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jackiequick · 1 year

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Friends over the years [Agent Carter fic]

Pairing: Jason Grey Underwood and Howard J. Stark

Summary: A friendship that goes beyond a average kinda bond. They loved each other like brothers, treat one another like friends, respected their relationship like a pair of lovers. Sadly it goes downhill due to a stupid painful argument…

Romantic or Platonic Relationship

Fandom: Marvel, Agent Carter

Spoilers for Agent Carter season 1 & season 2. A bit of Iron Man 2.

Warning: Fluff, angst, mention of treason and one side conversations

Characters shown/mentioned: Peggy Carter, Maria Stark, Nurse Violet, Edwin Jarvis, Ana Jarvis, Daniel Sousa, Tony Stark, Hank Pym, Dr. Jason Wilkes, and SHIELD in general.

Note: Glen Powell played Hangman, my HC is that Hangman is BI so will be Jason haha

—

It started out to tender so sweet then they got me smoking out the window…

“What’s your name, champ?” Said Stark with a classic charming grin, holding out his hand.

“Jason, Mr. Stark.” I replied shaking his hand with a politic accent and smile to go along with it.

“Mr. Stark? Call me Howard everyone does! What brings you by?”

“Uh, Peg said you have new pairs of gun for me?”

“Ah, Peg sent you! Well your in luck pal, cause I have the perfect hand held guns made just today. Better than ones I manufactured back in 42’ I’ll tell you that much.”

“Anything is fine, Howard. As long as it last me up to more than 50 hours a bullet, I’ll be doing just fine.”

“Your my type of man, Jay! Can I call you, Jay or JJ?”

I chuckled, “Of course you can.”

~~~

He walked and talked about everything, “Great! You seem familiar, have we met before?”

I chuckled once again, “Actually we have, a charity in the park back in 43’.”

“Don’t remember.” He shrugged.

I sighed, “You were wearing a cherry brown tie and a freshly tailored suit.”

“Ah yes, now I remember! I was looking snazzy in that suit, I remember bringing home a lovely lady that very evening. She was Italian and the champagne was devilishly delicious—”

“Howard!”

“What?”

“Focus.”

“Yeah, right! You were saying.”

“I’m here because I’m working with the SSR on a case involving Dorothy Underwood and a Russian therapist who framed you and your weaponry.”

“Ah yes! I invent stuff but I always make sure what I’m doing correctly, what do you got?”

“Easy, we’re tracking them down for each movement. I know where Dorothy is and Peggy is tracking her down while The stupid Russian therapist is currently at SSR headquarters. Before anything gets messy, do you have any relations to any of those two?”

“Uhhh no? I met a lot of people how do you expect me to stay on track with that. I’m a busy man, JJ.”

~~~~

It took time but he started to connect the dots on how he was related to Dorothy Underwood’s case, then we were on the roll. After what felt like hours with Howard, Peggy and Jarvis we were able to settle down on a plan. Howard was used as bate to lure our bad guys out while Daniel, Jack, Peggy, Jarvis and I were ready to attack. Quickly Howard was kidnapped by them as we raced after him. Once we arrived Howard was flying a plane straight headed near the New York City Harbor as he being mind control by the therapist to his practical deathbed!

Daniel, Jack and I instructed Jarvis to fly the plane as we kept marched up to track down the threats. Peggy was fighting Dottie while all of this was happening, I swear i was getting a headache sooner or later from all of this. Thankfully the day was saved, Howard was brought back to the ground, Jack and Daniel returned back to work and Peggy was giving a seat nearby the stakeholders at the SSR allowing herself to get a more flexible job.

A week later, I headed over to Howard to discuss moving out to LA since it cleared up to see that my sister, Dottie, wasn’t gonna be a huge problem anytime soon. There was always crime to be solved in LA especially after Daniel Sousa offered be a positive choice there, why not take the offer and run with it? So I did!

-//-

-> In Los Angeles, everything felt pretty cool! Howard’s penthouse and other living corners were very much a good fit for me. Breakfast in the morning next to the poolside, a nice walk in the park. Heading to set for movies we’ve decided to film together and afterwards in the afternoon, I spent hours at the SSR for detective and paperwork duties ordered by my friend, now Chef Sousa.

“Morning, handsome.” Howard teased coming up from his workshop, grinning and poured himself a cup of coffee.

“What have i told you about late night in your workshop?” I replied taking a bite of my toast and taking a sip of coffee.

“Uhhh don’t do it?”

“Exactly! I swear I’m one of the reasons you’re still alive today.”

“Heyyy! You love me!”

“Never said I didn’t, hot stuff.”

I stood up and walked over to the kitchen island, standing next to Howard ruffling his hair a bit with a smile. Howard smiled and being his usual flirty self. It results in a laugh and a eye roll.

He moved closed and joked yelling, “Quit it!”

“Be good today.” I joked back sending a charming wink to him, as I walked out grabbing his jacket.

It was good. Real good.

Until it wasn’t.

Sadly, that same week I crashed my car during a horrible lightning storm driving around the countryside of LA to see Peggy and our friends for a unsuspecting case. The weather got chiller and air became thicker as all time froze up, leading me gasp for air after being unconscious for 20 minutes straight.

I was fine and arrived back home with a few cuts in bruises leading to, Nurse Violet, to help patch me up as we all discussed the crime rate activity in LA with the group. I fell for this woman hard. A gentle soul.

-> During the invading investigation which lets everybody working and spending in Howard’s lab for answer on Miss Froster connection to Zero Matter.

Jason was calculating a design for a machine to cover up and consent the rest of issue, especially involving their new friend, Dr. Wilkes, who joked how much Jason and Howard seemed to care each other. The respect they had for one another. He joked back with a shrug saying that Howard was his idiot in more ways than one, at that same time Jason felt a heatwave climb up his jacket and slightly dizzy.

Howard and Peggy noticed and rushed over, lifting Jason off the ground before he fell back. He insisted he was fine but he was tired and overwhelmed, Peggy remember that Jason didn’t even bother to go to hospital after accident.

Jason was given a opportunity for plenty of examinations and refused to say on bed rest that night, until Peggy practically threatened him to do so. Jason was examined again and again, even got a cast on his sprained ankle. But nothing crazy happened and the results came down to a small fever.

Nurse Violet and Ana took care of him that the next few days. Jason would admit he was eternally grateful for that, especially for Violet since she was sassy angel gifted to be by their side. He took his shot and asked her out on a date, but she told him to wait for that time to come. It was a small promise that was made.

Thankfully it was fine and the fever went away, they all assumed it was side effects from the accident, the stress from the case and work in general. And it was.

—-

Everyone got back to work and weeks went by, months along the way Ms Frost was put away behind bars and Dr. Wilkes was offered a job at the SSR.

One morning after having a moment to actually catch their breath after all that chaos, Howard appeared next to Jason nearby the pool of their house, handing him a beer.

“Thank you.” Jason repiled, taking a sip with a smile, “You alright? A penny for your thoughts?”

“Y-yeah. Just thinking about the future.” He replied with a playfully nudge.

“You’re film? You’re gonna make that happened with Frost public?”

“Maybe? I mean no! Well not that worse idea. I can win an award winning director for that. Can you imagine?!”

“Howard. Focus.”

“Right sorry! I was thinking a bit more closer to the present. Everyone deserves a bit of normal after everything right?”

“Of course they do. But maybe we shouldn’t settle for normal life, domestic romanized life maybe.”

Jason met Howard’s dark brown eyes, and he felt like he was lost for words, in the sweet warm of it all. Damn Jason wanted to test the water and try something a little different. Howard met his eyes seeing a life with him, deep down a part of always smiled knowing shining light in them. Damn Howard could tease the waters with him, he liked his women and men, especially this one. They moved closer to one another with soft grins laced on their faces laughing at the fact how silly they are being about this whole thing.

“What’cha thinking, Howard?” Jason asked with a tease in his voice, “I know that look. Very well.”

It was rare to see Howard this silly, vulnerable and honest. Only ever him and Peggy seen it.

“How much almost I lost you and our friends two weeks ago? I can’t live with myself if I did. I just can’t, JJ!” Howard admitted to him with a sigh and smiles, “Look at me? What am I doing?”

“You’re being honest with me. Your one of my best friends, Howard Stark, maybe even more than that. You will never lose me..I hope?” Jason replied with a chuckle.

Howard joked with a smirk, “Is this the part of the film where the guy kisses the girl?”

“Or so I’m girl in the scenario huh?” Jason joked back with a smirk.

“Well if you insist.”

“Hey wait-!”

Before neither one of them to say a word or even finished that very sentence, Howard leaned in and placed his lips onto his best friend tasting the liquid gold from the beer. Jason chuckled honestly didn’t care who say, locking lips tasting the tequila shots from earlier with him cupping his chin.

They were rather tipsy but won’t admit it. The two stayed like that for a little while, sparking a sweet open love and tender laughter from how ridiculously fun it was.

The two friends knew that the kiss meant nothing, it was just a fun thing of accidental attraction. They laughed about it. They’re young! Besides what’s friendship if you can’t experience and experiment things together?

——

Over the months, Howard and Jason did almost everything together. It was a very casual thing the two had together, but they cared about one another much. It was a rather open friendship, they dated and talked about who exactly decided to be their lucky ladies. Jason started finally dating Nurse Violet and was admiring their blooming romance.

You could’ve sworn they were like an two old friends or even, old married couple.

But that award went to Maria Stark and her loverboy Howard. Maria, Jason and Howard were a young trio within itself, noticing everything that happened. Along with Peggy, Jarvis and the rest of their friends. Matter a fact, it was Maria and Ana that pointed that Jason’s slight deep wrinkles that were previously made from the smile lines were fading gone and the effectiveness of the curious blew up. As they realized that it seemed over the last few months the aging process stopped completely for him.

Howard, Daniel. and Peggy worked long enough to figure out a way to seek what happened to him. They spend months doing tests, case films and files, examining his every single movement and reading books for answers. But nothing came up, Jason believed it was a giant mistake, a curse that happened due to the lack of caution he reflected on not having.

Maria reassured him that it wasn’t his fault, they couldn’t have known for this to happen. Peggy agreed knowing that they didn’t knowledge this beforehand as Howard was deep into a book, who trying to figure out what went wrong with his equipment and such, agreed.

~~~~

One night Jason felt defeated and went home to tell his girlfriend, Violet, what pained him.

“Honey, I’m sorry, so sorry. You don’t deserve me..” He said standing in the middle of the living room.

“What do you mean?” She replies knowing what happened, cupping his hands.

He kissed her hand gently and replied, “You deserves somebody who can grow old enough with you. I can’t give you that..”

She nodded looking at him with love in her eyes, “Hey sugar, I know it’s bad for us right now.”

“I don’t want to be a burden on you and have you wake up one day regretting your decision to be with me..”

“Then I’ll love you for as long as you’ll have me..”

Jason smiled softy and didn’t hesitate to lock lips with the woman he loved dearly. That moment he knew, Violet Bolger, would be his girlfriend for as long as they’ll have each other.

—> However being the loyal man he always tried to be and knowing how much he loved Violet, a two and a half years later, he let her go. Their relationship was slowly dying out, he didn’t want to a burden who was holding his sweet girl one down. He wanted to see her happy, loved and most importantly an opportunity for a life where she can travel, grow old and make memories with someone even greater than.

Years went by the group slowly grew older but Jason stayed the same way. He didn’t mind it too much, yes it pained him very much to not be able to grow old with his friends, who he considered family, and sometimes being seen as the youngest one. However it is what is! At least he had the support of his family and lovers beside him. Maria and Howard.

And when baby Anthony Edward Stark came along, or Tony for short, let’s just say everyone was happy. Poor Edwin Jarvis though, he had to change diapers. Peggy and Ana were delighted to be aunties. Maria was excited to be a mother and Jason was always wanted to be a uncle. The first two years, Howard was very attentive and on top of things when it came to his son. Bring Tony everywhere and anywhere possible, the days he wasn’t working at SHIELD and in his lab downstairs that is.

When Tony became 3 years old, almost 4 however, that’s when the plane started to take off. Bickering, arguments and feelings just either hurt or ignored. Yes it was normal for couples, or in this case, sorta throuple always fought. Especially this one! Howard was always working more than Jason ever did and Maria was always part time working at the jewelry store she co-owned with a friend of hers. They always made time for one another, especially when it came to their family and friends.

~~~

One afternoon Jason returned home from a long trip on a mission to Las Vegas, Nevada to collect samples of a metallic suspicious bonds and examine that at SHIELD headquarters. He appeared in the front door to hear running of tiny footsteps, followed by much larger ones. The giggles came along with the footsteps made Jason roll his eyes and chuckle.

The tiny footsteps zipped by and before they can reach the living room, Jason caught him. In his arms lay the giggles and yells from the charmer himself, Anthony Stark, his hair was a mess and in his hands held a toy screwdriver.

“Uncle JJ!” Tony yelled finally registering who’s arms he was in and giggling tightly hugging him, “You’re back!”

He laughed hugging his nephew tightly showing him in plenty required tickles for being gone for too long and asked, “Yeah buddy, I’m back home! Now why were you running? You knew the rules.”

“Jar’vis is making me clean my f-feet!”

“What?”

It didn’t register in his mind what his nephew meant until he looked down to see the shoeless feet that rested against his button down, that were covered in dirt. He sighed deeply realizing now that he had to clean up a cheeky little 4 year olds dirty, probably muddy, feet from playing in the backyard without his shoes. He carried the young boy into the bathroom and requested for Jarvis to get him some towels as he washed his feet.

Tony explained what he was doing today after attending dentist appointment that his mother had earlier, which involved him building outside, drawing, watching his favorite cartoons and helping his mother with the dishes. He even slipped out that he accidentally found himself in his father’s workshop just wanting to hang out in there as Howard kicked him out, resulting in Tony hearing his mother and father bickering as he was carried out by Jarvis.

Jason sighed deeply once again and internally groaned in annoyance at what happened today. At this point, it didn’t surprise him at all, with the amount of time they fight it surprises him how Maria, him and Howard still live under one same roof. To be honest, they all walked out of this house more than once, due a argument

Tony pouted and spoke up, “A-are you mad at me?”

“Buddy why would i be mad?” He asked, scrubbing his feet gently.

“Cause..i walked into daddy’s workshop..i know i can not go only if you guys let me.”

“For starters we don’t want you in there unless supervised because it can be dangerous and you can accidentally get hurt.”

“Okay..I’m sorry. A-are you gonna talk to daddy and momma?”

“Well why did you do it in the first place?”

“Be..cause i wanna play with daddy but he too busy for me..he don’t love me anymore..”

“No buddy, don’t say that. Of course he loves you, he’s just gets too caught up with work that’s all.”

“I just wanna play with him, uncle J..”

“I know buddy, i know. You’re father does things for a reason, he just keeps carried away sometimes..”

~~~~~~

Then Tony asks him a question he didn’t expect for the four year old, then again he was smart for his age, but still. The young boy sighed deeply, sometimes he picked up on from seeing his uncles and aunties doing a lot. Tony asked, “A-are you love, JJ?”

“What?” He asked with a soft smile, adding some more now to his feet.

“Are you love? Momma says that you don’t date anymore..and that you love her and daddy more.”

“Well buddy, i do love them both very much. With all my heart. As for dating, uh it’s hard for your uncle to find himself a girlfriend with work and no one wants to date someone with crazy dance moves..”

Tony giggled at that and yelled, “You do dance funny!”

“You see! Auntie Ana says i dance like a chicken.” Jason replies chuckling, drying off his feet now.

“You dance like a funny chicken who ate too much candy!”

“A chicken on a sugar high?”

“Yes!”

The two laughed, smiling. Yes there was truth to that part to what his uncle told him about not dating, was that he didn’t age and rather not live a life with somebody who can, but Tony doesn’t need to know the whole truth just yet. He was still a child.

Jason place a fresh pair on shoes, thanks to Jarvis, onto Tony’s little feet as he said, “You see! If i went on dates every night I wouldn’t have time to talk with you.”

“You are right! No dating, i do not want a date either! Girls are eww!” Tony replies giggling, walking down the hallways following Jarvis and his uncle downstairs. That resulted in both men to roll their eyes and laugh at the young boys words.

The three of them found Ana and Maria serving lunch greeting the women, as Howard came, slightly late, upstairs to eat with them. It was good, real good for a while. The rest of the day was just fine, per say.

————

However it soon got to a point where the tension ran high the next few months and possibly even years. The water to the cup started to soon overflow, but Jason kept quiet, it wasn’t his place to talk about certain things. He knew his limits and where he stands, but sometimes it annoyed him. It made him question everything he ever knew…

He noticed how Howard and Maria changed perspective on certain things, Maria got more annoyed about things and Howard kept acting like everything was fine. When clearly he was ignoring stuff around the house and even his son. If those was thing that made Jason’s blood boil was something that involved his friends and family, especially his young nephew who didn’t know any better.

One Wednesday afternoon, he had enough of this bullshit. He knew Maria wouldn’t say anything about it and handles everything her own way, but he wasn’t her. Jason stormed into the lab downstairs that now held so much stuff, it looked like a madhouse in there. No wonder why Jarvis always complains about Howard’s messes!

Howard was working on a few equations and running his fingers across some equipment he’s building to showcase Hank Pym later that week. He didn’t even hear the door shut or the fact that there were rough clapping of footsteps followed up within seconds. He heard a simple ‘can we talk? Now.’ And he only received a half nod in return.

Jason tapped his foot onto the floor, with his arms crossed and waited for his friend to stop what he doing to stand up straight and look at her.

“What?” Howard asked removing his sunglasses and runs his fingers across his hair, “If it’s that i forgot to pick up the presents for Ana’s birthday and forgot to pick up Tony from school, I’m sorry.”

“I-ahhh, that’s not it!” He replied, pinching the bridge of his noses knowing how much a idiot he is, “Actually this is about Tony.”

“Is something wrong with him?”

“Yeah, he’s not being treated fairly by you.”

“W-w-wh-what?!”

He scoffed, “Howard you’re more focused on your work than your own family! You’re overworking yourself and literally kick out your poor son whenever you get the chance.”

“HEY! Everything i do is for my son, you know that!” Howard remarked pointing a finger at him, “To give me a future i never had!”

“I know that!”

“So just let in work in peace, huh? You don’t understand what I’m doing here.”

“Oh really? Yeah of course, the futurist everybody! The last few years you have been so disconnected from everything. You barely go on date nights anymore with Maria or watch the stars with her, you don’t give Tony a bedtime story anymore and you just said it yourself—you forgot to pick him up at school!”

“It was a accident. Am i not allowed to make accidents as a parent huh? Everything i do is for my kid.”

“You just said that and i know. But Howard..” Jason sighed, “Tony doesn’t need any of this, he just needs you. You’re time and energy, that charming smile of yours to shower him in love! Not you working night and day, over and over again where you can’t breath or take a second of your time to relax with us. You’re forgetting sight of who you are!”

Howard growled, “Don’t! Don’t tell me how to raise my son, Jason. He’s not your kid, he’s mine! You’re just his uncle. As for Maria, you don’t need to defend her here, if she has a problem with me then she should just tell me herself!”

“That’s because she’s doesn’t care anymore! I’ve seen that women fight with you over and over again, to the point where she just accepted that, that’s the way you are now.”

“Yes I’ve changed JJ! People are allowed to change, that’s part of human evolution.”

Jason paced back and forth, turning around hearing Howard’s long winded speech about evolution and change. Howard leaned against his desk scoffing and dryly laughing, “You’re hilarious. This is all some joke to you right?”

“I—what did you just say to me?” Jason stopped and whipped his face toward him.

“This is a joke to you. You believe that your right here and I’m wrong, Jason. Just because you live here with us and know how this works, you think your right here.”

“BECAUSE I AM HOWARD! When was the last time you got out of here, huh? When was the last time you told Tony ‘I love you’ or took time to take Maria’s dancing or go bowling with me? Ever seen you started SHIELD, you’ve been noticing but a consuming jerk!”

“Is that really what you think of me? A jerk?! You don’t understand.”

“I don’t understand?!”

“Yes!”

“You weren’t acting one in the beginning, but the months and years after, yes you have become a bit of a jerk. One day you’re gonna regret what you’ve done.”

“I won’t.”

“You will!”

~~~

Both men were furious at this point, they have been yelling loudly and screaming for more than an hour, bringing up moments from their past. Some stuff was even throw on the floor at this point. That fire due to the years of love, the friendship and the curiosity was going out..or maybe the fire was already gone?

Howard grunted, “I’ve done nothing much work my ass off and made sure to investigate and invent things to make the world a better place. I’m doing what i think is right here! You just don’t see it!”

Jason scoffed, “Yeah and the world has hated you and thanked you for it! Must i remind me about what happened in 56’? Or in 46’, when you were committed for treason for holding glorified weapons and the whole state was after your ass? And we had to save yo—”

“Don’t finished that sentence. What do you want me to do, huh? Give me my lives work? I’m a inventor, if I don’t invent something or work my ass off, i will probably explode. I-is that what you want? What are you gonna do if i do continue this lifestyle? Leave me?”

“If i could i would take Maria and Tony somewhere else, away from you for a while, I would. But we both you would sent the best lawyers possible and god knows what after me, so I won’t. I won’t do that to you..or them.”

“Ah, you know me so well. And i know you..”

“You do and i love you for everything you do. But this…I can’t!”

“Jason..I can’t change what i do Jason, you know that! I just can’t. I’ve come so far and you just don’t see it.”

“Stop it!”

“Stop what?”

“You’re playing the pity card again. You don’t think Maria, Peggy, Jarvis and I don’t see it? We do! Hell, Tony see it!”

“So why don’t you let me do it? Leave me alone to do my work! I’m trying here. Look what at I’ve made and I can’t stop it now.”

“Yes you can!.”

“No, I can’t!”

“Look, I’m not exactly asking you to leave everything behind. But understand this, I rather you show Tony this world of yours, instead of shutting him out! All of us out. Take a break or..”

“Or what?”

“Or you’re gonna lose the people you care for the most…you know what? What’s the point? I can’t do this...”

~~~

The next words that escape Howard Stark’s lips came out of pure anger and annoyance, “Do what? You’re gonna leave me? If so, get out. You clearly don’t want to be here anymore.”

“You don’t mean that.” Jason replied with slight shock in her tone and blinked a few times.

“Yes i do. You don’t need to be here unless you don’t want to.”

“Howard stop it. Listen to what you’re saying! I care about this family too much to see it fall apart.”

“This is my family! Not yours. You don’t get the final word, i do.”

“You don’t listen, do you?”

“Enough Jason! Get out.”

“You’re gonna regret this! Don’t come complaining to me when you’re son hates you.”

“Get out! There’s the door.”

~~~~

If there one thing Jason Underwood was and that was persistent, so before he left. He said, “When are you gonna realized your greatest creation isn’t those weapons you made or SHIELD or anything related to that, it’s your legacy. Your son!”

“I’m not gonna ask again. Please go..I don’t ever want to see you again.” Howard said with a pissed off sigh, blinking a few times.

Those last words hit Howard hard, as he stood up finding one of his older cameras and place it securely on the tripod with a half smile.

One of his friends, the man he once called a love in his life, the uncle to his only son and supporter walked out of that door without a second chance to help his case. Howard sighed deeply with his head in his hands. He was angry, tired, and annoyed. A part of him knew that his friend was right. He’s a workaholic man with no respect or anything like that for other people, depending on the situation. Always focused on the world’s future, but not sure on the future he set for his family. His only concern was Tony and Maria. His greatest creation being his son.

Without a question later, he turned on the camera and started to film himself, try to speak again like the focused, honest and vulnerable man he tended to be. He decided on leaving his door open just in case his wife called or anyone walked in in general.

Meanwhile Jason was packing his overnight bag for possible a two day stay at Jarvis house. He already had a house in Miami but he was only willing to stay with Edwin and Ana for a couple of days to get himself straightened out before leaving for good. Maria tried to convince him to stay, even if a part of her agreed with her husband instead

But his mind was already set on leaving and possibly visit in the future. Jason ripped out a sheet of paper from his notebook and wrote a note to his nephew, one to Maria, as well as one to Howard. He played them secretly onto in places where they knew they’ll find them one day in life. To say Jason was hurt like this was a understatement, breaking up with a girlfriend was one thing but with your friend of almost 20 years or more.

All he wanted to do was save something in this family of theirs, but knew he couldn’t. And that’s what pained him, he wanted to scream and possibly cry, maybe even let out cloud of smoke out the window.

The men may have been on separate grounds of the house, pissed off and hurt from their two hour argument with one another, but they knew one thing. They still somehow had respect, admiration and compassion for each other, no matter how much hatred and annoyance came from that. A part of them knew it.

——

Over the months and years, their friendship grew sadly apart. Their friends knew it. And what made it more interesting is that they still saw each other, weather they liked it or not. At work, parties, gatherings, birthdays, graduations, a ceremony for some special they were invited to.

Howard would always being pushed to speak to Jason and vise versa, only ending up in small talk between the pair, then walking off to speak to other people. They would be found speak to family members but not one another, Howard even though of not allowing Tony nearby to his uncle for too long, would be better during those events.

It was plainly stupid on both of their parts, but they both had their rights to be angry and bitter. It hurts.

Jason always wanted and most importantly, tried to explain to Howard the situation, hopes for his forgiveness after that nightmare of a week. But Howard’s huge ego, witty jokes, stubbornness and willingness to hold a grudge never let him see the light…

—//—

I hope you all enjoyed this story. It was a long and a interesting one to write. Remember to like, comment and share

This was an AU tales of two friends I wrote a long time ago before the whole MCU x Agent Carter fic thing

Tags: @gaminggirlsstuff @triptuckers @ohgodnotagainn @msrochelleromanofffelton @gcthvile @drspencereidhotch @mandylove1000 @t-nd-rfoot @topgun-imagines @blackheart-beauty @meiramel @eliohasmyheart @rooster-84 @yetanotherwells @blueboirick and etc

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fruitless-vain · 9 months

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So we really challenged everyone today and went to the dog park bright and early before it gets busy. And they absolutely rocked it!

Sham ended up off leash as his recall was great, he made many friends and was regulating his play very well with role reversals and frequent disengaging sniff breaks. Sham took on this fabulous role by himself of relieving pressure off of Yo, if another dog was coming on too strong or Yo was just starting to feel a bit pressured he would go and get the dogs attention and lure them away from Yoshi. 😭 he’s such a good boy

Yoshi was so spectacular, this park is several acres large with huge flat plains so there’s ample space to move away and find quiet if things were to be too much. She really learned a lot from Sham and followed his lead, if he was comfortable with another dog so was she. She would watch him greet and then stand nearby waiting for her turn, she successfully sniffed faces and the dogs we selected for greetings were very calm and socialized well so they were able to move the face sniff along to reduce that tension and help her move to the booty sniff easier. She ended up having one dog she did a few short bouncy chases with and the rest she just happily greeted and moved along from. No stress building up, no nothing.

We had one bad interaction with this dog who the owner claimed “didn’t like that [sham] was faster than him”. Which? Is such a wild thing to believe. Very large tall dog approached and I should have immediately known something was up and moved away, Jack was in the bathroom so I just stayed by the door instead. The second that dog showed up sham whined a bit which I shrugged off bc he does that sometimes he just whines at dogs bc of excitement a lot. But then Yoshi let out a faint growl and sat tall at my side, which I again just shrugged off as her not liking this particular dog or being uncomfortable with its sheer size. But no. This dog approached slowly and immediately flung its hackles up, sham stepped in front of me and Yo to intercept and the other dog walked his chest in to shams and started growling at him. The owner just laughed and attempted to call the dog which had no plans on moving. It snapped at sham, Sham tried to make his body language small, diffuse, and back away to add space while the other dog keeps adding more special pressure and growling. I start stepping forwards and call sham, shams trying to calmly add space, crouching down, and get around the dog which is body blocking him from getting back to me. The dog snaps again and sham jumps back, cowers down more and yelps (out of fear he didn’t get harmed). I’m able to get sham out of there and start backing away, the larger dog starts prowling at Yo, I turn us all so yo is between me and the building and the dog finally disengaged and caught up with the owner.

Absolutely terrifying spot to be in, so so glad that Sham is so stable that he did everything in his power to deescalate AND the fact that he went and stuck himself between us to stop that dog from getting closer. Note to self: Yoshi isn’t reactive anymore, if she’s growling at a dog it’s because that dog is a Problem.

Gave the boy so so much love after that, he sniffed around for another 10-20 minutes before bouncing back to himself and ended on a good note playing with a doodle and a smooth collie later on. So so grateful for his demeanour.

Thankfully the park is large enough that we were able to stay away from them for the rest of the visit and both dogs were able to shake it off and end on a good note.

#duo walks #the park

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tomboy014 · 2 years

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How Maddie (the cat) Makes Vlad Masters a Better Person

a.k.a. This Man Will Have Character Growth Even if it Kills Me

I feel like Maddie, the cat, is the first thing that Vlad has ever genuinely (rather than obsessively) cared about. He watches TV with her, talks to her, praises her, and every time we see that cat on screen, she’s a happy cat. So, it seems that Vlad is a responsible pet owner at the very least. It’s the first thing besides himself that he’s ever had to take care of, and more importantly, wants to take care of. And a lot of couples invest in a pet before they commit to having kids together, so here’s how I think Maddie, the cat, can cause Vlad to become a better person overall.

It’s a typical day in Amity Park except Dani is back in town. The reason why isn’t especially important, but Vlad finds out and fights Danny who just wants to keep his “cousin” safe and away from Vlad. Maybe they’re close to Vlad’s house, maybe she’d gotten outside, but during the fight, Maddie (the cat) comes into view. Danny is busting a gut to find out that Vlad caved and got a lonely guy cat, while Vlad is simultaneously embarrassed and concerned. Ghost fights are dangerous; he doesn’t want her getting hit by a stray blast. But Dani? Despite her apparent age, she’s technically only months old, and there is a cute, fluffy kitty right there. Like any small child, Dani rushed forward to pet the kitty, and Maddie, like any cat being rushed by a small grabby, child, runs to Vlad who scoops her up in his arms.

“Is that your cat?”

“Why... yes. Yes, it is. Would you like to pet the nice kitty?”

Vlad is fully aware that he’s giving off creepy-man-in-a-van vibes but doesn’t care and uses Maddie to lure Dani back to his Manor. There’s nothing Danny can do about it; Danielle’s a willing participant, and just to make sure Danny can’t stop him, Vlad activates the house’s ghost shield once he and Dani are inside. Danny is stuck outside, helpless to do anything. As soon as Danny flies off, Vlad drops the shield. Danielle would have bolted as soon as she noticed she was trapped if she wasn’t so distracted by the cat. Vlad needs to play his cards very carefully to convince her to stay.

Meanwhile, Danny is freaking the fuck out! Vlad has Dani! Who knows what kind of sick, twisted experiments he has planned for her this time?! No one besides himself, Sam, Tucker and Val even know she exists, so if she’s killed or disappears, no one will ever know. He needs to do something, anything, and he needs to do it fast. Something that’ll keep her safe the same way he and Vlad hold each other’s secret identities over their heads. It’s a hell of a gamble, and it could end up even more dangerous for Dani if things go wrong, but he’s panicking, and it’s the fastest way to make sure she’s known, and it’s the only idea his panic-stricken brain can come up with right now.

He tells his parents. After all, it’s crazy that Vlad’s a dad now, right?

As fast as Jack can drive them over, and Jack and Maddie are kicking down Vlad’s door (with Danny in tow), boxes of baby clothes in hand, to congratulate Vlad. They didn’t even know he had a girlfriend, let alone that they were expecting! But instead of a newborn, they see a tweenage Dani trying to grab the cat that just dove under the couch. Vlad, thankfully, is a much better liar than Danny and cobbles together a story about an ex-girlfriend, a hidden pregnancy, and the lawyer who found Vlad after her death to take custody of their daughter. Meet Danielle Masters.

Suddenly, the GAV full of baby clothes and gear they pulled from storage is no longer appropriate, but Maddie and Jack are still excited to meet her. They just can’t believe that his ex never told him he had a daughter, but they can’t fault Vlad for not being involved in her life. Until a few months ago, it was like she never existed.

They try to get to know her, but it’s like talking to a brick wall. They ask to see her room, but it doesn’t say much either. Vlad had stripped it after Dani left the first time, so all that’s really left is a twin-size bed in green and gold like the rest of the house. But she’s not a Packer’s fan, she’s not a space fan like Vlad wanted, there’s nothing to indicate that a little girl ever lived here at all.

So, Maddie kneels down and asks, “What sort of things do you like?”

“Maddie! That’s our cat!”

The name gets a lot of side eye from human Maddie, but thankfully, he’s had that “sister’s cat” excuse in his back pocket for a while now.

“Just... haven’t gotten around to changing the name.”

Danny glibly suggests, “How about Fruit Loop?”

“Nah.” Dani says, “I like Corn Flakes better.”

The Fenton’s and Dani run through different cereals for name ideas, because why not? It’s not like they could give his cat a normal name. The closest one to normal, Marshmallow, was suggested by Jack, so Vlad immediately shuts it down.

Finally, Vlad shouts, “Cheerio! If it must be a cereal, then Cheerio.”

“That’s a cute name for a cat!” Maddie says. If Maddie likes it, then it’s the cat’s new name.

The next day, the Fenton’s return with boxes of Jazz and Danny’s old clothes for Danielle along with some new bedding and the biggest, fluffiest comforter ever covered in kitty-cats and yarn balls. It’s the first thing Dani’s ever been given based on what she likes and not what she’s supposed to like. She loves it!

Somewhere between the store and Masters’ manor, Jack has let the entire town know that Mayor Masters has a daughter. Reporters beat down his door all day long trying to get the scoop. Now that the public is aware of Dani, Vlad can’t do anything to her without causing a stir, and if she goes missing, there’ll be a massive manhunt for the mayor’s daughter. Dani’s untouchable. Still, it wasn’t a perfect plan. After all, Vlad still has Dani in his custody, and the public bought his sob story about his made-up ex, but it’s a decent measure of protection. And if she needs to, she can always run to Aunt Maddie and Uncle Jack. Not Danny’s best plan, but it works.

It’s not a total loss on Vlad’s end, either. Sure, he can’t do anything untoward to Dani without the risk of it making it to the press, but he has her. Now that he’s a “dad,” his approval ratings as mayor have shot up. If he can show Maddie he’s a better caretaker than Jack, she’ll be all the more inclined to bring Jazz and Danny to him once he gets Jack out of the picture. He can still use this situation to his advantage.

But within a day, he discovered the one major flaw in his plan: he has no idea how to be a parent.

For the next few weeks, it’s just madness at the Masters’ residence. Dani won’t eat any of the foods Vlad enjoys; it tastes like feet. She won’t eat anything he cooks, so it’s a lot of take out and fast food, which he knows isn’t good for either of them. She’s always controlled her own poor (in every sense of the word) diet and fights Vlad every change he’s trying to make to it. She won’t eat a single vegetable, refuses to eat anything he cooks, and he knows she’s doing it just to be difficult since she has no problem eating anything the Fenton’s put in front of her.

She has no problem saying whatever she wants to the press just shy of giving away their halfa status. Where did she live before? The streets. Who’s her mother? Doesn’t have one. Where does she go to school? Doesn’t go. It’s a constant PR nightmare.

Some hastily forged paperwork and a few overshadowed officials later, and Vlad manages to get her enrolled in the top private school in the area. She immediately starts acting out. Guidance counselors and the principal are calling him at least once a week to discuss her behavior, missing assignments, and how far behind she is compared to her classmates. At the very least, Danny managed to convince her that going to school was an important part of maintaining her human disguise.

Dani is miserable. She’s always relied on her anonymity for protection, but now, she’s been thrown in the spotlight, a place she wants to be in a little as Vlad does. She has to sit in school for hours listening to adults talk at her about things she has no clue about. People with stupid cameras are always in her face. She hates it! And at home, Vlad still tries to bait her into the lab using Cheerio, but she figured out she can shake the treat bag, and Cheerio will bolt back upstairs. She is NOT on speaking terms with Danny. Vlad won’t let Val near the mansion. And her new aunt and uncle just keep spewing things like “it’ll get better” and “give him a chance.” At least they come with cookies, but if she has to be miserable then Vlad does too.

Vlad, far from proving what a capable parent he is, has called the Fenton’s every day for advice. He’s at his wit’s end and wondered more than once if getting rid of her would be worth the scandal. He’s starting to think it would if it gets him his old life back.

Until the Guys in White show up.

They bumble their way through Amity Park, as usual, still unable to even capture the Box Ghost. But while the GIW are incompetent, Dani is overconfident and inexperienced. She’s captured by Agents O and K, so excited to finally have a test subject for their questionable and painful experiments. She’s terrified, begging to be let go. She’s just a little girl, but they ignore her and throw her in the back of one of their vans.

Vlad. Goes. APE SHIT.

Vlad’s full fury descends upon the GIW, and he cuts a bloody swath through them, nearly taking out a city block, the idea of collateral damage gone out the window. Finally, he stomps through the wreckage, tears the back off the van, pulls a terrified Dani into his arms, and they vanish.

The entire flight home, Dani still in his arms, they’re silent. Without a word, he deposits her into her bedroom and retreats into the lab as they both try to process what just happened.

There was no reason for him to do what he did. She was disposable. Expendable. A flawed creation he’d had no problem writing off before. He gained nothing by saving her. He’d just been contemplating getting rid of her. Now, he’d just made himself a greater target for the GIW. So why had he done it? Why? Why? Why? Why? Why?

Why?

Things are still quiet at breakfast, but Dani put her dishes in the sink and went to school without a fuss. She ate dinner without a fight. For the next few days, it’s tense, but it’s calm. Until one night, Dani started talking at the dinner table, timidly at first, but she shared some fact or tidbit that had caught her interest at school that day. It was nothing that Daniel had ever been interested in; honestly, it wasn’t even something he hadn’t known before, and didn’t elicit much more than an “Oh, really?” What was he supposed to say? But she did the same thing again the next night, and the next, so he decides to reciprocate and tell her about some of the more innocuous things that happened at the office. A meeting with the department heads. Quarterly sales results. It’s met with little more than a shrug and an “okay” or “cool,” but he supposes it’s something.

Things carry on like this until the night Dani shares a fact so bizarre it can’t possibly be true, but Becky from science class swears that it is. Balderdash! They’re going to his personal library right now to look it up. And, of course, Vlad is right. After all, what did Becky from science class know? But it leads them down a rabbit hole of tangents and different subjects until they get too close to one that would require an explanation of the birds of the bees and Vlad is certainly not ready for that conversation, so stop bothering him and do your homework or something. And she does.

It's not much, but it’s the first time they’ve connected, really connected, and shared something, even if it was just a shared disdain of that know-it-all Becky. It was a start, and from there, it was easier to talk to her. She’d share something she’d learned at school; they’d pour through books in his library learning more about it. Meals started to become not just tolerable but pleasant and graduated up to nutritious, if still simple, foods. The two of them start becoming a regular fixture at the local library to expand into new subjects. There was a disappointing lack of books on dinosaurs in Vlad’s personal collection. It could almost be said that they’re starting to enjoy each other’s company. Almost. As they spend more and more time with each other, Vlad is starting to see Dani for who she is rather than Danny’s shadow.

She’s loves to learn and soaks up knowledge like a sponge with a mind for chemistry and science like few he’s ever seen. However, she is no longer allowed to do experiments without adult supervision, and no, the vultures do not count! After they put the kitchen fire out, he got Danielle her own lab coat, goggles, and a step stool down in the lab. She also got a very long lecture on proper lab safety.

She has a sharp wit and is a master of sarcasm. He didn’t yet trust Ms. Gray to babysit without knowing just how much she knew, so he’d been forced to drag Danielle to a company function. But he’d rather enjoyed watching her tear into Mrs. Henderson, especially after all the unsolicited parenting advice she’d been bombarding him with. He should bring her to more company functions.

As for Dani, she’s got three new grandpas who’ll ramble on all day if you let them. Just never take them at their word. She learned that the hard way the vultures are not reliable sources after she got an F on her history paper. And she’s got “Uncle” Skulker teaching her how to hunt. She’s caught Vlad more than once in one of their traps. After all, his only rule was no trapping the cat. Like she’d do that to Cheerio, but Vlad is fair game. From there, Vlad and Skulker start training her to fight. Vlad teaches her to dance to prepare for future company functions. He said it’s “good publicity.”

Vlad eventually relaxes a bit and even lets Valerie come over and babysit her on occasion. She doesn’t really need it, but it lets Val come over and hang out. Last time, they made a pillow fort and watched Jurassic Park. She could totally make her own Jurassic Park. Vlad said it was a bad idea and even got Skulker to come over to try and talk sense to her, but instead it turned into a lesson on zoo design, enclosure sizing and animal enrichment. So yeah, she’s gonna make her own Jurassic Park. She even got Vlad to let the pillow fort stay up for three days after she used the puppy-dog eyes Val taught her.

And before Vlad knows it, two years have passed. She’s doing well in school, has friends, and has started going by “Ellie,” though he’s not sure how he feels about that. And sure, maybe there’s occasionally some small, infinitesimal bit of pride he feels whenever he catches Ellie copying his mannerisms. They still have the occasional spat, but nothing as bad their first month.

Ellie’s room has since been fully decorated and is covered with posters, books, plushies and whatever else has caught her interest. She’s made it hers. Though the condition she keeps it in is a constant point of contention. How a child that small makes a mess that large is a mystery he’ll never figure out, let alone how it seems to follow her throughout the house.

It’s been ages since he’s tried to coerce Danny into being his son and even longer since he’s tried to destroy Jack. Parenting is exhausting, and while he is by no means a great parent, he’s gotten better. He begrudgingly accepted Jack’s “Daddy-Daughter Bonding for Dummies,” but he’s read it. He definitely took Maddie up on her offer to have “the talk” with Ellie once she hit puberty. They still both tore into Vlad about curfews and sleep schedules when they saw Ellie out past midnight. He’s still not going to give her a curfew; it’s asinine. He just told her to phase in invisibly if he’s got late night company again.

He’s even been dating Harriet Chin. She’d been reduced to writing fluff pieces for a small paper after losing her job with the Milwaukee Journal, but she’s determined to claw her way back up to the top. And for her, that meant getting an interview with Vlad about his daughter. He couldn’t help but admire her drive and ambition, and she kept him on his toes during their interview. It wasn’t long until he offered her a position at Dalv and not long after that they started dating. He’s not sure how far the relationship will go. After all, he’s not trusting enough to tell her any of his secrets just yet (but she figured out he was Plasmius a while ago). It’s been nice.

Plus, she hates Jack and that’s always a plus in his book.

It’s far from the perfect family he’d envisioned for himself all those years ago, but it’s his, and he’d be remiss if he didn’t admit that for all is strangeness and imperfections, he loves it. This is the happiest he’s been in years. And all because he finally caved and got a lonely guy cat.

#I don't think vlad understands his own obsession #he doesn't want maddie or vengeance #what he craves is connection #maddie jack and danny are the last ones he felt connected to #he just needs to make some new attachments #let dani have a dinosaur phase!#danny phantom #vlad plasmius #vlad masters #dani phantom #dani fenton #ellie phantom #long post

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carewyncromwell · 1 year

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“His hair, it hangs in ringlets; His eyes as black as coal; My happiness attend him wherever he may go...”

~“My Jolly Sailor Bold (cover)” by Ashe

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original background photograph // edited with help from Lunapic! // my other main musical accompaniment while working on this, since this would 100% be what these two would sound like, singing together 💗

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Happy Mermay, everybody! 🧜‍♀️ In honor of the occasion, I decided to do some art for my old POTC AU, where Carewyn’s brother Jacob is the infamous pirate captain Black Jack Roberts and his other half Duncan is his merman First Mate often just called Ashe! (As in all canons, regardless of where they are romantically, Jacob kind of never fully lets go of calling Duncan by his surname.)

At the start of Act Two, these two went through kind of a traumatic experience, with Jacob thinking he’d nearly lost Ashe forever, only for Ashe to not only save Jacob from Rakepick for a second time, but also reveal himself as a merman in the process. After Ashe was able to get Jacob to safety on a nearby shoreline, I imagine there was a very quiet moment where Jacob was really able to look his lover over a bit more thoroughly and Ashe, for a brief moment, wondered if he would pull away from him, following the revelation. When Jacob looked up into Ashe’s eyes, though, all the merman could feel from him was pure, surging adoration. When Ashe challenged him on this, demanding if Jacob really didn’t care at all that he was a merman -- a creature who lured and drowned sailors -- the pirate captain actually laughed.

“Care? Care? Ashe -- all this time you kept telling me...you kept saying you were the one who saved me, by pulling me up out of the water and onto the beach...but you...you did so much more than that, didn’t you? When Rakepick shot me and pushed me overboard...that thing I felt pulling me through the water to safety -- the arms I felt wrapped around my chest...that wasn’t a dream, was it? That was you, Ashe...wasn’t it? And then, after pulling me ashore...you must’ve come up out of the water, taken human form -- even with how dangerous it probably was for you -- just to get me help! And then after all that -- even after you saved my life twice over, and I didn’t even realize it...you stayed with me all this time, as a human, away from your own kind and away from where you belong -- sailing the high seas at my side, as my First Mate...as my partner -- just to help me fill my debt with Jones and find my Wyn! And now, just now, after coming back from the dead...you managed to save my life again.”

Jacob reached out both of his strong arms and grabbed hold of Ashe, pulling him up and out of the water and into his arms. With just about no effort, Jacob had gotten down on bended knee, placing Ashe onto his bent knee so that only his tail remained in the water.

“Of course I care,” Jacob whispered, his sunken-in blue eyes shining as he placed his forehead beside his First Mate’s. “I’ve never cared more in my life, Ashe.”

Ashe was so overcome by the blazing, all-encompassing warmth pooling off of Jacob that he for a moment was left breathless.

“...Jack...”

When Jacob kissed him, Ashe felt like it was a Kiss of Life circulating air through his lungs when he could not bring it in himself. It filled him with new life and vitality -- made him throw his arms around Jacob in return, clinging to him with new strength.

“I love you,” Jacob breathed against his lips briefly before kissing him again. “God, when I thought I’d lost you -- ”

“Jack,” was all Ashe could manage to breathe back, but the relief and ardor pumping through his veins leaked through despite himself.

The two lovers kissed over and over again, caressing each other’s faces and hair and trailing their hands beside the other’s medallion earring, paying no mind to the sunset behind them nor for the danger that awaited them, just off that shoreline.

At least they were together. In that moment, no threat of Rakepick, Davy Jones, or Cutler Beckett seemed dire, so long as that fact was true.

#hphm #hogwarts mystery #potc au #my art #mermay #duncan ashe #jacob cromwell #yes for the record jacob would be the tenor and ashe would be the bass #duncan is also slightly taller than jacob when he's a human #despite this jacob is the instigator in this relationship in just about all canons #ashe is only ever a power bottom at most -- you can blame the tsundere-ness LMAO

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disappointingyet · 1 year

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Babylon

Director Damien Chazelle Stars Diego Calva, Margot Robbie, Brad Pitt, Li Jun Li, Jovan Adepo USA 2022 Language English, Spanish, Cantonese, French, Hungarian plus random bits of Italian spoken by Brad Pitt 3hrs 9mins Colour, Black & white

Movie decadence! Lots of running around! The worst movie score I have ever heard!

Something that massively fails to meet expectations is a big flop, but what’s a work of art that gets much closer to its targets but falls short? A small flop? A minor disappointment? Neither of those descriptions will remotely do for Babylon, which is immense in scale, cast size, running time, ambition…

Still, Babylon could be described as a flop since it failed to make back its production budget (let alone the full spend including ads etc) at the box office. The marketing tactic seems to have been ‘come for the wild party/orgy, stay for the elegiac speeches about movies-as-art’ but not enough people, it seems, were lured in by the promise of excess and decadence…

It also, for the limited amount either of these things are worth, failed to make the anticipated splash at awards season (three Oscar noms – production design, costume design, score – no wins) and got a mixed critical reception. Its average on Metacritic is a middling 60, but few of those writers thought of it as a six out of 10 movie – you get there by balancing the 10s and the 2s, the lovers and the haters. Babylon is a film with lots of fierce defenders, and because of that, maybe down the line it will end up with a good reputation as they keep up the fight while those who didn’t like it move on.

It starts in the desert outside Los Angeles in 1926, during the preparations for a huge party being held by movie mogul Don Wallach. I won’t give spoilers for what exactly is going on in this opening sequence, but it introduces us to Manny Torres (Diego Calva), the first of our main characters. He’s the guy responsible for making sure the event happens and that the chaos is just about contained. Although his job has introduced him to many people in the business, he has (we learn) never been to a film set.

The party, when we get there, has a guest list of hundreds and no limits to the drink, drugs, sex (in the middle of the room) etc etc. The screen is crammed with figures like a painting by Bosch or Bruegel. As all this whirls on around us, we meet the other two central characters as well as two the film (to me) seems to treat as secondary leads. Nellie LaRoy (Margot Robbie) is convinced she’s a star, even though – like Manny – she is yet to set foot on a movie set. Jack Conrad (Brad Pitt), meanwhile, actually is a screen idol, a hard-drinking, much-married one. Then we have seductive cabaret act Lady Fay Zhu (Li Jun Li) – who we learn a little later also writes dialogue for the title cards shown in the (silent) movies of the time. And, because this is a Damien Chazelle flick, there’s a jazz trumpeter, Sidney Palmer (Jovan Adepo).

The next day after the party, we get to the film’s second vast set piece – an open-air film lot where – because there’s no sound recording – multiple movies are being shot right next to each other. There’s a cast-of-hundreds mediaeval battle scene almost right on top of a barroom Western. It’s an attempt to capture everything deranged and magical about the film business in one breathless sequence.

And when that ends, it feels like Chazelle has thrown everything he can think of at us, gone maximum rock’n’roll from the start. It’s impressive, if exhausting… but there’s over two hours left of the film. Where are we headed from here?

Well, this is 1926 and in 1927 The Jazz Singer was released, and within a couple of years talking (and singing) pictures had made silents obsolete. Meanwhile, there was a moral backlash against Hollywood that would lead to the strict enforcement of the Production Code by the mid-1930s. The coming of sound – the way it changed movies and the careers it supposedly killed overnight – has been told many times, including by a movie that is heavily alluded to a couple of times in this and by a film that makes a crucial cameo here. Which is to say: Chazelle is aware this is not unchartered territory.

Considering the epic running time, we don’t get to know the characters well, except maybe Jack – he gets a best friend, the many wives and plenty of chances to give speeches about modernism and why movies matter. The others seem more sketched in – we see Nellie doing plenty of wild things, but beyond that? And with Sidney Palmer and Lady Fay Zhu, Chazelle seems to be falling into a representation trap – ‘look!’ he’s saying, ‘there were black dudes and Chinese lesbians in Old Hollywood, but they are never centre stage in those other film histories, and they are here.’ Which is true, but they still don’t get much to do, character-wise (Palmer does get plenty of screen time but not really acting time, more standing-there-with-a-trumpet time.)

I approached Babylon with interest and a dash of scepticism. I often like Hollywood stories about Hollywood. I don’t approve of films with a three-hour running time. I have a mixed history with the films of Damien Chazelle – I loathe Whiplash, liked La La Land and had no interest in seeing First Man. I’m by no means an expert on the early film industry, but I know some of this stuff – I’m pretty sure, for instance, that the title is nodding to both DW Griffith’s Intolerance – one of the first movie mega-productions – and Kenneth Anger’s book Hollywood Babylon, a collection of lurid tales of scandal I first read in Upper Norwood library as a teenager and more recently have heard scrupulously fact-checked on the always excellent You Must Remember This podcast.

And after watching the film, I had a similar mix of feelings. The two huge set pieces are certainly audacious and memorable bits of film-making, and there are other good moments throughout the film. But does Chazelle have three hours of interesting stuff to say here? Not by a distance.

And then I kept being reminded of movies I like better. There’s what feels like a very long scene when Nellie is working on maybe her first sound picture, and everything keeps going wrong. The timing of the scene (to me) feels like Chazelle is anticipating times when the audience is just catching its breath after screaming with laughter when he’s going to hit them with the other gag… But I wasn’t splitting my sides – I was thinking fondly of the great ‘Would that it were so simple’ scene from Hail, Caesar! and of Living In Oblivion.

Like Hail, Caesar!, but well, not as funny

As well as the film that features so prominently in the film that I’m not going to name, as mentioned I thought of Hail, Caesar! a lot, and of The Bad And The Beautiful, Vincente Minelli’s masterful stew of various movie biz legends, as well (of course) with Pitt and Robbie back together, Once Upon A Time In Hollywood. (I also thought of the trailer for Baz Luhrmann’s The Great Gatsby, a film I will never watch.) Chazelle gives us more writhing bodies, more drugs, but not more insight. And then there’s the terrible, terrible music – not actual 1920s jazz (because they think the kids wouldn’t like that? Because Chazelle doesn’t like it?) but a horrible concoction, a grim, fat-sounding jazz-rock fusion.

Should you watch Babylon? If you like big, ambitious movies, yes, I think so. If you like talking about films, yes – I’ve certainly had good conversations about it, and now I’ve written lots of words about it, too. It’s not a disaster, but is it a complete success? Not that either.

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pickledpascal · 1 year

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Sweet Nothing

Chapter Five: favorite crime

Summary: New information about Will comes to light and Blake is unsure how to respond.

Warnings: false accusations, sexual jokes, possible manipulation

Word Count: 2k

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Finding out the news that Will might have killed Abigail almost shattered Blake’s heart. Just a few weeks ago, he was so worried for her that they created a plan to try and make her feel normal for once in her suddenly miserable life. Will Graham could never be Garrett Jacob Hobbs no matter how much he worried he would. Blake was suspicious during the entire investigation. They found fishing lures with human hair and other remains, Abigail’s ear in the sink, blood underneath Will’s nails, and nothing else. Abigail’s body was never found, nor were any other parts of her.

To say the least, Blake felt as if this was wrong. There was no evidence he had anything to do with the murders before and who knew if that evidence was planted or not? It decided to not so conveniently show up when Will was going through an episode. Yes, it was hard to think Will could do anything to intentionally harm someone in such a way and perhaps it made it easy for Blake to deny he ever did anything wrong. But, take out the fact that Blake felt so caring for Will, she still felt there were loose threads.

Very loose threads. Ones that she needed to pull on.

Blake didn’t blame the team at the Behavioral Unit for immediately accepting all evidence against Will. It truly was stacked against him. But seeing Beverly, a girl Blake admired and saw as a close friend, to accept it without hesitation–more so remorse–angered her. She knew she needed to calm down, though. She needed to first prove why she felt this way. Jack trusted her, just not enough to blindly accept her claims.

A few weeks into Will’s stay at the Baltimore Hospital for the Criminally Insane, Blake found the courage to finally visit him. She felt regret for not seeing him sooner. Even Alana and Hannibal–whom Will started to blame for everything–visited him on a more often basis than Blake. She felt as if she visited him, it would all hit her at once. This was real. Will may never be out in the real world ever again and that scared her. Scared her to the point others were becoming suspicious of their relationship….

The security guard went over rules with Blake as she started to step into the block of cells holding the prisoners.

No stepping over the white line.

Don’t give them anything harder than a piece of paper.

Don’t accept anything from them.

Blake stepped through the glass door, boots thudding against the floor with each step she took. Will was held in the last cell so she was sure he could hear her coming. Or, at least, that someone was coming his way. As Will and his cell slowly came into view, Blake let out a deep breath and closed her eyes.

It was real. And she wasn’t so sure there was anything she could do about it.

When she opened her eyes again, she was standing in front of him. Blake’s eyes ran over his body. Tired, tired, tired, rang in her head. As well as: innocent, innocent, innocent. Will’s eyes were more sunken than usual and his hair seemed more unruly as well. He certainly was underfed and not taken care of correctly. Blake huffed at the observation. Will deserved a warm home with plush blankets and pillows and enough room for his dogs to be housed. Not this cold and dark cell where people may as well spy on him going to the bathroom.

“Are you going to stand there observing me all day?” Will asked, his expression an unimpressed one but Blake swore she saw a glint of fondness. “In all honesty, I have nothing else planned.” He mustered up a light, strained smile

Blake folded her hands in front of her, swaying slightly. “I’m…. sorry for not coming sooner. This all just seemed so,” She looked down at her hands, rubbing her boots against each other, “Wrong. Like it wasn’t real and I can’t–” She frowned, taking a deep breath as she felt her emotions overcome her. “I can’t imagine you being here.”

“In love with a criminal? A psychotic one at that.” Will gritted out, not necessarily bitter or angry. Just…. Exhausted. He was wrongfully accused of murdering multiple people with most believing that he did it. Not only that, but they had to throw him in with real psychopaths.

“Cut the shit!” Blake growled out, shaking her head as her lips curled into a snarl. Her sadness that was overwhelming her a few moments ago slowly turned into anger. “I think everyone secretly knows you’re not the killer, you were just an easy target they could throw in jail for the sake of saying ‘I caught the Chesapeake Ripper.’ He could still be out there and he could be the reason you’re sitting here instead of someone else.” She started to pace slightly, running a hand through her hair. Her eyes were wide and frantic, showing her emotions on her sleeve.

Will narrowed his eyes at Blake, wondering what thoughts were going through her head. Possibly ones of anger, hurt, and denial. Or that her partner was in jail. Or even what was stopping others from believing she had something to do with this?

“Do you believe me? About…. Hannibal?” Will asked in a whisper, eyes softening as well.

Blake let out a deep sigh, stopping herself from wasting her energy anymore from the pacing. “I believe you were framed. I’m still not sure about Hannibal. But I’m not ruling him out either. He was there too when you found Nicolas Boyle and Marissa Schurr arguing and also was close with Abigail.” She rubbed a hand on her forehead in frustration. “But all of that is circumstantial, to a court of law, that won’t mean anything.”

“Then you’ll need to look deeper. Find the nuance.” Will pleaded softly, understanding the frustration within her.

Blake pursed her lips, “I can’t just start a parallel investigation, Will. It would have to be approved by Jack and he thinks that you’re it right now.” She let out a huff of air, swallowing thickly.

There seemed to be a division growing in the Behavioral Unit. In the Bureau all together, now. Will was a criminal who worked for the FBI. Most in the Bureau wanted to never speak of him again and believed he was in complete control of his actions. Others, like Alana, believed that Jack pushed Will to his breaking point and–instead of getting into the minds of killers–he became one.

But then there was Blake. Who had a sneaking suspicion Will was set up. Made to be the final skeleton to be locked deep inside the Bureau’s closet.

A silence came between the two. It lasted for a little while as they just stared at each other, each wishing that maybe they went to the visiting room to be closer and not have bullet proof glass in between them.

“I miss you.” Will was the first to break the silence, voice only above a whisper and looking as if even he couldn’t believe what he was saying. “Your warmth. How it melted the cold from me. How your skin felt against mine and how it made me feel like…. Like I was set ablaze. You made me feel…. Important. But you also expected nothing from me. Wanted nothing from me. You just…. Wanted me. Wanted me to feel comfortable. And I had, for the first time in my life. I…. Thank you.” He finished, a relieved huff of air escaping his lips. Will wanted to say that for a while but it felt especially important as he might be officially labeled as insane if the trial went the way the Bureau wanted it to.

As Will looked up, he could see tears starting to form in the corners of Blake’s eyes. She held her hand on her mouth, afraid a sad whimper may escape her. She swallowed thickly, removing her hand from her lips and simply said, “I love you.” A few tears started to roll down her cheeks. “I wish I could properly express it to you right now. I’m sorry.”

“Don’t be.” Will pursed his lips before they formed into a sad smile.

—--------

Blake collected herself as she walked up the stairs to exit the hospital, running a hand through her hair while the other fiddled with her keys inside her coat pocket. Her tears dried a few moments ago but she could still feel them on her skin, even more so when she opened the door and the cool, biting wind of the outside met her. Blake let out a breath as she exited, one that she could see.

Walking further away from the hospital, away from Will, someone approached her. In particular, a much shorter woman than Blake who had red, tightly coiled hair and a heavy amount of freckles dotted all along her skin. She was quite beautiful. “Doctor Blake Adler, I wanted to ask you a few questions. I’m Freddie Lounds and I’m a reporter.” Right, this was the one Jack warned about. “I just wanted to ask if Will Graham ever showed any signs of his psychotic tendencies while you were together?”

“Um, no. How do you know that?” Blake blinked in surprise. As far as she knew, no one at the Bureau ever found out about hers and Will’s more romantic relationship, not that they would care either way.

Freddie ignored her as she typed a few things on her phone, “Do you think he’s become obsessed with you?”

Blake shook her head, “Absolutely not.” She was beginning to become more and more frustrated with these questions. They obviously had an agenda and that was to tell the world Will Graham was a murder and was insane, possibly even that he was an obsessive and over-protective man.

“Has Will shown any signs of being insane?” Freddie asked again. She then whispered to herself, “Maybe that’s better wording.”

Blake huffed out in anger before she plastered a smile on her face. “Yes, actually. In fact….”

—-----

“‘One night I fucked him so well I think that’s when his psychotic break happened.’” Jack Crawford said aloud to an audience of Hannibal Lecter, Alana Bloom, and–the perpetrator–Blake Adler. “Want to explain this, Doctor Adler?” He grunted out. It was a serious matter yet Blake couldn’t help but crack a small smile.

It was also hilarious to see the looks on Alana and Hannibal’s faces. Alana was blushing, eyes wide and even looked a bit sheepish while–after the initial surprise–Hannibal remained mostly neutral except the slightly amused look on his face.

Blake coughed as a crutch to let her face go serious. “I’d like to clarify that I lied, Ms. Lounds just happened to annoy me enough to the point I said that.” She admitted. “Me and Will never actually–” She stopped when Jack held up a hand towards her.

“I don’t want to hear anymore about what you and Will may have done in your free time.” Jack grunted, shaking his head.

Hannibal hummed, “I would be afraid if I were you, Doctor Adler.” He then went on to explain, “While you may have admitted to lying to us and this could be seen as a joke to many, it could also be seen as true. Possibly even held against you as you’ve said you’re the reason Will is in jail.” He pointed out.

“I also don’t think this will help Will’s case.” Alana added, pursing her lips. “The Bureau might choose to use this against him.”

Blake nodded at the two other Doctors in the room, understanding their perspective but also knowing she would have said it anyway. “I don’t think it will hurt him that much. Plus, his lawyers have already contacted me to be a witness.” She explained, being a little more careful with her words around Hannibal as Will instructed. “I can set the record straight if need be.”

#oc #hugh dancy x oc #hugh dancy #will graham is soft #will graham x oc #hannibal is a cannibal #hannibal lecter #nbc hannibal #hannibal #will is in jail !#oops #blake adler #will graham x blake adler #sweet nothing

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mad-hunts · 2 months

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How's Barton's relationship with his kids? Are they aware of what he gets up to or are they blissfully unaware?

ahh, yes. this is a really good question! thank you so much for sending me this ask, @oculusxcaro. it means a lot to me that you're interested in his character as well as his dynamics with his family. so, let me preface this by saying that i absolutely do NOT condone any form of abuse towards children, as every child deserves to be in a home where they are safe and loved. but this was not really the case for barton's kids growing up or even now. barton, although he is a multi-faceted character who i do believe holds some form of love for his children ( albeit an unusual / twisted form ) , ultimately is not a good example of a father and his dynamics with his children somewhat vary depending on who we are talking about, unfortunately. barton is known for showing favoritism towards his eldest, who would be matilda, and arguably treats her the best out of all of his children; she is very much like him in the way that she actively enjoys the 'thrill of the hunt,' as barton has disturbingly called that sadistic satisfaction he gets out of hurting people before.

matilda is also like him in attitude, what with her being a bit overly forthcoming at times and sarcastic. however, there are a few differences between her and barton. one of them is that she is more brazen than him. orifice, who is matilda's fraternal twin, is treated well along with his daughter but he will not allow him to have nearly as much responsibility as matilda. which shows a bit of a lack of respect for his son on barton's part. he had forced his kids to join him in his ' business ' from a relatively young age, and matilda is usually the one selected to help him orchestrate his kills, or assist him with the more integral parts of his career as a criminal such as with his illegal auctions. but orifice is usually asked to do, along with his brothers, to complete background tasks barton needs done such as stealing or assassinations.

his relationship with ben mathis, who is known for having a quite muscular physique for his age, is somewhat amicable... but strained. his relationship with all of his children are strained, to be honest, as he is an emotionally abusive / manipulative character and WILL try to make them feel bad if they did something wrong for example, or argue with them about how he ' knows best ' and that they should distance themselves from other's whenever they try to get too involved with people outside of their family. his common reasoning behind this is that they could let something slip without meaning to or that he is just trying to protect them from getting hurt, but honestly, most of the time he's just trying to exercise his control over them to keep them where he wants them.

and i always feel so bad for jack mathis, because god's, does he get mistreated by barton. i feel bad for all of his kids, really, since they influenced to believe that hurting people was okay from a young age. but it remains a fact that jack mathis receives by far the worst treatment from barton and this is because he's vastly different from the rest of his family. jack is basically known as the 'jokester' of it, because his personality is much less serious than theirs and in addition, he has questioned the morality of what they do before. but barton is kind of like a snake in the way that he is able to lure him back into thinking that 'it's okay, you have to be cruel to be kind sometimes and these people need fixing,' and etc. so to answer your question: yes, they are very aware of what he does and they even were forced into helping him with his work.

needless to say, barton is a terrible father to them and they have been put into situations where they've gotten hurt / almost killed because of him before. but yeah. thank you so much for the ask, once again!! i will probably be writing more about his dynamics with his family members soon, so stayed tuned for that as well.

#tw: discussions of emotional abuse and manipulation towards children.#tw: discussion of unhealthy and abusive family dynamics.#yeahhh... barton really isn't a good person. like at all asdfghj #in a later arc he does try to treat his children significantly better.#however that does not erase all of the abuse and mistreatment he put them through of course.#asks.

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dogboyjackkennedy · 4 months

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HI i looked at ur dsaf warriors au and i'm very curious about it. r there any more little tidbits about it ur willing to share? (/not forcing!!)

oh, i've only technically given half of the plot (because those are the parts i've developed the most), but i do have Urban Legends that surround some of the main cast:

have some summaries for each of them:

"The Kit Killer" (Henry/Rosesight): this is quite literally just about Henry murdering a bunch of kids. this one's less of an "Urban Legend" and more of like a genuine warning to other wandering families (typically from other families/groups who had lost their own children). sometimes this warning was also given to kits as a way of saying "Stay close to me and don't wander off if any weird cats show up."

"The Fox Amongst The Clans" (Dave/Violetsight): basically this is just about Dave. it's technically about the fact that "There's this weird ass fox that hangs around the clans and occasionally murders our kids." sometimes Dave's tragic backstory is added in by cats he knew at one point.

"The Cat Who Starclan Rejected" (Jack/Tangerinetooth): to summarize how this story's told: "So there's this guy who had a baby sister, right? His sister got murdered and he got understandably pissed off about that, so he went off to go find and kill the guy. Unfortunately, that fucker was several steps ahead and decided to lure a whole ass dog into the woods to maul this guy to fucking death. Y'know how Starclan can revive people from the dead? Well, something like that happened, but something must've gone wrong, because he doesn't have a soul inside of him now. Yeah we don't know what the fuck happened there, like if Starclan just hates that guy or what. Oh yeah, he's just kinda. Around. You can just go straight up to him and talk to him. He's weird as fuck though, given he's a walking corpse, so we don't recommend talking to him."

"The Guide" & "Death's Shadow" (Dee/Heartkit): Story One - "So this one kit got murdered once and now she guides the souls of other dead kits to Starclan." Story Two - "Sometimes she'll show up before The Kit Killer or the Fox does and take your kids somewhere else to keep 'em safe. So don't worry if your kits disappear shortly before those two show up; it's probably just her trying to keep other kits from meeting the same fate she did."

"The Stray Soul" (Blackjack): "You remember the guy who got mauled by a dog and lost his soul? We think this may be his soul. He follows around the Fox and The Kit Killer, and we're pretty sure he's haunting The Kit Killer for what he's done., both to him and everyone else."

hope you enjoy these. like i said, these are just the summaries of the Urban Legends, not exactly how they'd be told in the clans.

#dsaf #dsaf au #dsaf warrior cats au

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strangecassette · 2 years

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im alone because of the decisions ive made and the way i have treated my friends. i still deeply regret being on call with someone i should have told that i needed to be alone and got huffy with them about being asked how i was. im not good, and i hated the fact that my only option was lying. i hated being upset, i hated needing space. i hated that i wanted to push them away. im a fucking asshole, and i dont blame my alters for telling me every chance they get. i dont blame quentin for jacking my blog and warning people to stay away from me. hes right. hopefully not forever. i want to be better. i want to be a good person to the people around me. i dont want to keep living life feeling alone and knowing that its my fault. and i want to find a place where i can feel comfortable enough to share those intimate thoughts on my own personal blog without feeling like its somehow emotionally manipulative. the goal is not to get comfort, its not to get pity or lure someone in to talk to me. its not even for the people who know me. its just a desperate attempt to be seen in some way. because, honestly, if i died today, i wouldnt have made a single impression in someone. and i think for once in my goddamned life i want my first instinct when hurt to NOT be hide. where has that even gotten me? here. and i hate it.

im a human being. im an inheritor of a life that i have to make the best of. past choices of past hosts are still mine in the sense that i am the next version of what the mind needs to continue. and some decisions or mistakes are ones i would make, others less so. regardless, they are mine now. these memories im allowed to access are mine, this body is mine, this life is mine. and i dont want to hide it. i dont want to be an idol, i dont want a single facet of me to be seen. i want to be seen as my whole self. i want to reconcile all of that and still walk away feeling unashamed. i want to be myself and i want that to be something beautiful.

#maybe this is incomprehensible #maybe i dont care #maybe im having a shit time and i dont feel like being a funny little blogger about it #like the last few posts please dont int

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kirain · 3 years

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I started playing rdr2 but stopped because like idk but I can't seem to get over the fact that all the women are prostitutes and they don't really have any important roles. Like what's Abigail do? Ooh she's a mother who's always mad? What do the other women do? Oooh they sleep with the gang. What's Sadie do? Oooh she becomes a badly written femme fetale who suddenly becomes a flawless killer. The women are just so badly represented.

I get the feeling you didn't play the game naturally or see any random encounters, because none of what you said is true. There's a lot to unpack here, so let's start with the "all the women are prostitutes" comment.

First of all, none of the women are prostitutes, a fact that deeply irritates Micah. During a coach robbery where he rides with Arthur and Bill, he even says, “Why the hell do we need a gaggle of girls who won’t even fuck you if you put a gun to their head? Is it too much to ask considering they get a piece of every damn dollar I bring in?” Poor baby. He even tries to proposition all of the women (Grimshaw included), but they all insult him and send him running with his tail between his legs. It’s hilarious and I love it. Arthur also responds to Micah with, “Everyone does their share. I don’t see you lifting a finger around camp.”

Now a bit about the girls:

Mary-Beth was a skilled pickpocket, but she ended up being caught by a group of her victims. She mentions this during a conversation with Arthur, where she points out how hard it was for women who came from nothing, and the inequality of it all. RDR2 actually regularly highlights how difficult frontier/outlaw life was for women back then, often pulling zero punches. While fleeing her pursuers, Mary-Beth luckily ran into Hosea, who helped her escape and welcomed her to the gang. You can see Dutch lusting after her a few times, because he's an old pervert, but she always shuns his advances. She was never a prostitute and she was actually underage when she joined.

Tilly was a child outlaw and a member of the Forman gang from the age of twelve. She ended up killing the leader's cousin because he [as is heavily implied] tried to rape her. She was around sixteen at the time and tried to return to her mother after the ordeal, but she unfortunately passed away while Tilly was running with the Formans. Out of options, she eventually joined the van der Linde gang after Dutch saved her from some unspecified trouble. You can find most of this out during one of my favourite side missions, where she gets kidnapped by Anthony Foreman in retaliation for killing his cousin. With Grimshaw’s help, you can rescue Tilly and put an end to it once and for all. She was never a prostitute and was also underage when taken in.

Susan Grimshaw was one of the original members of the gang and one of Dutch's first lovers. They parted amicably and both fell in love with other people (Dutch with Annabelle, and Susan with a doctor who sadly ended up dying), but she stayed with the gang because of their mutual respect for each other. She later became the arbiter of the camp and a kind of surrogate mother to Arthur, John, and the other girls. She was never a prostitute, but rather a rough-and-tumble outlaw.

Karen is a little more complicated. Overall, she was a scam artist (Hosea even called her an “actress”) who sometimes lured men into brothels, then stole from them or picked their brains for leads. That doesn't necessarily mean she was a prostitute; however, it just means she used sex as a manipulation tactic. Out of all the women in the group, she was the freest and most unconventional. She also stood on guard duty and participated in heists. The only man she ever slept with in game was Sean, and his death absolutely devastated her. If you talk to her or observe her interactions, you also discover she’s a raging alcoholic suffering from some very deep-seated issues. She likely did have to do things she wasn’t proud of in order to survive, but in my opinion that makes her one of the most realistic members of the group. She was never described as a prostitute.

Molly was an aristocrat who left her family to be with Dutch. His abusive treatment eventually led her to suffer an identity crisis, where she ended up hysterical and heartbroken. Her story is sad, but she was never a prostitute. If anything, Molly is the best example we have that Dutch views people as items, not human beings.

Abigail is the only prostitute in the game, but by the events of RDR2 she's an ex-prostitute. To say she's nothing more than "a mother who's always mad", I feel, does her character a great disservice. First of all, she left that profession behind to raise her son, to give him a decent chance in life. Unlike John, she stepped up immediately to become a responsible adult. I don't think people realise how impressive that is because, one, she could've easily abandoned Jack at the roadside (which was common back then), two, she could've induced an abortion, and three, she was quite young when she had him; around nineteen years old.

You say the women are "poorly represented", but they're stronger, smarter, and more mature than most of the men. A few of them even become self-sufficient in the turn of the century, something dear old Dutch couldn't even do/accept. Abigail in particular helps Sadie mourn her husband and the two grow very close. Their interactions are both grounded and heartwarming, with Abigail telling Sadie she’ll suffer the loss of her husband, but that it’ll get better if she keeps on living. She takes care of her, and Sadie later returns that kindness. These women are so full of quirks and humour and personality, I don’t know how you missed it.

As for Sadie ... where do I even begin? Badly written? Femme fatale? Flawless killer? Sadie is one of the best written characters. She's not flawless, she's exceptionally flawed, temperamental, and traumatised. It's never expressly stated, but it's implied at several points throughout the game that she was repeatedly assaulted while the O'Driscolls kept her captive. At first, she's petrified and miserable, to the point that all she does is cry and express suicidal ideation. Then, she gets angry. Very angry. Having nothing left to live for, her home and husband torn from her grasp, she throws herself headfirst into danger, which almost gets her killed on a number of occasions.

She's not a "flawless killer", she's a messy killer. She's not an expert death-dealer, and that's made evident from the start -- but she was a hunter who shared the workload with her husband, so it's not as if her skills just magically appeared. You do see how much it weighs on her, however, near the end of chapter six. If you help her kill the rest of the O'Driscolls, she laments what she's become because she thinks her husband would be horrified. She’s extremely complex and struggles between mourning and moving on.

I also can't help but laugh at the "femme fatale" accusation, because Sadie actually defeminises herself, which is understandable considering the hell she’s suffered. She even wears men's clothing, which wasn't illegal [anymore] back then, but it was openly frowned upon. Femme fatales use their beauty and sexuality to their advantage, ensnaring men with their feminine wiles. Sadie never does that and fights side-by-side with the boys. Interestingly enough, that's partially why Calamity Jane, an actual historical figure, garnered so much attention, because of how she behaved/dressed. It’s pretty clear to me that Rockstar might’ve used her as inspiration for Sadie. This was a real woman who lived from 1852 to 1903.

In addition, Sadie plays one of the most important roles, yet she does so without falling into the category of a Mary-Sue. She saves the gang and moves them to a new location when the Pinkertons attack Shady Belle. She hatches the plan that frees John from prison. She helps Arthur rescue Abigail after she gets kidnapped. She tracks down Micah and puts an end to his reign of terror. But most of what she does she accomplishes with a partner--Arthur or John--both of whom she respects immensely. No one, not even Arthur, does everything alone, and when they do there’s usually negative consequences. It's the camaraderie and shared experiences that make these characters successful, and aside from Charles and Hosea, I’d even argue that the women are more well-rounded and fleshed out than the men.

I gather from for comments that you didn't finish the game, so I hate to spoil it, but I kind of have to if you walked away with this mindset. The women of RDR2 are a force to be reckoned with.

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lonely-lost-soul · 3 years

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A Pirate's Life for Me

Cover Art Done By: @fridaydev-draws and @friday-dsv (Dreamsmp x reader) Pirate Au! Love Interests: C!Wilbur, C!Techno, C!Dream, C!Sapnap, C!Quackity, and C!Schlatt

~~~

Salt burned your lungs as you tossed open your window with a loud bang, the seagulls perching on your flower boxes screeched in protest and flew from your window. “Fucking sky rats get the fuck out of here you heathens!” You snarled out the window shaking your fist at the bothersome birds, the sounds of the ocean crashing on the shore filled your ears as well as the chatter of the dock workers. You let the breeze blow back your hair and you heard someone calling your name from down below.

“Good morning (Y/n)!” You glanced below you and grinned,

“Morning Eret!” They waved back enthusiastically their dress spilling around their ankles, a basket of fruit was balanced on his hip. “Opening early today? I'm sure your patrons would be happy to start their drunken stupor early,” She held a hand to his mouth snickering and you shot them a look.

“If that gets more money in my pocket then so be it, I won't complain too much.” You shrugged, “Will I still see you later tonight?”

“Always do dove, how can I resist a drink from my favorite bartender.”

“You can’t it’s my charm.”

“Will the both of you shut the fuck up!” Another man’s voice growled from another open window, “It’s too early for your bullshit.” You saw Eret click his tongue but smiled up at you despite the man's protests,

“I’m heading to the market anyway. These fruits won’t sell themselves, I'll see you later.”

“See you soon!” You closed your windows once more, but not before urging your daisies to grow one last time. You tossed open the curtains allowing light to spill into your cozy home, a small carpet was in the middle of your room. It was a deep red and the pattern was made of gold yarn, aside from that everything in your residency was made of dark wood. Your shelves were littered with books and empty cups, and your old worn journal sat open on your desk. It was filled with childhood memories and you continued to write in it to this day, it was easier then, things were simple and everything was innocent and new to you. Now your days were filled with sea fairing idiots who liked to drink themselves stupid, but you could handle yourself, you always kept your father's dagger on your thigh at all times. Those who were frequent customers knew not to mess with you and those who were new learned their lesson within the first ten minutes of meeting you. You inherited the bar from your father, a kindhearted man who died a few years before today, leaving you with the bar and the dagger you had on your hip. You fished through your closet pulling out your clothes for the day, your dress was a gorgeous light coffee color and came down to your ankles. The bottom was flared and had dark brown panels on the sides, it faded inward to a light green then back to the coffee color. The corset around your waist was a dark brown with light green trim, you tied it tight with a small huff making sure your waist was sinched perfectly. The sleeves came down to your elbows allowing you to move your arms freely while making drinks. The top of the dress ended just below your collarbone, you strapped your dagger to your thigh before lacing up your knee-high black boots.

You thought back to your tavern downstairs, you were fortunate enough that you weren’t running this entire operation yourself. You ended up hiring help and they were like family and you knew they saw you as such as well. Most of the girls didn’t have a family of their own so you gave them room and board, also money, of course, you weren’t a terrible boss! You opened the door to your room, you watched Cecil, the tavern’s mascot trot out of Juniper’s room. The border collie liked to switch up which rooms he stayed in protecting every one of your girls when you couldn’t be there for them.

The first of your girls was Adelaide or Addie, she was one of the first to fall under your care. She was around your age, a motherly type, sheep hybrid, who cared for the girls, and always gave the drunk patrons with mommy issues a shoulder to cry on. Her long brown hair always hung down her back, she typically worked tables, served food and drinks, and always got a generous tip from patrons.

The next girl was Judas, a squid-enderman hybrid who was taller than you could ever wish to be, although intimidating you couldn’t meet a kinder woman. A jack of all trades the woman helped out wherever she could, black-ish purple hair curled around her shoulders and some people came specifically to hear her sing. Her voice was like rich velvet and lured men and women in like a siren.

Juniper was after Judas, a demon hybrid who was naive but you’d be a fool to underestimate her. She worked beside you at the bar, she can make some mean fruity drinks, Eret always preferred her drinks over yours. Freckles adorned her face and shoulders, her light brown hair curled down to her middle back, purple horns sprouted from the top of her head. You wanted to adorn it with gold jewelry and you were saving up to gift some to her.

Yeti was a human woman like yourself, she didn’t bother with those who were rude or obnoxious. She kept to herself only really talking when she was spoken to or when there was an opportunity to crack a rare joke. She typically stayed on the sidelines, out of the scenes and Yeti liked to help Judas decorate her sets.

Zig was a kind young adult, they got along with everyone who came inside the tavern. Soft emerald eyes drew people in, and they tried to make sure tensions within the bar didn’t rise and start a fight. There would always be one or two that’s just natural, but one look at Zig and his magic words and they seemed to disperse, not wanting to hurt the kid’s feelings.

Vendetta was the tallest member of the group you had taken in, she was stunningly beautiful and didn't take shit from anybody. She was a guard dog if you will, making sure no one fucked with any of the girls in your tavern. While Zig did their best to keep people under control sometimes they couldn’t win. That’s when Ven would step in and ‘kindly’ escort them off the premises with or without force.

The youngest member here was Luvena. She was a moo-bloom hybrid with soft brown hair that sprouted flowers, her cow ears would twitch when she was excited and followed Addie around like she was her daughter. Addie took her under her wing and was training her to be a perfect little waitress, absolutely warming customers’ hearts. Luvena also loved to give out flowers, she was a fan favorite bringing new life into the tavern.

Cecil barked seeing his mama and scampered over to you, you poured food into his bowl as Juniper wandered into the hallway. Her head rested on the doorframe as she gave you a tried wave, “Morning (Y/n).”

“Morning Juni, We’re opening a little early today. Take your time I’m not expecting a big rush of bar patrons this early.” You assured her and she gave a sleepy nod,

“I’ll be down as soon as Ven’s out of the shower.” She yawned, “This beauty doesn’t come naturally.”

“Hardly darling you’re gorgeous just the way you are.” You reassured with a wink, Juniper flushed a little, happily laughing beside you.

“Just go wake the others will you, you flirt!”

Tossing your head back you gave a happy laugh heading down the hallway to make sure everyone was awake and ready to go for later. Addie and Luvena shared a room so she was in charge of waking up the youngest member of the tavern. Judas was already awake making breakfast for everyone when you headed downstairs, Zig was sitting on the counter beside her, they were the designated taste tester.

“Good morning Miss (Y/n)!” Zig chirped, the young adult hummed fondly, “Sleep okay?”

“Absolutely. What about you both? Thank you for making breakfast Judas.” You hummed fondly and Judas had a shy smile on her face.

“I slept well thank you.” Judas hummed softly, “Also it’s my pleasure. Want to make sure everyone’s healthy and alright.” She let out a little squeak as you wrapped your arms around her body, you barely came up to her chest,

“Judas please marry me,” You complained, “Your breakfast is always heavenly and you care for everyone. Please be my wife.”

“(Y/n)! Please.” She sputtered face turning a dark purple, Zig made a noise of protest and held his hand in the air.

“If she won’t marry you I will!”

“Zig! I’d be honored!”

Their entire face lit up with excitement and they hopped off the table to hug you tightly, you hugged them back and pressed a fond kiss to the top of their head. “I got to open up the tavern, you mind setting the table for me Zig?”

“Sure Miss!”

You sent Judas a kiss in the air which her face burned at, quickly going back to her cooking. You smiled eagerly and unlocked the door to the tavern, you shoved a bucket in front of the door to keep it open. The salty ocean air wafted through your nostrils and your eyes sparkled wondrously.

Today is going to be a good day.

Almost immediately a particular bastard caught your eye,

“You’re here early.” You mused raising an eyebrow,

“Heard you were opening early today sweetcheeks,” His voice was a low baritone, rough from years of smoking and drinking. Horns curled around his fluffy ears that stood out against his gruff exterior, he was a ram hybrid at its finest. “Figured I’d take the opportunity to get a special drink from my special girl,” He mused looking you up and down drinking in your figure. You scoffed at the retired man, he dressed like he was cosplaying captain jack sparrow, the gun’s in his belt just added to his costume and so did his large ruffled shirt, he was never one to forget his gold jewelry.

“Where’s Quackity?” You ignored him sitting him at his usual table, he frowned but you knew he was taking it as an opportunity to stare at your ass. He slid into the stool and put his feet up on the table, his boots were muddy but you could only control him so much. He was too much of a regular to get scared off by your threats and scolding.

“He’ll be in at his normal time. He’s not much of a day drinker, although can’t say I’m complaining. Having all your attention on me and all, considering I’m the only one in here. That being said, I’ll have my usual sweetcheeks.”

“Stop calling me that,” You scolded with a certain fondness that was reserved for the man. “You’re lucky you’re my favorite regular Schlatt,” you gave his ears a fond pinch and he bleated. He sent you a scalding look as you walked away, although the look soon fell as he got a good look at your ass once again.

“I’m your only regular sugar tits!”

“Schlatt feet off the table.” Addie criticized whacking his boots with a rolled-up menu, he rolled his eyes but dropped his feet to the floor. “You should know this by now, we go through this every day.”

“Yeah, yeah little lamb I’m on it. Judas here?”

“She’s always here,” She huffed spreading the menu down on the table. “Do you want your usual or something different? Should I get Quackity’s drink ready too?”

“Nah just stick with mine, for now, tell Judas I’d like to see her.”

Addie clicked her tongue and placed her hand on her hip, “fine. But if you’re just going to grossly flirt with her as you do with (y/n), then keep it to yourself.”

“You’re not the boss of me. Just because you look like an old hag-” The way she glared at him sent a chill down his spine, “shit babe take a joke will you.”

Eventually, people began to file into the tavern, as the morning faded into the afternoon and then into the evening. The tavern was bustling with life, Judas’s elegant voice traveled through the crowds and her voices seemed to float above the voices. Quackity joined Schlatt by his side seemingly irritated by a conversation they were having, Schlatt was about five drinks in at this point, which was much less than his usual, and Quackity on his second.

“What are they talking about?” Luvena asked swinging her legs as she sat on the bar beside you. Her moobloom ears twitching every so often as she tried to eavesdrop on their conversation,

“Vena it’s impolite to eavesdrop.” You scolded bopping her on the head lightly, she whined and rubbed the top of her head.

“I wasn’t!” She argued as you rolled your eyes, you looked over at the two men to find Quackity looking over at you. His hand was raised in the air, one finger was up summoning you to get him another drink.

“I’ll be back, why don’t you talk to Ven while I’m gone. She’ll keep an eye on you.”

“I don’t need a babysitter!”

“Good thing she doesn’t want to babysit your ass either, now shoo.” You motioned her to hop off the bar and she did so with a long, dramatic sigh. You looked over at Ven who gave you a silent nod, letting you know she’d watch out for the youngest member of your band of misfits. Meanwhile, you grabbed Quackity another drink and walked over to the two men at the table, “Someone order a drink?”

“Aye! Mamacita! Fancy seeing you here.” Quackity purred a bright smile spreading across his face seeing that you were the one to deliver his drink,

“Hey Big Q,” You greeted placing the drink in front of him, “You doing okay?”

“Better now that an angel walked into my sight,” He flirted and you rolled your eyes. “What? It’s true! You always brighten my day you know? Ow!” Schlatt hit his ex-first mate over the head,

“Take a breath lover boy. Thanks for the drink sugar tits.”

“You’re welcome, what were the both of you talking about if I may ask.” You hummed grabbing some of Schlatt’s empty glasses, an uncharacteristic frown came over both their faces. “Oh? Touchy subject?”

“Don’t worry about it, sweetheart. Just dishing out some old problems, most of which are better left unsaid.” He aimed that statement at Quackity, his jaw seemed clenched and Quackity’s brow furrowed in annoyance.

“Well I just want to remind the both of you,” You passed the tray of empty glasses over to Addie as she walked by, she took them swiftly. You grabbed the side of both their heads and pressed them against your chest, not that you knew but both men’s flushed to the tips of their ears. “No physical fights are allowed in this tavern. If one starts I won’t hesitate to kick your fucking asses. Got it?” They looked over your chest and locked eyes with one another, after years on the sea they could read one another’s facial expressions rather easily and at that moment they shared the same thought,

‘They should fight more often.’

“I said, got it?”

“Yes ma’am,” The repeated simultaneously as you pulled away,

“That’s what I like to hear-”

“(Y/n)!” Vendetta’s velvety voice called out from behind you, you turned and saw a group of newcomers file into your bar. Your body tensed momentarily,

Pirates.

Schlatt turned his head to follow your gaze and he tensed from behind you, “fuck me.” He growled and Quackity raised an eyebrow at his captain, he turned to look over his shoulder and his face lit up.

“Sapnap!”

The pirate who had a white bandana tied around his forehead glanced over at him and a smile lit up across his features. “Quackity? Is that you?”

“My man!” He stood up from his chair heading over to wrap the man in a hug, “I haven’t seen you in years, man.” You zoned out of their conversation eyes locking with a few of the other pirates who walked into the tavern. Vendetta and Addie both greeted them, but everyone who was under your care knew to keep their guard up around pirates. From what you could gather there seemed to be two crews, a crew of what only seemed to be two, Sapnap was included. The fire demon was still talking with Quackity, while the other man took in the view of the tavern, he had shaggy blonde hair, and had a few scars across his face. A porcelain mask sat on top of his head, a forest green cloak was around his shoulders, his hood was lowered around his neck. A sword was strapped tight against his hip and there was another dagger that seemed to be tucked against his side. His eyes gazed towards you and he winked teasingly with a coy smile, you scoffed looking over at Addie.

“Seat those two gentlemen yeah? Be careful, I’ll tell Ven and Yeti to keep an eye.” Addie looked at you, concern written on her soft features but she nodded. While Addie departed, you noticed Ven talking with the other group. Luvena was hiding behind Vendetta’s long legs, although a tall blonde boy seemed very keen on talking to her. You smoothed out your dress and moved towards the group of three, you eyed them up casually. The blonde looked to be around Luvena’s age, he had a shit-eating grin on his face and his uniform matched that of the second tallest in the group. The second tallest was clad in a light blue jacket with large golden buttons on the red collar. He had a cream-frilled shirt underneath and a black belt holding up his brown slacks, those were tucked into black boots. On his back seemed to be a guitar and was the only one of them not holding a weapon, but you knew better than to assume with pirates. His curly brown hair seemed to bounce every time he talked, he seemed to be the ringleader but there was no doubt that the real ringleader was the hybrid standing beside him. He was taller, on par with Vendetta in height, he had long pink hair that was tied in a ponytail on top of his head. A few pieces framed his face elegantly, there was no doubt he was the captain of the little crew that was in your tavern. He had a white shirt on with a deep low cut ‘V’ it showed off a good portion of his scared chest, around his shoulders sat a deep red jacket but his arms were outside of it and crossed over his chest. He seemed content on letting his second in command do all the talking, his red eyes were the only ones to meet yours. His head tilted upwards and before Vendetta could stop him he walked over towards you,

“You own the tavern?” His voice was a low monotone and it sent an array of pleasant chills up your spine.

“I do,” You raised an eyebrow crossing your arms over your chest, “Names (Y/n). You are?”

“Captain Technoblade of the ship Odyssey, I was hoping you had a few rooms and a table available. My brothers and I are pretty exhausted, we’ve been sailing all night.”

Brothers, they certainly didn’t all look alike, but then again you certainly had a mix of girls in your care. Your tongue swiped against the top row of your teeth, “Why don’t you and your brothers take a seat at the bar for now. Juniper will be happy to serve you, I’ll see if we have some free rooms available.”

“Thank you, once you return I’ll introduce them to you if you’d like,” Technoblade bowed his head before turning back to get his brother’s attention.

“I’d like that thank you.” You gave a nod motioning for Vendetta to follow you as you slid behind the bar with Juniper, Judas had also taken a spot sitting on the bar. You figured you’d let her know as well, considering she was another adult figure in the group. You knew either Juniper or Judas would fill in Addie considering the three were close. “Ven, can they be trusted?”

“Not too sure about the masked man, the one Quackity seems to be familiar with seems decent enough. He’s a fire demon though, could smell him from miles away, we all just need to be cautious.”

“Agreed,” Juniper added tapping her finger on her chin. “We should just try to curb all fighting if at all possible, what did the captain of the other group ask you?”

“They want a room, I’m about to check to see if we have availability. Thoughts on that?”

Judas let out a low hum her eyes followed both sets of pirate groups around the tavern, “I say if we have availability let them stay. They seem harmless so long as we don’t mess with them, which we’d never do.”

“Plus I can always stay awake to keep an eye on them.” Vendetta tapped her nails against the table,

“You sure.”

“As if I’d let anything happen to any of you, you’re my family.”

You all smiled softly, and you noticed Judas’s eyes widen, “Zig! Get that out of your mouth this instant!” She shot up from her spot and over to the person in question. The three of you laughed fondly at the nonsense, meanwhile, Juniper saw the three brothers sit at her bar. She moved away from you to greet them, you immediately could tell she was taken with the second eldest brother.

He seemed to be an absolute lady killer.

Vendetta ruffled your hair before going back to stand at her place by the door to keep the peace. You headed up the stairs to the rafters to check on the extra rooms you had, “Excuse me?” You tensed visibly turning around to face the man in all green. His eyes were mesmerizing, a fierce jade green to contrast his cloak, “Do you happen to have two rooms available?” The man held up two fingers to clarify his request,

“Do you usually start introductions with a blatant request like that?”

He chuckled a smile spreading across his lips, “I’m Dream and you gorgeous?”

“(Y/n), it’s your lucky day I’m about to check and see if any are available. My tavern is a hot commodity tonight.”

“Well, I can see why,” he spoke and you raised an eyebrow and tilted your head to the side.

“Oh?”

“It has the hottest owner around. Word spreads fast.”

You couldn’t believe this man was making your cheeks burn, he chuckled softly taking a step towards your figure. “Oh really, word spreads that fast on the open sea, Captian?” It was his turn to turn light pink, but he covered it up quickly with a chuckle.

“Touché.”

“I’ll get on that room for you and your friend. Take a seat, for now, this part is for guests and staff only you know?”

“So I have you all to myself?” He cheekily mused, he stepped towards you and before you knew it you were pinned against a wall. His hand suddenly brushed against your cheek, it was cold in comparison to your warm cheek. You felt Dream’s thumb brush against your cheek slowly, “You know...being on the open sea alone does something to a person.”

“Oh, I’m sure.” You mused pushing your forehead back against Dream’s, “All alone with only your crew with you.” Taking his other hand within your own you slid it up to your hip, you saw his entire face turn red as he stared down at your chest. “You’re probably missing a little love in your life, aren’t you Dreamy?” He nodded dumbly, his eyes still not leaving your chest,

Perfect. You weren’t going to let some pirate boy get the better of you.

He let out a grunt of pain as you spun him around and pressed his head into the wall with your elbow, your other hand has his pinned behind his back. “This hallway is for staff and guests only,” You purred in his ear before letting him go and swinging your hips before heading up the stairs fully. From behind you, Dream’s face was a deep, dark red and he had to clear his throat. Dream wasn’t going to let you go after that, I mean look at you, tough and able to hold your own, it awakened something inside him.

After checking up on the rooms you headed back down into the main hall, three-room keys in your hand. Glancing over at the scene in front of you, you saw Juniper dancing in the middle of the tavern the flirtatious brother at her side. Judas was sitting beside Schatt and Quackity at the bar, Addie was tending to Technoblade and the blonde at their little table. Dream and Sapnap were whispering to one another in the corner but still seemed to be enjoying the show. Vendetta was smiling softly by the door, beside her were Luvena and Zig both playing various instruments. You noticed Eret was also amongst the crowd, she had a brilliant grin on his face, it was flushed pink with alcohol and you smiled to yourself.

It was peaceful, and for a moment you forget half the patrons were scoundrels or pirates.

That was until the man dancing with Juniper locked eyes with you, his eyes lit up and he spun Juniper off into Addie’s arms. She giggled snuggling into the mother sheep’s arms, you heard a distressed “Juni! I’m holding glasses!” Before your vision was overtaken by the handsome flirt.

“Hello love,” He hummed, “May I offer you a dance?”

You were about to refuse but you saw Yeti, who finally made her appearance as it was getting closer to Judas’s set, giving you a big thumbs up “I’d be honored.” You responded taking his hand within your own, he pulled you out onto the dance floor and you felt his other hand politely hover on the small of your back. He allowed you to lean into his touch as he began to elegantly spin you around the dance floor, you were almost embarrassed to say felt like a princess. “Maybe I could get your name?” You asked above the music, “Since it seems you’re my dance partner this evening?”

“Wilbur Soot my love.” He hummed proudly, “The first mate of the ship Odysseus at your service. Plus I play music on the side.”

“Well now you need to play for us,” Wilbur twirled you around in a circle,

“Maybe one day. If you give me your name?”

“(Y/n) (L/n).”

“Beautiful name for a beautiful woman.”

“I was right.” You commented biting the bottom of your lip trying not to smile,

“About what?”

“You.��

“Ah? Already talking about me I see? Is my manliness and gentlemanly qualities that renowned?”

“Not exactly.” He picked you up slightly and pulled you into a low dip, “I was right in thinking you a nothing but a flirty playboy.” Wilbur almost dropped you, you squawked grabbing onto his neck. He began to laugh as you clung to his chest,

“Alright love. You caught me red-handed.”

Wilbur set you on your feet hands on your lower back, you were pulled close to his chest. “Can I buy you a drink?”

“I get them for free hon. I own the place.”

“Oh...oh.” He paled a little, “I didn’t fuck up our chances of getting a room did I?”

“Nah lucky for you and your brothers, I have you covered, same with your buddies over there.” You motioned to Dream and Quackity’s friend, Wilbur’s face paled as he felt the chilled room key get placed in his palm. “What’s your little brother’s name?”

“Tommy.”

“Tell them both we serve breakfast free from 7 am to 10 am.” He nodded as you walked past, Wilbur meanwhile turned to look at Technoblade. It seemed he had his red eyes on the couple the entire time they were dancing. He held up a room key, it was labeled 205; Technoblade nodded his head before leaning back and talking to Addie once more. “Dream!” You called throwing a hand up into the air, instead of Dream, Sapnap looked up he nudged Dream with his elbow. The man was now wearing his mask, but at least you could tell he was looking at you,

“Well hello, darlin’ you must be (Y/n). Name's Sapnap. Dream told me about you, so you have good news for us I hope?”

“Pleasure, I'm sure he told you all about me,” He nodded, his eyes taking in your body especially your ass. “Got you both a room key, your neighbors. Across from the other crew of pirates. Just don’t fight and we won’t have any problems.”

“You mean those jackasses are staying?” Sapnap complained loudly, looking over your shoulder at the other crew members.

“You both didn’t think you were the only patrons, did you? This is a business after all.” You, tossed the keys their way, Dream caught it with ease and Sapnap fumbled it only a little bit. After they were in their hands, you waved them off with a flutter of your palm you turned around to go speak with Judas about her set but before you could take a step you saw Schlatt stumbling up from his seat. “Ah shit,” You knew what was about to happen, you weren’t paying attention to the ram hybrid so who knew how many drinks in he was. You felt responsible, for a while you and Judas had been trying to help Schlatt with his addiction. You couldn’t help but wonder what exactly set him off for him to get this drunk, Quackity caught him in his arms with a grumble. The man was a drunken mess, and as you approached you could hear his slurred speech and could practically smell the alcohol on his breath. “Schlatt,” You spoke carefully and as soon as you got close Schlatt detached himself from Quackity and lunged at you. His head was buried in his chest, he almost purred like he was very happy to be there, you rolled your eyes and ran your fingers through his hair. You were mindful of his horns but he seemed pretty eager for you to touch them,

“(Y/n).” He whined although it was muffled against your ample chest, “Why do pirates have to fuck everything up?”

“What are you on about Schlatt? No one likes pirates.”

“They’re gonna take you away from me, sugar. You’re my safe space, this tavern is my safe space.” You sighed listening to his drunken ramblings, you grabbed his horns and pulled him away from your chest.

“This is my life Schlatt, I’m not going anywhere trust me. Plus my family is here, they need me. So try not to worry okay?” You slicked back the hair on his forehead before planting a fond kiss there, everyone in the tavern narrowed their eyes at the scene. Even your girls were green with envy, at the sight of their lovely boss kissing someone who wasn’t them. He leaned against your lips eyes fluttering closed,

“Well, well, well if it isn’t Captian Schlatt? Or ex-captain if I remember correctly.”

“What?”

You turned your head and felt Schlatt’s arms wrap around your waist and held you close to his chest. The touch was protective and you felt your heart skip a beat, why was he protecting you, and why did you actually feel protected?

“Has the drinking finally caught up to you? Or was it the fact that you lost your so-”

Was that Dream's voice?

“Shut the fuck up.” He snarled and you were shoved behind him into Quackity’s arms, you felt less protected. “I’m not that person anymore and you fucking know that,” Vendetta came to stand beside the both of you a hand was placed on your shoulder protectively. You knew she was desperately wanted to step in and you held up a hand to stop her.

“This isn’t good…” Quackity murmured, “They’re going to fight. Schlatt’s going to get himself fucking killed.”

“Calm yourself. We won’t let it get that far.” Ven grumbled eyeing you waiting for your signal. But you were lost in the conversation or argument, the two were having, you couldn’t believe Schlatt was a pirate. He was so...he just didn’t...he was a drunk okay? That didn’t exactly shout feared pirate to you!

“Oh, are you sure? I remember that look, that’s the look you’d get before you stomped someone’s lights out. No wonder your son disappeared under mysterious circumstances-” Dream was shoved against one of the poles holding up the building. He grunted and Schlatt’s arm was pulled back ready to punch, but his arm was stopped by smaller hands,

“Pardon me Mr. Schlatt but you know how we feel about fighting in our tavern.” Addie bubbled, she had a smile on her face but it wasn’t kind, it was full of warning.

“Get the fuck off me, sheepie. This doesn’t fucking concern you.” Schlatt shoved her away and as soon as his skin made contact with her body he made a sound of distress.

“(Y/n)...” Addie murmured quietly, your father’s dagger was embedded in Schlatt’s arm,

“Fucking hell you bitch!” He snarled baring his teeth, you glared at him twisting the dagger he yelled in agony.

“Touch one of my girls again and next time this dagger is going right into your back.” You ripped the dagger out, splattering the floor with blood. He grabbed his arm tightly and looked at you with slight betrayal in his yellow eyes. “I mean it Schlatt, Quackity take him home.” The man nodded looking at you longingly, he muttered a quiet ‘Sorry’ before escorting him out of your tavern. “You,” You glared harshly over at Dream, “Go to your room.”

“You’re not my mother.”

“Then find another play to stay.” You spat, he turned away and you looked over at Addie, “Are you alright?” Your voice turned tender as you cupped her cheeks. She nuzzled against your palms and nodded her head,

“I’m fine. You didn’t need to-”

“Yes, I did. No one messes with you. With any of you on my watch.”

The sheep hybrid made a little sound as her bottom lip trembled, she wrapped you in a tight hug which you accepted without hesitance. Judas walked over next and wrapped you both in her arms, pretty soon you were surrounded by your girls and Zig.

All of them had the same mindset: comforting both you and Addie.

It was good to be loved.

Wilbur watched the scene curiously and glanced over at Technoblade who stood up from his chair.

“I think that’s our cue to leave for the night.” He looked over at his first mate, Wilbur nodded in agreement grabbing his guitar from the chair beside Technoblade.

“They...Techno were they talking about Tubbo.” Tommy whispered to his brother, his brow furrowing in concern as they all climbed the steps up to their room, “You don’t think-”

“It just might be Tommy.” Technoblade tilted his head to the side, “Guess that’ll be something we ask him when we get back to the ship tomorrow.”

“Well, this trip is going to be way more fun than I thought.” Wilbur snickered lighting a cigarette, taking a long drag, before letting the smoke curl out of his mouth and up into the rafters. ~~~

Tag List: @v01dw4lk3rz, @jam-bombs, @abovenyx, @glitterydigitalart, @phoenixaesthetic19, @luluwinchester, @boiled-onionrings, @pastelmoonwitche, @roxy3457, @alovestruck-fool, @victory-is-here, @mack4676, @fiorenc, @theoneandonlyyeti, @bloodrose0723, @sandyy-woo,

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bucky-hues · 3 years

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bucky barnes fic recs

here are some bucky fics i loved reading!

many of these are 18+ and there are some dark fics in here, so please read the warnings for each fic! if any of the writers i’ve included want anything removed/edited, please let me know!

one shots

jack pendleton | @roger-that-cap

author!bucky x reader

moving into an apartment to get away from your last relationship was fun all fun and games until you met your extremely attractive across-the-hall neighbor, who makes awesome cookies and even better novels.

grip | @pellucid-constellations

bucky x reader

You knew Bucky didn’t like his arm. You just didn’t know how much until he accidentally hurt you with it.

voicemails to an unmanned inbox | @pellucid-constellations

bucky x reader

When Bucky takes an argument a little too far, you take off. All he wants is for you to come back home.

can’t get the words out | @pellucid-constellations

bucky x avenger!reader

Bucky’s been awfully distant lately. You don’t think your heart can take what you know he’s about to say.

his everything | @likeahorribledream

bucky x avenger!reader

Bucky has trouble talking about his feelings and he ends up pushing away the one person he needs the most.

eavesdrop | @bestofbucky

bucky x avenger!reader

things spies don't notice | @starrysebastians

bucky x avenger!reader

don't you worry (your pretty little head) | @babyboibucky

guitarist!bucky x reader

You agree to spend twelve hours with Bucky whom you just met.

suburbia | @wkemeup

bucky x avenger!reader

Posing as husband and wife, you and Bucky infiltrate a quaint suburban neighborhood in search of a Hydra hacker. Perhaps if you weren’t so in love with him and he hadn’t broken your heart, the act of pretending wouldn’t hurt so much.

sparklin' eyes | @19ana45

roommate!bucky x reader

Prompt: Character A’s current boyfriend/girlfriend/partner mocks Character B for their crush on their best friend, [A]. [B], feeling humiliated, withdraws from the friendship with [A], who is completely oblivious [B] has feelings for them.

reoccurring face | @swtbbybarnes

bucky x reader

he’s been around a lot lately, sometimes multiple times a day, and you’re starting to wonder how much coffee one man can actually drink.

falling for you | @comfortbucky

roommate!bucky

moving on | @bucky-bucket-barnes

bucky x reader

After Bucky had been missing for a year, you had presumed him dead. Time passed, yet you seemed unable to move on from his death. That was until a familiar face came to your doorstep one winter night.

bucky bitchass barnes to the rescue | @bucky-bucket-barnes

bucky x avenger!reader

In an attempt to escape from hectic life as an Avenger, you decided to go out on a date. Unfortunately, you got stood up. While Bucky hates you, he hates seeing you embarrassed more and decides to fill in for your M.I.A. date.

pansies, pain, and other things about bucky | @bucky-bucket-barnes

bucky x avenger!reader

You and Bucky are begrudgingly paired on a mission together. This is less than ideal considering neither of you are too keen on the other tagging along. All goes as normal until a surprise attack severely hurts both of you. Feeling incredibly guilty, Bucky helps you tend to your wounds. He has trouble admitting it, but he wants to make sure you’re safe.

the lost converse | @firefly-in-darkness

bucky x reader

Last nights party was a bit of a mad one, what do you do when you wake up in someone else’s bed?

nervous | @dailyreverie

bucky x reader

A nervous Bucky introduces you to his fellow Avengers during game night

fever | @dailyreverie

bucky x reader

a little old fashioned | @gogolucky13

bucky x reader

Bucky is a bit subtle in telling you he likes you.

sweetart | @onlyjamesbarnes

soft!bucky x baker!reader

your best friend bucky tries to stay platonic with you, letting you live out your dreams, but his instincts soon get the better of him.

the things you've done | @divine-mistake

bucky x reader

what if the world ended tomorrow and all he did was spend his last day with you thinking about how you never hold his metal hand and you never walk on his left side and you constantly reach out for his right arm?

do you still love me? | @thatfangirl42

bucky x reader

2:00am | @thatfangirl42

bucky x avenger!reader

miscommunications | @empyreanwritings

bucky x avenger!reader

cookies, kisses, and such | @sweetbucky

neighbour!bucky

pretending | @multifandomwriter

bucky x reader

Bucky notices you at a party and is instantly attracted to you. Steve instantly notices the lovestruck look in his eyes, but also his nerves that are stopping him from talking to you. So Steve plays on Bucky’s jealousy to get him to make a move.

good together | @irndad

bucky barnes x avenger!reader

bucky and his girlfriend are in secret, and they think they are absolutely perfect for each other. literally everyone else in the compound thinks bucky and nat are made for each other.

l-o-v-e | @irndad

college!bucky x reader

college!bucky meets reader in a library and it’s all downhill from there. He’s desperately in love and pining and it’s all ridiculous and he doesn’t think she could like him back.

tell me the truth | @bwhitewolfbarnes

bucky x avenger!reader

Bucky finds himself overhearing your conversation with his younger self, and he hates the way it makes him ache. He needs to know what is real.

the staring contest | @jobean12-blog

bucky x avenger!reader

Bucky has a staring/glaring problem and you can’t figure out why!

lavender | @wkemeup

bucky x reader

Not every nightmare is the same and Bucky doesn’t always wake up as the man you know.

little lion man | @wkemeup

bucky x avenger!reader

Sent on an assignment back to 1943, you encounter a drastically different version of the man you know

purgatory | @wkemeup

bucky x avenger!reader

While on a mission, Bucky becomes dissociated into the Winter Soldier. But instead of becoming a threat, his instinct is to protect.

i love you, you idiot | @chrisevansjellybeans

bucky x reader

all the good things | @houseravenclaws

bucky x avenger!reader

bucky’s been more than a little happy recently. sam thinks it has something to do with the pretty girl on the team.

tap | @houseravenclaws

bucky x avenger!reader

bucky never talked much. he fell in love anyway.

shaking | @clintbartonswife

bucky x avengers!reader

after you get injured on a mission, the usually stoic Bucky breaks, and you see a side to him that he’s kept hidden ever since his acceptance into the Avengers.

deserving | @hanoella

bucky x healer!reader

When someone bad mouths Bucky in your presence, you set things straight.

keep me cool | @chouettedubois

bucky x avenger!reader

You and Bucky are on your third undercover mission acting as a couple. Things go awry when you fall ill. Cue caretaker!Bucky to the rescue.

on, off and repeat | @avasparks

neighbour!bucky x reader

i wished on the moon for you | @sunmoonandbucky

bucky x reader

After losing Bucky, you were devastated. So when Howard Stark asks for volunteers for an experiment, you’re the first in line.

the hottest avenger | @watchmegetobsessed

bucky x avenger!reader

Being locked together with Sam and Bucky brings the worst out of you, picking on each other constantly. Following an arguement Bucky accidentally calls you his girlfriend in front of Sam when your relationship was supposed to be a secret.

hey daddy | @watchmegetobsessed

bucky x avenger!reader

You join Peter and his friends for a game of Truth Or Dare but you wish you stayed in your room when MJ challenges you to do a task that will definitely out your secret relationship with Bucky.

crash course | @watchmegetobsessed

bucky x reader

Bucky is a regular at the café where you work at and seeing him struggling with technology, you offer to help him, teaching him the basics while you are both thinking about taking it a little further than just a crash course.

little things | @watchmegetobsessed

bucky x avenger!reader

missed chances | @soap-bubble-nebula

bucky x avenger!reader

Bucky is about to ask out the reader, but right before she could answer him her ex calls her up and she answers happily as she always wanted a second chance with said ex

truth or dare? | @soap-bubble-nebula

bucky x avenger!reader

the experiment | @soap-bubble-nebula

bucky x reader

make believe on christmas eve | @green-eyeddragonfanfiction

bucky x reader

When your family insists you bring your [nonexistent] long-term boyfriend over for Christmas, you panic. You hadn’t expected to be put in this situation; you never thought you’d actually have to bring “him” over.

sick day | @nastybuckybarnes

bucky x avenger!reader

you tell a little white lie to escape Avenging for a day, and Bucky finds out. He’s hurt and upset, until he finds out your reason why.

spies and secrets | @barnesandco

bucky x reader

Bucky buys a new jacket that is… uncharacteristically bright. Sam ribs him for it, and you- you don’t know what to do with yourself.

the bar rules | @buckyhoney (18+)

bartender!bucky x reader

the family lunch | @buckyhoney (18+)

dad'sbestfriend!bucky x reader

forbidden fruit | @bucksfucks (18+)

dad'sbestfriend!bucky x reader

you attempt to set your ex’s things on fire. bucky has a better idea.

mr. brightside | @bucksfucks (18+)

ex'sdad!bucky x reader

the one where you fuck your ex's dad

left gasping for air | @bucksfucks (18+)

bucky x reader

doused with sex pollen, you & bucky are met with a difficult decision.

love me harder | @celestialbarnes (18+)

bucky x avenger!reader

you and bucky have been flirting and screwing around for months now, after seeing him getting frisky with someone else, you decide to do the same and bucky’s just about had enough.

sweeter than sugar | @angrythingstarlight (18+)

chubbybaker!bucky x reader

look my way | @sableseb (18+)

neighbour!bucky x reader

boyfriend upgrade | @multifandomwriter (18+)

roommate!bucky x reader

You have always been close with your roommate, Bucky, but tensions start to rise when your boyfriend begins to stay over at your apartment. You feel like you’re drifting apart until Bucky accidentally sees you almost naked.

lure | @bccky (18+) dark

bucky x reader

it’s all about the perfect lure

plan | @sergeantxrogers (18+)

bucky x reader

“I was supposed to forget about you, and you were supposed to forget about me, but damn it if I could ever forget about you because since the day I saw you, you never left my mind and you were all I thought about,” he rambled, focusing on anything his eyes could land on that wasn’t you. “You’re… you’re still all I think about,” he whispered, voice tired and beaten, like the very sentence had been waiting in his throat for years just to get a chance to come out into the open.

play pretend | @wkemeup (18+)

bucky x avenger!reader

When Bucky is injected with a substance that leaves him desperate for release, you offer your help.

you’re mine | @marveicinematics (18+)

bucky x reader

Having a secret relationship with a man as insecure and complex as James Buchanan Barnes may not have been the best idea you had, but one thing was certain: you knew how to make him feel better about the things that bothered him.

white lies and truth serum | @mariessecretfantasies (18+) dark

dark!bucky x avenger!reader

You and Bucky share a dance, a few too many drinks, and a night in bed together. Unfortunately, he neglects to tell you that he can’t get drunk.

bitter fruit | @divine-mistake (18+)

bucky x avenger!reader

“The mission was already a success!” you say and you can feel tears burning the back of your eyes. You will yourself to blink them back. “You had the files, the base was set to detonate, I don’t understand why you didn’t just stay on the fucking jet.”

“Because you were going to die.”

always here | @simsadventures (18+)

bucky x avenger!reader

You have an obvious crush on Bucky, and kind of hope he feels the same. But when you overhear agents talking about you, and then even Bucky, you realise there is no hope for you. At least you think there isn’t.

your captain | @onlyjamesbarnes (18+)

dark!bucky x reader, husband!steve x reader

a perfect anniversary night gets interrupted by his best friend, who happens to be your boss.

series/multi-chap

graveyard , sacrifice | @wkemeup

bucky x healer!reader

As the unofficial healer for the Avengers, you pride yourself on the ability to mend heroes with the touch of your hand. Only, your gift comes at a heavy price — one you keep secret from your friends —and when Bucky asks you to do the impossible, they’ll discover why your gift is called a sacrifice, too.

sunrise | @wkemeup (18+)

veteran!bucky x librarian!reader

After an explosion takes his arm and his only sense of belonging, Bucky is discharged from active duty and sent back to civilian life. Left with a storm of unchecked guilt, Bucky is content to live out the rest of his days in the hollow comfort of the dark. This is, until Sam drags him down to the local VA and he meets you.

TiMER | @xbuchananbarnes (ongoing) (18+)

bartender!bucky x reader (soulmate au)

“If a clock could count down to the exact moment you’ll meet your soulmate, would you want to know?”

the match | @babyboibucky (ongoing) (18+)

ceo!bucky x reader

You come across your boss’ Tinder profile.

the holiday hack | @gogolucky13

bucky x reader (modern au)

You ask Bucky to be your stand-in boyfriend for your family’s Christmas party.

sexual healing , medicine | @gogolucky13 (18+)

bucky x avenger!reader

You ask a touch-starved Bucky if he wants to try something new in an attempt to take your minds off work.

vacant mirrors | @whirlybirbs (18+)

bucky x reader

shit's been rough. shit was rough even before the blip. dr. hart shares an office with dr. raynor, and you share with waiting room with bucky barnes. set before tfatws; a friends-to-lovers, slowburn, eventual smut.

salvatore | @nsfwsebbie (18+) dark

dark!bucky x reader

Bucky Barnes doesn’t believe in love anymore. Especially after the tragic, unknown death of his wife, Natasha. He thinks it’s stupid and a waste of time and- oh my. Hello there, you. There you were, with your notebooks and your novels, writing your heart away. He’s hellbent on saving you from this nasty world, his elusive neighbor that has him under the stupid spell of love. You soon find yourself trapped in a tragic love story with Bluebeard, not Prince Charming.

polyonymous | @bubblebuckys

bucky x reader (social media au)

You met James on Twitter three months ago, and you’ve talked everyday since. You really like him, and you don’t think you’ve met anyone like him. That is, until the fateful night that brings the Avengers to you. You meet Bucky Barnes, and then you’re stuck choosing between two guys so alike you find yourself asking why they couldn’t be the same person.

going live , offline | @ritesofreverie (18+)

camboy!bucky x reader

your new neighbour looks so familiar, where had you seen him before?

heavy metal lover | @mypoisonedvine (ongoing) (18+)

sub!bucky x dominatrix!reader

working as a dominatrix is never exactly easy, but a new client brings challenges you never expected.

fake boyfriend real orgasms | @bucksfucks (ongoing) (18+)

roommate!bucky x reader

when bucky needs a date to sam’s wedding, he makes a deal with you. when it starts to turn into something a little more real, you realize how deep you’re in.

almost had me believing it | @tuiccim (18+)

bucky x avenger!reader

An undercover operation playing Bucky Barnes’ wife is a dream come true. Playing house in the suburbs while trying to take down a drug ring brings you and Bucky closer but a nosy neighbor causes trouble in paradise.

it's brooklyn, baby | @my-divine-death (ongoing) (18+)

college!bucky x reader

hush 1 2 | @starbuckie (ongoing)

bucky x reader

in quiet corners and selfish moments, y/n and bucky have kept their relationship a secret, one love that was pure and untouched by the darkness that surrounded them. but after bucky is able to walk the streets a free man once again, will their love be able to survive?

misconceptions | @firefly-in-darkness (18+)

bucky x avenger!reader

Bucky Barnes overhears a conversation that he shouldn’t have…

what a night | @jurassicbarnes

bucky x reader

Bucky Barnes is out in the new world, navigating through everyday life and it’s trials and tribulations. His therapist insists he tries new things. He has collected a few new hobbies. But when it comes to making new acquaintances, what’s a better way to meet new people than a little dating site called Tinder.

hey, professor | @balenciagabucky (ongoing) (18+) dark

professor!bucky x reader

professor barnes always had his eye on you, you noticed it, your girlfriend noticed it, even his friends and after one raunchy photo sent to him, a joke, nothing more, in his world you become more than just a student

missing piece 1 2 3 4 | @likeahorribledream

bucky x avenger!reader

seeing red | @mypoisonedvine (18+)

bodyguard!bucky x actress!reader

bucky used to brag that he didn’t have a celebrity crush, or really care about famous people at all, which is what made him the perfect person to start working for a celebrity like yourself. except, of course, it’s just his luck that he’d fall for you.

flight risk , no control | @wkemeup

bucky barnes x avenger!reader

Bucky becomes a flight risk after a failed mission and is put in lockup under Steve’s orders. Even though Bucky won’t say a word of what happened, you camp outside the door to his cell so he knows he isn’t alone.

bad match | @justreadingfics (18+)

bucky x reader

Bucky and the Reader are set up on a date, but things don’t go as well as expected.

unbroken | @constantwriter85 (18+)

bucky x hacker!reader

Bucky isn’t happy about being paired with a snarky, untested hacker on a stealth mission to infiltrate Hammer Industries. But when the mission spirals out of control and they’re both captured, he finds out just how much heart his hacker has–and how far she’s willing to go to protect the lives of others.

if i only had a heart 1 2 | @chouettedubois (18+)

bucky x reader

Team Cap is back at the compound after being pardoned. Bucky is suffering from the shoddy work HYDRA did with his prosthetic. Tony brings reader in to fix it—and maybe help him find his heart in the process.

text me | @soap-bubble-nebula

bucky x reader

Tony and the other’s are off on a mission, and it’s up to you to help Bucky get comfortable and assimilate into normal life. He texts you because Tony told him he could.

#bucky barnes x reader #bucky barnes x female reader #bucky barnes imagine #bucky barnes fanfic #bucky barnes x y/n #bucky barnes fic #fic rec

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noctumbra · 4 years

Text

❝holy❞

summary ─ “intimate,” he decided to say, “touch me here.”

pairing ─ dark!priest!bucky barnes x reader

warnings ─ dark fic, smut, +18, corruption, handjob, innocence kink (?)

a/n ─ this is a dark fic. i don’t have much experience on writing dark fics, but better late than never, right? i hope i nailed writing this, and hope you guys like it! please leave a comment if you liked it! thank you <33 [ps: i somehow didn’t feel motivated writing this and i know this sucks, so i’m really sorry if you had high hopes :( i’ll try to make it up with the others!]

KINKTOBER DAY FIVE: dark!priest!bucky + church sex + corruption kink

The church was peaceful.

Father Barnes had always liked it when the church was left to him only: No visitors, no cleaners ─ no one. Only him. It was like he was alone with his existence and the weight of his past sins. It was a time where he could talk to God about what he had done before he found his way again, as if there was someone listening to him.

Friday nights were the quietest and emptiest night in a week. People were tired and excited about their upcoming weekend, so they avoided coming to the church unless it was Sunday and their last off-day before they jumped into another busy week. The heavy rain outside was also a prominent effect of why the church was empty. If Father Barnes had not lived in the church, he’d have gone home already, too.

Father Barnes sighed deeply, eyes closed; he walked in the quiet, large room. The smell of burning candles and fresh earth, the rhythmic sound of rain beating the church windows… It was peaceful. So much so that, Father Barnes felt like he finally found his footing, his safe space. He had been places where it was too loud to even hear himself think. He had smelt so many unpleasant scents; rotting flesh, dried blood and dead bodies.

He deserved this peaceful moment, this safe space.

Smiling to himself, Father Barnes turned to the French church doors. He always locked them after the last mass which was around 7PM, and since today was Friday and the church was empty, he figured he could close it a little earlier than usual.

As he reached for the doorknobs, he heard rushed footsteps. Father Barnes tensed, he couldn’t help but stay alert at the sound; it was an undying habit he picked it up while he was in Army. He turned the doorknobs slowly, sticking his head out to see who was rushing where.

It was when he saw you: Soaking wet from the rain, hair sticking to your face; your clothes were wet, thin and he saw you shudder violently. Your eyes were wild, scared, and Father Barnes frowned slightly. His frown got deeper when he saw the state you were in with its full power. He stood in front of the door, now, watching you intently because you looked like you could pass out any second. You stood on your place, frozen, when you saw him watching you.

“Please,” you whispered as you walked towards him with shaky steps. “I need some place to stay for the night, please. Father, please.” Father Barnes extended his hand out to you because he was still afraid you’d fall.

“Come in, little lady,” he murmured, “You look cold and sick,” he couldn’t help but add. You grabbed his large, warm hand and shivered. He was right, you were cold and sick. Murmuring a soft ‘thank you’, you stepped inside of the warm and dry church. The air was filled with a scent that reminded you your home a little, but you ignored the thought.

That place was no longer your home, you thought.

“Let’s get you to the warmth, shall we?” You heard the kind Father speaking to you softly as he walked towards you after locking the church doors. You nodded meekly. You’d do anything to get warm again, and it was showing up on your face. Father Barnes smiled at you. The hand you held moved from your hand to your arm, and he gently led you deep inside the church.

Fifteen minutes later, you were sitting in front of the fireplace. Father Barnes had made you tea, with honey because you told him you liked it that way. He even gave you dry clothes, claiming that if you were to stay in your wet ones, you’d get sick very badly. You couldn’t argue, just nodded, and accepted the clothes he held out to you.

Now you were in soft, white and thick nightgown, with a warm cup held between your palms, sitting in front of a fireplace. You were grateful for what the Father had done for you.

“Thank you,” you murmured, the quiet felt too nice to be interrupted with loud talking voice. “You didn’t have to take me in, but you did it anyway. Thank you, Father.” You smiled at him shyly. Bucky smiled at you back, though his mind was wondering things that he shouldn’t have.

“It’s what anyone with a conscience would do, little lady,” he said. You felt your cheeks heat up with the pet name and buried your face into your tea cup. Bucky smirked darkly at the shy look on your face.

The white gown on you, your shy face and wide, innocent eyes were driving him mad ever since he took you in. Your hair had dried mostly, and Father Barnes wanted to bury his face in it. He wanted to inhale your scent, wanted to hold you close to his touch starved body. He knew that you came to him by thinking that he’d keep you safe somehow, but little did you know that you actually stepped into a wolf’s den…

“No, sometimes a conscience doesn’t make you do this,” you argued softly, eyes down. “Thank you, again. I don’t know how I can repay this.” You smiled at him one more time, and Father Barnes cursed himself when he felt his cock stirring in his uniform. He knew exactly how you could repay him, but he also knew he needed to lure you in for it.

“You could help me about something,” he started, voice still soft. You perked up immediately, eager to help. Placing your cup carefully onto small table next to where you were sitting, you turned to Father Barnes. He smiled at your enthusiasm. He stood up from where he was sitting in front of you, he found his next seat next to you. “I’m very bad at letting people touch me,” he murmured, “Can you teach me how it feels to be touched?” He asked. You bit your lip. You’ve never touched a man like this before, but you could do it for this good man.

“I can try,” you murmured. Father Barnes beamed at you. “How do you want me to touch you?” Father Barnes had to take a deep breath to constrict himself not to jump on you at that moment. You immediately shied away. “Have I said something wrong? I’m sorry,” you said, quickly. Father Barnes shook his head.

“No, little one, you haven’t,” he assured you, hands over yours. You exhaled, relieved, and held his hands back. “It had been a while,” he continued, “No women touched me that way. I forgot the feeling. I was hoping you could help me remember it?”

“What way, Father?” You sat up straight. “I can try like I said!” Father Barnes almost groaned at your eagerness.

“Intimate,” he decided to say, “Touch me here.” Father Barnes took your hand and placed over the bulge in his pants. You gasped. Your eyes wide, you looked at him. “It had been so long, little one. I just want to feel good, can you help me?” You swallowed and nodded. Father smiled at you encouragingly. “Undo them, little one. Don’t be shy.”

You reached out to pull his zipper down and stripped him off his briefs. You gasped again when you saw his cock; fully hard, angry red tip and tight balls. You’ve never been this close to a man’s intimate parts before. You somehow found this moment arousing, too, but you didn’t know what you were feeling exactly since you’ve never felt this way.

“Touch it, dove,” he murmured. “It needs you.” You stole a glance from him, your eyes came in contact with his burning blue eyes. You took a deep breath and brought your hand over the flesh. Making a fist around it, you squeezed lightly. Father Barnes sucked in a harsh breath. “Move it, up and down, dove. You’re doing very good so far.” You felt yourself preen under the compliment, you did as he said.

Moving your hand up and down, you continued to squeeze him lightly. Whenever your hand came in contact with his angry red tip, Father Barnes grunted like he had been punched. You licked your lips and moved your hand a little faster.

“Tighter,” he breathed, “Hold it tighter.” You squeezed your fist tighter around him, and Father Barnes groaned. “Yes, I’m loving it, pet, so good.” You smiled at him shyly and continued to move your hand.

It went on like that for good ten minutes; your hand started to move faster with each passing minute. You were jacking him quickly now, swirling your thumb over his tip like he instructed you to. He was groaning and moaning under your fingers. Your cheeks were burning like hell, and the fire next to you had nothing to with it. Father Barnes’ hips started to thrust up after a short while. His balls were hitting your hand with his each thrust.

“Tighter, baby,” he groaned. You squeezed him tightly, causing him to moan brokenly and loudly, head thrown back. You licked your lips. “Yes!” He cried out. “Yes, baby, keep going!” You didn’t falter your hand, kept it moving as he thrusted in it. “Fuck!” Father Barnes exclaimed. “Fuck─”

Suddenly, white spurts of come covered your hand. Some of it dirtying up the Father’s clothes, you continued to move your hand until he stopped you, breathless. He chuckled deeply.

“Damn, dove,” he chuckled again, “Thank you, that was exactly what I needed.” You smiled at him as you pulled your hand back. “Wanna taste it? C’mon, lick it and see if you like it.” You frowned slightly, but you did as he told you: Licking your hand clean, you found out that you liked the taste.

“I liked it,” you murmured. Father Barnes smiled widely at you.

“Well, you can have as much as you want as long as you stay here with me,” he said, and you nodded.

You weren’t welcomed at your own home, anyway. Father Barnes just offered you to stay in this beautiful church with him and asked for your touch in return.

There was no better deal than this.

#bucky barnes x raeder #bucky barnes imagine #bucky barnes smut #bucky barnes fluff #bucky barnes angst #bucky barnes au #dark!bucky #priest!bucky #bucky barnes fanfiction #dark!priest!bucky #dark!fic #kinktober 2020 #tw dark fic #tw corruption

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