#i need my feed to be poppin again

[dragon-kazansky]

Symphony of dreams

Morpheus x Female Reader

Now awake, it is time to rebuild The Dreaming. The Corianthian is still loose in The Waking World, and Morpheus is trying to make up for lost time. Your husband has a lot to learn.

{Masterlist}

{Previous Chapter} - {Next Chapter}

Warnings: Death. Episode heavy toward the end of the chapter, but I love this episode, so I hope you don't mind.

Chapter Five - A day with Death

☆☆☆

"What do you mean you spoke to Death?" Dream asks, looking at you. You were sitting on his throne going through some more books with Lucienne when you brought it up.

"Exactly that. I spoke to your sister."

"Why?" He asks, his brow furrowing slightly. He sometimes looked rather cute when he was confused.

"A lot of things have changed in the last hundred years. I think it will do you some good to spend time with your sibling."

He still looked confused.

"Do it for me, Morpheus? Is she not your favourite of the family? Please go meet her."

He sees the expression in your eyes and knows he can't say no.

"Come with me?"

You sigh softly. "That wasn't my idea."

"Please?"

You look at him. You see the desperation that flickers through those blue eyes. He is eager to have you by his side.

"I will go with you to meet her, but I think you should have some one-on-one time with her. You could learn a lot."

Morpheus seems to relax slightly. You can see the way the tension leaves his shoulders. You know it's only because he is reluctant to be away from you for long, but you're more than sure he will not be taken from you again.

"What will you do?" He asks.

"There is an errand I must run. Something your sister has asked of me."

"What sort of errand?" His brows knit together again. You chuckle softly.

"Just a little favour."

"Fine. You'll come with me to meet her?"

You nod. Morpheus seems happy enough with that. You close the book that had been resting in your lap and rise from the throne. Lucienne takes the books back, and you take your husband's hand.

Morpheus and yourself head to the Waking World.

☆☆☆

The sight of Morpheus sitting on a park bench with half a baguette in his hand was a funny picture. He looked like he would rather be anywhere else right now. You said nothing to him, watching him feed the birds.

Death slowly walked over and sat down beside him. You smiled at her. She smiled back. Her eyes then turned to her brother.

"What you doing?" She asks him.

"I'm feeding the pigeons."

"You do that too much, you know what you get? Fat pigeons."

You smile softly.

"That's from Mary Poppins. Did you ever see it?"

"No."

You look at Dream and then at Death. "What is that?" You ask her.

"A film. You'd like it." She smiles at you. You make a mental note of it.

A child runs past and spooks the pigeons. Death smiles at the boy. You chuckle softly.

"Okay, so what's the matter?" Death asks, turning back to her brother

"What do you mean?" He asks, not looking at her.

"My dear sister in law told me you needed help."

Morpheus looks up at you and then back at he ground. You sigh softly.

"I can tell something is wrong. Look at you, sitting here moping, pigeaon feeding. It's not like you."

"No. Perhaps it isn't," he admits.

You lean in and rest your head on his shoulder. Morpheus does not move, but you know he approaches the gesture. He knows you like it when he's honest with himself.

"I don't know what's wrong, but... you're right. Something is the matter."

You lift your head and look at him. He's talking. That's good. It's not that he doesn't talk to you, but if he can talk to anyone, it would be his sister

"When they captured me, I just had one thought." He says your name. "I wanted vengeance so I could get back home to you."

You look at him softly.

"Meanwhile, my kingdom was falling apart, and you were victim to an eternal slumber." He speaks softly. His eyes focus on a single spot in front of him. You can still see the pain in him. "My tools long since stolen and scattered. So, I embarked on a journey to find them, so I may wake my wife and save our home. Which I did. I am now more powerful than I have been in aeons. And yet..."

"Here you are feeding the pigeons." Death understands.

You gaze at your husband with curiosity.

"See, until then, I had a true quest. A purpose beyond my function, and suddenly, it was over, and I felt disappointed. Let down. Empty. Does that make sense?" He asks his sister, looking at her. "I was so sure that once I git everything back, I'd feel good, but in some ways I feel worse than when I started."

You sit there, listening, trying to keep your emotions in check. Morpheus feels a shift in you and turns. Your eyes look wet, like you're holding back tears.

"I'm sorry," he whispers. You turn to him. "I am upsetting you."

You shake your head. You thought him talking to his sister would help, but you didn't realise juat how badly he felt.

"You feel you are without purpose?" You ask.

"I do."

You take a deep breath. "You are disappointed?"

"Not in you," he says. He looks at you with such awe and determination. "Never with you."

"In yourself?"

He says nothing.

Death has listened. She watches you both. With one hand, she reaches out and places it on his knee. Dream looks down at it and then at her.

"You could have called me, you know? I'm glad someone did," she looks at you. You offer her a smile and wipe your eyes before any tears could fall.

"I didn't want to worry you."

"And your wife?" She asks.

Morpheus now feels even worse as he looks at you again. "I didn't want to worry you either."

"Morpheus, I will always worry about you," you tell him.

He knows.

"I don't believe it. Let me tell you something, Dream," Death says, standing up. "And I'm only going to say this once, so you better pay attention. You are utterly the stupidest, most self-centered excuse for an anthropomorphic personification on this or any other plane."

You have to bite back your smile.

"Feeling sorry for yourself because your little game is over, and you haven't got the balls to go out and find a new one. You're as bad as Isiah. No, worse."

She chucks his bread back at him. Dream catches it and stares at her. You try not to giggle.

"Did it never occur to you that we would be worried about you?" She asks him.

"I didn't think-"

"Exactly. You didn't think." Death turns to you. "My brother is an idiot."

You chuckle. "Yes, but he's our idiot, and if anyone can get him to see reason or purpose, it is you."

Death smiles at you. "She's a keeper, Dream."

Morpheus doesn't say anything, but he does find himself reaching for your hand. You smile and curl your fingers around him. He needs comfort.

A ball comes flying over, and Death catches it. The young man comes over and looks at her. "Wow, you're as good as your friend."

Earlier, Dream had caught the ball when it came flying at him.

"He's not my friend. He's my brother, and he's an idiot."

You chuckle softly. Morpheus sighs quietly. "I'm just feeding the birds," he says.

"Look, I can't stay here all day, I got work to do. You can come with me if you want," Death offers. This is what you wanted. "Or you can stay here and sulk."

"I'll come with you, I suppose."

"Well, don't do me any favours," she teases. Death smiles at him.

Morpheus stands up but realises you're still sitting. He turns and looks at you, his hand still in yours. "Are you not coming?" He asks.

You look up at him. "Thought you might prefer some one on one time with your sister."

He looks at you with slight confusion. "I would like you come."

You look atchim and then at Death. She smiles at you. You know she won't mind yo tagging along. "What about that favour I promised you?"

"He can wait. He's waited all this time. He can wait a little longer," she says.

"Are you sure?"

"Who?" Morpheus asks.

Neither you nor Death answer him as you stand up. He keeps his hand in yours, looking at you, silently asking what you were talking about. You do not answer him.

Death tells the young man that she would see him soon.

The three of you leave the park.

☆☆☆

The pair of you keep Death company as she goes about her job. You walk beside Morpheus for a while but decide to trail behind the two. You wanted him to spend time with his sister.

Following Death around was not going to be the easiest thing for you, but you would stick it out for Dream's sake.

Death saw her role as a gift, and you supposed it was. She couldn't be there for everyone, but for those she could, it meant more than you knew. To spend your last moment with a friendly face, a guiding hand, a comforting word.

Her job was hard, but she loved it.

The old man in the apartment sho had been playing music. He was alone until Death came. She allowed him to say his prayer before taking his hand.

The sound of her wings brought you comfort.

The young man on his honeymoon. He was worried for his wife. It was sad to see when his body was brought up onto the bank. Death guided him away. You had held Dream's hand. He looked at you quietly.

The baby. It had barely lived. Its life had only juat begun, but Death was doing her job. When it was time to go, it was time to go. No matter how young or old. When Death had taken the baby into the other room, you had hid in his chest. He wrapped his arm around you and held you to him.

The sound of her wings was all you could hear.

☆☆☆

Death linked her arm with you as you walked together. Morpheus was trailing behind you both.

"I'm sorry you had to see that."

"Don't be." You tell her. "Some people see death as cruel and uncaring, but that couldn't be further than the truth. You do care. You're there to guide them when they go. Life can be cruel, but unfortunate and terrible things happen every day. We can not change them."

She smiles at you. "You're so wise."

You chuckle. "I try to look at things from every angle. The world is not so black and white."

"No. It is not." She smiles. "Now, about my brother."

You look at her. "Yes?"

"How are things?"

You chuckle softly again. "We are well, all things considering. I think he's just a little lost. All those things he said before, I had no idea about."

Death looks at you with a gentle gaze. "He does not open his heart to you?"

"I think, perhaps, he has forgotten how. Perhaps it's just been too long. I remember how he was when you first introduced him to me. Perhaps he just always was that way."

She shakes her head. "No. He knows he can tell you anything. I think he's forgotten what it was like. He was gone for over a century. That's a long time without company. A long time without you."

"I want to find him a new purpose."

Death smiles. "You're a good woman."

"The best," you chuckle.

She gives your arm a squeeze and laughs with you. "I hope you know he loves you. More than anyone he's ever loved before."

"That's quite a statement."

"It's true. It's not easy loving an Endless. You know that. Yet, here you. All these centuries later, and you're still married to him. If that's not love, I don't know what is."

You chuckle. "I do love him. I adore him. I love you too."

Death smiles and throws her arm around you. You chuckle and give her a hug.

"What a family this is."

You both continue to laugh and talk. Morpheus watches you both, wondering what it was you were both talking about. Seeing you smile and laugh made him happy. You look so happy.

He knows he has to do better for you.

You and Death come to a stop and look at each other. Morpheus joins you both.

"Would you mind if I had some tike with my brother?" Death asks, holding your hands.

"Not at all. He's all yours."

Morpheus looks at you. A sadness crosses his face, but it's subtle. You chuckle softly and reach out to caress his cheek.

"Don't worry, I'll see you later."

"Where are going?" He asks.

"To do that favour."

Dream so desperately wants to know what this favour is. What has his sister asked of you? You do not tell him as you kiss his cheek and bid Death goodbye.

Morpheus watches you leave with a sad look. Death rolls her eyes and loops her arm with him.

"You're so whipped."

Morpheus just glares at her lightly and lets her guide him away. All the while, he misses your presence beside him.

☆☆☆

"Where did you send her?" Morpheus asks as they walk.

"To see an old friend. You'll see her later."

They walk in silence for a while, but then Morpheus speaks. "When I was captured, it wasn't me they were looking for. It was you."

Death looks at him. "Yeah. I know."

They continue walking. Morpheus has thoughts running through his head. He thinks about everything he has seen today. His sister's job seems so much more difficult than his own.

"How do you do it?"

"Do what?" She asks.

"This. Be there for all of them."

"I have a job to do, and I do it. When the first living thing existed, I was there. When the last living thing dies, I'll put the chairs on the tables, then out the lights, and lock the universe behind me when I leave. And I'm not there for all of them. There are exceptions. Mad Hettie, and there's your ongoing project."

Morpheus realises something. He knows where you went.

"How's he bearing up after all this time?"

"You mean Hob Gadling?"

Death nods.

"I don't know. I was forced to miss our last appointment." He sighs softly. "Is that the favour?"

Death smiles. "Figured I'd sent him a good sign while I borrowed you for a while."

"Have you and my wife been planning this all along?" Dream asks.

"Yeah," she grins.

Morpheus chuckles softly.

"I'll sure he'd love to see you. You should go catch up with them. He's never too keen to see me though."

Hob defied Death. Refused her. Dream ready knew that much. He had been there from the beginning.

"Does it not bother you?" Dream asks his sister.

"I used to think I had the hardest job in all our family."

"Oh did you?"

"They fear the Sunless Lands. Yet they enter your realm every night without fear."

"And yet, I am far more terrible than you."

Death chuckles softly.

"It was fine in the beginning. Dying and living were new things, and people did them with the enthusiasm they always bring to new things. And then, after a bit, it just got harder."

"But you continued."

"I thought about giving up. Walking out," Death confides in him.

Dream looks at her. He never expected her to say that.

"This was a long time ago. Long before this world. It really started to get to me. I got kind of hard and brittle inside. I mean, people feel as pleased to be born as if they did it themselves. But they get upset and hurt and shaken when they die. Eventually, I learned that all they really need is a kind word and a friendly face, like they had in the beginning."

Morpheus was starting to understand. Now he knew why you wanted him to see his sister. You were looking out for him. Looking after him.

Morpheus is learning a lot about humanity. How they receive his sister's gift. Their attitude toward death. He wondered why they feared the Sunless Lands. Death is natural. Yet, as much as they fear it, they accept it.

She is their friend at the end of the line.

He understands.

☆☆☆

The siblings walk back toward the park together.

"It's funny looking back now, I used to think I had to do this all by myself."

"But you do," Dream says.

"No. At the end, I'm there with them. I'm holding their hand, and they're holding mine. I'm not alone when I'm doing my job. Neither are you."

Morpheus looks at her.

"Think about it. The only reason we even exist. You and I, and Desire, and Despair. The whole family. We're here to serve them."

Dream looks around.

"It isn't about quests or finding purpose outside our function. Our purpose is our function. We're here for them. Since I figured that out, I realised. I need them as much as they need me."

They continue walking.

"I've seen so many cool things, and people and worlds. I've learnt so much. Lord of people don't have a job they love doing, so they? So, I think I'm very lucky."

Death looks at her brother. "Listen, I've got to head back soon."

Dream takes her hand in his and faces her. "You've taught me something I have forgotten. I thank you, my sister."

"That's what family's about, brother."

The same young man who was here earlier runs past again, trying to catch the ball. There is the sound of a car screeching.

Dream knows what had happened.

"You should go meet up with your lovely wife, Dream. She is waiting."

Dream smiles softly at his sister. "Yes. She is. Thank you."

Death smiles back and let's go of his hand.

Dream leaves while Death helps that young man. Today has truly been a learning experience for Morpheus.

Now he wanted to see you again, you and his old friend.

☆☆☆

@missdreamofendless - @mischievousvillainy - @kpopgirlbtssvt - @pansexualwitchwhoneedstherapy - @emarich7 - @lollipopsandlandmines - @mouth-whore -

[gretavanlace]

Poppins (part 7)

Jake Kiszka x reader

18+ only! Minors do not interact!

Warnings: graphic sexual content, angst, depression, alcohol abuse, cheating, illusions to physical violence, language, drug use (weed, calm down), masturbation, oral sex (f/rec), shitty editing (as always), etc

“It fucked me up.” Jake confesses, passing the dwindling blunt over to you, staring up at the curling smoke as it dances above your heads.

If someone had told you that your night would end lying beside Jake on your living room floor, head and heart still reeling from a most exquisite orgasm and the taste of his own still satiating your appetite for him, you’d have suggested they consider penning fictional novels.

And yet, here you are, and here he is, and it’s bordering on perfect…save for the remembrance of pain that washes the edges of his words in black.

Refusing to tell the story that wasn’t his, he’d decided to quell your interest with one that he felt worthy of sharing.

“She wouldn’t tell the truth. Not at first. Which was a betrayal in and of itself. I thought, who the fuck are you to deny me what I’m entitled to? You know? I deserved the truth…that belonged to me.” He watches you draw in a lungful of smoke and then brushes an errant lock of hair out of your face.

“You did deserve that.” You agree softly on the exhale, avoiding eye contact so as not to break whatever spell has been cast over the two of you to loosen his tongue. “We all deserve that. Truth. Though we so often don’t get it.”

He sighs to let you know he’s heard you, and that he knows you’re right. “I could smell it on her. The deceit hung in her hair like campfire, lingering in her space - sickeningly sweet perfume. It gave me a headache. Every time she touched me it was like swallowing a rock, and she just kept feeding them to me. Jagged pebble after pebble until I was completely weighed down with whatever it was she had done.”

His prose is somehow prettier when he’s describing something ugly.

You can help it no longer, your hand finds his chest. You want to hold him, to soothe him against your breast like a distressed child. “Jake, I’m so sorry.”

He laughs it off, which only makes you hurt worse for him. “Long time ago, babe. She told me, eventually. Told me there had been someone else. Gave me that ‘it only happened once’ bullshit. But she wouldn’t tell me who. I suppose I hated her the most for that. By keeping that from me, she was choosing him, again. Or, at least that’s how it felt at the time. It’s stupid, looking back.”

“No,” you argue with quiet conviction. “It isn’t stupid, Jake. It isn’t.”

The blunt is cashed, and he drops it into his leftover tea with a hissing sizzle, and then relaxes back down onto the rug.

“I asked her to leave. She cried. I cried. She packed a bag and walked out the door. Came back for the rest of her shit later on, and that was that.”

This last bit has truly astounded you. “You lived together?”

“Mhmm,” he hums, folding his hands together over his chest. “If you can call it that, really. You know how often I’m gone.”

“That’s no excuse.” You feel murderous toward this mirage of a woman whom you’ve never met.

“Didn’t say it was.” He points out before continuing. “So, like I said…it fucked me up. Bailed on a bunch of gigs, wouldn’t get out of bed unless it was to wander my drunk ass down the street for a fresh bottle. Stopped showering, couldn’t sleep, all that shit. I forgot about her fish and accidentally let him die. Still feel bad about that one.”

You listen silently. Maybe he needs this…each spoken word feels like it's brand new on his tongue, as if he’s never opened up with such candor about these things hidden. And if he needs a mindful ear and an open heart, you will gladly give that to him. Tonight, and always.

“Josh showed up, because of course he did.” He huffs a breath of a laugh and shakes his head, searching out patterns in your popcorn ceiling. “Asshole beat on the door for an hour before I sobered up enough to hear him. Then beat on it for another hour until I finally hated the noise enough to answer.”

Out of the corner of your eye, you watch him run through imaginary chords along his chest, a habit that presents itself when he’s nervous or angry. Right now, you imagine he’s a bit of both.

“He made me get up and shower. Wouldn’t shut the fuck up until I had. Cleaned up the trash that had piled itself up in disgusting mountains around my bed. I’ll never forget that. Walking into my room and seeing those trash bags. Five of them just completely crammed to hell and back full. That’s what it took. Those bags. Who was this? This guy who sleeps with trash and whiskey bottles and doesn’t shower, right? One of the most astonishing realizations of my life and I made it with a filthy towel that had been lying on my bathroom floor for god knows how long wrapped around my waist.”

Your heart aches painfully for him. You can’t even begin to equate that scenario with the beautiful, cocky, brilliant, man before you. Still, you’ve never felt closer to him, it’s like he’s unlocked a door and invited you inside. Except this time, he isn’t giving you the shiny tour. Now you’ve been ushered in and he’s letting you peek into the junk drawer.

“It only got worse from there. He combed the knots out of my hair…took him forever, and it made me feel loved and like shit all at once. Fucking prick ordered me to strip my bed while he threw the windows open.” He makes prick sound like a term of endearment. “Then he just came out with it. Just fuckin’ said it while he tromped around cleaning like he owned the place.”

You wait while, presumably, he gathers his thoughts, or maybe his wits, or perhaps both…but you don’t push. As far as you’re concerned, you’d lie on this floor with him and wait forever, just so he never feels as lonely as he must’ve felt then.

“He said,” he waves a hand above your heads as though setting the scene. But really, you know this to be a strange quirk of his, this slightly theatrical flare that colors his words when he’s recounting his twin. “Jake, this might be terrible fucking timing, but we’re gonna do this now. You’re going to hate me, and that scares the shit outta me, but you deserve to know, and you deserve to hear it from me.”

“I knew right then, the second he said that, but I waited because….” His hand drops and reaches for your own, warm and tight in grip, like those confident handshakes that seem so important to some “I guess I waited because I didn’t want to know. Two extra seconds of blissful ignorance was too tempting to let go of. Doubt I even got two, seemed more like a fraction of a second before he was out with it. ‘It was me’, that’s all he said because he knew that’s all he had to say. He understood that on some level, I’d probably known all along.”

As difficult as it had been to equate Jake with the melted down version of himself he had described, imagining Josh - all love, sunny smiles, and sweet sentiment - caring so little about his brother’s heart, is impossible. It had to have been some imposter standing in Joshua’s shoes; a monster tucked away inside his brain steering him headlong into cruel flippancy.

It makes you angry. What a foreign feeling when it comes to these two. “It was horrible, what he did to you.” There are worse things bitten back on your tongue.

He’s playing with your fingers now, turning them this way and that, inspecting them as if they’re much more interesting than you’ve ever thought them to be. “Like I told you before, he was drunk and she was somethin’ else. She had the sweetest voice…always sounded like she’d swallowed a bit of helium. It used to drive me crazy, that cotton candy voice of hers.”

A pang of jealousy, unwelcome and unwanted, creeps to life inside you, but you hide it well - you think.

“He earned points,” he continues on. “By telling me…and she was right not to tell me. I don’t know what would have happened if I’d heard it from anyone but him. And hearing her say it? That she’d fucked my brother - with that voice of hers, all honey and sugar dripping all over his name, I think it might have killed me.”

It dawns on you, suddenly and sickeningly, “Is that what I am? What this is? You loved her, and you believe he loves me, so you’ve found an angle? Are you using me to break his heart the way he broke yours?”

The very thought makes your stomach tighten and twist around itself.

Somehow, he knows - how does he always seem to know? - and he places his wide, warm palm across your navel gently and then rolls atop you, nudging the tip of your nose with the tip of his own, an innocent Eskimo kiss that sets your pulse wild.

“You aren’t a pawn in some bullshit game between brothers, poppins. Far from it. But I’ll play with you anyway if you’d like.”

Fuck, the cashmere of his voice, the way it billows into the night like a gauzy curtain flutters in a summer breeze. Vocal chords oscillating as his guitar strings do, humming straight into your heart.

You shove aside all the need he has once again flickered to life inside you and ask, “What happened then?” Your question is meek, as if you’re afraid of the answer.

“After he told me, you mean?” He murmurs against your neck…mouth hot and wet as it searches for places that will make you sigh.

“I kicked his ass wearing only a towel, which didn’t stay on long, so you can imagine how that must’ve looked.”

An unexpected laugh responds to his unexpected joke and you watch him soften…he loves your voice, too. Maybe not as much as he had loved hers, but there is an undeniable affection there that will do just fine for you.

“I made an even worse mistake, as I am so often wont to do. In some ridiculous quest for revenge, I made it even worse.”

He sounds loathsome of himself, so you stroke through his hair, comforting him, loving him this way. Still, you can sense the book closing, he has talked enough for tonight. The wound reopened, split apart and bleeding.

You cauterize it with a joke, just to hear that gentle chuckle of his. “So, no naked grudge match carried out in your depression room? Oh, the disappointment is crushing, Jakey.”

You’re gifted with the laugh you’d so hoped for. “No, babe, that definitely happened. But if you ever feel the need to retell that story, have mercy on me and leave that part out.”

A quiet descends around you like a comforting caul…dragging you back down into the blissful trenches where there is only him. Only Jake.

No peculiar sibling rivalry. No strange twin bond that you’ll never begin to understand. No confusion. No complications…

But never no Josh. Even when there is only Jake, there is still Josh. He lingers in your peripheral vision, a blurry specter watching, reminding. The same way Jacob floats about in your heart when Josh’s hands and eyes are on you.

Jake speaks into the hush first. “You heard me when I said you aren’t a pawn in some fucked up game, right?” His hand is trailing down, down, down, now…tucking itself between your legs, playing with you idly over your panties that are still damp from the last time he decided to grace you with his touch. “I mean, you really heard me, right?”

“Yeah,” it rides out on a feathery moan as your legs spread further apart for him.

“Yeah?” He’s satisfied with your answer, and taunting you a bit now. Sweetly mocking how lost you seem to already be.

“Jake…” it’s a whimper and you don’t care.

“I suppose this is alright, don’t you think, poppins? If I touch you here? Done it before, haven’t I? And he has too, hasn’t he, babe?” He doesn’t pause for your answer. “Playing field’ll stay nice and even, even if I make you cum in these pretty wet panties, won’t it?”

Your hand has wrapped itself around his wrist, urging him to keep going. “If it isn’t a game between the two of you, why is there a field?”

“That’s such an excellent point, baby doll.” He breathes, soft and slow, against the shell of your ear. “Fuck keeping things even, yeah? How about something new? Would you like that, hmm? If I did something new to you?”

“Don’t tease me,” you whine, devoid of absolutely any shame. “Just do it, Jake, please.”

You don’t even know what you’re begging for, nor do you care.

“Do what, babe?” His fingers are inching under the lace you wish would disappear. “What if I make my way down?” Those same fingers are now tapping against your lips. You lap over them and he groans at the curl of your tongue before he’s walking down your body with them like two tiny legs. “What if I just kiss my way down until my face is between these pretty thighs and my mouth is against your sweet little cunt.”

“Oh god, Jake, please…” you’re shoving at his shoulders now as he grins through a bite to your throat. “Please!”

He’s at your breasts all at once, tugging your shirt as he had before until you pull it off. That mouth you’re aching so badly for, closes around your nipple, sucking as his teeth sink in deeply enough to make you squirm away.

“Does that hurt?” He pants through licks and suckles that threaten to tear you into the tiniest of pieces.

“No.”

“Then lie fucking still.” The way it trips off his delectable tongue, heated and unwavering, causes you to clench around nothing.

You do as you’re told and pray silently for him to make his way lower and lower.

Like the deity he seems to be, he hears your prayers and answers them by dipping down to lavish an open mouthed kiss upon you, savoring you through the soaked material that once served as underwear, but has now been demoted to an annoyance to be dealt with.

The moment his lips meet silk, he pulls back as if you’ve burnt him, fingertips to his gorgeous mouth like he can’t believe this is real. Coincidentally, neither can you.

“Let me see, poppins,” his chest heaves with every word, fighting to be heard. “Show me where you want my mouth, pretty girl.”

Yanking your panties to the side you once again begin to beg. You can’t seem to help it, and he seems to like that very much.

“There?” He offers that conspiring, lopsided smirk. “And what should I do with my mouth right there, babe? Would you like a little kiss?”

With a growl that sounds like you’re little more than a feral cat mouthing off, your hands fist in his hair and yank him in with force that catches him off guard enough that he loses balance and sort of falls into place, groaning vibrations against your cunt until they spark and sizzle down to your toes.

He strokes the flat of his tongue over your clit, once, twice, three times, then rolls onto his back, taking you with him.

With you now perched and writhing above him, he spanks your thigh, and, with his eyes blazing up at you, sends you reeling with a gravelly “Well, c’mon then, Mary Poppins…feed it to me.”

You’ve been known to do a stupid thing a time or two, but never anything as stupid as wasting time when Jake is asking for something as depraved as what he happens to be asking for now. To that end, you lower yourself down, head falling back to cry out to a god you think you might not even believe in, when he yanks you down completely.

There’s no way he can breathe, but the way he is sucking you in, there’s no way he cares. Praise and pleas for more muffle against you, as does his drawn out moan when he tugs his cock free and wraps a fist around it.

Tongue fucking inside you now, perfect nose brushing rhythmically over your swollen clit, your hips begin to chase it now all on their own.

He nods in urgent approval and sends his fist flying over his cock faster as your toes sweep over the muscles flexing and pumping wildly in his arm.

Growls and groans of lust and exertion press inside you as he drags you closer and closer to that bright and stunning end. Hands in his hair, you let him take you there. Though you might be steering the ship, he is the sea upon which you sail.

“Cum with me, fuck Jake, please please please, I want it, want it so bad…” have you even made a sound at all? You can’t be sure until you feel him nod again beneath you, his free arm wrapping around your waist to pull you down even closer, like he wants to get lost and disappear inside you.

He has built a shimmering, iridescent world, all for you, but you don’t step into it alone. He goes along, reaching up to grab your hand with a barely discernible gasp of your name, just to save you from feeling lonely in your heaven.

Somehow, when the blurry haze begins to clear your head, you’re on your back again, quietly sobbing for air as your body trembles with divine aftershocks.

“You’re fucking beautiful,” he wonders almost silently…face pink and shining with you and breathtaking. “God, you make my chest ache. It hurts to look at you, sometimes.”

Shying away from his worshipful prose, you feel around for your shirt, eyes watching his mouth. You adored it before, and now you’d simply lay down and die for it without thought.

You clean him up. Carefully dragging cotton over his hand, stomach and belt where he has spilled and made an indulgent mess…you contemplate using your mouth, but think maybe the moment has passed.

A comfortable, nearly domestic, quiet takes over until finally, you ask him to stay.

He declines with sweet kisses upon your cheek, and lets you in on another secret - he’s leaving to pay a visit to his favorite tree in the park. He plans to sit a while, as it’s where he does some of his best thinking.

You don’t ask what he plans to think about beneath an old sugar maple at close to four in the morning. Maybe you’d like to know, you figure, but maybe you shouldn’t.

~

The morning finds you showered and a least somewhat put together, wandering through the very same park. Meandering towards the rusty back and forth creak of a swing set.

Josh waits just where he said he’d be when he’d phoned to ask you to join them.

Looking casual and clean in crisp joggers and a band T that you know, without a doubt, smells of fabric softener - he is relaxed back against a bench, contently watching Lil’s ponytail fly as she chases around with her tiny companion - a friend from the neighborhood. He’s the sweetest thing who is almost always happy to let Lily boss him a bit. They often remind you of what the twins must’ve been like as children.

You slide into position beside Josh and he ponders as if you’ve been conversing for hours. “Remember what that was like? Just running to run? Look how happy she is.”

His question is rhetorical, his smile sly, when he turns his attention to your face. “Look how happy you are, sweetheart. You’re glowing. Is it safe to assume that my lesser half paid you a visit last night?”

You feel your lips part stupidly in shock.

“He called me this morning, just after I called you.” He shrugs casually. “Told me he was around and that the two of you talked. I know what ‘talking’ means when it comes to Jacob.”

You shake it off, grounding yourself by watching his lovely daughter rather than the twinkling accusations in his eyes. “We did talk.”

“Amongst other things, I’m sure.” He blows right by his own comment and leans in a little closer. “Do you think less of me now? Now that you know exactly what I did to him? Because you should.”

“No.” You answer without hesitation, and truthfully. “And he said he did something even worse, so it seems to me like you two are even.”

“Even?” There’s a disgruntled edge to his tone, but instinctively, you understand that his disgust is centered squarely upon himself. “We’ll never be even. Not after what he gave me to make things right.”

You squint into his eyes, trying to piece together the puzzle. “And how did he make whatever it was he did, right? What did he give you?”

He allows you to stare a while and then gives you your answer by shifting his gaze to the tiny beauty laughing in the sandbox.

Taglist: @gretasintrees @gretasmokerising @greta-van-chaos @celestialfauna @s0livagant @groggyvanfleet @kiszkathecook @brokenbellz @llightmyllovee @doodle417 @seventieswhore @jake-kiszkas-smirk @weightofdreams-gvf @alisonwonderland29 @gretavanfleas @gretavangroove @xserenax-13 @tbagggvf @obetrolncocktails @tripthelightjaketastic @jakeslovehandles @poofyloofy @70sgroupielovr @heatmyfleet @age-of-nyahh @sammiboo162 @spicedandicedtea @jakekiszkasleftnutsack @saoirsemaeve @thelvnternskeeper @mywickeddivinity @paintmyhouse @tripthelightfandomtastic @tripthelight-fanfic @mckenna4 @sarakay-gvf @theweightofjake @joshsmama @sammysvanfeet @rhythm-of-space @highladyofasgard @jordie-gvf-admin @calumspretty @sunfl0wer-power @sad1lynn @demolitiondann @gvfpal @starcatcher-jake @gretavangroupie @hugorobinson @josh-iamyour-mama

[whysojiminimnida]

MY M2021 NEEDS TO GET HERE NOW

Because if this is what we can expect then--

I had to rip this straight off someone's tv on the internet it is not mine and I closed out and don't know who grabbed this but thank you, kind stranger.

WHY IS SHIPPING SO SLOOOWWWW Because also there is this

UH. My merciful heavens. I'm not a Taegi shipper (SOPE EXISTS) but whoever was in charge of hair extensions for that shoot? I love them.

AND ALSO

I know, we have all already seen this one but bless, I do need to see it again, it is beautiful. LOOK HERE what's poppin girl

OH MY STARS AND GARTERS GET THE SMELLING SALTS AND CALL ME AN AMBULANCE. Imagine the shower haircolor wash-out session, just purple and red all running everywh--WE'RE NOT HERE FOR THAT DAMN The poor guy who's feeding me ice cream tonight has no idea that he really should just be a 25 year old gaysian man with a boyfriend if he actually wants my attention.

[shitpostingiris]

Fic inspired, beta read, and my second in hand with writing this fic @moss-is-a-tasty-snack

lost and found

Part 1 Part 2 Part 3 Part 4 Part 5

Chapter 6- A much needed reminder

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Laughter. The noise that filled the park in the midmorning sunlight. Morpheus watched with a pang of jealousy as his wife drifted about the park between couples and friends, her own joy resonating in the breeze. He couldn't help but be transfixed by y/n's graceful figure, her long sundress rippling freely behind her as he absentmindedly fed some pigeons. "Heads up!" came a voice from the group playing football, as Dream lifted his hand to catch it, without removing his gaze from one specific bird. "Sorry, man. Nice catch, though" as a young man jogged over to collect the mis-shot ball, thanking him as he left. As the man left, distracted by the Endless' sibling, Death meandered over to sit beside her brother on the bench. "What're you doin'?" She inquired, casually, trying a smile to catch her little brother's attention. "I'm feeding the pigeons" dream responded with an obvious tone, looking down, melancholy, at the bread in his hands. Death simply nodded and smiled, knowing her next words perfectly, " You do that too much, you know what you get?...fat pigeons…" she joked, sadly failing with her reference to Mary Poppins. At that moment, an excited young girl ran through the birds, disturbing them. Dream looked up from his silence and stared daggers at the child, before his sister broke him from his thoughts, "Okay, so what's the matter?". " What do you mean?" He muttered, again fixating on a point in the ground "I can tell something's wrong, I mean, look at you, sitting here moping, pigeon-feeding. It's not like you, especially when your beloved is so close by.” Dream looked up to stare at his wife, sighing as he threw bread at the birds below him. “Perhaps you’re right. Something is the matter. When they captured me, I just had one thought. Vengeance. It wasn’t as satisfying as I’d expected. Meanwhile, my kingdom has fallen apart. My love, wounded and drained, almost dying. My tools, long since stolen and scattered, and so I embarked upon a journey to find them once I knew y/n was okay. Which I did. I am more powerful than I have been in eons….and yet.” Dream went quiet and Death spoke “Here you are feeding the pigeons.” Dream looked at his sister with a pitiful look on his face, tears brimming his lashes “you see, until then, I’d have a true purpose. A purpose beyond my function, and then suddenly it was over, and…….I felt disappointed. Let down. Empty. I sit here and watch my wife interact with these mortals bringing love to everyone around her. All I’ve done in the past century is be captured and let my tools do almost unchangeable damage to the waking world. Does that make sense? I was so sure that once I got my wife and my tools back , I’d feel good. But in some ways I feel worse than when I started. I feel like…..nothing.” Bringing his gaze back down to his lap “there you asked.”

From a couple of benches away, y/n's face turns to the siblings, a smile growing on her face at seeing Death. Getting up from the blossoming romance she was nurturing, she crossed the distance, perching herself on the bench next to her husband. "No need to halt your conversation for me, please continue." Y/n encouraged, crossing a leg over the other, resting her chin in her hand in interest. Death smiled at y/n before turning back to dream “you could have called me, you know” Dream shaking his head “I didn’t want to worry you.” Death quickly stood to stand in front of Dream “oh, I don’t believe it. Let me tell you something, Dream. And I’m only going to say this once, so you better pay attention. You are utterly the stupidest, most self-centered, pathetic excuse for an anthropomorphic personification on this or any other plane.” Y/n couldn’t help herself but to snicker at Death's words. “Feeling sorry for yourself because your little game is over and you haven’t got the balls to go out and find a new one. You’re as bad as Desire. No, worse.” Death threw the bread at Dream causing y/n to try and conceal her laugh. "Did it ever occur to you that I would be worried about you?” Y/n looked over at Dream with amusement in her eyes seeing her husband gape up at his sister trying to interrupt “I didn’t think-“ Death quickly interrupted dream “exactly. You didn’t think!” The whistle of a ball flying through the air again broke the tension "Heads up!" The same guy from before shouted as Death caught the ball mid-air with scary accuracy. "Wow. You're as good as your…friend there." Death smiled as she handed back the ball, shaking her head slightly "He's not my friend. He's my brother…and he's an idiot. That's my sister-in-law, she puts up with the idiot." The young man smiled and laughed before jogging off back to his friends. Y/n nuzzled her head into Dream's shoulder, "I'm just feeding the pigeons" he sounded slightly offended. Y/n chuckled “we know you are Dream, But your sister is right. You need not envy anyone or sit here and mope.” Y/n stood clapping her hands together as she made eye contact with Death, seemingly both having the same idea.

As they walked down the stone road death stopped at the fruit stand. Asking the man for three apples before dream shook his head stating he didn’t want one. Y/n smiled at the man nodding that she would like one. The man placed one apple in y/n and Death's palms “on the house for you two beautiful ladies.” The man winked at the two causing Dream to raise a brow and scowl, y/n linking arms with him as they walked away. Dream spoke between the two “you both are so good with them” y/n looked up questioning “apples?” Shaking his head “humans, y/n.” Death asking if either of them had seen any of the other siblings since Dream returned. Y/n cutting her eyes at her sister-in-law at the mention of the Endless siblings. Death not getting the silent hint, she went on talking about the social event that was undertaken in his absence "we did have one family dinner, when you were away…the twins were in high spirits, well Desire was, anyway." Dream snickered under his breath at that notion "With me gone, I have no doubt." Y/n recoiled slightly at the unpleasant memory. "I don't know. I think Desire missed their usual sparring partner across the dinner table. Oh! Y/n came, too…" Death trailed off as she saw the angelic face fall. Dream quickly shifted subject, hugging his wife's side to his own, "Any word of the prodigal?" To which his sister responded soberly, "No, still missing. You were both missed." As the day went on both y/n and Dream shadowed Death as she worked. Y/n could see Dream understanding humanity as they encountered more souls becoming more sympathetic for the mortals. The weight of Death's job weighed down on y/n's heart as they walked back to the park. Death explaining to Dream her own hardships with who she was. Y/n zoned out as she was lost in her own thoughts picking up on bits and pieces of Death's words “our purpose is our function.” “realized I need them as much as they need me.” A smile painted her lips coming back around as they entered the park. Looking up to Dream as he spoke to his sister, grabbing her hands into his own “you’ve taught me something I had forgotten. I thank you my sister.” Death smiled at Dream “that’s what family is for. One last appointment then I have to go.” Y/n's eyes widened at the word appointment, a word she used to describe their meetings with a certain immortal centuries ago. Looking at Dream with a large smile when he said they had an appointment as well. Their last meeting didn’t go so well then Dream got captured. Y/n silently hoped the man would still be there waiting for them. She could remember the exact date they all first met Hob Gadling.

— 1389 —

Y/n and Dream stood outside a tavern. Death hurriedly ushering them along “come on then you two.” Dream grumpily argued with his sister “I do not see what purpose this will serve.” Death turned to argue with her sibling as they walked closer to the door “at least I get out and meet them. I just think maybe it would be good for you to see them on their terms. Instead of yours.” One of the many times Death tried to teach Dream about humanity. Y/n happy to follow the pair along and watch Dream squirm as he reluctantly observed the mortals. Y/n followed them into the tavern lightly laughing at their bickering, sneaking beside her husband to whisper in his ear "Play nice, love. You may thank me for it later" before winking and falling slightly behind again. Death speaking to a man ordering an ale for the group. Y/n wrinkling her nose at the idea and the smell of the tavern. Silently wishing she would’ve stayed back in the Dreaming. The trio stood there at the door for a minute as they scanned the room observing the mortals. Y/n chuckled at Death's words when she took a sip of the ale leaning in to whisper “I could’ve told you that just by the smell alone, Death.” As they walked around, y/n could hear all the drunken men whisper about and catcall her. Dream death-glaring any man he made eye contact with that dared to make comments about his wife.

Y/n picked up on different and broken parts of conversations around the tavern trying to avoid the advancements of the many men who tried. Until one conversation peaked all of their attention “look, I’ve seen death.” They turned to look at the man listening more intently to his conversation “I lost half my village to the Black Death. I fought under Buckingham in Burgundy. It’s not like I don’t know what death is. Death is……stupid.” Y/n raised a brow looking to Death as Dream did the same. An unspoken agreement between the trio as the mortal man still spoke “Nobody has to die. The only reason people die is…..is 'cause everyone does it. You all just go along with it. But not me. I’ve made up my mind…I’m not going to die.” The men around him laughed, one saying Death comes for every man. They all looked back to the man with amusement as he argued with the men at the table. Even Dream carried a small smile as he leaned into Death “why would any sensible creature crave an eternity of this?” Death looked at her brother, forming a plan “you could find out.” Y/n smiled at Death knowing exactly what she was doing. “I could grant him his wish.” Dream spoke with a sense of competitiveness “Do that, and he will be begging for death within a century, I assure you.” Y/n linking her arm with Dream's as she entered the conversation “this will prove very interesting. Are you going to tell him, darling? Or should Death?.” Dream pulled his wife along to the man’s table. The table going quiet with their presence, Dream spoke “did I hear you say you had no intention of ever dying?" The man choked out a laugh “uh, yeah. Yeah, that’s right.” Y/n leaned in closer to the man with a smile “then you must tell us what it’s like. Let us meet here again, Robert Gadling, in this tavern of the White Horse in 100 years.” Y/n righted herself with a knowing smile as the other men laughed and doubted amongst themselves. The man’s brows furrowed together at the fact the beautiful woman knew his full name. Recovering quickly he spoke again, addressing the two with smugness “a hundred years time, on this day sweetheart?” Y/n let out a small laugh at the man’s pet name, Dream scowling at the mortal. Y/n nodded at the man’s question, he spoke again “I will see you both in the year of our lord 1489, then.” Y/n gave the man a small smile and a small bow of her head with acknowledgment before going to follow after Dream only to collide with his chest. He looked down at her, with a mischievous glint in his eyes. He whispered in her ear "just trust me, my sweet" with an almost imperceptible nod from y/n, Dream clasped one of his hands around her waist and the other around the back of her neck, dropping her back and lowering her into a deep, passionate kiss. This earned a few wolf-whistles and some light smatterings of applause, but as they both stood back up, Morpheus turned to address Hob, "call my wife anything but her name again, and our little bargain may be suspended. Understood?"

As the centuries passed they continued to meet with Hob. Dream fascinated with Hob's will to live. Y/n and Dream had seen him rise and fall through their meetings, but nothing made the man want to quit living. Always excited for the next big thing. Y/n and Hob grew close over the years. The pair developing a sibling-like relationship the more they bickered and laughed with each other. A relation Dream had to slowly come to terms with, but with warning words from his wife, he decided to let the chip on his shoulder rest. The last meeting the group had, y/n could remember the fight word for word. Hob and Dream had a falling out. Y/n almost called it a lover's quarrel, but she knew better than most where her husband's heart lay.

In 1889, Dream and y/n entered the tavern not before being stopped by a woman, y/n frowning as she could see into the young woman’s heart seeing all the pain. Deciding not to lash out as she spouted off vile things to her husband taking pity on her. Hob came to the door and hurried her off, bringing the two inside. It all started off normal, well their strange sense of normal, for the trio, y/n and Hob joking around, Dream asking about the past 100 years and if Hob still had the will to live. Until Dream brought up the past of the young woman Hob called Lushing Lou. Y/n's heart ached for the girl. Hob, now curious to how Dream knew the information about the girl he’d never met before “how do you know all of that?” Y/n looked down guiltily. Dream trying to steer the conversation off the topic he spoke “your cup is empty. You need more wine.” Hob scoffed “you knew Lady Johanna. You know Lushing Lou. You know everyone, don’t you?” Dream speaking of Lady Johanna hoping again to side track hob “I saw her again, you know. She undertook a task for me. And succeeded admirably, I might add.” Hob's tone changed as he spoke to Dream “that might be the only thing I’ve learned after 500 years. People are almost always better than you think they are. Not me though, still the same as ever.” Y/n piped up into the conversation looking to Hob with hopeful eyes “I think perhaps you have changed” he looked over to y/n “well I may have learnt a bit from my mistakes that’s it. Doesn’t seem to stop me from making them.” Hob let out a breathy laugh before looking to Dream “I think it’s you who’s changed.” Y/n could sense a fight about to break out between the two but stayed quiet hoping Dream wouldn’t over-react hearing him say a quick ‘how so’. Hob's features changed slightly, y/n lowering herself down slightly “I think I know why we still meet here century after century. It’s not because you want to see whether or not I’m ready to seek Death. I don’t think I’ll ever seek Death by now you know that about me so I think you’re here for something else.” Dream didn’t back down from the man’s challenging words “and what might that be?” Hob's eyes never left Dream's face “friendship. I think you’re lonely.” Y/n groaned quietly knowing Hob had finally done it. Quickly grabbing Dream's hands with her own. “Calm down please, love” y/n pleaded with Dream but his anger rose as he mulled over Hob's words “you dare suggest one such as I might need your companionship. I have my wife, and she has kept me satisfied for centuries!” Y/n looked between the two with pleading eyes, hoping one of them would calm down. She winced at Hob's fallen face as he whispered a quick ‘yes. Yes I do’. Dream quickly stood up from the table “then I shall take my leave of you and prove you wrong.” Hob quickly rising at the words. y/n silently cursing at them both. She stood you place a hand on Hob's shoulders “I’m so sorry Hob, I’ll talk to him, I promise. He knows deep down you are his friend. He just won’t admit it to himself.” With that y/n quickly ran after Dream into the rain, Hob following them both as he yelled “tell you what! I’ll be here in a hundred years time. If you’re here, then it'll be because we’re friends. No other reason right?” Y/n gave Hob a quick look, tears shining in her eyes, giving him a quick nod. Hearing a quiet ‘fuck’ from Hob before they disappeared.

A century later, Hob returned in hopes of healing the damage caused from that night, however after a whole day of waiting, even well into the night, neither showed their faces. Little did he know that Dream was captured in the Burgess' basement, and his wife still in the Dreaming, too weak to make the journey. Still, their absence left an ache in Hob's heart, that lay in wait for a few more decades. Until the present day. Dream and y/n, walked arm in arm toward the new pub, hoping to Destiny and the Fates that he would be there. Luckily for them, when they entered and turned a slight corner, they all spotted each other and reunited, in the 21st century, Dream happy to be with his wife and friend, the damaging argument forgotten. Y/n ran to Hob with open arms, hugging the man so tightly he almost couldn’t breath. She looked up with tears brimming “I’m so glad you’re here.” Dream walked up to the two with a small smile “I've always heard it impolite to keep one's friends waiting." Y/n smiled between the two knowing everything was fine for the moment.

——————————————————

[abysscronica]

In your scenarios with Birdie being a moth there was that scene when she needed to breastfeed and so she just whipped out the girls without much thought to heat/wire/killer being in the room (which was HILARIOUS btw) so a few questions based on that

1) was she always that bold when it came to feeding her kids when it came to the first two or was it more of a “by the third she just didn’t gaf and wanted to get it done” kind of thing😂

2) so in Captive kid didn’t really seem to have that much of a serious issue with birdie being nude in front of others like killer (like when she went out in his coat) and kind of used it as a way to embarrass and poke fun and her, so when he freaks out at birdie for poppin a tit in front of his most trusted crew members was it an actual “I’m worried they might get lustful thoughts about my girl” thing or more of a “it’s the principle of the matter” thing?

3) did birdie get any particularly weird pregnancy cravings? I know some of them stem from the baby taking too many vitamins or minerals so I can just imagine her spooning salt into her mouth like “fuck it I need something salty right tf now and this is the quickest solution”

Also just some funny thoughts I had: I feel bad for Doc cause being a pirate doctor probably doesn’t exactly require a lot of knowledge on pregnancies so the poor man probably had to study up on it real hard and have to see parts of birdie waaay more often than he would’ve liked to😂 also I can just imagine Heat being the best boy he is getting Birdie a little something as a kind of baby shower gift since she helped him out with getting a lady gift I can see him shyly giving her a poorly crocheted blue baby hat that’s way too big but it’s the thought that counts🥺💕 (also I was the one who originally suggested it so let me again say: justice for kid!! Give the man a little titty suck after the actual kid gets their turn for curiosity’s sake!!)

Hey, thank you for your questions! Let's dive right into them.

Actually, the scene you're referring to happens with the twins, her first kids. So yeah, she didn't care much from the beginning. The thing is birdie doesn't really mind her nudity in general, it's not something she's particularly prudish about. Even before having kids, she mentions that every man had seen her naked at some point. She probably saw them too. If she trusts someone, it's not a big deal for her.

Kid doesn't care about her nudity in the early phases of Captive, when he doesn't have feelings for birdie yet. As his feelings grow, so does his possessiveness. That time with Killer, Kid wasn't actually present and he didn't see the incident. However, when it comes to his trusted men, it's more of a "principle" thing. He's not jealous because he thinks they may try something, or lust over birdie for real, but he doesn't like that they know her body and can picture her naked. He wants to be the only one who knows all of her scars, moles, spots, whatever.

I bet birdie had a lot of cravings. I will write something about it in the future, probably a one shot on her second pregnancy. I also think Heat is the one who indulged her the most, he would get up in the middle of the night to get what she wanted more than Kid would. Killer also would make sure that they're always stocked up on different kinds of food. Kid is less patient, so he'd let them handle it for the most part, probably force some of the other men to be at birdie's disposal too. 😭 But he would be there for the horny phase, that's for sure, he was waiting for it like his personal hot Christmas. ♥️

I haven't really written anything on birdie's first pregnancy because that happened when they were still in the scramble for the One Piece, so the situation was very complicated. I have ideas, but I'm waiting to see what happens with the Kid Pirates in canon because I want to know if/how I can turn it canon for my stories.

But yeah, the doctor would have to dust his knowledge on gynecology and obstetrics a lot, and Heat would be best big bro. ❤️ He'd definitely get a baby shower gift for birdie, probably force the other men to do the same.

ALSO you convinced me, I will write a Breastfeeding 3.0 one shot when Kid finally conquers his goals. 💪

[koolkat9]

What are your favorite musicals and which musicals would you assign to your favorite countries based on personality? Yes, This is me asking what Music themes you'd assign them too I guess without looking at youtube and seeing videos 10 years old. I miss seeing Character Theme videos.

Oooh this is a good one! I'm also going to share musicals that make me think of some ships too because I want to ramble about the two musicals that make me think of a GerEng AU.

Okay but Characters.

Canada- Dear Evan Hansen

I know. Kind of basic. But I love DEH. "Waving Through a Window" is such a Mattie song. But what really sells the idea for me is that "So Big / So Small" is such a good song for Royal Red Bros. Francis is the dad that left, and Arthur tries to pick up the pieces, but also fails Matthew. Just the dynamic between Evan's Mom and Evan is just perfect for these two. Like Evan's mom does love Evan, but being a single mom isn't easy and to provide for him she has to work ridiculous hours so she's not there for him physically. Which is a similar postion Arthur finds himself in.

Also the lines

"That night I tucked you into bed

I will never forget how you sat up and said

'Is there another truck coming to our drive way?

A truck that will take mommy away.'"

Just hit me so hard with feels for Arthur and Matt. Just imagining a little Mattie asking Arthur one night if Arthur is going to leave him behind too. Because Francis left and Arthur seems so much more focused on Alfred. Matthew it terrified it will happen again. And it breaks Arthur's heart.

ALTERNATIVELY

Canada - Next to Normal (Specifically the song "Superboy and the Invisible Girl")

I don't know enough about what this musical is actually about other than we follow our main character Diana who is struggling with bipolar disorder and hallucinations of her dead son. And basically I think it shows how her condition affects her family?

But we did "Superboy and the Invisible Girl" for some concert once and I actually played Diana. And every time I rehearsed this song, all I could think of was ACE Family.

It is primarily Natalie, Diana's daughter, feeling neglected and ignored because of her Mother's grief over her son's death.

This line really makes me think of the two, especially after Alfred has become independent and Matthew attempts to pick up the pieces of a broken Arthur:

"Super boy and the invisible girl

He's the one you'd wish would appear

He's your hero, forever your son

He's not here, I am here"

---

America - Hamliltion

For obvious reasons. American history. Main character is smart, but also so impulsive. "I'm not Throwing Away my Shot" always make me think of Al.

---

England - Mary Poppins

Of course I choose something obvious. You know how much I love Arthur with kids. And Mary Poppins is that strict parental figure, but she does want what's best for the kids in her care, and I think that's perfect for Arthur.

Also I just love imagining Arthur singing "Feed the Birds."

Also also. get 2p England involved and make Oliver Bert. So double the Englands making it more fitting. Alternatively Gilbert could be Bert to make it Pruk instead.

---

GerEng - Chitty Chitty Bang Bang

I have this whole musical casted with Hetalia characters. But the summary first because its probably a musical not many know. I really don't know how to encompass everything so I'm just going to steal the summary from IMDb:

"A down-on-his-luck inventor turns a broken-down Grand Prix car into a fancy vehicle for his children, and then they go off on a magical fantasy adventure to save their grandfather in a far-off land."

God I had orginally had a long decription of a cast list for this but I'll ramble about that in another post. All you need to know though:

Arthur as Caratacus Potts - The down on his luck inventor and single father. Sometimes his work distracts him, but he really does love his kids

Ludwig as Truly Scrumptious - A candy heiress who meets the Potts family after almost running over the children when they run out into the road. She and Caratacus kind of get off on the wrong foot when she argues that the kids should be in school and not running around. But after he impresses her with his inventions and she joins them on their adventure in their magic car, the two fall in love.

Peter as Jeremy and Jemimah - Because I can't think of a second child to go with Peter I just have Peter right now. Because I love GerEng being dads to him.

Anyway. The songs.

First we have "You Two" which actually makes me imagine things separate from this au. Because this is also so good for ACE Family. I ramble about it more here.

"Doll On a Music Box" One of my favourite songs to listen too to daydream about GerEng. Just them pulling the same stunt Caratacus and Truly do to rescue the kids. Also Ludwig dressed up as a doll is a nice image.

"Lovely Lonely Man" Could work for either of them, but I always have loved the idea of Ludwig singing this about Arthur. Because Ludwig fell fast just like the song suggests while Arthur took a bit of time. It's just a perfect monologue of Ludwig admitting his feelings to himself.

God I could go on but I'll save the rest for a separate post

---

Okay one last one for GerEng! Music Man.

Summary from Stage Agent: "There’s trouble in River City! When smooth-talking con man Harold Hill arrives in a small, tight-knit town in Iowa, he expects to dupe its residents with his elaborate moneymaking scheme: Despite his complete lack of musical literacy, he will convince everyone that he is a brilliant bandleader and recruit all the boys in town to form a band, pocketing the cash for instruments and uniforms. The problem? Some of the town members, especially the stern librarian, Marian Paroo, don’t quite buy Harold’s story. As Harold struggles to keep his scheme afloat, he also finds himself increasingly attached to the townspeople, who have all experienced a positive change since Harold came to town. Complicating matters even more, Harold is also falling head-over-heels for the beautiful Marian."

God I could go on about this one too, but keeping it brief:

Arthur as the con man Harold Hill selfish and prideful only to have a change of heart by forming genuine connections within the town.

Ludwig as the stern yet also hopeless romantic Marian. That despite knowing Arthur is a con man sees him grow and falls for him

"Goodnight My Someone / Seventy-Six Trombones (Double Reprise)" The two leads main songs coming together with them singing each other's half way through. God I just love thinking of GerEng for this scene so much! I think its so romantic to sing each other's themes to each other.

Also "Goodnight My Someone" on its own is very fitting for Ludwig. As is Marian's chacter as whole. Both are stern indivduals, refusing to take nonsense from anyone. They seem like a stick in the mud, perhaps a little cold, but both have a sweetness deep down, longing for connection. And "Goodnight My Someone" is when we first see this side of Marian.

"Marian the Librarian" Just the back and forth and tension in this song. Hill/Arthur is kind of a dick. Flirting, but really he's just playing a game at this point and bugging Marian/Ludwig at work when they're clearly aren't having it. It's another fun scene I like imagining GerEng. Especially since Arthur is really pushing his luck angering someone who could snap him like a toothpick he'd be into that let's be honest but that's not a discussion for this blog

Thank you anon for letting me combine my love of musical theatre and my love for Hetalia together! I encourage more questions like this actually so don't be scared guys!

[msfbgraves]

I was too deep into Harry Potter lore not to have it pop into my head watching Disney's Mary Poppins. R*wling demonstrably took half of what she wrote from there. But I do like what this crossover tells you about what a cool person Mary Poppins is:

Completely rejects the world order the Potter-related sagas are wanting us to cheer. Isolation from almost the whole world? Nonsense. She's in the world. No visible magic in front of non magical people? (I feel she'd reject the word "Muggle"). Nonsense, again, and she does not suffer nonsense.

Wandless, nonverbal magic and she doesn't even blink.

No knowledge of the nonmagical world? I beg your pardon? That is no way to live. What about all those poor children cast out by the wizards? She'll not have that. She'll find them herself. The Ministry and the Mugwumps - silly, borderline idiotic institutions - can watch her.

No feeding non magical children potions? Edwardian drinks are hardly safe for them, at least she knows what's in them here.

Of course she can levitate without either wand or broomstick. Like it's hard! [Only Voldemort is seen doing that in the books]

Of course she likes a non magical man, thank you, and non magical people can perceive magic just fine. And she'll not be Obliviating anyone afterwards. That causes brain damage and that will not do.

She does all this magic wandless and nonverbal. Do you really want to try her? You do not. The only reason she is not ruling the magical world is that it is a corrupt, soulless institution that is entirely unworthy of her efforts.

She's taken what it has to offer and turned her back on it, only to periodically return to give the Wizengamot a scathing talking to. She's found at least two children in the past five years whose magic had started to curdle inside of them. She's straigthened that right out. No, they're no longer magical and will need to be stricken off the Hogwarts records. Yes, they're happily attending boarding school instead of blowing up half of Yorkshire and they may thank her later. She's been here quite long enough.

[crenshawpostbysalt]

#perseverance

Perseverance huh/ I’m looking right through it/trying to be brave enough to be brutal/but it's getting hard in the hood/ I’m needing proof/ I’m trying to justify everything in my life/ I just over complicate/ and contemplate/I’ve been stuck/ in a constant motion/ but my mind remains the same/back and forth but in the same direction/ leaning towards growth/ I need a new outlet/ wishing you were by my side right now/ cause I need something/ that type of touch that just makes me forget about everything else/I put nothing above it/I’m trying hard to maintain in this game/ keep a smile on my face/ cause I can’t show it/ all the pain that I stuff down/ all the rain I’ve been under/ all the clout someone receives from being dirty/ it’s no wonder/ I lay low/ been trying to see what’s poppin/ but around here ain’t shit good/ I wish you would just show up out the blue/ put my chain on/ broken hearts/ forever mi amore/ I’m trying to keep this pace now/ looking at all these changing faces/ people been changing on me/ It's wrong how they paved the way and then get mad when we step again/ so many issues I’ve touched on/ I’ve seen them come I’ve watched them go/ but the memory forever engraved in my soul/ feel like I’m bleeding out/ took so many shots/ but undefeated I remain / like life what you want/ thinking ways to keep the pace/ how to save myself from such misery/ while living life so lavishly/ kicking back feet on the table/ when my mama taught me differently/ comfortably walking up in stores/ I could have anything everything/ money sure does feed the seed/ to tell you the truth this makes me sick all of this greed/ all these riches/ flossing diamonds that men bleed over/ this isn’t helping shit/ don’t want to see so we look the other way/ don’t want to scratch that itch that I feel when I spend/ It all stems from being a kid/ better things had to live without/it's been tough just trying to get out my grandma’s house/never realizing I could’ve of been borne somewhere else/ thinking my problems are bigger than everyone else/ kids starving non the less/ and see people get mad when there food wasn’t prepared how they wanted/ and to be honest we shouldn’t just pray and give thanks but level up and create a way to save / raise them up/ soon enough perseverance will come/ that really means something now doesn’t it. -MS Salt

#perseverance

I ask these questions because I’m find myself struggling more than ever needing advice more than pleasure. -SALT

[selfindulgentmusicalreviews]

Mary Poppins - Brisbane 2022 - QPAC

Hello Musical Theatre fans! 

So 07/12/22 clocked in as my third viewing of Mary Poppins, and unfortunately seeing shows more than once in the run has started to become a very expensive habit. Strangely though, all three reasons had a different purpose, which usually isn’t the case (and rather, I just go because I enjoyed it so much I wanted to see it again.)

The first was due to some complimentary seats; so why not? 

The second was the planned, intended viewing with the family.

And the third? Well. We found out one of our favourite ensemble members was playing Bert, so we booked some last minute tickets (literally 6 hours before the show started) and went! 

(And, as of Jan 2023, I ended up seeing it a FOURTH time, due to a lottery win. That adventure isn't included here but it didn't change much!)

The Story

Mary Poppins is an excellent show. I went and saw it when it came to Brisbane for the first time in 2012. I have to admit, I wasn’t as impressed back then and came away not really wanting to go this time, but through either age/maturity or just a different cast/different production, I left with a completely different review of it.

The story of Mary Poppins is the same as it always has been - two misunderstood children with parents who have no time for them, so they act out and escape from their boring, strict nannies. In an attempt to open their parents’ eyes, a mysterious, magical nanny comes down from the sky to teach everyone a lesson. A special mention to Bert, the guardian angel jack-of-all-trades that always appears when the kids need him most.

The musical adaptation takes a slightly different turn than the movie, I can only assume for staging and pacing purposes. There are several new songs, and some of the songs from the movie have been changed, and in my opinion, some of the character arcs are a little more blurry. In the movie, the children are quite soft and don’t require such a firm hand to guide them (despite their letter going on about their pranks). They immediately love Mary, and follow her every request. It’s only on Mary’s day off when they’re with their father do things turn upside down. In comparison, the musical children are petulant trouble makers with strong personalities, who are dubious about Mary Poppins even after her introduction (that whole, “we hope you’ll stay” in ‘Practically Perfect’ is definitely sarcastic). They’re still making trouble despite Mary's influence; causing a mess in the kitchen for poor Robertson Ay. It’s definitely better consistency for their characters, given how much the other nannies label them as terrors. Luckily, with strong children, the stage role of Mary is equally as strong and no-nonsense to match.

Jane and Michael get their own miniature character arcs, though I find Jane’s is a little harder to follow. Michael learns to not judge a book by its cover when he feeds the birds, but Jane doesn’t quite come around at the same time and is still afraid of the bird woman. She eventually gets a throwaway line at the end about learning to look beyond what’s at the end of her nose, but we never see it truly resolved, and they’re still fairly judgy about how dirty Bert is as a chimney sweep. 

George Banks is, of course, the man of the show with the most change, as intended by the original source material. We find that his lifestyle is deeply rooted in the trauma he faced as a young child - seeing his parents barely once a week and never being kissed goodnight, and forever being molded by brimstone and treacle (which after a quick google, I’m surprised George even made it to adulthood!) 

One thing I probably don’t agree with and would love to see a rewrite for is the character of Winifred Banks. In the movie she’s a strong-willed suffragette, fighting for women’s rights (but is unable to stand up to or for her husband at home). In the musical, she’s a former actress that left the stage to host dinner parties and luncheons for rich ‘friends’ she doesn’t really know, which is the reason why she can’t look after the children (and ‘all the best people have nannies’.) At the end of the musical, she decides that the acting life isn’t for her, and that she’d rather just concentrate on being a mother. 

Personally, I would love to see her in that suffragette role once more, and like Mr Banks, come to the conclusion that she needs to balance her lifestyle and the parenting with George. In the movie, watching her march and stand up for women, but be completely incapable of standing up to her husband was a fun juxtaposition (though in the movie, this was never resolved either.)

Upon first watching, I found at least one of the musical numbers was a little hard to piece together from a story perspective; specifically ‘Playing the Game.’ To be truthful, I’m still not sure how this song fits; Valentine is broken because the children are fighting over him, and after this (horrifically haunting) number about respecting your toys, Mary Poppins leaves because she can’t help children who won’t listen. While totally relatable and a generally good message, what does this have to do with anything that’s happened so far, and why does THIS particular issue prompt Mary Poppins to leave? The children seem to be following up to this point, and aren’t really resisting her lessons.  

Some minor gripes that definitely don’t detract, but just make me laugh; I’m not sure how okay I am with the ‘Spoonful of Sugar’ essentially being a drug that gets them all high enough to enjoy cleaning. The rest of the show tends to rely highly on metaphor but this one feels a bit off. 

Also, the reason for them being swept up the chimney sweep to meet Bert and the other sweeps will forever make me laugh with how random of an event it is, with no explanation or information about why it happens. 

I suppose, just like Mary, the show makes a habit of never explaining anything ;) 

Musical Numbers and Staging

Mary Poppins incorporates well loved songs from the movie with a host of great new songs that fit the pacing of the stage play. I always find myself with ‘Practically Perfect’ in my head as I leave the theatre (and for days afterwards).

Feed the Birds is always a standout in my mind; a hauntingly beautiful song on a dim stage, with beautiful harmonies from Mary and the bird woman. It never fails to give me goosebumps! 

The choreography is incredible, especially Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious - I always enjoy watching the cast rattle off letter after letter, and I’m pleased that we get to see it once more at the end. 

One part I always love to watch is how quickly the park changes during ‘Jolly Holiday’ - from quiet browns and greys and blacks to suddenly brilliant greens and reds and purples (Colours of my Life, anyone?) as the lights come up always has me staring in childlike wonder, marvelling at just how incredible the stage can be. It’s magic moments like those that really make me love the theatre. 

The costuming is brilliant, although if I have one criticism I would have loved to see Jane and Michael’s costumes start to brighten as the musical goes on. They wear greys and browns for the majority of the time (except in Jolly Holiday), but as they start to become happier, better adjusted children, it wouldn’t have hurt to see some of the colour leaching into their clothing as well. 

Leads

For the 2022 run of Mary Poppins, we had Stefanie Jones and Jack Chambers as our Mary and Bert. I saw them for two of the three shows I’ve seen, and their portrayal of these characters was amazing. Stephanie’s vocals and Jack’s charm really brought out the magic of these two characters, and their chemistry on stage was a delight to watch. I haven’t seen either of them in any other productions (I don’t think), so it was nice to see some new faces. 

I’ve also got to give a special mention to Genevieve Kingsford and Patrick Whitbread, the understudies we saw on the 07/12/22. Patrick Whitbread was the ensemble member we were there specifically to see, and while I’m completely biased, Patrick played an incredible Bert to Genevieve’s Mary. 

I always love getting to see multiple people in the same roles; they each bring something just a little different that usually offers unique perspectives. 

Patrick’s Bert is goofy. He’s a sweet, lovable dork who pulls faces while he dances, and his portrayal reminded me a lot more of the Dick Van Dyke version of Bert from the movie. Jack plays a much more suave Bert, which is no less endearing and exciting to watch. Genevieve’s Mary was softer than Stephanie’s prim and proper nanny, but that softness didn’t diminish the way she commanded the stage. 

Tom Wren was excellent all three nights - he has such a great smile and it’s such a standout when he goes from always frowning and scowling to these brilliant pearly grins. I absolutely loved Lucy Maunder’s performance; for the character she plays, she does it incredibly well and her vocals during “Being Mr Banks” are absolutely beautiful. 

The children are always fantastic; I got to see three (four!) different sets, and all of them were equally amazing. 

Ensemble

As per usual when I go to the theatre, I like to pay close attention to the ensemble, and see if I’ve seen any of them in any former productions. Some of them just end up sticking and I try to make sure I watch out for them during the shows. Due to the costuming and make-up usually covering faces and hair, I found it incredibly difficult to single them out as individuals on this show. 

There were only a couple of them this time; 

Hayden Baum, Ellie Nunan and Taylor Scanlan I’ve followed through numerous Cats productions. 

Andrew Broadbent - we saw him in Book of Mormon; I’ve been trying to chase him down at Stage Door to no avail; he’s far too sneaky. I enjoyed watching him as Von Hussler and the Policemen - it’s always just nice to see familiar faces. As of the fourth viewing, I managed to get to Andrew at Stage Door! He was the kindest, most polite person I've ever met and I LOVE him very much.

Thanks for reading!

[perfect-is-crap]

Crying is good.

One of my favorite movies, with a sequel, is Guardians of the Galaxy. The reason why is because of the ending. So spoiler alert if you haven’t already guessed. 

The story line, for those that have seen it, is basically a bunch of fuck ups band together to travel the galaxy while trying to save it. And they do, successfully. 

And the reason why I love it so much is that I am a fuck up. My life doesn’t really add up to anything else except a bunch of fuck ups, stupid decisions, and some really bad luck. And because of that, I love Guardians of the Galaxy. 

At the end, Yondu hints that he “... doesn’t use his brain to fly the arrow.” And further in, we hear Yondu calling himself “Mary Poppins y’all.” because Quill thinks it’s funny while also hinting towards what eventually is revealed that he cares for Yondu like a father, without realizing it. And at the very end, when Yondu sacrifices himself, Quill gets it. And with the funeral, as the other factions of The Ravagers assemble for The Horn of Freedom, Quill, and well, frankly everyone realizes what they’ve been hiding for so long. Honestly, everything wraps up really nicely and while people can argue that it was a little too fairy tale, I can say that I don’t mind it. Well except that whenever we see an ending like this, it most likely means “It’s a wrap”. 

They have hinted towards a Guardians of the Galaxy 3, but nothing yet. Now, with that being said, I don’t really keep up with Disney. Say what you want, it’s my life, and you aren’t feeding, fucking, or financing me so *blows raspberry*. 

It reminds me, especially since I cut all ties with my biological family, that I am still looking for my family. Yes, I have a family. I love them dearly, but they have their own lives and it gets to a point where I feel lonely most of the time. So I am on the search for more. You can never have enough. If you choose. That of course, is my own opinion, and should be regarded as such. 

It doesn’t help that I am single either, which really does suck, at least for me. I am mostly mentally good and I am not going to turn down an opportunity if one comes available. But I am not going out, searching for one. Just going to live my life according to my situation and what I can do. Because, and I personally believe this, once you stop searching, you realize things about yourself. What you need to work on and why it’s not working out. Again, my honest opinion and this, of course, is a “in general” appraisal. Plus, why push so hard when you could have that story/movie romance introduction? How do you truly know love at first sight isn’t real? Thought it was and got burned? That doesn’t mean it isn’t true, just means you were wrong about that one. So, keep going. 

The Guardians of the Galaxy proves just that. And because of that, I still cry at the end, and I probably will till the end of time, even if I find my family.

If I don’t see you again, Good afternoon, good evening and good night.

[liyuesbian]

mondstadt characters and what instruments i think they'd play

part one of my genshin characters and what instruments i think they'd play series! part two / part three

notes: holy fuck mondstadt has a lot of characters. the 2.1 livestream has ignited my creative juices LOLOL this is also a modern!au and a crack fic kind of thing. bit of background, i'm cellist (tho i haven't played in like a year now,,, growing up things haha) and i used to play in a youth orchestra so i'm just going off of stereotypes of musicians :p

albedo

definitely plays the violin, you can't convince me otherwise

i bet he's never gone lower than first chair

has a superiority complex

keeps up with practice, hates it when people play out of tune/out of time/when other people play full stop

literally the perfect student

amber

recorder player

nobody believes her when she says she plays the recorder because she enjoyed it in year 3 (grade 2, i'm pretty sure, for you americans)

massive recorder nerd—don't ask her about her instrument or else she will pull a mary poppins and do a show-and-tell of every type of recorder she has, its purpose, retail price, the exact day of the exact hour of the exact minute she bought it, so on and so forth...

barbara

certified vocalist

sings in a church choir

has the voice of an angel so when our lord and saviour, jesus christ, rises again, he'll think he's still in heaven

a/n: christians, dont come for me im joking

bennett

yes he plays the triangle

can't play anthing else for shit

no, he's not a percussionist, he only plays the triangle

still likes to practice though (even if his part is only one note)

diluc

don't be fooled non-musicians, that's a viola in his hands not a violin LMAO

constantly bullied by kaeya for playing the godforsaken instrument (it's a musician thing - violas aren't as popular as violins)

tries to pretend he doesn't give a fuck but he always ends up caving and arguing back

diona

piccolo

only went through with playing the instrument to annoy other people

"who needs range when i have...... thehighestfuckingmusicalnotetoeverexist"

the note could be out of the human hearing threshold and still be out of tune

"you're new here, you wanna hear my—" "NO"

eula

guitarist

after gigs with the band, everyone thinks she's off to bang girls but she's actually gone to feed the cat at home

sticks up for her poor buddy diluc only to be hit with the "ew are those frets?" and "where's your sheet music?"

no matter, she will seek her vengeance

fischl

trombone player

super edgy and cool for being the only female trombone player in her section

has to deal with "tromboner" jokes and other dirty jokes but pretends not to hear them "for i, fischl, the prinzessin derverureggrgsf do not speak the vernacular of lowly mortals"

jean

plays the french horn

really friendly, hangs out with other french horns

the leader of the horn cult mum of the group

the person everyone goes to for help or to practice with

kaeya

would 100% play the saxophone

he knows careless whisper like the back of his hand

calls his saxophone the "bendy sex whistle™"

never practices his part and just wings it in rehearsal like a boss

klee

there's this famous piece called 1812 overture by tchaikovsky which contains cannons.....

need i say more?

lisa

flautist

elegant mfer, probably was marie antoinette in her past life

can think of 20 ways to commit homicide with her flute and not even a single strand of hair would fall out of place

will give you a pretty smile after the crime too

mona

clarinet player

is willing to kill the whole section just to get first chair

says her skills are because of natural talent but she actually practices really hard at home

one time, kaeya jokingly replaced her sheet music to one for never gonna give you up and she accidentally rick rolled everyone

noelle

tuba

the only tuba player who comes to rehearsal to actually learn something

has to control herself when the tuba next to her offers her a snack from inside their case

usually the one in her section who has to plan practice sessions because everyone else is just terrible

razor

percussionist

is somehow super skilled

his basic numeracy skills are out the window and he probably hasn't learned how to read sheet music but somehow still manages to secure his entrance

rosaria

joins the orchestra thinking she could learn the bass guitar

is instead roped into playing the double bass by kaeya and venti

has the arms of a bodybuilder after always carrying that absolute monster of an instrument

not like she didn't have them already methinks

sucrose

is also a flautist

she's the other flute stereotype:

quiet, reserved, a nerd

so cute and wholesome, too good for this world, must be protected at all times

venti

is a harpist

could play a simple gliss and the whole room would clap and give a standing ovation

has 1418973492 bars of rest until the next note, hence why he usually falls asleep during movements and misses his entrance but would never even think of admitting to his mistake

[nebulablakemurphy]

Safe House

Fred Weasley x Muggleborn!Reader

Requested by the lovely @wand3ringr0s3 I hope you like it! 💕

Summary: Y/N goes into hiding with the Weasleys and misses the life you had before.

Request: Hello! I love your fics so much. I saw your thing about comfort fics and honestly I’m really not doing to great recently. If you don’t mind could I request a Fred Weasley x reader fic with mental/emotional comfort. This whole COVID situation has caused me a lot of stress lol. Also family and school ain’t helping. You can decide what the plot is :) Thank you so much <3

Words: 1k+

You can’t recall the hour, it must have been sometime in the early evening. Fred had insisted you two be the last on the dance floor at Bill and Fleur’s wedding. You remember the feeling, the crisp summer air. You remember where you were standing, who you were looking at, the champagne flute you were holding in your hands. The day that life as you knew it, skittered to a halt.

News that the ministry had fallen didn’t come as a total surprise. There’d been corruption within it for years. Mr. Weasley entrusted you with that information, once you were of age. They’d always treated you like family, even after a rather short lived break up between Fred and yourself.

Ron, Harry and Hermione disappeared, into thin air. Death eaters materializing, from all directions. Fred pushing you behind him, prepared for battle. Eventually abandoning the burrow.

You remember the dress, your favorite color; the dress that took his breath away. The material tattered and torn, when you finally reach the designated safe house.

Now, everyday is nearly the same. You wake up, in the bed you share with Fred. He’s either fast asleep, or some nights, you suspect he hasn’t slept at all. If you’re both feeling up to it, you’ll make love. Taking the small bit of comfort the other has to offer. You shower and ready for the day, then head down for breakfast, going through the motions.

The radio stays on, the only assurance that life exists, outside your tiny bubble. Mr. Weasley listens to the static, crackling, voices nonstop. Mrs. Weasley doesn’t like to hear it at all. That was the difference between them, the one who wants to know, and the one who can’t bear to.

Ginny leaves for Hogwarts in the fall, part of you envies her. The larger part is worried, it’s supposed to be safer there. You pray it is.

Your parents are muggles, they don’t understand, not really. You tell yourself it’s best that they don’t. Even when your extended family voices their concern because you ‘dropped out of school.’ In their minds, you’d run off to live with your boyfriend and work a dead end job.

Fred keeps your spirits up, keeps you grounded, centered and safe. Although he’s clearly struggling himself. His mind is beautiful; bursting with ideas, that have no where to go.

You want to help, but it’s impossible when you’re drowning in...this. Whatever this is.

“Good morning.” Fred greets you, snuggling against your back. His cool feet brush over the arch of your own.

“Good morning,” you yawn, lazily toying with the fingers that are draped over your waist.

“Planning on getting up anytime soon, lazy bones?” He hums.

“What’s the point?” You murmur, turning your face farther into the pillow.

“Hey now, don’t go talking like that!” Fred shifts his weight to his elbow. Trying to get a better look at you. “You’ll bruise my ego. Spending time with me is the point.”

“But I can spend time with you here.” You point out.

“The family driving you mental, after all?” He presses a kiss to your shoulder.

“It’s hard to explain.” You purse your lips. “My body is rested, my mind is tired, and it makes me feel like I’m going to come out of my skin.”

Fred nods, “here I thought it was just me.”

“Do you...feel it too?” You wonder, turning over to face him.

“Every bloody day!” His wide eyes find yours. “We’re locked up here, Gin and Ron are out there. Your family’s out there, Hermione, Harry, all of our friends. Diagon Alley‘s been taken over by death eaters, the ministry has it out for muggleborns; and Mum! I love the woman dearly, but all she does nowadays is feed us. I’m trying to keep my figure here.”

“Your figure is fine,” you manage a smile. “Mine on the other hand-“

“You’re beautiful, just as you are,” Fred quiets you. “Truth is, it’s you that’s keeping me going. Not knowing how long we’ll be here is the worst of it. Can’t even count down properly, there’s no end in sight.”

That was part of it, the uncertainty of when it would be safe to leave. The yearning for what was; what might never be. “I just want to wake up the morning before Bill and Fleur’s wedding. I want to have that feeling again. I want to have hope.”

He sighs, deeply, “you will have that feeling again. You’ll be surrounded by your family, all of our friends. The sun will shine so brightly, you’ll need to block it from your eyes. The wind rustles the tree branches, and all the birds fly low, chirping just for you.”

“They better not poo on me.” You crack a grin.

“It’s good luck, sweetheart.” Fred laughs. “I only wish you told me sooner.”

“Seems wrong to complain when people are dying.” You confess, twisting a lock of red hair around your finger.

“It’s never wrong to feel the way you feel. Suffering isn’t a contest,” Fred mutters.

“I couldn’t manage this without you.” You sigh, he always knows what to say.

“You give me too much credit. You can weather any storm, all on your own. You’re resilient and brilliant and strong. When you put your mind to it, anything you want is as good as yours.” His eyes shine brightly, full of renewed enthusiasm.

“I want you.” You still can’t imagine going it alone.

“You have me. So long as I live, it’s me and you.” He kisses the tip of your nose.

“That doesn’t sound half bad.” You grin.

“Half bad?” Fred gawks, rolling you onto your back. “Not half bad?” He repeats, ticking your sides.

“I’m sorry! It sounds good.” You amend, howling with laughter. “So good!”

“That’s what I thought you said.” Fred joins in, you’ve missed that sound.

You stop fighting, when his teasing turns to kisses. Letting Fred bring you to life, the way that only he can. Reminding you what it feels like to be filled with passion. The way things used to be...before. Perhaps he was the only bit of that life you get to keep; somehow that‘s alright. Things can still be good here, if you allow them to be.

Taglist: @bforbroadway @summer-writes @lupins-sweater @chaotic-fae-queen @a-mexican-waffle @obsessedwithrandomthings @siriusly-addicted-to-writing @firewhisky-kisses @haphazardhufflepuff @peachesandpinks @iliveiloveiwrite @the-hufflefluffwriter @masterofthedarkness @fific7 @poppin-potter

Twins Taglist: @susceptible-but-siriusexual​

[comic-book-jawns]

Closure

“Dani? Dani, what’s wrong?”

Jamie cups her cheek. Dani wants to be able to explain, wants to assuage the concern etched all over Jamie’s face. But her mind feels simultaneously like it’s racing and not working at all. All she can do is hyperventilate, which isn’t even her doing, just her body’s automatic response to what she just saw — or more specifically, who she just saw.

She can’t even get a word out, but Jamie seems to understand. She feels Jamie take her hand and squeeze it.

“You’re okay, Dani. You’re with me. Hold on to me, yeah?”

Dani manages to wrap her other hand around Jamie’s upper arm and lean in closer.

“Good, baby. Good job.”

She hears Jamie whisper it as she stares down at the floor, not wanting to see the eyes inevitably turning toward them. It’s pathetic really that she should be a focal point amidst an array of world-renowned paintings, but she gets it. It’s human nature. But that doesn’t make her feel any less uncomfortable.

“You okay to walk?”

Dani jerks her head and then feels Jamie gently pull her along. She keeps her eyes down, trying to focus on Jamie — her warmth, her scent, the callouses on her hand.

When’d they first gotten together, on that fateful night a decade ago now, Jamie had been embarrassed of them, felt the need to apologize.

“I like them.”

Jamie had almost laughed as she’d lain on her back next to Dani, who’d lain on her side facing Jamie, propping her head up with one hand and holding Jamie’s hand on top of the covers with her other.

“Dani - ”

“No, I’m serious. They’re like - ”

“Sandpaper?”

Dani had rolled her eyes.

“They’re like you... They’re... ” She’d sighed. “Grounding.”

In the dark, Dani hadn’t been able to see her blushing, but she’d heard it in her voice.

“Oh.”

*****

“Did ya see her?”

Dani whips her head up. How could Jamie possibly know that? She didn’t even know what... oh, that her.

Jamie had sat her down on the closest stairway she could find. It wasn’t secluded, exactly. But the people passing by aren’t really paying them any mind. And Jamie’s crouched down in front of her, partially blocking her from view and holding her hands.

Dani shakes her head.

“Eddie- ” She sees Jamie’s eyes go wide. “Eddie’s mom. She’s here.”

Jamie opens her mouth but doesn’t seem to know what to say. She nods.

“Okay.” She nods again, processing. “Okay, we’ll leave when ya feel up to it.”

“Jamie... ”

They had a limited amount of time on this vacation in Philadelphia, and today had been specifically designated for the Museum of Art. If they leave now, they won’t be coming back.

“Poppins, what d’ya think I care more about: you or some bloody art?”

Dani laughs, despite herself. It was hard not to when she put it like that. It was hard not to laugh around Jamie, period. And she feels even lighter when she hears Jamie chuckle after a moment.

“Danielle?”

Just like that she feels all of the tension come flooding back to her body. That voice — older, but just as gentle, just as kind. Before she can react further, she feels Jamie squeeze her hands, then watches her stand and turn around.

“She’s okay. Just a little lightheaded. Needs to eat.”

It’s not entirely a lie. They had been planning to take a lunch break sooner than later.

“Oh, here... ”

Dani hears Judy step closer and leans over just enough to see her take something out of her purse. It’s a bag of pretzels, Dani’s favorite childhood snack. It’s coincidental, of course, has to be. But Dani can feel her eyes water ever so slightly. She ducks back behind Jamie as the woman who practically raised her looks back up.

“I know we’re not really supposed to bring food, but — well, everything is just getting so expensive these days.”

She laughs as if she’s making small talk, Dani thinks — as if she’s not trying to feed her former almost daughter-in-law, whom she hasn’t seen since she abruptly disappeared from her life without a word. Dani hears Jamie take the bag.

“Thank you. That’s very kind ah ya.”

“You’re not from around here.”

It’s not said with judgment, Dani notices, more an air of curiosity.

“What gave me away?” Dani smiles as she hears Judy laugh again. Jamie is charming — she, of all people, should know. But she also knows Jamie is fairly shy, especially around strangers. She usually leaves the talking to Dani, but here she is stepping up for her sake. “I’m from England, originally.”

“Oh, how lovely. I am, too, actually.” Dani furrows her eyebrow, unbeknownst to Judy, but Jamie must be wearing a similar expression. “My family, I mean.” She hears Judy chuckle. “I try not to talk about it too much because my husband was Irish.”

“Was?”

The words are out of her mouth before Dani even processes what she’s doing. Jamie turns back to look at her, inadvertently putting her in full view of Judy.

“Danielle?”

She says it more softly this time. Realizing her mistake, Jamie moves in, but Dani puts a hand out. Jamie takes it, helping her up, and she finally comes face-to-face with Judy. Her hair is still brown, clearly dyed; and her face is wrinkled.

But her eyes are unchanged, warm as ever — though Dani had noticed them widen for a moment. But she’s grown accustomed to it. Even people who haven’t know her since childhood don’t expect her to have different colored eyes.

Dani swallows.

“Mr. O’Mara... ”

Judy smiles sadly.

“A few years ago.”

“I’m so sorry.”

Dani hadn’t been as close to him, but he’d always been welcoming. In fact, he’d helped teach her how to drive, readily loaned his car for practice, so she wouldn’t have to wait for the one reserved for her Driver’s Ed class to be free.

Eddie had pushed back, insisting that he was the one who would be driving them around, so what was the point. But Mr. O’Mara had also pushed back, with a laugh. “I will be buying the car, and I want it to remain in one piece, so I think Danielle will be doing the driving.”

Eddie had barely spoken to her for a week after that, so Dani had not been entirely grateful for the support — always worried about keeping Eddie comfortable at her own expense. And she had also been aware that Eddie’s insecurities partially stemmed from his father being hard on him, on all his sons, in a way that he wasn’t on Dani — not that it was an excuse for Eddie’s behavior.

In the end, it was Eddie who drove them around, but Mr. O’Mara had made Dani follow through with the class; and, upon her getting her license, he'd told her she was welcome to drive the car whenever she wanted, even by herself.

Judy’s smile brightened.

“Oh, it’s all right. Thank you, sweetie.”

She goes to reach out, but then hesitates. For a moment, Dani just continues looking at her, taking the moment in, and then she takes a breath and reaches out herself.

And suddenly, it’s as though no time has passed. She’s nine years old again, and Judy is walking her home from ballet class.

Her mother was supposed to pick her up, but she hadn’t showed. Dani had called and an intoxicated Karen had insisted Dani must have told her the wrong day. Crying, Dani had tried to explain that she hadn’t. She’d been attending the weekly class for two months now, and it had always been on Wednesday nights.

Karen had refused to accept that Dani was right or even apologize. She’d told her to walk, which was what Dani usually resorted to. She’d only called because it was raining, and she didn’t have an umbrella or even a jacket. But, out of options, tears still streaming down her face, she’d set off.

Halfway home, hugging herself as she shivered, she’d heard it.

“Danielle?”

She’d looked up to find Judy a little farther down the sidewalk, wearing a jacket and holding an umbrella.

“Hi... Mrs. O’Mara.” She’d said through chattering teeth.

She’d seen her a couple hours ago, having gone home with Eddie after school. She’d offered to drop her off, but Dani had explained that she needed to go home first anyway to get changed and that her mom would be picking her up.

She’d then walked to the rec center from her house, having reminded her mother where she was going when she’d walked out the door. Her mother had responsed with an “uh-huh” that had told Dani she wasn’t really listening, but she’d still held out hope.

Judy had run to her and wrapped her in her jacket, hugging her and rubbing her back and arms to try to warm her up. Then, she’d taken her hand, and they’d set off together. Judy had invited her to come back to her house, but Dani, having not called her to pick her up out of embarrassment, had declined. She’d even told her that she had told her mom the wrong day, that it was her fault.

Dani had been able to tell, even then, that Judy didn’t buy it, but Judy hadn’t pushed back. She’d simply said that if it happened again, she wanted Dani to call her, and she would come get her. Dani had tried to decline, graciously, but Judy had held her ground.

So Dani had promised to do so, smiling shyly, and Judy had offered to at least make her some hot chocolate — Eddie would want it, too, anyway — before walking her to her own home. Dani had agreed. The next week she’d called Judy after her mother was a no-show yet again; and the week after that, Judy had been waiting for her outside when class had let out.

And that was their Wednesday night routine for years, through middle school, anyway. Sometimes Eddie would be with her, and she’d take them out for pizza or ice cream. Sometimes it would just be them, and she would take Dani to go get their nails done; or she would just walk her home, and they would talk. And Dani would smile and laugh and relax, in a way she never could around her own mother.

And even with everything that had happened, all the pain that had come later, Dani feels herself slipping back into it now, just a bit, into that comfort that she’d felt in presence for so long. She doesn’t even realize she’s crying until she feels Judy, still smiling, gently brush her cheeks with her free hand, then lower it back to her side.

Dani turns to Jamie, who’s still holding her other hand. Jamie smiles at her, and even looks rather misty-eyed herself, if a bit in shock too. Dani has a question to ask her, but there’s no subtle way to do it. She’s about to ask Judy if she can talk to Jamie alone for a moment, but then she feels Jamie squeeze her hand. Dani raises her eyebrows, then feels Jamie squeeze her hand again.

Dani smiles herself now. She wants to kiss Jamie so badly, but she settles for squeezing her hand back.

“Oh, this is beautiful.”

Dani turns back to her, and her eyes go wide. She hadn’t thought of which hand she was giving Judy when she’d reached out. But it’s too late now — Judy is lifting her hand to examine the Claddagh ring up close. And then her panic is replaced by anger, at herself. She loves Jamie, and how dare she feel uncomfortable about it.

But that wasn’t it. She’d wanted to tell Judy, but not like this. If she’d just -

“It’s Irish, too, you know.”

Well, the name was rather a dead giveaway. But Dani holds her tongue. She knows Judy is just making conversation. Surely, this was awkward for her to. She did almost marry her...

“Who’s the lucky man?”

Dani feels her heart break as she feels Jamie shift her hand in hers so Jamie’s own ring is facing away from Judy’s. But Dani understands. Jamie isn’t ashamed, either. She hasn’t let go. She’s just giving Dani exactly what she wanted — control over the situation.

Dani takes a deep breath and proceeds her original plan.

“Mrs. - uh, Judy.” Dani clears her throat. “Would you want to join us for lunch?”

*****

“So you go by Dani now?”

“What?” Dani has been so preoccupied planning out how she wants to tell her, her comment doesn’t register at first. “Oh, uh, yes.”

Judy smiles.

“I like it.”

Dani feels herself blush slightly, then feels rather pathetic for Judy’s acceptance of her name meaning that much to her, but...

“And I like her.”

She watches Judy glance over toward the bathroom. Jamie had gotten up a few moments ago as part of the plan Dani had come up with, which she’d relayed to Jamie before they’d left the museum, having asked Judy to go on ahead. They would meet her outside in a moment. She just wanted to freshen up in the bathroom.

She had, in fact, done so while explaining to Jamie that she wanted to tell Judy alone, if that was alright. Nodding, Jamie had suggested she come back to the table in two minutes, either way. Dani had nodded and then started crying as Jamie slid off her ring.

“Jamie!” She hadn’t fully realized what she was asking of her. They’d literally just celebrated their 10-year anniversary a few months ago. “I - ”

Jamie had put the ring in her front jean pocket, then looked up and cupped her face.

“S’alright, Dani. Doesn’t change anythin’. We know, yeah?”

Jamie had smiled softly, then leaned up and kissed her forehead.

Dani is smiling now as Judy turns back to her. This would either makes things easier or even more painful, if she immediately changed her mind once Dani told her. Dani takes a deep breath.

“How long have you two been together?”

She should be relieved, but instead Dani feels all the air being sucked out of her lungs. Of all the scenarios she’d played out in her head over the past half hour, none of them had involved Judy figuring it out on her own.

“I - ”

She feels Judy lay a hand on top of both of hers, which she’d been wringing incessantly for the past thirty seconds.

“I’m sorry about before... for assuming.” Judy laughs awkwardly. “It hadn’t even occurred to me, considering you and - ”

There it was. The person neither of them had yet acknowledged. Dani feels herself starting to get lightheaded again.

“I’m sorry! I - I shouldn’t’ve... ” Judy sighs, closes her eyes briefly, then looks down. “This is like Carson all over again." Dani furrows her brow, not sure what Eddie's younger brother has to do with her and Eddie. But before she can ask, Judy looks back up and presses on. "What I’m trying to say is... I love you, Dan-Dani... and I’m very happy for you... Jamie is a very... a very lucky, uh... woman.”

For a moment, Dani says nothing as she feels her eyes watering once more. And then she completely breaks down.

*****

“Can I ask - ” Judy nods encouragingly. “How - how did you, umm - ”

Judy smiles warmly.

“I’ve never seen you look at anyone the way you think at her.”

“That so?”

Jamie is back with them now, sitting beside Dani in their corner circular booth. Jamie’s arm is wrapped around her shoulders, and Dani is leaning against her, breathing her in. Sitting even just a few inches away from her before had been torture. Dani turns her head to catch Jamie’s smirk.

“And I noticed the tan line on Jamie’s finger.”

“Ah, fuck me!”

Jamie’s left hand has been resting on top of Dani’s on the table. Her ring is back on, so the line is no longer visible, but instinctively, she starts to lift her hand for a closer look. And then she freezes, blushing. She puts her hand back down and clears her throat.

“Sorry.”

Even with her grey hairs — which Dani finds incredibly attractive, as she’d told Jamie when they’d started coming in and Jamie had grown self-conscious — Jamie looks adorably like a schoolchild who’s just been scolded for using a bad word. Dani can’t help but giggle. Jamie looks back at her and smiles sheepishly, blushing even harder.

“Edmund would be happy for you, too.”

Dani feels herself tense up again. Jamie must too because Dani feels her squeeze her shoulder. But this was why she’d wanted to talk to Judy alone. It wasn’t fair to Jamie.

She knew Jamie didn’t feel that way, would never feel that way, but that only made Dani feel more strongly that it was. She needed to protect Jamie from her own selfless — Jamie, who was already trying to ease her nerves. Knowing Jamie wouldn’t leave now, even if she asked her to, Dani turned back to Judy, sighing.

She could go along with it, pretend. But they were past that now. If this undid everything, so be it.

“I’m not sure that’s true.”

“Honey - ”

“You don’t - ” Dani swallows. “You don’t know everything that happened... that night.”

That stops Judy. A bit wide-eyed, she waits for Dani to elaborate. Dani takes a shaky breath and feels Jamie squeeze her shoulder again.

“I wasn’t his fiancée... when he... at the time of his death.”

She feel Jamie massage her shoulder as she watches Judy, who opens and closes her mouth several times, before landing on a response.

“I see.”

Dani doesn’t elaborate further. Jamie, of course, had helped her come to terms with it years ago, not that she hadn’t her moments here and there — on his birthday or even when she’d see a young boy and a young girl playing together — but she’d still known that Jamie was right: it wasn’t her fault, never had been.

Judy is silent for almost a minute, and Dani feels the time has come. She’d accomplished what she’d set out to do, said all she’d needed to say, right? She’d known it might end like this.

But just as she sits up more, preparing to stand, Judy take her free hand.

“Well, that... that doesn’t change anything... You’ve always been like a daughter to me... Dani. And you always will be.”

For what seems like the millionth time that day, Dani feels tears springing to eyes.

“Thank - ” She chokes on the word and clears her throat as she feels a few tears break free. “Thank you.”

She feels both Judy and Jamie squeeze her hands and then sees Judy look over her shoulder.

“And Jamie, too. Welcome to the family.”

Dani feels Jamie tense up and turns to find her gaping at Judy. Then, Jamie looks at her, and Dani sees the corners of her mouth twitch upward, but she’s still wide-eyed and rather pale.

“I’m sorry if I... I didn’t mean to overstep.”

Dani sees panic now creeping onto Jamie’s face. Dani flips their left hands so that hers is on top and squeezes Jamie’s. Then, she turns back to Judy, smiling as she lifts the same hand to wipe her face.

“You didn’t. Jamie is very grateful.” She feels Jamie nod behind her as she places her hand back on top of hers. “As am I.”

Judy smiles, relaxing. For a few moments, they sit in companionable silence, almost silence. Dani is still sniffling a bit.

“Oh, honey. Here.”

Judy grabs a napkin and reaches over. Dani feels Jamie’s hand slip out from under hers.

“I’m sorry.”

Dani hears Jamie’s voice crack as she takes the napkin, and she turns around in alarm, kicking herself as she sees Jamie’s face crumple. She’d miscalculated, assuming Jamie would cry once when they were alone. Jamie rarely let herself get emotional in public. She slips her hand out of Judy’s, takes the napkin out of Jamie’s and turns around more fully.

“It’s okay, Jay.”

Cupping Jamie’s cheek, she lifts the napkin, but then thinks better of it. This is about making Jamie comfortable, not Judy. She puts it back on the table, cups Jamie’s other cheek and closes her eyes as she leans in until their foreheads are touching.

“It’s okay.”

She hears Jamie’s stifle a whimper and feels Jamie bring her right arm, that had been draped across her shoulders, in closer until Jamie’s hand is rubbing the back of her neck. After a few moments, she hears Jamie starting to breath more evenly, then she feels her pull back.

Dani opens her eyes. Jamie looks better but embarrassed. She can feel the heat as she brushes her thumbs across Jamie’s cheeks to wipe away the remaining tears. But it’s Judy who speaks.

“I’m sorry.”

Dani glances back. Judy looks a bit uncomfortable but more out of concern, it seems.

“You didn’t do anything wrong.” Dani turns back to Jamie. “My wife doesn’t take compliments well.”

Dani grins as Jamie laughs. It morphs into a cough, and Jamie pulls away, bringing her elbow up to cover her mouth. But when she turns back, letting her arm drop back onto the table, she’s smiling. It’s her crooked smile, and it’s then that Dani decides she can’t wait any longer.

Cupping face again, she kisses her, softly and quickly. Even around someone other than Judy, she wouldn’t really feel comfortable doing more than that, and she knows Jamie wouldn’t either. That’s not their style, and they are still in public.

When she pulls back, she looks Jamie over. She appears to be mostly recovered, and as if reading her mind, Jamie nods, still smiling. Dani smiles back, then turns back to Judy, who, as it turns out, is smiling herself.

Dani feels her smile widen, though she’s not quite sure what to say, what there is left to say. But Judy, apparently, has something in mind.

“Jamie, now that you’re a part of this family, I think I owe you some Dani stories.”

“If that’s all right with Dani.”

Jamie’s arm is back around her shoulders. Dani leans against her once more, squeezes Jamie’s left hand and nods to Judy.

“Has Dani told you about the first grade pageant?”

For a moment even Dani draws a blank, then she feels her cheeks start to burn as she laughs.

“Oh, god.”

“Ya know, I don’t believe she has, Judy.”

Dani hears the smirk in her voice and feels Jamie nestle in closer.

As Judy begins the story of her six-year-old self going completely off book after her class had spent a month learning a choreographed dance, Dani squeezes Jamie’s hand three times. She hears Jamie’s breath catch for a moment, then hears her sigh and feels her squeeze back three times.

[infinitelytheheartexpands]

Responses from the Opera Screencaps Captioning Quiz

Hello, everyone, and thank you for taking my quiz! I had SO MUCH fun reading your captions-- there were several times I literally started crying from laughing so hard at the amazingness of your work! With that in mind, the captions (which I will continue to add onto as more people take it):

(also, thank you to @dichterfuerstin​ for translating the German captions I got)

originally taken from: the Wiener Staatsoper’s 2020 production of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart’s Die Entführung aus dem Serail, featuring Regula Mühlemann (center) as Blonde, Michael Laurenz (right) as Pedrillo, and an unnamed extra (left) as the Grim Reaper

Responses:

(Backstage warm-up) “ok so someone dropped the pulse”

me and my friends watching the fire burn after doing arson

Introducing the polycule to the parents

*boom* ... did...you guys hear that too?

Ma Signor !

Knight in whinging armour gone wrong, look at how he holds the egg. Polyamory with weird knight and death.

the father, son and the holy ghost are very gay

the gays meeting for brunch, 2021, colorized

chicken lady forces death and a very flamboyantly homosexual anthropomorphized pink bird to be parents of her egg (they dont want to be)

That’s just me and my friends on our night out (before covid rip)-- closest

A Good Friday night

good omens (2019)

["the pocket guide to boy/girl/mischief" meme] who's the boy and who's the mischief though????

Papageno and Papagena take their first-born egg trick-or-treating

Angry Birds - The Musical. A pig stole an egg and the bird unites with death to take revenge.

I love my bird wife

Someone got murdered during the funky chicken dance

throuple murders child and steals sibling of said child

When you and your friends have widely different tastes in literature

angel leading twink to his rightful place (hell)

draco malfoy from a very potter musical and a death eater are very much in the wrong show

What have I gotten myself into

Mlm/wlw solidarity but I’m not telling who is who

A woman stands with a pink dipshit with an egg and a reaper.

A bird-couple makes a pact with Death, sacrificing their first-born bird-child in order to bring good luck upon their unborn bird-baby

There are three types of people on Halloween:

Uh oh, I don’t think the mother hen is very happy about this...

oh god, they’ve invented seussical. It’s too early!

gay brunch

Three little maids from school are we

guys maybe if we dress gay enough we can distract everyone from the dead flapper bee in the back

those three killed a duck for her egg and are facing the conswquences.

Duck has egg with human, shocked and upset due to biological impossibility

When you bout to make a banging omelet so you invite your fellow queers

"No mortal man could pass that egg, but heaven shall repair your rectum."

originally taken from: the Salzburg Festival’s 2007 production of Hector Berlioz’s Benvenuto Cellini, featuring Maija Kovalevska (left) as Teresa Balducci, Laurent Naouri (center, in chimney) as Fieramosca, and Burkhard Fritz (right) as Benvenuto Cellini

Responses:

“In this same interlude it doth befall That I, one Snout by name, present a wall; And such a wall, as I would have you think, That had in it a crannied hole or chink, Through which the lovers, Pyramus and Thisby, Did whisper often very secretly. This loam, this rough-cast and this stone doth show That I am that same wall; the truth is so: And this the cranny is, right and sinister, Through which the fearful lovers are to whisper.” - a midsummer night’s dream, act v scene 1

"ah yes a prime specimen. see here, right in this box is our one of a kind hob goblin that can be all yours for the low low price of your soul"

what, YOU don't have a special eavesdropping chimney window?

Hänsel und Gretel plotting against the witch

man takes a wrong turn and ends up in a chimney, catches his girlfriend cheating-- closest

when you end up third wheeling the straight couple

lady cheats on her leather jacket wearing scummy boyfriend and when he unexpectedly comes home she hides the lover in the chimney

A straight girl and her gay best friend gossip about stuff idk

Idk Shakespeare?

experimental couples therapy feat. the chimney mf from mary poppins

Area Couple Inadvertently Traps Santa-in-Training in Chimney as they Attempt Rooftop Flirting

Landlords laugh over student renter's misfortune

I never asked for this

Ay yo lil mama lemme whisper in your ear

voyeurist listens to sandy and Danny from grease

Psssst! Did you hear about Susan? You won’t believe it!

lady and the tramp meets beauty and the beast?

human trafficking

And for just $30 you too could have your own tiny brick cage!

Psst I’m wearing assless chaps under this dress

A couple tortures a man in a box.

It's all fun and games being stuck in a chimney until your greasy uncle steals your crush from right above you-- okay ngl this could actually be a great Don Pasquale concept

Taking eavesdropping to the next level

Will you two stop being lovey dovey and let me out? SUMMER LOVIN, HAPPENED SO FAST— 

overhearing how people talk about you when they think they're alone puts you in the shithouse 

Does he know we can see him?

dear god, i am so fucking hungry, yall please just do whatever heterosexuals do so i can go eat a popsicle 

the human version of the trash man from sesame street is realizing that those two are going to fuck on his trash can 

Tmw you capture an angry short dude and start trashtalking him where he can hear 

Omg what if we kissed but we actually kissed the lil goblin man under us

"Remember, don't feed him after midnight"

originally taken from: the Théâtre de Capitole du Toulouse’s 2017 staging of Giacomo Meyerbeer’s Le prophète, featuring Leonardo Estevez (right, on fake horse) as Le Comte d’Oberthal

Responses:

“When I said we needed to drain the swamp I didn’t think there were people actually living there”

horse? what horse? no sir i dont know what horse youre referring to.

definitely don't have a napoleon complex going on

King stole La Scala‘s Lohengrin set

king breaks all his horses, has to use statue dragged by servants as transportation because he’s too kingly too walk

Emperor Söder and his subjects on a carnival procession

man on horse makes a big deal out of being on a horse

That’s not Zeffirelli because the horse is not alive

Who the fuck put a horse on the stage

isn't this that picture of napoleon on the horse

Area Count Thinks Citizens will be Intimidated by his Extremely Fake-looking Horse Statue-- closest

Everyone wants their turn on the giant plaster horse. Police are there to make sure everyone waits their turn.

Night out with the lads

Local royalty horrified at the state of his own damn kingdom

gay army fights different gay aesthetics-- hi author how does it feel to be the funniest fucking person on this quiz

Well at least I LOOK badass

ceasar if he hadn't gotten stabbed (colourised)

some soldiers jumped out of my kindergarten fairytale collection book to burn the don carlos flemish deputies at the stake

It’s just a model

Is that how you feel pulling up in your Honda Civic, Madge?

Someone rides a horse statue in public.

Just a normal party with the bros.

what is this, some kind of crossover episode? 

Terribly sorry for all the fuss, it’s just, that is, my horse is afraid of neck ruffles. I’ve tried to talk to him about it, but he’s—whoaaa there—he said he was a french courtier in a past life and he’s allergic to English fashion 

Horse seller, listen to me! I am riding into battle. I need your strongest horse. - We have horses at home. - The horses at home: 

All hail Incitatus the king 

we are not ripping off shakespeare’s henry viii. what the fuck. this is about lenny xi you uncultured swine, go drown in a pit of your own farts 

oh god is that hamilton 

Guy Removed From Art Museum For Sitting On Statue, more at eleven 

Gay <3

Officer: This horse... is a virgin! Crowd: *cheers*

originally taken from: the Parma Verdi Festival’s 2017 staging of Giuseppe Verdi’s Stiffelio, featuring Maria Katzarava (left) as Lina and Luciano Ganci (right) as Stiffelio

Responses:

That One kid in class

its a mEntAL BreAkDowN *final countdown but kazoo*

*record scratch* yeah, that's me. you're probably wondering how I got here-- closest

Dad keeps monologuing, teenager is done

left: all of my concerned friends, right: my emo ass having a very public mental breakdown

the demons in the corner of my room when im just trying to sleep

lady gets mansplained to (do i need to say more, we've all been there)

It’s probably an area baritone telling off an area soprano-- sorry; it’s a tenor. soprano is right though.

That was a fake horse in the last photo right?

child comes out as gay to father at a particularly bad time

dissociation solves everything

I can't believe it's not butter

Honey we talked about this

My sleep paralysis demon is Crowley from supernatural

child has nightmare of boring job

When you start dating a singer but he won’t stop practicing at night

just an average day in a hetero marriage

what do i do my wife's having period cramps again

Stop having an existential crisis. It’s time to sing!

“No son of mine will kin Gomez Addams under MY roof”

Crowley stares into space while a teen has post nut clarity.

When he wont stop reciting jordan peterson monologues!!

Do you realize how effed you are?

Ugh, not this lecture again! Dad’s Practicing For His Experimental Indie Band Again 

asking your parents for help with your own personal situation and them just ranting off about what they went through instead of helping in any way 

Will he shut up already!

no one tell him he’s yelling in the wrong direction, no one tell him plnsbdjddhdj 

this kid is tired of his dad listening to rush limbaugh (a man who claimed to be pro life but died anyway) 

Me internally vs externally 

Daddy issues

originally taken from: the Grand Théâtre de Genève’s 2020 staging of Giacomo Meyerbeer’s Les Huguenots, featuring several chorus members

Responses:

It’s the deadly eye Of Poogley-pie. Look away, look away, As you walk by, ‘Cause whoever looks right at it Surely will die. It’s a good thing you didn’t … You did? … Good-bye. - shel Silverstein

why the fuckith? my good sir, i beg of you to put your pants back on

I hate this itchy hat

Titanic Extras hear that they have to do extra hours

people waiting to board the titanic watch someone fall off the plank

pov: you’re a time traveler

guy in the flatcap is embarrassed by patriotism and pathos

No idea. For some reason Le Marseillaise comes to mind

Is this from Harry Potter?

disneyland main street usa workers on strike

local tries to hide behind Newsies cap to avoid unpleasant but inevitable conversations. meanwhile, some very fashionable ladies look on.

"Thank fuck, 2020 was just a dream after all"

“We gather here today because this bitch got exactly what she deserved” “heaven!” “Stfu Stephanie she’s going to hell and we all know it”-- not quite but this basically happens later on in the opera (and act) so yeah (except the person in question very much Did Not Deserve It)

dc movie filter on bridgerton

america?

looks like my history teacher paused the prohibition documentary again

Who still wears page boy hats bro?

Coming out to a room of people who Already Knew That

Bitches are relieved at some party.

Several drunk people exiting getting off the subway attempting to seem sober and rational but realizing they have somehow lost all of their possessions

How tf do I act natural in this situation-- closest

“do you think any of them noticed that I don’t know the pledge of allegiance” 

It's too fucking hot outside for this outfit 

?

when hyyh yoonkook ending just hits different 

pedestrians watch in horror as the triangle shirtwaist factory burns and the workers throw themselves out of the windows from a dozen stories up 

Starting the pledge of allegiance be like 

He's having a heart attack oh no oh god oh fuck

originally taken from: if I remember correctly, the Semperoper Dresden’s 2018 semi-staging of Johann Strauss II’s Die Fledermaus, with Jonas Kaufmann as Gabriel von Eisenstein

Responses:

“William Shakespeare wrote: "To thine own self be true And it must follow, as the night the day Thou canst not then be false to any man" I believe this wise statement best applies to a woman A blonde woman Over the past three years she taught me And showed us all That being true to yourself never goes out of style Ladies and gentlemen Our valedictorian: Elle Woods!” - legally blonde the musical

eat ass, suck a dick, and sell drugs

woooooorrrrd

Finally Jonas has graduated! It’s about time, considering he’s an international star.

what my professors think they look like

Prof. Dr. Dr. When someone tells him there are more than two genders

'and since you've now graduated high school, you'll be entering college etc. blablabla' .........meanwhile, there's a whole row of graduates daring each other to chug the cheap vodka one of them has brought in gallons (yes that happened at my graduation, lol)

Jonas darling baby <3-- can’t argue with that

I just realized I have no idea what the actual fuck happens in an opera

ok this one is just what jonas kaufmann always wears you can't fool me.

"as valedictorian i will share with you the importance of loving the floor"

"Yes, mother, my art degree will make me money!"

Graduation speakers are out, singers are in

Senior year takes a new meaninbg

mansplainer professor explains the concept of feminism to women

Your Prof when you finally turn in that missing assignment be like

younger boris johnson (derogatory)

jonas kaufmann retires from opera and takes up motivational speaking

What a fine graduation evening we’re having today

-70 points for slytherin you all have no swag

A man with a college hat sings.

An obviously greying actor trying to play a university student in a low-budget porn parody

How it feels to graduate high school after being held back for years

East High is a place where teachers encouraged us to break the status quo and define ourselves as we choose. Where a jock can cook up a mean crème brûlée, and a brainiac can break it down on the dance floor-

I may not have been "cool" in high school, but in ten years you will all be working for me!

I finally got my GED!

that one guy in ur intro to cultural anthropology class who mansplains to the professor somehow fucking graduated

he;s just graduating and taking his speech too serously idk

Graduation speeches with that one dude who got held back 3 times

Smrt

originally taken from: the Metropolitan Opera’s 2011 staging of Gioachino Rossini’s Le Comte Ory with Joyce DiDonato (left) as Isolier, Diana Damrau (center) as Countess Adèle, and Juan Diego Florez (right) as Le Comte Ory (disguised as a hermit)

Responses:

There is something very [disturbing grunts] About polyamorous couples - polyamorous, Chris Fleming

jinkies

femme fatale (including to herself)

I’ll have a threesome soon !

Hot guy walks by, everyone swoons.

thirdwheeling friend does not realize the other two are having sex

When your girlfriend had „just two beers“ again

jesus is exasperated about having to drag the two ladies towards doing what he needs them to do instead of purple dramatically declaring suicidal intent over the smallest trivial matters and red being equally dramatic about declaring that it's not the way! stay alive! i love you!!

The throuple is thriving

Get off the milf

orgy

my last three braincells because im a horny slut

countess receives too much love and is confused on how to react

Rasputin's lesser known romp with a much older czarina of russia

Woman's soul leaves body

Jesus and co. are worried after another woman gets pregnant without having sex

bisexual looks at photos of celebrity couples

When you go to the party to socialize with new people but your weirdo friend group starts getting clingy

Jesus cumming

one of those weird church christmas pageants but everybody's drunk

What have I done

Hozier??????????

Jesus assfucks some purple lady being hugged.

This time, the chick IS the magnet

An affair/threesome gone awry (2019 colorized)

What do you mean they canceled GLOW?

“I TOLD you it was cashmere!”

Are you wearing the - - The Gucci dress? Yes I am.

It's not what it looks like!

jesus is fucking that one cheerleader who grew up to be a suburban mom with one (1) super cool dress she stole from her kid who is desperately hugging her middle begging for it back because the spring fling is coming up and jason might actually make eye contact with her for more than three seconds.

jesus and mary magdaline and some other bitch

I’m at a bar and these drunk girls are flirting with me, do I lOOK GAY?!

Shrek 5, jesus's return

c. 2025 First attempt of an Officer and his Wife with a Handmaiden (colourized)

just about all of these are close lol

originally taken from: the Bolshoi Theater’s 1993 staging of Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky’s The Maid of Orléans, featuring Nina Rautio (left) as Joan of Arc and Vyacheslav Pochapsky (right) as Thibaut d’Arc

Responses:

Don’t look, I’m still pooping

yall, the audacity of this man. he fuckin talked to me

*i can't even tell you how wrong you are* *it would be insulting to ME*-- closest

Cospeto!

„No I’m not talking to you, you keep cracking bad jokes!“ - „But I got another!“

when you’re mad at him but he says he’ll buy you food if you cheer up

When I’m wallowing in self-pity but my friends won’t comfort me

right: wanna fuck ;) left: yeah, fuck OFF lmao

Her face is screaming “don’t tell me what to do”

Yeah I got nothing

gay man tries to hit on a lesbian bc he thinks she's a twink. she's not amused but she's watching this happen anyway

me tired of MET's bullshit and them organising a Netrebko, known blackface apologist, a recital during Black History Month. (sorry im still fucking salty lol)

"stop smiling at me like that I'm trying to pout over here"

"I got fleas, you got fleas... wanna fuck?"

I have the best idea!

Haha nooooo don’t hit me with that bat you’re so sexxyy

lesbian is bothered by dilf

Me trying to flirt

if call me by your name was hetero and set in america

how many more dad jokes can i take before i explode

So. You’ve gotten yourself in a little pickle again.

What if we fought in the Russian revolution together ✨???????... unless??

Two people flirt in a poor place of town/

"If you ask me what I've got under this dirty, shapeless tunic one more time I swear to god I will kick your rotting teeth in"

You look like ur gonna kill me but ok

Really? You again?

Okay, I’ve been sitting here for 20 minutes, do you think it’s safe to—oh god, he’s still there.

Have you seen Godot?

she is tired of everyone’s shit. she has done so many derivatives it physically pains her to see a variable. dont test her. ur icarus rn.

idk pick better pictures-- I HAVE DIED THE SHEER AUDACITY AND HUBRIS I LOVE THIS

200% done with your crap 

Homeless man has fucking legs of steel n is gonna show off his Russian dance moves

originally taken from: the Théâtre de Capitole du Toulouse’s 2019 staging of Paul Dukas’ Ariane et Barbe-bleue, featuring Sophie Koch (right) as Ariane and I don’t remember who the person on the left is rip me

Responses:

The knight who wore this into battle sure was swaggy

dear god its hiddeous

Capitalism

Knight in shining armour gone even more wrong.

ghost contemplates the safety of spiky motorcycle helmet

„Stop! He feels bullied!“

'this is my newest take for jesus's crucifixion crown ...... what do you mean they already put him up'

That’s probably a really expensive magic helmet idk. IDK-- closest

Omg I love the adventure zone!

minesweeper (windows xp)

"Okay whatever you do don't touch the shiny spiky ball" "It's so shiny I wanna touch it"

Taking down the trash way too late

IT'S NOT A PHASE MOM

Darth Vader got stuck in the freezer.... again. Leia isn’t happy

Star Wars 2030

“And here is the very latest in motorcycle helmet trends” “Look, I only came to the mall for a pair of socks “

futuristic kkk

long-suffering jewelry store attendant really wants to retire

Put it down put it down put it down

“Hmm no you should see a doctor about that”

A weird ass crown is presented

The creation of sars-cov-2: an experimental Eurotrance nightclub art piece gone horribly wrong

How it feels to want something that u cant have

AND WE WILL CALL IT—SPIKE MAN actually do you think that’s too obvious?? Because of the—yeah, because of the spikes?? See, that’s what I’m worried about. I want it to be SCARY

I know it's risky but... lube me up

?

use the force luke.

that is a weird fleshlight

When you get an ugly gift and need to find a way to get rid of it, so your family member/friend offers to smash it

Touch the orb

originally taken from: the Opera Vlaanderen’s 2019 staging of Fromental Halévy’s La Juive, with Nicole Chevalier (left, with bottle) as Princess Eudoxie, Enea Scala (center, under table) as Prince Léopold, and Roy Cornelius Smith (right) as Éléazar

Responses:

When no one comes to your birthday party :(

fantastic, day 487 of mischief and they have yet to find my masterful hiding spot

i really wonder who he thinks he's playing footsie with

Marriage crisis. Reason sits under the table-- closest but not in the way you think (after all, the man under the table IS a tenor).

the last supper afterparty after jesus left

When you order the last supper on wish

espionage at the Politischer Rosenmontag

Probably the wrong opera but is that Leporello under the table

Now THIS is a Good Friday night

this was every birthday party i went to between the ages of 5 and 11

that awkward moment when you drop your fork under the table but when you re-emerge everyone else has left except one drunk lady and the guy trying to deal with her

After the last supper

Tfw you arrive to the dinner party too early and have to hide until a more fashionable hour

When the cishets aren’t home

waiter hides from customers

Nobody: My dog every time I’m eating:

what's left of the homies Jesus had dinner with

university chem lab experiment gone terribly wrong

I’ve been under the table FOR 30 MINUTES

Set your friends up by tossing them off under the table, they’ll think it’s each other n fall in luv

Someone hids under a table

"You're about to see an surreptitious-under-the-table-dick-sucking master at work"

5 yr old me trying to eat the desert under the table without my parents finding out be like:

They never invite me to their parties!

Just another girl’s night in

Oops! Didn’t notice you the table.

dionysus - bts (2019, colorized)

just a normal episode of eric andre (eric is the one under the table)

Just a normal day with the boys

Thievery

originally taken from: the Théâtre de Capitole du Toulouse’s 2017 staging of Giacomo Meyerbeer’s Le prophète, featuring Kate Aldrich (left, surrounded by women in white) as Fidès and John Osborn (center, looking like a Jesus doppelganger) as Jean de Leyde

Responses:

Hold up, is that Eggman above Jesus?

holy disco

Looks like Tannhäuser. Our lord and saviour Richard Wagner. Now I need to be saved from that.

catholicism

me defending pineapple on pizza (THANK YOU)

jesus but hes about to be abducted by the alien ufo above him

Emmmmmmm Heaven? Idk

Lord of the rings?

ewww christianity gross

"behold, I am Important"

"Seriously?? It's not ACTUALLY pyjama day? Fuck you guys!"

Jesus at the Disco

Jesus Finds The Molerat People Who Live Under Bethlehem

disco is heaven

Want to join my new religion?

the kkk

church christmas pageant where everyone's sober but it's based on the director's fever dream

Am I the only one who sees the giant demon? Just me? Okay...

“Oh god I think I’m starting my period”

A party is held with a priest in the middle

"Let's get this secret Vatican sex party rolling!"

The new avengers endgame set is looking great!!

You know, guys, I try not to be a bother but...I can’t help but feel like I missed a dress code memo for this wedding??? It’s cocktail, right??”

Jesus visits Hogwarts

I must really stink if no one will even come close to me

the extra ass funeral i DESERVE

star wars life day

A cult at it’s best-- closest

Shrek 5, Jesus is still there I guess

originally taken from: the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden’s 2013 staging of Giuseppe Verdi’s Les vêpres siciliennes, featuring Bryan Hymel (left, standing) as Henri, Lianna Haroutounian (center, kneeling in the black gown) as Duchess Hélène, and Erwin Schrott (kneeling to her right) as Jean Procida

Responses:

When the director’s like “great rehearsal guys, just a few notes before I let you go” but it’s already 9:13 and your mom’s waiting in the parking lot

loyalist of subjects

bow before your queen

They forgot to take down the stage boxes after the Vienna opera ball but the show must go on.

somebody forgot to book chairs for this funeral

Me sharing God’s (Hayley koyoko) word on the discord server

mass execution bc the oboe solo sucked ass-- closest

That’s too many black suits I can’t see shit

I can’t even tell what’s going on here

8th grade school assembly about how it's uncool to shit on the walls at school

let's all get fancy so we can go to the opera and sit on the stage (idk this one's hard lol)

"Yes i am a time traveller, now don't freak out"

Tfw you forget to pay your lighting bills

White guys make decisions that will benefit them and screw someone that’s not a white guy over-- OUCH but that is too real (although not really in context here)

dead man gives speech at his own funeral

brotus and the boys ??? last meeting before the stabbing

high society social function ends in mass murder-- right opera, wrong scene

Someone walks into the talent show stage with a dog

Black-dressed bitches worship a man.

Worst school assembly of all time

POV:You're the window in the classroom and someone said "its snowing"

When the conductor shows up fashionably late to the orchestra concert

That's what you get for choosing the cheapest ticket option, get back in the mud where you belong

?

theyre just trying to jump into a grave at a funeral leabe them alone this is normal

oh my god he really whipped his dick out in front of everyone, this is just like in 1776 guys, except some women are actually in the room this time,

A funeral, stop wearing so much black

I want to slap their bald heads like rice

originally taken from: the Teatro Real Madrid’s 2018 staging of Gaetano Donizetti’s Lucia di Lammermoor, featuring Roberto Tagliavini (right) as Raimondo

Responses:

Crowd “haha!! Looks like someone missed the all-black memo!! Now it’s laugh-in-your-face time! / Guy on the floor (whispering to guy against wall): go, save yourself! I’ll hold them off...”

if i leave now i wont be a witness and can tell the police i had no idea

it was the best of times, it was the worst of times

Guy in the back pretends to help but is to far away to even know what’s going on.

priest walks in on beginning of an orgy, contemplated joining but is too scared-

when someone brings up capitalism but you’re just trying to play minecraft

lol lets trample this guy while the judge isnt looking

Again. Too many black costumes

Loved this Dostoevsky novel

i would know if opera directors were more creative with clothing choices ngl

me on parties lol

"imma just sneak out of here while everyone else is distracted"

"Where did he get this flooring!? Amazing!"

Everyone act normal!

The tell tale heart but they got REALLY drunk

man tposes to ward off vampires after being caught undercover

boys ???? night

the priest really shouldn't have visited the insane asylum-- closest

He’s FINE everyone’s been hit by a car before

Something happens in a room.

Perks of being a wallflower

There's always that one person in the fight whos trying not to get involved when they really wanna

Oh good, they’re all posing for a Rembrandt painting, I can just sneeeeaaak out the back here...

The gamer livestreaming Resident Evil + everyone watching the stream ? waiting for him to open the door just knowing it will trigger a chase scene

Quick!

the guy t posing in the back is regretting his every decision.-- also accurate

the us senate jumps ted cruz, some other wack ass gop senator is trying to sneak away

...I spoke too soon, however this is a James Bond mission

Queers help fellow queer do math but it's a struggle

[andawaywego]

can you write a fic where dani is sick and jamie is soft with her? love your writing so so much

here you go, dear. i hope you like it! :)

..

The lamp on the bedside table warms the darkness of Dani’s eyelids as she comes back into herself from that floating, detached place she’d been drifting in and out of. The second thing she becomes aware of is that her head is pounding heavily at her temples, and then that her skin is covered in a layer of cold sweat.

She can’t breathe out of her nose.

Sitting up in a panic, vertigo strikes her and she nearly has to slump back down. Her bedroom wavers in front of her vision, her eyes unable to focus on one thing for too long. There are tissues on the table beside the lamp and she fumbles for one, blowing her nose into it until she can breathe again and then she coughs, hoarse and pained, into the elbow of her sweater.

“Miss Clayton!” Flora’s voice comes ringing through the loud humming in her head. “You’re awake.”

There are scrambling footsteps and then the whole bed shakes as Flora jumps onto it, landing on her knees and inching nearer. Dani groans weakly and leans her head back against her head board.

“You should go, sweetie,” she croaks. Flora’s face swims in her vision. She reaches out and brushes some of the hair from the little girl’s face. “I don’t want you to get sick.”

“I won’t! I’ve been very careful. Mrs. Grose gave me these.” She holds her hands up to show that she’s wearing thick mittens. “That way I don’t catch any germs.”

Dani laughs at the silly sight and winds up in a coughing fit that lasts for several long moments instead. Flora watches sympathetically and the rolling fog in Dani’s head starts to weaken and the memory of something that came before the darkness starts to filter in.

The garden. She’d been in the garden with Flora and Miles, coming back from a walk. Flora’s hand in hers, the pressure that’s been in her head for the last day and a half building and building and—

She’s not sure how she got here.

“Flora, what happened?” she asks, blinking her watery eyes to try and see better. It sounds like she’s whispering for how rough her voice has become. “We were—”

“You fainted!” Flora says. “I tried to wake you up, but you wouldn’t and so Miles ran for help and then Jamie came and found us and brought you inside.”

“She did?” Dani asks, trying to picture what that might have looked like.

Flora winces. “Well...actually, it was Owen who carried you, but Jamie got you settled and called the doctor and—”

The creaking of Dani’s bedroom door interrupts them and then Jamie there, in the doorway. She’s frowning at first, and saying, “Flora, let her—”

But then she realizes that Dani is awake and she stops speaking immediately, her jaw dropping open a little in surprise.

“She’s awake!” Flora announces.

Jamie nods. “I can see that, yeah.” She approaches slowly, trailing her hand up the blankets as she crosses the room until she’s on Dani’s side of the bed. “How are you feeling?”

And Dani wants to say that she feels terrible, but she feels woozy and a little like she’s drunk and the only thing she can focus on is the shape of Jamie’s mouth and shade of her eyes in the lamplight.

“You’re just unfair,” she says, her mouth feeling dry all of a sudden.

Jamie frowns. “What?”

“Your face,” Dani explains. “You’re too pretty. I hate it.”

Jamie laughs, sounding a little uneasy. “You do, huh?” she asks.

“No. Not really.” She sniffles a little and then is reminded that she can’t really breathe and huffs instead. “Come here.”

If she were able to focus on anything beyond the burning fever and pounding in her head, she might have noticed Jamie giving Flora a look, jerking her head towards the door. She might have even heard the little chirp a goodbye and scramble off the bed and out of the door.

Once she’s gone, Jamie sits down on the edge of the bed. Dani reaches up for her and Jamie’s hand meets her own, her other hand coming out to rest against Dani’s forehead.

“You’re burning up still,” she says.

“Yeah,” Dani says. “’Cause you’re here.”

She tries to wink and must fail terribly because Jamie laughs. Part of her aches at the realization that Jamie is actually seeing her at her worst—and won’t that scare her away—because they’ve only been doing the them thing for a little over two months—two months of sneaking around the house to get a spare minute alone; meeting up at Jamie’s apartment so they can fall into one another in that easy rhythm that’s becoming second nature; two months of holding hands beneath the dinner table and cheek-kisses and Jamie’s arm around Dani’s shoulders as they sit beside each other.

That’s not enough time, though, for Jamie to be exposed to Dani’s sick self. At the realization, she groans and closes her eyes. Jamie’s too pretty for her. She wants to crawl beneath the covers and disappear.

“Are you okay?” Jamie asks, her voice pitched soft. That hand on Dani’s forehead moves to cup her cheek and Dani opens her eyes.

“I look like a monster,” she explains. “You should leave.”

Another laugh. Dani’s glad at least one of them can find humor in the situation.

“You are not a monster,” Jamie tells her. She leans out and presses a kiss to Dani’s sweaty forehead—doesn’t even bat an eyelash as she pulls away. “You’re beautiful and silly and very sick. You had me worried, Poppins.”

Her eyes are welled up with unshed tears. Guilt prickles Dani’s chest. She coughs, turning her head away to do so—not enough strength to lift her arm to aim into. “Sorry,” she says. “Didn’t mean to.”

“Doc said you’re probably dehydrated. So drink.”

When Dani turns her head back, Jamie is holding up a glass of water with a curly straw in it. When she catches Dani looking at it, she shrugs. “It’s the kids’. That’s all they had.”

Dani shakes her head and leans in. “No, I love it,” she says and then she takes a long, long pull on it, closing her eyes in relief as the cool water hits the back of her dry, cracked throat. “I had those as a kid, too.”

“’Course you did,” Jamie says fondly. She sets the glass down on the bedside table. “Do you need anything else? Owen’s making you soup right now.”

If she weren’t already hot from the fever, Dani might have warmed at this. Whenever she was sick as a child, she was usually left to fend for herself. She has memories of her dad taking care of her before he died, but her mother could never be bothered. Unless Dani was actively tossing her cookies, she had to go to school. She was in charge of feeding herself, taking her medicine, all of those things that might have been nicer and easier if provided by a caretaker.

The point is:

She’s not used to this.

“I’m okay,” she says. “You should get in the bed. I like it when you’re in bed with me.”

She tries to wink again. Jamie laughs.

“Is that so?” she asks and Dani pouts.

“You’re making fun of me,” she says.

“I’m not. You’re just adorable.”

She doesn’t necessarily believe that, but Jamie is crawling over her a moment later, settling down on the other side of the bed and guiding Dani to lie down again. They lay facing one another, Jamie on her side, Dani’s head turned.

“You’re really nice,” Dani says after a moment. She loves the curve of Jamie’s brow, the curl of her hair, the way her cheek dimples when she does that little half-smile. “Like a war nurse.”

Another laugh. It shakes the bed. Dani hums at the sound.

“A war nurse?” Jamie asks.

Dani nods, her eyes drifting closed as exhaustion starts to settle back into her bones. “If I woke up and they had to amputate my leg, you’d be the first thing I’d want to see.”

Jamie silent for a long time. Dani is drifting off when a hand touches her stomach, thumb rubbing patterns in the fabric of her sweater.

“Me, too, Dani,” she says and Dani hums again. “Rest, okay? My heart’ll give out if you do that to me again, you hear?”

“Yes, ma’am,” Dani says and then giggles weakly at herself. “You’ll be here?”

Warm breath hits the side of her face. Lips press against her temple and the hold around her stomach tightens. In the moments before she falls asleep, she just barely hears Jamie say, “Always.”

...