#Fatal Family Feuds

[thefanciestborrower]

Man,,,I’m so tired

[just-a-torn-up-masterpiece]

christmas lights and tension

part two of home for christmas

natasha romanoff x reader

The hallmark movie inspired Christmas story that nobody asked for.

Natasha Romanoff fell out of love with Christmas, but perhaps a certain someone could help her find the festive magic once again.

Coming home to her small hometown from her life in New York City, the children’s author is reunited with the people of her past; some are happier to see her than others.

But, will rekindled relationships inspire the Christmas story she’s struggling to write? Or will she go home empty handed?

fluff, friendship, an attempt at humour, cringe of course, tension and bickering, meddling gyals, feelings good and bad, found family

wc: 2.9k | part one | part three

The night prior played on in your head the entire journey to work. You thought about the pathetic way she could still make your heart beat with just a look of her eyes into yours and how, even after all this time, a brief closeness still made the hairs on the back of your neck stand straight. As though, they too, just wanted her nearer. 

It was aggravating, the way you wanted her within your periphery despite the hate you’d accumulated with regards to the redhead in her time away. Since she left with little goodbye. 

The festive ornaments Wanda had decorated the cafe door with dared to annoy you when you let the door shut heavily behind you and each motion you went through was carried out with more force than necessary. You loathe how easily Natasha had gotten beneath your skin. With just one evening leaving you in such a way, you dare to think what else was in store. The mere fact only sets your plan in stone - you have to avoid her as much as possible. She’ll be gone in a week, it’ll be a simple task to execute. 

–

When Sam and Wanda arrived they only had to share a glance, darting their eyes towards where you huffed and puffed at each menial job you carried out. The annoyance bounced off you and they knew better than to drag you into a conversation. 

They let you stew in your Romanoff-stained head, plastering on your best customer service grins before retreating to make their orders with an obvious and venomous taste left on your tongue. 

Pietro, however, was the allegorical spanner in the works. The blonde hurried into the building when he knew you’d reached the afternoon lull, an expectant smile on his face for the gossip he was waiting to hear from your lips. Wanda had warned him, and she did so again with a muttered scolding beneath her breath. She’d told him all about it last night - of course. But he wanted your side of the ongoing feud (that had been significantly lacking ignition for longer than he’d prefer).

Despite what his sister may say, he will not deprive himself of hearing your angry retelling. 

“So,” he began with a playful lilt to his vaguely accented voice. “Anything interesting happen last night?”

He merely laughed at the glare you shot his way, a trait you’d grown to despise after all of these years. 

“I told you not to say anything,” Wanda sighed, slapping his hand away from the cookie he tried to help himself to. “She’s angry,” she finished with a stage whisper and a nowhere-near-subtle gesture to where you stood beside her, 

“I’m not angry,” you muttered with a roll of your eyes that proved just the opposite. 

“So you definitely didn’t almost break my favourite mug, huh?” Sam laughed, still milking the emotional wound of the morning. It wasn’t broken, which you had assured him multiple times, but the near fatality was enough for him to hold against you for the foreseeable. 

“It’s an ugly mug, Sam,” you mumbled, letting a huff of a laugh break through your tough exterior at his overly dramatic gasp. 

“Only an angry person would say such a hurtful thing,” he frowned. 

“I’m not angry. I’m totally over it. One hundred percent, completely, over it.”

You couldn’t even convince yourself, let alone the lifelong friends who stared back at you incredulously. You could just about kick yourself with the effect she somehow has on you. You could practically suffocate in it. 

“Right,” Pietro nodded, seemingly agreeing with the others to feign the slightest belief in your statement. “So last night was good?”

“It was great,” you nodded, possibly giving yourself whiplash with the intensity. “Right, Wanda?”

“Yes. Definitely,” she agreed. “Very, um, tension-free and comfortable.”

“Yeah. It’s not as though somebody I haven’t spoken to for years was just staring at me all night,” you grumbled. 

“Someone you’re totally over.”

“Exactly. Someone who has no hold on me at all. In fact, I actually forgot about the time she blocked my number, moved away and just never talked to me again.” 

“So the annual Christmas Eve party at the Romanoff’s is still good to go?” Sam chimed in. 

“Oh - I actually have plans that day,” you stumbled out - completely blanking on the tradition you’ve all kept up since high school.

It was an unconventional family you’d all found yourselves a home within; what began as a friendship group sitting together at lunch turned into gatherings during the holidays. Melina and Alexei had become parental figures for a few of you; large gatherings were held for all holidays celebrated within the social circle you’d accumulated, and the time you’d all spend together only grew you ever closer. 

When you were younger, the ‘adults’ would be forced into the kitchen whilst you had your own teenage gatherings in the living room. Yelena would sneak a bottle of vodka from her parent’s cupboard, Kate would supply pizza, and Kamala would always amuse you with the comic stories she’d write herself into. Maria had often fondly commented on her wish for you to just ‘go to a party and get the cops called on you for underage drinking’, but you were all happy with Monica bringing her telescope - her prized possession - to show you the stars. You’d all rather critique Sam’s baking endeavours and tease Carol about her weekly changing crushes on various cheerleaders. Watching Kate clumsily lose her balance in an attempt at a race against Pietro was your preferred way to spend a Friday night. 

You and Wanda would giggle at your friends, at the way Kamala would have to be practically carried home by her parents. She’d feign tipsiness and you’d all pretend you didn’t know it was just from all the Pepsi she’d drink. And then you’d gossip. Your favourite pastime for all these years, it was the pair of you against the world. She’d try to convince you of the obvious crush Natasha harboured for you, analysing each and every time she’d looked your way to see if you’d laughed at one of her jokes. Telling you of the eyes that constantly tried to find yours across a room as though she noted down each interaction - knowing her, she probably did. 

She’d told you for years that your feelings were mutual and just as you let yourself believe her, the girl that held your heart in the palm of her hand just took it with her to college. And then to New York. And now that she was here, you swear you could see it peeking out of her jean pocket. 

“Melina’s apple pie is literally your favourite,” Wanda spoke with a poke of her elbow into your side, knowing your stubbornness could easily subside if she had anything to do about it. 

“Just bring me a slice,” you grumbled. 

“No. You’re coming,” she returned with a shake of her head that never failed to put you in your place. “Besides, you’re over the Romanoff phenomena, right?”

“Right.”

And just as though the universe is desperate to see you in a fugue of embarrassment the bell above the coffee shop door sounded, and the hinges you always mean to tend to creaked, as the subject of your aching resentment sauntered in. You caught a brief glance of the soft smile that pulled at her lips as she looked around before you ducked out of view, hitting Wanda’s leg when she looked down at you with a laugh. 

“You’ve got a nice place here,” she spoke. You hate how much you still adore the rasp of her voice. 

“Yeah,” Wanda answered, you saw her nod from where you sat. And hid; your cowardice seemingly ever present only when it comes to her.  “We opened it a couple years ago.”

“She always said you’d open a shop here. I knew she’d do it.” You could hear the smile in her words and though Wanda is always on your team she couldn’t miss the fondness in Natasha’s eyes. The same glint from before; she made a mental note to tell you later. She does love romance after all, even if one half of the beloved couple is on her naughty list. She couldn’t completely let go of her matchmaking fantasies, even if she had to work with a friends-to enemies-to lovers debacle. 

You rest your chin on your tucked-up knees as you remember the day she’d walked with you through town, sharing a cup of ice cream whilst you spoke about your dreams for the future. You’d pointed at an empty space with a ‘for rent’ sign plastered to the window and claimed it would be yours, that you’d let Wanda decorate and give Natasha free coffees. She’d laughed and told you she’d write her books in the back corner and name a character after you. 

Neither of you mentioned the key elements of your desired futures. The presence of one another, sharing kisses and tender embraces. 

“My mom sent me,” you heard her say. “Something about cookies to have while we decorate? Apparently you come over to help?”

“You’d know that if you ever came back, Nat.” Wanda hadn’t meant to sound so harsh, she almost felt bad at the way the redhead nervously cleared her throat at the unspoken accusation but she couldn’t just forget the way she’d treated you. It was impossible to forget the way you only let her see you cry. 

“Yeah, I know,” she breathed. “It’s busy in New York, y’know? Deadlines and meetings,” she added, trailing off when she realised her excuses weren’t even good enough for herself. “I was hoping I’d bump into her actually, is she not here?”

“No, sorry,” Wanda lied seamlessly. “She had to go and chase up a delivery.”

“I guess I’ll see her tonight?”

“I’ll see if she can make it.”

–

She didn’t ‘see if you could make it’ at all. Each protest you made was debunked by persuasive words and puppy dog eyes she knew you couldn’t resist. You let any attempt she made of Natasha being a ‘changed woman’ glide right off of you, Wanda Maximoff’s belief in true love be damned. 

So, you were forced into attending the annual get-together where Melina sugarcoated her forced labour with promises of eggnog. She only enlists you to help because she knows Alexei and Yelena are less use than a chocolate teapot when it comes to festive decorations. 

You muttered beneath your breath as you dawdled your way to the front door, arms full with the box of cookies as requested (Sam’s own recipe), hoping to savour as much time as possible before you were thrust into close proximity with the woman you’d made it your mission to avoid. Wanda was orchestrating this on purpose, you’re sure. 

Before you’d even had time to fish the key out of your jacket’s pocket, the face you hoped not to see was smiling at you with the door opened wide enough to let you in. You didn’t let yourself pay attention to the familiar scent of the perfume she still seems to wear. 

“Hi, you made it,” Natasha smiled, taking the box from your hands, feeling the same pull as you when her fingers brushed against yours. 

“Yeah, I couldn’t let Yelena go without her cookies, could I?” you smirked, laughing when the aforementioned woman hurried over to take them from her sister. 

“Kate Bishop, I have acquired the goods,” she shouted through a mouthful of crumbs that you knew must’ve left a trail behind her on the carpet. 

“Wanda wasn’t sure you’d come.”

“Melina promised eggnog, of course I’m here,” you smiled, directing it towards the woman who approached you with a glass and a grin. She couldn’t help the twinge of hurt that washed through her at your obvious coolness towards her, how you hardly looked at her, though she couldn’t blame you for it. 

You were soon roped into hanging stockings along the fireplace with yours and the Maximoff’s still given a place. In hindsight, you wish less of your energy was focused on being on the opposite side of the room to Natasha and more on the sly whisperings between the women in the corner. 

It wouldn’t have been as much of a surprise when the two of you were given the task of fixing stringed lights on the porch. You could’ve wrestled Wanda to the ground at the way she laughed behind her hand at each subtle way you attempted to push the job into somebody else's lap. But their minds were made up and four pairs of eyes glinted with mischievous amusement when you begrudgingly made your way out into the cold Ohio evening. 

The yellowed light that filtered onto you both from within the house made her skin glow, her milky complexion just like cream. The kind that’d entice the swipe of your tongue across your bottom lip, wanting just a taste, but wanting to steer clear of its addictive elixir even more. You didn’t let her catch sight of your eyes tracing the side of her face whilst she attempted to unbind the tangled mess of lights bundled in her hold; mapping the contours of her jaw and the sharp turn it took as it dipped down to her exposed neck. You still knew each sporadic freckle and you chased a glimpse of each one before you darted your eyes elsewhere. 

It was confusing. How all those antipathetic emotions she stirred up within you, adding to the mixture with each passing year of being out of your life, were somehow joined by those old feelings flooding back. It all washed over you in a blearily muddled wave, filling each space it could find, bubbling and boiling, spitting out in ways that made you flinch. 

How could one woman cause you such upheaval? 

“Here,” she muttered, holding out the stringed lights that seemed to be in even worse condition than they had started with a scrunched up face of surrender. “I give up.”

You took them from her wordlessly, still hoping you could get this over with as quickly as possible. 

“Things like this take time, Natasha,” you spoke. Your voice was quiet and directed downwards with your chin against your chest as you picked apart the mess she’d handed you. “You can’t just expect it to unravel all perfectly just because you want it to.”

“Why do I feel like that has a double meaning?”

You only shrugged in response, weaving the wires with care so not to damage them further, getting there slowly but surely. 

“And here I was, hoping you’d talk to me tonight,” she murmured, scuffing her foot against the worn down wooden decking beneath her boot clad feet. 

“I don’t have much to say.”

“Alright.”

“Things don’t always happen the way you want them to, that’s all,” you breathed. “You can’t just come here and have it all fall in your lap all perfectly neat. Life doesn’t work like that.”

“Right, so this definitely isn’t about the lights,” she laughed. It was humourless and the second you dared to spare in her direction showed you the grimace that washed over her lips for just a moment before it faded again. 

“I don’t find any of this funny, Natasha. It’s a lot,” you sighed. “You being here after all of this time - after all that time I was just forgotten by you. You must be really dense if you’d expect me to just welcome you back with open arms.”

“I didn’t forget you,” she returned, brows furrowing at the way you truly believed that. “I could never just forget you.” 

“Then why’d you leave me behind?”

Any words that lay across the length of her tongue wouldn’t garner the courage to venture past her lips. Her mouth opened and closed. Opened and closed again. Words were never easy when it came to you. 

“I’m done,” you stated, doing all you could to push down the sting at her lack of reassurance. You felt foolish that, just for a moment,you’d thought that something heartfelt and profound would ease the ache. Sweet words spoken in her velvet-soft voice, saccharine enough to fix it all. You held out the neat and tangle-free length of string lights for clarification and she cleared her throat as she pulled her hands out of the front pockets of her jeans to take them from you. “Let’s just get this over with.”

The woman didn’t shy away from letting her sights linger on your body when she held the ladder still for you to climb. Still, she kept her hands away as much as she wanted to feel the solidity of you beneath them, only instructing you with words. 

“Move them a little to the left, maybe?”

“I know how to hang lights, Natasha,” you grumbled, straining the muscles of your arms to reach above you. 

“I’m sure you do but they’re uneven,” she bit back. 

“Whatever you say.” You rolled your eyes out of her sight whilst she snuck a peek at the exposed skin of your back where your shirt lifted. 

“Alright, now just hook them over the corner and we’re done,” she added, smirking at the dramatised groan you answered her with despite the tension in her jaw at the thick atmosphere between you. 

“If I’d known you’d back seat decorate, I would’ve got you to do it all,” you scoffed when you could finally make your way down from the stepladder. 

Neither of you acknowledged the hand she lay on your back, fingertips ghosting your cool skin with warmth that bit past the winter cold. Neither of you said anything about the way it stayed there. And you definitely didn’t admit to yourself that it left you willing its return when it drew away. 

Wanda was going to have a field day with this.

[swanmaids]

The reason none of us are normal about the Silmarillion after reading it is because it’s about so many things. Even disregarding the Histories and the Unfinished Tales, the Silmarillion is about doom and brutal defeats and generational curses and fatal flaws and the breaking of cycles. It’s about flawed gods and family feuds and love that defies fate and the inevitable loss of all things beautiful. It’s about looking back thousands of years at the men and women of myth and legend. It’s about the wrenching tragedies and the glimmers of hope, it’s Feanor putting the first torch to the swan ships and Turin falling on his own sword, Fingolfin despondent summoning Morgoth to come out and face him and Beren and Luthien stealing a silmaril from his crown, Elwing saved against all odds and hope and Earendil climbing to the peak of the gods to plead for mercy - and winning it. And it’s also about getting naked and death battling a werewolf with your teeth.

[barkly-523]

About Dutch van der Linde

Hello tumblr rdr space! I do not go here, but I post on tiktok sometimes and have a dear buddy of mine who ive been talking to about some posts on here!

I will post a proper introduction at a later date, but for now I would like to put my own two cents in on some stuff ive been seeing recently, about Dutch.

Dutch is an incredibly COMPLEX character, and I feel that some people really horrifically miss that point sometimes. whether it be "Oh, he bonked his head!" or "Oh, this man is a monster!" both points are on opposite ends of the spectrum, but I believe they greatly miss the overarching theme of his character and who he is, and was, as a person. To merely dismiss all of his actions by saying "oh, hes just a monster, abuser, groomer, thats why hes the way that he is" shows nothing above a surface level understanding of his character, nor the characters of the people around him and those who choose to work with him. These characters were designed to have depth, to be studied, and understood on a deeper level. Why take such a basic explanation? I am not here to say Dutch is not without flaws (because he has alot of those), but I AM here to say that calling dutch a "groomer" or some sort of "cult leader, master manipulator" is just, factually incorrect.

Firstly, with the grooming point. This is an incredibly stigmatized word nowadays, so its crazy to use in general here, but by no means were people "groomed" into being outlaws. These people had flaws of their own, took bad paths, and ended up crossing paths with Dutch. Why did they cross paths with him? Well, I went through every "how they joined the gang" story I could find, and its about a 50/50 split between they tried to rob or kill dutch, Or that they were on the run and dutch gave them a safe place to stay, with some exceptions. The odds of these people bumping into someone far worse, in all cases, are exceptional. Most of the gang were in bad places when dutch found them, and they were getting desperate. Its incredibly possible they wouldve bumped into someone who wouldve killed them instead. John was saved from being hanged. Had Dutch and Hosea not been there, he wouldve died. Arthur outright says "dutch saved me, saved most of us." and although things did not turn out right at the end of the day, to believe that dutch was nothing more than a power-hungry manipulator is shown to be incorrect in the media itself. Colm exists. Hes literally right there. An antagonist who; doesnt know the names of the men in his gang, is shown to hit Kieran, who cares more for numbers than connection. Their feud goes back YEARS, and it all seems to stem from a fatal disagreement about how things were being run. When they split paths, Dutch keeps a tight knit gang of people who he considers family, Colm continues to grow his gang in numbers. At the very start of the game, dutch makes it clear that hed prefer the gang doesnt split up, that they stick together so *he can be sure everyone is okay.* He shows sympathy for Sadies situation, and takes her in to help her. Not once is it stated shes obligated to be there, in fact, its stated that she can stay as long as she needs to, to get back on her feet. She has the final say on whether she stays in the gang or not. The reason so many people stayed in the gang until it was actively collapsing, is not because dutch was forcing them to stay. They saw him as family just as he saw them.

Its why his character arc is so interesting. Its why watching his downfall is impactful. he ISNT a bad man, he does bad things out of desperation towards the end of the game, just as other gang members did in the very beginning. Dutch had bad tendencies, but he had people there to help him stay on the right track. His beliefs were good, its why he had people who stuck with him. They believed in what he taught. He had incredibly intelligent people in his gang, I'll use Lenny and Hosea as my examples for now. Lenny was taught by his father to judge peoples character, and even if his time with the gang was short he absolutely wouldve picked up on dutchs behavior if he was hiding behind some sort of mask. and HOSEA, has been with the dude for 20 YEARS. You cannot fake something for that long, and hosea is far from stupid aswell. He is a conman by nature. If dutch was trying to con everyone, surely he wouldve noticed. Arthur still regards dutch incredibly highly for a good majority of the game. He sees the man as a mentor and is clearly deeply affected watching dutch spiral and do bad things as the game goes on. At the beginning, when told Dutch had shot a girl on the blackwater job, his first response is to say that it "doesnt sound like him". Dutch is shown to have remorse for his actions, although he chooses to rarely talk about blackwater, and avoids the subject when its brought up, he explains to hosea, with shame, that he "really messed up" in blackwater. Micah had egged dutch on (as stated by John in a camp interaction) and dutch is shown to be regretful, that job really put everything in motion, but I truly believe micahs manipulation is what changed dutch.

Micah fed into his impulsive side, and tried to reassure him when things went wrong. When Arthur was kidnapped by Colm, Micah explained that Arthur was the type to wander, and surely, theyd see him back at camp. Dutch, ONCE AGAIN, shows regret. He shouldnt have put Arthur in such a position, and knows it. Dutch has impulsive tendencies, he has paranoid thoughts. This is shown in multiple camp interactions and even stated in one of the games first journal entries about the land they were going to settle on before the ferry job. To simply blow off all the depth of his character by saying "oh, hes bad" is so,, lame? Why focus on dutch specifically to say he did all of these bad things on his own accord when micah is, right there. Dutch literally goes crawling back to him in the epilogue. Partly for revenge, since seeing arthur on the cliffside was able to briefly break him out of the funk hed been in for the last few months (albeit far too late), but also partly because I dont think he knows how to be alone. I dont think he can handle it. Hosea and Arthur had been by his side the longest, and he had to watch both of them die. Late game conversations between dutch and arthur have always been fascinating to me, and even in Guarma dutch is still set on going back to keep the gang together. Thats his family, and he cannot lose them too. He outright states he'll do whatever it takes to make sure they survive. Arthur is startled by this, as dutch has been shown to be deadly and irrational, he isnt processing things well, and cannot handle the pressure on his shoulders, and it certainly doesnt help that Micah is in his ear telling him that Arthur and John are betraying him. He clearly doesnt want to believe it, but he cannot wrap his head around hoseas death, and assumes that the only way it couldve happened was if someone ratted, completely overlooking micah.

Dutch is not a smart man, and truthfully, he should have never been in a position of power, but he is not evil. He was desperate, and he was trying to keep his family together. Although I do not agree with the "Trolley Theory" for reasons stated above, I highly doubt him bashing his head like that helped with his mental state either. Dutch is desperate. Dutch does bad things, but he is far from a bad man. He helped the people in his gang, and although the found family turned sour in the end, they mattered to him, and it mattered to the gang. Dutch, CANONICALLY, was not always "bad" either. Arthur, Dutch, and Hosea robbed a bank, took what they needed, and gave the rest to the local orphanage. Dutch scolded Arthur for robbing someone who was "too poor" and said that doing that made them just as bad as the system they were fighting against, Dutch helped Hosea get on the right track and stopped him from stealing just about anything he could get his hands on. Dutch is a man who had good ideologies, and wanted to help people in his own way, but the pressures kept adding up and it broke him. Dutch, in RDR1, is a more objectively "bad" character, But look at how they fleshed him out in rdr2. Was the cliff scene nearly as impactful before the release of rdr2? absolutely not! Playing as john, we were thrown in with a baseline knowledge of their history, and now knowing the full story makes the cliff scene quite the harrowing experience if youre able to grasp the intricacies of dutchs character, to look at him as more than "just a villain".

This turned out to be far more ranty then I wanted, but I am so tired of seeing so much mischaracterization and demonization of a character with literally days worth of content to look at and study that shows some of the points I see from people to just be blatantly wrong. Lol

[mahuhumaling]

patpran x star-crossed lovers trope

"Two lovers, often teenagers, are doomed to be kept apart no matter how hard they struggle to be together. It may be fatally-Feuding Families. The archetype dates as far back as Mesopotamian and Egyptian Mythology."

[inspo. TV Trope Quote | visual | textpost] [x]

[la-pheacienne]

Hi! I asked @aemontargaryen-bloodraven this question, who kindly directed me to you.

I would like know if you think Rhaenyra was intelligent throughout the book, if she made for a good political strategist, knew how to command her people, would make for/was a good queen?

I also sent this question other people I was directed to, I’m sorry if that is somehow wrong and if you have covered this questions before… thanks

Hi! So I will redirect you to this post by @alinahams that I personally love about book!Rhaenyra.

I can't respond to this question in length right now cause I am kind of drained, but I will say that Rhaenyra was admired by many people, trained by her father for the role of heir to the throne from an early age and she thrived as a ruler in Dragonstone. Her dynamism, perseveration, defiance and charm made her an ideal Queen. Sure she dismissed certain rules and had extra-marital affairs cause her husband was gay but we would never say that a man who had extra-marital affairs (one specifically) is not fit to be king, now, would we?

That is until the usurpation. After the usurpation, pretty much every single person in this game went into a fatal spiral, including Rhaenyra. But that's the whole point actually. It's a tragedy, fuelled by the combination of the Greens' betrayal and Viserys' incompetence, negligence and passivity. Rhaenyra is not to blame in this.

That's my stance, I unapollogetically stan Rhaenyra. Did she kind of lose her mind in the end? Yeah. Did she become authoritarian and obsessive? Yeah. Does that mean she would not make for a great Queen? No. That's the point. She is not the flawless heroine, but she's in the right. She was meant to be Queen, she would have been a good Queen. If they had let her.

And in any case, I don't really like the question. What does that mean exactly, "was she a good strategist"? This is a literary text, it's not a political discourse. This is not a football game, the endgoal here isn't to see who is the best ruler lmao. The author imagined certain characters and a certain plot to serve a certain message, to tell a story. Nobody actually cares if she was a good strategist. We care about how the house Targaryen and the entire realm was literally torn to pieces because a woman was named heir.

And who exactly was more fit to rule? Aegon? The alcoholic, gluttonous rapist who got poisoned like a clown by his own men? Aemond the psycho who eradicated entire villages for fun and started a war that killed his entire family over a personal feud? Does that make him a good strategist? Or Alicent "mayhaps the whore will die in childbirth" Hightower who literally destroyed her entire family with her own hands and died in a cell alone and delusional? Was she a better strategist? All three of them barely cover two pages of characterization (and I'm being generous) in the entire 700+ pages of Fire and Blood.

[blackboar]

What exactly was William Hastings killed for? He did not receive a public trial, did he really cooperate with the Woodville family? Was he killed at the banquet or a week later?

Oh it was a coup and murder. He still likely received a hasty and rigged trial before.

I'm not very interested and versed in the debate concerning the exact timing of his execution; however, the why is very clear.

Richard decided to usurp the throne and depose his nephews. He had supporters: Lord Howard, the northern Peerage and gentry and more amazingly the only other duke besides himself: Henry Stafford, Duke of Buckingham. Henry Stafford's support despite his seeming lack of relationship with Gloucester and his marriage link to the Woodville allowed the effect of surprise needed to capture Edward V and become the most powerful faction. The Woodville were a spent force by June 1483: Anthony Woodville and Richard Grey were in jail, Thomas was in exile, Edward Woodville failed to attract the royal fleet's support and the queen was secluded in Westminster Abbey.

Hence why the accusation from Richard that Hastings was plotting with the queen was a bit ludicrous: What is there to plot with? They're all in exile or in jail. They can't raise levies in the short term or do a strike attack. Hastings had serious squabbles with both the queen and Dorset, and there was no reason for him to support them over Gloucester, with whom he had a cordial relationship. I get people who say that he was afraid of either Gloucester's rise or Buckingham gaining importance but this isn't enough for him to do a speedy 180° turn back to a family he hurt and with whom he has some serious land feud.

The most probable conclusion was that he was killed because Gloucester wanted to overthrow his liege's heirs. Hastings couldn't accept that alongside the probable civil war it would trigger, which would destroy Edward IV's legacy. There is the theory that Hastings was plotting to block Gloucester's usurpation but I don't believe it considering he was utterly caught by surprise at the Council.

But why kill him by surprise and so quickly?

Richard knows Hastings' role in the Edwardian regime. He is the figurehead of the Household and most non-Woodville-related supporters. He is also a big source of manpower that was instrumental in Edward IV's triumph in 1471. From his lands and his personal retinue in the Midlands, Michael Hicks calculated he could raise thousands of men (I do not have his book with me so from my recollection it's either 3,000 or 8,000 men). Hastings is the king's friend, well-connected, popular and with a good military record and great control as Chamberlain over the Royal Household. In other words: he is a key player and a dangerous one on top of that.

But his fatal flaw is that he wields institutional power more than feudal power. He's powerful because he's the king's friend, his chamberlain and well-connected to his household and various official of the council. His son doesn't have the same connections. That's why Hastings disappearing is so attractive to Richard: he does not have an heir with enough might to avenge him as Edward IV did for his father.

Hence why I don't think that Richard even asked whether he would be open to Edward V's deposition. He couldn't afford a no and lost the effect of surprise. So he just went for it, struck before Hastings realized his intentions and executed him before his friends and servants could react.

Afterward he made his peace with Hastings' son by not attaining the father and seizing his lands. Edward Hastings was simply too young and not connected and experienced enough to pose a genuine threat to Richard.

So to sum up: I don't think he was cooperating with the Woodvilles and he was clearly killed because he could become an opponent to the usurpation that would happen soon after his death.

Thanks for the question!

[ashleyfanfic]

HELLCHEER REMIX 2023

(Eddie Munson x Chrissy Cunningham)

The concept is very simple: participants choose from a list of famous couples (historical, folklore, literature, movies, television, etc.). Then they "remix" the original couple’s story using whatever elements of the original story that they find inspiring to create a brand new piece of HellCheer fic or artwork! All pieces must be originals and not part of a previously posted project.

To get your creative juices flowing, here are some plot bunnies for remixing Romeo and Juliet:

Chrissy and Eddie are lovers from feuding families. Chrissy and Eddie die in the end. Chrissy and Eddie are the owners of the apothecary shop from which the fatal poison was purchased.

It’s up to you! You choose your prompt and interpret it however you wish!

If you have any questions, you can contact me on Twitter and tumblr @ ashleyfanfic

READ MORE

[absurdthirst]

Dave York MasterList

**All ratings are individual to each story. Read warnings and tags at the top of the stories.

Requested Scenarios

Stormy Secrets Series MasterList - Sex pollen

Family Fun Series MasterList {Dave York x F!Reader x Carol York}

Religious Corruption MasterList {Professor!Dave York x Virgin!F!Reader}

Fine Line Between Love and Hate

What Happen at the Cabin, Stays at the Cabin {Dave York x F!Reader x Marcus Pike}

Adulterous Intent

Surprise

Running Towards Death

Take Control While You Can

Ghost of a Lover - Ghost!Dave York

Mr. & Mrs. York

A Nanny For Christmas - PlusSized!Reader

Protect You At All Costs

Late For Valentines

Family Business {David York x SpanishPrincess!Reader}

Home Invasion {Marcus Pike x F!Reader x Dave York}

The Donor {Marcus Pike x F!Reader x Dave York}

Fatal Break In {Catfish x F!Reader x Dave York}

Family Feud - Mafia AU! F!Smith!Reader

Under His Skin - Nanny!Reader - Sex pollen

Halloween Home Intruder

The Fateful Thanksgivings

The Assassin and the Cam Girl

Christmas Affair

Married to the Mafia

The Exchange {Dave York x F!Reader x Joel Miller}

The Bodyguard: My Protector - Bodyguard AU! F!Popstar!Reader

His

What He Deserves

Just Your Average Suburban Couple

Holding Back

Surrogate Love

Dirty Secrets

High Infidelity

Services Paid For

Property of Dave York

[paladin-of-nerd-fandom65]

Wow that was quick lol

1: what’s their favorite mortal kombat character?

2: whats a normal day for the starburst duo?

3: what’s their first day as a superhero like?

4: what’s the very first movie they saw in theaters?

5: what’s Chris relationship like with Jon & Kon?

6: same for Jake with his uncles?

1. For Chris, his main for the longest time has been Sub Zero. That guy’s color scheme, ice based techniques and combos, and Fatalities have struck something of a chord for him, if not in relatability then at least fit the sheer spectacle and awe inspiring prowess that Sun Zero can pull off with a simple button combo or two plus he finds the story of the Lin Kuei-Shira Ryu Clan Feud between Sun Zero and Scorpion all too fascinating

Then there’s Jake; he likes Johnny Cage plain and simple. He thinks that one is just cool and charismatic to the core. Nothing more or less

2. Since both Hamilton County (or Smallville) Junior High and Bludhaven Academy have similar opening times for classes, Chris and Jon get up at 5:45 AM to help Clark out with small errands around the farm before their Dad speedily makes breakfast for the whole family before Lois takes them to school around 8:45 AM.

Conversely, Jake usually peacefully sleeps in his bed with the blankets draped over him save for the crown of his hair and his two feet poking out, only things that can awake him in these cases being either the small of breakfast Dick makes or Mar’i sneakily scribbling said feet then outright doing a small roughhouse to get up literally laughing awake. It works nearly every time. After all preparations are made and having breakfast, the kids are taken either by Dick or Kory to their classes by 8:45 AM

Both schools also end classes for the day at 3:30 PM. It’s from here the Duo meet up with each other at their secret base, the Fortress of Fortitude (though Jake still calls it the StarCave instead), strap in their super suits and either patrol their respective cities or if their monitor picks up in distress signals unable to be unanswered by the JLA, Titans, Young Just Us not even their own contemporaries, answer said signals and save the day best as they can.

After the mission is done, they spend additional hours either on further patrols or helping each other with homework back at their base, in addition to some training spars with each other, taking their dogs (Krypto and Haley respectively) for walks, basketball practice, and maybe even kicking back from some episodes of their favorite shows.

It’s around 7:45 PM, the Duo start heading back to their respective homes, giving each other their secret signature handshake-hug, and promise to let each other know if they can meet up again tomorrow. From there, Chris has the rest of the night either hanging out with Jon or to himself before going to bed by 11:25 PM (unless of course Clark might need some super help) while Jake just meets up with Dick, Kory and Mar’i (sometimes along with the other Titans) on a little more patrol at Bludhaven itself before they all return to their apartment later that night, Jake finally going to bed by either 12:45 AM or even a bit later up to 2:15 AM.

3. Chris was about 10 years old when he first truly began taking superhero classes from Dick, on a particular cool summer day when after much reading about needle work and research from the Fortress of Solitude about the mythical Nightwing, Chris finally arrived to the usual rooftop of an abandoned apartment building to meet with Dick in his band new blue and burnt orange suit. He was very nervous about how it looks and Dick’s opinions in it but before further words can be said, Plasmus breaks loose and goes on a sewer drinking rampage on the city streets, having the two Nightwing’s work side by side with Chris doing what Dick had taught him beforehand to take down the gooey monster. Dick is impressed all around after this battle and after some pondering, he gives his approval for Chris’ new costume. They can both be Nightwings, just of different sorts that’s all

4. When Chris was 7 and Jake was 5, I’d say maybe Pixar’s Coco or Captain Underpants: The First Epic Movie. They’re family friendly and farming in many ways, the former being a Pixar film so of course they’d like them

5. He adores his brothers and they adore him in turn. Conner and Chris are a sort of leader and sidekick ish type of dynamic when the older clone teaches the younger adoptive sibling his superhero methods and street smarts, the latter especially handy as Chris is about one and a half year away from entering high school to which Conner can relate to. Plus the more laidback, introverted Chris is less likely to tease and getting into sibling snark with Conner unlike the more passionate, headstrong and brash Jon.

6. All of the Robins in their own unique attempt or another to win the title of ‘Jake’s Favorite Uncle’, usually via allowing him doing some naughty and mischievous stuff that Dick would usually have double takes over….we’ll accept for the bearer of that Favorite Uncle Title, Tim(my) Drake. Mainly because, Tim is essentially still a big kid himself who can really relate to Jake and especially so in another way where they both respect and try living up to the legacy of the Robin mantle in a way not even Dick himself can realize.

Plus Tim(my) can ask Jake (along with Mar’i) about all the dating and lovey dovey shenanigans of their parents to which his nephew is all too happy to share and Tim(my) can utilize for teasing ammunition during his own patrols with Dick.

But regardless, Jake loves all of his uncles and Auntie Cass without any shred of doubt.

Sorry for the wait @gothicghost2000 , But I get it was worth it, not to brag though lol

[cornus27florida]

for neither can live while the other survives …

@alexandersimpleton @meritre24601 Time Fix AU summary!

The biggest problem in this Frederick rewind the past (Time Fix AU) fic is, he only know what he sees/heard/experienced until ep 145 - so that's means certain important CPC plot points that he not witness and unaware will be unknown to him + huge disadvantage that he didn't know what Leland planning. Basic CPC arcs where Frederick participates in order are as the following (crossed out if in canon, Frederick not there so he has no knowledge regarding about it):

Introductions up to Jamie's wake, and the day after (ep16) he returns to the past

Gwen's slumber party diverges to CPC learns the time curse that Frederick had from the letter [example of the 'cursed' letter taken from Spy x Family latest chapter]

3) The trip to the amusement park -> instead going to the site 'perfect relation-ship' with Jamie, here Frederick going to the Mirror House

4) Prez lecture, meets Aurelia and Renee changes to Frederick first meeting to CPC, instead much later on like canon + Frederick's day (ep33-34) will changes, I think idea that he try to explain his curse to his family sans Leland will be good

5) CPC outing lessons -> CPC learns more about the time curse, how it connected to Frederick and Gwen + meeting Princels, but have outcome that Orson geeking about ToRT with Fred + Balcony serenade, not sure how it goes bit it differs with canon because now Fred w CPC

6) Lance BD party - CPC got closed for a week because Prez got period and transformed to be were-spider atm

7) Aurelia's trickery not sure how to make new plan for her outing both Gwen and Fred from the club + Premonition, Frederick's initation, Whitney meets CPC early and reveals the truth about the curse name is "star-crossed lovers"

8) Potrait duel + moving the part of Pastel queen potrait mystery in here, comes quicker because deadline sooner

9) CPC intruder arc - the day when death premonition happen

10) Switching the order time of Gwen's dinner party and Jamie's art show event? Kinda interesting to add Beckett and Leopold in the dinner guests but is that realistic?

11) Calm before storm, countdown of less than a month for the "death"line - revealing truths about the Diary of Lilyth (Gwen's side to prevent her death) and Leland's Plan (Frederick's side to prevent his death, deeps in the hole)

12) The Gala, is the final arc in this time fix AU with;

good ending: they discover the nature of their death, succesfully thwarted it with capturing Leland with crime of faking artifact.

bad ending: their efforts fail, Gwen and Fred doomed to die

P.S: regarding "Star-Crossed Lovers" curse

Two lovers doomed to be kept apart no matter how hard they struggle to be together. It may be Fate, or fatally-Feuding Families, or it may be something as mundane as a few hundred miles' separation, but something will always be in their way. In modern times, the term "star-crossed" is often unknowingly misused to mean lovers who are meant to be together. It means just the opposite — the stars (i.e. destiny or the heavens) have ruled against them, or "crossed" their plan. It usually, but not always, refers to unlucky outcomes. Two lovers might be not together in life, but could be in the after-life after passing away together - now in term of this fic;

somewhere in the middle of the story, Whitney 'crashing' Frederick's initiation a.k.a the Slumber Party when Gwen giving miss princess P.A.N.D.A keychain to Frederick. Then..

Whitney: This the first time I've seen someone with 'star-crossed lovers' curse.. you two fates are intertwined so tightly to each other.. Neither can live while the other survives...

Abbi: wait, why the curse's name is romantic? stars & lovers...

Syrah: Abbi no, is more omnious.. tragic even..

Monika: I remember this similar with the tale from my kingdom.. Orihime and Okibishi

Nell: This curse means both Gwen and Frederick should surviving their future together, or if can't will die together

...So, it's impossible for me to passed away without trace - because I will dragging Gwen to die together with me?

This indeed omnious, but I am kinda glad? This will make sure that Frederick won't thinks lowly about his life. He should survives so we could be together in this world...

#angsts with happy ending (hopefully)

[beardedmrbean]

A "Family Feud" contestant who joked on national TV he regretted getting married is now on trial accused of fatally shooting his estranged wife earlier this year.

Timothy W. Bliefnick, 39, is charged with two counts of first-degree murder and one count of home invasion in connection to the slaying of Rebecca Bliefnick, in Quincy, Illinois, a small city near the Missouri state line.

The defendant was arrested on March 13 in connection to the 41-year-old woman's death, Adams County Circuit Court records show.

The victim's father, William Postle, told jurors this week he found his daughter dead on her bathroom floor on Feb. 23 after she failed to pick up her three kids from school, local media reported.

Court records show that at the time of his estranged wife's death, the couple was in the process of divorce. The victim, a nurse and mother of three, also filed for an order of protection from her husband in 2021, according to additional court papers filed in Adams County.

A hearing in the divorce had been set a week before she was found shot 14 times amid what prosecutors labeled a "contentious divorce," according to the Herald Whig, a local newspaper.

Prior to her killing, prosecutor Josh Jones said, the victim bought a gun and told family members she was "scared for what he might do to her," the outlet reported.

Bliefnick appeared on game show "Family Feud" as a contestant on an episode that aired in 2020 in which he joked on national television he regretted marrying his wife.

"What's your biggest mistake you made at your wedding?" host Steve Harvey asked Bliefnick during the show, Fox News reported.

"Said I do,'" Bliefnick replied. "Not my mistake, not my mistake − I love my wife. I'm gonna get in trouble for that, aren't I?"

Sister: Rebecca Bliefnick texted warnings about estranged husband

On Tuesday, Sarah Reilly, a sister of the victim, took the stand to testify on behalf of the prosecution, KHQA reported.

Reilly testified her sister previously told her she was worried her estranged husband might physically harm her, the outlet reported.

“If something ever happens to me, make sure the number one person of interest is Tim," the outlet reported the victim texted her sister in 2021. "I am putting this in writing that I'm fearful he will somehow harm me."

According to prosecutors, Bliefnick also conducted a number of internet searches prior to his estranged wife's killing, including instructions on how to use a crowbar to open a window, how to make a homemade silencer and local police response times, the outlet reported.

Casey Schnack, a lawyer defending Bliefnick, argued that evidence is not strong enough to convict the man, KHQA reported.

The trial began Monday and was scheduled to continue through at least Friday.

[scotianostra]

1st February 1692 saw troops move south from Fort William and billeted with the MacDonalds at Glencoe.

When the MacDonalds saw the redcoats marching over their valley it must have been quite a shock, however they were under the protection of Fort William garrison and had no reason to fear these soldiers. Instead at the company’s request to be billeted, they welcomed them into their homes and gave them food and drink.

Glenlyon told the Chief they were collecting taxes from each clan, by order of Colonel Hill. He could even produce papers to that effect. This satisfied the MacDonalds. The captain, Glenlyon, was billeted in the Clan Chief’s own house. Glenlyon’s niece was married to the Chief of the MacDonalds youngest son, and Glenlyon also visited daily with his niece and her new family. The rest of the company were billeted in homes up and down the valley about 3 or 4 to a house. Unknown to Clan MacDonald fatal danger now lay within the heart of each home.

The second pic shows the original order sent to Captain Robert Campbell, instructing him to kill the MacDonalds of Glencoe. He was to spare none below the age of seventy. The resulting massacre is remembered not just for its premeditated brutality but for its violation of an unwritten code of conduct: the perpetrators of the deed had enjoyed the hospitality of their victims for twelve days before turning on them. The transcript reads in full:

You are hereby ordered to fall upon the rebells, the McDonalds of Glenco, and put all to the sword under seventy. you are to have a speciall care that the old Fox and his sones doe upon no account escape your hands, you are to secure all the avenues that no man escape. This you are to putt in execution att fyve of the clock precisely; and by that time, or very shortly after it, I’ll strive to be att you with a stronger party: if I doe not come to you att fyve, you are not to tarry for me, but to fall on. This is by the Kings speciall command, for the good & safety of the Country, that these miscreants be cutt off root and branch. See that this be putt in execution without feud or favour, else you may expect to be dealt with as one not true to King nor Government, nor a man fitt to carry Commissione in the Kings service. Expecting you will not faill in the full-filling hereof, as you love your selfe, I subscribe these with my hand att Balicholis Feb: 12, 1692

For their Majesties service(signed) R. Duncanson

 To Capt.Robert Campbell of Glenlyon

I shall pick up the story again on the 13th.

[haunted-radishes]

Jin Zixuan would be the funniest and most clueless character to send back in time to fix things, but he just might be the most effective.

He probably sees the Sunshot war and getting on the wrong side of the Jiangs and Wei Wuxian as the two big problems in his life, so he would simply set out to fix them. And the most popular time to kick off a time travel fic centered on his generation is the Cloud recesses arc, which gives him plenty of time for both.

Getting on the right side of the Jiang family shouldn’t be too hard, as he’s fallen in love with Yanli now, and Wei Wuxian being around to see him treating her right and not setting off the high school fistfight and breaking the engagement should be enough to swing the general sentiment toward Zixuan at least into “grudgingly neutral” territory. He may even get people to actually like him!

Stopping the Sunshot war takes a little more thought. The great sects don’t have the military strength to avert the worst of the war once it gets going, and Zixuan probably doesn’t have enough military intelligence memorized to counterbalance that, so his best option is to stop the war before it starts. He may not have enough believable evidence that Wen Ruohan intends to start conquering to mobilize the rest of the sects against him by surprise, but he does know a guy who has successfully infiltrated the Wen sect and assassinated Wen Ruohan, and Zixuan has no reason not to trust that guy.

Jin Zixuan offers Meng Yao a fat bag of cash and a chance at entering the Jin sect in exchange for overthrowing Wen Ruohan and his sons from the inside, saying he has good reason to believe that Wen Ruohan intends to start conquering. If Zixuan believed Wei Wuxian and Jiang Cheng about Wen Ning and Wen Qing going against the clan to help them, he may even ask Meng Yao to get one of them on the throne. Meng Yao takes the offer and does his thing.

With the Wen sect leader replaced instead of the sect being destroyed, there’s no refugee/war prisoner crisis to kill Wen Ning or cause anyone to go rogue.  With Zixuan paying more attention to him this time around and no situation with a certain commander, Jin Guangyao has a solid ally in Koi tower and doesn’t have Nie Mingjue against him. Without the war, no Jiang sect homes or cores are lost, and nothing further drives the family apart. Without Wei Wuxian giving up his core and inventing demonic cultivation, there’s no newly discovered power for Jin Guangshan to want for himself, and without the near-success of Wen Ruohan, there’s probably no chief cultivator debacle. With Wei Wuxian never taking up demonic cultivation and Jin Zixuan being much nicer to the Jiang family this time around, their feud never reaches the point of fatality. The playing field is now clear for any further fixes you desire!

[kmarie-experience21]

Imagine this…. Bayley goes to wrestlemania wins the title from io. Either moments after she win or the smackdown after she wins Sasha banks returns. Now last time Sasha and bayley collided or cross paths storyline wise was when Bayley betrayed her and they fought in hell in a cell with Sasha ending Bayley historic 380 day reign.

I will say damage control is bayley’s karma. Bayley created the force that is damage control she helped them achieve things etc only for io someone who bayley thought of as family + friend was influenced by her friends to betray bayley. The same way Sasha who helped Bayley throughout her career and made history beside her and thought of Bayley as family as her sister only for Bayley to betray her. Some could say the heel version Bayley we got was a result of the influence Sasha had on Bayley and that could parallel to Bayley and damage control. With Bayley being the monster Sasha created and damage control being the monster Bayley created. And Sasha overcame Bayley and now Bayley may overcome io and win the title.

Now granted bayley is not the same person now that she was when she betrayed Sasha at least not fully the same person.

I remeber a segment the two had back in 2018 when they had tension and they went that counseling sessions and later Sasha would help bayley during a match and Sasha said backstage “I love you, I always have and I always will” but she also said “it’s one thing for me to beat you up”. Now Sasha stilled cared about Bayley even after Bayley betrayed her we can tell from the hell in a cell match and the emotion they radiated. But storyline wise we could Sasha comes back not specifically to take the title from Bayley but to climb her way back to the top of the division. Sasha can through a feud with Bianca cause personally I wanna see a rematch or she could fued with some else. Anyway Sasha could end up winning the rumble and choosing Bayley. Now Bayley and Sasha outside of wwe has always talked about one day facing each other at wrestlemania specifically the main event and when Sasha wins the rumble with that thought of that in mind would go on to choose Bayley. They would have a segment….

And Sasha could say “I meant what I said bayley all those years ago.. your my sister and I love you and despite everything that has happened between us, despite the fact that I may never forgive you ik that but I also know there is not a thing in this world that’s gonna stop me from kicking your ass and taking away that championship from you so what do you say bayley, how about one more fight?

Bayley says well it was always our dream and who am I to deprive the wwe universe of a match like this so for old times I sake I say, your on sister.

Bayley line parallels when Sasha wanted to beat Bayley for the nxt women’s championship at respect and Bayley said your on sister….

And they shake hands after which is something that could happen again as they both stand in middle of the ring and the wrestlemania sign could been seen between them.

AND THE SASHA BAYLEY SAGA WILL END AT WRESTLEMANIA 41

The next time they ever cross paths again storyline wise will be when the fourhorsewomen finally clash in an epic storyline that will culminate with a fatal four way at another wrestlemania (it doesn’t even need to be for a championship cause their is already so much story and depth between the four of them. The four of them are the devils or demons on each other shoulders.

Somebody tell Triple H to hire me🤣

[kangamommynow]

What would happen if police worked with therapists and mediators before shit like this happens? When there’s 2+ years of conflict, there’s plenty of time for social workers to get involved, resolve disputes, work with families. That could mean these children don’t have to grow up without their mom. We know, of course, why we don’t do that as a society. Because it’s expensive and we have a very hands-off idea of law enforcement. We have to wait until it’s time to punish someone, instead of focusing on prevention.