#also also where the fuck is everyone else???

[starlightbright]

RIP Ricky September they had to kill you because it would have been unrealistic to not keep you on as a companion 😔

EDIT: I've noticed some people taking this post really seriously, so to clarify: no, I don't think Ricky was literally a perfect uwu anti-racist angel. This post was mostly a joke about how he was running around doing companion shit and, most of all, how the Doctor and Ruby both thought he was a hottie. My actual feelings about Ricky are that he's a complacent white liberal. Character reading under the cut if you want an explanation.

I do think the implications of making him unplugged from the racism bubble, paralleling him with the Doctor (man who shows up with knowledge about history and technology and guides the other character through dangerous situations), and directly contrasting to Lindy (including being open to trust the Doctor without second guessing him the same way Lindy and all her friends did) are supposed to be that he wasn't like the other people there and is thus LESS racist since racism comes to be what defines their society. I've seen some people basically ask "then why'd he move to White People City?" but within the text it's actually Rich People City; the reason everyone there is white is because systemic racism financially benefits white people. Making him LESS racist is NECESSARY to giving his death any meaning - because if he definitively would have called the Doctor a slur and walked away, then the Dot killing him quickly was a mercy kill because we KNOW all the other residents are going to die in the wilderness.

THAT SAID, I also don't think he was a progressive anti-racist. Do you know what Ricky actually is? A white liberal. He might disengage from the White People Bubble, he might not be outwardly cruel to black people, but he's still surrounded by people who are and benefits from a system where ONLY WHITE PEOPLE ARE RICH. The culture might be fucked, but he still benefits from it without doing anything to actually fight it. It's like how many a white liberal will read about the history of slavery, feel sad about it, and then be uncritical of prison labor. If Ricky was meant to be progressive, there'd be something, ANYTHING in the text about how he's tried to educate his followers on their society's problems, but it got deleted. He is COMPLACENT.

That's sort of the point, I'd say, since the theme is about how priviledged white people put themselves in a bubble of people like them and choose to look away from what's wrong in society. Those people become complacent at best with no effort to actually speak out or change things. Hell, even within the text, Ricky SEES a problem others are looking away from (the slugs eating people), but only tries to fight it by making a TikTok about it and becomes complacent again, accepting that people are just going to be eaten.

So tl;dr: no, I don't think the white liberal kid literally would have been a companion. I think if you stuck him in the Ood episode, for example, he'd have shaken his head when he found out about their plight, maybe made a TikTok with sad music playing over footage of them, and then said "welp, nothing else can be done." I think it's FUNNY to imagine another companion that the Doctor and Ruby both are giggling like schoolgirls over.

Also I kind of thought he was ugly - no offense to the actor but the makeup they had him in combined with the lighting and closeups made him look way older than 27 so he gave off this uncanny "how do you do fellow kids?" look.

[am-i-the-asshole-official]

AITA for banning a child from my house?

It's not my child, btw- it's my cousin, an 8 y/o autistic boy. I am 15 and it's technically not my house.

For context, my cousin has EXTREMELY severe autism, to the point where he quite literally cannot form any connections with people and does not sit down at all. He is always running around, yelling in garbled speech, and doesn't understand words, sentences, or commands. He only responds to his name when his mother calls it. He isn't intelligent mentally, either. I do love him a lot in spite of how he has never paid attention to me or treats both me and everyone else around him as though they don't exist.

I have (had?) a cat. I have raised this cat for 3 years and I got this little furball when he was only 2 weeks old. I gave him milk and cared for him so, so much. He was a Persian-British mix and was, frankly, pretty dumb and sleepy all the time. Like a little doll.

My cousin also, apparently, decided that my cat, Velvet, was doll-like, because he grabbed Velvet and refused to let the cat go. I was in the bathroom at the time and only heard the cat's mewing. Nobody else was home. My cousin thought it would be nice to throw Velvet out of the window. Our 4th-story window. Velvet was a spoilt little thing and had never really lived outside of a house, and consequently, died. My cousin? Didn't care. Just went away from the open window and went back to running around the house.

I came out only a few seconds later and was very confused as to just WHERE was the previously mewing cat, and obviously I couldn't just ask my cousin, since he can't talk and wouldn't be able to think of it either. My mom found the fucking CORPSE when she came back home. I was horrified and, while I don't think this was the proper thing to do to a little boy who has absolutely ZERO awareness of his surroundings, I proceeded to absolutely scream my head off at my cousin while grabbing his arm, which resulted in an absolute meltdown from him and my aunt (who had also just arrived) having to physically pry me off him as I was crying. I don't think I can be really blamed for being upset over my cousin KILLING my BELOVED PET just because he was born wrong. I also sort of yelled at my aunt to never come here or bring her son here ever again. My mother has severely chastised me for that and had ME grounded. What the fuck. Mental illnesses aren't all sunshine and rainbows, y'all. Ugh. I feel like I AM the asshole, but honestly. Consider the circumstances. I hate it here and I miss my fucking cat.

[the-other-art-blog]

Violet to Colin: "You're one of my most sensitive children."

The fandom: "How can she say that! Anthony, Benedict bla, bla bla..."

Colin is ONE of her most sensitive children. ONE, just ONE of them. And she's right.

ONE OF HER MOST SENSITIVE CHILDREN

He was the only one who indulged Violet and let her introduce him to debutantes in s1, while Anthony fucked his mistress and Ben went to orgies.

He was a complete gentleman with Marina. AND defended her when Anthony implied something about her.

And when he learned the truth, he confessed that he would have married her if she had told him the truth. 🥹

He danced with Pen after Cressida bullied her.

He wrote dozens of letters that his family of 8 could not care to respond to often. There are 8 of them!

He worried about Ben in s2 and supported him on his application to the Academy.

He learned the truth of Jack Featherington and instead of simply leaving, he did something about it. Not only did he help the Featherington family, but he saved other lords from being scammed.

He apologized to Will, explained why he acted rudely AND made amends to repair the damage by bringing men to Will's club.

He returned with gifts for everyone, but he seemed particularly thoughtful to his sisters and mother. A perfume for Hyacinth, music for Francesca, and a book for Eloise 🥹. Violet was so moved by his gift and here we have a lovely headcanon on the watch:

Then with Pen...

He runs after Pen, despite other men wanting to know about his adventures.

He acknowledges his mistake and immediately tries to apologize to Pen in the Four Seasons Ball.

The next day, he comes back with a heartfelt apology.

Then, he offers her help, despite the risk of scandal and embarrassment for him. He knows Pen has no one else.

He goes to see Pen at night to make sure she's ok. And when she asks him for a kiss, he does it so sweetly.

He is brave enough to leave the men who just want to know about his sexual life.

HE WAS BRAVE ENOUGH TO ASK, as soon as he put himself together and understood his feelings. He didn't play jealousy games like others, he went and put his heart on the table. He didn't even know about Pen's feelings and he risked it!

Some extracts from Colin's journals show that his family is always in his thoughts.

You can see why Violet, as the good mother that she is, can tell how sensitive he is.

Colin travels during the summer and comes back during the season to be with his family. It angers me that people think he's selfish for this when Benedict also abandons the family to fuck.

And yet, both Colin and Ben are sensitive. BOTH OF THEM, Francesca too. I wouldn't call Hyacinth or Gregory sensitive right now, and before s3, I wouldn't include Eloise either.

Anyway, I needed to get this out because I am so fucking tired of Kanthonies and Benophies making tantrums about this line.

I'm sure when s4 comes, we are going to see a moment between Violet and Ben where she acknowledges how amazing he is and everything he has done for the family. But not now, because this is COLIN'S SEASON.

(NOTE: If you are thinking of reblogging this post with the tag #Colin is the most sensitive, kindly fuck off. I made this post to fight the Kanthonies and Benophie that are attacking Colin, not to validate your own need to make Colin superior to other characters. HE IS ONE OF THE MOST SENSITIVE CHILDREN, ONE)

[mj0702]

The other Bronze – Pt. 20

“Keira... you okay?” Ingrid looks closely at her teammate who suddenly stopped eating.

They were out with the whole team in a small Restaurant in Barcelona – a get together if you liked. Ingrid noticed first that Keira stopped eating as she stared down at her phone and suddenly there were tears flowing. The Norwegian kept a close eye on the englishwoman seeing how much she missed young girl namely y/n Bronze.

It was unreal how you single handily turned the whole team spirit around in just a couple of weeks. Every single one of the blaugrana Team was a fan of you in some sort. Keira and Lucy obviously – they had the family connection. Alexia felt protective of you the second she laid eyes on you when you insulted that guy in the most filthy spanish someone could come up with – courtesy of her own girlfriend Mapí. For Mapí you were the little sister she never had – together with Pina and Patri the four of you meant indescribable trouble. Ingrid and Caro where a little more careful with you – both of them more on the calmer side they haven't had interacted with you much but what they saw made them see you in a different light. You were young, yes – but you also were determent and strong headed. Irene and Marta immediately adopted you guiding you a little from the background with gentle soft touches and encouraging words. Aitana was intimidated by you at first but the second you threw out catalan she wanted you near her all the time to see what else you could learn. Ona saw you as her girlfriends sister but also as a growing up young woman who needed her space and guidance at the same time. So it made everyones alarm bells scream seeing Keira cry. No one expected it to be happy tears.

Keira watched the video at least another four times before she handed her phone wordlessly to Lucy who looked at her confused

“Just watch it Lucy” the blonde sniffled smiling through her tears

“What am I watching?” your sister asked a little suspicious Ona already shuffling closer wanted to get a look as well

“For fuck sakes Bronze... just press play” Keira snapped at her ex who immediately pressed play with such a force she nearly threw the phone into the olives

It didn't even take two seconds for Lucy to realize what she's watching and she let the phone fall onto the table stunned

“It's not” Lucy looked at Keira shocked tears in her eyes

“What is going on??” now Mapí asked annoyed “... everyone is starting crying”

“Is everything okay?” Alexia asked getting a little concerned for her teammates

“Yeah... everything is better than okay” Keira smiled

“Then why is everyone crying?” Mapí asked confused

“Happy tears Maps... these are happy tears” Keira answered smiling

“Then why is everyone happy crying?” the tattooed girl asked getting even more confused

“Y/n picked up a ball... on her own” Lucy said her voice uncharacterically flat

“Lucy..” Keira immediately understood why your sister reacted that way

“... scuse me for a second.. I need some air” your sister already shoved her chair back nearly running out of the restaurant

“Go after her” Keira said to Ona “... she needs you now”

“What? Why? What happened” the young catalan asked confused

“Just... go” the blonde basically shoved Ona to go after Lucy who thankfully got the message and stumbled after her girlfriend

“Let's start where Ona left off... what happened?” Alexia asked and suddenly all the eyes were on Keira

“Georgia just send me a video of Bitsy playing with a football – on her own... she did upsies and tricks like she never stopped playing” Keira explained setting her phone up pressing play

Everyone looked mesmerized at the little screen – at you controlling the ball like no one they've ever seen

“This is...” Alexia was at loss for words “... I've never seen anything like this... ever”

“Told you the Nena is out of this world” Mapí announced proudly “Mi Nena”

“But... this is good right?” Ingrid asked looking at Keira

“It is...” the blonde nodded

“Then why is Lucy...” Caro asked looking at the restaurant door like Lucy would magically appear

“Three and a half years we waited for that... the amounts of fights we had because of it – because we weren't sure if we should give her a little push or not... you all saw what happened when Mapí caught her off guard...” the blonde started but got interrupted by Maps

“... I'm still very sorry” the tattooed woman said ashamed

“... it wasn't you fault Maps... but you all saw what happened.... and NOW... after three and a half years... she picks up a ball.. in Munich... at her girlfriends trainings ground...” Keira kept going

“Lucia is hurt” Alexia mumbled and Keira nodded

“But why? It's amazing that Nena plays again... Ale you have to talk to all them big people you know... we can't lose her to england... or worse... Madrid!!” Mapí said shocked her eyes wide

“María...” Ingrid started gently smiling a little “... lille venn can't play anymore remember?”

“But... she just did” the tattooed girl pointed at Keiras phone

“And neither Lucia nor Keira where there to experience it first hand” the norwegian said softly knowing her girlfriend didn't mean any harm she just... was slow sometimes.

“Oh... OH... that sucks... I'm sorry Keira” Mapí bursted out looking apologetic in Keiras direction

“It's okay Maps... I expected it to be honest... In Munich no one knows who she is...” the blonde said but Alexia, Ingrid, Irene and Marta didn't miss the hurt undertone in their teammates voice

“Can we do anything to help Luce?” the tattooed spaniard asked

“No... she needs to work through it on her own” the blonde shook her head

“Then why did you send Ona after her?” Ingrid wondered

“She's complex.. she needs to work on it on her own but at the same time she needs someone there... someone who she trust... who she can break in front” Keira said “... so... dessert anyone?”

And with this the topic of you picking up a ball was history. At least inside – outside was a different story

“Amor” Ona carefully tried to approach Lucy carefully

“No... I need... I need space... I need to breath” your sister said upset roaming the pavement in front of the restaurant

“Okay... I'll be just here if you need me” the young catalan said calmly pointing to one of the window sills sitting down on it

Lucy roamed for another 10 minutes before she suddenly stopped looking at Ona

“Three and a half years...” your sister blurted out “... three and a half years... I waited three and a half years...” before she started roaming again

Ona just kept quiet waited for her girlfriend to continue to rant and get it off her chest

“... and she has the AUDACITY to pick up a ball in Munich... MUNICH!!!” Lucy ranted angrily “... In front of Georgia Stanway!!”

“Lucy..” Ona said softly

“I was there... every step of the way... I held her when she had nightmares... I picked her up when she did more than her knees could handle and she fell.. I cooked for her even tho she never eaten more than a spoon full... I drove her to rehab sessions and picked her up... I took her to camp with me because I was scared she'd do something stupid if I leave her alone... where was Georgia all the time?” your sister just kept talking “... she was no where to be seen... and now she gets to be there when y/n decides to pick up a ball again... she gets to witness something Keira and I worked for three and a half years?”

“Lucy... amor” Ona tried again keeping her voice soft and calm

“She doesn't DESERVE it to witness that!!” Lucy exploded and Ona knew now was the time to interfere

“Amor... mi vida” the young catalan said her voice low as she pushed herself off the window sill going over to her girlfriend and just pulled Lucy into a hug

Just as she expected Lucy broke down crying the second she felt the arms of her girlfriend tighten around her shoulders

“It's just...” Lucy cried into Onas neck pulling her even closer

“I know... “ the catalan said softly “... but it looked like she didn't know Georgia was there”

“But why does G get to witness that? Why wasn't I there?” your sister hick-upped “I should've been there...”

“I don't think Georgia was meant to witness that...” Ona said her heart breaking a little bit when she heard her girlfriend crying into her shirt

“But she did” Lucy cried not knowing how to deal with the situation “She got to see it”

“Let us go home okay... lets just get some rest” the catalan whispered already pulling out her phone to text Alexia

“We can't... the team” your sister pulled back a little bit trying to contain her tears and sadness

“They'll understand...” Ona said softly “... let me just text Ale... they can take our stuff to and bring it to training tomorrow”

“Thank you” Lucy mumbled holding onto her girlfriend for dear life

Back in Munich you didn't have a clue of your sister breakdown – you were laying happily on your girlfriends couch. Maybe a little too happy.

“Baby... are you okay?” Georgia asked raising her eyebrow at you where you laid on top of her your head on her chest

“Sí” you giggled “muy bien... todo bien”

“Okay...” your girlfriend looked at you confused “... care to switch back to english?”

“No parlo anglès” you giggled pushing your nose against her chest

“Oh fuck me...” Georgia sighed out “... ehrm... wait... who do I know who speaks english AND spanish....”

“El castellà és una llengua bonica...i dones boniques” you giggled

“Tainara” your girlfriend suddenly exclaimed angling for her phone from the side table calling her teammate while you continued to giggle into her chest

“Yeah George?” Tainara answered the phone after the second ring

“Sorry to call you this late... but my... friend... something is not okay with her and she speaks something language I don't understand and... can you help?” Georgia rambled

“Sure... put her on.. I try to help” Gs teammate answered

“y/n... my teammate wants to talk to you” your girlfriend pushed her phone into your face for you to take it

“Hola... qui ets?” you asked wondering

“Oooookay... give me back to Georgia please... you understand english right?” Tainara said

“Sí...” you giggled handing the phone back to your girlfriend

“Yeah?” Georgia asked carefully

“That's spanish you muppet” the Brazilian woman said flatly

“And?” your girlfriend asked confused

“I'm from Brazil” her teammate exclaimed

“Again... and?” Georgia didn't understand what the problem was

“I don't speak spanish... I speak Portuguese” Tainara said a little offended

“Okay look... it kinda sounds the same to me” your girlfriend said ashamed “... so you can't help me?”

“No you asshat... and you owe me a big ass lunch for saying spanish and Portuguese sound the same” Tainara grumbled “... Ana is Colombian... they speak spanish”

“Thank you... god bless your Portuguese soul” Georgia sighed in relieve as she was about to hang up

“I'M FROM BRAZIL!!” you heard yelling from the phone as the call disconnected which caused a new round of giggles

“Hang in there Baby... I'm getting help” your girlfriend mumbled holding you closer to her calling another number

“Yeh?” a tired voice answered after some rings

“Ana? That you?” Georgia asked a little desperate

“Yes? You called me.. G.. if you interrupted my nap by accident” Ana said getting fed up already

“No no... my... friend... she speaks spanish even tho she doesn't speak spanish... I already called Tainara but she couldn't help... and I need help to understand her” your girlfriend rambled again

“Ay dios...” you heard from the phone and it made you perk up

“Uh... I think she understood that... here... talk to her and find out what's going on” Georgia immediately catched on your change of behaviour and once again pressed the phone into your hand

“Hola?” you asked giggling

“Hola chica... cómo estás?” Georgias teammate asked you

“Soy buena y tu?” you giggled

“Bien gracias... Entoces qué te pasa?” Ana asked trying to figure out what's wrong with you

“res per què?” you answered confused

“Puedes devlverme a G por favor?” the Colombian asked

“Sí cap problema” you smiled even tho Ana couldn't see it handing the phone back to your girlfriend

“And?” Georgia asked hopefully

“Yeah I can't help you...” her teammate said nonchalantly

“Why?? She speaks spanish.. you speak spanish... bam... help me” your girlfriend said lost

“I would help if that WAS spanish... that's catalan... I can understand bits of accents away from other spanish but catalan? no... sorry...” Ana said apologetic

“Ugh... fuck meeee...” Georgia whined “... you have any idea who I could call? I just want to know what's going on?”

“Ehrm... my best guess... someone from Catalonia?” the Colombian offered and started to chuckle

“Great help....” your girlfriend said flatly “... I don't know anyone from there”

“Isn't your best friend from Barcelona?” Ana mused

“KEIRA!!! YES!!!” Georgia exclaimed suddenly sitting up quickly which resulted in you getting squished into her torso “You're a godsend Ana... see you tomorrow... good nap!!”

Georgia quickly hung up the call immediately dialling Keiras number waiting nervously for her best friend to pick up

“Hey G...” Keira finally answered and Georgia could hear laughter and voices in the background

“Keiraaaaaa.... heeeeey...” your girlfriend greeted Keira sounding like a maniac

“Oh god... what happened? Is Bitsy okay? Are you okay? Are you both okay?” Keira immediately knew something was off her mind already painting the most worrying pictures

“Yeah yeah we're good... kinda” Georgia said quickly

“Kinda?” her best friend repeated confused

“Yeah you see... we're here... in Munich... on me couch...” your girlfriend started feeling you giggle against her stomach

“I hope for your sakes that you really are” Keira growled her alarm bells screaming “God save the King”

“We are... but... something is not right with y/n... she's all... giggle-y... and...” Georgia confessed embarrassed

“Aaaaand?” her best friend asked her patience low

“ShespeakingspanishandIdon'tunderstandherhelp” your girlfriend mumbled quickly

“Again?” Keira asked confused not knowing if she heard correctly

“For some reason she's speaking spanish and I don't... so... help? Please?” Georgias voice was high

“Why is she speaking spanish?” Keira asked confused

“I don't know... she just started speaking spanish out of nowhere and I tried to solve the problem by asking me teammates but apparently Portuguese is not spanish and even the one who apparently speaks spanish didn't understand spanish... useless the lot of them I tell ya” your girlfriend huffed “... so... help?”

“Oh god... why... why did you two find each other... I'm 27... I'm having GREY hair G... GREY!!!” Keira exclaimed upset

“It's not like anyone would notice between them ginger ones” Georgia shrugged her shoulders

“Georgia Marie Stanway!” her best friend scolded her “... ugh... just get Bitsy on the phone”

“Hey Baby... Keira...” and for a third time that night the phone was shoved in your face

“Sí?” you tried your hardest to sound as normal as possible knowing Keira would catch on and then you were in trouble

“Hey Bitsy... you alright?” Keira cooed sweetly

“Estic perfectamente bé... per què?” you answered honestly and a small snort made it out

“Oh dear jesus lord in heaven” you heard Keira huff “Alexia... mind doing me a favor?”

“What's the matter?” you heard the Barca capitana asked

“Here... your Cariño is on some kind of drug and now she speaks catalan... you are catalan... fix it...” Keira said as she passed the phone to her friend

“Holi Cariño?!” Alexia said a little confusion in her voice

You only squeaked before you threw the phone across the room – even in your current state you knew you were in SO much trouble if Alexia gets involved

“Hey... don't throw me phone!” Georgia exclaimed shocked

“Ho sento” you mumbled trying to push your face deeper into Georgias body hiding from the world

“Baby.... I don't understand you... I just want to help” your girlfriend begged you “... let me go so I can go get me phone?”

“No” you whined holding tighter onto Georgia

“Baby... please” G tried to pry your arms off her “... me phone”

“No necessities el teu phone” you mumbled but your grip loosened a little bit which Georgia used to pushed herself out under you quickly walking to pick up her phone

“Keira?” she asked hoping her friend didn't hung up

“No... Alexia” the other person answered

“Jesus fuck” Georgia sweared throwing her phone a little further away before running after it picking the phone up again “... ehrm... sorry... that was... quiet the surprise... big fan”

“Georgia sí?” Alexia asked trying to keep a clear head

“Yes... that's me” your girlfriend nodded even tho nobody could see it

“Okay... what's wrong with mi Cariño?” the spaniard asked still trying to figure out what is happening

“You mean y/n?” Georgia asked confused

“Yes... y/n... Bronze... the small Bronze” Alexia answered losing her patience already

“I... don't know... we were laying on the couch doing.... nothing.. and she started giggling and speaking spanish... I don't speak spanish... she doesn't speak spanish... so I need help... please” your girlfriend explained once again

“Okay... I can work with that... put me on speaker” the Barca capitana instructed

“Okay... sure... ehrm... wait...” Georgia said before pushing the speaker button “... you're on speaker, Miss Putellas”

“Hola Cariño” Ale said ignoring Georgias rambling

“Ale... Com estás?” you giggled

“Estic bé i tu?” the spaniard asked hearing you speaking catalan surprising her

“Sóc genial” you exclaimed happily

“Per què parles català?” Alexia smiled to herself

“Perquè puc” you grinned proudly “Digues bonmatí”

“Ah, doncs li hauria de dir a l'Aitana?” the blonde spaniard chuckled “... per què hauria de fer això”

“Aitana estarà orgullosa” you said wholeheartly

“Oh but I'm proud of you too....” Alexia said softly “... so tell me mi Cariño... why are you speaking catalan?”

“Ona taught me” you said like it was the most obvious thing on the world

“Ona?” the spaniard asked completely at loss

“Yes... the friendly spaniard” you nodded quickly

“And we're back with the nicknames” Alexia sighed “... want to tell me about your day Cariño?”

“Uh... didn't do anything special.. we had breakfast... VERY good Avo-toast... you spaniards could learn to make Avo-toasts... it's not that hard you know... it's avow.. and toast...” you started to recap your day getting distracted

“Cari.... after breakfast” Alexia stressed

“... oh yeah... we went to this garden... not the bad one where I'm not allowed to go anymore... the nice garden... babe... what's the nice garden called” you got distracted again

“... Englischer Garten... english garden” your girlfriend provided thankful you're speaking english again

“That one... you should come visit pretty spaniard” you giggled “... they have beautiful trees... cherry trees... and this little tent-thingy”

“Cari... focus” the blonde spaniard pressed

“uh... then we went for lunch... just a small one... I had....” you looked at Georgia for help again

“Wurstsalat” Georgia threw in

“... that... it's like sliced sausage with vinegar and onions and pickles and it's really good... oh and you eat it with bread” you giggled again

“Cariño por favor..” the Barca woman groaned

“... then we went home for a nap... and G overslept so we didn't have time for coffee because we had to take public transport to training... G lost her license you know – she drove like a cunt and got a nice picture of it... expensive picture” you just kept talking ignoring Alexias groaning and Georgias shocked face “... we made it to training and they had just a light session I got a bit bored and fell asleep... after training we went home and I cooked...”

“What did you cook Cari?” Alexia perked up

“Penne all'Amatriciana.... it's pasta with beef... or... vedella” you said proudly

“Hm... sounds delicious... how did you prepare the beef Cariño?” the spaniard suspected something specific

“You need to season the filet beforehand... just salt and a little bit of pepper” you started to explain happily and Alexia let you talk “... heat the frying pan to basically volcano and then throw the filet in there... fry fry fry... and than deglaze it with a good dash of red....”

“Red?” Alexia and Georgia asked at the same time

“Yes... don't worry... the alcohol goes all poof with the heat of the pan... no alcohol left in the meat... but it gives it some amazing flavour...” you waved off “... then you throw in the cooked pasta, some fresh tomatoes, basil and parmesan”

“Red wine?” the blonde spaniard clarified

“Sí” you said again

“I don't even have red wine in me flat” your girlfriend exclaimed shocked

“Stole it from Lucy.. she has a whole ass wine rack she didn't even noticed I packed it... got it through camp as well” you answered proudly

“Ay dios mio” you heard Alexia through the phone “Cariño... did you have a sip from the wine?”

“Maaaaaaybe a little” you sing songed

“Ay dios” the spaniard huffed out “how many sips did you have Cari?”

“Just a few” you grinned

“Georgia... look for that bottle” Alexia instructed and immediately sprinted into the kitchen “Cari... why did you take the red wine form Lucia”

“She doesn't need it... she didn't even know what she had there... it was a Vega Sicilia” you said getting upset

“That's a very good wine” the spaniard mused trying to keep you calm “... you have good taste Cari”

“Bottle is half empty” Georgia panted coming sprinting back in “you drank half a bottle of wine?”

“Nooooo...” you giggled “... I put some in the pan too... like... two dashes”

“Oh god...” your girlfriend whined “Miss Putellas...”

“You can call her pretty spaniard... she doesn't care” you interrupted grinning

“Please don't” Alexia exclaimed “Alexia is just fine”

“Please don't tell Keira y/n is drunk... I swore I look after her” Georgia begged

“I'm not drunk” you said seriously

“Cari... you are drunk... but some sleep will fix this, hm?” the blonde hummed

“But I'm not tired” you said confused

“Oh but you are... you told me” Alexia lied hoping you would fall for it

“Oooooh yeah... true... baby I'm tired... I'm going to bed okay” you nodded seriously tossing the phone at your girlfriend swaying in the general direction of the bedroom

“What... where.. huh?” your girlfriend watched as you made it through the open door face planting onto the bed

“You're welcome” Alexia said before she hung up

“Crazy... all of them are crazy” Georgia shook her head

“Ugh” you groaned next morning when you felt Georgias fingertips dance across your ribcage

“Morning drunky” your girlfriend chuckled behind you nuzzling into the back of your neck

“Not drunky” you mumbled closing your eyes again protecting them from the far to bright light in the room

“Oh you so were drunk” Georgia chuckled pressing a soft kiss to your neck

“Was not” you groaned again

“You spoke catalan” your girlfriend pointed out and THAT made you shoot up into a sitting position – which turned out not to be a good idea since you immediately got hit with nausea and headache.

“How do you know I spoke catalan... I don't even speak catalan” you looked at Georgia panicked

“Oh but you do... you had a whole ass conversation with Alexia Putellas...” your girlfriend said as she laid on her back her arms stretched above her head

“Alexia??” you screeched

“Look... I got worried... you were all giggly and strange and you spoke a language I didn't understand... I asked me teammates for help but even they couldn't help... so I called Keira..” your girlfriend explained

“Keira??” you screeched even higher

“Yeah... she couldn't help so she put Alexia on the phone.. she helped...” Georgia shrugged her shoulders sitting up now “... she even got you to go to bed”

“Oh fuck me G... that's bad... so SO bad” you whined

“Why... you had a little wine... geez when I was your age I literally tubed beer” your girlfriend said trying to calm you down

“Do you realize what Ale will do with me once I'm back in Barc... I'm simply never going back to Barcelona... easy...” you started to whine before you just had THE idea

“Yeah well... I don't think Lucy will let that happen” Georgia scratched the back of her neck embarrassed

“We just ignore her...” you looked pleadingly at the blonde

“I still have to play with her in the national team... and you have to go to camps too now since you signed a contract” your girlfriend pointed out killing your plan with her stupid logic

“Ah fuck” you groaned and let yourself fall backwards onto the bed again

“Baby.... it's not that bad....” Georgia tried again

“You wanna tell Lucy I got drunk on red wine?” you raised your eyebrow in challenge

“We just pay Keira and Alexia to never ever breath a word of that” your girlfriend quickly said seeing what you meant

“Mhm... thought so” you mumbled

“Okay... I have training this morning and fitness in the afternoon... you wanna join or stay here?” Georgia looked down at you

“I want to die.... that headache is going to kill me” you whined which made G chuckle

“I'll get you some water and paracetamol” your girlfriend said before pressing a kiss to your head and stood up

“And a bagel... I want a bagel... with bacon....” you yelled after her

When Georgia returned with the bottle of water and two pills you were dead asleep again

“Guess you won't join training then” the blonde mumbled smiling walking towards the bathroom to take her shower and get herself ready for the day

You woke up two hours later to a quiet flat. You groaned again rolling over to your other side seeing the water bottle and the pills laying on your nightstand.

“Every time I think I can't fall more for her she pulls some shit and I fall even harder” you mumble to yourself swallowing the pills with a large gulp of water

“Ugh... I hate pills” you shuddered but made it slowly out of bed dragging yourself into the kitchen where you found a post it on the coffeemashine and one on the fridge

“Press “an”... who the fuck is Ann?” you read loudly looking at the coffeemashine like it offended your whole family

“... oh... there... button... an...” you pressed the button and the machine started to come to life “.... oh cool...” you shrugged your shoulders

“... when all the lights are on... press “Kaffee”...” you read again looking for the right button

“uh... that thing can make Cappuccino” you said excited pressing on that button instead of Kaffee

The machine started to grind the beans – which did wonders for your headache – but THEN it made weird noises. Like it was dying.

“Oooooh no no no no no” you said in panic “... stop dying.... just coffee... you already started the coffee... just... put it in the cup... here... it's a nice cup... look... it's from here actually... it's a Bayern Munich cup... you like Munich right... you live here”

You spoke to the coffeemaker like it would actually answer you but it continued to make weird sounds so you decided to try a different approach

“If I now press Kaffee... will you stop dying... please?” you looked at the machine pleadingly before hitting the coffee button over and over again

“Please... stop dying... G will kill me if I kill you” you said desperately but it was no use

“Okay... we gonna approach that rationally... you had a good life... I'm gonna pull the plug now” you said and pulled the cable out of the socket with closed eyes – immediately the machine stopped “dying” and you sighed in relieve

“Okay... so no to coffee... new plan... get a shower... get ready... go coffee” you mumbled to yourself already leaving the kitchen for the bathroom

30 minutes later you checked your pockets if you have everything before pulling the door shut going down the stairs and step outside into the beautiful Munich sunshine. You had no clue where you were or where you needed to go so you just played eene meeny mooh and then turned right to follow the street. On the next occasion you turned right following an important looking sign hoping for some sightseeing. Again you followed the sign on the next traffic light as it pointed to the left. You took some pictures on your phone on the way being absolutely mesmerized by the buildings you passed in awe. You followed the road for some time until you discovered the next sign telling you to go left and suddenly you stood in front of a big building... with a lot of cars inside. It dawned on you - you just followed a Carpark sign. You were very disappointed at this point. So you decided to walk along the carpark building until you were back on a bigger road. You totally winged this Munich tour.

You followed the bigger road until you spotted a group of Asian people who looked like they were getting a city tour with a guide. So you decided to just go with that group since the guide apparently knew what she was doing. After some short stops at some buildings you were absolutely not interested in you found yourself at a place you reconized from being here with Georgia before – the Viktualienmarkt. It was a beautiful big market place where you could basically get everything. Fresh fruit and vegetables. Honey and Bee products. Wine (slight heave) and Beer. Good food. Nice people. Everything in one place. That also was the moment you realized you had no money on you. Which sucked big time since you got quite hungry with your exploring. You pulled out your phone to see five missed calls. When you pulled them calls up you saw two from your girlfriend, one from Keira, one from Lucy and one from an unknown number. So you decided to call your girlfriend back first and to your surprise she answered after the second ring. Which was VERY unusual for Georgia since you normally needed four tries to get her on the phone

“Baby.. where are you... I came home half an hour ago with you gone... are you okay?” your girlfriend spoke quickly and her voice showing her increased stress level

“I'm alright... I'm at the big market place...” you said confused

“Big market pla... love... where the fuck are you?” Georgia said even more confused that you were

“You know... where you took me when I visited the first time... where you can buy all that bee stuff in that little corner shop on the market” you tried to explain since you didn't want to make a fool out of yourself for pronouncing the places name wrong

“I have NO idea where you are... wait... look for someone nice and let me talk to them” your girlfriend tried so hard to figure out were you where

“Okay... wait” you looked around until you spotted someone familiar – it was the nice waitress from the breakfast place G took you to yesterday so you approached her carefully

“Ehrm... excuse me?” you lightly tapped her shoulder

“Ja?” the nice blonde turned around “Oh hi... I remember you... you had the two avocado toasts yesterday with your friends”

“Actually just one... the other one my friend ate before I could grab a bite... that bottomless bitch...” you said still a sore topic for you “... I... need help... could you please help...?”

“Dinara...” the woman offered smiling friendly “... and of course – what's the problem”

“I... got... kinda lost?” you said embarrassed holding your phone up “... me.. friend is on the phone but she's too thick to figure out where I am so can you please tell her..?”

“Oh my god of course” Dinara laughed as she took your phone “Hi? So your friend is at Viktualienmarkt just opposite Chicos Saftbar... at the golden chicken”

“Oh god thank you so much” you heard the relieved sigh of your girlfriend through your phone “I know you probably have better things to do but... could you maybe keep an eye on her... or chain her to one of the lampposts so she can't run off again? Either way is fine”

“Excuse me??” you exclaimed upset “... tying me to a post?? The fuck you think you are – you ain't Luce”

“Depends on how long you need to get here...” the blonde woman said amused at your outburst

“Half an hour max... I'm already on me way” Georgia said panting as she was jogging down the street to the next tramway

“Yeah I can do that... I'll take her to Café Schmalznudel” the nice helpfully blonde said still grinning at your behaviour since you retreated to grumble to yourself about getting tied up to a post

“Thank you so SO much” your girlfriend said as she got onto the tramway towards the city centre

“No problem...” Dinara smiled as she tugged on your sleeve so you would follow her “... I know how it is to get lost in Munich”

“Where we going? I'll have you know I have a lots of friends who will come looking for you if you murder me” you said but still walked after the blonde

“I was about to get you some coffee and some delicious pastry but since you accused me of being a murderer you can sit and watch me eat and have my coffee” the blonde said sweetly

“That's literally letting me starve... I didn't get coffee this morning because me gi... friend... friend decided to get a coffeemaker you need a fucking PhD for and then I got lost...” you deadpanned as the blonde woman shoved you into a small shop where it smelled deliciously

“Are you always this dark and twisted sarcastic?” Dinara asked interested

“Yes... got it from... I wanted to say my family but they're not like me... in terms of fun... they're all very humourless.. except for me sister... she has her moments... they're rare but she has them” you mused “... she's trying”

“Okay...” the blonde laughed “... what do you want... I recommend the Dampfnudel” she said as she pointed to one of the trays

“What's that?” you looked interested

“It's a yeast dough with a plum marmalade filling... very tasty” D explained “... or there we have Auszogne...”

“Uh.. I had that before... they're amazing” you looked at the pastry your mouth watering “I want them all”

“You literally will puke if you eat everything... so let's settle for one and you can come back with your friend another time” the blonde said

“Gibberish gibberish dare” you looked at her straight in the eye grumbling

“What?” the young woman looked at you confused

“It's... Swedish? Danish? Cold countryish for “you're mean”...” you said huffing a little

“Have it your way... I'm going to order now” the blonde shrugged her shoulders turning around to the guy behind the counter starting to order

“I take that yeast thingy” you interrupted from behind her

“Und eine Dampfnudel mit... what coffee?” the woman said half turning to you

“Do you guys know what a cappuccino is?” you asked carefully

“We're a European country and closer to Italy than the UK... yes we know what a cappuccino is” the woman said rolling her eyes “... und einen Cappuccino bitte”

20 minutes later your girlfriend bursted through the front door looking around panicked before she spotted you speed walking over

“What the hell were you thinking???” your girlfriend said panting

“I was thinking about getting a coffee” you looked at her confused

“I... I.. what?” Georgia looked at you in disbelieve “... coffee?”

“Yes... you know... that black liquid that brings you back to life” you chewed on your pastry as you heard your new friend snort beside you

“I have a perfectly fine coffeemaker at home” your girlfriend exclaimed

“Had... I think it dead” you looked at her innocently and G couldn't do anything than look at you flabbergasted

“So... as lovely as this interaction was... I need to get to work” Dinara suddenly exclaimed and stood up

“What do I owe you... wait... you paid for her stuff right?” Georgia started to ramble and rummaged through her pockets “... here... 50 Euros.... 10 for the food the rest for having to deal with her”

“No needs... she is a delight once she's fed and caffeinated” the blonde waitress laughed and pushed Georgias hand back denying the money

“No really... I can't thank you enough... god knows where she would've ended up” your girlfriend tried to give Dinara the money again

“It's okay... just... put one past Coll for the girls who look up to you” Dinara smiled winked and pushed past Georgia leaving the small place leaving Georgia behind looking confused

“You think she'll come back for the rest of her pastry?” you quipped up behind your girlfriend eyeing the piece interested

“Honestly Baby... what where you thinking? You don't know the City, you don't know the language you didn't even knew where you were” Georgia whisper yelled after she sat down opposite to you

“Look... you were gone when I woke up... I tried to make coffee the machine died... yes, I don't know the city or where I was... but I'm not five... and for the language barrier.. you don't speak german either” you said back your voice low “... you won't believe it Georgia Stanway but people speak english and I found out pretty quickly that the people here are actually pretty helpful if you just ask nicely and be polite”

“I know that... I got scared okay... I know you're not five... but I came home and you were gone and you didn't answer your phone...” your girlfriend said calmly and you saw how she tried to keep herself calm too

“I didn't hear it because it was on silent” you sneered back “What is the big deal?”

“The big deal is that I started to call hospitals because I thought someone knocked you out” Georgia said and you saw how she lost her patience

“G... I can look out for myself.. did it for years” you snapped at her

“Let's go home okay... we can talk about it but we're in public” your girlfriend sighed

But you wouldn't be a Bronze if you wouldn't have the treat of stubbornness

“YOU can go home... I'll use the credit card I stole from Lucy and buy myself a flight to....” you stopped thinking a second “... Manchester”

“Baby please...” Georgia pleaded trying to take your hand but you pulled it away

“No...” you sneered “... don't touch me”

“I won't let you run... and if you run I'll follow you” your girlfriend said her voice low “I can't let you run.. I love you”

Your head snapped up and you looked at her shocked

“You... never said that” you whispered out

“I love you... I got so so scared when I got home...” Georgia said carefully taking your hand and this time you let her “... I told you before I can't and don't want to imagine a world without you... so when you were gone I panicked”

“I'm sorry...” you mumbled “... but honestly it's your coffeemakers fault”

“You pressed another button didn't you” your girlfriend smirked

“It offered cappuccino” you defended yourself

“It can also make cappuccino... if you fill up the milk tank” Georgia said grinning

“I love you too” you mumbled as you let your girlfriend pull you out of the chair

“I know... if you didn't you would be at the airport already” Georgia pulled you into her side pressing a subtle kiss to your temple

“Baby??” you heard your girlfriend call from the kitchen

“Yeah?” you yelled back from the spot on the couch

“Pernille asked if we want to join them for dinner tonight?” Georgia said as she leans against the doorframe of the living room

“Yeah why not...” you said distracted “... what the hell am I watching? There are naked people.. it's freaking daytime”

“Would you be able to whip up a desert? I hate coming empty handed and wine isn't an option this time” your girlfriend asked already texting her teammate back “And what are you watching?”

“How the fuck should I know... I understand fuck all” you exclaimed pointing at the TV with the remote control in your hand

“Oh god... you found the trash TV channel...” Georgia groaned after she threw a quick look at the screen

“That isn't normal trash... that... offensive trash” you exclaimed watching how two police officers start a yelling match with two naked people “What they yelling about?”

“Erregung öffentlichen Ärgernisses...” your girlfriend said distracted still on the phone texting Pernille “... public outrage”

“Yeah I bet... I would be outraged if I see naked people buying a newspaper in broad daylight” you snorted and kept watching how the police officers tried to reason with the nakeys

“Didn't Ella and you once walked naked into Old Trafford?” Georgia asked looking at you expectantly

“THAT was a dare...” you pointed out tilting your head trying to make sense out of the scene that was displayed on screen

“Baby... about that desert” your girlfriend asked again

“Yes I'll whip something up” you said absent still not believing what you see on TV

“Thank you” Georgia pressed a kiss to your head as she walked passed “... I advice to change the show.. it's not getting better”

“It's kinda fascinating....” you said in awe

“No it's not.. it's trash TV” your girlfriend snorted as she started to pack for her afternoon fitness session “You're going to join in?”

“I'll join... but not in” you grinned “Just let me look how long the thingy takes I want to make for the wine replacement”

“I can bring wine... but you won't having any” Georgia grinned as she threw a second kit into her bag knowing fully well you're gonna join in at some point

“I would need about two hours... do we have that much time?” you looked up from your phone where you googled the receipt

“Sure... training ends around 5... I can get you an Uber so you can go home earlier and get a head start” your girlfriend shrugged her shoulders

“You won't let me use public right?” you asked hopefully

“Yeah no... even I get lost sometimes with all them trains and tramways and undergrounds and busses...” Georgia shook her head

“Can someone else drive me? Uber is always so awkward” you whined

“You can ask Alex... he should still be in doing... whatever managers do in their offices... maybe he can drive you” your girlfriend offered

“Sounds good” you grinned knowing exactly how you would get the Trainer to agree driving you back to Georgias apartment

Georgia was right of course. As soon as you walked into the locker room Jill pounced on you talking your ear off while making you promise you would join in the gym. You tried to get out of it by saying you didn't have anything gym appropriate as you get hit in the face by a shirt and some short. Your girlfriend grinned widely at you as you shot her a dirty look which made most of the team laugh. So you changed into the kit Georgia threw at you which resulted in G looking smug and Magda rolling her eyes

“What?” you grumbled at the swede

“Wearing her number? Want to make it anymore obvious?” Magda said her voice low

“She my friend and the only Lioness here... as well as the best friend of one of the women who raised me AND a good friend of my sister...” you answered automatically

“Knew that speech by heart do you?” the blonde swede grinned

“You know how often I had to say that to the newbies at Camp?” you rolled your eyes as you pulled some shoes on “... dear jesus... whose shoes are that?”

“Your... friends” Magda chuckled emphasizing the “friend”

“Bitch...” you grumbled before looking up at the swede “... what's your shoe size?”

“Ehrm... 40” the swede answered

“What's that in UK size?” you looked confused

“7” Pernille answered as she walked past have followed your conversation with half an ear

“Why do you guys have such hobbit feet?” you groaned looking around “Anyone shoes in 8.5?”

You were met with stunned silence. You looked for help at Pernille who looked at her teammates

“42/43 anyone?” the Danish asked into the round but was met with just head shakes “Sorry Søde... looks like you have to go barefoot”

“Barefoot my ass” you grumbled as you walked out of the room and straight into the managers office “Alex... what's your shoe size”

“Ehrm... 43” the norwegian Trainer answered bewildered

“Perfect... give me your shoes” you demanded and pointed at his NIKE Free Metcon5

“Excuse me?” the brown haired man looked at you

“You're players are annoying and now I have to go to the gym with them but they all have mini feet and I don't... so I need shoes... you have me size.. so give me your shoes” you explained

“What's the magic word?” the Norwegian grinned

“Please” you rolled your eyes annoyed

“See... not so hard...” he grinned as he threw his shoes over to you “oh by the way... Ingrid Engen says hi... you better not tell us Barca secrets or she sees herself in the position of taking actions against you you won't like”

“Pff.... Princess Norwegian is far to nice to do something...” you waved off as you pulled the shoes on

“Engen? Probably.... Graham-Hansen on the other side... wouldn't want to piss her off” the man smirked

“You know... if you want me to help you poke Barcas ego... you're not doing a good job in convincing me” you said tilting your head

“I want to win” the Norwegian said confident

“Against Barca?” you laughed out in disbelieve

“Yes...” he nodded curtly

“You know I'm not a bullshitter.... and you have a good team... but defeating Barca? They will have to have a REALLY bad day...” you said honestly tying the laces “... they have everything... Forwards who are constantly on fire... a blazing midfield... and don't get me started on the backline”

“You got the Lionesses to win against Spain” the man pointed out as he leaned back in his chair his white socks shining under his table

“And I have a contract with the Lionesses... I can't help you... officially” you said smirking slightly “... but if I by pure accident write down some plays and weak Barca links and lose them and you find them by chance...”

“Coincidence” the Norwegian shrugged smirking as well

“Pure accident....” you grinned “... I'll have it ready by tomorrow evening for losing it”

“I really have to keep hold of Stanway don't I?” the man laughed

“For as long as she's happy here...” you shrugged your shoulders before turning around leaving the office

“There she IIIISSSS” you heard Jill before you saw her

“And there she gooooeeesss” you mimicked her turning to leave again

“No no no no no Lieveheersbeestje” the dutch said quickly throwing her arm around your shoulders pulling you further into the gym

“Lie... what?” you looked at her disgusted

“Lieveheersbeestje... Ladybug” the young player smiled

“Ew... stop giving me Pet names... your my annoying soul sister” you pushed her of you

“Naaaaw.... love you too” the dutch sing songed and pulled you back against her

“Let go you annoying gouda-head” you said trying to push her away again

“Say that you love me too” Jill laughed holding on to you even tighter

“My Sister taught me not to lie..” you pushed harder even tho both of you were just messing “so I'm not saying this because it would be a big fat lie”

“You don't mean that” the dutch exclaimed shocked

“Pernille!!!!” you whined out as you spotted the Danish player “Jill is mean to me...”

“Jill...” the light blonde warned as she stretched her muscles

“I didn't do anything” the dutch defended herself

“She wanted me to lie... Lucy said if she ever catches me lying she cuts me feet off!” you immediately said accusingly

“Kids” Pernille warned now both of you before turning to her girlfriend “Which one do you want?”

“The small Bronze of course” Magda looked at Pernille like she lost her mind “I really don't understand that question”

“Just wanted to be polite” the Danish said rolling her eyes “Take your kid to the other side of the room... these two together won't be good”

“Come on Kid... we start over there” Magda pulled you out of Jills grip and to the other side of the gym

“I'm not your Kid” you looked confused but let the swede pull you along

“Now you are... or do you prefer Kiddo?” the blonde swede grinned “Or should I throw Swedish nicknames at you?”

“Can't you just be normal?” you looked bewildered

“Normal is boring... I'm fun” Magda grinned

“And old...” you mumbled

“Hey... I'm not old” the blonde exclaimed

“Oh sorry... you are experienced” you nodded with a shit eating grin

“Just... do your training” Magda pushed you towards the treadmill

“I... don't have a trainings plan” you said confused

“Then do whatever you fell like but please do something... Pernille is already looking over” the swede whisper yelled

“Uuuuhhh... someone is scared of her girlfriend” you teased the older player

“You want me to get her on your ass... I still can swap kids” Magda said grinning

“I... can't go on the treadmill...” you admitted a little ashamed

“Why not... it's not that hard... and you look fit enough to do it” the swede pushed you slightly

“No... I... physically can't...” you started to bite your lip looking up to find your girlfriend

“Would you please explain that?” Magda said carefully sensing that it was a very personal topic

“I have... knee issues” you said finally spotting your girlfriend on the bench press

“Okay...” the swede said softly “... want to do some arm work?”

“I can do push ups or pull ups” you said excited and grateful that Magda dropped the topic

“How many pull ups can you manage?” Magda grinned poking at your competitiveness

“More than you” you shot back

“Oh we're gonna see that” the blonde grinned already jumping up to grab the monkey bar

“Respect little Bronze...” Magda panted out next to you as both of you laid on the ground faces red and covered in sweat “... didn't think you had it in you”

“My sister is Lucy Bronze...” you panted back “... had to beat her in something”

“Are you two done being idiots?” Pernille asked appearing in your line of vision

“We're not idiots” the swede answered her girlfriend “... we had to settle an argument”

“Oh really...” the Danish said raising her eyebrows “... keeping everyone from training because you two do pull ups until you pass out... counts as being idiotic”

“I won” you weakly pointed out your breathing slowly getting back to normal

“Pff... you wish” the blonde swede next to you huffed

“Oh I won” you sat up quickly which turned out to be the wrong move as you began to sway

“Yes Søde you won” Pernille was immediately by your side steadying you with her legs

“She didn't.... you shouldn't lie to her” Magda exclaimed

“She won” the Danish said firmly throwing her girlfriend a look that probably could freeze hell

“Yes darling... she won... fair and square...” the swede quickly corrected herself and it made you snicker

“Alex is waiting for you?” the Danish looked down at you

“Uh yeah... he driving me home” you quickly said trying to stand up but your said it wasn't a good idea

“Stay down... let your body relax and let it come back from the torture you just put it through” Pernille said gently

“Don't have time for that” you answered trying to stand up again

“Oh but you gonna make time Søde...” the Danish smirked and you knew you better listen

“If G helps me... would you please let me go shower?” you asked carefully

“No... Georgia has to train” Pernille answered shortly “... I normally should train too but I can stay a little longer with Magda so I can afford a few minutes”

“We stay longer?” the blonde swede whined “Why?”

“Because you haven't done any of your training so far... you did pull ups....” the Danish answered strictly

“Aaaah maaaan” Magda huffed annoyed

“Your own fault... MY kid is already done with her training by the way... I win the better parent contest” Pernille grinned

“My kid is cooler and fitter” the swede shot back “Your kid is just annoying”

“HA!” you exclaimed happily “I think I can stand up now”

“Try” the Danish encouraged you and you finally got up without swaying “.... okay... off to the shower and you clock out before you leave”

“Yes mom” you rolled your eyes but quickly moved out of the way when Pernille tried to playfully kick your ass

15 minutes later you pushed your head through the door of the gym looking for Pernille

“Mom I'm gone...” you yelled in her direction finding her standing next to Magda who just did some leg press

“I expect you home for dinner” the Danish shot back without taking her eyes of her girlfriend

“Yes mother” you rolled your eyes

“That's “ja mor” for you brat” Pernille played along smiling slightly as she nudged Magda slightly with her foot against her girlfriends hip silently telling her to focus

“Yeah yeah... I'm off..” you pulled a face before disappearing again

“So... any tips for free?” Alex asked as soon you slided into his passenger seat

“You have to watch Aitana... this woman likes to work” you said as you put your seatbelt in place

“I already know that” the Norwegian rolled his eyes as he smoothly maneuvered the car through traffic “... want a little city tour?”

“I wish I could but I really have to get going on this stupid desert G promised Pernille for inviting us for dinner” you grumbled

“You got invited by Hardersson? Nice...” the trainer looked impressed

“Why you look so impressed?” you asked confused not understanding why he would be impressed by a dinner invitation

“You getting invited by our royal couple... impressive... you here now what... two days? Three?” Alex mused

“Three if you count arrival” you said “Royal couple?”

“You don't really follow social media don't you?” the Norwegian asked chuckling

“Not really no... being Lucy Bronzes sister does things.... the amount of thirst messages over my sisters hands or her thighs I received kinda put me off having a social media account... then there were threats... or inappropriate messages... oh yeah... and the messages that said they were happy I had three ACLs.... so no.. not really on social media” you said flatly

“The internet is a dangerous place...” the Trainer said calmly “... but also a good place you know... we as a Club can use it to keep in touch with the fans... we can rewatch games... players can basically promote themselves”

“I know... I never said it was bad... it wasn't just not a good place for me at the time” you said seriously

“But back to the original topic.. Hardersson is the royal couple...” Alex said

“I thought that was Beth and Viv...” you asked confused

“Here in Munich it's Pernille and Magda” the Norwegian smiled

“You're biased because Pernille is on your national team” you said shaking your head

“She's Danish....” the Trainer rolled his eyes “... I'm Norwegian and I don't train the NORWEAGIAN team”

“Danish... Norwegian... Sweden... all cold countries” you grumbled

“England isn't far off” Alex teased you

“We have rain... not cold” you huffed

“I went skiing in Glencoe last winter” the Norwegian chuckled finding immense entertainment in riling you up

“Glencoe is Scotland you fish eating...” you couldn't think off a good insult so you just huffed again

“We're here my token” he laughed as he pointed to the front door of the house where Georgia had her apartment in

“Thanks for the ride trainer” you tipped your head and got out of the car

“Don't forget to lose that paper tomorrow” he yelled after you and you threw a thumbs up at him

“Baby... I'm ho... shit that smells good... what is it?” Georgia yelled as she opened the door and got a little sniff of the pastry you made.

She walked into the kitchen but you weren't there. But she found the most delicious treat. Just as she was about to grab one from the baking tray you yelled from the bathroom

“If you touch them damn things Georgia Stanway I cut your fingers off”

“But you love my fingers!” your girlfriend yelled back in a teasing tone but retreated from the tray

“You still have a tongue I can use...” you deadpanned as you stepped out of the bathroom wearing a dark blue pantsuit with a silver necklace just putting in the matching earrings and light make-up

“True... but you li....” Georgia said but stopped midsentence and just stared at you

“What?” you asked seeing her staring at you

“You... this... you” your girlfriend rambled with wide eyes

“Do you need a restart?” you asked carefully and a little taken aback “... I can hit you if you need it”

“No.... you're just... you're beautiful.... so so beautiful” Georgia whispered

“Thank you” you said shyly your cheeks flushed as you bit your lip

“I think we should stay in....” your girlfriend pushed herself into your space towering a little over you

“No... I spend the last two hours making that desert... we go...” you said firmly pushing her back slightly “... go change... if we're late because of you...”

“Yeah... I'm already moving... no need to get mean woman” Georgia grumbled knowing exactly what you wanted to say

30 Minutes later you stood in front of a small house a little outside the city center with your basket full of deserts. Georgia took it upon herself to ring the doorbell – multiple times to annoy Magda – and was now waiting with a wide grin for the swede to open the door. And that she did. Magda opened the door saw a widely grinning Georgia Stanway with you behind her holding a basket. The swede eyed the basket and you offered it to her so she could take a better look

“I come brining gifts” you smirked as you saw the blonde lurking inside

Suddenly everything went very quickly. Georgia got pushed to the side so she nearly fell into the rose bushes you got grabbed and ungracefully pulled inside as Magda shut the door behind you with her foot

“Pernille... Pernille....” the swede excitedly yelled pulling you behind her further into the house “PERNILLE!!!”

“I'm in the same universe as you... stop screaming... what's the matter” the Danish came out of the – what you assume living room – looking annoyed “... hello dearest daughter of mine”

“Hi...” you said a little bit flustered and confused

“What's the matter Eriksson?” Pernille looked at her girlfriend who just pushed you in front of her with a wide grin

“Look...” she motioned to the basket

“Where's Georgia?” the Danish asked looking behind you two

“Don't know” Magda said getting more excited by the second “.... who cares... LOOK”

Finally Pernille took a look into the basket and bursted out laughing

“Can we keep her??” the blonde swede asked hopefully

“She's not a dog Magda” Pernille rolled her eyes

“But she made Kanelbullar!!” Magda pointed out taking the basket from your hands shoving it in her girlfriends face

“You are unbelievable Magda... no manners whatsoever” the Danish said annoyed as she made her way to the door to leave your girlfriend in

“I'm really sorry Georgia...” the blonde Dane said “... you have my permission to hit her”

“It's alright...” your girlfriend waved off “... I got threatened with cut off fingers if I'd touch them... she made them from scratch”

“Magda will guard her with her life now...” Pernille chuckled as she watched her girlfriend basically carrying you around and running circles around you asking you a million questions a second if you need anything

“That's okay...” Georgia smiled softly “.... she deserves to have more people in her corner”

“God Stanway... you really are in love” the blonde Dane chuckled

“Is that a bad thing when you look at her?” your girlfriend looked longing at you

“No... she's a treasure...” Pernille smiled as well watching how her girlfriend offered you even her Olympic medal in exchange for more Kanelbullar

[watchyourbuck]

Buck flicks the tiny brush one more time before setting it down on the sink. It looks… decent. It’s a bi flag, just— a tiny bit more purple than the one he copied from Pinterest. But it works.

“Hey, babe!” Buck calls, tilting his head against the bathroom lights so he can see the flag shine in the mirror. “I’m almost ready!”

This is his first pride as a member of the community instead of just an ally, and his excitement is through the roof. He called Hen and Karen ahead of time to make sure they’d be there, actually. He can’t wait.

“Take your time, Evan,” Tommy says from the bedroom, presumably scrolling on his phone. “We have an hour still.”

“I wanna get there early! The Instagram post said there’d be rainbow cupcakes for the first hundred people!”

Buck steps back to admire his whole ensamble. Tight faux leather pants and a white crop top that says ‘if lost, return to Tommy.’ He’s also got a few rainbow bracelets on and they’re each carrying their own flag — which reminds him he has to get them from the car.

He smiles and makes his way out of the bathroom, only to come to a halt when he sees Tommy getting into his ‘I’m Tommy’ shirt. “Oh.”

Tommy turns to look at him with a frown. He stands up and takes a few steps closer. “What? What’s wrong?”

“Am I doing too much?” Buck asks rashly, his eyes widening. “I’m doing too much, aren’t I?”

Before he can fully panic, Tommy puts his hands on Buck’s waist, pulling him a little closer with a stern look. “Okay, no. You’re not doing too much. Where’s that coming from?”

“You just— you look so,” he gestures vaguely to his boyfriend, opening and closing his mouth a few times. “So day to day.”

Tommy smiles amusedly. “Evan, the fact that I personally don’t enjoy painting a — beautiful, by the way —,” he adds and Buck preens, “pride flag on my cheek doesn’t mean you shouldn’t.” He closes the distance to give him a peck. “You look amazing.”

“I’ve just never—,” he says, clearing his throat. “I’ve never dressed like this before. Never wanted to before today.”

Tommy puts his thumb and index on Buck’s chin and tilts his head to the sides a few times, admiring his handy-work. “So?”

“So, I don’t wanna seem— I don’t know, too eager? Like, the community has gone through- through enough, right? They don’t need a-a man who found out basically yesterday that—.”

He doesn’t get to keep talking because Tommy kisses him again. More intently this time. Buck melts after a second, kissing him back. His heart starts slowing down.

Tommy pulls back, kissing along his jaw. He’s careful enough to not rub off any of the makeup. “You deserve to be there as much as everyone else.” His voice is soft and Buck can’t help but to lean into his touch. “You deserve to celebrate however you want.”

Buck pulls away, looking into his eyes. “What if— what if one day I don’t— I don’t wanna go? Or I rather just— just spend the day with you? Just us?”

Tommy smiles again. “Then we do just that. You don’t have to wear rainbow socks or underwear every year to be proud of who you are, Evan.”

“I’m definitely not wearing any rainbow underwear right now,” Buck says, blushing a little.

Tommy scoffs, closing his eyes for a second. “Neither am I.”

Buck’s fingers curl on Tommy’s belt loops, pulling him closer and trying to look down his pants. “Yeah? Are you wearing any underwear at all?”

“Careful,” Tommy warns, and a low groan’s already starting to form on Buck’s throat. “Or we’ll be late.”

“I thought you said we had an hour still,” Buck insists, looking up, a smirk tugging at his lips. He puts his other hand on Tommy’s hips, pinching at the skin above the hem.

“And I thought you said you wanted to get there early. Something about… rainbow cupcakes?”

Bucks chuckles, walking them both back until the back of Tommy’s knees hit the bed and they fall onto it. “Fuck the cupcakes,” Buck says, pulling up Tommy’s shirt to mouth over his abs. “We can get our own on our way there.”

Tommy laughs, curling his fingers on Buck’s hair and pulling him up for a filthy kiss.

(Happy pride everyone! <3)

[qqueenofhades]

Is it foolish of me to sympathize with how marginalized people on the far-left are incredibly frustrated that the Democratic establishment isn't as scared of/desperate to please them as the Republican establishment are toward the MAGA fringe? I guess from their perspective, voting feels like begging - most of the people who hear you won't even glance at you, let alone drop you a coin. But you still have to do it, or else you (or worse, your family) are *guaranteed* to starve.

Okay, a few thoughts here. Note: for you and the other people who have recently sent politics asks, I have been very deliberately NOT talking about it for the last few months. I had to break it yesterday because of the Orange Menace finally getting fucking convicted, but I do want to go back to not doing that (at least for the next few weeks/months/until whatever else stupid happens). So while I will answer this, I am generally not going to answer others and my apologies for that, but yeah. It's just so much and I have GOT to keep myself sane until November somehow. (Or God forbid, afterward, but you know.)

First off, most members of the American far left aren't actually marginalized people, or at least not marginalized enough that their personal well-being seems in any way likely to be affected by their loud and ceaseless campaign to tell other people not to vote. Actual marginalized people who have lived in America for any length of time are *well* aware of how the government and the state can be weaponized against them; witness how black community organizers will voice well-deserved criticisms of the Democratic establishment or other aspects of American party politics that are frustrating for everyone, but they will still always tell people to vote. Black people are also extremely aware that earning the right to vote was an incredibly long, difficult, and bloody battle that they were never given it for free, and the white power establishment fought them having it at every turn. They are thus far more aware than your average white online leftist that voting matters, because they had to work so hard to get it (and still to defend it as various red states launch openly racist assaults on voting rights, especially aimed at disenfranchising people of color). Witness how Bernie also got literally zero traction with African American voters, despite being the darling of the (white) online left.

Hispanic people are also (rightfully) frustrated at how both American parties can use Latino immigrants as a political football, but they're still backing Biden by 30-point margins. We hear a lot of chatter about Trump supposedly gaining ground with voters of color -- maybe he has, though I doubt it, but that's still incremental gains from the massive holes he was in before, and where he generally remains. Arab Americans are (rightfully) angry with Biden over Gaza, but even in the much-hyped Michigan primary, he got roughly the same amount of "uncommitted" voters as Obama did as an uncontested incumbent in 2012, and most of them have said they'll grit their teeth and vote for him in the general election anyway. Yes, a few of them have decided not to, but they are not the size of the Black and Latino populations in America insofar as electoral power, and many of them have grudgingly decided that as bad as Biden might be on this particular issue (though far less so than the social media groupthink would paint him) the alternative (i.e. Trump openly promising to deport everybody who's not white and crack down on pro-Palestinian protests and anything else) is much, much worse.

And yet, white leftists seem utterly incapable of making these same calculations. Frankly, I'm not sure they actually care about Gaza, let alone anything else they say, because if so, they wouldn't be slavering at the mouth to let Trump back in there to "teach a lesson" to Biden, Democrats, and everyone else who was not Smart And Clever Enough to sanctimoniously sit on their hands and let the fascists take over. I know this because they spent all their time lying about Biden and distorting his record and insisting people not vote even before October of last year, and then it only got ten thousand times worse. I'm not saying that all leftist or leftist-identified people are white, but they are disproportionately predominant in leftist spaces and in pushing the idea that there's "no difference" between the parties and somehow Trump and Biden are morally equivalent or will have the same amount of impact on what will happen after one of them is elected. That is, yes, because they are white and they have the privilege of assuming that a weaponized fascist government will not go after them for that reason (even though Trump and his surrogates are now claiming that "everyone" who opposes Trump has to be "dealt with.") As such, when you say that marginalized far-left people are frustrated with the Democrats, I'm... not entirely sure that's true. Marginalized people AND the far left are both frustrated with the Democrats, but one of those groups has generally still decided not to voluntarily disenfranchise themselves, and the other is pumping out Vladimir Putin-wet-dream anti-voting propaganda at every chance they get.

There is also the fact that America is not a left-wing country in any sense of the word, and that while it's easy for the MAGA Republicans to go ever further far-right and promise to be even more outrageously cruel and stupid and fascist than ever before, but that's not an actual policy or a plan. It is also a strategy of diminishing returns; witness the fact that for all the cruelty and stupidity Republicans have pumped into the public arena since 2016, they haven't actually been that good at winning elections, and most of their major successes have come from Trump winning in 2016 and thus being able to stack SCOTUS and the district and circuit courts with hand-picked right-wing nut jobs, who are functioning exactly as they were designed to do. (Which Hillary Clinton warned about, along with everyone else, and yet she was taken out by the exact same dirtbag leftist disinformation moral purity machine that is working overtime to handicap Biden for the exact same reasons.) Mainstream Democrats warned about this before the 2016 election and were scorned and laughed off. Indeed, the entire Online Left continues to resolutely deny that the extremist SCOTUS is responsible for anything (It's Biden's Fault) and thus are likewise identical to Trumpies. And since they also want Trump to get back in there and teach a lesson to the Democrats, they're just as anti-democratic, dangerous, stupid, and deliberately short-sighted as actual MAGATs, and can by no means be considered allies to the singular movement of keeping fascists out of power. That is our only present goal.

If Democrats bent over to everything the far left asks for (which is often a combination of tankie gobbledygook, various vague ideas about Communism utopia where capitalism magically vanishes with no consequences, half-baked revolution cosplays, and other stuff that is functionally equivalent to the wildest lunacies of MAGA) they would never win an election again, and that would be exactly what the fascists want. Witness how they struggled when they were branded "defunders of the police" and "socialists" and other effective responses to the mildest milquetoast efforts for reform or accountability. And the political climate right now is just far too dangerous to throw everything to the wind and prance out some pipe-dream perfect-utopia plan. I'm sure you've heard about Project 2025 and how the far-right Heritage Foundation is planning to systematically implement fascism at all levels of the country, the instant they have a compliant Republican president and congress. I would take all these people crying about Biden even a fraction more seriously if they weren't openly jonesing for something that is so unbelievably, incredibly worse.

For example: I currently have major beefs with literally the entire foreign policy of the Biden administration right now. I think they're being too hard on Ukraine (forbidding them to strike targets on Russian soil with American weapons, which would end the war faster) and, despite some promising signs and open displeasure, still far too easy on Israel. They looked foolish after insisting that Rafah was a red line and then essentially making up an excuse that what's going on now is not a "major operation." Secretary of State Blinken floating the idea of helping Congress censure or neuter the International Criminal Court arrest warrants issued for Netanyahu and co. was also one of the fucking stupidest things I've heard from a serious (i.e. non-Trumpist) American diplomat in a long time. So we respect the ICC when it issues warrants for tyrants we don't like (Putin), but when it issues one for tyrants we still do, apparently (Netanyahu), then bingo, it's back to the bad old habit of ignoring international law like we're special and it doesn't apply to us, and allows all the other bad actors around the world to do the same by pointing at America and correctly pointing out that we ignore it when it doesn't suit our purposes. I think this is wrong and I don't agree. So? What am I going to do?

Well, you see. I'm going to vote for Biden and I am going to give him money and I am going to remind everyone I know that they have no moral option but to do the same. I do this because I am aware that despite my disagreements, Biden is acting from a cautious anti-interventionist standpoint and does not want to throw American military might around recklessly or dangerously like good ol' George Dubya or Trump or even Obama and the drones. He is listening to sober mainstream advisors who have (however incorrect and useless) ideas about "avoiding escalation" and trying to bring conflict to a managed end. He is doing this with a realistic appraisal of the power of the office of American presidency and he's not going to capriciously end democracy and become a full-blown fascist dictator on day one, as Trump has openly and repeatedly promised to do. Yes, if there was a viable option apart from Biden, maybe I would think about voting for them, but there is not, and literally everyone who does not actively vote for him is helping Trump. I do not care about any other contrived and disingenuous online squealing. I know that Biden does not want the war in Gaza to go on for no reason and for maximum carnage; Netanyahu and Trump both do. That is just to name one thing.

So: yes. I absolutely understand being frustrated with the Democrats and wishing they would push harder and etc. But I am also aware that they can be pushed, that they are the only option right now, and the people who huff and puff and whine and groan about how it's such a moral imposition to vote for them are literally doing the fascists' work for them, and that is not acceptable. If they want a better system or a better world that isn't just useless internet fantasies about magical end-of-days Raptures fixing everything, also a la the crazy fundamentalists, they will have to get off their ass, do the work, and create that change. I will be happy to vote for that candidate when or if they arrive. In the meantime, I will continue to do my damndest to ensure that we even have a chance to get there. So yeah.

[misseviehyde]

CONFISCATED - Part 1

"AGGGGHHHHHH! I FUCKING HATE YOU, I WISH YOU'D DIE!"

Lawrence winced as the screams of his hysterical teenage daughter rang in his ears and she slammed the door to her bedroom so hard, the house shook and plaster fell down.

Bella was volatile at the best of times, but by confiscating her phone - the most important thing in her life, her Father had really just set her off.

He could hear sobbing and crashing in her room and knew she was trashing it. He knew from experience that Bella would try anything to get her phone back... threatening him, threatening to hurt herself... begging, screaming, pleading, lying... it was kind of sad. She might even try to contact her Mom, but even though he and Beth had separated, they still parented together and it would do little good.

'Since when did teenagers get so addicted to social media?' he thought. He'd noticed his daughters addiction to her phone had been getting worse and then when another parent had contacted him to say Bella was bullying her daughter he had decided to act.

He'd been pretty disappointed to see the mean messages calling the other girl a fat loser. He knew Bella was a popular girl and obsessed with her looks, but he hadn't realised she was so mean. It seemed everyone was afraid of Bella and she liked it.

Lawrence had decided that he needed to get his daughter back on track. She would be moving out soon and he didn't want his legacy to be a spoiled toxic bitch who thought she could treat other people like dirt. Bella seemed to think the only thing that mattered in life was money and status.

"I better go through here and see what else she's been up to..." he mused.

Scrolling through the phone, Lawrence was a little embarrassed to see the clothes and outfits his daughter had bookmarked as things to buy. They were all skimpy and expensive... he wasn't sure he approved. There were also pictures of boys in her phone and he didn't want to think about his horny daughters crushes on other men.

As he scrolled through, his eye was suddenly caught by an app he had never heard of. Brat App.

Opening the app, Lawrence saw it was some sort of social media app. It seemed you scored points for posting selfies and completing tasks and then you could spend those points buying outfits and upgrades.

Bella had obviously been playing it a lot. She had accumulated a lot of points. Perhaps she'd been saving up?

Intrigued Lawrence opened the avatar menu.

CREATE NEW AVATAR?

He clicked the button and a 3D doll appeared. It was female - you could only have a female representation it seemed. The name Loren had been randomly generated. He went with it.

Clicking on the doll, Lawrence saw you could spend points to buy different features. He began to play.

Hair: blonde. Body-type: Princess. Makeup: Pink

Each selection changed the avatar making it more attractive and feminine looking. Lawrence found it strangely addictive. Strangely pleasing to shape and mould the avatar, to watch it getting prettier and prettier.

Make her bitchy. Make her mean.

He wasn't sure where the intrusive thought came from but it felt good. Yes... why not make the avatar look hot and mean. A bully... even worse than his daughter.

Yessss. Make her super popular... make her an IT girl.

He selected the toxic femininity personality trait and pushed the natural leader button. Loren was going to be an Alpha girl.

More... make her meaner. Make her a total nightmare. Make her completely evil.

The intrusive thoughts felt really good and Lawrence saw that there were other options besides physical. He began to play with those. He cranked the popularity slider to maximum. He selected Head Cheerleader. He selected the slider for wealth and pushed it as high as it would go.

Make sure she knows how to fuck. She has to be the best at everything. Make her a fucking dirty slut...

Lawrence didn't feel embarassed as he entered the sexuality tab. It seemed so natural now to adjust Loren and make her nastier.

Sexual Orientation: Likes boys but will make out with girls. Sexually confident - switch. Likes to be fucked by Alpha's, but peg and dominate beta boys.

He noticed he'd nearly spent all of his daughters points. She'd really been saving, but he'd had enough points that he could pretty much max out all of Loren's stats.

The avatar was now of a mean, bullying, rich brat. She was the Head Cheerleader and a completely cruel delinquent who got whatever she wanted. She oozed toxic femininity, was an avatar of lust and desire and clearly had no morals. Loren was the most evil bitch it was possible to be.

COMPLETE AVATAR AND TRANSFORM?

Lawrence stared at the big button flashing at the bottom of the app. What did that mean? His thumb hesitated over it. Something wasn't right here.

Push it loser. Push it and see.

Lawrence felt like something was influencing him. Something external... yet also something within himself. Something hungry and dark and desperate to be free. Something that had seen its chance and was going to take it.

He pushed the button...

Lawrence screamed in pleasure as pink lightning blasted out of the phone and engulfed him. Bones cracked and skin tightened as with a howl of orgasmic pleasure he began to transform.

Long blonde hair cascaded from his scalp and makeup simmered across his features as his drab clothing became hot and sexy. Breasts grew and his dick shrunk away and his ass inflated out.

Loren was becoming a reality.

Pussy lips opened as body hair receded and a hot blonde teenage slut rolled her pretty eyes in ecstasy. Nails shot out, thick makeup covered her face and the new bitch giggled in glee. This felt amazing.

"Ohhhhh fuckkkkk yesssss," she hissed as her transformation completed.

Loren blinked. She looked down at the phone in her hand. What... a.... rush.

She smirked and standing up walked to the mirror to admire her perfect body.

She was eighteen... she was popular and she was horny.

This was going to be a lot of fun...

The end?

[ask-the-rag-dolly]

ok the askbox is open. im taking this opportunity to say ohhhhh im going crazy over the narrative constructed here. specifically with how audience (anon) interaction is intertwined with the main conflict.

because its like.. we are inherently a BAD THING. yes, some of us are actually malicious, but even if we do have kind intentions, and only want the best for ragatha.. just being there is a negative impact that outweighs any positives. we are a parasite, after all. and technically, the only positive action we could do is to simply.. stop engaging. leave the askblog alone. leave ragatha alone. except we could never do that, because we're too curious now, too attached- we want to see how the story continues, how it ends. we cant leave well enough alone, we just have to know. we need to know. so the cycle will continue nonetheless due to our nature. and we have to watch as our main character, the person we're rooting for, gets worse and worse. knowing that its our fault, because we're choosing to engage. we're choosing this path of pain. because we're curious, and that curiosity would kill us if we didn't feed it.

and of course its on a tadc tumblr ask blog of all things lol. no hate btw. im here enjoying it after all! though honestly i say that like this had any opportunity of existing outside of the askblog genre... or even the tumblr landscape itself- i feel like the anon feature itself is also a big part of this sort of narrative, as it allows those actively malicious anons to be even nastier. because it distances us from our actions. like.. we're given a mask, something that obscures our true identities (both to the other askers.. and to ragatha to an extent, as most all look the same to her. who knows, maybe that one supportive anon trying to cheer her up is the same one also encouraging her downfall! she cant tell!)- a thing that wipes our hands free of any consequences. a chance to become faceless and untraceable- so of course some people will indulge. be as horrible as possible. because, hey, its not like you'll be getting any consequences for it! no way to trace it back to you! no way to be held accountable! you can just sit back and watch the fire you made grow higher. more bright. thats the main goal, after all- to make a spectacle! to move the story along and make it exciting! thats the only thing that matters to you. that its entertaining. not the people you'll be harming in the process.

anyways sorry for the fucking. essay. in your askbox. i like talking and also i fucking love dissecting meta-aligned narratives like this. gggrrggrgrgrrrr chewing on this blog like a chewtoy. i hope everyone gets worse and this whole blog blows up!!!!!!!

i can't stop giggling at ' its on a tadc tumblr ask blog of all things ' . this was really originally supposed to just be a silly blog with little story but here we are . you really won't get this anywhere else

i get pretty happy when someone dissects this silly thing so no need to apologize !! i'm my own harshest critic when it comes to this blog so it's often difficult for me to grasp what meaning people get out of this lol truly thank you guys for wanting to see my insane , Unhinged ideas come through

and i love the dissection on the mean anons - a lot of this thing hinges on actions having consequences after all ! every little thing will have an impact on ragatha's mental state . i'll say i think the anons have potential to not be as harmful - as there was a point in the blog's time where they acted more like inner therapists to ragatha than reality-bending beings of chaos ( good times ) . it just really depends on being patient with an actually mentally ill person like ragatha - it does fascinate me how people's frustration with her echoes real life mental health situations .

but yeah thanks !!! i'll be kissing this essay and pinning it on the refrigerator that i call my brain (:

[brother-emperors]

lmao the rival dynasts are fighting and they're fucking it up for everyone else at a record pace

this tweet made me laugh, and I frequently make political comparisons between these specific groups of people, so now it's finally a comic

regarding the OctavianOctaviaAntony Uniteam Alliance

Octavia Minor and the Transition from Republic to Empire, Katrina Moore

in the red panel, which is an obvious anachronistic soup of events happening all at once: we have on the left: messalla corvinus

Alternative Memoirs: Tales from the ‘Other Side’ of the Civil War, Kathryn Welch

and then octavia (in despair & weaponizing that sacrosanctity to turn rome against antony), some kids (the two closest to antony are the twins, but tbh you can just kind of. pick whoever from the soccer team of kids antony had)

octavian and antony's back and forth is referencing suetonius augustus 68 and 69 (specifically: Antony also writes to Augustus [...] "What has made such a change in you? Because I lie with the queen? She is my wife. Am I just beginning this, or was it nine years ago? What then of you — do you lie only with Drusilla? Good luck to you if when you read this letter you have not been with Tertulla or Terentilla or Rufilla or Salvia Titisenia, or all of them. Does it matter where or with whom you take your pleasure?") and also the whole. thing. about antony's will. that sure was something.

the herod comment from kleopatra is referencing all of this

Mark Antony: A Biography, Eleanor Huzar

AND FINALLY. the art in the inset panels are from The Roses of Heliogabalus, Lawrence Alma-Tadema

⭐ places I’m at! bsky / pixiv / pillowfort /cohost / cara.app / tip jar!

[trashogram]

i’m gonna hop on the stolas hate train with you for a second. Do you know what i feel like he doesn’t get enough lashings for? His inability to see things from Blitzo’s point of view.

I’m sorry but despite being horrendously bad he is simultaneously one of most self absorbed characters ever. If he really loved Blitz to an up to par standard he’d be able to understand the HUGE power imbalance between them regardless of their feelings or time spent together. (might be a spoiler but i feel like you’ve seen it by now) but Blitz out burst to Stolas was super justified , i wouldn’t have done it personally, but i see where he’s coming from.

That moment itself was a rare vulnerable!blitz moment that stolas could’ve used to mend their relationship but instead he made it about Him AGAIN I CANT DO THIS😭😭😭 THEY SUCKKKK GOOD LORDD

I’m here to conduct this hate train, you’re more than welcome to come aboard.

Stolas has the characteristics of a Covert Narcissist (obviously he’s fictional, I can’t diagnose a fictional character or real person, but let’s tally it up shall we?):

Lack of Empathy — You hit that one

Sense of Entitlement — he thinks he’s entitled to Blitzø’s time and body, as well as Octavia’s unending patience and understanding when he fucks up and fucks around on her and their family)

Taking advantage of others for personal gain — the whole deal with the fuckdamn Grimoire

Hyper-focusing on fantasies of grandeur — Stolas is King Delusion thinking his obsession with Blitzø is at all equivalent to love, or even liking someone. He also deludes himself into thinking he knows his own child but he ignores her wants when she literally runs away from him on two separate occasions bc he’s not fucking listening to her.

Exhibit passive-aggressive behavior, arrogance, or subtle superiority — Ppl don’t clock this as much as they should but I’ve noticed and gagged at his belittling “pet names” for Blitzø (impish little plaything, itty bitty imp) and how when Moxxie and Millie try to speak to him, Stolas either treats them with disdain/like peasants or doesn’t even look at them when they speak! Not even bringing up how he uses his own imp staff as stress-relieving toys.

Highly sensitive to criticism — Can’t take being called out, has to cry and run away from the truth that Blitzø (and Stella and Octavia) are spitting

Victim Mentality — it’s everyone else in this damn bird’s life that’s to blame instead of himself. “I think so highly of you, I didn’t realize you thought so low of me.”

Fuck. You. Stolas.

I’m sorry this is a wild rant but to be fair it is the Stolas Hate Train (SHT, we should implement an I in there). Obviously I don’t hate his fans. Like what you like. Please. However, I may have some concerns over how young HB fans can get and how they don’t truly see how terribly this character is written because they accept the framing of Stolas as the poor victim in this situation at face value and don’t see it for what it really is, but I’m not their parents. And hopefully the younger audience will grow up and also think “ew”. At the very least.

I would like to know if the HB writers, and her majesty Vivienne Medrano, realize that they’re framing the Abuser in this situation as the victim but have dug this hole so deep that they just have to keep digging bc there’s no going back or if they genuinely think their targeted audience of adults don’t see through this or haven’t had to deal with abusive relationships themselves.

[tocomplainfriend]

Oh no

TW - racism and Slavery, power dynamics

really meh. IDK why they went mecha with the cherubs. The energy of the fight and how much it lasted was really lacking. I'm annoyed still by the "GUYS STOLAS IS SO SAAAAAD" bullshit. Why is the thumbnail so bad? I thought it was fake.

There is not an understanding of classism or power dynamics or anything.

Blitz was right, Stolas is a privileged asshole that constantly reduced their relationship into something sexual and belittled blitz, in remarks of him as a lower / IMP. Stolas did a scenario where Blitz job depended on them having sex. The series is creating a scenario where Blitz needs to love Stolas back because Stolas is so UWU sad baby that 'loves' him.

The main reason i hated the re-write of Stolas and blitz meeting-is because is exactly this: (something I've been aware of for a while.)

This exact situation of white slave owners making the kids of their slaves play with their white kids (I originally got introduced to this idea for a long form criticism of the Princess and the frog Story from Disney). IDK why would you make a scenario where there is inequality to the imps and how they suffer racism- if you just want Stolas to be in the right and Blitz in the wrong

I do not care if Stolas is sad and his life (even tho better because he is rich and has a literal book that gives him powers, vs being an IMP that could die, suffer from property and any possible scenario they are exposed to- or be a slave servant to the richer people because they were born imps.) he doesn't get to freed from all his wrong doings. No matter how depressed he is, his power is still higher and over Blitz. And creating a terrible scenario for blitz or any Imp for that matter.

They are really going for the plot line of But Stolas is a good rich privileged person.

Also, a scenario where the discriminated x privileged... There is the direct connection to the "what about everyone else".

If a non discriminated against person with big power is not bigoted to the person, the one they fell in love with. Does only that one discriminated person get saved from their social situation? Does everybody else still suffers because they don't happen to be the one. But what if the privileged person still discriminates against those people, but not their "special one".

Also... if you get a scenario as the discriminated one where you get to be saved from your situation, that's fucked. This person loves you if you say yes to them then you don't have to deal with being poor and as oppressed by the system but only you! Your entire group of people lives in the same conditions as you... If you say no, then you'll go back to being oppressed. This person on power hold power over you still. How much can you wight in with your own problems and boundaries, if the other one can throw you away into your old way of living. Can you leave the relationship? If you leave, you can get all the things you did with the privileged person cause maybe they don't hate you for being from a certain minority group, but the system over all hasn't changed. Can your group of people only get better life conditions by loving the pre-existing group in power? Those that person even like you, or do they like the power they hold onto you? Or maybe they like your race for your race more than you as a person.

Just a thing in the writing of this kind of story.

Also, character can have flaws, but they need to be recognized as flaws in writing.

Stolas are constantly victimizing himself (just like any sad privileged asshole would). He can't take the fact that if blitz is angry at him is for a reason, because he doesn't see his treatment of his as a bad thing. Cause in Stoals pov he enjoyed having power over blitz and calling him an IMP and forcing his romanticized view of the situation on to him- But Blitz was pulling a fast one to get money, This rich guy who he got gifted to as a slave playmate now is holding his job over his head in exchanged for sex, the same guy constantly does sexual advances towards him even when he explicitly says he doesn't want that (remember all of Loo loo land episode?), he gets call plenty of imp based "petnames" (“My impish little play-thing”) from a guy that can literary buy imps as slaves any day, suddenly he has to reciprocate his romantic feelings because he is sad, and apparently he wanted something more even thought he made it entirely empty and sexual all this time.

Stolas fake apologized, got fairly screamed at and victimized himself.

And apparently calling him out is bad for Blitz to do? Victim blaming.

I think by the last episode, they are going to kick Stolas out of the castle, technically putting him in a similar social position to imps with nowhere to go. Even if it doesn't magically work that way. -and Stolas is going to be "more sad and more in the right, so Blitz has no ground to complain now, right!?" ...

The way all of this episode and series is written tries so hard to delete any negative feeling against systemic problems, classism related issues, etc. if it's against a character the series wants you to like. If it's Stolas then he did nothing wrong, the power dynamic doesn't exist... if it is Mammon then he is a terrible person holding his power over others' capitalism sucks... oh but not Stolas tho! If it is Ozzi there is no power dynamic over a disabled imp, constant searching for appreciation from someone he fells is above him (like he tried to get with Mammon, because Ozzie is a good highly privileged person. No bad things to look out for! Fuck capitalism, but I'm one of the good rich people, no criticism is possible!

All that bad stuff could that people in my position of power is awful! But I would, could never do that! Because I'm a good one! Hmm

If you don't see the problem here, you may be a problem or may be justifying something terrible.

Also, funny enough about the short of Millie and Sally... I can't believe you only get content of a female character AND MILLIE IN SPECIFIC in extra side content that Viv didn't even care enough to write herself... and also the short gave me nothing new about her, I got more for Sally (and finally something normal! More than a line and she gets to have a character).

I hope there is a better episode for her.

[a-dauntless-daffodil]

the idea of a "not zombie plague" at the hotel.... what an effing comedy it could be...

thanks @sunsetcougar and @insert-funny-name-here69 for making me picture it XD

Vaggie comes back from Cannibal Town snuffling, no big deal, maybe it's all those feathered hats and fur stoles (sUSaN) or nice flowers or whatever. Vaggie goes to bed like normal, wakes up the next day GROANING, stiff and grumpy and shuffling around the hotel

Oh no!- Charlie the protective gf cries- what if there's some hellborn illness angels are weak towards??? It's time to physically carry Vaggie back to bed for rest (and keep doing that a few times until it sticks and she puts Razzle on guard at the door) (also print out and past their room's windows with pics of her own pleading pout so Vaggie won't try flying to freedom again) (and crashing again)

well this is kinda a weird and kinda funny for the rest of the hotel... until the Symptoms start to spread

sneezing is the first stage, the infection fun, a sign you've already got it, but everyone wants to blame Susan and Susan's specific perfectly matching (aka hostile harsh and annoying) choice of perfume lingering around the hotel, so they all (not vaggie) (vaggie thinks susan is The Coolest) just walk around sneezing and yelling "FUCK YOU SUSAN" afterwards instead of "bless you" or whatever

loss of appetite isn't that big a deal at first- between the guy with the drug addiction, his friend also with a drug addiction, an alcoholic, a tiny woman who can fill up on a single ritz cracker, a guy who eats rotting dear corpses, a pig who regularly gets his appetite spoiled with treats, an egg boi who doesn't know what he eats without his boss around to tell him, a goat demon stuffie hell bent on only consuming doughnuts, a demon princess too busy singing and scheming happiness plans to do things like SLEEp never mind EAT, her girlfriend who will care about stuff like hunger once everything else is taken care of and not a second before, an the KING of hell who hasn't even had an appetite for LIFE in ages.... no one notices the lack of eating going on at first, until it's Too Late

stiffness and aching of the joints has everyone complaining when it hits tho. Angel Dust is pissed it got in the way of his performance. Husk feels old again and gets grumpy when he gets called old man which makes him even MORE grumpy. Niffty enjoys it for 4 minutes until it throws off her rat kill rate. Alastor pretends to feel nothing but every time he moves there's a horrible CRACK from any and all bending joints and Cherri finds him stiffly stuck in a chair a least once. Cherri is the best off bc she mainly just feels like she got blown up and is used to it. Vaggie is having flash backs to the pain and weakness right after losing her first wings- Charlie wants to help but is hunched over so far she regularly rests her chin on Vaggie's head and doesn't have the energy to drag her back to bed. Lucifer is ACTUALLY hobbling around using his cane, snapping to false casualness whenever someone looks his way, secretly using a rubber duck as a stress ball. They grudgingly agree they can't blame this one on Susan (actually...) and migrate to the lobby as a group, trying to figure out what KIND of hell bug they've somehow caught.

Now is where the loss of appetite finally gets notices. Vaggie dragged out some food for the war council and NO ONE can stand even LOOKING at it. there are, however, at lot of OTHER looks going around....

Husk edges away from Angel, who's eying him even more hungrily than usual but without any of the sultriness. Niffty scuttling past gets his attention and makes his tail do the little pre-pound wiggle as he sinks his claws into the sofa to keep from FOR REAL pouncing. Cherri is staring at her bestie Angel Dust and gritting her many sharp teeth at the hallucination that he's limbs are actually full of drugs. Alastor's eye is twitching, the hotel gusts all having taken on the shape of deer carcasses from his point of view. Lucifer is fine until he looks over at Vaggie- he looks away instantly and shoves his ducky in his mouth to BITE, panics, yanks it free again, and when he looks down it's morphed into a stylized duck version of Vaggie with bite marks. Vaggie has gone dead quiet and is staring at her future father in law, clutching her spear, mentally roasting him over hellfire on a spit in her mind's eye.

Charlie sees all this happening like what is going ON guys, why are you all acting so... sooooo............Hm. Charlie wonders aloud if Razzle, Dazzle, and the Egg Boi have always had such a close resemblance to juicy little roast chickens?

Then Niffty bites Husk's tail and the hotel is overrun from the inside

it's not a ZOMBIE plague- it's CANNIBAL FLU- and now sinners are chasing sinners down the halls with knives and forks, Charlie is trying NOT to eat the little hellborn as they try and fail to nibble on her lanky limbs, and Vaggie and Lucifer-

there is a new hole in the hotel where Vaggie tackled her future dad in law through the roof and now anyone looking the hotel has great view of them both snarling, circling each other in the air, spitting out mouthfulls of feathers from successfully blocking each other's bites while failing to to grab any FLESH with their own

Thankfully Rosie had finally gotten wind of Vaggie leaving with a 'slight head cold' last time and waltzes over just in time to toss some of her best stock into the hotel, a fine selection of sinner, hellborn, and even some leftover angel steaks from the battle, smartly distracting the hotel crew from hunting and tearing into each other instead

One very upsetting but ENERGETIC meal later, the blankly traumatized (and blood spattered) hotel crew huddle in groups back in the over turned lobby, listening as Rosie assures them the worst is over and they should be good as gore by tomorrow morning!

Alastor politely informs Roise that the mention of gore at just that moment might not have been the BEST choice of words

right on cue, Husk starts making hairball noises, and everyone else looks suddenly sick

Vaggie sighs, patting her gf on the back as Charlie tearfully hugs Razzle after having had her jaw unhinged in preparation of swallowing him whole when Rosie made her timely arrival (Razzle forgives her, he was planning to try devouring her from the inside out or die trying) (meanwhile Charlie had put both Fatty Nuggets and the Egg Boi on a frying pan and was preparing to have a nice cozy ghibli-style family meal- of friendship. literally. of friends)

-alright, Vaggie gives in, fine. Just one time I'll say it too.... Who do we blame for all this?

SUSAN everyone growls

this reminds Rosie to pass out the "shove your groaning up your asses" cards Susan made for all of them, which are, of course, scented

Vaggie sneezes at the scent and there's a stampede as everyone not wildly in love with her tries to run and save themselves

cannibal flu. it puts the "i" in cannibal as in that's what it makes YOU

cannibals are immune to this party bc they would barely even notice if they had it, for them, it's just suddenly turning into picky eater for a few days until the craving is satisfied :3 sometimes with your next door neighbor but really, isn't that what neighbors are for~?

(charlie falls into bed that night, exhausted, only to look around at a strange chewing noise)

(it's vaggie. on the window seat, hunched over with wings huddled around herself, looking up frozen in the act of gnawing on lute's torn off and left behind arm)

Vaggie: ".... Susan sent it over for me, special."

Charlie: "Uh huh."

Vaggie: "I'm not sick anymore! I just, was kinda curious..."

Charlie: "Vaggie, I support you biting the arm of the woman who tore out your eye. And you look great smeared with angelic blood." (pouting) "....but can you be cannibal curious in the morning and snuggle with me now?"

Vaggie: (tossing lute's arm into the bathroom) "Always, sweetie."

Charlie: "Mmm gooood. Now kisses!"

Vaggie: "Shit wait, I should wash my mouth-"

Charlie: "Or not?"

Vaggie: "..not?"

Charlie: "I'm kinda curious too~"

and thus was Susan's cannibal propaganda successfully spread, by the power of gay love, and how hot the demon princess of hell thinks it is when her angel girlfriend is spattered with someone else's blood

[biggest-geo-oogami-enjoyer]

Hello! I was wondering if you could write hcs for how everyone would be at a carnival?? Thank you<3

The Best of All Amenities (All x MC/Reader)

I'M BACK MOTHERFUCKERS >:D

Hello my beloved Anon, I hope you have an awesome day/night! <33 Thanks for letting me write this for you, and I'm sorry for the extreme lateness of this. I'm on my knees right now forgive me Anon raaaa.

Btw I'm getting back into the habit of writing so cut me some slack for this one. I'm also not experienced with carnivals at all so I apologise for potential inaccuracies my dear. </33

Post-Completion A/N: I just realised this said carnival instead of fucking amusement park I'm so done. I tried to make it work for both I'm sorry Anonnie. i'm sorry but have this anywayy because i've never been to a carnival and don't know what the hell goes on there and also I am kinda silly and if this is inaccurate I apologise

T.W.: Mentions of vomiting.

- Signed by biggest-geo-oogami-enjoyer

Amenities: something that helps to provide comfort, convenience, or enjoyment. 

---------------------------------------------------------------------

Brittney is a walking carnival let's be real.

Like her hair screams classic circus-tent except the white and red is pink and blue.

Would get cotton candy and judgmentally eat it while surveying the rides.

Y'all would be going around looking at everything.

She's probably gonna try to not get on anything because she's shitting herself at the thought of getting on a coaster frfr "not bothered".

Will carry iced coffee around, she somehow has an endless surplus of coffee. It's genuinely terrifying.

You both will wander around and gossip, along with judging the outfits of everyone else like it's a fashion strip.

Will get angry af if the line takes too long.

Will get on at least 1 ride out of spite, ends up almost vomiting. "Never again."

Y'all are paparazzi tho like shit's crazy with how many photos you both take of each other. shame it ain't the kinky kind

Deryl would go berserk. Like this boy will literally lose his marbles from joy.

If you invite him to any gatherin, amusement park, carnival (hell any park at all), this boy will be dragging you everywhere.

Indecisive about where to go.

Very indecisive about what to eat. he'll harass you for food teehee

Is the type to get really excited about rollercoasters, until it's your turns to go on one.

In that case he'll start panicking.

You'll have to convince him he's not gonna die.

Will be quaking in his boots from fear.

Don't worry he gets on the ride anyway. Especially if he gets one from you after.

Will just be having a blast despite the terror tbh.

Will not go into any haunted house tho.

Like he will sprint out of there.

You'll have to run after him so he won't get lost lmfao.

Will expect emotional support from you after.

You both have a massive ton of fun tho prepare for more bedroom edition fun later.

Jess will be sceptical.

Don't get her wrong, she'd love to go.

But she's shy and a massive homebody.

and can't socialise to save her life

When you both get there, she'll be overwhelmed by the amount of people.

Sorry broski you're gonna have to do the talking.

Will be scared af of the rides, will clutch onto you for dear life.

May be the type to silently vanish and reappear because she's a midget often caught up in staring at venues and looking at things.

Will be the type to just cling to you tbh

She's either glued to you or unstick so hard and fast she'll teleport to the other side of the planet.

You'll probs take photos tbh, she does have an internet influence.

Y'all will be discussing each others' fav idols and celebs over desserts.

And of course loving each other's company and hopefully bodies.

Crowe will be happy to go wherever with you.

So he'll def be willing to do anything at this entertainment complex.

Yáll are probs gonna grab some snacks and take more mellow rides tbh.

He doesn't seem the type to like really violent ones.

Will probably be the type to just observe you go on a ride.

Will also take photos. He wants to admire you remember this day. <33

Will hold your drinks as well.

Will just serve as your porter and server let's be real.

He'll def go on the more chill rides tho.

Will even let his hair down to feel the wind. >:]

and also so you can pull it ngh

10/10 hair pulling sesh would do again yeehaw

You both have an epic day together. Time for an even sexier night

Hyugo would have already been dragging you places.

So when he stumbles upon the existence of this place, you bet he's taking you there.

Y'all are gonna be fucking parading around.

He's gonna just *point* somewhere and you're going.

Like it's not even a question or a debate.

He'll have a maniacal grin on his face while doing it too.

i'm scared send help

shawty getting a tad cray cray here

You're going on a ride hehe and he's gonna stare ahead very intently, grip the steel bar and have a very spoopy grin on his face.

Has a blast.

Y'all go everywhere, you make time for everything.

He'll shoot people in the line to make sure you have time teehee

y'all wont get arrested cause his daddy's got money

Oh. And candy.

You both eat all the candy.

You both also spend like 2 hours vomiting because of how much candy you had.

10/10 would puke guts out again.

But you both genuinely just have a blast. Shame it ain't a blast of smth white and sticky.

Geo will spawn at the venue with the most monotone expression ever. he's still shocked you invited him teehee

Will recoil at the sight of the massive crowds, will probably drag you off somewhere quieter.

Alas there aren't that many 'quiet' places to go to, so he'll grow to tolerate it (because of you and only you).

Will be the type to order food that he knows you like felt like getting, gives it to you anyway.

Will not be caught dead going on a ride, the screaming irritates him too much.

Unless you beg enough, then he'll do one of his choosing. (it's the most violent one because he wants you to stop calling him a scaredy-cat).

Will be dead silent the whole time, gets off unfazed AF (he'll probably not eat for the rest of the week tbh).

Will also probably hide his face because, his influence, his reputation, the fucking paparazzi.

Will probably try to make you go somewhere else with him after, like a cafe or smth, somewhere 'peaceful'.

Does enjoy himself though, will probably not admit it due to...pride.

Only thing is; nowhere's more peaceful than your bed teehee

Sol literally will be squealing with joy if you ask him to go anywhere with you.

This man is too down bad to live.

May or may not buy ice cream so he can watch you sensually lick it.

This bastard will 110% enter any form of haunted house just to see if you'd (hopefully) cling to him.

Will end up clutching your hand either way. <333

Everything is on him, like. E v e r y t h i n g.

You can't pay for anything, 'tis illegal.

Will be the type to just sit on a ride and hold back a smile because he's not bothered to scream like everyone else (he hates it when people do that, will probs wear headphones for the noise), so he'll just sit there and quietly rejoice.

Will bring his own food beforehand, in case you both don't wanna spend money on the stupidly expensive food there.

Is genuinely happy af tho, this guy will do whatever you want, win whatever you want.

Also will threaten people to move out of the line if they're holding it up or something.

Has no shame.

And that's okay.

Because the shameful things he does in the bedroom is more than enough to balance it out. ;)

You both have a banger time tho. *claps approvingly*

[uzurakis]

heyy !! i was looking at your profile which is amazing btw and saw someone desperate like me for some kaiser content. maybe smth involving reader wearing his jersey and well… yk.. :33

“aah, someone’s been a thief,” kaiser teases, eyeing the jersey that fits snugly on you. the way the fabric drapes over your shoulders, slightly too big yet perfectly fitting; it’s like you’re carrying a piece of him with you, and it fills him with a sense of pride. “i was wondering where that went.”

during a break from practice, your boyfriend spots you and jogs over, his eyes widening as he notices the familiar jersey. a nasty smile forms on his lips as he approaches, clearly intrigued.

playing pretend, you feign innocence, glancing down at the jersey. “oh, this? i thought it was mine. it fits me perfectly, don’t you think?”

it does, it looks perfect on you. oh how much kaiser wants to say that. but no, there’s still one thing he needs to hold high; a man’s ego.

so, kaiser narrows his eyes playfully, a smirk tugging at the corner of his lips. “nice try, but we both know that’s my jersey. or maybe you happen to be one of my fangirls that shop their favorite—“

“oh, shut up,” that cocky attitude of his is not getting anywhere under your watch. then you shrug, giving him a cheeky grin. “well, finders keepers. maybe you should have kept a better eye on your stuff.”

“ouch, you’re saying i’m messy person? that hurts, meine liebe,” he chuckles, one mirthless laugh falling in your ears. “why don’t you wear it tomorrow for the match?” kaiser suggests playfully. “that way, everyone knows you’re mine.”

you tilt your head, pretending to consider it. “hmm, i don’t know. there will be a lot of fans wearing jerseys with your name on them. even you could mistake me as one of your crazy fangirls. yuck.”

kaiser’s smirk fades, replaced by a mock pout. “but none of them are you,” he says, tone slightly possessive. “it’s different when you wear it. like, it’s special.”

still playing along, you raise an eyebrow. “oh, so now it’s special because i’m wearing it? maybe it’s just a really good jersey.”

he laughs at your remarks, wrapping an arm around your waist and pulling you closer. “mein liebe, seriously, seeing you in my jersey makes me feel… proud..?”

“because when you wear it, it’s a statement. it says you belong to me. and i like that.”

“i like what’s mine.”

you feel your cheeks heat up at his words. “well, maybe i’ll consider it,” you reply, trying to keep your cool. “maybe though.”

his grins broadens, clearly pleased with your response. “good girl. now, how about a kiss for luck?”

you laugh, “only because michael asked so nicely.” leaning in to give him a quick peck on the lips, you continue, “anything else you want, your highness?”

he wraps an arm around your waist, pulling you closer. “you better be in the front row tomorrow. front and center,” he murmurs against your lips. “i play better when i know you’re watching.”

you smile, but what if you still want to mess with him? “huuh, but i also haven’t said i’ll watch your—“

“don’t fucking care, you will watch me,” he says, pressing another kiss to your lips, shutting you up. “now, go cheer me on. i’ve got a game to win.”

n. i’m taking this way babes. we can also talk abt it if u wanna take it that way *winks aggressively* jus hmu as always <3 mwah ty for trusting me wit every kaiser piece here ahhsakksjs. also! tagging another kaiser lover @6gumi mwaaah xo

@uzurakis

[brucewaynehater101]

I had a rather angst idea for a Good Dad Bruce au. One where he actually loves his kids and Jason never died (they still took Tim in because they found him taking pictures of them on patrol) and everyone is a lot healthier. The family spends time together and while they do squabble, like all families, they don't fight like they do in canon.

Then one day, they get an alert that the cave has been broken into and when they rush to check it out, they find.... Tim? Which shouldn't be possible as Tim is following behind Bruce and was literally at breakfast with everyone else. The new Tim's head snaps up when they enter and he just sighs, "Damn it, I was hoping to avoid you guys. Well, Multiversal Code Lima Omega Sigma Tango. Is that still the code here?" Which is the Bat code for "someone fucked up and sent me through a multiverse portal and now I gotta get home". Before anyone can fully comprehend what's going on with New Tim, he turns back to the Batcomputer, where he's currently pulling up information on Zatanna and Constantine.

Bruce walks over to the computer, worried about this version of his son being lost so far from home and says, "well help you get home. Do you know what world you're from?" And Tim simply raises an eyebrow and says, "oh. Is this one of *those* dimensions? How annoying. You can help by getting me some coffee, keeping Bat Brat and Hood away from me, and I'll be out of your hair soon enough. I won't even be here long enough to make your paranoia to bad if things go right."

All that is. Rather concerning. Especially because none if them have Hood in their names. Of course these Healthy Bats insist on helping New Tim out for as much as he will let them. It can be noted that he only accepts food from Alfred, Steph, and Cass and only drink from them and Dick. Anything Jason, Bruce, or Damian tries to give him is completely ignored, Tim acting like it isn't even there. He also is isn't refusing to interact with Damian and Jason but unlike the others, he won't say anything to them until they say something first.

Eventually Damian snaps and says, "Drake, why are you ignoring myself and Jason?!" Tim simply slowly places the tablet he was typing on down and turns to Damian and Jason who are a little pissed and also worried about Tim and why he's acting the way he is. After a deep breath, Tim says, "simply by observing I can tell that our families are extremely different. For example, both of you get along very well with your Tim. It is not so on my world. I will not go into details for all of our sakes, but both of you have made *multiple* attempts on my life. I don't blame either of you and things have been almost peaceful recently. I don't blame either of them, it's simply instinct for them. But that doesn't erase the fact that someone with each of your faces has nearly killed me at least 5 times *each*. I understand that it wasn't you two who did it, but I would still rather not become complacent around any version of either of you to avoid becoming complacent around them. So just. Stay away from me." Tim then turns back to what he was doing and resumes research on how to get back to his own world.

Jason is shocked and horrified that any version of himself would make any attempt on Tim's life, let alone almost half a dozen! He snarls, "what do you mean it's *instinct* for them? What, is only one person allowed to be in the family at a time or some bullshit?!"

Tim and Jason go back and forth a few times with Tim refusing to explain fully, simply calling it Instincts and everyone calling bullshit on that until Tim snaps, scales spreading across his hands and face as his pupils become slits and a hood flares out of his neck that was previously hidden. In a blink, Tim has become some kind of human animal hybrid as he hisses, "because I'm a Viper, Jason is a Hawk, and Damian is a Mongoose!! They naturally hunt my kind, I don't blame them for not trusting me or attacking me if I don't warn them that I'm there! I don't blame either of them for trying to kill me on sight the first two times each of them met because I'm a Cobra!" Once Tim settles down he pinches the bridge of his nose and deshifts back to fully human as he grumbles, "I apologize. I shouldn't have snapped like that just. Just leave it."

Jason and Damian attacking him on instinct is all a lie. They just don't want to accept Tim into the family and this is an easy way to excuse any murder attempts. If Bruce or Dick catches them, they just lie through their teeth that Thr Pit makes it harder to control the more instinct driven side of them, or its lingering effects from whatever Rouge they got Poisoned by last, or Tim was shifted and didn't warn them when he walked up. Sure it's fine for everyone else in the family, hell in 99% of the world its considered perfectly OK to be shifted at all times, or at least it is for animal hybrids like mice and birds and dogs, but not as much for Spiders, Snakes, and Pathners.

As for what the rest of Snake Tim's family is, Bruce is some kind of Fancy Dog (as was his mother) and when he's Batman he fluffy up and puts temporary dye in his fur to look like a Rottweiler or Doberman, Dick is a Swan who used basically spray on hair dye that Bruce made special for his feathers so people thought he was a Robin Shifter, Jason is a Hawk who's wings got the same treatment, Tim is a King Cobra like his mom but when on patrol he keeps the hood hidden and chews black gum so the inside of his mouth looks black like a Mamba's, and Damian is a Mongoose like Ras and Talia but the public thinks he's a ferret. Steph is either a Possum or a Raccoon and makes jokes about having switched animals with Tim as birth. Cass is a black panther who loves the groom her family.

Shifter AU!!!!!!

I was not expecting that, so I was pleasantly surprised ^^

Snake comparisons for Tim are underutilized and beloved. I'd be down to see way more of them. As for this AU, I'm curious about what seems to be Shifter-ism (not sure if there's a better word for that), their instincts, and how often Jason and Damian get away with attacking Tim. Are they at least doing better now? It seems that Tim is weary of them, that they attacked him even with full control of their actions, but that he doesn't blame them.

Also, is one of Tim's instincts to take naps in sunny spots? Is he slower when he's cold?

For the cover-up that Tim did, it was brilliant. He crafted a perfectly logical reason for why they would attack him (especially for Bats who are presumably unfamiliar with shifter instincts and thus unable to call him out).

[hypnoneghoul]

Sundown: Chapter 7

WC: 3,1K

Relationship: SwissAlps

Tags: AU; Cowboy!Swiss x Barmaid!Mountain,Transfeminine Mountain, Angst, Crying, Alcohol, Makeup, Backstory, Grief

He can blame his father for that, but not for his choices later on. That’s all on him, hurting Mounty is all on him.

Notes: I’m not very happy with how this chapter turned out, but the idea was good lmao hope you enjoy :3 Divider by the lovely @ghuleh-recs <3 Also happy Pride Month everyone!!!

Playlist here. / Chapter 1 here or on AO3.

Read chapter 7 under the cut or on AO3.

Swiss slept in the stables with Monty. Curled up and shaking through the cold night on a falling-apart cube of hay.

As fragile as he is, if not less.

He thinks about the irony, looks back at his life and wonders where the fuck he went wrong. He’s well aware, of course, but when he looks far back, ultimately he didn’t put himself on that road on his own. Albeit, he can blame his father for that, but not for his choices later on.

That’s all on him, hurting Mounty is all on him.

It doesn’t matter now, anyway, he already fucked up the best thing that has ever happened to him.

The man gets up, only imagining how pitifully he looks—though there’s no pity he deserves—and turns for Monty’s tack. He’s getting the hell out of there as soon as his chick is ready. Mere minutes later she is and Swiss walks her out of the stable.

“Once again it’s gonna be just the two of us, girlie,” he sighs, rubbing Monty’s nose as she nudges it into his chest. She understands.

Swiss’ jaw is clenched tight and his eyes still sting and he’s about to hop on and walk away from the best few months of his life like it was nothing when he hears footsteps on the soft ground behind him, followed by a familiar voice.

“What the fuck do you think you’re doing?” Swiss flinches, not turning to the other.

“Dew, you don’t unders–”

“I do,” Dewdrop interrupts him. “I know everything, Mounty spent the night at our place.”

Swiss looks over his shoulder despite his voice wavering and hot tears threatening to fall already. “You should be chasing me out of here with a pitchfork,” he jokes, but there’s no real humor in it.

“And yet I asked what the fuck do you think you’re doing,” the other man repeats, coming closer. He puts a hand on Monty’s neck to pet her; she leans into it and it’s as if both Dewdrop and the mare want to show the cowboy he should stay.

“What else can I do?” He shrugs, still not looking Dewdrop in the eye. “I messed up.”

“Yeah, you did. Big time,” he points out, “but the Shadow never sounded like a coward.”

Silence falls for a moment. Swiss takes a shaky breath and when he speaks again it’s barely audible, “I ain’t him, Dew. A coward is all I am.”

The other shakes his head. “You can’t leave her. She loves you.”

“And I love her, more than life itself,” Swiss claims and both of them know he’s not exaggerating. He’s never loved anything or anyone as much as he loves Mounty. She’s everything he’s not, she’s the best thing that ever happened to humanity, she erases all of it’s faults. She’s perfect and he’s…far from that. “I’m doing all of you a favor, I can’t–I don’t deserve her.”

“It’s not your decision.” Dewdrop argues. Swiss is surprised by his persistence, even though he knows the man is stubborn and more sharp-witted and wiser than he lets on. “She’ll forgive you, it’s how she is, you just have to be patient. Don’t run away, it’ll hurt her even more.”

“She’s scared of me.”

“Yeah, because you murdered more people than this town even has!” he bites back, nearly laughing, and Swiss hurts. Although he deserves it, he supposes. “I’m scared of you, too.”

Swiss’ breath hitches and he lets it back out with a dry sob, “Then why the hell are you trying to stop me?”

Dewdrop throws his arms up, nearly spooking Monty. “Because none of that matters! You said that the Shadow is not the true you and you’ve been here for long enough for me to believe that. Get rid of him once and for all and everything will be alright. Mounty will forgive you and forget about the fear.”

There’s nothing else Swiss can say. He wants to believe Dewdrop’s right, he needs him to be right if he is to stay, but he knows he’ll fuck it up all over again if he does. That’s just what he does.

Heartbreak and grief follow him wherever he goes, why would Sundown be any different?

“Come on, let’s get you a drink,” Dewdrop sighs, taking Swiss’ arm. His eyes widen, he’s not ready to see Mounty just yet, it’s too– “Relax, she ain't there now.”

He doesn’t say anything, but he lets the other walk him to the saloon, leaving tacked-up Monty behind. She looks rather pleased with the outcome, going back to her hay right away.

Dewdrop lets Swiss and himself in from the back and goes to make him a drink, leaving the cowboy in the storage. His head is throbbing and he really does need a drink, but he doubts whatever Dewdrop is pouring is going to be enough.

Before he realizes what he's doing he grabs an unopened bottle of whiskey off a shelf and shoves it under his shirt.

Just then Dewdrop comes back and hands him a glass that Swiss downs in two gulps. It burns his throat and belly but it's not enough.

Still, he thanks the other, “I'm gonna go now, I'll…I'll try to bring myself to talk to Mounty tomorrow.”

“You better.” With that Dewdrop leaves and Swiss heads back to the stable. Maybe he'll be warmer later, when the night comes, thanks to the alcohol. He takes the tack off Monty and settles himself on that same cube of hay that he slept on.

He sighs at how pathetic he is as he opens the bottle and glues his lips to it, reveling in the bitter taste and the acidic burn going down his throat.

A few hours later he notices he's moved. Or was moved.

Where? He doesn't really know but it's harder under his ass than the hay. He hums an off-key tune under his breath, rolling his head from one side to the other against a piece of wood. Is it a wall?

He zones out with an empty mind and he giggles at the foggy void taking over his brain. He has no idea how long he's been there and even where he is or what he's doing. It's dark but it might just be that his eyes are closed.

“Swiss? What the hell are you doing?” someone asks. The man tries to blink but his eyes are closed so he just squeezes them tighter for a moment before he manages to actually open them. His face feels numb as he tries to smile.

Swiss wonders how that beautiful girl knows his name.

“I’m–nevermind, but I do know your name.” Did he say that out loud? “Do you know my name?”

“Hmpf…” he huffs, trying to open his mouth and actually say what he wants to, ”you're ver’pretty bu–but I can't.”

“Can't what?” the girl asks, standing over him with her hands on her hips.

Mounty doubts Swiss can register the emotions on her face if he can't even recognize her, but she tries to mask them anyway. She's worried, she didn't expect to see Swiss tonight, much less in such a state. She hasn't made peace with all of what happened yet, but she still loves him and cares about him.

“There’s a girl, I–” Swiss hiccups, “I don't think she likes me anymore but–but I'm in love with her, y’know? So I…I can't do anything w’you.”

“That's fine.” Mounty crouches down, smiling, despite everything, at Swiss' ramble. He's drunk out of his mind and doesn’t realize it's her before him, but he is still loyal. “I just wanted to make sure you're okay over here, kind sir.”

“I ain’t a sir,” he giggles. “‘m a mess.”

“Respectfully, you have a point,” the barmaid agrees. She comes closer and reaches out to grab Swiss’ hand, trying to not shudder at the feeling of his skin on hers again, even though it's been barely twenty four hours since everything went down. “Which is why you can't stay here, come on, let's get you up.”

“No, I can't go w’you, my–my girl’s gonna be angry,” Swiss slurs in protest, shaking his head clumsily.

“Yeah?” Mounty can't help but giggle now, too. “I think your girl is gonna be more angry if you freeze to death out here.”

“Hmmm…but–but you can't touch me, ‘cause ‘m hers, o–okay?”

“Okay, I promise to not touch you anywhere weird,” Mounty grabs his other hand and tries to haul him up. It works as well as it can with Swiss in such a state, with him stumbling into her arms once he's up, “but I think I have to help you walk up the stairs, don't I?”

“Uh…p–pos–billy,” he hiccups again, but nods, grinning up at the girl. His breath stinks, but Mounty doesn't really mind. She is a barmaid after all, it's not the first drunk man she's dealing with. It is her man, though, this time.

She all but hangs him over her shoulder and walks into the saloon. The stairs are a challenge, but neither of them falls down, so Mounty considers it a success when she drops Swiss onto a bed in one of the guest rooms. She’s not ready to put him back in hers, not before they have a proper talk about everything. She knows she is going to forgive him, especially after what Dewdrop told her earlier, but they have to talk first.

Still, there’s a little voice in the back of Mounty’s head telling her to milk more out of Swiss. “Tell me about your girl, won't ya?”

“Oh, oh, she's…she's s’pretty, y’know? No offense t’you, but she’s the prettiest girl ever,” the man rambles, gesturing wildly. His eyes are wide and glassy—not only because of alcohol—and his grin is as wide and bright as ever. “She's an angel! She’s kind and–and lovely…and a–also she has nice…very nice boobies.”

“Huh.” Mounty puts a hand over her mouth so as not to snort. Of course he had to mention her tits. “She sounds amazing.”

“She is…” Swiss sighs dreamily, freezing with a goofy smile as he—most likely—gets lost in memories from not so long ago.

“Anyway, it’s way past bedtime for you, kind sir,” she snaps him out of it when she notices his eyes start to close on their own. “I think your girl would agree.”

“Mhmmm,” he hums in acknowledgement. “She’s always tellin’ me to go to bed when I don't wanna.”

“Sounds like she’s smart, too.” Mounty pushes him on the shoulder and he falls back like a ragdoll, flat on the bed.

“Mmm, the smartest,” Swiss mumbles, wiggling on the bed in something that looks like a rather poor attempt at getting comfortable. The barmaid shakes her head and throws a blanket over him.

And resists the urge to bend down and kiss him.

Swiss blinks and suddenly it’s morning.

His head is pounding and someone knocks on the door again and it doesn’t help it—even though it’s rather quiet. He realizes that the knocking is what woke him up. He tries to roll over and maybe get up to get the door but a wave of dizziness washes over him so he resolves to calling out, “Come in.”

His heart skips a beat when he sees Mounty in the door. Only now he realizes that he’s in one of the saloon rooms, but how he ended up there is a mystery. Though he supposes it might have something to with that bottle of whiskey he snatched yesterday.

Fuck.

“Good morning,” Mounty says, leaning against the doorframe. Swiss’ stomach turns and it’s not his hangover’ fault. “How are you feeling?”

“I’ve had way too much,” he mumbles. “Who brought me in here?”

“I did.” The barmaid shrugs and the corner of her mouth twitches upwards at Swiss’ grimace. “Found you half-conscious on my doorstep last night. Don’t remember much, do you?”

“Not really,” the cowboy admits. He sits up to lean against the wall and watches as Mounty walks inside and shuts the door behind her. She has a little basket hanging off of her arm and Swiss notices there’s faint steam coming from it.

“I can imagine. Here,” she hands him the basket, “from Rain.”

The man groans as the smell finally reaches him; freshly fried sausage with a slice of buttered bread and a glass of water.

“Thank you. Not only for this, for…everything.” Swiss takes a sip of water first, and even though he is not a fan of such a simple drink, his dehydration makes it taste heavenly. “Can we talk?”

Mounty doesn’t reply, but she nods before sitting on the edge of an empty bed across the bed. The man takes a bite out of his breakfast and it is delicious—as anything made by Rain—but there’s a certain bitterness to it at the distance that the other has put between them. He couldn’t expect anything less, but it aches nonetheless.

“Let’s start with apologies. I shouldn’t have hid who I was. We wouldn’t have gotten where we did if I had been honest, but I should’ve been, you didn’t deserve getting lied to. All I wanted was to get out of that life once and for all. I’m sorry, I’m so sorry, sweetheart. You have no idea how much I regret everything.”

Mounty remains silent, but her eyes are on Swiss. Her presence alone is more than he could’ve wished for after everything. He swallows a few more bites of the food she brought and washes it down with more water before he dares to continue.

“Can I…will you let me explain everything?” he asks once the breakfast is gone. Swiss pulls his knees up and curls up as much as he can under a scratchy blanket; he tries not to think about how Mounty must’ve pulled it over him yesterday. “Can I tell you my story? I don’t want it to be an excuse, nothing can excuse what I did, but I just…I need you to know. Will you let me tell you?”

The barmaid still doesn’t speak, but her gaze is soft and somewhat curious, as if she’s trying to be angry with him—mad, even—but can’t bring herself to hate him and is looking for a reason to forgive him, whether it’s there or not.

Swiss doesn’t deserve her in the slightest.

The problem, though, is that his lie—or rather avoiding the truth—is, after all, the least serious of his crimes. He's a murderer and even if Mounty can forgive his dishonesty, he can't imagine she'd be willing to look past all of his sins.

“I have…had a sister. Our dad was famous for getting into all kinds of trouble and one day he got himself killed and my sister—Sunny—kidnapped,” he pauses to take a deep, shuddering breath. He hasn’t uttered her name since the day he buried her. He wipes a tear from the corner of his eye, threatening to fall, before he continues. “I had nothing, there was nothing I could’ve done to get her back, but I went there and begged, offered my life in exchange for hers. They…those men decided that they’ll let her go when I pay off our father’s debt by doing all their dirty work for a while. That’s how the Shadow came to be.”

“How did…what happened to her?” Swiss flinches at Mounty’s voice. She sounds like Sunshine did, a bit; something he has noticed that first night down by the bar and tried so hard to ignore all these months.

“I did all they wanted, all their bidding, everything. I became a monster, a soulless–” he says, barely above a whisper. “I should’ve known it seemed too easy, that they weren’t men of their word.” 

He drops his head against his knees, still not fully able to say…it out loud. Saying something, letting it sound, makes things real and Swiss is far away from accepting the reality in which she’s not with him.

It’s barely audible when he does say it, “They killed her the moment they didn’t need me anymore.”

“Swiss, baby, I’m–” Mounty gasps. “I’m so, so sorry. Nobody should have to go through anything like that.”

“I killed all of them that night,” the man chuckles pitifully, sniffling wetly as he rubs his eyes against the blanket. “That’s why nobody heard of me after that, because there was no Shadow anymore, he died with his masters. I should’ve done that earlier, I should’ve fought and saved her, I–I failed her, Momo.”

The barmaid is speechless. She…Swiss shouldn’t have lied to her, but she understands—though not really, she’s never gone through something as awful as the man before her, but she can understand how all he wanted was…out. 

“I don’t–I don’t want you to forgive me and take me back with open arms,” the cowboy cries quietly, “it's just that…what I need is for you to–to understand. Please, sweetheart, just tell me you understand why I did what I did.”

“I do, darling,” Mounty states, loud and clear, and Swiss sobs with relief, choking on air. “But I will–I am taking you back with open arms. You're mine and I'm yours, Swiss.”

She gets up and walks over to the other bed—with her arms open, indeed. She’s not much bigger than the cowboy, but in that moment he’s tiny, as fragile as a man can be. Mounty wraps her arms around him and pulls him close, lets him sob into her chest.

“Seeing her body…seeing her, my baby sister, and having to bury her, I–I don’t… Believe me, sweetheart, I have paid for all I’ve done t–tenfold.”

“C’mere, lay down,” Mounty whispers as she strokes Swiss’ arm with all the gentleness in the world, not knowing any words that could fill the gaping hole in his heart. He keeps quiet, but obeys, resting his head on the barmaid’s shoulder. She brings them both down and tightens her arms around him, trying to comfort that broken, broken man as much as she can. She doesn’t feel like it’s enough and Swiss doesn’t have words to tell her that it’s more than enough and way more than he deserves.

What he can tell her, though, is words that he’s never going to be too overwhelmed, exhausted or hungover to say.

“I love you, girl.”

Swiss is afraid that he’s not going to hear it back ever again, but Mounty smiles and mutters, “I love you, too, cowboy.”

Somehow, hope fills him. Hope that they’re going to be okay.

He’s surprised to find himself believing it.