the village lords and the high priestess as your family, what's that like?" Strider asked.

"I love my family, more than anything in this world; but there are even things your family can't give you. I want to fall in love and maybe have a family of my own, not now but somewhere in the future." Darius explained. There was a moment of silence before Marcus spoke again.

"Where is your father?" He asked.

Darius looked confused.

Donna looked horrified.

"Excuse me?" Darius asked.

"You heard me. Where is your father? Does he work aboard? Did he and your mother divorce, is that why he's not here? Was he an abusive piece of crap?" Marcus asked with force.

"I...I...I don't know." Darius whispered.

"What the hell you mean you don't know? How don't you know about your own father?!" Max yelled.

"Max, stop!" Shelia warned him.

"Are you just like him? Is that why you don't wanna tell us about him?!" Strider yelled in his brother's place.

"Strider!" Stella yelled to him.

"Why aren't you saying anything, kid?! Tell me about your father!" Marcus demanded.

"I...I can't tell you. I don't know anything about him." Darius stuttered.

"And why don't you?!" Marcus yelled. Donna had enough.

"He doesn't know his father because his father died when he was young! My son has been sick most of his life and came out of it a few years ago!" Donna yelled at the man.

"He never knew this father?! What makes this punk think he's worthy of my daughter when he ever had any parental guidance in his life?!" Marcus yelled at Donna.

"My son doesn't need parental guidance! I've been there for him since the day he was born and he came out fine!" She yelled back.

"Like hell he did! How can he call himself a man when he never had a male role model?! Your son is fucked up and I won't let him taint my daughter!" Marcus yelled.

"What makes you think that little homewrecker is good enough for my son! He is of noble blood and she would water down his gene pool!" Donna yelled.

"ENOUGH!!!" Darius and Stella yelled as they stood to their feet, their hands balled and shaking at their sides.

"We tried so hard to get you all to see that it doesn't matter what you think about us. Darius and I love each other and we care for what each other has to go through but if this is how you're going to act...we're breaking up..." Everyone smiled until "With all of you."

"What?" Marcus said.

"What do you mean 'break up with us'?" Max said.

"If you all can't get along and at least be tolerant of each other - Stella and I won't be a part of these toxic families anymore." Darius said as he took the Beneviento Brooch from his chest and Stella removed her family ring, both of them placed the objects on the table.

"What...Darling, you can't be serious..." Shelia began.

"Yeah, where will you even go?" Max asked.

"Darius built us a house away from here - where the 4 Lords territories meet but don't touch so the Lords have no say over us." Stella said as she walked over to Darius, who placed his hand around her waist and pulled her close.

"Until you all can at least get along on a proper level, don't excuse us to be the heirs of the Beneviento or Silverstreams. We're leaving and we won't be coming back for clothes, we went shopping for them last time." Darius said as he and Stella began walking to the door. Marcus shot up from his seat and tried to grab his daughter but Darius gave him a sharp uppercut and sent him to the ground. Donna and Angie followed behind them, begging, crying, for him to stay but their words were hollow as Darius and Stella left the house and mounted Darius's Horse, riding into the darkness.

Donna's heart felt colder than the Romanian Winter as she looked at the brooch in her hand...Her son had left her and she didn't know what to do.

[End]