#Marie baby you’re worth everything!

[wellthebardsdead]

Follow up from the confession I can’t help it! I love them alright?? I LOVE THEM TOGETHER!!

———

Marigold: *blearily opens his eyes and jumps seeing Taliesin laying next to him, the other high elf fast asleep, still by his side, right where he promised he’d be* … *winces a little as he shifts and rolls over to get up. His whole body in utter agony from his battle with alduin, even more so than usual. Every single joint inflamed, every muscle bruised and old seams long healed now torn open again* g-gods, don’t die trying to make him toast Marie-… *grabs one of his canes and pulls himself upright before pulling on his robe and shuffling down to the kitchen, very, slowly*

*a few minutes later*

Taliesin: *fast asleep, dreaming of laying in a bed of golden flowers, holding one in his hand and gently opening its petals to reveal a tiny version of marigold inside* my love… gods I’m in love- *leans in to give the tiny marigold a kiss*

*SMASH!!! THUD!! CLATTER!*

Taliesin: *jolts awake to find marigold missing from his side of the bed* Blossom?! *flings back the covers and runs to the stairs, feeling relief momentarily cut through the fear as he realises he didn’t fall down the stairs, only for a greater fear to grip him wondering what caused the commotion* Marigold?! *runs down the steps and into the kitchen to find the other high elf on the floor, a now upturned tray of food beside him in a puddle of shattered pottery, tea and their breakfast* Marie- *leans down and lifts him up to see tears pouring down his clearly embarrassed face* oh darling.

Marigold: *in too much pain to even speak, too embarrassed to even think of what to say having been found like this, only able to manage out two, fragile little words* d-don’t go.

Taliesin: *kneels beside him and softly kisses his hair as he dries his face with his sleeve* shhhh, I won’t dear… I’m not going to leave you. I promise.

[gffa]

It has been a whole entire week since I posted my previous set of recs and guess who is still hip deep in BATFAMILY fic and really wants to cry about feelings about all the Bats and Birds, but most especially my beloved Dick Grayson? I enjoy fic of all the characters, there should hopefully be something for most fans here, I eventually spread my wings a bit (ha ha) through the fandom, but absolutely I feel I should warn you all that I play favorites and I’m not subtle about it. In my defense he’s really annoying in the most delightful way, how could I not love him the most? So, here, have week #2’s recs where I dump 60+ more fics on you because this fandom is on fucking fire with how good it is and how much I love everyone here. God bless fic writers, you are all doing the lord’s work of giving me three novels worth a week to read and knocking it out of the park while you do it. BATFAM FIC RECS - BABY DICK IS THE CUTEST FERAL ROBIN I’M NOT HEARING ANY ARGUMENTS: ✦ The Painful Truth by RascalJoy (DarkQuill), dick & bruce & wally & artemis & m'gann & conner & dinah, 6.2k      In a mission gone wrong, Robin finds himself being forcefully interrogated under…influence. “Now, you’re probably wondering why we haven’t just yanked your mask off and been done with this whole thing, hmm? It’s because this way is so much more fun.” ✦ a home not yet a home by Mayarenerose, dick & bruce, 1.1k      Dick just likes climbing to the roof sometimes. He doesn’t mean anything by it. He doesn’t. He just needs to be high up sometimes. He likes looking at the stars. Stars are hard to come by in the city and you need to be high up to even see them properly. ✦ Friends That Say (You’re Not Alone) by ProsperDemeter, dick & bruce & alfred & clark, 3.5k      Richard. The kid. Richard Grayson. Clark didn’t feel ready to meet the child that Bruce took in. What if he was a mini-Bruce? What in the world would Clark do then? ✦ Taking Flight: A Tragicomedy in Four Acts by WingFeathers, dick & bruce & alfred & clark, 48.7k      John and Mary Grayson die; Dick becomes Robin. This is everything that happens in between, a/k/a, how Gotham City ripped one family and identity from Dick and gave him another. An origin story in the Rebirth spirit, weaving together threads from Tec #40, Dark Victory, Robin: Year One, New 52, and more. ✦ Motion Sickness by Arwriter, dick & bruce & cast, 4.2k      A routine patrol is interrupted when Robin realizes he’s being followed. There’s no attack, no ambush, no weapons drawn. Dick doesn’t understand what this man wants, or why his gentle touch hurts so bad. But Batman seems to know, and Dick just wants someone to tell him what he did wrong. ✦ do as I say (not as I do) by daringyounggrayson, dick & bruce, 1.1k      “Don’t be mad.” Bruce has been raising Dick long enough to know that that sentence never bodes well. Especially when it’s the first thing to pop out of the twelve-year-old’s mouth when Bruce answers the phone. ✦ Burn Rubber by HoodEx, dick & bruce & roy, 3.5k      Roy couldn’t help but feel out of place like his presence was keeping Bruce from acting like himself. Whatever “himself” looked like. Bruce had always been a bit of a cold asshole anytime Roy had been around him. Even when Bruce talked to Dick, there was a barrier there that made their conversations seem strictly business. Some part of Roy had always wondered if Bruce was the same way with Dick at home. For Dick’s sake, he sure hoped not. OR the one where Roy gets to see Bruce act like a dad. Also, there are cars. Lots of cars. ✦ Surprise, You’re Adopted by CamsthiSky, dick & bruce, 1.8k      Dick gets kidnapped. Bruce gets worried. Things turn out alright in the end, though. ✦ without you i am surely the last of my kind by nosecoffee, dick & bruce & clark & j'onn, 6.6k      (Bruce Wayne also knows how it feels to be a scared little boy who just watched his parents die, telepathic mind meddling aside, and has had his eyes fixed on Dick Grayson since his parents fell, so of course he’s going to get him. It’s all he can do.) (Or, Dick Grayson is a traumatised alien empath with bad timing, and Bruce Wayne still needs to learn how to verbalise his emotions.) ✦ The Bone Road by scpnightwing, dick & bruce & alfred, 63.8k wip      By night, Robin was his partner in crime, but once the sun rose, all Dick could be was a mirror of his tragedy, haunting his halls and asking for more than Bruce had in him to give. (The early days of Batman and Robin, and the many mistakes therein) BATFAM FIC RECS - EVERYBODY LOVES DICK: ✦ The Shape Of You (Was Jagged And Weak) by WinterSky101, dick & bruce & jason & tim & slade & cast, 40.6k      Six months ago, Nightwing died. They never found the body. Last week, Deathstroke arrived in Gotham. He brought a partner with him. ✦ We Were Built to Fall Apart by CamsthiSky, dick & bruce & tim, 1.2k      Dick is hurt, tired, and ready to let go. Bruce doesn’t seem to be ready to let him. ✦ It’s a Wonderful Earth-218 by BeatriceEagle, dick & bruce & past dick/babs & cast, 7.4k      As Blüdhaven burns, Dick makes a wish that he’d never been born. He wakes up in a world where that’s true, being followed around by a supervillain who just really wants to get back to taking over the world. ✦ the higher fidelity by birdsofthesoul, dick & bruce & damian, 3.6k      Bruce goes sheet-white, looking like Dick’s just cut him to the quick, and Dick can’t help but think they should have booked a flight, discretion be damned. This — this is why they don’t do road trips. Cars are like confessionals, cramped spaces built for coercing confessions, and neither of them are good with words. ✦ Theory of Relativity by CamsthiSky, dick & bruce & jason & cast, de-aged!dick, 2.2k wip      In which Dick Grayson gets de-aged and everybody freaks out ✦ hold the fort (for i am coming) by deargalileo, dick & bruce & jason & tim & duke, de-aged!dick, 3.6k      Jason’s jaw dropped. The tiny human child toddled in front of him, gripping at his pant legs. Automatically, he bent his knees slightly. The child lost its grip, and fell flat onto its ass. They both froze. The child’s mouth opened and closed soundlessly. “No no no, don’t cry,” Jason rushed out. He leaned down and scooped the child into his arms. “Don’t cry, okay?” The child grabbed onto his shoulder as Jason settled it (him?) onto his upper hip. Big, blue eyes blinked up at him, shining with unshed tears. When the fuck did B have the time to adopt a new kid? ✦ There’s Always Another One by lapsedpacifist, dick & hal (& bruce), 2.5k      After Bruce kicked Dick out, there was a very particular place Dick decided to visit. Well, visit, hide in, it was all one and the same. He could do it without Bruce! Just a shame Hal was finished with his assignment a week earlier than anticipated. ✦ The True Sons of Batman by PandasandDucks13, dick & bruce & damian & jason & talia & cast, 10.8k      What if Dick Grayson was Bruce Wayne’s biological son? ✦ Hey! He Attempted a Coup! by PandasandDucks13, dick & bruce & clark & justice league & zod, 3.1k      What if Dick Grayson was a Kryptonian? ✦ Unsteady by 60sec400, dick & bruce & jason & tim & damian & barbara & cast, 14.8k      Nightwing is 22 when he’s hit by, well, something. They haven’t actually figured that out yet. But now he’s ten years old and a child and Damian struggles to see the man who he had looked to as a father forget who he ever was. De-aged fic. AU. BATFAM FIC RECS - DICK AND DAMIAN WERE THE BEST BATMAN & ROBIN, I’M NOT HEARING ARGUMENTS ABOUT THAT EITHER: ✦ Mirage (What I See In You) by SilverSkiesAtMidnight, dick & damian, 3.4k      Grayson’s gaze flicks upwards to meet his, and suddenly his expression softens. He smiles. “It’s okay,” he says, the movement of his lips clear even if his voice sounds like it’s coming through a broken radio. Suddenly, he’s pressing a rebreather to Damian’s face. His own rebreather, whole and unbroken. ✦ The Dog Days Are Done by fishfingersandjellybabies, dick & damian & cast, 3k      Dick is a good guy. He is. He knows that. Just like he knows that bribing your wayward, animal-loving, emotionally-traumatized brother to come see you with a puppy is exactly what all good guys do. That was a fact. ✦ To the Moon by theLiterator, dick & damian, 9k      A newly resurrected Damian Wayne does not believe Dick Grayson is dead. Spyral has been quietly helping to deal with the aftermath of Leviathan’s reign of terror and is wary of clones. Dick Grayson does not believe Damian Wayne is alive. (Together they fight crime, but’s always been true, hasn’t it?) ✦ Redemption Lies Plainly in Truth by SilverSkiesAtMidnight, dick & damian, 6.2k      Damian tries to pull his wrist out of his grasp. Any other time, Dick would let him go without hesitation, always careful to make sure his personal space is respected. This time, he catches his other wrist as well, gentle but firm as he crouches down to make eye contact. “Hey,” he says, smiling gently. “Do you trust me?” ✦ whether you’re high or low by Anonymous, dick & damian & jason, 1.9k      Dick’s first visit back to Gotham in a while ends with a shattered TV screen and more questions than answers for Damian and Jason. ✦ wrap myself in a thin sheet of ice by emavee, dick & damian, 3.3k      Damian falls victim to a witch’s curse, giving him a week to live before his heart turns to ice. There is a cure, but there’s no way someone like Damian would ever receive a kiss of true love. ✦ as love carries its strength, but not its labels by AlterHarpia, dick & damian, 2.7k      Bruce is on a trip beyond Earth’s Solar System for longer than he intended, making Dick and Damian fall into an old pattern. “I’m not Batman.” A mere reminder, perhaps, but when said to Damian it always sounds like an apology. BATFAM FIC RECS - BATKIDS ALL HAVE MANY SIBLINGS AND THEY’RE ALL PETTY ASSHOLES AND/OR WONDERFUL BABIES AND I LOVE THEM WITH MY WHOLE BEING: ✦ Say Uncle by Megaerakles, tim & jason & bruce & dick & steph & cast, 46.3k      Tim is prepared to take the steps necessary to ensure that Bruce will not feel obligated to adopt Tim when a comatose Jack Drake inevitably dies. But what could be better than preventing Bruce from ending up with a son he doesn’t want? Bringing back the one he does. Jason agrees to the Replacement’s stupid, stupid plan to invite some strange adult man he’s never met to come live with him, if only to keep the idiot alive long enough for him to serve his purpose in the Great Red Hood Revenge Scheme. Might this new roommate situation have an impact on either of their worldviews? Surely not… ✦ Ain’t No Compass, Ain’t No Map by ebjameston, tim & jason & dick & cast, outsider pov, 51.8k      A CPS agent gets sent to investigate a tip that Tim Drake has been abandoned by his parents and is living with the Red Hood. The CPS agent leaves with no Tim Drake, a date with Red Hood’s lieutenant, and an intern who’s promising to fix the IT systems at his office. It’s a weird day for Theo. ✦ The Longer You Stay by emiv, bruce/selina & dick & jason & tim, 64.3k      Bruce Wayne was never meant to be part of Selina’s clean slate. Then again, neither were a circus boy, a street rat or a rich kid. For a girl who didn’t like strings, Selina found herself getting attached. ✦ Falling, Catching by Freezer7, dick & jason/roy, 4k      The call comes in at two thirty-four am, on Dick’s first night off in three weeks. ✦ Piñata by Maximum_Quinn, bruce & dick & jason & tim & cass & steph & duke, 2.2k      “I found… something weird today.” “Weird how?” “I was checking out that half-destroyed apartment building today, and there was, like… papier-mâché everywhere? In Robin colors.” (Duke learns about an odd tradition between the Bats and the Rogues.) ✦ Five Times Dick Was Tim’s Safety Net and One Time Tim Was Dick’s by PrinceJakeFireCake, dick & tim, 5.2k      “Tim forced his gaze away from his phone, took a moment to breathe deeply, then tried to figure out the best way not to die anytime soon. For Bruce. For Alfred. For his friends. For Dick.” Dick has always been there for Tim, even before they knew each other. ✦ wet teeth, shining eyes, glimmering by a fire (who will i be tonight?) by lifetimeoflaughter, dick & jason & cast, 2.3k      They’re standing on a rooftop. It’s not very high up; only about ten floors, give or take. The moon isn’t out tonight. It’s dark. It’s too dark to tell if it’s blood that’s dripping from Jason’s gloved fists. ✦ smeared with oil (like david’s boy) by call_me_steve, bruce & dick & tim & damian, de-aged!damian, 2.1k      Dick’s leaning over the edge of the couch, watching a tired Bruce stare lovingly down at the baby cradled in his arms. The baby’s swaddled in soft green blankets, probably procured by Alfred at some point or another. It’s hard to believe that this is actually Damian- Damian, and his big, bright, brown eyes; his soft, baby hair; his pudgy cheeks and small fingers. Clear of a snarl and frown and, instead, reduced to soft babbles and the occasional giggle. In his chest, Dick’s heart flutters. He feels his breath stop for all of a moment- God, this kid already has him wrapped around his finger. “Can I hold him?” ✦ There in the Sudden Blackness by CamsthiSky, dick & tim & damian, 1.7k      Tim and Dick argue, and at the end, Tim’s not actually sure if either of them actually won. ✦ The Mechanics of a Hug by incogneat_oh, dick & tim & damian & bruce, 4.1k      “So,” Tim ventures. “It's… what, a cuddle pollen?” Bruce just shrugs. “Something like that.” ✦ Taking Care of Business by Nokomis, dick & tim, 1.7k      Tim (only somewhat reluctantly) accompanies Dick on an undercover mission at an Elvis convention. ✦ where were you when I was king in this part of town? by Cerusee, dick & jason & bruce, 4k      The teen sitting next to him had mostly polished off his pork noodles, and he was eyeing Nightwing’s. Nightwing handed them over without a word. “Why,” he said, more to himself than the kid, “why, oh, why do I feel like I know you?” Because you do, came the unbidden thought. ✦ head in the clouds by Alienu, dick & jason & tim & damian, 4.7k      “Hey,” Tim says out of the blue. “Has anyone ever noticed that Damian has, like, weirdly sharp canines?” Dick makes a face. “What?” he asks. Then seems to think about it a little more, and says, “Oh, I mean… kind of? I don’t really pay attention to his teeth.” He turns to Damian. “Robin, let me see your teeth.” The kid growls. “I’m not afraid to bite you, Nightwing.” “Furry,” Jason coughs. Damian throws a batarang at him. ✦ A little more heart and soul by ruesyblues, dick & jason & damian, 2k      What do you do when the brother you raised and loved and left now seems to be withdrawing and you want the best for him but you’re not sure if you did the right thing and oh fuck what if you made a mistake?? (Dick wants Damian to be happy. He just has no clue how to accomplish that.) ✦ To Reconcile by CasualDanger, dick & jason, 2.4k      “Babs slapped me at your funeral.” Jason goes to laugh, but it’s just a cough and his mouth barely even twitches up. “She hated me in that moment. I mean, really, really hated me, like I did Talia after I found out Damian had died. And I wondered,” his voice cracks, eyes glassy now, “did you hate anyone when I was gone? Because I was gone?” ✦ damian clone triplets!!! by drakefeathers, dick & bruce & damian, 2.1k      Bruce finds and rescues three baby Damian clones~!!! babies~!! ✦ fear toxin (◡‿◡✿) by drakefeathers, dick & bruce & jason & tim & cass & steph & damian & alfred, 3.6k      six drabbles about batkids crying and screaming after being dosed with scarecrow’s fear gas~ (⊙‿⊙✿) ✦ Two Birds, One Stone(d) by MichaBerry, tim(/kon) & bruce & dick & jason & alfred, 5.8k      After a drugs bust gone sideways, Tim is a very high little bird. Cue shenanigans and family bonding. BATFAM FIC RECS - I WILL DIE ON THE HILL THAT TIM DRAKE’S TRUE LOVE INTEREST IS CONNER KENT AND NOBODY CAN STOP ME, NOT EVEN GOD: ✦ Trust fall by Ididloveyou_once, tim/kon & damian/jon & dick & jason & bruce & cast, nsfw, 22.4k      Damian was… here. At Kent Farm. Dressed in the too-big Batman pajamas that Dick had bought him last Christmas as a joke. And- And- Tim was wearing Kon’s t-shirt and his hair was messy and his lips were swollen and- He wasn’t ready for this- He wasn’t- He couldn’t- BATFAM FIC RECS - TAKE THE ANGST DIAL, TURN IT UP TO ELEVEN, AND BREAK THE KNOB OFF, THAT’S WHAT I’M HERE FOR: ✦ Hard Truths and Other Realities by CKBookish, dick & bruce & jason & clark & wally & cast, 113.6k wip      Clark shifted his weight making the floorboards creak and groan under his feet. “Dick I hate to see you–” He paused searching for the right word. Dick snorted. “Wallow?” Clark sighed. “That’s not what I was going to say.” “I know. I can go to the barn and hang out there if I’m bothering you and Lois.” Dick pushed himself up. Of course he should have thought of that. Lois didn’t want some random teen laying around her home on Christmas Eve. ✦ You Won’t Wake Up Alone by DawnsEternalLight, dick & bruce & damian & jason & tim, 5.2k      Dick’s captured and drugged and probably about to die. The last thing he wants to do is die in front of his family, especially not his baby brothers, all he wants is to be with Bruce and feel safe again. ✦ The Robin Manual by lurkinglurkerwholurks, dick & bruce & damian, 2.3k      Bad days were nothing new. Most of the time, he could feel them coming the way a swimmer could feel the approach of something huge beneath the surface of the water. The pressure would start to build, tugging at him like undertow by the shore, and it was always a gamble to see how long he could tarry before the pull yanked him under. ✦ the world is ending and i’m still numb by Arwriter, dick & bruce & jason & tim & alfred & cass & stephanie & damian & barbara & duke & cast, rape aftermath/read the tags, 20.7k      She’s gone, and he’s home, but Dick doesn’t know how to move on. He isn’t alone, but that doesn’t mean he knows how to ask for help. ✦ Up High by CamsthiSky, dick & damian, ~1k      “Grayson, what are you doing up here?” Dick shrugs, a sad smile pulling at his lips. He’d stopped asking that when his feet first started to take him up here years ago. “I like the view.” ✦ here comes the rain again by pocketofsky, dick & jason & tim & damian, rape aftermath/read the tags, 14.1k      Dick doesn’t patrol when it rains. Not since Blüdhaven. And everyone knows that, but they don’t know why. Or: Dick slowly but surely confronts his trauma. Now featuring: a train, pain, and a lot of rain. ✦ Happy Little Bluebirds Fly Beyond the Rainbow (Why Oh Why Can’t I) by honeycombclaire, dick & bruce & jason & tim & damian & cass, 26.9k      After being subjected to the Mad Hatter’s dream machine, Dick gets stuck in a dream world where he finally has everything he wants. His parents are alive, his family is together, and he still gets to be Nightwing. Everything is perfect. Using the machine, the Bats invade Dick’s mind to bring him back. They don’t expect to find out just how much Dick has been hurting. ✦ Maybe, just maybe, he should call Bruce…Nah. by memearchive, dick & bruce & jason & tim, rape aftermath/read the tags, 5.8k      “Yeah, 34 deaths, 35 including Blockbuster, is a lot. Yeah, his home and everything he owns is gone. Yeah, his safehouses and everything in those are all ash, too. Yeah, yeah, yeah, he gets it- but he’s dealt with loss before, and maybe 34 is a bit high, and maybe he could have stopped Tarantula, but he’s never been like this before. Not even after his parents’ deaths, and that’s a terrifying thought. Was this really the thing that broke him?” ✦ right through my walls by wingdingery, dick & bruce & barbara & jason & alfred, 6.6k      Sure, yes, Bruce and Jason attacked Dick and left him injured—but they were under the effects of fear toxin, so it wasn’t really them. Dick’s gone enough rounds with fear toxin to understand that. He’s perfectly fine with what happened. Now if only the rest of the family would believe him. ✦ gray by iselsis, dick & bruce, 1k      Grief demands to be felt, but Dick doesn’t have to be alone. ✦ How Far Love Goes by BeatriceEagle, bruce & dick & jason & tim & cass & barbara, comics violence as child abuse/read the tags, 99.5k      Plenty of family reunions end in fighting. Not that many end in explosions. A mass Arkham breakout brings all of Bruce’s children home, and with them, all the drama, secrets, and anger they’ve been keeping for years. Amidst rising tensions and a mysterious new threat in Gotham, the family has to work together to round up the rogues—and confront their feelings about each other. BATFAM FIC RECS - THROW BABY DICK AT BATTISON, C'MON DO IT, IT’LL BE HILARIOUS: ✦ romanticize a quiet life by lwbones123, dick & bruce & alfred, 3.7k      it’s parent teacher conference day for battinson and his robin ✦ when i call you come home by lwbones123, dick & bruce & alfred & jim, 3.2k      ummm battinson and his robin and angst and hurt/comfort idk how to summarize this one so you just have to trust me ✦ Dark by Cant_Smoke_Eggs, dick & bruce & alfred, 1.9k      aka Baby Dickie thinks Bruce is a Vampire. Bruce thinks he’s figured out he’s Batman. Misunderstandings and Identity reveals ensue. ✦ Just Two Dads Having a Chat by red_jaebyrd, dick & bruce & clark & kon, 1.5k      “I’m not giving you an interview, Kent.” “You always say that, and I always tell you that I’m not here for an interview,” Kent laughed, not at all bothered by Bruce’s aloofness. “We’re just two dads at soccer practice having a chat.” ✦ I Don’t Think Like I Should by shipNslash, jim & barbara & dick & bruce & cast, 13.2k      Featuring unmasking vigilantes as a father-daughter bonding activity, awkward small talk between two dads (both at crime scenes and PTA meetings), and Babs and Dick’s natural progression from classmates to besties in the name of chaos. This is a direct sequel to I’m a Good Pretender but can be read as a stand alone.

[yoificfinder]

Hello! Do you have any short and fluffy victuuri recs? I prefer around the 15k to 20k word mark but I am happy with any! If you have any of these stories please share with me. If not that’s ok! I love all the work you do and I hope you have a wonderful day! Thank you!

I love fluffy fics!! And this fandom has a lot to offer (I limited this rec to one fic per author though).

And I know you asked for 15k-20k words but I included shorter ones too in this rec. It's actually a bit hard to find 20k of pure fluff since some angst or tension seeps in but I hope you'll enjoy these. Thanks for patiently waiting!

Less than 15K words

all the dragons we have slain by brighter [M, 10K]

This is why Yuuri loves gaming—the victory of it, the easy camaraderie amongst his guild, the sense that he’s part of something greater.

Victor tells him, “you were incredible,” and maybe he loves that a little, too.

come get you some of that bounce baby by @crossroadswrite [T, 4K]

“What are you doing?” Yuuri asks, side-eyeing him as he bends his arms behind his back, legs stretched into a perfect split.

“Delivering justice onto this cruel and unusual world.”

“Whoever trashed me on social media is not worth it, Vitya.”

(Or: in which they're happily married, coaching Russia's and Japan's next great skaters, and Victor Nikiforov remains the clingiest, thirstiest man on the face of this planet.)

Heartbeat by (orphan_account) [G, 3K]

Victor starts sleeping in Yuri's bed well before the Cup of China.

just like me they long to be by sparklespiff [T, 4K]

"Haven't you noticed that Yuuri gets everything he wants?"

"Everything that's in somebody else's power to give him," Mari says, before Victor can bring up last year's GPF. "He's not magic, just pretty."

"But it's like magic. My theory is that it's because he's sneaky beautiful, so you're not expecting it, and then, under all that stuff, whoa! Gorgeous. And it's too late to save yourself."

"Stuff?" Victor keeps smiling but makes his voice cold, the way he does when reporters overstep. His Yuuri doesn't have stuff. Everything about him is beautiful.

or:

Yuuri lives in a Beautiful Person Bubble. It's Victor's responsibility to make sure he never finds out.

Viktor Effing Nikiforov by @shysweetthing [E, 13K]

AU in which Yuuri still doesn’t remember the banquet, somehow doesn’t blow Japanese Nationals, runs into Victor at the World Championships, and has absolutely no idea why his idol is suddenly friendly and incredibly handsy.

Does Yuuri care about his reasons? No. It’s Victor Effing Nikiforov.

15K to 20K words

The Fundamentals of Caring by @braveten [E, 21K]

“Let me guess, you’re going to go take care of Yuuri while he sleeps? Just in case he sneezes or something?” Yurio rolls his eyes, folding his arms across his chest. “Viktor, you’re whipped.”

Viktor rubs the back of his neck as he leans against the wall. “What does that mean?”

“It means that if Yuuri asked you to do a little dance for him in nothing but a coconut bra and a hula skirt, you’d do it.”

Viktor pauses, confused. “And that's a bad thing?”

If It's You by Kiranokira [E, 16K]

Viktor very much wants to pose nude with Yuuri for a Japanese magazine. Yuuri is less enthusiastic.

Yuri turns and brandishes a damp sock at them. “Don’t let him sweet talk you into doing porn,” he tells Yuuri. Then he grimaces and mutters to himself in Russian, “I can’t believe my life has reached the point that I have to say things like this.”

never tasted rubies by @ebenroot-daily [T, 27K]

Phichit puts up a poll on the radio website. It reads ‘What Do U Think About Yuuri K. from Hasetsu Nights and the Mysterious Caller Victor?’

Seventy-five percent of listeners said ‘lol they should just f*ck already tbh’.

--

in which Yuuri is an unwilling radio host and Victor won't stop calling in to chat with him

puppy love by minsyah [T, 16K]

Vicchan has a crush on their neighbor across the balcony, and so does his owner.

Yuuri, certified Dog-Dad™, will do anything for his beloved poodle—even if that means constantly embarrassing himself in front of his devastatingly attractive neighbor.

[sapphicagenda]

Chapter 13: Mental Bake Downs

Whisks Worth Taking (a Bake Off AU)

Fandom: Warrior Nun

Main ship: Ava/Beatrice

Sub-ships: Camila/Lilith, Mary/Shannon

Rating: E (for eventual smut)

Chapter Summary:

Beatrice has a much-needed heart-to-heart with Shannon. Meanwhile, Ava tries to keep her mind off things by helping Lilith figure out what went wrong in the tent.

Teaser:

As soon as Hans had everything he needed from the judges, Mary marched Beatrice into the Manor and told her to pack an overnight bag. Arguing with Mary after she’d made up her mind about something like this had never done any good, so she quietly accepted her fate.

At least Mary didn’t follow her into the bedroom. When she stepped out with a small bag slung over her shoulder she caught the tail end of Mary’s phone call with Shannon.

“We’ll be home by five, baby. Mmhmm. I’ll tell her. See you soon, love.” Mary hung up the phone. “All right, vamoose. Shannon’s making you rösti for dinner.”

Beatrice didn’t have to face Ava before Mary lead her out to the car park. She was still filming the post-bake interviews.

“I told Michael you’re with me, so no one will send out a search party,” Mary said as she tossed both their bags into the boot of her beat-up Volkswagen.

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[powerofelvis]

Birthday Shenanigans with Scotty & Elvis (Ménage A Trois Headcanon)

Warnings: Fluffy birthday fun, football games, birthday shenanigans between Scotty, Elvis, and the reader.

A/N: A little something for my babies who love my ménage a trois storyline in celebration of Elvis’ birthday!

masterlist.

“Happy Birthday, Elvis!”

The day was beautiful as always, Memphis was a little cold but the warmth of Graceland warmed your heart.

Scotty and Elvis were off doing God knows what, while you were in the kitchen with his favorite cook, Mary.

The days prior, you and Scotty had planned a special day for Elvis so Scotty would keep Elvis occupied while you got everything together.

Minnie Mae had told you before that his favorite cake was the pineapple and pecan cake that she would make for him whenever he came to visit.

She sat with you, going through the recipe, making sure that you had time to run to the store to get the ingredients.

Elvis didn’t notice, but he did notice how secretive you were being about his birthday.

“Sugar, you have something to tell me or ya gonna keep secrets?”

You could only laugh, telling him that it would all be worth it once his birthday came around.

You met Mary and Minnie Mae in the kitchen early in the morning, even before Elvis and Scotty rose from their slumber.

With an apron around your waist, you mixed up the cake mix, being careful not to overmix too much.

“Dodger, I’m gonna need your help. I’m not much of a baker, as you can see.”

“Honey, you’re doing mighty fine for your first time making a cake. Just follow your heart, Elvis will love anything that you do.”

You would get icing on your nose as you waited for the cake to cool, mixing the icing with the crushed pineapples.

Once the cake has cooled, you spread the icing that was made.

You weren’t scant with the pecans either, placing them neatly across the top before placing it on the dining room table.

Mary even taught you how to make his favorite dishes, the bond between you and the two ladies becoming stronger that day.

Tons of balloons!

You blew up so many balloons that you didn’t want to see any balloons ever again.

You couldn’t forget the streamers as you stood up on the chair, taping them down on the ceiling along with balloons.

Once his dishes were done, you placed it on the table surrounding his cake.

You would curse yourself as you realized that you weren’t dressed properly, covered in cake flour and icing.

You took the time to slip away from the chaos that was becoming Graceland, cleaning yourself up and putting on a nice dress.

You didn’t go over the top with the makeup, making sure that you looked presentable for both of your boys, mainly Elvis.

You still had plenty of time before Scotty and Elvis returned with the mafia and their wives, so you made sure that the finishing touches were perfect while you waited.

Elvis and Scotty appeared much later, laughing about the day that they had.

Scotty kissed your forehead, spinning you around to get a good look at you.

“You look beautiful, little girl. I hope you’d dress up for me on my birthday this year.”

“Play your cards right, Scotty and I will.”

Cheers erupted as everyone piled into the dining room, Elvis was blown away by the sight of the pile of food and cake.

“Sugar, was this the reason you were so closelipped? You were planning all of this?”

You could only nod, a smile gracing your face as he pulled you into a hug.

The only words that he could say was thank you, so overcome with emotion that you cared so much to plan such a thing for him.

“Alright everybody! Let’s dig in!”

You looked around the room at everyone who loved Elvis and he loved them right back, glad that everyone could make it to celebrate him.

You had settled for two of his favorite meals.

Chicken fried steak and gravy and meatloaf with his favorite “bacon” on the top.

He hummed happily like a king, giving compliments left and right.

Minnie Mae would tell him that it was all your idea, her and Mary were only the helpers.

“I couldn’t do it without you and Mary, it wouldn’t be done if you two hadn’t helped me.”

“Either way, sugar. Thank ya for all of this.”

You patted Elvis’ hand, scraping up the potatoes on your spoon before plopping it in your mouth.

Next was the cake!

You could tell that Elvis was excited, his legs bouncing underneath the table.

Everyone joined in with you to sing the tune of Happy Birthday, you sneaking behind him to put a crown on his head.

He roared with laughter, tilting his head up to look at you, a mischievous glint in his eye.

You kissed his nose, patting his shoulder as Mary carried in plates before handing them to you.

You cut the biggest piece for Elvis, placing it in front of him before distributing the other slices to everyone else.

Scotty leaned in, dipping his finger into his piece, putting a bit on Elvis’ nose before laughing.

Elvis dug his finger into his own cake, smearing the cake on Scotty’s face as everyone laughed.

“Sugar, come here! Come here!”

You gasped out in surprise, backing away before bumping into the wall.

Needless to say, you had cake on your face by the end of it.

Once you were cleaned off, you enjoyed the cake, getting compliments from everyone about it.

“My sugar spoils me, she can cook and bake too!”

“Don’t give her a big head, E.P.”

You glared playfully at Scotty before kissing Elvis on the top of his head.

Elvis enjoyed the cake so much that he nearly destroyed the entire thing by himself.

Once the cake was finished, you went to help Mary with collecting all of the dishes and the rest of the cake.

“You go on and enjoy the party, baby. I’ll clean up.”

You kissed Mary on the cheek, grabbing the present that you had gotten for Elvis before leaving the kitchen.

Minnie Mae wrapped her arm around your shoulder, leaning into your ear.

“You’re good for him, Y/N. You keep him well-fed and well behaved.”

“He keeps me happy, Dodger. It’s only right that I do the same.”

She disappeared then, probably going to help Mary with cleaning up.

You entered the music room where everyone was sitting, laughing at a story that Scotty was telling about Elvis.

You sat next to Elvis, passing him the present that you had for him.

He opened it like a kid in a candy store, smiling widely as he looked inside of the box.

You weren’t sure of what you could give him, he already had everything that he could ever want.

The gift was a monogrammed scarf with his initials.

“Thank you, sugar! I love it.”

He wrapped the scarf around his neck, the initials sitting perfect on his chest.

He pulled you into a hug, kissing your lips softly before placing his hand into yours.

Scotty sat beside you, placing his hand on your thigh.

You were happy at that moment, sitting between the two men who meant the world to you.

You mindlessly played with your necklace that Elvis had made for you, watching as your boys interacted with the mafia.

Later on that day, Elvis suggested that they play a game of football in the yard.

Mary passed you the tray of lemonade and little pieces of pie that she had made while everyone was in the other room.

You walked outside, watching Elvis run across the yard with the football in his hands.

He was truly happy and that’s all that you needed to see as you placed the tray down on the table.

Scotty was sitting down at the table as his eyes watched the game intensely.

“You’re not playing?”

“Nope, Elvis wanted to show me how good he is so I decided to watch.”

You sat down next to Scotty, putting your hand on top of his as the two of you watched Elvis trash talk the guys as the game went on.

The boys grew tired as the sun started to set.

They all followed Elvis as he walked over to the table where you and Scotty were, grabbing a glass of lemonade from the tray.

“You just keep surprising me, lil mama. I knew I made the right choice asking you to move in here with me and Scotty Boy.”

You blushed, turning away from him before handing him a plate of pie.

“To keep you as happy as you make me, I’ll do anything.”

As the pie was eaten and the lemonade was long gone, you took the tray back inside.

This time you helped Mary with the dishes, giving the boys time to be alone.

Shortly after, the mafia and their wives left Graceland and Mary returned to her room.

It was only you, Scotty, and Elvis at that point.

The three of you spent the rest of his birthday enjoying each other but mostly enjoying another day that Elvis was in your life.

Taglist: @lindszeppelin @aconflagrationofmyown @samfangirls @cryingabtab @austinbutler-91 @flwrs4aust @ep-supremacy @mad-over-elvis @lovininapinkcadillac @loving-elvis @plasticfantasticl0ver @polksalademma @stitchattacks @rosaminny @flowersofcement @austinsmutler @infatuatedharleys @oh-my-front-door @oh-kurva @rainydayz101 @steph-speaks @thatbanditqueen @babylovepresley @missmaywemeetagain @woundmetender @elvisabutler @luluthesandgoose @ophelia-writes-stuff @wonka-gifs @elvis-lil-sugarpie @burninlovebutler @troubleinapinksuit @rosecoloreddesire @literally-just-elvis-fics

[waywardnerd67]

Extra Dessert

Title: Extra Dessert Summary: Dean has to go out to return a few presents with (Y/N) earning a special reward. Paring: Dean Winchester x Reader Word Count: 935 Rating: E - Everyone Warnings: Fluff/Implied Smut Square Filled: Day After Christmas Bingo Card: @spnchristmasbingo​ A/N: None

Check Out: 2022 Christmas Bingo Masterlist

Christmas had been everything Dean had wished for and more. Everyone had made their way to the bunker for Christmas dinner and presents. Sam had proposed to Eileen in front of the Christmas tree. Cas had to explain to Jack how Santa got into the bunker to set the presents under the tree with a chimney. Jody, Donna and the girls were all sitting around the map table telling Mary and Bobby about their latest cases. Charlie and Rowena were off to the side discussing their next road trip to Atlantic City. However, the best moment was walking into his Dean Cave and finding his beautiful girlfriend wrapped up in a bow. Only a bow. He then spent the rest of the evening unwrapping and enjoying her gift of love.  

Dean woke up to (Y/N)’s side of the bed empty and heard the door creaking open.

“Rise and shine, handsome.”

Fresh coffee and bacon filled his nose as he propped himself up on his elbow, “How about you come back to bed and we ignore the world.”

“No can do. I volunteer us for returns duty. We have quite a few presents that need to be exchanged and I figured you would be itching to get out of the bunker.”

She set the tray of breakfast over his lap as he sat up in bed, “No itching. Not a single itch. All I want to do is lay in bed with you all day and ignore the world.”

(Y/N) held a piece of bacon up to his lips, “Sorry handsome, I made a promise and I intend to keep it. I can always take Baby out myself…”

“Sweetheart, I love you and would do anything for you. However, I draw the line at my Baby.”

She smiled, leaning in to kiss him, “I would have you no other way. Finish your breakfast and be ready in 30.”

She walked out of the room then stuck her head back in, “And I love you.”

Nearly two hours and three stores later, Dean was muttering curse words beneath his breath trying to navigate through the packed parking lot of Target. Soccer moms were whipping their vans in and out of parking spots and lanes like Nascar drivers. His knuckles were white from gripping Baby’s steering wheel.

“Damn… freaking… watch it momma bear!” He yelled out to the hundredth minivan to almost hit his Baby.

Finally, he found a spot and grabbed the six bags worth of stuff to exchange. People were shoving and pushing their way inside towards the customer service desk as Dean followed (Y/N). She was looking down at the receipts as a woman shoved past him.

“Excuse you.” She sneered, rolling her eyes.

“Oh no, excuse me for merely standing here trying to return my stuff. Had no idea this whole store was only for you!” Dean called out as (Y/N) covered his mouth.

“Handsome, I know you’re tired and frustrated. I promise when we get home we can lock ourselves away in our room and ignore the world. I need you to be patient and not yell at the Target moms.”

“You’re lucky I love you. I promise to try and not yell at the soccer moms.” He grunted.

She gave him a peck on the lips before turning back around as the line moved forward. Dean looked down at his watch seeing it was almost noon. They inched closer and closer to the clerk taking returns. His arms and hands were aching from holding the bags. (Y/N) had her arm around his waist as her hand rubbed firm circles along his lower back. He glanced down at the time on (Y/N)’s phone seeing it was ten minutes past one o’clock.

“Son of a bitch…”

“What?” (Y/N) looked up, arching an eyebrow at him.

There were still four people in front of them, “We’ve been in this godforsaken line for over an hour. Isn’t there a way to speed this up?”

She smiled, “Remember patience and then hiding away from the world. That’s the light at the end of this tunnel.”

“Yeah but this tunnel doesn’t seem to ever end. I’m stuck in Target line hell and can’t escape.”

(Y/N) slipped her hand around his neck pulling him down until her lips pressed right below his ear. Goosebumps raced across his body making him shiver.

“If you're a good boy then I’ll do the thing you love for me to do.” She whispered.

Dean took a step back, staring down at her, “Are you serious? Don’t toy with me right now?”

(Y/N) giggled as she drew a cross over her heart, “Cross my heart. I will do the whole thing for you, but you have to be patient here while we wait in line.”

From that moment until they were walking out of Target with their exchange gift cards, Dean was on his best behavior. After having a nice dinner with everyone, he went in search of (Y/N) to head to bed after an exhausting day. Walking into their room, he found her lying on the bed placing the last mound of whip cream on her breasts.

“Hungry?” She smirked.

He licked his lips as his eyes traveled down her body. His mouth watering at the sight of her lying there in a whip cream bikini.

“Ravenous.” Dean pulled off his shirt diving head first between her legs, “I feel like I earned this extra dessert.”

Her moan echoed throughout the room, “Oh god, yes you did handsome… yes you did.”

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Taglist: @waywardbaby​​ @ladywinchester1967​​ @akshi8278​​ @dean-winchesters-bacon​​ @carryonmywaywardcaptain​​ @destiel745​​ @carribear31​​ @whimsicalrobots​​ @adoptdontshoppets​​ @mrswhozeewhatsis​​ @bella-ca​ @imascio08​​ @mannls​​ @time-travel-bouqet​​ @myinconnelly1​​ @maddiepants​​ @tumbler-tidbits​​ @sandlee44​​ @destielhoneybee​​ @jerkbitchidjitassbutt​​​ @stoneyggirl​​ @mimaria420​ @emoryhemsworth​​ @atc74​​ @cosicas-cuquis​ @stixnstripesworld​ @sexyvixen7​ @samsgirl93​ @perpetualabsurdity​ @deanwanddamons​ @smoothdogsgirl​ @lyarr24​ @cevans-winchester​ @leigh70​ @nancymcl​ @djs8891​

[amorgansgal]

Sweet as Sugar - Part One

RDR2 Modern AU - Arthur finds a strange message on his phone and realises he's been signed up to a Sugar Daddy/Sugar Baby website. Does he respond to your message or forget it even happened?

Warnings: Sugar Daddy/Sugar baby relationship, customers being dicks.

‘Shit,’ you thought. ‘Shit, shit, shit.’

You stared at your payslip, your heart was beating furiously in your chest and, while you had managed to stop crying earlier, your eyes felt itchy and sore. You got stiffed on tips from time to time (and that already would send you into a rage at the best of time), but this was absolutely top-notch level shit. A large tabletop had given you a huge tip, then later decided to call the restaurant and ask for it back. It felt somehow worse than when you saw a pathetic dollar left on the table or ‘Sorry, I’m broke’ scribbled on the receipt.

Your manager had been nice and sympathetic enough on the phone, but there wasn’t much they could do other than offer you more hours. You tossed your phone aside and lay back down on the bed. What the hell were you going to do. Rent was due in two weeks and you knew you wouldn’t have enough money to cover bills, food and rent. Maybe you could live off rice for over a month, but you would undoubtedly be in debt.

You thought about asking your parents to cover the costs just for the time being, but the idea already made you feel sick. Doubtless your mother would again insist that you ask for a job at your cousin’s company, but last time you had worked there you were basically treated like a slave. Working all strange hours, being called at two or three in the morning, because your cousin needed someone to open the store at five and barely getting a pittance! Also, you didn’t need your mother berating you for deciding to pursue art either!

There was a tentative knock on the door. You looked up as Mary-Beth cautiously opened the door with a cup of tea in her hands. ‘Can I come in?’

You tried to answer her, but your voice came out as a scratchy tight squeak. You coughed, then said, ‘Sure.’

She passed you the cup and you gratefully took a sip. The sweet, sharp taste of peppermint warmed you. ‘Sorry, I kind of overhead everything that happened when you were calling your manager.’

You let out a low groan and rested your forehead against the warm ceramic of the cup. ‘I don’t know what to do. I can’t ask my parents for more money, they already lent me some ages ago and I don’t want to work at my cousin’s. For all the customers are a pain, I like my job!’

‘Didn’t you want to be an artist though?’ Mary-Beth asked, tucking her legs underneath her as she sat on the bed.

‘Yes, but that doesn’t exactly pay the bills. Hell, even if I take commissions again, I’d probably only get maybe one or two, and it’s not enough to cover everything.’

You both fell silent for a moment. Mary-Beth was playing with a coil of her curly, brown hair. She wrapped it around her finger and tugged it, her brow furrowed thoughtfully. You gazed around your small bedroom, trying to figure if there was anything worth selling.

‘I could-’ Mary-Beth began to say.

‘No, I know what you’re going to say, and that’s not fair. You work stupidly hard. I’ll figure this out.’

Mary-Beth sighed. ‘Ok, but I know you’re a good housemate and a better friend, so if you do need help I’m sure we could all put in a little donation for you.’

‘Look, I appreciate it, but I don’t want to do that to you all. It isn’t fair.’

‘And I don’t want you to leave or end up in so much debt you… I don’t know, end up in jail!’

You snorted slightly at that. ‘I’m sure it won’t come to that.’

She gave you a soft smile and then a hug, before getting up from the bed. ‘Ok, but if you do need help you let me know. Tilly, Karen and I won’t let you end up begging or on the streets!’

You nodded and gave her a small, tight smile in return, then took another sip of the hot, sweet tea. ‘Thank you, and thank you for the tea.’ You tapped your nails against the cup. ‘Guess I could open up commissions again. Every little helps!’

Mary-Beth had just placed her hand on the door, when she suddenly froze and turned to you. You frowned in puzzlement and raised an eyebrow. You weren’t sure how to read her facial expression, she looked both delighted and terrified by the idea that had apparently popped into her head!

‘What?’ you asked suspiciously.

‘Look, I know it didn’t quite work out last time-’

‘Just tell me what you’ve got on your mind.’

‘Well, you know that Sugar Daddy app you were-’

‘No! No. Absolutely not.’

‘I know you had that awful date-’

‘Yes, awful is the word for it. I had to sit there listening to him blather on about cryptocurrencies and stock exchanges! I don’t think he even asked me one question about myself.’ You sighed. ‘I get it, that’s the point. I’m just there to be paid and look pretty, so he doesn’t have to go to therapy, but all I got out of that was a mediocre bottle of wine and an “expensive, designer” bag that turned out to be a fake!’

‘I know, I know, but maybe you could find one that would be willing to give you a bit of cash or pay you decently for some art or something like that! You wouldn’t have to do it forever, just until you got paid.’

You pursed your lips, considering the idea. As much as you didn’t want to consider it. Sugar daddies were like any form of dating really, there were good apples and bad apples. Last time though you had been comfortable enough to not worry about the financial aspect so much. You just quite liked being well treated and some of the men had been lovely to spend time with. And admittedly you did have a thing for older men, that was true whether or not you were in a sugar daddy/sugar baby relationship.

‘Just a thought,’ Mary-Beth said as she slipped out the room.

Perhaps… perhaps you could just take a quick look at the site. Just a quick look wouldn’t hurt. Just to see who was on there, maybe some of your previous flames would consider it. Or as Mary-Beth suggested you could offer to paint their house or yacht or dog just to earn a little more cash. Then you wouldn’t have to go through the whole debacle of actually being a sugar baby.

You reinstalled the app and then opened it. You flicked through it quickly, there were evidently some new faces but you needed to scroll down to you previous matches - assuming they were still there!

You were just about to when you suddenly saw a new profile and quite honestly the man pictured took your breath away. He was leaning against a white fence, his blue checked shirt unbuttoned, his golden hair just touched his collar. You bit your lip. Usually, men with long hair weren’t your thing, but it suited him. His gaze was intense and seemed to study you. He had incredibly beautiful sea-green eyes.

‘How the hell did you end up on a site like this?’ you muttered. You couldn’t believe he would be here on a sugar daddy site, surely this guy had plenty of women who would be interested in him regardless of any freebies thrown in! But then maybe it was his kink or something.

You paused for a moment. This was a dumb idea. It was smarter to go back to your old acquaintances and see if they would help you out. There wouldn’t be any need to build up a relationship. And yet… This man was something else! You tapped onto his profile and opened up the message centre.

‘The hell is this?’ Arthur growled, staring at the notification in the corner of his phone. It had a little jelly bean that changed colour rapidly. The message read: ‘You’ve got a message from a sugar baby, open up Daddy!’

He turned the phone to John, who frowned as he read it, then snorted with laughter. ‘Why do you think that has anything to do with me?’ John put down the axe he was holding. They had been clearing out a new plot of land, both to get some more wood for fencing and Arthur’s stove, and to make sure the new trees had room to grow.

‘Pretty sure you were the last one to use my phone.’ Arthur glowered at John, who rolled his eyes.

‘I used it to call Abigail. I hardly had time to make a profile for… Mr Arthur-Big boy-Cowboy-Morgan!’ John read the name on the profile and snorted. ‘Nice choice, Arthur. Real subtle!’

‘Shut up,’ Arthur muttered. He looked back down at the phone. The notification had changed its message to the picture of a beautiful, young woman. Arthur blinked hard on seeing the picture. That had to just be an ad, some model the app’s company had hired to tempt people into thinking everyone looked like that!

His finger hovered over the app, thinking about uninstalling it, but then how had it got onto his phone in the first place? Arthur sighed and shook his head. He shouldn’t. He really shouldn’t. Better to delete it and forget all about it. But then… he had been single for a long time and he had seemingly tried every and all dating apps without much luck!

‘You just goin’ to stand there staring at the phone or actually help me with this?’ John called out.

‘Yeah, just give me a minute!

He quickly opened the app.

Hi Arthur… or should I call you by your full name? I can’t say I’ve ever seen you on this app or anyone like you. I like the pictures of your dog. He’s cute!

Do you live in Blackwater or outside the city? I guessed maybe the latter because it looks like you live on a ranch. Sorry, if that’s too many questions, I get curious and end up chatting too much!

You didn’t sound like a bot, but then he wasn’t going to get his hopes up. He clicked onto your profile. You were stunningly pretty, with a beautiful smile and warm eyes. He scrolled through your hobbies, the fuzzy feeling in his chest growing as he saw you liked drawing/painting, reading and hiking. He looked at your pictures, there were some nice selfies, a few of you on a hiking trail by the looks of things and then one that made him stop and stare. It was a self-portrait, done in pencil, a slight frown on your features as though you were trying your best to capture your appearance. Underneath you had tagged it with: ‘Not my best, but I try!’

This was stupid, he thought. This was the dumbest thing he had ever thought about doing. He didn’t even know the first thing about being a sugar daddy, well apart from the basics. But what would you expect from him? What would he be expected to give you, assuming he had to give you something of material value? What would you give to him? Was it just companionship, someone to look pretty out on a date and gaze at him in wide eyed wonder as he talked about himself? Or would you do anything further? How did it all work-?

‘Hey there, you two, how goes th’ work?’ Sean’s jovial voice carried over and when Arthur looked up at him, he suddenly remembered how Sean had asked if he could check his emails on Arthur’s phone. Perhaps Arthur should’ve considered that odd at the time, but he had been a bit too trusting.

‘Hey Arthur!’ Sean grinned at him, then took in the other man’s expression. ‘Ah!’

‘AH! Indeed!’ Arthur grumbled. He turned his phone towards Sean. ‘Checkin’ yer emails were you?’

‘Now, now, Arthur. I can explain!’

‘Can you?’ asked John.

‘Yes. I was jus’ thinkin’, well it’s been a while for Arthur. So I thought, let him try somethin’ new, somethin’ excitin’!’

‘You god damn fool, I don’ know the first thing about being a sugar daddy!’

‘Well, I can’t imagine it’s too complicated!’ Sean eagerly reached for the phone, though Arthur snatched it out of reach. ‘Aw c’mon, English! Yer had any luck with the ladies then!’

‘NO!’ Arthur snarled. ‘I don’t need luck and I don’t need yer help getting’ lucky.’

He shoved the phone back into his pocket and stormed off over to John, intending to finish the work rather than hearing Sean jabber away.

‘If it helps, just think of it like charity! Like yer givin’ to some poor, unfortunate miss who needs a couple of dollars!’

Arthur scowled and began to pick up the fence posts. John raised his eyebrows ever so slightly, but even he knew to keep his mouth shut when Arthur looked like that!

[hifimuses]

closed starter for @heroinesjourncy for Baby Doll

Bruce was always a man of certain principles. Since he began his journey of vigilante justice, he cared for the people of Gotham but there was something deep down that he at least wanted to believe. Bruce never killed, and part of the reason was he didn’t want to get that dirty, but he also wanted to believe that some could be rehabilitated. It was very hard recently with the rotation of Arkham criminals and their love for what they do. However, Bruce always saw many of their origins as tragic. This is where “Baby Doll” aka Mary Dahl came in. After some time in Arkam and under some physiological overview, the hero had made some arrangements to do some out reach like he had never done before. It was a risky move, but he thought it was worth risking after seeing her story and where she had ended up now.

Her disease of physically never aging, being basically blasted out of Hollywood after her sitcom, her unrequited abusive relationship with Killer Cro were all just the surface of what seemed to be wrong. There wasn’t a cure for her disease..yet. If it would really help, why not use some of his money, knowledge and access to work on and hire something that can help her live a more normal life. She had to also lay low, and Bruce, Robin and Alfred would need to keep and eye on her if she was to be kept away from Arkham in a safe place, it’s quite frankly a gift and an upgrade for her since she’d be constantly on Wayne Manor. This also required Bruce revealing his identity, a rarity but due to circumstances it was unavoidable for this plan. So, he told her the truth as they brought her to the Manor, gave her a tour, and explained everything. They sat her down. and he tried his best at transparency and communication. Bruce wanted to treat her like an adult so she felt like they were good faith actors meaning well.

“So, that’s the plan. You’re gonna need to be in here most of the time, but we’re not just gonna make this a more luxurious prison, I assure you. I know it’s hard to trust anyone after what you’ve been through, but trust me..I’m the best bet you got. right now, Mary. I want to help so you don't just have to play make believe.”

[taylorswiftandx]

Taylor Swift and the sound "Bee"

Note: "Been" does not appear because in Taylor’s American English she pronounces it like "bin" even though in, say, some British accents it might have a strong "bee" sound. I also chose to exclude beauty/beautiful, interpreting the sound of "beau" more as "byoo" than "bee-you" but here is TS and Beautiful with those lyrics just in case.

'Taylor Swift'

Tim McGraw: And I was right there beside him all summer long

Tim McGraw: But in a box beneath my bed is a letter that you never read

Tim McGraw: And looking back on all of that, it's nice to believe

Picture To Burn: My daddy's gonna show you how sorry you'll be

Picture To Burn: 'Cause coming back around here would be bad for your health

Picture To Burn: Burn, burn, burn, baby, burn, just another picture to burn, baby, burn

Teardrops On My Guitar: That I want and I'm needing everything that we should be

Teardrops On My Guitar: And there he goes, so perfectly, the kind of flawless I wish I could be

Teardrops On My Guitar: I'll put his picture down and maybe get some sleep tonight

A Place In This World: I'll be strong, I'll be wrong, oh, but life goes on

A Place In This World: Maybe I'm just a girl on a mission but I'm ready to fly

The Outside: I didn't read between the lines and, baby, I've got nowhere to go

The Outside: So how can I ever try to be better?

The Outside: That I would give it all up to be a part of this, a part of you

Tied Together With A Smile: Hold on, baby, you're losing it

Tied Together With A Smile: That you cry but you don't tell anyone that you might not be the golden one

Tied Together With A Smile: Goodbye, baby, with a smile, baby, baby

Stay Beautiful: And don't you know, you're really gonna be someone

Stay Beautiful: Cory finds another way to be the highlight of my day

Should've Said No: I shouldn't be asking myself, "Why?" You shouldn't be begging for forgiveness at my feet

Should've Said No: You should've said no, baby, and you might still have me

Should've Said No: And baby, you know all the right things to say

Should've Said No: But do you honestly expect me to believe we could ever be the same

Should've Said No: Before you go, tell me this, was it worth it, was she worth this?

Mary's Song (Oh My My My): Said you'd beat me up, you were bigger than me

Mary's Song (Oh My My My): They never believed we'd really fall in love

Mary's Song (Oh My My My): Take me home where we met so many years before, we'll rock our babies on that very front porch

Mary's Song (Oh My My My): I'll be eighty-seven, you'll be eighty-nine

Our Song: I look around, turn the radio down, he says, "Baby, is something wrong?"

I'm Only Me When I'm With You: Friday night beneath the stars in a field behind your yard

I'm Only Me When I'm With You: When I'm with anybody else, it's so hard to be myself

I'm Only Me When I'm With You: And I'm only me, who I wanna be, well, I'm only me when I'm with you

Invisible: But if you only knew me, we could be a beautiful miracle, unbelievable

Invisible: And all I think about is how to make you think of me and everything that we could be

Invisible: Baby, let me love you, let me want you

A Perfectly Good Heart: Maybe I should've seen the signs, should've read the writing on the wall

A Perfectly Good Heart: And realized by the distance in your eyes that I would be the one to fall

A Perfectly Good Heart: No matter what you say, I still can't believe that you would walk away

A Perfectly Good Heart: How do I get it back the way it was before?

'Fearless (Taylor's Version)'

Fearless: So, baby, drive slow 'til we run out of road

Fifteen: It's your freshman year and you're gonna be here for the next four years in this town

Fifteen: You know I haven't seen you around before

Fifteen: 'Cause when you're fifteen and somebody tells you they love you, you're gonna believe them

Fifteen: This is life before you know who you're gonna be

Fifteen: We'll be out of here as soon as we can

Fifteen: When all you wanted was to be wanted

Fifteen: And when you're fifteen don't forget to look before you fall

Fifteen: And you just might find who you're supposed to be, I didn't know who I was supposed to be at fifteen

Love Story: Romeo, take me somewhere we can be alone, I'll be waiting, all that's left to do is run

Love Story: You'll be the prince and I'll be the princess

Love Story: It's a love story, baby, just say, "Yes"

Love Story: Don't be afraid, we'll make it out of this mess

Love Story: Marry me, Juliet, you'll never have to be alone

Hey Stephen: Hey, Stephen, I know looks can be deceiving but I know I saw a light in you

Hey Stephen: I'll be the one waiting there even when it's cold

Hey Stephen: Boy, you might have me believing I don't always have to be alone

Hey Stephen: Hey, Stephen, I could give you fifty reasons why I should be the one you choose

White Horse: As I paced back and forth all this time 'cause I honestly believed in you

White Horse: I was a dreamer before you went and let me down

White Horse: Maybe I was naïve, got lost in your eyes and never really had a chance

White Horse: My mistake, I didn't know to be in love

You Belong With Me: So why can't you see you belong with me, you belong with me?

You Belong With Me: I can't help thinking this is how it ought to be

You Belong With Me: All this time, how could you not know, baby, you belong with me, you belong with me

You Belong With Me: Think I know where you belong, think I know it's with me

You Belong With Me: You belong with me, have you ever thought just maybe you belong with me, you belong with me

Breathe: Now I don't know what to be without you around

Tell Me Why: And I need you like a heartbeat but you know you got a mean streak

Tell Me Why: I'm sick and tired of your reasons, I got no one to believe in

You're Not Sorry: And it's taken me this long, baby, but I figured you out

You're Not Sorry: And you're thinking we'll be fine again but not this time around

You're Not Sorry: But I don't believe you, baby, like I did before

You're Not Sorry: You are looking so innocent, I might believe you if I didn't know

You're Not Sorry: And you got your share of secrets and I'm tired of being last to know

You're Not Sorry: And now you're asking me to listen 'cause it's worked each time before

Forever And Always: I believe it was a Tuesday when I caught your eye

Forever And Always: I don't feel welcome anymore, baby, what happened, please tell me

Forever And Always: You didn't mean it, baby, I don't think so

Forever And Always: Back up, baby, back up, did you forget everything?

Forever And Always: You didn't mean it, baby, you said forever and always, yeah

The Best Day: I'm thirteen now and don't know how my friends could be so mean

Change: But I believe in whatever you do

Change: Because these things will change, can you feel it now?

Change: They might be bigger, but we're faster and never scared

Change: But there's something in your eyes says we can beat this

Jump Then Fall: I hear the words but all I can think is we should be together

Jump Then Fall: Whoa, oh, I'm feeling you, baby, don't be afraid to jump then fall

Jump Then Fall: Baby, I'm never gonna leave you, say that you wanna be with me, too

Jump Then Fall: Whoa, oh, I need you, baby, don't be afraid, please

Jump Then Fall: Jump then fall, baby, jump then fall into me, into me

Jump Then Fall: And every time you're here, baby, I'll show you, I'll show you

Untouchable: You gotta come on, come on, say that we'll be together

Untouchable: I know you're saying that you'd be here anyway

SuperStar: And I knew from the first note played I'd be breaking all me rules to see you

SuperStar: When my world wakes up today, you'll be in another town

SuperStar: And I knew when I saw your face, I'd be counting down the ways to see you

The Other Side Of The Door: I said, "Leave," but, baby, all I want is you

Today Was A Fairytale: You were the prince, I used to be a damsel in distress

Today Was A Fairytale: I can feel my heart, it's beating in my chest

You All Over Me: You can scratch it right off, it's how it used to be

You All Over Me: And see that we were never really meant to be

Mr. Perfectly Fine: Mr. every single day until the end I will be by your side

Mr. Perfectly Fine: Mr. always at the right place at the right time, baby

Mr. Perfectly Fine: Well, I thought you might be different than the rest, I guess you're all the same

Mr. Perfectly Fine: Because I hear he's got his arm 'round a brand new girl

Mr. Perfectly Fine: Now I'm Miss gonna be all right someday

Mr. Perfectly Fine: And someday maybe you'll miss me but by then you'll be Mr. too late

We Were Happy: Before I had somewhere to be, back when we had all night

We Were Happy: When it was good, baby, it was good, baby

That's When: And that's when I'll be waiting at the front gate

That's When: I'll let you in and, baby, that's when

That's When: You let me in and, baby, that's when

Bye Bye Baby: Bye bye to everything I thought was on my side, bye bye baby

Bye Bye Baby: Bye bye baby, bye bye baby

Bye Bye Baby: Feels like I'm becoming a part of your past

'Speak Now'

Mine: I say, "Can you believe it?" as we're lying on the couch

Mine: You saw me start to believe for the first time

Mine: Do you believe it, we're gonna make it now

Sparks Fly: Get me with those green eyes, baby, as the lights go down

Sparks Fly: You find I'm even better than you imagined I would be

Sparks Fly: I'm captivated by you, baby, like a firework show

Sparks Fly: And the sparks fly, oh, baby, smile, and the sparks fly

Back To December: Because the last time you saw me is still burned in the back of your mind

Back To December: Maybe this is wishful thinking, probably mindless dreaming

Speak Now: I am not the kind of girl who should be rudely barging in on a white veil occasion but you are not the kind of boy who should be marrying the wrong girl

Speak Now: This is surely not what you thought it would be

Speak Now: It seems that I was uninvited by your lovely bride-to-be

Speak Now: Baby, I didn't say my vows, so glad you were around when they said, "Speak now"

Dear John: Don't you think I was too young to be messed with?

Dear John: Well, maybe it's me and my blind optimism to blame

Dear John: Or maybe it's you and your sick need to give love then take it away

Dear John: Don't you think nineteen's too young to be played by your dark, twisted games

Dear John: But I took your matches before fire could catch me so don't look now

Mean: Someday I'll be living in a big old city and all you're ever gonna be is mean

Mean: Someday I'll be big enough so you can't hit me and all you're ever gonna be is mean

Mean: Why you gotta be so mean?

The Story Of Us: But the story of us might be ending soon

Never Grow Up: I just realized everything I have is someday gonna be gone

Never Grow Up: It's so much colder than I thought it would be

Never Grow Up: Wish I'd never grown up, I could still be little

Never Grow Up: Wish I'd never grown up, it could still be simple

Enchanted: Please don't be in love with someone else

Better Than Revenge: She had to know the pain was beating on me like a drum

Innocent: Wasn't it beautiful when you believed in everything and everybody believed in you?

Innocent: You wouldn't be shattered on the floor now if only you had seen what you know now then

Innocent: Wasn't it beautiful running wild 'til you fell asleep before the monsters caught up to you?

Innocent: Today is never too late to be brand new

Haunted: You're not gone, you can't be gone, no

Last Kiss: That July 9th, the beat of your heart, it jumps through your shirt, I can still feel your arms

Last Kiss: All that I know is I don't know how to be something you miss

Last Kiss: Because I love you handshake meeting my father

Long Live: The night you danced like you knew our lives would never be the same

Long Live: One day, we will be remembered

Ours: Your hands are tough but they are where mine belong

Ours: 'Cause I love the gap between your teeth

Ours: And any snide remarks from my father about your tattoos will be ignored 'cause my heart is yours

If This Was A Movie: Last night I heard my own heart beating

If This Was A Movie: I was playing back a thousand memories, baby

If This Was A Movie: Maybe I've been going back too much lately

If This Was A Movie: But if this was a movie, you'd be here by now

If This Was A Movie: Not before I knew how much I had to lose

If This Was A Movie: I just want it back the way it was before

If This Was A Movie: Come back to me like you would before you said, "It's not that easy"

If This Was A Movie: Before the fight, before I locked you out, but I take it all back now

If This Was A Movie: You'd be here by now, it's not the kind of ending you wanna see now, baby, what about the ending?

If This Was A Movie: Oh, I thought you'd be here by now, whoa, thought you'd be here by now

Superman: Go save the world, I'll be around

Superman: Come back, I'll be with you someday, I'll be right here on the ground

Superman: And you'll leave, got places to be and I'll be okay

Superman: Don't forget, don't forget where I'll be

Superman: I watch superman fly away, I swear, I'll be with you someday

'Red (Taylor's Version)'

State Of Grace: And I never saw you coming, and I'll never be the same

Red: Like the colors in autumn, so bright just before they lose it all

Red: Regretting him is like wishing you never found out that love could be that strong

Treacherous: And I'd be smart to walk away but you're quicksand

I Knew You Were Trouble: A new notch in your belt is all I'll ever be

All Too Well: And I might be okay but I'm not fine at all

All Too Well: You used to be a little kind with glasses in a twin sized bed

All Too Well: Well, maybe we got lost in translation, maybe I asked for too much, but maybe this thing was a masterpiece 'til you tore it all up

All Too Well: So casually cruel in the name of being honest

All Too Well: I'd like to be my old self again, but I'm still trying to find it

All Too Well: Back before you lost the one real thing you've ever known

22: Everything will be all right if you keep me next to you

22: Everything will be all right if we just keep dancing like we're twenty-two

22: It feels like one of those nights, we won't be sleeping

We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together: Baby, I miss you and I swear I'm gonna change, trust me

Stay Stay Stay: Before you I'd only dated self-indulgent takers

Stay Stay Stay: I love you because you have given me not choice but to stay, stay, stay

Stay Stay Stay: Stay, and I'll be loving you for quite some time

The Last Time: I find myself at your door just like all those times before

The Last Time: And right before your eyes I'm breaking

The Last Time: You find yourself at my door, and just like all those times before

The Last Time: And right before your eyes I'm aching

Sad Beautiful Tragic: Good girls, hopeful they'll be and long they will wait

Everything Has Changed: I know something now, know something now I didn't before

Everything Has Changed: You'll be mine and I'll be yours

Starlight: I met Bobby on the boardwalk, summer of '45

Starlight: The night we snuck into a yacht club party pretending to be a duchess and a prince

Begin Again: I walked in expecting you'd be late but you got here early and you stand and wave

Begin Again: But on a Wednesday in a cafe, I watched it begin again

The Moment I Knew: Should've burst through the door with that "Baby, I'm right here" smile

The Moment I Knew: How you said you'd be here, you said you'd be here

The Moment I Knew: And the hours pass by, now I just wanna be alone

The Moment I Knew: As I say hopelessly, "He said he'd be here"

Come Back... Be Here: Come back, be here, come back, be here

Come Back... Be Here: The delicate beginning rush, the feeling you can know so much

Come Back... Be Here: In New York, be here, but you're in London and I break down

Girl At Home: And it would be a find proposition if I was a stupid girl

Girl At Home: It would be a fine proposition if I hadn't once been just like her

Ronan: I remember you dancing before bedtime

Ronan: Come on, baby, with me, we're gonna fly away from here

Ronan: And it's about to be Halloween, you could be anything you wanted if you were still here

Better Man: Hoping it might turn sweet again like it was in the beginning

Better Man: You're talking down to me like I'll always be around

Better Man: I hold onto this pride because these days it's all I have

Better Man: I wonder what we would've become if you were a better man

Better Man: We might still be in love if you were a better man

Nothing New: Lord, what will become of me once I've lost my novelty?

Nothing New: How long will it be cute, all this crying in my room?

Babe: What a shame, didn't wanna be the one that got away, yeah

Babe: I hate that because of you, I can't love you, babe

Message In A Bottle: And I became hypnotized by freckles and bright eyes, tongue tied

Message In A Bottle: You could be the one that I love, I could be the one that you dream of

Message In A Bottle: You could be the one that I keep and I could be the reason you can't sleep at night

Message In A Bottle: You could be the one that I love

I Bet You Think About Me: But now that we're done and it's over, I bet you couldn't believe

I Bet You Think About Me: I don't have to be your shrink to know that you'll never be happy

I Bet You Think About Me: Scared not to be hip, scared to get old, chasing make-believe status

I Bet You Think About Me: But now that we're done and it's over, I bet it's hard to believe

Forever Winter: He says he doesn't believe anything much he hears these days

Forever Winter: He spends most of his nights wishing it was how it used to be

Forever Winter: I'll be summer sun for you forever, forever winter if you go

Forever Winter: I'll be your summer sun forever

Forever Winter: I'd be in pieces on the floor, forever winter if you go

Forever Winter: I say, "Believe in one thing, I won't go away"

Run: We shouldn't be in this town

Run: I'd drive away before I let you go

Run: No one to be, no one to tell

All Too Well (10 Minute Version): You said if we had been closer in age, maybe it would have been fine

All Too Well (10 Minute Version): And he said, "It's supposed to be fun, turning twenty-one"

All Too Well (10 Minute Version): Just between us, did the love affair maim you, too?

All Too Well (10 Minute Version): Just between us, did the love affair maim you all too well?

All Too Well (10 Minute Version): Just between us, do you remember it all too well?

All Too Well (10 Minute Version): Just between us, I remember it all too well

'1989'

Welcome To New York: Kaleidoscope of loud heartbeats under coats

Welcome To New York: Searching for a sound we hadn't heard before

Welcome To New York: I could dance to this beat, beat forevermore

Welcome To New York: Everybody here was someone else before

Welcome To New York: It's a new soundtrack, I could dance to this beat

Blank Space: So hey, let's be friends, I'm dying to see how this one ends

Blank Space: So it's gonna be forever or it's gonna go down in flames

Blank Space: But I've got a blank space, baby, and I'll write your name

Blank Space: You're the king, baby, I'm your queen

Blank Space: Find out what you want, be that girl for a month

Out Of The Woods: To move the furniture so we could dance, baby, like we stood a chance

Out Of The Woods: When you started crying, baby, I did, too

Out Of The Woods: But the monsters turned out to be just trees

All You Had To Do Was Stay: And people like me wanna believe you when you say you've changed

Shake It Off: It's like I got the music in my mind saying, "It's gonna be all right"

Shake It Off: Baby, I'm just gonna shake, shake, shake, shake, shake

Shake It Off: I never miss a beat, I'm lightning on my feet

Shake It Off: You could've been getting down to this sick beat

Shake It Off: Won't you come on over, baby, we can shake, shake, shake

I Wish You Would: And I wish you knew that I miss you too much to be mad anymore

Bad Blood: Baby, now we got bad blood

Bad Blood: You know, it used to be mad love

Bad Blood: I was thinking that you could be trusted

Bad Blood: Did you have to hit me where I'm weak? Baby, I couldn't breathe

Bad Blood: Did you think we'd be fine?

Wildest Dreams: I can see the end as it begins, my one condition is

How You Get The Girl: Remind her how it used to be, be

How You Get The Girl: Remind me how it used to be

This Love: Baby, I could go on and on, on and on

I Know Places: Baby, I know places we won't be found and they'll be chasing their tails trying to track us down

Clean: Just because you're clean don't mean you don't miss it

Wonderland: Haven't you heard what becomes of curious minds?

New Romantics: Baby, I could build a castle out of all the bricks they threw at me

New Romantics: Baby, we're the new romantics

'reputation'

...Ready For It?: But if he's a ghost then I can be a phantom holding him for ransom

...Ready For It?: Touch me and you'll never be alone

...Ready For It?: You should see the things we do, baby

...Ready For It?: I know I'm gonna be with you so I take my time

...Ready For It?: And he can be my jailor, Burton to this Taylor

...Ready For It?: I'm so very tame now, never be the same now

...Ready For It?: Baby, let the games begin, let the games begin, let the games begin

End Game: I wanna be your end game, I wanna be your first-string, I wanna be your A-Team, I wanna be your end game, end game

End Game: Ooh, you and me would be a big conversation

End Game: I just wanna be drinking on a beach with you all over me

End Game: The truth is, it's easier to ignore it, believe me

I Did Something Bad: You gotta leave before you get left

Don't Blame Me: Lord, save me, my drug is my baby, I'll be using for the rest of my life

Don't Blame Me: I'm insane, but I'm your baby, your baby

Don't Blame Me: And baby, for you, I would fall from grace just to touch your face

Look What You Made Me Do: I don't like your kingdom keys, they once belonged to me

Look What You Made Me Do: Maybe I got mine but you'll all get yours

Look What You Made Me Do: I'll be the actress starring in your bad dreams

So It Goes...: 'Cause baby, I know what you know, we can feel it

So It Goes...: But honestly, baby, who's counting?

Gorgeous: You should think about the consequence of your magnetic field being a little too strong

Gorgeous: You've ruined my life by not being mine

Getaway Car: There were sirens in the beat of your heart

Getaway Car: Should've known I'd be the first to leave

King Of My Heart: I made up my mind, I'm better off being alone

King Of My Heart: Now you try on calling me "baby" like trying on clothes

King Of My Heart: And you move to me like a Motown beat

King Of My Heart: Drinking beer out of fancy cups

King Of My Heart: Baby, all at once, this is enough

Dancing With Our Hands Tied: So, baby, can we dance, oh, through an avalanche?

This Is Why We Can't Have Nice Things: Bass beat rattling the chandelier, feeling so Gatsby for that whole year

This Is Why We Can't Have Nice Things: Because you break them, I had to take them away

This Is Why We Can't Have Nice Things: It was so nice being friends again

This Is Why We Can't Have Nice Things: And here's to my baby, he ain't reading what they call me lately

Call It What You Want: My baby's fit like a daydream

Call It What You Want: My baby's fly like a jet stream

Call It What You Want: Not because he owns me but 'cause he really knows me

New Year's Day: You and me from the night before

New Year's Day: But I'll be cleaning up bottles with you on New Year's Day

New Year's Day: I can tell that it's gonna be a long road

New Year's Day: I'll be there if you're the toast of the town, babe

New Year's Day: Please don't ever become a stranger whose laugh I could recognize anywhere

'Lover'

Cruel Summer: I'm always waiting for you to be waiting below

Cruel Summer: And if I bleed, you'll be the last to know

Cruel Summer: And I cried like a baby coming home from the bar

Lover: Can we always be this close?

Lover: I take this magnetic force of a man to be my lover

Lover: Swear to be overdramatic and true to my lover

The Man: I would be complex, I would be cool, they'd say I played the field before I found someone to commit to, and that would be okay for me to do

The Man: I'd be a fearless leader, I'd be an alpha type, when everyone believes you, what's that like?

The Man: 'Cause if I was a man, then I'd be the man

The Man: Could all be separated from my good ideas and power moves

The Man: I'd be just like Leo in St. Tropez

The Man: If I was out flashing my dollars I'd be a bitch, not a baller

The Man: They paint me out to be bad, so it's okay that I'm mad

I Think He Knows: He got my heartbeat skipping down 16th Avenue

Miss Americana And The Heartbreak Prince: American glory faded before me

Miss Americana And The Heartbreak Prince: I see the high fives between the bad guys

Miss Americana And The Heartbreak Prince: American stories burning before me

Miss Americana And The Heartbreak Prince: Boys will be boys, then where are the wise men?

Paper Rings: Now I've read all of the books beside your bed

Paper Rings: Kiss me twice 'cause it's gonna be all right

Paper Rings: Without all the exes, fights, and flaws, we wouldn't be standing here, so tall

Paper Rings: Kiss you twice 'cause it's gonna be all right

Paper Rings: Wrap your arms around me, baby boy

Cornelia Street: And baby, I get mystified by how this city screams your name

Cornelia Street: And baby, I'm so terrified of if you ever walk away

Cornelia Street: I packed my bags, left Cornelia Street before you even knew I was gone

Cornelia Street: I turned around before I hit the tunnel

Cornelia Street: Sacred new beginnings that became my religion, listen

Death By A Thousand Cuts: 'Cause the morning comes and you're not my baby

Death By A Thousand Cuts: I ask the traffic lights if it'll be all right, they say, "I don't know"

Death By A Thousand Cuts: But I'll be all right, it's just a thousand cuts

Death By A Thousand Cuts: I get drunk but it's not enough, 'cause you're not my baby

London Boy: You can find me in the pub, we are watching rugby with his school friends

London Boy: Doesn't have to be Louis V up on Bond Street, just wanna be with you

London Boy: Just wanna be with you, wanna be with you, wanna be with you

Soon You'll Get Better: It's been years of hoping and I keep saying it because, 'cause I have to

You Need To Calm Down: You need to calm down, you're being too loud

You Need To Calm Down: Why are you mad when you could be GLAAD?

You Need To Calm Down: But you would rather be in the dark ages

Afterglow: I pinned your hands behind your back, oh

Afterglow: This ultraviolet morning light below tells me this love is worth the fight, oh

Afterglow: Tell me that we'll be just fine even when I lose my mind

ME!: I know that I'm a handful, baby, uh, I know I never think before I jump

ME!: Baby doll, when it comes to a lover, I promise that you'll never find another like me

ME!: I'm the only one of me, baby, that's the fun of me

ME!: You're the only one of you, baby, that's the fun of you

ME!: But I will never bore you, baby

Daylight: And so I became the butt of the joke

Daylight: Maybe you ran with the wolves and refused to settle down

Daylight: Maybe I've stormed out of every single room in this town

Daylight: Threw out our cloaks and our daggers because it's morning now, it's brighter now

Daylight: I once believed love would be black and white

Daylight: I once believed love would be burning red

Daylight: Things will never be the same

Daylight: I want to be defined by the things that I love, not the things I hate

'folklore'

The 1: We never painted by the numbers, baby, but we were making it count

The 1: If one thing had been different, would everything be different today?

Cardigan: Hand under my sweatshirt, baby, kiss it better

Cardigan: Your heartbeat on the High Line once in twenty lifetimes

Cardigan: And you'd be standing in my front porch light

The Last Great American Dynasty: Fifty years is a long time Holiday House sat quietly on that beach

Exile: I think I've seen this film before and I didn't like the ending

Exile: I think I've seen this film before

Exile: I think I've seen this film before so I'm leaving out the side door

My Tears Ricochet: And if I'm on fire, you'll be made of ashes, too

My Tears Ricochet: And so the battleships will sink beneath the waves

Mirrorball: I'm still a believer but I don't know why

Mirrorball: Because I'm a mirrorball, I'm a mirrorball

Seven: Your dad is always mad and that must be why

Seven: And we can be pirates, then you won't have to cry

Seven: And just like a folk song, our love will be passed on

Seven: Before I learned civility, I used to scream ferociously anytime I wanted

August: Whispers of "Are you sure?" Never have I ever before

August: Your back beneath the sun, wishing I could write my name on it

August: Canceled plans just in case you'd call and say, "Meet me behind the mall"

August: Back when I was living for the hope of it all, for the hope of it all, meet me behind the mall

This Is Me Trying: And maybe I don't quite know what to say but I'm here in your doorway

This Is Me Trying: I was so ahead of the curve, the curve became a sphere, fell behind all my classmates and I ended up here

This Is Me Trying: And it's hard to be at a party when I feel like an open wound

This Is Me Trying: It's hard to be anywhere these days when all I want is you

Illicit Affairs: You'll be flushed when you return

Illicit Affairs: So you leave no trace behind like you don't even exist

Illicit Affairs: Don't call me "kid," don't call me "baby"

Invisible String: Now I send their babies presents

Invisible String: And it's cool, baby, with me

Mad Woman: She should be mad, should be scathing like me, but no one likes a mad woman

Epiphany: Crawling up the beaches now, "Sir, I think he's bleeding out"

Betty: You can't believe a word she says most times, but this time it was true

Betty: I was nowhere to be found, I hate the crowds, you know that

Betty: If you kiss me, will it be just like I dreamed it?

Peace: Would it be enough if I could never give you peace?

Hoax: Your faithless love's the only hoax I believe in

Hoax: My broken drum, you have beaten my heart

The Lakes: I don't belong, and, my beloved, neither do you

The Lakes: What should be over burrowed under my skin in heart-stopping waves of hurt

'evermore'

Willow: Baby, every bait-and-switch was a work of art

Champagne Problems: Because I dropped your hand while dancing

Champagne Problems: Love slipped beyond your reaches

Gold Rush: Everybody wonders what it would be like to love you

Gold Rush: What must it be like to grow up that beautiful?

Gold Rush: It fades into the gray of my day-old tea 'cause it could never be

'Tis The Damn Season: I parked my car right between the Methodist and the school that used to be ours

'Tis The Damn Season: And I'll be yours for the weekend, 'tis the damn season

Tolerate It: I know my love should be celebrated, but you tolerate it

Tolerate It: Gain the weight of you, then lose it, believe me, I could do it

Happiness: And in the disbelief, I can't face reinvention

Happiness: There'll be happiness after you, but there was happiness because of you

Happiness: Both of these things can be true, there is happiness

Happiness: Beyond the terror in the nightfall

Happiness: Leave it all behind, and there is happiness

Happiness: Tell me, when did your winning smile begin to look like a smirk?

Happiness: I hope she'll be a beautiful fool who takes my spot next to you

Happiness: There'll be happiness after me, but there was happiness because of me

Happiness: Both of these things I believe, there is happiness

Happiness: There'll be happiness after you, but there was happiness because of you, too

Happiness: Oh, leave it all behind, leave it all behind, and there is happiness

Dorothea: And if you're ever tired of being known for who you know, you know you'll always know me

Dorothea: And damn, Dorothea, they all wanna be you

Coney Island: And I'm sitting on a bench in Coney Island wondering, where did my baby go?

Coney Island: 'Cause we were like the mall before the Internet, it was the one place to be

Coney Island: The sight that flashed before me was your face

Coney Island: I'm on a bench in Coney Island wondering, where did my baby go?

Ivy: I wish to know the fatal flaw that made you long to be magnificently cursed

Ivy: Or dare to sit and watch what we'll become and drink my husband's wine

Cowboy Like Me: Oh, I thought this is gonna be one of those things

Cowboy Like Me: Like it could be love, I could be the way forward only if they pay for it

Cowboy Like Me: It could be love, we could be the way forward and I know I'll pay for it

Cowboy Like Me: And the old men that I swindled really did believe I was the one

Cowboy Like Me: Oh, but that was all before I locked it down

Cowboy Like Me: With your boots beneath my bed, forever is the sweetest con

Long Story Short: Your nemeses will defeat themselves before you get the chance to swing

Marjorie: Never be so kind you forget to be clever, never be so clever you forget to be kind

Marjorie: Never be so polite you forget your power, never wield such power you forget to be polite

Marjorie: I should have asked you questions, I should have asked you how to be

Marjorie: 'Cause every scrap of you would be taken from me

Closure: Don't treat me like some situation that needs to be handled

Closure: I'm fine with my spite and my tears and my beers and my candles

Closure: Guilty, guilty, reaching out across the sea that you put between you and me

Evermore: And I couldn't be sure, I had a feeling so peculiar that this pain would be for evermore

Evermore: Sending signals to be double-crossed

Evermore: Can't not think of all the cost and the things that will be lost

Evermore: Oh, can we just get a pause to be certain we'll be til again

Evermore: Whether weather be the frost or the violence of the dog days

Evermore: I'm on waves out being tossed, is there a line that I could just go cross?

Evermore: And I couldn't be sure, I had a feeling so peculiar, this pain wouldn't be for evermore

Evermore: This pain wouldn't be for evermore, evermore

Right Where You Left Me: She's still twenty-three, inside her fantasy, how it was supposed to be

It's Time To Go: He's got my past frozen behind glass, but I've got me

Other Songs written by Taylor

Beautiful Eyes: I want to be somewhere where you are, I want to be where

Beautiful Eyes: You're here, your eyes are looking into mine, so, baby, make me fly

Beautiful Eyes: My heart has never felt this way before

Beautiful Eyes: 'Cause you're my lullaby, so, baby, come hold me tight

Beautiful Eyes: I want to be everything you need, I want to be where

Beautiful Eyes: Just as long as you're mine, I'll be your everything tonight

Beautiful Eyes: Let me love you, let me kiss you, oh, baby, let me miss you

Beautiful Ghosts: All that I wanted was to be wanted

Beautiful Ghosts: A flicker of light before the dawning

Beautiful Ghosts: Scared to call them my friends and be broken again

Beautiful Ghosts: And so maybe my home isn't what I had known, what I thought it would be

Best Days Of Your Life: I'll be there in the back of your mind

Best Days Of Your Life: And how you told me I'd be the only one

Both Of Us: Someday I will be strong enough to lift not one but both of us

Christmas Must Be Something More: Christmas must be something more

Christmas Must Be Something More: There's gotta be more, there's gotta be more

Carolina: It's between me, the sand, and the sea, Carolina knows

Christmas Tree Farm: And I just wanna be there tonight

Christmas Tree Farm: And everything is icy and blue, and you would be there, too

Christmas Tree Farm: Just being in your arms takes me back to that little farm

Christmas Tree Farm: Where every wish comes true, baby, yeah

Christmas Tree Farm: Oh, baby, baby, merry Christmas

Christmases When You Were Mine: I know this shouldn't be a lonely time

Christmases When You Were Mine: And everybody's here except you, baby

Christmases When You Were Mine: That'll have to be something I just say this year

Crazier: There's so much more, I'd never seen it before

Crazier: You opened my eyes and you made me believe

Crazier: Baby, you showed me what living is for

Eyes Open: Keep your feet ready, heartbeat steady

I Don't Wanna Live Forever: Been sitting eyes wide open behind these four walls, hoping you'll call

I Don't Wanna Live Forever: Baby, baby, I feel crazy

I Don't Wanna Live Forever: I don't wanna live forever 'cause I know I'll be living in vain

I Heart ?: Before you ask me if I'm all right, think about what I had to do

I Heart ?: And I'll be you thought you beat me

I Heart ?: I'll be fine if you just walk by

I Heart ?: But I can't believe you made me sit at home, cry like a baby

I Heart ?: You took everything I had, oh, baby

I Heart ?: And you'll know you didn't beat me when you look down and see

Only The Young: You go to class scared, wondering where the best hiding spot would be

Only The Young: They think that it's over, but it's just begun

Renegade: You wouldn't be the first renegade to needs somebody

Safe And Sound: You'll be all right, no one can hurt you now

Safe And Sound: Come morning light, you and I'll be safe and sound

Safe And Sound: Just close your eyes, you'll be all right

Sweeter Than Fiction: I'll be one of the many saying, "Look at you now, look at you now, now"

Sweeter Than Fiction: I'll be one of the many saying, "You made us proud, you made us proud, proud"

Sweeter Than Fiction: You know that I'll be there time and again 'cause I loved you when

This Is What You Came For: Baby, this is what you came for

This Is What You Came For: Who knows why it's gotta be this way

Two Is Better Than One: You came into my life and I thought, hey, you know this could be something

Two Is Better Than One: So maybe it's true that I can't live without you, and maybe two is better than one

Two Is Better Than One: I'm finally now believing

Two Is Better Than One: 'Cause, baby, two is better than one

You'll Always Find Your Way Back Home: And this girl is thinking that maybe this life is what some people dream about

[randomvarious]

Today’s compilation:

Pure Disco 1996 Disco / Funk / Dance-Pop

I think Leo Stanley over at AllMusic flat out LIED when he claimed to have listened to this album. He said it was chock full of both remixes and 12-inch mixes of disco classics, but I listened to it and that's just not the case at all. There's only one remix on here: a pretty good mid-90s big club banger of Donna Summer's "I Feel Love" by the production duo of Rollo and Sister Bliss from Faithless. The rest of it is just radio and 7-inch single edits of some of disco's biggest hits from the mid-70s through early 80s.

In essence, Pure Disco is a cheat code comp. I mean, you simply can't go wrong with a giant slab of great hits. It lacks originality, sure, but you really can't say that it's bad, because everything on it is good.

But it's actually a tad more than meets the eye, because while it's loaded with disco hits that killed it on the US charts, I think whoever compiled it is actually British. There's a small handful of tunes on here, like "Flashback" by Imagination, which sports a high-pitched lead male falsetto that smacks of Jimmy Somerville of Bronski Beat and The Communards, and "Cuba" by Gibson Brothers, that were much more successful across the pond than they were in the States.

Oh, and apparently, according to the fantastically ridiculous ad at the top of the post, one of this album's selling points was that it was the only place that you could find "The Grease Megamix" at that time, which is an added bonus track that's a medley of songs from Grease and is neither good nor disco???😂🤷‍♂️ 

Anyways, this mostly serves as baby's first disco album, but with a slight British bent. Worth checking out if you've managed to live under a rock your whole life, but also, if you're not from the UK, there may be a small handful of tunes you've never heard before either. I know I hadn't!

Highlights:

Village People - "Y.M.C.A." Kool & the Gang - "Celebration" ABBA - "Dancing Queen" Donna Summer - "Hot Stuff" Gloria Gaynor - "I Will Survive" Barry White - "You're the First, the Last, My Everything" Teena Marie - "I Need Your Lovin'" Amii Stewart - "Knock on Wood" Alicia Bridges - "I Love the Nightlife" Imagination - "Flashback" KC and the Sunshine Band - "That's the Way (I Like It)" The Ritchie Family - "Best Disco in Town" Yvonne Elliman - "If I Can't Have You" The Gap Band - "Oops Upside Your Head (I Don't Believe You Want to Get Up and Dance)" Diana Ross - "Love Hangover" Gibson Brothers - "Cuba" Lipps, Inc. - "Funkytown" Marvin Gaye - "Got to Give It Up, Part 1" Thelma Houston - "Don't Leave Me This Way" Donna Summer - "I Feel Love (Rollo & Sister Bliss Monster mix radio edit)"

[saline-plays-sims]

Fishing is kind of nice.  Everyone knows where the best spot on the riverbank is, and everybody always needs more food these days, so Goldie can come spend time around people without having to really talk to them.  It sucks eating nothing but fish, though, so she's glad when the Lands give them some of their young chickens, even though really it probably just means she'll be sick of eggs soon, too, and now their yard is going to smell like chicken poop all the time.

"Thanks for helping us build the new fence."

"Scot's parents would have done a better job, but at least this will keep the chickens in."

"None of us really know any of the Lands.  It was cool of them to give us their extra chickens, but I don't think we could ask them to build us a fence even if Mrs. Land was okay.”

"Are you sure none of you really know any of the Lands?"

"Well, I guess my dad must know Mr. and Mrs. Land a little from the meetings at the Beech place.  Maybe you could introduce me to Scot and Dixie?  It'd be nice to have more friends."

"Uh -- yeah."

"I see you found our dartboard."

"Uh, yeah...  Goldie and I play sometimes."

"You're welcome to come over and use it anytime.  I'm happy to have a friend of Goldie's here."

"Um, thanks."

"Did you want to play?  I can leave."

"Nah, I'm not as good at it as my dad."

"It's still fun."

"Yeah, I'll pass.  So you're Goldie's boyfriend and Penny's little brother.  I feel like we should know each other better."

"I guess."

"You’re a friendly kid, huh.”

"I know about Mary's baby."

"...Oh.  For what it's worth, I know my dad's the one in the wrong."

"But you haven't done anything about it."

"What am I supposed to do?"

"...I can't figure that out, either."

"Mary!  Good to see you.  I hope your parents are doing well."

"That wasn't what I came to talk about."

"What else is there to talk about?  I think we've already settled everything there is to settle."

"But the other day --"

"I meant what I said -- I regret that we ended badly, and if you want to have any more fun, so do I."

"And that's still it?  Just 'fun'?"

"That's right.  You know exactly what is and what isn’t on offer here.  -- This isn't the time or place for a conversation."

"Hey, Mary!"

"Hi, Penny, Mr. Skye -- I mean Skye.  ...I was just out for a walk.  I'd better head home and make dinner."

[zucchinibeanini]

my favorite lines from Taylor Swift (the album)

“he said the way my blue eyes shined put those georgia stars to shame that night, i said that’s a lie” -tim mcgraw

“if you’re missing me, you’d better keep it to yourself, cause coming back around here would be bad for your health” -picture to burn

“he’s the reason for the teardrops on my guitar, the only thing that keeps me wishing on a wishing star. he’s the song in the car i keep singing, don’t know why i do” -teardrops on my guitar

“i’m alone, on my own, and that’s all i know. i’ll be strong, i’ll be wrong, but life goes on” -a place in this world

“you put up walls and paint them all a shade of grey, and i stood there loving you and wished them all away. and you come away with a great little story, of a mess of a dreamer with the nerve to adore you” -cold as you

“you could’ve helped if you had wanted to, but no one notices until it’s too late to do anything” -the outside

“i guess it’s true that love was all you wanted, cause you’re giving it away like it’s extra change. hoping it will end up in his pocket, but he leaves you out like a penny in the rain” -tied together with a smile

“you’re beautiful, every little piece, love. don’t you know you’re really gonna be someone? ask anyone. and when you find everything you looked for, i hope life leads you back to my door” -stay beautiful

“i can’t resist, before you go tell me this: was it worth it? was she worth this?” -should’ve said no

“a few years had gone and come around, we were sitting at our favorite spot in town when you looked at me, got down on one knee… take me back to the time we walked down the aisle, our whole town came and our mamas cried. you said i do, and i did too. take me back where we met so many years before, we’ll rock our babies on that very front porch, after all this time, you and i… i’ll be eighty-seven, you’ll be eighty-nine, i’ll still look at you like the stars that shine in the sky, oh my, my, my” -mary’s song

“our song is the way he laughs, the first date “man, i didn’t kiss him and i should have’” -our song

“i don’t try to hide my tears, the secrets or my biggest fears. through it all, nobody gets me like you do” -i’m only me when i’m with you

“there’s a fire inside of you that can’t help but shine through, but she’s never gonna see the light no matter what you do” -invisible

“maybe i should’ve seen the signs, should’ve read the writing on the wall, and realized by the distance in your eyes that i would be the one to fall” -a perfectly good heart

[alexsfictionaddiction]

Alex Recommends: December Books

We made it to the end of 2022! I hope you’re all having a wonderful, relaxing break before we dive head first into the new year and everything that promises to bring. 

My Christmas has been a bit busier and more stressful than usual due to some slight changes within the family. The lead-up to Christmas is definitely my favourite time of year and I had some really lovely times with Mark and my friends and family. December is my birthday month but that’s definitely not why it’s my favourite. I’ve just always thought that it’s an amazing time to stop and reflect on the 11 months that come before it as well as being the ultimate time to be cosy and spend time with your favourite people. And I think that people are generally kinder in December, which is always a huge plus!

I have a busy month of assignments ahead of me now. I have started all three of the assignments that are due in January but they are definitely a point of stress that I’m sure will only grow until I finish them. I have to remember that I’ve chosen to go back to university to pursue something that I am very interested in, so all of this time and effort will be worth it in the end. Sometimes my anxiety gets the better of me and tries to convince me that it’s all pointless because I won’t be able to get a job at the end of it anyway and that’s when I have to tell it to shut the hell up. I’ve got so good at that!

Of course, I have been reading plenty recently. There is another great mix this month, including a special mention of a book that I really think everyone should read (Lessons In Chemistry by Bonnie Garmus -eeep it’s SO good!). I’m really excited to get started on my 2023 TBR. I was lucky enough to get some amazing books over the festive period from my loved ones and I’m going to do my best to read as many of them as possible before next December (she says, laughing but secretly really hoping she does!). Happy new year to you all!

-Love, Alex x

DESERVES THE HYPE: Lessons In Chemistry by Bonnie Garmus.

Elizabeth Zott is a chemist and she wants nothing more than to be known as a brilliant name within her field. But the all-male team at Hastings Research Institute have a dim view of a woman trying to make it within science in the 1960s. They think Elizabeth (and all women) should stay at home, making dinner and babies. It’s only the Nobel prize nominated Calvin Evans that sees Elizabeth as the brilliant mind that she is. Through circumstances beyond Elizabeth’s control, just a few years later, she finds herself a single mother and the presenter of TV cooking show Supper At Six. Her scientific approach to cooking ignites the minds of women across America and a revolution occurs that sparks hope in some and ire in others. I need to start by saying how incredible and completely unforgettable Elizabeth Zott is. It goes without saying that I love books with fearless, passionate women but Elizabeth really was something special. I audibly cheered several times during my reading! Lessons In Chemistry is a very unique, special story about a woman refusing to do what men want her to do. It offers an authentic insight into 1960s attitudes towards unwed mothers, women in science and expectations of what women should be doing with their lives. Considering this is a debut, I am so excited to see what Garmus writes next, if she can write characters as complex and likeable as Elizabeth Zott.

FICTION: The Vanishing of Margaret Small by Neil Alexander.

Soon after the death of her idol Cilla Black, 75-year-old Margaret Small starts receiving small amounts of money through the post accompanied by notes signed simply ‘C’. Is it Cilla trying to get in touch with her? To unravel the mystery, Margaret needs to go back to the days that she spent at St Mary’s, an institution for people with learning disabilities, where she made and lost friends and love. Once again, it’s a book with a very memorable, fascinating heroine and a harrowing insight into 1950s/1960s views on unwed mothers and disabled people. There are some loose ends not quite tied up at the end and I really enjoy this ‘open to interpretation’ approach but I understand that can be frustrating for some readers. It’s a very heartbreaking story with a very heartwarming ending and I couldn’t put it down.

NON-FICTION: Ace Voices: What it Means to be Asexual, Aromantic, Demi or Grey-Ace by Eris Young.

Featuring a wide range of a-spec voices, Eris Young talks about sex, intimacy, dating, friendship, family, mental health and more in this all-encompassing manual for a rather marginalised branch of the LGBTQ+ community. It was wonderfully enlightening to hear about such a diverse scope of experiences within the same spectrum. The fact that individuals have different definitions for their orientations and that preferences can differ wildly even within the same ‘label’ was truly fascinating. I was particularly interested in the split attraction model (SAM) because I strongly believe that sexual and romantic attractions (and therefore orientations) are different. This is an important book for anyone who is a-spec but it’s also a very educational read for anyone who isn’t.

MIDDLE-GRADE: Wren by Lucy Hope.

On Anglesey, Wren lives with her father, brother and aunt in a strange, ancient house. Her father would rather Wren start behaving like a proper lady but Wren is much more interested in going outside and having adventures just like her mother used to. While testing out one of her inventions, Wren realises that there is a deeply embedded mystery within her family home and it could destroy everything. This strange, dark tale is full of Welsh folklore and beautiful imagery of Anglesey, which I adored. Wren is a feisty, determined, young heroine whose cause is very easy to root for. It’s a book that is full of hope while fighting against tradition, exploring the dangers of honouring history over doing the right thing. This is a very relevant message to today’s society and I loved the fact that it was conveyed in a dark, children’s fantasy story.

HISTORICAL FICTION: Hester by Laurie Lico Albanese.

Isobel’s husband Edward is an opium-addled apothecary whose debts have forced them to flee Edinburgh to Salem, Massachusetts. Almost immediately after arriving, Edward is called onto another voyage leaving Isobel destitute in a new country. She is a talented seamstress and secures work embroidering gloves for a local boutique owner but the pay is awful. Then she meets Nat Hathorne, a struggling writer from a family of former witch burners. With her husband’s fate unknown, Isobel and Nat are drawn together. I haven’t read The Scarlet Letter but Hester is a retelling of how that book came about. Isobel is supposedly the muse for the novel’s heroine and of course, Nat is Nathaniel Hawthorne. I found it to be a thoroughly immersive story about running from injustice and becoming your own woman. There are themes of slavery and witchcraft as well as the wider issues that come with both of those things -racism and misogyny. It features some lovely, brave characters and it ends on such a resounding note of hope. So, apparently you don’t need any previous Scarlet Letter knowledge to enjoy it!