#don’t ask me about elody

[kerr-bearr]

A little imaginary take on how I’d hoped Neverafter would end (ie I really wanted a happy/bittersweet ending and I’m totally not going to get that so now I can only write fix-it drabbles)

Timothy uses his last wish in the final fight. maybe to release the ink, maybe to wish away the Gander, idk. and when he died after his final wish and the battle comes to an end and the times of shadow dissipate, Gerard becomes a psudo-father/caregiver for Pinocchio and Ylfa with his “cousin” Rosamund (who is honestly young and naive enough that she needs a caregiver too). and from then on they live a quiet life in the countryside, neighboring a widowed Henry and his son Jack, who is being helped along in life by Pib. maybe they build a big garden, to fill the countryside with life after all the death. they can build little memorials for Tim and Ylfa’s grandmother and the Big Bad Wolf. and maybe Pinocchio take the time to actually learn how to play the golden harp, soft music filtering from their house and down the streets.

Or maybe they all move to Amanti to be with a weary Gepetto and make a living running a small shop where travelers can drop off magical items or get advice on quests. They bring Henry and Jack along to build a new life, a fresh start just like Tim fought for. Geppetto and Pinocchio start to fix their relationship and invite Rosamund to learn the art of woodcarving and Gerard to learn painting. Ylfa finds herself adept at finding lost pets or livestock or even sometimes children who have strayed too far from home. Pib pulls the “stuck in a well” trick at least once a year.

Or maybe I’m wrong all the way around and they all go into Tim’s book for their happily ever after and live their lives as ink on a page forever.

Idk, something-something even horror stories can have bittersweet happy endings.

[sinofwriting]

Girls Are Private Creatures - Pierre Gasly & Charles Leclerc

Words: 2,399 Summary: Pierre and her have always been best friends, having a baby together didn't change or complicate that until he says something he doesn't mean to. Note(s): Was very fun to write and somehow Charles managed to sneak in his way into this as a love interest, still not too sure how that happened, lol. This is a one off, no part two, sorry everyone! Also, I don’t speak french and while I didn’t use google translate for the french, I still used a translator.

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“Ah, there are my favorite girls!” Charles exclaims, jogging over to them, exchanging kisses on the cheek with her before taking the baby out of her arms. Elodie gives him a gummy smile and he coos at her, nosing at her hair, before pressing a kiss to her cheek, a giggle leaving her because of the smacking sound it makes. “So, beautiful, Miss Elodie. I shall have to keep you and your maman close.”

She shakes her head at the poor wink Charles gives her, but gives a nod, stepping beside him as he begins to walk around the grid.

“Is that Elodie?” Max asks, as they start to pass the Red Bull garage. “Can I?” He asks, looking at her, with his arms already reached out to take her from Charles. Charles pouts at her, but she ignores him, looking at her content baby. “Elodie.” Her little head turns to look her way. “You want to go to Uncle Max?” Elodie gives a little squeal at the name, hands shaking and she smiles, nodding. Max eagerly takes the baby from Charles' arms. “I can’t believe you are letting Max Verstappen hold her.” He pouts. “You are just mad, your Elodie time got cut short.” She playfully scolds, bumping their hips together. He pokes his bottom lips further out for a second, before throwing an arm over her shoulder, tugging her close for a side hug as they watch Max talk to Elodie, bringing her into the Red Bull garage and pointing out different things to her.

“How are you feeling?” She sighs, drawing away from Charles. “I’m fine, Cha. You don’t need to worry about me.” He frowns at her, crossing his arms over his chest. “You are my friend. I will of course worry.” He then tilts his head to nod at her face. “You have circles, chéri.” “I have a six month old. Sleep is not a blessing I get.” Her french accent is thicker and his eyebrows raise, her upset clear just from that. “You only get circles when you are worried and not sleeping. What is happening?” She swallows, eyes locked on Elodie who now is babbling to Max in her babytalk, the driver has such a serious look on his face, as though he understands every word of it and is taking notes. The words are bubbling up in her but she sees Christian joining Max and Elodie and upon spotting her, he smiles waving her over. “It is nothing, Cha.” She shakes her head, giving him a smile, before reaching forward to squeeze his arm. “Let me know if you’d like to stay the night with us. Elodie always loves seeing her godfather.” “Of course.” He murmurs, watching as she leaves to join the trio in the Red Bull garage and before he can think better of it, he’s moving to Alpine’s garage.

He’s easily able to get to Pierre’s drivers room and he doesn’t bother knocking, just throws the door open, uncaring of the near naked state of his best friend and his protests as he shuts the door behind him, hands settling on his hips.

“What is wrong?” “Charles!” Pierre is looking at him with wide eyes, a hand over his crotch despite the fact that he has underwear on and it’s nothing that Charles hasn’t seen before. “Get out!” “Non. What is going on? Y/N and Elodie are here, you are nowhere to be seen. She isn’t sleeping and is worried about something but won’t say what.” Charles pokes at his chest, harshly, ignoring the yelp it earns him. “What did you do?” “Why is it me who did something?” He protests, the hand that has been hovering over his crotch, moving to rub at the spot Charles had poked. The younger looks at him unimpressed. Pierre sighs, sitting on his massage table. “I, uh, I fucked up.” “That is obvious.” “Thank you, calmar.” Charles shrugs. “I said it was a mistake.” His brows furrow. “What was a mistake?” Pierre winces and he braces himself on the table. “All of it. Us kissing and then starting our, uh, benefits. And uh Elodie.”

His head wipes to the side before he knows it and he can feel the sting on his cheek and something a bit wet on his lip. His tongue darts out and he can taste a bit of blood.

“Tête de noeud.” Dickhead. Charles spits out, glaring at one of his oldest friends. “Comment pourriez-vous dire une telle chose, penser une telle chose.” How could you say such a thing, think such a thing. “Je sais.” I know. “No, vous ne faites pas de lien. Elle est votre fille.” Charles hisses. No, you don’t. She is your daughter. “Et elle est votre plus grande partisane, la seule personne qu'elle aime le plus est Elodie et pour vous,” He stops himself, shaking his head. Anger and sick tangling together and sitting heavy in his stomach. And she is your biggest supporter, the only person she loves more is Elodie and for you too, “Je ne peux même pas te regarder. Tu me dégoûtes, Pierre. Je ne veux pas vous voir près d'eux ou moi. Et j'espère que personne ne s'en posera la question. I’m not feeling kind.” I can’t even look at you. You disgust me, Pierre. I don’t want to see you near them or me. And hope that no one asks about this.

Before Pierre can say anything else, he leaves throwing the door opening and ignoring the looks from fucking Esteban of all people as he leaves the stupid French garage.

Hours later as she burps Elodie, humming softly as she walks around the hotel room, she hears a knock.

“Charles.” She greets, opening it. “Chéri.” He greets back, pressing a kiss to her cheek before stepping into the room and closing the door behind him. “She ate already.” He notes with disappointment, spotting the cloth over her shoulder. She throws him a sorry look as Elodie lets out a burp, making them both tell her good job and she pats for a few more seconds before rubbing at her back. “She’s been hungrier recently. You missed out by ten minutes.” “Is she still eating at night?” He asks, taking Elodie from her and cooing at the baby, rubbing their noses together just to see her little eyes go cross eyed before pressing a kiss to her forehead, inhaling the scent of baby with a bit of vanilla from that perfume he had bought Y/N for Christmas last year. She watches him with an amused smile. He always did the same thing with Elodie. “She wasn’t, but for the past few days, yes.” “Perfect.” He beams. “I will take the midnight feed.” “Cha,” she warns. “You have free practice tomorrow. You don’t need to exhaust yourself.” “It is free practice. Besides, I've driven the tractor hungover once already this season. I can handle a little free practice with some exhaustion.” He rolls his eyes at the idea of being exhausted from Elodie. She was many things but never exhausting and he tells her that.

“Exhausting, miss Elodie. Why I’ve never heard such a lie!” The baby giggles at his exaggerated tone and expressions, little hand going up to rest on his cheek and he pretends to eat it making her squeal. “Exactly! Your maman is crazy for saying so.” She stares at the two, feeling a pang in her heart as she’s reminded of all the times Pierre did something similar.

He always wanted the late night feeds, really any feeds he could get. He took all the diaper changes too, uncaring of the blowouts or when she started to move more how difficult it could be to get a new diaper on.

Tears prick in her eyes as she thinks of him, a weird concoction of sadness and anger dwelling in her. She knew he had been lying when he said that Elodie was a mistake. Pierre loved being a father. It hadn’t been something he wanted so young or expected but he loved Elodie, truly loved her. She was less sure about them kissing for that first time and then continuously falling into bed together. He could think of that as a mistake. But it was a mistake that led to Elodie. So could it really be one when it gave them such a perfect baby?

“Pierre told me what he said.” Charles murmurs after he sets Elodie on her playmat, which she grunts at before getting distracted by the toys hanging in front of her. She shudders, arms going over her chest. “He is a dick.” “Not in front of Elodie, Charles.” She warns. She didn’t care that Elodie couldn’t truly understand what they were saying or even hear them. She wouldn’t have Pierre insulted in front of her. “I’m sorry.” He apologizes, eyes flickering over to her before returning to Elodie whose babbling. “He shouldn’t have said those things.” “He shouldn’t have said that she was a mistake.” She corrects. “Pierre can say what he pleases about me, not her. Never her.” She murmurs. “Nor you. If you won’t stand for him saying such things for Elodie, which I will as well, I won’t stand for him saying such things about you.” “He didn’t mean it, Cha.” She shakes her head. “He loves her, adores her. Do not burn bridges you’ll regret.” “For you, I could never.” Her eyes snap away from Elodie and meet his eyes. “Charles.” He shakes his head. “Don’t say anything. I’m just telling you. You are worth more than he has given and ever thought of giving you. And if,” he pauses, lifting her hand, her left hand, to his lips. “You ever want to give us a chance, I will be here. And even if you don’t, I will still always be here for Elodie and you.” She watches with wide eyes as he presses another kiss to her hand before dropping it and pressing his lips to her forehead. “Lay down, relax, chéri. I will take care of Elodie.”

She does lay down, but she is unable to relax. Because hadn’t Pierre teased for the last year and a half that Charles had a thing for her? Something she ignored, thinking he was pulling her leg, being a little shit like normal. But to know it was true, to learn the truth of it. It sat heavy in her heart and god it aches at the thought of Charles and his feelings.

Charles wasn’t perfect, no one was, except for Elodie, but that was a bias that the majority of them had when it came to her little girl, but he was amazing even with his faults. His people pleasing ways, pushing his feelings away, not putting himself first, the anger he sometimes carried with him, the grief that still sat heavy on his shoulders. But there were his pluses as well, his dedication and focus to racing, his love for his friends and family, his ability to not have to be on all the time, to be able to sit at home or somewhere and chill, and his patience. He was unbelievably patient but also knew when to push, to not give up or in.

Something warm starts to bubble in her as she considers, admittedly not for the first time, a relationship with Charles. The way he’d come home to her and Elodie after days away. The sweaty hugs after getting out of the car. The dinners and vacations with his family. The gentle way he’d touch and hold her. Not like she was fragile, but something important. And Elodie, the way he’d be with Elodie, more so than he already was. She can see the days and nights when they have Elodie, not Pierre, how they’d put her to sleep together, play with her, read to her. Watch as she crawls and then toddles around. Can see him bringing her around Monaco to the spots he grew up with as a child and sharing them with Elodie.

The thoughts and near dreams are overwhelming but in the best way possible. However there is Pierre to consider. He wouldn’t disappear from their lives, he could never, not just because of Elodie, but because he was a best friend to both of them. He would always exist with them and she knew that Charles could handle her past with Pierre, he had already dealt with the knowledge, had a constant reminder of said past in front of him in the form of Elodie. But would Pierre be able to handle her and Elodie having a future with Charles?

They weren’t in love with each other. They certainly loved each other, but there was a reason that they only had sex and never went on dates and always made faces at the jokes and ideas of being together. Sex was a different beast than a relationship. And they both never wanted a romantic relationship with each other. They both had gone on dates with other people during their time as friends with benefits. She had only stopped after learning she was pregnant and once she was further along, Pierre had too in solidarity. It hadn’t lasted too long as soon as Elodie was two months he went back on the scene, but it had been something.

Her lips twitch into a smile as she's reminded of how excited Pierre had been when he came back from his most recent date. Rambling equally to both her and Elodie about how pretty and smart his date was and how she even liked kids, babies at that.

She’s jerked out of her thoughts by the sound of her phone chiming. Grabbing it, she sighs seeing Pierres name but opens the message.

Could I say goodnight to Elodie. Just goodnight. I won’t stay longer She sighs again, quickly typing out of course and sending it.

“Pierre is coming to say goodnight to Elodie.” She tells Charles, sitting up. He frowns, scooping Elodie up and sitting on the bed beside her before setting Elodie down to the left of her. “Will you be okay?” “I’ll be fine.” And she reaches out to him, taking his hand in hers and intertwines their fingers, earning wide eyes from him. “Besides, I think I need to talk to him.” “You mean?” “I mean, let me talk to Pierre. Make sure he’ll be okay with this. He means too much to both of us to not check.” “I will hit him again if he’s not.” The promise makes her jaw drop, “You’ll what? What do you mean again?” “Ah.” He swallows nervously, and he’s suddenly able to feel the ring that caught Pierre’s lip earlier more than ever. “Nothing?” He offers, with a smile.

@cixrosie @teti-menchon0604 @eugene-emt-roe @badbatch-simp24 @darleneslane @fanboyluvr @gemofthenight @peachiicherries @lpab @copper-boom @benstormy @boiohboii @iloveyou3000morgan @topguncultleader

[obessedwithfictionalmen]

I'll come pick it up after, the end

John Egan X Female! Reader

Sumarry: It's finally their wedding day...

Warning: Historical inaccuracies/ full/ might not be accurate to real weeding speech in the 40s/ use of Y/n/

Word count: 1,2k

The day had finally come, their wedding day. She was nervous, but she was able to go to London to buy a wedding dress, with Daisy and Elodie. Her dress was simple, it stopped before her ankles and it had long sleeves. She didn’t want an extravagant wedding dress, they were getting married on the base, they weren’t Catholics, but the priest on the base was going to marry them, so it’ll be legit. She’d ask Crosby to walk her down the aisle, Buck was the best men, Elodie was the maid of honor and Meatball was going to carry the rings, with the two kids guiding him. Her hair was down, she didn’t have a veil, just a dress and heels.

He was nervous, but he was really happy. He was marring his girl. ‘’You ready for this?’’ Buck asked, coming in the room. ‘’Yeah, I’m nervous, but it’s my girl, I can’t wait to marry her’’ He sign. ‘’Let’s go its time.’’ Corporal says, as he enters the room. ‘’Thanks, Corporal’’ Bucky says. ‘’She’s a good girl, I’m happy for you, Major’’ he says. ‘’I appreciate it, Corporal, thank you.’’ They entered the room, soldiers were sat, some were still arriving. Nurses were there too, almost all the men and woman on the base were there. The priest was waiting for him at the altar. ‘’Who thought we would see Bucky tie the knot?’’ Lieutenant Dye said, even if he went home because he did 25 missions, he came back to see his friend get married. ‘’Yeah, well you did steal my previous girl, I had to find another one’’ he laughed. Right now, he couldn’t even think about Lil, the only woman that mattered to him was his future wife. When Bucky commented about their previous relationship, she bent her head down, ashamed. ‘’Don’t worry, Lil, he’s the better choice for you. I’m happy for your guys’’ He reassured her. Dye smiled to the groom and took the hand of his lady. Lil smiled and took a relived breath.

Once again, she was pacing around the room, Meatball following her with his head. Harry Crosby came in the room, smiling. ‘’Are you ready?’’ he asked. ‘’I feel like I’m going to throw up.’’ ‘’I know that feeling, but don’t worry I can recommend you to an amazing doctor’’ Crosby smiled, she laughed, it calmed her down a little. She didn’t even know why she was nervous, they both loved each other, but she was nervous. ‘’I’m really happy for you. You deserve happiness, Y/n, you both do.’’ They both hugged. ‘’You’re my best friend, Croz, thank you for everything you did for me’’ She whispered in his ear. ‘’Now, don’t make me cry.’’ They chuckled as Daisy came to get them. ‘’It’s time’’ she simply said.

When the band started to play music, Bucky’s heart stopped; she was coming. He turned around to look at his girl. She was magnificent, her dress was simple, but it was made for her. After all, they didn’t have much time to plan their wedding and their budget was small. Harry Crosby was walking her, he was grateful for him, he took care of her when he wasn’t there. When she saw him in his uniform, she started to smile like she never did before, she’d saw him in his uniform before, but he looks wonderful. When Harry and Y/n reached the groom, Crosby wanted to say something. Normally, her father would’ve give her to John, but Harry needed to say words to him. ‘’Take good care of her, just like she took care of you. Y/n smiled, hearing the word his best friend said to her future husband.

When Meatball came down the aisle, with the two boys, the soldiers chuckled. Everyone on the base knew that Y/n and Meatball came as a pair, they were together all the time. When she worked at the hospital, Meatball was there too, he made soldiers smile. The two boys handed the rings to the bride and groom. They recited the vow that the priest asked them too. It was beautiful, making them promise to each other that they will love the other, no matter what. It said that they would always be there for the other and stuff that made some people cry. When it was time for their personal vows, Y/n decided to go first. ‘’Bucky, my love, when I first met you, I thought you were going to be just another soldier that crossed my path. I was clearly wrong because, I’m now in a white dress in front of you. I did not just fell in love with you, I feel in love with your smile, your humor, your qualities and your flaws. I fell in love with each version of you, the one you show when you’re with your friends, the person you are when we are alone, the person that you’re too scared to show me, but did before you trusted me, and I also fell in love with the pilot version of you. Words aren’t enough to tell you how much you mean to me, but I’m so happy that Meatball came to me that day, so I could meet my soulmate’’ She cried, they were happy tears. Bucky was crying too, he didn’t care if some soldiers thought he was weak, that was the most beautiful thing he ever heard. ‘’My darling, my forever, I feel like the luckiest men on earth, because I get to be your husband. When things were rough, I think about you. Your smile, your laugh, your beautiful eyes and your voice. I’m not as talented with words as you are, but I can tell you this, it’s so hard for me to put our love into words, because I love you in ways, I have never loved anyone else, but I promise that I will spend the rest of my life, searching for them. I love you, my darling.’’ If the crowd didn’t cry to Y/n’s speech, they cried at Bucky’s. Even the priest was about to cry. ‘’ In the sight of God and these witnesses, I now pronounce you husband and wife! You may kiss the bride.’’

They didn’t have to be told twice, their kiss was full of love and passion. It celebrated their love and said all the words they couldn’t find. The crowd applauded and congratulated the newly weds. ‘’I love you Mrs. Egan’’ Bucky said, looking at his wife. ‘’I love you more, Mr. Egan’’ she smiled.

After the celebration, and almost 4 songs that Bucky insisted on singing, they both pack all their things. Because has a weeding gift, the Corporal gave Bucky the right to go home. After all, he was at 23 missions, he was close to 25. And Y/n made Elodie the chief nurse, because the Corporal also gave her the right to go home. They were going home, they both couldn’t believe it, but it was the case. A smaller plane, that was made for traveling, was waiting for them on the runway. The newly weds were going back home on the same plane as Lieutenant Dye. They hugged their friends, Y/n gave Buck and Croz the phone number at Bucky’s home. That’s where they would live until they could afford a home. When they boarded the plane, they were euphoric. ‘’Can you actually believe we’re going home?’’ Y/n whispered. He shook his head. ‘’The only thing I believe right now, is the fact that you’re my wife, and my ribs are healed’’ he chuckled. She giggled when the decide to steel his watch, putting it in her bra. ‘’Come and pick it up after the flight’’ she teased with a huge smile. It was the beginning of their life together, and they would savor each second, they had together, because they both knew how easily life can change. But it wasn’t on their mind right now. The only thing on Bucky’s mind, was to pick up his watch, just like he did the first time.

A/n: It's the end y'all!!! Thank you for reading this story. I already have more ideas, for other stuff. Love you all :)

[brionbroadway]

It’s Ylfa who finds him.

She sits beside Gerard, hands in front of her on the floor, back in her wolf-form and back to herself. “Where is the Princess Elody?” she asks.

Gerard sighs, but sensing Ylfa flinch beside him, he tries to cover it by clearing his throat. “She needed a moment to herself.”

“But just a moment, right? She’s coming back?”

Gerard shifts his head to look at Ylfa, and notices the shift in her as well. She is no longer a meddling preteen, ready to give him a makeover and plan a grand gesture based on a limited understanding of love. In fact, Gerard wonders if that was ever a fair assessment. Ylfa knows love, perhaps better than Gerard ever has, and understands the power of its loss. He sees the same thing in her eyes that he saw in Elody’s when she spoke of finding his body—not sadness, exactly, but an emptiness that a preteen should still be too optimistic to feel.

“It’s not fair, Gerard,” she says, quiet, and Gerard realizes too late that he was too slow to respond. “No one came looking for you, but you went looking for Elody, and you’re still going to be alone. I can fight Death for you, but I can’t fight this.”

“First of all,” Gerard says, speaking faster than his thoughts to not give Ylfa’s the chance to fill in the blanks. “I am not alone. I would not choose anyone else to travel and fight alongside—though, you need to know that you are not responsible for fighting anything for me. You are a protector, much like Elody.”

“I’m like the princess?”

“Most certainly, and while that’s admirable, it’s also too much weight to put on your shoulders. Strong as they are.”

Ylfa flexes, and Gerard laughs, relieved. “The truth is,” he continues. “I left Elody long before she left me. We’d sit together the way you and I are sitting now, but we would not talk the way we’re talking now. And that was my fault.”

“But she’s still your family,” Ylfa says. “You just made a mistake.”

Gerard understands what’s behind this conversation now, and wishes he’d recognized it the moment Ylfa sat down. Elody would have. “When you marry someone,” Gerard says. “You make vows to each other; it’s a partnership. I didn’t make a mistake; I made decisions that broke the promises I’d made to Elody. That is my fault.”

“When you have a child,” Gerard continues, before Ylfa can interrupt. “Of course, I have not had one, but as I understand it—you make a commitment to them. You love them unconditionally, no matter what mistakes or decisions they make. If a parent does not fulfill that, that is not the child’s fault.”

“Gerard, I’m sorry if this is disrespectful, but I don’t know if I believe that.”

“Honestly Red, I don’t know if I do either. That doesn’t mean it’s not true.”

Not for the first time, Gerard is aware of his role as an adult, despite not having the chance to properly grow into one. “Or,” he says. “How about this? I know that I am not your mother or father, or your grandmother, but as long as I am alive, I promise that we can sit and talk like this. And if we end up in different stories, I’ll look for you. You will always have a home with me, even if it’s just a bonfire in the woods.”

“I can light a match for us.”

“I know that you can.”

Gerard extends his webbed equivalent of a pinky finger, and Ylfa wraps a claw around it.

[miloformula123fan]

Could you do fic for James Vowles with wife author!reader? ( He's at Williams ) He always goes to her events even though he's busy but he still makes time just to support her. And vice versa. Just something fluff and cute. Thanks!! :))

this is definitely not amazing, but im secretly quite happy with it

(also updates are gonna slow the fuck down because i have assessments and exams this term yay /s)

Please keep requesting - y'all have awesome ideas we agree on a lot of stuff :) - my guidelines are here, and if you want some prompts, they are here.

also feel free to come in and start chatting to me in my asks, would love to get to know y'all better

and if you want to be added to my taglist lmk :)

james vowles x wife!author!reader

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book talk:

Y/N watched as a teenage girl walked up to the microphone. She clearly looked nervous, as had many other people coming up, but Y/N tried to make her feel as at ease as possible.

“Um…hey Y/N, my name is Elodie, and I just wanted to say how much I love your writing…” - Elodie

James quietly shut the door, once Logan and Alex were through, and didn’t try and push through the crowded room, they instead settled for a spot near the back where they could still see Y/N. They were sure that if people recognised them, they would be shunted towards the front or ushered backstage. They didn’t want that, they just wanted to stay inconspicuous at the back.

“Aww thank you Elodie, what was your question?” Y/N smiled reassuringly

“Um…well, for your book, ‘a sweet sting of salt’, I was just wondering if you had any inspiration for the character Tobias. While he isn’t the best character in the story, you said he was one of your favourite characters to write, and I was just wondering why?” Eloise asked

“Oh, that is a good question, thank you Elodie. Um… while the actions are obviously not based on him, a lot of Tobias’ so-called ‘good’ elements are actually based on my husband. So…okay I’m gonna hope that everyone has read the book, so I don’t spoil it,” she smiled “Um, so for those of you who are unaware, my husband is James Vowles, and he is the Team Principal of Williams, which is a motorsport for those who are very out of the loop. So I guess the main words I would use to describe both Tobias and James, other than loving because Tobias is definitely not, are logical, quiet, grounded, organised and productive.”

James smiles, watching his wife talk about something she was so passionate about.

“So for example, for logical qualities for Tobias and James in chapter 10, Tobias uses deductive reasoning, which I would like to say is James’ strong suit, however he sometimes misuses it, like deducing who ate the chocolate, the wife or the dog. Tobias uses it for more evil, using it for working out how to do the things he does. Maybe they are more evil and similar and similar.” Y/N pondered, garnering a small laugh from the audience

James stopped smiling, as he listened to his wife compare him to a literal murderer in her book. Logan and Alex were standing next to him, trying to avoid their laughs.

“Then for quiet, in chapter 16, James likes sneaking around and scaring the shit out of me when he gets back from the factory and from races to scare the shit out of me, and Tobias uses it for murder. Huh, maybe these 2 characters are closer together than I thought.” Y/N pondered, laughing as she saw her husband’s face

“Darling, I’m not a thief and a murderer. I honestly don’t know why you based Tobias off of me.” James tried to mediate.

However it was enough for Alex and Logan to burst out laughing, joining in with the rest of the crowd, who had discovered that James was there and found it very funny.

“I’m just saying you share similar qualities, more than I initially insisted. Are you sure you didn’t secretly murder someone?” Y/N tilted her head, as if genuinely thinking about the question

“Darling…” James tried to plead again

“ANYWAY - Then for grounded, in chapter 18…” - Y/N, moved on, continuing with her ideas.

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garage:

“And during this safety car period, Alex, our camera man has gone for a wander and he has gone down to the Williams garage, and while we’re normally looking at the team principal or other important people, we have instead zoomed in on Y/N Vowles. Now for those who don’t know, she is a writer, and she seems pretty hard at work at this book on her laptop. Now that will be good news for anyone who reads her books, including me, she writes very good books, available at all the awesome book stores, and no she hasn’t paid us for that, we just think her books are amazing. Oh and she waved at us. Hi Y/N!” - Jolyon said from the commentary box

James smiled at the sight of Y/N on his screen. While this weekend had been very stressful, it was very nice having his wife be there for him in the garage and then back at the hotel rooms, even after all the late meetings. He watched as she smiled and waved at the screen, and he was unable to resist the temptation as he smiled at the picture and waved back, earning another laugh from the commentators.

---

book talk part 2:

“Sorry Y/N, my name is Leo, this is a bit of a personal question…” a teenage boy asked

“...as long as it’s not when I’m having a baby, or where I live, it should be okay, hit me!”  Y/N tried to put him at ease.

“Your schedule for this book tour is a little all over the place, if you don’t mind me saying, it was basically like the first 2 months of the year, and now there’s just kinda weeks off or even months off, and I was just wondering if there was any sense to the schedule.” Leo shuffled awkwardly, unsure of how she would react to the question.

“Ah, well there actually is. First off, I cannot tour every week of the year, because I think I would just simply die. But the reason I picked those weeks off is because if my husband again. Are you guys sensing a pattern here? I love James, and I really want to support him at all the f1 races. So those are the weeks I took off, basically. And second, Baby Vowles is due in 6 months, thanks guys!” Y/N laughed as she put down the microphone and walked off stage, laughing as the cheers from the crowd grew louder.

---

taglist: @leosxrealm, @tallrock35, @wolf-knights, @janeholt3, @pear-1206

[modelbus]

Hiiii can I request a Tommyinnit x fem!reader where it’s during the ‘making 100 friends in one day vlog’ where Tommy meets the reader and he gets sad when he didn’t pick up the courage to ask for her number but the reader sneakily snuck it in his pocket.

I read this request right as I started to play that video, so I'm taking it as a sign that I was meant to write this.

Final Friend

Pairing: CC!Tommyinnit x Fem!Reader

He’s trying to get his final five friends when he sees you. You’re just reading a book on a bench, maybe for school or for fun, but his eyes are drawn to you for some reason. And now that he’s seen you… well.

It’s just natural to notice that you’re pretty, right? Because you’re really pretty. Ash nudges him after he stares for too long with a knowing grin.

“Fuck off.” “Are we talking about how you were staring at that girl?” Elodie asks from behind the camera. “You should go ask her to be your friend.”

“No!” He immediately protests. “I can’t do that!”

“Because she’s pretty?”

“Exactly! Wait-“

“Talk to her at least.”

“Maybe.” He concludes.

And by maybe, Tommy means no. While he’s perfectly fine asking strangers whose opinions he doesn’t give a shit about to be his friend, he isn’t with asking you. Mostly because you’re a pretty girl whose opinion he actually cares about.

About ten minutes later he’s gone through four more new friends, leaving him just one person short of a hundred. He can’t help but glance over at you. It was a weird coincidence that you were still here, he needed one more friend, and that you were the closest person to him. Elodie and Ash had been nudging him towards you, eagerly trying to hype him up to talk to you.

Worst case scenario you tell him no, right? Technically yes, but then his ego would be bruised and he’d be embarrassed.

(and his shot with you would be gone)

Best case scenario, he gets your number and maybe even a date! But, as Dream would say, that was a one in 7.5 trillion chance. “Ask Schlatt for advice.” Elodie suggests. “Content.”

The idea that Schlatt would decide for him was the most disastrous idea ever. But the thought of it was making him smile so he starts FaceTiming his idol.

“Hey Schlatt.” He greets, acting all mopey for the camera. “I’ve been trying to make a hundred friends, and I have one left, but…”

“But what Tommy?!” Schlatt yells, face too close to the camera just like Tommy’s. “I don’t have all day!”

“I- too many bitches, yeah?”

“Yeahh!”

“So there’s this girl that is just really pretty, and Elodie and Ash are trying to get me to ask her to be my friend but I-“

“You know what I always say Tommy?!”

“Shoot guns?”

“No, no, the other one.”

“Monkey balls?”

“Eh, close enough. Go for it, Tommy. Ask her to be your friend or whatever. Fuck failure.”

“Fuck failure.” Tommy repeats, nodding. “Fuck failure! Thanks Schlatt!”

“Now hurry up and do your fucking tasks!”

Schlatt hangs up on him, and Tommy doesn’t give himself time to think it over. He turns and marches right up to you, holding his mic. Maybe he’ll even ask for your number!

“Hi! Uh, so I’m new to New York and I was trying to make a hundred friends! I’m Tom, by the way.” He holds out his mic to you, watching as you close your book with an amused smile.

Shit, he forgot to ask if you’d be his friend.

“Are you British? Sorry, the accent surprised me.”

American. He doesn’t know why it surprises him, he’s in America, but it does. Somehow he still finds himself completely absorbed in your voice.

“Yeah, yeah.” He nods. “I’ve moved here for two weeks. I’m trying to become a true New Yorker though.”

“Really? Good luck with that. Have you been to the Statue of Liberty yet?”

“No.”

“Good, no New Yorker actually goes to it.”

“That’s what everyone else said!” He laughs. “So, would you be my final friend?”

“Gladly.” Gladly! You said gladly!

“Great! Could we get a photo?”

“What good is a friend if you don’t document it?”

He sits down next to you on the bench, holding out his phone. After the photo he gets up. “Thank you so much!”

“Anytime.” It’s only after he heads to dinner for the day that he realizes he never got your number. All of that conversation and he still didn’t manage to string words together to ask.

Fucking sucks, because he genuinely thought you were a cool person. Just from that brief conversation he knew you wouldn’t be leaving his mind.

The rest of the dinner passes in miserable thoughts of “what if.”

What if he had asked for your number? What if you two would’ve became close friends through texting? What if you two would've had a great romance all because he had asked for your number? “You look so sad.” Elodie points out to him.

“I forgot to ask for her number!”

“Or her name.” He forgot to ask your name! Tommy just kept fucking things up, didn’t he? “Fuck.” He groans, tucking his hands into his pockets. Upon feeling paper, he freezes.

Tommy definitely didn’t remember having any paper on him. Maybe it was a receipt he stashed there? Pulling it out, he stares down at it.

Not a receipt: it’s a sticky note. He flips it over and grins. Your name and number. How you had managed to slip it to him he had no idea, but he was glad you did.

Ash points to it curiously.

“Her name and number!” He cheers. “I’m going to message her right now.”

Grabbing out his phone, he opens up his messages and inputs your number. Then, he begins to type.

[ninyard]

legally required tsc ask:

GOD ok. ok. hear me out. lucas & elodie parallels. my big brother left to join the ravens and then never spoke to me again. and then of course divergence but goddd theyre so much more tragic in light of each other im Not normal about it

Thank you for completing your duty as a good law abiding citizen!

I’m so in love with the outsider view of the ravens from family members of the other players, the players who are not perfect court. We know Jean is fucked up, Riko, Kevin, Neil. But the only view we’ve ever seen of the Ravens is from someone who understands.

Lucas kind of breaks my heart in a way, in his relationship with his brother. He’s not a good person, but it’s his older brother joined a cult and came back as a different person.

Little siblings idolise their older siblings so much. Maybe Lucas joined the Trojan’s because his brother was on a Class I Exy team and he was determined to impress him. I wonder if his brother was excited about joining the Ravens. I wonder if he lost contact with his family gradually, or was it immediate as he walked through the doors to the nest for the first time?

Lucas saw his brother go off to college and never come back, and when he DOES come back, he’s a shell of a person. Like, I know we throw around the word cult because it’s like a cult but… it IS a cult. All those Ravens that attempted and/or died after losing their “life purpose” didn’t see another option. It’s Exy or die. It’s Ravens or die. They’re all brainwashed so badly into feeling like they need Edgar Allan in order to survive, into feeling as if anything outside of Exy is worthless. So many of them are going to be incapable of adjusting back to “normal” life.

Do you think Jeans family felt the same way? When they found themselves so deeply involved in crime, with the Moriyama’s, they saw no other options? It’s give our son to the Moriyama’s or die. It’s traffic our daughter or die. I guess we don’t know much at all about what happened to his sister, but she probably felt the same way Lucas did: my big brother has gone off to university, he’s talented and playing for a Class I Exy team, but he does not speak to our family anymore. His family does not exist to him anymore. Exy is his life and there is no option, no way he can live a normal life again if Exy is not in it.

If she were alive, I don’t think she would recognise Jean if they found each other again. He’s merely a foggy memory of who he used to be, the Jean from before having died when he stepped off that plane in the US for the first time. I think she’d react in a kind of, who are you and what have you done with my brother? Kind of way.

Idk silly rambles as per usual but yes my friend. Absolutely stunning parallels

[maarriiii]

Wildest Dream | Wilbur Soot

A/N: The second post for my 300 celebration!! I’ve been cooking this up for awhile now. Now that it’s finished I feel like I should switch this title with the say you’ll remember me, standing in a nice dress—good lord that’s a long title—but eh I’ll just leave it as it is. You could read this as a somewhat prequel to the mentioned fic or not. Whatever you prefer lovelies <33

Summary: One of the many days of summer that Wilbur spends with you.

Pairing(s): Musician!reader x gender neutral!reader (Note: reader is mentioned to be wearing a dress)

Warning(s): None

my masterlist :))

~~

Wilbur stood patiently in front of an apartment door, waiting for its occupant to answer his knocking and open the door. He was clad in his usual attire: a simple shirt and jeans with his round glasses, and although it was extremely hot outside due to the summer weather, Wilbur had his jumper looped through his guitar case on his back—he would be insane to wear it on a day like this.

He heard footsteps and chattering inside the apartment and as it grew nearer, his excitement grew along with it—he was almost bouncing on his feet. But, when the door finally opened, it wasn’t the person he came there for that opened the door. Instead, he was greeted with the sight of his friend, Elodie. The two met during their second year of university, and along with other few people, they have been good friends since.

“Oh hey, Wil.” She smiled teasingly, like she knew what his intention were. “What brings you here?”

“Just a visit to a friend,” Wil said cheekily.

“Am I right to assume that this ‘friend’ doesn’t mean me?”

Wilbur only chuckled, while Elodie shook her head.

Wilbur followed behind his purple haired friend after she let him inside. He smelled something so wonderfully delicious and fragrant the moment he step foot inside. The scent immediately made his stomach growl even though he just had lunch before coming here—though, he could guarantee what he had for lunch was incomparable to what was cooking currently. The smell was stronger the moment he and Elodie reached the living room which shared a space with the kitchen. When he looked to his left, not only was he greeted with the sight pots and pans, he was finally greeted with the sight of you, the sole reason of his arrival.

Wilbur saw the look on your face, beaming at the sight of him, and it made his heart do backflips. He wondered how you do it. How you made him crazily in love just by smiling at him. He watched you wipe your hands on a hand towel draped across your shoulder before making your way towards him, the smile never leaving your lips. He had to leaned down just a little for your lips to meet in a chaste kiss. Elodie took your spot in the kitchen, watching the pots and pans filled with food.

“Wil, what are you doing here?”

“Oh, just thought I come and visit you.” He smiled.

Your eyes softened at his word before widening in a some sort of panic. “Oh, my god, you must be thirsty. It’s really hot outside. Hold on, let me get you a drink.”

You kept fussing over him—and even though he should feel bad that you were doing so—Wilbur enjoyed the pelasure of receiving your full attention. He stayed for lunch. You refused to hear a ‘No’ coming from his lips and pushed a plate towards him when cooking was done. The three of you enjoyed a homecooked meal and refreshing drinks while talking about a variety of things. Elodie, not so subtly, retreated to her hoom—muttering an excuse of having unfinished work—giving Wilbur some alone time with you. He helped you with cleaning up the dishes and then he finally asked you a question.

“Do you want to get out of here?”

The corner of your lips quirked up, your eyes curious.  “Go where, Wil?”

Wilbur shrugged. “I don’t know. Some place quiet, just the two of us. Honestly, I’m getting a bit tired of the city, with the smog and all.”

“Are you alright, Wil? Are you coughing again? I think I still have my coughing syrup somewhere.”

He shook his head violently. “No, no, I’m alright, love, really. I just want to spend time with you, that’s all. I’m fine, I promise.”

Wilbur answered a couple more of your questions, making sure he was perfectly healthy, before finally agreeing to go with him. He was glad, ecstatic even, though this date wasn’t any different than the ones before. For some reason, he just so badly wanted to be with you, too see your face and smile, to hear your voice and laugh. If any of his friends could tell what was going on inside his head, then they would say that Wilbur is utterly and truly smitten by you—though, he suspects that they already know that despite not being able to read minds anyway.

He waited for you on the sofa since you wanted to change and get a few essentials before leaving. He took the time to think of places that you and him could go to. He decided that the beach would probably a good idea. The two of you could also see the sunset.

Wilbur turned around at the sound of his name and boy, was he starstruck by the sight of you. You didn’t change much from a few minutes ago but for some reason, you looked heavenly. Instead of the overalls you wore earlier, you changed into a simple white dress with a small bag over your shoulder. He had never seen you in that dress before, so he assumed it was something that you only gotten recently. When you walked closer to him, Wilbur was almost convinced that you were actually floating towards him; an angel, a magical being, that chose him over everyone else. At one point, his mind wandered. Him, in a suit. You, in a similiarly colored dress, a veil covering your beautiful face and a bouquet of flowers in your hands, as you walked down the aisle. He had never thought about marriage with anyone before.

“Wil. Wil, did you hear me?” You called him, pulling him from the land of imagination.

He shook his head, blinking rapidly. He stood up, took his guitar case by the coffee table. “Yeah, yeah, I did. Shall we?”

After a few minutes of train ride and a few minutes more of walking, you and Wilbur finally arrived at your destination. Just like he suspected, there wasn’t much people around. He spotted a couple and a group of teenagers, so he picked a spot furthest away from them, in case the teenagers were a bunch of delinquents. It was quiet, just how he wanted it, and the cool breeze that passed through was a treat in these summer days.

“Oh, it’s beautiful.” You rummaged inside your bag, pulling out a camera before taking a picture. “I don’t think I’ll ever get tired of this place.”

Wilbur stared at you. “Yeah, it’s beautiful.”

You turned to Wilbur and aimed the camera towards him. “Say cheese.”

Wilbur chuckled, leaning his head down. He heard you laugh and looked up. You took the polaroid and shake the picture until the image of Wilbur was clear.

You whistled and showed it to him. “That’s a good candid, babe.”

“You always were a talented photographer.”

You bowed your head. “Why, thank you, good sir.”

The two of you sat down in the sand, shoulder to shoulder, enjoying each other’s presence. At one point, you asked Wilbur to sing a song or two. He obliged, of course—you could ask of him the world and he would give it to you.  He sang a song that reminded him of you. He sang your favorite song, which resulted in him getting a kiss from you. He could feel the blood rushing to his cheeks. He just played and played and you would occasionally joined him, singing to your heart’s content, even if you or him were off key at times.

It felt like a dream, Wilbur thought. It just seemed too good to be true. You just seemed to good to be true. You were a welcomed surprise in his life and a part of him would sometimes be scared that one day he’ll wake up and you won’t be there anymore. He wanted to cherish you for as long as he could possibly can. So, wordlessly, he set aside his guitar and took the camera that was on your lap. He pulled you to his chest and wrapped his arm around your shoulders. Your laugh and smile at his sudden action was infectious and Wilbur was grinning. He reached the hand that was holding the camera outward and turned it around.

“Say cheese,” He said, before clicking the button.

He took the picture from the camera and just like you did with his picture, Wilbur shake it until the image was clear.

“Aww, we look so adorable. I love it.”

Wilbur laughed and turned to you. “I love you.”

You gazed at him, before leaning forward and pressing your lips against his. “I love you too, Wil.”

~~

Taglist:

@ella-fella-bo-bella @lillylvjy @jadeissues @r-a-c-h-e-l @marifm @vestafir @confuzzledhooman

Send me an ask, message me, or just comment if you want to be added to my wilbur soot taglist 💕

[noellawrites]

A New Life - Daryl Dixon x reader

summary: you discover you might be pregnant and you’re worried about how Daryl might react. set sometime around 11x10 at the Commonwealth.

warning: talk of pregnancy, nausea/sickness, crying

Life at the Commonwealth was a huge adjustment. Part of you wished you had opted to stay at Alexandria during the repairs, but you knew this was the best place for Judith and RJ. It didn’t mean you and Daryl weren’t skeptical, though.

Your shift at Elodie’s Treats had just ended, so you were heading back to the low-income housing where you had been assigned to live with Daryl, Judith and RJ.

Taking a deep breath, you entered your tiny apartment with your little family. A smile was immediately brought to your face as you watched Daryl help RJ with his homework as Judith read one of your books with her head laying on Dog.

“Hey, Auntie (y/n)! How was work today?” Judith piped up.

“Work? Oh, work was alright! How was school?” you responded, suddenly feeling nauseous. You weren’t sure if it was the damp smell in the room, the thrums of music coming through the walls or just the exhaustion from working for eight hours straight. It was probably all of the above.

“It was awesome! Uncle Daryl picked us up and then we got food for dinner,” she said, smiling then going back to her book.

Noticing a few dirty dishes left in the sink, you made your way over to wash them by hand. As you scrubbed, you tried to ignore the moldy smell of the room that felt like it was assaulting your nostrils.

“Hey.”

You hadn’t even noticed Daryl sneaking up behind you.

“How was training?” you asked, almost scrubbing the paint off the pots at this point.

“Sucked. Same ‘ol. Still not any closer ‘t gettin’ a new place,” he sighed, then swept your hair behind your neck and placed a gentle kiss on your cheek.

“Don’t worry, we’ll make do. The kids seem like they’re enjoying themselves,” you responded.

Daryl nodded, and you set the last of the dishes on the table to dry. You both exchanged the same worn-out, weathered glance you’d exchanged amidst hundreds of battles in your old life. But now, things were different. Your priority was the health and safety of Rick and Michonne’s kiddos.

—

The next day was back to business as usual. Daryl had training early in the morning and you had the day off from the bakery, so you dropped the kids off at school then went to Nabila and Jerry’s apartment.

You knocked at the door and took a deep breath, as you noticed your hands were shaking. You almost didn’t want to find out if you really were pregnant— that would make it feel too real.

“Hey, (y/n), it’s good to see ya! What’s up, my dude?” Jerry exclaimed as he threw the door open.

“Hey, Jerry! I was just wondering if Nabila was around?”

“Yeah, she’s putting Mariam down for a nap. You can come in, if you want?” Jerry offered.

You entered their cozy, two-bedroom apartment and headed towards the kids’ room, calling your friend’s name softly.

“(y/n), hello!” Nabila whispered.

“Hey, Nabila. Wow, she’s grown so quickly,” you whispered, marveling at the small baby asleep in her crib.

“She’s been wearing me out lately. They weren’t lying when they called it the terrible twos. So, is there something I can help you with?” she asked as you both walked out of the bedroom, Nabila quietly closing the door behind her. You knew Jerry was subtly eavesdropping as he whistled and made lunch in the kitchen.

“Uhm, well I-I think I might be pregnant and I was wondering if you still had any tests left. I just don’t trust these freaks enough to go to the doctor unless I have to.”

“That’s understandable. I have a couple left from the last time I saw the doc. C’mere,” Nabila said.

She handed you two tests, which involved dropping a bit of pee onto a tray and letting it sit for a few minutes. Old-fashioned, but more accurate than most tests that had been produced over twelve years ago.

“I’ll stand outside,” Nabila said as she handed you a cup.

“Wait,” you sniffled, “could you please stay?”

She nodded softly and stood facing the wall to give you some privacy. You pulled down your pants and waited for the cup to fill up.

After that, you shakily followed the instructions and left the test to develop for two minutes.

“Whatever happens, you’ll be okay. I promise, things are better than you think they are,” Nabila said, attempting to comfort you.

“Two lines. Both of them have two lines. That m-means—oh my god, how am I supposed to tell Daryl?” you panicked, tears streaming down your face.

“(y/n), (y/n), relax! It’s going to be okay, we can help you—“ Nabila soothed as you took quick, deep breaths in and out.

“Ladies, you alright in there?” Jerry asked through the door, no doubt in response to hearing you hyperventilating that.

You threw the door open where Jerry stood, stunned, and you hurled yourself into Jerry’s arms.

“I can’t be a mother! How am I supposed to take care of another living, breathing child?” you wailed as Jerry gently stroked your back. He slowly guided you to the couch, where you sat between Jerry and Nabila.

“Ever since you and Daryl took in Judith and RJ, you guys have seemed so happy. Daryl loves those kids, I know he’ll be overjoyed to have one of your own,” Jerry offered, Nabila nodding in agreement.

“Plus, boss owes me ten bucks now. I'll save it for the baby shower,” he laughed.

“Wait, you and Ezekiel bet on us?” you smirked, wiping the remaining tears from your cheeks.

“I bet that you’d get pregnant within three months of getting to the Commonwealth, and boss didn’t agree.”

“This was totally unplanned, but not unwelcome. At least, not for me. I’m just worried about how Daryl will react.”

—

It was the next day, and the perfect time to break the news to your boyfriend. You were walking back from dropping the kids off at school and neither of you had to be at work yet.

“Daryl, I have something I need to tell you,” you began. Dog walked between the two of you and you grasped Daryl’s hand gently.

“Yeah? 'N what's that?”

“I’m pregnant,” you blurted, staring down at the ground in nervousness.

“Are ya sure?”

“I took two test yesterday at Nabila and Jerry’s place.”

“Alright,” he said, nodding as if he was processing your words.

“Is—is that it? Just… alright?”

“Yeah. We’ll figure’t out. Ain’t nothin’ we can’t do, 'specially after takin’ care a Jude 'n RJ."

“So you aren’t pissed at me?”

“Nah, I ain’t mad. Takin’ care of 'em made me realize I could do better than ma dad. And I’ve always known ya’d make ‘n amazin’ mom,” Daryl confessed, both of you tentatively looking up to meet each other’s gaze.

“I love you, Daryl Dixon. I can’t wait to figure this out with you,” you smiled, as Daryl pulled you closer to him. Dog let out a bark as he moved beside you.

“Ah love ya too, (y/n),” he said, resting his chin on the top of your head as you leaned into his chest. It was an action even more intimate than a kiss.

“Did you know Jerry and Ezekiel had a bet going about when we’d have a kid?” you laughed.

"Nah, I didn’t,” he said, and you could feel his smile as he kissed your forehead.

[thestylesfamilysblog]

What Do You Say?

Elodie Styles x Teddy Evans

Summary: Elle’s been waiting too long for this conversation, only now she can’t wait any longer

Warnings: none!

A/N: okay I’ve been so excited to write this and have been loving their story together! A big thank you to Barbie who has not only become a best friend and my source of laughter and smiles, but she is also the one that lets me be creative and interact with her blogs, especially getting to write a little blurb with Bear, thank you B❤️

Elodie had never been more sure about anything in her life, even when she bought her first home all on her own she knew there was no one she wanted to share it with more than Teddy, oh and of course little Lulu, who could forget about the special rescue pup. Suitcases were by the door ready to head to Los Angeles for the Grammys but that wasn’t even on her mind at this point, the table was set and dinner was placed neatly on the tablecloth. Lulu even had on her best bandana, this would be a big deal for not only Elle but her and Teddy’s relationship.

“Did you break something of mine again?”

Came his voice as he stepped through the hallway, a teasing tone to it, many a times had Elle made his favourite meal because she had accidentally misplaced something of his or the one time she broke one of his favourite mugs, that day she’d never felt worse, going as far as to remake it just for him.

“Ha ha very funny, no I just wanted to make dinner..”

“My favourite and Lu’s got on her special bandana….thats a little suspicious babe”

Elodie couldn’t help the blush that arose to her cheeks as Teddy walked closer, picking up the little puppy and standing just a bit closer. Elle’s heart was racing, palms getting a bit clammy as she reached into her pocket and pulled out a keychain, on it was a key to the apartment, a mail key and a little crochet bear and bee attached to it, something she’d been working on while he was at his parents or in class.

“Hey there are my keys thanks Ellie!” He said taking them, not giving a second glance to the rest of the keychain, that was something she loved about Teddy was sometimes it took him just a second longer to realize he missed something.

“Look at the rest of it…”

She watched as he pulled them back out of his pocket, only then did he notice the extra key and little crocheted animals Elodie had placed on the keyring.

“Aw these are cute! Is this just an extra key in case I lose it?”

“It’s a mail key..”

“For what?”

Elodie laughed as she shrugged

“So when you get mail delivered here…you can open it…”

She waited a few seconds longer to see if he’d figure it out before smiling softly

“I’m asking if you want I move in with me Teddy…”

Teddy was silent for a few moments almost as if he was thinking before he looked back up at her

“Really?”

Elodie nodded, biting the inside of her cheek as she waited with bated breath, she’d never been more anxious or nervous in her life, her heart racing even more when Teddy sent her a teasing smile

“I don’t know…you sure you know what you’re signing up for….”

“Bear” she begged not being able to take the anticipation anymore, Teddy only smiling wider before bringing her into his chest and leaning down to kiss her softly, Lulu joining in by licking the side of your face excitedly

“I’d love too”

“You would!?”

He nodded keeping his hold on her

“I couldn’t imagine anything better.”

Elodie was on cloud nine, excitement and utter joy flowing through her as she wrapped her arms around his neck and hugged him tightly, earning a laugh from the young Evans boy. From growing up the best of friends, nothing being able to separate them, to experiencing life together and now living with one another, there was nothing else in the world Elle wanted more than for this moment to be framed right now.

“I hope you know though…this means you’ll never escape my jokes, you realize that right Bee?”

Elodie just shook her head, the same smile still plastered on her face

“No matter how bad they are, I’d never be able to get enough of them”

Elodie had all she needed, a new house, a perfect little angel of a puppy and the man who made her happiest of all, this was only the beginning for the both of them, and she couldn’t be more excited about the future.

Thank you B for letting me write this, I hope I did alright and wrote Teddy the way he deserves just like you portray him🥹 this was very cute and I enjoyed every second of writing it🩷😭 @mcrb2dt-evans

[thepringlesofblood]

Dimension 20′s Neverafter FPE (Fairytales Per Episode)

im going out of my fuckin gourd on this neverafter shit, and i have decided to make a list of what and how many fairytales/nursery rhymes are introduced in each episode. will update as time goes on but i make no promises as to how frequently. theories are not included in totals. allusions/references are.

disclaimer: i am coming at this from a primarily american, english-speaking, culturally christian background, though I have studied a lot of ancient mediterranean myth and religion, a little bit of norse myth and religion, and a little bit of arthurian legend.

please let me know if there’s a reference to something I missed or if you know shit I don’t. i’ve decided that for our purposes, whether a reference/allusion is intentional or not doesn’t factor into our final count - unintentional/ambiguously intentional allusions/references count too, not just obvious ones.

(especially about mythical middle eastern spiders. I only know anansi & arachne, and have a passing familiarity with jorogumo & ye xian, and none of those are middle eastern or fit the situation.)

update: the show is finished! I won’t be taking my various theories off, i think it adds flavor. just remember as you’re going down that I was updating this weekly-ish. I’m going to do another post in the future that is Just The Numbers, but for now, enjoy my rambling! [updatier update: here’s the Just The Numbers post]

Ep. 1

The PCs (and their backstories)

 Mother Goose (+1)

Hubbard (old mother Hubbard who lived in a cupboard) (+1)

Jack

jumped over the Candlestick (+1)

(implied) and the Beanstalk (bc of the giants everywhere) (+1)

theory: Sprat? (the rhyme goes “Jack sprat could eat no fat his wife could eat no lean/and so between them both, you see they licked the platter clean.” not directly mentioned but that was my first thought upon the whole turning to bones thing that like all the fat was removed from his body or smthin)

Ylfa (Little Red Riding Hood) (+1)

there are 2 wolves inside you. you are 12.

the big bad wolf is mentioned in the context of 2 stories, the 3 little pigs and little red riding hood, so (+1) for the pigs

Pib (Puss in Boots) (+1)

Pinocchio (+1)

Cinderella (stepmother’s official art says “Cinderella...” at the bottom) (+1)

theory: “The second fairy you have met in your life” so also a character in smthin else probably since cindy’s stepmom isnt usually magical

update: maybe the whole cannibalism thing made her magical? who’s to say

updatier update (post ep 7): so it turns out that the evil fairy =/= the stepmother, but is the evil fairy from sleeping beauty. i was right about the stepmother being in multiple different stories but boy howdy do i wish I wasn’t. 

Rosamund (sleeping beauty/briar rose) (+1)

Gerard (the princess and the frog) (+1)

Snow queen (mentioned by Elody) (+1)

the rest of the episode

the little red hen (+1)

i fuckin love this one.

the story’s basic but good - she’s makin some bread and at every step asks for help from the other barnyard creatures and they’re all like hmm nahhhhh and then when it comes time to eat the bread they’re all like yes please lemme help w that and she’s like uh no, where was this energy when i was making the damn thing? and eats it ‘without any help at all’

so brennan doing her as like ‘u gotta help or you don’t eat’ is fantastic. 10/10

Ol king Cole (+1)

The little old lady who lived in a shoe (+1)

(alluded to) Alice n Wonderland (rabbit and teapot) (+1)

theory: “the chandling caravan” sounds like it should be something, but I don’t know what it is, and google has not been helpful. same w boffit, lord bandlebridge, and cressida lumley.

total tale count: 16

Ep. 2

The nutcracker (+1) (herr drosselmeyer is the weird uncle who gives clara the nutcracker. also in every ballet his drip is consistently immaculate)

Snow White (+1) (mirror mirror…..leaned up against the wall)

(alluded to) Beauty n the beast (furniture coming alive) (+1)

theory: Eidelgrin means something, but I don’t know what it is.

total tale count: 3

Ep. 3

.........nothing new to report

Ep 4

the fairy with the turquoise hair (aka the blue fairy) is actually not exclusive to Pinocchio - she has her own book n everything. (+1)

(alluded to) the little mermaid (+1)

“a dancing princess who either cannot or will not speak near a beach.”

the little mermaid trades her voice for legs and in the OG grimm story it feels like stepping on swords whenever she walks so she kind of “dances” (rip)

there’s. So many rabbit and fox tricksters. And other clever cats. I don’t think any were directly mentioned (except that Pinocchio has some in his many adventures, which isn’t a new tale) so I’m gonna say (+1) for rabbit and (+1) for fox.

Update: a reply to this post mentioned a character named Reynard the Fox from medieval French literature that might be the reason that the Fox speaks with a French accent. I found more support for this theory below!

“Isengrim”

this is the name of the daggers Pib gets. Rabbit mentions that it’s a name that Fox called the Wolf.

In fact, there’s a tale called Ysengrimus from 1152 CE where Reynard the Fox tricks the titular character, a wolf! So, there’s one Fox story confirmed. No additional points since Fox already had 1 point, this is more confirming the specific story he was inspired by.

theory: also, if we know the accents Mean Something, then Rabbit having a British accent might point to Peter Rabbit.

update: i have noticed several posts calling Rabbit’s accent Australian. it can be hard for me to tell the difference and idk if the general European bent of these tales means that brennan’s British just sounds kind of Australian or if it Means Something. I’m sure there’s Australian trickster rabbits too i just don’t know them

no fuckin clue where the ring came from tho :/

the golden goose (another Jack/Mother Goose tale not specifically mentioned before) (+1)

plus the beanstalk thing is talked about more (not new info though)

total tale count: 5

Ep. 5

hey diddle diddle (+1) (the dish ran away with the spoon + the cow jumping over the moon are from this same rhyme)

also anyone catch brennan mentioning fiddle music as tim was healing pib? ik it was king cole related music, but also...hey diddle diddle, the cat and the fiddle.

itsy bitsy spider (+1)

(alluded to) little miss muffet (+1) (tuffeton)

(alluded to) goldilocks (+1) (”just enough” oats)

1001 nights (+1) (scheherazade is the author of these tales, as well as a myth in her own right. I have not read 1001 nights. please tell me things if you know them)

“spider queen” (+1) idk what it is but its fuckin something

identifying information: guardian of a cave/maze. supposedly has a throne. 1001 nights-adjacent.

theories:

“the spider and the wind” tale 909 of 1001, spider isn’t in this one that much actually

not all folktales in the neverafter are in mother goose’ book, so it stands to reason that not all folktales in the Endless Nights are in 1001 nights.

however, all the folktales in the neverafter are European in origin (mostly medieval), so it would make sense that the folktales in the endless nights would be middle eastern or adjacent

ye xian - chinese folktale where there’s a spider queen

“that’s east asia not arabia” fair but consider: in the older translations, aladdin is a chinese peasant. the world of 1001 nights is already bigger than arabia, and stories travel much more easily than the goods being traded across asia and the mediterranean on the silk road at the time the stories were written.

jorogumo - japanese yokai. a spider that turns into a woman. again, extremely far away from arabia, but girl i am looking.

cave of thawr - islamic oral tradition of muhammed hiding in a cave and a spider protects him. there’s a similar jewish tale w david hiding in a cave.

unlikely, but if there’s beautiful tapestries and the mother of all spiders i have to mention my girl Arachne (greek myth)

all time famous mythical spider anansi (west africa) still doesn’t really fit the bill, and is farther away from arabia than arachne (greece, which had colonies in the middle east (along the mediterranean shore but still. water = trade = exchange of goods = exchange of ideas/stories)) but still possible

yes i got a degree in ancient mediterranean studies and am using it to ruthlessly analyze a comedy show instead of sleeping, what about it?

sinbad (+1) “Sinbad the Sailor” (the roc is part of this as far as i can tell)

magical palace w the tapestries of starlight (+1) there’s a fuckload of magic palaces in 1001 nights. idk which one this refers to but it’s Something. am currently combing the stories more closely to specify at least one.

theories

the bartender with the icy wound is definitely someone. my gut says someone from the snow queen - people get icy mirrors in their eyes n shit in there and oftentimes straight up don’t get better

the peddler of wares in the corner has to be someone

the name of the tavern being “the cock and toad” has to mean something. i did some googling. there’s lots of fairytales w toads and lots of fairytales w cocks (lol) but none I could find where it’s just the two of them together. it’s weird, w a lot of fairytales/fables/nursery rhymes its like rolling 2d8 on a table of 8 animals and then just making the title out of the two animals you get. statistically its likely that there’s a story out there called that but I can’t find it.

the fucking spidersilk ring. i will solve this riddle one day.

they say the name “Aesop” as in “Aesop’s fables” (like the tortoise and the hare) but no tales mentioned yet. worth looking into if you’re the curious sort tho. Pib is going to fuck this guy up, his stories are very animal-centric and definitely have some trickster cats.

total tale count: 8

Ep. 6

No new tales - expands on ones already mentioned.

It’s just Muffet and whoever Scheherazade’s spider is

at least we find out that the “spider queen” referred to the monstrous form of muffet and Scheherazade’s spider combined, and not some new wholly separate myth.

Scheherazade’s spider seemed a little...riddly? for lack of a better term? like the whole “something that does not breathe” thing was weird, and if it’s supposed to be a guardian or guide of some sort, riddles make sense.

honorable mention: In the adventuring party episode, brennan tells the fable of the scorpion and the frog.

total tale count: 0

Ep 7

many theories with little knowledge.

In the adventuring party, brennan straight up says that the sword of truth is a general archetype, not from any specific tale. didn’t know that was an option! so no points for the sword of truth, dope as it is.

p.s. anyone else get flashbacks to fhsy with the whole truth mirror thing? it’s a good concept I’m glad brennan’s bringing it back

I am assuming each artifact found in the spider’s lair either comes from a separate tale, or is an archetype. I’m only counting it if I can pin down a specific tale that it is from.

the gillesuit/haystack cloak (+1)

update: As of Ep. 9, we now know that this is called ��the cloak of rushes” and grants advantage on stealth checks. it is almost certainly from the English fairy tale “Cap-o’-Rushes” which, confusingly, features not just a cap but a whole outfit made of rushes!

my first thought was little boy blue, which does come from the tales of mother goose. this makes more sense tho lol

the golden bridle (+1)

some cursory googling indicates that this is from the celtic tale of Guleesh. one night, upon hearing the Fair Folk partying in some ruins (had to look up what a “rath” was lol) and saying “My horse, my bridle, my saddle!”, he repeats what they’re saying and is suddenly on a horse with a golden bridle. the story isn’t about the bridle itself, but the horses feature prominently, and can fly and stuff. When Guleesh kind of breaks the magic, the horse turns into a wooden beam, so maybe putting the bridle on a wooden beam summons a horse?

update: in ep 13 & 14 (& the adventuring parties) they mention that a. it does not summon a steed - you need to already have a steed there, and b. it would only work on a beast, not a monstrosity.

so.......maybe it’s not the one from the tale of Guleesh. I remain optimistic.

the golden chair (+1)

an obscure one, to be sure. from a grimm fairytale with a weirdly christian bent, where a tailor convinces st peter to let him into heaven but then sits in a big golden chair which as it turns out is the chair god sits in, and fucks up by throwing the footstool at some lady on earth washing veils (?) and gets kicked out again.

it is very possible that this was not an intentional allusion, but rather meant to evoke a fairytale-like atmosphere. either way, mission accomplished!

honorable mention: mayor harold hopps, while not a fairytale character himself, looks exactly like and was apparently inspired by the guy on the Pringles can, who is 100% a modern-day folkloric character.

theories:

the black velvet cloak with stars on it

idk where this is from. the only story I could find w a cursory google that had star clothing was Allerleirauh aka Thousandfurs, about a princess whose dad who wants to marry her (gross) so she asks for a bunch of impossible stuff to be made before the wedding can happen to try and stop it, including a dress made of stars (and one made of every kind of fur in the world hence the title). but it’s not a cloak so no points.

i s2g i have heard of something called ‘the cloak of stars’ before but I can’t fucking find it. pls lmk if you can think of something

update: ep 9 - they ALMOST told us what it was fuck, they mentioned wearing it to escape from the stepmother but we have no name. also the ‘cap-o’-rushes’ tale is extremely similar to thousandfurs minus the incest, so I don’t think it’s from that.

the stick skeletons w/ flesh on them were minions of the evil fairy from sleeping beauty - not a new tale

total tale count: 3

Ep 8

correction: brennan mentioned in the adventuring party for this one that aesop himself may also be fictional, and that many fables contain him telling the fable as part of it, so we’ll officially count him as his own fable like we did with Scheherazade (+1)

the lion and the mouse (+1)

the boy who cried wolf (+1)

they did finally mention the scorpion and the frog (+1)

alphonse is there but “the mule” isn’t actually referenced as being part of any of aesop’s fables in the show (like, there’s plenty of mules in aesop’s fables but no specific one was referenced in the show)

total tale count: 4

Ep 9

BABA YAGA BABA YAGA BABA YAGA BABAYAGABABAYAGA!!!!!! (+1)

i love her so much. i truly understood emily’s excitement this episode. 

(alluded to) the princess and the pea (+1)

first time around I didn’t hear siobhan ask if anyone sees any stacks of mattresses without peas under them to sleep on lol

(alluded to) this little piggy went to market (+1)

idk if that’s the name of the rhyme or not, or if it has a name

it’s not in the captions but emily axford saying ‘well there has to be a market, right? cause this little piggy went to market’ is iconic

some sources say this rhyme is from Mother Goose lol

total tale count: 3

Ep 10

(alluded to) peter and the wolf (+1)

the baron’s named peter and there’s a wolf. that cant be a coincidence, the 3 little pigs don’t have set names

mostly retreading 3 little pigs territory. awesome battle set!

theories:

the soup could be an allusion to something but i think its just playing into this season’s theme of consumption and the end of the 3 little pigs

the council of kings might be from something

total tale count: 1

Ep 11

we get 5 kings from 5 tales on the Council of Kings (which seems diegetic and not a reference to anything), 3 of which we already knew, 2 which are new.

the little mermaid (the mer-king)

the snow queen (the tsar of snowhold)

the nutcracker (the mouse king)

the emperor’s new clothes (the naked emperor) (+1)

rumpelstiltskin (FINALLY) (the king of apogee) (+1)

Koschei the deathless (+1)

i had no fucking clue who this guy was until emily axford recognized him, thank you emily

at first I was scared the sealskin would be a selkie thing. it may still be, but that doesn’t appear to be the case in this specific situation

(alluded to) the binding of Fenrir, the wolf at the end of the world (+1)

there’s a norse myth where tyr (a god) puts his hand in fenrir’s mouth to show good faith. the gods want to put this magical leash/collar on fenrir, and since he’s not an idiot he says that he’ll consent to it only if tyr puts a hand in his mouth while they do it, to show that what they’re doing will not hurt or bind him in any way. the gods agree, but oops they lied, the chains are very much to bind him, and tyr loses his hand but the wolf is still bound.

but ylfa and mother goose are telling the truth! happy ending (for once lol) ^v^

I didn’t catch this one at first - thank you to the many posts about it in the #neverafter tag!

honorable mention

sheldon from ‘garfield and friends’

theories

the tavern-keeper (Natalia) doesn’t stand out to me as anyone specific so far, though her daughter is the second “snow-touched” person we’ve met (the bartender at the cock and toad had an icy wound over one eye) so im thinkin snow queen

there’s dwarves in other stories than snow white I’m sure, but these ones specifically say “snow white” on their intro card.

also, their names, Mürrisch, Schläfrig, & Arzt, mean grumpy, sleepy, and doctor in German. Grumpy, Sleepy, and Doc are all disney snow white dwarf names. nice.

another infuriating mention of the cloak of stars without any indication of what it does. I’m going to spontaneously combust.

one thing i do appreciate is the amount of taverns they run into. this is the third and i am very pro

total tale count: 4

Ep. 12

so many princesses!!!!! most of them already counted but still!!!

Rapunzel!!!!! (+1)

The North Wind (+1)

my classics major ass immediately assumed they were talking about Boreas, the Greek god of the northern wind lol

from what I can tell, this is from "East of the Sun and West of the Moon"

i’m sure The North Wind is from other things too, everybody loves personifying the wind

honorable mentions

Beast!!!!! i already counted the tale early on as a reference but it’s here fr now!!!!

Finally meeting the little mermaid!!! Also counted early on but this is her first appearance!

“the beast beyond no name” that Mira mentions in combination w the taut string that Pinocchio feels that means part of his story is happening soon whether he likes it or not makes me think it’s Terrible Dogfish time. But. I also think that it could be the literal Kraken.

there’s so many monsters in folklore that are just “really big scary fish thing that lives at the bottom of the ocean yet somehow also wrecks ships on the surface” i just don’t know which one brennan’s going for. my money’s on either Pinocchio’s Dogfish or The Kraken

Candlewick! jesus fucking christ! every time a bit of Pinocchio lore shows up, it’s already horrifying just from the whole story of Pinocchio being horrifying, but then Brennan leans into it in just the right way for it to be so much worse!

in the adventuring party, they mention several other tales, including the tortoise and the hare and the little matchgirl. they also (rightfully) dunk on Hans Christian Andersen for writing ludicrously depressing children’s stories.

total tale count: 2

Ep. 13

no new tales, dogfish, mer-king, & sea witch are from existing tales, but

CLOAK OF STARS LORE CONFIRMED

WE NOW KNOW THE CLOAK OF STARS IS CAPABLE OF CASTING 5TH LEVEL MAGIC MISSILE

THIS DOES NOTHING TO NARROW THINGS DOWN! BUT IT’S SOMETHING!!!!

also MANY tantalizing mentions of the golden bridle with 0 hints as to its capabilities.

total tale count: 0

Ep. 14

the sea witch is named Alba Mac Lír

several allusions here!

thank you @twoeelsforsupper for this observation!

“there is a legend called "the children of Lír" where a witch/stepmother turns King Lír's children into swans but does not take their voices, which ends up getting her found out. like the threads about voices and witches and stepmothers and transformations???”

“Alba” can mean several things

it’s the Scottish Gaelic name for Scotland (this is probably what was being referenced)

in Latin, it’s the feminine nominative singular of the adjective albus, meaning “white”

in Spanish and Italian, it means “sunrise”

In Scottish Gaelic, “Mac” means “son of” so we have “Scotland, son of Lír”

good for her

also, if she’s one of the children of Lír, does that mean she’s one of the ones that got turned into swans?? much to consider.

so, plus one for the legend of the children of Lír! (+1)

FINALLY (finally) we get full cloak of stars lore.

its a fucking dnd 5e item. all this time and it’s legit just a reskin of Robe of Stars

it can take them to the lines between and shoot magic missile

i don’t know why i’m mad

total: 1

Ep. 15

yikes

no new tales, unless you count Clara The Horse Princess (she is not from anything as far as I can tell but I love her. also like Clara is the name of the nutcracker main character but we already counted the nutcracker so it wouldn’t be anything either)

total: 0

Ep. 16

thumbelina! (+1)

tom thumb! (+1)

I thought they were from the same thing but it turns out they have different origins, though there was a 2002 movie that had them be in the same movie.

tom thumb - English folklore, there was a 1621 book called The History of Tom Thumb

thumbelina - hans christian anderson tale from 1835, in the second volume of his Fairy Tales Told For Children series.

turns out he was actually inspired by Tom Thumb a bit, so it’s not convergent evolution or anything.

ngl - I mostly know the story of thumbelina from hearing julia from drawfee rant about how shitty of a movie it is in various streams/videos lol

all the jack stuff is stuff we’ve seen before - golden goose, giantslayer, nimble

UPDATE: in ep 17 adventuring party, brennan talks a bit about the multiplicity of jacks, and clarifies that there are TWO separate giantslayer myths.

Jack the Giant Killer - a Welsh fairytale about a warrior named Jack who fights a bunch of giants with a huge club and wins

Jack and the Beanstalk - an English fairytale about a young boy who accidentally grows a beanstalk to the Giant World and only “kills” the giant at the end by cutting the beanstalk down, leaving the giant to fall to his (their?) death.

So, while we’ve already counted Jack and the Beanstalk, this episode does introduce a new variation on Jack - Jack the Giant Killer. (+1)

henry hubbard is BACK!!!!! yes!!!!!

and tomás!!! and A L P H O N S E

I am v psyched for what comes next.

honorable mentions:

these aren’t explicitly Liliputians, but they do talk about gulliver in the adventuring party. I don’t think they talk about him in the actual show though.

total: 3

Ep. 17

holy shit. so many right off the bat, with brennan and siobhan going through a list of c-list folktales!

Fear Not (+1)

another grimm fairytale - not their finest work i see why this guy would be c-list lol

the brave little tailor (+1)

aka “the guy who kills a bunch of flies with his belt”

this is a for-real grimm fairytale about a guy who kills 7 flies at once, is very proud of it, makes a belt that says “Seven at One Blow” on it, and then goes out into the world and has his shit wrecked from various people misinterpreting what “Seven at One Blow” means

it’s hilarious

another jack tale!! Jack and Jill! (+1)

three blind mice (+1)

honorable mentions:

Henry talks about reuniting a clockwork man with a man in an eyepatch

this is all consistent with the Herr Drosselmeyer lore from all the way back in the first episodes of the show! We already counted him, so no new points, but still very cool!

also cool how brennan combined shoeberg w giant-slaying bc i mean how did they get all those ludicrously big shoes?

the golden goose shows Timothy all the versions of his story where they are one and the same. I’m not counting this as her showing him a new, separate fairytale, since it just overlaps two tales that we already have counted. also, I cried, that was a really intense part of the episode.

in the adventuring party they talk a lot about Narnia and “The Lion, The Witch, and The Wardrobe.”

ik those aren’t exactly ye olde english fairytales, since they came out in 1950, but if Aslan wandered into the neverafter I’d count him for sure

we learn what the harp does!

the harp’s power is consistent with the jack and the beanstalk myth, but it also reminded me of several other myths about lulling beasts to sleep

e.g. Hermes of Greek mythology fame (and supposedly the inventor of the lyre) also killed the giant Argus after lulling half of his eyes to sleep with the lyre and boring the other half to sleep with various tales of his exploits. (Argus’ big thing was having a bunch of eyes all over his body)

lulling a beast to sleep is a common theme across cultures, makes sense that it’s the kind of archetype useful for the gang.

it’s very possible that some aspect of how baba yaga’s cottage was described alludes to some other Slavic folklore that I didn’t pick up on

total: 4

Ep 18

“The Wishing Star” (+1)

fuck disney for making it impossible to find real fairytales about wishing stars on google

there are many tales/nursery rhymes about wishing on stars. “star light, star bright” is the first that comes to mind, but I’m sure there’s others. we’ll count this as a multi-tale figure and give it +1

honorable mentions

so. The Trials of Baba Yaga could refer to several things.

The Tale about Baba-Yaga is a 18th c. folk story where Baba Yaga has one normal human son (???) who marries a normal human woman, who then has to prove herself by doing seemingly normal chores (milk the cows, shear the sheep) that she then finds out from her husband are secretly meant to kill her (the cows are bears, the sheep are wolves).

(aka a fucked up slavic version of the tale of eros and psyche.)

(not that eros and psyche isn’t fucked up, just in a different way)

There is a 2017 book called “Winston and Baum and the Trials of the Baba Yaga” I do not think this is what was being referenced, and as it is modern and not a folk story, I’m not counting it.

other stuff I can find about Baba Yaga also includes stepdaughters having to do chores with secret meanings - it’s a part of her Thing

I’m including this under the general Baba Yaga mythos, not as its own thing, but still cool stuff to know about.

Prince Johnathan of Apogee (that’s how the subtitles spell it)

so. wayyyy back in episode 11 we find out that the kingdom of apogee is where Rumplestiltskin happened.

I think that’s all the Apogee info we have, and with a name as vague as Johnathan I don’t think we can call it a reference to anything.

We got Mother Goose’s OG rhyme!!!

not a new story but very cool!!!

there’s more but I think they stopped at a good place

fun fact: I found an extra verse that isn’t in the one linked above

“Then old Mother Goose/that instant came in/and turned her son Jack/into famed Harlequin/She then with her wand/touched the lady so fine/and turned her at once/into sweet Columbine”

and then they go on with the rest of the book like that bit never happened

other fun mother goose shit

i thought that littlefinger and “chaos is a ladder” were fairytale quotes but they’re from game of thrones it turns out. ._.

total: 1

Ep 19

no new tales (it’s the finale pt 1) but several honorable mentions

“As you wish”

cinderella girl you are KILLING ME

for those not in the know, this is an allusion to The Princess Bride

in the context of the book & movie, it means “I love you”

could be unintentional but i highly doubt it.

the book is too recent to count as fairytale for our purposes (1973) but it is very much in that genre. god damn.

la bête saying “be our guest” alludes to the disney beauty and the beast movie obvs

“Something wicked this way comes”

quote from Macbeth, by Shakespeare

I don’t think Shakespeare counts as fairytales. idk the vibes are just off. ik it’s an Old Story but it isn’t a fairytale.

total: 0

Ep 20

this is it gang!

The Fairies

so in the 1880s, Andrew Lang wrote a series of fairytale books named after fairies of various colors. I’m counting each fairy who has a book named after them as a new tale.

EXCEPT: the Blue Fairy

ok look i fucked up yall. The Fairy With Turquoise Hair is re-named “The Blue Fairy” in a lot of adaptations, so when I previously counted her separately from Pinocchio bc she had her own book, I was referring to “The Blue Fairy Book”

so we’re not counting it here bc that would be counting it twice. apologies to the actual Blue Fairy.

The Red Fairy Book (+1)

The Green Fairy Book (+1)

The Orange Fairy Book (+1)

The Yellow Fairy Book (+1)

this is by no means all of Lang’s color fairy books. he’s got crimson, violet, grey, pink, you name it.

honorable mentions

Calvin & Hobbes is modern day folklore

I looked up to see if there’s any actual Aesop fables with a shark in em, closest I could find was a dolphin. Rip.

Beaky’s stint in the TAA lines up with Pinocchio’s story, so not a new tale. thank you for your service beaky o7

total: 4

total series tale count: 62

alas, the only mystery remaining is Scheherazade’s spider. someday I may come back to this post with new information about her, but today is not that day. If you know any middle eastern myths/fairytales/folklore/nursery rhymes that prominently feature a spider that guards a maze or guides people through caves, please feel free to reply/reblog with your knowledge.

this show has been a fun and wild ride. Here’s a shortened version of this post with just the numbers

thank you for coming on this journey with me - see you in the stories!

[obessedwithfictionalmen]

I'll come pick it up after pt.4

John Egan X Female! Reader

Sumarry: The morning of the mission, Bucky becomes overprotective of HIS nurse.

Warning: Historical inaccuracies/ Swearing/ insults/ blood/ violence/ use of Y/n/ crying/

Word count: 1,8k

When they both went to sleep that night, they kept thinking about what just happened in the woman’s office. They almost had sex, in her office. Bucky was thinking about her hand on his crotch, and his hand on her breast. And he kept thinking about the fact that she put his hand there. His jacket had her scent, it drove him mad. Buck was apologizing for interrupting them, he felt bad. ‘’Buck, I told you many times, it’s okay. You’re right, I have to sleep. I’m not mad at you, and I don’t think Y/n’s mad either’’ he said to his friend. ‘’So, Elodie, uh, what did you say to her?’’ they talked about the young nurse, how Buck was nervous to talk to her, but he went anyway.

Y/n was tossing and turning, she couldn’t sleep. Egan’s touch was still in her mind, she couldn’t get him off her mind. So, she got up, she was dress in her night gown. She put a vest on top of it, so if she got cold, she could have something to warm her up. She made her way to the kitchen, to take an apple and something non alcoholic to drink. When she entered the kitchen, there was a light on. Curious, she made her way to the light, cautiously she announced herself. ‘’Hello?’’ a voice responded. She entered the kitchen to find Harry Crosby. ‘’Oh, Harry, it’s you.’’ She said relived. ‘’Didn’t mean to scare you, what are you doing up at this time?’’ he asked. ‘’Can’t sleep, you?’’ ‘’Same thing’’ they both smiled at each other. ‘’I saw you, at the party, but you were busy with Egan, I didn’t want to interrupt’’ he starts. ‘’How are you adapting to the base?’’ he asks. ‘’It’s fine, the girls are amazing, and the soldiers are, welcoming.’’ She smiled at the last word she pronounced. ‘’I heard that you got the eyes of Egan. Is that why you were with him all night’’ Y/n chuckles and blush a little. Crosby’s eyes went on the necklace she was wearing. ‘’And why you’re wearing his necklace, what’s going on between the two of you?’’ She looked at her friend. ‘’Honestly, Croz, I have no idea. I just know that there’s a tension between us and yeah.’’ She spoke. For the record, she had no idea what her relationship with Bucky was. ‘’Just be careful, he’s a lady’s men’’ he warned her. ‘’Trust me, I know that, but thank you for caring.’’ She was thankful for Harry Crosby. When he came in her office for the first time, it was because he kept vomiting when he was in the air. After that, he came back to tell her that the medicine she gave him, worked. They kept talking, but they were great friends, since he was married, Y/n didn’t have to worry about him making a move on her.

Y/n woke up at 4:30 am, she and her nurse had to make breakfast for the soldiers. She put on her blue uniform, her hair was still in the braid crown from yesterday, so she kept it that way. When the nurses came in the kitchen, they were surprised to see Gale Cleven already there. Elodie smiled at him, Meatball, as usual, went to see Y/n. ‘’Hi doggie! How are you!’’ she petted the animal, while his owner came towards her. ‘’Good morning, Y/n, can I speak with you?’’ he asked. ‘’Sure, just give me one minute, I need to tell the girls the menu’’ she instructed the girls what to do and went to speak to Buck. They seated at an empty table. ‘’What are you doing up, this early?’’ ‘’I want to apologize for yesterday, for interrupting you and Bucky. What you guys were doing is none of my business, and I just wanted to apologize’’ The girl smiled, the men in front of her looked nervous. ‘’Thank you for apologizing, but don’t worry, Bucky is a soldier, he must have a good night of sleep before a mission. I’m not mad at you’’ she reassured Buck. He looked relived. ‘’Can you look after Meatball when we’re not here? And I promise to look after Bucky’’ he extended his hand, to make it official. She smiled and shook his hand.

The boys were starting to come in to get their breakfast. Y/n was supervising her girls, making sure everything was okay, that none of the soldiers were mean to them. ‘’I told you, my food is cold, bitch!’’ a soldier yelled at one of the nurses. Y/n quickly came at the scene. ‘’What’s going on, private?’’ She said to the soldier, behind her counter. ‘’God can any of those cunts hear me! MY FOOD IS COLD’’ He yelled, getting everyone’s attention in the cafeteria. ‘’Go help Daisy, I got this Mary’’ she told the nurse that was getting yelled at. She took a deep breath and than, looked at the men straight in the eyes. ‘’First of all, don’t ever disrespect my girls like that, we volunteered, just like you. Geeting yelled at by pricks like you wasn’t in the contract.’’ The men tried to talk, but Y/n shushed him. ‘’Second of all, we serve dozens of men, the portions are already made, you just got one that we made early this morning. If you ask nicely, maybe I can personally warm it up for you.’’ She tried to be nice, but he was getting on his nerves.

The men yelling caught the attention of every soldier. Including John Egan’s attention. His back was facing the scene, so he didn’t see that it was Y/n getting yelled at. ‘’I won’t ask nicely, isn’t it in your contract to serve warm food, bitch’’ He was speaking loudly, but since the room went quiet, everyone could hear the altercation. ‘’Isn’t it basic manners to speak nicely at a woman.’’ Y/n responded quietly. ‘’God this nurse doesn’t let him be mean to her’’ Bucky whispered to his friends. ‘’Isn’t it your nurse?’’ Curt stated, pointing at the nurse. Bucky turned around to see HIS nurse, getting yelled at by the men. He was about to get up, but Buck put a hand on his shoulder, to stop him from getting up he didn't want his friend to get in trouble. Plus Y/n looked like she handled the men by herself. Every man in the room was watching the scene. ‘’What did you say to me, skank’’ The angry men spat in the face of the chief nurse. ‘’Do you want your warm meal, or not?’’ The men took his plate and threw it at Y/n, the plate broke on the glass, but a piece went at her, cutting her on the cheek. Egan wanted to rip his head off, he hurt his nurse. ‘’Congratulation, you lost your meal, and you’re gonna get arrested for assault. Have a good day sir’’ she said as the military police arrested the men. ‘’Everyone goes back to your plates!’’ one of the Corporal said. Egan quickly got up and went to the medic center, which was next door, to see if she was okay.

Y/n was holding a tissue to her cheek, to stop the bleeding. She was still in shook of what just happened. How could’ve stayed so calm? Her head was down, she was just feeling so many emotions at the time. She heard the door open. ‘’I’ll give you my statement after I clean my wound’’ she said to the military police. ‘’I don’t need your statement, darling, I was there’’ Bucky said as she raised her head to look at him. He approached her, getting closer to her, he could see the food on her skirt, the blood on her shirt and her eyes, full of tears. ‘’I’m okay, really, it was nothing’’ she said, her voice breaking down. ‘’Let’s go in your office, it’ll be quieter’’ he proposed. She nodded, following him to her office. Where they were last night, but there wasn’t any tension in the air now. Bucky was angry, this dick had hurt his girl. As soon as the door was closed, she started crying. ‘’I don’t even know why I’m crying. He got arrested and I only have a small cut. I’m okay, really’’ she said with a lump in her throat, she didn’t want to appear vulnerable in front of him. ‘’Let me look, darling’’ ‘’Bucky, I’m okay, go back to your friends’’ she tries to push him away. ‘’Not until you’re okay. Do you need a hug?’’ She nodded and he opened his arms, Y/n came closer to him. She cried in his arms as he reassured her, telling her that everything was going to be okay, that she was safe with him. When she felt better, she took the tissue off her wound, Bucky didn’t know anything about medicine, but he got her what she said she needed and help her, the best he could. ‘’Now, can you give me a smile, darling’’ she smiled to him, it wasn’t a forced smile, she was happy that he was here. ‘’I’m leaving for my mission soon, but when I come back, I’m going to get my necklace back, keep it safe from pirates’’ Bucky joked. Again, she laughed. ‘’Don’t ask anyone to punch you in the face this time’’ she adds, this time, Egan’s laughing. ‘’Be careful out there, come back in one piece’’ she seriously said. He nodded and kissed the top of her head. ‘’Kiss me, before you leave, please’’ He did as she asked and kissed her. There weren’t any sexual tensions, they were kissing because she asked him to do so, because even if they don’t want to admit it to each other, this might be the last time they see each other. ‘’I’m serious, Major, come back to me’’ she said as he left the room. ‘’Promise’’ he said before going back to his friends.

It was the time for him to leave, she went to the runway with other nurses. Crosby ran to her, she had to give him medicine, but he wanted to know if she was okay. ‘’Oh, my lord, Y/n are you oaky?’’ he hugged her. As he broke the hug, he looked at her face. ‘’Nothing I can’t fix, here’s your medicine Croz, be careful’’ She handed him the pills. Harry took the pills and left. Bucky and Buck walked towards her. ‘’Are you alright?’’ Buck asked. She nodded. ‘’More scared than hurt’’ she said. ‘’Meatball’s coming, hold on I’ll get him’’ Buck says as he leaves. ‘’No sad stuff. Just think about the cross around my neck’’ she said. ‘’I will darling, I’ll come back, and we can continue where we left off last night.’’ She blushed and chuckled. She gently hit his shoulder, indicating him to go in his plane. Bucky winked at you before getting inside. Buck gave you Meatball. ‘’Don’t forget your part of the deal’’ she said, getting a nod from Buck. He swore to protect his best friend, that’s what he was going to do, until Bucky was back in her arms.

Part 5⬇️

[brionbroadway]

Gerard was rarely the first one awake.

He was making up for lost time, as he told Elody when she’d tease him for sleeping past breakfast. Frogs, he had to learn, do not sleep the way humans do: they remain alert. He quickly learned why that was necessary.  

Gerard missed the deep rest that’s needed for growth from child to adult, a realization that strikes him as he watches Ylfa and Pinocchio sleep on the rooftop. It’s too early, and too frightening, to process that as a revelation about himself, so he doesn’t. He’s just grateful the kids can sleep despite a world that wants them to be alert.  

“Coffee?”

So, he’s still not the first one awake. He turns towards Timothy, who inexplicably hands him a cannister of soot mixed with water. “Why?” is all Gerard is awake enough to say.

“My husband and I always drank coffee together before Jack woke up,” Timothy says. “It’s a nice ritual.”

Gerard does not know how Elody spent her mornings, and he regrets that he never asked her. “That does sound nice.”

“Oh, I just meant—I’m not flirting with you.”

Gerard sighs and turns his attention back to the kids, the day’s memories passing through him with the blurry edges of a dream. “It doesn’t seem real, what they’ve been through. It’s too much for a kid.”

Timothy eyes him. “Yeah. It is.”

“It’s good that Ylfa has you. And that Pinocchio has Pib, though I’m not sure he’s the best influence.”

Timothy quiets for a moment, then asks, “Did you have anyone? Other than Elody?”

“Well, Fred. And Fred 2, and Fred 3.”

“Anyone you didn’t watch die in front of you?”

Gerard shakes his head. “Just Elody. But she was enough.”

“But she was a kid, too.”

Timothy’s a writer, and Gerard thinks he must be writing Elody’s story in his mind. He tries to do the same, and the antagonist is obvious. “I suppose it’s not fair to ask a kid to be a hero,” Gerard says, glancing at Ylfa.

Timothy follows his gaze. “For some, maybe it’s destiny. Based on what you’ve told us about Elody, and the image we saw of her, I think she’s more the type to fight destiny to do the right thing. Not a hero, exactly. Just someone who helps.”

Gerard feels a pain in his chest, worse than the glass shard that scarred his body. God, he loves her, but God, he kept her from who she was. “She could’ve done more if she wasn’t so concerned with me. I was just some asshole kid.”

“Gerard, I’ve devoted my life to caring for kids, and they’re all kind of assholes. Don’t feel guilty that someone cared about you. You can feel angry that more people didn’t. You deserved better, and I’m sorry you didn’t get it. I’m sorry if I’m the first person who’s told you that.”

It’s so, so early, and Gerard has missed so much rest. Maybe it’s impossible for him to make up for lost time.

“What do I do with that?” he asks. Something cracks his voice: anger or sadness, he’s not sure it matters which. 

“I don’t really know,” Timothy admits. “I think you’re doing what you can with Ylfa and Pinocchio. I think you understand them in a way Pib and I can’t. We can’t stop horrors from happening to them, but it matters that you care when they do.”

Gerard nods: that much, he can do.

[fandomgoesahhhhhhhhh]

Could you do an Elodie x fem reader? From ok ko? Where the reader is like IN LOVE with animals and just tells her gf random facts?😂 Headcannons

Yes, I can. Don’t have to tell me twice

(Ok Ko Let’s be heroes x Reader)

💖Love for an Animal Lover💖

Elodie x Animal Lover Fem Reader

(Request)

It’s started when you guys were studying for a test and you guys spot a ladybug. She says the ladybug is a cute bug, but you pointed out that it’s actually a beetle and there’s more than 400 ladybugs and then all of a sudden, you start talking about fun little facts about them.

Even though you two have to study..she like listening to you..plus she was surprise..sure, you two dated for a while, but you wouldn’t that person who talk a lot about their interest. She just stares at you..listening to you..once you realized..you immediately blushes and tries to calm yourself down, but Elodie told you that it’s alright and she can hold the study down a bit.

Since that day, whenever you two have free time, you would talk to her about animal facts and talk about facts about different animals. She’s admit she doesn’t really know probably most of the animals you are talking about and sometimes would ask questions just for you to explain it more to her.

I wanna imagine she gives you A LOT of animal books..even if you probably already have them. She wanna make sure you know that she loves enjoying your interest and she wanna make sure you know it’s ok to talk to her about what you like.

Zoo dates are always a thing. That and seeing sea creatures(I can’t spell the word since it’s hard for me, I’m sorry). I imagine you talking to her all about the animals you two are seeing and she would be very confused at the facts, but listening while looking at the animal..still amazed at the facts.

(Sorry if this one is short. I didn’t really had much in mind. Hope you enjoy and thank you for requesting)

[jq37]

Twice Upon a Time - Neverafter Mid-Season Questions

Hey Y'all! A LOT has happened in Never After since my last recap. School has had a stranglehold on me. But I wanted to pop in with some questions and observations before the next episode drops on Wednesday.

(1) I wonder if the PCs were supposed to leave the Lines Between so quickly? There was information implied to be there that they never got and they didn't really mean to leave so much as they started a chain of events that led to them being shunted back into their world.

(2) Speaking of, where are Scher and Muffet for that matter? Muffet was mentioned to have come with them to the Lines Between but they never asked about her so she never spoke. And they haven't asked about her since. And Scher is presumably still in the library, right? Wild that Tim hasn't tried to contact her yet.

(3) Even though we've gotten several lore dumps this season, there's still a lot we don't know about what's going on. Some of that info was prob in The Lines Between. Some of it is probably locked behind actions that the players just aren't pursuing (like those of them who have their books but haven't looked inside of them yet which is lowkey driving me crazy! Please play with the toy your DM gave you guys! Not backseating playing or anything, I just wanna know what's in there!) 

(4) I think the thing that probably gives me the most pause is the nature of the Times of Shadow. Because the "wrongness" in the stories of the PCs kind of fall into three distinct categories. You have Red and Roz, whose problems are that their stories did NOT go as planned. Red is supposed to be saved by the woodsman and that didn't happen. Roz is supposed to be saved by her prince, but he doesn't come. But then you have Ger and PIB, whose stories go exactly to plan. The problem isn't their stories. Their problem is what happens AFTER their stories. It's more an Into The Woods Act 2 situation with them. What happens after happily ever after. Consequences of their actions, you know?  You don't put work into your marriage? It frays. You put a miller's son on the throne with no expertise in statecraft and politicking? When trouble comes, he's useless. Their stories went off fine. It was outside forces (the war in both cases) that caused the problem. And then you Pinocchio and Tim who had their stories more or less--Tim doesn't really have a story--and then just kind of witnessed the darkness around them until their lives were made worse by outside entities--the stepmother and the Gander. So their lives were not all made worse in the same way, you know? It was different mechanics for all of them. So I'm wondering, is this all the same thing? Is ALL of this the Times of Shadow? Or are the T.O.S. and ill defined phenomenon caused by SEVERAL things going wrong that they haven't really parsed yet? Where do the authors fit in? To which degree CAN the characters have agency?

(5) OK, so the princesses. As characters, I am very pro princesses. I love Cindy, Snow's first appearance was great, and I'm excited to see everyone else, esp Elody (sidenote: I think it's a VERY good move that Elody is being brought over from the OG timeline so it's not gonna be Ger talking to AN Elody it will be HIS Elody). HOWEVER, these are rebellious and  zealous teen girls messing with cosmic forces without full knowledge of the situation. *I* remember being a zealous and rebellious teen girl without full knowledge of the situation. I had a LOT of bad takes. Free will is good obviously. But what is it that they actually WANT, you know? Do they want to get rid of magic so there's no more interference from the authors? We don't really know to what degree the characters are controlled by their narratives. Are they trying to prevent the Never After from being split apart like it was implied it was previously? And how are we defining "agency" and "story". Let me make this its own point. 

(7) Ok, so say you wake up and your house is on fire. And you can't get out. And a firefighter come in and saves you. Would you say your life is a story without agency? I wouldn't. I think it's perfectly valid to be saved from a threat that's beyond you. I don't think it's weak for a witch or a fairy to put a spell on you that requires another party to break. It doesn't mean your life didn't have agency as a whole. It means that you needed help one time. Everyone does sometimes. 

(8) And it feels kinda wild to have a small faction of people (some of them fully teenagers) being like yeah, let's make the world harder for EVERYONE because I don't like that I had a damsel moment one time. Which isn't necessarily what they want. We just haven't really gotten full details on what it is that they actually want yet. And there hasn't been a lot of asking of clarification questions. Closest was PIB last ep being like, "Hey can I vibe check Snow to see if she's on the level? It seems like she's REALLY hungry for this info." And they way Brennan plays the princesses makes me think he is aware of all of this. I'm just like, waiting for the other shoe to drop lowkey I guess? I would NOT be surprised if in a few episodes it's like, "Yeah you blindly followed this very flawed plan, here are the consequences of that." Just the fact that the stepmother and the princesses seem to have somewhat similar endgames from the little info we have would give me enough pause to make me want to dig deeper. 

(9) I'm not saying I'm team fairy either, for the record. I don't like that Turq was like, "We need to *fix* Elody." I'm just saying, this feels like a situation where everyone has a quarter of the info and there's a middle ground to be found. I would want more info before I went hard in on, "Let's burn the system" Like, I'm sure at least parts on the system do need to burn but you have to be so so careful before you set a fire in a BUILDING YOU'RE STANDING IN. 

OK, that’s where my head’s at right now! I’ve really been enjoying this season so far. I am just curious to see how the pieces of this puzzle fit together because there are a LOT of pieces and some of them are very meta. It’s a very ambitious story and I’m excited to see where it goes!

[keanureevesisbae]

⇢ ˗ˏˋ 03. kiss in the rain

Spencer Reid x Elodie Price (asian/pacific islander/moluccan OFC)

Summary: Elodie's birthday is coming up!

Serie warnings: Mention of murder, blood. Mention of rape (not described). Eventual smut.

Chapter warnings: Mention of nightmares, of Rowan Rancher.

Word count: 1.8k

Masterlist // Beyond Words Masterlist

When I fall in love, it will be forever - Jane Austen

■□■□■□■□■□■

Her

I made the mistake of suggesting an audio tourguide when we stepped foot into this museum. We as in Spencer and I. After exchanging phone numbers and that call before I fell asleep, we’ve been consistently calling. Even when he has a case. He puts his phone in his front pocket and starts rambling, even when he’s talking to others. And ever since we do that, ever since his voice is the last one I hear before I fall asleep, I don’t have nightmares. 

Because I don’t have an eidetic memory like he does, I barely remember a word he said when we were in the museum, looking at different paintings. All I remember was the smile on my face, was the lingering of my eyes on his tall and lanky physique and how he’s so passionate about anything really, expressively talking with his hands. 

The two of us are now sitting at the cafe close to the museum. Him with an americano (and not only poured his own sugar packet in it, but also mine), me with a cappuccino.

‘Why do you have tattoos?’ Spencer asks.

I stare at the dots on my hand. I wonder if he knows how many tattoos I’m hiding underneath my clothes. I’ve got a lot of them. On my arms, my legs, my back, underneath my breasts. 

‘My father hated them,’ I say, ‘so when I was eighteen, the first thing I did was scheduling a tattoo appointment, so I could get inked. Whenever dad—‘ I realize quickly I’m outside. Talking about Rowan Rancher as my father could possibly fall onto the wrong ears. ‘Whenever he dated a woman prior to you know, he always checked whether or not she had tattoos.’

‘If she did, was it worse?’

I nod. ‘If she did, they found her. If she didn’t, I helped them find her.’

Spencer takes a sip of his coffee. With zero tact—and I absolutely think it’s adorable—he says: ‘Your birthday is in three days.’

‘True.’

‘What is the perfect way for you to spend your birthday?’

‘Honestly, I just want to browse for hours on end at Barnes and Nobles, no rush, just me and books. That’s all.’

‘Do you have anything to do in three days?’ Spencer asks. ‘I could take you to Barnes and Nobles. I find it soothing to spend my time around books too. Besides, I have to buy this newest book about quantum physics and corpus linguistics and hopefully I can find it there.’

I offer him a smile. ‘Do you want to spend your day with me, Spencer?’ I ask. 

‘It’s your birthday,’ he states. ‘I…’ I watch how he fidgets with his hands, tension in each of his fingers. ‘I know how it is to spend your birthdays alone. I don’t want you to spend it alone.’

Thank the stars for russet brown skin, because I would’ve been a blushing mess if I favored my father with his paler skin and blue eyes. I run my fingers through my black hair and say: ‘I’d like to spend my birthday with you. Especially in Barnes and Nobles.’

■□■□■□■□■□■

Them

‘Reid,’ Garcia says, almost dragging Spencer out of his thoughts and concentration. ‘What are you doing?’

‘I’m trying to create an understandable map of the local Barnes and Nobles.’

‘For yourself?’ Prentiss asks, rolling her desk chair over to Spencer’s desk. ‘I thought you had an eidetic memory and know your way around.’

‘I do have an eidetic memory,’ he states, ‘however I am taking Elodie to Barnes and Nobles for her birthday and because she has never been there before, I want to make sure the experience isn’t too overwhelming for her.’

‘Elodie?’ Prentiss asks, her eyes widening in intrigue. ‘As in Elodie Price?’

‘Yes.’

Morgan joins them and says: ‘Pretty boy has taken a liking in Elodie. They call every night before she goes to sleep.’

‘Usually we call at nine o’clock and ninety five percent of the time, she’s asleep at nine forty five,’ Spencer says, thinking back about the times where he doesn’t hear her hums, but instead hears soft snores. He goes back to creating the map again and Garcia ruffles his hairs.

‘You’re so sweet when you’re in love with someone,’ she says. ‘Elodie sure is a lucky girl.’

‘Why do you like her so much?’ Prentiss asks curiously.

‘She’s intriguing,’ Spencer answers, continuing using the ruler to draw a straight line. ‘You know that whenever she talks, I feel like I never want to press pause. I just want to absorb every syllable.’  He looks up with a smile—a very telling one—and whispers: ‘And whenever I look at her, I don’t want to look away.’

■□■□■□■□■□■

Her

Thankfully Spencer saved the happy birthday serenade for when he picked me up from my place, holding two cupcakes in his hands, one with a two and the other with a six. Once we’re in front of the Barnes and Nobles, he gives me a piece of paper. ‘What is it?’ I ask, folding it open. ‘A map?’

‘I created a map for you, since you told me you haven’t been to this Barnes and Nobles.’

Sometimes it’s hard not to smother this man with hugs.

The two of us make our way into the promised land, surrounded by books. Spencer follows me like a little duckling, though I think he knows better than anyone what’s the best route. Instead of berating me for taking a massive detour—it’s that massive I noticed it myself—he gives me all the precise measurements of this building. 

We stop near the romance section and I fold the map, putting it into my pocket, before I look at the spines and all the beautiful book covers. 

‘Romance novels generate over one point forty four billion dollars in revenue, making romance the highest earning genre of fiction,’ Spencer says. ‘Have you read Fifty Shades of Grey?’

I shake my head. ‘No, why would I?’

‘It’s the Best-Selling romance novel of all time,’ he answers. ‘Sold over one hundred fifty million copies, surpassing Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen with a good thirty million copies.’

‘I haven’t read Pride and Prejudice either,’ I say. ‘Though it’s a classic.’

Spencer nods. ‘Do you have a colleague degree, Elodie? Because approximately forty five percent of the romance readers have a college degree.’

It’s an odd way of conversing, sure, but I’m always curious to see what he’s gonna say next.

‘I’ve studied English in college,’ I say, ‘so yeah, I’ve got a degree.’

While Spencer provides me with tons of other facts about the building, the romance genre and certain authors, I put more and more books into my basket. Eventually we go towards his section of preferred books, with the help of the map. I watch him rhythmically pointing towards the bookshelves, almost like a conductor in front of an orchestra. While I am going to buy seven books, he is going to buy two he came for. 

However, once we’re near the check out, he grabs my shopping basket from me and says: ‘Happy birthday, Elodie.’

It takes me a good five seconds before I catch up. ‘No,’ I say, trying to grab the basket from him. ‘No, no, no, you’re not gonna pay for my books.’

‘It’s your birthday,’ he says, ‘of course I am gonna pay for the books. That is my gift to you.’

■□■□■□■□■□■

We end up at my apartment and together we stare out of the window, watching the rain pour from the dark sky. ‘I love the rain,’ I admit.

‘Why?’ 

‘I don’t know. It gives off something cosy. Don’t you think?’ 

Spencer nods, standing behind me as he takes in the rain. I hear his fingers tapping on the phone and not long afterwards, his footsteps walk away from me. I look over my shoulder, when I see him putting on his coat, before grabbing mine. 

‘What are you doing?’ I ask. 

‘According to many romance movies and novels, the rain is considered highly romantic.’ He places my coat on my shoulders, before he tugs my hand. 

‘Spencer, what are we doing?’

‘We’re going out in the rain,’ he tells me matter of factly. ‘Considering your favorite genre is romance, I think you deserve a romantic moment on your birthday.’

His fingers laced through mine and together we walk towards the exit. The raindrops fall on my head and my skin and I let out a juvenile squeal, delighted to be outside. I spread my arms and turn my face to the sky, closing my eyes, enjoying every single second of it. 

‘Elodie.’

My eyes meet Spencer’s, before we offer each other a smile. Shit, I could look at his gorgeous face for eternity and never ever be tired of it. ‘Yes, Spencer?’

‘Have you ever kissed someone?’

I nod. ‘Yeah, when I was younger. Why?’

‘Do you want me to kiss you?’

I’ve been yearning for a true kiss from you ever since you stepped foot into my life, Spencer Reid. Yes, I want you to kiss me and once you start, I don’t want you to stop. Instead of spilling those words, I simply nod. 

Spencer’s hair is stuck to his face and with a brute gesture, he pushes the locks from his face, before his large hands cup my face. He bridges the distance between us. His lips clash on mine and while it definitely could use some work, I take him in with everything I’ve got. His lips, his scent, his touch. I cling onto his jacket, parting my lips.

‘Happy birthday, Elodie,’ he whispers against me. 

I don’t want to let go. Not yet at least. I want to savor this moment. Savor the moment of him kissing me, of me having a normal birthday for the first time since I can remember. My body curves towards his, as we kiss again. 

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Them

The elevator is crowded. Rossi, Morgan, JJ and Prentiss all join Spencer in the small and confined space. ‘How was Elodie’s birthday?’ Prentiss asks.

‘It was fun, after I gave her her birthday cupcake, we went to the bookstore, had a coffee and then went back to her place. We then spend some time in the rain.’

‘The rain?’ JJ lets out a low whistle. ‘Romantic.’

‘You know what I always want to do at least once in my life?’ Prentiss asks. ‘Kiss in the rain.’ She lets out a deep sigh, while staring lovingly ahead of her.

‘Elodie and I kissed in the rain.’

Everyone in the elevator simultaneously turns around and looks at Spencer. ‘You did what?’ JJ asks.

‘So unfair, you kissed in the rain?’ Prentiss whines.

Rossi pats him on the shoulder, while Morgan starts to laugh and say: ‘I knew something was different about you, kid.’

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