#lila stanton

[taiturner]

Jenna & Lila The Purge (TV Series)

[gayerfurtherfaster]

I basically binged season one of The Purge over the last two days and I was obviously the most invested in whatever was happening with Lila/Jenna.

And now I will unpack some thoughts to share here with the maybe three other people who might give a crap about any of this.

I honestly don’t mind their overall storyline. I think it was realistic within the world of The Purge and it wasn’t played to titillate. It was actually a really interesting way to create the relationship conflict in that this encounter with Lila was something both Rick and Jenna sought out and then it kind of blew up in their faces.

I don’t feel like Lila really falls into the “crazy bisexual/obsessive queer” trope because this is a world where it’s 100% socially acceptable and legal to remove a problematic person from your life by way of murder. She’s someone who grew up in this world, so her ultimately choosing to kill Rick (seemingly the only obstacle between her having a happy life with Jenna) makes total sense.

BUT I STILL WOULD HAVE CHANGED A THING OR TWO

I also think there was a pretty easy alternative to Lila’s story that leaves her alive but also allows for things to be as pragmatic as the Purge-verse tends to be.

Instead of having her straight up die, she should have survived the stab wound, realized Jenna essentially “chose” Rick, and eventually been picked up by the first aid van. Then when we cut to the next year, we see that Lila has put her family money into providing funding for the first aid crews so she can give back in some way.

Meanwhile, Jenna’s forced to face the fact that Lila knows she chose Rick over her in that moment, so everyone can still be miserable, especially after she learns that Rick really is the kind of guy who ultimately values money over morals.

EVEN THEN

If you wanted something that’s all seashells and unicorns and happy times for the ladies, then you have a fight between Rick and Lila that escalates to what could be a very tense moment only to be interrupted by Joe disarming the house. He shoots Lila and leaves her for dead while he hauls Rick and Jenna away. The first aid van still picks her up, but now she’s open and available to be there for Jenna post-Purge without all the baggage of “oh and that time I was going to shoot your husband” and they can go away to France together.

And that’s how I fixed The Purge for the wlw characters who will live on in my heart.

[booasaur]

The Purge (2018) - 1x02

[crazyintheeast]

She knows her prioritiies

[lois--13]

I like this couple on #ThePurgeTV

[tvtalk247]

The Purge ep 6

Is anyone watching this besides me? lol

I think it’s doing a better job exploring other aspects of The Purge night than the recent movies. The movies has heavily focused on the poor/race angle. Which, I do believe that’s what the night would primarily have been created for. But after 4 films, it’s time to explore the million other things that would be going on. Because not everyone is racists and elitists. There’s other things people are angry about. There other shameful sins people would love to do in public without being judge for it. Like explore that. And we do get some of that in the tv series. So I like it.

Now, the characters. Most of them are dumb as hell. But at least Miguel has excuse for his. He love his sister and willing to die to save her. That’s understandable. But FUCKING Jane. First, she puts a hit out on her skevy boss. Then, changes her mind and tries to call it off. She had a million chances to change her mind BEFORE the purge. But she waits until one her co-workers kill another to realize killing is wrong. And since boss doesn’t answer phone, this dumb bitch leaves a secure building and run through the streets to his house. And since this is fictional, she gets saved by some kickass women from being drugged and raped. But no, that wasn’t a sign for her to give up this quest to save her boss. She leaves the group because now she’s all high and mighty about morals. *insert eye roll* She get to her rich boss’ house and the door is WIDE FUCKING OPEN. And that’s not a clue for her dumb ass. She thinks her hired assassin somehow just happened to get in. *insert another eye roll* Then when she makes it up the stairs, there he is, in the kitchen acting like nothing’s wrong. ANOTHER FUCKING RED FLAG. He doesn’t even acknowledge it was open. Why would you have your door wide open during purge night? 

The biggest red flag that she completely overlooks is the fact that he acted like he didn’t care she put a hit out on him. No one is that freaking calm and collected. She’s so dumb that I dont even care what happens to her at this point. 

Now, the couple. Anyone else found it laughable how Jenna flip the script on Rick when he was calling her out about sneaking off at the party to be with Lila? Then she made it about how she couldn’t be with him if he didn’t change his ways of wanting to improve their lifestyle with any means necessary. Like, chick. It doesn’t matter how much he changes it’s obvious she loves Lila. She wasn’t giving a flying fuck about Rick during that party. But the kicker is, the people he is kissing up to is the same people she would be around and money she would be spending if she decided to leave him for Lila. And I don’t trust Lila. I’m like 70 percent sure she planned this from the very beginning. She’s going to try to kill Rick. Also, how did she know they made it out of the house? Of all the places to go, she ran to their house? I don’t trust it. So I think Jenna and Jane are biggest idiots of the show.

[broody-yellow-pillow]

I liked that Jenna kept trying to go back/get to Lila, and even asked about her when they were escaping.

[selenethewalker]

Bad news: Temporarily stopped gaming due to anxiety episodes, Lila Stanton got FUCKING STABBED, my nice-ass of an internet provider tanked below 1mbps AND I’m still single af (I used to not care but idk now).

Good news:  ¡Es hora de la fiesta! I GOT A JOB OFFER FELLAS!

[myrandomfandomramblings]

The Beach - a The Rookie/Chenford Fanfic

“7-Adam-11, show us responding,” Jackson said over the radio as Lucy leaned back against her headrest defeatedly.

“I didn’t think I’d ever say this but I really don’t want to go to the beach.” “Like ever again,” she added even as she took the first turn towards their destination. 

LA was 4 days into a record heat wave and over that time Lucy had learnt a few important things 1) Unsurprisingly, extreme heat causes everyone to flock to the ocean. 2) It also makes people extremely irritable. 3) Lots of irritable people packed together in large groups leads to chaos and 4) wool uniforms are not ideal attire for patrolling beaches in temperatures around 100. 

So after 4 days she was over it. She had spent Monday with Jackson getting sworn at, honked at and nearly run over as they directed traffic at the busiest beaches in the city. She spent Tuesday with Tim breaking up beach brawls, confiscating contributing alcohol and watching bikini clad woman flirt with Tim. At least 8 different woman had asked him to rub sunscreen on them or suggested he take off his shirt to cool down. She had rolled her eyes so much she had given herself a headache. Although it may have been the sun. Yesterday, her and Nolan and responded to a report of a missing child who was feared drowned or kidnapped but turned out had followed the music of an ice cream truck four blocks and was found, about 30 minutes after the officers arrived, happily eating a fudgiscle. However, they were kept at the beach for the remainder of their shift by various citizens with complaints ranging from seagulls, wasps and possible sharks to thieves, streakers and possible melanoma. 

Now her and Jackson were headed back to a beach where the adjacent shrubbery was currently being consumed by a blazing bush fire, which was in all likelihood human caused and spreading fast. Therefore all hands were on deck as the LAPD worked with the LAFD to keep civilians safe, extinguish the fire and investigate its cause.

The rest of her shift passed in a blur as they interviewed witnesses, cordoned off the area, issued evacuation orders, ensured those who needed it got medical attention, joined a production line passing large buckets of water from the ocean to where the fire was burning and debriefed with their team which included Nolan and Tim, and Lopez and Harper. Luckily in the end, the fire was successfully extinguished, those living nearby were safe and happily back in their homes and the perpetrator, a cigarette butt flicker, was caught. But not until nearly 11pm by which time the entire team was exhausted, scorching and covered in soot and ash. With their job done the team of 6 headed away from the scene back along the beach to where they had parked their shops. They were right on the sand where they left them to create a barrier preventing people from wandering toward the fire and the beach around them was abandoned. Likely due to a combination of the late hour, the fire itself and the fact that the stretch of beach they were on was only accessible by walking about a mile from one of the main beaches on either side or by scrambling down the steep cliff behind them.

“Anybody want a cold one,” Nolan asked when they reached the vehicles, “well a hot one I guess” he amended as he pulled out a six pack he had confiscated earlier in the day from the trunk of his shop. Everybody made a face at the offer of hot beer but since the only light around came from the shops headlights shining in the opposite direction Nolan didn’t see them.

“Screw it, I’ll take one,” Angela said.

“Wesley and Patrice took the baby to meet the extended Evers clan so I have nowhere to be and now that I’m no longer breastfeeding I can have whatever I want. Even if that’s gross beer that’s been sitting in a hot car all day,” she explained.

“If we dig a hole near the water line it will fill with cold seawater and we can make a makeshift beer fridge,” Jackson suggested but Angela had already opened her can and was sipping away.

“I’ll help dig the hole,” Nyla offered. “I’d rather hangout here then go back to the station to do paperwork and Lila’s with her dad so I also have no where I have to be.”

“I’ll call Grey and tell him we’re clocking out and will do the paperwork in the morning,” Tim offered.

“Your staying?” Lucy asked a little too excitedly, “what about Kojo?” she quickly added.

“Tamara called several hours ago and offered to give him dinner, take him for a walk and put him to bed.”“She saw the fire on the news and rightly assumed we’d have our hands full,” he finished.

30 minutes later they all sat in the sand around their makeshift beer fridge. Shoes, socks and button up shirts discarded and pants pulled up to their knees. 3 flashlights were in the middle of the group, pointing skyward, their handles buried in the sand. They laughed as they went around and told stories.

“How is it still this hot?” Lucy asked a while later.  It was after midnight and the temperature had yet to even consider dropping below 90. 

She pulled her white t-shirt away from her skin fanning, herself. 

“I’m going swimming,” she declared ready to stand up.

“Your going swimming? Right Now? In that?” Tim asked gesturing to her cotton tee and woolen pants.

Lucy shook her head. “I was just going to go in my underwear but now that I think about it I don’t really want to have to drive back to the station in soaking wet underwear.”

Tim nodded as if this is what he expected but Lucy didn’t see him and continued.

“I guess I’ll just skinny dip,” she concluded.

Tim managed to both spit out and choke on the sip of beer he had just taken.

Everybody else’s faces were turned towards Tim and wearing amused expressions but they were saved his annoyance due to the limited light and the fact that his attention was still fully on Lucy.

“What?” She asked Tim, “It’s not a big deal. It’s dark. Plus everybody here has already seen me naked.” 

“Well except you,” she added, which earned another spit take from Tim.

Lucy rolled her eyes but couldn’t suppress a smile. She loved seeing Tim flustered, especially when it was her doing.

“What?” He finally managed to ask in a strained voice after a few harsh coughs to clear his throat.

“Everybody here’s seen Lucy naked but you,” Lopez offered, “although that was bound to change sometime soon,” she added.

Lucy and Tim both turned to look at her wide eyed. Nolan and Nyla were both hiding smirks and Jackson wore an expression of mainly panic as he spoke.

“She’s drunk. She has no idea what she’s saying,” Jackson offered before turning to look daggers at Angela and whisper something in her ear.

Lucy thought she heard the words bet, interference and disqualified but she couldn’t be sure.

When he finished Angela addressed them again. “Sorry, apparently my tolerance took a nose dive since pre-pregnancy. I didn’t mean anything by that I got you mixed up with Smitty and what’s her face,” she finished waving her hand disparagingly.

“Hmm,” Lucy said clearly not buying her lame excuse but Tim still had his mind on other things.

“Why has everybody else here seen you naked?” he asked, his tone almost suspicious.

Lucy laughed. “Are you jealous?”

He fixed her with his best TO look. “No.”

Lucy suppressed the urge to roll her eyes yet again and answered.

“Communal showers at work,” she began gesturing to Nyla and Angela. “Best friends and roommates” she added pointing to Jackson. “Life gets crazy. Sometimes closing doors or throwing on clothes just isn’t a priority,” she explained seeing Tim’s confused expression. “Also we had to help each other into and out of the bath after we were injured.” She didn’t have to specify her kidnapping or the beating Jackson took to take down Doug Stanton. This group knew. “It’s kind of ironic that when everything hurts all you want is a warm bath but when everything hurts it’s nearly impossible to get yourself into and out of a bathtub,” she finishes. “Oh and Nolan and I used to date.” She says it as almost an afterthought, super casual. But all the former TOs still look at her with shock.

“You and Nolan?” Nyla asks with a laugh. “Really?” “No offense,” she adds addressing Nolan.

“Ah, none taken?” Nolan replies, clearly confused by her reaction.

“When?” Lopez asks looking between the two P2s.

“For a couple months while we were in the academy. We called it off shortly after we started at Mid-Wilshire,” Nolan supplied.

“Wow, I just can’t picture it,” Angela continued shaking her head.

“Why would you want to picture it?” Tim spat. Then seemed to catch himself and schooled his scowl back into a blank expression.

“Why’d you call it off, anyway?” Angela asked. Half actually curious. Half just trying to do her friend a solid and take the attention off him.

“Bishop warned me that dating a fellow cop would brand me and could ruin my career,” Lucy answered and thought she saw Tim flinch. It was impossible to tell for sure with just the flashlights, nevertheless she added, “Somethings matter more-“ she was staring right at Tim now “-are worth the gossip, the assumptions, the risk.” As she said it she saw his expression change but she couldn’t read it. “But our relationship wasn’t one of those things. We’re better as friends, anyway,” she finished addressing the whole group but looking at Nolan specifically for confirmation.

“Agreed,” Nolan nodded holding up his beer.

“To friends,” Jackson said clicking his to Nolan’s.

“To friends,” everybody joined in clinking their cans together.

“So who’s coming skinny dipping with me?” Lucy asked as she started to make her way back to the vehicles where she could leave her clothes in a place where they’d stay sand free.

“I will,” said Angela, “pregnancy and caring for a baby really makes modesty go out the window. The two beers I’ve had don’t hurt either.” She began to follow Lucy to the cars.

“I’m in,” Jackson offered, “with you two practically glowing in the dark nobody will even notice me.” He teased as he got up to join them, earning a playful shove from Lucy.

“Nobody’s here to see anything anyway.” She retorted.

“Go ahead. I might join you later.” Nolan said and Nyla and Tim nodded in agreement.

10 minutes later. Lucy, Angela and Jackson’s clothes were inside Jackson and Lucy’s shop and they were out in the ocean. It dropped off quickly so they weren’t that far away from the beach even though the water came to just below Lucy’s shoulders. After four days of blazing heat and the fire on top today, the cool water felt like heaven to her. She dipped and dove through the water, relishing the cool and wiped at her face and hands to remove the soot that had coated them earlier. Beside her Angela was trying to show Jackson what her son does when they put him in the water. This led to reminiscing about childhood summers spent at the beach or in backyard and community pools. And before they knew it they were playing old games from those days. John and Nyla had joined them by this time. Claiming some combination of escaping the heat, joining the fun and more beer as the motivation. They were currently having breath holding contests.

“I win!” Jackson exclaimed as he came up for air to find everyone else already up.

“You cheated,” Lucy argued, “I saw you come up while I was still under. I had my eyes open.”

“I did not. Plus it’s pitch black under there you couldn’t possibly have seen anything.”

“Did Jackson come up?” Lucy yelled at Tim who was still sitting on the shore.

“I don’t know. I wasn’t watching,” he replied casually with a slight shrug.

“Yes you were,” Angela argued, “you haven’t taken your eyes off Lucy since she got in here,” then realizing what she said she quickly ducked back under the water. 

Everybody still above the surface froze.

Then after a beat. “So did he come up or not. I need to know if I won,” Nyla asked, all business.

“He floated to the surface but didn’t lift his head up. He won,” Tim offered defeatedly.

“Told you!” Jackson bragged.

“Rematch. 3,2,1 go,” shouted Nyla as everybody ducked back under the water. Lucy a split second behind everybody else as her attention was still on Tim. 

She came up about 30 seconds later just as a wave was passing by her and managed to swallow a good serving of water. She coughed and sputtered but before she knew it Jackson and Nolan were beside her and she was assuring them she was Ok just needed a bit of time to catch her breath. As she swam towards the shore to rest in the shallows she noticed Tim was just sitting back down and his pants were wet to just above the knee. But she didn’t let herself focus on it.

She swam to just in front of where he sat laying on her stomach on the ocean floor, head just above the water.

“You OK?” He asked shifting his eyes to her for the first time since she swam up.

“Ya fine, just swallowed a little water,” she assured him.

“Looks like you guys are having fun out there,” he nodded indicating the group still farther out.

“Ya the water feels amazing. You can’t honestly tell me that you aren’t hot.” She had meant it literally. He was sitting in above 90 degree weather with wool pants on. But then she realized he had taken off his white shirt and his muscled chest and stomach were currently on full display and the word took on an entirely different meaning. She was thankful for the darkness as it hid her blush but even that couldn’t hide the fact that she was definitely staring. 

“The ladies on the beach the other day will be so disappointed they’re missing this,” she teased gesturing to his bare upper half, hoping to give a probable explanation for the staring.

He gave a short laugh. “Not as disappointed as the meat bags who were wolf whistling at you will be that they’re missing that.” As he gestured at her he finally let himself actually take her in. Her hair was still up in its low work bun leaving her entire back exposed. The upper half of which was completely taken up by a tattoo, he had never seen before, although the light was too limited for him to make out the design. The rest of her body was hidden in shadows except her face which was now free of soot and make-up making her look young and vulnerable. Freckles brought out by the last few days of blazing sun were speckled across the bridge of her nose. Her mouth was twisted in thought and her eyes sparkled in the light of the flashlights. She really was beautiful.

While those thoughts flew through Tim’s mind Lucy was thinking about his comment about the wolf whistlers. That had happened at the very start of their shift and lasted no more than two seconds. Lucy wasn’t even sure they had been whistling at her and she had completely forgotten about it until Tim brought it up just now. Funny that he would remember. 

 They were both pulled out of their thoughts by a sudden commotion further out in the water:

“DID YOU NOT THERE IS NO PIE!”

“DO NOT THERE IS NO DIE!”

“DO OR DO NOT THERE IS NO TRY!”

Were being yelled over each other.

“What are they doing?” Tim asked looking at the group out in the water.

They were in a circle. Jackson had just given Nolan a high five then they were under again.

“I think they are playing the guess what I said under the water game,” Lucy chuckled.

Tim was about to reply but he was cut off by “How much wood could a woodchuck chuck if a woodchuck could chuck wood” being shouted in unison followed by bickering about who said it first.

“I’m going back out to join them. You going to come?” Lucy asked turning her attention from the group back to Tim.

“I don’t need to be a part of that.”

“Come on Tim. You’re hot and dirty.” She still meant it literally. Really. He was covered in soot. Stupid double entendres.

He raised is eyebrows.

“Just get in the water,” Lucy said splashing water at him to vent her frustration with how flustered she was getting.

He wiped the water from his face and a small smile appeared at the corner of his mouth. “Fine.”

Lucy beamed back at him as he stood up and walked back to the shop to discard his remaining clothes then turned her attention back to her friends.

“It’s not Angeles Direct, you’ve already guessed that three times,” Nyla was saying to Jackson

“That’s what it sounds like,” he argued “and it’s definitely closer to that than ‘embroidery period.’”

“That was my first guess. I heard wrong,” Nyla shot back.

“Oh ya cuz ‘and was dressed’ and ‘indoors divest’ were so much closer.”

Any further argument was cut-off by Nolan. “I’ve got it: Angela’s the best,” he said confidently.

“Yes and yes,” Angela confirmed.

“Your turn Nyla.” 

There was a brief silence as they all went back under the water followed by a flurry of screamed “this is stupid.”

“Happy now?” Came a quieter voice beside her and Lucy nearly jumped out of the water. She had been so wrapped up watching her friends she hadn’t even noticed that Tim had made his way back down the beach and was now sitting beside her in the water.

She smiled and nodded. “Aren’t you?”

He gave a non-committal shrug. “We’ll see after I get roped into whatever’s going on out there,” he offered but there was no bite to it. He was even smiling, although mostly with his eyes, as he looked at their friends.

“Well let’s go find out,” Lucy replied as she led the way into the deeper water.

As they approached the group they watched them go up and down and listened to their guesses.

“And further than game”

“Comforters at game”

“Temperatures endgame”

“Stanford is endgame”

“Checkers is a game.” “At least that’s a real sentence”

“Bradford has game?” “That can’t be right he most definitely doesn’t”

Then just as Tim and Lucy joined the group “Chenford is endgame!” Shouted by Angela who upon realizing Tim and Lucy had joined them turned to Jackson.

“This ones not on me it was your sentence.”

Jackson stood stunned for a second looking desperately between Tim, Lucy and Angela then swiftly closed his eyes and yelled “MARCO.”

There was a brief silence then Nolan yelled “POLO” and everyone was swimming away from Jackson at top speed. Everyone except Tim who was giving Lucy a look that said. “See what you got me into? I told you so.” 

But she was busy swimming off with the others, grateful for the distraction. So he rolled his eyes and joined the game. The water did feel amazing although he wasn’t about to admit that to her.

Calls of MARCO POLO and laughter filled the air as everybody took their turn being it: Jackson tagged Nolan who tagged Lucy who tagged Nyla who tagged Jackson who tagged Tim who tagged Nolan who tagged Angela who tagged Jackson who tagged Tim who tagged Lucy. Well he meant to tag Lucy. He reached his arm out and jumped towards her “POLO” but she was closer than he thought and instead of the tips of his finger tagging her shoulder he jumped right into her. He hit her hard and she responded to being knocked off her feet and down into the water instinctively by reaching for the nearest thing to prevent drowning, which happened to be him. So when he opened his eyes her arms were around his neck and her legs around his hips and her face was only about an inch from his own as she coughed up water for the second time that day.

“Are you ok?” He asked moving a piece of hair that had fallen into her face behind her ear.

She nodded but continued to cough as he absentmindedly stroked her back.

 “You caught me by surprise,” she breathed “I didn’t know we were playing full contact Marco Polo.”

He let out a relieved laugh, “I’m sorry.”

“A real Tim Bradford apology I never thought I’d see it in person,” Lucy teased earning an eye roll from Tim. This close Lucy could see all the different shades of blue in his eyes even in the dark. 

“It was an accident.”

“So it wasn’t some sort of Tim Test to see how I would handle a fight in the water?”

“No. You got your last Tim test a year ago when you stopped being my rookie.”

“I can’t believe it’s been a year already,” she said. “Then again we’ve been through enough for an entire career,” she added as her hand reflexively moved from his neck where it was playing with his hair to the tattoo on her her ribs.

That’s when it dawned on her just how close her and Tim were, pressed together without a shred of clothing between them. She had felt so comfortable and content she hadn’t realized the gravity of the situation and what it could lead to. She was about to put some space between them when his hand covered hers over the tattoo marking her supposed day of death. The day he saved her from being buried alive. Although he would say it marked the first day of the rest of her life. The day she saved herself. 

And the desire to move away died in an instant. 

“I kept it,” she said quietly, “because of what you said.” “Because it’s a reminder that I’m a survivor. And that my team will always have my back.”

Tim was looking at her with an expression more open than she’d ever seen. “I have one of those,” he replied softly lifting her hand up and moving it to rest on his lower left abdomen. She was confused at first but as she felt the skin beneath her finger tips she realized it was scarred. The scar from when he was shot on her second day and she pulled him out of the line of gunfire.

She smiled and looked directly into his eyes. 

“It’s a good thing we have each other in our lives,”

“Sure is,”

She was just about to lean in and close the distance between them when a voice interrupted.

“Hey you two. Keep it PG or get a room. This is a family outing.” It was Nyla.

Lucy laughed as she untangled her self from Tim and in that moment she realized two things. 1) this was most definitely her family and 2) she would very happily come back to the beach. Maybe next time she’d just bring Tim, maybe even as her boyfriend.

[farfarawaygirl]

Can we just talk about how it’s so much more obvious that Nolan has to play hero in every episode (I was SO mad when he told off Angela, that was completely unnecessary) and is written to have no flaws? Like at least in previous seasons, it felt like it leaned more into being an ensemble show, and even though Nolan was still the lead, the other characters had compelling storylines. I’m so curious to know what changed in the writers’ room (if at all) to have this sudden shift

Okay, so one of my friends has a theory on this - and I personally think they are a genius!

We were discussing the tightening of the focus on John Nolan. Over the first three seasons while we knew Nolan was the lead, there were often storylines that he maybe didn't interact with - the Stanton storyline, Lucy and undercover, Tim and Isobel, Jackson and his gun issues, etc. There was always space and time made for the ensemble cast to shine. They really got some juicy material in those seasons! There was more to go around, so to speak.

Come season 4, we open on the duel tragedy of Jackson's death and Angela's kidnapping. One of the first exchanges we see is Nolan calling out Lucy for touching Angela's dress/the trip wire, and Nolan maybe joking, maybe not, about Lucy needing to speak to Tim about her training? Which, was weird, but we kept watching. And then the moment that for me was a 'Aha!' moment - when the whole crew was at the Lopez/Evers abode, and in the midst of this grief and incredible uncertainty they all took a moment to congratulate Nolan on passing out of the FTO program. I remember really, clearly wincing. That was not needed. It literally trivialized Jackson's death, and underscored the extreme danger Angela was in.

But - back to the theory! (it all ties together, I promise!)

Here is the scene: they learn that Titus is not returning, and are scrambling to find a way to rewrite and refocus. The theory my genius friend presented, was that in the producers officer, or the writers room, the decision was made at that point to really focus back in on Nolan as the central character, which would anchor the show - and mean that if anyone else decided to leave, it would be easier.

As soon as they explained that theory, my mind started pinging on all the ways this seems true and valid!

I don't want to start and leaving rumours, I firmly believe as a collective fandom we could do with less rumours, speculating on new characters, etc, because there is a lot of baseless conjecture happening. But, we are set up in a way that any character other than Nolan could be written off.

Nyla - move with Donovan and Lila. Lucy - takes UC position and disappears. Tim - has the change stations, or gets a competing offer. Angela and Wes - both of them are in danger from Stone, what would the other do in the event that one was harmed? Grey - they set the seed of retirement back in season 1!

It was an interesting refocus for me, and let me really think about how Nolan has repeatedly been shows as infallible. That is the shift I am theorizing for the slightly different focus of this season.

I wholeheartedly agree, the scene with Nolan and Lopez was not great. It had some weird white saviour, misogyny vibes.

This is where the being critical of the media you consume comes in. Because that scene, and the subsequent apology was more than co-workers having a conversation, it was a white man chastising a Latina woman. Watch whatever you want to watch - I am still watching this show! - but make sure you are seeing it through a lens of global understanding.

[chocolate1721]

My brain won’t let me rest until I share these prompts.

Ok, so the class is in Gotham and it’s the last night before they leave. They went out to eat and on their way back to the hotel they run into and injured Harley and/or Ivy. The class freezes while Mari and Chloe rush over to help them. Mari starts tearing her clothes while Chloe is making sure they are coherent. They class comes back to their senses and start hurling insults at the rogues and start talking about calling the police. They class gets more hostile towards Mari, Chloe, Harley, and Ivy as they move towards them. Suddenly the Joker appears behind the small group. The class runs away and leaves Mari and Chloe behind. Marinette jumps up and stands in between the Joker and the injured rogues.

Joker is impressed. Very few men would even think of getting in his way, but this child doesn’t hesitate to do this. While Joker is assessing Mari, Marinette subtly grabs a (conveniently placed) crowbar that she found on the ground.

Chloe is trying to get Harley and Ivy to stand up, so they can all get out of this situation. She is successful but both Harley and Ivy are leaning heavily on her.

Marinette takes a swing at Joker, when he gets too close. Joker is getting more and more intrigued by her. He taunts and teases her. Getting close then backing away when she swings at him. Looking to see how far he can push her.

Harley is terrified. She sees the look in the Joker’s eyes. She knows that look. He is interested in this girl who is protecting her and Ivy. But she can’t do anything to help.

The Joker slowly maneuvers the group into a corner. Marinette still swinging at him, but he keeps walking closer to them. She realizes that the only way out is past Joker, so she stops backing up. The next time she takes a swing it connects with his forearm. He blocked it. Joker yanks the crowbar out of her hands and tosses it away from them. He walks closer to the group, but Mari refuses to move.

[[More]]

Before he gets to them several dark figures swoop down and fight him. After he is defeated, Marinette grabs the closest vigilante (perferably not the love interest) and demands that they help Harley and Ivy.

Mari and Chloe stay at the hospital while both Rogues get worked on. They answer the questions from the police and batfam. They refused to leave the hospital until they knew that both of the women would be ok. So they stayed the night. Waiting for the Rogues to wake up.

The next morning Harley and Ivy were shocked to see the girls who helped them. They watched as the girls slept in those uncomfortable hospital chairs. The police arrived not long after Marinette and Chloe woke up. The police officer asked them who their guardian was. Marinette and Chloe were then taken to the police Stanton as they waited for Bustier to pick them up.

It was around lunch when they were informed that the class could not be found. Gordon was walking by when he saw these two girls go very, very pale. They turned to each other and started whispering in French. He paused and watched as the officer asked the girls what was wrong.

“We are supposed to go back to Paris today. Lately our teacher hasn’t been taking roll call, and she takes what our classmates say as fact. We’re hoping she didn’t leave for Paris without us.”

“Who are we kidding Maribug. She wouldn’t do a headcount for a trip to the museum, why do we expect her to do it before leaving a country.”

Gordon was shocked, then scared. He rushed to his office and called the airport. After several people told him that the information he was wanting was classified, and being transferred around a bit. He slammed his hands on his desk and informed the person on the other end of the line that “THERE ARE TWO MINORS WHO BELIEVE THAT THEIR TEACHER LEFT THEM BEHIND WHEN SHE TOOK THE REST OF THE CLASS BACK TO PARIS! NOW TELL ME IF THEY BOARDED THE F*CKING PLANE OR NOT!”

He got what he needed, and he was furious. Not only did the teacher not do a headcount but they have video evidence of one student ripping up two tickets, that he assumed where for the two girls in the lobby of the precinct.

He called Bruce Wayne, since he is technically responsible for them while they are in Gotham. He explained the situation, and Bruce was more livid than Gordon is. He told Gordon that he would pick the girls up and take care of getting them back to Paris. Gordon sighed and went to tell the girls. Who took the news rather well. He talked with the girls, asking them if this was normal for their teacher. They had no reservations, well the blonde had no reservations, about telling him every toxic, manipulative, and downright mentally abusive thing their teacher has done.

By the time Beuce Wayne, and his hoard of kids, arrived; Gordon was going to send a tip to the French Board of Education about this. He pulled Bruce aside and told him about the teacher. Bruce agreed that this teacher is aweful and he is going to make sure that she is never allowed to teach anyone again.

Bruce took the girls back to the manor and had Tim arrange a flight to Paris on their personal plane. He also had the girls call their parents and let them know what happened. Sabine was out for blood. He talked to the parents and let them know he will personally bring their children back to Paris.

After talking to their parents all that was left was to have the plane get ready. They agreed to wait until tomorrow to leave for Paris. This gave Jason enough time to teach both girls how to shoot many different types of guns. Damian was teaching Marinette swordsmanship, he was rather impressed on how dedicated she was. He is a difficult teacher, harsh and strict, but she was enthusiastic and learned from her mistakes. Chloe and Dick has a blast in trying to “one up” the other with flexibility and gymnastics. And finally, Tim has finally found another insomniac coffee addict. Mari and Tim trades coffee recipies.

The entire Batfam went with Marinette and Chloe back to Paris. They didn’t want to miss watching their father rip this teacher apart. Then we’re then introduced to the Dupain-Cheng bakery. . . . . . They literally had to pry Jason’s fingers from the door to get him to leave.

Bruce launches a formal investigation into the school, and Bustier. The Board of Education does this as well. It didn’t turn out well. Bruce suggests that Chloe and Mari wait a few days before going to school. See if the school contacts their parents about why they are missing. When 4 days passed and the school didn’t contact them, the girls showed up after lunch one day. Along with their parents, investigators for Bruce and the Board of Education, and the entire Wayne family.

Bustier is confused and asks the girls why they have been ditching class. This sets sooo many people off. Sabine, Jason, and Chloe have to be physically held back from attacking Bustier.

Marinette, passes Chloe to be father, and steps up to Bustier.

“We didn’t skip school. You left us in an alley with an injured Harley and Ivy, when the Joker appeared. Then when we were rescued by the Batclan and went to the hospital to make sure they were alright, you didn’t try and find us. You left us in Gotham.”

“Marinette, you need to be more responsible. The Joker is very dangerous and trying to protect two criminals was foolish. Also Lila has to get back to Paris to help her mother with some upcoming business.”

This set off so many people that they had to be removed from the class room. Bruce stepped up to Bustier.

“Did you do a head count? If not then why are you putting one student who said they have prior engagements, who should have already gotten it done if they were going to conflict with scheduling or not have come on the trip at all, over two students who were in danger?”

Bruce is beyond livid. He is about to blow a fuse. Until a purple butterfly appears, then Marinette yeets him out of the way. Everyone watches as the akuma goes into one of her hair ties. The class is panicking and are tripping over themselves to get out of the room. Chloe and Marinette’s parents are telling her to fight hawkmoth. Marinette just calmly stares “hawkmoth, if you akumatize me, I will come after you and no one else.” Not long after that state was made. A pure white butterfly emerges from the ribbon.

The class are amazed by this. Adrien smiles and said “see Marinette is our everyday Ladybug, she even rejects Hawkmoth.” Marinette turns towards Adrien and b*tch slaps him. “I may have rejected him, but I shouldn’t have to be in a situation where I have to do it.”

Alya and Lila start yelling about how Mari and Chloe did this for attention, then Lila’s lies are revealed and she and alya get sued.

Lots of salt please. Adrien, Alya, Lila, and Bustier salt. I love my salt

[sosmembers]

Cast List

Torili Mikaelson

Tristan Duffy

Roman Godfrey

Red Riding Hood

Akita Beau aka Veronica Lodge

Michael Guerin

Captain Killian Jones

Hayley Marshall-Kenner

Melissa McCall

Jasmine Morningstar

Narita Mikaelson

Rebekah Mikaelson

Freya Mikaelson-Gardiner

Tigerlily aka Lillyanna Stone

Tiffany Salvatore

Erika Singer

Destiny Godfrey

Allison Argent

Stefan Salvatore

Madison Montgomery

Rozella Luckett

Kisa Mikaelson

Peter Hale

Amir Dubrinsky

Wynonna Earp

Billie Denbrough

Sidney Prescott

Dakota McCall

Tyler Lockwood

Karen Singer

Waverly Earp

Makayla Everdeen

King Of Hearts

Priscilla Duffy

Mekila Walker

Melody Gilbert

Aiden Lovotti

Molly Samuels

Castiel

Fawn

Precious Mclaine

Bee aka Tabbitha Carmaine

Freya Beauchamp-Dubrinsky

Naomi Grace

Nadia Zane

Bonnie Bennett

Gosalyn Sibley

Diana Meade

Luther Swann

Puck

Silvermist

Tenisha Gerard

Ally Andrews

Sarina Kenner

Maggie Greene

Emily Stanton

Stiles Stilinski

Rain Ocampo

Prudence Halliwell

Nyx

Terence

Tinkerbell

Sled

Max Evans

Norman Bates

Tate Langdon

Judith Walsh-Grimes

Toni Topaz

Jake Riley

Lorenzo St. John

Milton Greasley

Leo Wyatt

Magnus Bane

Phoebe Halliwell

Beverly Marsh-Hanscom

Xavier Dolls

Thaddius Merrick

Henry Mills

Liz Parker-Evans

Mary Sibley

Isabel Evans

Peach Salinger

Eve McCall

Ben Hanscom

Kathleen Valmont

Killian Gardiner

Scarlett Lowe

John Alden

Sabrina Spellman

Lizzie Saltzman

Lexi Branson

Jeremy Gilbert

Ambrose Spellman

Jayden Andrews

Kevin Keller

Ryder Di Angelo

Donovan

Archie Andrews

FP Jones aka Billy Loomis

Valentina Davis

Gemma Teller

Elijah Mikaelson

Camille O'Connell

Jade Taylor

Abel Duffy

Enya Walker

Mikhail Dubrinsky

Opie Winston

Betty Cooper

Hunter Johnson

Jo Harvelle

Bobby Singer

Piper Halliwell-Wyatt

Raelynn Delacruz

Marisha Belle aka Hermonie Lodge

Kara Maeve

Rafael Waithe

Dylan Massett

Remy Kenner

Emma Decody

Davina Claire

Rosetta

Vidia

Zarina

Kyra Riddick

Hope Mikaelson

Zelda Spellman

Zeke Faus

Zane Marku

Clary Fairchild

Mala Marku

Axel Duffy

Graham Humbert

Cheryl Blossom

Sonya

Erik Daniels

Lucifer Morningstar

Cole Johnson

Andy Trudeau

Phoebe Atwell

Adelaide LaRue

Ingrid Beauchamp

Jack Morton

Jackson Johnson

Isla Maddon

Lyssa Blane

Dashiel Gardiner

David Loki

Cassie Blake

Rowan Daniels

Lydia Martin

Elena Gilbert

K-Mart

Gray Mitchell

Zia Rodriguez

Maisie Lockwood

Franklin Webb

Jason Blossom

Naethan Madris

Destiny Von Shrieder

Vikirnoff Von Shrieder

Petra Von Shrieder

Augustus Waters

Tecna

Musa

Peaches 'N Cream

Anna of Arendelle

Arthur Pendragon

Margo Hanson

Garrett Skyler

Monse Finnie

Alec Lightwood

Darrius Addams

Kady Orloff-Diaz

Jacques Dubrinsky

Edith Monroe

Reggie Mantle

Bloom Peters

Alex Cunningham

Fauna Marku

Adrian Garff

Christian Dane aka Pennywise

Malachai Parker

Damon Salvatore

Penny Adiyodi

Nicole Haught

Nicholas Scratch

Jughead Jones

Echo Martorana

The Coyote (Lily)

Viktor Hargreeves

Nile Turner

Kate Ward

Hamish Duke

Oscar Diaz

Santiago Montes

Natasha Fenris

Jax teller

Jasmine Flores

Rapunzel

Allison Hargreeves

Monika Davis

Isaac

Ruby Martinez

Klaus Hargreeves

Charlotte Johnson

Ace Walker

Talia Dae

Owen Grady

Joshua Blane

Eudora Patch

Liam Dunbar

Angelus

Daenerys Targaryen

Nicholas Young

Astrid Leong Teo

Hayden Romero

Ygritte

Beca Mitchell

Benji Applebaum

Chloe Beale

Ella Frell

Robin Arryn

Amber Johnson

Nyxia Sloan

Scott McCall

Xero

Kenna Adler

Billy Clanton

Felicity Smoak

Clark Kent

Oliver Queen

Lila Pitts

Lana Lang

Jackson Kenner

Aiden Steiner

Ethan Steiner

Adam Conant

Adrianna Hound

Buffy Summers

Mickey

Ursula Caan

Niklaus Mikaelson

Negan Smith

Greta Bowie

Sally Mallik

Joe Goldberg

Mackenzi Emerson aka The Mage

Dave Katz

Jon Snow

Jace Herondale

Aidan Waite

Max

Mark Knight

Isabela Madrigal

Bruno Madrigal

Antonio Madrigal

Talon Belov

Marcel Gerard

Tessa Young

Anastasia Tremaine

Derek Hale

Jordan Parrish

Faye Chamberlain

Monica Dutton

Beth Dutton

Kayce Dutton

Rip Wheeler

Jake Armstrong

Nathan Blane

Ryker Brandt

Max Cartwright

Dominic Drake

Tate Dutton

Elizabeth Mikaelson

Ikaris

Ivan Druig

Pepa Madrigal

Luisa Madrigal

Norio Hallowgreen

Willow Rosenberg

Makkari

Sersi

Kara Danvers

Norma Bates

Mirabel Madrigal

Theodora Stark

Barry Allen

Cisco Ramon

Mindy Meeks-Martin

Rosita Espinosa

Bucky Barnes

Captain Barbossa

Jack Sparrow

Grace Andrews

Brad Cage

Derek Morgan

Luke Garroway

Kristoff

Ben Hargreeves

Diego Hargreeves

Aquamarine

Gendry Snow Baratheon

Jaime Lannister

Talisa Stark

Abby Sciuto

Ziva David

Princess Tiana

Peik Lin Goh

Pamela Isley

Madeline Dresden

Tony Dinozzo

Hendrix Chamberlain

Caitlin Snow

Landon Kirby

Richard Riddick

Hiram Lodge

Mary Walsh

Josh Levision

Juliet Ferrars

Colin Khoo

Noah Stilinski

Leslie Tompkins

Oswald Cobblepot

Sofia Falcone

Cheshire Dresden

Sam Winchester

Ruby Winchester

Eliot Waugh

Dean Winchester

Queen Elsa

Dolores Madrigal

Alma Madrigal

Alex Romero

Flynn Rider

Rick Grimes

Elizabeth Turner

Terra Harvey

Leroy Jethro Gibbs

Will Scarlet

Chibiusa Tsukino

Alyx Winston

Araminta Lee Khoo

Paul Lahote

Lilah Shameera

Letha Godfrey

Rosalie Hale

Nianna Ulflund

Annabeth Chase

Usagi Tsukino

Mimi Tachikawa

Cleo Clanton

Chris Argent

Grover

Shane Walsh

Adam Winchester

Claire Dearing

Randall Caprio

Sally Skellington

Selina Kyle

Emmett Cullen

Percy Jackson

Spike Pratt

Katniss Everdeen

Peeta Mallark

Pietro Maximoff

Elena Flores

Mike Mathews aka Mon El

Robb Stark

Carter

Wanda Maximoff

Camilo Madrigal

Gaston

Juniper Stanley

Bella Swan

Edward Collin

Belle

Lark

Charlie McGee

Raymond Chestnut

Vicky McGee

Andy McGee

Aladdin

Dodger

Edgar Evernever

Princess Jasmine

Scamp

John Lowe

Rita

Mira King

Chad Meeks-Martin

Ayame Uchiha

Naruto Uzumaki

Liv McKenize

Hannah Fairchild

Kayla Watts

Wes Hicks

Gale Hawthorne

Desmond Swann

Itachi Uchiha

Sakura Uchiha

Kiba Inusuka

Ramsay Cole

Primrose Everdeen

Rachel Valdez

Oliver

Audrey Jensen

Stanley

Hardin Scott

Markus Hargreeves

Ichigo momomiya

Deidara

Gaara Yuzawa

Ichigo Kurosaki

Alice Cullen

Jasper Hale

Gwendoline Starr

Damián Scratch

Ludwig Dieter

Cressida

Toothiana

Charlie Wu

Mitsukuni Haninozuka

Jack Frost

Kiki

Shikamaru Nara

Connor Reed

Kenji Kon

Melissa Glaser

Peter Rumancek

Shelley Godfrey

Sansa Stark

Krissy Fults

Yasmina Fadoula

Brooklyn

Jacob Black

Jana Mayfield

Buttercup

Carl Grimes

Dr. Spencer Reid

Asuma Sarutobi

Alex “Lex” Carnahan

GoGo Tomago

Rei Hino

Bubbles

Nora Sergeant

Randall Boggs

Blossom

Esmeralda

Colin Zabel

Michonne

Elmo

Penelope Garcia

Dalia

Emil Fuchs

Michael Blane

Iris Ann Allen-West

Tatum Riley

Sasuke Uchiha

Eveline De Ville

Meera Reed

Allison

Lorelai

Prince Namor

Aleesha Hart

Sky

Beatrix

Teresa Mendoza

Tuxedo Mask

Wednesday Addams

Tyler Galpin

Priya Sun

Luke Morrow

Cyrus

Cassie Salazar

Nash Ershin

Paul Rovia

Alice Kingsley

Daryl Dixon

Merle Dixon

Biggs

Rhaenyra Targaryen

Jack Skellington

Erik

Princess Nuru

Tifa Lionheart

Aerith Gainsborough

Sasha Willaims

Iredessa

Angel

Oleg Yosikov

Jacob Morrow Jr.

Cass

Sofía Mendoza

Juice Ortiz

Faustino Godoy

Sammy Gutierrez

[royalbluehues]

Come Back to Me. Pt. 2

Title: Come Back to Me. Pt. 2

Author: royalbluehues

Warnings:  None.

Pairings: William Schofield x Reader

Author’s Note: It’s here, lassies. The second part. Next part should be coming soon.

Would you want to see a second part of I Promise? Let me know!

I love seeing your kind words and thoughts! They make me happy! :) A drabble with Tom is currently in the works, so keep an eye out for that.

Part 2: Dressing Down

“You girls will be aiding the nurses in making beds, handing out food, caring for the injured, sterilizing the instruments,” Matron Carter spoke, “tasks such as those will be executed professionally.”

The middle aged woman sat her clipboard down on her small desk, “If you remember the contract you signed back home, you will keep in mind that the Red Cross does not tolerate any unprofessional behavior. You came to care for the sick and the dying, not to be lollygagging.” 

She looked to Kitty, one of the English girls, who was looking down and twiddling her thumbs, “Is there something you would like to say, Miss Stanton? You’re fidgeting quite an awful lot.”

Kitty’s green eyes look up in guilt, and you bent your head forward with eyes furrowed to look at the girl. 

“Of course not Matron Carter. Not at all. Just nervous to begin is all.” Kitty spoke languidly, despite her nervous twitches.

“And you,” the Matron spoke, whipping her head to where you were standing, “I’ve been told that you were walking about unsupervised. What do you say for yourself?”

You straightened your back, eyes wide as you looked at the matron with contained panic. All eyes were on you now, and Kitty’s head was bent to look at you in the same fashion you had with her. Matron Carter’s grey eyes sized you up quizzically, waiting for your response.

“I was just going for a walk,” you told her honestly, wishing you could turn your head to snap at the other girls to stop looking at you, “To clear my head.”

“To clear your head?” The Matron Carter repeated, “Girl, you are near the front lines. A few miles north and the Germans are there ready to shoot down anything that moves in sight.”

You felt your cheeks redden deeply, “I apologize Matron Carter. It won’t happen again.”

You narrowed your eyes, too embarrassed to meet eyes with her. Kitty and Shannon had told you and Lila about how severe the Matron was.

“Had she been a man,” Kitty once told you as she pinned her hair in place, “she would have met all the requirements to be a drill sergeant.

Now you were receiving the sting of the statement. 

“That goes to all of you,” the head nurse peered over to the other girls, “I’ve a tight ship to maintain. Kitty and Lila, I’ll be requiring you to help with the kitchen today, allow the boys working there to rest a bit. The two of you,” she spoke to you and Shannon as she lifted a paper up from the clipboard, “will be fixing the beds in the medical tents and rolling bandages. See to it that you assist any of the surgeons or doctors if they need help.”

She picked up her pencil, scribbling away at the paper, and all four of you stood ramrod straight, waiting for her next instruction.

You would estimate that you waited for a solid two minutes.

She peered up at you all from her activity, “Well?” She said coldly, “Go on then! You’re wasting time!”

You were the first one to exit the tent, hands clasped as you let out a sigh of relief from leaving her proximity. 

“The kitchens!” Kitty bemoaned, “What am I to do at the kitchens?” She grumbled when she was far enough where the matron wouldn’t hear.

“I hear they have a lovely assortment of turnips at the moment,” you put in, smiling cheekily to her.

“Oh hush,” Kitty told you, jutting her bottom lip out, carefully stepping around a pile of mud that had formed from the rainfall only hours before, “You know what I can’t fathom?” She asked, not waiting for a response, “We’ve come to help doctors, not bloody cook.”

Lila frowned at her companion, “Kitty that’s not nice, what if we were the ones in the trenches? Besides,” she told her, lifting her skirts to hop over the pile, “I’m sure we’ll make a better meal then the ones the boys have been cooking up.”

Lila, who came with you on the ship to England, held a sweet heart, always looking for the positives in situations. She had come from Cincinnati, and had easily befriended you upon meeting. 

“Cheer up Kitty,” Shannon piped up from behind you, “You might catch yourself a suitor.”

Kitty whose head lolled to the side, nodded, “Well I suppose you’re right. Well, I suppose we won’t be seeing much of each other until the day becomes night. Tooda-loo.”

She offered her arm to Lila, who hooked her arm with hers, and smiled at you and Shannon. “Take care ladies.”

“To you two as well,” you responded, beginning to walk in the opposite direction, “Don’t tire yourselves out.”

“Kitty’s got a point you know,” your British companion told you, “about actually helping. Not doing menial tasks.”

“Shannon,” you said sighing, “I don’t think the nurses will ever truly accept us. They just see us as help, not actual trained nurses.”

“But we are!” She exclaimed dishearteningly, “I had to go through classes to get my certificate!”

“I suppose it isn’t good to complain about such things now. We’re here and that’s all that matters.” You replied, looking around at the bustling activity.

You heard Shannon mutter about your ‘American enthusiasm’, but you ignored her.

Upon reaching the tent, you began your work. Changing the bedding, replacing it with the new ones, fluffing pillows. You made small chat with Shannon and was introduced to the head doctor. 

Your time passed slowly, and the gust of wind did little to alleviate the cold you were feeling. By now, it was nearly midday, and you and Shannon were sitting on opposite sides of the large tent, with baskets full of bandages at both your feet.

You were too concentrated on your task, rolling each bandage and tucking it in itself, laying it neatly in a small pile beside you. You shivered as the wind crashed against you.

You failed to hear your name being said in a low murmur, but heard Shannon plainly say, “She’s over there.”

You looked up mid-roll, seeing the tall man from the night before. You smiled brightly in greeting, “William.”

He came to you with his helmet held between his hands, reminding you much of a boy being scolded for getting caught, “Hullo.”

“How’s the day faring you?” You asked as you finished rolling the bandage, and then looking up at him through your lashes.

He shifted his weight and hooked one finger to ring the sweater at his neck, enthusiastically saying, “It was fine!” He turned red, clearing his throat, “I- uh, it’s been fine, thank you.”

You stood from your chair, moving the basket to the side, “That’s always something lovely to hear,” you told him, looking down as you fixed your white apron.

He took a step back, allowing you space, “I wanted to apologize for not coming earlier.”

You shook your head, “It’s unforgivable, lance corporal. Truly unforgivable,” you jokingly quipped at him, stepping aside as you gestured towards the chair, “Sit, please.”

He moved to sit, a small smile tugging at the upper corners of his lips. “Now let’s see here,” you mumbled, moving his chin up and to the side. 

The young man watched you with alert eyes, noticing the way the small curl by your right ear bounced in the wind. He held his breath as you moved closer to inspect.

“A nasty gash.”

“Just a scratch,” he countered, “Nothing serious.”

You moved to reach for the wet rag lying in a bowl of water, ringed it, and began cleaning his neck, “I’ve been trained to take any form of injury seriously, William.” When dirt gathered on the rag, you went back to rinse it, ring it, then come back to clean once more. “You’ve any other gashes?”

He sniffed, “Well there's one on my arm, but-”

“But nothing.” You interrupted, “I need to be thorough with my work.”

“Alright then,” He said, the same small pull of his lips returning.

“Tell me more about your home,” you told him, stepping back from your work. You avoided meeting his eyes, feeling them on you as you uncapped the made Dakin’s solution. You wet the small piece of cloth at your fingertips.

“What would you like to know?” He asked you quietly, in a softly spoken manner.

You hummed, “Tell me about your picnics with your mother.”

He shifted in the chair, tilting his head up when you moved in with the antiseptic, “Well, Mum really enjoys cooking. She’d pack meat pudding for us to eat. That was dad’s favorite.”

You dabbed at the cut, watching as he did the slightest of flinches that could have gone unnoticed had you not been studying him. He suddenly smiled, a genuine smile that made his eyes crinkle around the edges.

“There was one time Mum had packed our meal the night before, and I managed to sneak into it. She enjoys baking, and she had just made a batch of biscuits. But not just any biscuits,” he told you, eyes rounding as they met yours, “she made her shortbread biscuits, and I managed to get my hands on them. She was so mad that she told me that she’d never make them for me again. Nearly threw a fit, I did. But she still made them after. That day she had another tin hidden and took it with us. When we’d go, she’d put down a sheet, one with flowers all around it. She’d take a book with her and read, and if she wasn’t in the mood to read then she’d take her knitting with her.”

“And what would you do?”

“Oh, I’d play. At that age you can find entertainment in nearly anything. I’d climb the willow tree that resides just by the river. Sometimes I’d watch the boats sail by, or see if I could see any fish.” He scratched at his chin, looking off, “Dad made me a boat out of some spare wood he had. I’d play with that, too.”

He had absentmindedly taken off his jacket by know, rolling up his shirt to show you the long scratch running up his right arm. “Is your father at home?”

He shook his head, “No. He died a few years ago. He got sick.”

You frowned, both at his words and at his cut, “I’m sorry.”

“It’s alright. Not your fault.” He let you lift his arm and tap around the wound, “What about you?”

You paused your movements, “What would you like to know?”

“Tell me about your home.”

You gently set down his arm and nodded. “When I think about home, I like to think of how my apple tree is faring. She’s a beautiful thing, just outside my bedroom window. Around spring time I’d purposefully leave my window open so when I’d wake my entire bedroom floor was covered in petals. Have you ever seen an apple tree in bloom?”

He stayed quiet, but only for a moment, “Yes. I’ve seen cherry blossoms as well.”

You dabbed at the cut with solution, “Well, at home we only have apples. I’ve never seen a cherry tree before, but I can imagine they’re similar.”

“Yes,” He replied quietly, “Quite.”

The tone of his voice made you look up, “Are you alright?”

He lifted his eyebrows, looking at the irritated area around the cut, “Yes, I’m alright.” 

You eyed him thoughtfully, noting the way his demeanor became despondent. “What else would you like to know?”

He inhaled deeply, speaking as he exhaled, “Do you have someone waiting for you back home?”

You let out a small laugh, “Other than my mother and father and brother, no. Nobody special if you mean it in that regard. And you?”

He shook his head, “No. I’ve no one either.”

You wrapped his arm in a light gauze, pinning it securely and then shimmying down his sleeve. “On that note, you’re all patched up.”

He looked as if he did not know what to do, only looking down where your fingers pulled at his jacket, “Oh.”

He then looked up at you, “Can I meet you later? When you’re alleviated from your duties?”

It was your turn to blush, “Oh, I’m afr-”

“No she cannot.” 

William watched the color drain from your face. You moved to stand ramrod straight, clasping your hands behind your back, holding the rag soaked with solution. “Matron Carter.”

“Was is it that you’re doing?” The nurse asked you, eyeing William sitting in the chair. 

“I was cleaning his wounds, ma’am.” You told her quickly.

“And what of this meeting later on?” She asked you coldly.

You shook your head cheeks deepening in color, “Oh, no, ma’am. I was just about to tell him that due to protocol-” Your words died away under her stare. Your mouth opened and closed like a fish that has been plucked from water.

The stout woman frowned in disapproval, “I do not need to be constantly reminding you girls that you cannot stray from your duties, nor can you begin affairs with the men.”

You were taken aback, eyes widening in horror, “Matron Carter you are severely mistaken-”

“It was my mistake,” The man behind you piped up, standing to stand beside you. “I did not know that the nurses were not suppose to mingle amongst us.”

“Well best keep it in mind, lance corporal. While you’re at it, you can inform the other men.” She glared up at him with a stony look. “The volunteers have enough work as it is.”

She walked away, leaving you astonished. 

“Forgive me,” William apologized once again, “I didn’t know.”

You blinked, moving to take the wrapped bandages, “Don’t be silly. It wasn’t your fault.”

“It was, though. I’ll keep my distance. Thank you for helping me.”

You said nothing, still mulling over the head nurse’s words. Just thinking about it made your throat tighten in anger.

When you finally processed his, however,  and when you had turned to face him, he was already gone.

.

.

.

Masterlist

Tags: @sexyskywalker @aathepenguin

[booasaur]

The Purge - 1x04

[theawkwardanglophile]

3x02 In Justice:

Nyla celebrating her victory with Lila's class is pretty awesome. It's nice we're getting to see these happier moments with her.

The Tim Test scene 100% has a flirtatious undertone and I cannot be convinced otherwise. 😍

I still appreciate the scene with Tim and Jackson. If Tim heard Stanton was a solid cop, there wasn't necessarily reason to doubt that yet. Maybe Tim could have caught on more to what was happening based on what Jackson was saying, but I think he didn't realize the seriousness of what was happening. Tim came up to Jackson to check in with him, and he gave him advice. It's just not really advice that helps Jackson in this case.

[popentertainment-moviereviews]

TOY STORY 4 (2019)

Featuring the voices of Tom Hanks, Tim Allen, Annie Potts, Tony Hale, Keegan-Michael Key, Madeleine McGraw, Christina Hendricks, Jordan Peele, Keanu Reeves, Ally Maki, Jay Hernandez, Lori Alan, Joan Cusack, Bonnie Hunt, Kristen Schaal, Emily Davis, Wallace Shawn, John Ratzenberger, Blake Clark, June Squibb, Carl Weathers, Lila Sage Bromley, Don Rickles, Jeff Garlin, Maliah Bargas-Good, Jack McGraw, Juliana Hansen, Estelle Harris, Laurie Metcalf, Steve Purcell, Mel Brooks, Alan Oppenheimer, Carol Burnett, Betty White, Carl Reiner, Bill Hader, Patricia Arquette, Timothy Dalton, Flea, Melissa Villaseñor, Jeff Pidgeon and John Morris.

Screenplay by Andrew Stanton and Stephany Folsom.

Directed by Josh Cooley.

Distributed by Walt Disney Studio Pictures. 100 minutes. Rated G.

It’s been 24 years since the world was first introduced to Pixar’s animation with its first feature-length film, Toy Story.

24 years.

That’s more than half a lifetime ago. (Well, for me.) A full generation has come and gone since the world was introduced to its beloved main characters – Sheriff Woody (voiced by Tom Hanks) and Buzz Lightyear (voiced by Tim Allen).

These toys came to life whenever their humans were out of the frame. This is something that the world has always suspected to be true, But, never before did we have filmed proof. They charmed the world as they showed qualities that we hope to instill in our children: love, loyalty, kindness, and faith.

It’s been nine years since the 2010 release of Toy Story 3, a film that we all had thought to be the final installment in the Toy Story franchise. The ending was poignant and left the audience in tears. It gave them the opportunity to pass along their childhood figurines to the next worthy child, with hope for a new, enduring love and purpose for their beloved toys. There really was no need for anything more.

We – the audience and the characters – had closure. Or so I thought.

Much to my surprise and delight, 2019 has graced us with Toy Story 4. It is a worthy addition to the Toy Story family, with a return of most of our favorite characters. It also shows the addition of some endearing new toys to Bonnie’s room (Bonnie was the new girl who got the toys at the end of Toy Story 3), as well as new friends and foes that they meet in the world beyond Bonnie’s house.

Quick summary: Bonnie and her family embark on a final summer road trip in an RV prior to her start of kindergarten. She has a rogue new toy (Forky), who hasn’t quite caught on to the importance of being one of Bonnie’s toys and keeps trying to escape. After one of these escape moments, Woody chases after Forky and an adventure ensues on their attempt to return to the RV before the family returns home.

The plot is simple. It is meant to be followed by small children and their sleep deprived parents. While the plot seems direct, this has always been a franchise driven by its characters. Once again, through great character development, we see some emotional twists and turns.

Woody, ever the caregiver but also looking for some relevance at a time where he spends more time in the closet than in the playroom, takes on the role of guide, trainer, and frankly, babysitter for Forky, the newly created “toy” who insists that he is trash. (Well, because he is, after all, technically trash, rescued by Woody from the can in Bonnie’s soon to be new kindergarten classroom).

Buzz, ever the loyal dolt, is so funny as he follows his pre-recorded inner dialogue as his conscious. And he gets it surprisingly right most of the time.   

Annie Potts reprises her voice work in the role of Bo Peep – first seen in the original Toy Story, and again in Toy Story 2 – but with a new, powerful twist: the independence, strength, and resourcefulness of a woman with life experience. She is fantastic, a character to cheer for as she manages to lead, and rescue Woody on more than a few occasions.

Toy Story films always include a “villain” with a backstory, and Toy Story 4 does not disappoint. No spoilers, but for me, this was for sure one of the creepiest villains in the franchise. Still completely age appropriate and not as scary as the Wicked Witch of the West, but very creepy to me.                

The film’s opening credits caused instant nostalgia for Toy Story fans, with the animation and Randy Newman score capturing the same feel as the last three, despite the advances in animation technology that we see through the remainder of the film.

If you value a quiet theater – where you can hear every joke to capture every Disney-Pixar potential Easter egg – you’re going to have to wait to go to a late night screening with hope that children have been put to bed in their rooms with their own toys. I cannot remember when I have seen an audience filled with more small children, all delighted and asking their parents lots of questions throughout. In the rare moments where the film hit some quiet dialogue, it was hard to hear everything. I know you know this, but thought it was worth mentioning.

While I had found closure in Toy Story 3, I am ever so happy that Disney-Pixar has given us a bonus film in Toy Story 4. I’m even happier that they have answered some decades-old questions about what happens to your toy when you have not directly passed it on, with a care plan, to a beloved new child. Maybe I can now finally finish going through my old boxes.

Bonnie Paul

Copyright ©2019 PopEntertainment.com. All rights reserved. Posted: June 21, 2019.