#i miss going mid at 21 11 6 and 1

[wildstar25]

MiqoMarch Day 05 - Hobby

When she's not helping every living soul in a 20 mile radius, hunting monsters out in the wild, or exploring every nook and cranny of the world; Arsay is keeping the Magitek Repeater -gifted from her friends at the Ironworks and armed with non-lethal rounds- in good use on the frontlines.

[sweet-little-raven]

🚨 Everything we know about Wednesday season 2 (possible spoilers and trigger warnings for violence — don't read this if you don't wanna know anything about season 2. Also, remember that none of this is confirmed yet, everything is from a leaker supposedly working on the set)

1- Xavier left school so his character is completely forgotten

2- Enid is craving affection and attention a lot

3- Enid's scars healed (I'm so sad about that... bye bye our hopes of Wednesday comforting her about it)

4- Enid's hair is a bit shorter, closer to Emma's real haircut. It's still blond. They also talked about giving her a black streak, but they didn't do it. They will possibly add it next season

5- Ajax broke up with Enid because she kept missing their dates and wasn't really involved in their relationship

6- Ajax disappears through the season but is found at the end

7- Enid has a new boyfriend, Maxim (played by Owen Painter)

8- Maxim is predicted to be loved by the fans

9- Maxim is abusive towards Enid (he grabs her a lot and leaves bruises)

10- Wednesday hates Maxim from the start

11- Wednesday is really protective of Enid during this season

12- Enid breaks up with Maxim in episode 4 (I suppose, as it says mid-season) and it doesn't go well (he's really mad and they almost physically fight. Enid uses her claws)

13- After the break up, Maxim becomes very obsessive

14- Wednesday initiates a hug after Enid comes back to the dorm after the break up

15- Enid and Wednesday will investigate together in every episodes except the first one

16- Maxim takes over the Nightshades and kick Bianca out. His father is said to have old views (I guess similar to Crackstone)

17- Bianca will have a lot of scenes. So does Thing

18- Tyler is back and will work with Wednesday. He's not the villain of this season

19- Tyler has a lot of scenes with Bianca's mom

20- Wednesday, Enid, Morticia, Maxim and Barry (Maxim's father and Nevermore's new principal) have the most screentime

21- Enid meets the Addams and Morticia thinks her relationship with Wednesday is stupendous

22- Enid's relationship with her mom changes a lot (good or bad, we don't know)

23- There will be a camping episode taking place at Camp Jericho, where Enid and Wednesday will share a tent

24- There will be a musical number

25- Christopher Lloyd (original movie Uncle Fester) will come back as, apparently, a music teacher

26- Enid will have a major fight against around 5 creatures

27- One of Enid's fight is to protect Wednesday (who is immobilised during the scene)

28- Wenclair share another hug at the end of the season

29- Enid and Wednesday are very close friends at the end of the season. Wenclair is not comfirmed yet for season 3 but they said it's still possible

30- Jenna is producer this season, so everything that happens between Wednesday and Enid has gone through her. She and Emma are most likely the ones to decide if Wenclair will happen or no. Considering they both said in an interview that they would be good together, that the whole cast ships them and that so much fans does too, we are on the right track!

All of this is not officially confirmed. A leaker working on the set posted all this on Reddit in June (from what I understood). Recently, bts pics of Camp Jericho has been shared, confirming what the leaker said about it. So all of this is most likely true, but again, nothing comfirmed.

I really hope it is true, because holy shit, the plot is INSANE. I literally told my best friend I needed a camping scene in season 2 and more drama... well, there we are 🤌🏻 All this informations I have shared are from the leaker (the post has been deleted on Reddit but you can find some screenshots on @zstronz78's Twitter account)

What are you theories and thoughts about it?

[cloudcutter]

SMILE FOR THE CAMERA - p. sunghoon

in which you don’t believe sunghoon could have feelings for you so you challenge him to prove it before you both graduate

- student!sunghoon x student!reader

- rivals(entirely one sided) to lovers

- smau with lots of written inclusions

featuring: enhypen members, ryujin of itzy, soobin of txt, wonyoung of ive, vague mentions of other idols i like as background characters

warnings: probably some lame humor, swearing, potentially inappropriate jokes (they’re high schoolers what do u expect), sunghoon has no game, everyone makes fun of him and jake bc they’re losers (affectionate), ryujin is gay bc she’s my wife, wonyoung and sunghoon are bffs bc jangkku heart said so. lmk if there’s more!

taglist: send an ask to be added !!

start: 15122022

end:

status: ongoing!

update schedule: at minimum, two days a week

author note: hi this is my first work and my first smau like literally ever ??? i’m super nervous to post this but i’ve had this idea in my head for the longest time? i wanted to write a whole fic but i thought making it a weird written + smau combo would help my writing process a little bit and help avoid writers block … so i’m gonna try and hopefully finish this !! please enjoy :D i also have never posted much on tumblr so i truly have no clue what i’m doing … so um i hope this works. be patient with me please :))

PROFILES

y/n’s models (the gorls) (everyone else) | 02z hate club (the 02z) (niki + the gays)

PROLOGUE: park sunghoon’s challenge

CHAPTER LIST:

chapter 1 - grave mistake

chapter 2 - tame first dates

chapter 3 - sunghoon has one fear

chapter 4 - kinda mid?

chapter 5 - stay strong !!!

chapter 6 - for me to make me happy

chapter 7 - another study date (?)

chapter 8 - feeling threatened by one choi soobin

chapter 9 - sunoo is mr. steal ur girl

chapter 10 - who want me *silence*

chapter 11 - new project

chapter 12 - lemme see lover boy

chapter 13 - you are incredible

chapter 14 - sunghoon x a brick wall ?

chapter 15 - not so incredible now

chapter 16 - call me wony <3

chapter 17 - going bonkers bananas

chapter 18 - new best friend !!!

chapter 19 - later hoon :)

chapter 20 - bae this isn’t ur priv

chapter 21 - yeonjun’s rager

chapter 22 - odi misses his aunt D:

chapter 23 - welcome to the club

chapter 24 - wonie misses the drama

chapter 25 - cocky, stuck up jerk

[matttgirlies]

Matt & Me🎀

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24

a story heavily based on Priscilla Presley’s Book “Elvis & Me” based in the 1950’s - 1970’s.

fem! reader x singer! matt

disclaimer!! - in no way am i saying matt would ever support or do these kind of things, for the sake of the book certain unethical things do happen at times.

warnings - suicide attempt,, arguing

y/nn = your nickname for any confusion🩷

Chapter 15

By the mid-sixties he was holding Bible readings in the den of our Bel Air home. I sat next to him one evening as he read passages with great force. Facing us were several of his young female admirers wearing the lowest-cut blouses and the shortest miniskirts. They all listened attentively, disciples enraptured in the presence of “their” lord. The sermon stretched to hours, followed by a question-and-answer period during which they vied for his attention.

Sitting at his feet was an attractive, wellendowed young girl wearing a blouse unbuttoned to her navel. Leaning over seductively, she asked in honeyed tones, “Matt, do you think the woman at the well was a virgin?” With me right beside him, he avoided taking in the fleshy spectacle obviously exposed for his benefit.

“Well, honey,” he said, “that’s somethin’ you’ll have to come to a conclusion on yourself. As for me, I personally think Jesus was attracted to her, but that’s my opinion. I’m not sayin’ it’s fact.”

I watched Matt and the girl talking, feeling undermined and angry. How stupid, I thought. Can’t he see what she’s doing? It’s so obvious.

He drew in a deep breath and said, “I like your perfume, honey. What’s it called?”

“Chanel Number Five,” she answered.

Chanel Number Five? That’s what I was wearing! Why didn’t he notice it on me? I slowly rose and walked into my dressing room adjacent to the den. Determined to snare his attention, I changed into his favorite outfit—a tight-fitting black sheath he had picked out himself.

Returning a few minutes later, I took my place beside him, but he was wrapped up in preaching to his devotees and had totally overlooked my absence. To make matters worse, he didn’t even notice my change of costume. I managed to conceal my distress behind a fake smile and an attentive gaze, but I couldn’t help noticing that he was responding to them with an occasional wink or smile.

I asked questions like they did, but my heart wasn’t in it; I knew they all wanted to take my place. “That’s it,” I thought. “If I’m not appreciated, loved, or wanted, I’ll end it. That will make it easier for everyone.”

I got up and went back to our room. Picking up a half-full bottle of Placidyls, I devised a plan to create a dramatic effect that, in my mind, would win his attention. I stared at them, thinking, What if I choke to death? I decided to take two pills to start. That way I could take a quick shower, redo my makeup, put on my prettiest camisole, and still have time to position myself dramatically on the bed before I consumed the rest of the bottle.

I swallowed the pills and started to prepare myself for the end. In tears, I thought of leaving him a note, writing down everything I’d never been able to say. I’d tell him how I wished that it could have been just the two of us again, as it had been during the long hours we’d spent together in his room in Germany. I’d confess that I was jealous of any woman who caught his attention and that I hated the times when there was only silence between us, even though he’d said he had things on his mind. I’d tell him how I feared his violent temper, which robbed me of my freedom of expression; and how I wished that he’d have tried to understand me as I’d desperately tried to understand him.

Maybe he’s missed me by now, I thought. I ran to the door and pressed my ear against it. I heard him laughing. He was having a great time. They all were. I found that I was disgusted with all of it. I wouldn’t go in there now if he begged me, I told myself. I was too tired anyway.

But I wasn’t too tired to remember how I wanted to be found. I lay down on the bed with my long jet black hair spread over the white pillows, my lips moist with gloss. In my naive fantasy he’d take my listless body in his arms and tell me how much he loved me, kissing me passionately back to life.

I forced down one more pill, lay perfectly still in the position I wanted to be discovered, and waited for what seemed like hours for sleep to overtake me. But the longer I lay there, the less sleepy I became. The more I heard Matt’s laughter, the angrier I got. My adrenaline-charged fury was overriding the effect of the pills. Soon I began to feel foolish.

Then I heard Matt say good night to everyone as he approached the room. I grabbed the nearest book and lay it at my side, as though I’d been reading and had fallen asleep. I heard him come in, quietly walk over to the bed, and pick up the book. He whispered the title, The Listener. I could imagine him smiling, pleased as always when I read philosophical books. He stood over me for a second, probably thinking how sweet I looked and how tired I must have been to retire so early.

Then he covered me snugly with blankets and bent down to kiss my carefully-parted lips. All my anger and jealously vanished. I realized how even a little of his attention could make me happy.

In April of 1964, Larry Geller was hired to replace Matt’s barber, Sal Orfice. Little did we know that their relationship would not only cause a drastic change in Matt, but it would create tension, jealousy, and fear within the group.

I was in Boston when he first met Larry, but I learned all about him through our nightly phone conversations. Matt’s enthusiasm over his newfound friend was infectious.

“You’re not going to believe this guy, Sattnin,” he said. “Larry knows more about the spiritual world than all the preachers and Catholic priests and religious fanatics put together. We have discussions that last hours, just talkin’ and talkin’ about the great masters and my purpose for being here. I’m invitin’ him to Graceland. He’ll enlighten your spiritual development.”

When Larry and his wife, Stevie Geller, joined us, I was surprised to find them both young and attractive. He was kind and mellow. She was sweet and quiet and kept to herself.

However, many in the group, myself included, were suspicious of them. We were all threatened by Matt’s involvement with Larry. It was keeping him from us. It seemed as if Matt was always off alone reading esoteric books or deep in discussion with Larry about God’s master plan for the universe.

Matt discovered there were many great masters besides Jesus. There were Buddha, Muhammad, Moses, and others, each “chosen by God to serve a purpose.” What I was now witnessing in Matt was the emergence of that part of his nature that was thirsting for answers to all the fundamental questions of life.

He asked Larry why, out of all the people in the universe, he had been chosen to influence so many millions of souls. Granted this unique position, how could he contribute to save a world burdened with hunger, disease, and poverty? Why was there so much human suffering in the first place? And why wasn’t he happy, when he had more than anyone could want? He felt he was missing something in life. Through Larry’s insight, he hoped to find the path that would lead him to the answers.

He was eager for all of us—especially me—to absorb all the knowledge he was consuming. Happy to share everything, just as he had with his Bible discussions in L.A., he read to us for hours and handed out books he thought would interest us. He announced that in order for us to be perfect soul mates, I’d have to join him in his search for the answers to the universe. To help me, he gave me several large books, including Vera Stanley Adler’s The Initiation of the World.

He suggested I attend the lectures of the metaphysical philosopher and author Manley P. Hall. I did. I found the lectures difficult to understand and painful to endure, but I managed to survive with the hope that “this too shall pass.”

Then he became interested in Cheiro’s Book of Numbers, which defined people’s personality traits and characteristics according to the day of the month on which they were born. To find out who was compatible with whom, Matt added up the numbers in the birthdays of everyone within the group. I waited in terror, praying that my number would be a six, seven, or eight, so I would be compatible with Matt, who was an eight. Fortunately, my number linked with his.

Although I was striving to be his soul mate and subtly becoming more aware of myself as a spiritual being, my heart longed for the very temptations he was fighting to conquer.

While I patiently waited at home at Graceland for his returns, planning romantic interludes, he was attempting to overcome worldly temptations and believed he was going through a cleansing period, physically and spiritually. Any sexual temptations were against everything he was striving for, and he did not wish to betray me, the girl waiting for him at home who was preparing to be his wife.

He felt guilty and confused about his natural reaction to female advances and I believe that this was his greatest fear when it came to marriage. He loved me and deeply wanted to be faithful to me but never felt certain that he could resist temptation. It was a persistent battle, and it even got to the point where he felt he had to resist me.

“y/nn,” he said one night before we went to bed, “you’re going to have to be pretty understanding these next few weeks, or however long it takes. I feel that I have to withdraw myself from the temptations of sex.”

“But why? And why with me?”

He was quite solemn. “We have to control our desires so they don’t control us. If we can control sex, then we can master all other desires.”

When we were in bed, he took his usual dose of sleeping pills, handed me mine, and then, fighting off drowsiness from the pills, pored over his metaphysical books.

As his soul mate I was expected to search for answers as fervently as he did, but I just couldn’t bear reading the ponderous tracts that surrounded us in bed every night. Usually within five minutes of opening one, I’d be sound asleep. Annoyed at my obvious disinterest, he woke me to share an insightful passage. If I voiced the slightest protest, he’d say, “Things will never work out between us, y/nn, because you don’t show any interest in me or my philosophies.” Then, pointedly: “There are a lot of women out there who would share these things with me.”

Faced with this threat, I forced myself to sit up and try to read the passage. The print swam before my eyes in one big blur.

I wanted to share romantic, not religious, inspirations with him. I tried to cuddle as close to him as I could, feeling the warmth of his body. He told me to sit up and listen, and he read yet another passage, repeating it several times to make sure I grasped its significance. I could bear it no longer. I lost control and started screaming.

“I can’t stand it! I don’t want to hear any more! I’m sick and tired of your voice going on and on! It’s—driving—me—crazy!” I was hysterical, pulling at my hair like a wild woman.

“What do you see?” I demanded. “Tell me, what do you see?”

He stared up at me, his eyes half-closed. “A madwoman, a goddamn raving madwoman,” he answered, slurring his words because of the sleeping pills.

I fell on my knees beside him, crying, “No, Matt, not a madwoman, a woman who needs to make love to and to feel desired by her man. Matt, you can have your books and me too. Please don’t make me beg,” I cried. “I really need you and want you.”

By the time I’d finished my tirade, all I could hear was the faint sound of religious music playing on the radio. I looked up at him. He had fallen into a deep sleep.

Excerpt from: "Elvis and Me" by Priscilla Beaulieu Presley. Scribd. This material may be protected by copyright.

a/n - i feel like you guys are going to want to kill me when i get to the last chapter..🎀

[bratshaws]

through the hourglass 29. brb x oc

a/n: OH BO Y OH BOY

pairing: plus size!oc x rooster

warnings: fluff, mid angst cause rooster's job is dangerous, this baby will have too many uncles and a u n t s

goodness gracious (pls read this one to know more what this fic is about!!)

chapter

1/2/3/4/5/6/7/8/9/10/11/12/13/14/15/16/17/18/19/20/21/22/23/24/25/26/27/28

(pls let me know if you want to be added to the taglist!! )

taglist: @mirandastuckinthe80s @roosterschanelslut @wiipes @lcahwriter @shrimping-for-all @gretagerwigsmuse @frenchtoastix

@lizzie-rdj @fanboyluvr @atarmychick007 @comebacktoearthpls

@peachiicherries @mak-32 @lizziespidiepridie @roosterswifey @ollyoxenfrees @piceous21 @sqrlgrl22 @hofficoffi @lexhalstead3 @lorilane33 @legendarydreamersharkparty @luckyladycreator2

@emilybradshaw @j-6o @louisahale @leobabbyyy @kulicny @winter-run @ktjmac @graciereads @bigpoppajes @taytaylala12

@caitsymichelle13 @becks-things @caatheeriinee07 @dhwanishah09 @jesfreedark

-

Beatrice knew Rooster was sweet, sometimes saccharine…but seeing Rooster taking his role as a father miles away from her was absolutely precious. He tried talking to her more via messages, at least whenever he could, to ask about her health and the baby’s, ask if she was going to take another ultrasound and she could almost see how happy he was when she said she only would do that when he was back so they could see it together.

He told Maverick, who eventually blurted out to everyone. Phoenix cried, Payback cried, Coyote sobbed and Hangman excused himself from the room, but they were all happy. In the same note, Beatrice told her parents…her mother fainted and had to drink sugar water for a few minutes to get back together, then told her siblings - Michael already got the onesies ready for the baby and Marina said that if they needed help with the hospital all they had to do was call Derek and let him know.

That was when she remembered one thing she wanted to talk about with him: the names. Maybe it was better to have them in mind already, especially the one she thought about that week.

Roos (12:22)

Sure thing, babe. Hit me. What do you got?

Bea (12:24)

Well, I was thinking for a while and, if you don’t think it’s a good idea then it’s fine but I was thinking of maybe paying a homage to your parents? Well, I was thinking that if it’s a boy we name him Nicholas but…well if it was a girl, I really like Nicole. It’s also a mix of your parents' names! And a feminine version of your dad’s but,well what do you think?

And what she gets after that is silence, the sound of Jack and Eleanor play fighting in the kitchen - their siblings now living with Leo and Michael - and the tv playing in the background. Maybe that wasn’t a good idea, maybe she should’ve thought more about it…it’s still a sore spot, it’s still fresh for him. Beatrice chews the corner of her lip while looking down at her phone, hoping and fearing on seeing the chat bubble again, mentally preparing herself when he finally did reply.

Roos (12:26)

Are you serious?

Bea (12:26)

Well…yeah. If you don’t want it that’s fine though, Roos.

Roos (12:27)

Did I tell you how much I fucking love you?

Beatrice blinks at his response, but her body relaxes when the tension seeps out.

Bea (12:28)

Oh, well, you did but I don’t mind hearing it often :) 

Roos (12:29)

I’m serious Bea,I love you so much…the fact you want my parents to be remembered and you do that every time is…it means a lot to me.

Bea (12:31)

Well…I just know how much they mean to you and I know you miss them a lot. I just thought it’d be a good idea.

Roos (12:32)

It’s a great idea. It’s an amazing idea…thank you babe. I really mean that.

Beatrice’s smile was bright enough to put the sun to shame after that, they both had already decided on a name for the Mini Bradshaw, which was one step out of the way. After talking to Rooster, telling him good night/ good day and that she loved him, Bea turned on her side and shut off her phone.

That is until she noticed another weird account popping up. 

Her brows furrowed and then she decided to do something everyone was against, she decided to talk to them. She decided that not only was she annoyed, but she was starting to worry at how many of these are showing up in the past months. So, she didn’t block them, private messaged them a simple question ‘Who are you?’ 

She honestly didn’t expect a response, but she didn’t expect either to be blocked by the account. Beatrice gasped in offense, narrowing her eyes at it “What the hell?” now she was sure there was an actual person there and she was going to figure out who it was, one way or another. Beatrice, now that she could no longer check the profile, finally turned off the phone and set to her nightstand. 

She wasn’t going to worry about this now, especially because there was nothing she could do yet. She knew Carmen couldn’t help her, so she was pretty much on her own investigative work until then, figuring out as she went. 

As she felt her body relax and the faint caresses of sleep approaching her, she started to forget about it, she was too tired and all she wanted was to take a very long and relaxed slumber.

Except she couldn’t.

She woke up in the middle of the night, three a.m to be exact, with her eyes snapping open in the dark and her body feeling restless. Beatrice blinks her eyes in the pitch black, rolling to her back to look up to the ceiling and try to see the different textures and shapes the night illusions showed her. The brunette huffed, a mix of annoyance and tiredness, before kicking the covers off and deciding that there was no way she could fall asleep right now.

She didn’t know if it was the anxiety about the accounts or the anxiety about the pregnancy, but she needed to distract herself until she was tired enough. Thank God she didn’t have work the very next day because she’d probably sleep most of it depending how late she got back to bed.

But Beatrice decided that instead of watching TV as she planned to do, she was going to finish the baby room. Not only she thought it was a good idea because as soon as the baby grew she wouldn’t be able to crouch down and kneel too much so better get that out of the way. Plus, she just painted the backgrounds, the main characters still needed working.

She now kept the baby room’s door open a smidge, enough for the air to enter and remove the smell of nothingness from inside. There was the sharp scent of the paint now, but it wasn’t too strong that she’d need to cover her nose, honestly she preferred that over the smell of stale air from before. Beatrice rolls her mid sleeves to her shoulders, knotted the end of her shirt above her shorts so the paint wouldn’t land on it and grabbed her things from the corner of the room.

She decided to leave the bears for last, they were her favorite ones to draw after all, and started on the foxes instead. The sound of the night around their house was broken by the soft rumble of thunder and light drizzle hitting the windows, nothing like what had happened a week ago, it was extremely relaxing. Beatrice looks over to the window where she could see the orange light from the lamp close to their neighbor’s house in the middle of the night, making the mental note that they needed to get blackout curtains when the baby arrived.

But she was going shopping with Rooster, which was already showing to be quite the feature if his reaction to everything was any hint. She smiled while following the lines of the fox’s snout with her brush, the burnt orange color spreading over the surface, giving the lines an actual shape this time, “Well, I hope you like your room.” she whispers to the air, looking down at her stomach and the tiny thing still growing in there, “You can always paint over it when you are older though, I don’t mind. This is just something for you now.”

She spins the brush to paint more of the wall, licking her lips before continuing, “You know, you are going to have so many uncles and aunts. Not only from my side, but if I know the Dagger Squad, which I know them quite well, they might step into the role very quickly…if they didn’t already.” considering their reactions to Bradley telling them about it, she wouldn’t be surprised at all to know that.

Imagining the Dagger Squad all stepping in as the surrogate uncles and aunts because they were Rooster’s family was enough to make her smile widen, “They’ll love you so much, oh! And Shells and Ev and Liz and Carmen and Jenny too…and Penny! And Amelia!Well, Amelia is in college right now, so she might not meet you until a bit later, you know? But they’ll love you.” she pauses for a second, stopping the repetitive painting motions, “They mean a lot to me…and they mean a lot to your dad. You’ll also have Mav, who is just an amazing guy too and, he’s your dad’s godfather/uncle/father figure.” 

She giggles, hearing nothing but imagining Maverick picking the Mini Bradshaw up and carrying them like he did Rooster when he was much younger, “...I wish you could’ve met the two inspirations for your name though. I…your dad misses them a lot. And well, from what I’ve heard from them they were really amazing people. Maybe they’ll be with us when you are here, huh? Just like your bisnonna.” she returns to the wall, slanting the brush on the fox’s tail, “She’d love you, God she’d love you so much.”

If she thought about the amount of people who’d love the Mini Bradshaw she’d be there for hours, she was however very glad that Rooster accepted the idea for the baby’s name, which honestly she had a feeling he would’ve liked from the beginning. “Just wait until your daddy gets here.” she smiles, “He loves you before you’ve been even born.”

-

“Rooster, look,” the younger pilot stops writing down his paperwork to see Maverick coming in with a smile so big it’d probably rip his face in half, “Look, it’s a full set.” ever since Mav found out Beatrice was pregnant that has been his pastime while away from Cali, he really has been looking up baby clothes whenever possible and showing it to Rooster.

Honestly, Rooster didn’t mind, not at all…because he was doing the same thing. Him and his godfather really had the same brain. When his eyes locked on the picture Maverick was showing him, he smiles just like his godfather did, “It’s really cute Mav…but I really want to see Bea first and see the baby and while I do the same as you do, looking up clothes right now, especially toddler age, isn’t really wise.”

Pete hummed, turning the phone back to himself with his lips pursed, “Well, you are right I guess. it’ll be an infant before it grows all the way.” he slides his phone back in his pocket, then drops his gaze to the papers Rooster was signing, “Report from the last missions?”

A sharp inhale, “Yeah.”

“Did you tell Beatrice?”

Another even sharper inhale, “No,” he flips the page so he doesn’t read the words anymore, “Especially now that she’s pregnant,Mav. I can’t put that type of stress on her…I’m fine, everyone is fine, no one got hurt. That’s all that matters.”

The last mission shook him up just a bit, he was used to hiccups, he was used to mistakes but the last one really made him feel unbelievably small. No one expected to hear explosions so soon in the morning, no one scampered away so fast, no one really imagined to see a factory not far from where they currently were flying suddenly blow up in flames. Shrapnel and debris flew over like it was an actual bullet, almost hitting Payback and Fanboy, almost hitting him and Maverick when they all tried to avoid it.

It was terrifying, because it wasn’t expected, it wasn’t planned and no one was imagining that it’d just blow up to smithereens. Apparently there was no foul play, it was abandoned for years, no one saw anything suspicious these past weeks before they arrived so it was a terrifying and dangerous coincidence, thank God. 

He had to take a breather once he got back, well everyone did to be honest,  and as soon as his heart stopped feeling like it’d blow out of his chest, he messaged Beatrice. And then he found out he’d be a father, which made him wonder if that was just the reward for getting back alive and unharmed. “While I do understand that, Rooster.” Mav begins, grabbing the finished reports from his nephew’s hand, “I think it’s very important that hiding things from Beatrice isn’t the way to go. It’s better if she hears from you than from anyone else.”

“Who else would tell her about it?”

His uncle gives him a look, then jabs his thumb over his shoulder, “I’m sorry, do you not remember who you work with?” he arches his eyebrows for emphasis, “The ones who often bet on you and Beatrice, who babbled out how you were crushing hard on her as well? Those people?”

He was right, but Rooster didn’t want to do that now, “...I will do that once I know it’s safe to.” he begins, “The first trimester is always the most fragile,I read it online.” he answers when his uncle gives him a surprised look, “And I want Bea to have a good and calm pregnancy,Mav. That’s all.”

“I know Rooster.” he reiterates, placing a hand on his nephew’s shoulder, “But it’s Bea and she worried about you because she cares. Just don’t wait too long to tell her, okay? If she finds out from anyone but you…it might not be great.”

“...did my father-”

“Yep.” Mav cuts him off, “Twice. Carole was really,really mad.”

The muscle on Bradley’s jaw pops when he clenches his teeth, not only because of the image of his mother having a very reasonable reaction to his father hiding things from her, but also because he knew that Beatrice would be really upset if he doesn’t share it with her. “I will do that. I promise.”

“Okay,I’ll take these back.” Mav says, waving the reports up, “You enjoy the time off, new dad, before we have to leave again.”

Bradley gives his uncle a thankful smile, pulling out his phone to check on Beatrice’s messages, his chest warming at her suggestion for the names. He hadn’t told Mav yet, he knew if he did his uncle would lose his mind and need a moment, but he would do it so eventually. He was swarming himself with the warmth of the joys of fatherhood.

He wasn’t expecting to get another message from Bea, knowing it was so late at night back in California.

Bea (11:30)

Brad, so I couldn’t sleep and then I decided to distract myself and so I finished the baby’s room.

Roos (11:31)

You finished it? Baby, should you even be doing that?

Bea (11:31)

Yeah!It’s fine! I decided to do it now since I won’t be able to in these coming months…I could send you a picture but honestly I think it’d be better if you see it yourself when you come back :) 

Roos (11:32)

I’d love that, gorgeous. Any reason why you lost sleep?

Bea (11:34)

Dunno, maybe I just am…having these pregnancy moments. Sabrina had these as well and Marina had some pregnancy nightmares early on. So, maybe that’s why.

Roos (11:35)

Did you have any nightmares?

Bea (11:36)

Oh no, I didn’t :3 I just woke up randomly and now I am…painting more stuff, just not the room. It’s all safe! I looked it up and the paints I have are okay to use.

Roos (11:38)

Just please go to bed soon, gorgeous. Don’t lose sleep when you need to, okay? 

Honestly if he could he’d spend the whole day talking to Beatrice, Heaven knows how much she helped him without even knowing. Besides, now that she was pregnant he just wanted to know everything about it, hell he was going to talk to her as soon as he could even if he was tired as fuck, he wanted to know what to expect when he returned.

And his own research lead to the first trimester being complicated, led to a list of good foods for pregnant women and how there were certain activities that’d be really good for the mom. Was he thankful? Immensely. Because the longer he was away from his wife, the worse it was when he returned, he missed her sure, but he missed everything they’d do together…not only in the less usual sense of the word.

Bea (11:45)

And Jack and Eleanor are okay too, I might get Jolene actually spayed once they are a bit older. Maybe do it to all of them so Jack isn’t a father and Eleanor doesn’t bring more kids into the house.

Roos (11:46)

Well you know I never say no to dogs, gorgeous.

Bea (11:47)

Me too and while the house is pretty spacious we’d have a baby and that’s always something more to think about. Oh! So, I talked to my doctor and she said we can go back to have another ultrasound when you return! She also suggested those pregnancy classes too so we know what to do and such.

Roos (11:48)

Am I going to be able to hear the heartbeat?

Bea (11:48)

:) yes Roos, you are.

Roos (11: 49)

That’s…that’s so cool. Holy shit.

It doesn’t take too long after this last message for Beatrice’s words to come out as mixed up and short, with several typos and that could only mean that the sleep was finally catching up to her. So he told her good night, again, and told her to take care, let him know anything she found important to share. She didn’t reply and he was pretty sure she just fell asleep with the phone in her hand, snuggling his pillow.

God he missed her.

And after what happened, he missed her even more.

But he had a few more weeks left here and he had to make sure he’d come home in one piece for her and for the baby - and the puppies - so he couldn’t get too distracted before he left. He smiles reading her last messages, then sighs deeply, folding his arms on the table and dropping his head on top, giving himself more of a breather after everything that happened.

He was a dad now, his focus should be doubled no matter what. When he lifts his head after a few seconds enjoying the silence, he runs his hand over his face to snap himself back together, “Alright. Just a few more weeks.” he mutters to himself, sliding his phone into his pocket, “Just a few more weeks and I’ll get home to her and the baby, it’ll be all good.”

“Rooster!” he hears Fanboy call him, “Hey, what do you think your baby will be, boy or girl?”

“...are you guys betting on us again?”

“No.” answers Payback whose head pops from behind the door, “We are just curious.”

“Wait,really?”

“Hell no it’s definitely a bet.” Fanboy laughs, rubbing his hands together, “Come on, throw it out here man, let us know your thoughts.”

“I didn’t even see my baby yet.”

“Even better,” Payback adds, “It helps to build up suspense.”

Rooster opened his mouth to speak, to brush them off but he suddenly remembered about the little girl in Palermo and his mouth works quicker than his mouth does, “Girl.” he says suddenly, then blinks in surprise, “I think.”

“Yes!” Payback claps his hands in triumph, “Told ya!”

“They could have twins, we don’t know yet.”

“You could also accept defeat.”

Rooster just watches his friends bicker to one another with a soft laugh, but his brows furrow when he thinks about it a bit more…why does he feel so strongly it’ll be a girl? Maybe the father's instincts were kicking in already. That had to be it. 

“Can I join in the bet?”

“No,” both pilots answer and Rooster makes a displeased face, “You can’t do that,” it was Fanboy who spoke this time, “You are the dad, we are the ones who will…enjoy the earnings.”

“But–”

“That’s how it always was, Rooster.” Payback smirks, crossing his arms over his chest, “We’ve been doing this since your crush on Bea, it’s not going to stop. Even if we did allow you to join last time’s bet, it was one thing only and we back on schedule.”

Rooster just narrows his eyes, “You guys will be terrible uncles.” he chuckles and he could see how his friends’ chest puffed up with pride, “Gotta keep my kid away from your bets.”

“Hey,” Payback laughs, “They all gotta start early at some point.”

[johnthestitcher]

51 Naughty Christmas Jokes That Will Put You on Santa’s Naughty List

1. What do snowmen use to make snowbabies?

Snowballs, of course.

2. Why doesn’t Santa have kids of his own?

He only comes once a year, and it’s down the chimney.

3. What did Santa sing when he went down the chimney?

“Chestnuts roasting on an open fire…”

4. You know what’s so great about this time of year?

You can slam your laptop shut when your partner walks into the room, and you don’t get any disgusted looks.

5. Say your left leg is Thanksgiving, and your right leg is Christmas…

Can I visit between the holidays?

6. As I was paying the cashier for my Christmas tree, he asked, “Are you going to put that up yourself?”

I said, “No, I’m putting it up in the living room.”

7. Why are Christmas trees better than men?

Even the small ones give satisfaction.

8. Why does Santa always land on your roof?

Because he likes it on top.

9. Why was the snowman smiling?

He could see the snowblower coming down the street.

10. Why did Santa divorce Mrs. Claus?

He was obsessed with getting the cookie.

11. Is that a candy cane in your pocket?

Or are you just happy to see me?

12. Is your name Jingle Bells?

Cause you look ready to go all the way.

13. Wanna see the North Pole?

That’s what Mrs. Claus calls it…

14. What do you call Santa’s helpers?

Subordinate clauses.

15. What does Mrs. Claus get when she wears tight pants?

A mistletoe.

16. Why does Santa always have a full sack?

Because he only comes once a year!

17. What do all the female reindeer do when Santa takes the males out to guide his sleigh?

They go into town and blow a few bucks.

18. Dear Santa…

Define ‘good’.

19. Why did Santa send his daughter to college?

To keep her off the North Pole.

20. What’s the difference between a Christmas tree and Santa?

A Christmas tree will stay up for 12 nights, has cute balls, and looks good with the lights on.

21. Why does Santa Claus like to get naughty after coming down the chimney?

Because it soots him.

22. What happened when Mr. and Mrs. Claus got randy beneath the Christmas tree?

She came down with tinselitis!

23. Why was the elf having trouble with his libido?

He had low elf-esteem.

24. What’s the most disappointing thing for a lover on Christmas morning?

When they get a sweater, but they’re hoping for a screamer or a moaner.

25. The Santa at the shopping mall was quite surprised when he saw Martha, a woman in her mid-twenties, asking to sit on his lap. We all know Santa doesn’t usually take requests from adults, but she smiled at him very nicely, and he ended up asking her what she wanted for Christmas.

“Something for my mother, please,” she replied. “Something for your mother? That’s very loving and thoughtful of you,” smiled Santa. “What would you like me to bring her?” Emily answered quickly, “A son-in-law.”

26. Why does Santa always come through the chimney?

Because he knows better than to try the back door.

27. What does a man who had a vasectomy have in common with a Christmas tree?

Their balls are both decorative.

28. Why is Christmas like an orgasm?

The closer it gets, the louder you get about its arrival.

29. What do you call a sex toy on a Christmas tree?

A d*ckoration.

30. A wife walked in on her husband putting on a condom. “What are you doing?” she asked.

He replied, “Wrapping your Christmas present!”

31. What did Miss Piggy give Kermit for Christmas?

A ham-job.

32. What do you call a Christmas sex toy drive?

Toys for Thoughts.

33. How would a sportscaster describe Frosty the Snowman’s lovemaking?

“Thumpity-thump-thump, thumpity-thump-thump, look at Frosty go!”

34. What happened when the Grinch tried Viagra?

He grew three sizes that day.

35. How does Santa practice safe sex?

He always wraps his package before shoving it down the chimney.

36. Why do elves laugh when they run?

Because the snow tickles their balls.

37. Why does Mrs. Claus always pray for a white Christmas?

Cause she’s married to a guy who comes once a year.

38. What do you call a penis wearing a Santa hat?

Jolly Old Saint D*ck.

39. What makes Christmas such a great partner to Thanksgiving?

Christmas always comes after Thanksgiving.

40. Why does Santa’s crotch make noise when he walks?

He has jingle balls.

41. How can you tell if Santa and Mrs. Claus have been, ahem, passionate?

He has Claus marks on his back.

42. What does Santa say when he reaches climax?

“Oh, oh, OH!”

43. What do you call a crotchety old man who gets down with three ghosts on Christmas Eve?

Ebenezer Screws.

44. Why does Mrs. Claus wish Santa Claus was like a stocking?

Because stockings are hung.

45. What’s more fun than a kiss under the mistletoe?

Unwrapping your package under the Christmas tree.

46. Who’s the friskiest reindeer?

Vixen.

47. How does Mrs. Claus make Santa feel better after a long night carrying so many heavy gifts?

She empties his sack.

48. Why did Frosty put his magic hat over his crotch?

He wanted it to come to life.

49. What do a train set and boobs have in common?

They were both made for kids, but dads can’t resist playing with them.

50. What do you call a penis too big to fit in a sock?

A stocking stuffer.

51. Why does Mrs. Claus call her lap the chimney?

So Santa will go down.

[iviarellereads]

A guide to The Locked Tomb coverage on this blog

First, I am keeping this space as spoiler-free as I can for anything past the point of the post I'm writing. I'd appreciate it if replies and notes stayed respectful of that or tag considerately.

Second, this might go without saying, but it seems improbable that any one person could catch every meme, every reference, and every nuance of The Locked Tomb series, even on a third or more run at it, even having been on the internet as long as the author has been and run adjacent to the same spaces. I foresee this being a potential problem given how some people have learned to interact on the internet.

So, while I plan to make reference to all the things I catch as I read, I'm going to miss some! Think of this as a collaborative exercise in the replies ("Ooh, I happen to know that the line [text] is in reference to a particular Vine that went viral at one point, it can be found in [link to compilation with timestamp]") rather than a competitive one ("pfft, how could you miss [reference], how dare you leave out [thing]") so that we can all come together and make this a positive space where we accept that we are all mere humans and should strive to be our kindest selves, rather than attempting to attain impossibly perfect recall for the decade old references.

Third, and hopefully last, there will be an inevitable gap after the end of Nona the Ninth, until Alecto the Ninth's release and for some time afterward. My plan is to get and read Alecto as quickly as possible, finish whichever book I'm covering at that point, then cut in to finish Alecto either all in a row or every-other-day depending on if folks are still interested in what I'm covering then. We'll have to wait and see! But I think that's better than cutting something else off mid-thought, no matter how excited I am to deep dive on Alecto.

So with all that said, let's all just be excellent to each other and try to have fun that's not at anybody else's expense. There aren't a lot of resources like the ones I've been working to build in my spoiler-free notes and I don't want to alienate anyone who's not here to cause trouble.

Index

Gideon the Ninth Index

The Mysterious Study of Doctor Sex (Single post)

Harrow the Ninth Index

Nona the Ninth Index

Full-Spoiler Reread Thoughts

1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 21 | 22

[whimsicallyenchantedrose]

Christmas Reruns 2023 Day 27: It's a Hell of a Christmas

Merry Christmas if you celebrate it and happy holidays if you don’t!  One of the things I love about Christmas is watching reruns of all the old classic Christmas movies–Christmas is a big time for nostalgia.  A few years ago, I decided to incorporate that tradition into my fandom life and post my CS holiday reruns.  So here you go!  Enough holiday (mostly) fluff to get you to New Year’s Day. (With a new story posting on Christmas Day.)

Rating: T

Word Count: 8462

Other chapters: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 28 29 30 31 32

This fic was written for the CS Secret Santa event in 2022. It’s Emma and Killian’s first Christmas together following the Final Battle. After spending a happy family day together, they relax before the tree and Emma asks Killian about his favorite Christmas memory. His answer surprises both of them

CS Genre: Season 7 missing scene

1 week before the first Christmas following the Final Battle

Killian sighed in contentment as the sofa beside him dipped and Emma curled up beside him.  Wrapping his hooked arm around her he pulled her to himself and gave her a quick kiss before she laid her head against his shoulder.

It had been about as close to a perfect day as he’d experienced in a long time.  He’d woken up, as always, in his wife’s arms, smiling as she softly snored, burrowing into his warmth.  After taking a few moments to simply enjoy the comfort, he’d carefully maneuvered out of the bed.  He’d learned quite early in their marriage that a man was taking his very life into his hands when he was foolhardy enough to wake Emma before she was ready.

After a pleasant morning spent with Swan and her lad, she’d shoed the two of them out of the house, citing the fact that Christmas was fast approaching and she needed to wrap presents in peace without prying eyes

“I thought kids were bad, when it comes to looking for their hidden Christmas present,” she’d said with a grin, “but you, Killian, have them all beat.”

He’d grinned, leaning down to give her a loud, smacking kiss, before straightening and raising one eyebrow. “Pirate,” he stated simply.

She laughed, shoving him toward the door.

“Don’t forget my parents are coming over for dinner tonight,” she’d said, “and then they and little Neal are helping us trim the tree.”

He’d promised to return in plenty of time to help with dinner preparations, and then after one last lingering kiss (prompting Henry to make exaggerated gagging sounds behind them), he and the lad had taken their leave.  They’d hardly walked a block toward town before they were met by Emma’s father and little brother.

“You guys get kicked out of the house too?” Dave asked.

“Aye,” Killian said with a nod.  “It seems the Charming and Jones men are due for another of  those–what did you call them?--guys’ days.”

And so they’d spent the afternoon enjoying the snow and the company–helping the lads build a snowman, waging an all out snowball war (which the Charming’s had won handily–but only because neither he nor Henry had the heart to toss a snowball anywhere near three-year-old Neal.  Killian smiled as he recalled the tiny lad’s peals of laughter as his snowball connected with Henry’s shoulder and Emma’s lad had staggered, clutched his heart and then dramatically fallen to the ground), and then retired to Granny’s for some much appreciated sustenance.

“Well, I suppose I should get this little guy back home for his n-a-p,” Dave said as mid afternoon approached, making sure to spell the word he knew would result in a mutiny from his little lad, “but we’ll see you in a couple hours for dinner.”

It had been a pleasant evening with the family, as they set up the Christmas tree, trimming it with twinkling electric lights and bright, colorful baubles.  Henry, with great fanfare, had presented him with a new ornament to mark his first official Christmas as Henry’s step-father.  Killian groaned good-naturedly as he’d opened the box to reveal a small likeness of his Disney counterpart.  He’d played up his disdain at the assassination of his character, before placing the ornament on prominent display.

It had been an ordinary day, spent engaging in ordinary family activities, and Killian wouldn’t have changed a moment of it.

The Charmings had remained until it was time to put the little prince to bed, and then they’d taken their leave, with many promises for more festivities in the coming days.  Soon after, Henry had taken his leave, as he was due to spend a few days at Regina’s

“It really is a pretty tree, isn’t it?” Emma asked, as they lounged on their sofa looking up at the brightly lit fir in question.

“Aye,” Killian agreed. “A lovely tree, and a lovely evening.”

“Can you believe it?” she asked. “Our first Christmas together as a married couple and we get to spend it with no looming crisis hanging over our heads, no villains threatening us.”

“I rather think I could get used to this ‘Happy Beginning’ business we’ve found ourselves in,” he’d agreed.

Emma laughed, reaching up to absently run her fingers through his hair.  She was so affectionate now, never passing up an opportunity to give him little signs of her love, and he found it utterly delightful.

“You must have a lot of stories from past Christmases,” Emma continued with a grin.  “After all, you’ve celebrated like a million of them.”

“Oy!” he stated with mock offense, “It couldn’t have been more than two hundred fifty.”

She laughed joyously, and he grinned, turning to give her a quick kiss on the top of her head.  “So what was your favorite Christmas, Killian?”

He thought about it for a moment, several memories running through his mind like one of those moving picture shows Swan and her lad enjoyed watching of an evening.  One rather surprising moment stood out above all the others.

“You’ll think me mad,” he said finally, “but I think my favorite Christmas was actually last year.”

Emma sat up and looked at him with astonishment.  “Last Christmas?  But last Christmas we were in…”

He nodded.  “Aye, quite so.  Who would have believed my favorite Christmas memories would occur in the Underworld?”

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Everything hurt. Everything.  His bones, his muscles, his sinews; he'd swear even his hair hurt if that were possible.  Hades may be a bloody bastard, but never let it be said he wasn't skilled in the art of torture.

It was nearly Christmas. Killian likely wouldn't have marked the occasion, save for the festive elf costumes Hades insisted his demons wear as they went about their masochistic ministrations.

The demons themselves had heartily enjoyed themselves, singing Christmas song parodies as they whipped him and burnt him with hot pokers so brutally it had taken everything within him to keep from screaming in pain.

We wish you an awful Christmas, 

We wish you an awful Christmas

We wish you an awful Christmas

and a hellish New Year!

…

Lord Hades is bringing the pain!

He sees you when you're sleeping

He knows when you're awake

He don't care if you've been bad or good,

He'll still throw you in his lake!

And so, it seemed he would.  Angry that he couldn't break Killian, angry that despite it all, Killian refused to extinguish that last spark of hope he'd learned to foster, thanks to Emma and her family, Hades had decided to stamp it out of him in the only way he could--by lowering him bit by bit into the sickly green lake in which he would finally lose himself forever.

He supposed it was only just that it should all end this way.  After his centuries of villainy he deserved nothing better.  Once he was finally gone and lost forever, Emma and her family could return and build a happy life for themselves free of the pain and suffering he brought to everyone who came in contact with him.

His heart lurched at the thought of Emma.  How he loved her!  For one bright, shining moment, he'd allowed himself to believe they could be together, that he would achieve the happiness he'd fruitlessly searched for for so many decades, but then it had all gone to hell…literally.

The crane lowering him into the River of Lost Souls lurched downward yet again, and Killian focused on her, on his Emma.  He was determined she would be the last thing he thought of before he could think no more.

"Killian!"

He would swear he could hear her beloved voice, but it was clearly a last trick of his deluded mind.

"Kilian," she said again, softer this time, tenderly. "Hang on. I’m coming for you. I got ya."

And then she was there holding him, freeing him from the chains, cradling him in her lap.  Killian couldn't bite back the soft groans as his injuries complained of the contact.

The hope and joy Hades had failed to root out of him flared to life for a brief moment, but then reality set in once again.

"I told you to let me go," he said. "You shouldn’t be here; no one should."

She gave him a wry smile as she cupped his face, then gently swept the bangs from his forehead. "I never listen."

He smiled in spite of himself.  "You’re impossible."

She grinned in response. "And you love me for it."

And gods but he did.  More than she could ever know or comprehend.  Soon enough he would have to send her home, protect her from himself and the absolute misery he brought to everyone with whom he interacted, but for now, for this one bright shining moment, he could do naught but enjoy the comfort her presence brought.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Later that evening, promontory beside the lake of fire

“Liam! Please! Hold on!” Killian pleaded, holding onto his brother’s hand with all the strength within him.

If there had been any question at all before, it was gone now. This was well and truly hell.

Everything was crashing around him. Everything. His entire world was imploding, everyone he loved facing unimaginably horrific fates, and it was all his fault.

After rescuing him from the River of Lost Souls, Emma had poofed him back to the Underworld version of her home. She’d taken a seat on the musty sofa, calling him over to join her, patting the seat beside her.

“Come, sit down,” she cajoled, “Let me look at you.”

His wounds ached and throbbed. It was hard to breathe; hard to think; hard to keep from crying out with every movement. He couldn’t imagine what he must look like, his visage marred from the beatings he’d endured.

“Are you sure you want to?” he said wryly. “Hades sort of knocked the handsome out of me.”

She grinned playfully at him. “No one’s that powerful.”

Were their situation different, he’d have flirted back, made her laugh with his nonsense, but presently it was all he could do to shuffle over to the sofa and collapse beside her.

No sooner had he taken his seat than Emma waved her hand over him, and it felt as though a shower of pure, warm sunshine washed over him, taking with it the pain and injury and leaving him whole. Even yet, the strength and power of her magic astounded him.

For a moment, Killian felt nothing but relief.

And then reality set  in yet again, as it always did in this terrible place. Emma was here, in hell itself, because of him, because of his weakness. Waves of self-loathing like nothing he’d ever experienced washed over him.

She leaned in toward him, lips moving toward his.  He pulled back, turning his head. He was unworthy of her love, unworthy of anyone’s love.

“What’s the problem?” she asked, pulling back to get a better look at him.

“It’s just…” he began, struggling to even put into words the depths of his hatred of himself and what he’d done. “A lot has happened between us.”

“What’s the problem?” she asked.

How did she not see it? How was she still looking at him with love? Agitated, he got to his feet and paced away from her.

“I’m the problem,” he bit out. “Emma, you were the Dark One for six weeks and only gave into the darkness out of love. I plunged in head first in a second for revenge. I was weak.”

“Not in the end!” she insisted.

A single moment of heroism didn’t make up for centuries of villainy, and he well knew it. “You raised the bar very high, Swan. The fact is, I don’t measure up.”

“Let me be the judge of that,” she said, her voice insistent. “If you didn’t, would I have come all the way down here to try to save you?”

She would, and he knew it, because she was good. She was a hero. He was anything but.

“That’s my point. I’m not sure I deserve saving.”

Their conversation had been cut short in the most unexpected way–by the arrival of his brother Liam. What had followed were a few blessedly joyous and peaceful hours, as Killian introduced his first true love to his second. The two best people he’d ever known, together in one place. Despite his guilt and misery, he couldn’t suppress the joy the meeting brought.

But even this was destined to crash down around him.

It started with Emma’s superpower telling her something was amiss with Liam. Something had happened between the two of them, but Killian didn’t know what it was; didn’t want to know what it was.

He didn’t understand how Emma could think Liam, the most moral and straight-laced man Killian had ever known, could be anything but on the up and up, but she was quite convinced.

The moment Silver’s crew had shown up and proven Emma right had been the most disorienting moment of his life. It felt as though he were suffering from vertigo, his entire world turning upside down as the horrible truth settled in around him–Liam had lied to him, and not only that, he had entered into a deal with Hades, allowing the entire crew to be lost at sea in order to save Killian.

My fault, my fault, my fault! The words echoed in his mind like a mantra.

If it hadn’t been for Killian, Liam would never have fallen. Killian wasn’t merely cursed, he was the curse. He infected and destroyed everyone around him.

Everything had moved quickly after the horrible revelation, and Killian had been so shell-shocked he could do nothing but move with the inexorable tide.

Silver’s crew had marched Liam and himself to the lake of fire, intent on making the brothers Jones walk the plank, but their intentions were upended by the arrival of Hades himself.

Liam had, once again, attempted to shield Killian from his just punishment, and the result had brought them to the moment they now found themselves in–Liam slipping inexorably toward the lake of fire, Killian more terrified than he’d ever been. He couldn’t lose Liam again. Not now. Not like this.

“Liam! Please! Hold on!”

“I’m sorry brother, for all I’ve done,” Liam shouted above the flames threatening to consume him. “Can you forgive me?”

It wasn’t even a question. Like Emma, Liam had only fallen for one reason–love of him. His guilt was quite misplaced. “Yes, but that’s not what’s important. You need to find a way to forgive yourself.”

“I can’t, not after what I did to you.” The look in Liam’s eyes made Killian’s heart sink like a stone. “The only way to make amends is to pay the price.”

And then Liam let go.

Shear panic and aching horror took over, as Killian reached down, trying fruitlessly to stop what was happening.

But the panic was short-lived. A moment later, the flames disappeared to be replaced by a serene sea. Liam rose above all of it upon a little rowboat, a smile gracing his lips.

Killian felt the tears prickle behind his eyes, tears of relief this time. “Liam! You’re safe!”

Liam’s smile widened. “Yes, it appears I am. I suppose this is the sacrifice I should have made long ago. I can finally depart.”

Killian looked beyond his brother. Where once had stood the rocky wall of the cave, now was nothing but open waters and a port city which appeared stocked with all the provisions Liam would need for his next mighty adventure.

Liam had truly redeemed himself, and now his own personal paradise awaited him.

“Then go. All of you,” Killian said, gesturing to the remaining crew, “Now that you know the truth, your unfinished business is complete as well.”

“Get on board, men,” Liam said, offering the sailors a hand. “What about you, brother?”

Killian turned away. Liam deserved this. Silver’s crew did as well. He, most certainly, did not.

“I think not,” Killian said finally. “There’s nothing for me but the lake of fire. I deserve no better.”

Liam stepped out of the boat, instructing the first mate to leave without him. Insisting his everlasting reward could wait.

If anything, the pit in Killian’s stomach grew wider, into an abyss there would be no crossing. “Why would you do that?” he shouted. “Why would you delay your paradise? I’m. Not. Worth. It!”

Liam frowned. “That’s nonsense, brother. You’ve become a true hero in a way I never could.”

Killian scoffed. “A hero?” he scoffed, putting every ounce of derision he could muster into those two syllables. “I’m anything but. I’m a pariah to all who meet me. Everyone who has the misfortune of coming into contact with me is worse off–much worse off–for having known me. You would all be better off if I flung myself into that lake of fire, perishing once and for all.”

“You really think those who love you would be happier knowing you burnt to death in a lake of fire?” Liam asked softly. “Emma? Her lad? Me?”

Killian glanced aside. “Well, maybe not. Maybe it would have been better if I’d never been born.”

Liam was silent for a moment, thinking. “That’s an idea,” he muttered to himself. “What do you think, Zeus? That could work.”

Killian’s brow furrowed. “What are you on about?”

“Done, Killian,” Liam said, clapping his hands together. “You’ve never been born. You don’t exist.”

There was a flash of light, a clap of thunder, and then all went silent. 

 ~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

For a moment Killian merely looked at his brother.

“Pardon?” He said finally.

“You’ve never been born,” Liam repeated. “You don’t exist.”

“Then…who am I?”

“You’re no one,” Liam said. “Killian, you’ve been given a great gift, the opportunity to see what the world would look like if you’d never been in it. Are you ready to explore? To see the impact you have no longer had?”

Killian wasn’t sure he was ready for this. After all…it was altogether possible everyone was infinitely happier and more fulfilled without his toxic influence. 

Still, he’d never been a coward. He didn’t intend to start now. “Very well, lead on.”

They made their way from the cave back to the filthy streets of Underbrooke. The first thing Killian noticed was that the town appeared far more crowded than it had when they entered the cave. Dozens, maybe hundreds of men dressed in uniforms he recognized as belonging to some of the rival kingdoms he had fought as part of the Royal Navy, milled about.

“Who are these men?” Killian asked. “Why have they suddenly arrived?”

“They haven’t suddenly arrived,” Liam said as they began making their way through the crowds. “They’ve been here for more than 200 years–ever since our corrupt king used dreamshade on them.”

“But that’s impossible!” Killian insisted after mumbling a quick apology to a man he bumped into. “We discovered the King’s plans for the dreamshade and we refused to turn over the poison!”

Liam shook his head. “You weren’t around to question the king’s command.”

“But surely you discovered the plant's properties and did the honorable thing,” Killian insisted.

Liam stopped suddenly, giving Killian a long look. “I wasn’t around either. Come. I have something I need to show you.”

Killian followed Liam back to the bar he’d tended since his death, questions swirling in his head.

Nothing could have prepared him for what he saw.

Liam was behind the bar, but he looked nothing like the Liam Killian knew and loved. This man was young, likely no more than eighteen or nineteen. There was a hard look about him, that of a man who had seen and endured far too much in the short time he’d lived.

A man who hadn’t had any hope.

Killian turned toward his guide, his Liam. “How are you…there and…here?”

“Properly speaking, I’m not,” Liam said. “As I’ve already, for all intents and purposes, moved on, I, like you, don’t exist here.  The man you see behind the bar is Liam Jones as he would have been had you never been born.”

“Why is he so…young?”

Guide Liam sidled up to the bar, waving Killian over to join him. “Why don’t you ask him yourself?”

“What’ll it be, gentlemen?” Young Liam asked in a bored voice, continuing to wipe down glasses as he eyed his new customers.

“I’m rather partial to whiskey myself,” Liam said genially, “and my brother here has a preference for rum, if I remember correctly.”

Young Liam nodded, and had just turned around to fulfill the request, when Killian finally found his voice. “Liam! It’s me!” he said. “It’s Killian!”

Liam raised an eyebrow. “Is that name supposed to mean something to me?”

“Killian,” Killian insisted, “your younger brother.”

Young Liam frowned. “Never had a brother. Never had any family save for a mother who died far too young and a worthless arse of a father who sold me into servitude.”

“But–” Killian tried again, “even without me, all of your men, all of those who sailed under Captain Liam Jones loved you. They were a family to us…to you.”

Young Liam laughed bitterly, before leaning in, his lips turned down in a scowl. “I never had any men under my command. I never had command over so much as a cabin boy. I lived a slave, and I died one, just another nameless sot who drank too much and went down in a storm.”

Liam banged two tumbler’s of liquor in front of his patrons. “Now, you can either drink up or get the hell out of my bar. I’ve no stomach to relive my failures.”

When the bartender had turned away to wait upon another customer who had arrived, Killian turned toward his brother. “What is he talking about?”

Liam shrugged. “Without you in my life, Killian, I was utterly rudderless, lacking in any ambition to better myself. I never escaped Silver’s command, never even tried.  I died in that storm, Killian. I along with that entire ship of hopeless men.”

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

They consumed their beverages largely in silence after that, Killian’s unease growing the longer he thought about Liam as he would have been had things been different.

Was there any truth to what his brother said?  Had Killian’s very brokenness inspired Liam to be a better man?

Taking the last sip, Killian got quickly to his feet, no longer interested in the bar or hearing any more sad tales about the bartender.

“Alright Liam,” he said to his guide, “where next?”

Liam thought for a moment before paying their tab and leading Killian out the door, the words “The Rabbit Hole” illuminated as it swung shut.  “I think there’s someone else here you need to see,” he said finally.

Killian followed obediently behind his brother as they walked through the streets of town until they came to the sheriff’s station.

“Some prisoner here you wish me to see?” Killian asked as Liam opened the door and waved him inside.

“Patience, brother,” Liam said. “The purpose of our visit will soon become apparent.”

Killian looked around the office as they entered.  So similar in some ways to its Storybrooke counterpart–yet so different in others.  This sheriff’s office sported a myriad of medieval torture devices, and at the far wall stood none other than Rumplestiltskin’s cell itself.

It was only once he’d stepped fully inside, that he noticed the man lounging in the swivel chair behind what back home would be Emma’s desk.

“David?” he asked. “What are you doing here, mate?  Shouldn’t you be helping the others?”

The man rolled his eyes and sighed dramatically before getting to his feet.  “Not David. James,” he bit out. “If you’re looking for my brother, he should be back any moment once he finishes his latest utterly fruitless task of arriving at a crime scene just too late to save anyone.”

“What?” Killian asked, trying to make some sense–any sense–out of what was happening.

The man–James–smiled nastily.  “Quite a clever punishment Hades devised for him, wasn’t it?” he asked. “My hero of a brother, wanting nothing more than to save his subjects and the people he loves, forced to spend an eternity down here never quite able to save anyone.”

“But…but why is Hades punishing him?”

James looked at him as though he had two heads. “Because that’s what the Lord of the Underworld does–punishes those poor, unfortunate souls who show up at his doorstep after their demise.”

Killian’s heart sank. “David’s dead?”

“You new here?” James asked. “Of course he’s dead.  Only way people end up here.  Now is there something you need, or are you just here to annoy me?”

“We’ll take a seat outside and wait for David’s return,” Liam said, ushering Killian to a very uncomfortable bench in the hallway.

“How? Why?” Killian asked after a moment of silence.

Rather than answer, Liam pointed toward the doorway, a little bell ringing as a very dejected David stepped through the door.

Killian noticed it immediately, the blackened veins traveling from his chest up to cover his face.  “Dreamshade,” he whispered.

Liam nodded

David gave them a look as he walked past, but there was no recognition in his face at the sight of them.  Too overwhelmed by what he’d just seen to think straight, Killian didn’t even attempt to call out to him.  

Just before the office door closed again, Killian heard James greeting his brother. “Ah, David.  Back from another unsuccessful rescue mission, I see.  There’s a mountain of paperwork for you on your desk.  It’s grown by a foot since you left.  Should keep you nice and busy until the next crisis you can’t avert.”

“But this is wrong,” Killian said after a moment of silence.  “All wrong.  David should be alive.  Water from the springs of Neverland saved him!”

Liam shook his head. “You weren’t there to save him, Killian,” he said quietly. “Being resourceful, Emma and her family found a way to Neverland and succeeded in saving the lad, but without you to save him, David died of his dreamshade poisoning.”

The pit in Killian’s stomach widened. Wrong, wrong! This was all wrong!

“How did the Lady Snow–not to mention Emma and Henry–handle David’s passing?” Killian asked, not entirely sure he wanted the answer.

“Again, perhaps it’s best if I show you,” Liam said.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Liam led him this time to a building with a big display out front and a sign proclaiming it to be the cinema.

“This is one of those places that projects those moving pictures Emma and Henry are so fond of, isn’t it?” he asked, after Liam purchased two tickets from a bored teenager at the ticket booth.

“Indeed,” Liam said, peering at the tickets and heading toward the theater indicated, “but as with other establishments here in the underworld, the theater serves a bit of a different purpose than it does back on earth.  The theater allows Underworld residents to catch a glimpse of those they left behind when they died.”

The lights in the room dimmed, and blazoned across the huge screen in front was the single word “Storybrooke”.  A moment later, the screen changed, and Killian found himself looking at the Charmings’ flat.  Snow sat at the kitchen table, a full bowl of cereal and an untouched cup of coffee in front of her.

She looked terrible.  Dark circles under her eyes proving she hadn’t been sleeping.  Her hair hanging dull and lifeless.  Her eyes–her eyes were the worst of all.  They were dead, hopeless.  It was a startling sight, seeing the woman usually so optimistic looking so defeated.

“Gone,” she muttered. “They’re all gone.  I’ve lost everything.”

Henry took a seat beside her, his eyes troubled–not only at the sight of his grandmother, but also, it seemed, with his own grief.

“Grams, you have to eat something,” Henry said, his voice wobbling slightly.  “I can’t lose you too.  I can’t.”

Henry’s distress seemed to snap Snow out of her stupor, at least temporarily.  She pasted a false smile on her face.  “You’re right, Henry,” she said before forcing herself to take a spoonful of her cereal. “Thanks for making breakfast.”

Henry shrugged, digging into his own bowl. “It’s what family does.”

“Where is the child?” Killian asked. “Little Neal, where is he?”

“There is no baby Neal,” Liam said simply.  “Killian, with David perishing on Neverland, the little lad was never conceived.  Like you, he does not exist.”

Killian pulled in a quick breath, aching for Emma’s mother.  She’d wanted so much to have a second child, had loved her son to distraction.  Her loss was palpable–although Killian hardly knew how one could miss someone they’d never had or known.

“You see, Killian,” Liam said as the screen went to black and the house lights came up once again, “everyone’s life creates a ripple, and without that ripple, nothing is ever the same.”

Killian waited for a moment, expecting the scene to change again; there was one last person he was desperate to see.

“Liam, why didn’t the moving picture show us Emma?” he asked, somehow both needing and dreading the answer. “Where is she?”

Liam gave him a long look before blowing out a breath.  “Are you sure you want to know?”

“Yes!” Killian said insistently.  “Show me Emma.  Show me my true love.”

“Very well,” Liam acquiesced, “but I warn you–you’re not going to like what you see.”

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Killian resumed his seat in the Underworld theater, steeling himself for the sight Liam assured him he would not like.

“What are you doing?” Liam asked, “didn’t you say you wanted to see Emma?”

“Aye,” Killian said slowly.  “I had assumed we would once again need the moving picture machine for that.  After all, if I was never born, Swan would have never come to the Underworld after me.”

Liam shook his head gently, his eyes sorrowful.  “I think you need to come with me.”

Killian felt his heart drop, a sense of foreboding washing over him as the implication of Liam’s request sunk in.  Surely Emma was not down here.  Surely.

And yet, as Liam led him deeper and deeper into the underworld, that sense of foreboding only continued to grow.  When Liam led motioned for him to enter the cave where Killian knew Hades’ most sadistic torture chamber sat, it all became too much.

“No!” he moaned, taking a step back.  “She can’t be there!”

Liam placed a comforting hand on his shoulder.  “I know this is difficult, Killian, but you must see this.”

Killian wanted nothing more than to turn tail and run.  If Emma was in this chamber, he couldn’t bear it.  He couldn’t.  “Please, brother.  Please tell me this isn’t real.  Please tell me she’s not here!”

“I’m afraid I can’t do that,” Liam said gently. “Come, we must hurry.  For the moment Hades and his minions have let her be, but we mustn’t be caught when they return.”

For another long moment, Killian resisted, but finally, realizing Liam was right, no matter how horrific, he must know the truth, he nodded.

The first thing he noticed upon entry into the cave was the intense, overbearing heat.  There was no relief, no respite.  Then came the overwhelming stench of sulfur. For a moment, the darkness was so absolute, so oppressive, he couldn’t see anything, but as his eyes became accustomed to the lack of light, he noticed a single, flickering candle along the back wall–the wall where Hades had chained Killian when he was in the midst of his worst tortures.

The sight that met him would have brought him to his knees if Liam’s strong arm hadn’t been there to support him.

“No!” he shouted, the sound echoing off the cave walls.

For it was indeed Emma who was chained to the wall, her face so bruised and cut and swollen as to be almost unrecognizable.  Her hair hung limp around her, damp from the sweat born of the oppressive heat and the physical trauma.  Hades had stripped her of her signature red leather jacket, and Killian could see cuts and bruises all along her arms.  One arm, in fact, hung at an odd angle, giving evidence of a nasty break.  Her jeans were tattered and bloodied.

In short, it appeared she’d suffered every torment he had, and perhaps even more.  He had to save her.  Had to!

Killian rushed toward Emma, gently cradling her head and brushing a strand of hair from her face.  He murmured her name and words of comfort and he eyed her restraints, trying to determine how best to loose them.

“Who the hell are you?” she asked in a voice she was obviously trying to make sound defiant.  Instead, it merely sounded exhausted.  Hades was so very close to breaking her, and Killian wanted to rip out his entrails and strangle him with them.

“It’s Killian,” he said.  “I’m going to get you out of here love, just as you did for me.  You had to know I love you too much to leave you here to suffer.”

Emma scoffed and rolled her eyes.  “Just how stupid do you think I am, Hades?” she asked in a voice dripping with scorn. “You think I’m some naive, damsel-in-distress, starry-eyed teenager who’ll fall for any line a handsome stranger throws my way?  Hardly.  I grew up real quick on the streets and learned that love is a lie sold by greeting card companies.  It’s certainly not in the cards for the Savior.  So just stop with–well, with whatever you’re trying to do.  Get back to the torture or leave me the hell alone.

“Swan–” Killian started, before he was interrupted by a noise in the corridor.

“Killian, we’ve got to go,” Liam said, grabbing at his arm.  “Someone’s coming and we can’t be caught here.”

Killian pulled his arm free and tried to hack at the chains holding Emma.  They wouldn’t budge.

“It’s useless, brother,” Liam insisted, grabbing at him again. “The chains of hell cannot be broken.  We’ve got to go. Now!”

It went against everything inside of him to leave Emma there, leave her to Hades’ devices, but Liam was right.  There was no way to free her.  Finally he nodded, following his brother out of the cave and through the streets of town until they reached what was once Underbrooke’s version of Emma’s house.  It was different now, fallen into complete disrepair–windows broken, wood rotted, cobwebs hanging from every surface.

This house was the physical manifestation of everything he was feeling now.  Everything, everything was crumbling in around him.

“Why?” Killian moaned in anguish, falling to his knees.  “Why is she here?  She shouldn’t be here!  I should!”

“You don’t exist,” Liam reminded him, getting to his knees and placing a comforting arm on his shoulders.  “She couldn’t make you a co-Dark One.  You weren’t there to take all the darkness on yourself and sacrifice yourself to end it.  Emma had to do that herself.”

“No!” Killian moaned again.

“And I think you know why Hades is making her torture so much worse than anyone else’s if you truly think about it,” Liam continued.

“She’s the savior,” Killian said, his voice breaking. “She defeated Hades in a way no one else ever could.”

Liam nodded. “She did,” he agreed, “and she did so because she is good and valiant, but she is also broken.  Without you, she never again found love.  She was never able to allow her heart to heal and her walls to come down.  She was a light to all around her, but she was never blessed with that light for herself.”

And suddenly it all began to make sense.  In his long life, Killian had done many terrible things, but he’d also had a positive impact on others.  His life had mattered, and its absence left a tremendous hole.

“We are none of us fully good nor fully evil,” Liam continued, as though reading Killian’s thoughts, “but every one of us is important and necessary to so many people.  Our impact is something we may never know, but it is vital, and when one of us is missing from the fabric of time–the resulting tear leaves the garment irreparably harmed.”

The tears began to flow, and Killian let them, making no attempt to stop them or wipe them away.  He wanted to fix this.  He needed to fix this.

“Please brother,” he said through his tears, “help me.  I want to live again!”

Liam smiled. “Done!”

~*~*~*~*~*~

There was no flash of lighting, no crack of thunder this time.  Nothing earth shattering happened.  One moment they were in the broken-down shell of the Underbrooke version of Emma’s house, and the next they were back in the cave where this whole thing had started.  Even so, Killian knew it had worked; he could feel it.  All was back to the way it should have been–well, as close as anything could come in this terrible place.  His life was restored to the fabric of time.  Joy bubbled up. 

As Killian’s eyes adjusted to the dim light of the cavern, he noticed the dinghy docked to the cliff, the peaceful waters in which it bobbed, the pleasant port in the distance that was to be Liam’s eternal reward, and a touch of bittersweetness mixed in with his joy.  No doubt the time of parting with his brother was almost upon him.

“Not quite yet, brother,” Liam said, once again reading his thoughts. “This vessel will be waiting for me in due course, but it’s Christmas Eve.  I can see nothing wrong with celebrating this one last holiday with my brother and the family he’s amassed for himself.”

Killian’s smile widened. “You’d put off paradise for me?”

“Of course,” Liam said. “Haven’t you learned by now I’d do anything for you?  You, little brother, are worth it.”

Killian wrapped his arms around his brother, feeling the tears rush to his eyes once again.  He’d always known his brother’s first statement was true, but now, maybe for the first time in his life, he was beginning to believe the truth of the second as well.

After a long moment, Killian stepped back, clearing his throat. “Younger brother,” he corrected gruffly.

Liam laughed. “And, if I don’t miss my mark, there’s someone else out there who would also do anything for you; who also believes you’re worth it.  Perhaps it’s time you go to her.”

Emma’s beloved face came to mind, and a rush of love and longing filled him.  He’d left her on a rather bad note, his self-loathing pushing her away.  He wanted–needed–to make things right, to let her know how very much he appreciated her coming here to save him.

“Will you not come with me, Liam?” he asked.

Liam chuckled.  “I rather think your reunion is something I don’t need to be privy to.  I’ll return to the loft, spend some time with your Emma’s son.  Perhaps we can plan and start preparations for our Noel celebrations.  You and your love can meet me there.”

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Killian rushed back to Swan’s Underbrooke house, his heart leaping to see it whole and reasonably intact, as opposed to the broken down hull he’d seen last.  It was further proof that all was back as it should be.

He found Emma standing in the drawing room looking confused and slightly out of sorts.

“Hook!” she said, as he rushed toward her.  “Where the hell have you been?  First you and Liam left, and then Henry ran off…somewhere.”

There was so much he wanted to do, so much he wanted to tell her, but he started by simply giving her a long hug, which she returned warmly.

When he pulled back enough to see her face, it was obvious his gesture, while not unwelcome, had certainly done nothing to banish her confusion.

“I’m sorry, Emma,” he said finally. “You were right about Liam.  He destroyed those pages because of a deal he made with Hades years ago, a deal that almost got us thrown into that boiling sea.”

Her eyes widened and her grip tightened on his arms.  “Are you okay?  Where is he?”

“He, uh, sacrificed himself,” he said, struggling to find the words to tell her what had happened to him–to both of them–over the last few hours.  “But his sacrifice helped a crew we once sailed with.  They finally moved on thanks to him.”

Her alarm grew.  “Did he move on too?”

Killian shook his head.  “Not yet.  A boat is waiting to usher him on when he is ready, but he wishes to spend Christmas with us first–it is, after all, Christmas Eve.”

He didn’t miss the slight look of unease in her eyes, which she quickly masked.  “That’s–that’s good,” she said, a bit too cheerfully.

“He was wrong about you, Swan,” Killian said, “and he knows it.  I think one reason he wished to remain was to have an opportunity to apologize to you and make amends.”

Her smile became far more genuine.  “There’s no need, Killian.  He was just trying to protect you.  I get that.”

“Nevertheless,” Killian said, “I need no protection from you, and now he knows that.”

They were silent for a moment, merely enjoying the quiet and peace of each other’s company.  Finally Emma looked around.  “So if he didn’t move on, where is he?  Didn’t he come back here with you?”

Killian grinned.  “He returned to your parents’ flat, hoping to conspire with the lad to make our Christmas one to remember–at least as far as is possible in this hellish place.”

They shared a smile, but then Killian grew serious, looking at her with intensity.  This was important; he needed her to hear him.  “But he helped me to see the truth before he went.  I’m glad you came down here, Emma.  Perhaps I do deserve saving after all.”

 She lit up, her face showing a joy he hadn’t seen since he’d gotten down here.  “Does that mean when this is all over, you’re planning to come home?”

When this is all over.  It was a stark reminder that there were still substantial obstacles they must face before they could return to their white picket fence life, but face them they would.  He was sure of it.  Not only would they face them, they would win, and their happiness afterwards would be all the sweeter from the struggle they had to endure to get there.

“Yes,” he answered definitively. “Everything Liam did was to ensure that I had a future, and I damn well intend to have one.”

With that, he swooped in for a long passionate kiss, the likes of which he’d dreamed about ever since this ordeal began.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Storybrooke, Present Day

Killian toyed with the ends of Emma’s hair as her head lay on his shoulder.

“And then we returned to your parents’ flat–or what passed for it in that bloody place–to find Henry and Liam had made a valiant attempt at decorating for the festive occasion.”

Emma chuckled.  “I remember.  The only tree they could find made Charlie Brown’s look amazing.”

“I don’t know what that means,” Killian said with his own chuckle, “but I catch the gist.  It was quite pitiful.  Its sad state only rivaled by the wilted poinsettias and the crumbling mistletoe.”

“Oh I don’t know,” Emma said, “I think the mistletoe still worked perfectly well, if the exaggerated eyerolls from Henry when we made use of it were any indication.”

He chuckled again. “And all your mother could find to prepare for our Christmas feast was grilled cheese on stale bread and PopTarts for dessert.”

“I’ll admit it wasn’t the greatest grilled cheese I’ve ever had, and unfrosted brown sugar cinnamon PopTarts are just wrong,” Emma said, “but I’ve gotta say, I kind of like the menu.”

Killian shot her a disgusted look with a muttered “bloody hell”.   She collapsed against him as she laughed.

“However,” Killian said after a moment, returning to the subject at hand. “It was a pleasant evening filled with joy and laughter.  The two people I love the most in this or any world together and reconciled, your family–our family–together to support us.  It was the very essence of what makes Christmas magical.”

Emma sat up to look at him and there was sadness in her eyes. “But the next evening we had to say goodbye to Liam for good.”

Killian sighed. “It was a bittersweet moment to be sure,” he agreed, “but I got a proper farewell this time, something I was denied when he died in my arms all those centuries ago, and I know he’s in a better place–I saw it for myself.  One day we’ll be together again.”

She gave him a stern look. “That day better be decades and decades away.”

He grinned before leaning down to kiss her. “Fear not, Swan.  Have I not proven that I’m a survivor?  Even death couldn’t hold me forever.  At any rate, though we were in an awful place and the decorations and provisions were less than ideal, that was a Christmas that I will always hold in my heart, because I got a second chance, and it’s been sweeter than anything I could imagine.”

They were silent for a moment, and then he heard a small sniff beside him.  He leaned over to see tears in Swan’s eyes.  “Love, whatever is the matter?”

“I had no idea, Killian,” she said after a moment, “no idea you went through all that.  You never told me about the visions Liam showed you.”

He shrugged. “There never seemed to be time; we were always moving from one crisis to the next, and I didn’t want to upset you with my own internal crises.”

She sat up again, looking into his eyes. “Killian, we’re true love, husband and wife,” she said, “We should help each other through our crises.  Don’t ever feel like you have to keep anything from me because I might find it upsetting.”

He smiled tenderly at her, cupping her cheek and letting his thumb caress her face.  “Nor you with me, my love.”She nodded. “And for the record, Killian, you have nothing left to prove.  You are a good man, and all of us are better off for having you in our lives.  Don’t ever doubt that. 

NEXT CHAPTER->

[mylifeincinema]

My 25 Most Anticipated Films of 2023!!

No intro this year. Just, y’know, here they are...

PHOTO ONE:

1. Infinity Pool (Brandon Cronenberg) – 1.27.23

Haaaave you seen Possessor?!? Plus, that trailer!!

2. Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania (Peyton Reed) – 2.17.23

Bring on Kang...

3. John Wick: Chapter 4 (Chad Stahelski) – 3.24.23

I’ll never not be excited to see Keanu kill the shit out of people.

4. Renfield (Chris McKay) – 4.14.23 

Nic Cage as Dracula... I repeat, Nic Cage as Dracula!!

5. Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 (James Gunn) – 5.5.23 

The trailer alone has me more emotionally invested than anything I saw in 2022, period.

PHOTO TWO:

6. Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse (Dos Santos, Powers & Thompson) – 6.2.23

Haaaaaave you seen the first one?!?

7. Asteroid City (Wes Anderson) – 6.23.23

Wes is one of my very favorite directors. Enough Said.

8. Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny (James Mangold) – 6.30.23

If you’re actually questioning why this is here, you clearly did not know how obsessed I was with Temple of Doom and Last Crusade as a little kid.

9. Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning – Part One (Christopher McQuarrie) – 7.14.23

Cruise can do no wrong... until he does... but even then the footage of his death will be a fucking blockbuster, and all his fans will give him the exact sendoff he’s apparently begging for. Can’t wait to see how he almost dies, this time.

10. Oppenheimer (Christopher Nolan) – 7.21.23 

So very excited to see Nolan take on something more dramatic... plus, look at that cast!!!

PHOTO THREE:

11. Barbie (Greta Gerwig) – 7.21.23

Margot and Greta... enough said. Oh, but I’ll say more... we live in a world that will soon be home to a Barbie movie co-written by Noah Baumbach!! That’s beautiful.

12. Dune: Part Two (Denis Villeneuve) – 11.3.23

The first felt too unfinished to not be excited to see where Villeneuve brings it next.

13. Wonka (Paul King) – 12.15.23

Really couldn’t care less about Chalamet, and this project is totally unnecessary. But... I’m a die-hard Roald Dahl fan, and this is directed by the man who gave us Paddington 2, so... yeah.

14. Killers of the Flower Moon (Martin Scorsese) – TBD 

C’mon... It’s Scorsese!

15. The Killer (David Fincher) – TBD  

C’mon... It’s Fincher!

PHOTO FOUR:

16. Napoleon (Ridley Scott) – TBD 

I love Ridley Scott... and Joaquin Phoenix looks like he’s going to murder this role.

17. Maestro (Bradley Cooper) – TBD 

The theatre geek living deep down within me is enough reason. But then I also want to see if A Star Is Born was a fluke.

18. Ferrari (Michael Mann) – TBD 

Michael Mann directing a movie about Enzo Ferrari starring Adam Driver... why aren’t you excited about it?!?

19. Beau Is Afraid (Ari Aster) – TBD

No clue what we’re in for... but I’m certain it’s going to fuck me up for a week or two.

20. Peter Pan & Wendy (David Lowery) – TBD  

David Lowery... enough said. I mean, seriously, have you seen A Ghost Story or Pete’s Dragon?!?

PHOTO FIVE:

21. Lee (Ellen Kuras) – TBD  

If Kate Winslet wasn’t enough... well, it is... it really is.

22. Blitz (Steve McQueen) – TBD 

It’s McQueen doing a WWII drama starring Saoirse Ronan...

23. Megalopolis (Francis Ford Coppola) – TBD  

I’m hoping it’s as wild as those set photos have been...

24. The Way of the Wind (Terrence Malick) – TBD

Malick does Jesus...

25. The Wonderful Story of Henry Sugar (Wes Anderson) – TBD

 I doubt this is actually going to release in 2023, but it is already in post, so in case does, I really need you all to know just how excited I will always be for new Wes Anderson.

There they are!

As for My Best of 2022, once again all of the major lists will not be getting posted until mid/late January, but I’m going to try to get some of the early lists – such as Posters, TV & Non-2022 Films – sorted and posted over the next week or two. Please Feel Free to Follow Along So You Don’t Miss Anything!

Stay Tuned!

-Timothy Patrick Boyer.

[vampireexia]

doing this cuz its fun LOL

1. 158cm and 61kg

2. 158cm :3c I wish I was taller,,

3. god I wish I had a flat stomach and visible ribs

4. Constantly dizzy

5. im doing it for me and my crush, I believe I will be more likeable when im thinner, i also want to prove that I can be thinnest in the family and skinny in general.

6. yes, I had BED when i was 14 and its stuck around, im mostly bulimic atm with attempts at restricting

7. they don't know! They just think I randomly lose weight every summer LOL

8. abs and thighs atm, mostly leg lifts, then yoga and anything to help constipation, oh and jumping rope and walking for tons of calories burned

9. god yes, I know I look disgusting when im heavier but damn, can people keep it to themselves...

10. My joy for cooking

11. idk i like any bonespo twitter account :3c

12. Lots of fruits and vegetables, thats the main part of my diet

13. unhealthy LOL, ive never been able to lose weight in a healthy way

14. 45kg, ive had that goal since I was 11 but I hope to reach it this year <3

15. im vegan! been for 7 years now! it def helps me lose weight I think

16. when i was around 10 or 11 :] saw the number 45kg and,, been addicted ever since

17. yes lol

18. fatty foods,, like chips,, i can never stop eating them if I start

19. yesterday :")

20. Mid restriction with a focus on fibres

21. usually small in tops and medium in bottoms atm

22. 46kg :")) damn I miss that weight, i gained because i recovered lol

23. YES, Especially victoria secret models,, and nickelodeon actors were SO thin I was so sad and confused why i didnt look like them

24. I feel like they are for anyone who has an ED and doesnt want to recover yet :]

25. Yes im a big time purger, first times i barely got anything up but felt sooo proud, first time i got most of it up was magical, forever love you carbonated beverages and icecream

26. fitting into clothes and looking amazing, getting compliments, being able to cosplay again and look good, have my mind shut up for once

27. I eated it.... :( or purge/ chew and spit

28. YES! i would love it i would look so gorgeous

29. im actually really accepting of everyone being beautiful :") just not me LOL, for myself ill be beautiful when im skinny

30. i grew up in germany, i own a cat, im the skinniest in my family,im second tallest in my family, im nonbinary and bi, ive never been healthy abt weighloss, im always a big time purger i barely can restrict, i got to my lowest weight by restricting tho, I love doing questionaires all in one go so my stats are still the same, I suffer from OCD which is very related to my ED :]

[racingliners]

F1 Re-Watch 2013: Round 2 - Malaysia

Happy Multi-21 Day to all who celebrate!!

Fun fact about me, I’ve never watched Malaysia 2013 in full. Until today. 

For all the newbies who started following me over the winter break, my abridged F1 story is that I grew up watching F1 with my Dad, then stopped when he passed away in 2007, then started watch it again mid-way through 2013 thanks to one of my high school friends. The first race I watched after my hiatus was Spain, then due to the BBC rights deal where they only had half the races live, the next race I saw after that was Canada. Which Seb won, and I felt bad that people were booing him, so I decided to start supporting him as a result.

I was filled in on the whole Multi-21 drama later, and have since seen the highlight reel in my 2013 season review DVD. But in honour of the race’s tenth anniversary, I’m watching the race in full. So, this may or may not be agonising (live blog under a read more to avoid clogging up your dashes!)

Worth adding, I’m not going to discuss in detail who was right or wrong or whatever, this is simply a record of me watching the Great Red Bull Civil War of March 2013. (with snacks to stress eat obvs)

This liveblog is once again brought to you by F1 TV Access, truly one of the best purchases I’ve made all year.

Anyway I’ve put my big girl trousers on and pressed play and THE OLD F1 INTRO I MISS YOU SO. Proper core memory right there.

Also also Sepang is a banging circuit and I miss her :(

It rained half an hour before the race???? oh jeez

Seb on pole, about to go and commit crimes

AHHHH JENSON!!!!

also remember when Checo drove for McLaren??? wild times.

I do really want to re-watch the 2013 season in full since there’s races from the first half of the season I missed, but that’s for a later day today is dedicated to the drama

Helmet watch: Seb’s blue chrome helmet is super pretty

[Formation Lap]: Everyone on inters bc of the aforementioned rain. Malaysia 2013 really was going for the That Bitch title of 2013.

ayyyy Toto sighting

“This should be a cracking motor race” Oh Brundle, if only you knew what was about to unfold

[Start/Lap 1]: Seb keeps P1, Mark into P2 bc Fernando got a little too frisky

oh rip Fernando’s front wing

Jenson into P5. Yeah that feels good.

Fernando re-took P2, I don’t think he knows half his front wing his hanging off.

[Lap 2]: Oop there she breaks.

Ah, not telling your driver they have a broken front wing. Just Ferrari things.

[Lap 3]: Did not notice Lewis getting up into P3 as a result of Fernando’s DNF.

Meanwhile Rosberg and Jenson are having a little fistfight. Nico won P4.

The supposedly fun part of watching this race for the first time is that I know exactly what happens between Seb and Mark, I just have no idea when. It’s like jaws and a jack in the box combined.

oh man I do not miss the old graphics of having the grid on the bottom of the screen, and waiting for your driver to come back up and hoping they were in the same place

[Lap 5]: ROCKY!!!!!!

Rocky team radio, feels good feels organic. (Don’t make me pick a favourite Seb engineer I love them all equally)

oh Kimi’s gone rallying on the apex of one of the corners.

[Lap 6]: Seb pits for mediums! First onto the dry tyres

oh jeez he just lost three places between corners bc of how slippery the track still is

[Lap 7]: RBR: Mark stay out it’s too wet in sector 1!! Meanwhile 5 or 6 cars come into the pits for slicks

Seb up into P7, which becomes P6 as Lewis pits.

dfaeguighush Lewis drove into the McLaren pit box 🤣

I lowkey love it when drivers do that

“Felipe Massa is now the fastest man on track” 2010s F1 intensifies 

Live Nicole Scherzinger reaction to Lewis’ pitstop

[Lap 8]: Hiiiiii Bono!!!

Gotta take all the nice crumbs before the race turns round and stabs me

[Lap 10]: oh wow James Vowels was already head of Merc strategy at this point.

[Lap 11]: ANYWAY, after the pitstop shuffle Mark is in P1 on hards, Seb in P2 on Mediums. I’m anxious.

The race has calmed down now it’s dry but I am not calm as I’m now waiting for the jump scare to happen.

[Lap 12]: Meanwhile Lewis is a second faster a lap than Webber. Drama.

Rosberg sets the fastest lap, while munching on popcorn probably.

“They’re telling Webber he will not be challenged from behind by Sebastian” Oh. Oh no. It’s coming.

It’s only Lap 14

*chuckles* I’m in danger

[Lap 15]: Rosberg continuing to set fastest laps. Mostly unbothered.

Mark is 2.2 secs ahead of Seb who’s 2.1 ahead of Lewis.

I’ve also finished my snacks.

[Lap 16]: And Kimi gets past Perez for P9.

Aaaand a Romain Grosjean fastest lap.

[Lap 17]: Still all quiet on the Red Bull front. I’m still anxious.

I’m pretty sure there’s one maybe two more rounds of pit stops to go

Seb’s now 2.5 seconds behind Mark and 2.7 ahead of Lewis.

[Lap 18]: Livery watch: as much as I’m a black Merc apologist, I miss the silver livery with Petronas green sidepods, it’s soooo pretty

Back in the good old days when team could actually have full liveries and there wasn’t all the exposed carbon nonsense we have now :)

[Lap 19]: “Paul needs to establish himself” Don’t worry Brundle he’ll be your colleague at Sky in a few years

[Lap 20]: And Mark pits for mediums.

Imagine telling an F1 fan in 2023 that Mark only did 11 laps on a set of hards at a race in 2013, there certainly is something to be said for Pirelli I’m just not sure what.

[Lap 22]: And Lewis makes his second stop for more mediums. He drove into the proper pit box.

[Lap 23]: Seb pits for hards! He stays in P2.

Still no signs of violence yet.

Meanwhile Jenson is still in P5!!!

“They [McLaren] can see bright skies on the horizon, and challenge Ferrari in China” yeah lol that didn’t happen. 

[Lap 24]: “3 second gap, save your tyres” Seb is two seconds behind Mark dfvdsvsgig

[Lap 25]: “If he’s saving his tyres he’s producing a muck quicker lap time with it” Seb’s barely a second behind Mark at this point I’M VERY ANXIOUS

[Lap 26]: The gap between the RBRs is 6 tenths of a second. Mum please pick me up I’m scared.

Meanwhile Lewis is just over a second behind Seb.

Rocky telling Seb to save his tyres, I don’t think he’s listening.

1.8 seconds covering the top 3 cars. oh boy.

[Lap 27]: Seb still 6 tenths behind Mark. *distressed yelling*

If there’s a big gap between laps it’s because I have my hands over my face in distress.

[Lap 28]: Jenson still in P5!!!

“Mark is too slow, get him out of the way” oop there’s Bastard Seb.

Gap now up to 1.4 seconds.

*half race distance klaxon*

Jenson in P5 while all of this is unfolding, an unbothered King.

[Lap 31]: Lewis makes his third and I’m guessing final stop for Mediums

“Look at Nico Rosberg” Must I?

[Lap 32]: Mark now in for his final stop for hards

JENSON IN P2 STOP THE RACE!!!

“The biscuit barrel is not just full of custard creams” Crofty???? That was meant to be an analogy about teams doing different strategies but I really don’t know man.

[Lap 33]: Seb pits for hards. And he’s in P4 behind Lewis now and barely in front of Rosberg.

JENSON’S LEADING!!! STOP! THE! RACE!

[Lap 34]: Lewis already being told to lift and coast to save fuel. oop.

“Button leads” INJECT IT!!!!!

Malaysia 2013 giveth and Malaysian 2013 about to taketh away.

[Lap 35]: And Mark gets past Jenson into turn 2

Hulkenberg and Kimi racing each other coming out of the pitlane svheghaeugh

And Jenson pits. It was very fun while it lasted.

NOOOOOO unsafe release his tyres aren’t properly on 😭

[Lap 36]: Oh yeah Ross Brawn was Merc TP in 2013, I always forget that. Toto joined Merc as his deputy I think before taking over in 2014.

[Lap 38]: “Sebastian Vettel the meat in the Mercedes sandwich” fic writers start taking notes

 Meanwhile Hulkenberg and Kimi are still fist fighting over 8th and 9th

[Lap 39]: Seb up into P2.

[Lap 40]: “Sebastian Vettel has just reduced the advantage Mark Webber has by 8 tenths” There’s jaws music playing my head now fwiw.

Niki sighting ❤️

[Lap 41]: Now Rosberg is closing up to Lewis for a double serving of teammate on teammate violence

[Lap 42]: Oh Lewis pits again, that’s a fourth stop

Man if a driver has a four stop race in 2023 they’ve had a shit show but it seems perfectly normal aeogvaheoh

Meanwhile Seb is still catching Mark

[Lap 43]: And Seb also pits again for Medums, as does Rosberg. Seb stays P2 and Rosberg stays P4.

Livery watch: the glossy soft metallic blue with the purple accents is the superior RBR livery change my mind.

[Lap 44]: And Mark pits for hards.

And he barely came out the pits in front of Seb.

ahhhhhhhhh I think we’re in violence territory.

HELP

[Lap 45]: The gap between them is about half a second dvbaheuhs

(For anyone wanting to watch the race back for whatever reasons, the Civil War starts at around 1hr 26mins)

Presidential alert THE MERCS ARE FIGHTIIIIIIIING

and cut to mildly distressed Merc mechanics

Love that the internal Merc drama was completely overshadowed by Seb and Mark, truly no one was doing it like them

[Lap 46]: AH SHIT SEB AND MARK ARE WHEEL TO WHEEL

AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH

Seb into P1. idk if there’s actually been the Multi 21 call yet. bc comms aren’t calling for Seb’s head as of yet.

Man that replay is yeah... violence

[Lap 47]: oop yellow flag, fits the mood perfectly.

Oh it was for Maldonado.

Live Adrian Newey Reaction.

and Live Ross Brawn reaction to the Merc on Merc violence.

[Lap 48]: Wait this race was on Ted’s birthday??? HBD TED!!!!!! 🎉🎉🎉

[Lap 49]: Still no Multi-21 name drop... was this something that came out after the race??? bc I’m sure there’s an actual Multi-21 radio message.

“Pastor Maldonado with an attack of the gravel rash” Thanks Crofty.

[Lap 50]: Massa passes Kimi for 6th

Yeah Seb’s 4 secs ahead of Mark now so surely that’s it????

so where’s the drama???

I can’t have zoned out bc comms would have yelled if Seb got past

[Lap 51]: Oh Rosberg asked to get past Lewis and Ross Brawn straight up said no. oof.

[Lap 52]: Yeah comms are dissecting the Merc drama but not Seb and Mark so I think they didn’t hear the Multi-21 radio call aeughaeuhg

Oh I wish that were me

[Lap 54]: Man Nico and Lewis are still nose to tail it’s like the precursor to 2014-16

Was there something in the water at Malaysia or did the racing gods just wake up and choose violence

Ted sounds so sad about Jenson’s mechanical DNF, a whole mood

[Lap 55]: Seb a whole six and a bit seconds ahead of Webber.

Perez pits????

Oh he had a 30 second gap to P10 nvm

Rosberg is still around half a second behind Lewis. Britney be bitching.

[Lap 56]: Will Lewis have the fuel to finish the race though???

[Finish]: SEB WINS. IT’S OVER.

Lewis P3, Rosberg P4. Cut to some eerily silent RBR and Merc pitwalls.

I don’t think Crofty knows about the Multi-21 message he hasn’t said anything about it.

😳

Did I zone out and miss it?????

Yeah Crofty thinks RBR are mad because Mark and Seb nearly took each other out not bc of the Multi-21 call OH BOY

Oop here’s the cool down room.

Bastard Seb is hot. sorry not sorry.

dbshbuhgru Seb and Adrian just chatting tyres. Still no Mark yet.

I’m watching this with very nervous laughter.

“Multi-21 Seb, Multi-21″ OOP THERE IT IS.

There’s so much tension in the cool down room it has its own gravitational pull.

ah the German anthem my beloved. 

The Austrian anthem my belothed. 

There is not a single smiling driver on that podium this is so awkward aevheugh

Okay there’s one (1) thrilled Merc mechanic, good for him!

“But was he [Seb] told to hold station?” Yeah they didn’t play the Multi-21 radio during the race.

God this is the most awkward champagne spray I’ve ever seen.

The drivers left the podium aeiihgaeghs

Oh they’re back.

Mark flung away his podium cap into the crowd jeeeeez

Tag yourself I’m Brundle trying to fill the conversation with fluff bc he can pick up the awkward tension a mile off

“It was very close wheel to wheel racing” YOU DON’T SAY SEB

Mark meanwhile looks seething. 

“So you were surprised when he came passed you” YOU’RE TELLING ME BRUNDLE DIDN’T KNOW UNTIL THE PODIUM INTERVIEW ABOUT THE MULTI-21 CALL????????

Welcome to F1 the drama never stops.

Live Nicole Scherzinger reaction 2

Lewis saying nice things about Nico. That feels weird post-2016.

Well. That happened. ngl it felt less stressful knowing that they seemingly didn’t play the Multi-21 radio call on the global feed. Honestly the actual race itself was pretty dull until the RBR/Merc infighting.

Still I’m going to got for a lie down now.

[dollystuartwrites]

7&ME - Chapter 30 - Happy

Pairing: OT7 x F!Reader

Genre: fluff, smut, idol AU, straight, bisexual, gay, threesome

Wordcount: 1344

Chapters: [1] - [2] - [3] - [4] - [5] - [6] - [7] - [8] - [9] - [10] [11] - [12] - [13] - [14] - [15] - [16] - [17] - [18] - [19] - [20]   [21] - [22] - [23] - [24] - [25] - [26] - [27] - [28] - [29] - [30] MASTERLIST Wanna read all the chapters right now? You can find the complete story for free on WATTPAD

Summary: Miracles do happen! Somehow you've finally managed to secure a job at a big company! Even though it'll be a 24/7 job, they promised you a fat paycheck, so you don't care what the job is... But what if the job is managing 7 grown men? Seven men who all have needs...

Warnings: swearing, unprotected sex, vaginal penetration, fingering, size kink, oral (f&m receiving), dirty talk, gay sex, threesome sex, bisexual sex, implied masturbation, this is super vanilla compared to most of my stories, let me know what I missed.

Y O U R   P E R S P E C T I V E

I opened my eyes. For a second I was extremely confused and disoriented.

There was a face close to me. Their eyes were shut. The person was still asleep. I could feel something around my waist. An arm. My back was warm. It was pressed into someone's body. Someone was holding me tightly.

I blinked. The sleeping face of Jungkook sharpened.

Flashbacks of last night came back to me.

So it hadn't been a dream.

And then the person who was holding me must be Taehyung. I didn't dare to turn to see him as I didn't want to wake him.

Instead, I studied Jungkook's face. His perfect glowy skin. His cute nose. His long dark eyelashes. Just like all the other guys, he was beautiful.

A sound came from the door and I looked up startled.

'JK I've got...' someone's voice spoke, as the door opened. Yoongi walked into the room rubbing his eye but stopped immediately as he saw me.

He raised his eyebrows in surprise.

'Well, well well,' he said loudly, grinning. The two men stirred beside me, waking up from Yoongi's words. More noise came from the door and Hobi stuck his face around the corner, wanting to see what to fuss was about.

Hobi instantly started laughing.

Jungkook and Taehyung sat up slowly, rubbing their eyes and pushing their hands through their hair as to wake up. I tried to hide slightly behind the blankets.

'What's going on?' a voice said from the hallway. It was Namjoon followed by Jimin who was also curious to see what the fuss was about.

They both looked from Taehyung to Jungkook and then to me. Surprise clearly visible on their face.

'Wild night boys?' Yoongi asked grinning and putting his arms over each other.

'Not more than usual,' Taehyung answered, shrugging and yawning.

Apparently, getting caught with both me and Jungkook in one bed didn't phase him.

'Well, maybe a little more than usual,' Taehyung said smirking at me. I could feel my face turn red and quickly looked down.

The boys standing at the entrance walked into the room and either sat on the bed or leaned against it. I could feel their eyes on me, waiting for me to say something.

When I didn't, Jimin finally asked;

'How was your night y/n?' His tone was slightly teasing but filled with curiosity.

'Come on guys, give her a break,' Jungkook said. He took my arm and pulled me into his lap, his arms protectively around me. I could feel his chin resting on the top of my head.

'So it was the three of you?' Namjoon asked incredulously.

'Oh yeah baby,' Teahyung said mid-yawn as he stretched himself out. I looked at him. Taehyung didn't at all seem embarrassed to share his sex life with the others. Even more, it seemed normal. Like they were talking about the weather.

'So... How did it go?' Yoongi asked interested.

'Well,' Taehyung said, standing up and stretching his arms. He looked at me and grinned. It was a reassuring grin. A smile to tell me it was going to be okay. I didn't have to be scared. All was well.

'I think it's safe to say that she knows now,' he finished his sentence.

For a moment the room was deadly silent.

She knows...

Then it dawned on me.

The way they had so easily gone together last night. Clearly, it had not been their first time. Not even their second or third...

They had done those kinds of things often.

I finally looked up. The boys were watching me intently.

'Do all of you...?' I asked slowly, the curiosity inside me craving the answer. No one said anything for a second.

'Hell yeah,' Hobi said suddenly cheerful. I looked over at him in surprise. He smiled broadly, his shining smile.

'Well, some more than others,' Namjoon said, scratching the back of his head and giving a meaningful look at Jimin.

Jimin simply shrugged

'I second that,' Yoongi said, raising his hand like it was a vote.

'Oh shut up Yoongi, who was it that needed me last night? Let me think...' Jimin said pouting in a "thinking" like manner.

'Only because Y/N was already taken, otherwise I would've definitely asked her instead,' Yoongi said scowling, but winking at me.

The dawning realization finally came to me.

So they all fucked each other.

When I thought about it, honestly it made sense.  

I looked around the room.

They all seemed quite okay with it.

With everything.

The fact that I knew.

That is was here being held by Jungkook.

What we had done last night.

Images of last night flashed before my eyes, mixed with fantasies of various members doing others.

'Is it true?' a voice came from the doorway.

Jin had finally joined the party. He looked at me tentatively.

'What?' I said confused.

'I mean, did you mean it? What you said when we were out walking?' he asked.

I still didn't quite get it.

Jin walked into the room and looked at the others.

He sighed.

'You know about us now. As far as I've heard you've had... most of us,' he said carefully. His words made me turn pink with embarrassment.

'But honestly, I don't think I speak for myself when I say we don't care about that. As you now know, we are good at sharing. However...' Jin said, pausing a second.

'However, did you mean it when you said you wanted to be our girlfriend?' he asked. All 7 of them looked at me eagerly.

After all that had happened... After all, I had done and knew... They just wanted to know if I wanted to be their girlfriend.

I looked at every single one of them individually.

All of them were beautiful.

All of them were extremely sexy if they wanted to be.

All of them were sweet, caring, and loving.

All of them made my stomach flutter and my heart bounce.

Could I ever choose one of them over the other?

No, I didn't think so. I had grown to love them all individually and for their own qualities.

Did I want to be with them?

Yes more than anything.

'Yes,' I said resolutely.

All of their faces lit up with glowing smiles and I could feel Jungkooks arms tighten around me and him kissing my hair.

'Then it's decided,' Jimin said happily. 'We now all belong to you my lady,' he spoke gallantly.

'And Jungkook no hogging! Just because you lost your virginity to her last night doesn't mean you get any special treatment' Hobi said chuckling and waving his finger.

'Wait what?' I said confused.

'You're the first girl I've ever been with,' Jungkook whispered in my ear. He put the emphasis on the word girl.

I understood what he meant and felt myself blush.

'I said no hogging!' Hobi said fake sternly. Jungkook laughed but let go of me.

'Good!' Hobi said, 'Can I reserve you for tonight?' he followed, directing himself at me.

'I mean just for us to cuddle. Knowing those to you must still be sore from last night,' Hoseok explained quickly when he saw my startled face.

'Oh, well then, sure!' I said, feeling reassured.

'Oh, can I get tomorrow then please?' Jimin pleaded, grabbing my hand and looking at me with puppy eyes.

'I'm free the day after that,' Yoongi said grinning his seductive smile at me.

I couldn't help but laugh.

I wasn't sure how it would all work out or what this actually all meant.

But I didn't care.

They made me happy.

And I seemed to make them happy as well.

--------------------------------

WRITERSNOTE

Thank you so much for reading. This is actually quite an old story and my writing skills have improved a lot since then but I still wanted to upload it here for you guys to enjoy. I you wanna support me, it would mean the world if you like or reblog my stuff. I’ve written much more that you might enjoy so be sure to check out the MASTERPOST on my blog for links to more. Thank you <3

[chicagosfinest2021]

Doing another one of these because I don't feel like waiting for my followers to ask me nuthin LOL

0:Height Useless 5'3''

1:Virgin? No but I wish I was sometimes (even though virginity is a man-made social construct that has no bearing in reality)

2:Shoe size 9

3:Do you smoke? Just on the dance floor

4:Do you drink? Socially

5:Do you take drugs? Just my anti-baby pills!!

6:Age you get mistaken for mid 20's usually

7:Have tattoos? On this chocolate brown skin?? Nah baby

8:Want any tattoos? I'm good

9:Got any piercings? Just my ears right now

10:Want any piercings? If I can shrink my fupa down a bit I might get my navel done

11:Best friend? My sister

12:Relationship status Perpetually single at heart/by choice

13:Biggest turn ons Emotional maturity and introspection

14:Biggest turn offs Emotionally stunted people

15:Favorite movie Toss up between Queen, Bend It Like Beckham and Wakanda Forever

16:I’ll love you if You feed me food

17:Someone you miss My grandma </3

18:Most traumatic experience Being SA'ed by different men

19:A fact about your personality I'm just a straight up catch

20:What I hate most about myself I procrastinate too much, I also can't lose this belly meat for sh*t

21:What I love most about myself I'm smart, pretty, cultured, funny, and have an overall dope vibe

22:What I want to be when I get older The rich auntie with no kids that's always traveling and spoils her niblings with money and gifts

23:My relationship with my sibling(s) Me and my middle sister are basically twins and are super close, I have a half sister whom I love but she's not into the lovey-dovey stuff. She also didn't grow up with us so we're all still getting to know each other, but we're cool for the most part.

24:My relationship with my parent(s) They're not perfect but I'm both a mommy's girl and a daddy's girl

25:My idea of a perfect date It's been so long since I've been on a real date I can't even picture what a perfect date would look like to me at this point. I guess any situation where I'm not silently wishing I had stayed at home would be a step up to me.

26:My biggest pet peeves People who insist on bringing their kids everywhere and expect the general public to help them babysit. Also when I try to pay at the pump and they tell me I have to go pay inside. I'll just get back in my car and leave.

27:A description of the girl/boy I like This guy I'm currently in a situationship right now (not proud of it). He's Latino, we've known each other since we were 13, he's funny, very eloquent when he speaks, is a really good kisser, is kind of a fuckboi and is probably aware of it. . .

28:A description of the person I dislike the most Homophobic/transphobic people in general

29:A reason I’ve lied to a friend So she would stop asking me invasive questions

30:What I hate the most about work/school I actually really like my job, my pay is nice but it could always be better tho, nah mean?

31:What your last text message says My phone is charging right now but I was texting someone about details for brunch tomorrow

32:What words upset me the most "Item is no longer in stock"

33:What words make me feel the best about myself "You just have such a deep and passionate soul"

34:What I find attractive in women Everything, women as a rule are sexy AF

35:What I find attractive in men Security in who they are and what they're about so they don't constantly feel the need to dominate or be "submitted to".

36:Where I would like to live Ireland or England

37:One of my insecurities My big boobs, I feel like people oversexualize me because that's all they see

38:My childhood career choice I wanted to play piano but then I wanted to be a writer

39:My favorite ice cream flavor I want it to be rum raisin

40:Who wish I could be I don't want to be anyone but me honestly

41:Where I want to be right now Underneath my situationship pinned to the bed

42:The last thing I ate This casserole I made that was bangin

43:Sexiest person that comes to my mind immediately Alex Livinalli

44:A random fact about anything Queen Nefertiti was the stepmother of King Tut

[nazuqi]

im doing this instead of studying haha,,,

this thread right here

this one's for nazuqi

1) What were their first impressions with each other??

nazu: oh a new kid

me: omg a nice person

2) Who fell in love with who first?

we do not know when we each fell in love it happened and when we realized it we discovered we'd been in love for who knows how long

3) tell me how did they catch feelings for one another like what was their 'i just fell in love' moment

none, we realized we just. loved each other cannot be apart we miss each other

4) what was their first meeting like? Was it a disaster, Or was it a lovely encounter?

i got lost and nazu found me :> disaster on my end because i got scolded for being lost but we met each other and ever since then,,,, lots happened

5) what are their love languages to each other?

words of affirmation, physical touch, acts of service

6) who confessed? And how did the confession went?

nazu, because i waited. haha... i had to leave again and he was afraid we'd never see each other again

7) how long did they developed their feelings to each other before actually confessing their love?

too many years to count

8) show me what type of ship dynamic are they

childhood friends, looks like they're married even when theyre not

9) if your ship was a series / movie, what genre would it be?

slice of life

10) what is the biggest obstacle to their relationship? and how do they overcome it?

being apart physically,,, we video call and call and make sure to visit often

11) do they deny their feelings to each other at first? Or was it just pure love?

denied

12) what do they love about each other the most?

the other just feels like home. comfort, love, rest- the whole package

13) what do they have in common with each other?

just. on the same page usually

14) what are their friends / family's reactions when they finally found out that they are dating?

as if they knew before us

15) tell me how their first kiss went

quick, sweet, wanting another and another

16) who is more affectionate?

equally i suppose

17) do they have their special place to hangout with? like a secret garden or somewhere that only they know

home

18) pretend that someone asked them to describe their s/o, how will they describe their s/o to that person?

will say a bunch of things and then like. blank out and say that they cant do it (for both of us)

19) who are the 'protectors' of your ship?

ionno

20) what happens when they get into a big fight? do they apologize easily?

very rare to happen, will give each other space and then hold each other to figure it out. no apology needed until we decide we need one. we find out what happened first and go on from there

21) what are their dream house like?

just has to be not too big, cozy, and a very comfy space to relax in. qian is thinking about lofts...

22) do they consider on having kids? if they do show me what their lovechild is like!

we do...

23) how will they react if they knew someone is trying to tear their relationship down?

we would compose ourselves and work together to stop them

24) what things do they tend to argue about?

who gets the better part. we both make the argument that the other has to

25) are they interested in getting married? If so tell me how the proposal went!

yes. first proposal was a playground proposal lmfao so that doesn't count but technicaly. if the proposal is the first question of if we should get married, it would be me being like "hmm i wonder what our life would be like if we get married" and then by the end of tht conversation we both understood that we wanted to get married . but i made nazu do the official one that we told everyone about. was a little fancy. we chose the rings together tho

26) how will their wedding look like? outdoors? Indoors? and how many people will attend?

indoors,,, mid to small wedding i suppose. have a dance floor, soft and pretty :> maybe bunny theme

27) tell me a funny moment that happened with your ship

first time i sat on his lap in public rumors started and then like a day later we had to make an announcement that yes we are dating

28) does your ship have their own theme / duet song? if so what song is it?

dreamin chuchu

29) who is your ship's number one supporter?

ionno ?? e

everyone

[mintytoastypoetry]

1

the low frosty air

sirens, echo throughout the streets

the crisp winter air

01/05/21

2

morning it is so

testing our minds growing old

magnificent frost

01/07/21

3

silence as it is

brightly as the sun and moon

our love is glowing

01/08/21

4

dinkydoo is that

hilarious and foolish

small but amazing

01/09/21

5

brethren and sun

community and united

forevermore so

01/10/21

6

long ago with pain

leaves and trees among them stay

my mind pleasantly

01/11/21

7

horizons anew

through and through to do and adapt

for the changing plans

01/12/21

8

warmer than normal

no sustenance today

thus was my fun day

01/13/21

9

productivity

projects and more to do so

comes always a cost

01/14/21

10

endings and more there

it is only another

beginning for all

01/15/21

11

woke up a bit late

introspective mind of young

today is and was

01/16/21

12

this will be a mark

upon our decades of life

fill the memories

01/17/21

13

so contemplating

is the mids of old and young

future and past gone

01/18/21

14

sad thoughts for no reason

characteristic unhelped

no avail unfixed

01/19/21

15

celebration none

is one for me and good luck

pray new creation

01/20/21

16

power and greed someone

we all see the results of it

newly oppressed old

01/21/21

17

news and sociality

stressful and tenuously

restoration needs

01/22/21

18

relax and chill more

this was the new motto today

saturday forever

01/23/21

19

these days for burning

are just the mode of younger

years and tears alike

01/24/21

20

with strength and vigor

we decide we know better

we ignore love ignore facts

01/25/21

(81 days later)

101

oh how I miss my dog

as sad as it is it must be

I have moved on now

April 11th 2021

102

days of spring oh yes

lovely twenty four of such

seventy till next

April 12th 2021

103

withdrawl from there

is the best thing we can do

honestly, come on

April 13th 2021

104

dangerous gov bill

I am sorry but not so

it is not helpful

April 14th 2021

105

nothing e’ver changes

we’re part of a silent

crowd nothing changes

April 15th 2021

106

quiet and quite still

are the tenets of each skill

dormant inside you

April 16th 2021

107

national haiku

poetry day how fitting

quite amazing wow

April 17th 2021

108

chris cuomo what

you just, no words to say

I just have no words

April 18th 2021

109

if you think violence

is okay only for you

you a hypocrite

April 19th 2021

110

anniversary

wow, such wow today indeed

i hate it sorry

April 20th 2021

111

seriously none

nothing ever tends to change

we the silent crowd

April 21st 2021

112

happy earth today

even though we continue

allow it perish

April 22nd 2021

113

thirty five days of

spring hallelujah, praise Him

please summer come fast

April 23rd 2021

114

like pond and sky there

we do reflect, you and I

farther clouds and stars

April 24th 2021

115

you promised you’d love

me that far, the lies, deceit

you’ve told burrows deep

April 25th 2021

116

my soul is left cold

all my memories we share

all my pain to bear

April 26th 2021

117

you and then my heart,

enjoy and find pleasure in

breaking it apart

April 27th 2021

118

mask mania ugh

i understand and now we

should all by now know

April 28th 2021

119

stabbing someone is

not something someone does as

an innocent gal

April 29th 2021

120

banning menthol cigs

much wow, so effective just

as prohibition

April 30th 2021

121

Someone in my car

sleeping called the police here

now its all good now

May 1st 2021

122

fifty days until

the real summer begins yay

much the yay and wow

May 2nd 2021

123

happy one two three

not going to lie kinda

funny, much laughs ha

May 3rd 2021

124

may the fourth be with

gina corano, she did

nothing wrong at all

May 4th 2021

125

if you want vaccine

take vaccine, only if you

know the valid effects

May 5th 2021

126

making humanity

a multi-planet species

quite a feat to take

May 6th 2021

127

spring oh spring go now

thank you so much for being mild

but now its time, warmth

May 7th 2021

128

what in heck china

get better grip on your thing

foolish mistake dudes

May 8th 2021

129

happy mothers day

and to all mothers as well

wish you the best luck

May 9th 2021

130

confederate lost

happy day of defeat yay

victory to union!

May 10th 2021

131

eat what you want day?

well, if this isnt the day

like, this a good day

May 11th 2021

132

no neil tyson, lol

that is not why people arent

getting it, nope nope

May 12th 2021

133

well its about time

ugh cdc, of course now

welp, bye bye gas lol

May 13th 2021

134

oh great still nothing

nothing changing nothing at

all, great yay whohoo

May 14th 2021

135

yes, finally the

stores are doing it thank god

now I cant wait now

May 15th 2021

136

<redacted>

May 16th 2021

137

cannot wait for it

summer just around that little

corner, oh yes oh

May 17th 2021

[bongaboi]

Longwood: 2023-24 Big South Men's Basketball Champions

HIGH POINT, N.C. – They never stopped believing. If they could just stick together, they could be the best team in the hugely talented Big South.

They did. They are.

And now they're headed back to March Madness – bringing Lancer Nation along for another thrilling ride to the Big Dance.

Michael Christmas scored 18 points, Szymon Zapala had 17, and Walyn Napper added 10 points and 11 assists to lead Longwood past UNC Asheville 85-59 Sunday in the Hercules Tire Big South Tournament championship game, advancing to the NCAA Division I Tournament for the second time in three years. Napper was named the Tournament MVP, and both Christmas and Zapala joined him as All-Tournament selections.

In three unforgettable days of basketball, the Lancers beat the No. 4, No. 1 and No. 2 seeds in the tournament.

On Sunday, they dominated defending champion UNC Asheville, leaving zero doubt who was the Big South's best team when it mattered most.

"It means everything," Zapala said. "It's a dream come true for me, playing in a championship game, winning, and getting a chance to play in March Madness."

When it was over Lancers cut down the nets in the Qubein Center with students, Stampede band members, cheerleaders, faculty and staff, teary-eyed family and other glowing fans eager to celebrate after driving down to cheer in person for a team that that caught fire in the final weeks of the season.

They'll find out who they play in the NCAA Tournament in one week, on Selection Sunday.

"Just an amazing performance by the guys," said head coach Grif Aldrich. "Our effort was tremendous. We were extremely tough. Three games in three days….. The reality is these guys, I'm not sure they couldn't have played another 40 minutes the way they were playing. There was just a dog mentality across the board. I thought it was tremendous."

Two years ago, Longwood (21-13) made its first NCAA Tournament as the No. 1 seed in the Big South Tournament, following a 15-1 conference record. This time the journey was very different – but thrilling in a new way, a storyline even the most hopeful Lancer fans could hardly have imagined just a few short weeks ago.

This was a group that bonded early – on a preseason trip to Europe -- and stuck together through a tough stretch of mid-year setbacks that might have unraveled less connected teams. Just eight days ago, Longwood seemed likely to be relegated to a first-round play-in game in the conference tournament.

"The only people who didn't realize they were 6-10 in conference were the guys in our locker room," Aldrich said. "They knew they were a lot better. They believed throughout. Their confidence in themselves and each other has truly been remarkable."

In the final weeks of the season, they showed they could go toe-to-toe with anyone in a conference whose overall talent level has never been higher.

Then, in Sunday's title game, they did a lot more than go toe-to-toe.

They had to do it without a key contributor. Elijah Tucker, who played a critical role getting Longwood to Sunday, missed the final game with an injury.

"I talked to ET before the game, what he said was, 'go win the championship,'" Zapala said. "We all said before the game we had to do it for him. That was our mindset from the beginning."

No kidding. Christmas opened the scoring with a 3-pointer and a dunk, Johan Nziemi followed with six quick points as Longwood exploded out of the gates. The Lancers simply pounded away at the Bulldogs inside, extending the lead to 42-24 on Zapala's lay-in at the halftime buzzer.

It was the most complete half of basketball Lancer fans had seen in a long time – maybe ever – and Asheville never knew what hit them. Longwood dominated the boards, held two-time Big South Player of the Year Drew Pember to a single first-half field goal, and kept the Bulldogs off the free throw line until the final 37 seconds before intermission.

The second half was more of the same, as Longwood simply outmuscled, outhustled, outshot and outrebounded the Bulldogs, never letting them get within striking range – allowing players and fans to loudly savor the final two minutes, the game and title in hand.

Everyone contributed, picking up slack with Tucker's absence. Emmanuel Richards was ferocious on defense, and DA Houston – back after an eye injury that limited his minutes in the semi-finals – played with his usual relentlessness while helping Longwood break Asheville's press.

Even Trey Hicks, who made himself a team leader despite getting very little playing time due to injuries during his Longwood career, came off for a few minutes in the second half for the first time this season to spot a Lancers' frontcourt depleted by Tucker's absence. And to the delight of Longwood fans – and his parents in the stands – he scored the final points of the game on a dunk. Napper, meanwhile, set a tournament championship game record with his 11 assists.

"Walyn Napper and DA have literally grabbed hold of this team and told them what they're going to do, how they're going to do it," Aldrich said. "The leadership you saw over the past couple of days has been phenomenal." Of Napper, he added: "One of the great joys in coaching is getting to see people grow. I've never seen anybody grow as much. Even if we had lost in the tournament."

It was the cap of an eight-day run Lancer Nation will never forget. A week ago Saturday, Napper's last-second bucket sent Longwood past regular-season champion High Point in the season finale in Farmville, rocketing them up to a No. 5 seed.

On Thursday, they outworked No. 4 seed Winthrop in the second half to earn a 69-55 quarterfinal victory. And on Saturday, in a game Lancer fans will never forget, they rallied from 15 down in the second half to beat No. 1 seed High Point again – this time on their home court, stunning and silencing a raucous sell-out crowd.

In Sunday's championship game, a close-knit team showed this was no fluke. Longwood is the best team in the Big South.

It's hard to overstate just how far Longwood basketball had traveled.

Prior to the arrival of head coach Aldrich in 2018, Longwood had never finished better than eighth in the conference, had just one overall winning season in its Division I history – and none since joining the Big South. Under Aldrich they've now finished fifth or better in the regular season five straight seasons, and won 20 games or more three straight years – a first in program history at any level.

"I think we have really strived, President Reveley, Tim Hall our AD, we've really wanted to build a program, not just a team," Aldrich said. "This has been an institutional effort. This is extremely is rewarding I hope for a lot of people, not just the guys and women in the men's basketball department, but in a lot of departments where people have really worked hard to build this program."

There's still basketball to play.

GoWood