#bsc fanfic

[staceymcgillicuddy]

Prompt #9 please!

Oh, Nonnie, this is my last prompt in the inbox and it got me all in my emotions as well! Love an established relationship feelings-fest! (Prompt is "Listen to me.")

~~~~~~~

“Chrissy?” 

Eddie taps on the door of their overpriced hotel room and waits. He has a key, but he wants to respect her need to take a moment. After all, it isn’t every day that your wife flees her little brother’s rehearsal dinner in tears after telling her own sainted mother to “just shut up, okay?” 

Not that Laura Cunningham’s much of a saint. Still, Eddie’s treading carefully because this is the first significant time they’ve spent with the Cunninghams since the Christmas disaster of ’91, and there’s nothing that can send Chrissy spiraling back into the abyss of her childhood faster than a scathing comment from her mother. 

“Hey, Bets,” he says, trying again with a nickname that he only pulls out when the stakes are high. He can’t remember how it started—Christine Elizabeth shortened to Lizzie, Beth, Betty, Bets, maybe—but after eleven years together, eight of them married, and a hundred pet names split between them, what does remembering matter?

Pressing his ear to the door, he waits until he hears a sob before deciding that she’s had warning enough and uses his key.

The room smells like Chrissy’s perfume with an undercurrent of faux-floral toilet scrub. It’s not a place they could ever have afforded alone, which is part of the problem. As parents of the groom (and at said groom’s request), Phillip and Laura are paying for their attendance, which has set Chrissy on a self-destructive path where she has to battle a tornado of tolerance and an earthquake of obligation and yes, sure, Eddie’d suggested they just get a room at the Motel 8 and save themselves the hassle, but she’d wanted to do it for her brother. For Charlie. For his bride-to-be, Addie, who’s actually a cool girl. They’ve been to stay with Chrissy and Eddie in Chicago twice now, and Eddie digs her taste in music more than he’ll ever admit. 

(Addie also said she dug Eddie’s band-on-the-side, which is all he needs to love someone forever.) 

“Eddie,” comes a plaintive wail from the bed.

Chrissy’s curled on her side with a pillow hugged to her abdomen, still wearing the blue floral dress she’d sported to dinner. It has ridden up her thighs considerably, and Eddie must have grown as a person because he only thinks about that for maybe .02 seconds as he crawls onto the bed behind her and wraps an arm around her waist to pull her against his chest. 

“She had it coming,” he says into her artfully coiffed hair, which rests shellacked and sticky against his lips. “Baby. She did.” 

“Is Ch-Ch-Addie mad?” 

“Nobody’s mad except your mother.” In fact—and he won’t tell her this now—Addie’d been hiding a giggle behind a napkin. Eddie knows for a fact that she feels about Laura much the same as he does. Only, you know, she can’t say that to Chrissy because while Chrissy’s allowed to hate her mother, nobody else can say a word, and God, yeah, families are complicated. Eddie’s grateful that he only has to worry about Wayne, and Wayne never gives them any trouble. 

“I shouldn’t have said anything,” she says around another miserable little sniffle. 

“Eh.” He shrugs and kisses the spot where her shoulder meets her neck. “She was picking at you, and you snapped. It happens.” 

“But I wasn’t going to do it this time! I was… I worked on all those coping m-mechanisms!” That brings a fresh volley of tears. “Sandra’s going to be so disappointed.” 

“What, like you’re gonna get a bad grade in therapy?” 

“Yes!” She trills the word out on a wail.

Eddie loves her so much, but she’s making a mountain out of a molehill, and while he never minds comforting this particular damsel in distress, he’s also not gonna let her beat herself up when Laura’s the one who threw the first punch. 

“Alright, buddy, c’mon.” He pulls away enough to coax her onto her back, where she stares up at him from puffy, red-rimmed eyes and a blotchy complexion. “Hey.” 

“Hi,” she says. 

There’s snot beneath her nose, so he grabs a Kleenex from the box on the nightstand and holds it to her face. “Blow.”

She blows—honks if he’s honest—and he chucks the tissue onto the table before focusing on her. 

“Okay, counselor, facts of the case. Did your mother kick the evening off by telling you your dress was too tight?” 

Chrissy frowns. “It is, and—”

“Bzzt!” Eddie digs his fingers into her side, which has the intended effect of shocking her into a squeal. “Irrelevant. Conjecture. Also, bullshit. You look hot. So, true or false, counselor? Did she do that?” 

Chrissy nods, mute, pressing her lips into a thin line. But, hey. Not crying, so that’s something. 

“And did she, or did she not, tell everyone at the table that they’re paying for us to be here?” 

Another nod. 

“After which—and correct me if I’m wrong here—she put her hand over your plate so the waiter couldn’t give you any of the lobster risotto.” 

Chrissy’s mouth twists into what might be termed a smile, and she shrugs. 

“So then I switched plates with you, and she gave me that look she always gives me.” 

“What look?” 

“The look where I’m a pile of actual dogshit she’s just stepped in.” 

“Oh.” Chrissy’s smile widens, and she shrugs. “Right. That look.” 

“All of that to say, by the time she gave her little speech about grandchildren and welcoming a daughter into the family… I dunno, Bets, it felt like justifiable homicide to me.” 

“But I did it in front of everyone…” 

“Yeah, well, so did she.” 

“But—“ 

“No buts. Listen to me. Your mother’s never going to change, but you change every day. That’s why you’ve got me, and Sandra, and all our friends who actually like you instead of the stupid little dress-up doll your mother spent eighteen years trying to turn you into.” 

This is not the first time they’ve had this conversation. Chrissy already knows how he feels. However, if the message takes a million times to sink in, Eddie’s willing to keep talking. 

Chrissy blinks, sniffs, and rubs her eyes. “Okay,” she says because she’s not so good at acknowledging the truth of the matter. “I should call Charlie’s room. Apologize to him and Addie and—”

“Or,” Eddie says, cutting her off before she can work herself into another lather. “We could call up room service and charge two fucking massive slices of chocolate cake to your parents.” 

“Eddie…” 

“Best part is, they’re both for you.” 

"Eddie."

"I'll have a bite. And you can call your brother, too."

~~~~~~

All the prompts I've answered!

[tamiisnthere]

Tami's interactions with the Brotherhood

Idea by @fancysteawberrybeard! Thank you! 💗

It's about Tami's relationships with individual members of the brotherhood. They are mostly positive, with a few neutral, but there are also disagreements.

This Assassin's Brotherhood is similar to AC Rebellion mobile game, where characters from other time periods are in one place.

Tami has many mentors at the beginning of her training to teach her certain abilities and skills, and later she will have one or two mentors that will teach her everything.

Bayek and Aya/Amunet: They accepted Tami into the brotherhood, because Bayek saw in her the potential of an assassin (and she is the only one who can make Altaïr happy). Amunet is insecure about Tami's accomplishment because she is worried something bad will happen to Tami or she will lose her life on her first mission. Fortunately, Bayek assures his wife he will make sure that Tami has the perfect training.

Altaïr: He's Tami's boyfriend and inspired her to join the brotherhood. Altaïr is also her main Mentor who trains and teaches her the philosophy of Creed. The two always stick together and do every activity together unless Altaïr has a mission and has to leave her under someone else's supervision. The only problem with his mentoring is he favors Tami over the other novices and apprentices, for example he is always gentle with his girlfriend because she doesn't like to be yelled at, while he is very strict with novices.

Desmond: Altaïr trusts Desmond the most to take care of Tami when he's on a mission and she's not training at the moment. Tami has the best relationship with Des after Altaïr since they are both from the modern era and nearly the same age. She even calls him her future x-times-great-stepgrandson which makes him confused. They both tell silly stories from their childhood and joke with each other. Tami tells him facts about animals and dinosaurs which surprise Desmond.

Ezio: He teaches Tami fist fighting and horse riding. The two get along well, but they don't communicate much because Altaïr is worried that Ezio will start flirting with Tami. Fortunately, Tami doesn't have the slightest interest in Ezio, because she is very loyal to her partner. Of course, Ezio knows that Altaïr loves Tami, he has no plans to even compliment her on her appearance (or Altaïr will stab him) and prefers to flirt with Sofia Sartor. In addition, Ezio only sees Tami as a sister.

Ratonhnhaké:ton/Connor: He teaches her tracking, archery and hunting. Tami admires Connor and reminds her of her oldest adoptive sister Elphina (my Night Elf Huntress OC). Connor is always polite to her (he's just a gentle giant <3). He even tells her some random facts about fauna even Tami doesn't know.

Edward: He teaches her to use guns and swim. In the free time, Edward takes Tami on the Jackdaw to go around the coast, but Tami is seasick, so it's rare. But what bothers Tami the most about Edward is when he is drunk and offers her rum regardless of the fact she is a abstainer. Nevertheless, they are still friends.

Adéwalé: He teaches her how to use guns and swim when Edward doesn't have time (or he is still drunk). Adéwalé shows Tami other weapons such as machetes, blunderbuss and rope dart. In addition, he will help her overcome seasickness on a cruise on Experto Crede.

Arno: He teaches her freerunning, parkour and fencing. They run around the hideout and do the Leap of Faith, but Tami doesn't have good stamina, which she needs to work on. They sometimes meet outside of training, because Arno is always on missions. He tells her about the French Revolution and Élise, how he misses her. Well, Tami noticed that he gets a little blush when Jacob goes to tease him. (French Frye hint 😉)

Evie, Jacob and Jayadeep/Henry: The Frye twins teach Tami stealth and theory, but mostly Evie teaches her because Jacob wants Tami to join The Rooks, which Altaïr forbids. Henry helps the twins with Tami's training when he has time. Tami generally enjoys being with them, but sometimes she just sit and watch the twins argue about what to do next.

Aveline: She teaches her stealth and theory when the Frye twins and Henry are busy. Tami likes Aveline's persona strategy to blend in with the crowd and the use of the blowpipe, so she decides to use these skills. Later, Tami confesses that Aveline is her favourite Mentor after Altaïr, so Bayek decided that only Altaïr and Aveline would train Tami fully.

Rebecca and Shaun: They work on the Animus, hacking Templar websites and data, and searching for the Pieces of Eden. Outside of training, Tami sometimes helps them with documents or some programs since she loves to work on the computer. And if she completes everything correctly, she will play computer games as a reward. Sometimes she plays on their computer without permission later in the evening.

Malik: Tami helps him with documents and books, since it is difficult for him to work with only one hand. Altaïr leaves Tami at the bureau with Malik when he has to go on a mission. Malik orders her to organize a large pile of papers and documents alphabetically. They both talk while working and generally have fun. Later, Tami quickly finishes organizing the documents, surprising Malik.

Leonardo da Vinci: He is an inventor for the brotherhood. Tami has a huge admiration for him because he's one of her favourite historical figures. She looks at all his creations and praises them every single time.

Claudia, Lydia Frye and Maria Thorpe: When Tami reaches Apprentice rank, she will start completing missions with them. She with Claudia pranks Ezio during their free time and with Lydia they train stealth together with Lydia's grandfather and great aunt. Tami had a complicated relationship with Maria at the beginning, because she was once a Templar and in the canon universe Altaïr's wife, but luckily they were able to make up and became like sisters. (remember this post? 😊)

Sofia Sartor: She works in the hideout's library. Tami, like at Malik's, helps her organize her books, but mostly goes there to teach theory and philosophy. Sofia helps her find the book Tami needs. She doesn't meet her much, but she thinks Sofia is cool.

Clay Kaczmarek: Tami would sometimes notice strange glitching in the Animus when she was working on documents. She even once sees a figure on the monitor, waving to her. In shock, Tami tells Rebecca and Shaun about this, but they tell her that she just imagined it. Altaïr, on the other hand, believes her because he saw something similar on the Animus.

Shao Jun, Arbaaz Mir, Nikolai Orelov and Aguilar de Nerha: Tami is neutral with them because she rarely talks to them and they are not part of her training. Despite this, they have mutual respect and will help each other if the Templars attack. (Note: The truth is that I haven't played AC Chronicles and haven't seen AC movies, so I don't know much about them.)

Abbas: The worst part in Assassin's Brotherhood. She tries to avoid and be as far away from him as possible. Whenever Abbas starts insulting her boyfriend, she becomes furious and ready to defend her lover. But Altaïr takes her away from Abbas and begs her not to fight with his formerly best friend, because he is worried someday Abbas might hurt her. This is the main reason why Tami sticks to her partner.

William Miles: She never met him because Bayek kicked him out of the brotherhood for abusing Desmond before she joined there.

Haytham and Shay: They are both Templars and Tami hasn't met them yet. She knows Haytham is the main Grandmaster of Templars and Shay is his right hand. She suspects that one day she will meet them in person and it won't be pleasant…

I hope you enjoyed! 💕

[type1diabetesinfandom]

Stacey McGill Fic Rec List #1

I recently returned from diabetes camp and one of the many amazing discussions my cabin had during the week involved the one and only Stacey McGill, long-time canonically diabetic extraordinaire. I’ve never read Ann M. Martin’s The Baby-Sitters Club books, although I’m aware Stacey is diabetic, nor have I yet watched Netflix’s TV adaption, but I figured it was about time Stacey gets her own rec list.

After all, she remains one of the oldest and most popular canonically-diabetic characters in fiction. I feel like I owe it to her.

Interestingly, finding fics that focus on Stacey—and involve her T1D—put up more of a challenge than I initially thought. There are currently over eight-hundred stories in the BSC fandom on AO3, and many of them have Stacey listed as a character. However, most of those don’t feature Stacey as a main character, which was what I wanted. I used the AO3 hidden search operators cheatsheat to find fics with Stacey’s name in the summary. It gives a decent starting point of what I hope will be several fic recs for Stacey. (This is the first of two so far.)

The fics are posted in alphabetical order. All links lead to AO3 unless otherwise specified. Notes follow the tagging guidelines in my AO3 t1d collection.

If you like the fics, please remember to kudos and comment to let the author know you liked it. That’s the best way to support these fics and see more of them in the future. :)

Abby Stevenson's Theory of Winnertivity by mizzmarvel

Relationship: Abby Stevenson/Stacey McGill

Rating: Teen

Warning: No Archive Warnings Apply

Wordcount: 2,629, complete

Notes: Diabetic Stacey McGill, POV Character Does NOT Have Diabetes, Secondary Character is Diabetic

Summary:

Abby has a theory about winners--they hate other successful people. Clearly that's why she hates Stacey McGill.

And Her Strawberry Shampoo by Elizabeth_Scripturient  

Relationship: Stacey McGill/Charlotte Johanssen

Rating: Unrated

Warning: None Chosen

Wordcount: 224, complete

Notes: Diabetic POV Character, Diabetic Stacey McGill, Implied Sexual Content

Summary:

Stacey thinks Charlotte is delicious.

(Charlotte Sometimes) Dreams a Wall Around Herself by gayerfurtherfaster (gayerfurtherfaster420)

Relationship: Charlotte Johanssen/Stacey McGill, Vanessa Pike/Charlotte Johanssen

Rating: Teen

Warning: None Chosen

Wordcount: 4,773, complete

Notes: POV Character Does NOT Have Diabetes, Diabetic Stacey McGill, Secondary Character is Diabetic

Summary:

Charlotte spends her high school existence dealing with her feelings for Stacey.

Dress by OzQueen  

Relationship: Stacey McGill/Sam Thomas

Rating: Teen

Warning: No Archive Warnings Apply

Wordcount: 3,317, complete

Notes: Diabetic POV Character, Diabetic Stacey McGill

Summary:

Sam steps in when Stacey finds herself without a prom date.

Exorcise by Missy

Relationship: Gen

Rating: Gen

Warning: No Archive Warnings Apply

Wordcount: 555

Notes: Diabetic POV Character, Diabetic Stacey McGill, Alternate Universe - Supernatural Elements

Summary:

Stacey saw the necklace for the first time at the five and dime.

She will, in a few weeks, wish she had never bought it.

It's My Party by baseballchica03  

Relationship: Gen

Rating: Not Rated

Warning: None Chosen

Wordcount: 458, complete

Notes: Diabetic POV Character, Diabetic Stacey McGill, Diabetic Ketoacidosis (mentioned), Alternate Universe - College/University, Implied/Referenced Underage Drinking

Summary:

A brief snapshot of Stacey and some college friends planning her birthday party.

Just Might Be by DesertVixen

Relationship: Laine Cummings & Stacey McGill

Rating: Teen

Warning: No Archive Warnings Apply

Wordcount: 1,377, complete

Notes: Diabetic POV Character, Diabetic Stacey McGill

Summary:

Stacey and Laine face to face again

Midnight Snack by DesertVixen  

Relationship: Stacey McGill & Sam Thomas

Rating: Teen

Warning: No Archive Warnings Apply

Wordcount: 561, complete

Notes: Diabetic Stacey McGill, POV Character Does NOT Have Diabetes, Secondary Character is Diabetic

Summary:

Sam and Stacey have a late-night run in.

Reconnected by LuxKen27

Relationship: Sam Thomas/Stacey McGill

Rating: Teen

Warning: No Archive Warnings Apply

Wordcount: 4,452, complete

Notes: Diabetic POV Character, Diabetic Stacey McGill, Multiple Daily (Insulin) Injections

Summary:

Stacey and Sam are reconnected in a most unexpected way on the eve of his senior prom. Prequel to ‘Rekindled.’

[bitter-sweet-coffee]

i didn't ask for motorcycles i asked for milkshakes (jkjk i love it lmao)

how do you think they're getting there anon? i don't just do drabbles, the outline alone (which isn't even halfway done!) IN POINT FORM is at 2500 words.

i am not just the CEO of dog&hog, i'm the CEO of way too much filler (note: 70K into Follow You and the plot hasn't started yet)

just you wait... 👹

[skellymom]

"Vagabonds" Chapter 11

Ongoing fanfic Hunter x Reader/Fem Reader/OC

ᴛʜɪꜱ ꜰɪᴄ ᴄᴏɴᴛᴀɪɴꜱ ɴꜱꜰᴡ ᴄᴏɴᴛᴇɴᴛ. ɪꜰ ʏᴏᴜ ᴀʀᴇ ɴᴏᴛ 18+ ᴅɴɪ

To read Chapter 10:

https://www.tumblr.com/skellymom/743633412345282560/vagabonds-chapter-10?source=share

Word Count: 1.4K

Background: Echo, Tech, and Wrecker help the crew of the Beldame. Will Hunter have regrets? Two flashback sequences.

Warning: Star Wars swears, Earth swears, fear, physical pain, fainting, blood, hypothermia, dog bites human, human bites human, human takes knee to balls, human takes fist to nose, canon-typical violence, medical trauma.

(Credit: Cool moving star dividers by @4ngelic-wh1spers )

Recap: Echo broke the silence, “DEFINITELY BSC! The message keeps repeating. Don’t know what the other part is...” 

Tech interrupted excitedly. “Notes on the musical scale!” 

Tech repeated the Basic Alphabet that corresponded with the notes to Echo. 

“With the Basic Standard Code...” Echo started the sentence... 

...and Tech finished it, “They’re coordinates!” 

They both spun their seats around and immediately engaged the Marauder. 

Wrecker stopped humming and tapping. “YOU’RE WELCOME!” 

"In The Depths Of Darkness"

It took some doing, Echo and Tech finally found the Beldame floating aimlessly out in space.   

The hulking ship was dark. 

“Are they...?” Wrecker was even afraid to finish his sentence.   

“I certainly hope NOT.”  Tech was EVEN MORE worried now. 

Wrecker replied. “But...What HAPPENED??? Where’s the Venator???”  

“I cannot answer that question. It... seemed to have...vanished.” Tech was baffled. 

“We can dock topside on the Beldame.”  Echo pointed to the top hatch.  “Allow access while keeping an oxygenated seal between the two ships.  Then haul the crew up into the Marauder...whatever their status is.”  Echo’s large amber eyes tried to hide his deep concern. 

“We should wear our helmets with oxygen gear, and each carry a light source.  I am unsure how long it’s been since their power failed” Tech added. 

“I'm on it!”  Wrecker started gathering equipment. 

Tech and Echo landed the Marauder on the Beldame’s back and secured the seal between the ships. 

When they were finally able to open the hatch and enter, the scene surprised them. 

The whole interior of the ‘Dame was covered in a very thin sheen of frost.  Wrecker, Tech, and Echo could see their breath with each exhale...when their flashlights caught it.  Otherwise, the cabin was completely DARK.   

To add difficulty: everything not tied down was floating around the interior of the ship.  The gravity had failed as well.  Luckily the crew of the ‘Dame was tied together for warmth and moored to one of the bunks. 

Wrecker floated in first and clamped a heat lamp to the interior of the ship and aimed it at the crew.  Echo, then Tech slid in.  

Muffled barking commenced, and Tiggy excitedly scrambled out from the mass of bodies.  She doggy paddled in zero G towards Tech still barking. 

Tech floated over, embracing her, then tucked the pup into a pocket on his utility belt.  He immediately started to scan the crew for vitals. 

“They are ALL alive, however, severely hypothermic.  Wrecker, help me get them immediately to the Marauder!”  Tech started to untie the binds to grab the first crew mate to take to the Marauder.  Wrecker followed suit. 

Echo assessed the interior of the ship, pushing floating objects out of Tech’s and Wrecker’s path.  He brought his hand back and found it slick with spots of fresh blood. 

“SOMEONE is actively bleeding!” 

Wrecker grabbed Hunter and...” Love has dried blood all over their face!  What IS GOING ON???”  He started to pull them with him out of the group. 

Tech immediately spotted the source.  “It’s not Love’s blood.  Mad is hemorrhaging!”  He noticed the area around the top of her inner thighs soaked through considerably.  She was horribly pale. 

Tech grabbed Mad and sailed back through the opening towards the Marauder.  Tiggy whimpered concerningly. Wrecker followed with Hunter and Love in tow. 

Echo grabbed hold of Sil, who even though passed out, was still tightly hugging Omega and brought them back to the Marauder. 

Cold black space remaining...black...darkness... 

Mad... treading through darkness... 

...voices echoing...touches brushing against her skin... 

...stabbing her arm...under the skin...searching for a vessel... 

Didn’t she escape this once before?  A long, long time ago?  How was she here again? 

Mad screamed and darkness filled her mouth, threatening to choke her into silence. 

Wires and medical lines flowed and coiled around her like seaweed, brushing her skin, threatening to tangle Mad’s limbs. 

Up above...a tiny light penetrating the darkness...she swam furiously towards it.  As she ascended the light grew larger, the voices louder...but the quality was distorted. 

Something from the deep blackness gripped her leg. 

Elongated white arms, hands with long fingers...like the bloodless corpses of snakes... 

Milky eyes peering up from the dark depths...whispering...where are you going, experimental subject number... 

She fought and kicked, gasping for air, swallowing some of the darkness...retching... 

...then kicked harder breaking free.  Treading water like her life depended on it.  Floating up...up...up... 

...breaking the surface, her retch turned into a terrified scream. 

Awakened from one nightmare into another.  Mad, bolted upright from a bunk in a foreign environment.  Cold steel and lighted mechanical panels surrounded her, no longer in the warm, comfortable environment of her own ship...  

 ...there was a mechanical scomp in her face.   

Echo, assisting Tech to place an IV catheter was the victim of bad timing.  Poor Echo NEVER saw it coming.  Mad powerfully kicked out, catching him full in the chest.  He sailed back and slammed into the wall.  Tech, concerned with Mad tearing out her catheter, grabbed her arm.  Mad sucker punched him in the face while screaming hysterically.  Poor Tech never saw that coming.  He fell to the floor holding his nose. 

Mad ripped out the catheter and sprang from the bunk. 

Echo ALMOST recovered...but Tiggy intervened.  The puppy, suddenly driven by her owner’s behavior viciously attacked him.  He managed to stave her off with his scomp.  But she kept coming for him, snapping and growling. 

“WHAT THE FUCK???” Echo yelled out. 

Hunter DID sense this coming. The second Mad awoke, he did too. He bolted from the front of the Marauder to the back.   

Mad didn’t get very far, as he grabbed and held her fast.  Both arms pinned to her sides in a secure bear hug.  She screamed obscenities and growled at him.  Clearly, she didn’t recognize Hunter at that moment.   

“Mad... ” She was clearly delirious. "We're not going to hurt you!"

Struggling did no good against Hunter’s strength.  Mad kneed him hard in the crotch.  Hunter gasped and went down on both knees but didn’t let go. 

Mad screamed like a banshee.  Her anger rising. 

In the next room Sil had a full-blown panic attack.  Omega held his hand, trying to talk him through it. 

Wrecker ran in and grabbed up Tiggy. The pup acted as if she didn’t recognize him at all. She bared her teeth and actively tried to attack him too. Wrecker tossed her from hand to hand like a hot potato to avoid being viciously bitten. 

Mad’s anger hit her limit.  She slammed her face down into the crook of Hunter’s neck and sunk her teeth deeply into the flesh... 

...at the same time Tiggy bit Wrecker. 

Both men simultaneously cried out from the pain. 

Hunter released one hand from Mad, attempting to get her teeth out of him.  Her free hand scratched at his face viciously. 

Tiggy slashed Wrecker with her nails. 

STOP!  Love placed both hands on Mad’s head.  She immediately went limp, released her bite, eyes rolling back in her head... 

...as Tiggy immediately went limp and did the same. 

Tech got up from the floor, nose bleeding.  “I...managed to record EVERYTHING!” 

“Fantastic! Could’ve used some help there.”  Echo full of adrenaline.  “Good thing the kid knocked her out.”  Nodding to Love. 

Echo and Tech grabbed Mad and put her back up on the bunk, then resumed replacing her IV catheter. 

Wrecker sat Tiggy on the bunk and offered his good hand to Hunter. 

Hunter shook his head and groaned, cupping his injured manhood, actively bleeding from his shoulder and face. 

Wrecker understood completely. “I’ll get the bacta patches.” 

Down...down...in darkness again.... 

...Mad drifted down landing on her back...A heaviness on her abdomen... 

...nightfall on Dathomir.  The stars shining above, heat of a bonfire, surrounded by Night Sisters. 

They tended to Mad’s every need during labor.  Empathetic, sweet, and powerful women helping to usher a new life into the world. 

Mother Talzin present and chanting over the fire.  Mad’s breaths corresponding with Mother’s chants and the contractions of her uterus.  Night Sisters breathing in unison as well.  Wiping the sweat from her brow and tending to her labor pains. 

It was the least the Sisterhood of Dathomir could do.  Mother Talzin’s son refused to be present for the birth of his own child.  Leaving the planet to live his own separate life as he pleased.  Talzin did her due diligence to be present for her grandbaby’s arrival. 

Mad was sorrowful, as the Nomaadi Community attempted to contact Mad on Dathomir to also attend to baby’s birth. Mad eventually discovered she was purposely being kept isolated from her own family. 

Two ships: the Dread Beldame and the Vardo covertly hovered out of sight in the sky, ready to take Mad and her child away at a moment’s notice.  Mad’s clone sister “SHE” rallied the few Nomaadi warriors who were able to help. 

Mother Talzin was none the wiser of this.   

Several Night Sisters understood and respected Mad’s choice. And, disagreed with Mother Talzin’s methods.  They helped plot secretly to assist with the intervention...some planning to leave with the Nomaadi as well. 

...because Mad knew beyond a shadow of a doubt Mother Talzin was only playing at being accommodating.  Mad could see the omen of celestial bodies in the sky above her.  A baby born under these conditions signaled to Mother Talzin this child would have some sort of significance.  She would keep the baby and NEVER let Mad’s child leave this planet.   

And she would NEVER let Mad leave alive, either. 

PLEASE like, comment, and/or REBLOG!

To read Chapter 12

https://www.tumblr.com/skellymom/747902380483526656/vagabonds-chapter-12?source=share

[meerealsssss]

intro !!

reading is recommended so you know what you're getting yourself into :3

last edit: 4/18/24

Hi! I'm mee. (weird ass name.)

she/her

side blogs are @m-writingphase (writing blog) and @sambroadlysbignaturals (fanfic of my own book)

EST

likes: pjo (all series, but i only finished the main series), bsc (im only to book 45), music, writing, drawing, rain/thunder, warm weather, reading, sleeping, musicals, and theatre

extra

child of Apollo

capricorn (born dec. 25🎄‼️)

i play the flute (terribly)

im not religious (but i will respect you if you are)

i will love you forever if you send anon love /p

tags!

my rambling - #mee's silly silly

answered asks - #asks 😍😍‼️

band class tag - #band class is wild

my book - #brokenly beloved

school posts - #sckahool !!

random one word posts - #mee's one word shitpost

posts formatted like a letter to someone - #mee sending non-existent notes again

small (mainly vent) posts that come out of nowhere - #ignore my rambling

big long vent posts - #mee's public diary

random 'chapter' names based on experiences - #life chapters

pjo tag - #percy jackass

may add more over time

DNI

racists, pedophiles, z00philes, porn blogs

if you hate on therians/furries, LGBTQ+, other religions, and don't respect them then this isn't a place for you

this is meant to be a safe place

names of people i talk about!

evan - @moonysfavoritetoast

ace/mercury - @nasadoggo

alex to the power of r - irl alex from school (he/him)

apollo - usually my dad

dragon/🐉 - my stepmom

ms kopykat - my ela teacher

mrs dodds - my math teacher (very fitting)

mr skeleton - my science teacher

mr margarine/margarita - my soc. studies teacher

mr sharpie - my band teacher

mama - my sixth grade teacher

kitty kat/katlynn/kat - main book character from a book i wrote

peyton - a former-friend of kat

alex to the power of b - alex from my book

sam/ - another friend of kat

jazon - zombie from my book

haley - a more childer child from my book

where else am i?

my youtube

my tiktok (almost never active)

pintrest (like i said, almost never active)

old intro here

[doggernaut]

20 questions for fic writers

Thank you to @cricketnationrise and @the-lincyclopedia for the tags! I'm not sure if many of my answers have changed since the last time I did one of these, but it's been a while, so.

How many works do you have on ao3?

54

What's your total ao3 word count?

613,109

What fandoms do you write for?

I only have works for Check, Please! on ao3, but I have also written for Parks and Recreation and Baby-Sitters Club.

Top five fics by kudos:

All I Want is You 

Just Jack

Here Comes the Sun

I Only Have Pies for You  (honestly surprised this one is in the top 5!)

And you may ask yourself, well, how did I get here?

Do you respond to comments?

I try to respond to every comment, but sometimes I fall short. I do appreciate every single one, though!

What is the fic you wrote with the angstiest ending?

I'm pretty sure that anybody who's read my stories knows I only write happy endings. Even if there is angst at some point in the fic, you can count on that "angst with a happy ending" tag.

What's the fic you wrote with the happiest ending?

lol, see above. Though I will maintain that And you may ask yourself, well, how did I get here? and And you may say to yourself, my god, what have I done? might be the happiest simply because they each have (spoiler alert) three happy endings.

Do you get hate on fics?

I'm sure there are people who don't love my writing for whatever reason, but fortunately they've kept it to themselves.

Do you write smut?

Any attempts have probably fallen short of being actual smut. It's not my favorite thing to write (so many body parts to describe and keep track of!) but sometimes the storyline dictates it.

Craziest crossover:

I'm not generally a fan of crossovers (though I've read some great ones in various fandoms!) and have never written a true crossover, but Pucks and Recreation was inspired by Parks and Recreation.

Have you ever had a fic stolen?

Not that I'm aware.

Have you ever had a fic translated?

Not that I'm aware.

Have you ever co-written a fic before?

A BSC fic with a bunch of people from the old FameTracker (I am showing my age) forums. It is (or was, last time I looked a few years ago) on FF.net. Once I randomly saw somebody somewhere online describing the fic in question but thinking it was a real BSC book they'd read, so that was pretty cool.

All time favorite ship?

Jack/Bitty, Ben/Leslie, and let's go way back to my formative grumpy/sunshine ship: Jack and Jennifer from Days of Our Lives. It imprinted on me when I was 11 and I'm probably remembering it as being better than it was, but it was a good time.

What's a wip you want to finish but doubt you ever will?

At this point, I really don't know. I have a lot of "WIPs" that consist of a couple of paragraphs of dialogue or bullet-point lists or whatever and who knows if I'll ever dust them off. But I'm currently making an effort to finish everything I've put serious time into.

What are your writing strengths?

Dialogue.

What are your writing weaknesses?

Description.

Thoughts on dialogue in another language?

As a reader I don't have a problem with it if it makes sense for the story. As a writer I probably wouldn't, simply because I don't speak another language well enough to incorporate it.

First fandom you wrote in?

That I actually published online? The Baby-Sitters Club, in like 2005. Ever? I went through this phase of writing self-insert fics when I was in sixth grade. Usually they involved me dating whichever character was played by an actor I had a crush on. I was not aware I was writing fanfic at this time. I'm pretty sure I wrote a fic in which I was in a band with Doogie Howser, MD and he asked me to be his girlfriend? THANK GOODNESS this was in an era before I had access to a computer with internet.

(A year or so later, I was still writing, but it was very bad romance fiction modeled after all the Harlequin romance novels I was reading at the time. Still just as cringe. My middle school BFF used to read them and write praise/critiques in the margins and I still remember this one long back-and-forth where we argued about how long a first kiss should last, because neither of us had experience in that department.)

Favorite fic you've written?

I don't know! I love all my children. Truthfully it's probably one of my multi-chapter fics, but I tend to favor whichever I'm in the mood to read at the moment. Maybe today it's Home Like Apple Pie.

[hjellacott]

Disclaimer for those who are a little short: When I say I'm a psychology academic, that is exactly what I mean. I don't say I'm a psychologist because even though I'm part of the British Psychological Association, I don't make a living as a psychologist, nor even as a therapist. It wasn't the career path that I chose. I do have a BA with Honours and a BSc with Honours, the latter of which is in Psychology, and have spent the last decade reading and studying everything I can about psychology and its different branches, including reading psychological research and studies and writing my own, as people who read my fanfics can probably tell because my fanfics tend to feature a lot of psychology / therapy stuff. Academic comes from academia, which is a word from the Latin academicus or the Greek academikós, was the place where Plato taught. According to the Cambridge Dictionary, the word "academic" has several definitions, including someone who enjoys studying or who belongs to an academic institution (an institution of knowledge, studying, research, so on).

Therefore when I say I'm a psychology academic, what I am saying, in more words, is: I do not work in this field but I'm a pro at this field, you can bet your arse I'm academic (studious) about it, a psychology researcher, and it's highly likely that I do in fact belong to some psychology-related institution or association of knowledge and research. It does NOT mean that I'm here to be anybody's therapist, not that just because I understand psychology and mental health I should go soft on anybody. In fact, I believe that if you're old enough to be in Tumblr or Twitter, you're old enough to take harsh truth. I only treat people with kid gloves and therapy if I'm paid to do so.

Not like you couldn't have done this research yourself @ridaine but since you evidently lack books more than I do, I thought I'd do you the favour.

[elliegoestodownton]

Ho postato 1.492 volte nel 2022

Sono 194 post in più del 2021!

339 post creati (23%)

1.153 post rebloggati (77%)

Blog che ho rebloggato di più:

@gregorygerwitz

@fighterkimburgess

@madeline-kahn

@ballroompink

@somosinevitables

Ho taggato 1.440 dei miei post nel 2022

Solo 3% dei miei post non aveva tag

#chicago fire - 296 post

#chicago pd - 235 post

#trudy platt - 155 post

#randy mouch mcholland - 121 post

#movies - 111 post

#kim burgess - 102 post

#pretties - 98 post

#adam ruzek - 82 post

#stella kidd - 61 post

#fanfic rec - 60 post

Longest Tag: 120 characters

#not me trying to figure out if some ships would be compatible based on astrology according to very vague info been given

I miei post migliori nel 2022:

#5

Let’s stop for a second and fully appreciate the face that Violet makes the first time she sees Hawkins. Like a kid in front of a yummy snack.

12 note - Postate 20 agosto 2022

#4

Honestly pissed off at Netflix right now as they cancelled The Babysitters Club. 😭😭😭 That show gave me so much joy in two seasons and they did an honestly brilliant job in adapting the books, one of my fave reads while growing up, and making the stories relevant to the present. It was SO GOOD.

And now no more heartwarming stories about the BSC. And mostly how dare they cancel it before Richard and Sharon, my awkward babies, could get married on screen??? Imagine that. I will forever treasure their perfect clumsiness. And the girls’ costumes. I will treasure those too because fashion!

If you haven’t watched it, go catch up with it.

12 note - Postate 12 marzo 2022

#3

Stella greeting Trudy with “Hey Lady!” on the phone. That’s everything I needed for this week.

13 note - Postate 13 ottobre 2022

#2

A few hours to S11 to here’s my wishlist for Fire 🔥🔥🔥

No drama for Stellaride. Just let them be hot and happy.

Ritter to have a real storyline and not just play the BFF on the sidelines. He is a great character, who has grown a lot even in the little time he is afforded to be explored and has great potential to be developed even more. He needs to.

I love Violet, she’s a badass and I would love for them to write her not just as a love interest but as she science nerd kickass woman she is in relation to her career.

Javi to be officially adopted by Cruz and Chloe with no drama. He fits with the family, he’s happy, so don’t come up with the aunt who comes back from the dead to reclaim him!

I expect nothing less than some shenanigans from Mouch and Herrmann, better halves friend version. Let them be their usual lovable and cranky selves and I’ll be happy.

More of Capp and Tony, underrated comedy duo.

Papa Boden. That’s the tweet.

With Kylie keeping him in check.

I love the chaotic trio of youngsters and their friendship. It would be great to see them continue working together on business plans without the Gallo/Violet thing in the middle.

I will sincerely miss Tuesday, my best girl. 💕😭 I hope that if is she is gone narratively as well, they will find a way to honor her sweet furry memory.

I have come to appreciate Seager towards the end of S10 and you know what would be great? To see her budding friendship of sorts with Stella develop a bit rather than her playing the third wheel.

A guest appearance by Pelham, my beloved.

I’m still waiting for a The Real Housewives of 51© (Trudy, Donna and Cindy) wine night because that would be absolutely hilarious, highly gossipy and slightly filthy. But we all know it’s not gonna happen. You read it here first, though.

I’m also still waiting for a Trudy vs Herrmann over Molly’s but I have lost hope there. This would be also hilarious.

I would gladly accept a game night on screen in exchange.

21 note - Postate 21 settembre 2022

Il mio post numero 1 del 2022

Diane and Kurt

Thanks for the ask!

Who said “I love you” first: Not in those exact same words, but canonically it was Kurt. I think he was the one to also utter ILY first later on as Diane probably needed a bit more time and reassurance.

Who would have the other’s picture as their phone background: Kurt even though it took him ages to switch to a smatphone because you know the man. I imagine that if she has a non-work phone, Diane also has a picture there with quite the gallery from their dates and vacays.

Who leaves notes written in fog on the bathroom mirror: Diane would totally leave sweet and ironic stuff on the mirror for her fave cowboy to see. The word cowboy might actually feature in those messages as well.

Who buys the other cheesy gifts: Hands down Diane. But they both have a good track record of cheesy gifts, as we know.

Who initiated the first kiss: Again, canonically Kurt. Not that she minded one bit.

Who kisses the other awake in the morning: I feel Diane peppers his face with kisses in those instances when he is still sleeping.

Who starts tickle fights: Kurt because he loves her laugh.

Who asks who if they can join the other in the shower: I think they might take turns there. Probably Diane does this more often than he does.

Who surprises the other in the middle of the day at work with lunch: Kurt. Because Diane never leaves work 🤣

Who was nervous and shy on the first date: She was definitely the most nervous of the two, trying to babble her way through the date and fill the silence also to avoid hearing her brain and her ancestors telling her that it was a very bad idea.

Who kills/takes out the spiders: Kurt gently takes them out as the good country boy he is. Diane is not a fan.

Who loudly proclaims their love when they’re drunk: Oooh, Diane probably gets tipsy a bit more easily but I feel that Kurt would be the one yelling it from the rooftops when really drunk.

31 note - Postate 27 febbraio 2022

Guarda ora l'Analisi del tuo anno 2022 di Tumblr →

[thatoneguitargirl]

𝘥𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘸𝘰𝘶𝘭𝘥 𝘪𝘯𝘤𝘭𝘶𝘥𝘦 | stacey mcgill x reader

headcanons about dating stacey mcgill

my masterlist

»»————-　　————-««

always having extra snacks packed for her

always being supportive of each other

she helps you with your math homework

constantly asking about life in new york

“Have you ever seen a show on Broadway?”

“Did you see a rat drag a piece of pizza?!”

knowing you can talk to each other about anything

being really shy with PDA

but in private she’s super clingy

“Stacey, I need to breathe”

little kids loving your relationship

and being everyone’s favorite babysitters

nonstop texting

even though you see each other every day

stacey can never shut up about you

and claudia is lowkey annoyed

going shopping with each other

and spending hours trying on clothes

play fighting

and arguments about nothing

“This rug is my husband!!”

“You found someone new already??” 😢😭

Having too many inside jokes

Making playlists for each other

[staceymcgillicuddy]

#12. "Just do it."

Thank you for letting me indulge yet another one of my "fifty different ways they could have met that didn't involve anyone dying" daydreams. Mwah!

“Just do it,” Eddie says to his reflection in the cracked bathroom mirror. “Today. Today’s the fucking day, yeah? Just do it.” 

How can he do it, though, with a zit on his nose? Eddie doesn’t spend an inordinate amount of time thinking about his face or anything, but like… that dude’s a whopper. Red with a white center, and he should probably squeeze it, but if he does that, it might bleed, and he can’t decide if it’s better or worse to ask Chrissy Cunningham out with a zit or the bloody scab of where a zit used to be. 

Probably he should just pop it at home and wait until tomorrow. That’s the solid course of action. Besides, he has Hellfire after school, and if he asks her out today, he’ll be distracted, and the sheepies deserve his full and undivided attention.

Plus—plus!—he and Chrissy have been partnered up for a month on this stupid English project, and it’s due on Friday and today’s Wednesday, so if he asks her out and she says no, that’ll throw off the whole vibe of their presentation. Which, if he says so himself, is a pretty badass show. Funny what happens when you actually make an effort in school, even if it’s just to impress the pretty blonde who initially didn’t seem thrilled to be partnered with you but now laughs every time you make a dumb joke.

It’s a lot easier for Eddie to concentrate on a task when he knows Chrissy’s gonna smile and say something like, “Eddie, that’s so good!” or “I never would have thought of that!” when he’s done. 

“Friday,” he says to his reflection just as the door to the bathroom opens and some bespectacled freshman stumbles in, sees Eddie, and beats a hasty retreat. 

Yeah, that feels about right.

It’s his free period, and he was originally gonna meet Chrissy in the library to work on their poster, but she put a note in his locker this morning saying it was a lovely day and could they please work in the quad instead? 

She’s got the girliest handwriting, and he definitely sniffed the paper to see if it smelled like her perfume. 

(One time, she left her scrunchie on the table, and Eddie stole it while she was in the bathroom. It’s uh… seen some things. He’s a dick. But, whatever. She has eighty of them.) 

When he arrives, Chrissy’s already sitting at one of the four painted-green picnic tables that decorate the quad. Her hair’s in a ponytail, which he pulls to announce his arrival because he’s five and she’s cute, and he wants to shove her down a slide on the playground to tell her he likes her, or whatever.

Jesus Christ, life would be easier if she hadn’t dumped Jason Carver two weeks ago, thus opening herself up as an actual option rather than a fantasy. And, sure, Eddie gets that he’s not even remotely close to her league, but whatever. Even a first date would be more than he deserves.

Chrissy twists at the tug on her hair, and her mouth’s painted with his favorite shade of peachy-pink, lips twisting into a smile. “Hi, Eddie.” 

“Hey, sunshine. I finished those drawings.” 

“Oh, let me see!”

Their presentation is on A Tale of Two Cities, which Eddie actually read (because he really is determined to fucking graduate this time), and also sort of dug because there was a lot of war and intrigue. It’s not Asimov, but he can see the appeal. For the presentation, he and Chrissy are doing a poster depicting the major plot points, and when she found out he wasn’t the world’s worst artist, she asked him to draw and…

Yeah, he’s been making an effort. Not just because he wants to get in her pants, either, but because he likes her as, you know. A person. She’s kind of weird, and he likes how her brain works.

Sitting across from her, he tugs out some loose printer paper from the ream Wayne stole from the plant a year ago. Management would be furious, Eddie’s sure.

Fuck management. Every time he rips the edging off a fresh piece of paper, it makes him smile.

“Oh, wow, Eddie,” Chrissy says when she sees the final piece, which is Carton approaching the platform with the guillotine. “This is amazing.” 

“Ah, thanks,” he says. “It’s no big deal.”

“No, it’s perfect. And I lettered the quote.” That had been Chrissy’s job—picking out the appropriate sentences and hand-lettering them on paper she soaked in tea to make it look old. “Once we have them pasted on, we’re done.” 

“So… cool, yeah. Done.” 

Chrissy carefully places his final drawings in her folder and shrugs. “We don’t have to meet tomorrow, I guess.” 

Shit. Eddie leans forward, fingers digging into the edge of the table. “Uh. Oh. I guess not?” 

“Maybe just Friday, before we present?” 

“Totally.” 

“Cool. We'll kick butt, and then hang out Friday night.”

Eddie's brain stutters to a halt. "We're hanging out Friday night?"  

"Yes. You're taking me out to the movies."

[choicesoctoberchallenge2020]

day two: teaching

October Prompt List||October Daily Masterlist

🍂Open Heart🍁

Surgical Precision [Bryce Lahela x MC] by @alj4890

🍂Hollywood University🍁

🍋Unfinished Work🍋 (NSFW) [Thomas Hunt x Alex Spencer] by @theartoflovingthomashunt

🍂Big Sky Country🍁

Nerves [Sawyer Oakley x MC] by @ethanramseysrookiexox

[bitter-sweet-coffee]

bsc writing an actually cheesy gen fanfic? YEAH:

I actually had a lot of fun writing this and it took me no time at all, so hopefully I’ll be able to finish this one by the end of the year :)

[griffinshoodie]

Mistletoe Shenanigans (Dallas James x MC fic)

I reblogged this ‘Its never too early for holiday prompts’ prompt list in December and started writing a few but then never finished them. I’m pretty sure someone asked for this one but I recently cleared my asks. So whoever you are, I hope you see this.

Prompt: Person A tries to get their friends to kiss under the mistletoe, and they completely forget about their crush on Person B until they both end up under the mistletoe. Word count: 912

--

Between Brooklynne and Miles, Cliff and Anna-Marie, and Curly and Mark, Jackson was buzzing with Mistletoe schemes. Maybe Jackson got too much enjoyment from meddling in their lives but none of them would be together without him. So he figured it was fair.

With Dallas' help, they set up all the decorations, including mistletoe strategically placed about the house.

Miles and Asha were a little late getting in and Miles made an immediate beeline for Brooklynne. Her face broke into a huge smile as she met him halfway. Just a little off from the mistletoe Jackson had placed in the kitchen doorway.

"Hey Brook, why don't you go help Miles get a drink? Get the cold out?"

Brooklynne squinted at Jackson dubiously, but nodded. "Okay…" she turned towards the kitchen, taking Miles by the hand. "We have hot tea, cider, chocolate--" Miles stopped abruptly, looking up at the mistletoe. Damn. "Jackson…" Brooklynne groaned.

"What? It's not a Christmas party without mistletoe."

Miles shyly put his hand on Brooklynne's arm. "I've never had a mistletoe kiss. Except for Aunt Asha and my mom at family Christmases…"

Brooklynne handed Jackson her phone. "For my vlog?" She stepped back over to Miles, his face was already turning pink. She pulled him toward her by his sweater, kissing him sweetly on the lips. She pulled away, and Miles adjusted his glasses. Jackson tossed Brooklynne her phone as they disappeared into the kitchen, embarrassed.

Brooklynne and Miles ✔

Cliff and Anna-Marie were relaxing by the fire, huddled close. Jackson figured they'd be difficult to get both of them to move to one of the strategically placed spots. So perhaps the direct approach.

He picked up a loose piece and casually stepped up behind the two, dangling it high above their heads. "Well, lovebirds...”

“Jackson...” Cliff grumbled at the interruption to their conversation. 

“It’s tradition. And what better way to celebrate the first Christmas after the end of the Oakley-Mendoza feud?” Cliff and Anna-Marie smiled at each other, before leaning in for a kiss. 

“A good new tradition...” Anna-Marie smiled and Jackson left the mistletoe beside them as he walked away.

Brooklynne and Miles ✔ Cliff and Anna-Marie ✔

As Jackson scanned the room for Curly and Mark, he watched another couple get caught in his trap. Juliette and Asha laughed as they looked up. Juliette kissed just the corner of Asha's mouth, causing a blush to bloom across her face. They continued into the living room, laughing and walking just a little bit closer together.

Brooklynne and Miles ✔ Cliff and Anna-Marie ✔ Juliette and Asha (bonus) ✔

Jackson found Curly and Mark talking in the kitchen. They’d practically been talking non stop since they met. Curly was nervously twirling his spoon in his cup and Mark kept adjusting his glasses. They were hopeless and adorable. 

He decided to let this one happen naturally and distracted himself with finding a warm drink. By the time he turned back around, they were locked in a kiss. Jackson sighed. They weren’t even near a mistletoe. But Jackson was still counting it.

Brooklynne and Miles ✔ Cliff and Anna-Marie ✔ Juliette and Asha (bonus) ✔ Curly and Mark ✔

Jackson walked back out of the kitchen into the living room and mingled for a while. Making sure everyone was having a nice time, refreshing drinks. He loved this. This was Jackson in his element. He may not be very informed about ranch things, but party hosting… that was his Thing.

“Jackson!” Miles shouted from another room. “We’re out of ice!” Then there was a scuffle as Jackson excused himself from the conversation he was in with Colt and Judy. Jackson walked to the entryway, where Brooklynne, Miles, Curly, Mark, and Dallas were standing. Curly quietly argued with Miles as he approached.

“It’s the dead of winter, how are we out of ice?” Jackson asked incredulously. 

“Well… you know…” Miles fidgeted nervously looking away and tugging on the collar of his sweater for dramatic effect. “Warm fire?” Jackson just stared at him for a moment, confused. 

“Well then just tell people to take their cold drinks outside and put them in the snow for a while. Or better yet just tell them to stand outside for a few minutes and then ask if they still want a co--”

“Jackson, wait.” Dallas interrupted. “They’re lying. I just thought they’d be better at it.” Dallas shoots an annoyed glance at Curly and Miles. 

“Then what…” Jackson stepped closer to Dallas, drawn to his warm frame. Dallas pointed up to a mistletoe above them.

“You didn’t really think we would let you get away with your mistletoe shenanigans without getting you back, did you?” Brooklynne asked as she ushered everyone else away to leave them alone.

Dallas put his hands on Jackson’s waist, pulling him closer. “I don’t usually need a mistletoe to kiss someone I like… but they were determined.” Dallas said, giving Jackson one of his good smiles, the kind Jackson wanted to capture in a million pictures and a million kisses. 

"So…?" Jackson teased, sliding his hands up Dallas's torso to rest on his shoulders. "Are you gonna kiss me or what?" 

"D'you want me t--"

Jackson cut him off with a kiss. Dallas' arms tightened around him, bringing them chest to chest. The chatter of the party in the other room quieted as Jackson focused only on the warmth radiating from Dallas and the way his kiss tasted like peppermint.

[luxurylives]

Day One – Winter | Winter Evening

Pairing: Aurora Emery x Duke Oakley

Book(s): Open Heart/Big Sky Country

Word Count: 2,046

Rating: T

Summary: After a brief encounter at Edenbrook, Aurora and Duke cross paths at a bar on a cold winter night in Boston.

Author’s Note: I wrote this for the Choices December Challenge (late submission). The idea came from a recent episode of The Young & the Restless—Billy (Jason Thompson) met Amanda (Mishael Morgan) at a bar and since then they’ve been seeing each other in secret. This takes place after Open Heart, Book 1 and after Big Sky Country, Book 2. Mohsenin is from Hollywood U. Pixelberry Studios owns the characters.

Tagging: @cora-nova @choicesdecemberchallenge​ @darley1101​ @choicesbyjade @lady-kato​ @silverofdreams​ @stillafictosexual @mfackenthal @brightpinkpeppercorn

Aurora Emery sat in the break room and poked her salad with her fork. The faint ticking of the clock echoed around her. 

“Only one more hour…” she said quietly. 

The past few days had been tiring, luckily her day off was just around the corner. After a few more bites, Aurora threw her salad away and left the break room. 

…Just tell me why…

Aurora froze and turned her head in the direction of the music playing nearby. Whoever was singing had a rich, soulful voice. 

…There’s still so much left to say…

Aurora continued down the hall as the music continued to play. 

…Please come back to me…

Once Aurora found the room, she gently pushed the door open to see who was inside. 

The man sitting up in bed had his laptop out and his phone next to him. Although he was wearing a hospital gown, it was no secret he spent his fair share of time in the gym. Aurora’s eyes traveled from the willful look in his chocolate brown eyes to the neatly trimmed beard, chiseled jaw, and the curves of his biceps under the sleeves. 

“Is someone there?”

Aurora started to back away but then realized how foolish that would be, so she pushed the door open and walked into the room.

“Hm, you aren’t Dr. Delarosa,” he said with a smile and lowered the lid to his computer. 

Aurora cleared her throat, maintaining a professional demeanor. “No, I’m not, I heard the music— “.

“I figured it was too loud, my apologies,” he said and lowered the volume. “My neighbor didn’t bring me any headphones, only my essentials for work”. 

“Just try to keep the music at a lower volume”. 

“Will do” he answered back. 

Aurora turned to leave but paused in the doorway, the man looked up once more and raised an eyebrow at her. “If you don’t mind me asking, who was that?” she asked. 

“Stepback Three, he just released a new single”.

Aurora shook her head as she tried to contain her smile. So he’s hot and listens to R&B….

“Hold on…are you taking over for Ines or…?”

Aurora snapped out of her thoughts, remembering she had somewhere to be and patients to check on. “No, I was just nearby…did you need anything?”

The man looked around and shrugged. “No I’m okay for right now, thank you”. 

“Your welcome” Aurora replied and exited the room. 

Once she was back in the hallway, she smiled, hopefully, she would run into him again. 

  A few weeks later, Aurora found herself working the same shift as Bryce, Sienna, Elijah, and Jackie. When it was time to clock out, Aurora retreated to the locker room to gather her things so she could go home. 

“Has anyone decided where we’re going out to eat?”

Aurora briefly looked over her shoulder to see the group huddled together, all of them out of their uniform and changing their shoes. 

“I have a few surgeon buddies who want to tag along,” Bryce said. 

“Bryce I was hoping to keep this get together small…sometimes your other friends can be a bit much” Sienna chimed in. 

Aurora busied herself with her locker, desperately trying to get it open. The less she heard of their conversation the better. 

“I might have asked Phoebe to come…but seriously where should we go?” Elijah asked.

“Maybe Aurora has a suggestion?”

Aurora turned around to face the group, each person returned a friendly smile…except for Jackie who gave her a dismissive once-over. 

“We’re unsure about where to go eat, which sounds better: Chinese, Indian, or Italian?” Sienna asked.

Aurora breathed a sigh of relief as she finally opened her locker. “Beats me” she answered.

Jackie laughed and shook her head. “Figures”. 

“Excuse me?” Aurora turned towards Jackie as she slipped her coat on and wrapped her scarf. 

“I figured you wouldn’t have an opinion since you don’t get out much”. 

Sienna elbowed Jackie and shot her look while Elijah and Bryce awkwardly looked away. 

“I do get out” Aurora replied coldly. “I was at Donahue’s with everyone that one time”.

“Yeah, and I heard you were sitting at the bar alone looking through apartment listings”. 

Aurora rolled her eyes and proceeded to leave. “Whatever Jackie” she called over her shoulder. 

As she walked down the hallway towards the exit, Aurora began to think about what Jackie said. Okay, she was right, she didn’t get out as much as she wanted to. A small part of her wanted to be a part of the friend group that Sienna, Bryce, and Elijah formed with Casey Valentine. However, she kept her distance because of trust issues. Usually, her colleagues only befriended her so they could be on her aunt’s good side. To protect herself, she built a wall and put on a cold, aloof personality. Unfortunately, all that did was push people away. 

A cold gust of wind greeted her once she stepped outside and Aurora shivered as she began walking down the sidewalk. 

“You know what screw it…I will find something to do tonight” Aurora said and pulled out her phone. 

  “Come on, tell me what happened?”

Duke Oakley lowered his glass and raised an eyebrow at his friend. “Three words Garret, Attorney. Client. Privilege”.

Garret Redmond sighed and took a sip of his scotch. “Well, I find it interesting that Rhodes turns up dead and a few other things…”.

“Look, all I’m going to say is the hearing is on Friday,” Duke said.

“Hm, well hopefully, all of this crap blows over”.

Duke tapped his fingers on the side of his glass as he thought back to the text he received from Dorian Delacroix. 

“Anyway, what happened to you the other night?”

“I was in a car accident,” Duke said as he rubbed his shoulder. 

Garret raised an eyebrow at him as he took another drink. “What happened?”

“I hardly remember, I know I called a Dryve and then I saw some headlights” Duke shook his head and ran a hand through his hair. 

“Well, at least you’re okay”.

Duke shook his head and tossed back his whiskey. “True”.   

Garret pulled out his phone and to check the time and shortly put it away. “I have an early flight tomorrow, AgraCorp is looking into some property in Gracetown”.

“Thanks for the drinks man,” Duke said.

“No problem, but next time I’m in town we should hit up Fenway–Kenmore with Luca”. 

“Sure if you’re buying”.

Garret laughed and pointed at him as he exited the bar. “Ha! We’ll see about that”. 

  “Alright, here you are…The Rusty Mallard”. 

Aurora glanced out the window and took in the rustic appearance of the bar. “Thanks,” she said and stepped out of the car. 

While the snowflakes fell around her, Aurora took in her surroundings and noticed she was in Rivermont, one of Boston’s oldest neighborhoods. 

Once Aurora entered the bar, her eyes landed on an empty seat at the bar. As she walked towards the bar, she tripped and bumped into someone’s chair. “Oh, sorry,” she said quickly. 

“No worries”.

Aurora froze, it was the man from the hospital. “It’s you…the Stepback Three fan”.

The man flashed a pearly white grin as he briefly looked down at the table and back up at her. “Guilty,” he said. 

Aurora smiled and briefly looked away from him. The hue of the lights cast an alluring look on his face.

“What brings you here?”

Aurora looked over at the empty seat, which was now occupied. “Oh…I was just in the neighborhood” she said. 

“Care to join me?” The man gestured to the seat in front of him.

“Sure,” Aurora said as she took off her coat.

“Duke Oakley,” he said and extended a hand towards her. 

“Aurora Emery” Aurora shook his hand, his touch was soft, yet firm. 

“What are you drinking?”

“Water” Aurora answered as she settled into her seat. “On second thought, I’ll have a scotch neat”.

Duke shook his head as he collected the empty glasses on the table and walked over to the bar. Aurora bit her lip; the long sleeve shirt he had on revealed a v-shaped back and his pants outlined a firm butt and sculpted thighs. 

Within minutes, Duke returned with two drinks and set them down on the table. “Here you go”. 

“Thank you,” Aurora said and took the drink he slid towards her. 

“So did you just get off work?”

Aurora sipped her drink and then looked down at her scrubs. After work, she didn’t bother to go back to her Aunt’s place and change clothes. Instead, she went to the museum and to see Chris Winter’s new movie. “Sort of,” she said. 

“Busy day?”

“You can say that, if you don’t mind, what is it that you do?”

“I am a lawyer” Duke answered and took a sip of his drink. 

“I hope you aren’t due in court in the morning…”.

Duke chuckled as he shook his head. “No, but I have some time to spare”.

Aurora smiled as she looked down at her glass and ran her fingers along the brim. Somehow, she felt the intense heat of his gaze on her and she relished in the feeling of it.

“Do you live around here?”

“No, I live near the hospital, what about you?”

“I’m over in Benbrook” Duke replied as he lifted his glass and took a slow sip.

“That’s a nice area, it’s not too far from the public garden”.

“Have you been over that way?”

“I think so…my Aunt showed me around once”.

Duke shook his head and took another sip. “Well if you want, I know of some nice places to eat, catch a show…”. 

“Tempting…” Aurora took another sip as she tried to hide her smile. 

Duke grinned as he tapped his fingers on the table. “Doctor, what will it take for you to say yes?”

Aurora turned towards him, no longer hiding her smile. “I need direct evidence of what you are telling me, counselor”. 

Duke bit his lip, a playful smile formed at the edge of his lips. “Your honor— “. 

Bzzzz bzzzzzzz Bzzzz bzzzzzzz

Both of them turned away from each other to check their phones. 

“It’s work…” Duke frowned as he looked at his screen. 

“I get it, go ahead,” Aurora said. 

Duke gave her an apologetic look before he stepped away to answer the call. Aurora used the opportunity to check the time, she didn’t want to stay too late, nor start something that would probably lead nowhere. 

  “Okay, so it’s this Friday?”. 

“Yes, the hearing is on Friday. Dorian, I want you to be there on time and make sure your wife is present". 

“I know the drill, this isn’t my first rodeo Oakley, but listen with how everything has played out…what are my chances here?”

“I’m certain this case will be dismissed; Judge Ortiz is presiding”.

“Ha! This may work out then! I meant to tell you that Mohsenin is safe, his phone cut out or something that night”. 

Duke sighed with relief and turned towards Aurora who stood up and put her coat on.

“Now the other problem you mentioned—”.

Duke quickly covered the phone and hurried back over to Aurora. “Hey, hold on, I’m almost done”.

“It’s getting late” Aurora said. 

“This will only take a minute, scout’s honor”.

Aurora gave him a friendly smile before heading towards the door. “Thanks for the drink, this court is adjourned”. 

Duke grinned as he watched her stride out of the bar. 

“Oakley?!”

“Yep, still here” Duke answered as he returned to his seat. 

  Once Aurora was outside, she paused and looked through the window. Duke sat at the table speaking to someone on the phone. Reluctantly, she turned away and walked down the sidewalk to hail an approaching taxi. 

Once she got inside and settled into the backseat the driver turned around to face her. “Where to Miss?”

“4943 Burke Street”.

“Ah, that’s near Edenbrook,” he said and proceeded in that direction. 

“Say, you wouldn’t happen to know of any interesting places in Benbrook, would you?”

“There’s a few, you need ideas for the weekend?”

Aurora smiled as she gazed out the window, the snow still falling over the city. “Yeah…I might bump into someone”. 

[choicesjulychallenge]

Choices July Challenge

This masterlist has been created for Day One of the Choices July Challenge...

Day One prompt: Home

Thank you all once again for taking part in this challenge! Please do let me know if any of the links are wrong or stop working. 

A Courtesan of Rome

Home (Antony x MC) written by @omgjasminesimone (Light NSFW)

America’s Most Eligible 

Home I’ll Never Be (Vince x Myrah) written by @lizeboredom

Big Sky Country

Home (Moodboard) created by @goldenxchoices 

Bloodbound

Anything Goes (Adrian x MC) written by @adrianadmirer

You are my Home (Adrian x MC) written by @kinda-iconic (part I)

You are my Home (Adrian x MC) written by @kinda-iconic (part II)

It Lives Beneath

Things said in the Aftermath (Parker x M!MC) written by @bubblygothzombie

Nightbound 

Unfamiliar Road (Katherine x M!MC) written by @rocket-scientist07

Open Heart 

Another Step: Chapter 1 (Rafael x MC) written by @maria-lahela (M Rating)

Home for the Holidays? (Bryce x MC) written by @argylemnwrites

Perfect Match

Home (Alana x F!MC) written by @strangerofbraidwood

Ride or Die

Home (Colt x MC) written by @coltsforeverdriver

The Elementalists

Character Icons (Edits) created by @itsbrindleybinch

The Royal Romance

Home (Drake x MC) written by @thefirstcourtesan

Home (Liam x MC) written by @darley1101

Wishful Thinking

Finding Home (Jaime x MC) written by @ladykateofhousebeaumont