#his solution doesn't help at all but we know how he is about his cars

[iluvmattsbeard]

replace him (c.s)

master list

chris sturniolo x reader

warnings: very heavy smut and strong language

preview: Chris was over you constantly running to him for help with your shitty boyfriend. so he decided to take matters into his own hands.

a/n: listen to song for full effect! trust me, it's worth it.

Chris' POV

i was laying down in bed scrolling through instagram as I see a text notification pop up. it was y/n. I roll my eyes as I read the text.

y/n

i'm so tired of him

i sigh to myself. she was always coming to me for help. her boyfriend constantly treats her like shit. sometimes I didn't even know what to say back. she was always texting about stupid shit he says. I really didn't understand why she stayed with him. I laid there for a bit with my eyes staying still on the text.

Chris

what he do now?

i see a text bubble pop up right away and it stays that way for a while. I guess since it's her first real relationship, if you even consider it that, I understood the attachment she had.

y/n

i'll tell you in person. you think you could come over?

i was confused by the short text since she was typing for so long.

Chris

sure. only because i'm a good friend. be there in 20.

i sigh getting out of bed, heading to my closet to put on a black hoodie and some dark washed jeans. I was sort of dreading it. as much as I cared for her, sometimes I just wanted to tell her to stop talking about him. obviously i can't say that. all I could do was stay supportive.

after a bit, I finally finish and head to Matt asking him for a ride. y/n didn't live that far.

"she's having problems again?" Matt asks getting up grabbing his keys, putting on his shoes. I sigh responding, "obviously. what do I even do?" he just chuckles as he says, "well just listen I guess." I nod as I slip on my shoes as well.

we get in the car and we head to her apartment. the sun was barely going down.

End of Chris' POV

time passes as Chris finally arrives knocking on your door. you open the door after a bit, with puffy eyes. he looks at you as he tenses up. he hated seeing you like this. Chris walks in as he embraces you with a hug. you hug back as you both just stand there in silence. he rubs your back softly. "lets go sit down and talk." he says pulling away. you nod as you walk over to the couch, him following behind.

you both sit down as you sniffle a bit. all he could do was stare at you waiting for you to speak. "he lied to me about where he was. he said he was going to grab lunch with his friends but I saw his location at some random house I haven't seen before." you pause for a bit, "I confronted him about it but he just got defensive. I have every right to be angry right?" Chris just nods. you cover your face as you sigh. "I gave him everything I could. he doesn't realize all I put up with." you say. you continue to rant as he just stays silent. Chris was frustrated listening to you complain over and over again about the same shit.

"and he-" you were interrupted by Chris clearing his throat. "y/n. this is getting ridiculous. how many times do I have to sit here listening to the same shit?" you were taken a back from his response. "all he does is treat you with no respect. do you really think I want to hear about it all the time? there's a simple solution to all of this." you stay silent with a blank look. he stays silent as he waits for a response. your phone rings. it was your boyfriend. you both look at the notification. you were going to reach for your phone, but Chris picks it up before you could. "hey-" you say to him but you stay silent in shock with what he does next. he answers the call.

"hello? y/n?" your boyfriend, Zach, speaks. "look Zach. all you do is make her upset. so do me a favor, don't call again." Chris says hanging up, throwing your phone to the other side of the couch. you sit there in shock. "why would you do that?" you exclaim. "he's still my boyfriend." Chris scoffs. "look at my face y/n. does it look like I give a fuck?" he says with a serious tone. "I know what you want y/n. it's for sure not him." he says shaking his head. "Chris, this is my relationship." you say. "I know it is. yet you bring me in between to constantly pick you up. so if you want me here, stop bringing him up. stop talking unless it's about us."

you have a confused look on your face. "us?" you ask. he lets out a fake chuckle before speaking, "yeah us. I know you're with him but, let me ask you something." he says getting up. "why stay with him, when you got me to replace him?" your eyes widen at the question. "I mean i'm constantly here for you. clearly, he's not." he continues. he walks over to you as he looks into your eyes with that same serious face. you sit up straight as you keep the eye contact. "I don't know what you want me to say. i'm still with Zach." you respond. he clenches his jaw as he lets out a scoff. "again. does it look like I give a fuck?" he says. all you could do was look down at your feet.

"you can stay with him. all I can do is just make things better." he says lifting your head up by your chin. making you look into his eyes. you swallow at his actions. "but I don't trust him." he says. he puts his hand on your cheek as he rubs it softly. "let me make you forget him." again, your eyes widen at the statement. next thing you know, he grabs your hand, making you get up. "do you want that?" he asks. you hesitate before nodding slowly.

he gives a sly smile as he turns you around, bending you over onto the couch. "he won't give you what I got for you right now." he says putting his hands on your shoulders, as he slides them down the side of your body slowly. you stayed silent, giving into the moment. your breathing was a bit uneven as you felt his touch. he then uses his hand to move your hair to one side. he leans in behind you, leaving kisses on your neck softly. "is this okay?" he whispers in your ear. you gulp as you say quietly, "yes". he then stands back up straight as he takes off his hoodie, a long with his shirt. "good". he responds taking in the sight of you in front of him.

he then pulls down your pajama pants slowly. leaving them hang at your ankles. he leans down grabbing your ass, leaving soft wet kisses on it. "perfect". he says. he then leans in behind you as he grabs your face making you look at him. he grips your face kissing you hungrily. you kiss back eagerly. you knew Zach never kissed you like this. as you continue kissing, he moves his hand down to your neck gripping it, still kissing you. you felt your hot core get wet. you never expected to be in this position. yeah, you were with Zach. but Chris was living up to his words. Zach left your mind. all you could think now was how badly you needed Chris. you hear your phone ringing. you wanted to pull away and look but he grips onto you harder. "no phones." he sternly says.

he gets off you, starting to unbutton his pants. it was very evident how hard you got him. just by looking at you, bent over in front of him. he lets his pants drop below him, hanging at his ankles. he then pulls your black panties down. his eyes were filled with lust and admiration. he groans quietly taking it in. "so beautiful". he says.

he licks his lips as he pulls down his boxers taking his dick into his hand. he strokes himself as he gets closer to you. he takes his tip and rubs it at your entrance, teasing you. you move slightly, wanting him to put it in already. he lets out a laugh, "be patient". he inserts his tip slowly taking it out shortly after. you whine at his movement. he smirks as he does it again, having you go crazy.

"Chris please..." you whine out quietly. "good to know you want it so badly." he responds. he then shoves his dick all the way into your wet core. you arch your back at the feeling, letting out a moan, shutting your eyes. his thrusts were slow, driving you insane. "fuck y/n. are you sure you still want to be with him?" he says groaning.

he continues thrusting slowly but deeply, having your arms get weak from holding yourself up. "Chris you feel so good stretching me out". you moan out. he lets out a small laugh as he pushes your head down into the couch picking up his pace, your arms giving out. "fuck!" you scream out. your eyes were clouding up as he continued to thrust faster. "you take it so good." he says with a single sweat drop slide down the side of his face.

you were a moaning mess. you never imagined Chris being this good. "you're so fucking hot y/n" he says putting his hands over yours as you both grip the couch beneath. you were enjoying every moment. you've never been treated so good. "is this what you needed to help you?" he asks keeping his pace. "yes!" you scream out. he slows down his thrusts leaning back up to leave kisses on your shoulder.

he then grips your waist as he pounds you slowly with his thrusts. you rolled your eyes with pleasure at the feeling. he grunts with every thrust. your legs started to get weak as you moan out, "i'm cumming Chris." he slaps your ass as he returns to his fast paced thrusts. you released all over his dick. he pulls out, stroking his dick on top of your ass, shooting his cum all over it. he throws his head back at the sensation.

your legs were shaking, as he chuckles with his breath uneven. he cleans you up, then collapsing next to you. you lay down staring at the ceiling. you stayed silent with a smile appearing on your face thinking to yourself, "wow." Chris then kisses you on the cheek asking you, "so... what's on your mind now?" you turn to look at him before replying, "you". he smiles at your response, kissing you gently.

"call me Mr. steal your girl from how I got you." he says with a sly smile. you both let out a loud laugh. your phone starts ringing again. you knew it was Zach. you let it ring. you didn't care. Chris grabs your phone and hangs it up. "remember, he can't give you what I got." he says.

a/n: sorry if this was short! likes and reblogs are highly appreciated. thank you!

[eddiemunsons-missingnipple]

Time of the month

Eddie Munson x reader

Summary: You started your period, and Eddie tries to help.

Warnings: fluff, menstruation, mention of sex.

A/n: Not proofread. no minors allowed.

The front door slamming startles you in your spot, huddled in various blankets and pillows. Eddie scans the dark living room in search of you until his eyes land on your figure. There you were hidden beneath all sorts of fluffy blankets with the ever curtain closed.

He laughs to himself, "Hey sweetheart, I'm home."

You look over to him, faking a smile. "Hi."

Eddie frowns." What's wrong? "

"Got my period." You murmured.

He pouts out his bottom lip, moving closer, sitting next to you. "Anything I can do?"

You shake your head no, leaning over to lay your head on his chest. Immediately, Eddie wrapped his arms around you.

"I heard sex can be the cure." He half joked.

You groaned, hiding your face. "Eddie!"

He lets out a belly laugh and moves to stand bending down to give you a quick kiss. He kicked off his boots and placed them by the door.

"M'just playin." He smirked.

"No, you weren't." You pouted.

His smirks grew wider as he watched you."Yeah, you're right, doesn't hurt to try."

If you weren't in the state you are right now, he'd call you cute, but he knows better.

"You sure? I can really pound those cramps outta ya." He joked again, wiggling his eyebrows suggestively.

All you could was groan at his attempt to make you laugh.

Eddie is in a playful mood, and you were absolutely not. Your cramps had you hunching over in pain. You went through three pairs of panties after bleeding through them by accident. The last thing on your mind is sex. You know he's really just joking deep down, but the thought makes you wince a little. You've been in the same position all day. Huddled under numerous blankets you could find with a heating pad on standby.

He puts his hands on his hips, looking around his trailer. You could tell he's trying to come up with a solution to your problem. Unfortunately, the only solution is dealing with it for four days until it's gone.

Eddies' coveralls were covered in grease from the dirty cars he'd been fixing all day. You could see some of the grease smudged on his neck and face. His five o'clock shadow thickening up around his jaw. If it wasn't for your period, you'd definitely would take him up on his offer. You always thought he looked good on a daily basis. But there was something about how he looked after coming home from a long day at work that made you want to jump on him.

"Wanna take a shower with me?" Eddie spoke softly.

Your face softened, and the pout that was close to being permanent on your face disappeared. "Yea."

"After we clean up, I'm gonna order out and rub your back. You like that?" Eddie walked over to help you stand. Taking your hands into his.

"Mmhmm--id like that a lot, but you don't have to." You tried to argue feeling slightly guilty.

A back rub sounded like heaven, but he's been at work all day. The last thing he should be doing is waiting on your hand and foot. You were perfectly fine resuming what you've been doing all day anyway.

"Ah, ah, don't start. Let me help make you feel better." His tone is gentle, but his face was serious. You knew there was no arguing your way out of this.

"Okay, can we rent a movie too?" You sighed, wrapping your arms around him in a hug.

"Of course, whatever you want." Eddie squeezed you tighter to him.

He leads you to the shower and helps you undress. You asked him about his day loving how worked up he got at his coworkers sometimes. Eddie told about how some guy came in for an oil change that ended up lasting hours since the poor man had never had one before. You washed his hair, running your nails through his scalp. He hummed every time you did that for him. You swore if he was a cat, he'd be purring right now.

"All done?" Eddie asked, moving around to block the water from hitting your face.

"All done." You smiled, playfully tugging on his chin, causing him to giggle.

"Let's get you warmed, and then I'll make you feel better for a little while." He whispered.

Eddie did as he promised. He fed you. Warmed you up in his arms as you cuddled in his lap. He rented you The Princess Bride to watch. When the movie was over, Eddie guided you to the bedroom where he rubbed your back until you finally fell asleep.

"I love you." He bent over to kiss your cheek.

"Love you too." You muffled in your pillow. You were relaxed and your cramps subsiding. Sleep overtaking your exhausted body.

[santacoppelia]

The HUGE analysis - This season starts and ends with a discussion, doesn't it?

Ok, my loves. This was one of the really long metas I've been working with, and probably the one that has taken me the longest (because it depended a lot on rewatching the season time and again).

I couldn't help to notice that the fist interaction Aziraphale and Crowley have in season 2 is a fight, really. Yeah, we have the beautiful “in the beginning” sequence, with both of them being angels and happy and all the such (oh, how lovely, Neil Gaiman planting the seeds of why it will matter to us that Aziraphale will not be fighting the idea of inviting Crowley to Heaven, because he remembers that happy, careless guy). But after the intro, we see them having a big disagreement… And we end the season in the biggest disagreement they have had, probably, in 6,000 years.

I love over-analyzing and dissecting narratives and characters, and more so if I can use only what we’ve been shown in the screen. Therefore, I believe that the first fight of the season tells us a lot of the things we will need to know to understand the final fight of the season between them. Let’s take a look, shall we?

The first fight is motivated by having an amnesiac Gabriel in the bookshop.

They see the same circumstance: Gabriel in the bookshop means trouble with Heaven. He is also an individual risk, because he has menaced Aziraphale directly (well, Crowley under the visage of Aziraphale).

It affects each of them differently: even when they both panic, Aziraphale feels compelled to be kind to Gabriel (gives him a blanket and hot cocoa) while Crowley has a full-on panic induced reaction and gets defensive.

They propose opposite solutions: Azi wants to do the Good thing, taking the “higher road” (help Gabriel), while Crowley wants to do His Own thing: “Protect the precious, peaceful, fragile existence I have carved for myself”

At that moment, Aziraphale corrects him and marks a “we”, which is very interesting. But immediately after that, Aziraphale gets all "my way or the highway".

Crowley asks for clarification, with a well-leveled tone of voice: “Is this how it is going to go?”

Azi clarifies "no, I want you to help me!" But then he does the passive-aggressive thing: "if you won't, you won't". (oh, Aziraphale, how you triggered me here, my dear chap. I was angry at the character the first 6 times I saw this)

Therefore, Crowley is out. He marks a clear limit: “I won't. You are on your own”, and then storms out. No Eccles cakes would help him: he needs a breather and counting to 10. That doesn't help either.

Crowley only comes back after gaining an extra perspective: the "extreme sanctions" talk with Beelzebub.

When he comes back, Aziraphale will stand his ground: he feels he deserves an apology, which is delivered via a “I was wrong, you were right” literal admission (even when he probably wasn't "right", but that's their way... And they've been doing it since 1650, or so they say). Then they are able to work together again.

Now, let’s see how this dynamic plays out in their last discussion of the season:

They come from different sides of the same experience: Crowley went to Heaven to investigate and learned about the plans to continue with the end of the world, while Aziraphale stayed defending the bookshop. Then Crowley saves the humans, while Aziraphale solved the Beelzebub + Gabriel affair.

They haven’t had time to talk, as they get interrupted by The Metatron. While he takes Aziraphale, Crowley receives a visit from Maggie and Nina.

Each one of them gained an extra different perspective: Azi, the Metatron proposal (and veiled menace); Crowley, the pep talk/scolding from the couple they were trying to get together.

This makes them develop different solutions:

Crowley wants to finally admit what Azi has been saying all the season: they are a "we" (Azi said so when Crowley talked about his “precious, peaceful, fragile existence”; he said it again when talking about “our car” and reinforced it with the bookshop)

Azi wants to take the "higher road": go to Heaven, reinstate Crowley as an angel, so they can still work together.

Crowley sees the “usual dynamic” of their disagreements coming: it will be Azi’s way (or the highway). That has happened before, in front of our eyes, and not only in this season: it happened also in season 1, but we have already attested that it is still happening, and it is even “worse” (Aziraphale being a little “petty” with the “if you do, it is fine, but if you won’t, you are on your own” in the Gabriel discussion).

Crowley gets indignant. He asks, tentatively, if he told him where to stick it… And then he reinforces his belief. We are better than that, YOU are better than that, you don’t need them, I don’t need them; then he makes the first mention of the offer of getting back to Hell (which he hadn’t shared with Aziraphale), and makes a new point: I said no, neither should you!

Aziraphale goes back to the “you are the bad guys!” thing. Heaven being the side of Truth, of Light, of Good… It is not the propaganda Crowley needed for this move.

Crowley then clarifies the fallacy in his logic: when Heaven ends life on Earth, it’ll be just as dead as if Hell ended it.

Aziraphale then sees the "undesirable result" coming: Crowley is not going to accept, not with that argument.

Crowley makes his plead grow in urgency: Tell me you said no.

Aziraphale’s pitch of voice goes high (usually used as a sign of distress): “If I’m in charge, I can make a difference.”

Crowley understands. This is his “my way or the highway” moment. That’s why he comes up with the courage to make his half-proposal-half admission.

Crowley never gets to state out loud the “I want us to be together in a formal way” part. His voice breaks before he does so. He mentions all of the reasons they have to stay together, which Aziraphale already knows: we have been together for a long time, we’ve been a group (“our own side” was the way he always said it before) and we’ve spent our existence pretending that we aren’t (Azi also knows that! He has been working hard into making Crowley notice it!)

You can see, when they shoot Aziraphale’s face, he squints a little during that moment: maybe questioning, a little disbelief? As usual with Michael Sheen, it is a blink it and you’ll miss it moment.

After the grunt, Crowley proposes his alternative solution: going off together, using Beelzebub & Gabriel as an example that they could.

Therefore, what Aziraphale has just listened is what he already knew: yes, they are a “we”. Crowley wants to run away (he had proposed it twice during the Armageddidn’t, another pattern they have already established).

The next step is the usual way for Aziraphale: he reinforces his proposal: come with me, to Heaven. Ill’ run it, you can be my second in command. This idea has rubbed me wrong since the first time I watched this scene. Why remark the hierarchy? (not to say that I’m in Crowley’s side in here, but… It was weird and uncomfortable to think of them in a vertical power structure; they have always been equals).

Then, he goes back to making a difference, only it is “we” this time. Crowley is noticing he won’t back down… But Aziraphale usually doesn’t.

“You can’t leave this bookshop” works as a representation, a figure of speech. “This Bookshop” is “This life we have been building”, and they both understand it as such.

“Oh, Crowley… Nothing lasts forever…” For Aziraphale, it means he can leave this for something greater. For Crowley, it means… Actually, the same. But without him. Because he knows the “my way or the highway” side of Aziraphale, and none of them will budge. Aaaaand… that’s Crowley heart breaking. The rest of the scene happens with Crowley in “breakup mode”.

Aziraphale is used to “the discussion dance”. He Insists, “Crowley! Come back, to Heaven, work with me! We can be together, Angels! Doing good!”. He promises all he can: “come back, work with me, we can be together”, which have always been Crowley’s triggers to change his mind. However, the problem lies within the “angels doing good”. That’s the part that Aziraphale would need to let go before getting back to Crowley.

And then, he breaks down: “I need you!!” That has always worked! Aziraphale knows that Crowley loves being needed, he won’t leave his angel when in need, right?

And then, he gets angry. And he questions if Crowley has understood what he is offering, which transforms in an “I don’t think your exactly and my exactly are the same exactly” all over again.

Crowley is already brokenhearted, so he answers truthfully, as far as he knows. He understands how terrible the offer of going back to heaven is for both of them, and is not aware of the veiled threat in Metatron’s offer. He knows that going back to Heaven is a non-negotiable boundary, and Aziraphale is absolutely determined to cross it.

Aziraphale, then, does his passive-aggressive shit again: “I guess there is nothing more to say”. My guy, my love, you need to become better at negotiating with your loved one.

This is where Crowley decides to show, don’t tell, the hurt: no nightingales. And then… The “You idiot. We could have been… us” (no, you couldn’t, it was always too late!!! First the pandemic, which I’ve decided to treat as canon, then Gabriel. They never stood a chance).

In this context, Crowley’s kiss is a desperate way to say good-bye to the person he cared most for the last 6,000 years; also an angry way to regain some semblance of control and affect Aziraphale; and a final way to get some “closure”. Is there desire? Is there love? Maybe. But they are lost in a cocktail of emotions that have been stated during the rest of the discussion.

The angry “I forgive you”, which is also a usual dynamic for Aziraphale when he is angry with Crowley, gets there too late for Crowley to react to. He has already “checked out”. That’s why the “don’t bother” feels almost like an afterthought and comes after a small sigh.

After watching this 16 times, I’m pretty confident that the first thing Aziraphale mouths is a “no…” and then… he sobs a little. Michael Sheen, you’re a beautiful actor. The rest of it is a masterclass in using microexpressions to convey a whirlwind of emotions in under 2 minutes.

Sooooo... Did I hurt my own emotions while writing this? Yes. Did I absolutely need to do so? Also yes. Even when I like doing intertextual readings (and that's why I like bringing some theology to some of my musings), reading what is in "the text" (in the scenes we have watched, in the dialogues we've been shown) gives me an enormous amount of pleasure, and I find a lot of comfort in believing that most of the things that I'll need to understand and enjoy a great piece of media are being given to me inside it. And I believe Good Omens is a great piece of media!!

I have no Shakespeare to offer you this time. Let me know what you think!!

[agvstdr]

Isolated - Sam Winchester

Summary: The Winchester brothers have decided to split up, each going their own way. But will Sam really be alone?

a few months ago sam and dean decided to split up. the news reached me while i was in the car with the intention of reaching them, to find a solution to stop the apocalypse.

so i asked myself what to do, whether to follow sam and help him have a normal life or whether to help dean: anyone could think that the right choice is to follow dean and help the world but it is clear that dean does not want me to follow him, perhaps because he knows that i am very attached to sam. so i was left alone too, i followed some cases, killing monsters that came my way: losing news of both winchesters. at the end of a particularly difficult case, i stop at the first bar i find on the road, when i enter i immediately realize that a bartender is sam.

"sam?"

the girl next to him, looks first at me and then at him, surely wondering what kind of relationship there is between us.

"isn't your name kit?" the girl asks sam who nods

i then understand that he hasn't revealed his real name and i understand that i got him in trouble.

"it's my middle name." he answers making her laugh

"yes, his middle name is samuel, that makes more sense." i add trying to help him

"how do you know each other?" the girl asks again, who is starting to be too curious for my taste.

"we've been friends for many years." I answer hoping she'll leave us alone, when she doesn't it's sam who intervenes.

"come on i'll buy you a beer."

"what are you doing here? were you hunting?"

"yeah, a ghost pissed off with his family."

i know he wants to ask me something and i know what it is: he wants to know about dean.

"i don't know anything about dean, if you want to know, i offered to help him but he refused, we haven't spoken since." i explain and he nods, he was definitely hoping i knew something about his brother and i'm sorry i can't help him. we don't have time to say anything else, that a group of hunters, easily recognizable, enters the bar and starts talking to sam: they are talking far from where i am sitting, so i can't understand what they are asking him but it is clear that whatever it is, sam said no.

"they wanted help with some demons that are roaming the city, i said no."

"i could have gone." i say getting up to join the hunters who have just left the place, sam, however, stops me.

"no, i don't trust them, stay here."

i do as i say, and i stay with him until the bar closes.

the calm atmosphere is interrupted by two hunters who had entered a few hours before: one of them points a knife at the girl's throat while the other starts talking to sam, ignoring me.

"demons killed my friend but they said some interesting things about you."

"demons lie."

"then tell me it's not true that you drank demon blood and that you didn't start the apocalypse."

a deep silence falls in the bar, sam can't deny the truth.

"then it's true." says the hunter as he looks at something in his hands

"either you drink this and help us kill the last demons that are left or she dies."

i realize that what she has in her hands is demon blood.

i look at sam with wide eyes, hoping with all my heart that he doesn't drink that blood, or he will go back to a few months ago.

i can't risk sam drinking it, so i quickly pull out my gun and kill the hunter who had his knife pointed at the girl's throat, who manages to free herself and runs to me for protection. in the meantime sam starts to fight against the hunter who had offered him blood: when he is about to kill him, he stops, seeing both me and the girl looking at him, yet we both know that if this man stays alive he will only create problems.

i don't think twice about pulling out my gun again and killing him too.

"you didn't have to kill him but thank you."

sam and i meet back in the hotel room, after he offers me a roof over my head for the night.

"it had to be done, no problem." i smile at him and he smiles back

we sit in silence for a few moments, sitting next to each other, then i decide to speak my mind.

"i'm not mad at you sam, sure i'm sorry about what happened but i understand why you did it. and even if it doesn't seem like it, dean will too, he just needs time."

sam looks at me and seems really surprised by my words: it's definitely not what he expected.

"thank you so much."

then unexpectedly he rests his head on my shoulder, as if he's looking for comfort and I hope he's receiving it.

sitting next to sam, in such an intimate way, I understand that my place is here with him.

[002yb]

Secretary AU: A pipe has burst in Jason and Dami's apartment--they have to stay elsewhere for a week or so while it's repaired and things are being cleaned up and restored. Where are they staying, and how does Bruce make it so the manor is the obvious solution? 😂

It goes without saying that Bruce is the first to extend an invitation for Jason and Damian to stay at the manor while their apartment is being restored. A very eager, borderline aggressive invitation for how intensely it's offered lol.

Jason respectfully declining because Bruce is his boss; it'd be weird. A devastating blow to Bruce's heart, truly.

But Bruce isn't deterred. He insists.

And is promptly reprimanded by Tim who smacks him with a folder filled with contracts they need to review because Bruce is going to be the face of their next HR mandated training on harassment if he doesn't watch it.

Just Bruce tasting bitter defeat in the face of corporate culture and an amnesiac son who still doesn't remember him (and who Bruce had an ulterior motive to wanting to stay at the manor because maybe if Jason could stay in his old room, he would remember something. Something being Bruce. He misses his boy).

Tim offering to help find a hotel. Which he's already researched at length and has a list of suitable choices (all high end, safe, conveniently located on a route to/from the manor).

Jason being grateful for the effort up until he sees the unrealistic prices, at which point his smile drops to an unimpressed look of pure judgment because CEO and CFO salaries can afford this; Jason is a secretary.

Tim insisting WE will front the charges

Leading to Jason quipping about how Tim is going to be at the top of WE's audit risks this year, undoubtedly

And Tim can't even argue because either he's an audit risk or an HR problem - there's no winning

At which point Jason laughs and thanks his bosses for looking out for him, but Jason is fine. He can take care of himself. He's already got a motel booked.

Meanwhile, Bruce and Tim doing their utmost not to react to 'motel' like the rich bitties they are; they can't help it. They do ask which one though. And only let themselves visibly wither and die after Jason leaves the room because it's in such a dangerous location!! They know for a fact that there's an open investigation for a murder that happened on the premise; drug deals go down regularly in the alley just behind it!

Cue Batman and Robin wasting a portion of patrol monitoring the location. Stewing over the circumstances and startling when another pipe breaks.

It's an act of god (it's the League, courtesy of Talia who hears the news and refuses to have her son stay in such an environment) and, like the overbearing dorks they are, Bruce and Tim text Jason to check in, fully expecting news of needing a place for the night after all

The message they get instead: All good. Thanks.

The both of them thinking Jason is too proud or doesn't want to impose. But it's like, 2am and Jason is caring for a toddler. He needs support.

Which is precisely when Dick pulls up and Bruce and Tim (still as Batman and Robin) are so peeved because fucking dick.

But yes, Jason turns to Dick when everything at the motel goes tits up. Because somehow all the motels nearby are booked (again, courtesy of Talia) and Jason just needs help for a night, please.

So Dick comes over despite the late hour (and having been on patrol himself). He helps pack up the few things Jason and Damian have into the car, sends a cheeky little nod Batman and Robin's direction, and then they're off.

Which leads to the dickjay portion of this ask ///u////:

Where Dick's apartment isn't much of a home. It's not something Dick has ever cared about; he's not around enough for any comforts to matter.

Only he might care in that moment. Because Dick brings Jason over to this. Someplace empty and unwelcoming and cold.

'Did you get robbed?' Jason asks, a joke that Dick can't help but laugh at because he realizes that there really is nothing.

Because Dick moved abruptly. He left what little he had behind because everything he wants is here in Gotham now that Jason is back ;A;

But also because he genuinely stopped caring at some point and he's a bit staggered by the apathy in that - it's depressing.

It's such a contrast to Jason's apartment which is filled with warmth and life and comforts. Books on tables, Damian's art displayed on the fridge. Worn blankets folded over chairs and discolored drapes that paint shadows like lace across Jason's skin when the sun starts to set and they're sitting back on his couch and-

Dick's apartment isn't a home. And Dick might feel a little self-conscious about it because there's a vulnerability in exposing your home to someone and having there be so little. ;//////;

And Jason might not say anything, but he clues in. It gives him a new perspective on Dick and it's surprising, but he's not put off. Jason's more than familiar with having nothing and the slow process of finding things to build yourself (and your home) up.

But anyway. Dick showing Jason to the guest room. Scrambling to find which box he stowed away some quilts in. Passing off extra sweatshirts because they might not be enough to keep Jason and Damian warm.

And Jason calming him down by simply grabbing Dick's sleeve and looking up at him and telling him, 'thank you.' Because even if Dick feels it isn't enough, the gesture of being there in a time of need and putting himself out and wanting to do more for them means a lot more than Dick gives credit.

Stand by we're gonna get back to the building a home train of thought after this:

Where the next morning Dick is cooking breakfast for everyone and lowkey sweating because the domesticity is a lot

Jason coming out first (in Dick's sweatshirt and it might take Dick out at the knees a bit; might steal his breath) and being all endeared because Dick is cooking according to Damian's dietary restrictions and the thought is really sweet. ;U;

Something something wholesome breakfast while stood/sat at the counter. Dick, Jason, and Damian ahhhhhhhhh.

And that's how Bruce and Tim find them. Because they 'have a key' (they don't) and 'wanted to talk to Dick about a family matter' and 'oh, hey Jason didn't know you were here.'

Just the contrast of these two guys dressed to the nines while Dickjay + Damian are still in their sweats/pj's LOL

Then they all have breakfast together and it's sweet. It's a taste of the big family Dick misses from his childhood. <3

But yes, back to Dick's home being so scarce. Because of course by the time Jason and Damian leave to return to their apartment, Dick has Damian's art pinned to the fridge. As well as a blanket Jason knits (while on the clock at WE lol; Bruce and Tim are so jealous it's not even funny). It feels like this AU's Jason would know how to knit. Or he’d teach himself on the spot just for this.

Dick's home becoming more and more full of things as Dick sets down proper roots. Gifts from friends and family, second hand furnitures he picks up that Jason (+Tim and Bruce when they find out) helps him move in. (♡´艸`)

[medusapelagia]

29 The Escape

written for @steddieangstyaugust (prompt:Future ) and @augustwritingchallenge (Prompt: Force into hiding) Rating: Teen and Up Relationship: Steve/Eddie TW: Eddie shaving his head (I know!!!) Words: 1196

“We are leaving. Now.” Steve says, grabbing the duffle bag they always have ready under the bed.

“Who?”

“Suits.”

Fuck. Still better than Demogorgons, but not ideal.

“How many?”

“Eddie, I didn’t stay to introduce myself, ok? I just saw a couple waiting suspiciously outside the diner and I turned back before they saw me.”

“You’re not wanted. You could just go there and tell them I kidnapped you or some shit like that. Everyone will believe you and you will finally be free from hiding.”

“No fucking way. We’re in this together, did you forget it?”

Steve was the only other person at the trailer when Chrissy’s Cunningham body snapped into pieces like nothing. He knew about monsters, and creatures from other dimensions, and now that the big boys have invaded Hawkins, he’s Eddie’s only companion. Steve’s the one who can drive, go grocery shopping, book a stupid motel room, all of this while Eddie hides in the trunk or in the back seat covered by bags and moldy blankets. Because nobody suspects that Steve Harrington, Hawkins's golden boy, is friends with the suspected serial killer Eddie Munson.

Yeah, because after Chrissy other two teenagers died one after the other, Fred and Patrick, and even Max almost didn’t make it. But the danger is still lingering in Hawkins, waiting to find a way to get back to their dimension, and while Eleven, the super girl, and the Party do their best to find a possible solution with the help of Owens’ team, Eddie is still suspect number one so the only thing he can do is hide.

Canada doesn’t sound so bad after all. A little bit cold, maybe, but Steve told him his parents have a house somewhere in Canada and that’s exactly where they are going, traveling by night, driving always within the limits to avoid bad encounters.

Avoiding Hawkins’ checkpoints wasn’t that easy, but luckily the military was still busy coordinating the aid and it wasn’t that hard to pretend that Eddie died in the earthquake, but now that they are finally close it seems that the suit is following them. Maybe they didn’t find a body and so they have sent communication outside Indiana. For the first time ever Eddie saw his face on the television and it wasn’t a nice feeling. But Steve is optimistic, he keeps saying that they are almost there. Just a couple of days more and they’ll pass the border and then things will get better.

“Hey, big boy, need a place to rest?” Eddie asks, seeing Steve’s head fall down abruptly.

“I’m good. We’re almost there.”

“We are not, Steve. We can rest for a moment, you know that right?”

“We can’t keep spending money in motels, we have to save. Canada is expensive.”

“Let’s reach a parking area and rest for a bit, huh? Just half an hour, maybe less.” Eddie proposes, while he knows perfectly well that if Steve agrees he will let him sleep way more than half an hour. The boy has huge dark bags under his eyes, and they haven’t checked his wounds in hours. They surely need to be clean again. And that’s Eddie's second part of the plan. Get clean in a bathroom and maybe do something a little bit drastic but necessary.

“Ok. Just half an hour, ok?”

Eddie winks, fingers crossed behind his back.

Once they find a little rest area he helps Steve in the back of the car, it’s not comfortable enough, Steve is too tall and he’s sleeping all crumpled on the back seat, but it’s still better than sleeping on the driver seat.

Eddie turns on the radio, keeping it softly, listening to the night music. A dejay somewhere is talking to the night people, and Eddie never felt such a deep connection with someone he doesn't even know.

His life, his messy and complicated life, it’s gone. The only person who ever cared about him thinks he’s dead, or a murderer, or both. And he didn’t graduate. Not even on his third try.

The sun is starting to shine when Steve stirs in the back, coursing loudly when he notices how late it is, but Eddie simply shrugs.

“You needed to rest, Steve. We both know it, and a couple of hours will not fuck up our entire plan, ok? Now come on. I need to check your wounds and ask you a favor.

***

The bathroom next to the gas station is filthy, dirty and smelly. The walls that once were white are now yellowish and covered in pornographic graffiti and phone numbers. For a moment Eddie wonders if they should call one of those numbers, just to hear who will answer. Maybe Mary Ann, who seems to be ready to help everyone feel good, is just a nice granny baking cookies in California.

“You ready?” Eddie asks, grabbing the white bag with antiseptic and bandages Steve just bought.

“Be quick, I don’t want to lose more time.”

“Yes, captain,” Eddie chuckles, unwrapping Steve’s bandages while he holds his t-shirt and hisses between his teeth, “This might sting a little. Sorry.”

Steve nods and Eddie cleans the wounds that are still pouring some blood even after days.

“You should have those checked. Like professionally.” Eddie says, trying his best to patch him up.

“Once we’re in Canada I promise I will,” Steve replies, pulling down his t-shirt and covering his hairy chest that was already giving too many ideas to Eddie.

“Now what? You told me you needed a favor.” 

Eddie nods, grabbing his switchblade, “Cut my hair.”

“What?! No!”

“I’m too fucking recognizable, Steve. Cut my fucking hair, then I’ll shave my head.”

“I thought you wanted to shave your face! not your hair! I’m not going to let you.”

“So what? Are you telling me what I can do and what I can’t, Stevie?”

“No… it’s just… it’s your hair.”

“They’ll grow back.” and they will, the only thing Eddie doesn’t know is if they’ll grow back in prison or not.

“Fuck! Fuck! Fuck! I hate this!” Steve complains, but grabs the switchblade and starts to cut Eddie’s black curls. 

The more hair falls on the ground the more Eddie remembers that his father used to keep him with a buzzcut and that he hated it, but that’s not the moment to cry on some stupid hair.

“Do you want me… do you want me to shave you?” Steve asks softly.

“Please…” Eddie begs, unable to stare at the mirror.

Steve squeezes Eddie’s shoulder, trying to reassure him, and then he starts to shave his head. Once he’s done Eddie doesn’t seem the same person as he was when they first entered the bathroom. Even he as to stare at the mirror for a long time to realize that’s him. Once he’s finally convinced they leave the bathroom and get back in the car.

This time Eddie is sitting next to Steve, wearing Steve’s clothes and with a shaved head he keeps playing with.

“You ok?”

“Peachy.”

He freezes when they cross the border, but once they are safely in Canada Eddie takes a big breath of relief.

Maybe he’ll have a future after all.

[raven-at-the-writing-desk]

Hi, I have a question for you about TWST. Do you think that in terms of medical care and technology our world is more advanced in some ways? I had this one idea that in TWST they don’t know CPR because they have magic. Also do you think that they had a moon landing or a space race?

On the contrary, I think Twisted Wonderland’s medical care and medical technology is more advanced than ours, if not just as advanced. Twisted Wonderland has many of the same inventions as we do (cars, smartphones, social media, etc.) and even magical variants of those (a magical wheel/blastcycle is a magic-powered motorcycle), so it doesn't make sense to me that medicine and healthcare would be the one area where the real world is ahead of TWST's. Twisted Wonderland would be more advanced than us because magic would allow them to enhance their technology to surpass what we are realistically capable of. Technomantic assistive devices integrate elements of both technology and magic to assist those with impairments. Additionally, healing potions (which accelerate the speed of one's recovery) existed as far back as 400 years ago. For those skilled in potionology, they may whip up antidotes on the spot with the right medicinal herbs.

I also don't think that the existence of magic completely negates the need for regular first aid procedures. Non-magical methods and skills must still exist since the majority of the population are non-magical. Among humans, 90% are completely incapable of magic and of the remaining 10%, most of them are not able to produce enough magic to so much as lift a cup. Very few left are competent enough to become skilled mages, and even fewer are competent enough to become medical mages. Why would the entire healthcare system of the world be entirely based in magic when so few people would be capable of administering that kind of care? CPR and first aid exist in the first place so the common everyday average Joe can help others until actual medical personnel can arrive. It wouldn’t make sense to gatekeep these skills or for them to not have been invented simply because magic is A Thing. In fact, magic is not widely accessible and is implied to be kept for the elite and well-off (more on that here and here).

“Not many humans can use magic, so we turn to chemistry for stuff like this,” Trey says in his Silk Adorned vignette when explaining to the group how the colors of fireworks can differ. The existence of regular sciences—devoid of magic—implies the existence of regular medicine as well. Remember too that not all schools teach magic, therefore regular subjects must exist and be widely taught in non-magic schools.

It should also be noted that, even with magic, it's not a perfect solution for every ailment out there. For example, the healing potions in 7-68 do not instantly restore Lilia to full health; he notes that he must still rest and that his magic is still depleted to the point where he cannot fly back in the direction he just came from.

Magic was also not always viewed as a positive either; a few hundred years ago, it was viewed as a frightening thing. Mages were referred to derogatorily as “witches” and “wizards”. Most societies were not structured around magic (and still aren’t to this day, with fae seeming to be the exception). This means that normal medicine and related first aid must have still existed since magical medicine was presumably not widely accepted.

All of that was to say that I’m pretty sure Twisted Wonderland still has CPR, among other means of non-magical medicine and healthcare 😅

Now as for your final questions, I do think that Twisted Wonderland has achieved space travel. Idia was able to launch Ortho into space in Wish Upon a Star, so the technology is definitely there. It should also be noted that spacesuits and astronauts have been mentioned in the 4koma, which implies the existence of space travel. Again, I’d also like to point out that TWST’s general technological advances are about on-par with ours (including modes of transportation), so there’s no reason not to believe they haven’t gone to space as well.

I don’t think there was a Space Race though? That’s an event that happened in our history, and we know that TWST, while borrowing ideas from irl does not cleanly align with reality. For example, the fictional countries we visit have elements from many cultures (Sunset Savanna has onsen eggs, which are Japanese, not African; Harveston has fashion and foods from various Nordic cultures, etc.).

For historical events… I think Twisted Wonderland is more likely to get its inspiration from Disney movies rather than look to actual irl history. It gets into too much muddy political tension otherwise, which I totally understand TWST wanting to keep out. There were probably other circumstances that led to the advent of space travel in Twisted Wonderland.

[pascaloverx]

OUR SECRET — MYG

chapter two

Summary: You and Yoongi are having an affair. No, you are not being his lover. But the world is not ready to know that an idol is dating someone. So you two were doing your best to make sure no one found out. Until he breaks up with you. His mistake.

Author's note: This fanfic will contain inappropriate language and intimate moments between some characters. Be warned. I will let you know if anything becomes inappropriate. Please enjoy this Yoongi fanfic.

PREVIOUS NEXT

"You should tell him." Namjoon repeated once again as you avoided the topic by making tea.

"Do you think it's going to be a boy or a girl?" You tried to change the subject, which seemed impossible.

"Regardless of the baby's gender, you should let the father know." You rolled your eyes upon hearing that, as if everything would be resolved if Yoongi knew about the baby.

"I think I'd prefer a girl. But if it's a boy, I'll need tips on the male world. It's your duty as the baby's godfather to help me instead of just staring at me like that." Namjoon was giving you a judgmental look.

"Thanks for the honor of being the baby's godfather. I swear I'll be the best godfather I can be. But it's not fair to hide this situation from Yoongi. You know how I am about honesty." He's right about that.

"I'll talk to him. I don't intend to exclude him from our child's life, but it's difficult. Our last conversation took a somewhat dramatic turn. Not to mention, we both know your friend is famous." You were a bit nervous, contemplating the changes your life will undergo once the baby arrives. Uncertainty about the future lingered as you tried to focus on the decisions that needed to be made.

"It will be a challenge, but I trust you will succeed. Speaking of which, I have some bad news." Namjoon speaks fearfully as if he's trying to protect you from something.

"Spit it out." You speak as you mentally prepare yourself for what comes next.

"I came here not just because you called me but to ask you a favor." Namjoon seems worried about something and you notice that.

"Suga hasn't been able to compose lately. Which is making him feel a bit terrible. The boys and I think it's because he is missing you. So I came to beg you to help me with this." Namjoon is with a lost expression. As if you were the solution to Yoongi's problem.

"Mister Min Yoongi needs me apparently, what a surprise. What if you're wrong? What if he just has writer's block?" These are just some of the questions that are on your mind.

"I've known that man longer than you know. Trust me, he's not well." Namjoon seems sure you’re the solution. And at the moment, not knowing if it's pregnancy or your desire, You can't think of reasons not to go see your ex lover.

"To be sure, you owe me one. And I'm not going to tell Yoongi now, about the baby. If I'm going to do that, it's in my time. But I can go there and try to help." A nervousness begins to take over you as soon as Namjoon confirms that he will take you with him. A few minutes later you are already on your way to the company, Namjoon assures you that he spoke to the boss and that he authorized you to go there since you were hidden. Right now you’re hiding in Namjoon’s car.

"Do you think this will help?" You mutter almost to yourself, but Namjoon hears you as he guides you to where Yoongi is.

"I think you're the only person who can talk some sense into Yoongi. Maybe it would be good for you two to have a talk." That's all you hear Namjoon say before leaving you inside the studio where Yoongi is.

"I already said that I don't need to talk about Y/N. My difficulty doesn't come from the feeling of missing you. After all, I was the one who ended everything." Yoongi doesn't even turn from his chair to look at who entered. You think about giving up but you can tell by his impatient tone and the aesthetic of someone who hasn't left that recording studio in a while that he needs help.

"You better remember that, because coming all this way kind of hurts my ego." You say looking towards him who turns around in surprise to look at you.

"Are you really here?" Yoongi says, slowly getting up and walking towards your direction.

"I heard a rumor that you were sad, I needed to make sure. I mean, I wasn't even the one who ended our relationship." You say, approaching him, as if wanting to explore a new reality. He's unshaven, his hair is a little messy and he looks like he hasn't slept in a while.

"They must really be worried. They brought you here." He seems to have realized how worried the boys and the company are about him.

"What's happening to you?" You speak softly like you're curious. Your hand automatically touches Yoongi's face who, without thinking, ends up hugging you. A strong hug like someone who wants to say "I miss you".

"I thought it would be better to end a relationship that was doomed to fail than to stay with the woman I love." He whispers and before you notice, he's almost falling asleep in your arms.

"You need to focus on what's best for you and your group. Breaking up with me was your decision and unfortunately decisions come with consequences. But that doesn't mean either of us will be happy separate from the other. " You say remaining in place, hugging Yoongi and at that moment that was everything you wanted.

[hazelchooseme]

The beginning | Hazel Callahan

You need help from the club so you are going to ask them.

English is not my first language.

this is going to be a series (hopefully)

Song recommendation: Girls Make Me Wanna Die by The Aces (Hazel coded fight me)

Enjoy 🌱

When you talked about the problem with your teacher, he recommended them to you. It's not like you haven't considered it, but they were honestly kind of intimidating. But in desperate times desperate solutions. And now you needed their help. Cheering yourself up, you opened the gym door at the same time someone fell painfully to the floor with a hollow sound.

"Suck my pussy, Sylvie!" PJ screamed at the top of her lungs.

With unsteady steps you approached them.

"Hi" you spoke with a soft voice.

They all stopped watching PJ's obscene dance celebration and turned to look at you. Even Sylvie who was still laying on the floor.

"I need your help"

"And this one?" PJ asked in confussion looking at you up and down. "Nevermind you are hot" She approached you moving her hair. "What does my lady need me for?" she asked with a flirtatious voice.

You looked around for help.

"Leave her alone" Josie pushed PJ away from you and stood in front of you. "Hi, I'm Josie, you say the you need our help?"

"I know who you guys are" You said looking around at the familiar faces.

"So you knew my name" PJ asked in a flirtatious voice, again.

"Shut up" Josie said as she pulled PJ's ponytail.

"You killed the Huntington guys" you began to explain "My ex... He's been a pain in my ass since I break up with him. He doesn't stop calling or texting me, he has even followed me to my house several times. I don't know what to do. I went to the principal but he told me I shouldn't have broken his heart"

"You want us to do the same thing that we did to those Huntington guys?" Josie asked confused.

"I'm in"

"Shut up Sylvie and get up you're going to choke on your blood" PJ looked at you with a smile "It would be a pleasure to kill for you"

"No, it wouldn't be, wait. We can't kill more people" Josie's exaggerated gestures were kind of funny but you didn't laugh. "We wouldn't even know how, that time it was an accident"

"But it was funny" Stella remembered.

"I didn't say it wasn't, cause I enjoyed it. But we can't kill people... Or more people"

"What about just hurting him" You were sure that the one who just spoke was called Hazel. "Like... Something that is not going to kill him but that is going to cause him intolerable pain"

They were silent for what seemed like minutes.

"Well, it doesn't involve murder so why not?" PJ said as the others shook their heads in approval.

"Now we are gonna end up in prison" Josie complained quietly.

"You know that men think that women are not capable of things like that, we will be fine, don't be a bitch" PJ made everyone sit on the floor "We need a plan, a strategy, something that makes us look smart."

"What about a bomb under his car" Isabel suggested.

"We cannot repeat script, boooring" The one with the ponytail complained.

"What about under his bed?" Brittany said.

"Now we are talking"

"We just said no murders" Josie shouted. "We are gonna help you just... We need time to think of something... legal"

"Boring"

Ignoring PJ Josie turned to see you "Where do you live?"

"Near the store that sells drugs and food for flamingos"

"Perfect" she clapped "Hazel will walk home with you in case your ex shows up"

"Why me?" she asked looking up.

"Because you also live near that store"

"Not so close actually"

"Hazel!"

The two had a strange staring contest where it seemed like they were communicating.

Suddenly Hazel began to nod her head, making her hair strands move in a somewhat hypnotizing way. Wait what? "Ah! that's true, I practically live inside the store, it will be fine, we can go... together. Yes. If you want, cause I want if you want. If you don't want to, that's fine too. Yes"

"Stop" Annie coughed under her breath.

"Smooth" Sylvie scoffed.

What had you gotten yourself into?

[creedslove]

Which one of Pedro boys is more likely to move out of the bedroom, because your little baby is not letting him sleep properly. and because he has a job, he is like "no, I'm not sleeping in the same room as you and the baby."

I'm just crushed a little, because I heard a conversation ar my work among two men, who done this. I can't stop thinking about it since.

Like. Who would leave a bedroom to go sleep in a living room, until baby start sleeping during the night.

Javier P? He has responsible job. He needs to focus and think clearly.

Joel? Drive a car to work, he needs to focus and be precise.

Frankie? If someone suggested to him this as a solution, would he listen to the advice?

Jack? He is an agent, constant danger require clear and rested mind.

Dave? Would he take a pillow and move in his spare bedroom for few weeks?

Tim?! He is detective. 🍓✨

This makes me so sad, I get so upset when I see/hear about men being so insensitive towards their own son. Taking care of babies is exhausting but everyone should help, the couple, it's unfair to do that and so rude too.

That being said, I'm sure NONE of the Pedro boys would do that, because they are all great dads on their own way 🥺😍

So thinking of a situation like the one you mentioned, I believe that:

Javier Peña: he ain't no stranger to lack of sleep at night, he often suffers from it and struggles to get back to sleep once he wakes up, so instead wanting to move to another room, he picks up the baby and walks around the house with him, he's so soft, saying love words to his beautiful baby trying to calm his precious little child, since he can't sleep, he doesn't see why he would prevent you from resting in order to watch the baby

Joel Miller: yeah Joel works A LOT and it's hard work, but he also knows you work a lot by taking care of the baby and he's also been a dad, he knows some nights are easy and some are a nightmare. So he does what's correct: he acts like a real man and helps you take care of the baby; no matter how much their little Miller cries, he's there to help you, or he's there to tell you to go back to bed because he's gonna handle it. And I'm sure he plays the guitar to the baby 🤧🥺

Agent Whiskey: please, we know Jack's favorite hobby is to worship you and treat you like a goddamn queen, especially after you gave him his precious little Daniels baby; you've given him a family and he's given you himself entirely, and he will never let anything or anyone take away his family from him, so he will never leave you alone in the bedroom, that's just not happening at all... The baby's crying? No problem sugar, daddy Daniels is gonna take care of him for you. He checks the baby for a fever, a diaper change, sees if he's hungry and if by then your little cowboy hasn't calmed down, then he just holds the baby. Simple as that, giving him the snuggles until the baby is calmly asleep

Dave York: Dave would never sleep somewhere else, it doesn't matter if he literally kills for a living, inside his house, he's a family man and he will always make sure his family is around him. He thinks he's already too lucky to have a woman who accepts him for all his faults and sins and the moment he starts a family with you, he can't stay way, he needs to be close, to feel that love and remind himself he's part of it, also, he likes to be close in the case of a possible attack, he can defend you as soon as possible. If your baby simply won't stop crying, Dave will pick her up and pace the house, carrying her in his arms and he will possibly wake up on the couch with a baby slept peacefully against his chest

[slutforpringles]

I see everyone cranky about the article about perez's sponsors and the constructor's bonus. But i feel like it's gonna work out ok. Or ok-ish at least. The chances that daniel gets in the car and immediately makes up the difference in the constructor's is low. Max is struggling with the car and he's been in it all year. So either way the constructor's is likely a write off. This way, the bonus is covered. And they can still put daniel in for next year, especially if perez bottles the rest of season. Sponsor's or not, if he fucks it up and doesn't meet his contract clauses at least they're seen to have tried to help him meet the targets. So not totally pissing sponsors off. Maybe daniel doesn't have the exact same money behind him, but he is a big sponsor draw. Obviously it's bullshit on daniel's side to keep getting the goal posts moved, but I'm trying to hold on to the hope that it'll actually work in his favour! What do you think?

Yep I definitely think there are upsides to Daniel not being in the Red Bull. As you said it is a tricky car to drive currently, and while I wholeheartedly believe that Daniel would be doing a better job than Payrez currently, I also don't know if he would be able to wring performance out of it to the same degree that Max has been able to. He would be under mountains of pressure to perform immediately, and I can easily see him being blamed en masse by fans if Red Bull were still to lose the constructors.

I won't lie, a small part of me still worries that if there's absolutely zero improvement post-summer break that Red Bull won't suddenly go 'oh shit we have to do something now' and put Daniel in the car after Singapore - which would make the pressure/situation even more challenging. Honestly though in that scenario my biggest concern would be his safety and security at COTA and in particular Mexico - some of the absolute fanatical lunacy I have seen online by Mexican journalists/commentators and the amount of hate it has stirred up is quite honestly bonkers, so I really hope for Daniel's sake he's not parachuted in post-Singapore.

Also to be honest I'm quite excited to see Daniel's continued progression at Vcarb. I've been really impressed by how he and his engineers have knuckled down and found solutions to issues he was having and they have really made some pretty huge steps since his early season struggles. I think he clearly gets on well with Pierre and they've found their groove, and it'd be nice to see Daniel get a full season with Vcarb to continue that trend and really prove to people he deserves that Red Bull seat. I also think the next big lot of Vcarb upgrades are likely to be quite impactful, especially since they seem to have understood why the last upgrades didn't work out.

So while I do find the Red Bull/Payrez situation infuriating, it's definitely not all doom and gloom. I think there's still a huge amount of positive momentum going Daniel's way, he just needs to continue to put in those solid performances we saw from him before the summer break!! ✨🫶🏻🙏🏻👏🏻

[drrav3nb]

Dong-Soo and his need/desire for Do-Young's validation

Since the first episode, we have seen Dong-soo operate and obey Do-young's orders out of fear. From staking out that woman's house to find out who was betraying Do-young, or even coming up with clever plans to stop Do-young from killing him, all these actions have occurred after Dong-soo was either threatened or physically maimed.

However, in this episode (EP5), we see a different motivation for these actions...validation.

The first sign of this is after Dong-soo ends his presentation and we see Do-young's reaction and honestly there's not much of one, and judging from Dong-soo fading smile this minimal/nonchalant reception is not what he was expecting.

This leads him to wait behind and ask Do-young if something is wrong, taking his lack of response as something to be concern about. Seemingly he is right, as Do-young then demands that the gambling site be finished sooner than originally planned.

This uncompromising demand makes Dong-soo question the nature of their relationship. Is this a partnership or is he leaving Dong-soo to fend for himself, forcing him to find the solution to their problem alone?

I find it very interesting that Dong-soo asks Do-young this because now it clearly shows that he sees this as a equal alliance, something that both of them can benefit from, where they can help each other and look out for the other's needs and weaknesses.

But the fact that Do-young doesn't even give him an answer suggests that he doesn't want that, he wants a subordinate, someone he can uses and twist in a way he sees fit. It mirrors the opening scene, where Dong-soo asks him to promise to leave him alone after this business is set up. But once again, Do-young doesn't give him a response or at least not on screen, showing us that he can't be trusted.

And it's this unanswered promise of friendship that keeps Dong-soo coming back, the potential for a mutual partnership that's beneficial to both parties and in order to gain that he feels that he needs to prove himself.

So without Do-young even making any threats or demanding him to deal with the situation in a specific way, Dong-soo goes the extra mile in order to make sure that the website is up and running in 20 days. He finds a previous client who is also a programmer to create it for them, threatens his family to stop him from backing out of their deal, re-organises the gang's operations into new departments and illegal acquires the personal data.

All this leads to the them finishing the website on time and to celebrate, Do-young treats them to some nice food at a restaurant. But what's interesting is when Dong-soo says "But in any case, I tried my best" after being asked about how he thinks the opening of the website will go, Do-young says this:

And once again Dong-soo is left diminished because once again what he's done isn't enough, the goalpost has been moved and he's realising that Do-young's standards are quite high, much higher than those he's worked for in the past. But that doesn't stop him from reaching for it.

Once the website is live and they start realising that his plan has actually worked, Do-young turns to him and looks surprised and evidently impressed. And it's that silent affirmation along with the successful outcome of his own scheme that leads him to grin, beam even, he's so happy and for once he's gotten what he sought this entire episode...validation.

But it doesn't stop there. Along with the money that he initially promised to pay him, Do-young awards him with a brand new car and not just any car, a Mercedes-Benz, claiming that the gift is a 'bonus'

So where does this leave them? Will Dong-soo's need for validation and Do-young's respect lead them to a mutual partnership where they're both equal? Well I don't think so, I think Do-young knows that this is want Dong-soo really wants and he's using it to reel him in. He knows that Dong-soo has been mistreated and overworked by his previous law firm and that has created a vengeful spirit within him. So he positions himself as his saving grace, the person who will absolve him of everything he's felt was wrong in his life.

So it'll be interesting to see how this desire to be seen by his superiors and validated for his work will lead Dong-soo further down the rabbit-hole in future episodes!

Anyway hope you enjoyed this meta!

[these-emo-thoughts]

Last Twilight Episode 11 thoughts

A lot of people are hating on Day right now but I get him. I do. And if you haven't watched episode 11 yet, maybe skip this post as it revolves around a major part of the plot. If you've watched the ep, you probably know what I'm talking about. More detail is under the cut.

Warning, this is a long one, lol. Apologies for any mistakes, I'm a bit sick and didn't read over it 🤣

If you've seen it already, I'm going to explain why I think Mhok and Day's break-up had to happen and why it is the best thing for them right now.

Mhok's fear of losing another person because he isn't there to help or pick up the phone is absolutely valid (and so real and relatable that I feel personally attacked). He doesn't stay with Day out of pity, which has been established multiple times throughout the series - but the trauma of what he went through with Rung and the fear of possibly repeating that again with Day has made his anxiety cloud his judgement and his heart. It's not a healthy way to live - constantly worrying about your partner, to the extent where you cannot live for yourself, is not sustainable for a relationship (I also find this quite ironic because up until this point Mhok has been on his own for a long time now). We saw the manifestation of this fear in episode 11 multiple times too, with Mhok leaving in the middle of the shift to check that the guest that was hit by a car wasn't Day, and then when he was freaking out when Day wasn't answering his phone. Imagine going through all of that, but this time, your partner is 15 hours away by plane.

Day choosing to break up with him is, in my opinion, more complex than just "he lied to me and pitied me". That's part of it (and will come back at the end of this post), yes, and he does have the right to be upset that Mhok lied to him. Again, it's not healthy for the both of them if they are going to continue a relationship. I also want to point out that Day is at a disadvantage here because while he is capable of living his life independently as a blind man, he can't actually see the emotions on people's faces when he talks to them and that's can be important for picking up what others are putting down. Day can't see the changes in Mhok's expression when his smile fades, he has to rely on the other to talk to him when something is up, so lying is a BIG no-no here (as it would be for any relationship). So far, they've done a great job at communicating, so this is presented as new issue - but, it's a big one. So yes, the lying is part of it, but it's not ALL of it.

"But what IS all of it!?" I hear you scream into the Tumblr void. Well, by now, OF COURSE Day knows that Mhok truly loves him and KNOWS that the other doesn't pity him - he's said so many times. So, Day must realise at this point - of which the timeline is probably at a year of them knowing each other, give or take - that Mhok is deliberately holding himself back from good opportunities because of that love. It must hurt like hell, knowing that you're the reason your partner is self-sabotaging, but there's nothing you can do to change their mind because everything is out of your control. It's so much easier for Day to say "Mhok pities me and lied to me and that's why I want to break up" instead of "I'm the reason Mhok won't go".

It's heartbreaking, but what's the solution here? Long distance? Sure, maybe - but that's not going to stop Mhok from worrying about Day and being distracted from his job. It's not going to stop Day from feeling like he's a burden to Mhok. Not only that, with timezones and such a huge distance, there are even more complications to worry about. Plus, let's say something DID happen to Day while Mhok was in Hawaii - it goes back to exactly the problem that Mhok had which is what can he do about it? Long distance is a solution, but how long will they last living like that?

"Okay emo, so why doesn't Day just go to Hawaii with Mhok? Then they can be together and Mhok can fulfil his promise to take him there and they don't have to break up and they'll live happily ever after." I see you!! But... that's a BIG decision. Mhok and Day's trip to Songkhla may have been a test to see how they weather the storm of living together as boyfriends, but it was only for a few days. And Day - for most of it - was alone in the room while Mhok was working. That's not a way for Day to live, and it still won't stop Mhok from being worried, probably even MORESO now because they're in a whole other country.

So... what's left?

Day's decision to break up with Mhok is heartbreaking, but is probably the only solution that makes sense to me. Mhok CANNOT live a life like this. He can't. It's already debilitating him and it'll get even worse if he's constantly prioritising Day over himself in every aspect of life. Of course a person should think about their partner, but not to the point where it becomes unhealthy self-sabotage. Day also cannot live happily like this. He's come to terms living with a disability and already is aware of how different his daily life is to that of a sighted person - but the little voice in the back of his mind, the one reminding him that he's the reason Mhok is not living his life to the fullest, is making the entire process more difficult for him (and the lying really doesn't help).

So... yeah. A necessary evil that unfortunately to many will be written off simply as the "episode 11 curse". An evil that has people already saying that Day is stupid and immature, when I really believe this is the most rational he's been. I know even the actors have said it's about the lying but this is P'Aof we're talking about here - he's a brilliant story-teller, and there's always more to his art than what we see on the surface. It's happened in other shows he's directed, which is why they rate so highly. Last Twilight is no exception, and the complexity of the love story between Mhok and Day is nothing short of a masterpiece. That's how I see it, anyway.

Would love to hear other thoughts and perspectives!

[chilly-me-softly]

Hey I got a request

So my request is that basically you and mason are dating and you go to a Chelsea match and you don’t know you are pregnant and you was having really bad stomach pains later turns out you in labour and next day you and mason had everyone round and everyone was like wow she is so cute hope that make sense x

Expect The Unexpected

You and Mason had danced a bit at a club one night, that's how you had met; and then a date in a quieter place a few days later had allowed you to talk and get to know each other better and all that had led to you dating.

So it's not uncommon to see you hanging around at a Chelsea game lately or sitting with his family as introductions were successfully made some time before.

And that's where you are when you start to feel a strange feeling, like stomach cramps. And at first you don't pay that much attention to it, assuming it's some symptom of your period, the atmosphere around you doesn't even give you time to allow yourself to do a few calculations to see if the date is actually approaching.

It's ten minutes to the end of the game when a twinge stronger than the others makes you literally bend over in your chair, attracting his mother's attention, who immediately turns to you concerned.

"I don't know... it just hurts" you almost gasp for breath, almost start to get seriously worried starting to think what it could be. It's not a normal pain, and at that point you don't even think it could be period cramps since you've never experienced such strong ones. You know something is wrong, you can feel it.

There's a bit of confusion, you manage to concentrate enough to hear Mason's mother ask a few more questions but not enough to answer them; at that point you're just wincing at the pain that doesn't want to seem to go away.

Mason had already been on the bench for a few minutes having been substituted around the hour mark and soon you find him at your side, panting slightly with a worried expression and one of his hands immediately clutching yours.

"How do you feel?"

"It hurts so bad" your eyes fill with tears and he strokes one cheek gently sighing, trying to stay as clear-headed as possible to really be helpful at that moment.

"Could it be your appendicitis?" he tries to look for a solution as someone from security approaches.

"No, I already had it removed a couple of years ago" you reply gritting your teeth, and frankly it hurt less you want to add but you can't.

"Okay you want to... ehm you want to go to the hospital?" and it's when you nod that he really seems to connect that this is something serious. On one of your many dates you had revealed to him about your fear of hospitals, that you would never want to set foot in one unless it was really really necessary. You always hesitated when it came to taking medication or something like that, trying to make everything pass as naturally as possible, but this time you almost didn't let him finish his sentence.

Mason snapped to his feet quickly then, his eyes locking with his mother's for a moment, before signalling to a security man who was approaching to wait. "Can you get up?"

"I don't know" Mason is always there to support you as you try to push yourself up on your legs and they almost give out for a moment. But you manage to stand, though bent in two from the pain you still feel, and after a moment of settling down he tries to get you to take a few steps.

"Mase I can't... the stairs"

"Okay we have to take the lift" and you don't have time to tell him it's far and you can't take it anymore that he picks you up bride-style and hurries down that corridor along with some security staff leading the way.

"Try to relax okay? It will be fine" he whispers to you when the lift doors have closed, as a few tears begin to roll down your cheeks more for what your head is beginning to imagine. And he doesn't let go of you, either standing in the lift or when you arrive in the car park tossing the keys to the guard and being careful as you get into the car not to bump your head.

"We're right behind you!" he hears his father yell before the door is closed and the car speeds away escorted by one of the police to avoid getting caught in the end-of-game traffic and gaining precious minutes.

-

He almost went crazy when they wanted to separate you, no way he would have stayed in the waiting room not knowing what was happening to you while you might have needed him. You had tried to explain to the doctor how you were feeling and where it hurt the most and when they had started talking about waiting and doing more detailed tests, they had finally made him stay.

The pain had never gone away or lessened in intensity and by then you didn't even know how much time had passed. The conviction that you had something serious was creeping into you more and more to the point that you had even tried to prepare Mason, to greet him in some way. And he had obviously shushed you, not wanting to hear any of this.

Shortly afterwards a doctor entered your room with a nurse and a machine in tow. "We're still waiting for the test results but in the meantime I just want to check something"

Mason returns to hold your hand after moving to the other side of the bed to allow the doctor to set up the machine, him making you lift your shirt and start pressing buttons to turn the machine on.

"It's a simple ultrasound" he lets you know before spreading some gel on your abdomen and starting to spread it with a scope.

"What are you looking for?"

"Okay (y/n) I have a question for you. Do you feel the need to push?" but your question is soon snubbed by the doctor's own question, who then turns to the nurse and asks her to call someone else.

"Why? What's going on?"

"(y/n) listen to me, there is a reason for all this. All you're feeling are contractions"

"What? - your gaze immediately seeks Mason's which mirrors your own - no it can't be. I am not pregnant. Look at me I'm not pregnant!"

"(y/n) hey, we'll have time to discuss this but right now the baby is coming. You have to be strong and push"

In an instant you are surrounded by doctors and nurses, you don't understand anything. It's all so fast, the doctor keeps encouraging you to push and to listen to your body and exhausted after a while you let go. No one has prepared you for all this, you are out of breath and have so many questions in your head that you simply cannot think.

"It's a girl"

The pain disappears as suddenly as it came, but the room fills with a wailing that becomes more and more persistent until it turns into a cry. You let go against the bed now dripping with sweat as the tears roll down your cheeks freely and the surreality of that moment sinks in.

"Mase" you whisper, looking for the boy watching the little creature being taken by a nurse with his eyes and mouth wide open.

"Would you like to hold her for a moment?" the nurse approaches with the little one wrapped in a cloth and your arms instinctively spread wide as tears still flow copiously down your cheeks.

"My god. My god (y/n)" you can't speak, it still all seems like a dream to you. One so vivid it feels real.

"Sorry, I have to take her with me now."

"What? Where-where are you taking her?"

"Just a routine check" and it's as if nothing has happened in the last ten minutes when the baby is taken from you, except inside you already have a different kind of worry.

-

"My birthday"

"Hm?"

"My birthday" you repeat as you see Mason get up from the chair he is in and approach you, "We might have conceived her that day"

"Weren't you asleep?" he asks with a smile on his lips, leaning down to leave a kiss on your forehead.

"It just crossed my mind"

"How are you feeling?"

"I probably need another three years of constant sleep" you sigh as he chuckles, leaving another kiss on your temple.

"I don't think we'll get them anytime soon"

"Did they say anything?"

"They should be coming to talk to us in a moment" your hand finds his, grazing it and causing him to shift his gaze to them.

"Sit with me"

"I don't want to hurt you"

"You won't. Please" after a hesitant moment he settles down beside you as gently as he can, hugging you awkwardly.

"Mase - the boy lowers his gaze finding your eyes already staring at him - do you think she's okay?"

"Good news always takes a little longer to arrive. Everything will be fine"

"It's just... how? I don't think I've fully realised what happened yet"

"You need the doctor for that, I know as much as you do"

"But we're going to make it right?"

"Together? Yeah of course" and that was what you wanted to hear at that moment, the reassurance that you wouldn't be alone in all that. "Maybe we need to speed up two or three things on our bucket list-"

"We have a bucket list?!"

"Sure. And anyway I was saying that no matter how crazy and scary this all sounds, together we'll get through this"

"Don't make me cry" you practically whisper on his lips before he brings them together in a tender kiss.

-

"I know you will certainly have questions, but I need you to answer mine first so that I can take action if needed"

"Is the baby okay?"

"With the various tests that have been conducted at the moment, we have found nothing to worry about. The baby was born full term but there was no pre-natal care, so you will understand that we need to take all the appropriate precautions" you lower your gaze as you can't help but feel guilty about that, Mason immediately finding your hand and squeezing it to give you confidence.

"Okay, be as honest as you can. No one's judging you, it's for your daughter's safety" you and Mason exchange a quick glance before paying full attention to the doctor, the worry that has once again risen overbearingly like a rock in the middle of your chest.

"Have you been drinking or smoking for the last nine months?"

"No I - you clear your throat running a hand through your hair - I don't particularly like to do either. Maybe a few drinks at a few gatherings but nothing excessive"

The doctor notes something on his pad before going on with another question and then another and another as you try to give each other a hand in remembering if there had been any important events to bring up in the last few months.

"Mason and I love running together so I've actually lost a few pounds lately. And my period has always been regular, nothing that really made me think about a pregnancy"

"It's called cryptic pregnancy, it's a rare condition but it can happen that a woman doesn't have any symptoms that connect to a pregnancy for the duration of it until she gives birth"

"And could it bring problems to the baby?"

"As I said at the moment we didn't find any. If all goes well in a few hours we will also be able to bring her to your room"

-

Mason takes one last look at the sleeping baby in your arms before pressing the call button. His mother doesn't take long to answer, he bets she's been holding the phone the whole time since he sent them off waiting for answers while they too searched for theirs.

"Mason, is there any news? How is (y/n)?"

"Mom gather everyone up, we have something to show you" he wanted to be serious but he's fighting with all the strength he has not to let out the huge smile he'd like to put on.

"Okay ready?" when he pulls the camera away framing all three the reactions are different, astonishment and confusion mostly.

"Mason where did you get that baby"

"It's a girl. It's our daughter" and finally that smile can make its way onto his face, excited and proud.

"Mason man, while you're in the hospital get yourself checked out okay?" you chuckle lightly at his brother's words leaning against Mason's shoulder, the baby stretching in her sleep and your gazes being caught by her.

"Oh my god she really is yours!" his mother coos excitedly, recognising that look in both of you; mesmerised by something bigger, looking at the little creature as if she were the first in the world to do certain things.

"Looks like we had a nice bun in the oven well hidden"

"It's beautiful. Oh guys, how are you?"

"Well grandma - you can swear his mother's eyes literally sparkled - the nurses were kind enough to give us this onesie, we're still in disbelief and mostly exhausted and -"

"And with so much to think about" you chime in.

"Tomorrow" Mason leaves a light kiss on your temple, tacitly reminding you of what you had briefly talked about earlier. 

"Yeah, tomorrow"

"Is there anything you need, that you want me to bring you?"

"The nurses have given us everything for the moment. I- um have no idea what we need honestly" you admit even a little embarrassed.

"I'll bring something then, for both of you when we come"

"Thank you" you smile gratefully at the woman knowing that right now you're going to need all the help and advice you can get from whoever is willing and able to give it to you.

After a few more glances at the girl you close the call, managing to convince them to wait at least until visiting hours the next day to show up everyone in there. You have no idea what to expect honestly.

"Tired?"

"Not mentally, but I know I'll collapse as soon as I rest my head on the pillow"

Mason smiles stroking one pf your cheek gently with the back of his hand, "How about some rest then mh? It's been a crazy day"

"Hmm just a little more" you murmur as a yawn betrays you.

"Alright"

"Can you take her?"

"Yeah sure" and you smile seeing the gentle way he settles her in his arms, making sure he's holding her as they showed him earlier and how he looks at her; absolutely captivated and completely off the grid.

"She-she looks like you"

"Oh stop it. She's not even twenty-four hours old you can't see similarities already"

"It is! I can see it" he argues, being careful not to raise his voice too much.

"Whatever"

"Oh I have to call Ben and Dec! They'll lose their minds I'm sure"

"Mason" you hint a laugh shaking your head as he is already waiting for the boys to pick up the facetime.

-

The next morning you and Mason have already been up and alert for a few hours when a knock on the door catches your attention, revealing family and friends with balloons and flowers and various bags.

"Oh boys what have you done?" emotional your eyes wander around as some are already starting to hug Mason.

"Where's the baby?" as is obvious the focus is all on the newcomer, everyone is aching to see her in person so Mason pushes her cot carefully towards the centre of the room to allow everyone enough space to admire her.

"Oh she's so cute. Is she all right?"

"Yes. All normal"

"And have you thought of a name yet?" his mom asks curiously.

"For the moment it's Mount, the only thing we're sure of. We have a few more days to think about the rest" just then the little girl stretches, opening her little eyes and making a group of adults melt like snow in the sun.

"Never seen a more beautiful little girl. Congratulations guys"

You look for Mason in the commotion and when your gazes meet a smile arises on your face, because this thing may have dropped out of the blue but you're sure that with him and all the people there in that room it will definitely be more sustainable.

Part 2

[warping-realities]

A Better Family II

David Evans was having a bad day. The young professor, only twenty-three years old, hated the job at St James, which he had obtained only through the influence of his father, one of the institution's biggest donors. The truth was David also despises his absent father. A father who only cared about how his son's attitudes interfered with the illusory life he tried to maintain, without ever really worrying about the boy, using the money to buy, manipulate and open his son's paths. As a reflex David grew up with a bad attitude towards the world, which extended to his teachers at that same school. But karma was a bitch. David only graduated from college the same way he got that job: through his father's intervention. After that fiasco, the solution to the boy's inability was to work with the teachers that for years he despised as inferior beings. And that place quickly became a torment. Although it was still only on his second day at work, David found former professors willing to make him pay for his para attitudes and students ready to replicate them in him. To top it all off, David's brand new Mercedez just got screwed up which added to his frustration.

"Damn car, damn stupid job, damn life."

"Apparently someone got up on the wrong foot today." Said a bassy voice.

"Ramirez." It was David's only comment as the handsome male specimen approached, Enrique Ramirez the PE teacher, already in uniform for the day and exuding an air of self-assurance and masculinity that had irked David from the first moment. He was used to being the alpha male, but a single glance at his colleague made it clear that here in St. James the position was already taken.

"Car trouble, Evans?"

"That crap just let me down so I was late for work." David replied, taking advantage of the problem to justify his delay in arriving at the service, caused in reality by his total lack of will to be there.

Enrique smirked as if he knew the car wasn't really the reason for the delay, but as a sign of good faith he decided to offer his new colleague some help.

"My father-in-law owns a car repair shop and I worked with him myself during high school, I can take a look for you and try to identify the source of the problem."

"Why doesn't that surprise me?"

"Sorry, but I don't understood your comment, Evans." Enrique replied, understanding very well what the other man had inferred.

"Hum... I mean ... you can look... please?" Asked David grudgingly. But taking the opportunity. His father was already irritated with him, if he bothered the old man with that problem he might decide to cut off his funds.

"No problem, let me see what we have here." Said Enrique approaching and opening the hood of the car, only to be hit by a cloud of black smoke.

"What the fuck did you do with the car, Evans?" he asked between a coughing fit.

"I... I don't know. I've never cared much about cars, it's the underlings' job and..." David started to say, stopping abruptly when he saw his colleague's icy expression.

"I suggest then that you find an underling to fix this shit." Enrique replied, ready to withdraw from that company that increasingly displeased him.

"Wait, Ramirez! Hum, Enrique..."

"What?"

"Would you be able to get me your father-in-law's contact? I mean… if he doesn't charge too much."

“Mr Huerta is extremely competent at what he does and will charge you exactly what his service is worth and nothing more. I shouldn't do this given you attitude, but we are colleagues and will be obliged to interact. I'll get in touch with a tow truck team to pick you and your car and take to his workshop."

"Hum, thanks and...ahh...sorry if I was...hum...offensive." David concluded as if he don’t apologize often, which in fact he didn’t.

"No problem, I hope the next time we meet things are better." Said Enrique knowing that it was almost impossible to happen.

"Sure, man" replied David, thinking exactly the same as his colleague.

….

Meanwhile, at that exact moment in Diego's workshop, a beautiful middle-aged brunette wearing was received by the smiling owner.

"Good morning Marina!"

"Good morning Diego, are you coming from the gym?" She said looking at the impressive arms of her boss.

"Yes, I've just finished my morning training. I hope someone shows up for a job interview, we're short of staff, I can't handle the work alone for much longer."

"I'm sure someone will show up. I could ask Nico to help you but…" Said Marina, her smile fading.

"What is it? Is the boy in trouble?"

"Oh, I don't want to bother you with my problems, Diego."

"Marina, I've known that boy and his brother since they were babies. I'm sorry I couldn't help with Miguel, but whatever I can help with Nicolas, I'll help."

"Oh Diego, you are a great boss and a wonderful friend and I really don't know what I would do without you. But I'm afraid my boys have more of their father than I thought. Miguel hasn't been home for months and Nico... he's been with the same kind of company as his brother and... we had a terrible argument! Oh, I'm so afraid of losing them both, Diego." She concluded with teary eyes.

"Marina, as soon as possible I'm going to talk to the boys, both of them, and try to put some sense in their heads."

"Thank you, with all my heart, I…" she started to say, being interrupted by the phone ringing in the waiting room.

"Let me answer the phone, maybe this is good news, perhaps someone interested in the job offer." And she went to her post, discreetly wiping her eyes in the hope that her boss hadn't noticed her crying.

But Diego noticed, there was nothing he didn't notice about Marina. The two had a long history together. She had crossed the border with him so many years ago, but her trip had been longer, she was Brazilian and had gone to Mexico in an attempt to enter the United States. At the border, she met Diego and helped him take care of Melissa during the entire journey. At the time Diego realized that she was interested in him, but his heart was still in mourning for his late wife. When they were already established in the new country, and Diego, ready to try something new, decided to look for her, but instead found her married and pregnant with her eldest son, Miguel, to whom she asked Diego to be godfather. Marina's husband, Marcelo, also Brazilian, didn't like it very much, but Diego accepted the position. And he didn't budge from that.

Shortly after the birth of the boy Marina became pregnant again, but before the birth of her second son Nicolas, Marcelo was arrested for drug trafficking, dying in prison after a gang fight. Widowed and with two children to raise, Marina did what she could to support the household, working day and night, often leaving the boys in the care of Diego or by Enrique's grandparents, since the boy grew up without his parents, who died in Venezuela. Whenever possible Marina returned the favor by taking care of Melissa and the boy.

When Diego finally opened his workshop he hired her to do reception work and the boys were raised as if they were his children. And he knew they could have been, if he'd had the nerve to ask her out. But he didn't, creating several excuses not to do what he wanted most.

Time passed, the boys grew up... and something in them changed, maybe it was Marcelo's bad blood coming out. It started with Miguel, at the age of seventeen the playful boy gave way to an angry young man, the hours spent helping Diego in the workshop replaced by hours hanging around with bad company. Diego tried to intervene only to be rebuffed. And that hurt him a lot. Now it seemed the same was happening with Nico and he didn't know if he could do anything to avoid it, but he would certainly try his best.

"It was Rico on the phone, saying he sent a colleague's car for repairs, apparently the guy is a jerk. But he has money."

"We've dealt with our share of idiots, one more won't make a difference." Diego answered while examining the small metallic disc that he had found in the living room that morning.

"What is it, boss?"

"I have no idea, it just turned up at my house. Maybe Melissa or Rico left it there, I forgot I took it this morning. I’ll talk to them later, looks like our client arrived and he is exactly what Rico told you." He said, nodding at the blond man who was coming down from the tow truck, with an expression of complete disgust on his face.

“Let me take care of him.”

"Graças a Deus." She replied, returning to her work station.

"Hum, who do I have to talk to in this...hum...establishment...?

Diego mentally rolled his eyes as he reached out to the boy, who reluctantly reached out as well, the expression of disgust still present. With the intention of provoking the asshole, Diego put his other hand, the one that held the Reality Warper, on the man’s shoulder.

“ I'm Diego welcome to this… establishment… son."

And thus starting an unexpected reaction. With the contact with the target established and interpreting that phrase from the bearer as if it were an order, the artifact began its work.

Diego's impression was as if time had stopped and he couldn't move, so great was his surprise when he saw the small disc begin to expand and form the metallic structure around David, who tried to escape, but like so many others before him ended up trapped inside the metallic cocoon that would transform him forever. Recovering his voice Diego began to shout:

"Marina! Help…. Marinaaaa!" But she couldn't hear him, because in fact time had stopped for the bearer and for the target, everything that was happening there was out of time and reality itself, as the two dimensions were being altered.

"Boy, boy? Can you hear me? Damn, I don't even know your name... What the fuck is..." he interrupted himself when he saw one of the walls of the structure show the image of a thin young man, reformulating himself to then present the face of a young man with Latin features.

The scare with that was not greater than seeing the walls of the metallic cocoon retract in the small disc, leaving a man totally different from the one who was in his place. In front of him was a handsome young Latino man, tall and muscular, wearing the work uniform from Diego's workshop. Not knowing what to do or how to react, Diego just watched him with an astonished face, about to have the third surprise of the day. The boy opened his eyes, fixing his gaze in Diego's direction and smiled.

"Buenos días, papá!”

“I thought I'd start with Mrs. Angela's car. An old model like that will be hard to find the parts. By the way, I was up late yesterday working on my little project and I think I'm going to need some more experienced hands." Said the man, pointing to a blue 1967 Ford Mustang located where David’s brand new Mercedez used to be.

"Boy... I... what kind of joke is this...?"

"Father, you know I would never play with that, this project has been our dream since I was little. I repeat, I would never play with that, right Marina? Said the man, seeing Marina return from the reception holding two steaming cups of coffee.

"Ah, yes. Ever since you were a little kid you've been talking about restoring an old car with your bare hands. I don't think I've ever seen you without grease on your hands, Dieguito." She said, handing a cup to him who opened an even brighter smile. While she extended the other towards Diego who stared at the two stupefied.

"Dieguito...?"

"Si, Papa?"

"Marina, what's going on here, I... I..."

"Papá, is everything okay?" Asked the man putting his hand on Diego's shoulder who was suddenly invaded by conflicting memories. A cheerful boy, walking beside him, not realizing the risk of the crossing they were making, while Diego held a three-year-old Melissa in his lap, who was talking animatedly with a young Marina, the two laughing and trying to understand the differences between Spanish and Portuguese. The same boy, playing soccer on a makeshift field in their neighborhood and smiling at his father as he tried to dribble past his best friend, a young Enrique Ramirez just as smiling. Then the two boys already teenagers, dirty with grease in Diego's workshop. The two boys playing baseball in high school, the happiness on Diego Junior's face when he found out that his best friend had received a sports scholarship to college, even though he himself hadn't won one. The two wearing gala clothes for the prom, with the boy all happy to discover that his best friend was dating his sister. Then the boy with tears on his face while apologizing to him for not being able to go to college and smiling when Diego told him that he didn't care, that he was proud of him and that he would be the happiest father in the world to have his son by his side at work. The same happiness that shone in the boy's eyes when he received the car he had dreamed of restoring his whole life as a gift from his father, expressed through the phrase "Te amo, papá!" And at that moment Diego fell to the floor of his workshop, with tears in his eyes, scaring those around him.

"Papá, papá! Marina ayúdame aquí!”

“Nossa senhora! Diego, o que houve?”

“No es nada, estoy bien.” Said, Diego getting up and staring into the boy's eyes full of concern, his boy, his son!

"It must have been my blood pressure, there's nothing to worry about. Ah, thank you Marina." He concluded, taking the cup of coffee from the woman's still outstretched hand."

"Papa, I bet you didn't have a proper post-workout meal, let me get something from the market. Marina, keep an eye on him until I get back."

"I'll do it, Dieguito! And you, Mr. Huerta, you can go sit down, and no efforts until your son returns!"

"Yes ma'am!"

"You should be happy, you have a wonderful son, Diego." She said with her sad smile."

"You're right, Marina, I have the best son in the world." Diego replied looking at his boy as he left the workshop.

….

The rest of the day passed in a way that felt both familiar and completely new to Diego. He had all those memories of his son, but at the same time he knew that until that morning the boy didn't exist. That in his place there had been another man, whose name he didn't even know and whose existence had been erased from the face of the Earth. Marina didn't remember anything and even Enrique told him that he didn't have a colleague who fit the description and that nobody in St. James had car trouble that morning. Apparently Diego Jr was here to stay.

Diego wouldn't complain about that, because Dieguito was everything he ever wanted in a son, the boy was strong, funny, smart, hardworking and looked at his father with eyes of total respect and admiration. Diego knew that when the time came, the boy would be ready to take his post at the head of the workshop.

Still, there was the possibility that it would all disappear just as abruptly as it had started. So he spent the whole afternoon locked in his office researching any information there was about the artifact. Aside from a few legends and myths about magical objects, he didn't find anything relevant. Although his research led him to sites with stories aimed at just that kind of situation, and although they were clearly fiction, some were eerily reminiscent of the situation he found himself in. With nothing else to do, Diego dismissed Marina and his son and closed the workshop alone, still thinking about the strangeness of the situation.

When he got home he found Dieguito putting on his gym clothes in the living room and he couldn't stop admiring him, the boy was everything he had wanted all his life and he knew that was how it was because he himself had created him, but there were those other memories where the boy didn't exist, memories that scared him immensely.

His thoughts were interrupted by his son.

"Papá, I didn't see you arrive.... why are you staring at me? Is there something wrong? I noticed you've been acting strange all day..."

"There's nothing wrong hijo, it’s just… just that today I realized how perfect you are!"

"Papá, por favor! I didn't even go to college like Rico, all I do is follow in your footsteps."

"And what more could I want? I repeat, you are perfect, Dieguito. I love Rico like a son, but you are my only son and I couldn't wish for a better one!" Diego replied causing a shy smile to appear on his son’s face.

"Thanks father, hearing you say it means a lot to me!" The man replied obviously happy but at the same time a little embarrassed by that statement. So much so that he quickly changed the subject.

"Papá, something happened today. I didn't mention anything to Marina, but I ran into Miguel today at the market. He didn't seem too well. We talked for a few minutes and... I don't know, something didn't feel right."

"Marina is worried about the boys Diego, Miguel has been out of the house frequently since last year, he hasn't appeared for months and now it seems that Nicolas is replicating the behavior.... tell me, can you get in touch with him ?" Finished Diego, with an idea sprouting in his head.

"Sure, do you intend to talk to him again?"

"I intend much more than that son. Get in touch with the boy and ask him to meet you at the gym." Diego said unbuttoning his uniform shirt and heading to his bedroom to put on gym clothes.

"I can try, but it's not guaranteed, papá. Do you intend to train twice today? Remember what happened in the morning."

"Kid, don't worry about me, worry about embarrassing yourself by lifting less weight than your father."

"In your dreams, old man!"

....

“Are you ready to see how a professional works Dieguito?"

"See those arms, Rico? They are the arms of a true professional, forged with the work of a real man."

With a radiant smile Diego watched his son and his future son-in-law exchange bravado at the gym, as the two best friends had been doing since childhood.

However, he felt that smile fade as he looked out the window and watched a boy approaching. Knowing he was about to do something very extraordinary or very stupid. But that either way could alter that boy's fate permanently.

[kotamagic]

In this week's Lore Olympus, things are going from really fucking bad to NOPE.

Fresh from watching Hades get yoinked away by a possessed Morpheus, Persephone goes on the air to announce his disappearance.

Apollo's televised accusations for the Mortal Realm crisis already put Persephone in a terrible light. This announcement certainly doesn't help the situation, but at least Persephone is being upfront about it.

We get to see a rare, real moment of Apollo being unsure of what to do. He puffs himself and staggers now that he has the upper hand, but that's all for naught without the support of the other gods.

What is this pink thing Ouranos gives him? I have a theory....

Eons ago, Ouranos weaponized his fertility goddess wife's powers for his own ends. While she may have pretty much been burnt out and used up, who is to say that there wasn't the tiniest bit leftover? I suspect that this is the pink thing that he hands to Apollo.

The way he states that it won't work by itself further enhances that theory. Persephone's fertility goddess powers are on the fritz. Using the blob would act kind of like.... jump starting a dead car battery? (Does that make sense?)

Apollo announces he has the solution for the Mortal Realm crisis and reaches out to Persephone. Of course, he's a full-blown cocky jerk about it, but did we expect anything less?

I appreciate Persephone's retort. I think ALL of us would love to see her use her death powers on him. Even if it didn't kill him, I imagine it would hurt a lot. (And we'd all be cheering for that!)

Even with Hades kidnapped, Persephone has folks looking out for her safety. She doesn't want to be the damsel in distress forever, and that's part of why she's putting on a brave face and going to Asspollo Apollo's meeting.

A part of her feels the need to face her fear of him. It's dangerous, and anyone who has been paying attention and is in the know of Persephone's SA knows this is physically, mentally, and emotionally dangerous.

But Persephone is not alone. Very happy to see that not only is Hecate offering help, but Ares as well.

I know Ares is talking about Hera here, but I feel he speaks for all of us reading. Just saying....

This makes me suuuuuuuuuuuuuuper uncomfortable. The look in his eyes and the fact that he's physically touching her (IDGAF that he asked this time!) sets off every alarm bell and then some.

As I mentioned earlier, I think it's the dead car battery scenario.

In reverse of a metaphor i used in previous posts, Persephone is the DEVICE that does the thing, but needs the power. The pink blob (through Apollo) is the BATTERY.

Looks like it's making her Spring powers work, but for how long? And if it's only while Apollo holds her hand, he's likely to use that as an excuse to force marriage on her.

Maybe the pink blob will stop working at the worst possible time for Apollo, and his bullshit will get exposed? We can only hope.

Anyway, thanks for coming to my LO post!