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sm-baby · 2 years

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My lil silly brainy brain had a split screen vision and I just had to write it out. Have a ficlet of Bernard and Silvia stuff<3 because beloved.

Word count: 1,491 words 8,354 characters

By bye!! enjoy the thingy (⁠ ⁠´⁠◡⁠‿⁠ゝ⁠◡⁠`⁠)

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In a place far and white, a castle floating in the sky. There worked gifts, bows of many talents, serving an angel with white and gold. But this is not fiction of labour, but a fiction of sleep and chatter.

The rain lightly came to greet the castle and the servants' hall hidden within. Droplets raced down the windows while a maid shut the curtain in its face.

There between the wood and quartz walls were the gifts and presents, servants, with their hair untied and their uniforms off. The men had a room filled with beds on the right half of the building, while women had theirs on the left.

It was almost like children the way they prepared for bed. Women gossiped their hearts out, and the men joked with each other inside the walls.

Oh what could they possibly be saying?

“ Tell us, head butler, what is it about that dim darn housekeeper that irks you so much?” Chuckled the men in the servant's hall. Those who were done with their chores gathered around the head butler, Bernard Fitzgerald, almost as if he was being interviewed.

The snark and chatter in their voices weren’t lost on them, they found the quarrelling between the heads funny and entertaining at times, but they must know! What is all this infighting about?

“ Oh, I’m glad you asked, disgusting peasant.” Bernard played along with the arrogant snark the men held. “ Maybe it’s because she-”

“--’s repulsive, lazy, and annoying!”

And on the other side of the servants’ hall was almost like a mirrored reflection. The maids were not all that different. The giggling women gathered around their senior lady, Silvia Blanca, sharing beds to sit on like she was being interviewed. “And another thing! He-”

“-- never lets me have fun! I mean, come on, I’m a grown man, I didn’t know my mother sent a babysitter out for me. ” Bernard said with a mocking snicker.

The men laughed at his reply and nodded along, he heard some agreeing hums and elbow batting. “ I mean look at how she treats her maids! She just--”

“--Lets them loaf around the moment the queen is out of sight! Really! He’s still working, but he wouldn’t know that considering his crippling lack of object permanence.”

Gasped the maids! They laughed in shock! The head butler really knew how to bring out the madame’s audacity!

Bernard scoffed “ If she worked alone, the maids would be stiff as a board! Machines to serve, I tell you!”

“ He’s childish,”

“ She’s annoying,”

“ A grub,”

“ A goody-two-shoes!”

“ A dimwit!”

“ A know-it-all,”

“ He’s just a man who has no respect for others' time and responsibility.”

“ —And she’s a woman who’d probably wear her own uniform to her funeral. ”

“ Yes, but madame!” spoke up a maid.

“ Sir-- I mean-” cleared the throat of a manservant.

The maid continued. “ The head butler does have a point…! In fact, his antics look sort of fun!”

The manservant spoke. “ You do go a little overboard with what you do sometimes… I mean, it is a job. You can’t argue that her scolding was always unfounded. And--”

“ --have you considered that... Perhaps, him just wanting his men to lounge is-- his way of telling them to care for themselves?”

The two heads blinked over at their junior servants. The juniors clarified:

“ I’m just saying,”

“ That maybe…”

“ Perhaps…”

“ Possibly…”

“ She’s-”

“ --Not as bad as he seems?”

“ And is just-- equally looking out for us the same way you do?”

Silvia blinked to think to herself, while Bernard frowned staring off to try and think of something to say.

“ I suppose he… makes a good host whenever the servants have a get-together..” Silvia looks up at the maids, who can admit, that she was right. They can observe that the head butler could hold his own when introducing a guest.

“ She…” Bernard clicked his teeth, annoyed to admit,“ …is pretty patient with me when I really don’t deserve it.”

some of the butlers shamelessly nodded along, admitting that, yes, the woman does put up with his antics a lot.

“ He convinces the queen to grant you rest days occasionally.”

It was almost like half the building sighed in remembrance of one of said rest days. Oh, sweet heaven. “ You are a little more giggly when he enters the room and tells his jokes.”

“ Hey, who am I to criticize her maids huh? Had it been for her, this site would be more akin to a jungle than a castle .”

some of the men scoffed and flicked their wrists at him, whispering their nooo’s and get outta here’s “ Hey, I’m right, and you know it.”

“ I suppose that I respect the fact that he can be tidy when he wants to…”

“ I guess I like that she can do dirty work around the castle.”

“ He cheers you up after a tiring day.”

“ She defends you when you get yourselves into trouble.”

The two sighed.

“ Oh, you scoundrels.” Bernard groaned annoyed. “ Nice try, you almost had me appreciating her there for a second.”

The men groaned “ Oh come on!”

“ What?? You don’t dictate my emotions. ”

Meanwhile, the women were just smiley, giving eachother advice while they wiped off each other’s makeup.

“ Don’t you get it though? The competition. Is that not at least a little motivating?”

Silvia felt a smile forming on her lips “ … it is very satisfying to prove him wrong a lot. I never considered that he’d see it that way as well.”

A maid gasped! “It’s a bonding thing!”

Ohhh

“ What-” Silvia squinted.

A manservant raised a brow. “ So It’s a sort of power thing? You like being the man of the house?”

“ It’s not fun if she doesn’t put up a fight though.” Bernard replied unsure of himself.

The men went silent, and just raised their brows at the senior butler. Their senior was akin to a boy annoying a girl for her attention, and he couldn't even see it.

“ What!”

“ You like her attention do you, YOU LIKE IT CUZ ITS YOUR WAY OF HAVING FUN WITH HER-”

“ I DON’T KNOW-” Bernard said!

Ding! Dong! Ding, dong..

" Sleep, ladies! We don't want to wake up groggy. "

" Yes, Silvia..." they hummed, putting away their combs and rags.

Silvia felt a soft smile across her lips. What a lovely bunch of ladies she stays with. Yes, they should be off to bed. No crew of hers shall be lacking beauty sleep…

Men and women alike slumbered for a few hours just to serve before the sun rises. Despite their separation, they don't know how similar yet different they are from each other. Both beautiful but in different ways.

Jeremy wouldn't understand how happy Chloe is with her makeup,

Sarah doesn't understand how proud William is of his moustache.

The night brings a breeze that can freeze a teardrop, with blankets warming their wearers just right.

Sleep for the servants, sleep for the bows, sleep for what the queen calls her gifts.

The butler and housekeeper, all with the mannerisms of a parent, were turning off the last lamps. In their eyes, the mother held pride at her hard working women, and the father held joy to see his men sleep well.

As they got into bed, The moon sang a song.

Goodnight, Silvia.

Goodnight, Bernard.

Woosh! Goes the last lantern.

The maids woke up, got dressed, ready to do early work only to spot a silent gathering near the balcony. A number of servants, men and women alike, peeked over from the entrance.

What they were expecting to be the morning alarm, which was the housekeeper and butler's squabbles, became a pleasant and mature conversation at the balcony.

Their higher-ups were still in their morning robes. The junior servants couldn't tell what they were saying, something about a cleaning product they were fond of or what not-- it wasn't important.

What took them off guard was how calm they were-- almost like they enjoyed each other's company. That was what the gathering was about. A chuckle from the butler and a playful groan from the housekeeper. It was as if, for a brief moment, their masks were off, and they were able to find comfort from each other's company.

The bunch shushed each other as they left them to their devices.

A sweet and surprising sight, truly, but there was no doubt in the servants' heads that this was a one-time event. There was a slight thought that they would stay that way, but it's only a matter of time until they'd fight over the same toys all over again...

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#bernard #silvia #minecraft #mineblr #writing #fic #fiction

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carlossainzwho · 1 year

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my summary of what i think about the break up of isa and carlos (i will miss them su much!!)

Carlos clearly dated Isa, knowing he would propose to her at some point. And the fact that he broke up with her now, after 7 years, is heartbreaking. His parents clearly like long and sweet relationships, as seen in Ana and Blanca's relationships, as they are both happily married (congrats to Blanca btw!!).

Carlos wanted to get married at around 30, and before the rumours emerged, I thought they were destined for each other. They were both 28, so close to 30, and this was just so ugh to think about when i read the article about their breakup. Something inside me is telling me that Carlos will realise what he's done and get back to her, although this is highly unlikely. I'm just getting my hopes too high, aren't i?

I am actually pleased about how Isa is taking the breakup. She came out in public, confident and with her beautiful smile and even wished Carlos the best of luck in the future and said she would remember the memories they created together over the past 7 years. She is a lovely woman, you don't find many people like her in this world. she never used carlos, she loved him, and he loved her right back.

I also wanted to mention about carlos' parents - i'm pretty sure they weren't very pleased about the break up, as they knew isa for just as long as carlos knew her, and she was like family. she went to Ana Sainz's wedding just a few months ago, and she looked gorgeous, hand in hand with carlos, who i hate to say, is her ex-boyfriend. even after the break up, ana, blanca and reyes (carlos jr's mum) commented on her instagram with sweet and loving comments. They clearly miss her already, and loved her as a sister and daughter. Isa was super (super super super) close to Ana, and there are so many pics of them together.

'Will you marry your girlfriend, Isa Hernaez? She is also so pretty too!'

'I know, I will, in the future'

That quote really made me believe that he would propose before the end of this year, or in 2024, but unfortunately, well you know...

I'll only be happy if charles and carlos see their inner queerness and start dating each other, or if it's the same but for carlos and pierre, beacause piarlos is an f1 couple i didn't know i needed, and they are actually really cute.

As for Isa, I hope she finds someone else who will love her the same way Carlos did for her. I'll miss their dating days. a lot.

If you have any questions about isa and carlos, do ask!! i am actually new to tumblr and i am happy to answer any questions or opinions.

i feel like quoting olivia rodrigo, it just fits so well with them.

'yet today i drove through the suburbs, because how could i ever love someone else'

'yet today i drove through the suburbs, and pictured i was driving home to you' (this one always reminds me of isa and carlos, and it always makes me want to cry for some reason)

i'm sorry for the long read, but i really felt like sharing this with you :)

it doesn't matter whether carlos and isa are together or apart, but they will always remain in my heart. their relationship was special, it was just something else.

remember carlos and isa fans, ask me anonymously for any questions or opinions, i'm happy to help!

#isa hernaez

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sayaka19fan · 3 years

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i want to ask you about the killed girl . when was she killed ? before or after Ash& Blanca meeting ? and who the bastard killed her ??

We know that she was murdered because someone thought she was Ash's girlfriend.

If Blanca knew about her, he would have mentioned her when rebuking Ash about keeping Eiji around. But realistically Yoshida might have forgotten about her after that scene in the apartment. She has never talked about this girl in her interviews.

But if we want to make sense with what we have, I think that the key element is that they thought she was his girlfriend.

Ash, however, admitted that they didn't get together. Based on the context, it seems that they haven't even kissed. I doubt Blanca would see her as a danger at that stage.

I mentioned in the post above that Dino thought Ash was spending money on a woman and he says so messing with Ash's hair. If Ash was even pretending to be Dino's lover, he wouldn't reply "it's none of your business!" and Dino acts as if he is amused by his own guess. It's more like Dino was saying "Be careful, if I notice, people will notice too."

There was no woman, just Griffin, of course, but my point is that Dino wouldn't take action on the basis of a piece of gossip, even if his policy toward Ash having a girlfriend wasn't tolerant. And we can't say whether Dino saw it as a bad thing or not. He seems more concerned about the lack of discretion though.

As I said previously, Ash must have started training under Blanca once he turned 14, so I think she died during Ash's first year with Blanca. There's a chance that Marvin was somehow involved. Blanca saw Ash scared when he met Marvin but he wasn't paralyzed the other two times he met the man. Marvin must have said something scaring, and we know what Ash fears the most: people being hurt because of him. Marvin could know about the girl and this could be the reason why Ash was reluctant to denounce Marvin's inappropriate behavior to Dino (namely he was blackmailed). Ash wouldn't tell the real reason to a just-met Russian assassin. 😂

As for who killed her, we know that Ash has always gone berserk every time they killed someone he cared about. No matter what, he can't stay cool. We know that he was accused of killing 4 people when he was sent to juvie. Dino wasn't expecting this turn of events but wasn't surprised either. Blanca's training must have been intense with little to no room for personal affairs. Ash took his revenge as Blanca left, this is my view on the matter. Perhaps the person who spread the rumor was Marvin, but the actual perpetrators were from a rival gang.

#banana fish #bananafish #ash lynx #dino golzine #sergei varishikov #blanca #anon ask

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sweeethinny · 3 years

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No, I don't wanna fall in love

I really like this scene, but I never finished writing it, so I did it yesterday :)

James stayed focused on his potion, trying not to notice how close Mira was, and that when she moved her head, her hair brushed against him, as well as sometimes her arms beat and he felt a shiver run down his spine. They hadn't talked, in fact, the two seemed to ignore the fact that last weekend, they were almost swallowing up behind the Three Broomsticks. And it disturbed him.

The next day, James waited for Mira in the Common Room at dawn, they had all gone to see Hedite, as well as walking around the castle with Blanca while she was doing the rounds as Prefect, but the blonde did not come down from the room after they arrived, no matter how much he had implied that he wanted to speak to her.

On the other days, every time he tried to be alone with Mira, something happened, even Lily appeared to interrupt them, wanting his help on something to do with the flight lesson, a perfect excuse the girl found to escape.

He should be angry, as he was when Rosalia did it, but differently from the other time, this James was sad.

Their friendship had not been spoiled, not least because she was there, always beside him, but now everything seemed as before, and inside him, nothing was as it was before. How could it be? Kissing Mira was an almost otherworldly experience, his neurons barely knew how to organize themselves in the brain for hours -days-, there was no way to just move on as if it were just something stupid that had happened, like flying upside down.

Unlike what happened with Rosalia, James liked to go out with Mira and kiss her, he wanted to continue, do that again, repeat until his mouth fell, at the same time that he wanted to jump from the Astronomy Tower, because he felt so affected thus. It was exhausting, to say the least.

Yesterday, while he and the boys were studying in an empty room and she played the piano, he wondered what would happen if he kissed her again. It was masochism after all, so he chose to make up an excuse to get out of the room and help Lily learn to fly.

'What do we do? Do you want to study?' They were walking towards the Common Room, it was after eight when Michael and Piper had to follow Johann in detention, looking like two Azkaban inmates, and James was left with Mira (Blanca had gone to talk to McGonagall about something from her OWL's).

'I thought we were going to Hog's Head, to get a beer,' she commented, adjusting the Ghost Tears blouse out of her pants, the clothes bigger than her body and falling almost close to her thighs, while the red cap with a white pompom held her hair. 'What do you think?’

'Wanting to break the rules, Hazel?' James joked, and her black eyes rolled over, as a muffled laugh came out and her hand pushed his shoulder.

'Are we going or not? Because I can go alone.' She replied, in her usual way, lifting her chin to look tough while raising her eyebrow and looking at him as if she measured two heads more than she did, which made him laugh and nod, giving the password for the Fat Lady and letting it pass through the portrait hole first.

They prepared as they did in the old days, he took the cloak and the map just for security, she spent time around the Room, and they went out together carrying some bag - it was never good to leave empty-handed, unless you wanted someone to think that you went out to make out.

'I think Beth and Michael broke up.' The two hid by the cloak before going through the passageway that left at Honeydukes, since going straight to the pub was never a good option.

‘Man, don’t step on the cloak,’ James had to keep her close, much more than necessary, but all because of the cause, they couldn’t be caught. ‘They didn’t break up, they were kissing today.’ Why did she want to talk about their friend's relationship and not theirs? Girls... ‘Mira-’

'James.' She interrupted him. The two stopped, in the gloom of the cramped passage, only a faint light coming from the cracks in the wood on the floor, too close for James to think of anything other than kissing her. 'You first,' Mira said.

'No, you.' He would have to have at least five minutes to remember what he wanted to talk about, or more, her scent was getting strong on his nose and it confused him.

'I'm sorry for not talking to you about ... you know, the kiss.' Was Mira really blushing or was he imagining that? James wanted to be the cause of her blushing? He hated himself for thinking so.

'Huh ... ok.' The words seemed to have slipped from the brain, James was a little anxious. 'We are fine?'

'I think so, don't you?' Mira looked around, and then at him again. Her eyes almost disappeared in the darkness, but maybe his brain wouldn't be able to ignore them and complete them in his mind, anyway, they were a beautiful pair of black holes.

‘Yes.’ The height difference, however small, along with the proximity made him almost hit his chin on her nose whenever he moved his head, but he didn’t want to move away, not at all. James thought about saying many more things, or saying nothing and just kissing her. It was ridiculous how nervous she made him. 'Can I ask you something?'

'No,' James laughed, watching her turn forward and leave under the cloak. 'Let’s go, I want my beer.' Mira was the first to climb the narrow staircase, taking a good look at the store before nodding and sneaking out. He followed, still a little dizzy from how close they had come and how her citrusy smell had made him stay in the clouds. James threw the cloak back on it as soon as he finished closing the passage, looking both ways and seeing that everyone was far away and talking, seeming to pack up the new sweets that had arrived.

'You didn't even know what I was going to ask,' he said, and the two went out the back, the wind whirling in the half-empty village, looking a lot like the last time they were in that alley.

'It's less scary without your dad pointing a wand at our face,' She said, remembering the same day as James, and he nodded 'And of course I know, you're predictable, Potter.' It was not colder than the last few days, they still wore a scarf and gloves, some people even wore the thick, heavy boots their father wore when going on a mission in an absurdly cold place, some said it was the biggest cold front in years. James regretted not having wrapped up better before leaving.

‘What would I say then?’ His fingers were frozen and aching inside his coat pocket.

'That you are sorry for everything and-'

'Wrong.' He interrupted, Mira turned her head like a crow, blinking her eyes. 'I'm not sorry.' James shrugged, taking care to stay away from others, even if invisible. There weren't many people and the stores were still open, but it was always bad to run into someone.

'No?' He had to pull her by the sleeve to keep walking, Mira looked a little shocked by his revelation, but James tried not to take it to the staff as she looked shocked, as if it was even a bad thing he had liked to kiss her.

'Why would I feel it?' The Hog's Head seemed far away now and the air was heavy, but James remained steady, walking with his head held high. If she said that she didn't like it, or that he kissed badly, or anything ... Merlin, he should have said yes, that he was sorry.

'I don't know ... we are friends,' she said, and James thought it was a good point to remember, some nights his head seemed to forget that important fact. ‘What did you mean by that?’

‘We’re here,’ he said, ignoring her question. Before entering, they left the cloak, taking care not to be seen. 'Good night Mary.' The woman was cleaning the old counter, a goat standing next to her eating something that looked more like hay and a yellowish paste, and as always, it was empty at that time.

'Good night kids... shouldn't they be at school?' Abertnorth, the owner, was no longer down there, which was good, since he never liked James to appear, unlike Mary, who smiled and was kind.

'Just an escape,' Mira commented, sitting down on one of the high stools in front of the clean counter. 'You know how it is ... with the OWL’s coming and everything.' James sat next to her, leaving considerable space between their arms.

'Where are the other three?' Since last year, the five have always fled to that pub when they needed beer, or just go outside, making friendly faces for Mary to give them a few bottles before returning.

'Detention,' James said, and the woman, with auburn and short hair, raised her eyebrows and denied it, looking discredited.

'I can hardly imagine why ... The same as always?' They nodded and smiled excitedly, while the redhead disappeared to the back, preparing drinks for them to take (they always said they drank near the Shrieking Shack, just so that Mary wouldn't feel horrible for letting students smuggle something at Hogwarts).

‘Blanca and I-’

'It means that I enjoyed kissing you.' The two spoke at the same time, James completing the thought before his mind analyzed the situation well, taken by the urge to speak the truth. Mira's black eyes blinked at him, too big. It was so suffocating to look at Mira at those moments.

‘Oh…’ That was it, he kissed badly, there was no other explanation for someone making that face, but it was Hazel, the girl who looked like a potato every time something involved her feelings, and the thought made James have a little hope.

‘What does that mean?’ He asked, and he didn’t want to be irritated, but he was already clenching his teeth and feeling overwhelmed. Where's Mary with the beers?

‘What the fuck James, we’re friends!’

‘I am well aware of that Hazel, thank you.’ His molars would break soon, if he kept squeezing them like that.

'Don't be dramatic, Potter, you started it,' Mira pointed out. He rolled his eyes, pulling on his hair and feeling stupid. James thought he should have listened when Michael said that Mira would not want to be with him, and that it would end the group.

'Again, I'm well aware of that.' Mira sighed, denying and squeezing the Cat's Eye pendant that was hidden under her clothes, as she always did when she was nervous.

'Here, kids.' Mary dropped the two bottles on the counter, properly packed and safe, smiling affectionately. James insisted on paying, they talked a little more with the woman (neither of them seemed to want to face each other), and then, putting the bottles in the bag and hiding under the cover after leaving the pub, the two started their way back to Hogwarts.

There had been no conversations this time, the two were silent as death all the way, jumping into the Shrieking Shack, empty and dirty as always, because it was much easier to go back there after Honeydukes closed. James wanted to scream, ask her to say something, hit him, scream, do anything. He wanted to hear something.

But he didn't, he walked beside her as usual, they passed through the snow-white gardens and then they started up the stairs. The corridor to the Tower was empty and there was no one around, so they shed the cloak, which for him was even worse since Mira seemed to want to be as far away from him, eyes steady on the way.

Congratulations James, now you've screwed up, he thought.

The Fat Lady seemed to look at them expectantly, smiling as she watched them both approach and James felt comforted to see her seem sad by the silence, opening the portrait with no joke about the two disappearing together or anything else. In the Common Room, the girl's head seemed to almost smoke out of thinking, and she threw herself into one of the armchairs near the window she liked so much, taking off her cap and scarf, carefully opening the bag. They were not alone in the room, but there were not many people, some younger students here and there, too entertained in their conversations or in the music they played, to worry about both.

Throwing himself on the couch next to her, and placing Amethyst who came to greet them, Mira's cat, in his lap to have something to do with his hands, James wanted to get out of there, still feeling suffocated by the feeling that had ruined everything. It was excruciating, he didn't want to have feelings, no, he didn't even want to meet Hazel right now.

That was a lie, but he could be fooled into thinking that if he didn't know her, he wouldn't be suffering - but who's to say that his life wouldn't be miserable? Mira was the most fun person James had ever met.

'What did you mean by that?' Mira asked again, she didn't look him in the face, paying full attention to the sly cat on his lap, with her only eye closed and purring, it was good, after all not having the attention to you. James felt a little foolish to think that if Mira looked at him, he would say everything he had been hiding for almost three months.

'What I said.' James bent down to pick up one of the bottles from the bag, thanking them that they were away from the rest, and then opened it and took a big sip, his sandy throat thanking him for some liquid.

'Potter, we are friends. Best friends.’ It became sore the more she repeated it.

'You kissed me too.' His stomach clenched with anxiety. 'Was it bad?' James asked, not wanting to know the answer, at the same time that he couldn't help but ask.

'What?' Her eyes finally went up to him, her eyebrows high and her pale cheeks turned a reddish color, the beer in his hand was sweating cold and James was squeezing the bottle harder, trying to control all the emotions that seemed to want to suffocate him.

'It was bad. The kiss. Because, okay, we’re friends, but that can’t be your only justification, I just said that I liked what we did and it looks like I said I want to marry you.’

'Here you go again with this.' Mira rolled her eyes, looking irritated.

'Don't even start Hazel, answer the fucking question.' James also got angry, getting even more nervous, hyperactivity dominating all his senses, he felt vulnerable, like when Albus made him cry when they were kids and he hid from his parents so they wouldn’t see it.

'No. Merlin, James, no.' She messed up her blond strands, settling on the couch a little further away from him, and looking at the window that reflected the dark night outside, he waited. 'I don't want our friendship to end.' Mira looked at him.

'It's not over, at least I don't think so.' James shrugged, trying to look as unaffected as possible, but his monster wanted to break his rib cage and run away from that room.

'I'm sorry.' She rubbed her face in her hands, and Amethyst chose that moment to jump off James' lap, looking at him as if she blamed him, before going to her owner, as if she wanted to comfort her. ’I don’t want you to think about these things, but .. James, it’s too much for me to think about.’

'I think we're in it.' The silence was unbearable again, as he plucked the damp paper around the beer bottle in his hand and she paid attention to the cat, as if she also wanted to escape. 'I don't know what to think,' he admitted, after a while.

'Are we still friends?' She asked again, but this time, James could see in her eyes that Mira seemed very concerned about this, as he also felt when he thought of her in an unfriendly way.

'We never stopped being, Mira,' James assured, and she nodded, looking back at the cat. 'From 0 to 10-'

'I'm not going to answer that.' The blonde laughed nervously, denying and blushing as James followed her laugh, at least the tense moment seemed to have subsided momentarily. He thought he shouldn’t be so pleased that he made her blush and laugh like that, but he did.

'You don't even know what I was going to say.' James defended himself.

'I will not give a grade for your kiss, it is better not to even try.' Mira at least did not look angry, still smiling when she looked at him.

‘Ah, I’d really like to know,’ The silence returned and the boy didn’t even think before speaking; 'In case you want to know, it was 10.' He moved his shoulders and took another sip of his beer, also feeling flushed.

‘I don’t believe it, do you go around scoring everyone’s kiss?’ She was red, but she looked more confident than before.

'No, just for yours.' James blinked and smiled, happy to be able to disguise how nervous he felt, barely managing to control her hand before bringing it to her hair.

Neither said anything else, they drank their beers in silence, both of them looking lost in their own thoughts. He wanted to tell someone, Teddy took too long to answer and he also couldn't be bombarded by James' crude questions, he wanted to be able to tell Albus at least, or his father ... He could tell his father, as embarrassing as that was, he knew the man would give his opinion and help him, but perhaps his father thought it was very stupid that James interrupted his work to help him with his loving questions. Maybe at Easter they could talk.

'Let's forget about it.' Mira was the first to speak, dropping the beer next to her on the floor and running a hand through her blond hair.

'Come on, Hazel, I just said that your kiss is a score of 10, how would I forget that? It's not even an option,' he said, a little anxious that Mira wanted to forget the kiss while James wanted to kiss her until he lost all of the air in his lungs.

'We are friends.' Mira stared at him with big, dark eyes, looking at least ashamed, her cheeks flushed like two peppers. ‘I don’t want to ruin this.’

'But we are not ruining anything, you are the one who is saying this.' James defended himself, trying at all costs not to look flustered.

'We can't even be together in the same room without you looking awkward, and we can't even look at each other.' Redness ran down her cheeks, running down her neck and ears, and James wanted to throw himself off the tower because he thought she looked adorable .

'I can't look at you because I want to kiss you again, and every time it feels like I'm running out of breath and that I'm only going to breathe if we do it again. That's why I can't look at you. Besides, it was you who ran away from me in the last few days.’

'All of this is so confusing.' Mira hid her face in her hands, her hair falling beside her hands, the golden locks shining with the candlelight and the fireplace burning. ‘James…’

'If you say that we are friends again, it will hurt my ego, I swear.' James swallowed. 'Look, if you want ... if you want this to be just a slip, if, I don't know, you want to forget all of that, it's fine.' He felt his stomach churn, as if something inside him broke.

'You said you didn't want to forget.' Mira looked at him, her head still in one hand, her eyes as always seeming to send James into that hole where he felt suffocated, lost in feelings he couldn't name.

'But you keep reminding me that we are friends, so I believe that is what you want.' He shrugged, pretending to be okay with that. 'It's fine by me.'

'You’re sure? James, please- ’

'It's all right, Mira.' He smiled, placing the empty beer bottle and the label all wrecked by his nervous hands, next to hers on the floor, getting up and picking up the map and cloak, feeling anxious. ‘Tomorrow we have training early, don’t go to sleep late, you know that Helen hates delays.’

‘I like you, don’t be weird with me, please.’ Her hand cupped his, black eyes pleading.

'We are fine, Hazel, I promise,' James assured, even though his chest seemed to break into a million more pieces.

‘Why don’t you stay here? The boys are still going to take a while .. ’

'I need to finish my Potions essay, and if Michael knows that I took his to copy, I won't have peace for the rest of the week.' James smiled, squeezing her hand just once before releasing it, feeling suddenly empty. ‘Good night, Hazel.’

'Night, Potter.' James didn't look back, his ego aching, making him scowl to his room, ready to hide under the covers and ignore the outside world. He didn't even care about the essay anymore, he wanted everything to explode around him now that Mira had dismissed him.

He felt like an idiot for having tears in his eyes when he fell on the bed, forcing himself not to cry for a girl, even if that girl was his best friend and James had fantasized several times how things would occur when they talked about the kiss. Thinking that she was going to say that she also kept thinking about kissing him, and then they would be together, kissing for as long as they could.

James narrowed his eyes to wipe away the tears, hating that the scent of her perfume was on his shirt, as if Mira was there beside him, lying with him, as James had dreamed a few times in the past few weeks.

How many times did he think and remember what Mira looked like after they kissed, her cheeks pink and her hair messed up by his hands, her lips pink like when she ate strawberries. James still remembered the feeling of her kiss, of her hands in his hair, of her tongue dancing with his in a sync that James thought was perfect ... He felt like an idiot for being attracted to her.

For a second, he thought of calling his father in the mirror, just to have somebody to talk and feel less alone than he felt, maybe he and Harry could talk about the Easter vacation schedule, or maybe James would tell him that he had been feeling for Mira… But it made no sense to tell, not after she made it clear that they were just friends.

His chest burned, as did his watery eyes, when he looked at the photo he kept on the table beside the bed, of the two of them together at the ball, Mira wearing her beautiful blue dress, the constellation dancing across the fabric, while she looked more dazzling than ever, smiling from ear to ear when James pinched her waist, just to make her laugh.

The book she had given him for Christmas/birthday was there, where it always was, and just because James liked suffering, he picked it up, reading her well-drawn handwriting on the back cover:

'If I had another best friend, I would hit him and go after you.

I love you.

Mira. ’

Best friend. That's what they were, and James knew he should be thankful that Mira hadn't told him to stay away from her forever. But James couldn't do that now, not when he felt like a complete idiot.

#hp next gen #next gen harry potter #james sirius potter #james sirius x oc #nobody asked for #but i like it a lot

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ofeuphemisms · 3 years

Text

(blanca suarez, female, she/her, 30) ** ♔ announcing SOFIA LEON, the CROWN PRINCESS OF SPAIN ! in a recent portrait they seem to resemble BLANCA SUAREZ. it is a miracle that SHE survived the last five years, considering they are PASSIONATE, DECEITFUL, and ELOQUENT. i hope the plague has not changed them. they are FOR working together with the other kingdoms

a sweltering spanish summer day brought about the unexpected delivery of the first spanish princess. sofia was born small for her age, but whilst her parents feared for their first daughter’s survival, she immediately showed her fighting spirit. the newborn child thrived and survived against all odds, growing up into a bubbly child with a keen interest in everything that was happening in the world around her.

being shaped into a perfect infanta was an easy task for those entrusted with her education. she always took her lessons seriously, and strived to learn all she could through her tutors and her books. she would frown upon anyone that dared interrupt any of her lessons, even if it was her own siblings doing so. sofia never complained about her etiquette lessons - in her mind, they were only there to help shape herself up into a prim and proper princess. it was easy to understand why her father adored her. with an infant like sofia, spain was destined to gain the most advantageous of unions.

yet as sofia grew up she discovered a fire inside her that burned with a need for more. she yearned for the attention her older brother got as he was shaped to become a king. how she longed to have the ability to make decisions for spain, to know that her beloved country would always be her home. yet she was a girl, and her duty was to forge alliances for her family and her country. even if she was eager to do her duty, she wanted to be the one who calls the shots. she wanted to have power to rule spain, but she loved her brother too much to try and snatch that away from him.

a marriage arrangement had been organized when she was barely a woman. a union between two grand countries, one that promised to be beneficial to both. yet their plans to marry dissolved when the plague broke out. as the fires that engulfed spain made sofia stay in her beloved country for much longer than anticipated, she knew that she would never want to find a reason to leave. once her brother ascended the throne, she found the opportunity to be at the forefront, offering her brother advice and opinions in the interest of her country. there is nothing she wouldn’t do for spain or her country, no matter how shady and no matter the cost, and that was common knowledge to the king. even if he was oblivious to her methods, like everyone else was. she would always maintain her poise and eloquence, whilst her connections made her commands a reality.

the fires have now been extinguished, the plague and famine overcome. but tragedy for their family struck again when her brother was left without a wife and with a baby girl. maria teresa had been a wonderful woman, a true friend to sofia, and her loss left its mark on her. yet the spanish king was too numb and distraught, so sofia stepped up to the role she had dreamed of doing since she was nothing but a little girl. she is now helping her brother rule their country after the devastation it faced, even if she has to do so discreetly. she made a vow to herself that she would bring spain back to its feet, stronger than before, now that the power is (unofficially) in her hands.

wanted connections:

personal guard: sofia’s personal guard, who has been in her service for years. most likely a knight who was selected to protect the princess’ life. they could have known each other before, or else got to know each other once he came into her service. throughout the years he has earned sofia’s trust, making him her right-hand man. she trusts him with her life, and although she knows how to handle a sword herself she always feels safer knowing he’s around. part of her trust also includes him being involved in her schemes. i would also be up for plotting some sort of romantic relationship or flirtationship between the two! TAKEN BY SANTIAGO DE LUNA

ex-betrothed: a prince sofia has been promised to for years, but the disasters that struck the earth and spain brought about initially a postponement, and now the cancellation of their marriage. the relationship between the two is completely up for plotting TAKEN BY SEFU TESFAYE

lady-in-waiting: having been with sofia since they were children, the two grew up to become close friends. sofia considers her to be one of her greatest confidantes. sofia would always ask for her opinion and advice, and has asked her to help out with some of her schemes in the past. sofia trusts her blindly and considers her to be an unbiological sister. whether she is truly loyal to sofia or else betrays her in secret is up for plotting

someone who has spied for her

people who have been spied on secondary to her command.

friends with benefits

friends, enemies, frenemies - anything really!! just come plot with my gorgeous but devious bby and i’ll love you forever <3

#1642hqintro #introduction || sofia leon #about || sofia leon

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buckstaposition · 4 years

Text

I cling to your lips like gloss (2)

a Javier Peña x OFC story

also on AO3

author: @youhavereachedtheendofpie (in case u wanna come say hello on main but no pressure)

rating/warnings: swearing, mentions of character death, some mentions of sexual situations but nothing explicit, spoilers for season 2 (should probably have tagged ch1 for this too oops)

words: 6607, no regrets

summary: it’s not a date if it’s for work

Author’s note: There is so much research that went into this I would just like to say thank you internet for letting me look up stuff from the comfort of my own home at unholy hours even though I did get very distracted while looking up late 80s wedding dress fashion. Also bless the s2 dvd extra which was a director’s commentary on s2 ep10 and very informative.

—

Tag list: @keeper0fthestars @opheliaelysia @dindjarindiaries @fromthedeskoftheraven @shikin83

(message me if you want to be added to the list. or just message me in general)

and also I urge you to look at the beautiful moodboard that @huliabitch made for me! I love it so much!

Masterlist

Prologue

Chapter 1 - The Informant

Chapter 2 - A Wedding and Four Funerals

"All the best from Mr DEA." Diana said as she threw herself down in the seat across from her best friend. Gabriela looked effortlessly glamourous as usual, even though she was just in a blouse and jeans. She just had that air about her, like one of the vintage movie stars, something Diana had never quite been able to match. She was well aware she was downright frumpy in comparison, not one to catch eyes just by walking past. For the most part, that suited her. Gabi tried to seem nonchalant about the greeting.

"Oh?" She sipped gingerly from her drink and put her menu away. "You finally met, then? He's back?"

Diana nodded and stowed away her purse and cardigan. "Yeah, this afternoon and yesterday, in the morning. He seems... nice enough? I don't know. Not a talker, is he? He seems a bit on edge, to be honest. Though I suppose that's to be expected." But despite everything, he still has kindness in his eyes.

Gabi just grinned at her for a long moment, waiting to pounce.

"Yeah, he can be a bit of a grump. ...Handsome though, no?"

Diana sighed, swatting at the other woman with her own menu. "Did it ever occur to you that the newly divorced woman might have had her fill of men for the time being?"

"It has occcurred to me that five years of unchanging, uninspired missionary for half an hour exactly, twice a week, with that wet blanket you married might have left you with the need to really be filled by a man for once."

"Gabriela!" she gasped, choking on thin air and mortification, even though their conversations would often get way more explicit than this. Just never with her being the subject. Gabriela just smiles like butter wouldn't melt in her mouth, hailing a waiter to give him their order.

"Speaking of newly divorced: has the dipshit finally signed the papers then?" Diana groaned, throwing her glasses down onto the table to massage her temples.

"No, he's dragging his feet. Which is ridiculous, it's not like I want anything from him. It's not like we're fighting tooth and nail over every other thing, like that American movie, the one we watched on your mom's old VHS player, you know? With Meryl Streep? In any case, now he decides to fight? If you can call that fighting."

"Kramer vs Kramer." Gabi remarked sagely. "Yeah... At least you don't have children together. That could really have gone ugly. I still don't know what you ever saw in that man."

"Oh shut it. I used to be fond of Juan Mateo; I don't know when that changed." Diana huffed, quickly snatching up her glasses when the waiter sailed over with their drinks and appetizer.

"Well that's the problem, you never loved him! And your parents set too good an example; what could ever live up to that?" She took a generous drag from her drink, then dug into the food with hungry abandon. "At least you're finally rid of his snoring. And his mother."

"God, she really hated me. Couldn't bear it that her precious boy brought some lowly scum from the comunas into her pristine middle class home. Marrying me might have just been the only demonstration of free will that man has ever managed." Diana allowed herself to seethe a bit at the memory, taking it out on her food as she stabbed at it roughly. "And I will definitely not miss the snoring."

"Mr DEA barely snores." Gabriela remarked lightly. "Just ...very softly. It's quite cute."

"Since when do you let clients stay to actually sleep?" Diana inquired around a mouthful, brows scrunched. Gabriela hummed thoughtfully, swiping some sauce off her plate with a piece of bread.

"Ah, but he was so tired, poor thing. It wouldn't have been safe to send him back out, he would have crashed his car and died in a ditch somewhere, which would have been a real shame. I just let him nap for an hour or so that one time. Besides, I wasn't in any state to do much myself after he blew my back out." She had a way of being so nonchalant about these things that Diana supposed came from a sort of professional equanimity. Diana possessed no such poise and gawked openly, the wheels turning in her head as she recalled previous conversations and connected dots.

"Oh." She breathed as realization hit. "Oh! No! That was him? You're kidding me. How am supposed to look him in the eye now?" Gabi was already cackling, barely able to hold her laughter as Diana sputtered, recalling the very detailed recounting she'd received after the night in question. "You said you felt that for days after!"

"I did, but it was worth it." Gabi was now subtly holding her sides, having pushed her empty plate away to be collected. "You see, you're my dearest and oldest friend and I only want the best for you."

"I'm sure Mr DEA would be delighted to know of your crude attempts to pimp him out." Diana snarked, pushing her own plate to the side just in time to be whisked away by the waiter. "You're incorrigible. This is serious. Besides, I think he really liked you, actually."

"He liked the illusion of intimacy, like most of my clients. Lonely but with committment issues to the moon and back. It's not like I'm telling you to marry him. I'm just trying to get you properly laid for once." Gabriela scoffed. She could be so detached sometimes. In fact, one could call it downright cynical. But Diana had known her since they were both in pigtails and could detect the care behind even the most jaded words.

"Oh whatever. I request a change of topic. How's your book coming along? Any progress on that chapter that's been giving you so much trouble?" Diana asked sweetly, making the other woman glare at her over the plates with their main courses as they were being set down. Because yes, Gabriela does indeed write more than letters, and she's good, too. Also, two can play this game of being just slightly mean.

--- --- ---

Javier hated team meetings. And now that he was the boss here he couldn't even get out of them. Worse, he had to lead them. He looked over the assembled agents, glad that he had most of their names down by now. Gladder still that this was a DEA-only event and he wouldn't have to deal with any of Stechner's CIA asswads for now.

"Duffy, where are we on the shipments?" He turned to the other man expectantly. Duffy was one of the few agents here that weren't younger than him; he actually had some experience under his belt, unlike all these fucking greenhorns the higher-ups had sent him. He forced himself to pay attention to Agent Duffy's answer, making notes of important dates as he listened. Operation Cornerstone had, at this point, not yet come to full fruition, but if they continued to put in their due dilligence it was almost certain to turn up something useful. When they'd gone through all the points on his agenda, and after clearing up a few uncertainties, he dismissed the roomful of agents.

"Duffy, got another moment?" Javier stopped the other agent as he turned to leave the conference room.

"Sir?" Duffy sat back down and pulled his writing pad back out.

"Have you come up with any ideas for my informant in Calí?" Javier had mentioned this before, seeing as Duffy was one of the agents permanently stationed at the Calí field office. Now that Escobar was gone it would look suspicious if the head of the DEA in the country trekked up to Medellín every other week, and they needed a better way for Miss Rivas to hand over her collected intel. Duffy cleared his throat and caught the eye of one of his colleagues and waved him over.

"Lopez here has had a few ideas, sir. Tony, tell the boss your ideas for drop-offs."

The other agent was younger, handsome in that pretty way that made girls sigh dreamily, going by his own, admittedly remote, memory of high school and college. Lopez hadn't said much during the meeting, but had that eager glint in his eyes that said he wanted to prove himself. Javier had had that same look when he first came down here; it hadn't survived the first year.

"Let's hear it."

"Okay, so I was thinking the public library might be worth a shot." Agent Lopez pulled a notepad from his own case, squinting down at the scrawled chickenscratch. Javier nodded along, encouraging more than praise. He'd have to run these ideas by Miss Rivas anyway, and if she had concerns they were back at square one. But that was a river he intended to cross when the time came and not a second earlier.

--- --- ---

The satphone was also a good instinct because after their preliminary meetings in April, it gets irritatingly difficult to arrange another one for over a month.

"The what now?"

"The 4th International Poetry Festival. It's on from June 2nd to 8th." she explained patiently. "Orietta Lozano, Gloria Gervitz, Blanca Varela!"

"I assume those are poets."

"Obviously."

"You want me to go to a poetry festival with you?"

"No, I'm taking the week off and I'm going to the festival, and I am also free to meet you. I'm just suggesting that maybe your work hours don't all have to be spent in dreariness and drudgery." Something sizzled on the other end of the line where she was making herself dinner while talking to him, and it made Javier's stomach grumble. "A bit of culture is good for the soul, Agent Peña. You'll burn yourself out with how much you work. When was the last time you ever did anything for fun? Read a book? Hell, listened to music?"

Whenever you call me. She always had music on at home. It drifted through the receiver, a soothing background hum that was too soft to truly make out most times. Add to that the fact that he was still sitting in his office at almost half past seven in the evening, and he didn't have a proper counter-argument.

"Alright, fine. 2nd to 8th, I'll see what I can do."

--- --- ---

She was wearing another belted shirt dress, this one pale yellow and sleeveless, the full skirt reaching to just below the knees. It reminded Javier of the style his mother used to wear when he was little. Saturday, June 4th, had him meet up with Miss Rivas at the Teatro Metropolitano in central Medellín. Her dress contrasted against the blocky red building in a way that tugged familiar, but Javier was trying to train himself to not see blood in every instance of red.

"This is quite a way from Envigado." He announced his approach as soon as he was close enough to not have to shout. She jumped a bit, clearly startled, but her lips pulled into a polite smile when she recognized him.

"Agent Peña." She greeted. "No, cultural grandeur doesn't usually make it out to the comunas." She sat back down on the bench and pulled a flyer from her (rather big) purse, thumbing it pensively. Javier sat beside her, not quite at arms' length. Trying to appear wordlessly inviting, if only to mask how at a loss for words she made him feel. He seemed to be no longer used to normal, civil human interaction.

"Right, there is one reading here at the Metropol that starts in about half an hour that I think you might like. It has a few of the international poets; a few of them will be reading in English. Then there's another one later at the Teatro Carlos Vieco that I'm keen on. It's about half an hour on foot between locations, but there's the open air exhibits that only require a small detour." She pointed it all out on the program as she spoke, Javier silently nodding along in acknowledgement. "I've planned it so there's more than enough time for a lunch break. I hate having to rush through things that are meant to be enjoyed. I brought arepas, but there are usually enough street vendors out and about to get something else, if you prefer." She really did talk a lot. That was surprisingly fine by Javier, since it meant he didn't have to. "Though of course if you'd rather just get your intel and go I understand, but I must insist on at least this first reading, Agent Peña. But otherwise I wouldn't want to impose. I'm sure you have other things to do."

His lips twitched involuntarily and he held his hand out for the program flyer, silently reading it over. None of the names rung any kind of bell. Not that he was much of a poetry aficionado. "Sounds good to me."

She blinked. "Which part?"

He handed her back the flyer, which she took automatically, still eyeing him with uncertainty.

"All of it." She blinked again, looking mildly shocked, the flyer still dangling uselessly from her fingers. "Miss Rivas, I came all the way here and you went through all this trouble planning. It would be a waste to part ways after so short a time."

Truth be told it sounded ...nice. The thought of spending a day just exploring, letting work be work for even just a day (or at least part of it). Despite being an only child, he'd never liked being on his own even when he was young, cherishing every day spent with school friends or any of his numerous cousins. And it wasn't like he'd had to do far less pleasant things for information.

Her expression morphed from uncertain gaping into a wide, pleased smile that he couldn't help but mirror. Maybe she was quite a nice lady after all.

---

"...I have to ask though: What's a ...smit- ...smee-dereen?"

"Smithereens." Javier corrected gently as they exited the venue after the reading. "It means... it's all the small pieces that are left over when something is destroyed. Like with a bomb."

"Hmm," she hummed, pensive as they strolled along with the leisurely flow of the crowd, "I'll have to think a bit more about this." She fished around in her purse, producing bottled water and offering him one. He took it gratefully, unscrewing the cap and taking a sip. "How did you like it, Agent Peña? Already regretting agreeing to this?"

"No." Javier found himself replying perhaps a smidgeon too quickly. "No, it's very uh... enriching." And not what he'd expected at all. Though the festival was now in its fourth year running, he'd never had the chance or the wish, really, to attend it before. He'd barely taken note of its existence, too preoccupied with chasing down leads.

"Hm, you don't have to mollify me, Agent Peña. You'll still get your intel, don't worry." Her expression slipped, from an almost serene smile back into that underlying heaviness that he could identify only now that it had been lifted for a short while.

"Miss Rivas," he said earnestly, "I wouldn't lie to you. I'm just not that good with words. That's why I'm a government agent and not a poet."

That at least made her chuckle a bit. And it was true, too. He felt lighter, in a way, like his mind had been craving a break from the frustrating work of trying to find an in to take down the cartel. Even his shoulders felt less tense here. And it was a beautiful day, too. Warm but not too hot, sunny with a mild breeze. People were out and about around them, festival goers and other citizens alike, mingling freely with a carelessness that would have been unthinkable only a year prior.

"Juan Mateo never wanted to come with me to this." She gestured vaguely at the city and its people around them. "My husband. Ex-husband. Technically still husband because he won't sign the divorce papers." Her features turned tense as she explained, a slight frown appearing between her brows. "Not that it matters now, of course. But goodness, that man had no sense for these things. He thought top shelf coffee was the height of culture. He'd act like going out to a bar one evening every few weeks was a chore beyond compare. Such a martyr!" She huffed and Javier laughed softly, offering to take her bag for a while as she adjusted it on her shoulder for the third time now.

"No, that's alright. It's not heavy. This way." Her hand naturally slipped into the crook of his elbow to steer him down the side of the road and Javier faltered for a moment, cursing himself for wearing a short-sleeved shirt even though it was comfortably warm. He just didn't want to get separated in the bustle of activity, he reasoned. This was a perfectly tame and non-offensive gesture and it would be rude to flinch away, he reasoned. She initiated it, after all. No harm no foul. This was still a professional alliance.

"You think very loudly, Agent Peña." She remarked, lightly squeezing his elbow. "It better not be about work."

"Technically I am at work right now." He countered, covering her hand on his arm with his much larger one and giving it an awkward pat.

"Lucky you." She teased, lightly nudging his side with her elbow.

"Beats paperwork, that's for sure."

They ambled along, weaving through the crowds where they gathered in front of street performers and makeshift stages. Javier couldn't deny that it felt good to feel the sun on his skin, un-recycled air in his lungs; most of all being far away from Stechner and his legion of CIA goons was almost rejuvenating. They fell into a languid rhythm, walking leisurely and stopping every so often to linger a bit where music was being played or more poetry recited, in front of the stalls of local artisans or to look at the sculptures that had been put up as an open air exhibit throughout the city. Every so often, Miss Rivas would tell him some little anecdote, be it about any of the previous festivals or just the city itself. He barely felt the time pass.

By the time they'd made it across the river and to the park wherein the open-air theatre was situated, it was time for a late lunch and Javier felt his stomach start to protest, all that walking serving to work up an appetite.

"...and after school Gabi and I would trek across town to the library and hide by the shelves in the back, the ones with the old classics, and we'd read all the scandalous 19th-century novels about adulteresses and other fallen women. You know, Anna Karenina, Thérèse Raquin, Madame Bovary, Tess of the d'Urbervilles..." Miss Rivas set her bag down and produced a fairly big plastic container from within, setting it on the bench between them. "Perhaps not the most appropriate fare for a couple of fifteen-year-old girls, but it wasn't like we had a whole lot of supervision, you know? It definitely wasn't appropriate to read to a five-year-old, so I guess it's good that Maritza never really paid attention much- Stop my prattling any time, Agent Peña. I know I talk too much; Juan Mateo always used to say so."

Javier paused, an abundantly filled arepa inches from his mouth. "He what now?"

She flushed, looking down and picking at the wrapping paper she'd bundled the food up in. "It's fine, it's not a big deal, really."

"It's not fine." Javier insisted. Told her to shut up, told his own wife that she talked to much! What an ass. He started tearing into the arepa with a glower. They sat in silence for a while, chewing tensely in this little corner of the park at the foot of Cerro Nutibara, in a spot that was fairly hidden among the greenery while still affording a decent view of the city streets below. Javier didn't even know why it irked him so much. There were worse things out there than insensitive husbands. Ex-husbands at that. Still, he seethed quietly in his righteous wrath.

"Wanna see something funny?" She was already digging through her purse, so he didn't see much sense in replying. She pulled a photo from some deep compartment in her wallet, looking down at it thoughtfully for a moment before passing it to him. In his defence, Javier hadn't meant to laugh. It just came out, snorty and half-aborted.

"Hey, at least I managed to evade the poofy sleeves, okay? My mother was dead set on them. She wanted me to look like the English lady… uh, Princess Diana. I think she might have taken the name as a sign."

"That's a.. that's a lot of satin." And tulle. Javier pressed out, still suppressing his laughter and barely succeeding. He could have pointed out that the mass of ruffles negated any absence of actual puff sleeves, but thought it better to refrain. And it wasn't like she hadn't looked beautiful as a bride, it was more that in that ruffled satin-and-tulle concoction she looked like an unwilling dress-up doll, despite the tasteful off-the-shoulder cut and flattering waistline. It was just... there were a lot of ruffles. There was a lot of dress, period. Paired with an expression that was better suited to a funeral, the effect was almost morbidly comedic.

"Wait till I show you the cake; we were basically identical." It was the dryness of her tone that set him off. There was no suppressing it now, Javier was bellowing, tears forming at the corners of his eyes. It didn't help that the dress fashion hadn't really strayed very far from the 'bigger and more style' in the years since. All things considered, this was a comparatively simple gown, lacking the mass of sparkly appliqués and abundance of bows and flowers that had been popular in the latter years of the previous decade. It just wasn't a style that suited her personality in any way, at all. Her slender figure was absolutely drowned in the sheer volume of the skirt alone. Hell, it completely overshadowed the already forgettable man standing by her side in the photo. Though 'by her side' was a generous descriptor. There was definitely enough space for the Holy Spirit and then some between the couple.

"My mother spent ages on that damn dress. Her hands looked like pincushions by the time she was done; that's why she wore gloves to the wedding."

"She's a seamstress, right? Your mother?" She'd mentioned it in an offhand comment during one of their previous phone calls.

"She was." Diana confirmed, tucking the picture away again. "Didn't think you'd remember that."

"Of course. I listen to everything you tell me."

Diana chuckled, flushing lightly. "It's not even relevant to the case!"

"I listen to everything you tell me." Javier insisted and started gathering up wrapping paper and such to throw away. A quick look at his watch told him they'd have to get moving soon if they wanted to make it to the theatre on time to get decent seats.

"Right." Diana collected her things to stuff them back into her bag. "So it's a no for ruffles, but what would you have me wear, Agent Peña? What do you think suits me?"

Javier couldn't have told even the most skilled interrogation expert what exactly compelled him to answer, and so readily at that, why he had an opinion at the ready in the first place, or at least that's what he preferred to tell himself.

"I think... something soft and flowy, not a whole lot of embellishments, if any. Clear lines and a light fabric, something you can dance in and be comfortable. Definitely no more satin."

She laughed now, as well, eyes twinkling with what he thought was approval. "You are full of surprises. Should I ever get married again, I'll most certainly engage your services as designer, Agent Peña."

"I'll keep a spot open for you. First consultation is free."

---

How her hand can feel so natural there in the crook of his elbow after hardly a day, he cannot tell. All he knows is that by the time the reading at the open air theatre is done the sun has started to dip in the sky and if this was what his work was like more often he'd perhaps be happier in his workaholic ways. Though they haven't broached the topic of work in hours now, instead ambling half-aimlessly northward towards Conquistadores where he's parked his rental car at the hotel he's staying at. Because it is a long way to Envigado and he insisted on driving her home. Because even though now that Escobar is gone Medellín is much safer, but he's never been one to easily trust a good thing.

It's only when they've crossed the big main street Avenida 33 that Miss Rivas gets quieter. She's obviously tired following their prolonged outing, but he instantly misses the pleasant hum of her voice, her clever little observations- At the same time, it's a comfortable silence, not one weighed down by expectation. She'd even let down her hair from where it had been up in a ponytail for most of the day, most likely to keep the thick curtain of it away from her neck in the heat and sun.

They're just crossing a smaller square, the edge of it lined with shops, the hole-in-the-wall kind mostly, when she suddenly pulls away with a soft instruction to wait there for just a moment, and he's left to look after her flapping skirt with what is probably not the most dignified expression. Defeated, he sat down on the broad edge of a flowerbed nearby and watched her cross to a food vendor, order, and fish around for her wallet to pay, before turning around again with a plastic cup in each hand. Fresas con crema, he can make out upon her approach, and one corner of his mouth ticks up involuntarily.

"Hungry again?" He teased when she got within earshot, handing him one cup and setting the other down beside him along with her purse.

"There's always space for this in my stomach." She retorted primly. "If you don't want any, all the better."

"Thank you for the generous offer, but no. Thanks for this." He makes a show of cupping the treat protectively, fully knowing he'll have to set it down to unwrap the plastic spoon that came with it. It makes her laugh nonetheless, which imbues him with a strange, fluttery sense of accomplishment.

She's still standing, head thrown back and grinning wide, when her gaze catches on something at the far end of the plaza, and her expression morphs from glee to astonishment to rage so quickly it gives Javier whiplash.

"Oh you have got to be fucking kidding me!" Ripping off her glasses and thrusting them into his hands, she began stalking off.

Two things are fortuitous: one, she had to pass Javier to get to whatever she saw and two, his reflexes are still sharp enough for him to jump up and into her path, even having managed to safely deposit the cup of strawberries and cream.

"Whoa, what the hell is it?"

"I- ...she-" Her voice is strained, her whole body taut like a livewire as she attempts to round him and resume her warpath. On instinct, Javier took a few steps backwards, keeping himself between her and her target. It's only his hands on her shoulders that stall her enough for him to be able to whip his head around and follow her eyeline. That side of the square is empty save for an older lady shuffling along, huffing and puffing and blissfully unaware of the wrathful freight train about to rush her. To say Javier was puzzled would be an understatement.

"What, her? The old woman?"

"That's Hermilda Escobar!" She's shaking so much he has trouble keeping a grip on her. "Look at her! The nerve of that woman to show her face here-" She winds out from under his hands, rounding him with a quick sidestep, and he can only match her speed because his legs are longer.

"Hey!" Javier whisper-shouts to be met with flashing eyes, then repeats it more softly. "Hey. What exactly are you planning to do here, huh?"

"I'm gonna give that self-righteous bitch a piece of my mind is what I'm gonna do!" She retorted, as if it were the most obvious thing in the world. It's cowing, the single-minded purpose rolling off of her. She's strumming with it, her seething damn near tangible. In her rage, she is ruthless. Javier had no doubt, in that moment, that once let go she might well maul the woman with more than words.

It's instinctive, the way his arm wraps around her. Like the few times he's had to restrain Steve and yet not like that at all. For one Javier doesn't have to go for a near chokehold, though energy-wise her wrath is at least as fierce. So, he wraps one long arm around her waist, hauling her much slighter body against his with a half-turn, her forearms colliding sharply with his chest.

"Easy." He rumbles, his other arm coming up to fold across her shoulders. "Easy. Calm down. Calm down!"

Palms smack against his pectorals and it stings. "Hey!" He tightens his hold around her trembling body, her angry, anguished squirming. Softens his voice. "Hey. Calm down, okay? What're you gonna do, beat up that old woman in the street? Come on, breathe."

The sound that comes out of her is something very closely related to a snarl, and he feels the bite of her nails even through his shirt, but holds fast, continuing to ramble empty phrases with the intent to soothe, or at least distract.

"If you tell me to calm down one more time I will get violent." She promised, hands pushing into his chest in an effort to break his hold. The old woman has almost passed by completely by now, seeming blissfully unaware of the savaging she's escaping. Javier held fast, as tight as he dared, the hand still pinching the pair of glasses between two fingers awkwardly patting at her shoulder while he sways them both, rocking from foot to foot.

By the time Diana has calmed down enough that he feels comfortable loosening his hold, the old woman is long gone from view. He feels her slump in his grip, reflexively tightening his arms again to hold her up.

"Hey," he gentles, lightly nudging the side of her head and thinking, distantly, that all but burying his nose into her soft hair is far too intimate a position for any of this. "Hey, it's alright, I've got you, okay? I've got you."

They're still swaying on the spot, a gentle see-saw motion, and then he felt the hands that had been clenching and unclenching on his chest lose all tension and drop down to the side. She's still shaking, her whole ribcage jumping with the hiccup of suppressed sobs. Somehow, he maneuvers them both around and back the few steps from where their snack and her purse still wait beside the flowerbed.

"Why'd you hand me these, anyway?" It's but a cheap distraction tactic, Javier handed her the glasses back as soon as she sat nevertheless.

"I'm not blind without them." Diana responded tersely, snatching the glasses and cleaning the lenses with the hem of her dress. When she doesn't deign to elaborate, he sighs and stretches from where he'd sat back on his haunches in front of her, resuming his earlier seat and finally unwrapping the spoon. It's a tense silence for a long moment, her aggravation like a pulse around them. Certainly it gives Javier a good bit to think on.

"You wanna tell me what that was all about?"

"Don't condescend to me. You may have been closer to the action, but I've lived here all my life." She ripped open her own packet with a vengeance, digging the spoon into her own portion with such force that the sliced strawberries bleed into the white cream. Javier sighed. Took a moment to order his words before they leave his tongue.

"I just need to know if this," he gestured between her and the edge of the square, "is going to be something that has to be taken into account. I need to know that you're not just in this for revenge. I need to know where you're at mentally. I need to be sure, both for your own safety and the integrity of this operation, that you're not just going to snap one day and try to claw Miguel Rodríguez' eyes out, okay?"

She chews angrily a moment, eyes flashing at him before she stares straight ahead again. The wrath is still rolling off of her in waves, perhaps dipping a bit in its intensity, but far from dulling just yet.

"You want to know my motivations, is that it? Well, let me lay it out for you, Agent Peña: of my entire class, a third never even made it to graduation, for one reason or another. I spent my youth plotting routes around gunfights in the street, with just enough success to still be alive, somehow. My mother was caught in the crossfire of a raid and was afraid to leave the house for years afterwards. My father was on that Avianca flight. My baby cousin Maritza is dead and her baby will grow up without her mother. And throughout it all, I took the coward's way out, moved cities, for university, for work, for marriage, for myself even, and everywhere I went they were, too. The narcos have spun their spider's web across the whole damn country and beyond and sooner or later everyone gets stuck in it. I got stuck in it despite my best efforts, and I'm tired of it. I'm tired of having to flee and turning up in dead ends. Somehow I have landed in this unique position, and I refuse to join them. Is that enough motivation for you, Agent Peña?"

She held his gaze, a challenge in fire, and he wondered how much longer that adrenaline surge would sustain her before she crashed. Wordlessly, he nodded his affirmation.

It's more tense silence after that, thick like stew or the humidity out in the jungle. She doesn't reach for him again as they resume the walk up to his hotel, doesn't casually link their arms like before, choosing instead to fidget with the handles of her bag. He hates it, misses the lightness the day had before. These narcos, they really do poison even the most mundane of things with their long, bloodied shadows. When they get to the hotel's underground garage, she's gone even more quiet, almost deflated. There are no more words exchanged, save for the clipped directions to her aunt's house. At one point, Javier was almost certain she'd dozed off.

---

"Do you ever think you should have been there? When they finally got him?" He'd just parked the car opposite of the house. It's almost completely dark outside by now.

"...Yes." Of course he did. He'd wanted, even needed to. The temporary suspension had not been near as effective a punishment as denying him that. The fruits of his labor, of years spent chasing after shadows and getting himself mired deeper and deeper, until he barely recognized himself when he looked in the mirror. He'd wanted it, sure, but perhaps he hadn't deserved it.

"Why did they send you home?" It's not that Javier is in a particularly obstinate mood, it's just that after the incident earlier, he's reluctant to bring up his own involvement with the cartels of Calí and Medellín, much less Los Pepes, so he gives a non-committal grunt in response. He should have known that wouldn't deter her. "When I first called, Agent Murphy said you had been recalled to the States. I only found out later that that was before they finally got Escobar. Why would a top agent on a case of this magnitude be pulled off and sent back before that?"

"You mean what did I do?" She nodded. There was no getting out of it now. He didn't want to lie to her either. Javier sighed, scratching his thumbnail across his brow. "You're going to look at me differently."

"Perhaps, yes." She took a deep breath, rummaging through her purse and producing a folded up paper. "These are the names of some American banks that I'm very certain help funnel and launder Calí's money. Sorry it's nothing more specific." She placed the paper in his hand, gently closing his fingers over it. "Whatever you tell me, we're in this together, right? We both want to bring them down. I trust you, alright?"

Javier gulped, his fingers tingling under her touch. He pockets the paper to buy time, if only to swallow through his suddenly-too-dry throat. And then he tells her. The dead ends and the crippling bureaucracy, Don Berna, the Castaño brothers and Judy Moncada and Pacho Herrera. His desperate grasping at straws to find a way, any way to throw a wrench in the escalating violence and catch Escobar, how that backfired so spectacurlarly. How he tried to get out, despite knowing that these people do not allow outs. How he'd been played by the fucking CIA because he'd been an idiot falsely believing that the two agencies were operating under even remotely the same objectives. How he'd gone down, almost taking his partner with him, definitely tanking his boss' career. He hasn't spoken to anybody about this in such depth, not even his father. By the end of it, he's exhausted.

"So you're the one Carlos Castaño wanted to feed to the crocodiles."

"What?" He'd expected judgement, even disgust. Certainly not this.

"I overheard Gilberto mentioning it on the phone. I think he must have just learned that you'd be the DEA's man in charge. 'Maybe I should have let you feed that damn DEA agent to the crocodiles after all, Carlos.' The door wasn't all the way closed, that's how I heard it. I think that was the moment I realized I couldn't wind my way out of this. That either they were going down, or they were going to find out that I was already talking to Agent Murphy and have me... vanished."

"I won't let that happen." Javier promised instinctively, hands tightening on the steering wheel. "Crocodiles though? Really?" Not how he thought he'd end, that was for certain.

"Yeah, they're very uh... charming, huh?"

Javier grimaced. "If I never see any of them again, it'll be too soon."

"Knock on wood." Diana replied and unbuckled herself, pushing open the door.

"I'll walk you. It's dark."

"It's only across the street." She protested, and was that the ghost of a smile on her lips? Javier's hands stilled on his own seatbelt.

"You sure?"

"If my aunt catches me coming home with a man I'll never hear the end of it." Diana slipped out of the car, then bent to grab her purse. "Good night, Agent Peña. Until next time."

"Good night, Miss Rivas."

He waited until she was inside, the door securely locked behind her, before starting the drive back.

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

Chapter 3

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

Author’s note cont’d: if you wanna know what I had in mind, approximately, for the wedding gown see here

The International Poetry Festival of Medellín is a real thing, too. They have a youtube channel

#narcos (tv)#javier pena x ofc #series #I cling to your lips like gloss (series)#multipart #javier peña #narcos #narcos fanfic #javier peña fanfic #my writing #part 2 #like gloss tag

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dancedance-resolution · 3 years

Text

i was tagged by @c-nan for this interests tag game :) thank you for the tag <3

MUSIC Favorite Genres: some modern day pop (like taylor swift and olivia rodrigo) and not-depressing-alternative (like florence welsh and hozier), 70s pop/rock, romantic era and later classical music, jazz standards (like ella fitzgerald and nat king cole)

Favorite Artists: abba, billy joel, donna summer, ella fitzgerald, fleetwood mac, florence welsh, the guess who, hozier, nat king cole, ola gjielo, olivia rodrigo, the orion experience (but only for cosmiccandy), stevie wonder, sugarloaf, taylor swift, and a lot more!

Favorite Song: oh gosh i have so many, but for now i'll say: treacherous by taylor swift

Most Listened to Song Lately: we built this city on rock and roll by starship

Song Currently Stuck in my Head: the day before you came by abba

Five Favorite Lyrics:

just. the entirety of treacherous by taylor swift.

dress in love, she lives for life to be / green-eyed lady feels life i never see (green-eyed lady by sugarloaf)

address the letters to the holes in my butterfly wings / and when the clouds won't iron out / when the monsters creep into your house / well, i hope you know how proud i am you were created (hope ur ok by olivia rodrigo)

the autumn chill that wakes me up / you loved the amber skies so much / long limbs and frozen swims / you'd always go past where our feet could touch / and i complained the whole way there / the car ride back and up the stairs / i should've asked you questions / i should've asked you how to be / asked you to write it down for me / should've kept every grocery store receipt / cause every scrap of you would be taken from me / watched as you signed your name marjorie / all your closets of backlogged dreams / and how you left them all to me / what died didn't stay dead / what died didn't stay dead / you're alive, you're alive in my head / and if i didn't know better / i'd think you were singing to me now (marjorie by taylor swift)

hey, look up / you don't have to be a ghost / here among the living / you are flesh and blood / and you deserve to be loved / and you deserve what you are given (third eye by florence + the machine)

BOOKS

Favorite Book Genre: niche non-fiction! and fic <3

also gonna add my Favorite Fic Tropes/Tags: hurt/comfort, slow burn, fake dating, roomates au, there was only one bed!, college au, enemies to lovers, idiots (pining) to idiots (togther), established relationship, sports au, royalty au, fantasy au, friends to lovers, and many more!

Favorite Writers: marguerite bennett

Favorite Fic Writers: ayeti, bigmamallama5, coffeeshib, drfitzmonster, ekingston, jazzfordshire, littlemousejelly, lovedandliked, robie, searidings, shipsandglitter, takarter, wtfoctagon, you_get_to_exhale_now_cyrus, zedpm, and so many more!!

Favorite Books: the poet x by elizabeth acevedo, 1984 by george orwell, rebecca by daphne du murier

Favorite Book Series: the babysitters club by ann m martin, the mother-daughter book club by heather vogel frederick, mercy watson by kate dicamillo

Comfort Book: robie's wedding date au

Perfect Book to Read on a Rainy Day: jazz's 70s au

Favorite Characters: the second mrs de winter (rebecca), mercy watson (mercy watson)

Five Quotes From Your Favorite Books:

mi boca no puede escribir una bandera blanca, nunca será un verso de biblio. mi boca no puede formarse el lamento que tú dices tú y dios merecen. tú dices que todo esto es culpa de mi boca. porque tenía hambre, porque era callada. pero, ¿y la boca tuya? cómo tus labios son grapas que me perforan rápido y fuerte. y las palabras que nuna dije quedan mejor muertas en mi lengua porque solamente hubieran chocado contra la puerta cerrado de tu espalda. tu silencio amuelba una casa oscura. pero aun que riesgo de quemarse, la maripose nocturna siempre busca la luz. (the poet x by elizabeth acevedo)

but if thought corrupts language, language can also corrupt thought. (1984 by george orwell)

but by degrees the flood of music drove all speculations out of his mind. it was as though it were a kind of liquid stuff that poured all over and got mixed up with the sunlight that filtered through the leaves. he stopped thinking and merely felt. the girl's waist in the bend of his arm was soft and warm. he pulled her round so that they were breast to breast; her body seemed to melt into his. wherever his hands moved it was as yielding as water. their mouths clung together. (1984)

but you could not have pure love or pure lust nowadays. no emotion was pure...their embrace had been a battle, the climax a victory. it was a blow struck against the party. it was a political act. (1984) (this quote is so gay lol.)

he did not stir, because julia was sleeping with her head in the crook of his arm. most of her makeup had transferred itself to his own face or bolster, but a light stain of rouge still brought out the beauty of her cheekbone. a yellow ray from the sinking sun fell across the foot of the bed and lighted up the fireplace, where the water in the pan was boiling fast. down in the yard the woman had stopped singing, but the faint shouts of children floated in from the street. he wondered vaguely whether in the abolished past it had been a normal experience to lie in bed like this, in the cool of a summer evening, a man and a woman with no clothes on, making love when they choose, talking of what they choose, not feeling any compulsion to get up, simply lying there and listening to peaceful sounds outside. (1984)

TV AND MOVIES

Favorite TV/Movie Genre: .........ones with actractive actors...

Favorite Movies: pretty woman, muppets from space

Comfort Movie: i don't really watch movies that often lol. i find them hard to get into since they're so short

Movie You Watch Every Year: the year without a santa claus

Favorite TV Shows: supergirl, batwoman, legends of tomorrow, parks and rec, the good place, veronica mars, andi mack, diary of a future president, arthur, word girl, closer to truth, martha speaks, cyberchase, curious george, the king of queens, and probably more that i'm forgetting!

Comfort TV Show: the king of queens, arthur, parks and rec

Most Rewatched TV Show: the king of queens, martha speaks, word girl, cyberchase, parks and rec

Five Favorite Characters:

kara zor-el

veronica mars

leslie knope

zari tomaz

lena luthor

this was really fun to do fhsdhfkd. tagging anyone who wants to try this!

#tag game

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badchoicesposts · 4 years

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So I went online and I saw you were taking requests and I thought I needed to give you a few 😂 obviously no pressure! You didnt mention them in your pairings list but it is still your pairing so number 18 from the fluff prompts for Drake and Blanca (because it's finally time after 3827323 years of dating lol)

A/N: Did I get carried away with this prompt? Yes. Am I upset about it? Not at all. I hope you enjoy it!

Fluff Prompt 18: “I’m pregnant.”

Blanca watched with a smile as Drake walked around their small living room with Sheridan on his shoulders making airplane noises. They had gotten back from their honeymoon two weeks ago, and after almost three weeks of sunning themselves on the beach, thanks to Liam’s generosity, they were more than ready to be back home and see their family. Liam had stepped out to take a phone call, but Ali and the twins were seated on the couch with her, the two friends catching up.

“I don’t think Sherry quite has the airplane noises down just yet,” Ali said under her breath, causing Blanca to laugh softly to herself.

The queen was holding Princess Emelia in her arms, Eli safely tucked away in Blanca’s. Blanca sniffed the top of Eli’s head, a feeling of complete happiness washing over her as she thought of her and Drake having a little one of their own sometime soon. However, that feeling of happiness was soon replaced with one of nervousness. What if she wasn’t ready for this step? What if Drake wasn’t ready for it? They were both great with their nieces and nephews, but being the fun aunt and uncle weren’t the same thing as being the parents.

“There’s something I need to tell you,” Blanca said, once she was sure Drake was out of earshot.

“Is everything okay?” Ali asked, bouncing Emmy in her lap and looking over to her friend in concern.

“I think I’m pregnant,” she whispered, causing Ali to pause her movements, her eyes going comically wide.

“WHAT?” she half whispered, half yelled, her eyes immediately shooting down to the other woman’s stomach.

“I don’t know for sure yet,” she said, trying to get her to calm down. “But, I’m late.”

“Did you take a test?”

“Not yet.”

“Well, then go get one!” Ali demanded, causing Blanca to laugh nervously. “I’m serious, hand Liam the baby and go get one. I’ll make up some excuse as to why you left.”

“What if I am pregnant. What am I going to do?” Blanca said, her voice filled with distress.

“Do you not want this?” Ali asked.

“No, I do. I want it more than anything, but what if… what if I’m bad at it? What if Drake doesn’t want it?”

“Haven’t the two of you talked about this before?”

“We have, but always as a thing that happens in the future. I don’t think either of us thought it would happen so soon,” she said.

“You guys have been together for years,” Ali pointed out, causing Blanca to roll her eyes good naturedly, used to the length of their relationship being the cause for a joke.

“This soon after the wedding,” she corrected.

“You and Drake are two of the best people I know,” Ali said. “I know you’re going to be amazing parents. You’ll have my and Liam’s support no matter what you choose, but you can’t put off taking the test.

~~~

“Drake, can we talk?” Blanca asked as they were both getting ready for bed that night.

Drake put down his toothbrush and made his way into the bedroom from the bathroom, dropping down onto the bed next to her. He took one look at her troubled face and took her hand in his, bringing it up to his lips and brushing his lips against her knuckles.

“What is it?” he asked.

Blanca nervously played with his fingers, tracing her own around his knuckles before grasping his hand in hers tightly.

“I’m pregnant,” she said softly.

“What?” he breathed out.

“I’m pregnant,” she repeated, turning to look up at him.

There were tears gathering in the corners of his eyes and a wide smile broke out across his face. Before she realized what was happening, Drake had pinned her down to the bed, placing a sweet kiss to her lips. He then moved down her body, brushing her shirt up and pressing a gentle kiss to her stomach.

“I love you,” he said. “I love you so much.”

Blanca let out a breath and wrapped her arms around his shoulders.

“So, you’re happy?” she asked nervously.

“Of course I am,” he responded. “Why wouldn’t I be?”

“I- I was just worried. I know it’s so soon after the wedding, and I was worried that you might not be ready for it.”

“Blanca, I love you and I already love this baby so much. I can’t wait to be a father, and I know you’ll be an amazing mother.”

“How do you always know what I need to hear?” she asked, wiping a few tears away from her eyes.

“Because I know you,” he said, a smirk on his lips. “Besides, it’s pretty easy to say what you want to hear when it’s the truth. You make me impossibly happy, Blanca. Happier than I ever thought I could be, happier than I ever thought I deserved to be. You make me a better man, and I can’t wait for this next chapter in our lives.”

#the royal romance #the royal heir #drake x mc #drake walker x mc #drake walker x oc #liam x mc #my fics

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fuckyeahcarlosandlidia · 4 years

Text

The Family Of Love Forever

This contains spoilers, so you’re warned:D

So the show has finally ended in some way it felt like I can relax. Right after part 1 , I’ve spent months feeling very much betrayed, mad, annoyed and sad for being treated as the most significant fans, just because we picked the “wrong” side. And I’m not saying “wrong” because we were wrong or because Carlos and Lidia weren’t worthy, but because we don’t belong to that group of people who drool over Yon Gonzalez, and believe that Blanca is supposed to end up with him, no matter what they do. It felt really annoying to be treated like that, because of fanservice.But after part 2, I don’t feel exactly like that, anymore. Yes, I still believe they ruined their show, I still believe they turned it into something completely different than how it used to be. After season 4, I felt like the nonsense, the bad writing and forced stuff was what kept moving the show on. I’m more than sure that Blanca didn’t like season 4 at all, since we made pretty clear she was always on teamCarlidia and wanted the story to be that way. I think, since the girls gave their own opinion about the ending, they decided to focus more on their friendship, not on the romance. That wasn’t the problem at all, because the girls were the core of the show, and Lidia was the main character. But Martiño should have been there, too.

The thing is that to me they did everything in the wrong way because all about Lidia and Francisco was forced and completely random, it had no build-up at all, and they were together only because they ruined Carlos, on purpose. They were together because circumstances made it happen, not because she actually chose him over Carlos. To me, this is not how you write romance, this is not how make a couple happen, and certainly not ruining the other option, for God’s sake. They did to Carlos everything they could do to make him appear as “bad”. Big failure!

Anyway, speaking of the finale, obviously I felt like there was stuff quite forced, too, like for example the whole Carmen’s redemption, the 2 Albisco scenes at the end – but I’ll be back to that – my God the chemistry was so bad. And I thought the whole ending with the girls was really too much tragic. I figured out that would be the ending; their interviews made me sure of that, and even though, I get the message, they’re heroines for sure, but after everything they went through, I think it would have been fair to give them the chance to be with their children, to get a second chance. The show used to be very fresh and simple, they were simple women, and it wasn’t necessary to make the avengers and martyrs. It was very hard to watch. But I’m glad that, at the end, it was all about the girls, their bond, and their destiny.

Speaking of Albisco, they didn’t even seem like a couple for most of the season. I would say, as it always was. Their relationship was always based on the past and that time at train station, and they didn’t even get scenes, build-up for most of the series. They got two scenes in the whole season. One was the same scene again and again, with flashbacks of them as kids. And the other one was the goodbye scene, which was pretty predictable. I certainly didn’t expect Lidia to go on a suicide mission without saying goodbye, and I won’t deny that this man always meant something to her. For many reasons. I’ve never denied that and I never will. And for how things went, for the circumstances, he was part of her family, too. I just firmly believe he wasn’t the love of her life, for the very same reasons I talked about above and for the story that was told us. Lidia made her choice, she picked Carlos over Francisco, she built a family with him because she wanted to. A family of love. Not out of circumstances. And I really appreciated that Lidia told Francisco “os quiero mucho”, meaning all of them as a family. She didn’t ILY to him and only him. Something that he did. And for me it’s enough, for me it’s really important and it means a lot. Carlos will always be the only man she said ILY to. Again and again.

And now let me talk about the thing that owns my heart. Who talked to me before the ending perfectly knows I had no expectations for the last episodes. I actually believed they got rid of him, and farewell! I truly thought no one would give him justice because of how they killed him off, and how they ruined him, too. But I was gladly surprised I couldn’t be more wrong. ‘Cause there was someone who loved him so much who just couldn’t just let him go without fighting for the truth. For the very moment she asked of him, to know where he was because she believed he could have helped them with their plan against Carmen, I knew there was hope. Not only because of the sad look on her face, but because she thought of him as a potential ally to fight Carmen. Trust. That’s what it was. When she met him again in part 1, she was disappointed to find a different man, a man she couldn’t trust. She even told him that. But soon enough she realized he was exactly the same man she loved.

I was very satisfied by her reaction, too, when she found out he was dead. That he could have killed himself. Denial, shortness of breath, disbelief, non-acceptance. She cried more for Carlos then when she had to say goodbye to Francisco. I love the passion she showed at proving the truth for him. And it was to me such a proof of love. The power of their love for each other was able to go beyond death because she immediately got everything. She remembered every word he told her about Romero, and she knew he couldn’t have committed suicide because of her, because the last thing he told her was “You’ll always be the woman of my life”. She was never his poison, she was his life. And as a guardian angel, Carlos was able to move the plot and help Lidia even though he was no more. It’s because of how strong their love was, that Lidia could win the war against Carmen, and made her change her mind. The “Don’t compete with me for Carlos’s love, you have a very good chance of losing” turned out true again.

Carlos’s life were Lidia and Eva. He spent the last 8 years of his life hoping to find a way to meet his baby again, to be the good father he always wanted to be to her. He still had the “Teddy Bear” we know so well, as the symbol of the beautiful family we had. It hurts deeply, but I was glad they gave justice to this wonderful man, who, with Elisa, just had the misfortune to belong to a bad family. The Cifuentes never had a chance, they were denied their parents’ affection, which is something monstrous, and they never got a chance. This is just unfair. Thankfully, Eva will have the chance to live the life she deserves, even though without her mother and without the chance of meeting her father. I just hope Francisco will tell her who her parents were, because right ‘till the very end Eva had a father and his name was Carlos Cifuentes. And she will always the fruit of the love.

We got the story, we got the moments, we got everything about our ship, something others can’t say. It ended badly, yet I’m glad they gave us closure. Carlos was the only who told Lidia “te amo”, which is different from “te quiero”, because querer means caring, too. “Te amo” is much stronger. And Lidia referred to him as “alguien que había amado”, again she didn’t use this verb for Francisco, at all. And to me it means everything. And she never actually defined or described Francisco in any way. OTOH, we have one of the best quotes ever. Even if Carlos wasn’t there. “Carlos was strong. He would have faced anything.” She says it so passionately, without looking anything or anyone in particular, with tears in her eyes, only thinking about him, meaning every word. Carlos Cifuentes was indeed her hero, the one who always made her feel stronger. They changed each other’s life and they gave everything to each other. With no restriction. It was a rollercoaster, it caused so much joy and so much pain, but it was all before our eyes. "Love that overthrows life, unbiddable, ungovernable, like a riot in the heart, and nothing to be done, come ruin or rupture.” They’re the greatest story of Las Chicas del Cable, “true love, the consequence of a deep and conscious choice” that happened right at the end of season 1, when she decided to let go of the past and to embrace the wonderful future who was right, down on his knees, asking her to spend the rest of her life with him.

I had no idea this show would become such a tragedy. There’s no real winner in this, we all lost something precious, but I’ll never let it go, for real. This blog will always be here to remember who this couple was, who Lidia Aguilar and Carlos Cifuentes was, and to celebrate two great human beings as Blanca and Martiño.

#cable girls #las chicas del cable #lidia x carlos #carlos x lidia #blanca suarez #martino rivas #my stuff

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itsurmumus · 5 years

Text

my OITNB thoughts

*spoilers*

Okay so I literally JUST finished season 7 and here’s what I have to say;

Piper: ok piper as a character overall is annoying we know this, but I liked that in the end she stuck by Alex despite what everyone in her life told her. The whole cheating/not-cheating thing pissed me off a lil even though I really liked Zelda as a character. Alex+Piper may have had their ups and downs but I’m glad that vauseman is endgame.

Alex: She is one of my favourite characters because she is such a strong one. We know from previous seasons that she has loved piper for 10 years if not more (love is pain??) so the whole Guard-cheating situation really annoyed me as it seemed very forced. I almost cried in the scene where Hellman shoved the Heroin down her throat as it was so brutal. I LOVED that she got to go to Ohio and be with Boo, Jones, Gina, Norma etc because it shows that she won’t be alone and that the ‘rest of the gang’ is all doing okay down in Ohio together - it made me smile :))

Red: IM STILL CRYING OVER HER. Fr this one I’m hella pissed at. They really took the Mother of the family and destroyed her in front of them??? Did they have to??? I think it’s just such a shame that she was seperated from Nicky. Red is/was THE strongest, maternal, most badass character and definitely one of my favourites, so so so heartbreaking to see her story end like this (but at least she has morello) seeing her deteriorate really felt like losing someone.

Taystee: She really did deserve justice, honestly one of the most disappointing but realistic character endings. I loved the poussey flashback she had - and the way she set up the found inside the prison, I thought it was good that they are giving her something to do within her sentence.

Cindy: even though I know she deserved it, I still felt bad for what happened to cindy

Suzanne: I liked how they showed her development really well over the last couple of seasons, and that they have shown a friendship between her and lolly. I really love Suzanne (ice cream... and justice!!!)

Pensatucky: she lost A LOT over the whole series and has honestly had THE BEST character arc/development. From going to a character that everyone hated- to one that everyone is grieving for?? Incredible. The one thing that made me even sadder was the fact that taystee found her, even after all the shit she’s been through. Tiffany’s death was so shocking but she died so taystee could live.

Morello: AGAIN- STILL CRYING. Lorna is the sweetest character of this whole show, and one of my favourite characters. Did they really have to take sterling away from her?? Was it necessary??? At least she is in Florida where she can be looked after - make some friends, instead of being in psyc where she may not have survived. Seeing morello get worse and worse this season really broke me because even though I knew she was crazy, I really thought that Nicky and her would be able to stay by each other’s sides and the fact that Nicky had to ‘turn’ her into Florida... that shit hurted. Her last scene with red really said a lot nd spoke. Her ending may not have been happy at all but it was realistic and that’s what’s upsetting

Gloria: mama had a brilliant ending. She didn’t turn in Maria again to be nasty and she got the proper release date. Gloria got to see her family, got her daughters back AND got to see her grandchild. She got the ending that I would have liked red to have but I’m still happy :)

Shani: everyone seems to love shani, and while I appreciate that her and Nicky had a special relationship- I just didn’t like it :/ maybe because I rlly want morello and Nicky together?? But I think mainly because it seemed a bit forced and unreal- idk but for me it didn’t seem to fit right. I agreed that her story was tragic though - she didn’t deserve the ending that’s predicted

Flaca/Maritza: Maritza’s ending was brutal, and left us to chose what happened. I really thought that when flaca and maritza found each other again it was gonna be a happy situation for them (me -> 🤡) What I did like though was the fact that Flaca is carrying on Gloria’s work and helping the women in the detention centre.

Blanca: Her character played a really big role in this season (and in season 5 too) I love the way they ended things with her, because for her all she ever wanted was Diablo- this was a solid + happy ending :))

Pornstache/luzchek/warden ward: Mendez seemed to be a changed man, and I liked the little scene we had with him and his daughter, luzchek had a reasonable ending but a good one in terms of - he did the right thing. Warden ward was a good women, and a good friend too - I liked her character, she was funny but also a good warden, FUCK HELLMAN!

Fig+Caputo: I’ve always liked caputo even in the beginning, although I thought fig was a bitch. I loved them both this season they were amazing as a couple and fig giving that woman her abortion pill - well done 👏👏 I also liked the twist on the fact that they chose to adopt! (See the end for notes on the MeToo)

Maria: her character arc seemed forced?? I like that she was trying to improve though

Daya: so..........we just gotta asume she’s dead??? Tbh this bitch deserved it. Yeah she got life, but she could have desided to do something good with it - like taystee. Instead she goes for drugs and dragging her sister(s) into it. I agree with aleida here, I don’t recognise the s6/s7 daya.

Nicky: I saved the best till last. Nicky is my all time favourite character because she is strong, funny and tough, but at the same time we see a really vulnerable and raw side of her. SHE DESERVED BETTER. Nicky has lost everyone. Lorna, red, piper, Alex, shani- all gone and on top of that she had to deal with turning in the woman she loved most to Florida where she could never care for her again, she had to deal with watching red (her mother) deteriorate before her, and watch her love interest be deported without saying goodbye or being able to do anything. Nicky deserved none of this but what gets me is that this is realistic, and not a happy ending :(( I will never stop being sad about nickys ending. The only good part is she chose to learn from red, and become a newer version of red. Working in the kitchen (running it) and helping girls to get clean, this shows hope for her- maybe even find a new family. But Nicky doesn’t know that Boo, Gina, Norma etc and now Alex are all fine and together and happy. She doesn’t know what’s going to happen to Red or Morello and will never be able to help them again - that’s what makes me sad and what made my heartbreak.

gangs @ the end: I really liked that they showed all the characters staying true to them selves. All the old friends are still together and still surviving/thriving. The last 2 seasons were very focused on only the people in max and the detour showed us all the old inmates. Honestly I miss the original Litchfield - nothing will beat the first 5 seasons.

SIDE NOTES: the show did soooo good to show the truth about ICE and the brutality of it all. They also included MeToo which I think was a good addition. This season was heavily set in today’s world and shed such good light on all current events - I really really liked that. Even though it’s over now, the show will still go on the effect more and more lives, just like it’s effected mine. truly- orange forever :)

#this show man...#oitnb #season7 #red #nicky nichols #lorna #taystee #cindy #pensatucky #daya #gloria #flaritza #vausseman #vausman #caputo #ice #metoo

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yootaesowlwrites · 5 years

Text

Requested by; laraF1lover

Request; Could I request this one with Carlos?

Scenario; 17- everyone assumed we were going to end up together, but it's your engagement party and you overhear me talking about how I'm in love with you

note; I hope you like it! the ending... well almost the ending, not sure if it would make sense to anybody, but yeah... also, Kinda ended it on a slight cliffhanger, I guess? Sasha & Emma were the first names I came up with, feel free to change them.

“I want to thank everyone for coming out tonight to join us in celebrating our engagement.” Carlos says standing next to his very beautiful fiancée holding a glass of champagne, another girl stood in the back with a gloom look on her face holding her glass of champagne, everybody around her was happy for the newly engaged couple, deep down, she was happy for the couple. “Please enjoy yourself tonight.” Carlos says, it was painful to watch the person you have been in love with so long… become engaged and become happy with somebody that wasn’t her, who was this girl? Lara (Y/l).

“You didn’t have to come, you know?” One of Lara’s friends, Anna, tells her, Lara releases a long sigh.

“I had too.” Lara says. “He’s my best friend, since childhood.” she says.

“You’re only hurting yourself.” Anna says, Lara presses the rim of the glass to her lips and takes a sip.

“I’m going to go congratulate them, and then I might just get drunk.” Lara says, Anna nods her head and watches Lara make her way through the crowd. “Carlos! Emma!” Lara says approaching the newly engaged couple.

“Lara, I’m so glad you could make it!” Carlos says and engulfs her in a hug, Lara gives them the widest fake smile.

“I just want to congratulate the two of you.” Lara says and gives Emma a hug. “I wish for nothing but happiness in your future.”

“Thank you, that is so kind of you.” Emma says giving Lara a smile, there wasn’t any real bad blood between Lara and Emma.

“Thank you, that means a lot.” Carlos says, he just had no idea how much pain behind Lara’s smile was.

“Congrats!” Lando says loudly walking towards them. “Hi, Lara.”

“Hello, Lando.” Lara says. “I should get back to Anna.” Lara says and quickly flees back to her friend's side.

“How did it go?” Anna asks and takes a sip of her champagne.

“Just fine.” Lara mumbles and takes a large gulp from her champagne.

“Wow, slow down, do you really want to get drunk? Now? tonight?” Anna asks, Blanca, Carlos’ sister, walks towards Anna and Lara giving her a sympathetic smile.

“Lara, Hi.” Blanca says.

“Evening, Blanca.” Lara says, obviously in a sour mood.

“You know, we all thought you and my brother would end up together.” Blanca says.

“Now you get Emma.” Lara says, a waiter walks past them with champagne glasses. “I’ll take another one.” Lara says stopping the waiter to switch her empty glass for a full one.

“Not that there is anything wrong with Emma.” Blanca says. “It’s just she isn’t you.”

“She’s nice, she makes him happy.” Lara says looking at Carlos as he laughed with Emma, they looked so happy. “I’ll get over it, he’s happy, that’s all that matters.” Lara says looking down.

“You won’t.” Anna says. “You’re too in love with him.”

“So what? It doesn’t matter, I’m going to the open bar.” Lara says and steps away from Anna and Blanca.

“Wait, I’m coming along.” Anna says. “If you’re going to get drunk, it’s my responsibility to make sure nothing happens to you.” Anna says following Lara, Blanca lets out a long sigh before going to greet other guests, Carlos looks towards Lara and saw her leaving with Anna following her.

“Excuse me, amor.” Carlos says to Emma, Emma nods her head and continues to talk to the guests while Carlos follows Lara and Anna to the open bar, he was about to round the corner when he heard Lara say his name, he stops himself and hides behind the wall.

“Carlos… he’s happy, he deserves to be happy, even If I’m not the one making him happy.” Lara says.

“But you’re not happy.” Anna states.

“I am happy.” Lara says. “I’m happy for him.”

“But not as happy as you would’ve been.” Anna says.

“What do you want me to do, Anna? I’m in love with Carlos and he’s engaged to one amazing girl.” Lara says. “I’m not going to get between them.”

“Oh, sweetie…” Anna softly says, Carlos steps out from behind the wall trying to decide what he should do.

“He’s so sweet, he’s absolutely amazing.” Lara says. “I always knew whoever would end up with him would be one lucky person.” She says, Anna gently rubs Lara’s back trying to comfort her. “Is it bad that I hoped that it would be me?”

“It wouldn’t be.” Carlos says, Lara quickly spins around on the bar stool with a gasp.

“Carlos.” Lara whispers completely shocked. “What are you doing here?”

“You looked upset, I wanted to know if you were okay.” Carlos says, Lara swallows the lump that was building in her throat.

“Ho- how much of that did you hear?” Lara asks shakily.

“Enough.” Carlos says, he takes a step forward. “Why didn’t you ever tell me that you were in love with me?”

“It didn’t seem important.” Lara softly says.

“How did it not seem important?” Carlos asks.

“It just didn’t.” Lara says, Anna got up from the bar stool and quietly left the two. “And it doesn’t matter.”

“It doesn’t matter? why doesn’t it matter, Lara? You’re in love with me.” Carlos says.

“Because you’re engaged, Carlos.” Lara says. “You have Emma, so it didn’t seem important to me.”

“It’s important.” Carlos says taking a step closer to her, Lara quickly climbed off the bar stool. “Things could’ve been so different if you’d just told me.”

“But they’re not.” Lara whispers. “She makes you happy, if you’re happy, I’m happy.”

“That’s a lie and you know it.” Carlos says, he always knew when she was lying, she was never able to lie to him.

“It isn’t.” Lara says. “I really am happy for you, Carlos.” Lara says, Carlos traps her against the bar. “Carlos.” Lara whispers.

“Lara,” Carlos says leaning closer to her.

“You’re engaged, you can’t do this.” Lara quickly says bringing her hands up and presses flat against his chest.

“We’re not really engaged.” Emma says from behind Carlos, Lara looks past Carlos at Emma. “Well, not anymore.”

“Emma, I don-“ Lara begins, Carlos quickly steps away from Lara to turn around and look at Emma.

“Emma.” Carlos says.

“Can I speak?” Emma asks. “Look, I love you, Carlos, I really do but everyone can see how in love you are with Lara, and everyone keeps saying how they thought that the two of you would end up together, I can’t compete with her, I’ll never be your first choice.” Emma says while removing the ring from her finger. “Who am I to come between two people that are in love with each other? Love is a very rare thing, it only comes around once in a while.”

“I didn’t mean to hurt you.” Carlos says, Emma gives him a soft smile.

“You didn’t, I realised when we first met that I wouldn’t be the first choice.” Emma says. “Besides, you two would look much better at each other’s sides.”

“I’m sorry… I didn’t want to come between the two of you.” Lara says. “I should go.”

“No, no.” Emma says. “I’m not mad at you, or you, Carlos.” Emma says. “I shouldn’t have let this go this far.” Emma says extending her arm holding the engagement ring. “I think you’ve given this to the wrong woman.” Emma says, Carlos gently takes the engagement ring from her. “I really hope I’m invited to the wedding.”

“Emma.” Carlos says but stops himself, he wasn’t sure what he was supposed to say.

“Don’t apologise, I want something like this.” Emma says gesturing to Lara and Carlos. “I want to be somebody’s first, I want somebody to look at me the way Carlos looks at you.” Emma says. “I’m going to leave you two alone now.” Emma says turning around.

“Wait!” Lara says feeling bad.

“Oh, Carlos, for the love of love, ask her to marry you, she’s perfect.” Emma says looking back at Carlos, Carlos gives her a smile. “Don’t let her go.”

“I won’t… not this time.” Carlos says. “You’re amazing you know that right?” Emma gives him a nod and leaves to join the other guests.

“I’m sorry.” Lara blues out. “This is exactly why I said it wasn’t important.”

“Lara.” Carlos begins as he turns to face her. “Did you hear any of that?”

“I did… but did you miss the part where I’m the reason you’re not engaged anymore?” Lara asks, Carlos takes hold of her hand.

“Are you?” Carlos asks holding the ring up. “I can buy you another one if you don’t want this one.”

“Wha- what?” Lara whispers shocked, Carlos bends down onto one knee.

“Okay, I’ll do it the traditional way.” Carlos says. “Lara, I know I should be feeling miserable after my fiancée just broke off the engagement, but I’m not… yes, I cared for her, but she was right, you will always be my first choice.” Carlos says, tears build in Lara’s eyes. “And I’m willing to buy you an entirely new engagement ring if you want me to, but Lara, will you make me the happiest man on earth and marry me?” Carlos asks.

#f1 imagines #f1 imagine #carlos sainz jr imagine #carlos sainz jr imagines

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deafblindshorty · 5 years

Text

OITNB 7x13: Here’s Where We Get Off

It is after midnight, and I am going to hate myself in the morning (well, later this morning), and the finale is an hour and a half long, but I can’t wait.

Aww, poor Dixon watching his friend’s corpse being carried out.

It’s still winter?!

I get the sense that Dixon blames Luschek for Penn’s death. And Penn’s ghost waving and walking off? (choked up) I don’t think we got that with any of the other characters who died (Tricia, Poussey...).

As usual, Alvarez has bad timing, passing around all those Judy King books.

JUDY MENTIONED THE THREESOME WITH LUSCHEK AND YOGA!! Karma, Luschek!

And Luschek was fired after admitting to being the phone smuggler. Man, this isn’t a good day for Luschek is it? LOL

Well, Piper’s a free woman now. Kind of in a weird relationship with Zelda but her relationship with her dad is improving. And he has made a few good points about Alex.

Dixon took Taystee to see Suzanne, who’s a bit more calm and chill now than she used to be. It’s refreshing.

Ward left the GED files on Taystee’s desk. Penn got her GED. There are no words.

I really hate the direction the writers went with Vauseman....

Yep, Taystee’s definitely back! Both Ps (Poussey and Pennsatucky) are smiling down on her!

They found drugs in the chicken and Linda fires Ward. Damn.

Cindy made a new friend!

Red has officially moved to Florida and full-on has dementia. She doesn’t remember Frieda, who is surprised and relieved Red doesn’t remember her!

Looks like Flores is free, too!

OMG It’s Chang! I wasn’t expecting to see her!

Is that Tasliz?

Suzanne’s building a memorial for Pennsatucky. ^_^

So Gloria’s being released after all! Yay!

Still no explanation as to how Cesar is out of prison.

And Daya dragged Eva into this drug war? Jeez...

I thought that conversation between Piper and Larry described Piper perfectly.

Cindy’s making some progress with her mom and daughter!

Hey! It’s Judy King in person! And Taystee wants to start a loan foundation in Poussey’s name!

Sigh...oh, Lorna. Still in denial.

OHSHIT! Red remembers! Frieda manages to get away.

Okay, seriously? Accidentally killing someone should not have turned someone this dark! Are you kidding me?

That fucking asshole! Leaving Karla ‘cause she’s injured!

“I never prepared them (the chickens) for life on the outside. Of course they turned to drugs.” LOL Oh, Suzanne...

Are you fucking kidding me right now? HELLMAN is the new warden?!

Alex is in Ohio with Boo, Anita, Yoga, Gina, and Norma.

Hmm. Where’s Piper going?

Oh, Nicky’s literally taking over for Red! Is that Daya?

Oh, and we see the meth heads, Alison, and Janae! And Sankey and Soso!

Blanca and Diablo are reunited!

Red singing Lorna to sleep in Russian.

The Poussey Washington Fund launches!

Piper and Alex get back together! Yay! I’m so happy!

Everyone lives happily ever after!

Well, this season was not what I expected. I wanted Taystee to be cleared of the murder charge, I wanted Daya to change back to the way she was, I wanted Piper to go through with writing her memoir, I wanted Cesar to die in prison, I wanted Red to reunite with her sons and grandsons, I wanted Healy to die a slow and lonely death, I wanted Suzanne to find out about Kukudio’s death, (and now for Boo to find out about Pennsatucky’s death) and I wanted Kubra to show up and it be revealed that he saw the video of Piscatella torturing the inmates and that Alex is very much alive, but I did not get any of that.

But, I mean, it did end on a positive note, and it could have been worse. I’m fine with what we got.

#orange is the new black #oitnb #oitnb liveblogging

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cloudbattrolls · 4 years

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Aftermath

Chimer Latrai | Civitrecce | Present Night

The fuchsia blearily wiped her eyes as she looked down on the city. There hadn’t been too many deaths, somehow...but the property damage was colossal, and it hadn’t just been corporate office buildings. Regular neighborhoods had been torched by pyrokinesis or knocked over by telekinetics too.

Her ship thrummed with solar power as it hovered in place, and she looked at the security screens to see how her bunch of trolls was doing.

A lot of them were hers - support staff, local experts, her intel crew, Amdzah and a few of her other guards - but some were trolls she’d grabbed off the streets, sometimes without asking if a giant chunk of debris had been headed their way.

Unfortunately, most of the powerful highbloods had been transportalized or otherwise spirited away to safety, safe in emergency bunkers as the city burned and broke.

She had no word on where Cherie was, but whatever, as long as the little shit was keeping their head down. If she was really lucky, someone had culled them for her.

Tabula...what had happened to the maroon? Would she have taken a bargain with a worm god or wish dragon? Could they even affect her, empty of desire unless she chose otherwise?

“Miss Latrai, there’s something here for you in the entry bay.”

A voice spoke through the ship’s intercom.

“Mmmwhat?” yawned the seadweller, shaken from her reverie. “It better not be another glitter bo -”

“Hello, Chimer.”

She sat bolt upright as another voice came through the speaker.

“Whatthefuck.”

“It’s good to see you too. Come and say hello. It’s been a while.”

The fuchsia was dazed, blinking in disbelief, but she checked to make her trident was the top of her sylladex before she took the elevator down to the bay.

Her poor attendant looked terrified, ears pinned back as lines of lime energy glowed around them, restraining them.

The fuchsia raised an eyebrow as she took in the woman - android, technically, from the sheen of the false skin and the purple joins - casually lounging on the couch nearby, looking perfectly unconcerned.

“Blanca. Wassup. Why’sup.”

The woman smiled.

“They tried to disable me. Not that I have an open switch for that - that’d be silly. What an obvious weakness.”

“Was she being spooky?” Chimer addressed the brownblood, who looked like they’d rather be anywhere else.

“I didn’t know she could speak on her own.” They whispered. “I thought she was just a messenger robot, and she was malfunctioning…”

The politician snapped her fingers.

“Yeah, about that, how did you get here? This ship has all incoming transmissions and transportalizations monitored and held until they’re screened. I know I’m not the most tech savvy person, but I have people who are, and I didn’t even get a ping. How?”

Blanca merely pressed a finger to her lips and smiled.

“All in good time, Chimer. I’m here to help.”

“I’ll have an easier time swallowing that if you let...uh...what’s your name, kid?”

“Benzen, ma’am.”

“If you let Benny here go. Try not to creep everyone out, capiche?”

The woman waved her hand dismissively, and the brownblood made themself scarce as the energy dissipated.

Chimer sighed, sitting down on the couch opposite her old...acquaintance? Former friend? Ex? Whatever.

“First Cherie, then you. I thought we were all gonna go our separate ways after the last bunch of nonsense.”

“What do you have against me, Chimer? We all worked together against Echthros.”

The seadweller snorted.

“You made that problem in the first place by stealing my powers, then making me forget about it. Zelaya gave me the dirt, y’know.”

A flash of guilt and then anger darkened the woman’s face before she sighed, the noise strange from a body that didn’t have real lungs. It sounded like a recording. Maybe it was.

“I made some mistakes, but are you really going to hold all that against me? It was a long time ago, even for you. Certainly for me. I was just a girl.”

Chimer snorted and held up a hand.

“A girl who profited off the plague, cursed her kismesis, tried to rewrite history, killed her lusus in return for shapeshifting powers, and raised the dead. Yeah, don’t even try.”

The fuchsia counted down fingers as she rattled off her list, and the android laughed.

“I was wild then, wasn’t I?” She remarked in a fond voice. “But those nights are behind me. I don’t have necromantic powers anymore - this body can’t use them, even if I had my bells.”

“The constructs are new, though.”

The android let some lime sparks dance across her palms.

“Aren’t they fun? One of the nice things about technology.”

“Srevni sure left you some toys, huh.”

The android’s glowing eyes narrowed as the fuchsia smiled sardonically.

“So she survived after all. Where is she hiding?”

“They’re just dandy, and I’m not telling you.”

Her fists clenched, her ears flicking back and forth. Chimer held the silence, staring resolutely with her arms crossed.

Blanca looked away first.

“I know what Coloth is up to.”

“Way ahead of you, already had someone retrieve that info. Was about to use it against him when the monsters hit and everything went cuckoo.”

Her smile was back.

“So you don’t know.”

“Be straight with me or clear off, Blanca, I have too many other things I could be doing right now.”

“So responsible.” She said, teasingly, crossing her legs together. “Don’t you ever miss what we got up to? Sneaking around behind the church’s backs, taking down the highblood mages? Not having to answer to anyone?”

“Sure. You know what else I miss? Being able to trust you wouldn’t wipe my memories.”

“I can’t now.” She pointed out acidly. “So will you listen to me and stop bringing up the past?”

The taller woman leaned back, folding her hands behind her head.

“Go for it, then.”

“You might know Coloth’s plans to mass market the shapeshifting psi in containers for helming purposes, but after the monster incident you needed seeker tech from him for? He had a new idea: acquiring all of Civitrecce’s surveillance for himself. Putting down every single rebel in their own hive.”

The fuchsia’s fins rippled in amusement.

“He want to buy me a whole moon while he’s at it? That’s impossible, he’d have to fight so many legal battles the teals would own his ass for the next five hundred sweeps.”

The former undead pressed the tips of her fingers together, lips pulled back.

“That would be true...if the Empire wasn’t looking for people they could pawn off the city’s reconstruction on. They’re willing to promise the lowest bidder anything if they can clean up the mess.”

Chimer swore. That sounded way too likely to be true - she’d verify it, but her news people had probably already at least heard rumors.

“I can’t interfere with that.” She said, dragging a hand down her face. “That’s technically private business. On paper, politicians are supposed to stay out of it.”

“Why do you play their game, Chimer? The system is already corrupt. You’re not holding any moral ground by going along with it when no one else bothers.”

“‘Cause go shove your face in a beaky mask again, that’s why.”

The android blinked.

“If you can’t understand why I do things this way, I’m not gonna bother going into it. What do you want, anyway? I know darn well you didn’t poof yourself here just to warn me about Coloth.”

“What I’ve always wanted, Chimer. I want my people to be free.”

“I can’t turn back time anymore, even if I wanted to. The clock’s gone, and if a single limeblood has survived this city, I’ll be surprised. You’re in the wrong place.”

The woman’s glowing eyes briefly flash in strings of code.

“There’s a lot you don’t know about Civitrecce, Chimer. A lot I can tell you, if you accept my help.”

“‘Kay. What’s your price?”

“Cherie dead, at some point. Doesn’t have to be now. I’m sure you’ve longed to get rid of them yourself. Have you realized why they’re dogging your steps yet?”

The fuchsia looked at her nails, bored.

“They inherited a weird jealousy complex from their ancestor? Yeah, been there seen that. It’s annoying, they’re annoying, I have more important things to worry about.”

The elder Rincon leaned forward, studying the fuchsia with a gaze that was slightly uncomfortable in its intensity.

“Stop staring at me with them big ol’ eyes. What.”

“Just wanted to make sure you believed that.”

“You’re the liar liar stake on fire, not me.”

The former undead scowled.

“Too soon?” said Chimer innocently.

“Don’t joke about how I died.”

“Don’t zap energy around people for being scared of your weird metal ass and we’ve got a deal.”

Some sort of malicious feeling flicked across the woman’s face, the purple markings above her eyes slightly eerie in their glowing light.

“As you like.” She said, tone neutral.

Chimer decided not to go there. Blanca was a grown adult, even if she didn’t look it, and she wasn’t stupid enough to try to stab the fuchsia in the back on her own ship. She’d have her staff keep an eye on her - that’d be enough for now.

“Anywho, make yourself at hive. I dunno what you use for energy, but feel free to take it. I’m tired, we can trade more deets later. Here, have a welcoming present.”

Rummaging in her sylladex, the fuchsia took out an old necklace, tarnished with time - but the carvings on the strung bones were still visible, abstract swirls of fae and animals in an endless dance.

Blanca almost didn’t catch it, so surprised was she when her old friend tossed it to her.

“You kept it?” She said in a voice that was almost a whisper.

“‘Course. Things can be good again, you know. Stop plotting all the time, it won’t kill - okay, it did, my bad with the stake thing before, but things can be better. If you try. That’s why I do what I do, y’know.”

“...do you not want it anymore?”

She clutched the necklace as if it were a lifeline.

“Nah, we can share. Just figured you’d like to see it.”

The limeblood - she had once been lime, long ago when she’d been alive - nodded.

“Help me put it on?”

The politician blinked. All right then.

“Sure.”

She walked over, bent down on one knee, and fastened it around the much shorter woman’s slender neck. It was amazing, really, how well her current form mimicked her original one - if a lot smoother and cleaner. Blanca had always been covered in small scars when she’d been alive - from fights, from plague, because she’d tried some new necromancy experiment that tried to take a bite out of her.

Chimer got up again, making finger guns as she stepped back to face her new guest.

“Ta da.”

“Thank you.”

“Any time. I do need sleep though, it’s almost dawn. Light light.”

“Light, Chimer.”

When she slept, the fuchsia dreamt of long ago, when a girl with white hair had offered her a way forward. Even if they had to rip it from everyone more powerful.

She dreamt of stolen things, of a clock that never stopped ticking, and realizing quite by accident, that she’d been in love.

#decipula ex memoriae #cloud writes #me: oh wait these two were gay #me: I can use this for DEPTH #any plot is improved by remembering two characters were in lesbians at one point #chimer latrai #blanca rincon

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queerchoicesblog · 5 years

Text

Rooftop Talks (Platinum, F!Raleigh x MC)

Since I noticed so many fics starring M! Raleigh but none with F! Raleigh, here’s my attempt to fill that void. Inspired by the rooftop scene, this is my entry for the prompt “ honesty” of the @choicesjulychallenge hosted by @kinda-iconic !

In short, Raleigh and Rachel (Dorian, MC) grow closer as they make a habit of meeting on the abandoned building’s rooftop to avoid paparazzi and spend with each other. Then one night Rachel has a question for Raleigh...

Prompt: Honesty

Discalimer: mild use of bad words and hispano hablantes over here: I tried to incorporate some occasional Spanish in here - I wanted to incorporate that trait in Raleigh’s character- so please tell me if I messed something up with the language (I took Spanish classes ages ago) or in general and I’ll fix it!

Word Count: 2328

Perma Tag: @brightpinkpeppercorn @melodyofgraves @bhavf @abunchofbadchoices @silverhawkenzie @begging-for-kamilah @kennaxval @strangerofbraidwood @crazypeanat @desiree-0816 @universallypizzataco

F! Raleigh x MC Tag: @hellospunkiebrewster @furiouscloddonutpeanut

________________________

The night of the charity gala none of them would have expected it to happen again but Raleigh and Rachel made a habit to sneak away from the paparazzi and hide on the rooftop to catch some breath. They would chat and flirt, share takeaway food and views and suggestions about each other new songs. Some nights they would even bring their guitars and jam together: most of the times they would end up playing and singing their heart out silly hits of the past or campfire songs only to laugh till their cheeks hurt as if they were teens at a party their parents knew nothing about. Other nights they would be a soundboard for each other, especially Raleigh: she would listen to Rachel's ramblings and second-guessing herself and offer her advice: how to keep the tune on that note, a better rhyme, a few sick moves for her next video...even how to make the right impression during interviews, because Raleigh was a professional, not just her rebel stage persona, and she had been around journalists and paparazzi way more than the new sweet shining star.

In return, Rachel would suggest new kinder strategies to deal with fame and fans or to call home every once in a while: even if she left when she was fifteen, she must have someone who missed her. The thought made Raleigh smile, but in a good way: it was almost painful to see how genuinely good the Dorian girl was.

"Are you homesick, Rachel?" she inquired to divert the question.

"Hm, not really, no...” she said, stirring her noodles as she considered her answer. "But I've lived with my parents longer than you did. I just wanted to break free and find a place of my own after I got my high school diploma. I mean, I love them but at a certain point in life, your roads need to part, so to speak, right? But you, it was different for you...that's why I asked. I hope I didn't overstep though" Raleigh shrugged and took a bite of sesame chicken.

"I talked with dad a couple of weeks ago. It was his birthday, mom and the whole family squad set up a party for him. And just so you know, he hates parties. He's a good ol' grumpy fellow"

"Aw cool! I bet he's your number one fan even if maybe he doesn't show it much? I mean, your whole family should be your number one fan!"

"Nah, papi sticks and will always stick with the classics till the end of time and mamita y tìa were and still are -I guess- huge fans of Ricky Martin, el Rey del Pop Latino" Raleigh explained.

She didn't realize until the day after that she couldn't remember the last time she had talked about her family with someone. Everyone always asked her about future plans, career path, tips maybe, but private life? Never. Unless it meant asking out on dates, heavy flirting or scandalous gossips about a former lover. Only Rachel asked her about the life she had left behind in Puerto Rico and everybody had long lost interest in.

"You don't strike me as a fan of Ricky Martin" Dorian chuckled.

The R&B singer flashed her a wide grin.

"Not exactly, but thanks to them I can make quite a good impression of him. Wanna see it?"

"Is that even a question? Of course!"

Raleigh laughed and reached for her phone as the new star put down her empty food box and shifted to sit more comfortably. She scrolled down a YouTube playlist then her eyes met Rachel's again.

"You ready?"

As the young woman nodded she pressed play and ran her hand through her hair and produced her best puppy dog eyes, making Rachel laugh. She put down her phone and walked backward theatrically opening her arms.

Un, dos, tres Un pasito pa'lante María Un, dos, tres Un pasito pa' atrás

Then as the tune became more upbeat she produced herself in a complicated yet effortlessly fluid sequence of hands clapping, swirling and hips swaying. Latin Pop may have not been her favorite genre but damn, she owned the choreography just as she owned the stage during her shows.

Así es María Blanca como el día

She sang quickly stroking Rachel's cheek with one finger before spinning and turning away.

Pero es veneno si te quieres enamorar Así es María Tan caliente y fría Que si te la bebes de seguro te va a matar

After striking a dramatic pose, she winked just before bursting into laughter.

"Oh my God! That was everything, Raleigh!" Rachel enthusiastically applauded.

"Muchas gracias, nena" she said ruffling her hair and taking her seat beside her.

"Now I'm living to see a Ricky Martin and Raleigh Carrera duet"

Raleigh looked at her and snorted.

"I don't see it happening but paradoxically my team might love the idea so never say it out loud when they're around. Never!"

"A girl can dream, right?" Rachel shrugged and giggled.

All of a sudden way less bubbly considerations crossed her mind and she lost in her own train of thoughts. A girl can dream...she had repeated those few words in her head so many times lately. Every time Raleigh absentmindedly stroked her arms on a fake date, every time she caught her looking at her from afar, every time they kissed.

Then the night of the gala happened. When the two of them sneaked away and hopped on Raleigh's motorbike. She still remembered the cool breeze of the night caressing her skin as she held herself to her "girlfriend". That was a moment of rare perfection: the two of them finally alone and careless, the adrenaline of the ride, the warmth of "the R&B time bomb"'s body pressed against her. When they arrived on the rooftop and she admired the breathing view of New York skyline, her head almost started spinning, just like when Raleigh twirled her in her arms on the gala dance floor.

But what made her heart skip a beat was hearing Raleigh talking about that place, sharing memories of her past, when her teen self felt lost and lonely in the big city...and her project to turn the abandoned building into a community center for kids.

"You make me feel like I want to tell you things. I don't know why" Raleigh confessed that night.

That was when a familiar warmth settled into Rachel's chest. The same feeling she experienced when her high school crush caught her singing to herself in the auditorium and told her that she sounded like an angel and stopped to chat. She didn't ask her out before leaving - Rachel Dorian life had never been a romcom so far- but the little casual talk stole her younger self's breath away.

Rachel instinctively knew that Raleigh never shared that with anyone else. It was just her tone, the way she said it. And she couldn't remember a single interview or tweet mentioning it. So...Raleigh's walls were crumbling down? You don't share secrets, very private secrets with anyone!

Maybe I was just being paranoid as my usual...maybe I didn't misread the signs, she thought as Raleigh not only accepted but enthusiastically returned the kiss that followed. And took her to the railing, her lips never leaving hers or her neck.

But later...

Raleigh suddenly making a loud noise with her soda breaking her train of thoughts.

"Earth to Rachel"

Avery's protege turned to see her looking at her with a slightly amused grin on her face as she played with the straw.

"Sorry, I spaced out" Rachel smiled shyly, avoiding eye contact.

"No biggie. Just glad we're on the same planet again"

Rachel looked at her sideways: Raleigh was happily humming one of her latest songs. She seemed to be in a good mood, she always was in a good mood when she was on that rooftop. Or so Rachel could tell by what she saw over the past few weeks. Which lead her to summon up her courage and ask her a question that had been troubling her for a while.

"Why did you bring me here the night of the gala?"

Raleigh was probably caught off guard by that but concealed it well. She shrugged again and leaned down on the carpet, propping herself up on one elbow.

"I told you, I had to take a break from those stupid fraud activists and this is where I go to catch my breath. We were at the gala together so it made sense to ask you to join. Lie to me and tell me you don't like it here" she said, flashing her signature grin.

"Of course I do" Rachel gave a quick smile.

Maybe that's the problem. I like it here, when it's just the two of us, no one else in sight...probably I like it too much.

But this conversation was going nowhere. So she sighed and spoke again, hoping to find answers and hopefully reassurance:

"Our time is ticking out, right?"

When Raleigh looked up to her, the usual cheerfulness of Rachel had been replaced by what looked like...melancholy?

"What? It's barely midnight, the night is still young, Rachel!" she joked to clear the mood.

Then she gave another grin and reached to playfully bump the other girl's arm.

"I have a bad reputation in case you haven't noticed. You should know that I'm not the kind of girlfriend who respects nor gives a damn about curfews."

But Rachel didn't play along this time.

"That's not what I meant" she said as her eyes met Raleigh's again.

The Puerto Rican singer knew what she meant. The big issue that had been lingering between them for a while and that was written all over Rachel tired face. She felt a pang of pain at the thought of it and she decided to conceal it as she always did.

"Oh well who knows, Rachel? I haven't spoken to my PR manager about it on our last meeting"

But the other woman didn't seem satisfied with that brief explanation.

Raleigh grimaced and sat up. It actually hurt more than she thought. She reached for Rachel's hand.

"Hey, we both knew the deal. Start a fake relationship and get a career and reputation boost"

"It's all it is, huh?"

The Dorian girl looked at her with painful expectancy. Gosh, I knew this is what we would get out of this, Raleigh thought.

"Well, yes and no. I mean, I like you, Rachel, I'm glad we got closer. You're shockingly pleasant to have around, rising star. And you've been...well yeah so far you're the best fake girlfriend ever, seriously. I hope we will still be friends when this...you know..."

"Yeah, sure"

Rachel diverted her eyes as her chest tightened. She misread the signals, shit. She kept fantasizing and being oblivious of their current situation...but she couldn't blame Raleigh for it. That night, their first night on the rooftop, when the kisses grew hungry on the railing, the Puerto Rican star too soon parted and told her to follow her, she wanted to go on another ride on her bike. Rachel reached for her.

"We don't have to stop, you know..." she noted, gently stroking her hip.

"What? Too scared to admit you might be catching feelings?" she teased, since the other woman just stared at her in silence.

"Whoa, there. Let's not get crazy. I'm a seasoned professional" Raleigh interrupted her, walking backward.

What a stupid I am! What was I thinking? That she, Raleigh Carrera, might fall for me?, Rachel grimace, her face hidden from the R&B star's view. Your life is not a romcom, Dorian, and you have embarrassed yourself already. God, that night she might have...she totally thought I was taking advantage of the situation? Oh shit shit shit!

Her phone beeped. She picked it up as a deep blush spread on her face: Low battery warning.

"Rachel, are you okay?"

The girl didn't turn but she felt the weight of Raleigh's concerned gaze over her.

"Yeah, I'm good...I just-I just forgot that I have a meeting with Avery early tomorrow. Very early. Like dawn"

"Why so early?" Raleigh gave her a quizzical look.

"Oh it's Fiona's doing actually" she said as she stood in a swift motion and gathered up her belongings. "She just want to introduce us to some yoga routine or something like that. She said it stimulates creativity... the point is I gotta go. I'm sorry"

She gave a quick apologetic smile and moved towards the staircases.

"Oh, okay" Raleigh was visibly confused by the sudden change in her "girlfriend". "Do you want me to give yo-"

"No no, I know the way! I'll call a cab!"

Before she opened the metal door leading downstairs, Raleigh spoke again.

"You sure, you're okay though? Did I say something wrong? About the-"

Rachel stopped and slightly turned her head.

"No, of course not. It's just...my silly little head that keeps forgetting things. How things go. Buenas noches, Raleigh"

That said she speed up down the stairs and only the echo of the door resounded on the rooftop, "their place", before the other woman could say goodnight back.

Something doesn't add up, Raleigh thought, still struggling to make a sense of the last few minutes. What did I-

Then her eyes fell on the purple guitar she gave Rachel sitting not far from the wooden bench. Dorian jealously kept her ever since the first day they met. She wore it on every show, even in the music video they filmed together. She even caught her smiling down at it as she strummed a new melody. She really made her happy with her guitar: Rachel would never go anywhere without it, even the press noticed...and now it was there. Did she forget?

"Oh crap!" Raleigh sprinted to the staircases and opened the door, calling her name.

"Rachel hold on, your guitar! Rachel!"

But her words were welcomed by silence only.

#choices july challenge #platinum #raleigh x mc #raleigh carrera #playchoices #choices fanfic

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