#but if you look at claire and leon it's almost always politics with a side of action

[rescuefield-arch1]

i think a lot of people fail to understand that claire's work at terrasave is not "volunteering" because that implies she does some work every now and then but the rest of her time she's doing something else / another job. claire doesn't have another job though - in degeneration she was in touch with the fda about vaccines distribution, in infinite darkness she was working in a relief camp on a war zone and later lobbying to get laws to be approved, in heavenly island she literally mentions that terrasave now has a little task force that goes to check on sites that might be at risk of biohazard and if needed they work in tandem with the bsaa ( which is what ends up happening once she confirms it is a biohazard site ), in death island we see a similar situation.

the thing is she's not a civilian in the loose term we give it, because in the meantime from code veronica she has obviously either furthered her studies or continued some sort of training she had started years earlier with chris. "claire is a civilian" or "claire always stumbles into biohazards" implies that she minds her business when we all know she doesn't and actively looks for them. but she is involved in the fight against bioterrorism in the just as much as the other three mains, it's just that her role leans more into the political side via conspiracy theories to uncover etc ( and a bit of the medical part but that's obviously more of a rebecca thing )

[mossyivy]

how about a desperate almost ex-husband leon being extremely needy and trying to get his wife back not to divorce him

Anon, idk who you are but you better become a regular if these are the ideas you throw into my ask box. I took liberty in picking which Leon would best fit and I just... It's Vendetta. I'm sorry, wet street rat Leon just stinks of desperation and in need of attention.

Also I am so sorry this took ages to get to you. I've been on break and was going through it. Hopefully it was worth the wait 🤍

Slight NSFW/Alluding to Sex

Not edited/Proof Read

"Please baby, I miss you..." You listen to the last few garbled words from the old voicemail. You hadn't seen or heard from him in a month. No calls, texts, letters or even the occasional flowers or muffin basket he'd have delivered to your office.

You know you shouldn't miss him. The divorce was for a good reason. Or at least it was supposed to be. You still loved him, he still loved you, but his absence was getting to you. You knew who you were marrying, a government agent who wasn't home as often as he wanted to be. You were left to your own devices often. Left with friends. Friends who talked. Talked about how neglectful he seemed to be. You defended him with your life, knowing the good man he was and still is. They picked him apart in secret, threw his flaws out for display like some kind of rotting carcass you'd see on the side of the road.

But eventually they got into your head about deserving better. So, against all the arguing or begging on his end you asked for a divorce and filed. That was a few months ago. He's not even officially moved out of the apartment you two share yet but you're adamant on being separated.

He on the other hand is trying to hold on for as long as possible. At least you thought he was. He left for work over a month ago and you knew he was back. No state marshall or sheriff showed up to tell you he died.

Maybe he was trying to respect your distance and keep away finally. But then Jill sent you the E-vite...

One of the worst parts of divorcing Leon was you having the same friends. You were both civil. No one took anyone's side so you'd both be invited places, even after the separation. You take in a deep breath, knowing he'd definitely be at this dinner party. It was going to be a struggle but you're a big girl. You can handle anything.

Sucking it up, you step out of your car, fixing your dress in place as you look up at the condominium. Seeing the lights on the shared rooftop space gleaming against the dusk sky. It didn't take long for you to push the door open at the top of the stairs seeing everyone dressed in semi-formal attire. Long puffy sleeves swaying as you pull at the gold locket hanging above the sweetheart neckline. The end of you dress puffing out and brushing lightly against your opaque black pantyhose covered knees. Heels clicking against the concrete of the roof as someone calls out to you.

"Hey! Glad you could make it." Claire, one of the hosts, walks out a small group of people in her dark pink dress. She wraps you in a tight hug looking you up and down.

"Thanks for inviting me!" You look around the crowds of people trying to decipher who's here.

"Last time I saw him was with Chris like half an hour ago. He showed up early." Claire knew who you were looking for. You give her an appreciative nod and tell her you'll be doing your rounds to be polite.

After grabbing a glass of wine you start making your rounds. Feet starting to hurt from your heels, they always killed your ankles. Stepping to the side you bump into another guest and spill red wine on yourself. Turning you see Rebecca with her mouth open, shocked expression on her face, clutching the front of her green dress.

"I'm so sorry," she frantically steps over, examining the blotch of dark red on your dress, "Jill and Claire probably have soda water at their place. Why don't you go ask?"

You quickly find Claire, desperate to not let this stain stick.

"Just head down to the condo. Jill's down there babysitting dinner. It should be done soon actually." You nod, heading down to the condo quickly. Knocking on the door you hear loud footsteps coming towards the door. The door swings open, Chris looking down at you in his charcoal gray suit.

"Oh hey. You finally showed." You smirk, smacking his shoulder before going in for a tight hug. Squeezing you in his arms he lifts you, pulling you through the threshold of the condo. The door shuts as he walks towards the kitchen, setting you down in the doorway. Jill turning her head from the stove. Wearing a dark blue pantsuit.

"Hey!" Dropping the wooden spoon onto the stove she walks over, hugging you tightly. She looks down at your dress noticing the wine spot. "Oh God. It looks like you were shot."

"Red wine and Rebecca."

"Ah. Let me get you something for that."

Jill starts searching the cabinets as Chris leans against the kitchen island, arms crossed over his chest.

"How've you been with... Everything?" Chris grabs his beer off the counter, taking a leisurely sip. Watching Jill out of the corner of his eye.

"I can't complain."

"Yeah you can. You're getting a divorce. Can't be easy."

"Chris." Jill shoots him a nasty glare, standing up straight with a bottle of soda water and a cloth.

"What!? I can't be blunt with her now?" Jill sighs, sliding the stuff across the island to you, watching you grab them.

"You can use the guest bathroom. Our main one is being worked on. It's down the hall to the right. Dinners done so just head upstairs when you're ready."

"Thanks." You nod, walking past them both and down the hall and into the guest room. You don't flick the light on, walking through the moonlight cover room to the door and push your way in. Starting to work on the stain on your dress after. Blotting the wine out slowly, taking your time to draw it out. Working the wine out you look at yourself in the mirror.

Tired eyes covered by concealing makeup and a fake sense of happiness. You really haven't slept well in weeks, since the filing. It was weird going back home alone. A knock startles you out of your staring. You quickly access the damage, deeming your work satisfactory enough. Opening the door you're met with dark circles under icy blue eyes. Stubble surrounding plump rosy lips as he gasps.

Now face to face with your soon-to-be ex-husband.

"Hey..."

"Hey." You two stare at each other for a moment, no one knowing what to say exactly. So you start cleaning up and rinsing the rag.

"I'll be out of your way in a second."

"Take your time." He assures, putting a hand on your lower back as he passes you and steps to the towel cabinet, sliding one of the drawers open and looking for something. You continue to rinse the rag, watching him in your peripherals as he searches. Wearing his old dark blue suit and a white button up open enough to show off his collar bones.

The silence is so awkward you could feel your toes curling in your heels.

"You look good." He speaks looking at you, you shut the sink off looking in his direction with a small smile.

"Thank you." you look him up and down. Taking in the appearance of him being dressed up for once. You always liked him cleaned up. "You look like a nightclub owner."

He chuckles, smiling as he grabs a box of bandaids from the drawer, shutting it with his hip as he starts reaching inside the box.

"You hurt yourself?" The old tinge of worry hits you as he starts walking towards you, presumably leaving.

"Just a little cut. Tried to catch a knife and it didn't work out." He shows his left palm, a cut along the side of his thumb, still bleeding.

"Jesus Lee..." You turn the sink back on and make him shove his hand under the cold water to slow the bleeding. You start washing the blotch of blood already dried on his palm as he just lets you. You're delicate hands scrubbing the shell shaped soap across his paler palm compared to the slight tan of his skin. You feel his right arm move and slide around you, hand on your waist like it's still so natural as he fixes to your side.

You stare at his hand, watching the bleeding slow as you rinse his palm. But you finally notice he's wearing his wedding ring still. The black band that matches yours sitting at home in your jewelry box, collecting dust when it could be getting pawned like your friends suggested. But you've grown attached to it, even if it is a constant reminder of what was. You shake the feeling, turning the faucet off and grabbing the hand towel to dry the area.

"You know, I can do this myself right?" You look up at your reflections in the mirror, it's almost like he's watching you over your shoulder with how close he is. His eyes watching your every action so lovingly. It makes you smile and forget that you shouldn't be feeling butterflies in your stomach right now.

"You never do it right." You tease, feeling his chest press against your shoulder and back. Notes of citrus and buttery sandalwood touch your nose. Making his noticeable lean over your shoulder almost forgiveable as you apply the bandage on his hand. You feel his nose brush against your ear as you throw the wrappers in the tiny trashcan next to the sink.

"Leon... No." His hand squeezed gently as it moves down to your hip, he takes a slow breath in. Letting the scent of your perfume and shampoo fill his senses completely.

"I miss you..." His voice is so soft, his breath against your ear makes a bolt of electricity shoot up your spine and your skin tingle. Goosebumps forming over your arms as you side step away from him. Looking at him again, his eyes look filled with desperation as he tries closing the gap again.

"I've been thinking about you nonstop for the past month." You paw at the bathroom doorknob, opening the door and slipping into the guest bedroom. He quickly follows you into the dim lighting.

"I'm seeing a therapist now." You glance at him, turning away as you try making a break for it.

"Good for you." You misjudge your step and smack your foot against the table next to the door, twisting your ankle in the process. Immediately, you hunch over to grab your ankle and whine in pain.

"Baby..." He leans down looking at your ankle as it starts to swell already. "Come here."

Quickly you're lifted off your feet and being carried over to the bed, reminiscent of your wedding night. Leon sits, putting your legs over his lap.

"You know these heels are bad on your ankles." His hands slight over your heel, pushing the offender off your foot and doing the same to the next. His fingers glide over your ankle making you wince and whimper. "I'm sorry... I can't really see it well with the..."

His fingers pinch against your pantyhose and pull it gently. Looking at you as if asking for permission. His hands glide up your legs, looking at you. Giving a small nods his hands go up your thighs, pulling at the waist and down your legs. Dropping them with your heels. His hands linger on your bare thighs as he stares. Gripping with the tenderness you'd forgotten about, a small huff leaves his lips before you clear your throat.

"Leon..." He snaps back to reality looking at your ankle and rubbing it. You complain again, feeling your heart beat in you leg.

"Good news, it doesn't look broken."

"No shit." He smirks looking back at you, lips turning into a sincere smile as his brows drop.

"Still as snarky as ever..." It's your turn to stare now, watching his hands wander back up your legs and wrap around your knees. Pulling you closer and wrinkle the sheets below you.

"Who would I be without my smart ass mouth?" His eyes drift halfway closed, his body almost completely pressed against your chest with his own. His arm slides around your waist with practiced ease.

"Not my wife." His words flow so naturally. Like no time has past since the separation. Being this close doesn't feel nearly as awkward as you expected it to be. His hands are as gentle as the look he's giving you. That same puppy dog stare only you seem to yank out of the rough and tough exterior.

It makes you crack a smile... A smile you definitely shouldn't be showing so easily.

"I miss you." His voice is soft again, leaning closer into you, cupping your cheek with a callused hand. "Do you miss me?"

"Yes." The answer rolls off your tongue without a second thought. The corners of his lips turning higher, smiling brighter then you've seen in a while. He doesn't waste any time pulling you into his lap, smothering you in his embrace and pulling you into a heated and hungry kiss.

Hands traveling into every available spot on your body. Finally finding his way under the skirt of your dress and pulling your hips taut against his growing desire.

"Lee... We can't right now, they're expecting us upstairs for dinner." His lips meet your neck, kissing across your pulse and to your ear. Hands gliding over your skin as he pulls back from your neck.

"Why would I go do that when I got my favorite meal right here?" You laugh, the noise sounding like music to his ears all over again. Eyes turning to that loving stare, laying you down against the plush sheets and linens.

"Plus, you hurt your ankle. You need bed rest... And maybe I could give you a real reason to limp."

[porcelainseashore]

Coffee & Secrets (2)

Series Masterlist

Pairing: Rookie Cop! Leon x Barista! Fem! Reader

Summary: As a cozy coffee shop owner in Raccoon City, you’re no stranger to visitors seeking comfort, quiet, and warmth. When a rookie officer named Leon finds a kindred spirit in you, it sets in motion a chain of events that forever changes the course of your lives. An alternate universe set in Resident Evil 2 Remake and inspired by the game Coffee Talk.

Content & Warnings: Canon divergence, coffee shops, romance, slow burn, strangers to lovers, idiots in love, fluff, slice of life, swearing

AO3 Link

Chapter 2: Beginnings

“What kind of coffee shop only opens at night?”

Leon had kept his word, returning some time during the week after his work shift. However, Claire left you a postcard, delivered through him, with “I.O.U.” written at the back in an inky marker.

“My kind,” you quipped back, clearing out some of the cups and glasses, and wiping down the tables used by the previous customers who had left.

He shifted awkwardly between his feet, realizing the faux pas he had made. “Sorry, I didn’t mean any offense.” 

You looked up at him from the cloth rag on the table and smiled. “None taken, you’re just saying what comes to mind.”

“I like that,” you added for good measure.

Biting his bottom lip, his cheeks turned pink as he peered around the room before meeting your gaze again. “I-I… I guess I just wanted to know why?”

“Hah, she’s not interested in business! She’s rich!” a low bellow erupted from a ponytailed man sitting at the corner in an armchair. He laughed at his own joke, adjusting his spectacles along his nose bridge before guzzling down a thick, dark, syrupy brew from his cup. Then, he went back to reading his newspaper as if he had not uttered anything at all.

“Rude,” Leon whispered under his breath.

You chuckled as you gestured towards the older man. “That’s Ben, one of the customers I cater to. Enjoys coming here after dark. Says it helps him to think straight.”

“You see, I wanted to open a place where everyone could feel welcome,” you continued. “Even if it’s just the outsiders.”

“Hey, I heard that!” Ben called out again, though not once taking his eyes off the tiny print of the paper.

You smirked at his response. “Some people are night owls. So why not have a space for them too?”

Leon cocked his head to the side, staring at you contemplatively for a moment before replying, “That’s really nice of you.”

You looked away, unsure of how to respond. From the beginning, you had always accepted your role willingly, never giving it a second thought, so praise always came as a surprise.

“Mmm, why don’t you go make yourself at home, and I’ll be right with you?” you finally decided as an answer. 

Evasive, but polite—perfect for such a situation.

He did as you asked, heading over to the counter seat, and seeing you work your magic on his drink. It seemed like he had taken a note out of Claire’s book, inviting a little more spontaneity this time into his order. He wanted something warm yet cool, but not too sweet.

“It’s not too much of a hassle, is it?” he wondered out loud anxiously.

You huffed out a small laugh, saying, “It’s fine, relax.” 

As you served up the concoction before him, his gaze trailed across the amber swirls of the liquid, glinting under the pendant lights. They came to rest on the conical-shaped egg white foam you had whipped up on top.

“Gee, I feel like a kid in a candy shop,” he muttered. Taking a whiff of the mixture and upon finding it agreeable to his senses, he imbibed the rest of it.

“How do you—” he paused to recollect his thoughts before continuing, “How do you make such amazing drinks?” 

Twirling the glass in his hand, he examined it, seemingly trying to figure out its ingredients. “It’s almost as if you read my mind.”

“I just listen to what people need,” you mentioned nonchalantly, playing down the compliment. Jerking your thumb towards the glass, you added, “I call it Midsummer’s Nightcap, by the way.”

“I’ll definitely remember that.” 

He handed you the glass and you immediately followed up with a “Can I get you anything else?” It had been ingrained in you from day one to do so.

His face scrunched up slightly as he furrowed his brows. “I don’t know, hmm…”

“Something simpler?” you offered. “A glass of water?”

At this, he flashed a toothy grin. “There you go again. Reading minds.”

You scoffed good-humoredly, shaking your head as you poured him water over crushed ice with a slice of grapefruit and lime at the end. “So how’s your first week at work been?”

An involuntary groan rumbled from his chest, though he tried to suppress it.

“Not great?” you asked sympathetically.

“No, it’s good,” he began, “it’s more than I could’ve asked for, but…”

You held back, giving him the time and space to process his emotions. He fiddled nervously with the glass, pressing his fingers into it and leaving temporary imprints on the condensation.

“I don’t wanna fuck things up, you know?” he sighed. “I did well at the academy, but this feels like a totally different ball game.”

“It’s overwhelming, isn’t it?” you observed.

“Yeah,” he agreed, throwing his hands in the air. “I left everything behind for this job. My family, my hometown, my friends, my—” 

All of a sudden, he stopped in his tracks abruptly, as though something had clicked and he instantly regretted what he had just said. “I’m sorry for dumping this all on you…”

“Hey, it’s okay.” You reached over, holding his hand gently as you gave it a little squeeze. His pupils widened and his breath hitched at your touch, but similar to the previous time, he did not pull away.

“You’re afraid of failing,” you murmured, already busying yourself with cooking up another beverage to soothe his nerves. “Maybe you’ve never failed before, and it scares you.”

He remained silent, watching you from across the counter with a grim expression on his face.

It was only after you offered him the warm, steaming cup that he spoke, “You ever get that feeling where you’ve waited for this moment your entire life, and when it comes to it, you’re paralyzed?”

A rueful smile crept onto your lips. “When I set up this shop, yeah.”

Your answer stunned him initially before he started laughing, and you joined in.

When he finally managed to catch his breath, he probed further, “And how has it been for you?”

“It has its ups and downs, but you’ll survive.”

Your eyes met his. “Leon, it’s okay to fail.”

He averted his gaze in embarrassment. “That’s not what she—my girl—uh, my ex would’ve said.”

“Sometimes, people say things because they’re hurt,” you sighed. “I guess she didn’t want to lose you?”

Shaking his head, he rubbed his face wearily as he exhaled a deep breath. “Yeah, she didn’t want me to move so far away.”

Then, he found the courage to look you in the eye again. “I thought she’d be the one. I… I’m an idiot,” he surmised self-deprecatingly.

“You felt deeply for her,” you pointed out. “It doesn’t make it any less real just because it didn’t go the way you expected.”

While he mulled it over, you motioned to his forgotten drink and he obliged, knocking it back as if it were a liquor shot. “Time,” you proffered. ”Everything takes time.”

His jaw slackened as he took a moment to savor the warmth and taste, but once that passed, he had yet another curveball to throw at you. “What if I’m not cut out for this job?”

“If it comes to that, you could either keep going until you are, or find a new path,” you countered, placing your hands on your hips. “Don’t limit yourself.”

“Anyway, I have a hunch you’ll do just fine,” you reassured him. “If you don't believe me, then ask your supervisor.”

“Wait, you know Lieutenant Branagh?”

You did not respond to his question, instead sneaking in a wink and a smile as you removed the cup and saucer from his table. That appeared to distract him as he dropped the subject and latched on to a new one. 

“My grandma used to make this for me,” he said, indicating at the cup you were holding. “She had a name for it. Dreamsleep… I think?”

“Are you trying to tell me that I remind you of her?” you teased as you placed the items in the sink with the other dirty dishes.

“God, oh no, I’m sorry!” he coughed out, his face contorting into an expression of shock and horror upon realizing what he had implied. “That’s not what I meant!”

“I’m joking, Leon,” you giggled as he rolled his eyes and heaved a sigh of relief.

But when he took a peek at his watch, he pushed himself away from the counter. “I must’ve lost track of the time, um, I should get going.”

Stuffing his hands in his pockets, he glanced bashfully in your direction. “Thank you… for tonight.”

You waved it off. “Don’t mention it.”

However, when you opened your mouth to speak again, he shushed you with his finger and a fiery look of determination in his eyes. “And no, this time I’m paying.”

Dividers by @cafekitsune

[screechthemighty]

The executives functioned enough to let me get a new “milestones” short done! This one goes out to the Cleons and the galaxy brains who think Ethan and Leon should be friends. You’re absolutely right. They should. AO3 reblog will be in a link as always if you want to read all these stories in one place!

He only knew of Leon Kennedy by reputation: solid guy, by all accounts, stuck working for the government, which meant he didn't always get to come to things like this. It was a bit of a surprise when he said he could make it to the potluck Thanksgiving dinner.

It was an even bigger surprise for Ethan when Leon showed up a solid several hours early with a plastic grocery bag in one hand, at least two days worth of beard growth, and a pretty impressive black eye. It took Ethan an extra second to match him to the picture Claire had sent ahead. From the look on Leon's face, he'd almost forgotten whose house he'd been driving to. "...Ethan Winters?" he said hesitantly.

"That's me. You must be Leon?" Ethan stood aside to let him in. "Glad you could make it. I keep hearing about you, but…"

"I know, I only exist in blurry photographs." Leon smiled a bit as he stepped in, a smile that quickly turned nervous. "Is, uh...is Claire here…?"

Ethan shook his head. "Still on the road with Sherry. And Jill's gone to get Chris, so it's just Carlos and my family. Are, uh…"

Was there a polite, non-invasive way to make sure he didn't have a concussion? The swelling had gone down, but the bruising was still pretty impressive. Ethan was less worried about the aesthetics of it (he was the one walking around with facial scars and a robot arm on the body of a Silicon Valley office worker, he had no right to judge), and considerably more worried about the infamous Leon Scott Kennedy collapsing on his living room floor.

Leon waved him off. "Looks worse than it feels. Is there a bathroom I can borrow, though?"

"Yeah, upstairs, second door, left side of the hall. I can take that…" Ethan took the grocery bag from Leon, noting the way he glanced at the robot arm but didn't react beyond an impressed eyebrow raise. "…If you need anything, just yell."

"Thanks."

After that, Ethan almost forgot about the guy for a second. He counted that as a step forward in his recovery and not a sign he was a terrible host; it meant he was trusting enough again and felt safe enough that he wasn't so hypervigilant about the stranger in his home. It was only when he had to take Rose upstairs to swap out her now-dirty sweater for a cleaner one that he realized something might be wrong. The door to the bathroom was cracked, just enough that he could hear the harsh hiss of pain and the quiet, aggravated curses Leon was muttering. Ethan froze briefly in the doorway, not sure what to do. From his angle and with the door mostly closed, it was hard to see what might be wrong.

Maybe I should say something.

Ethan dropped back off Rose and grabbed a bottle of painkillers first. The door was still cracked slightly when he approached. How do I approach this? Just be direct, I guess, seems to work with everyone else in this friend group. "Hey, so, that bruise looks pretty painful. I don't have anything harder than acetaminophen, but…"

The comment earned Ethan a quiet huff of laughter. "Actually, I wouldn't say no to that." Leon nudged the door open further. Ethan could see immediately when he'd been swearing; there were a few nicks on his now shaven face. His coat was off, too, revealing more bruises on his arm. "Thanks."

It wasn't just the bruises that caught Ethan's attention. It was the look in Leon's eyes. He'd seen that look a lot—on Mia's face, on Chris's, hell even on his own. The look of exhausted, self-loathing depression. I'm not doing enough. I'm doing it wrong. It was a terrible thing to feel, and an almost worse thing to see on the face of someone you cared about. Not that Ethan knew this guy, but everyone else did. There had to be something he could do to make this better for all of them.

“It should be quiet around here for a few hours if you want to take a nap or something," Ethan said as he passed over the bottle. "No offense, you just look like you could need one."

"That obvious?"

"I mean, you got here hours before everyone else from...what, DC? I assume that's a hell of a drive."

"Wanted to get out of there before they changed their minds." Leon sighed heavily. "Is it really that bad?"

He sounded so self-conscious, Ethan almost felt bad bringing it up. "I mean…you look like you just walked off a secret government mission, but I don't know if that's good or bad. Just...reality."

"Yeah." Leon glanced away from Ethan to stare at himself in the mirror. "One day of the year I can keep a promise and be normal for a change, and this is how I look. Of all the dumb luck, huh?"

Oh.

Ethan had a sudden, sharp memory of being back at Blue Umbrella, just about half a year ago, sitting in that wheelchair and shaking with pain and frustration. He'd been so intent on one goal—I will start walking independently by the 29th—that even positive progress had felt like a negative, because it wasn't enough progress. Not enough to make him feel like he had control of his life. Not enough to show Mia that everything was okay now.

What was it that Jill had said to him then? What could Ethan possibly say now, to a guy he barely knew but still strangely understood?

"Look, I, uh...I know we've only known each other for five minutes, but if this is about Claire and Sherry…" Leon's slight wince said it definitely was. "...they're just going to be happy to see you. I know, it's not perfect, but you're here, you know? That's enough. Even if it's not perfect…what is, these days? I mean..." He lifted his left hand. "Bruises go away. I can't re-grow this." I think. "And neither of them have seen it before, so push come to shove, I can just do my does anyone need a hand routine and they'll definitely forget about the bruise."

He wasn't expecting that to get a laugh, and from the look on Leon's face, he wasn't expecting to laugh at it. Well, shit, maybe I am good at pep talks. "It's a whole routine?" Leon asked.

"Oh, yeah, I've jumped on that opportunity one too many times," Ethan said. "Chris nearly strangled me last time, so I think it's wearing out its welcome with him."

Leon laughed again, even as he winced a bit. "Ah, shit...yeah, I wouldn’t test that." He finally popped open the bottle of acetaminophen and swallowed two without water. Ethan was almost impressed, and somehow even more worried. "I don't think I need a nap, but I won't say no to coffee if you have it."

"I used to work in tech. Of course we have coffee."

"Used to?"

"Long story."

"Yeah, they usually are." Leon hesitated, then held out the bottle. "Thanks. For...all of it."

Ethan smiled. "No problem."

If us outbreak survivors don't stick together, who will?

Leon came downstairs eventually, perking up a bit after a cup of coffee and some time around someone he knew, well enough that Carlos had a nickname for him (First Day, apparently, though Ethan never learned the story there). Leon seemed nervous he'd scare Rose; fortunately for him, Rose had seen her own father in much worse shape, and was too intent on showing him every one of her stuffed toys to be scared by his bruise.

The next car rolled up a few hours later, while Ethan was in the living room with Leon and Rose. The sound of two female voices—one only kind of familiar, the other completely unfamiliar—was Ethan's first clue who the new arrivals were. The way Leon straightened up in immediate recognition was his second.

"...how did he get here so early?! I wasn't…" A new figure entered the living room—a young woman with fair blond hair cut short and a vibrant smile. "Leon!"

She hugged him so tightly Ethan was worried about any other injuries the man might've had. Leon didn't complain. If anything, he seemed relieved, even protective. "I said I'd be here, didn't I?” he said. “Nearly had to murder my boss to do it, but I wasn’t going to miss out this time." Leon caught sight of someone in the doorway as he pulled away from the hug. “…hey, Claire.”

Claire Redfield looked about the same as Ethan remembered her, right down to the leather jacket she favored. Ethan had never seen her smile like that before, though. “Hey, Leon.”

Ethan knew the look well. He knew the way the two of them hugged even better. It was the kind of hug you shared in a moment of relief. The other person was here now. Everything was going to be okay. You could just...relax.

…wait a minute.

Ethan leaned backwards just enough to see Carlos in the doorway, watching the exchange with a knowing expression. He caught Ethan’s gaze and raised an eyebrow. You see this too, right? kind of look.

Ethan did, or at least he thought he did, but he quickly decided it was none of his business. He replied to Carlos’s raised eyebrow with a shrug. This is supposed to be a stress-free dinner, buddy. We’re not gonna throw in relationship speculation with the turkey.

Fortunately, it never got any further than that brief exchange. Jill and Chris arrived, everyone pitched in for dinner, and no one had to say what they were most grateful for this year. Ethan was relieved about that one; he had plenty of things he was grateful for, obviously, but that involved unpacking a lot dark shit. He just wanted to eat and watch Rose make an absolute mess of her mashed potatoes.

The evening wound down eventually, as everyone wanted to digest in peace. Since most of them were going back to Jill and Carlos’s place, Leon was the last to go, left behind as the others left en masse.

Would have been the last to go was more accurate. Claire was the one who alerted Ethan to the fact that he’d fallen asleep on the couch at some point during a random sports game. Poor guy looked downright peaceful, even with the bruise.

“…I’m gonna feel bad if I wake him up,” Mia whispered.

“Yeah, me, too.” Ethan adjusted his grip on Rose, who was half-asleep herself. “I mean, everyone’s vouched for him, can he just…stay…?”

“He might have a hotel.”

“Good point. Here…” Ethan passed Rose off to Mia before approaching carefully to poke Leon’s leg. “Hey, Leon?”

Leon shot awake. “Wh…fuck…” He sat up, rubbing his eyes. “Where’s…?”

“Everyone else has headed out. Claire said to tell you that she’ll see you tomorrow. And that she took the battery out of your phone.” Ethan couldn’t tell if that second part was a joke, but with the number of times Leon had mentioned he was going to throw his phone out the window if someone called him back in, it might not have been. “She would’ve said it herself, but she didn’t want to wake you.”

“No, that’s…that’s okay. Shit.” Leon sat up carefully. “Any good hotels nearby?”

That answered that question. Ethan glanced back at Mia. They didn’t have to say anything to each other. “We’ve got space here,” Ethan said. “I mean, if you don’t care about the decor.”

Leon looked taken aback. “You don’t have to…”

“Nearest hotel is out of the way,” Mia chimed in. “You came here to relax, not spend hours in the car. We don’t mind.”

Leon glanced between them, as if trying to think of a good excuse to leave. His exhaustion won out. “Thanks,” he said. “I owe you one.”

“Hey, you brought lemon meringue pie. It’s the least we can do.”

They set up Leon in the big bed in Rose’s room, moving Rose’s crib back into its corner in the master bedroom. Ethan was secretly a bit relieved; he knew it was for the best that Rose start sleeping on her own, but part of him still struggled with her being too far away. “Hey, Ethan?” Mia said quietly as they settled down. “Promise me you won’t let anyone convince you to get into that work.”

Ethan grimaced at the thought. “Absolutely not. I’m not cut out for that. I’m…” He paused as she moved closer and wrapped her arms around him, burying her face between his shoulder blades. “…I’m actually thinking about working from home, if I can. I’ve lost enough time to this bullshit. I want…” He gently took her hand and squeezed it. “More of this.”

Time with family. Time with friends. The chance to make new ones. To just…heal together, one impromptu houseguest at a time.

“Sounds good to me,” Mia said softly. He felt her press a kiss to his back. “Love you.”

“Love you, too.”

He slept well that night. From the much clearer, calmer look in Leon’s eyes the next day, so did he.

All in all, not a bad outcome.

[aion-rsa]

Best Movies Coming to Netflix in September 2021

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Fall is here. Almost. Technically we’re in the last grips of summer’s dog days right now, with Americans gearing up for a three-day weekend by the grill. But Netflix at least isn’t ready to leave the sunniest months alone, as indicated by a number of the major films coming to streaming in the next few weeks, including iconic summer spectacles like Jaws… plus Jaws 2 and all those other seaside sequels.

But there’s more than red dye in the water to enjoy in the below outings for those content to stay home as things continue to stay weird out there. From cult classic science fiction to a Spike Lee masterpiece, here is the best of what to expect from your favorite streaming service.

Blade Runner: The Final Cut (1982)

September 1

Of the many versions floating out there in the ether of Ridley Scott’s Blade Runner, this is the best one. Only a slight reworking of the director’s cut—complete with new footage being shot to fix a particularly troublesome wig during one stunt—the Final Cut is a refined distillation of the science fiction thriller that increasingly looks like a masterpiece with each new iteration. Dense, evocative, and strangely beautiful in its fatalism, Blade Runner remains the quintessential blending of sci-fi and noir, and a haunting work about what it means to be human.

Harrison Ford plays Deckard in the film, a laconic cop in an apocalyptic and rain soaked Los Angeles. His beat? To hunt down and exterminate replicants (robots) who disobey their programming and go rogue. Yet to the frustration of early 1982 audiences, and the film’s producers, Blade Runner is not a movie particularly concerned with plot. It’s about the mood evoked by its exquisite nightmare of tomorrow, and the realization that our toasters can be more soulful than you or I.

Clear and Present Danger (1994)

September 1

We know what you’re thinking: Isn’t Jack Ryan over on Amazon? That may be true of his current iteration with actor John Krasinski, but if you want to see Tom Clancy’s originally not-so-super spy done right, we recommend this delightfully dated ‘90s action classic. Starring Harrison Ford at the peak of his grumpy dad phase, Clear and Present Danger is the third Jack Ryan movie and arguably the best one after The Hunt for Red October. Like that other Ryan high bar, there is a winsomely nerdy fascination with the technical side of spycraft at the end of the 20th century here, as well as the political undercurrents which can leave even the most well-meaning spooks high and dry.

The ostensible plot is about the then-popular drug war, with Ford’s noble if weary Ryan finding himself swept up in the politics of Colombian drug cartels. However, the film’s real villain in the U.S. president whom Ryan serves, a man who uses the U.S. intelligence and military as his personal hit squad to settle scores, and then leaves them stranded when it becomes politically convenient. In many ways this is a prescient film about the 21st century to come. Which is to say that Clear and Present Danger has just enough brains to make its explosions matter. And yes, there are ‘splosions.

Cold Mountain (2003)

September 1

A movie that it’s hard to imagine folks making today, Cold Mountain is a Civil War epic which eschews the usual trappings of dramas set during that era. The film’s main characters are North Carolinians who find themselves drawn into the Confederate cause of secession (and thereby slavery), although Jude Law’s Inman is no slaveholder. In fact, he has no real reason to be fighting the war, which is why after seeing years of carnage he goes AWOL, embarking on a Homeric quest to return to his Cold Mountain home and the sweetheart waiting there for him, Ada (Nicole Kidman).

Not that things are much better back in the poverty of Appalachia where Ada’s land has fallen on hard times. Living under the tyranny of the home guard, Ada and her own sorrows on the domestic front complement Inman’s, revealing the horrible futility of war from many perspectives. A bit overwrought in places (Cold Mountain was clearly designed to win Oscars), there is nevertheless an earthy authenticity about this yarn which is impossible to ignore.

Do the Right Thing (1989)

September 1

Spike Lee’s seminal masterpiece is as potent 32 years later as the day it was released. A funny, heartbreaking, infuriating, and ultimately thrilling experience, Do the Right Thing proves as elusively complex as its misleadingly optimistic title. It’s also just a blast to watch.

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An ensemble piece, Do the Right Thing primarily focuses on Lee as Mookie, a delivery man for his neighborhood’s pizza joint owned by Sal (Danny Aiello). The relationship between the white business man and the Black employee, and what that means for the predominantly Black Brooklyn neighborhood of Bedford–Stuyvesant, is explored from every angle as both men, plus Mookie’s whole community, endure the hottest day of the year. Tensions rise, prejudices are exposed, and an ending involving a young Black man and violent police officers, and a trash can and a window, remains as poignant as ever.

Green Lantern (2011)

September 1

Ah, Green Lantern. Remember when this movie was supposed to be the launching pad for the DC Cinematic Universe or whatever it ended up being called? Following the gritty realism of Christopher Nolan’s first two Batman movies, the loopy cosmic vibe of this would-be epic was just not what audiences were expecting to see. And even with all the visual pyrotechnics, an earnest try from a somewhat miscast Ryan Reynolds in the title role, and a great turn by Mark Strong as anti-hero Sinestro, the movie just came across as uninspired and unfocused.

Part of the problem may have been hiring Casino Royale director Martin Campbell—known for bringing Bond back to Earth—to helm what is essentially an uneasy mix of superhero origin story and space opera. Campbell does his best, as do actors like Reynolds, Strong, Tim Robbins, and Angela Bassett, but the script is too saddled with stuff. The primary villain is a cloud and the secondary villain—Peter Sarsgaard in a puffy head—is chewing the scenery in another movie entirely. We may get a good Green Lantern movie one day, but this one is best enjoyed while cleaning the house or getting drunk.

Mystery Men (1999)

September 1

Made in a time before superhero films became a Hollywood mainstay, Mystery Men is an artifact from a bygone era. The admittedly overstuffed superhero comedy made by “Got Milk?” commercial director Kinka Usher flopped at the box office, despite having an ensemble cast that included Ben Stiller, Hank Azaria, William H. Macy, Greg Kinnear, Janeane Garofalo, Paul Reubens, Lena Olin, Geoffrey Rush, Eddie Izzard, and Claire Forlani. Perhaps 1999 wasn’t ready for a superhero satire about a team of lesser superheroes who are asked to save the day?

Read more

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Green Lantern Star Mark Strong Was Excited for Sequel

By Don Kaye

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Blade Runner 2049 and the Role of Joi in a Joyless World

By David Crow

Likely, this concept would do much better today in a pop culture climate where superhero subversions like The Boys and Watchmen have thrived. Sadly, this wasn’t to be the fate for Mystery Men, which made only $33 million at the box office against a budget of $68 million. The cult classic may yet find its time to shine on the Netflix Top Ten and, if not, it will always be able to boast its connection to Smash Mouth’s “All Star” music video, which features characters from the film.

Once Upon a Time in America (1984)

September 1

The story behind the last film ever directed by the great Italian filmmaker Sergio Leone is as fascinating as the picture itself. Having made his reputation as the king of spaghetti Westerns—and then transcending the genre with films like The Good, the Bad and the Ugly and Once Upon a Time in the West—Leone set his sights on gangsters in 20th century America. But his nearly four-hour epic was severely truncated down to 139 minutes and rendered almost incomprehensible in America where it failed spectacularly. Meanwhile the original version remained largely unseen until it was restored in 2012.

Leone’s methodical and occasionally dreamlike esthetic might still be a tough sit for some audiences, but we hope that Netflix is indeed showing the full-length version (this is the company that backed The Irishman, for Chrissakes, which probably wouldn’t exist without Leone’s influence). It’s an expansive, truly gripping epic that stretches across a 50-year span, encompassing Prohibition, Italian, and Jewish criminal mobs, plus politics and more in a vast portrait of a corrupt American dream. It’s been called one of the greatest gangster films of all time, and rightly so.

School of Rock (2003)

September 1

Bless the movie gods above for a filmmaker like Richard Linklater. Typically an indie darling known for time-bending cinematic experiments such as the Before Sunrise trilogy and Boyhood, the Dazed and Confused filmmaker can still also do genuinely great mainstream entertainment when he wants to. Hence his partnering with the oft-underrated talent of Jack Black. Together, they made an all-time family classic between them in School of Rock.

Read more

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Mob Antipasta: Best Gangster Movie Food Scenes

By Tony Sokol

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By David Crow

The plot, if you somehow haven’t seen it, involves Black playing an out-of-work rocker who cons his way into becoming a prestigious private school’s new music teacher—one who’d rather teach his kids about the awesomeness of KISS or Led Zeppelin than Mozart and Beethoven. He even gets the kids to start a rock band! The supreme appeal of the movie, however, is the interest and affection Linklater showers onto Black as well as his entire cast of talented youngsters, who all get to shine and help build this Zoomer touchstone. That includes future iCarly star Miranda Cosgrove as Black’s pint-sized nemesis turned frenemy.

Jaws (1975)

September 16

Arguably the greatest summer blockbuster ever made, there is no debate over the fact that Jaws kickstarted this type of summer spectacle. Which makes returning to it now kind of remarkable when one realizes how grounded and real Steven Spielberg’s primal horror still feels. And we’re not talking about the killer shark; Great Whites do not behave this way, nor do they look like that rubber monstrosity fans affectionately refer to as “Bruce.”

Rather the film’s paradox of being a thriller intended for adults during New Hollywood’s golden age in the 1970s, as well as being the accidental creation of the summer blockbuster, means the film maintains a surprising degree of naturalism and complexity among its three central characters, and their various motives for getting in a boat to do primordial battle with a fish like something out of a Hemingway book. Plus, in addition to the terror of not seeing the shark for most of the movie and Spielberg instead relying on John Williams’ nerve-shattering score, the film’s depiction of politicians who will let their voters get eaten before listening to the scientists hits especially close to home these days.

Jaws 2 (1978)

September 16

The making of Jaws 2, which was inevitable following the unprecedented success of Steven Spielberg’s classic 1975 original, was beset with as many problems as the first film. The first, of course, was that Spielberg did not return to direct; that task fell to John D. Hancock (Let’s Scare Jessica to Death), who was replaced prior to filming by Jeannot Szwarc. The script was constantly revised as well, and star Roy Scheider was apparently unhappy that he was contractually obligated to show up.

In the end, Jaws 2 isn’t a bad film; it’s just a pointless one. The town of Amity is plagued, improbably enough, by a second shark, and once again the mayor (Murray Hamilton, somehow reelected after pulling a Ron DeSantis in the first movie) idiotically refuses to heed Chief Brody’s warnings. The film’s centerpiece is the shark’s relentless attack on a bunch of teens headed out to sea in a small flotilla of boats, and Szwarc generates some real tension and horror even if we see way more of the monster this time. There’s no way Jaws 2 can match the greatness of its predecessor, but considering what came afterward, we’ll take what we can get.

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