#darren x islander

[datshitrandom]

Darren Criss | Announces Five-Stop Australian Tour | via Darren's ig stories

﹡SEP 3 | 8 PM | Festival Theatre | Adelaide, SA ﹡SEP 4 | 8 PM | Canberra Theatre Centre | Canberra ﹡SEP 5 | 8 PM | Hamer Hall | Melbourne ﹡SEP 6 | 8 PM | Hamer Hall | Melbourne ﹡SEP 7 | 8 PM | Theatre Royal | Hobart ﹡SEP 11 | 8 PM | City Recital Hall | Sydney ﹡SEP 12 | 8 PM | City Recital Hall | Sydney

[theywhowriteandknowthings]

The Princess and The Duke Chapter 2 More than meets the Eye Stepdad!Dave York x Cam Worker!Reader

This blog is a 18+ space, Minors, do not engage. If you are under the age of 18 you are not welcome here. Please heed these warnings and the warnings put in place on each individual fic and chapter. Your reading and consumption of my work is your responsibility but I will endeavour to mitigate any discomfort for you, the reader, as possible. Once again, this is a 18+ space and minors should not interact.  Specific Warnings: None, still pretty tame, some sexual tension, Dave getting angry, angst from both, mutual pining, reader is such a brat.

Graphics made by me - Images used for effect, they are not intended to race-code or gender-code reader. Thank you again to @patti7dc and @lucyeyelesbarrow for beta-ing! Read on AO3

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Your mom arrived home at the same time as you, her makeup a mess and her clothes dishevelled. Panic rose in your throat as you hurried over to her cherry-red Escalade. You had called out to Dave for help, only for his terrified look to drop into something you could only call an acceptance of inevitability.

He helped you get your mom into bed with minimal effort and now you’re sat, fingers drumming angrily on the breakfast island as you chew through your cold burger and fries. You can hear your mom and Dave bickering upstairs as Dave’s double cheeseburger with extra bacon sits in its foil across from you.

You can’t explain it, the heat rising in your chest as you listen to your mom scold Dave like he was the one to traipse back into the house looking like he’d fucked half the neighbourhood. For sure, good on your mom for having a great time, but not at the expense of someone so fucking undeserving as Dave.

I’ve known this man less than forty-eight hours and already I want to protect him like a kicked puppy.

You scold yourself internally as you put Dave’s untouched burger and fries in the fridge, if he doesn’t eat it, you will devour it later. You dump your wrappers in the trash and head up to your new room. Your head is spinning, the fucked-up scenes of your mom coming home smelling of cheap cologne and another man’s sweat and Dave just accepting it playing over and over. It makes you angry in a way you can’t place.

You’re pacing as you draw a bath, your angst playlist raging through your Bluetooth speaker as you try to sift through the jet lag, anger, and for some reason, shame. You’re not even sure why you’re so angry. Is it because your mom didn’t text you? Even after you texted her? Or is it because she’s clearly cheating on Dave and that he knows.

You pull up local events on your phone, looking for something, anything going on tonight so you could make an excuse to be out of the house. You’re angry at them both. Your mom for cheating on what you could only ever describe as a fine ass man.

And then there’s Dave.

You’re furious at him for being so self-assured and interesting around you, only to roll over and let your mom verbally abuse him the moment she graced his home – their home – with her disgraceful state. You’re too angry to rationalise or even justify the feelings coiling and writhing in your chest. You’ve known Dave properly for less than two days, but fuck, you’re livid.

You’ve often hated ex-boyfriends and flings of your mom’s and for good reason. Darren was an alcoholic, even rivalling your mom’s drinking. Jason was a bland man with no discernible positive qualities, but from the noises that came from your mom and his bedroom at that one lake-house vacation, you could tell he could fuck. And then there’s Dave.

Handsome, funny, smart, capable. And this is how she treats him?

You feel like you’re losing it, you’re twisting yourself into knots over a marriage that has existed for just over a year. Over a man you barely know, and a mother you know all too well to be surprised at. You hear the gurgle of the bath’s overflow and catch it just before it spills over.

You turn off the faucet just in time and sigh as you slump down onto your knees. You rest your head against the tub as you mash out an angry text to your dad.

You: wtf is wrong with mom?

Your message is seen almost immediately before three dots appear in a ripple as he texts back.

Dad: Warum? Was ist los?

You: Vater, Englisch.

You type back, already smiling through your foul mood as your dad messes with you. You’re more or less fluent verbally but you always struggle to read and write it, and he knows it.

Dad: Ok, what’s going on?

You: She’s cheating on her new husband already, what the fuck?!

The dance of three dots plays out for some time, then disappear and leave you hanging. You press the heel of your palms into your eyes before you pull them away to up the volume on your speaker through your phone.

You hear your mom shouting at you from outside the door to turn the music down and suddenly you’re fifteen again, you feel small and pathetic as you turn the volume down a little and slide into the bath with a sigh. You flick through local events and see there’s a blues night at a local club and make a note of it before a message from an unknown number pops up in your notifications.

Unknown: Hey, can we talk? It’s Dave.

You consider telling him to go fuck himself, or simply responding with a curt no. But you refrain from answering, dropping your phone onto the bathmat before submerging yourself under the hot, lavender-scented bath water. Your fingers slide over your skin as you decide an orgasm would make you feel better. It does, but morbidly, only because your mind is still full of thoughts of Dave.

~*~

The jazz club is packed as you try and find somewhere to sit, your overpriced beer in one hand, your phone in the other. You navigate groups of people of all ages as you appreciate the exposed brickwork and hardwood flooring of the establishment. You adjust your tight black leather trousers as you sit down, your crimson, strapless bustier a little slutty for the occasion but you don’t care. With any luck you’re going to get laid tonight.

Anything beats going home.

You’re off towards the side of the stage, the view less than optimal but that doesn’t really matter as you’re not really here for the show. You just needed to get out of that fucking house. You’d taken a painfully expensive Uber to get here, and you were going to make the most of it.

You scroll through your phone as you hear the musicians tuning up back-stage. Your father still hasn’t texted you back, and Dave has left a string of messages but you’re leaving him on read. You’d snuck out of the house earlier without either of them seeing.

Dave: Please, your mother is worried about you, she’s sorry she forgot your flight was yesterday.

Dave: Can you at least text her to let her know where you are?

Dave: Get home safe.

The last message pulls at your chest as you re-read the messages. You sigh and wiggle your thumbs over the keyboard, trying to decide if you want to answer him or not, but before you can make that decision the band comes on stage.

“Thank you all for coming out here tonight, we’re the Bluez Brotherz and we’ve got some killer tunes for you tonight. Enjoy!”

You look up from your phone and your mouth drops open in bemusement. True to their name, all four men are wearing dark suits, black ties, sunglasses and black fedoras. Just like in the film. But that’s not what shocks you, you’d seen their band name on the event page.

No, what has you reeling is the saxophone player. It’s Dave.

You pull up your camera and take photos, you need evidence of this to lord over Dave at a later date, when you hope you can stop being angry at him. The band starts with a cover of Gimme Shelter by The Rolling Stones, and you can’t help but like them already.

You sip on your beer as you occasionally take some more photos of Dave on the sly. But for the most part, you just listen to the music, and study Dave from your seat. They reach the middle of their set and take a break for refreshments. Dave sets down his silver saxophone on a stand and hops off the stage. You watch as women fawn over him as he makes his way to the bar, you can hardly blame them, you were only touching yourself in the bath to thoughts of him this morning.

You decide to make your move as he reaches the bar, you need another drink anyway. You saunter up to him, low heels clicking on the hardwood floors, a plan formulating already as you practice a few voice training exercises to get your throat warmed up.

~*~

Dave orders for the whole band as they schmooze with some of the event attendees. He isn’t built for small talk and fending off women. So, as always, he volunteered to get the intermission drinks.

“Hey there handsome, you look good with a saxophone between your lips, seems like you’re pretty good with your mouth huh?”

The all too familiar voice makes Dave flinch visibly as he recognises Princess Luna’s voice. He turns slowly, and his stomach drops as he sees who’s voice it actually is. You.

“Chill the fuck out Dave, I’m just messing with you.”

Your affected voice is gone and Dave freezes for a moment, unsure if he was imagining Princess Luna’s voice when he heard you speak, or if you really did affect your voice to disguise it. He’s not sure which thought is more troubling.

But one thing is for certain, he is glad to see you. Your mother hadn’t so much as talked about you all day, his texts were a lie. It was him who was worried about you, she seemingly couldn’t care less. That troubled Dave, and he wondered if his daughters would be so estranged from him some day if he didn’t make amends with them.

~*~

“Dave?”

Your voice snaps him out of his spiral and he gives you a stern look. It makes you thrum with arousal, the way his brow creases, his jaw set in a hard line as he purses his lips. His hand flexes into a fist on the bar as his nostrils flare.

“Sorry I just didn’t expect you to be here.” He mutters as his drinks are placed on the bar.

“Right back at you,” You grumble, annoyed you didn’t get the response you were hoping for, even a hint of a laugh would have been enough, but clearly, you’ve hit a nerve, “I can leave if this makes you uncomfortable?”

Daves eyes go wide as he wraps his fingers around the bottle necks, condensation beading over his skin and you try not to stare. His face softens and he lets out a deep, emotive sigh as he turns to face you fully.

“Fuck, no. Sorry it’s just been a long day, could we sit down and talk after this? Get something to eat?”

His flustered response has your heart beating hard in your chest and you try not to whine at the smell of his cologne and the way sweat beads on his temple from the exertion of playing with such passion you can barely believe it’s him up there playing the sax.

“Sounds good, I was just going to eat your left-over burger and fries when I got home, so this is a step up.”

Dave’s lips curl up into an incredulous smile as he looks you up and down with a quick flick of his dark eyes. You’re glad you’d dressed up a little, instead of turning up in an old boyfriend’s hoodie and jeans like you’d initially planned.

“Alright, meet me backstage after the show.”

“Yes, sir!” You give him a mock salute and you clock the way Dave’s pupils dilate at the word sir. Yet another piece of information to file away in your mental David York Dossier. You swear he grumbles something under his breath as you turn back to order a drink.

“Hey Francis, this one’s on my tab.” He points at you with his thumb as the bartender reaches you.

“You got it Dave, what can I get for you?”

The man behind the bar is slight, a cropped beard accenting his strong jaw as his ice blue eyes are somehow penetrating yet warm at the same time.

“Just a beer, not about to take advantage of my-,” You pause, almost calling him your stepdad but you stop yourself, it still feels wrong to think about him that way, “My mom’s husband.”

“Uh-huh, good on you, one beer coming up.”

~*~

You watch the rest of the show from the bar, perched on a stool in full view of the stage. Dave plays like his life depends on it, revealing to you a side of him you never could have expected. He’s passionate and full of vigour and it does nothing but stoke the fire in your belly as you watch him lose himself to the music.

As their final set finishes, you’re clapping along like a seal on Adderall. The music was beautiful but the soul and passion the whole band had for it all made your heart swell with happiness. You almost forget you’re mad at Dave.

“So, what did you think?” Dave asks as you hover around the stage as the band packs up. You offered to help but it became painfully obvious that they were a well-oiled machine, you’d probably only interfere.

“It was great, I’ve always loved rhythm and blues, and your Stones covers were magnificent.” You gush, genuinely in awe at it all.

“Yeah? Your mom hates the stuff, so I wouldn’t have expected it to be your thing.”

“One thing you’re going to come to realise Dave, is that my mom and I are very different people.”

“Yeah, seems that way.”

He sighs and pinches the bridge of his nose, tension rolling off him as he takes a deep breath. The anger from before bubbles up again and you shake your head in disbelief. This ridiculous submission to your mother’s behaviour sours the idea of spending any more time with Dave.

“Actually David, do you know what? I’m going to head home, I’m not in the mood to talk to you right now.”

Dave’s eyes snap open and there’s a darkness there, it’s cold and menacing as you take an instinctive step back. Your skin pebbles with goosebumps as you take another step. Dave moves as if to touch your arm as his face softens instantly, but you’re not having it.

“I’m getting an Uber home, don’t fucking follow me.”

Dave calls your name as you storm out, you catch Francis out of the corner of your eye, standing at the bar, looking at you with a bemused grin. You flip him off without looking in his direction. Dave calls your name again, louder this time. But you lose him in the throng of people outside. You duck down an alley and hide behind a dumpster.

Your heart is hammering in your chest as you scold yourself for acting like a fucking child.

“You’re turning thirty fucking years old next month, what the fuck is wrong with you?”

~*~

Dave is livid, scanning the sea of people outside the club, desperately tyring to pick you out. You have no right to speak to him like that. No-one speaks to him like that.

“Fucking brat.”

He hisses under his breath as he pulls out his phone to call you, it’s late, you’ve had a few beers, and despite being mad at you, he’s worried. Ever since he picked you up there’s been a burning desire to protect you seated deep in his chest. And he’s blown it already.

“She’s not going to go home with you man,” Francis’s voice makes Dave jump, and immediately he reaches for his gun. Or rather, where his gun would be if he was carrying, “Let her go.”

“Francis, if I wanted you advice I’d fucking ask for it.” Dave snarls as he tries to play off his panicked grab for the phantom chest holster as adjusting his suit jacket. Francis just leans against the brick wall of the club, taking a long, pointed draw on his vape pen. A cloud of strawberry flavoured vapour billowing over Dave as he wrinkles his nose up at the stench.

“How long has she been staying with you?”

“What?” Dave asks, blinking a few times in shock at the question.

“Simple question man, how long?”

“Since yesterday.”

Francis’s eyebrows raise at that and a smirk twitches across his lips.

“Uh-huh, and you and her mom,” Francis says with venom lacing his tone as he mentions her, “Been together what? A year?”

“Get to the fucking point Francis.” Dave snaps as he resumes his search for you in the thinning crowd but with no luck. He’s furious at himself, this is literally his job, finding people, and yet you’re eluding him like it’s nothing.

“How is it that I’ve never met her mom, and on the first damned night your stepdaughter is in town, she just waltzes in and can’t take her eyes off you?”

“Fucking hell Francis, she didn’t even know I played until she saw me on stage.” Dave’s the one getting angry now, he and Francis have been friends for a very long time, but he doesn’t appreciate the insinuation. He also doesn’t appreciate how his chest constricts at the thought of you unable to take your eyes off him.

“Sure, but the universe works in mysterious ways Dave, watch yourself around her.”

“Francis, if you don’t shut the-!”

“There she is, getting into that Uber.” Francis points with his vape pen towards you scrambling out of an alley and into your cab. Dave glares at you, then at Francis before storming off wordlessly, saxophone case gripped tightly in his hand.

As he gets to his car he feels his phone vibrate in his pocket. He opens the message without hesitation, but it only makes his blood boil.

You: Don’t even bother trying to talk to me when you get home.

It takes every last shred of self-control for Dave not to throw his saxophone case against the floor in frustration. He takes a steadying breath before loading up his car and driving home.

~*~

You arrive home much later than Dave, your Uber driver definitely fucking you over to make a better rate but you’re too tired and frustrated to care. You barge through the front door, not caring who sees you. Then you hear it, your mom’s voice calling your name from the kitchen and you sigh.

“Hey mom, what’s up?”

“Come in here, have a drink with me.” She’s slurring and you roll your eyes as you do as you’re told, kicking off your shoes before heading into the sad beige kitchen.

“What’re you drinking?”

You ask as you take in your mother, perched in the same stool as Dave was this morning. Her wine glass full with some kind of rosé and you gag internally.

“Wine, you want some?” She waves the almost empty bottle enthusiastically and you roll your eyes, heading to the fridge.

“Nah I’ll get a beer or something.” You call over your shoulder as you immediately look for the burger and fries you stashed away earlier, ready to dump it all into the air fryer to freshen it up. But it’s gone, you grumble to yourself as you grab some European import lager and shut the fridge.

You sit in the same seat as this morning and watch as your mom scrolls through Instagram with one hand as she slurps on her wine with the other. You tap out a rhythm on the counter with your fingertips.

“So, did you want to chat or?”

“Hmmm?” Your mom asks without even looking up. You roll your eyes and decide to change tactics.

“Dave home yet?”

“Grumpy bastard’s sulking in his man cave, seems like his evening was a bummer.” She actually fucking laughs. Your blood boils as you shake your head, you feel like you should apologise, especially now. You were taking your frustrations out on the wrong person, even if you are still mad at Dave, he clearly was having the worst night of you all.

“At least he’s got a burger to cheer him up.” You grumble to yourself as you look down the hall, you can see the basement door is open. You wonder if you should go down there to say you’re sorry.

“Oh that crap? I threw it out, you know I don’t like that garbage in the house.”

“Alright, well, this was nice.” You sigh as you head back to the fridge, downing your beer before getting two fresh ones.

“Night hon.” You mom calls after you absently as you hear the glug of wine as she refills her glass.

“Night mom.”

You could almost laugh at the ridiculous nature of the evening if you weren’t feeling so damned furious at the whole fucked up situation.

“Hey, Dave, you down there?”

You call down the stairwell, not wanting to disturb him if he was busy, or wanted to be left alone. You hear your name called from within and the way Dave says it with such hope has you biting your lip.

“Come on down, if you want?”

You don’t answer, instead just heading down without a word, beer bottles in hand as you peer into the so-called “man cave”. In reality it’s a pretty modest space, dark red carpet, mahogany panelled walls.

Dave is sprawled out on an L-shaped sofa in the middle of the room, his suit and fedora replaced by a tired looking green USMC t-shirt and grey sweatpants. His feet are bare, propped up on a glass coffee table as some sci-fi show plays on the tv. The domesticity of the scene makes you smile.  

“I come baring a peace offering.” You say as you hold up the beers in your hand, hovering near the end of the sofa as Dave pauses the show.

“With my own beer?” He teases as you sit down next to him, his face set in a teasing smirk as you hand him one of the bottles.

“I’ve lived here less than two days Dave, I’ve not had a chance to do groceries, so take what you’re given.”

“You’re something else.” Dave huffs before you clink bottles in a casual toast.

“Yeah, you’re not the first man to tell me that.” You say with a soft, humourless chuckle. Dave doesn’t press, but you notice the furrow in his brow as he registers your tone.

“Look, I’m sorry, I know this can’t be easy, with me and your mom, and our,” He pauses, waving his free hand in the air as he tries to find the right words, “Situation.”

“Nah, I’ve been a moody bitch since I landed, I over-reacted, and I don’t have any right to be mad, or pass judgement here.”

“You’re not a bitch, but I appreciate it, thanks.”

There’s a pause in the conversation as you both sip pensively on your drinks. It’s not uncomfortable or weird, just a natural lapse in the conversation.

“So, the blues band?” You say with a raised eyebrow, your lips set in a mischievous grin.

“Yeah,” Dave rolls his eyes before taking a long swig of his drink, you have to stop yourself watching the way his neck muscles ripple as he swallows, “What’d you think? Honestly?”

“Honestly?” You waggle your eyebrows at him, “It was very Duke Silver of you, very cool.”

Dave frowns, confusion apparent on his face as you realise he has no clue who that is.

“Oh shit, you’ve never watched Parks and Rec?” You exclaim as you reach for the remote on the coffee table.

“Afraid not.” Dave smiles at your enthusiasm, letting you flick onto YouTube on his smart TV without protest.

“Ok so, don’t bother with the first season, unless you’re some kind of completionist,” You ramble on as you bring up a clip of Nick Offerman playing the sax as Duke Silver, “But it’s great, really witty and fun, and a great way to pass the time, could probably use it to stave off the boredom on your business trips.”

You don’t notice it, but Dave flinches at the mention of his job. He wipes away the grimace before you’re done speaking, plastering a fake smile on his lips as he looks to the screen. His eyes light up as the clip starts. You scoot a little closer to him, eager to see his reaction.

“Hey, that’s Nick Offerman, from The Last of Us!” He points excitedly at the screen as you sit back, watching his reaction to the clip.

“That’s based on a game right?”

“You’ve not seen it? Damn, it’s good!” Dave responds with a shake of his head as he watches the performance.

“I’ll watch it if you promise to watch Parks and Rec?”

“Deal.”

“Oh and I’m ordering pizza, seeing as mom threw out a perfectly good midnight snack, you want anything?”

“If you’re buying?” Dave grins at you before looking back to the Duke Silver compilation, “Damn, that man can actually play the sax!”

“Oh you’re going to love his character in this, I just know it.”

You spend the rest of the night watching the first few episodes of the second season of Parks and Rec, drinking beer, and eating pizza. You catch Dave up on the plot of the first season and he seems to be content with that, already hooked from the first episode.

Dave’s laugh is infectious, and you can’t help but lean in a little as the night goes on.

~*~

Eventually you fall asleep, and Dave keeps watching, turning the volume down as to not disturb you. By the time he’s ready to go to bed it’s gone three in the morning. He covers you with a throw blanket and clears up the beer bottles and pizza boxes before hauling your passed-out mother, still hunched over the breakfast island, to bed.

He descends the stairs to the basement and as expected, you’re still out like a light, snoring gently on the sofa. He pauses for a brief moment, watching your sleeping form for too long to be considered appropriate, but he doesn’t care, not tonight. He flicks the light off and pads into his office, leaving the door ajar just enough so that if you need him, he would hear you.

Dave climbs into bed and smiles to himself. He can’t remember the last time he felt so at peace, nor had such a good night in. He drifts off to the memory of your laughter and the way you fell asleep against him.

He definitely didn’t wrap his arm around you over the back of the sofa at some point during the night, and he certainly did not let you fall asleep against his chest. No, that would have been wrong. So very wrong.

Even if it did feel so right.

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[best-td2021-ship]

SEEKING PROPAGANDA!

THE RESULTS ARE IN: 2026's top 88 ships have been decided and matched 🤩 but they could use more propaganda!

Ships in bold have received ZERO or only emojis, but I'm still taking more for the others too! 🩶

SHIPS BELOW THE CUT

Round 1 matchups:

1) Jarlo (Jared x Milo) vs Vicaige (Vic x Paige)

2) Coled (Cole x Jared) vs Chadlie (Chad x Charlie)

3) #Joke (Jordan x Mike) vs Bamboe (Bambi x Chloe)

4) Drewstyna (Drew x Chrystyna) vs Meric (Matt x Beric)

5) Adios (Ada x Rio) vs Sethdan (Seth x Jordan)

6) Cordarren (Cordelia x Darren) vs Haybell (Hayden x Izzy)

7) Dannola (Dannie x Lola) vs Vicdan (Vic x Jordan)

8) Andred (Drew x Jared) vs Colie (Cole x Charlie)

9) Jordstyna (Jordan x Chrystyna) vs Paigike (Paige x Mike)

10) The Babes (Darren x Milo x Paige x Vic) vs Colestyna (Cole x Chrystyna)

11) Loss (Leaf x Moss) vs Bambola (Bambi x Lola)

12) Danole (Daniel x Cole) vs Mikrew (Mike x Drew)

13) Chlostyna (Chloe x Chrystyna) vs Mikecest (Mike x himself)

14) Darrestyna (Darren x Chrystyna) vs Charcola (Charlie x Cole x Lola)

15) Mosslie (Moss x Charlie) vs Lizola (Liza x Lola)

16) Chrysambie (Chrystyna x Bambi) vs ">6'0"" (Drew x Leaf x Vic x Darren)

17) Coledan (Cole x Jordan) vs Libdan (Libby x Jordan)

18) Jordola (Jordan x Lola) vs Chleaf (Chloe x Leaf)

19) Charlola (Charlie x Lola) vs Milke (Milo x Mike)

20) Lolaniel (Lola x Daniel) vs Jordarren (Jordan x Darren)

21) Lizaniel (Liza x Daniel) vs Mikribby (Mike x Drew x Libby)

22) Darrike (Darren x Mike) vs Cola (Cole x Lola)

23) Chadarren (Chad x Darren) vs Vichloestyna (Vic x Chloe x Chrystyna)

24) O'ković (Piper x Mads) vs Cordeliannisa (Cordelia x Annisa)

25) Annielric (Annisa x Daniel x Beric) vs Channisa (Charlie x Annisa)

26) Dannisa (Dannie x Annisa) vs Julison (Julian x Addison)

27) Rodrusso (Rio x Paige) vs Julidan (Julian x Jordan)

28) Haystyna (Hayden x Chrystyna) vs The Last Placers (Leaf x Manny x Mike x Jordan x Isaac)

29) Colennisambi (Cole x Annisa x Bambi) vs Paibbyden (Paige x Libby x Hayden)

30) Loleveryone (Lola x the rest of the cast) vs Riodan (Rio x Jordan)

31) Lizanison (Liza x Daniel x Addison) vs Piperio (Piper x Rio)

32) Cassilo (Cassie x Milo) vs Russanwallaghan (Paige x Annisa x Cordelia x Piper)

33) Roxaige (Roxy x Paige) vs Danison (Daniel x Addison)

34) Isaac² (Isaac x Izzy) vs Skaterclown (Hayden x Rio)

35) "<5'5"" (Annisa x Cassie x Jared x Jordan x Liv x Lola) vs Isaannie (Isaac x Dannie)

36) Emoskaterclown (Izzy x Hayden x Rio) vs Maddisola (Mads x Addison x Lola)

37) Pipdelia (Piper x Cordelia) vs Darrizzy (Darren x Izzy)

38) Dads (Dannie x Mads) vs Cordarrener (Cordelia x Darren x Piper)

39) Lolnat (Lola x Nat) vs Bedwic (Bedward x Vic)

40) Bearic (Bear x Beric) vs Jarent (Jared x Vent)

41) Jorsther (Jordan x Esther) vs Chlivesther (Chloe x Liv x Esther)

42) Jeren (Jeremy the intern x Ren) vs Berony (Beric x getting stranded on Boney Island)

43) Matt x Viewer vs Matt x Beric x Viewer

44) Beric x Viewer vs Chrystyna x Viewer

[mappingthemoon]

Movies/TV Watched 2023

The Postman Always Rings Twice / Bob Rafelson (1981)

Secretary* / Steven Shainberg (2002)

Spirited Away* / Hayao Miyazaki (2001)

Watcher / Chloe Okuno (2022)

The Talented Mr. Ripley / Anthony Minghella (1999)

Pride & Prejudice / Joe Wright (2005)

Moonage Daydream / Brett Morgan (2022)

Volver / Pedro Almodóvar (2006)

Belfast / Kenneth Branagh (2021)

The Last Picture Show / Peter Bogdanovich (1971)

I, Tonya / Craig Gillespie (2017)

The Postman Always Rings Twice / Tay Garnett (1946)

Rocketman / Dexter Fletcher (2019)

The Unholy / Evan Spiliotopoulos (2021)

Mara / Clive Tonge (2018)

Frogs / George McCowan (1972)

Prometheus / Ridley Scott (2012)

Men / Alex Garland (2022)

All the Right Moves / Michael Chapman (1983)

Poseidon / Wolfgang Petersen (2006)

Saint Maud / Rose Glass (2019)

Monstrous / Chris Sivertson (2022)

Wander Darkly / Tara Miele (2020)

Howl’s Moving Castle / Hayao Miyazaki (2004)

Iris / Albert Maysles (2014)

Lamb / Valdimar Jóhannsson (2021)

In Fabric / Peter Strickland (2018)

The Elephant 6 Recording Co. / C.B. Stockfleth (2022)

The Visitor / Justin P. Lange (2022)

Smile / Parker Finn (2022)

Yellowjackets [szn 1-2] (2021-2022)

It Comes at Night / Trey Edward Shults (2017)

Everything Everywhere All at Once / Daniel Kwan, Daniel Scheinert (2022)

Black Bear / Lawrence Michael Levine (2020)

mother! / Darren Aronofsky (2017)

Weird: The Al Yankovic Story / Eric Appel (2022)

X / Ti West (2022)

I Heart Huckabees* / David O. Russell (2004)

The Right Stuff / Philip Kaufman (1983)

Goliath Awaits / Kevin Connor (1981)

Poltergeist* / Tobe Hooper (1982)

Doctor Who [TV Movie]* / Geoffrey Sax (1996)

Earthstorm / Terry Cunningham (2006)

Lake Eerie / Chris Majors (2016)

Fantastic Planet* / René Laloux (1973)

Synecdoche, New York* / Charlie Kaufman (2008)

Flight of the Navigator* / Randal Kleiser (1986)

NOPE / Jordan Peele (2022)

Women Talking / Sarah Polley (2022)

Striking Distance / Rowdy Herrington (1993)

Vivarium / Lorcan Finnegan (2019)

Saw* / James Wan (2004)

A Peculiar Noise / Jorge Torres-Torres (2016)

In the Earth / Ben Wheatley (2021)

Cats 2 / Jake Jones (2023)

Bringing Out the Dead* / Martin Scorsese (1999)

The Last Blockbuster / Taylor Morden (2020)

The Dance of Reality / Alejandro Jodorowsky (2013)

In the Mouth of Madness / John Carpenter (1994)

The Chamber / Ben Parker (2016)

Tenet / Christopher Nolan (2020)

Synchronic / Justin Benson, Aaron Moorhead (2019)

Paprika / Satoshi Kon (2006)

The Menu / Mark Mylod (2022)

Sunshine / Danny Boyle (2007)

Devil’s Island / Sean King, Taylor King (2021)

Benedetta / Paul Verhoeven (2021)

Scotland, PA* / Billy Morrissette (2001)

The Cook, the Thief, His Wife & Her Lover / Peter Greenaway (1989)

The Color of Pomegranates* / Sergei Parajanov (1969)

Face/Off* / John Woo (1997)

E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial / Steven Spielberg (1982)

The Gilded Age (PBS American Experience) / Sarah Colt (2018)

Aniara / Pella Kågerman, Hugo Lilja (2018)

How the Grinch Stole Christmas* / Chuck Jones, Ben Washam (1966)

The Quake / John Andreas Andersen (2018)

The Guilty / Gustav Möller (2018)

The Muppet Christmas Carol* [VHS] / Brian Henson (1992)

M3GAN / Gerard Johnstone (2022)

Caught / Jamie Patterson (2017)

Shot / Jeremy Kagan (2017)

A Charlie Brown Christmas* / Bill Melendez (1965)

Body at Brighton Rock / Roxanne Benjamin (2019)

Trancers / Charles Band (1984)

Higher Power / Matthew Charles Santoro (2018)

*Asterisk = rewatch

Favorites first watched in 2023: Men, In Fabric, Yellowjackets, Everything Everywhere All at Once, mother!, NOPE, The Dance of Reality. (ETA: Vivarium and Aniara, which I wouldn't necessarily call "favorites" but they've stuck with me.)

Favorite rewatches: Secretary, I Heart Huckabees, Poltergeist, Bringing Out the Dead

[drugsforaddicts]

9 people you’d like to get to know better!

Thanks for tagging me @frikatilhi!

three ships: Let's get Bojere out of the way first because everyone knows that about me already. But I'm still very fond of SouMako (Free!) and oh god, I can't pick just 3 because Darren/Evra, Darren/Steve and Kurda/Glalda (Darren Shan) always and forever

first ship: I srsly can't remember. Louis & Lestat maybe? I was really into lotr and hp ships too and then came all the anime boys and...

last song: Watch me burn - Lansdowne

last film: Saw X

currently reading: I haven't touched a book in years because I can't sit still for a second; I need to be doing six things at the same time. But last night, I was reading a couple of Bojere fics before forcing myself to sleep. Now that I started thinking about Darren Shan, I think I might have to try and start reading that series again since I have it in both Finnish and English. I need angst, I need drama, I need tears. I need to feel something.

currently watching: Temptation Island and Captain Laserhawk but I also binge watched the Devil's Plan while drawing and being sick (and it was so good, really enjoyed it!)

currently consuming: Just some random berry juice

currently craving: nothing

Tagging everyone who wants to do this.

[visionsofmagic]

❉ from sweet to hot ❉

a/n: soo, after writing a story about Lance I wanted to write one for Darren because I am fond of him, he is so cute! He is my second favorite lover after Lance so I will keep writing about Lance and Darren probably. if you have any other request for other lovers, you can write them to me or in comment!

also, I want to write a series about this game because I want to add some plot scenes of lovers as well to the main story of the game. I hope I will begin to write soon, so new stories will come, don’t forget that!

enjoy the story!

character/pairing: Darren (from King’s Choice Game) x f!reader

summary: as being the new queen of the island, y/n, has some sweet moments with her inventor, darren, but sweet moments turn into hot ones.

word count: 1.2k

warning!: darren comes to story after a time so some of you can see spoiler in this story, so, be aware.

fluff, kissing, short story, sweet moments, intimacy, teasing (a little), and from fluff to hot

⇁ ⇁ ⇁

The kingdom is going to be better from day to day thanks to your management style of it; people have began to love you, honor you and to see you as one of their own. You always appreciate their behavior and feelings towards you because you was like a scared little cat in the first place. You didn’t know what to do, how to do things right and you had so many hard times to replace your family’s place. People said, ‘How can this lady rule our home, our country?’ over and over again. It took some time for them to get used to you. So, you had hard times. However, you never regretted. You never gave up either. You keep trying your best to make people assimilate your presence. You protected some of your people who are just trying to keep living with their jobs that they love to do.

One of these people was Darren. Darren is a cute man who is someone your age. He has a red colored hair and he is fond of inventing and developing new things with his weird tools which really impress you. The first time you saw him was the moment that he had an argue with one of your knights, Greg, while he is trying to took Darren’s tools away from him because his inventions were not that good at those times. You were surprised at that moment. Things that Darren invented or developed were new to you. You were amazed that he was so committed to what he was doing despite his constant failure. That’s why you offered him the chance to work in your kingdom, keep doing inventions but this time with kingdom’s supplies.

Besides all that, there was another reason you wanted to help him but you kept denying it because the reason was that you began to feel a special feeling towards Darren. It was there like the sun. You kept denying it, yes, but you kept visiting Darren again and again. You visited him in your good days, bad days and ordinary days. You didn’t need to a reason to visit him because you always tell him that you came to his work place in order to see how he was doing. You said that you visit every special worker of the kingdom. Yes, you visited them, it was true but you never visited them as much as you did with Darren.

So, here you were; leaning against the large wooden desk of his large, tool-filled study room right in front of Darren who is currently working on his new invention with great focusing. One of his built arms was your sight and you were able to see his arm muscle’s contracting and hardening movements before your eyes from the work he was doing. You wondered how a person could be cute and hot at the same time.

“What are you working on Darren?” You asked.

He turned at you while smiling widely, “I will not tell my lord. You have to wait to see it!” You nodded. You knew that you had to wait ‘till Darren being ready to share his invention with you, after making the perfect one. “Okay Darren, I will wait, don’t worry.”

You loved watching him. You loved his facial expressions and body movements while he was doing his beloved job. The love in his eyes made you happy but you wanted him to look at you like that too.

You took a deep breath which made Darren to look at you for a second before going back to his work, “Do you feel bored my highness? I am truly sorry that I can not make you feel excited but my new invention will make you better, believe me my lord!”

You chuckled at his words, he was really a gentleman. “Don’t worry Darren, I am not bored and please don’t call me with ‘my lord’ title when we are alone. Call me with my name, please.”

He nodded, not looking at you directly, “As you wish, y/n.”

You raised one eyebrow; did he just say your name in a hot tone or you just did you misunderstand because you wanted to hear him say in that tone? You didn’t know the answer but you wanted to hear your name coming from him in that way for one more time. You left your place, walking towards Darren which made him tense a little. You smiled because you knew that this tensing was good, not bad. He was really different today, you admitted. So, you didn’t see any reason not to tease with him. “And Darren,” You said his name in low tone too. He didn’t turn to your side but you knew that he was listening you carefully, “I never feel bored while I am with you.” You saw his hands be stunned for a second. You felt brave thanks to his body language that gave you hint of the fact that he liked where this conversation will go. You liked too.

“I really like watching you Darren.” You kept saying his name.

He stopped doing his job and turned to you, “Y/n,” Your heart stopped hitting for a second. The way he said your name was exciting. “I really like when you watch me.” His voice was different. A moment ago, his voice was all innocent and sweet but now, it was low and has a little feverish tone, causing your skin to burn with sudden heat.

There was no word that comes from you. There was just you and him, staring to each other’s eyes with intense looking, as if knowing things that will happen soon. You wondered whether his body heated like yours did, whether his heart began to bit like yours did, whether he was ready for it like you or not.

Your questions answered when he stood up, turning his whole body to you. He took two steps to stay right in front of you. Both of your body wasn’t touching but it was not a reason to keep your body to heat up more. You realized how his body was built after he stood up. Most of the times, you focused on his face and hands but now, his tall and muscular body was standing right in front of you and you saw how much good he was looking. You really liked him. Maybe, loving him more than liking.

“Tell me, y/n,” He said, “Do you want to watch me doing different things?” You were too stunned to speak. Was he really trying to raise your intimacy to a level that no one has*?

You tried to speak but your voice didn’t come out. Darren smirked at you. Then, his forefinger touched your chin to lift it up. Now, your head was right under him, lips are ready to meet with each other and eyes are focused on each other. “I am waiting for your answer, y/n.”  You swallowed from thirst of your mouth. The strings were in his hands now. He looked like having the power of a king which made your body tensed in excitement.

You wet your mouth to sound smooth, “I want,” You said, “I want to watch you while you making different things Darren.”

“I see.”

This was the last word he said before kissing you deeply and keeping kissing every place of your body ‘till the night. The night that Darren showed you the most beautiful view to behold.

⇁ ⇁ ⇁

a/n: * In here, I wrote ‘no one has’ because even if we know that y/n or mc of the game will have other lovers, like Ian who introduced as first lover in the beginning of the story, I wanted to make Darren one truly lover in this story because I just write this story to him, not for other lovers. So, you can imagine Darren as your one truly lover or you can think about other lovers as well. For the second option you can read that part as, ‘Was he really trying to raise your intimacy to a level that just a few people have?’

⇁ ⇁ ⇁

love, rose. ♡

[clarasteam]

I posted 1,072 times in 2022

15 posts created (1%)

1,057 posts reblogged (99%)

says it all, really - this is what happens when I'm not writing fic...

Blogs I reblogged the most:

@amarguerite

@tirlaeyn

@philosopherking1887

@thesandscholar

@johannestevans

I tagged 920 of my posts in 2022

Only 14% of my posts had no tags

#ds9 - 163 posts

#garak x bashir - 80 posts

#ofmd - 44 posts

#garak - 29 posts

#julian bashir - 27 posts

#well this is timely - 17 posts

#writing with a stick - 16 posts

#andy robinson - 16 posts

#poetry - 16 posts

#fandom friends are best friends - 15 posts

Longest Tag: 95 characters

#now thinking about aj hall's post on the great nutrax row (the mother of all office kerfuffles)

My Top Posts in 2022:

#5

Chapters: 1/1 Fandom: Slings & Arrows Rating: Teen And Up Audiences Warnings: Creator Chose Not To Use Archive Warnings Relationships: Darren Nichols/Geoffrey Tennant Characters: Geoffrey Tennant, Darren Nichols, Ellen Fanshaw, Original Characters Additional Tags: Pre-Canon Series: Part 2 of A Tale of Two Islands Summary:

“It’s a judgement on you, Geoffrey,” Darren said. “You keep saying you want realism. Now you’ve got it.”

  Epidaurus, 1981. Geoffrey Tennant’s artistic career gets a little help from the local marine life.

5 notes - Posted January 28, 2022

#4

made some fic progress for the first time since September 2021

gif by @almaviva90​, used with permission

6 notes - Posted January 22, 2022

#3

8 notes - Posted July 7, 2022

#2

from backstage.com [for some reason this won't let me post a working link]

15 notes - Posted April 6, 2022

My #1 post of 2022

@idlesuperstar reminded me how much I love Murder Must Advertise, and also the wonderful and much missed AJ Hall's post about The Great Nutrax Row (The Mother of All Office Kerfuffles).

GNU legionseagle.

40 notes - Posted December 7, 2022

I'm glad this is the top post, as it should be. GNU legionseagle.

Get your Tumblr 2022 Year in Review →

[wahbegan]

Five children's stories or animated shows that if adapted to live action with a more adult theme would make the best horror movies?

Well, unfortunately for you lovers of bimbo listification this is gonna be more of an essay than a cohesive list because fuck you i do what i want

Children's stories is pretty vague, i mean we all know and have seen horror adaptations of some of that shit. Hansel and Gretel comes to mind, Little Red Riding Hood if you took it a similar arthouse A24 direction, there's The Three Billy Goats Gruff, which inspired both Stephen King's It and Mike Flanagan's first film, Absentia. Then there's Alice's Adventures in Wonderland, which definitely CAN be made very dark and surreal horror, but it still comes across as incredibly Edgy as American McGee discovered to his edgelord cost

If you're talking about like kids' books, i'm not super familiar, i mean obviously there's a ton of young adult books with horrifying shit in them a la The Keys to the Kingdom. Oh, Darren Shan's Demonata, which just were straight-up horror i haven't the faintest idea why they thought that shit was okay to market to kids.

The thing is, i'm generally pretty against the grimdarkification of children's media, particularly animation. It tends to be boring and it carries this unnecessary baggage of having been children's media first so any attempt to make it adult is already a fool's errand. And i know we all have this weird ingrained idea like live-action movies or shows for adults are the highest form of media, but there's shit that just doesn't work in that medium just like anything else.

That SAAAAID I have a few ideas of things that maybe could have been horror movies instead of kids’ shows aaaaand idk i'll do my best, because i'm a good sport.

I mean, the other problem is that i can remember EPISODES of kids' shows that would make good horror movies. Samurai Jack XXXV: "Jack and the Haunted House" springs to mind since i just watched it. There was also the Teen Titans Episode "Fear Itself," which set itself up basically like a horror movie. But then, of course, we're adapting a show adapting comic books, so we're really adapting comic books, so idk if that even counts

But the point is, neither of those shows have horror or even spookiness as the principal underlying theme.

Shows like that, i can only think of three. Scooby-Doo, hear me through, don't interrupt. It would have to be a horror-comedy, and not an edgy one. Like...Tucker and Dale vs Evil. The shit happening is horrifying, but Tucker and Dale are very wholesome dudes trying their best. That kind of thing. You can't fuck with Mystery Inc.'s characterization but as Zombie Island and that one scene from the live action movie that scared the shit out of me as a kid proved, you CAN make the world they live in scary. Assuming you don't absolutely shit the creature design looking at u Scoby-Doo 2 Monsters Unleashed

Then there's Martin Mystery, which i remember fondly as having genuinely unsettling monsters of the week that were pretty unique twists on classic fairy tale and mythological monsters but unfortunately, i tried to watch it again recently due to said fond memories and turns out it's a bit crap. BUT y'know the whole Paranormal X-Files theme is as good as any you're gonna get from a kid's show.

And finally, Courage the Cowardly Dog, which you could change VERY little about and have it translate to horror. Hell, if anything, making it live action but just keeping certain characters animated in weird ways would make it more surreal and unnerving. Freaky Fred haunts my nightmares

I hope that was enough half-assed answers to satisfy you, i wasn't keeping count but you did ask me a loaded question and i'm not watchmojo

[flowerfan2]

I posted 600 times in 2022

25 posts created (4%)

575 posts reblogged (96%)

Blogs I reblogged the most:

@flowerfan2

@kedreeva

@steverogersnotebook

@pterawaters

@dietraumerei

I tagged 221 of my posts in 2022

#ofmd - 40 posts

#our flag means death - 37 posts

#patrick brewer - 22 posts

#david rose - 22 posts

#david x patrick - 22 posts

#schitt's creek - 21 posts

#dan levy - 19 posts

#schitt's creek fic - 16 posts

#reblog - 14 posts

#noah reid - 13 posts

Longest Tag: 103 characters

#i didn’t even realize this post was from a darren fan but my mind went instantly to darren’s italy film

My Top Posts in 2022:

#5

My friend @sunlightsymphony​ has made a beautiful podfic of Lonesome Road - it’s a joy to listen to.  This angsty Zimbits fic with a happy ending is one of my favorites.  I wrote it for the Heartbreak Fest in 2017, so please note the tags/tw.  Enjoy the podfic, it’s amazing!

Summary:  After rehab, Jack leaves home, unable to face his parents and the legacy he failed to uphold. He gets work as a truck driver and enjoys the relative solitude of it for a few years, until the day he picks up a hitch-hiking runaway from Georgia.

22 notes - Posted May 22, 2022

#4

I’m not sure if anyone is still following me for SC content, but my new story is now posting on A03!  Chapter 1 is here - I’ll be posting every other day or so, and will post again on Tumblr when it is complete.  You can read the first story in the series here: One Night in Milwaukee.  Please reblog and spread the love, and thank you for reading!

Summary:  Patrick is hiding something from David, and if he’s being honest, David’s hiding something too. It’s making them both miserable. When Marcy asks them to go to the Brewers’ house in Florida as a favor, David agrees. Maybe a week in the sunshine will help them find their way back to each other.

22 notes - Posted February 8, 2022

#3

Lighthouse Tavern

I couldn’t help myself - here’s my take on the inevitable Ed/Stede post-Season 1 reunion.  Read on A03 here.  And please reblog and spread the love!

⚓️

It’s a slow night in the bar.  Ed occupies himself drying glasses and giving the ever-sticky counter another half-hearted swipe.  He wishes the group of increasingly drunk regulars in the back would leave already, so that he could go home and be done with his day.  Although he’ll just have to get up the next morning and do the same thing over again, so it really doesn’t make much difference.

It’s been almost two years since he was shipwrecked off the coast of this small Caribbean island north of Barbados.  Ed’s bar is a simple place, not infamous like Spanish Jackie’s, but appreciated by the fishermen who stop by to forget their troubles.  He doesn’t water the liquor - much - and he doesn’t try to give advice.  He just serves drinks.

Ed doesn’t see many of the people he used to know.  Izzy disappeared after the shipwreck, and most of the crew members that survived didn’t want anything to do with Ed.  It was just as well, Ed had realized quickly, because he didn’t have to try to be anything anymore - not what Izzy wanted, not what Stede’s crew wanted, nothing.  He could just be Ed, a guy who wanted to run a bar.

Of course that was a joke too.  Running a bar wasn’t particularly interesting, or fun.  Not by himself.  

He limps out from behind the bar and begins wiping down the tables, hoping that the group in the back will take the hint.  His knee is hurting more than usual tonight.  He had banged it up good during the shipwreck, turning what was already a bum knee into a permanent problem.  Even more reason to close up and get home before the wind picks up.

Finally the last patrons leave, the least wrecked of them tossing a tip on the table and giving Ed a sloppy wave goodbye.  Ed picks up the coins and their beer glasses, retreating behind the bar once more to close out the till.

After he finishes, he quickly glances around to be sure no one else is hiding in a side booth or passed out under a table, and then withdraws a teacup from a hidden cabinet.  It is a dainty thing, adorned with faded pink roses on the outside and a thin gold band along the rim.  Ed sets it in front of him on the counter as he makes the tea, then adds a small amount of sugar and raises the cup to his lips, holding his pinky finger out just so as he had seen Stede do.  

Ed doesn’t hate himself anymore, not like he used to.  His anger at himself and at Stede has long burned out, in the months after he learned of Stede’s death.  He likes to think this nightly ritual is an appropriate way of honoring Stede’s memory, one that his friend would have appreciated.

He’s not sure that Stede would approve of the Lighthouse Tavern.  It’s got crooked floors and mismatched bar stools and a distinct lack of fine fabrics.  Ed’s place is a far cry from the place they had laughed about, Blackbeard’s Bar and Grill with its delicacies and gift shop.  Ed couldn’t bear to name it that, and anyway, Blackbeard is long gone.  But this place is safe, and it’s his, and Ed can at least live out his days here without engaging in yet more violence and mayhem.  If it isn’t exactly what his heart desires, well, he had his chance, and he let it get away from him.

Ed used to wonder why Stede didn’t show up that night, whether he had pushed too hard, or whether Stede decided that the neutered version of Blackbeard that Ed had become wasn’t interesting enough for him.  When he was being honest with himself, he knew it wasn’t the latter.  In their last conversation on the beach, Stede was happy, Ed was sure of it.  Ed knew Stede wasn’t lying when he said that Ed made him happy.

If Stede had then simply gotten scared, scared of committing to a new life with Ed as his unexpected, socially unacceptable partner, well, Ed could understand that.  He could forgive it, even, and he had, although not soon enough.  

He still can’t help think about what he might have done instead of fleeing to the <i>Revenge</i> and letting the kraken emerge.  He might have gone to look for Stede, figured out where he had gone.  What would have happened if he had shown up at Stede’s house?  Would Mary have invited him in for a cup of tea, served in delicate china trimmed in gold?  Would Stede have sat outside with him as the stars came out, explaining what had gone wrong?  Would Ed have been able to change his mind about giving up a life with him?

In his long list of regrets, that’s the one that tops them all - that he didn’t go after Stede.  

Shaking his head, he finishes his tea and gives the cup a wash, then sets it carefully inside the cabinet.  He doesn’t even have a proper saucer to go with it, or a teaspoon.  But it’s enough to give him a taste of the pageantry that Stede so sweetly taught him.  He smiles, remembering the light and mischief he loved in Stede’s eyes.

Ed is startled by the sound of the door, and curses to himself as he realizes that he forgot to lock it closed.  He quickly checks to make sure his gun is within reach as Jim enters and strides over to the bar.

Jim had shown up here six months ago, mad as hell at Ed until Ed happened to mention that he had a lead on where Jim could find Oluwande and the rest of the pirates Ed had left stranded on a tiny island.  The fact that Jim hasn’t yet stabbed Ed gives Ed some reassurance that his lead panned out.

“Something to drink, mate?” Ed asks, already placing a heavy whiskey glass on the counter.  Jim is soaked through from the rain battering down outside, and Ed is tempted to offer a mug of hot chocolate instead.  But Jim might still try to kill him, and he’s not inclined to make nice just yet.

Jim sets their hat down on the counter and nods towards a bottle.  “That’ll do.”  They drink down the liquid and lean back, fixing Ed with a steady gaze.

“Any luck?”

They both know what Ed is talking about.

“Yup.”  A smile flashes quickly across Jim’s face, hidden almost before Ed can see it.

He doesn’t press.  He doesn’t need to know where Olu is now, or the details of Jim’s life with him.  But he’s glad that they found each other.  They didn’t deserve to be caught in the wake of Ed’s self-loathing.

Jim finishes their drink but doesn’t leave, and the hairs on the back of Ed’s neck bristle.

“You still living in that little shithole house on the cliff?”  Jim asks.

“Fucking rude.”  At least with Jim he doesn’t have to try to interpret any passive aggression.  Just pure aggression.  “And yes.”  The moment stretches, and Jim just stares at him, then lets their gaze wander to the door.  “Something else you wanted to say?”

Jim appears to consider this for a long moment, then shakes their head. “No.”  They put their hat back on, nod curtly at Ed, and leave, their long coat still dripping rainwater.

Ed sighs.  He’s not surprised - never thought that Jim could be a friend, not after everything he did.  Okay, maybe he’s a little disappointed that they didn’t at least stay for a few more minutes.  But being alone is nothing new.  He’s used to it.

See the full post

27 notes - Posted April 19, 2022

#2

56 notes - Posted April 17, 2022

My #1 post of 2022

Writing is the only thing that, when I do it, I don’t feel I should be doing something else.

Gloria Steinem

84 notes - Posted June 12, 2022

Get your Tumblr 2022 Year in Review →

[uselessshit13]

January 6

59 Ray Gunkel Don McIntyre Georgia international tag champs

59 Joe Christy Texas brassnucks champion

62 fritz Von Goering pacific northwest champion

65 Tony Borne Argentina Apollo Texas tag team champs

66 Stan stasiak mighty ursus pacific northwest tag champs

67 Larry Henning Harley Race AWA tag champs

68 Mike DiBiase AWA Midwest champion

68 Kintaro ohki michiaki Yoshimura all Asian tag champs

69 the mighty Yankees Memphis southern tag champs

69 Karl Von stroheim treach Phillips tri state us tag champs

70 ciclon negro jack Brisco Florida tag champs

73 bockwinkel and Steven's awa tag champs

74 hurricane Castillo Don Serrano wwc north America tag champs

74 Jose Miguel Perez wwc Puerto Rico champion

78 Leo Burke stampede North America champion

79 Don Kent WWC Caribbean champion

79 Dynamite kid stampede British commonwealth mid heavyweight champion

80 Ronnie Garvin icw Southeastern champion

82 Pierre Martel WWC Caribbean champion

84 Hercules Ayala King Tonga WWC world tag champs

84 Harley Race Missouri champion

85 Brian Blair Florida champion

85 negro Navarro uwa junior light heavyweight champion

85 Sheephearders WWC North America tag champs

85 Joe salvodi al Perez wwc tag champs

86 buddy roberts world class ch 11 champion

86 Norvell Austin Southeastern champion

86 Brad Armstrong Southeastern TV champ

87 Youngbloods wwc world tag champs

87 gran mendoza bob Heffernan wwc North America tag champs

88 invaders 1 3 wwc tag champs

89 Tama the islander Dan Kroffatt wwc tag champs

90 Harley Race wwc Caribbean champion

90 nasty boys Florida tag champs

91 miss a uwa women's international champion

92 Heartbreakers wwc tag champs

92 miguelito Perez WWC Caribbean champion

92 Dick Murdoch WWC TV champ

94 Mr pogo fnw brassnucks champion

96 Carlos Colon wwc universal champion

96 Sean Evans Vince Charming pwx tag champs

96 sweet brown sugar wwc TV champ

96 invader 1 wwc Puerto Rico champion

96 Abdullah the butcher wwc Caribbean champion

98 Mr gannosuke fmw independent world champion

99 Darren Dalton cwf Manitoba champion

99 Carlos Colon wwc universal champion

99 corporal Robinson iwa mid south champion

00 Val Venis Ricky Santana iwa tag champs

00 Shane the Glamour boy WWC TV champ

01 Carlos Colon WWC hard-core champion

01 a j styles nwa Georgia wildside TV champ

99 damaja David c ovw southern tag champs

01 suicidal tendency nwa Georgia tag champs

02 benkei dalkokubo bjw champion

02 shiniro otany Masato Tanaka zero 1 nwa intercontinental tag champs

02 minoru Fujita uwa junior heavyweight champion

03 Miguelito Perez Abyss iwa tag champs

03 Steve Corino zero 1 us champion

03 Lance Storm William Reagal WWE tag champs

04 chicana Stefano iwa tag champs

04 super gladiator vengador boricua wwc tag champs

04 quinten Lee Hwa TV champ

05 chicky star hurricane Castillo Jr wwc tag champs

05 Eddie Colon WWC universal champion

06 thunder lighting iwa tag champs

07 Eddie Colon wwc universal champion

07 Josie nwa Midwest women's champion

08 la artillery posada wwc tag champs

08 bj wwc TV champ

09 bison Miguel Perez Jr iwa tag champs

10 empio iwa extreme cruiserweight champion

10 la Doble r iwa tag champs

10 James Thomas ovw champion

12 Party Boys NWA smokey mtn tag champs

13 kayoko haruyama Tsubasa Kruragaki Daily sports women tag champs

16 Eric Young tna King of mountain champion

17 Iron Empire nwa world tag champs

18 Samantha Starr pwx women champion

19 shuichiro Katsumura independent junior heavyweight champion

19 rich Swann impact x division

19 Taya Valkyrie tna ko champion

[datshitrandom]

"[...] in Darren’s words, ‘could be the best show of the tour’!" - Canberra Theatre Centre

Darren Criss' Five-Stops Australian Tour | Canberra Theatre Centre | September 4 at 8PM | Buy Tickets 🎟️ | Other Stops

[helenaredamancy]

musical theatre performances are lovely (w/ links)

lots of stuff for newer fans esp, i put in lots of popular performances! a bit of west end but its mostly bway

im not letting anyone forget that time jonathan groff and BETTY GILPIN??? sang and kissed circa 2009 [x]

i would do anything for denee benton's natasha [x]

obligatory joshua colley mention! he sang seventeen w milly shapiro and i cannot wait for him to be back onstage [x]

also karen olivo sang your eyes from rent! [x]

a ton of hedwigs sing wig in a box together with varying levels of production value and Wigs [x]

jamie muscato singing laurie's song from little women (fly at me) [x]

jeremy jordan and cheyenne jackson ('sergeant handsome' or whatever from glee) singing from side show with jeremy jordan standing on a box hitting crazy notes [x]

rob houchen sings adele and i love it [x]

aaron tveit sings adele and i love it [x]

john gallagher jr and jenn damiano singing dont do sadness/blue wind (i keep forgetting she was in spring awakening) [x]

renee rapp celia gooding antonio cipriano+creep with this gorgeous moment where they go from chest to head voice in perfect harmony????? bro [x]

putting this here too but dwsa word of your body reprise,, i love it, the way the sign for 'bruise' gets used from the woyb to the reprise is so smart. THE ENDING!!! [x]

rob houchen singing a jazzy the man that got away cover [x]

ramin karimloo and colm wilkinson singing bring him home together [x]

norm lewis sierra boggess phantom point of no return [x]

antonio cipriano singing maria (it should've been him not a*nsel) [x]

best bway power couple (thank them for dwsa) michael arden and andy mientus singing a case of you as a duet and its really pretty and their harmonies are stunning [x] andy mientus also sang this with darren criss and its also really pretty [x]

also them singing vegas (tldr: two frat bros imagine going to vegas, written by the folks who wrote run away w me) [x]

another bway couple! jeremy jordan n ashley spencer singing a mariah mashup [x] and tie me up from island song [x]

also some cut songs from newsies circa 2011 [x]

christy altomare n derek klena singing their carrie duet you shine @ 54 below, complete with a little spin? i kinda just love their stage chemistry+ their voices together! pretty [x]

obligatory jamie muscato heathers performance since i think the tiktok audio of him is finally dead (personally i am obsessed with that bit where he sings the first 'i was meant to be yours' the SWITCH?? also the shirt pulls were nice) [x]

more heathers stuff but ryan mccartan singing dead girl walking from jd's pov [x]

aaron tveit and KELLI O HARA sing that judy garland duet [x]

[violetlilysunshine]

Plenty of Times

Boyfriend Chris Evans x Female Reader

Requested - Anon: Hey! Is it all right to request for Chris Evans where reader comes in after a girls night and just dotes on him and loves on him and its sickeningly fluffy and he’s like what’s gotten into you? and reader breaks down because one of her friends vented that her husband is abusive and neglectful and she sees how important it is to have a good man in her life 🤍

WC: 1,619

Warnings: Pet names [bubba, babe, honey], talk of a bad relationship [neglectful husband - but not about Chris/reader], mention of phone sex [but it doesn’t happen here]

A/N: I’m so so so so sorry this took so long, I’m working on clearing out my inbox though! 

IF YOUR NAME IS SCRATCHED OUT I CAN’T TAG YOU - I’VE STARTED REMOVING PEOPLE, SO IF IT’S NOT WORKING AND YOU WANT TO BE TAGGED SHOOT ME A MESSAGE AND WE’LL FIGURE IT OUT

MASTERLIST - Join my TAGLIST

You haven't gone out with your friends in so long. You’re all busy with your own stuff - work and relationships, some with kids to care for. So, when the opportunity arises, Chris encourages you to take advantage of it. 

The night was pretty simple, dinner, a couple of glasses of wine, and a few shared desserts before everyone was ready to head home. Most of your friends were not night owls like you by any standard, so when dinner wrapped up early, it was no surprise. At least that meant you got to go home to your man. 

“Bubba?” you called as you walked through the front door.

“In here,” he answered.

You followed his voice to the living room, finding him lounging on the chaise sofa, Dodger soundly asleep next to him. Some movie played on the screen; you hadn’t paid attention to it long enough to know what it was.

You headed to the connected kitchen, dropping your keys and purse on the island, hanging your jacket on the back of one of the barstools, and slipping out of your boots before hurrying back to Chris. 

He paused the movie when he heard you approach him from behind. You wrapped your arms around his shoulders, your hands splayed across his chest, as you pressed a long kiss to his temple. 

He hummed at the contact, placing one hand over the top of both of yours, before turning his neck to meet your lips with his. 

The kiss was sweet and simple, you could feel him smile against your lips as you lingered longer and longer into it. 

He chuckled when you finally pulled away, a big smile etched across his face and a glimmer in his eyes. 

You unraveled from his neck and stepped around the sofa. Dodger finally perked up when he heard you walking and you greeted him of course. 

“Hey, bub,” you whispered, scratching Dodger’s head for a second before turning to Chris, “can we cuddle?” you asked quietly. 

“Sure, babe, we can always cuddle,” he answered with a small smile, opening the blanket for you. 

You slipped under, resting between his legs with your back on his chest. He wrapped the blanket and his arms around you, splaying his palms over your upper chest and rubbing gently, just as you had done to him. You ran your nails over his arm as light as a feather with one hand, the other rested on top of his clasped hands, tangling your fingers with one set of his as best you could in this position. 

You tugged on his hand, pulling his arm further over your shoulder so you could place kisses on his bicep. 

“How was girl’s night?” he asked, placing a light kiss to the top of your head.

“Fine,” you whispered, squeezing his hands for a second, “was nice to see everyone. They all seemed to need a good vent,” you ended with a breathy chuckle.

You felt his laugh rumble through your body, “don’t they always?” he asked, another kiss being placed on top of your head as he looped his legs around yours.

“Seems like,” you giggled, stroking his calf with your foot. 

“Well I hope it was nice either way,” he said, “I’m glad you got to see them.” 

“Mm, yeah, me too,” you answered quietly.

He slipped one hand from your grasp to grab the remote, causing a whine to leave your lips, disappearing into his skin as you had your lips placed on his bicep again. 

He chuckled at the noise, “want me to start it over?” he nodded, making reference to the movie.

“No, it’s okay,” you whisper, pressing another lingering kiss to his arm. 

“You sure? I’m not that far into it...” 

“I’m sure, I won’t really be paying attention anyway.” 

“Why’s that?” he asked, you could hear the smirk in his voice.

“Can’t focus with you wrapped around me,” you giggled.

“Mm, yeah, sorry not sorry,” he laughed, playing the movie again.

You giggled, bringing his hand up to your lips to give it a kiss.

He gave his other hand back to you and you entwined your fingers with it as well, giving both of his hands small squeezes every once in a while. 

You placed random kisses on his arms, pulling his hands up every now and again to press kisses to them as well. You didn’t want to do it too often, so you wouldn’t annoy him, but you couldn’t help but give him a few. 

You tilted your head to look up at him, his eyes focused on the movie before he looked down at you. 

“What’s up?” he asked, his voice sounding a little tired. 

“Nothing,” you whispered, passing him a small smile. 

“You’re lying,” he said, placing a kiss on your forehead, “what’s on your mind?” 

You sighed deeply, “have I told you how much I love you?” 

He reached over and paused the movie, quickly tangling his hand with yours again: “all the time,” he smiled. 

“And how great you are?” 

“Plenty of times,” he chuckled. 

“And how thankful I am for you?” 

“More than once,” he answered, a sense of questioning coming into his voice. 

“And how kind and good you are to me?”

“Never in those words, but you deserve it more than anything,” he said, “where’s this coming from?” 

“Jenn was really upset tonight,” you started. 

“And that has to do with me, how?” 

“She was talking about how rough her marriage is. And I know everyone says the first year is the hardest, but he doesn’t prioritize her, and never really has, and if I’m being honest I always thought she could do better; and she feels so disconnected from him and he’s so distant and she’s just not happy,” you rambled, tears pricking at your eyes, “and of course the whole time she was talking I felt so bad for her, but I couldn’t help thinking that I’m so lucky to have a guy like you and that made me feel even worse. Ya know? Like guilty because I was sitting there thinking ‘well at least I’m not in her shoes,’ and, god, you’re so good to me and I appreciate and love you so much. Don’t feel like I tell you that enough, but, you’re the best,” you finished, taking a deep breath. 

“Honey,” Chris soothed, “you have absolutely nothing to feel guilty about, first off. It’s not your fault he treats her like crap, and all you can do is support her with whatever she chooses to do about it. She can leave, or they could go to therapy, or she might just ignore it all together, but the only thing you can and should do is listen to her vent and offer support, or sometimes advice if she asks for it.”

You smile, “I know, but it’s just a shitty situation. Like I wish she wasn’t going through it, because she’s great, and I wish he was as good to her as you are to me.” 

“Well no one’s as good as me,” Chris joked, trying to lift your spirits.

You laughed lightly in response, turning over a little bit and scooting up so you could lay face to face with him. 

“Second,” he continued, “I’m only giving you what you deserve. Wish I could do a lot more sometimes, if I’m honest,” he said almost under his breath as he wrapped his arms around your back.

“Chris, you do more than enough! I should be doing more for you!” 

“Babe, you give me everything I could ever want,” he smiles, “you’re amazing. Wish I could do more, like I wish I wasn’t away from you so much. Don’t like leaving you, ever.”

“You’re the best,” you lean forward, placing a kiss on the corner of his mouth, “you do plenty for me even when you’re away.”

“Not nearly enough,” he says, “gotta come up with something new for us.” 

“We’ve done plenty of new things while you’re away.” 

“Yeah? You think?” he asks, wiggling his eyebrows.

“Hey, without you, I never would’ve tried phone sex,” you giggle, “love trying new things as long as it’s with you. Especially that thing...” 

He lets out a breathy laugh at that, “I love you too,” he says, referring back to your ramble but also your willingness to try anything for and with him.

You giggle, this time pecking his lips, “I don’t deserve you,” you whisper against his mouth. 

“No, you don’t,” he says shortly. 

You pull away from him, not expecting that to come out of his mouth. 

“You deserve better,” he smiles, a glimmer in his eye again.

“You’re so corny!” you laugh loudly, causing Dodger to grumble next to Chris. 

“Sorry, bub,” you laugh at Dodge.

“Let’s go to bed, yeah?” Chris suggests.

“What about the movie?” you ask, tipping your head towards the TV.

“Eh, won’t be able to pay attention now anyway, and I’ve lost the flow,” he shrugs. 

“Sorry to interrupt,” you whisper, stroking a few fingers across his cheekbone. 

“‘S alright,” he whispers, “like you better anyway.” 

“Thank you,” you whisper, eyelids heavy as they start to flutter closed for a kiss. 

Chris closes the distance between the two of you, pressing a sweet kiss to your lips, “I love you,” he whispers into your mouth. 

“I love you too,” you whisper back.

Your lips seal in a gentle kiss, and he brings a hand up to rest on your cheek before pulling back: “you can always make it up to me anyway,” he says, a smile giving away his attempt at being serious.

You laugh at him, “alright, bubba, let’s get you to bed.”

TAGLIST: @hogwartsmarvelmommy @tulipholland @cupids-crystals @sunwardsss @mrspeacem1nusone @elishi03 @golden-hoax  @patzammit @serrendiipty @katiew1973 @princess-evans-addict @high-on-darren-criss @gnemgn @amelia-song-pond @scorpiowidow @multixfandomwriter @wildxwidow @na-nou83 @fdl305 @gotbangtan @dumbhead1 @evansxchalamet

[best-td2021-ship]

UPDATE: SEEKING PROPAGANDA!

Thanks to that influx of asks last night, we're up to a legit bracket size of 128! The new matchups are down below, and same thing as before: bold = zero propaganda or emojis only, but everyone could use more love! 🫶

Approx 36 hours until polls start!!

Round 1 matchups:

1) Jarlo (Jared x Milo) vs Vicaige (Vic x Paige)

2) #Joke (Jordan x Mike) vs Charlike (Charlie x Mike)

3) Dribby (Drew x Libby) vs Drewstyna (Drew x Chrystyna)

4) Chadlie (Chad x Charlie) vs Bamboe (Bambi x Chloe)

5) Adios (Ada x Rio) vs Sethdan (Seth x Jordan)

6) Cordarren (Cordelia x Darren) vs Haybell (Hayden x Izzy)

7) Meric (Matt x Beric) vs O'ković (Piper x Mads)

8) Rada (Ren x Ada) vs Coled (Cole x Jared)

9) Dannola (Dannie x Lola) vs Punkhistorian (Roxy x Piper)

10) Addisther (Addison x Esther) vs Loss (Leaf x Moss)

11) Andred (Drew x Jared) vs Colie (Cole x Charlie)

12) Lizola (Liza x Lola) vs Paigike (Paige x Mike)

13) Jordstyna (Jordan x Chrystyna) vs Vicdan (Vic x Jordan)

14) Chrysambi (Chrystyna x Bambi) vs Bun Buds (Darren x Cole x Daniel)

15) Bambola (Bambi x Lola) vs Libdan (Libby x Jordan)

16) The Babes (Darren x Milo x Paige x Vic) vs Jordarren (Jordan x Darren)

17) Campbellal (Vic x Lola) vs Mikecest (Mike x himself)

18) Chadarren (Chad x Darren) vs Darrike (Darren x Mike)

19) Milke (Milo x Mike) vs Danole (Daniel x Cole)

20) Colestyna (Cole x Chrystyna) vs Bambole (Bambi x Cole)

21) Coledan (Cole x Jordan) vs Lolaniel (Lola x Daniel)

22) Mosslie (Moss x Charlie) vs Mikrew (Mike x Drew)

23) Jordola (Jordan x Lola) vs Vichloestyna (Vic x Chloe x Chrystyna)

24) Chlostyna (Chloe x Chrystyna) vs Mikole (Mike x Cole)

25) Mikribby (Mike x Drew x Libby) vs Vicstyna (Vic x Chrystyna)

26) Darrestyna (Darren x Chrystyna) vs Leafza (Leaf x Liza)

27) Charlola (Charlie x Lola) vs Chleaf (Chloe x Leaf)

28) Cola (Cole x Lola) vs Damboe (Daniel x Bambi x Chloe)

29) Charcola (Charlie x Cole x Lola) vs Jordza (Jordan x Liza)

30) Breasties (Cole x Libby) vs ">6'0"" (Drew x Leaf x Vic x Darren)

31) Cordeliannisa (Cordelia x Annisa) vs Danison (Daniel x Addison)

32) Darrizzy (Darren x Izzy) vs Annielric (Annisa x Daniel x Beric)

33) Julidan (Julian x Jordan) vs Bimboclown (Chloe x Rio)

34) Russanwallaghan (Paige x Annisa x Cordelia x Piper) vs Parkatsalaw (Daniel x Julian x Cole)

35) The Last Placers (Leaf x Manny x Mike x Jordan x Isaac) vs Lizaniel (Liza x Daniel)

36) Livic (Liv x Vic) vs Chliv (Chloe x Liv)

37) Roxisa (Roxy x Annisa) vs Miper (Milo x Piper)

38) Hayvic (Hayden x Vic) vs Lawkats (Cole x Julian)

39) Casseth (Cassie x Seth) vs Moorigues (Addison x Rio)

40) Loleveryone (Lola x the rest of the cast) vs Darrer (Darren x Piper)

41) Piperio (Piper x Rio) vs Isaannie (Isaac x Dannie)

42) Cassilo (Cassie x Milo) vs Emoskaterclown (Izzy x Hayden x Rio)

43) Skizzy (Skylar x Izzy) vs Colennisambi (Cole x Annisa x Bambi)

44) Jarethdenlo (Jared x Seth x Hayden x Milo) vs Isaac² (Isaac x Izzy)

45) Berilo (Beric x Milo) vs Lizadoe (Liza x Mads x Chloe)

46) Dannisa (Dannie x Annisa) vs Maddisola (Mads x Addison x Lola)

47) Skaterpunk (Hayden x Roxy) vs Raige (Roxy x Paige)

48) Rodrusso (Rio x Paige) vs Rosky (Roxy x Skylar)

49) Haystyna (Hayden x Chrystyna) vs Pipdelia (Piper x Cordelia)

50) Drio (Drew x Rio) vs Ribby (Rio x Libby)

51) Dads (Dannie x Mads) vs Riodan (Rio x Jordan)

52) Julison (Julian x Addison) vs Cordarrener (Cordelia x Darren x Piper)

53) Piloss (Piper x Milo x Moss) vs Skaterclown (Hayden x Rio)

54) Channisa (Charlie x Annisa) vs Pibambi (Piper x Bambi)

55) "<5'5"" (Annisa x Cassie x Jared x Jordan x Liv x Lola) vs Lizanison (Liza x Daniel x Addison)

56) Jarethden (Jared x Seth x Hayden) vs Paibbyden (Paige x Libby x Hayden)

57) Rioxy (Rio x Roxy) vs Parkatsaros (Daniel x Julian)

58) Bearic (Bear x Beric) vs Jarent (Jared x Vent)

59) Lolnat (Lola x Nat) vs Berony (Beric x getting stranded on Boney Island)

60) Chlivesther (Chloe x Liv x Esther) vs Jorsther (Jordan x Esther)

61) Jeren (Jeremy the intern x Ren) vs Bedwic (Bedward x Vic)

62) (Chrystyna x Viewer) vs Flowerclown (Esther x Rio)

63) (Matt x Viewer) vs (Beric x Viewer)

64) (Matt x Beric x Viewer) vs (Moss x Viewer)

[darkfinch]

Had a thought about qwat au. Does Moreau ever show up in the hitter romance novellas? Either as the ultimate big bad who keeps not getting killed (he shows Eliot the fan mail like. "Look. They want Elias and Finn to kill Darren. The fans want it to happen. This one lady thinks they should do it together,,, it'd be romantic she said, I think she's onto something-"). Or maybe just in every book there is someone who in some Very Distinctive small way seems similar to Moreau, and always always without fail dies horribly.

OR is there never any hint of a Moreau figure at all because these books are a happy escape (/works of complete fiction with no resemblances to anyone living or dead, no that draft never accidentally said 'Eliot and Quinn stop talking nonsense).

I kind of like Moreau being in the books just so that, when the team comes after him and he's doing his research on all of them, we would get a short scene of him in the President's office finishing reading Quinn's latest novel and kinda scoff-laughing at the obvious allusion to himself. Kinda parallel to his amused/bemused moments with Eliot and the puppies but more in a "that guy I met twice really went off the rails" kinda way.

THRILLED AND DELIGHTED to confirm that damien moreau AKA domino moron AKA "adrien rousseau" CAN in fact be found in the hitter romance novellas [x]!! "Finn Smith" gets to kill him and a great time is had by all,

moreau is SIGNIFICANTLY nerfed in the novellas, because making him an ultimate big bad/focal point/constant recurring Issue is like. bad for eliot's mental health (he's always there?? no. Quinn is always there, moreau does not have that privilege—), but there are occasional digs about how adrien rousseau, a man written to be Extremely Recognizable As A Certain Criminal Financier down to the island villa, is like. boring and kind of dumb and Would be murdered if only he were important enough for anyone to put in that kind of effort :3

he's written in purely to be casually dragged occasionally by both main characters and then killed in a single sentence. like in a story about Not Eliot Spencer finding love and peace and Healing As A Dude, moreau does not get to take up nearly as much space as he himself would probably like, and that is extremely deliberate. its like. "oh yeah, rousseau, that dumb asshole u worked for once. wild. glad you've moved on to bigger and better things <3. anyway,"

[boxdyeblonde]

Stay (Will Miller x gn!reader)

pairing: will 'ironhead' miller x gn!reader

warnings/notes: this is 100% hurt/comfort,, mentions of domestic abuse and injury but little depiction of it occurring, no y/n, reader shouldn't be gendered at all (?) if there is something let me know

a/n: i just really want will miller to comfort me tbh, i feel like he gives amazing hugs,,, also probably a part two and maybe three in the future... 👀

word count: 2.1k

9:34 p.m.

Hey, are you busy tonight?

9:47 p.m.

Not really, just got back from Benny’s fight

Why what’s up?

9:47p.m.

Can I come over?

I need to get out of my house for the night

9:48 p.m.

Yeah of course

Everything alright?

9:48 p.m.

Thank you, be there soon

----

Will looked down at his phone, he noticed your avoidance of his question, but figured that’s probably what you were on your way to talk about. Rubbing the scruff on his jaw, he shrugged and began tidying up the place a bit for when you arrived.

When you finally arrived you sat in your car for a few extra minutes, taking some deep breaths and hyping yourself up to go inside. You reached into your backseat, grabbing the oversized hoodie that you kept forgetting to bring inside. Throwing it on, you checked the mirror to make sure you didn’t look like too much of a mess, and deemed your appearance ‘as good as its gonna get’.

Walking up to his front door, you balled your fists up, pressing your nails into your palms, and taking one final deep breath. You shouldn’t be nervous, it was Will for god’s sake, but you couldn’t help it, not after the night you just had.

Opening the door, you scanned the living room, “Will?”

“In the kitchen!” He called back to you. Kicking off your shoes, you padded over to the kitchen, the change from wood to the cool tile could be felt through your socks.

“Hey,” he says, turning to look at you over his shoulder with a soft smile on his face.

“Hey… whatcha doin’ over there?”

“Well, when you you ignored my ‘everything alright?’ question I figured it might not be, so I started making some cookie dough.” A smile snuck across your lips.

“You know me well, Miller,” you said, coming up next to him. Sighing, you rested your head against his shoulder. Will finished mixing the chocolate chips into the dough.

“I even got a spoon out for you in advance.” He dipped it into the bowl, before handing you the heaping spoonful of chocolate chip cookie dough.

You thanked him and took the spoon.

“Mmm, this might be your best batch yet.”

“Ya’ think?” He asked, grabbing a spoon for himself. “I changed the ratios a bit this time…here, come sit.” He set the bowl down at his kitchen island and pulled out the chairs.

You leaned your elbows onto the counter, gathering more cookie dough on your spoon.

“So… what’s going on?” Will stated after taking a large bite of dough.

“I just needed to get out of the house,” you started. “I just—,” you thought about your next words carefully.

“Darren and I got into… an argument, and I just needed to leave.”

Will nodded slowly, his eyes diligently surveying you. You had been seeing Darren for a while now, and things had been alright in the beginning. But, you were slowly starting to realize that things were taking a sharp turn. And, of course, you had to learn that the hard way.

“Seems you two have been fighting a lot these days,” Will mused. It’s true. You’d texted or called Will a few times when you weren’t able to come over to discuss it, but the frequency of your fights were picking up, and you weren’t always forthright about the details.

“Yeah,” you mumbled back. “We have. And I know I need to end things with him, but—,”

Will tilted his head to the side, waiting for your response.

“I’m just— I’m scared, I guess.” Your hands rubbed nervously along the tops of your thighs.

“Come here,” says Will, standing and outstretching his arms. You rise from your seat and lean into his chest, wincing when his wrap around you. “I know breakups aren’t easy…,” he starts, “but I’ll be here for you through it, you know that.”

“Yeah… I know. Thanks Will.”

“C’mon, you could probably use some good rest, I’ll make you mickey mouse pancakes in the morning if you want,” he teases, a grin sliding across his face. You roll you eyes.

“I’m not a little kid, Will, you don’t need to baby me. But, I could definitely use a shower before I go to bed I suppose.”

“Alright, alright. I’ll get some stuff around for bed while you shower. You can have my bed tonight, I’ll take the couch.”

“Will—“

“Nope, I’m not taking no for an answer.”

“Fine, just this once, but only because I’m too tired to argue right now,” you state, rolling your eyes and flashing him a small smile.

You walked into his bathroom, turning the shower on and setting the water to as hot as you could. Peeling off your sweatshirt and shirt you examined the bruises littering your body in the mirror. Fresh and old bruises alike strayed across your skin. Normally it wasn’t that bad, but tonight had been worse than the others. You could see new bruises forming on your ribs and back, as well as marks in the shape of handprints from Darren’s grip on your arms. Your stomach flipped at the memory and you shook you head in a futile attempt to get rid of the thought.

The sound of Will’s voice pulled you out of your trance, and your heart shot up in your throat when you heard the handle turning.

Fuck.

“Hey, I forgot I didn’t put any fresh towels—”

I forgot to lock the door.

Staring at Will like a deer in headlights, you could do nothing to hide yourself, you couldn’t even will yourself to move.

After a long, tense moment of silence, you opened your mouth to speak but he cut you off.

“Shower. We’ll talk later, okay? I’ll bring you a change of clothes.” He seemed nearly robotic, stiff and devoid. He left, shutting the door behind him.

Stripping off the rest of your clothes and getting in the shower, you tried to keep calm. You let the warmth of the water relax your aching muscles, but nothing could be done to quiet your thoughts. Ping-ponging between the events with Darren and Will seeing your bruises, your brain left you no time to rest.

Although you were reluctant to get out, you turned the water off and grabbed the towel Will had left for you. You hastily dried off and walked out into his room. Will was sat on the bed, arms crossed over his broad chest, and a pile of clothes sitting next to him.

Clearing his throat and rising from the mattress he noted the clothes were for you. You mumbled a thanks as he left to give you some privacy.

After slipping on the comfy shorts and well worn t-shirt he gave you, you made your way over to the door, opening it only to see Will waiting outside.

“Will I—,”

“Why didn't you tell me?” He asked, cutting you off once again. His expression was hard to read. You’d prided yourself on being able to understand how he was feeling, but in this moment you were unable to pinpoint it. Was it anger? Was it hurt? Sadness even? Maybe all three, maybe none of them. You couldn’t tell.

“I wanted to, Will,” you started, tears beginning to well up in your eyes. “I just— I didn't know how, and I was scared, and I didn't know what to do, and I wanted to end it with him, I just couldn’t, I didn't know what he would do if I did, I just…”

Tears slowly slid down your cheeks and Will reached out his hand, swiping them away with his thumb.

“Shh, it’s okay,” he says, pulling you into his chest and cradling your body against his. “I’m not mad at you or anything,” he mumbles into your hair, “I just wish I’d known sooner so I could help.” You nod against his chest, your hands clutching at his shirt. “How bad is it?”

“My body’s sore. I don’t think there’s anything too serious, but I don’t know.” He nodded, pulling away from you.

“Let me take a look and make sure it's just bruising, nothing else…,” he paused, “If that’s okay?”

“Yeah.”

You stepped back into his room and he followed. After quietly taking a deep breath, you pulled his shirt over your head, exposing your torso to him. You heard him inhale sharply and could see a twang of sadness on his face, maybe even… guilt?

He took one of your hands in his and studied the marks on your arm, repeating the same with the other arm.

“I’m gonna check your ribs, okay? Tell me if something hurts.” You nodded in response as his fingers lightly prodded at yours ribs.

“It all hurts to the touch, but it’s not, like, excruciating or anything…” you mumbled out. He nodded.

“Alright, let’s take a look at your back.” He moved around you to take a look and felt his stomach flip. He hated seeing you like this, it made him sick. The thought that someone would ever hurt you? Especially like this? He felt like he could throw up, like he could beat the man who had done this within an inch of his life, but most of all he just wanted to hold you and cry. He had seen his fair share of nastiness in the world, but he never wanted to see you experience it. He couldn’t even imagine how you must be feeling.

“Well, it looks like most of the bruising isn’t near your kidneys, so they should be fine… but it still looks pretty rough.” His fingers continued to lightly explore your back until you winced, yelping in pain as he retracted his hand with lightning speed.

“Sorry, that one just hurt more than I was expecting.”

“Don’t apologize. Luckily it looks to be on the muscle instead of bone. Let me go get you some ice for it, okay?”

You slid the t-shirt back on, sitting down on the edge of his bed. When Will returned, he carried an ice pack, a bottle of Advil, and a glass of water over to the bedside table.

“Thank you,” you said, reaching out and squeezing his hand.

“Of course, bug.” You rolled your eyes at the nickname. “Here, let me get an ace bandage to hold the ice against you, that way you don’t have to hold it.” He disappeared into the bathroom briefly before returning, picking up the ice and holding it to your back.

“Hold it for me for a sec?” You nodded, reaching up to press the bag into the back of your shoulder. You sat there patiently as Will wrapped the ace bandage around your body, holding the ice in place. “There ya’ go.”

Will sat down next to you on the bed and you felt his hand land on your thigh. You glanced over at him quizzically. The two of you sat in silence for a few minutes as you let his presence comfort you and while he chose how he wanted to address everything that had happened.

Finally, Will spoke up, “I don’t exactly know how to phrase this, but I know that what you’re feeling and dealing with can’t be easy right now. But I want you to know that you can stay as long as you need to. I’ll be there for you through this, alright? I just want you to be safe and happy.”

A small smile graced your lips and you leaned into his side.

“You’re too good to me, Miller.”

“I just want you to be okay.”

“I know…,” you sighed.

“You should get some rest, okay?” Will stands up, ready to leave you for the night, until he feels a hand grip the back of his shirt. He looks back at you confused.

“Will—,” you look up at him, a flash of distress crossing your face. “Stay. Please?”

His expression of confusion instantly melts into affection.

“Alright… Let me just turn off everything, okay?”

“Thank you.”

After Will leaves you grab your glass of water, grabbing the Advil as well and taking it swiftly. You slip the ace bandage and ice pack off, setting it on the side table, and slide under the covers.

When Will comes back he shuts off the lights, and you feel the bed dip beside you. You turn onto your side, facing him.

“Thank you for everything, Will…I really appreciate it.”

“Stop thanking me, bug, you’ve thanked me like eight times tonight. I’m just doing what a best friend does.”

“I just don’t know what I’d do without you.” You sighed, reaching over and placing your hand on his shoulder, giving it a small squeeze.

“Me neither,” he muses. “G’night, bug.”

“Night, Miller.”