#but no way would Sebastian’s mother allow her son to wear a dress

[paintsplash1712]

My Halloween OC WIP

[bellarkeselection]

Can you do a bash short were he comes back to France with y/n as his wife and they explain why they got married in Secret

Princess’s Make Their Own Rules

Nobody expected the kings Bastard to ever marry anyone. The note that his mother was his mistress was enough for people to turn the other way from the thought. But when Mary arrived at court, so did the Princess from England, and she had some shocking news for everyone at the French court. Stepping down from the carriage my eyes didn't even notice the rest of the court simply because I already had my attention set on the only person I cared about which was Sebastian or as he preferred to be called Bash. He moved through the crowd offering me his arm with a head nod. "Princess Y/n."

"Sebastian." I greeted looping my arm through his when he offered it to me. Together we began walking through the crowd who all just stared confused at us.

Bash tilted his head to the side complimenting on the dress I had worn. It was gold with short sleeves covered with lace. "I would have thought you'd stole into court wearing trousers." His blue eyes scanned me over smirking when he saw my horse riding boots peaking out from underneath.

"My sister is having a hard enough time ruling without a husband. At the very least, I thought I'd make my first impression at court good.. but later, you won't be seeing this ridiculous gown." I whispered the last part in his ear before we saw his half-brother, the now turned King of France Francis, coming towards us.

The blonde curly haired king smiled bowing at the same time I gave him a curtsey. "Princess Y/n, it's pleased to see you back at court."

"I'm glad to be back, you're grace. I was wondering if I could speak with you both privately for a moment?" I glanced between the pair so Francis nodded walking down the closet hallway until we reached an empty chamber door. Bash locked the door so we wouldn't be interrupted.

Francis raised a brow at me. “So what did you want to talk about with me?”

“I needed to give this to you. And ask that you wed me and your brother officially in front of the court.” Reaching for the necklace around my neck I revealed the ring that was hanging from the chain that was Bash’s mother’s ring. Since my sister was Queen Elizabeth we couldn’t legally get married because he was a bastard and I was a princess by birth. I handed over a sealed scroll hidden inside one of my boots and gave it to Francis.

Bash blinked his eyes confused at my boldness. “Y/n, you know that we can’t. You’re royal and I am a bastard.”

“And yet my sister has declared that she shall never marry anyone and bear children. So what is stopping me from following my heart and marrying the man I love hmm.” I lightly snapped at him with my hands on my hips.

My secret husband shifted his attention to his brother who had opened the scroll I had given him still in shock at the idea I was proposing. “Is this even possible. I mean unless I got legitimized as Henry’s son it shouldn’t be possible.”

“You’re right it wouldn’t be until this…” Francis clear his throat reading the letter aloud. “I Queen Elizabeth of England hereby declare that my sister Y/n and Sebastian de Poitiers are allowed to be wed. Sebastian shall inherit the title of prince and will be the master of my armies. He shall no longer be a bastard after marrying my sister and that is final.”

Bash steps towards me gently grabbing a hold of my shoulders where I focused on his bright blue eyes. “How did you get her to agree to legitimize me?”

“I told just how you have treated me, made me happy and that I just wished that stupid titles weren’t in our way. And she didn’t see any problems with not following what everyone else has done in the past. So…will you marry me Bash?” Lowering myself down on one knee in front of him I take his hands in mine staring up into his eyes.

Francis made a confused face at his brothers response. “No.”

“Uh…” I slightly froze not sure what would happen next.

Yet Bash lowered himself down on one knee where we were both on our knees and eye level with each. He holds my hands in his, his blue orbs pouring into mine when he delivers his question to me. “That’s not how this is done. This is how is done, Princess. Y/n, will you marry me and make this bastard the happiest man on earth?”

“Yes, Sebastian.” I nodded moving forward kissing him. He cupped my face kissing me back with Francis smiling behind us.

Comments really appreciated ❤️

[erinevrly]

ˋ  ⛅️       ❛     1990s     ❫       :       𝐭𝐫𝐮𝐞  𝐛𝐥𝐮𝐞,  𝐛𝐚𝐛𝐲,  𝐢  𝐥𝐨𝐯𝐞  𝐲𝐨𝐮.

cherry  pie  is  far  from  being  the  most  difficult  piece  in  erin’s  recipe  books,  but  she’s  learned  that  it  can  be  quite  the  challenge  when  most  of  the  assistance  comes  from  a  pair  of  tiny  hands,  eager  to  help  each  and  every  step  of  the  way,  but  even  more  eager  to  play  with  all  the  ingredients  and  raise  havoc.  so,  as  the  tasks  become  more  and  more  complicated  and  the  soft  wrinkles  on  sebastian’s  forehead  begin  to  deepen,  his  sweet  features  growing  visibly  bored,  the  curly-haired  brunette  comes  up  with  the  perfect  solution  that  will  allow  her  to  finish  baking  while  also  keeping  the  little  boy  occupied  and  entertained.   ❝   would  you  like  to  paint  a  picture  for  dada?  huh?  does  that  sound  like  fun?  what  do  you  think,  picasso?  gosh,  look  at  yourself,  that’s  not  lotion,  bashy  bear,   ❞   she  muses  with  a  soft  laugh,  wiping  her  flour-covered  hands  on  her  apron  before  slipping  them  beneath  the  boy’s  armpits  to  pick  him  up  and  carry  him  off  the  counter.  he  grunts  and  kicks  his  legs,  visibly  displeased  as  his  mother  keeps  him  from  smearing  the  entire  bowl  of  filling  across  his  chest  and  arms.  she  takes  him  to  the  living  room  and  spreads  a  large  sheet  of  paper  on  the  floor,  surrounds  the  toddler  with  different  paints  and  brushes.   ❝   i’ll  be  right  back,  okay?  i’ll  just  put  our  pie  in  the  oven.  mmm,  our  yummy  pie.  it’s  gonna  be  so  delicious  because  you  helped  me  out.  be  good  now,  my  little  artist,   ❞   she  coos,  stroking  his  strawberry-tinged  hair  as  he  dips  both  of  his  palms  in  paint  and  lets  out  a  happy  squeal.

it’s  a  typical  saturday  morning  for  them,  especially  now  that  axl’s  touring  with  his  band.  erin  wants  their  son  to  have  a  normal  childhood,  even  if  his  father’s  job  is  anything  but  ordinary.  so,  she  stills  puts  madonna’s  on  the  radio  as  soon  as  they  wake  up,  bakes  pies  and  muffins,  hangs  out  with  her  friends  and  their  babies,  arranges  play  dates  to  keep  sebastian’s  mind  stimulated  and  busy.  she’s  explained  to  him  time  and  time  again  that  they  have  to  share  daddy  with  his  fans,  that  everybody  loves  him  and  wants  to  see  him,  that  it  would  be  unfair  of  them  to  keep  him  from  doing  what  he’s  always  dreamed  of  doing,  but  at  the  end  of  the  day  her  son  is  still  just  a  toddler  who  needs  and  misses  his  father  more  than  anything  in  this  world.  when  they  were  younger,  during  axl’s  very  first  tour,  it  was  just  the  two  of  them  and  things  got  extremely  messy.  she  spent  weeks  ignoring  him,  thinking  he  was  sleeping  in  another  woman’s  bed,  doing  all  kinds  of  shady  things.  this  time,  she  can’t  let  it  happen.  she  can’t  let  herself  dive  into  that  kind  of  mindset,  she  has  to  be  more  mature,  but  it’s  only  may  and  he’s  supposed  to  come  home  in  november.  she  has  no  idea  how  they’ll  survive  that  long  without  each  other,  what  will  happen  to  their  family…  it’s  all  terrifying  to  think  of.  so,  she  discreetly  wipes  the  small  tear  that’s  rolling  down  her  cheek  and  focuses  on  the  pie,  trying  to  keep  herself  busy.  she’s  humming  to  herself  as  she  absently  twirls  around  the  kitchen,  dark  curls  tumbling  down  her  back,  the  light  blue  dress  she’s  wearing  flaring  out  around  her  slender  legs.   ❝   true  love,  you’re  the  one  i’m  dreamin’  of.  your  heart  fits  me  like  a  glove  and  i’m  gonna  be  true  blue,  baby,  i  love  you.   ❞   she  sings  softly,  using  a  wooden  spoon  as  microphone  as  she  dances  around  with  flour  on  her  hands  and  cheek.  coaxing  a  fit  of  giggles  out  of  her  son.

@rcsechild

[lumosinlove]

Between Fifth And You

AO3

chapter two

~

It’s Saturday night for Manhattan’s elite, and we know what that means. The Noble House of Black beckons, and one particularly family seems to be a little behind on preparations—at least, their youngest son is.

Spotted—Logan Tremblay, looking hot in nothing but basketball shorts. Better soak up that fading blue August heat while you can, Lo. Or are you more interested in something a little more…fiery? But in the LES? Why so far from home, Dorothy? Eye color isn’t the only thing green about the Tremblay family. And they have a bad habit of sorting everything out with a little help from Ben Franklin.

“Shoot, shoot!”

Logan pivoted on his heel and was able to toss the ball around his opponent’s shoulder. He only caught a glimpse of red hair as Finn caught it with ease and jumped it up to the rim.

Finn O’Hara. One of these days Logan was going to step on his own shoes watching Finn O’Hara. His pale chest looked like sugar dusting, his exertion-red cheeks the goddamn cherry.

“Point moo-oi!” Finn shouted, slapping Will Morgan and Percy Marshall on their bare backs. “That’s how you say it, right, Tremblay?”

Logan feigned a shudder. “Non.”

“Shorty’s got game,” Will laughed, sweat dripping down his dark brown skin, darkening the leather bracelets he wore.

Percy shook his head, swallowing over a caught-breath, his silver Star of David swinging at his throat. “Shorty must be cheating with his Upper Side shoes.”

Logan just narrowed his eyes and laughed, pushing his hair out of his eyes. “You’re just tall. Doesn’t mean you’re good.”

“Yeah, yeah, Mazel tov, you fucker.”

“I’m finally winning,” Finn grinned. “And now I gotta get back to the shop. I said be back in five…pretty sure it’s been fifty-five.”

Logan swallowed. “I’ll—I’ll walk you.”

Percy slapped him on the back as they left, and Finn held the cage door of the basketball court open for him.

“So, you’re back at school?” Finn asked as he pulled his shirt on. Logan nodded, following suit, picking at the neck where it stuck to his sweaty skin.

“Yeah,” Logan nodded. “I’m supposed to be getting fitted for a suit right now.”

Finn snorted. “What does that have to do with school?”

“Oh,” the corner of Logan’s mouth raised as he realized. “Nothing, I…well, you know. The social scene. It sort of all feels like one thing, up there.”

Finn pouted at him. “Poor baby. Too many parties.”

“That’s not what I meant,” Logan laughed.

“Hey, feel like lunch?”

“I thought you had to be back.”

Finn shrugged. “I’m hungry.”

Logan bit his lip, wondering how many different ways his older sisters could actually kill him. Honestly, he thought he’d just die on the spot of he passed up the change to be squeezed into one of the small restaurants that Finn frequented. Screw the grand tables of his life. Logan wanted cracked leather booths small enough to let their ankles brush. Not that he’d ever say that out loud.

Finn didn’t disappoint. They walked down the shade of Mott street, then turned at a bakeshop on the corner. Finn pointed at it.

“You’ve been here, haven’t you?”

Logan raised a shoulder. “I don’t get down here much.”

Finn snorted. “Listen to you. Down here. You’re down here enough to pop into my bookstore all the time.”

Logan studied the cakes in the windows, biting his lip when he realized Finn’s eyes were still on him in the reflection. “I…yeah.”

Finn flicked the bill of Logan’s hat which shaded the back of his neck. “How’s that latest book you bought?”

Logan turned away from the window to get them walking again, not sure where they were going but trusting Finn to lead. “I’m starting school, man, I don’t have all the time in the world.”

Finn just laughed. “Come on, let’s catch the 6.”

Logan found himself squeezed into a tiny French restaurant in the West Village that served them even tinier croissants.

“I know the chef,” Finn said popping one he had spread jam and butter on into his mouth. “Dumo. Don’t pay a cent. I fucking love these things.”

Logan would have bought Finn a thousand of the tiny pastries without a blink just to see him lick a bit of jam from his thumb again.

“Dumo doesn’t sound very French…” Logan began cutting up his waffle.

Finn laughed. “Pascal Dumais does.”

“Oh. Yeah, that’s more like it.”

Logan glanced at a woman and her baby, who had started crying. He tried to think of something to say. For someone who’s job seemed to be making small talk at various parties and charming people with his accent—or so his mother sometimes said—he sure was horrible at it.

“So, what’s the suit for?” Finn asked, taking a sip of his black coffee.

“A fashion show,” Logan sighed, hiding his surprise—and maybe delight—at Finn’s unknowing shrug. “It’s…sort of a lot. Lots of people and cameras. And I always have to wear something green.”

Finn hummed in understanding. “It’s the eyes, yeah?”

Logan nodded. “A lot of fast English, too.”

Finn tilted his head. “I didn’t know that was hard for you. You’re perfect.”

Logan tried not to flush and covered it with a shrug. “I lived in France until I was fifteen before we finally moved to my dad. It’s still nice to be able to read lips sometimes. With the flashes and they make it super dark…I don’t know.”

“No, that makes sense,” Finn said, brown eyes soft. He smiled. “Hey, well, if you don’t want to go to the fitting, come man the shop with me. I’d love the company.”

Logan looked at him and ached, but saw his older sister Noelle’s pleading, excited expression in his mind. He might not love the scene, but he loved his sisters. “I wish I could. Really.”

They finished up their food and Logan had to admit that he lingered over his coffee until Finn said he absolutely had to leave.

“Hey, Tremblay,” Finn called from down the sidewalk, and Logan turned in the full knowledge that seeing the smile Finn sent him would only make him want to stay more.

The dutiful son wants the bookshop boy…I don’t know, Lo. How will their royal highnesses feel about that?

“Come buy more books you don’t read soon, okay?”

Logan couldn’t help but smile back. “D’accord.”

Finn walked backwards a few steps, yelling, “And bring me something green!” before turning and jogging down the subway stairs.

Logan laughed as he called his driver to him, escaping the heat for air conditioned leather.

XOXO

Pearls or diamonds, Upper Siders? Armani or Ralph? What, like you have other questions tonight?

Well, I have one for you. A tip from a friendly scroller gave me a peak at tonight’s guest list. Do you think we’re in for more than just a showdown on the runway? Cat fights over cat walks is what I always say.

XOXO.

[Image description: Two name cards reading, from left to right, Leo Knut and Remus Lupin, Sirius Black and Sebastian Montague]

Remus found Julian already dressed and tapping at a game on his phone when he descended the winding staircase of their penthouse.

“You waiting for mom and dad?” Remus said, dropping a kiss to the top of his head.

“And you,” Julian said.

“Right, right,” Remus smoothed his black tuxedo, trying to ignore the subtle glint of blue-silver embroidered into the black velvet. His mother was a planner—which Remus liked usually—but this design had not aged well. This suit had a twin that it no longer belonged with. Remus clenched his jaw as he caught a glimpse of himself in the mirror. He’d hoped wearing it would feel like defiance.

But it only felt like he was lonely. He gave his head a hard shake. He had Leo. He couldn’t let New York throw him.

“Gossip Girl’s going crazy. Of course,” Julian said.

“Jules, you shouldn’t read that stuff,” Remus sighed. “It’s just gossip—”

“Just posted about Sirius,” Julian murmured.

Remus huffed, pushing his hair out of its too neat style in the mirror. “So?”

Julian shrugged, but pointedly looked away when Remus took out his own phone.

The photo looked like one from the paparazzi, but the sight of Sirius on the red carpet made Remus’ throat close up.

I spy a statement piece. Or maybe it’s just a statement. Sirius Black arrives on the red carpet—or should I say black carpet—with none other than New York’s favorite icon, in worship and fashion alike. The Saint of these streets is looking particularly dashing tonight, hand in hand with the heir of this city. Ouch, Re. Looks like you’ve been dethroned.

Remus stared down at the screen, neck hot. Sirius’ suit sleeves had the barely there leather half moon cut-outs that Remus remembered tracing onto his skin.

Sirius had smiled into their kiss. Think anyone will notice?

Remus had just laughed. Everyone will notice.

But there was Saint, a crown of moonstones in his golden hair.

Remus looked down at his own suit. Of course Saint had thought of a way they’d match, that was all it was, but it still felt like a snub.

“I sort of miss him,” Julian said quietly.

Remus’ heart pulled. He swallowed and clicked his phone off. He looked at Julian, who looked almost sheepish.

“Do you?” Julian asked even more quietly.

“Don’t you like Leo?” Remus asked.

“Of course,” Julian nodded quickly. “But…”

“Remus,” Hope smiled, coming down the stairs arm-in-arm with their father. “Jules. Ready, boys?”

Remus didn’t think saying no was an option. He cleared his throat, pushed his hair back.

“Almost,” he said, backtracking towards the stairs. “Just a second. Gotta call Leo, make sure he hasn’t left yet.”

XOXO

“We can watch a livestream of the red carpet and the show,” Natalie said. “Sit.”

Finn groaned, squished beside Natalie on her tiny sofa. “That feels like I’m stalking him.”

“We’re allowed to stalk the boys we like.”

“You’re dating my brother, Nat. Does this mean you stalked him?”

“It really does,” Alex said, coming in from the kitchen with their margaritas and dropping a kiss to Natalie’s temple.

“Hm,” Natalie smiled up at him, accepting a kiss to her lips. “Scruffy.”

Finn sighed and pulled a knee up to his chest, watching the loading video Natalie had pulled up.

“Your wifi sucks,” he mumbled.

“It’ll load,” Natalie scooted over for Alex and passed Finn his drink.

“Salsa, too,” Finn said, waving it over.

Finally, the video popped up to a view of the red carpet.

“Oh, for fuck’s sake,” Alex said.

“Be nice,” Natalie laughed. “It’s fashion!”

“Look,” Alex sighed. “I know they’re wealthy and it’s suppose to be all, I don’t know sandy beaches and wristwatches, but not a single one of these people look remotely happy. Like take a look at this guy—“

Finn looked over the sandy-haired man posing in front of the cameras—well, not posing, really. Kasey Winter, the commentators were saying.

“Nice hair,” Natalie crunched on a chip. “And listen to that, his mother’s one of the biggest producers at Weird Sisters Records.”

“Fine, but he looks like he’s ready to kill someone. I mean, anyone else think its kind of fucked up that the New York families go to a New York university where New York businesses draw from New York’s elite?”

“Yes,” Finn and Natalie said in unison.

And then there was Logan.

Finn let out an embarrassing sound and set his drink down, leaning forward.

Logan walked out in front of the cameras with three girls—his sisters, Finn remembered. Not to mention he followed all of them on Instagram. They had a lot of shoes, sure, but they seemed all right.

“I saw this thing on Gossip Girl about one of the sisters,” Natalie said. “She—”

“Nat, why the hell do you read that?”

Natalie shot him a look. “Like you don’t.”

Finn ignored them, too focused on the dark, nearly black, velvety green cape—or was it cloak?—that covered Logan’s shoulders down to above his elbows, falling to an elegant point at the small of his back over his black suit. The sisters had a similar get-up in one way or another—a green train, a shawl, a corset. Logan’s clasp was a silver fleur-de-lis.

“Green,” Finn breathed.

“What?” Alex asked.

Finn bit the inside of his cheek at Logan’s expression. It was meant to be blank, Finn thought, at-ease and untouchable, but it came off almost enticing. His dark eyelashes swept against his cheeks. Finn watched his throat bob around a swallow, his adored eyes shifting from flash to flash.

“Nothing,” Finn answered his brother.

“How’d you meet this kid anyway, Fish?” his brother asked.

“I was closing up shop about a month ago,” Finn said. “And he stopped at one of our windows. Looked like he’d run the entire island, he was breathing so hard. Not to mention it was pouring like nothing else. Thought he was gonna pass out, so I unlocked the door and let him in to get dry. I don’t know, he was kind of shy at first. Listened to me talk for about an hour before he started giving anything back.” Finn shrugged, watching Logan walk off screen. “I invite him to play basketball with me, Morg, and Percy now. We get lunch after sometimes.”

Natalie sighed. “He looked like one unhappy camper.”

“I think his family puts a lot of pressure on him. He’s the baby. Only son. All that bullshit.”

“I kind of want that cape,” Natalie said.

Alex sighed. “That’s the idea.”

Natalie slapped his chest, then kissed his cheek, and Finn watched Logan walk off-screen.

XOXO

“What say you, Capulet?”

Sirius looked down at Saint at his shoulder. “They’re out of crab puffs.”

“Boo,” Saint said. “You still closing the show?”

“Yep.”

“Shouldn’t you be in hair and makeup?”

“Yep.”

Saint stepped in front of him, the gold band of moonstones nestled in his curls glinting in the dark stage lights. “Looking for someone?”

Sirius just reached out and ran a gentle thumbnail beneath where Saint’s golden eyeliner had smudged against his brown skin, striking it back to a point. “Nope. See you after the show.”

Saint clucked his tongue. “I’m unimpressed.”

“What else is new?” Sirius said.

Saint went to smile, when his eyes flickered behind Sirius and he raised his eyebrows. “That.”

Sirius turned around, and quickly schooled his expression. The cameras were going wild, and in front of all the flashing lights was Remus, hand-in-hand with Leo Knut.

“They make a sunshine pair,” Saint said from beside him. “How’re you feeling?”

Sirius touched two fingers to one of the black-leather moons on his jacket sleeve. They were meant to go with Remus’ stars. He remembered planning for them. He’d thought…part of him had thought if he’d worn them tonight—

“Cloudy sky,” he replied to Saint.

“I was gonna say dappled sunlight in…” Saint glanced around. “A dark forest.”

Remus and Leo were wearing dress shirts, collars rumpled and unbuttoned at their throats, each in a smooth shade of cream. Their hands, decked out in golden rings, were laced together, and they both wore pale gray slacks, slim cut, and laceless nikes.

My mistress’ eyes are nothing like the sun…hmm, but don’t I spy some burning jealous?

“What are we going for here,” Saint raised an eyebrow. “Left in a hurry and didn’t get the dress code?”

“We’re going against me,” Sirius replied, slipping his hands into his pockets and trying to stand straight. “That’s all.”

“Sunlight in a dark forest, indeed.”

Sirius watched them looking out over the flashes, and tried not to look surprised when golden eyes met his own. Remus’ expression didn’t change either. Instead, he simply blinked, then looked away. Leo, tall and lean, leaned into his ear, and Remus smiled. The cameras popped like champagne.

I love right here, Sirius remembered his own voice, the feeling of the soft skin by Remus’ eye beneath his thumb. I love right here when you smile.

“I need to get backstage,” Sirius said shortly, and turned on his heel.

“I’ll be watching.”

“Don’t I know,” Sirius called as he weaved his way through the crowd, heading backstage. The woman with a radio in her ear looked annoyed and nervous when he slipped past her, and radioed that he had arrived to whoever it was that needed to know.

“Sirius!” Alice called, hands full of makeup brushes and up in the air. “Jesus Christ, do you think I have all fucking night?”

Sirius shrugged out of his red carpet jacket—which someone took—and slid into her chair. “Sorry, Al.”

She twirled a protective cape around his shoulders, snapping it at the base of his neck. “It’s a good thing you’re pretty. But then again, I think everyone’s pretty.”

Sirius closed his eyes, letting her begin. “People are.”

Alice had just finished contour when Sirius all but felt his mother’s presence. A shift in the air. A cooler wind. People standing up straighter and shivering.  

“Sirius,” his mother’s face appeared in the mirror. Her red lipstick was the brightest thing about her, and even that was almost mauve. Her dress was tight around her breasts, but cascaded in thick waves of velvet behind her, and she wore tall leather boots. It almost looked like armor. “You’re very late, darling.”

“Sorry,” Sirius said. “Saint and I got caught up in the crowd, I guess.”

She hummed. “You two looked fetching out there. He’s much more pleasing than that other boy ever was. His family is important, too.”

It was true, that his mother had never liked Remus much. Though, Sirius couldn’t compare him and Saint. They were two different oceans.

“Get dressed,” his mother breathed, and was already snapping her fingers at one of the other models before Sirius could say another word.

“All right?” Alice asked him quietly.

Sirius looked at himself in the mirror. Her contour made his face look almost gaunt, as was the general makeup for all of the models, and he knew he’d be given dark eye makeup next, his hair fluffed into perfect curls.

“Fine,” Sirius said, and closed his eyes to let her work.

Sirius was shrugging into his given outfit—a billowing longcoat, 20th century in fashion, and a longer tunic made almost entirely of the thinnest black silk. It would shimmer when he walked, he knew, and his tall, lace-up boots, the flat sole so thin and delicate that he almost felt barefoot, would disappear beneath the shimmer. His mother was cold, stubborn, and cruel sometimes, an unfeeling, yawning sort of dark, but she was talented.

“Lord Vader,” came a voice from behind him, and Sirius laughed even before he turned to face Thomas Walker.

“Sounds about right,” Sirius said, and they clasped hands, pulling them into a one-armed hug. “You look fantastic, though.”

Thomas spun slowly on his heel, letting the long, loose fitting white linen of his button-down—which went out in two, tuxedo-like tails at his back—flare out above his slim, black trousers. He wore a thin scarf of distressed wool.

“Like a fallen gentleman, no?” Thomas grinned. “I might try and steal these pants. And maybe the shirt for Noelle.”

“Oh, yeah,” Sirius smiled, spying Noelle’s green eyes behind his shoulder. “She’ll love that.”

Noelle wrapped her arms, which were draped in a transparent green cloth, around Thomas’ waist. “Thanks for thinking of me, T baby.”

Thomas laughed in surprise. “Who let you back stage?”

“I’m a Tremblay, they’ll let us in anywhere.”

Thomas turned his head to capture Noelle in a soft kiss.

“See you after, hm?” Noelle said. “I’m gonna go say hi to my friend, she’s walking tonight, too.”

“Yeah, we’ll ride to Honeyduke’s together.”

Noelle raised an eyebrow at him. “You coming, Black?”

“Saint all but owns the place,” Sirius said. “Of course I am.”

Sirius walked. He didn’t look down, or hear the cameras. It wasn’t his favorite thing in the world, to be up here, not able to see past the lights—but something tonight was different. It felt as it had the night of his and Remus’ first kiss.

In that show, he had had one, thin line of black lipstick traced over the center of his bottom lip. It had marked Remus’ throat and cheeks like soot by the end of it all.

Remus had been waiting for him back stage.

“Come here,” Remus had whispered, and laced their fingers together.

“Where?” Sirius had answered, surprised by their palms pressing together.

But it hadn’t been a place. Remus had pressed them back in between clothing racks, and crashed their mouths together.

Here, Remus had whispered, and kissed him again.

Sirius felt the absence of the stage lights like a wash of cold air, and he stretched out his back, letting his stony face drop a little. He glanced around, but there was no one to be found. His cheeks were warm just thinking about it.

“Good,” his mother said as he passed her by to take off the makeup, and that was all.

XOXO

Saint looked across Honeyduke’s and felt like it was his. Logan was laughing with Thomas and Noelle, and he had Kasey Winter beside him, securing tickets to one of their favorite bands to see together.

“Done,” Kasey said, and flashed one of his rare smiles.

“I knew you were my favorite,” Saint took a sip of his drink, and Kasey scoffed.

“Me or my mom?”

“Maybe a little of both. Oh, and we’re going to sushi beforehand.”

Kasey’s smile was larger now. “Wouldn’t have it any other way. You gonna leave with that drummer again? What’s her name?”

Saint smiled. “Oh, Sally. And I make it a habit to always leave with the drummer.”

Kasey just shook his head. “Yeah, yeah. I’m getting a drink and leaving you to your one-liners.”

Saint watched him go, feeling settled, and set about scanning the room for Sirius. He was sure he’d know if he was there—people tended to swarm to Sirius, even if he didn’t ask for it. It was part of the reason they were so close. People flocked to Saint, too. So, they asked for each other’s company. A more intimate, calm part of life. Sirius was quiet. Saint wasn’t, but he let Saint , for a moment, be that way, too. Saint was loud. Sirius wasn’t, but Saint had his ways to fire him up.

“Another drink, sir?”

Saint looked over his shoulder, only to turn all the way around, interest peaked. The bartender had sandy hair, and a strong jaw, his cheeks textured by acne scars in some places. He had brown eyes—save for a sliver of green in one.

“Only if you have one with me,” Saint said, and glanced down at his name-tag. “Luke.”

Luke arched an eyebrow, pressing the heels of his palms onto the bar between them, revealing rolled up sleeves and some type of vine tattoo, wrapping all around both of his forearms.

“I’m working, sir.”

“Is that a later?” he nodded at the tattoo. “Nice.”

“I don’t think so,” Luke said.

“Oh, no?”

Luke scowled—how did he look so handsome doing that?

“Do you make it a habit to go home with all the waiters, too?”

Saint didn’t let his expression flicker, just smiled nice and slow.

“Hillrock,” Saint said. “Neat.”

The barkeep turned away.

Ouch. Looks like not everyone worships at your alter, Saint.

XOXO

The elevator doors opened, revealing the party to Sirius one outfit after the next. He had changed for the afterparty—the first of three. He wore a tight, thin black t-shirt and dark jeans. He hadn’t bothered to wash off the dark, smudged eyeliner from the show. His combat boots went up to just below his knee, and had the same nearly naked feeling sole. It made him feel soundless, like a shadow.

Maybe that’s why it was easy to find Remus and stand beside him without him stirring.

“You’re a little underdressed,” Sirius said without looking at him.

“Says the boy wearing a t-shirt,” Remus replied evenly.

Sirius scowled. “I meant at the show.”

“People like to be surprised,” Remus replied evenly.

“Who’s Leo?”

“My boyfriend.”

Sirius turned towards him. “You didn’t tell me you were coming home.”

Remus matched him. They were nearly chest to chest. “You didn’t say a word to me in class.”

“You didn’t—“

“I had the last word,” Remus snapped. “I figured maybe you’d finally have something to say back.”

Sirius stared at him, heart pounding in his ears. For a moment, he let himself look. At the golden eyes, hair more blond than ever from the summer’s sun. Sirius couldn’t stand that mouth set in a frown.

“Guess not,” Remus said softly, lips dropping open in the way they used to before they kissed.

Sirius all but felt him vanish into the writhing crowd.

XOXO

Finn looked up when a flash of color on the morning-silent street outside caught his eye. He set the books he was holding down, took the pen out from between his teeth.

Green.

“What the hell?” Finn laughed as he pulled open the door to his bookshop to find Logan standing there. “It’s five in the fucking morning, what are you doing here? Couldn’t sleep?”

“Never did,” Logan said, and that’s when Finn saw that Logan was still in his suit from the livestream.

“Ah, I see,” Finn said, eyes flicking up and down his broad form. He swallowed dryly. “The nature of afterparties, I suppose. Well, you—you look good. For someone who’s been up all night, I mean.”

Logan just smiled, one of his small, secretive ones. Finn watched as he stepped forward so they were almost toe to toe in the doorway.

“Wh…” Finn’s voice dropped off with a breathless laugh. He couldn’t help but look at Logan’s mouth. His full lips that could speak a language Finn couldn’t even begin to describe.

Logan just reached up to the base of his own throat and unclipped the fleur-de-lis clasp there. In one smooth swoop, he drew his short cloak from his shoulders and around Finn’s, right over his worn gray t-shirt, clicking it in place. The fabric brought a gentle scent, and he figured it must be Logan’s cologne.

“Something green,” Logan said softly. A warm, early morning breeze ruffled his hair, pushing the curls forward. Finn couldn’t move. “What are you doing here?”

“Inventory,” Finn whispered, then cleared his throat. “Inventory.”

“Okay,” Logan said. “I’ll help.”

[the-broken-truth]

Introducing: The 4 Protective Children of the Village Lords/The Young Lords

Broken Truth: Once again, @snowflakestree has outdone themself with the art of the Four Protective Children of the Village Lords. It's obvious everyone likes them so I think it would be best to make it a series and to do that, I shall give them names! Please welcome:

Snowwy's Art of the 4 Young Lords & Their Parents: Link

Eliza Dimitrescu: Daughter of Alcina Dimitrescu

Following the 'A-B-C-D-E' Trend that Alcina started. Eliza is the youngest of the Dimitrescu Daughters - dark brown hair & emerald green eyes, along with a golden necklace with a sapphire blue gem. At infancy, she was implanted with a fragment of the Cadou that Mother Miranda used on Alcina, giving her the same ability as the castle's owner - The Dragon's Claws; but her version looks just like a dragon's claw instead of insanely long blades. Unlike her sisters - she doesn't turn into flies and can stand freezing temperatures, but that doesn't stop her sisters from making sure she's dressed in her heavy winter cloak and her scar before going outside. During her travels, she will hear of people disrespecting her mother and sisters - she will not hesitate to sever their heads from their bodies.

Diedre Beneviento: Daughter of Donna Beneviento

A perfect carbon copy of the Head of House Beneviento with her long black hair, black eyes, pale skins, and love for dolls; or in her case, puppets, seeing as she sees herself as a puppeteer. Just like her mother can control the environment around a person with her pollen and Cadou presence, Diedre has an ability of her own: The Puppeteer's Strings - Red Mental Link lines comes from the tips of her fingers and connect to a person's head, hands, and feet, allowing her to control them completely as if they were a wooden puppet. Diedre would sometimes hear her mother crying over her appearance and words of the villagers so one day - she took her mother's veil and Angie to pose as her to hear these words for herself and when she did, she removed the veil and smiled like a madwoman at the people. "So, you all have chosen death." was what she said before she strung up the first person she saw with strings and made everyone watch as she twisted their limbs in horrible ways. She made her little project - little raven and crow puppets to scavenger the village to catch anyone speaking badly about her mother.

Sebastian Moreau: Son of Salvatore Moreau

Red Hair- with pale skin including random spots where patches of blue scales rested on his body, mainly seen on his face, forearms, and shins - eyes of crimson, same as his hair. This boy loves his father more than life itself and would do anything to please his father. When Sebastian was 13, Salvatore told him the truth of his birth - about how he saved a baby thrown into his reservoir by horrible humans and gave the baby his blood so that the baby would live; all that did was make the boy love his father more. When Sebastian turned 17, his father gave him a rather baggy handmade cloak to keep him warm when he was walking around the village with the crest of House Moreau on the back; Sebastian wears that cloak with pride and will not hesitate to dissolve anyone who speaks down upon his father. After all - he did almost kill his uncle when he called his father a freak & made it clear he would do it and lose a wink of sleep after the deed was done.

Kaleb Heisenberg: Son of Karl Heisenberg

A true copy of the 4th lord - Long grey hair that he keeps tied in a back ponytail, brown eyes, scars riddling his face and arms from working in the factory with his father since and young age, brown button-up shirt with a bright red tie with the sleeves round-up to show the scars on his arms with black jeans and boots; what's more, he wears a hat and long trench coat jacket just like his father but prefers to wear his over his shoulders like a cape of some kind. Oh, and he's a cocky asshole as well. He will instantly agree with his father, regardless of the topic, he's loud and rowdy to point the other Young Lords don't like being around him cause he makes their ears hurt, but he is their cousin and family everything.

[extremelyblackandwhite]

handmaid - 33

PAIRING: mob!sebastian stan x ingenue!reader

WARNINGS: age gap, guns

A/N: we’re a few chapters away from the end and i’m much too emotional. hope you enjoy this chapter x

NEXT CHAPTER

Her reflection in the mirror was quite clear: the handmaid was dressed like a bridesmaid. She observed the tiny details of the dress which reached all the way to the ground, the same tiny details reproduced on every single dress any of her bridesmaids were wearing and in that exact moment, Y/N never felt more hypocritical than ever before wearing a celebration dress for a celebration she didn’t want to celebrate. She really wanted to be happy for her and if she were marrying anyone else, she would’ve been so excited, but she wasn’t. Gwen was marrying Sebastian, she was marrying the man she was in love with and the man who was unknowingly the father of her baby. 

Everything just seemed to happen in slow motion and she felt herself leave more and more from the scene as she stood there in her bridesmaid dress and berry coloured lipstick with no one talking or even noticing she was there. For the first time in her life she realised how invisible she was to everyone in that room. Every single person in that room had once asked for her help being with homework or lying and she was still as invisible as ever. As the bridal party exchanged various gifts to be used on her “first night” along with unholy amounts of champagne and expensive gourmet canapés, Y/N took away from the bedroom, slowly and quietly closing the door. The halls of the Ritz were filled with several guests from mob families’ heads to their friends, celebrities, public personalities and rich people waiting for the time to get a peek the blushing bride. Y/N would have easily swayed through the crowd and returned to her bedroom had it not been for a few flower girls running around in their puffy taffeta baby pink dresses with their hair up in silky ribbons with some flowers peppered around. 

She didn’t know if it was her hormones playing tricks on her or if the lack of sleep had finally caught up to her but she couldn’t help but stare at them with an inherent sadness as her hand rested against her stomach. Was she gonna even have enough to provide for her child? The pay checks coming from being in Sebastian’s employment wouldn’t be enough for more than the first year and with the economy, Y/N didn’t think someone would be looking for an English Literature major. She had never even had experience in the field, being forbidden to do a internship year at the British Museum with the excuse that it would be much too dangerous. How was she gonna provide for the baby? Maybe she could get a job as a waitress in Paris, the city was filled with cafés and restaurants. 

Nevertheless, she couldn’t help but feel worry as her thumb caressed her stomach. Turning her head away from the playing children she continued her way down the hall until the lift that would take her to her bedroom. Y/N watched the numbers of the doors go down until she noticed Sebastian’s door. Unlike Gwen’s door, there was no one awaiting outside, it was void of any seemingly curious people about the groom. She should really keep walking and not get in, yet she felt pity for him not having his mother or his father on his wedding day and so she knocked softly on his door, opening it to see Sebastian walking from side to side, a condensed glass of orange coloured whiskey on his left hand and a untied tie hanging from his neck.

     - Liquid courage? - she walked into his room. He looked at her for a few seconds before gulping the rest of his beverage, cleaning his lips with the back of his hand afterwards. - Where are your groomsmen? 

     - In the same place where non-existent things belong. - he replied, turning to his floor length mirror to try and tie his tie to no avail. Y/N sighed, placing her hands in his shoulders and turning him to face her before her hands moved to his tie to tie it into a Windsor not. 

     - You surely must have someone close enough to be your groomsman or best man. - she straightened his crisp cotton dress shirt before sliding her hands back to his shoulders. She let out a sigh, looking to the other side and contemplating what she was about to ask him. - Let’s run away.

     - What?

     - Let’s go to France. There’s a place I know which would definitely take us in until we found a place since I’m sure Mr. Forrest wouldn’t allow me to keep the house. Let’s just go, please.

     - What? Angel, we can’t just run away, my whole money is dependent on this marriage. How am I supposed to take care of you? Do you know how many enemies I have? I couldn’t possibly hire enough security for you. - he cupped her face, trying to make her understand her point. - I will never have enough to give you if we leave.

     - As long as you’re with me, that would be enough. Am I not enough? 

     - Angel, there is a legally binding contract between me and Genevieve. I can’t just ... I promised my father. - Y/N took a step back, hitting the door while her hand held the knob. - We can’t rush in, we need to have a pla ...

     - Why do you care so much about what your father made you promise when you were a child. The same child whose mother he forbad you from seeing ... you know Sebastian, just because your father was a great man, doesn’t mean he was a good one. 

Before he could reply to her, she opened the door and exited, rushing through the hall and punching the button of the lift so she could return to her bedroom before she completely broke down. She could feel her chest clenched and the warmness of her tears which almost burned the brim of her eyes. All she could hear was her heart pounding in her ear mixed with the soft music of the lift and nothing made her want to break down more in tears than she should.

As she rushed into her bedroom she collapsed on her bed, the tears finally rolling down. Mr. Williams was right, she was a mistress and a innocent mistress at that. Why would she believe he would run away? Why would he gave up on what he knew for her? But will all of that, what would she do with the baby? She clearly couldn’t stay, Gwen and Dan would be quick to notice her growing bump along with other pregnancy symptoms? No, she had to leave. Start again, start again Y/N. She can’t spend her whole life dreaming despite it being all she seemed inclined to do. She was about to be a mother and needed a brand new start. Wiping the tears from her eyes, she opened the bedside drawer to pull out the key to her apartment in France but instead of it she found a blanket. Her eyes couldn’t believe the picture they saw as she realised it was the same blanket she had left back in Sebastian’s penthouse. 

     - My, my, there must be quite a story to go with that blanket. - her blood froze as she turned her face towards one corner of the bedroom to see Mr. Williams sat on her arm chair. - Won’t you tell me? 

     - Get out. - she held tightly onto her pillow, fear installing itself in her whole being?

     - No? Alright then. - he grinned darkly. - I will tell you a story. Once upon a time there was a man who was deeply in love with a beautiful young woman. He used to sit in the box of her operas every single night just to hear her sing and all was well ... But, one day, the beautiful woman shows up engaged to a mob boss. He quickly understood that in this world love is meaningless and all that matters is power so, he decided that he was gonna get as much as he could and maybe win the woman as a treat too. He planned everything, he had her unborn daughter’s safety put in risk knowing the young woman would rush to his employer for help. He thought that surely offering his employer the only family that stood in his way would make him overcome with joy and he would finally promote the man to the type of power he wanted. However, the employer instead decided to make sure that family would never stand in his way by ensuring his son would marry the young woman’s precious daughter. The man knew his only way to power was if that daughter disappeared so he decided he would kill her yet when he tried the beautiful young woman stood in the way and he couldn’t finish the job. 

      - Why are you telling me this? 

      - The father of the young woman’s daughter grew worried that his precious little daughter would be harmed again so he made an orphan baby pass out as his daughter to ensure she would never be harmed. However, the father was much too weak to completely give the baby up and instead kept her around as a handmaid. The man thought power was just on the horizon but then at a masquerade he saw the eyes of the same woman he loved controlling the man who held the power he deserved. And so, I lived unhappily ever after. 

     - You’re lying. - she could feel her heart pound harder as she felt into an abyss of existentialism. What do you do when you see that who you think you are isn’t what you think you are. 

     - I knew I would have to get some concrete proof so I asked a few favours. I knew Michael Forrest wouldn’t leave his only child, his only daughter completely penniless and so when I saw your name as the sole benefactor of his will I had my proof. 

     - But Dan ...

     - Daniel Forrest is nothing but an affair gone wrong whom he took pity on but you ... you were born more powerful than I have ever been. Not only are you the sole benefactor of a whole entire family’s work and prestige, you also were born rich enough to never work a single day on your life. Everything was given to you and you didn’t even know it while I paid and I suffered only to see that petulant man child grab the spot that I rightfully deserved. - Y/N looked at her door hoping Elias would be there to help her out, she really hoped someone would pass be. He had to be lying, he had to be lying. - Here is how you’re gonna pay me if you were to have what you so want. No one will believe you, a pregnant mistress who isn’t even smart enough to dispose of her own pregnancy test and your daddy would never allow you to be married to someone from the Stan family, but with me on your side, with my evidence, they will listen. When you are married, you will make me a personal adviser and you will put forward my good name and I shall manage that clueless little man child who should’ve never been born in the first place.

      - He’s not clueless. - her voice was low but full of intention.

      - And who are you? How are you gonna rule two mob families if you can’t even piece together who your parents were even with me giving you clues. Best give it to me, that way both of us will have exactly what we want. 

      - No. - she stood up from her bed, looking him down from where he was standing much to his surprise. - I couldn’t defend my mother from you but I will protect Sebastian.

      - Well, birdie ... - his hand grabbed something from his side and as it hit the light, Y/N realised her was holding a gun in her direction. - Who will protect you? 

      - Please, don’t do this. - she pleaded. - I ... I told Sebastian not to be harsh with you, I helped you, I was kind to you. 

      - Kindness doesn’t get you anywhere in this business. - he noticed her eyes on the door and chuckled. - Your bodyguard thinks you’re in the bridal suit, no one is gonna come looking for you. Now, you’re gonna be a good girl to me and go with me to the car or I’ll make sure they find your bodyguard in a pool of his own blood.

He got up from his seat and rushed to her, putting her in front of him, one hand gripping her arm while the other one held the gun against her spine. She could feel her heart beat and flashes of everything she had done since she remembered living. Was she gonna die? Was this how she ended? Nevertheless, there was nowhere she could go as he led her drown the stairs and onto the lobby, stopping as he noticed the telephone on the entrance table. He turned her harshly towards the desk until her ribs hit the edge and before the assistant could say anything, he pointed his gun at her. 

     - Sebastian always thinks he has everything under control, I’m about to show him just how wrong he is. - he ordered the woman to type in a number on the hotel’s phone before grabbing it himself. - If you want this lovely lady not to have a bullet in the middle of her eyes you are gonna tell him you’re pregnant and how scared you are. 

He shoved the phone against her ear, hurting her in the process and she could feel her tears burn the brim of her eyes yet again as the loud beeping played around and around before he picked it up, a rather upsetting hello coming through. She, however, couldn’t say anything which quickly changed as he pressed the gun against her back rather forcefully. 

     - Go on. - he whispered against her ear as Sebastian said another hello on the phone. 

     - S...Sebastian, it’s Y/N ... - the gun pressed harder on her back. - I’m scared, Sebastian. I’m scared.

     - Are you alright? 

     - Now, don’t play games with me Y/N. Go on ... tell him

     - I’m so sorry, I didn’t mean to, I’m so sorry. 

     - Angel, whatever it is, you can tell me. 

     - I’m pregnant. 

tag list: @lilya-petrichor​​​​​​ @xoxohannahlee​​​​​​ @irespostthingsiwanttoseelater​​​​​​ @nikkipea​​​​​​ @madisonpillstrom​​​​​​ @cevans98​​​​​​ @thelostallycat​​​​​​ @sideeffectsofyou​​​​​​ @anxiousdreamersworld​​​​​​ @captainchrisstan​​​​​​ @lookiamtrying​​​​​​ @sarge-barnes-sir​​​​​​ @stuffforreferences​​​​​​ @thebadassbitchqueen @sebastianstansqueen​​​​​​ @nsfwsebbie​​​​​​ @strangerliaa​​​​​​ @emzd34​​​​​​ @everything-is-awesomesauce​​​​​​ @dreams-in-blxck​​​​​​ @krismeunicornbaobei

[imagine-a-fangirl]

Celebration Challenge Day 8

Character: Francis Valois Prompt: “What do you mean, Holland is not a country?”

A/n: Well this turned out quite a bit longer then 1000 words.. it’s 3324 to be exact :) They had warned you about messing up the time space continuum when you started to experiment with time travel. That didn’t mean you took any of those warnings to heart, it wasn’t like you actually thought it would work. And yet here you were thrown in some sort of prison, arrested by some people who looked like they just walked out of a museum. It threw you of a little when the men had started to speak French, luckily you knew enough French to understand and communicate with them. It didn’t prevent them from locking you though, without answering any of your questions. You had a strong feeling that your time travelling device had actually worked and knew you could just get back with the press of a button, but you were too curious. After what felt like hours a man came to see you, he looked like he was around your age and a little like royalty. You were a little unsure if you were supposed to bow or not, so you decided against it. “Where am I?” “France.” The man took a moment to look at you “Why are wearing these odd clothes?” You looked down, that morning you had thrown on a Holland shirt someone got you and a pair of ripped jeans not expecting you’d leave the house any way. “What is Holland?” “You know Holland, the country.” The man started laughing “There is no country called that.” “What do you mean Holland is not a country? It’s like up north of here.” “Are you talking about the Seventeen Provinces?” It was like his mind tried to puzzle the pieces together “Who are you?” “My name is y/n, I’m not from here. But you might have already understood that.” You started to explain yourself “That’s an odd name.” “If I may ask, who are you?” “I’m Francis II, King of France. “

“Oh my god it actually worked, I’m in the 16th century. This is insane.” You were so excited, but when you saw the king his face you remembered how weird this looked. “I am so sorry your Majesty.” You quickly made a bow “This must be seem really odd to you.” “You are from a different time aren’t you?” “I am your majesty.” You hesitated a moment before continuing “But I must ask you not to tell anyone.” “Would you like to stay a couple days?” Francis asked you “I might be overstepping my boundaries but I find you quite intriguing. I would like to hear a little more about this future and I could show you things of my time.” “I would really like to stay and learn, but I’m not sure if I would fit in your Majesty.” Pointing at your outfit. “I’ll arrange something for you.” He assured you, and that’s what he did. Francis showed you quarters you were allowed to use during your stay and brought the most exquisite gowns. “This is too much your Majesty.” “Please call me Francis. If you want you can take a moment to change, then I’ll show you around the castle.” You did as he said and put on the gown that first caught your eye. “What do you think?” you asked him when you got out of the room. “It suits you.” He complimented. Francis offered you his arm and you walked around the castle. It was so alive, so many people and yet they barely payed attention to you. Being in the presence of the king was more than enough to get no questions. Or so you thought, when a somewhat older man walked towards the two of you, you felt Francis grip around arm tighten a bit. “Let me do the talking.” He whispered, before letting go of your arm. “Any news from my mother and brother?” Francis asked the man. “The queen mother will return the day after tomorrow, Sebastian will arrive tonight.” “Good.” “Who is this?” The man asked Francis when his eye fell on you. “I believe we have not yet been introduced.” “This is Lady y/n from the Seventeen Provinces.” Francis easily lied “y/n this is Lord Narcisse, he is part of the Privy council.” You made a small curtsy which he returned. “I had no idea we had allies in the Seventeen Provinces.” The man wondered, a little suspicious of the mystery woman. “I wouldn’t call them allies, but there is a lot of tension in the northern provinces under the reign of Spain. Some say we would benefit more from an alliance with France. ” You thanked the gods for your knowledge of European history “ But I’m here to see Francis and the French court not to talk politics.” “That’s right, now if you’ll excuse us.” Francis told Lord Narcisse “You know a lot about the politics for some one out of her time.” “I always liked to learn about history.” While you continued your tour around the castle Francis told you about his time, there was so much more drama then they told you in school. You told him small things about the future but weighed every word. Before you knew it the day had passed and after dinner Francis brought you back to the quarters you would stay. It was odd to think that you were in a completely different time, but you decided to enjoy the next two days. The next day you had breakfast together with Francis and he introduced you to his little brothers and his older brother who just arrived. The moment they met you the liked you and since Francis had his own duties you spend your day with them. The morning the boys thought you how to use a sword, practicing with small wooden swords. The afternoon you went horse riding with Sebastian and he took you to a near village. Sebastian didn’t ask to much questions about the Seventeen provinces, maybe Francis had told him but you didn’t question it.  It had been a long time since you felt so free and enjoyed every moment. Sebastian and you returned after dark, completely forgotten the time. Francis was already anxiously waiting “Sorry for keeping her so long from you brother. I’ll see tomorrow y/n.” You smiled in return, after he left you noticed the star expression on Francis face “Are you alright?” “I just hoped we could have spend the evening together.” “Well I haven’t had dinner and the evening is still young. I don’t see a reason why we couldn’t.” You grabbed his hand and dragged him towards the kitchen. The two of you spend the rest of the evening in front of the fireplace just talking, until you were interrupted by the Queen Mothers arrival. “Mother I didn’t expect you to be back so soon.” Francis got up from his chair to greet her and you quickly did the same. “I’m glad my son missed me so much.” After a short hug her eye fell on you, as you made a bow “I didn’t know we had guests.” “Guest.” Francis corrected her “Mother this is Lady y/n from the Seventeen Provinces, father and I met her and her family years ago and she finally found the time to visit.” “Queen Mother, it’s an honour to finally meet you.” You bowed once more. “It’s my pleasure dear. Francis never told me about a beautiful woman up north.” “I’m sure I mentioned her a couple of times mother.” “Does Mary know about this visit?” She asked when she sat down next to her son. “I haven’t spoken to Mary, so no she doesn’t.” Francis informed his mother “But y/n’s arrival is not a secret.” “Well we have to celebrate your arrival, we’ll have gathering for the occasion next week.” “With all due respect, I’m afraid I will have to leave the day after tomorrow.” You told her. “That’s alright, I am sure we can arrange something for tomorrow.” “You don’t have to go through the trouble, really.” The rest of the night was almost like an interrogation, questions varied from whether you were betrothed to the name of your horse. “I’m so sorry for my mother this evening.” Francis told you when he brought you to your quarters. “Don’t worry about it, she seems nice. A little protective maybe, but which mother isn’t.” When you got to the door you stopped him for a moment “I wanted to thank you for these days, it’s amazing to be apart of all this.” You leaned in to press a kiss on his cheek, but instead he pressed a kiss on your lips catching you by surprise. He brushed his fingers through your hair “Goodnight y/n.” The next morning you spend with Catherine who needed you for a dress fitting and wanted your opinion on almost everything for the evening. After a couple hours Francis joined you and his mother. “How has your day been so far?” He asked “Please tell me you are here to save me.” You whispered to him “I am.” He whispered back “Mother is it alright if I steal y/n away from you?” “Of course.” You hooked your arm in his like you had these past days and walked with him “Any plans or are there still rooms in the castle I haven’t seen?” “Well my little brothers wanted to spend some more time with you and there is a market in a near village. Any interest in going there with them?” “Sounds good.” “Good. After that I have a small surprise for you.” A big grin was stuck on his face, it was clear that he wouldn’t let anything. Bash was already waiting for you with his little brothers and the carriage. When you arrived at the market the youngest brother were out of the carriage before you knew it. And the three of you followed them were they went. Both Francis and Bash told you things about the products and the people you saw and you knew bash knew. “Did Francis tell where I came from?” You asked as you looked between the two men. “He might have mentioned something.” Bash answered honest “That’s okay.” You assured “It just showed, since you’re also not surprised that I don’t know so many things.” “Well….” “y/n! y/n!” Charles interrupted his older brother “Come with me!” He dragged you to his brother who was still stuck at a small stand with stuffed animals. “They seem wonderful, Charles.” “Can we have one y/n?” Henry looked hopeful to you. You quickly turned to look at Francis who nodded. “Which one do you like most?” You kneeled down to their height. It seemed like the most difficult decision in their lives but after some time bash came to help. “You really have to choose now, there is more to see.” “I think they almost got it.” Eventually both boys were satisfied with their choice and you payed the woman a little extra. “Thank you for your patience.” Francis was back with you again after a couple stands and you continued “Will we see you tomorrow?” Henry asked you You kneeled down to their height once more “I am afraid not, but if you hug your animals you can think of me.” Henry pressed the animal closer to him before giving you a hug “Bye y/n” “Bye henry.” Charles looked like he was sunken in his mind “What is it Charles?” “Well first Mary left and now you.” You pulled the little boy into a hug and whispered in his ear “Mary will be back, I promise. Just don’t tell you brothers yet.” His frown turned into a smile and he seemed very satisfied with your answer. “Thank you y/n.” “Will I see you tonight at the party?” You asked Sebastian when he wanted to walk away with his brothers “Of course, now have fun together.” He winked to his brother. The two of you walked outside the castle wall towards the lake, when Francis curiosity kicked in “What did you tell Charles?” “That is our little secret.” You grinned. “Believe me it’s not a big deal, just something to cheer a little boy up.” “Alright, talking secrets. Time to close your eyes.” He covered you eyes and led you a little further before telling you to open them again. There was a small boat which looked hand crafted and Francis looked so proud of it “Wow, I didn’t know kings were allowed to sail.” “They can if their mothers don’t know about it.” Francis helped you into the boat, before pushing it into the water and hopping in himself. When you were far enough on the water the two could speak out completely free and he did just that “Y/n about last night..” Francis hesitated “I know, that was a mistake.” He looked a bit shocked “It wasn’t, maybe it wasn’t fair to you. But it was not a mistake.” “What do you mean?” He took a deep breath “We were never supposed to meet, but we did and that means something.” He brushed his fingers through your hair “I am going to enjoy these last moments together, if you will allow me too.” “I wouldn’t have missed this for the world.” You enjoyed yourself on the lake until it was time get back to the castle again. “I’ll see you tonight.” He kissed your hand before leaving you on your own.

A maid was send to help you change into the gown, which was an odd feeling. “Francis, I thought you’d wait for me at the party.” “Most people think you are my mistress already, I don’t see why I can’t have you at my arm tonight, especially since it’s our last one together.” He offered you his arm which you gratefully took. “May I tell you, you look beautiful.” “You don’t look so bad yourself.” You told him “Aren’t you worried what Mary will think?” “We haven’t been in a good place lately, problems with here are worried for later. At this moment I’m just worried I’ll miss you when you leave.” You didn’t have an answer to that, you felt the same but it was so wrong. “Lost for words?” “Not necessarily lost for words, more filled with words I can’t say without getting more into this then I already am.” “Then allow me to give you something to get us there either way.” He pulled a small gold necklace from his pocket with a small charm of their family crest. “That way you can at least remember me and my family.” “Thank you Francis.” When you finally arrived at the party the room was filled with people, food, wine and music. Everything you would expect from a royal festivity. “Care to dance?” Francis suggested. You looked nervously at the people who were actually dancing “I don’t really know how.” “Just follow my lead.” Francis took your hand and guided you to the dance floor. “People are watching.” You tried to find an excuse He turned your face to his “Just keep your eyes on me.” Francis guided you over the dancefloor and you started to forget about the people around you. When the song ended people around you started to clap, causing you to blush. But that didn’t stop you from dancing a couple more times. “Are you sure you don’t like to stay a bit longer y/n?” Catherine asked you when you finished dancing and Francis was talking to a bunch of important people “Francis seems to take a liking in you, you could live quite the life as the King’s mistress.” To you it was insane that someone would even consider that thought, yet you remembered it was just the way it was during that time. “As honoured as I would be, it’s best if Francis and I stay friends.” “It’s your choice dear.” She told you. In the corner of your eye you saw Lord Narcisse arriving, who immediately caught Catherine her attention. “Your Higness, Lady y/n.”   You made a small curtsy “Lord Narcisse.” You greeted him “I heard you are leaving our presence tomorrow already?” Lord Narcisse informed “Unfortunately I have to, as I told you there is a lot of tension in the northern provinces.” You quickly tried a way to continue the lie without changing anything “My father gave me permission to travel here for three days but he is always worried when I am away. You know how fathers are about their always worrying about their daughters.” “Yet he allowed you to travel here on your own?” “I convinced him that it would be safer to travel alone, it would be less suspicious.” “But…” Narcisse tried once again. “Please Narcisse, you don’t have to drill the girl.” Catherine stopped him “Instead make yourself useful and dance.” “Of course.” He took her hand “If you excuse us.” And guided her towards the dancefloor. Francis had noticed his mother talking to you “Please tell me she didn’t ask you to be my mistress.” “She did just that.” “I am so sorry about that.” “Don’t be.” You brushed it off “It’s hardly an insult when the former Queen of France asks you to be the Kings mistress.” “Is that still something they do in your time?” He asked curiously You shook your head “No the woman would have her husbands head in most cases. Although not literally since that’s illegal in most places.” “Interesting.” “Before this gets more gruesome.” Bash interrupted  “Would you mind another dance y/n?” “I’d love too.” You took bash hand who guided you to the floor. You danced in silence until halfway through the dance, when bash broke the silence “Francis seems very happy around you.” “I was afraid of that.” “You seem very happy too.” “This was never supposed to happen. “The both of you will be okay.” He tried to assure you “I think you should be grateful to have met, I know Francis is.” “You are probably right.” You bowed when the number was over, before Bash guided you back to Francis. “Y/n it was an honour to meet you.” Bash kissed your hand “I hope life will threat you kind.” “Thank you bash, it was great to meet you too. May I hug you?” Bash nodded and you leaned in “Everything will be alright.” And with that he left, while you an Francis spend the rest of the evening and night in each others company. The next morning Francis surprised you with a picnic by the lake, the both of you knew it would be the last time you’d spend together. After a couple of hours you broke a silence that had fallen. “It’s time for me to leave Francis.” “Are you sure?” “Me being here is already a big risk for altering the timeline, the longer I stay the greater the risk.” You weren’t sure if you tried to make it easier for him or for yourself. “But I want you to “Will I ever see you again?” “I’m afraid not, but if you need me you can always see if you can get me a message by writing on something that will last over time.” It was meant as a joke, but a part of you hoped that he would do just that. “I’ll remember that.” He smiled “You’re quite the woman y/n.” Francis ran his fingers through your hair one last time, already missing you. “I left you something in my quarters so you’ll remember me.” You gave him a small smile. As much as you wanted to stay here, you knew you couldn’t “Goodbye Francis.” After pressing a kiss to his cheek you pressed the button on the bracelet, back to your own time like these days had never happened.

[ger-bearofrivia]

Be Broken or be Brave 💌

Warning: angst, there is mentions of verbal and physical abuse, also child neglect.

A/N:This is my very first The witcher fic and my spelling is atrocious so sorry about that. I hope you enjoy! :)

Summary: Jaskier comes from a wealthy family who arranged a marriage with someone whom he isn’t in love with. Instead he is in love with his friend who is of lower class. These two have been together secretly for a while but they cannot let his family know. Jaskier being the youngest of five kids (all boys may I add) tends to get bullied by his brothers about his lanky looks. Compared to his brothers they who were more muscularly built and has very defined features, everyone seems to think they are more attractive. Because he got the short straw of the bunch his parents think he will never find love thus arranging this marriage. They even throw him a huge party to announce the engagement.  He always knew it more to spite him and to show their accomplishment of finding someone who would want to be with Jaskier.

He knew what his parents were doing, setting up this big fancy ball just so he can announce an unwanted marriage, with a person who he did not love, to people who he really didn’t care about. The only person that mattered to him was the girl who was standing within the crowd intently staring at him with a small smile tugged at her lips. She looked absolutely jaw dropping gorgeous tonight. Wearing a simple dress that accents her beauty rather than drown her in fancy beading and embroidery.

 She was not of the same social class as the rest of the people in the room, and just being friends with her, made Jaskier’s family scrunch their snotty uptight faces up in disgust. But that never stopped you two from being friends, in fact it brought you two even closer. So close that the both of you were secretly in love, and have been for a number of years, constantly sneaking off to be with your forbidden lover. Your parents unlike Jaskier’s actually adored him and saw him as a son. Being with your family actually showed him what it was like to be loved. Not like some castaway like his family made him feel. 

From a young age his parents made it known to him that he was a mistake, a product of accidental conception and knowingly allowed his four older brothers to torture him both verbally and physically. How many days he had to escape and limp his way to your house for aid because Charles punched him too hard leaving a huge black bruise on his ribs or Martin telling the whole school that he was a late bloomer and hadn’t lost his virginity yet (which you know from a fact is not true.) The worst he’s ever told you was when Sebastian and Emiel pinned him down on to the bed and suffocated him to near death with a pillow. All this was slid under the carpet by their parents, hell you come to think that they’d even encourage it at times. He was always told that he’d never find love and he’d have to depend on them on fining a suitor for him. Which led to this very day at the ball. When you walked into the room and the Viscountess saw you, she immediately chuckles sticking her nose in the air and whispered insults about how you were more dressed to be in the peasants quarters rather than her sons engagement ball. 

Once he escaped the grasp of his parents who were introducing him to loads of people he would never remember the names of, he makes his way over you, his smile growing wider with every step. “you look beautiful my love.” He whispered as he took your hand and spun you around. You thanked him laughing as this was a common thing he did when complementing you. “Words can’t fathom how much I want to kiss those lips of yours right now.” He whined. 

“I know my love, I do too, but we can’t you know that.” He lets out another whine. 

“one day I’m going to have you all to myself with no family, random people, or fake wife. Just us two by the coast, having luncheons on the beach as I try to teach you how to play the lute.”

“And get frustrated because I can’t get my fingers to stay in the right positions but all in all we laugh it off like the other hundred times you tied to teach me. Maybe you’ll have luck with our kids?”

“Of course I’ll have luck with them they are my kids after all. I’ll teach them everything from how to play the lute, singing, songwriting. They’re going to be amazing”

You laugh again. “yes well create the cutest musical geniuses that the continent has ever seen”you’ve always loved how he’s talked about your future together it melted  your heart. “How I want that life right now.”

He sighs “I know my beloved we’ll have it soon enough.” He pulls you into a quick hug planting an ever so needed kiss onto your neck. There was a sudden tapping on a glass that caught everyone’s attention. 

“It is now time for my son to make the all awaited announcement .” The viscount said. Julien let out a sigh of frustration before turning back to you. 

“Soon we’ll have our paradise my love but for now I gotta go.” You gave him an assuring nod. He walks up to his father standing next to him. You pushed through the crowd to get a clear view n the front.

“I Julian Alfred Pankratz will not take Lizanne Waldtraut to be my wife. I Instead would like to ask y/n to take her place.” You look at him with shock. 

"Mother, father you can disown me how ever you’d like, but I will not take anymore torment  from this family on who you want me to be. Instead I will decide my future for who I am.  I know where my heart belongs and that’s with y/n, she makes me feel  more loved than this family ever did. Unlike you she encourages me to challenge myself. What do you do? You bring me down and say I’ll never live up to my goals. That I’m practically worthless compared to my brothers and that you have to choose a career for me because I’ll never get anywhere in life with the career of music." 

"Julian” you pause tears in your eyes. He turns back to you and spoke softly so no one but you could hear. 

“My love I want to spend the rest of my life with you. We don’t need any of my families blood money. We can find a little cottage in a nice village on the coast close enough for your family to come visit. Just like we always dreamt of”

“How would we pay fo…” He cuts you off taking your hands and squeezing then assuringly. 

“We can use the money I’ve been saving up from gigs I’ve played.” 

You sniffle a bit and he smiles wiping away some tears. “Are you sure? You’ve worked so hard for that money” 

“I haven’t been sure about a lot of things in my 18 years of life but this.” He gestures to the both of you “what we have is special. You mean so much to me and I want to make you feel the same even if it takes the rest of my life.”

“You already do my love. Every day I get to spend with you is a blessing.””

“Will you y/f/n of Redania do me the godly honor and be my wife?” He gets down on one knee and opens the small wooden box that held his grandmothers ring. His mother lets out a ghastly gasp.  

“How did you get your grandmother’s ring! That was supposed to be saved for Sebastian’s proposal, not yours!” 

“Grandmother personally gave it to me. It was her dying wish to see this family heirloom to go to the right person.” he paused. “You know she was the only one in this family that saw how bad you treated me compared to my siblings. She said that she doesn’t understand what she did wrong to raise such an entitled bitch like you.” She gasped agin this time whipping her hand across his cheek causing the guests around you to be flabbergasted. Julians hand came up to rub the hot aching skin. 

“Get your grimy little paws off this ring.” She snatched it out of his hands handing it to her husband. “This was never meant for you. And to think I decided to keep you. You were a mistake and I should have gotten rid of you the second I found out I was pregnant with you. You abomination of a child of course you’d fall in love with a peasant like her. You two were made for each other. Leave the both of you I never want to see either of you ever again!” She signaled for the guards to come. Before they could take you held out your hand stopped them from touching you. You had no words to explain how furious you were with this family. The fact that no one had stopped her from saying those horrid things made you think that everyone who attended the gathering should rot in hell. These people who Julian had thought were his friends who he had grown up with just allowed her to say that with not a care in the world. Fake, false, arrogant rats was all that ran through your head as you walked up to the viscountess and threw a punch with force that you didn’t know you had. Blood runs down her chin, your vision was blurred, the punch felt too good, anger and the need for revenged pumped through your veins as you lift your hand again but this time you were stoped by the guards who grabbed your arms and dragged you out of the ballroom while you screamed profanities at them. Julian following closely behind. The doors of the manor slammed as you and Julian stood outside of what used to be his home. Looking over at him he looked almost unfazed about what happened.

“Julian I’m so sorry you had to go through that.” 

“No, no it’s okay my love. I’ve developed quite the thick skin dealing with there bullshit for years.” He tried to hide the pain and sadness in his voice. You knew that was a lie. He was always more of the sensitive type that always took criticism and harsh swords to heart. Usually you knew how to make him feel better but in this situation you just feel lost.  “ honestly I expected the mass humiliation from her but definitely not the punch. Not gonna lie it was kind of hot” you let out a small laugh. 

“Yeah well all I could see was red. How dare she do that to someone.” You sadly look down tears running down your face when you remembered the gorgeous ring he had briefly given to you. “The ring Julian I’m so sorry about the ring. That demon spawn took the only thing left that you had left of your grandmother.” You looked up at him with sad eyes. Surprisingly he had a look of content on his face. 

“She didn’t get anything. I had a cheep exact replica made. I have the real one right here to fulfill my grandmother’s doting wish” he pulled out a small wooden box with beautiful engravings on it while getting down on one knee. “I’m not going to say anything else to delay this any longer than it already has. Y/f/n will you marry me?” 

You break down crying nodding like a mad man. “Yes. I will marry you Julian”

“Good because I can’t wait to make you my wife.” He kisses you pulling away to look you in the eyes. “Now let’s go show your family.” You both walk away from the manor mot looking back. He wraps an arm around your shoulders and you intertwined your fingers. He pecks your temple before raising his free arm up and said. “Im free!”

[pluviophile-bookworm]

Thoughts/ reaction to AWAE 3x5

The cold open featuring Beekeeper Gilbert is the golden content I never knew I needed.

Miss Stacy teaching in the midst of nature is gold, but what draws my attention in that scene is the casual mentioning of the birds and the bees that causes half of the girls to get agitated at the thought that they’re finally getting the talk. I see bees are a recurring image in this episode. I admit to not having seen much of this particular scene as I was looking away from the blood.

Gilbert combining his natural talent as a doctor and his new… I wanna say hobby, that is, beekeeping, to help poor baby Ruby is gold. Seriously, this episode has GOLD written all over it in large bold letters and we’re barely 4 minutes in.

“I thought someone died…” The natives calling out the Whites™ for being drama queens have me wondering whose side I am on, and whether there are any sides at all; the fact is, I tend to overreact a lot, but this was a bit too much even for me. But let’s not dwell on this, there are more important scenes coming up and I have already used way too many words.

Yeah… I skipped ahead a bit. The sight of that needle caused me as much horror as it did Moody.

Gilbert ranting about natural medicine not being taught is such a mood. I think taking up beekeeping will do (and is already doing) wonders for his career in medicine.

Rachel babysitting Delly is giving me such strong New Mum vibes… “Please go to sleep”. This is the Rachel Lynde content I never expected to see but I’m glad I did.

And then Delly falls asleep as soon as she hears Marilla’s voice… I’m crying.

“Bash needs a wife” – who are you to decide that for him, Rachel? I was already annoyed with her for trying to play matchmaker for Miss Stacy without being asked to, but this is even more. Marilla is such a mood in this scene.

Matthew being Soft™ to his plants… as if I needed any more proof that he’s a Hufflepuff!

I live and would die for Anne and Diana’s friendship.

I also live for Diana embracing her own feelings rather than her mother’s visions of what’s “proper” and “improper”. And for the hint of her doing it just partially to spite her mother…

Honestly, Gilbert staying inside and reading the paper with Miss Stacy while everyone else is fussing about the Take Notice board is so in character. It emphasizes the fact that he is actually the adult of the class. I wonder what would make him more interested in the board, though…

Anne the Feminist™ is fascinated about the female doctor

Ok, but… who gives Charlie, by “noticing” Anne, and Diana, by walking in on her and Gilbert almost having a moment, the right to interrupt said moment before it’s even fully developed?

Anne is totally me in her reaction to (1) being noticed and (2) the news about the dance.

 “Sebastian, take a seat.” If I were Bash in that scene, I would be thinking “How about you stop telling me what to do in my own home?”

Now she wants to take Delly away from him? And she thinks that’s good for anyone? Seriously, Rachel Lynde should mind her own business. But I bet she has no business of her own, otherwise she wouldn’t obsess so much over what everyone else is doing.

Anne’s reaction to Charlie posting about her gives off “Belle Reprise” from Beauty and the Beast vibes.

 “Anne Shirley-Cuthbert-Sloane!” Try Anne Shirley-Cuthbert-Blythe instead. And boy, does this girl have a lot of last names! She’s becoming a bit like Hispanic royalty.

Both Jerry and Diana telling white lies to their friends so they can meet up – classic forbidden romance. I love it!

Look at my boy Jerry quoting Frankenstein! I feel like a proud mother – except, of course, for the fact that I am not a mother and I have no trace of merit in this beautiful achievement. Also, the way she holds the book to her heart, like it’s him, or at least a tiny part of him; and the way he looks back at her… I know this is a whole other fandom, but Andi Mack has taught me that lookbacks are important. My fragile little heart is melting! I might be aromantic by orientation, but I’m still a sucker for beautiful, poetic romantic scenes like this one. This is my new favourite scene of the entire series. If I could bottle it up and save it for a rainy day, oh how I would!

The scene of Gilbert and Bash talking about Mary being followed immediately by Matthew talking to Belle about her becoming a mum… I feel that they are a heartbreaking yet heartwarming representation of the cycle of life and death. Moira has done it again.

Also, Anne’s dress in this scene reminds me of the first dress she was wearing when she arrived. It’s a nice callback, if anything.

That scene of Diana reading in bed reminded me so much of me. I know that feeling so well, feeling a special connection to a book, even for some reason outside the book itself. And, sure, Frankenstein is far from the most romantic of books, but now it will forever be a thing between her and Jerry. And that’s in my opinion, is that special external connection to the book.

Aaand… Rachel Lynde didn’t just try to make the practice dance another matchmaking session for her son and Miss Stacy, did she?

I know everybody talks about Anne and Gilbert in this scene, but my eyes were more focused on my spirit animal Ruby – she is so me, being uncomfortable with the whole thing and the touching and whatnot… except in her it is the result of boys and girls being discouraged from making any kind of contact to one another until they’re old enough for courtship according to their community’s standards. What did people at that time think when they did that? That giving young people virtually no sex ed and doing anything and everything they could to keep boys and girls away from each other – did they think this is the way to raise functional, well-informed people? Because seeing poor Ruby here sure makes me think that her society didn’t do a very good job at that. And the fact that all the girls, even the ones that should pass as intelligent and well-read like Anne and Diana, believe they can get pregnant by just the touch of a boy is just another proof that this is not the way to raise teenagers.

One thing that calms me at least a little is that now they have Miss Stacy and she can, albeit a bit awkwardly at first, educate them on the matter. And I love the fact that she mentions consent because that is really important.

And there’s the sugar – the heart eyes, the longing looks, the held gaze… every single trope about looking at someone special is there in that one scene. I love the way they act so expressively with just their eyes. Seriously, kudos to Amybeth and especially Lucas.

Oh my, there it is! That scene from the preview that everybody has been speculating and freaking out about for weeks. I got literal chills, goosebumps and everything. This scene generated a lot of discourse and it was definitely not for nothing.

Oh my, oh my! The dance is done but they just won’t stop staring right into each other’s souls through those fantastically expressive eyes… I might just die right now, but at least I’ll die happy.

Aaand… the moment is gone and now there’s just tension and awkwardness so thick in the air that you could cut them with a knife – and a knife might not even do the job, if you get what I mean.

Ok, I didn’t think things could get any more awkward, but then we have the exchange with Charlie and it’s even more awkward than Moody telling Diana “[her] dress is very… blue” back in the season premiere. But this awkwardness is different. There’s no tension, no real chemistry. At least that’s how I see it.

The parallel between Anne and Gilbert cooking and ranting about the dance and its consequences for them counts as a Shirbert scene, right?

I love Anne with all my heart but right now I wish she could just go away for a second. She’s third-wheeling and making Diana act cold towards Jerry, which might give him the wrong impression and ruin everything…

Also, I wish Diana would confide in Anne about the thing she has going on with Jerry. It couldn’t possibly make matters worse, now could it?

If Jerry was so confused, and then so happy about the handkerchief, it probably wasn’t really his. It must have been left by Diana. The initials, though… the only J.B. in Diana’s family I can think of is Josephine. If it was hers and Diana left it for Jerry, it would be so nice… Ok, why am I being so stupid? She MADE it for him. Especially. J.B. is him and only him right now. Apparently certain other scenes have temporarily deprived me of the ability to think.

The “Is that how reproduction works” scene is awkward, of course, and it is a different, third kind of awkward: not like Shirbert after the dance or like Anne and Charlie after that. It’s that kind of awkward moments that people with anxiety like me think of when they can’t sleep at night. I mean, just imagine asking your big love to give you the talk. Or having to give the talk to them.

Ruby, Ruby, my sweet summer child Ruby… “what has he seen”? He’s literally delivered a child, for one. Unprepared, at that. But seriously, Gilbert being all like “in my medical experience” – okay, we get it, Mr. Mature Adult Doctor. No offense, though, I love him.

That obituary was just about the best homage they could have paid to Mary, and Bash reading the whole thing to Delphine was both heartbreaking and heartwarming. Now that I use those two words for the second time in relation to Mary’s passing, I feel like these are the emotions I feel about it every time. Every single time.

Baby Delly is the most precious little thing I’ve ever seen.

The Barrys are finally doing something really good (I’m not saying they’re bad people or bad parents, just that they can be a little… stuck in their ways) by deciding to help Bash’s family now and realizing they have missed their chance of getting to know Mary while she was there and giving it to them. I sure hope they allow their daughters, both of them, to have the life they chose, not the one that was predetermined for them by parents and tradition and some twisted idea of class distinction and propriety. They deserve to be given that freedom.

The girls’ ritual was one of the most beautiful things I’ve ever seen in my life. How empowering, how beautifully sacred, how emotionally pure and true. And Ruby finally accepted herself as a woman… I relate to that on a deep level because it was hard for me to accept the change from girl to woman when I was that age, too – not so long ago, really. The thing is, there is no real difference between a girl and a woman. I think each one should decide for herself which one she is, and we shouldn’t forget that we have both inside us at all times.

Oh my, oh my! This was honestly one of the most beautiful episode endings I’ve seen on this series and there have been a lot. This baby foal is one of the cutest things ever, a true embodiment of the miracle of life. How fascinating!

So, let’s sum up. In this episode, we saw: the importance of honey; lots of awkward teenage courting; Gilbert going back to medicine; Rachel Lynde sticking her nose into other people’s business even more than usual; Jerry and Diana’s beautiful forbidden romance and character growth; misconceptions about… conception; Shirbert – the whole spectrum of it: awkwardness, tension, angst, heart eyes, lost of eye acting in general; different kinds of awkwardness involving different people, but mostly Shirbert; girl empowerment; and last but not least, the circle of life. I was going to say I want more episodes like this one, but, frankly, I don’t think that’s possible. This was BEAUTIFUL!

[sherwoodkiller-a]

                when    jason    dean    was    sixteen    ,        he    moved    to    gilbert    ,        arizona    .        it    was    hot    and    shitty    and    humid    as    fuck    ,        making    it    hard    to    wear    his    trench    coat    at    any    given    time    .        it’s    been    three    years    since    the    death    of    marissa    dean    ,        his    mother    ,        and    two    months    since    he    legally    changed    his    name    from    jaimie    dean    to    jason    dean    .

                by    the    time    big    bud    and    jason    moved    to    gilbert    ,        it    was    only    a    month    until    finals    before    summer    break    .        unfortunately    ,        jason    still    had    to    attend    classes    and    then    do    the    finals    ,        even    if    he    would    only    be    attending    the    school    for    this    time    .        after    all    ,        he    wouldn’t    be    returning    in    the    fall    .

                insert    chemistry    class    ,        and    one    benjamin    knott    .

                he’s    one    of    ,        if    not    the    most    ,        beautiful    boys    jason’s    ever    seen    .        untamed    light    brown    hair    ,        circular    glasses    that    are    a    little    bit    too    small    for    his    face    ,        brilliant    brown    eyes    .        he    wore    ridiculous    patterned    shirts    ,        too    bright    and    loud    for    jason’s    taste    ,        but    he    wore    them    well    .        right    off    the    bat    ,        he    offered    to    help    catch    jason    up    to    speed    .        and    ,        though    jason    knew    what    he    was    doing    ,        he    couldn’t    say    no    to    him    .

                everyday    after    school    was    spent    in    the    library    ,        benji    catching    him    up    on    pre    -    calculus    ,        with    jason    pretending    not    to    know    what    the    fuck    he    was    doing    so    they    could    spend    more    time    together    .        to    this    day    ,        he    has    no    idea    if    benji    knew    that    jason    was    bullshitting    about    being    bad    at    math        ––––        all    he    remembers    is    benji’s    face    lighting    up    when    jason    presents    him    with    a    97    on    the    final    ,        saying    it    was    all    because    he    learned    from    the    best    .        when    summer    eventually    came    ,        they’d    go    to    each    other’s    houses    .        well    ,        they    mostly    went    to    jason’s    .        big    bud    was    normally    out    on    site    during    the    day    ,        meaning    the    house    they    rented    was    mostly    empty    .        days    were    spent    playing    the    original    legend    of    zelda    and    castlevania    ,        fucking    around    arizona    ,        taking    day    trips    into    phoenix    and    fucking    around    metrocentre    .

                nights    were    just    as    killer    ,        though    .        most    of    the    day    trips    turned    to    crashing    there    ,        sneaking    into    long    wong’s    on    mill    with    fake    ids    that    barely    got    them    in    ,        letting    benji    convince    him    to    roller    skate    ,        and    when    jason    confessed    he    didn’t    know    how    ,        showing    him    by    holding    his    hands    and    keeping    him    steady    .        the    night    benji    taught    jason    how    to    roller    skate    ,        an    hour    outside    of    the    homes    they    were    supposed    to    be    at    ,        where    nobody    knew    who    they    were    ,        jason    kissed    him    for    the    first    time    ,        surrounded    by    neon    lights    and    horrible    disco    music    and    gaggles    of    people    .

                from    then    on    ,        they    weren’t    just    benji    and    jason    ,        they    were    benji    AND    jason    .        you    couldn’t    find    one    without    the    other    .        benji    was    there    when    jason    bought    his    motorcycle    ,        held    onto    him    tightly    from    the    back    of    it    as    jason    took    sharp    turns    and    laughed    so    loud    it    was    like    he    was    finally    free    .

                benji    was    jason’s    first    everything    .        first    kiss    ,        first    boyfriend    ,        first    panic    of    having    to    jump    out    of    a    window    at    seven    am    half    dressed    because    benji’s    father    was    approaching    the    door    and    jason    was    most    definitely    not    allowed    to    stay    the    night    .    and    ,        for    three    months    ,        that    was    what    benji    was    to    jason        ––––        everything    .

                but    ,        when    august    was    coming    to    an    end    ,        and    the    courts    had    finally    ,        finally    given    big    bud    dean    the    green    light    for    tearing    down    an    abandoned    warehouse    where    they    used    to    ship    out    hay    to    the    rest    of    the    country    ,        they    knew    there    wasn’t    a    way    to    keep    their    relationship    alive    .        it    wasn’t    to    say    that    they    didn’t    love    each    other    ,        because    they    did    .        they    were    young    and    in    love    .        but    keeping    a    gay    long    distance    relationship    steady    in    the    eighties    ,        when    one    person    moves    around    no    less    than    six    times    a    year        ?        it    wasn’t    salvageable    .        on    august    29th    ,        the    two    of    them    bought    castlevania    ii    :    simon’s    quest    ,        finished    it    the    same    day    .        they    went    to    phoenix    that    night    ,        got    high    and    went    rollerskating    ,        made    out    in    one    of    the    booths    where    no    one    could    see    them    ,        then    made    it    back    to    gilbert    at    two    am    .        benji    helped    him    finish    packing    his    clothes    .

                 well    ,        except    one    thing    .        a    trench    coat    ,        not    his    signature    black    one    ,        but    a    light    blue    one    ,        not    as    heavy    ,        very    lightweight    .        perfect    for    arizona    heat    .        jason    made    sure    he    left    that    one    behind    ,        snuck    it    into    benji’s    overnight    bag    with    a    smile    and    a    turquoise    necklace    in    the    left    pocket    .

                they    locked    eyes    as    the    car    pulled    away    from    the    rental    house    ,        jason’s    motorbike    in    the    trunk    ,        but    his    eyes    staring    out    the    passenger    mirror    ,        so    he    could    look    at    benji    as    they    drove    off    .        neither    of    them    cried    ,        no    ,        most    of    the    tears    were    saved    for    the    night    before    and    for    when    both    of    them    were    alone    .        it    was    an    amicable    break    up        ––––        a    breakup    that    let    them    still    have    a    piece    of    each    other’s    hearts    .        the    next    place    is    las    vegas    ,        for    a    little    while    ,        jason    debates    on    taking    his    bike    and    driving    the    five    hours    back    south    just    to    kiss    benji    one    last    time    .        but    the    day    he    decides    he’s    going    to    do    it    ,        big    bud    says    it’s    time    to    move    again    ,        and    then    they    go    to    boston    ,        then    miami    ,        seattle    ,        evansville    ,        sherwood    .

                it    would    take    four    years    for    the    two    of    them    to    be    reunited    again    .        veronica    and    jason    are    living    in    a    small    city    in    connecticut    called    meriden    .        it’s    the    perfect    halfway    point    between    their    schools        ––––        jason    was    going    to    columbia    university    for    music    ,        and    veronica    was    going    to    harvard    for    ancient    studies    and    an    education    degree    .        it    worked    out    nice    .        neither    of    you    necessarily    liked    connecticut        (    when    your    dad’s    business    was    stable    ,        you    lived    in    hartford    ,        so    it    wasn’t    horribly    unfamiliar    ,        but    it    brought    bad    memories    )    ,        and    you    both    decided    that    new    york    would    be    where    you    would    move    after    veronica    graduated    ,        since    she    would    be    doing    so    early    .

                but    the    point    is    ,        jason    went    to    college    in    new    york    ,        and    he    loved    it    .        for    the    first    time    in    his    life    ,        he    had    real    ,        genuine    friends    .        veronica    called    jason    ,        sebastian    ,        and    carey    the    terrible    trio    ,        because    they    were    just    that    .        always    fucking    around    ,        causing    chaos    because    why    not        ?        carey    was    fucking    batshit    ,        a    total    asshole    and    loud    as    fuck    ,        the    biggest    prankster    jason    had    ever    meant    .        sebastian    was    dry    humor    and    really    good    timing    ,        the    muscle    ,        an    absolute    giant    but    one    of    the    softest    people    he    had    ever    met    .        friends    ,        true    ,        genuine    friends    .

                columbia    is    where    jason    finds    benjamin    knott    again    ,        still    wearing    those    obnoxiously    loud    dress    shirts    ,        still    with    glasses    that    are    a    little    bit    too    bit    .        still    just    as    gorgeous    as    he    remembers    him    .        when    they    locked    eyes    ,        for    the    first    time    in    four    years    ,        they    both    cried    .        they    skipped    both    of    their    next    classes    ,        hanging    out    ,        hugging    each    other    so    fiercely    that    jason    was    afraid    one    of    them    might    get    hurt    .        against    all    odds    ,        they    were    in    each    others    lives    again    ,        and    this    time    ,        they    weren’t    going    to    let    each    other    go    .

                and    ,        really    ,        they    couldn’t    .        they    had    a    bond    that    couldn’t    be    broken    ,        and    it    only    grew    as    time    went    on    .        jason’s    friend    group    expanded    from    three    to    eight    in    a    matter    of    about    a    week    ,        including    himself    .        they    called    themselves    the    bachelor    party    ,        because    veronica    told    the    other    seven    about    how    sad    jason    was    at    the    idea    of    not    having    any    friends    so    he    couldn’t    have    his    own    bachelor    party    one    day    .        thus    ,        the    bachelor    party    was    born    .

                benji    is    jason’s    best    man    at    his    and    veronica’s    wedding    .        his    speech    brought    tears    to    everyone’s    eyes    ,        including    his    own    .        it    was    heart    wrenchingly    beautiful    ,        the    way    he    talked    about    the    boy    with    an    ash    covered    heart    ,        the    boy    he    knew    when    he    was    young    ,        and    who    that    boy    ended    up    becoming    .

                veronica    and    jason    couldn’t    have    children    naturally    .        as    a    trans    man    ,        it    would’ve    been    impossible    .        but    veronica    wasn’t    short    on    either    money    or    time    .        science    was    what    lead    them    to    have    their    first    born    daughter    ,        athena    celeste    sawyer    -    dean    .        the    day    that    she    was    born    ,        jason    got    two    new    members    into    his    family    .        his    daughter    ,        and    benji    ,        athena’s    god    father    .        the    two    of    them    were    linked    ,        forever    .        when    jason’s    son    ,        julian    gordon    sawyer    -    dean    ,        was    born    three    years    later    ,        benji    became    his    god    father    ,        too    .        and    when    benji    and    his    husband    ,        michael    bloomfield    ,        adopted    their    daughter    ,        bridget    ,        jason    became    her    god    father    .

                in    a    way    ,        benji    and    jason    are    definitely    soulmates    .        just    ,        maybe    not    in    a    traditional    way    .        everyone    can    have    multiple    .        veronica    is    the    love    of    jason’s    life    ,        the    reason    he    gets    out    of    bed    ,        his    holy    grail    .        but    benji    was    jason’s    first    love    .        and    without    him    ,        jason    wouldn’t    have    been    able    to    love    veronica    ,        or    anyone    .        he    put    the    foundation    down    for    jason    to    be    able    to    heal    ,        and    that’s    the    best    thing    he    could    have    ever    done    for    him    .

[hitchell-mope]

(After “wicked always wins)

Uma: so how do we do it?

Ursula: do what?

Uma: beat Mal. Like you said. We give her a gift. Put the bitch on ice. The whole shebang.

Ursula: oh. No. No no no. You misunderstood me my child. We won’t do anything.

Uma: what? Why not?

Ursula: because you’re never leaving this sanctuary. Do you really think I’d let my only daughter go back up top when she’s been humiliated and trodden on by those humans.

Uma (stone faced): do not pretend you care

Ursula: oh my poor sweet child. I do care. And staying here would make me oh so happy. Leaving would make me mad. You remember what happens when I get mad don’t you?

(As she’s speaking her tentacles loop around Uma’s throat and gradually tighten up. Uma’s eyes flash turquoise)

Uma: ENOUGH! I am not a child. I’ll leave when I damn well like

(She swims away)

Ursula: do well to remember that once you leave he is not long for this world. You don’t know the spell. I do. Never mind removing it safely. Nah. You’re much better off here. And deep down inside you know that

Uma: a year. I’ve been here with Harry a YEAR. In all that time you could’ve told me. Why haven’t you

Ursula: and lose my precious little mollusk to self sufficiency? Perish the thought

(Uma swims into the next room and bolts and soundproofs the door)

Uma: ARGH! Why is she like this

Vision!Harry: she just can’t stand how fabulous you are

Uma: I know you’re only saying what I need to hear

Harry: so then it must be true

Uma: you’re cloying.

Harry: better me than the traitor right?

Uma: yeah. Yeah you’re probably right

(On the island. Hades has teleported back to his lair. He’s close to tears and can’t settle on a form. Eventually with much concentration he settles on Sebastian Stan. Then he drops to the floor and dry heaves in anguish)

Hadie: here. Drink.

Hades: do not say “I told you so”

Hadie: I was. But now I don’t have to. And we have a visitor

Hades: Antoine I was wrong you were right. If you want to do the dance then I suggest we head to the bed- (his faces darkens)- Hadie, sweetheart, get dressed and go to the arcade. Please

Hadie: fine. But I’m not getting dressed. I’m 23 after all. (On his way out). You realise he was never the same after you left him. You are entirely to blame

Hades: yes. Thank you Hadie. I think we all know the history.

(Hadie leaves. Hades dives into a low majestic bow that drips of sarcasm)

Hades: to what do I owe the displeasure oh mistress of all evil

(Maleficent is sitting rod straight on a stool. Her hair’s loose and she’s wearing a black and midnight purple version of Mal’s vk outfit)

Maleficent: hello my dear

Hades: don’t call me that. You lost that right when you left.

Maleficent: water under the bridge.

Hades: FIRST MORNING OF OUR HONEYMOON

(His hair’s burst into flames)

Hades: I woke up and you were gone

Maleficent: yes yes. If memory serves correctly though. You found your ahem much needed comfort with another

Hades: then you raised the girls in a commune

Maleficent: ahahaha oh that is rich coming from you. You used to be a god. And now? Now you’re just a sad old man with multiple personality disorder. How the mighty have fallen.

Hades: what happened to you?

Maleficent: I got better.

Hades: how?

Maleficent: oh I think you know

Hadeficent: Yzma

Maleficent: yes. The uh disgraced advisor to the hedonistic emperor found me after the ungrateful child abandoned me in a bag. Took to to her house. Gave me a potion. I reassumed my natural form, light magic is a bitch to figure out, broke the phial slit her throat with the shards and robbed the corpse

Hades: you’re wearing...?

Maleficent: her clothes? Yes. What of it?

Hades: you fill them better.

Maleficent: why thank you

Hades: why are you back here

Maleficent: you have the ember. I need the ember. Together we can use our combined power to get her back and overthrow the mainland

Hades: no

Maleficent: no? What do you mean no?

Hades: exactly that. You see

(This is when “since u been gone” happens)

Hades: so you see. Don’t need you. And I certainly don’t need anything you have on offer

Maleficent: really? Because last time I checked. You lived alone. You’re son is an alcoholic hedonist who gives it all to whoever strikes his passing fancy. And to top it all off. You are a failure as a father

Hades: that last point is all your fault. Not mine

Maleficent: water under the bridge sweetheart. Speaking of bridges

Hades: no. I will not allow you to further ruin her life more than you already have.

Maleficent: well you did almost kill them both.

Hades: that was an accident

Maleficent: yes your tears were quite convincing

Hades: they were real. I’m distraught.

Maleficent: you’re rather constrained now

Hades: I’m weighing the pros and cons of feeding you you’re own jugular

Maleficent: oh I knew it. You are still not over me or what we had.

Hades: let me tell you something

(This is when “over you” happens. After the song)

Hades: so as you can see I am over you.

(Maleficent starts chuckling with gradually turns into deranged cackling. She uses telekinesis to throw hades against the nearest wall above her. She climbs up to him and pinches his chin in her hand so he’s looking directly into her eyes)

Maleficent: I am going to say this slowly so your alcohol addled mind can process. Give. Me. The. Ember. Now

Hades: fuck you.

Maleficent: now don’t be that way. You may be more powerful but I have the brains.

Hades: Aurora

Maleficent: what does this have to do with the northern lights?

Hades: the princess. The one you cursed.

Maleficent: what about her

Hades: it took you sixteen years to find her. And you only succeeded through sheer dumb luck

Maleficent: that was their fault

Hades: you hired them

Maleficent: I created them.

Hades: then it’s even more you’re fault.

Maleficent: ENOUGH. (She drops down and lets him go). So it is a hard no?

Hades: exuberantly so

Maleficent: well. I know even I’m beaten. So I will take my leave.

Hades: you do that. PAIN. PANIC. Show her ladyship out

(The teal and fuchsia demons lead the fairy away)

Hades: stupidly alluring gnat. Thinking she could fool me. Literal and actual Satan. I AM A GOD

Vision!Persephone: well. You used to be. Remind yourself of what you’ve become

Hades: better looking.

Persephone: and taken for a fool. Look in your pocket

(Hades half heartedly rifles through his pockets. Then gets desperate)

Hades: that castrating BITCH! No. I’m cool I’m good I’m fine. AAAAARRRRRGGGGGHHHHH!!!! PAIN. PANIC. GEDDERENAH.

(The two demons come lolloping back. He picks them up by the throats)

Hades (venomously): boys. Did she have anything on her person?

Pain: uhhhh

Hades: OUT WITH IT

Panic: summat...GLOWING

(Hades drops them and starts pacing back and forth)

Hades: I don’t need this today. I. Do. Not. Need. This. To. Day.

Persephone: what are you gonna do?

Hades: absolutely nothing. She can’t get it to work. No need to worry.

Persephone: yes but you are rather retentive about your property

Hades: well I’m trying to change my habits. Boys. Stereo please

(He runs his face wearily changing into the Eva Green form as he does so. This is when “so what” starts)

Hades: ta ta bitch

(Hadie slow claps behind her)

Hades: ohohoho. I thought I asked you to go to the arcade.

Hadie: what and miss the fight. Real impressive by the way.

Hades: oh ha ha. C’mere

(She puts her arm around her son and they walk back home)

Hadie: we got work to do dont we?

Hades: ah yup

Hadie: does this mean I have to get dressed properly?

Hades: ah yup

(Hours later in Auradon. Chad and Audrey have just entered his bedroom. Both are in a mood)

Audrey: that was embarrassing!

Chad: oh you’re telling me. Stupid bitch can’t even

Audrey: I was talking about you Chad. You gotta accept that Mal and her friends are not leaving anytime soon

Chad: they’re vile. Their whole existence is wrong. And don’t even get me started on the magic

Audrey: magic is the reason we exist in the first place. Magic enabled your parents to meet. It saved my mother’s life

Chad: after endangering it in the first place

Audrey: well. Yes. But good cannot exist without bad you know this. Hell. Fairy godmother IS your fairy godmother.

Chad: I don’t care. Their despicable freaks and I don’t want you hanging around them anymore

(Audrey calms down. She smiles. Turns on her heel. And walks towards the open door)

Chad: whoa whoa wait. Where you going

Audrey: goodbye Chad

(Neither of them notice a raven on the windowsill)

Chad: but why

Audrey: because I know my own self worth. And you demanding that I can’t hang out with MY friends anymore just because it makes YOU feel uncomfortable. So goodbye.

Chad: I. I won’t let you go. I’ll keep you here

Audrey: Elsa knows I’m here. She will come looking for me. So either let me go. Or have your ass iced to kingdom come

(Chad lets her go. She leaves. The raven flies into the room and starts pecking at his hair)

Chad: what are you doing what gerroff get get GET OFF ME!

(He manages to shake it out of his hair. It hits the bookshelf which topples over and falls on it. Then it’s destroyed by a flash of green light out from which appears Maleficent)

Chad: ma ma ma AAAAH

(He jumps a foot in the air and hangs from the miniature chandelier)

Maleficent: are you to stay up there or shall we have a talk?

Chad: ummmm I think I’ll stay up here (the ceiling gives way) oh fuck AH

(He falls to the floor)

Chad (weakly): owwww

Maleficent: now that that is all over. Answer the door

Chad (still is pain): what?

Maleficent: there is a child that is about to knock on the door. I shall hide behind it and you shall answer. Then we shall talk.

Chad: urgh fine

(He goes to the door, opens it and sees some kid there)

Chad: whazit you want

Matty: you’re in my room

Chad: who are argh (he gets a flash of the boy screaming in pain as he’s burned up in green fire) well that’s new

Matty: you could sell it you know. What’s up. Too chicken

Chad: fuck off

(He slams the door in the boys face)

Matty: well that’s a fine how d’you do. I have access to the kings treasury you know!

Chad: 🎶I said fuck off!🎶

Matty: fine

(The boy walks away grumbling. Chad leans against the door and slides down to the ground)

Chad: what did you do?

Maleficent: I simply imparted a vision unto you. What you can be capable of if we join forces

Chad: I don’t like green.

Maleficent: fine. What colour would you prefer.

Chad: black. I’m in mourning.

Maleficent: why whatever for?

Chad (voice full of self pity): destruction of property values, loss of status, dead relationship.

Maleficent: oh yes. Traditional adolescent melancholies. But with my help you could fix that.

Chad (huffily): how

Maleficent: as you may well know I am a dark fairy. The queen of you might say.

Chad: and why would you want to help me

Maleficent: I’ve seen into your heart. Your mind. And your very soul. It was....harrowing. A real eye opener.

Chad: yeah?

Maleficent: and I’ve decided to be one your fair ahem your (choking on her words) faaii. (Growls). Yourfairygodmother

Chad: eh no thanks I got one.

Maleficent: ah yes the horticulturist. But she is more of a fairy god grandmother to you. I could be fully yours. Wouldn’t that be nice?

Chad (mulling it over): I suppose. What’s in it for me?

Maleficent: wealth power prestige status. And trinkets

(She hands him a chocolate bar that she just conjured up)

Chad (mouth full): noce trinket

Maleficent: actually it’s a butterfinger

Chad: really. How’d you know

Maleficent: we acquire your used materials with the arrival of the barges

Chad: huh?

Maleficent: noting. Now wouldn’t you like to come out on top for once. To see my daughter break under your might. To send them all back from whence they came?

Chad: wait. You don’t like Mal either

Maleficent: she is but a means to an end and she failed. I now consider you the wave of the future

Chad (becoming ever more easily pliable): really

Maleficent: yes. So tell your godmother my sweet. What is it you desire.

Chad: I want to be king

Maleficent: exquise

Chad: alors c'est possible. vous POUVEZ me faire un roi?

Maleficent: why yes. Expect. I do not have my sceptre you see. I need my sceptre or something like it. To grant you your wish

Chad: OOOH! THE MUSEUM!

Maleficent: yes?

Chad: Verna keeps her wand there. They brought magic back but she keeps her wand in the museum because she’s an idiot.

Maleficent (bending down to stroke his hair lovingly): well then my dear sweet boy. Let us go to it

(This is when “best day of my life” happens)

[rreyskywalkerr]

Bughead Secret Santa

My secret santa is @bughead-fanfiction You requested some fluff, so I have Jughead being an amazing dad :):):)

---

As Jughead cradled his newborn son and stooped down to let his big sister see, the little girl squealed in delight.

“Can I hold him, daddy? Pleeease?”

“Of course, sweetheart. Here, sit down and I'll put him in your arms. Remember, Sebastian can't use his neck yet, so you have to hold his head.” Jughead explained carefully as he set the swaddled baby in the excited girl's arms.

She looked at him with wide eyes and gently touched his face. Bella giggled when Sebastian scrunched his nose up. “Daddy?” she asked suddenly. “Now that you have a new baby, are you gonna get rid of me?” Her green eyes filled with tears and her lower lip wobbled, breaking her father's heart.

“Oh sweetheart of course not,” he soothed, scooping the baby back up to lay him in Betty's arms as she slept. When the came back, he swept his daughter up in a bear hug and stroked her back gently. “Your mom and I wouldn't trade you for the world. Why do you think we want to get rid of you?”

“Well you were so busy all the time getting ready for the baby,” she hiccupped. “We didn't get to play as much.”

“I'm gonna make sure we spend some more Bella time, okay? I'm so sorry we've been so busy, sweetie. We just want little Sebastian to have a safe place to live.”

“Okay, daddy,” Bella stopped his rambling like only she knew how to do and threw her arms around his neck again. “I love you.”

“I love you too, sweetheart.”

---

“What's the matter, sweetie?” Jughead walked into his preteen daughter’s room timidly. Bella was sitting on her bed crying.

“Nobody asked me to the dance,” she cried. “Am I ugly, daddy?”

“Of course not!” he exclaimed, sitting down next to her and rubbing her shoulder. “You look just like your mama, who is the prettiest woman I've ever seen. These boys are all too stupid to see what's right in front of them. Besides, you're not allowed to date until you're 20.”

Bella laughed at his joke, knowing. He was somehow half serious. “Thanks daddy. I didn't really want to go anyway, but it still hurts that nobody wanted to ask me.”

“Maybe they were all too scared to ask you because you're so pretty,” Jughead teased again, yet still fully believing it. “Do you want to play Mario Kart?”

“Prepare to be destroyed,” she answered, making a beeline to the old Wii in the living room. Jughead followed much slower, tsking at his little girl, who was growing up far too fast.

---

“Dad, just take the picture!” Bella’s annoyed voice rang from across the porch. It was prom night and Jughead stood in disbelief that his oldest child would be graduating in less than a month.

He took several pictures of Bella and her boyfriend, whom Jughead didn't like, purely on the principle that he was dating Bella. Sure he was biased, but he was certain that nobody was worthy of his Bella.

He made sure to wear his old gang t-shirt that day, and to have his knife handy. He let betty take over camera duty while he whittled a stick to a sharp head, all while staring daggers at the teenage boy on his picturesque front porch.

“Lighten up, Jughead,” Betty scoffed as the couple left for the night. “She's 18, and she's smart.”

“I know, babe, but that's my litle girl. And before you can talk me out of it, I'm waiting up for her. I don't care if it's too much I want to know she's safe.”

“Whatever, Jug,” she sighed. “I don't want to hear you complaining tomorrow when you're dead on your feet.”

---

Bella twirled around the room in an excited flurry.  She was about to marry the love of her life. Her hair and makeup were all done and she was wearing her mother's wedding dress. As she danced around with her bridal party, she didn't notice her father standing in the doorway.

“I've been sent to tell you it's almost go time,” he announced, causing all the women to pause their movements. Bella noticed his eyes were brimming with tears as he looked her over from head to toe. “Come on,  sweetheart, it's my job to get you to the end of the aisle.”

He held out his arm and Bella took it eagerly. She had always been something of a daddy's girl, and had no shame about it.

“You look so beautiful,” he wept. “I swear, you're a spitting image of your mother on our wedding day, minus your dark hair. I'm so proud of you.”

“Thank you, daddy,” she blushed, fidgeting a little on the spot. “I have something to tell you.”

“Can it wait until after the wedding?”

“Nope,” she beamed. “You're gonna be a grandpa.”

“I- what? Bella, what?”

“We just found out last week! I wanted to tell you first.”

Jughead broke into tears at the happy news, engulfing his daughter in a big hug. He took a minute to compose himself before taking her arm once again. “Come on, let's get you down that aisle.”

He was a spluttering, sobbing mess all through the ceremony. Betty had to calm him down several times, handing him tissues and rubbing his arm. The combined emotion from the wedding and the big news Bella gave him had Jughead filled to the brim with unbridled happiness.

---

“Forsythe Gabriel,” Bella announced, handing the newborn baby to his grandfather. Nobody was surprised when Jughead burst into tears

“”I just never thought I'd be here, married with kids and a grandson,” he whispered. “I'm so proud of you, sweetie. You've got a great husband and a beautiful baby boy and the job you always dreamed about.”

Just then, baby Forsythe took hold of Jughead's finger, locking it in a death grip. He visibly melted, leaning down to press the baby's fingers softly to his lips. “I can't believe you named him after me.”

“Why not name my son after the best father anybody could ever ask for? You've always been there for me, daddy, in more ways than you'll ever know. Thank you.”

“No, thank you, Bella. You made me a better man, you and your brother and mom all together. I love you.”

“I love you too, dad.”

[greasetanalopez]

TGO QUESTIONNAIRE

PERSONAL

Full name? Santana Anahi Lopez.

Favorite color? Red.

Favorite food? Abuela’s home cooking.

Dream job? Santana doesn’t have high aspirations for herself so she’s never truly contemplated what kind of career she would love to be able to do with the rest of her life. Although, when she was younger, she did dream of being a singer/dancer.

Any pet peeves? Far too many to list.

What are their worst habits? She represses a lot. So much so that she doesn’t deal with things until she blows up and has no choice but to face it. // She sleeps around and it’s gone beyond her simply being unable to express affection in any other way. It’s how she gets validation. How she avoids feelings and situations. It’s something that she’s come to rely on because, somehow, it makes her feel good, wanted and simply helps her forget for a little while. And she’ll often take someone not responding to her advances as a personal slight against her.

Do they hide their emotions or express them openly? Santana does her best to hide her emotions although that becomes a difficult task when she feels something intensely -- like anger.

Who was their first crush? She would never admit it but she had a bit of a crush on Puck when they first met. It’s something that she’s never spoken about, not even to Bree or Puck himself.

Describe their first kiss. They were at a friend’s 9th birthday party when little Michael Davidson took a dare to kiss Santana. He pulled her aside and talked to her for a little bit. When she was in the middle of a sentence, he leaned in and gave her a peck on the lips. A few of the kids nearby that witnessed the event ‘ooh’ed and laughed. None of them really expected Santana to react the way she did -- with a fat lip, Michael fighting off tears, and a furious Santana. // Her first real kiss wouldn’t come until years later where it all happened on her terms and she was the one to make the first move.

Last thing they’ve lied about? Her mother found a wad of cash tucked away in Santana’s jacket, not for the first time and confronted her about it, going so far as to ask if Santana was stripping for the cash. She wasn’t too far off the mark since some of it had come from her online activities but mostly it was money from the Stop. It took her ten minutes of assurances that the money came from waitressing, babysitting jobs, and that some of it came from her simply tucking away a few dollars every now and then.

What’s their outlook on life? Dim. She’s had to witness a lot in her 18 years of life and, because of that, it’s difficult to see the light at the end of the tunnel, so to speak. She doesn’t see any hope for herself or the city and she can't even bring herself to try because she knows it’ll only lead to disappointment. The most she can hope for is to be able to tolerate what the future holds for her.

Biggest insecurity? That she’s not enough. Not strong enough to protect her little brother. Not good enough to be loved. Not smart enough to have a future that won’t end in an unplanned pregnancy and living paycheck to paycheck.

Greatest achievement? As lame as it may sound to a lot of people, Santana is extremely proud of having been chosen as captain of the Cheerios. She worked her ass off because, despite what many may think, she actually does enjoy it. And to have Sue, who has made her love of her Social cheerleaders abundantly clear, pick her above the rest of them fills her with a sense of pride.

What do they fear? Snakes. // That she’ll end up like every other woman in the Southside, with a shitty life and no way out.

When was the last time they’ve cried? After Sebastian managed to convince her to take her clothes off for him only to have him walk out on her, appearing disgusted. She cried as she pulled her shirt back on after she was sure that Sebastian wouldn’t be coming back. She’d never felt more humiliated. Not even after her job as a webcam girl was exposed to the whole school. // She almost cried after Marley was Carrie’d at the Bash but she felt more disgusted than she did sad about that situation.

Most embarrassing moment? Having fliers passed around at school, advertising her online activities and implying that she’d exchange sexual favors for money.

Do they have any scars? Santana has a scar on her palm from an incident with a broken window and barely-there scars on her knees from her childhood.

What about tattoos? She doesn’t have any tattoos yet but she plans on getting one sooner or later.

Aesthetic? During school hours, Santana is rarely seen without her Cheerios uniform. Out of the uniform, she’s your typical Greaser. She’ll wear jeans (dark wash) with a low cut top that accentuates her cleavage. Short skirts and skin-tight dresses. While she does own two denim jackets, she is almost never found without her leather jacket. She wears it with everything, wears it with pride. Her hair is typically worn down in loose waves. Her everyday make-up is minimal with only some eyeliner to accentuate her eyes and a little something on her lips -- if not sporting a red lip, her lips are left nude and are perfectly glossed.

HOME LIFE

Who are their parents? (Ideal FCs can be included here) Maribel Lopez Gloria Estefan, Gabriel Lopez Yancey Arias

Do they have any siblings? A little brother named Dylan, after her father’s love of Bob Dylan.

Do they have any pets? They don’t but that works out just fine because, with a baby in the house, there’s enough to deal with without adding a pet to take care of.

Are they in charge of any household duties? (Paying bills, cooking, doing chores) Santana does chores and helps pay bills. She’ll cook if necessary but, for the most part, she prefers to do the eating than the actual preparation of the food.

What is their relationship like with their family? Santana and her mother are close -- as close as she’ll allow herself to get. She knows that she could tell Maribel almost anything and she’ll still be loved, but it’s her desire not to completely disappoint her mother that keeps her telling lies about where she goes and where the money she has comes from. They co-parent little Dylan so they’ve come to really lean on each other. This is a relationship that Santana would never wish to lose. // Santana and her grandmother used to be so close but things started to change as she grew older. She tells herself it’s because of all the lying that she and Alma grew distant but that’s not true. If she’s honest then she’ll admit that she started to pull away from her grandmother once she realized that she was attracted to women. She loves her grandmother so much but if she were to find out about Santana’s sexuality then she’d disown her own grandchild in an instant. And that would kill Santana.

Earliest memory of their family? Being around four years old, sitting on her father’s lap with her little hands on the steering wheel. The car was barely moving but it didn’t change how exhilarating it was for her to feel like she was actually driving. What she remembers most, though, is the sound of her father’s voice as he sung along with the radio and his laughter at whatever silly thing she may have said.

The best memory with their family? While her parents were legally married before she was born, she was six when they decided to renew their vows and have a church wedding. She remembers how happy her grandmother was to have her son finally be married in the eyes of God. She remembers how beautiful her mom looked and how pretty her own dress was. She remembers laughing with her mom and dad and dancing on his feet.

What about the worst? Standing at the graveyard, watching her father’s casket be lowered into the ground. Her grandmother was openly weeping and her hand was linked with that of her mother. They hadn’t stopped touching since they arrived, quietly drawing strength from one another.

Describe their home. It’s a simple four bedroom home. The place is decorated with a combination of her mother’s knick-knacks, pictures of family, and religious objects of her grandmother’s (statute of the Virgin Mary and crucifixes). There is no particular color scheme because it’s a mix of everything as things such as the couch and armchair were bought more based on their functionality and comfort than looks. Despite the mix and match feel to everything, it works. With Dylan around, there is no room that doesn’t have at least one baby object in it, from his toys scattered around the living room and a blankie tossed over the arm of the couch to his little rubber duckie in the bathroom. 

What does their room look like? Santana tries to keep things simple in her room. She sticks to neutral tones with the occasional splash of red here and there. Her bed is soft and, by far, the biggest thing in her room, taking up most of the space. She has a small closet and a dresser where her clothes are typically tucked away into though it’s not uncommon for her to have few articles of clothing on top of the dresser or on the small desk tucked away in a corner of her room. The desk has a lamp and just enough space for her to work with but it’s rarely more than just another flat surface for her to place her belongings on as she tends to sit on her bed while doing her school work. And the desk chair? It’s where she hangs up her leather jacket every time she comes home (with another, old jacket tucked away in the back of her closet). She’s not one for knick-knacks though she does have one or two that her mother gave her. Mostly, she has pictures. By her bedside, she has a picture of Dylan and her mom and another of herself and her father. On her walls, she’s forgone posters, instead choosing to tape up pictures (with a few framed) that she’s collected over the years -- pictures of the lot and her friends, of her cheering and some childhood pictures.

LIMA

What do they love about Lima? The Greasers. Sometimes Santana thinks that she’s made it as long as she has because she has them. Other times they’re just good people to be around. But, mostly, they’re her family.

What do they hate about it? The entire Northside.

When was the first time they realized that not all Lima residents were the same? It wasn’t just one incident that made her realize the truth. She was five and in kindergarten. It started with some teasing of her name and that she could handle. There weren’t that many Santanas running around, after all. But it was what came after that began to open her eyes. The jokes involving her clothes, her mother’s junky old car that she’d pick her up in. Noticing the stark differences between herself and the Socials. It was during that time that she was first called a Greaser. And, maybe, it was that day that changed her. It was as though she were officially branded and she could no longer be sweet and naive.

Do they see any hope for change? Not at all.

Is Lima ‘home’ or do they have plans to leave? Santana doesn’t think that the city, as a whole, would ever truly feel like home, yet she doesn’t see herself ever leaving.

What is their favorite place in Lima? The Lot is like a second home to her. It’s the one place that she doesn’t have to worry about Socials ruining. The one place that she could just be herself and have that be enough. 

If they could change labels for one day, what would be the first thing that they’d do? Use all of that money to get the hell out of Lima.

[extremelyblackandwhite]

handmaid - 30

PAIRING: mob!sebastian stan x ingenue!reader

WARNINGS: age gap, vomiting

A/N: hope you enjoy this chapter x

NEXT CHAPTER

Things were quiet, much to quiet. It was so quiet you could only hear your single heartbeat, beating forcefully in your brain. The house layout itself seemed to match the lack of sound in the room with most objects being covered by dark slumber pieces of heavy curtain like fabric. Most of the decorative accessories like pantings and plants were gone and if one were to come into the house, they would believe it to be only inhabited by the dust and somber darkness that lingered around like a lost seashell in a stormy sea. 

Every once in a while, steps would break through the quiet atmosphere floor leaving him to only look around at the place where his mother once used to live in. After what seemed like a decade of waiting, his father had finally managed to free himself from everything that belonged to his late wife, even his son’s memories which with age seemed to falter every day. Next to the door however, was a very heavily pregnant woman. She couldn’t be anywhere below seven to nine months pregnant however she seemed to carry this hidden glow and love that inevitably seemed intertwined with the funereal in a ying/yang like atmosphere which led to a simply comfortable quietness.

However, Sebastian couldn’t take his eyes out from the pregnant woman. She couldn’t be much taller than the people around them, with long hair pushed back with a small, delicate pearl pin that matched the pearl-like button of her long blue flowy dress, probably the most comfortable thing a heavily pregnant woman could wear. She was makeup free and mostly jewelled-free expect for a small thin silver band on her fourth finger and the golden bird charm necklace. 

Noticing the blue eyes of the young mob boss to-be on her bump, the woman smiled softly at the boy before softly walking the wood floors with her soft ballerina shoes before taking a small seat next to the boy who had a walkman on his lap, with some headphones on yet slightly placed so that one of his ears were uncovered.

      - I saw you looking. - she had a princess-like tone to her voice, a sort of lively force that always permeated her voice. The colour drained for his voice, his mother’s words echoing in his mind about how staring was inherently rude and how he should always be an icon of mannerism. - Don’t be scared, I do look rather huge with this little peanut. 

      - Sorry. - he sheepishly hide his gaze from her, defences collapsing which greatly reminded Robin of his late mother. - When are you due?

      - Shouldn’t be too long. It’s a girl. Everyone wants her to be named Genevieve after the patron saint of Paris, however ... I rather enjoy Ella. It means beautiful or goddess depending on who you ask. - she spoke of her unborn child with an endless amount of love, almost as if she had already held the baby in her arms and looked into her eyes. - What do you like better?

      - Ella sounds like Cinderella.

      - You think she should be named after a princess? 

      - Sounds better. - he shrugged, not wanting to offend any of the names the woman had told them.

      - I will keep your opinion in mind, then. 

Y/N couldn’t exactly bare look at herself in the mirror anymore dressed in her friend’s wedding dress. It was almost like a cruel joke and she wondered if Gwen suspected anything as she would have to be extremely bad at picking tasks if it wasn’t. Nevertheless, there she was, dressed in white in front of the man who had taken her innocence, dressed in the white belonging to the wife that he was to take either he wanted it or not.

Truth be told, it was rather complicated to explain which one of them had their heart imprisoned and clenched yet if asked, one would probably guess it was Sebastian. He felt like an hypocrite, like someone who kept waving this promise of a peaceful place for the two of them, of a solution that he just couldn’t find. How was he to find the solution for a problem which he had been bound to since he was 13? He hadn’t even gotten his opinion heard, merely hearing from his father he would one day marry someone in order to strength an already strong family. Documents were signed, money was transferred yet he couldn’t help but spend sleepless nights wondering if he could just ... leave. There was always leaving. Several times he thought about knocking on her room at long hours of the night and just ... flee. Just go in the middle of the night, away from the constant danger that came with his position, away from the lousy lights of New York and the deadlines in between. However, he had no money to him if he were to escape. He couldn’t just withdrawal all his money from the banks and whatever he had stored in off-shores would never last for more than two years and he wanted nothing but to provide her with adventures in various far away frontiers. 

No, he couldn’t run away and so he would just spend more and more sleepless nights wondering what to do. He had promised her, Sebastian had promised her she wouldn’t be just a mistress and the mere thought, that being conscious or unconscious, of her being even mentioned as a possible mistress brought disgust and shivers. She would never be a mistress, no, Y/N was nothing like a mob mistress and he would be damned if she got called anything remotely related to it. 

Y/N on the other hand felt like Alice falling down a hole which she was too deep into to climb out. All she could do was wait until the laws of gravity pushed her onto her fate; crashing. One cannot deny the force of gravity even if their head was in the clouds and her head surely went to the clouds whenever she was with him. 

     - Can we talk? - he questioned, almost too softly for someone his rank in public. Somehow, between all the pins and needles carrying women surrounding her, Y/N managed to hear him, softly nodding her head afraid any of the pins would stab her. 

    - Could I please be excused? - Y/N asked one of the women surrounding her dress whom mumbled something under their breathe before stripping her off the expensive fabric, offering her a white satin robe to cover herself but not before Sebastian got a small peak of her dusky pink set. Out of the dress and veil, she followed the mob boss down the aisle until they reached an empty room which he locked, not wanting anyone to really talk to them.

She stood in front of him, unsure of how to start the conversation and still a bit drunk on the lack of sleep that had been hunting for the past days. The constant ever evolving mystery that was her parents and the information she had found about the Deschamps also did not allow her to be comfortable. Maybe she should tell him, after all he had been nothing than helpful towards her but the tenseness in his face convinced her not to do so. She loved him as as such she would never want to be a weight on his back, or on anyone’s back for that matter. 

    - I didn’t get to check on you after last night. I was worried. - he confessed, mostly curious about rumours about how she’d spent the night speaking with Jude Dubois. - I’m sorry we get interrupted. 

    - It’s alright, the night was about you, not me. - she smiled softly, yet anyone and everyone could see the pain that lingered behind the summery smile which almost brought back childhood memories Sebastian tended to hide away, much away from the child he once was. - Did you enjoy yourself?

    - Festivities aren’t my thing. - his hand mindlessly found itself to her forearm, feeling the silky smooth fabric of her robe. - I heard some rather nasty rumours about you and Mr. Dubois. 

    - We just talked, Sebastian. - her hands rested on top of his shoulders, a little grin forming behind the sad smile. Could the mob boss be jealous? Now, Y/N was always thought that jealousy was an ugly emotions but being jealous meant he was afraid of losing, something she surely hoped he shared as she felt it constantly. - It’s nothing but talking. 

   - Just needed to make sure. - his touch on her forearm became a grip as he softly pulled her towards him, feeling her chest collide with his. Merely having her in his embrace calmed him down, or maybe put him under a spell that made them both forget the place they certainly were in. They were in no place to be playing Romeo and Juliet, less they were both ready to die and while Sebastian would willing do so for her, he wouldn’t allow her to perish. 

She would ever so often just lose herself to sleep in his embrace, every once in a while kissing his shoulder. As she seemed to regain her consciousness, she just looked up to him about to say something before her mouth forcefully shut and she felt a heat creep up her stomach, a pain that made her hands fly to her middle abdomen. She clutched her stomach and covered her mouth. Her mouth had a horrible taste and it was as if someone had shoved something down her throat time and time again, making her stomach revolt and turn on itself. The stomach acidic liquids had started to make their way up her system and quickly she spotted the bathroom, running to the door and straight to the toilet.

She clutched the bowl fiercely and let out the contents of her stomach which was but nothing but whatever she hadn’t digested from last night’s food and the liquids of her stomach. Even if she wanted to take more things off her system, which she desperately needed to, she just seemed to be unable and soon enough there was nothing left in her stomach.

   - Are you alright, angel? - Sebastian had followed her once she had rushed into the bathroom. Grabbing a towel and wetting it under the faucet, he got closer to her in order to clean her face. With a calloused finger he wiped a stray tear from the force she made to push what her stomach had out through her mouth. 

   - I guess meat jelly didn’t sit well with me. 

   - Meat jelly doesn’t sit well with anyone. - before she could laugh at his joke, the urge to to vomit came again and she held onto the bowl once again, getting the rest of what was left in her system but, again, nothing but water and acid which left her in a bit of a coughing fit, her throat rash from the acid. - You sure you don’t need a doctor? I’m sure there must be one in the hotel. 

   - You worry too much. - she leaned her head against his shoulder. - Besides, you have more to deal with than me being sick due to terrifying meat jelly. 

  - No more meat jelly for you then.

  - No more meat jelly. 

tag list: @lilya-petrichor​​​ @xoxohannahlee​​​ @irespostthingsiwanttoseelater​​​ @nikkipea​​​ @madisonpillstrom​​​ @cevans98​​​ @thelostallycat​​​ @sideeffectsofyou​​​ @anxiousdreamersworld​​​ @captainchrisstan​​​ @lookiamtrying​​​ @sarge-barnes-sir​​​ @stuffforreferences​​​ @thebadassbitchqueen @sebastianstansqueen​​​ @nsfwsebbie​​​ @strangerliaa​​​ @emzd34​​​ @everything-is-awesomesauce​​​ @dreams-in-blxck​​​ 

[what-if-rpg]

Welcome to the family, DEEDEE! Your application to NOAH PUCKERMAN was accepted. I am really happy to have you around! Make sure to read the beginners checklist, and remember, have fun! I can’t wait to roleplay with you! Have fun!

IN CHARACTER

CHARACTER NAME: Noah Puckerman CHARACTER AGE & DATE OF BIRTH: 28, 01/06/1992 OCCUPATION: Ex-Air Force, CEO of Puckle-Brew.   FACE CLAIM: Theo James HOMETOWN & CITY WHERE LIVES NOW: Lima, Ohio. Currently lives in New Jersey, pretty much New York.   SEXUAL ORIENTATION & GENDER: Cis-Male, Heterosexual. (Would bang Sebastian tho)   RELATIONSHIP STATUS: Single Father (missing Quinn) POSITIVE TRAITS: Loyal, Brave, Passionate, Playful.   NEGATIVE TRAITS: Temperamental, Clumsy, Rash, Prideful.   CHARACTER QUOTE/LYRIC: “ That’s ‘cause I’m a stud, dude. I could wear a dress to school and people would think it’s cool.” Noah Puckerman. ANYTHING ELSE?: Puck has joint custody of Beth with Shelby. He gets her on weekends.  

HEADCANONS

As a self-proclaimed “badass,” Puck was well known around the school for constantly tossing students into dumpsters and also for initially being a primary culprit for throwing slushies in everyone’s faces. At first, Puck was very much opposed to the Glee Club, deeming it “gay” and a group of “losers.” Shortly after Quinn Fabray joins the club, Puck discovers that she has become pregnant with his baby, and joins the glee club as a way of being closer to her. But, in the end, Puck begins to enjoy Glee Club and find his passion for singing.

Puck is, at first glance, the stereotypical bullying jock. Arrogant, rude, and judgmental, Puck is the unwavering belief that because he is good at sports, he is better than everyone else. He is also a bit “gangster,” as he has even been sent to juvie due to his delinquent behavior. He was always causing trouble. And because of his supposed superiority, he believed that allowed him to mistreat anyone else who he felt was different from him. Puck also has a very easily provoked temper and would attack friends and enemies at the drop of a hat if pushed.

Puck’s arrogant behavior has made it to where he often doesn’t consider the consequences of his actions and behavior, and how it might affect others. Puck’s arrogance not only relates to school politics but also in regards to girls. Although crude, Puck is nonetheless handsome and knows it. As such, he feels any and all women are fair game for his sexual prowess. He’s shown himself to be particularly fond of older women. In truth, however, Puck is willing to have sex with any woman who is available, even his best friend’s girl. He also seems to revel in the chase and the conquest. Because he has a lot of sex, he thinks he is a sex master.

However, although Puck rarely shows it, he does have several surprising good qualities. He is sensitive about being liked and popular, and finds the idea of being an outsider or bullied unnerving and has been shown to feel guilty for behaving that way towards others so much so that he seems to have stopped his bullying streak since joining the glee club. He knows that his actions are wrong and owns up to that. Puck also finds family very important, as he has a regular family event in which his mother, sister and himself will watch Schindler’s List.

After high school, Puck found his way to the army, and soon enough, he was one of the best in there. He spent all his time working out, and doing his best for everyone to see that he really wanted to be there. He was not going to mess this up like in high school. The army was where he felt at home for the first time. He felt like he had a family again after leaving high school and his friends behind. He knew he had found his place! But, after four years, he wanted more and more, and that was why he decided to transfer for the American Air Force. He also served his country outside of America, and he couldn’t be prouder of himself. He really was finding his way and no longer was the same ‘lost boy’ from high school.

Last year, Puck decided to become a business man too. And now, he owns his own beer company. Homemade beer, to be honest. Everything started as a joke, but soon enough, Puck started to receive requests from people asking him to sell his beer, and well, Puck, as always, was looking for money and more ways to make money to spend on his motorcycle, and well, he decided to let himself go, and get into this crazy world of business. He is now looking for ways to make his beer company grow. He really fell in love with this industry, and not just with the beer.

After leaving the Air Force, he made amends with Shelby and has always given 50% of his income to her and Beth. It took well over a year before Shelby agreed to joint custody with the two of them. Puck now gets to see on weekends and his place in NJ has a bedroom for Beth to stay in. His favorite memory is the two of them painting her room together.

CONNECTIONS

MRS. & MR. PUCKERMAN (Parents): There is no one in his life that he wants to make more proud than his mom. He knows he was never the best son, but now, now that he is older and finally he is settling down in his life, he is sure that he can make his mom proud now. His relationship with his father is getting better, but still not the best. SARAH PUCKERMAN (Sister): He loves Sarah a lot. He tries to spend time with her when he can but she is busy with her own life. Puck will always be there for his little sister. Even if she is always on edge from his constant Halloween pranks on her.   JAKE, CALEB, TOM & ELIANA PUCKERMAN (Half-Siblings): Puck only really knows who Jake is. He tries to be a good brother but he gets hat Jake is his own man now and might not want to listen to his advice anymore.   QUINN FABRAY (EX-Girlfriend & Baby-Mom): Everything started with their one-night-stand after Puck decided to give Quinn some alcohol, and all Quinn knows is that after the alcohol she drank, she got pregnant. They were barely friends before that, but after the blonde got pregnant, they even dated more than one time actually. Even if after high school their relationship ended, even after they tried one more time during Quinn’s first year of college, they decided that they were better of as best friends and nothing more. Puck still cares about her and wants her back more than anything. He wants to be a family and it crushes him that she moved on.   RACHEL BERRY: Puck and Rachel used to be a thing but it was never serious. He always wanted more with Rachel but she never seemed interested. He still liked fooling around with her and would happily hook up with her at the drop of a hat if he can.  

[justanothercinemaniac]

Epic Movie (Re)Watch #171 - X-Men: First Class

Spoilers Below

Have I seen it before: Yes

Did I like it then: Yes.

Do I remember it: Yes.

Did I see it in theaters: Yes.

Was it a movie I saw since August 22nd, 2009: Yes. #104

Format: Blu-ray

1) Poland, 1944

This film hemmed so close to the opening scene of the original X-Men film that producer Bryan Singer thought he was actually looking at the old footage. It is a smart and effective opening to the prequel, as it not only re-establishes a character who has been absent from the series for five years but also sets up his key conflict with the film. Erik is still dealing with the pain from this event in a much more key way than he is during Ian McKellen’s tenure; what he went through in the concentration camp is the driving motivation behind his actions in the film. Making this first scene all the better.

2) Young Charles & Raven.

Raven [upon first meeting Charles]: “You’re not scared of me?”

The adoptive brother/sister relationship between Charles and Raven might be totally invented for this film (as in: has no source in comic book canon which I am aware of) but I freaking love it. I’m a sucker for platonic male/female relationships and the connection these two have is in a lot of ways the beating heart of this film. Which makes it all the more tragic that they drift apart in the future (something I’m hoping will be remedied in X-Men: Dark Phoenix). The key to their relationship is that they feel safe around each other. This is the first time that either of them has realized they’re not truly alone in the world. That someone hasn’t pushed Raven away for her natural form and that Charles realizes his ability to read minds does not make him a freak. There’s a sense of ease, comfort, and community they have with each other that was totally foreign to them up until that moment. A strong foundation to a strong relationship.

3) Kevin Bacon as Sebastian Shaw.

Bacon’s Shaw was all but glossed over in most promotional materials, making his presence in the film a pleasant surprise for first time viewers. And pleasant it is because Shaw is an absolutely wonderful villain. Bacon brings a refreshing and engaging amount of charisma/fun to the part. He’s the bad guy you love to hate with a little bit of Bond villain in him. The first thing he does when we meet him in murder Erik’s mother in front of her 12ish year old son. And then he reacts with unadulterated GLEE when that murder allows Erik to tap into his mutant powers. He’s downright giddy! In a series filled with classic bad guys like Magneto and William Stryker, Shaw is able to hold up with the best of them.

Shaw [after murdering Erik’s mom]: “We’re going to have a lot of fun together.”

4) James McAvoy as Charles Xavier.

McAvoy’s Xavier is delightfully more flawed than Stewart’s. He is much more of a cad. He is more arrogant, a bit more green, a bit more cocky, and a lot more naive. BUT he’s not just that. He’s not some douche bag who learns to be a great man. You see the greatness in him still. He is still Charles Xavier after all. When things get serious, he gets serious. He lets Moira know how important this is to him, he has hope for the future of his people and he is able to put away the womanizer we meet early on when it comes to helping people. There’s still that naivety a little but, the belief that everything will be alright after they save the world. That fear will just stop. But it’s mixed in with Xavier’s trademark hope. McAvoy is great as the character and a joy to watch.

5) Jennifer Lawrence as Raven/Mystique.

Raven is in a much different place than Rebecca Romijn’s Mystique was in the original X-Men trilogy and it’s a lot of fun to watch. There is this humor and warmth to the character that we don’t often get to see. A smile, a playfulness with Charles, but we see her develop into the more jaded warrior of Magneto’s crew. Watching that transformation is great and heartbreaking, especially as it shakes up her relationship with adopted brother Xavier. And Lawrence is great in the part. A pre Hunger Games role, I think it’s one of my favorites that she has under her belt. Many of her characters are so serious and dower these days when the actress has a wonderful heart/sense of humor she gets to show off her. It’s lost in the future installments, but that makes sense considering the path the character goes down. It’s a tragedy, but one that’s good to watch.

6) Oh Charles...

Raven: “Would you date me?”

Charles: “Of course I would. Any man would be lucky to have you, you are stunning.”

Raven: “Looking like this?”

[Charles stutters for a second then looks at Raven.]

Charles: “Blue? [Beat.] You’re my oldest friend...I’m incapable of thinking of you that way. I feel responsible for you.”

He changes from, “oh absolutely,” to, “I could never think of you like that,” REALLY fast when he realizes she’s talking about her natural form. And that’s where his naivety comes into play. He doesn’t understand what it’s like hiding who you really are in such a basic and obvious way. Not telling someone you can read their minds is fundamentally harder than having to wear a skin that isn’t your’s because you think people will reject your natural form. And that’s the key to her conflict in this film. Being mutant and proud.

7) McAvoy and Lawrence have such a wonderful natural chemistry as adopted brother & sister, must obvious in the scene above when Raven asks Charles if he’d date her. Her snuggling up to her brother while he reads her his thesis makes my heart melt.

8) Michael Fassbender as Erik/Magneto.

Honestly the casting of Erik & Charles could have been royally screwed up. This film does it perfectly. Fassbender brings a single determination and focus to his character. He is ruthless, brutal, violent, intimidating, but you still sympathize with him. Hell, you are ROOTING for him. In a lot of ways he’s even more sympathetic than Charles is. Fassbender is able to play the pain Erik has been though with much more relevance than McKellen ever got the chance to because the story allows it. He is in anger mode, with a bit of self loathing (he is what he is because a man murdered his mother, in his mind) but more with a taste for vengeance.  Fassbender is absolutely beautiful in the part and I wouldn’t ask for a different actor to play him.

9) Of course within one minute of meeting Rose Byrne’s character she is strips into her underwear because, hey, sexy women get objectified in film!

(GIF originally posted by @chirrutimwae)

Yes, I understand that the Hellfire club is like a sexy lingerie strip club thing. Yes I understand that Moira is a determined CIA agent who will do her job no matter what. And yes this is the only time Moira does this and she’s actually a pretty great character. But you know what? The Hellfire club did not NEED to be a sexy lingerie strip club. It could’ve been some elegant hoity-toity how do you do thing. And Moira didn’t need to strip down to her lingerie at all in the film. It was not needed. It does not tell us anything about her character or the story.

Ugh, living in a post Wonder Woman world is going to be a lot harder than I thought. I mean, I wasn’t exactly blind before. But I definitely needed glasses to see through the haze which is the male gaze and now I do with Wonder Woman. And now it’s just...oh boy.

10) Rose Byrne as Moira is a solidly written character that the actress plays well. The filmmakers don’t spend much time focusing on the, “Moira in her underwear,” stuff and she turns into pretty much the best government agent in the film. She is intelligent, more focused on the job than any of her coworkers (who are dogged down by fear, bigotry, and male ego), and she forms this nice relationship with Charles which yes ends up romantic but is also more based on mutual respect. I love couples with mutual respect for each other. Rose Byrne plays the part wonderfully. I love the actress now BECAUSE I was introduced to her in this film. She is capable, strong, but not pigheaded or egotistical. She’s good at her job and she knows it so she continues to be good at her job.

11) January Jones as Emma Frost.

So I know there is a lot of hate out there for January Jones as Frost, but I don’t really mind her. But I’m not going to like strongly defend her either. I put more blame on the writing than her as she works with what she is given. Emma Frost is this badass in the comics who - yes - dresses in a VERY sexual manor (because she likes to, I believe) but she is also wonderfully complex. She usually has an intense rivalry with Jean Grey, is often romantically linked to Scott Summers, is an extremely powerful telepath, reformed bad guy who is often not so reformed, and over all fascinating read. But the filmmakers sorta just latched onto the, “sexy female bad guy with diamond skin and telepathic powers.” Which would’ve been fine is Emma had been developed a bit more but she never really goes beyond that/Shaw’s hench woman.

And again, the power of Wonder Woman has me asking: why is she dressing so sexually? I mean if there’s like a legitimate reason, like the character is more comfortable with that or confident in her body, than go for it! But a reason is never given she just does that and it seems to be for the sake of the male gaze. Which is disappointing to say the least.

12) The scene which I (and Henry Jackman’s score) refers to as Frankenstein’s Monster.

This is Erik at his most brutal. He finds those two “former” Nazis (can you ever really be a former Nazi if you’re not repenting for your sins?) in a bar and engages in conversation with them. It’s incredible tense in the most wonderful sense, because Erik is enjoying screwing with these Nazis. And then he cuts them down in the most brutal and badass way possible in a wonderful (and wonderfully simple) moment of action supported by Henry Jackman’s incredible score. I am very much enjoying any and all forms of media where Nazis are absolutely wrecked so this has is even more enjoyable now than it was in 2011.

13) The blonde Charles with looked familiar to me...

Then I realized she’s Annabelle Wallis, who is in The Mummy with Tom Cruise.

As of writing I have yet to see the new Mummy film so I don’t like or dislike this actress. Just noticed it.

14) When I first saw this it took a second to sink in.

Charles [to the CIA agent who accused him of doing a magic trick]: “No agent Stryker. Although I could tell you about your son William...”

15) Oliver Platt as the Man in Black.

I enjoy Platt’s performance in this film. He’s not your typical government stooge to keep the heroes in line. He’s like a kid at Christmas. All these years he thought the impossible wasn’t so impossible and now he has proof. And he’s super excited about that and helpful because of it. He’s just a wonderful addition to the film.

16) According to IMDb:

A telepathic battle between Professor X and Emma Frost was going to be in the film, but upon the release of Inception (2010) the concept was scrapped. This was then used in X-Men: Apocalypse (2016), between Professor X and Apocalypse.

17) So let’s consider Charles and Erik’s first encounter, shall we:

Charles jumps in to save the life of a man he doesn’t know.

Charles helps Erik to calm down and find peace because he doesn’t like him to be upset.

And of course, this:

Erik: “I thought I was alone!”

Charles: “You’re not alone, Erik. You’re not alone.”

Yes this is a strong first interaction between what will be the bromantic frenemy relationship of the century, but more so than that it plays into some strong conscious gay subtext feature in the film. Like in X2 when Bobby came out to his family as a mutant, there are small but important lines between being a mutant and being gay. Two lines stand out in particular: the one above and then...

Hank [when he’s outed as a mutant]: “You didn’t ask so I didn’t tell.”

X-Men have traditional been used as a parable for those fighting for their rights in those world (specifically America). When they were first being published there was a strong line between Professor X & Martin Luther King Jr. as well as Magneto & Malcolm X. But as times have evolved, so have the X-Men. With a number of LGBTQIA actors and characters in the franchise, in the 21st century X-Men has at times strongly paralleled the issues gay people face in this world. Particularly through Hank’s, “don’t ask don’t tell,” line and Erik’s, “I thought I was alone.” Gay visibility was not as much of a thing in the 50s as it is in 2017, and it was in the 60s when things like the Stonewall Riots occurred giving gay people much more visibility. This film is set in the 60s.

18) Nicholas Hoult as Hank McCoy/Beast.

Hoult brings a lot of heart to the character originated brilliantly by Kelsey Grammer in The Last Stand (Hoult even watched early episodes of “Frasier” to see if he couldn’t emulate Grammer in any way). He features the same intellect as Grammers’ Beast but is a lot more soft spoken. He has not made peace with the animal side of himself yet or who he really is. Like Raven, he needs to learn to take pride in his status as a mutant. He just gets there in a different way than she does. This was the first film I saw with Hoult and I have to say I’m glad for it. Because I think he’s a talented actor who was able to make the role of Hank McCoy remarkably memorable.

19) There is also a notably strong chemistry between Nicholas Hoult and Jennifer Lawrence. It isn’t like Emma Stone & Andrew Garfield in Amazing Spider-Man where you can see them getting hot just by being near each other, but it’s incredibly cute and adorable. There’s a natural back and forth between the pair, a natural trust which means we as the audience are invested in their blossoming relationship as well.

20) While I personally think the relationship between Charles and Raven gives the life its heart, that is not to undersell the intense importance Charles/Erik’s relationship is.

Erik: “What do you know about me?”

Charles: “Everything.”

There is this immediate vulnerability Erik has with Charles which he is NOT comfortable with (since in the past he’s been vulnerable under the worst possible of situations), but Charles doesn’t manipulate Erik with the knowledge he has. There’s an immediate depth of feeling the future Professor X has for his new ally. He wants to make sure he’s okay and the fact that he doesn’t take advantage of Erik’s vulnerability is something Erik is not used to. Meaning Erik trusts Charles more than he has trusted anyone ever before and Charles is able to help Erik reach his full potential as Magneto.

21) I laughed SO hard at this line the first time I saw the film.

Hank [when he hooks up Charles to Cerebro]: “Are you sure we can’t shave your head?”

(GIF source is unknown [if this is your GIF please let me know].)

22) The montage where Erik and Charles find all the mutants to make up the first X-Men team is a slick way of covering a sequence which could have easily dogged down the pacing of the film. Instead, “okay, we need to find Angel and Havok and Darwin and Banshee...” they just cover it in about five minutes with upbeat music and clever pacing/editing.

23) The gay subtext in this film COULD have been much more obvious if they had kept this deleted (where Charles shows off his powers to angel):

24) This is beautiful.

(GIF originally posted by @littlerebelrabbit)

According to IMDb:

Hugh Jackman accepted the opportunity to cameo as Wolverine, when he learned he would be the only character in the film to use the word 'fuck'. He improvised the line, "Go fuck yourself," after using seven other takes to say, "Fuck off". The reaction from James McAvoy and Michael Fassbender to the different line was authentic.

My entire process while watching this scene the first time was, “Hey, that guy looks familiar. Huh, he kinda looks like Hugh Jackman. Hey wait, that IS Hugh Jackman!” This is by far one of my favorite cameos in a film EVER and his appearance makes Hugh Jackman the only actor (to date) to appear in every film with the words X-Men in the title (he didn’t appear in Deadpool so he hasn’t appeared in every X-Men universe ever).

25) I mentioned in my recap for The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen that Jason Flemyng is one of my favorite character actors because of that film. Well he fills out Azazel’s red skin quite nicely.

26) Charles and Erik’s scene at the Lincoln Memorial is very telling of their future rivalry.

Erik: “Identification: that’s how it starts.”

This is where Erik’s naivety truly shines through. He actually believes he can convince humans to not be afraid of what they don’t understand, collectively. While Erik’s output might be a little more dower it’s also a little more realistic.

27) The bonding scene between the young X-Men is great.

I’m a sucker for superheroes screwing around with their powers as a way to bond with each other (see: the party seen in Age of Ultron). There is strong humor throughout, each character is developed in simple yet unique ways and we begin to understand their relationships with each other. And it’s just a lot of fun to watch!

Note: I really like Zoe Kravitz in this film, but I think that speaks to her natural charisma more than anything else.

28) Professor Xavier is a jerk.

Charles [after he finds his new mutants comfortable with their powers, screwing around like the young people they are]: “I expected more from you.”

29) The way Erik tears through the Russian guard to get to Frost (and, by extension, Shaw eventually) shows how determined he is. He is ruthless and if anyone actively stands in his way he will tear them apart. It’s simple but powerful. The way he handles Emma also shows off this dedication, as well as the dissonance between how far he’ll go versus how far Charles WON’T go.

30) The “Children of the Atom” scene which showcases Shaw’s plan is nicely effective. It has a unique and impactful visual style and its simple enough that the audience isn’t dogged down by unnecessary exposition.

31) Shaw’s attack on the CIA is an incredibly strong turning point for the film. Outside of what’s been going on with Erik, the darkness of previous X-Men films has pretty much taken a backseat in this film. Until this moment. It’s when everything turns to shit, giving an unfortunate end to Oliver Platt’s character and showcasing Shaw’s powers in a unique and threatening way. The few issues I have with this scene are:

I wish we got more in Angel’s head about her decision to join up with Shaw; she does so then her character kind of disappears. It’s like she’s his new Emma.

Even in 2011, the black guy dies first.

32) My brother and I both made this joke the first time we saw this film, so thanks to @jakegyllenhaal for putting it in GIF form.

33) Okay, I might be about to get philosophical here.

Stryker: “In times like this, SECURITY is more important than liberty.”

(GIF source unknown [if this is your GIF please let me know].)

This is an issue in today’s modern age, but here’s the thing: liberty is more important than safety. Above all. “Give me liberty or give me death,” is a famous line that is basically one of the things this country is built on. So no, Security is NOT more important than liberty. Liberty and freedom above all. And if you have to compromise on security to do so than you should. At least, in my opinion.

34) X-Training.

This is - in a lot of ways - what I’ve missed from the X-Men series. Charles actually being a teacher. Actually seeing the X-School in work and seeing students learn to master their powers. You know why Harry Potter is so cool? In part, it’s because we like to imagine taking all the classes. And now we’ve finally get that. It shows Charles being more of a teacher and growing into his role of Professor X more which is wonderful. Also - like the recruitment scene - the montage format is great. The editing and music keep it from dragging down the film. We could easily have spent like, “okay, two minutes on Beast now two minutes on Havok now two minutes on Banshee,” etc. But the montage makes it like a music video. Easily digestible, supported by Henry Jackman’s score, and just a lot of fun. Each character’s development is also continued, making them unique individuals who’s relationships with each other and personalities we understand. It’s just really great.

35) Glad to see they’re trying to maintain SOME continuity with the series.

Hank [about Raven]: “When you’re 40 you’ll still have the looks and sights of a teenager.”

36) Rage and serenity.

This is the moment of greatest trust and vulnerability Erik has with Charles. Erik trusts Charles enough to let him go through his mind and find his most intimate memory with his mother. It’s a holiday I assume (that’s a menorah so I’m thinking Hanukkah as Erik IS Jewish) and it’s this beautiful memory of someone he misses more than anything else. And it shows Charles who Erik is. It is the strongest moment in their entire relationship and defines it’s better qualities in a lot of ways. It’s pure character and I love it for that.

37) Hank and the cure.

(GIF source unknown [if this is your GIF please let me know].)

There’s a strong juxtaposition between where Hank is with his self worth and Raven. Magneto has convinced Raven that she should be mutant and proud, that she should embrace her natural form. And she tries to do the same. It doesn’t exactly work though.

Hank: “My feet and your natural blue form will never be deemed beautiful. [Raven changes her skin back.] You’re beautiful now.”

Dude, you just said the girl you like will never be beautiful unless she looks like someone else. And I get that you’re projecting your own issues onto her, but also you’re words hurt her so much that she instinctively goes back into hiding.

Aka: the moment Hank and Raven would not get together (as of now).

38) Charles and Erik playing one last chess game before going to stop Shaw.

It is widely foreshadowing of the conflict to come between the pair and an unfortunate piece of dramatic irony for us as the audience. It is the showcase of the dissonance in their relationship at its most basic.

Charles: “Killing Shaw will not bring you peace.”

Erik: “Peace was never an option.”

That is just not applicable to Shaw for Erik, but humans as well. He’s not interested in peace with humanity, he’s interested in supremacy. As we saw in 2000′s X-Men.

39) Mystique seducing Erik always felt a little off to me. I know she’s mad at Hank and that Erik is the only guy in her life right now to make her feel totally comfortable with who she is (along with helping her be mutant and proud) but it feels a little unearned. I don’t get any sexual chemistry between them. I see a nice relationship but not a sexual one. Maybe it’s just me. But the Rebecca Romijn cameo is appreciated!

40) Hank’s gone into Beast mode.

The practical makeup to get Hoult looking like the blue beast is incredible, because it IS largely practical with a bit of CGI to help enhance some areas. You begin to see a bit more of Kelsey Grammer in Beast now which is fun, but Hoult still makes the role his own. This is what helps him accept the animalistic instincts in him and reach the status of mutant and proud. It’s a great part of the film.

41) Now I’m just thinking about the first X-Men...

42) The climax of the film not only shows the team working well together but has some nice surprises in it (mainly when the Russians blow up their own ship). It’s best seen when the team find Shaw’s submarine and Erik says he’s going in. Charles does not question or second guess his teammate’s decision but works with it and sends him back up. It’s a lot of fun to watch this team in action.

43) Erik and Shaw’s final encounter.

For most of this scene Erik is silent, just letting Shaw rail on him because it allows Erik’s telepathy to feed through. He says nothing until he’s about to be in control which takes a lot of self discipline.

Erik: “Everything you did made me stronger...That’s the truth. I’ve known it all along.”

And then what Erik says right before he kills Shaw is INCREDIBLY powerful especially when you think of the path Magneto goes down.

Erik: “I agree with every word you’ve said. We are the future. But unfortunately, you killed my mother.”

The way Erik ends up killing Shaw is so cruel and dramatic then, with the mirrored cinematography on Charles’ head (as he’s in Shaw’s mind) just driving the point home. He’s not just killing Shaw. He’s killing any kind of platonic relationship he could have with Charles too.

44) And so Erik’s transformation to Magneto is complete.

He is now the mutant leader we know from the first film, with his powers under full control. Now that he’s done with revenge he can move on to freeing his mutant brothers and sisters. He’s embraced not just his powers but his role as a leader of mutants and an enemy of mankind. And he’s tired of being vulnerable.

Charles [about the US and Russians Erik is about to kill]: “They’re just following orders!”

Erik: “I’ve been at the mercy of men just following orders.”

(GIF source unknown [if this is your GIF please let me know].)

45) The ensuing fist fight between Charles and Erik could have easily been based around powers. Charles could have used his telepathy to control Azazel or Angel or someone and send them in to fight Erik with him using his metal manipulation to throw them off. But you know what? Seeing this too just get in a freaking fist fight is much more realistic for their relationship, a lot more raw, and a lot more entertaining.

46) Well, if this isn’t a declaration of platonic (???) love I don’t know what is.

(GIF originally posted by @marveladdicts)

47) It’s nice to see Mystique not go straight for Erik to join him but to make sure that the person who is practically her brother is alright. And then Charles encourages her to go with Erik! It’s still a strong relationship even if it is in tatters.

48) Charles likes to fuck with people’s minds without consent. What he did to Jean in The Last Stand and now getting rid of Moira’s memories without even asking.

49) Oh man.

Moira [talking about things she half remembers]: “A kiss.”

[Room full of male CIA agents groan.]

CIA Agent: “Gentlemen, this is why the CIA is no place for a woman.”

(GIF originally posted by @manofsteel)

50) The ending to this film is very solid, with Erik not only embracing his role as Magneto but also the fashion choice.

(GIF originally posted by @wonho-kihyun)

X-Men: First Class is an incredible amount of fun. Matthew Vaughn’s directing style gives the series a boost of adrenaline it desperately needed. Supported by memorable characters, a strong story with strong themes, and absolutely amazing performances almost across the board, this is the reason we still have X-Men films today. An absolute treat for first time viewers and old fans alike, you all should watch it.