#Nikita is concerned

[sushiburritonoms]

New Fic: Don't Let Me Down (ETN)

Self promotion gives me hives, especially these days, but I need the world to know two very specific things about the fic I'm currently writing.

Firstly, chapter 3 was, hand on heart, the most fun I've had writing in forever. It probably isn't that good because I couldn't bear to remove things that I know make very little sense. This fic should have been split into two stories, but at the time I wrote it I thought I'd never publish it and now it's an overgrown monster and I don't have time to rewrite stuff, ok? But it was really, really satisfying and it's the reason I'm back on my shit, writing fics again.

Secondly, I watched so much GTLive to figure out how to write Matt that I accidentally influenced another person in my household to get an AirUp bottle. As in, Matpat Game Theory's used car salesman pitch was so overplayed, so constant and so annoying that it convinced another human being not obsessed with him to buy his Youtuber ad. I'm not proud, but I am impressed.

Yeah, so here's the thing, summary of fic is below:

Fandom: Escape the Night

Don't Let Me Down (explicit for sexual violence, attempted non con, Matt/Manny, Matt/Joey, Matt/Manny/Joey and Matt/Lucy (non con))

AU of Season 3, episode 9. What if Matt was the one put into the Collar of Control instead of Nikita? What if Lucy turned all her sexual frustration on her male captive instead of Mortimer? How would Manny and Joey, who are attracted to the poor Detective, react?

And finally, what if there was a way for all four of the final survivors to survive?

Ships: Yes its OT3, Matt/Manny/Joey. Matt/Lucy is attempted non con

Status: In progress. The fic is complete, and I'm posting a chapter a week as I finish editing (as of 11/13, chapter 3 of 4 is up, should get the final chapter up by Thanksgiving)

Sequel: God help me, yes. Very likely. Help.

[queenofapeacefuldawn]

[Rudy and Mini blushing and talking to each other]

Aiden, recording their entire conversation: Their wedding is going to be so embarrassing oh my gods,,

[drakesroyalromance]

I find this so adorable

[ratgrinders]

Never Stop Blowing Up Favorite Movies

Wendell Morris

Weird Science - 1985 science fantasy/teen comedy. "Nerdy social outcast students Gary Wallace and Wyatt Donnelly are humiliated by senior jocks Ian and Max for swooning over their cheerleader girlfriends. Humiliated and disappointed at their direction in life and wanting more, Gary is inspired by the 1931 classic Frankenstein to create a virtual woman using Wyatt's computer, infusing her with everything they can conceive to make the perfect dream woman."

The Fast and the Furious - "A media franchise centered on a series of action films that are largely concerned with street racing, heists, spies, and family."

Real Genius - 1985 science fiction/comedy. "Chris Knight, a genius in his senior year, is paired with a new student on campus, Mitch Taylor, to work on a chemical laser, only to learn it will be used for dangerous purposes."

Liv Skyler

Empire Records - 1995 coming-of-age comedy/drama. "The film follows a group of record store employees over the course of one exceptional day. The employees try to stop the store from being sold to a large chain, and learn about each other along the way."

Scarface - 1983 crime drama, and a remake of the 1932 film of the same name. "It tells the story of Cuban refugee Tony Montana, who arrives penniless in Miami during the Mariel boatlift and becomes a powerful drug lord." Additionally, "Less than two months before the film's release, Scarface was given an X rating by the MPAA for "excessive and cumulative violence and for language".

Clueless - 1995 coming-of-age teen comedy. "Considered to be one of the best teen films of all time...The plot centers on a beautiful, popular, and rich high school student who befriends a new student and decides to give her a makeover while playing matchmaker for her teachers and examining her own existence".

Usha Rao

The Horse in Motion - Published in 1878, a sequential series of 6 cabinet cards depicting the movement of a horse. Regarded as "the world's first bit of cinema", and the first film ever created.

Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde - 1931 horror film. "An adaptation of The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, the 1886 Robert Louis Stevenson tale of a man who takes a potion which turns him from a mild-mannered man of science into a homicidal maniac."

102 Not Out - 2018 Indian Hindi-language comedy drama. "Dattatraya Vakharia is a lively 102-year-old who lives his life to the maximum and takes everything in a jovial way for his heart is that of a 26-year-old youngster regardless of his age. His 75-year-old son, Babulal Vakharia, is his exact opposite for he believes that he is now too old and fragile to enjoy life and lives a routine life."

Russell Feeld

American Gigolo - 1980 neo-noir crime drama. "A high-priced male escort who becomes romantically involved with a prominent politician's wife, while simultaneously becoming the prime suspect in a murder case."

La Femme Nikita - 1990 French-language action thriller. "[Nikita] is a criminal who is convicted and sentenced to life imprisonment for murdering policemen during an armed pharmacy robbery. Her government handlers fake her death and recruit her as a professional assassin. After intense training, she starts a career as a killer, where she struggles to balance her work with her personal life."

Waking Life - 2001 animated film. "The film explores a wide range of philosophical issues, including the nature of reality, dreams and lucid dreams, consciousness, the meaning of life, free will, and existentialism. It is centered on a young man who wanders through a succession of dreamlike realities wherein he encounters a series of people who engage in insightful philosophical discussions."

Andy 'Dang' Litefoot

Suburbia - 1983 coming-of-age drama thriller. Follows "a group of suburban youths who run away from home and adopt a punk lifestyle by squatting in abandoned suburban tract homes."

Goldfinger - 1964 spy film and the third installment in the James Bond series. "The film's plot has Bond investigating gold smuggling by gold magnate Auric Goldfinger and eventually uncovering Goldfinger's plans to contaminate the United States Bullion Depository at Fort Knox."

Fire in the Sky - 1993 biographical science fiction mystery. "It is based on Travis Walton's book The Walton Experience, which describes an extraterrestrial abduction"

Paula Donvalson

Muriel's Wedding - 1994 Australian comedy-drama. "The film focuses on the socially awkward Muriel whose ambition is to have a glamorous wedding and improve her personal life by moving from her dead-end hometown, the fictional Porpoise Spit, to Sydney."

The Long Kiss Goodnight - 1996 action thriller. "The story follows an amnesiac schoolteacher who sets out to recover her identity with the help of a private detective when they discover a dark conspiracy."

Under the Tuscan Sun - 2003 romantic comedy-drama. "Based on Frances Mayes' 1996 memoir of the same name, the film is about a recently divorced writer who buys a villa in Tuscany on a whim, hoping it will lead to a change in her life."

[multifandomgirl08]

A Year in Moments [Mini Verstappen Series]

Dad!Max Verstappen x Mother!Reader (Established Relationship)

Photo Credit: Pinterest/Tumblr

Format: Social Media

Summary: 2026 in little moments

Previous Part → Next Part Mini Verstappen Masterlist

danielricciardo

Liked by ynverstappen and 386,457 others

tagged: maxverstappen1 & ynverstappen

danielricciardo Apparently I crashed date night. Sorry for being the third wheel guys.

ynverstappen Third wheel? What are you talking about?

maxverstappen1 danielricciardo You were flirting with my wife just as much as I was. ynverstappen He was flirting with me only when he wasn't flirting with you. danielricciardo Have you seem Max?? Why wouldn’t I flirt with him? ynverstappen True, he's something that needs to be cherished. danielricciardo I love that we're fighting over Max. How you feel about that mate? maxverstappen1 Pretty good! Please do continue... or you know save it for when you are next at the house.

View all 574 comments

fan85 Wait, does this mean that Y/N knows about Maxiel? The Verstappens and Daniel?!

fan61 I thought we all made a gentlemen’s (fangirl’s) agreement not to bring up Maxiel on IG.

fan23 Does Daniel get invited out to dinner with Max and Y/N often?

fan38 There has to be more to this story!

February 10, 2026

ynverstappen

Liked by georgerussell63, lilymhe and 348,926 others

tagged: lilymhe, carmenmmundt,...

ynverstappen Things can get crazy when it's just us

sebastianvettel Please bring back my wife in one piece.

alex_albon Should I be concerned that my flat is going to be a mess when I get home?

View all 745 comments

fan18 When all the F1 WAGs have dinner together!

fan67 How do you get an invite to this dinner? Asking for a friend.

fan39 Become a WAG. How else?

fan49 Is no one going to talk about the fact that all of the WAGs are having dinner together just after Mother’s Day??

May 28, 2026

ynverstappen 📍Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps

Liked by danielricciardo and 234,845 others

ynverstappen Our weekend in Spa

View all 842 comments

fan95 Nico looks just like Max

fan76 Has anyone ever met Y/N at a race?

fan45 I met her last year at Silverstone. She was super nice, even offered to take my picture with Lando who was walking with her and Nico.

fan63 I feel like Nico is just the sweetest kid.

fan56 Can confirm. Aside from Y/N, Nico just wanted to spend the day with his dad and his little brother when I saw them earlier today.

fan44 Wondering why Y/N hasn't posted any pictures of Nikita given that he was at Spa?

fan60 I don't think it's strange for Y/N not to post any pictures of Nikita given that he's only 9 months old. Y/N wasn't even sitting in the garage like she normally does on race day. It's probably too loud for his little ears.

August 2, 2026

ynverstappen

Liked by yourbestfriend and 451,045 others

tagged: maxverstappen1

ynverstappen Best view in The Maldives

danielricciardo I taught this man how to thirst trap!

ynverstappen You did, I've never been more grateful!

View all 456 comments

fan23 I love that they've become the couple that just drops thirst traps of one another

fan74 Y/N is feeding us all of the good content

fan86 Is that baby Nikita with Max in the last photo?

August 27, 2026

ynverstappen

Liked by maxverstappen1, victoriaverstappen and 238,475 others

tagged: victoriaverstappen

ynverstappen Happy Birthday to my awesome sister-in-law. Between the lunch dates, retail therapy, and picking on the man that I love. I wouldn't be able to survive family vacations without you.

📸: sophiekumpen

lilymhe The perfect sister-in-law duo

ynverstappen You know it babe

fan67 Lily is in Y/N's comments! OMG

fan23 When Y/N's photos are giving off S and B vibes

October 21, 2026

maxverstappen1 and ynverstappen

Liked by martingarrix, and 734,724 others

maxverstappen1 I would die for her. I would kill for her. Either way, what bliss.

📸 : lilymhe

georgerussell63 The actual physical embodiment of these characters

danielricciardo You've never looked better mate

landonorris Did you dye your hair? Brave man

maxverstappen1 Not hair dye, it's like spray I think?

View all 392 comments

fan73 They already give off this energy 😍😍

fan59 Mom and Dad

fan84 She really is everything, and he worships her.

October 31, 2026

----

Mini Verstappen taglist: @karmabyfernando, @barcagirly, @sachaa-ff, @iamahallucinationnn, @musingsbyshreya, @glow-ish, @nonsensical-nonsence, @fanboyluvr, @champomiel, @gothicwidowsworld, @lighttsoutlewis, @itsalwaysgay, @minkyungseokie, @mynameisangeloflife, @ursforever129, @aundercover, @bborra, @mindless-rock, @cixrosie, @barcelonaloverf1life, @taylorslovesswifties13, @konsti081, @mellowarcadefun, @smnthnclj, @brekkers-whore, @lpab, @thedecalcomania-blog, @xoscar03

[starshine-hockey-girl]

Change of Plan - Never Ever Have I - 2024 Post Season Blurb

Just a blurb to ease the pain of the Pens not making the playoffs.

On Exit Interview day, Sidney and Evie find that sometimes plans change.

Warning- contains spoilers of Sidney and Evie's 2024 life; Sidney and Evie smut- semi-public sex, talks of breeding

The chapter that started it all-

Thursday - April 18th - Crosby house - Sewickley, PA 

Sidney laid on his belly in the living room and meticulously stacked blocks in a tower while his daughter watched. When he placed the last block on the top of the tower, he would grin and say, “Cat-Cat, do you like my tower? Isn’t it so tall?” 

She would clap her hand and nod her head, “Tall Daddy…. Tall”. Then she would proceed to knock the tower down much to Sidney’s feigned shock and sadness. Sidney would put his head down and pretend to cry while looking sideways at the brunette beauty who was the perfect combination of her parents. “Daddy build,” his daughter would instruct, “Daddy build.” 

He would grin at her before sighing dramatically, “Okay, but don’t knock it down again.” She would smile and clap as he rebuilt the tower. They were currently in round twelve of the game when the front door opened. Trina and Troy stepped into the house and Catherine abandoned Sidney in his place. She waddled over to her grandmother and held up her arms. Trina scooped her up and swung her around. 

Sidney stood up and looked at his parents in confusion. “I wasn’t expecting you two this morning,” he smiled. 

Trina began to speak before Evie cut her off.. “Beso, I asked them to come over to stay with Catherine,” she explained as she descended the stairs. Sidney turned to her with a look of confusion. Evie stopped at the bottom of the stairs, hugged her in-laws, and kissed Catherine on the cheek. “I have some errands to run before the party tomorrow night,” she said as she turned to Sidney, “I thought I would drop you off for your exit stuff and then pick you up afterwards so we could have some lunch together.” The Crosbys were hosting a combination party that night. They were celebrating the end of the season, and Jeff Carter’s just announced retirement. 

Sidney processed the information quickly. While he couldn’t produce a logical objection to her plan, something seemed amiss. Evie was far too dressed up for simple errands. For errands, she defaulted to yoga pants. Instead she wore a short red dress which she paired with sparkly flats. However, he dismissed the thought and they proceeded to get ready to leave. 

THREE HOURS LATER- UPMC Lemieux Sports Complex

“Geno!” Evie yelled at the tall Russian. 

He turned to her with a smile. “Evie- you sight for hurt eyes.”

“Sore eyes - sight for sore eyes,” Evie corrected. 

Geno rolled his eyes. Evie was the only person who had enough audacity to correct his English. He pretended to be annoyed but he appreciated her concern. “Sore eyes,” he repeated, “Nice to see my friend. It has been too long.”

“It was last week,” she laughed as she hugged him. “How is our boy?” she asked quietly. They shared a look. They both knew the results of the season had the capability to bring out the worst in Sidney.

“He’s good,” Geno spoke, the relief evident in his voice. “He's in the locker room,” he said as he kissed the top of her head. “Nikita is waiting for me. I will see you tomorrow night. He can't wait to see his Evie,” Geno joked as he walked away from her.

“Give him hugs from me!” She called to him before she turned to walk to the locker room.

Sidney sat alone at his locker. His personal effects were packed neatly in his duffle bag along with the additional bag of swag that that equipment team put together for Catherine. The Penguins staff had left the room to allow him time to gather his thoughts. “So another year of missing the playoffs,” he thought to himself. The thought ruminated in his brain as he tried to summon any sort of emotion. In the past, he would have imagined that there would be feelings of disappointment, even anger, but today he felt nothing.”Well, that’s not true,” he corrected himself. He felt a sort of resigned acceptance of the season's outcome. The acceptance was married with a feeling of anticipation and dare he say-happiness? 

He looked forward to spending the next few months with Catherine and Evie. His daughter was such a happy toddler and spending time with her filled him with a peace that he didn’t quite understand. His thoughts turned to Evie who also brought him peace. She also lit a fire in his soul and he looked forward to relishing every minute he could. He needed to reconnect with her in a way that was simply impossible to do during the season. 

He was so lost in thought that he barely heard Evie’s knock on the door. “Beso?” she said as she poked her head into the locker room, “Is there anyone else in here? I don’t want to intrude.” He shook his head no and she walked in gracefully. She looked around the room then turned to him with a smile on her face. 

“You look happy, Mon Etoile,” he remarked, “How did you errands go?” 

“Mission accomplished,” she said as she walked towards him, “Everything is set for tomorrow. Deliveries begin at 4 pm.” He nodded in understanding. Then he smiled and held out his hand to her, a silent invitation. She sat down next to him and rested her head on his shoulder. “You know Beso,” she drawled, “I don’t know how you do it.”

“Do what?” he asked. 

“Come into this room and not remember that night almost six years ago,” she laughed, “How do you not picture me bent over this bench when you come to work every day?”

“Ohhh,” he responded as he deftly wrapped his arm around her and lifted her onto his lap, “I do remember it. I remember it every day.” His voice trailed off and he blinked his eyes that suddenly filled with tears. 

“On a good day, it is a reminder of how much life can change with a single decision,” he spoke softly. “On a bad day, it is a reminder that I have someone waiting for me at home who loves me unconditionally. That all of this…..” He waved his hand around and continued, “All of this is nothing compared to the life that we made together.” He put his hand on her cheek, “So yes, I think about it every time I enter this room- even after all this time.”

 “You do know how to woo a lady,” she leaned forward and kissed him gently, “Speaking of wooing, come with me, Beso.” She hopped up and held out her hand. He looked at her hand and then her face before grabbing onto it.

“Evie, where are we going? Should I be scared?” he joked as they exited the locker room and walked along the hall toward the rink. Sidney noticed that the hall was suspiciously empty. Evie led them to the bench. On the bench, there were two plastic bottles - one yellow and one black with Penguins logos on each.

“Evie…..” he groaned, ”What are we doing?” The lights to the rink were off. Only light from the hallway illuminated the bench. 

“Take a seat in your office, Mr. Crosby,” she directed him to sit. 

“Technically this isn't my actual official since it's the practice rink,” he corrected her.

“Take a seat, Beso,” she repeated. Once he was on the bench, she handed him the black bottle while taking the yellow one in her hand. Then she hiked her dress slightly and straddled his body, wrapping her legs behind his back. Then she smiled brightly at him as his eyes adjusted to the low light. “Beso, I am challenging you, “ she started to speak before he interjected.

“To what?” He moaned as lifted his hips to press into her. 

“Wait, wait, wait…” She shook her head, “I have a whole plan.” His hands went under her skirt and grabbed her bare ass, pulling her into his crotch. “Beso, seriously - I have a plan,” she moaned as he grinned into her. 

“Well, now I have a plan,” he kissed her neck. “Did you arrange privacy, Mon Etoile? Was that part of your plan?” The friction between their bodies filled her with pleasure that it was difficult to think. 

“Yes,” she moaned, “The rink is ours.”

“Good,” he pushed her off his lap, spun her around and lifted her skirt in one smooth motion. “Oh no panties, Mon Etoile? Such a naughty woman, but i am changing the plan. Want to know the new plan, Evie?”

“I am pretty sure I can figure it out,“ she teased before she swatted his hand away. However she made no other movement. Instead she leaned forward and placed her elbows on the bench railing.

“Evie,” he groaned as he stood and unbuttoned his pants, “You will like my plan. I promise. Want to hear it?” He leaned over her back and pressed his erection against her slick folds. She nodded yes, afraid she might not be able to control the volume of her moans.

He slid into her effortlessly. “My new plan is to put another baby into you,” he moaned as his cock was enveloped into her warmth. Evie smiled. This was her favorite of Sidney’s kinks. He got so turned on imagining impregnating her like he was a prized stallion in need to continue his bloodline. He pulled her up to kiss her neck before he reached around to use his fingers to enhance her pleasure. “We have all summer, Evie,” he whispered into her ear, “All summer for me to fill you every morning and night with my seed. You’ll be pregnant by the time the season starts.” 

“Do it, Beso,” she moaned, “Fill me up right now.”

“Yes, I'm going to put a boy in you,” he hissed as his thrusting sped up, “My son.” The idea of his second child being conceived in an ice rink fueled his passion. It wasn’t long before they both collapsed from their mutual orgasms. He had a momentary panic when he noticed the drips slowly going down her thighs. His eyes darted around the bench as he pulled up his pants.

Evie shook her head, adjusted her dress then pulled a small hand towel from her purse. Sidney smiled, “Oh so you planned on me making a mess out of you today.” He took the towel from her hand, bent down and gently cleaned her thighs. He followed with kisses as he guided her back to the bench.

Evie leaned her head back and moaned softly, “Something like that. I knew that it was a distinctly possibility, which is why they shut down the rink for us,” she teased as she pulled out panties from here , “Knowing our past, it seemed like a safe bet.”

“What was your plan?” he as scooped her and placed her on his lap. He nodded his head toward the black and yellow bottles. “We're those involved” he asked with a twinkle in his eyes.

“Yes, before you so rudely interrupted me, I was going to challenge you to a game of “Never Ever Have I - married edition,” she joked.

“We can still play,” he kissed her cheek, “I just got caught up in the moment.” His hand instinctively went to her stomach. “Maybe the ice will bring us luck,” he grinned, “Just like with Catherine.”

“Not so sure about that, Beso,” she grinned.

“You don't think it worked? Why?”  he did some mental math, “Shouldn't you be ovulating now?” Evie opened her mouth to speak but nothing came out. “What? Am I wrong?”

“I should be surprised that you know when I ovulate, but I am not, “ she softly kissed his lips. “But to answer your question, no- I am not ovulating,” she sighed, “Definitely not. All that work was unproductive.”

“You don’t think we conceived just now?” He whispered. It started a joke- a way to engage in their favorite kinks but the idea took root in his mind. The more he thought about it, the stronger the desire became. “You don't think we conceived or you are not ready for another child?” he asked.

“No, Beso- I don't think we just conceived a baby,” she kissed his nose, “and I hope to God that we are ready.” His eyes searched her face in question. She sighed and reached for her purse. “Close your eyes,” she ordered. His face scrunched up as she put her hands behind her back. 

“I am sorry to disappoint you, Beso, but you didn't put a baby inside of me today,” she said with a soft smile. His face dropped and her hand went to his cheek. “See, you can't put a baby inside of me,” she kissed him gently, “because there is already one there.”

Confusion spread across this face. “What do you mean there is a baby inside you?” he asked in a small voice.

“I mean that I am pregnant,” she grinned, “Surprise!”

She watched as the realization sunk into his brain. “I can't put a baby into you because there is already a baby inside of you. There is a baby inside of you,” he spoke to himself. “There is a baby inside of you, which means you’re pregnant, which means that you are going to have a baby,” he uttered. Suddenly all of the dots connected and exclaimed,”WE ARE HAVING ANOTHER BABY!!! A BABY!!! EVIE….EVIE….A BABY!!!”

“Are you sure?” he asked. She pulled the sonogram picture from behind her back and handed it to him. He studied it silently. Evie wiped his tears. A million questions flooded his brain. He opened his mouth, and they flew out. She patiently listened.

“I took a test on last week when you were on the road. The OB confirmed it today, “ she explained, “He is due the second week of December.”

“He?” he grinned, “You think the baby is a boy, or do you know yet?”

“Too soon to tell,” she answered, “but this one feels different than Catherine. Maybe it's because we weren't planning on it. Are you sure you're happy? I know you like things planned, and having a baby during the season isn't ideal…..”

“Evie,” he pulled her into a hug and squeezed her tight. “You taught me that the best things are unplanned. You are the best thing to ever happen to me, and you were a complete surprise. I wasn't looking for you, but one game of Never Ever Have I later, here we are.”

He glanced at the bottles, “Sorry for ruining your plans, Evie.”

“It's okay,” she laughed, “it worked out.”

“Wait,” he announced, “I have one.”

“One what?” she asked.

“One Never Ever Have I,” he answered as he hand instinctively went to her belly.

“What is it?” she placed her hand on top of his.

“Never Ever Have I been so happy,” he beamed.

Evie reached for bottles of water and took a drink, “Me too, Beso, me too.”

[wordsbyrian]

The Owl and The Lioness - Alessia Russo x Reader

Summary: Rugby player!R meets Alessia Russo and things go from there.

A/N: This is the fic I made you guys vote on me writing like a week ago. Also does anyone else feel like I'm writing these pretty fast because I have 3 other fics just waiting to be posted and a 4th in progress.

As a rugby player, you can honestly say that you do not spend much time thinking about football.

In all honesty, you can’t say that you’ve spent more than ten minutes thinking about it in the last 10 years, but that’s all about to change today.

Today, you along with the rest of England’s women's national rugby team are at St. George’s Park because apparently, it would look good if the Red Roses were seen supporting the Lionesses and vice versa before your major tournaments.

You’ve never been more uncomfortable than you are right now standing in front of these footballers in your training kit.

The two sets of captains and coaches are currently trying to figure out the best way to go about this faux joint training. They don’t take very long and before you know it, you and your fellow wings Jess, Ellie, and Lydia are standing with their strikers.

“I’m Beth. That’s Bethany, Nikita, and Alessia,” the newly identified Beth says.

“I’m Lydia and that’s Jess, Ellie, and Owl,” Lydia says, smirking as she purposely tries to wind you up by using your nickname.

“It’s Y/N,” you say, barely loud enough to be heard.

“Speak up Owl,” your teammates say at nearly the same time with identical eye rolls.

Taking a deep breath you try again, voice coming out at a normal volume, “My name is Y/N.”

Out of the corner of your eye, you can see Alessia give you a small grin, which you return despite the sound of blood rushing in your ears.

It’s then that the drills start and you find yourself silently showing her the correct way to pass a rugby ball and the correct way to tackle, chuckling softly as she and her three teammates struggle to bring you down.

In turn, she shows you how to do keepy-ups and how to use your laces to add some power to your shots.

The very last activity of the day is a foot race and it involves most of their team taking on the backs from yours.

“You’re all about to learn why we call her the Owl,” you hear Jess shout from somewhere down the line.

There’s a bit of laughter from your team and even a couple of ‘yeah rights’ from the footballers, but you’re not paying attention to any of that. Your eyes are locked onto the pole at the opposite end of the field, your finish for the race.

All you need is for their coach to blow the whistle and the second she does you’re gone.

Out of the corner of your eye, you can see that at least two of the footballers are slightly ahead of you but you’re not worried about that. 

Your only concern is beating your teammates, which you do by a lot. 

Upon turning around you see that most of the runners are still a good 15 meters back.

It doesn’t take very long before your teammates are circling you and ruffling your hair though.

“Way to fly Owl,” your captain shouts, hooking her arm around your shoulders, “Really did us proud little rose.”

“Thought I should show that we’re not all big brutes like you, boss,” you respond quietly, a small grin on your face.

She doesn’t find it as funny as you do though taking the opportunity to put you in a headlock.

You struggle against her for a while, not making any progress towards escaping until the coaches call the two teams back in front of them.

Neither of the coaches says anything important, not in your opinion anyway, and they release the two sides to mingle and get ready to go.

Not one for talking with people, you go to gather your stuff and are slightly surprised when a shadow appears above you.

Looking up, you're surprised to see one of the football players standing above you. You recognize her having seen her talking to Alessia earlier.

“Hey Owl, I’m Ella,” she says, “My idiot friend Alessia over there thinks that you’re cute but is too nervous to ask you for your number, so I’m doing it for her.”

“What,” you say confused, “You’re asking me for my number for your friend?”

“Yup.”

Shaking your head, you pull a piece of paper and a pen out of your bag before writing down your number, accompanied by both your name and nickname.

Handing it over, you ask Ella to deliver a message for you, cheeks flush with embarrassment.

“Tell her that I think she’s cute too.”

Over the next few months, you and Alessia spend a considerable amount of time texting and getting to know each other.

When United make their way down to London for games, you take her on dates and show her all of your favorite spots, and the few times your team makes their way to the Manchester area, she does the same.

This of course garners some teasing from your teammates, who have taken to reminding you that most owl species mate for life every time they see you leaving a room to talk to her on the phone.

It’s during one of these phone calls, a facetime to be specific, that her phone gets hijacked by Ella and Mary.

“‘Lo there Owl,” Ella says, accent strong as ever, “I was wondering if you could solve an argument for me.”

“I mean, maybe?”

“Do they call you Owl because you’re fast like a bird or,” Ella’s cut off by Mary snatching the phone away.

“Or because you’re really quiet,” the keeper finishes.

“It’s both,” you answer, “Most owl species can average speeds of 20 mph but they can fly faster in certain situations. The crazy thing is that despite going so fast they make very little noise, virtually silent in fact.

The look on the two players' faces causes you to grin a little because you know exactly why they’re those faces: they’ve never heard you say so many words at once before.

They manage to say as much before Less takes her phone back telling them to  “say bye to Owl.”

You smile a little more as the two others rush off, already arguing about something else.

“What are you doing next month,” she asks when they finally leave the room.

After thinking about it for a moment you answer her, “Season ends this week so probably some recovery work and injury prevention to prepare for the world cup and next season.”

“Do you want to come to some of our matches during the Euros?”

“Do you want me to come to your matches at the Euros,” you ask back, watching as her cheeks flush before she nods, “Well if you want me there, I’ll come.”

A smile breaks out on her face and the two of you continue your conversation. 

Although you can’t seem to get a clear answer from her about what she’ll be doing for the rest of the week, which is weird.

You do your best to not focus on it and by the time your championship game comes around you’ve forgotten all about her squirrelly behavior.

Then when the final whistle blows, you’re too caught up in your exhaustion and excitement to even remember anything that happened before the game started.

When the whistle blows, you drop to the ground not having the energy to celebrate winning the game and becoming a champion.

You aren’t sure how long you lay there before your teammates come and dogpile on top of you screaming about your performance.

You then find yourself being hauled to your feet by your scrumhalf, Jane, who immediately pulls you into a hug that takes you off your feet.

The smiles don’t leave any of your faces as you shake your opponents' hands. They don't leave when you get the medals put around your necks or when you raise the trophy or when you approach the crowd that hasn’t stopped screaming since the first whistle.

It’s then that you notice a head of blonde hair and bright blue eyes that you would recognize anywhere.

Rushing to the crowd, you climb the barrier meant to keep fans off the pitch, ignoring the shouts of security, and sprint to the person you’ve been looking forward to seeing for weeks.

Pulling her into a hug, you speak directly into her ear, “You said that you wouldn’t be able to make it.”

“I lied, you played great today, baby. Three tries, congrats champ.”

Your cheeks heat slightly at her praise, so instead of responding, you press a kiss to the top of her head, content to just stand there holding her.

Eventually, she pushes you away, sending you back to celebrate with your team.

“We’ll be switching places at the end of next month,” you tell her before walking away.

And you’re right because, on the last day of July, you’re standing in a sold-out Wembley watching as your girlfriend (recent development) and her idiot friends jump around singing Sweet Caroline.

She eventually makes her way over to where you're sitting with her family in the crowd, climbing to the barrier to get a hug.

“I’m proud of you,” you say directly in her ear, not caring about the number of cameras on you. In your mind, if she cared she wouldn’t have leapt into your arms the way she did, so you continue with your praise of her performance, “You played amazing all tournament, Less.”

“Thank you.”

She pulls away and you can see the cogs turning in her mind, her eyes repeatedly flickering to your lips before she surges forward to kiss you.

You both end up smiling into it as the cheers of the crowd around you get louder at the sight.

Pulling back, you smile at her some more before sending her back to the field to continue celebrating with her team.

Pulling your phone out you send her a text that you know she won’t see until much later tonight.

It reads: I can see the headlines now, England’s Superb Lioness and Their Speedy Owl, An Unexpected Power Couple?

[georgeromerosanalcavity]

I get that she’s not a great person but I feel like this site isn’t taking Nikita Dragun’s imprisonment in a men’s facility with any sort of concern

[akuma-tenshi]

tell me ur theories abt 100 epitaphs

had to go back to get screenshots bc i felt like i was going insane. so:

at the very beginning, during the lyrics "lay your emotions with them like a mourning wreath", there's a shot of kt's face on a headstone. which makes me believe she may have been terminated at some time during this whole thing and there's going to be a twist where yura gets into the facility with whoever the hell decides to join him only to learn she's been dead this whole time and all this was for nothing

my friend pointed this out when the video first came out but there's a shot of yura during the first chorus where he's surrounded by several mostly-unnamed characters when they say "another apathetic epitaph". iirc he's between kolya and nikita, both of whom are dead, and their faces are shown in frames, likely symbolising those photos that are displayed during funerals. which could very possibly foreshadow yura dying, probably during the mission to save kt.

olga being shown with flowers sprouting out of her does not give me hope for her. this is especially worrying considering the fact that she's shown in occam's razor during the line "but some ventures require a sacrificial lamb" - this could refer to her taking the fall for yura after the whole incident in the zone but it's still concerning. oddly enough i'm less confident in this than in my yura and kt dying theories bc it just doesn't feel like olga would die (wouldn't make sense or be satisfying from a narrative perspective) but it's still possible. if she doesn't die then she's definitely not coming out of this the same

this is not the last we've seen of sergei. this may just be wishful thinking (love that square......) and ik he basically just gave up on sanya. but anyone who's tried to help an especially difficult person will tell you it's not that easy to just let them go, especially considering that he's already done so much for her and still has skin in the game even if he does completely drop his sister (*gestures vaguely at that one drawing of him reading a book on "breaking your girlfriend out of jail" or smthn.... ik it's just a silly joke but i'd be fuckin hyped if we got sergei breaking olga out of prison). something tells me he's going to keep trying to influence things from afar without getting too invested; whether he'll keep trying to help sanya or just focus all his effort on olga, i'm not sure.

sanya is becoming another yura. she's getting more hopeless and desperate, not to save kt but to protect / help yura. she's doing crazier and crazier shit and has managed to stay in contact with him even though sergei tried to stop them from meeting. the shot of her laughing surrounded by candles, the shot of her sitting so nonchalantly against the wall talking to dima, the shot of her standing up to sergei to protect yura... she feels very yuracore and it worries me. also the shot of her strangling her past self, the one that was much more optimistic and bright yet sheltered.. any writer will tell you that having a character literally harm / kill their past self is the number one way of indicating that they're completely cutting off their past and moving on.

this is a very stupid theory but kolya isn't actually dead. he plays way more of a role in 100 epitaphs than he ever did before. and yes nikita has content too but there are just.. so many shots of kolya (the one that stands out most to me is of him sitting in the center of the screen with headphones on). he may not be the same person but like. what if the grinder didn't kill him?? what if he's alive, just far away from all this?? what if he comes back?? changed and injured but still kolya. ((god i hope i'm talking about the right person here if that isn't kolya i'm going to look like such a dumbass))

also the title "100 epitaphs" and the prominent presence of two (supposedly) dead characters.... it doesn't inspire confidence in a lot of these characters' chances of surviving.

sorry if some of this is incoherent or just downright weird, i've been up for a while. but i will always take up an opportunity to rant about this video it's had me positively ill. i was literally fucking shaking while typing this

[carpehistoryandthepens]

Legacy (what is a legacy?) Part 13

It’s planting seeds in a garden you never get to see I wrote some notes at the beginning of a song someone will sing for me

Hamilton, the world was wide enough. LMM.

one, two, three, four, Five, six seven, eight, nine, ten, eleven, twelve,

Summary: Mike is 13. Born May 2009. Sid didn’t know he had a son. All Mike had was hope and a prayer for his and his half-sister’s safety.

(Sid is a dad of a teen he didn’t know about AU) Sidgeno.

Warnings: (for the total story) post-child abuse (all off-screen but it affects things and is spoken about often), learning how to parent, panic attacks, anxiety, based on last season, OCs?, realization about sexuality. Post breakups. Desperate lack of in-depth research for CPS in both PA/CA, melodrama?, kidfic, angst, slowburn, playing fast and loose with the law for drama/storytelling purposes.

-

Sid observed as Mike set Marisol down on the oversized couch in the living room that Geno had been sleeping on for the first few days of his and Nikita's stay at Sid's. Anna had left that morning. Of course, she wasn't here anymore. Geno would be moving into the spare guest room that night. 

Sid was incredibly reluctant to make too much noise as they got home; he didn't want to wake Marisol. Neither of them wanted that. 

Mike hadn't said a word since they got into the car.

Sid wished he could shower – he wished Mike could take a shower. But after the afternoon, getting the post-practice grime off wasn't the primary concern. 

Geno had peeled off to pick up Nikita from school once he was sure that Sid wouldn't freak out on the kids or the kids wouldn't freak out on him. Geno asked if Sid wanted them to return immediately or go out and about for a few hours. As Nikita liked to nap immediately after school – just like his father and the pregame naps – Sid said to come home. He barely noticed that he used the word' home.' Geno hadn't even looked surprised. 

Mike had merely shrugged when asked if he had an opinion, saying nothing, barely taking his attention away from Marisol.  

When they entered the living room, Mike ensured that Marisol was asleep and comfortable, tucking her into the throw blanket Geno had been sleeping in. She didn't even move. Before he turned to face Sid, his shoulders rose and fell, a deep, bracing breath. He stood in front of the loveseat right next to the couch. Protecting Marisol.

Mike reminded Sid of men in front of a firing squad. He may have been standing before the smaller couch, but his back was straight, and his shoulders were tight. 

Sid had to calm some of this down. But he didn't know how. He was at a loss on how to even start this. Treat it like a nervous rookie before they go to the game for the first time? Or like a press interview? Sid didn't know. 

"Please don't make us leave," Mike said, breaking the silent tension; his quiet voice sounded so young, But he also sounded and looked all for the world like he was bracing himself for being hit. Firm and unbending, even though he was begging to stay, he expected to get hit for even asking. "It doesn't happen often." 

Sid took a very even breath, one like he took before he went for shootouts. Calming, not panicked. Mike was braver than Sid. So far, every action Mike took has always held true. 

Mike flinched but otherwise stayed blank. 

"To be honest, Mike, my concern is that it happens at all," Sid said, sitting on the couch next to where Mike was standing. 

The couch was significantly more oversized than the loveseat Marisol was asleep on. That loveseat was built to fit at least one hockey player; this coach was big enough to hold them both and Geno. 

Mike did not move, still staring ahead like he was facing a judge. A person that it now occurred to Sid that he might have to meet, at some point, talk to over this whole parental care situation. If Mike wanted to be there, then he should be. 

"That was very scary, and I'm just worried about her, eh?" Sid said. "Will she be alright? Do we talk to a doctor?" he was at a loss of what to even suggest to help, "Or… I don't know…" he floundered. "A therapist? I just want her to feel safe here." 

Mike stared at him with wide, wet eyes. "You won't send her away?" he breathed out, part statement, part question. 

Sid stared at him, aghast. That was never in the plans. Realizing what Mike was so fearful of made Sidney's heart hurt. "Never!" he said firmly. "As long as you both want it, you will have a home here." 

Mike closed his eyes in relief and sank into the seat beside him. Sid was not surprised to see the tears start to fall. It had been an emotionally exhausting day for them all. So many ups and downs.

Sid got the whole story after that. The words were falling out of Mike as fast as he could breathe. But they were just as devastating to Sidney. he rapidly understood why Mike was so protective of Marisol. His aunt and uncle had threatened to send her away nearly daily.  

Mike told Sid about how Marisol had been dealing with separation anxiety since before their parents died, but what the doctor described as "normal and expected" for her age got worse after the funeral. It was a car accident, and Mike had been watching Marisol when the cops showed up at their apartment. 

Sid suspected that Mike also had separation anxiety but did not voice it.

He talked about how they had no other family except for their aunt and husband, and it took two weeks to find them. The last time he saw his hockey coach, as they had stayed with him during that time, was when his aunt picked them up after the funeral. They couldn't stay with the man forever; he was moving to Colorado with his daughter. 

Sid tucked that into his brain to pass it on to Pat's office. That will help them find out more about Mike's background. 

Mike was nearly sobbing when he explained that there was not much of a funeral; no one had much money. 

When Mike told Sidney they moved in with their aunt and her husband, it struck Sid that he had never heard Mike call that man his uncle. Always, it was 'his aunt and her husband.' 

Apparently, the pair had only wanted to take Mike in. However, the California Service Worker assigned to their case pressured the couple to take them both. It was clear that they did not want Marisol. 

Their aunt had often threatened to send Marisol away. That made everything worse with her anxiety because then Mike feared losing her, and she could see that. It didn't help that he hated it when he had to be separated from her. 

And the husband… Sidney was about to fly to California to punch a man he had never met before over the way Mike was shaking and explaining everything happening. That man had lain hands on a kid. And made his son feel small, worthless, and selfish. 

While he explained to Sidney, Mike began to lean on him, and Sid wrapped his arms around Mike. Mike did not pull back.  

Sid, by nature, was very free with his casual affection with people he was close to, and he had been so cautious with Mike and Marisol. Neither of them seemed to like being touched. But Mike leaned into the hug, and Sid was so relieved. 

"Did they actually try to separate you two?" Sid asked, his voice low when Mike didn't seem like he could talk much more. "Just before you ran away?" 

Mike nodded, leaning more heavily onto Sid. 

Sid hated to ask, but he had to know. "Is that when they hit you?"

Mike shook his head, then paused and nodded again, burrowing his face into Sid's chest.  Sid took that to mean they hit him then, but it hadn't been the first time. 

"Is that when they hit Marisol?" Sid asked instead. 

"I had to protect my sister!" Mike gasped out. "I didn't know my aunt. Mama never talked about her or the rest of her family. Marisol was the only family I knew. But my aunt! She! She…” He took a deep, gasping breath. Sidney rubbed his back soothingly, letting Mike breathe and take his time. He muttered something indistinct in Spanish that Sid didn't understand. It was said half gasped and half sobbed, and with Sid's nonexistent Spanish, he had no hope of translating it. "Ese bastardo golpeó a Marisol. Le dio moretones. ¡La golpeó! No iba a permitir que eso sucediera. ¡Ella no hizo nada malo!" 

Some of the words sounded familiar to French, but not really. Sid wished he spoke more than Russian fluently but did not push Mike for a translation. It would come when he was ready to give it to Sid. 

"I came home from school one day, and I saw her hitting her. And I got in the way. I panicked. He hit me then. For getting in the way," Mike breathed once he was under more control.

Sid felt his shoulders tense, but he did not pull away from the teen. Mike needed the contact, and Sid wasn't going to do a damn thing to hurt Mike.

"I got them separated and pulled Marisol into our room. We stayed out of their way." Mike continued, "Esa noche…. That night, I overheard them talking. She said that it was time for Marisol to leave. Entré en pánico.." He pressed his face into Sid's shoulder, searching for words in English. "I panicked." 

Sid carefully didn't say a word. If he said anything, then it would be words that would get him thrown out of a game. He felt so useless, unable to do anything but hold Mike as he sobbed. If it was up to him, Sid would be hunting the bastards who hurt his kids. 

Eventually, Mike calmed down a little, his breath slowing and the sobs fading slightly, "I could hear them talking. I could hear them talking about dropping Marisol off at an orphanage or something. I wasn't about to let that happen."

"So, you ran away?" Sid confirmed, mind going over the last few weeks and what he knew about Mike and Marisol's journey to Pittsburgh. 

"Sí," Mike said, sniffing. "They were calling someone – could hear them on the phone – I don't know who, to take her in the morning. I could hear them talking." He repeated, "They called this person the 'la última opción.'" 

Well, that sounded like 'the ultimate option.' while that didn't seem quite right, it was close enough that Sid thought Mike made the right choice after hearing about them. Sid didn't know what to do if he moved off the couch. Something violent, most likely. However, Mike needed him to stay – his arms were tight around Sid's chest – and Sid would rather die than move before Mike did.

"But we didn't stay that long," Mike had pulled away enough to stare at Marisol, expression going distant. "We left that night. I took some money I had hidden and left the phone they had bought me. And packed everything I could into my hockey bag and Marisol's suitcase. I had been thinking about what Mama said about my birth father – you – and I had to try. It would be better." 

Sid didn't feel rage often. Yes, anger, but true and proper rage? Not often. He was feeling it now. Someday, he would make sure that these two would pay for the hurt and the trauma they had inflicted on his kids. 

He had to do something to reassure Mike that Sid wasn't mad at him. 

Because Sid also felt proud. So, Fucking proud. Mike was thirteen, and he did what he needed to do to protect his family. "You did the right thing," Sid said. 

Mike just tightened his grip around Sid's waist, pressing harder into Sid's Side. Sid hugged him back just as tightly. 

"I promise I won't let you two be separated again." Sid breathed into Mike's hair. "If you want to leave, that's fine. We can ensure you're safe, but as long as you both want to be here, I won't let anything separate you two." He swore that his kids would be happy. "You know?" 

Sid might be falling headfirst into parenting, but damn it, he would protect his kids. He won't change them; he will let them grow as needed. The sadness he felt at not being there as Mike grew up was one Sid might never get over, but for Mike, Sid would try to be there as Mike needed now. 

"I know," Mike said. "I believe you." 

[ladymdc]

Chapters: 5/15 (~14,750 at present) Updated: 04/28/24 Rating: Explicit Relationships: Astarion/f!Tav Additional Tags: Inspired by Hades & Persephone, Vampire Ascendant Astarion, POV Astarion, Kidnapping, Possessive Behavior, Obsessive Behavior, Powerful Persephone, Spirit of Nature Halsin, Developing Relationship, One-sided Hate to Lovers, Falling In Love, Astarion is an asshole but he’s Trying™️, Vampire Turning, Blood Drinking, Protectiveness, Hurt/Comfort, Non-Consensual Voyeurism (once), Explicit Sexual Content, Unreliable Narrator, Manipulation, Minor/background Halsin/f!Tav (not the focus but it is there), Angst with a happy ending

Summary: The moment Astarion saw her, he knew. He could feel the fire in her. See it in her eyes. He decided to take her for himself. To give Asher more than just flowers and trees.

Astarion had always been drawn to the sun. He should have known then that he wouldn’t be able to live without her.

(Excerpt from CH1 under the cut)

CH1: The impatient, burning, dawn.

I asked Persephone, “How could you grow to love him? He took you from flowers to a kingdom where not a single living thing can grow.”

Persephone smiled, “My darling, every flower on your earth withers. What Hades gave me was a crown made for the immortal flowers in my bones.” 

— Nikita Gill

____________________________________________________

He had to have her. 

It was all Astarion could think when she turned to face him. Prior to materializing behind her, he had not decided what his course of action would be. Ask for recommendations on lodgings for the night or drain her dry for the energy and continue on to Baldur’s Gate, but now— 

Astarion wanted. 

She looked as exquisite as she smelled. Her features were delicate and refined, though her beauty was somewhat marred by the scar branching across her right cheek. Or it ought to be, but it only added a brutal sort of grace to her.

The setting sun picked out the strands of gold in her red hair, highlighting the freckles across the bridge of her nose and the crest of each cheek. She stared at him with incredible, dark golden eyes lined heavily with kohl that made them seem to glow in the dying light. 

“You seem lost,” she said. 

The wind picked up from behind him. The golden fields rippled and swayed, seeming to bow before her. 

“I feel like I am right where I’m supposed to be,” Astarion said. 

“In a wheat field just outside of Reithwin?” 

Astarion laughed softly at her wry tone, the sound shocking him. When was the last time he had laughed like that? Something not false and laced through with complete cynicism?

“No, in your presence, darling. It is a fine one.”

“Is that the only reason I’m still alive?” She said it tonelessly, like a casual observation. One surprisingly lacking in concern for someone able and willing to recognize the reality of their situation. 

Instinctively, curiously, Astarion reached out to gently press into her mind. For a moment, he had access to everything. 

Astarion saw a longbow, sunlight drifting through speckled glass into a room and illuminating countless motes around it, a trail of tiny purple flowers. He tasted her wishes, her regrets. Her name.

Her anger. 

“If you could not do that,” her voice was ice. “I would appreciate it.” 

“My apologies,” Astarion lied, inclining his head. “It’s a habit. Though, people do not usually detect I am there.” 

“It appears neither of us are what we seem.” 

Astarion grinned, excessively pleased with that fact, and provided a convenient glimpse of his canines. “Quite,” he said. “Which is why, as delectable as you would undoubtedly be, killing you for a few minutes of bliss would be a waste.” 

“I suppose I should thank you for that.” 

“It would be the polite thing to do,” Astarion agreed.

It was interesting how the very air around her seemed to thaw. 

“Thank you,” she said, that wry tone back again. 

“You’re welcome, my dear, and now that we’ve gotten the formalities out of the way, my name is Astarion.”

A glimmer of amusement lit in her eyes. “Well, Astarion, assuming standard fare will sate your appetites. The Last Light Inn has an excellent cellar, and the main suite should suffice. It’s not Upper City, but it’s better than most places outside the Gate.”

Astarion stepped closer, relishing the slight increase in her pulse. It was not fear, exactly. Nor desire. Anticipation of the unknown, perhaps, because she did not shy away. She just looked up at him as if facing down the prospect of death was nothing new. Astarion had seen enough of her mind to know these fields were not all she had ever known. 

Nor all she wanted to know. 

“Sating my appetites aside, you’re willing to set me loose here?” Astarion asked.

“I doubt you need my permission to go anywhere.”

“I don’t, but we both know that isn’t what I was asking,” Astarion admonished gently. 

Her eyebrows furrowed into a faint v. “There is no need to cause problems for you, no matter how minor,” she said. “You haven’t done anything.”

Astarion almost laughed again. “Oh, darling, I’ve done plenty.”

“As much as I don’t doubt that, I also don’t care as far as it relates to me.” 

“How…” he tilted his head to the side. “Pragmatic of you.” 

“Not everyone has a death wish,” she said simply. 

The wind picked up again, and his fingers itched to tuck a lock of hair that had fallen loose from her bun back behind her ear. 

“You should come with me to Baldur’s Gate, Asher Claill,” Astarion said, permitting her name to touch his tongue alongside the decision. “This place is too insignificant for someone like you.” 

“And die in a week when you get bored? No, thank you.” 

“I believe tiring of you would be impossible.” 

Asher did not say it, but Astarion felt it. How the comment touched on her pride. It was in her smile, slight as it was, and in the whisper of warmth in the air that hadn’t been there a second before.

“Goodbye, Astarion,” she said. Then Asher turned and walked away as if she did not comprehend that she had piqued his interest more than anyone had in his entire existence. 

Or what that meant. 

____________________________________________________

For the time being, the Last Light Inn would suit his appetites precisely as Asher had said. It did have an excellent cellar, and the main suite was, in fact, sufficient. Despite his lack of a retinue, his attire and chain of office marking Astarion as a magistrate opened both to his immediate disposal. Not that Astarion had suspected anything to the contrary. 

Asher had exhibited no telltale signs of deceit. No increase in respiration. No hesitation. However, Astarion dealt in lies and embellishment. Disappointment, it seemed, had somehow become his standard. That he was left feeling satisfied, for once, only added to the appeal. 

It was with thoughts of her filling his head that Astarion selected another grape from the cheese platter. 

“Are these grown here?” he asked the innkeeper. 

The power behind it was barely a push. It was a nudge more than anything. Hardly a compulsion when a charm could make someone believe Astarion’s thoughts were their own or be a force to turn someone’s body and mind against them. 

“They are, my lord,” the innkeeper said. 

Astarion allowed his fang to pierce through the skin and release a burst of flavor onto his tongue. He hummed, pleased. 

“Delicious,” he said, then selected a slice of bread to be the vessel for some goat cheese pressed with chopped almonds. “Cheese from the Dalelands is a pleasant find all the way out here.”

The absent comment struck a chord of unease. Astarion paused for a moment, considering its value. Then he finished smoothing the cheese over the crusty bread. Lesser vampires needed eye contact to maintain compulsions, but Astarion was not lesser. 

“Is its absence going to cause problems for you?” Astarion asked. 

“No, my lord.”

“Then what’s the issue?” 

“There isn’t one. I like to have it in stock for one of the residents, is all.” 

Her voice had been dark and fluid, accented like the honey touched by lavender that Astarion drizzled over his creation. 

“Who?” he asked, seeking confirmation. 

There it was again, that tension tightening as the man tried to tip toward breaking free to protect this individual. Astarion smothered it. Pressed into the innkeeper’s mind, digging into it like a spike. 

What little mental fortifications this half-elf possessed were immediately broken. The man’s life was laid out before Astarion in still frames and fragments of memory, but he only touched on what he was looking for and withdrew.

“The wood elf with red hair,” Astarion prompted. “Tell me about her.” 

“There’s not much to say, my lord. She keeps to herself for the most part.” 

Astarion didn’t speak for the space of two to three bites. “I’m sure she does, though that doesn’t help the rumors, does it?” he asked, at last. 

“It isn’t as bad as it used to be,” the innkeeper said. “Time and memory work in her favor, but it’s believed she’s responsible for the eternal spring here.”

Astarion swirled the wine in his glass, triple-checking his own memory, but no, he could not recall ever hearing the name Reithwin or of a place untouched by winter. Not that the information would necessarily reach him, and if it did, Astarion had centuries working against him. 

So much of the outside world still seemed new as time reshaped the land while his focus remained on the Gate. It was pure circumstance that Astarion’s errand had sent him farther south than planned, putting this pocket of color and warmth in an endless grey landscape directly in his return path to the city.

“Do you believe it?” Astarion wondered. 

“I do, my lord. It’s a rarity now, and it wasn’t always that way, but I remember a time when flowers used to bloom in her footsteps.” 

“Where does she live?” 

Astarion could feel the innkeeper trying to stop himself, but Astarion had control, and he pushed until the man was hemorrhaging secrets.

“I don’t want to harm her,” Astarion soothed, keeping his voice low and persuasive. “Quite the opposite, in fact.”

(read the rest on Ao3!)

[didalexiabreakupwitholgayet]

Hey you seem well informed but there is important context missing if you are going to open up a discussion on this topic. To be clear, the fans who are not fans of lucy based on those articles you included should not feel invalidated for that, because it does paint a weird and messy picture that she doesnt particularly take a side in the issue of mark sampsons behaviour. The period of sampson being sacked was confusing from every angle from a public pov, nikita parris, alex scott, kelly smith being some of the players who showed direct support of the manager at the time, later retracting comments when he left. What Lucy doesn't do is condone racism at any point in her answer, she vocially did not support the manager or his actions. Lucy is outspoken on matters of rasict discrimination, has been consistent to call out fan abuse towards black players, and is a huge figure for supporting her teamates in that regard. Lauren James in particular has suffered since she was a teenager with online abuse, she along with Khiara Keating have both referenced lucy as the most supportive teamate to provide a comfort when entering into the england senior team setup. She has countless close friendships with people with diverse ethinic backgrounds that I won't create a list but for anyone who followed her career across clubs its clear enough to see. I understand that you explained the issue of idolising public figures, and people are not perfect etc. But this interpretation of Lucy sends me to another level of frustrated with this trend across online fanbases to quickly form very strong opinions, and stand by that opinion with limited information, in this case they take no time to learn who she really is as a person.

anon - if you can provide the links to an apology, etc. i'll gladly take a look. i know nikita parris has done so during the black live matters movement. are you saying lucy took a side in that situation and actually supported aluko? because when someone doesn't take a side in a situation when one party is found to have used racist language, then that's actually taking a side. please fill me in where i am missing context. i'm asking genuinely.

and i'm sorry but being friends with a black person now and being supportive of refugees and speaking out against racist discrimination now doesn't automatically absolve you of past conduct when lucy should have been a better teammate, period. i think we can at least agree on that point? because lucy's words in that interview speak for themselves, and they don't seem supportive?

and that goes for others on the england national team, too. just because we're talking about lucy now doesn't mean that others weren't also part of the problem.

when i'm talking about being a good teammate and standing up for what's right, i'll give you some examples in spain of putting your neck on the line and when it stops being just wanting to focus on football and being annoyed at distractions, but about something more:

vero boquete and vicky losada gave up their entire national team careers following the 2015 world cup to call out the abuses going on within the national team and the poor conditions that their fellow teammates were going through.

mapi, patri, pina, lola gallardo, and the rest of the "las 15" standing up for themselves and their teammates only to be absolutely crucified by the federation and media, have their concerns dismissed, and called spoiled brats.

mapi, patri, pina, lola and those who decided not to return to the selection in 2023 and give up their world cup dreams and national team careers for what they believe in.

alexia and irene taking a stand and testifying on behalf jenni hermoso, only to be called groomers and sexual predators by the media and accused of taking advantage of younger female players on the team (as the reason why they wanted vilda and rubiales removed because they were preventing them from doing that).

in contrast, i have called out spanish players ivana, athenea, and even misa for their conduct during this time.

do i still like misa today and think that she's learned her lesson and grown up a lot? yes i do! but i'm not going to make excuses for her because she should have known better and has fucked up in the past.

similarly, i am one of the biggest jenni hermoso fans around. but jenni hermoso royally fucked up when she mocked the haka, along with other players, on new zealand soil. will i make excuses for her? no, she did a bonehead thing and the team apologised for it, as they should have.

i think we can acknowledge that players we like have made mistakes in the past or handled situations really poorly and should have done better, period.

[justabigassnerd]

this is probably gonna be something no one cares about but it’s bugging me and I wanna just get my thoughts out there…

so y’all know I’m a big fan of Strictly Come Dancing and every year there’s the big talk of who’s going to get involved with the ‘Strictly Curse’ (a pair getting together romantically) and sure you do you but some people I think are taking this shit way too far

in 2021 people were wanting Rose and Giovanni to get together which for sure would’ve been so cute had Rose not LITERALLY BEEN IN A LONG TERM RELATIONSHIP (they never did get together but the amount of people shipping them did concern me like they’re cute friends just leave it at that)

and last night I saw people posting about Layton and Nikita’s chemistry which obviously is something important when it comes to dancing like it wouldn’t benefit them to hate each other. someone in the comments of a tiktok I saw rightly pointed out that Nikita has a girlfriend and we don’t know Nikita’s sexuality (which we as fans have NO right to demand/know) and the op of the tiktok just replied like ‘that’s not stopped people before’

let that just sink in… someone is ACTIVELY encouraging someone to cheat on their partner for a scandal and for a couple to happen. wtf is actually going on with people to want that to happen?? like people actively want their favs to break the hearts of their partners and cheat if it means them getting together with the person they’re paired with on a fucking dance show

I honestly don’t care if people just think ‘oh it’s a bit of harmless fun’ to me wanting someone to cheat isn’t harmless fun. it’s honestly fucking scary how invested people get in this and they’re so DESPERATE for a scandal like why can’t you just enjoy the fucking show for what it is without this scary desperation for things to get romantic between people

sorry y’all it’s been bugging me for far too long and I had to rant somewhere

[chussyracing]

what has been happening in the world of motorsports?

to start with the most concerning and serious point: there has been a complaint to the FIA Compliance Officer and Ethics Committee when Ben Sulayem came out to say they won't be stepping into the allegations of Horner's workplace misconduct because they didn't receive any official complaints, another one came in a few days after (with a warning that media will get the information next) and apparently the victim handed in her own official complaint (as a reminder this comes after reports of Sulayem being investigated for trying to influence the race result and a circuit confirmation last year and allegedly also asking Max Verstappen to publicly support Horner)

Ben Sulayem has also been cleared off the allegations (both over the Saudi Arabia 2023 results overrule and Las Vegas GP intervence)

Guanyu will have his own short documentary called The First One (probably about being the first Chinese driver on the F1 grid)

Alex posted his own merch line, debuting on his app first

Williams will run Alex, Logan and Lia Block (and even James Vowles) at Goodwill - first time in an F1 car for both Lia and James

Pierre made a new investment decision, he now has shares in French football team FC Versailles (in a similar move that the US investors made for Alpine)

there are rumours of Aramco trying to take over Aston Martin and get both Max and Adrian Newey in the team (the source is Formulauno tho)

F1 won't switch to 16 inches tyres like was originally planned for 2026 regulations (they will keep using 18 inches ones but their shape and sizing will be a bit different)

Monaco this year will feature a special floating platform

Este was at some sort of F1 podcast and he mentioned that he raced in F3 against Max and won the title, but it was Max who got a seat in F1 despite finishing p3 (and apparently that made a lot of Max fans angry)

Mercedes are still battling the lack of correspondence between sim and track data, the rumours say they might try some experiments in Australia and potentially push back some scheduled upgrades until they collect more data

GB4 will fund an F1 Academy seat for the highest placed female driver in the series

Guenther Steiner became an F1 columnist (among other things he mentioned he would hire Ollie Bearman and that he should have left Haas much sooner)

Barcelona's circuit invested 50m euros to try to keep them on the race calendar beyond 2026 when Madrid joins

there are rumours that if Max really goes to Mercedes, Toto Wolff has a deal with James Vowles to take Kimi Antonelli in the team

Riccardo Adami said he is ready to be Lewis' race engineer in Ferrari in 2025 (which is not really a piece of news but a lot of people expected Bono to follow Lewis - which despite the anti-poaching clause - can still happen at some point)

Carlos will meet FIA doctors and complete cockpit escaping test on Thursday to see if he is fit to drive in Australia after his surgery, but Ferrari claimed he is ready to race

Stake F1 Team Kick Sauber will be called Kick Sauber this week due to Australian policy

Felipe Drugovich signed with LMP2 team but will also keep the Aston Martin reserve driver role

Simone Resta will join Mercedes after being let go off from Haas where he was on loan from Ferrari

Enrico Sampo will also join them as a Head of Performance Software Applications, and it is understood they hope he could help with correlation issues between sim data and on track data (although he will only start in the new position in 2025)

Nikita Mazepin appealed against the sanctions from European Union (because of ties to Russian government), the Court of Justice lifted the sanctions

Lewis posted about Palestine and rightfully calls for immediate and permanent ceasefire

Williams partnered with Sungood as official eyewear partner (after they already have a sponsorship deal with McLaren)

from fan's point of view:

Charles went surfing in Melbourne, and then he went karting

Lewis changed his Instagram icon

it was Mike Krack's birthday yesterday, sorry I missed it king!

(also a fun fact: it was also Prince Albert II.'s 66th birthday a few days ago)

Ollie was asked about Le Mans and said he would take Lewis and Charles and if they don't win, it is his own fault

Oscar was a face of last Esquire issue

apparently there are rumours of George being engaged (how do people come up with stuff like this. no idea.)

Daniel showed a special helmet design for his gp

there is apparently a whole google doc with updated drivers locations??? get help

Alex and Oscar have been the latest hosts on Beyond The Grid episodes

racing results:

Formula E was back on this past weekend with Sam Bird winning for the first time in FE, Mitch Evans in p2 (after getting overtaken on last lap), and Oliver Rowland in p3

[multifandomgirl08]

Hey love the mini verstappen series, was wondering if theres going to be one of just max and oc moments, maybe date night? A lil steamy etc, maybe before Nikita?? Idk. Fave series! your writing is amazing and I always look forward to reading!! xx

Ooo, date night with Max and Reader would be cool to write. Nico goes to spend the night with Daniel or Lando, and Max and Reader have the house to themselves after going out to dinner... The question for me is Max's POV or the Reader?? I'm not sure, pick an intro and I'll keep working on that one.

----

"Thank you, Daniel." You said as Daniel was putting Nico's bag in the backseat of Daniel's car.

"Yeah, no sweat. I'm down to spend time with Mini Max when I can." Daniel had recently been spending more time in the states because of the woman that he was seeing.

Nico reached up to you hugging you tightly for a long moment before pulling away. Daniel helped Nico into the back seat of his car. Daniel knew the procedure at this point. Nico wasn't allowed to stay up past 9, and he wasn't allowed to have sugar after 8. Either you or Max would pick Nico up in the morning.

or

"Nico," Max said while Lando was in another room. Nico had run over to Max and hugged his legs.

"Take care of Uncle Lando." Max wasn't concerned about Nico spending time with Lando. He was concerned that Lando wouldn't know what to do with Nico aside from letting him eat junk food and watch cartoons past his bedtime.

"Max," Lando started to say. "He'll be fine. I'll make sure that the kid is in bed by midnight."

Max gave Lando an imposing glare.

"10 o'clock?"

Max made sure to look him right in the eyes this time. He and Y/N never let Nico stay up past 9 on a weekend.

"Fine, 9." Lando looked slightly defeated.

Max kissed Nico on his forehead, "Mama and I will pick you up in the morning."

Thank you, Anon for reading!