#ofc i Can just do what i want to do but the specter of my parents disapproval will be hanging like the sword of damocles

[ohmeowmy]

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[artists-ally]

{Flatline} OFC x Harvey Specter {Pt. 1}

I got the title from this song called Flatline by Jared Benjamin. I added it to this playlist of very Harvey Specter vibes if you'd like to listen. There will be multiple parts, around three so be sure to stick around for those. As always comment and tell me what you think, or pop by in my asks. Anyhoo enjoy my loves!

Word count ~ 10,619 (it is a very fast paced read I promise)

Warnings ~ Age gap, smut (18+), handjob, no real BDSM but Dom/Sub concepts, language, alcohol, anxiety/anxious thoughts, probably really inaccurate lawyer terms idk man.

Summary: Harvey has taken notice of the hardest working first year associate, Claudia Martin. Despite being petrified of the infamous closer, she tried her hardest to not let it get the best of her. Harvey has a few ideas on how to increase her confidence.

Tagging : @maxdamax @ashcosmo @rosedpetal (This is basically just dedicated to you three so I hope you enjoy it the most!)

~~~~~

“Alright, everybody stop,” Harvey announced. I put down my file and sat ramrod straight in my seat, eyes darting at the other associates as they put theirs away too. “We have been working on this case now for four hours and no one has brought me a single thing that I can use as evidence. Now, if someone doesn’t put a file in my hand in the next ten minutes, we’re going to lose. And those of you who don’t want to get stuck doing whatever bullshit Louis is going to punish you with, you better come up with something fast.”

I looked at the blue file in my hands, heart hammering in my chest as I saw Harvey leave out of the corner of my eye. With a deep breath, I pushed up out of my chair and followed after him. 

Circling around the office a few times, I made up reasons and excuses not to go see him. It was stupid, I knew that, but I didn’t want to bring him something and then immediately be called an idiot for bringing him shit he already knew.

I saw how he treated Mike. And Louis. Even Donna from time to time.

There were two things you did in this world: die, and respect Harvey Specter. As a first year associate in this god awful firm, you didn’t dare break his trust or waste his time. 

“Is Mr. Specter available for a moment?” I asked Donna. I hadn’t talked to her much, but I’ve heard her speak to Harvey a few times around the office. She was someone I wished I knew better, someone I wished I could ask for help, but I didn’t want to bother her either. 

“Yeah, he’s in his office going over the statements from the mock trial,” Donna smiled, pointing over her shoulder. I nodded, willing my feet to move in the direction of his office. I knocked before pushing the glass door opening, keeping my head down. 

“Claudia, now is really not a good-” “I have something for you,” we spoke at the same time. “I’m sorry to interrupt, I can come back and-” “Is that for the mock trial?” He asked, and I nodded. “Hand it over.”

I placed the file in his outstretched hand as he came around to sit on the corner of the desk. My hands were trembling with dread as his eyes raked over the words on the page. The lines in his forehead creased, eyes narrowing.

“Claudia, this is brilliant,” he had a very confused expression when his eyes met mine. “Where did you find this?”

“Well, I figured if Mrs. Thompson said that she didn’t pay her rent that month, because there wasn't money in her account, then there had to be some kind of a trail. Some clue. There was, but it was only an amount, and it didn’t say which account it came from. When I did some digging, I found out that she uses Capital One banking and when I looked at her bank statement-

“There was a draw for the exact amount that Mr. Saros used to bet on that game,” Harvey finished before I could get the words out of my mouth. “Claudia, this is genius. Come on, we’ve got a case to win.”

____

“...Ladies and gentlemen of the jury, this compelling evidence reveals that Mr. Saros was in fact fraudulent and used his ex- wife’s funds to continue gambling. Thank you.” Harvey closed the argument, taking a seat besides Donna, who represented the client. Jessica looked to the opposing counsel as if to say ‘do you have anything?’. Louis had nothing. Not a sliver of hope. 

“Then it is decided, Mr. Saros will be charged with a misdemeanor and face a prison sentence of one year in county jail.”

With a crack of the gavel, the case was over, and applause rang through the office for Harvey and his team. I had a tiny smile on my face as I left the conference room to go back to the bullpen. There was an endless stack of reports to run, motions to file… it never ended when it came to Louis. And now that I was on the winning team I’m sure that-

“Claudia, where are you going?” Harvey called out. 

“Oh, I was just going back to my desk. Why, is there something that you need?” God I hope he didn’t need anything. I was sweating bullets by just standing next to him. 

“I just wanted to congratulate you on your first win,” he gave a small smirk. His brown eyes were sharp, but not as intense as they usually were. 

I flushed, “Well, it’s not really a real case.”

“No, it’s not. But seeing what you did today, how would you like one of your own?” He extended a blue file back to me, a stack of papers covered inside. I could feel the gaze of the other associates on me as I hesitantly took the file. 

“Mr. Spector, I’m honored, but I’m not-”

“Yes you are,” he cut me off. I bit my tongue. “You are a lawyer, Claudia. And you clearly have an outside the box approach to your tactics which we don’t see very often. I haven’t seen someone able to compile and order evidence like you since Mike came to work for me a decade ago. I’ll be supervising your case, you report to me with any questions you might have, but otherwise this is all you.”

My first case… given to me by Harvey Specter himself.

“I don’t know what to say,” I whispered. I flipped through the file, seeing that this wasn’t just some pro-bono case. This was against a big time client and the SEC. The SEC meant Sean Cayhill, who, from my understanding, was already on the rocks with this firm and has been for a very long time. 

“You can thank me when you win it,” he extended his hand, and I shook it, hoping that they weren’t sweaty. “Look over the file tonight and come ready to swing tomorrow morning.”

Harvey’s hand was warm, and significantly larger than mine. Everything about him was bigger than I was, especially his ego. And his personality. Lord help me…

My nod was the only confirmation that I would meet him there. As he walked out, I met some of the eyes of the associates and they scowled at me. At the file in my hand. At the fact that I hadn’t said a word the whole meeting today and then came up with the winning piece of evidence. And now I was working alongside Harvey. 

The infamous closer at Pearson-Specter-Litt. 

____

“Claudia, what’s wrong?” Donna startled me so bad I dropped my coffee on the floor with a shout. “Something’s really wrong.”

“Oh, it’s just you Donna,” I sighed in relief. I could feel the coffee seeping into my shirt and chilling against my skin. “Great.”

“What has you so skittish?” She asked, worry gracing her features. 

I didn’t want to admit that it was because of Harvey and the fact that I had to work alongside him on this case. I hadn’t been able to sleep much last night because I was up thinking about him, wondering how he’d handle this case himself. What he would do, how he would do it. Sure, I admired the guy, how could I not? He was a perfectionist and always found a way. I wish I had half the confidence he did. 

“It’s Harvey, isn’t it?”

“How did you know that? Nevermind, you’re Donna. But… Yes it’s because of Harvey.”

“Did he say something to you yesterday after you guys won the mock trial? I saw he handed you a case file, what was it all about?” “That's precisely what’s wrong,” I groaned, bending over and picking up the dropped paper cup. “He gave me a case of my own as a 'thank you' for finding the evidence that won the trial yesterday. I’m terrified of him, Donna. I-I don’t know how to act around someone with that kind of personality. He is so abrasive and forward and harsh and-”

“A total jackass?” She finished for me. 

I chuckled nervously, “I’m afraid to even think of that word in association with his name. I mean, how am I supposed to work alongside someone that intense? Plus, I’m a first year associate, how am I supposed to compete with what he as to offer and-”

“Hey, it’s okay. No need to get yourself all worked up, Claudia. Harvey is a lot of bark, and only some bite.” “That doesn’t make me feel better.”

“What I’m trying to say is that there is some heart inside that cold dead chest of his,” she smiled, a genuine, friendly smile. “For what it’s worth, I’ve never seen him give someone a case after a mock trial. Not even Mike. Up until yesterday I’m not even sure he knew you existed.” “Wish it was still that way,” I rolled my eyes, folding my arms against my chest.

“Claudia, listen to me. Yes, Harvey can be rude and obnoxious, but he is the best damn attorney in the state of New York. He didn’t get to the top by being nice and sweet. He was impressed with your willingness to bring him the evidence yourself. Now he knows he can count on you to get things done in a pinch when he needs them.” “I had that evidence for an hour,” I emphasized. “I was trying to build up the courage to give it to him long before he came and ripped us to shreds for not having anything. I just didn’t want him to think that it was a stupid idea or to be in a bad mood and turn me away because I definitely wouldn’t have done it at all after that. I don’t know how to deal with someone like him, Donna. What am I supposed to do? I should just give the case to Griffin or Thomas-”

“No no no. You are definitely not going to do that. That will only show Harvey that you aren’t serious about becoming a lawyer.”

“I am serious about becoming a lawyer.” I was mildly offended that she’d even say that to me. “Of course I want to be a lawyer, it's all I’ve ever wanted.”

“And Harvey will only know that if you work on this case with him.”

I inhaled and exhaled, leaning my head back and looking at the ceiling. “Fine.” “That’s my girl,” she grinned. “Now, come on. I have an extra dress you can borrow because I am sure as hell not letting you walk around covered in coffee stains.”

“I appreciate it, but I don’t think what you have will fit me.” Donna jerked her head over her shoulder and I followed to a closet in the back of the file room. When she opened it, it was like a full blown wardrobe. There were dresses and shoes and purses and hair supplies lining the walls. “Woah…” “Don’t ever underestimate the power of Donna,” she winked before rummaging through the office closet. 

After searching for a few moments, she pulled out a lovely royal blue dress that was, as she hinted at, a perfect size for me. How she knew that it would fit, I’ll never know. But I did know that I wouldn’t ever underestimate the power of Donna ever again. She’s magical. 

“Now, what do you say?”

“Thanks, Donna,” I smiled sweetly. 

“Actually I was looking for ‘you are an ethereal goddess who makes all my dreams and wishes come true’ but that works too,” I knew she was teasing, and I gave her a small shove of her shoulder. “Go get dressed, come back here and let me do your hair.”

“What’s wrong with the way it is?” I turned to look in the mirror on the back of the door and grimaced. “Oh…” My messy curls from yesterday looked more like a rat wrapped around a bunch of fishing line.

“Hurry up, Harvey will be back soon and I want you in that office, file in hand, ready to go when he gets here.”

I quickly shuffled to the bathroom and changed into the form fitting, very Donna-style dress. It didn’t look half bad, and I actually somewhat tolerated the dress. Normally I’d find a pants suit far more flattering and business appropriate than a dress, strictly because of the over sexualized nature of women's business clothing. 

I hate the corporate world. 

I did one more glance in the mirror before heading back to the break room to grab the file. I must’ve set it on the counter while I was pouring my coffee. Hopefully it wasn’t ruined. 

There was no blue file on the counter. Or the table. Or on top of the microwave or the fridge. I even checked inside the microwave. Nothing. It was nowhere. Oh shit.

“Do you want curls or for me to straighten-” “It’s gone,” there was a clear panic in my voice. “The file, it’s not in the break room, Donna. It’s gone.”

“How can it be gone?” 

“I-I don’t- I don’t know I thought I set it on the counter while I was getting coffee and it’s not there.” I felt a cold sweat break out onto my skin. My forehead was damp to the touch. 

“Okay, take a deep breath. Let’s go look again and then check your desk. Maybe someone found it and put it there, or maybe left it with me or Gretchen. It didn’t grow a pair of legs and walk away, we’ll find it.”

“I’m gonna get fired,” my voice was almost a silent whisper, tears building behind my eyes, prickling my nose. “Donna, Harvey is going to kill me.”

“Worst comes to worst we get a new file, Harvey will never know.”

“No no no he will because he had notes of his own on the papers in there.” “Shit,” she swore. “Let’s just go look.”

We speed walked through the bullpen, earning some odd looks as we practically sprinted through the office. She checked the break room for me again, and I went to my cubicle. Nothing, not a blue folder anywhere to be seen. 

Donna came up empty handed in the break room, checking with Gretchen on her way by Louis’s office. We met at her desk. Nothing. 

“Fuck fuck fuck this is bad.” My hands were shaking, heart thundering against my ribs. I felt faint, like I could’ve fallen to the floor at any moment. “Donna, what am I gonna do?”

“Maybe somebody mistook it as their own file,” Donna blurted out after a moment of silence. She took off towards the bullpen and I followed after her, right on her heels. She marched through there, unapologetic as she invaded the other associates' work spaces. 

Still nothing. No blue file labeled ‘Devlyn Inc. Vs. Fulton Dynamics’. 

“Where the hell could it be?” She murmured to herself. 

“What are you guys looking for?” An associate, Benson, asked. 

“Oh, you know, a leprechaun pissing pieces of gold,” Donna’s voice was full of sarcasm. “Claudia set down a file in the break room for three minutes and forty-two seconds and now it’s mysteriously disappeared. Know anything about it?”

“No,” he pressed his lips together. “Not really.” “Not really?”

“There are a million case files floating around this office, you really expect me to pay attention to every single one and where it’s going?” “As an associate of this firm, yes, actually. I do. Now I want to know if you know who took her file and I want to know right now. You have one chance to tell the truth, otherwise the bottom of my stiletto and your ass are gonna be great friends.”

Benson swallowed, “I truly don’t know. I’m sorry, I can keep an eye out for it. Is it the one Harvey gave Claudia yesterday?”

“Yes, and he needs it in twenty minutes,” Donna said, an undeniable urgency in her voice. “If you find it, do the right thing and give it back or so help me god you will find yourself jobless faster than you can get down on your knees and beg me to let you keep it.”

Donna beckoned me for her to follow and I did, my heart sinking and sinking into my stomach. It had to be around here somewhere. It had to be. 

I did another lap around, rummaging through all the drawers in the desk and thensome. Still nowhere. How could I be so stupid? So irresponsible? This is exactly why I didn’t want to take this case in the first place.

Despite all Harvey and Donna said the other day, I’m not ready to be a lawyer. Not really, anyway. I know I have my license and I’ve passed the Bar. I’ve done all the hard work, but this was… this was hell. A living nightmare. Not only was this firm constantly on the verge of collapsing, but it seemed like I made new enemies every other week by simply doing my job quickly, quietly, and efficiently. 

I don’t know how or why I piss everyone off all the time. I just do my work, I quite literally don’t bother another soul in this building unless I have to. Occasionally I’d ask Donna a question that she could ask Harvey or Mike to see what they thought about it. I’d never speak to them directly, just through her which didn’t make me feel good, either. 

I’d eat by myself, working through my meal. It took me two months of being here to finally use the break room because I was too nervous about taking the last tea bag or power bar from the cabinet. I just took a disposable coffee cup and filled it with tap water. And then kept that cup because I didn’t want to take the others because I figured other people needed them for coffee and I didn’t want them to be all gone-

“Claudia,” Donna interrupted my mild panic. “Harvey wants to see you.”

Oh no… no no no not yet god please not yet. I swallowed, or tried to at least; there was no moisture in my mouth whatsoever. I stood, knees trembling as I smoothed out the skirt of my dress.

Before I went on, she ran a brush through my hair, taking out the knots. It lay sleek and flat against my shoulders, a major difference from the low bun I always kept it in. My hair always made me so hot; I never understood how anyone could get anything done with it swaying in their face all day.

I could see him in his office, eyes staring us down as we rounded the corner. His gaze was locked on me and I felt my body tighten and constrict around a breath. Harvey was sitting on the corner of his desk, fingers toying with the cufflink on his left wrist.. 

“Hey, look at me,” Donna spoke softly, hands coming to my shoulders. “Give Harvey the truth, and nothing but. He will understand, if not, I will make him.”

I nodded.

When I pushed open his glass door, tension was thick in the air. My palms were clammy, still shaking. My mind was going a million miles a second. 

“What can I do for you, Mr. Specter?” I asked, trying to keep my cool despite almost throwing up. 

“Please tell me you have some good news about the case that I gave you,” he sighed, pushing off the desk and standing in front of me. 

Welp… here goes my career. 

“Actually, Mr. Specter there is something I need to-”

“You were looking for me, Harvey?” I whipped my head over my shoulder, seeing Griffin knocking on the door. 

“Yes, Griffin come on please, shut the door as well.”

“Oh, I’m sorry, sir. I can come back and we can discuss the details of-”

“No, Claudia. Stay for a moment,” Harvey gave a firm nod, full attention slipping from me to my fellow associate. “Griffin, I see you have something for me.”

“Yes,” Griffin threw a wicked grin at me before handing over a blue file. I could feel the sick rise in my throat. That was my blue file. “I would just like to go over the details of my case with you to get your input.”

“Your case?” Harvey questioned, sharing a glance between me and Griffin. “Where did you get this? Who the hell gave you a case?”

“That’s not important. I was hoping we could actually-”

“No,” Harvey cut him off. “It’s very important, actually. Because I can recall that just last night this exact file, with my handwriting, was in Claudia’s hands. So whatever act you’re putting on, I suggest you cut the bullshit right now.” “Okay I found it in the breakroom,” Griffin rolled his eyes. “Maybe if she were a little more responsible, which she clearly isn’t because she left her documents in a public space, then she’d be more equipped to handle a real case. Like a real lawyer should.”

I could see the muscle in Harvey’s jaw clench and contract several times. 

“Claudia, care to explain how our case got in this thief’s hands?” “Thief?” “I had spilled coffee,” I started, taking a deep breath when Griffin cut me a gaze so threatening I almost crumbled to my knees. “I spilled coffee and Donna offered a change of clothes for me. I didn’t even notice I left it. When I came back it was gone.”

“Well, I think that about settles it. How about you get out of here before you cause yourself a real problem. And If I ever catch wind of you stealing another one of Claudia’s files, or anyones for that matter, I will personally make your life a living hell. Do you understand me?”

“Yes,” he ground his teeth, refusing to look at either of us. 

“Now get your ass back to your desk and pray to whoever you believe in that I don’t have you fired and disbarred for the shit you pulled today. Get the hell out of my sight.”

Griffin was out of there far faster than he walked in, head down, hands shoved in his pockets. I let out a shaky breath. 

“Are you okay?” Harvey asked me. “I’m so sorry,” I completely ignored his question. “Griffin was right, I was extremely irresponsible and shouldn’t have let that file out of my sight. If you want to give it to another associate I completely understand. Again, I am so sorry and understand that there are consequences to my actions for letting such important information go missing-”

“Claudia, slow down,” he eased. “It’s okay, you are not the one I am pissed at.”

“You’re not?” I didn’t understand why. “But- but I completely misplaced a case.”

“No,” Harvey shook his head. “No Griffin is the only one to blame. You spilled coffee, went to go get cleaned up, and he stole it. He should know better. And seeing that he clearly doesn’t, I know I’m right in my decision on who to bring onto this case with me.”

I could feel my blush creep up my neck. “I appreciate that, Mr. Specter.”

“Of course, Claudia. And please, call me Harvey.”

I just gave a subtle nod, taking the file from his hand. I followed his gaze from my face to my hair where he took a strand between his fingers, letting the end curl around his digit.

“I’ve never seen your hair so long,” He added, dropping it from his grip. My breath was caught in my throat. Words were vacant shadows in my mind as he surveyed the dress I was wearing. “I bet that’s Donna’s, isn’t it.”

I had to clear my throat before I could speak. “She wouldn’t let me walk around with coffee stains all day.”

“It looks good on you,” He complimented. Harvey’s eyes, again, went from my head to my toes. There was nothing I could do but fall victim to his… I didn’t know what to think of how he looked at me. Couldn’t decide if it was good or bad. 

“Time for the case then?” I needed to get his attention off of me. Now. I was flushed and losing my mind. Harvey didn’t really seem to acknowledge my words at all. 

“Sure.” Was all he gave me.

____

I barely escaped with the skin on my teeth after our consultation. No, he didn’t rip me to shreds, but he would not take his eyes off of me for even one second. It was so… so potent I couldn’t focus. It was almost lunch when Donna came in and saved my ass. 

I couldn’t have gotten out of there fast enough.

“So, how did it go?” Donna asked as I sat in my cubicle. When she came around, or maybe she just followed me, I didn’t know. 

I put my face in my hands. “It was a disaster, Donna. I was a stuttering mess and I kept forgetting everything I was going to say because he would not stop staring at me. Like, he would not stop.” “Well, you aren’t exactly ugly, Claudia,” she snickered. 

“Donna, this isn’t funny,” I groaned. “I’m being completely frank with you.”

“How can I be expected to work alongside him when I can’t stand being in an enclosed space with him for more than four minutes without turning into a bumbling idiot? It’s like he enjoys watching me get flustered.”

“Claudia, I think you are making this a bigger deal in your head than it actually is.” Donna came around and sat on my desk, crossing a knee over the other. “And besides, Harvey understands what it’s like to be a new associate. It can be nerve wracking, especially when you have Louis breathing down your neck.”

I chuckled gravely, “I just don’t know what I’m supposed to do.”

“You’ll figure it out.” “Why can’t you just tell me?” I whined as she stood up. 

“Because I am the Yoda to your Luke Skywalker. Wise you are, patience you must have, my young Padawan.”

“I am not a Jedi who is going on a self discovery journey to start using the Force,” I countered. “I am a nervous wreck who can’t handle being alone with Harvey Specter.”

“Then you need to get over it because Harvey is not going to berate you on your first case!” She argued.

“Did you not hear what he said to Griffin? Or-or to Thomas when he suggested that we consider taking the deal that Mr. Saros had offered during the mock trial? He cracked them wide open and left them to bleed. What about with Mike? How many times has he almost sent him to the curb for not being able to find what Harvey needs?”

“Mike is different and you know it,” Donna lowered her voice. “Plus he always says shit like that to light a fire under his ass. Harvey can see that you are nervous to work with him. He isn’t going to hang you out to dry, I promise. He stood up for you, Claudia, in a way I’ve only seen him do with me and Mike. You know how much he cares about us.”

“Well, yeah of course. But you’ve worked for him for fifteen years and Mike almost seven now. You have a relationship with him and established trust. How am I supposed to have that with him when I can’t even look him in the eye?” “It comes with time, Claudia,” she rubbed my shoulder. “But if there is anything I can say to get you to trust the process, Harvey is loyal, almost to a fault sometimes. He will stop at nothing to make sure the people he cares about are taken care of. I can see that he wants that for you because if he didn’t, he wouldn’t have given a shit if Griffin stole the file or not.”

Donna walked away after smoothing down some of the hair on my head, disappearing behind the corner. I let out a huff. She was right, I was being a little over dramatic.

Harvey had a reputation, though. How was I supposed to know if- no. This is unrelated to anything going on. Sort of. I just need to focus on the case. 

I pulled out the files and looked over them again, compiling all the notes into one space for easy recall. As I was looking through it, I found a loophole in one of the contracts that unbound our client from having to give up half of her company.

____

I paced up and down Harvey’s office, tapping my file in my hand as I went through all my key points in my head for today’s trial. I needed to lure, or bait rather, the witnesses into my questions to get them to admit to trespassing on our clients property. We had everything we needed; security footage, witnesses to testify on our behalf… Everything was all lined up. I just needed to blow it. 

I could do this, right? I had only spent all night doing a fake run of how today would go in my mirror, but then again anything could happen when I got into that courtroom today. Maybe they had another leg on us, maybe there was another witness they had to testify against us.

God dammit, if I screwed up today I wouldn’t get another case. Probably not ever again unless I packed up all my shit and moved to Iowa. 

Having Harvey there didn’t make me feel better. I thought it would, but as we worked together I realized he only made me more nervous. I couldn’t help it, he just looked at me this way I couldn't describe. It was incredibly annoying, I don’t know how Mike does it. Or Donna. Or Jessica or Louis or-

Jesus focus, Claudia. I rubbed my eyes with my thumbs. Just focus focus focus. I’ve been over it a million times. I could do this. I didn’t have a choice, court was in less than half an hour. 

“Claudia,” Harvey ripped me from my concentration, making me jump. “Sorry to startle you. Are you ready for today?” “Not really,” I admitted. “I am kind of freaking out, to be honest.”

“It’s okay,” he eased me to sit next to him. “What are you so nervous for?”

I chuckled, “Everything.” “Okay,” he gave a half-hearted laugh. “What specifically? Just name one thing that you are worried about.”

“I don’t know- forgetting cross examination questions? Screwing up the order so it doesn’t lead him into our trap? A billion things could go wrong and I’m not sure what to do if I freeze or stutter. What if the jury or the opposing counsel laughs at me?”

“That is not gonna happen, Claudia,” Harvey reassured. “You have prepared some amazing questions, you’ve got this in the bag.” “You know, I much prefer to stay in the background and do research. I don’t think I’m cut out to handle court stuff this is-”

“Hey,” he said so softly I almost didn’t hear him. He grabbed my trembling hand and held it between his own. My body went completely rigid, chest puffing in and out with heavy breaths. “You are going to do great today, I know it, Claudia. You are prepared, capable, and even more prepared. This is always what you’ve wanted to do, isn’t it?” I just nodded. Over the past week and a half of working together, I had told him what made me want to be a lawyer in the first place. About how I saw my best friends’ parents' business completely ruined by a group of robbers and their insurance did nothing to help them.

It made me so sad for them, made me feel so sick that I knew I had to do something to help them. I did my research and then brought it to them. They brought it to their lawyer and ended up getting a settlement for far more than they were ever gonna get. All because of me and my discovery that I made on my computer when I was thirteen.

“Okay. Think back to teenage Claudia for a moment. I bet she dreamed of being in this exact position. Where she can help people and give the sorry bastards who put them there a taste of their own medicine. Well, Claudia, here you are. Your very first case. Your very first helping hand. Your very first entrance into the world of the law. And you are going to absolutely shake up those witnesses, blindside them so hard they won’t have a choice but to tell the truth. This is your moment, Claudia’s moment. Don’t let fear take it from you, okay?” Again, all I could do was nod. And think about how warm his hand was in mine. We stood and he let go, leading me out of the office and down to his car waiting for him in front of the building. Ray, his driver, greeted me sweetly as I settled into the back seat with Harvey.

I flipped through my cards over and over and over on our way to the court house. Harvey snatched them from me. “Hey!” “You know the material,” he gave me a pointed look, sliding them in the breast pocket of his jacket. 

“I know but-” “There is no but,” he shrugged. “Have just one ounce of confidence, Claudia. Trust yourself.”

All of whatever I had been reading was swept from my mind as he placed his palm on my knee. I hadn’t realized it was bouncing up and down until he pressed against it to stop its movements. I tried to sit still, but I just started picking at my nails instead. 

“Claudia,” he said in a stern, commanding voice. I stopped my fidgeting, laying my hands flat in my lap. “Good, just relax. Everything will be alright.”

Highly doubtful. He was playing a dangerous game, and we both knew it. But neither of us said anything as he left his hand there the entire car ride. 

____

“After the conclusion of today’s trial, the jury here finds Fulton Dynamic guilty of trespassing and breaking and entering with intent to steal inside information.”

I felt the tension deflate from my body, eyes fluttering shut as the judges whacked the wooden disk on his stand. He said something, but I couldn’t even hear over the roar in my ear. Holy shit we won…

“Claudia,” Harvey shook my shoulder. I snapped my eyes to him. “Come on, let's get out of here.”

He didn’t have to tell me twice. 

I rested my head back against the seat, eyes focused on the window outside so I wouldn’t throw up. Man did I hate getting car sick every time I looked at my phone when in a car. The city lights were bright and fierce, unrelenting all hours of the day. Why on god's green earth did I decide to move to New York? Out of all the places I could’ve gone to work as an associate in this state, why did I choose the city? I hate the city. I’ve always hated the-

“Yoo-hoo,” I heard from my side. I lifted my exhausted head and gave Harvey a look. “Did you hear anything I said?”

‘Oh… n-no I’m sorry,” I stiffened, giving him my full attention. “What were you talking about?”

“I was just saying that you did a great job today, Claudia. You kicked ass in there,” he smiled.

“Thanks, Mr. Specter.” I just let out a sigh.

“You don’t think so?”

“Not really.” Anxiety swirled in my chest. Tears pricked my eyes and nose. 

“Why not? Claudia, you gave one of the best cross examinations I think I’ve ever seen. And the way you handled Cayhill? Defended Devlyn from those accusations? It was masterful.”

“It doesn’t feel like it.”

Silence hung between us. I felt like I couldn’t breathe. “You did great today.”

“I was a complete idiot when I was defending Devlyn. I was way too animated and let my emotions get the best of me. For Christ's sake Judge Peterson gave me a warning.”

“I want you to take a guess at how many warnings judges give me when I’m the one in there leading the case.”

“You’re Harvey Specter, of course you… get a lot.”

“You right, I do get a lot. But that isn’t a bad thing. And I’ve been doing this a hell of a lot longer than you-” “That’s the problem,” I snapped. “You have been doing this for seventeen years and I’ve been doing it for ten days. I’ve barely got my toe in the water and I’ve already shown other lawyers and firms that I can’t keep my cool.”

“Claudia, you are passionate. I don’t see that as a huge problem in the courtroom. There needs to be a level of pushback from attorneys because if you, of all people on someone’s legal team, aren’t going to fight back, then you might as well be fired. Because you are the only person some people have hope for. You have to be aggressive and assertive sometimes to get the job done.”

“I don’t know how to do that.”

“I am going to teach you,” Harvey’s words completely short circuited my brain. 

“What do you mean?”

“Claudia, I think you’re going to be a great lawyer, even without my help. I know you struggle with confidence and that is all I want to help you with. To get some leverage over these other associates so you can climb that ladder.”

“I can’t just magically pull a wagon load of confidence out of my ass overnight,” I shook my head, folding my hands tightly together. “I don’t see how you can help me.”

The car pulled up outside the building and Harvey let out a sigh. Great. Now I’ve pissed him off, too. That’s exactly what I needed to do was piss off Harvey Specter after a great win. In all honesty, it had been a good day. I didn’t fumble the ball like I was going to, but this was completely taking away from them.

My door opened. Harvey looked down at me from outside and extended his hand. When did he get out of the car? I hesitantly took it, getting out and shutting the door behind me.

“Claudia,” Harvey started. “You need to learn to let go. To put the bad moments behind you.” “I can’t.” “Which is why you and I are going to go back up there and have a drink. Get to know each other a little bit so we can start building that trust. I know I intimidate you, and I try like hell to be as calm as I can around you, but one day Louis or Jessica or Donna is going to come into my office and give me some bad news. You might be there and see how I handle it. You might not, but I don’t want you to be afraid of that happening to you.”

“And how can I be sure that if I come up with a plan one day, and it falls through and goes to shit, you won’t flip out on me or fire me or-or-”

“Because I won’t. I give you my word. But I need yours as well.”

“Need my word, why?” “I need to know that you won’t think I’m a monster if you’re in the room and I lose my cool.”

I’ve never thought Harvey was a monster to begin with. I’ve always admired his ability to shut off his feelings and get the dirty work done. Of course I’ve seen that side of him a time or two, but never catastrophic like some of the stories I’ve heard from the third and fourth years.

“You have my word.”

The elevator chime brought me out of my spiraling momentarily to walk to Harvey’s office. The firm was empty, not even Jessica was here. He led me to his office and got to work on the drinks. My eyes wandered from him to the view through the window. This was the only part of the city I might’ve let myself enjoy from time to time. 

“Donna was right, you do have a lot of music,” I noted, taking in the wall filled with vinyl records. She mentioned it when I was caught with my head buried in a book in the library, some random Beatles song blasting so loud she could hear it down the hall. 

“You’re just now noticing that?” “Well, I haven’t exactly been in your office for anything other than to work on this case so… no I guess I never really noticed.”

“You can pick something to listen to, if you’d like.” He was gonna let me touch his records? This place was like a museum; autographed basketballs and baseballs, art hanging on the wall. “Or you can just stare at it.”

I flushed, picking up a record at random and handing it to him. In exchange, he handed me a glass a third full of whisky. I smelled it, it kind of made me scrunch my nose. I didn’t drink often; most of the time I was too tired to even feed myself let alone consume alcohol.

When I took a sip, I actually didn’t mind the taste. It was smooth, simple in flavor and didn’t burn too bad. Quite nice, for all it’s worth. 

There was a couch along the wall of records that I fixed myself on, Harvey taking the time to remove his tie and lay it across his desk before sitting across from me on one of the chairs. I toed off my pumps and set them on the floor beside the table. God damn did my feet hurt. 

“Do you do this with all the new associates?”

“What do you mean?” He asked, taking a seat in one of the chairs while I took up the couch. 

“I mean, when you think they’re ready, do you give them a case and help them get their foot in the door?”

“No, no I don’t,” Harvey admitted. “Louis is in charge of the associates. You know that.”

“Yes,” I nodded. “But I just thought that there was some deal between you guys: you have a mock trial with the new associates, whichever team wins gets to give a case to the best performing associate.”

Harvey laughed. I didn’t even know he knew how to do that. “Oh, Claudia, you really are that innocent, aren’t you?” My throat collapsed on itself. What did I say?

“Relax,” he set his glass down, swallowing his sip. “Yes, we do a fake trial every year for the first years, but we don’t just give them cases when they win. No one in their right mind would give a first year associate, fresh out of law school, the time of day. Normally they have to prove themself down the line, after years and years of loyalty to this firm to get their first case. And it’s usually pretty easy pro-bono shit.” I had to stop and think for a moment before I could speak. “You keep saying normally, usually… What are you saying?”

“What I’m saying, Claudia, is that in my decade plus of working here, I’ve never seen an associate who busts their ass quite like you. Who takes every ounce of bullshit from Louis and turns it into the Mona Lisa.”

“I think that everyone does tha-”

“No,” he cut me off. A stern look in his eyes, lips in that crooked line. “No they don’t. Not like you. You put your head down, get into it, and don't come up until you’ve found what you were looking for and thensome. You go above and beyond every time. You don’t go to Louis begging for more work, he brings it to you, and only you, because he knows he can count on you. Which means I know I can count on you, too.”

I honestly didn’t know what to say. I kind of just wanted the ground to swallow me whole. To make me evaporate and never see the light of day again. 

“Thank you, Mr. Specter. But I don’t know if you’ve noticed or not but I am not very good in the spotlight. I don’t do well with… all of this.”

“I know, but I’m glad that you are trying anyway,” his smile was very charming. In a way that made his eyes crinkle. “So, besides giving a hell of a cross examination, what else do you like to do for ‘fun’?” 

“Well, for starters, your definition of fun, and mine, are going to be very different. I am a very solitary person, I don’t need to be around people to have a good time. Most of the time I prefer to go do things by myself because I find when I ask, people already have plans, or they’re faking having plans so they don’t have to hang out with me. I can’t tell what is the truth and what isn’t so I stopped asking… that was totally not what you asked. Sorry, I didn’t mean to ramble.”

“Go ahead, talk about whatever you want. I won’t judge you.”

A small part of me believed that he wouldn’t. A tiny, microscopic part. 

“There is nothing like the feeling of getting lost in a good book. I’m a complete sucker for a cliche rom-com where the bad guy gets the good girl.”

Harvey let out a dramatic puff of air, laughing into the space around us. 

“You said you wouldn’t judge!” I chuckled. 

“I’m not, it’s just lame. Come on, what do you really like to do for fun?”

“That is what I really like to do for fun,” I let my hand fall to the cushion beside me. “I told you, I am not a very interesting person. I don’t have time for a whole lot of anything other than working here so… Most of my hobbies have been put on the back burner through grad school and working nonstop.”

“If you could be any type of sea creature, what would you be?” 

“What does that literally have anything to do with anything we were just talking about?”

“It doesn’t,” Harvey smiled. “I’m just curious.”

“I don’t know, a jellyfish?”

“Really?” He questioned, one brow rising higher than the other. “I’d be a great white shark.”

“Of course you would,” I snickered. “Harvey Specter, the Great White of New York. If you wanted to be a real predator that no one fucks with, you should be an Orca.” “A whale?” “The killer whale,” I corrected. “They put sharks in the obituary for fun, you know. They sink yachts for fun, too. If you really want to be on top, be an Orca. No one in their right minds fucks with an Orca. They’re intelligent and not afraid of anything.”

“Aww, you think I’m intelligent and not afraid of anything?” Harvey mewled. 

“Well, duh you’re Harvey Specter.” Everyone knew it. Harvey was the baddest cat in the sky, you didn’t approach him without giving him your respect. Cause if you didn’t, a whole boat load of shit will be coming your way. 

Harvey rolled his eyes. “Well, I hate to break it to you, but there is more to Harvey Specter than the title my name comes with.”

“Of course,” I agreed. “Harvey Specter, badass attorney and the best closer New York has ever seen, killer whale of the corporate world.” Harvey couldn’t keep his laugh inside, sending the rumbling noise into the office. I made Harvey laugh, and I have for the past however many minutes. 

“You left out the part where I’m devastatingly attractive and charming,” his smirk was nothing short of either of those things. Devastating and charming. It cut through me like a hot knife. I knew I blushed because his eyes went to my cheeks and that spot at the base of my throat that always gives it away. 

My fingers tapped away anxiously at the glass in my hands, fingernails rattling against its crystal surface. 

“It’s late I should… I should go.” Great, now I’m flustered and stuttering. As quickly as I could, I threw my heels back on and reached for my coat. 

“Claudia-”

“Thank you for the drink, and for all your help on the case,” I hurried out, trying to not let my voice break and give away all the things I wanted to say. “Have a good night, Mr. Specter.”

“Claudia.” His voice commanded, stopping my movements. I held still on the couch, drinking in his stare. “Stay.”

“Mr. Specter I really should-”

“Harvey,” he bit out a little harshly. “Stop calling me Mr. Specter.”

“I’m sorry. Harvey, it’s late.” He just nodded, taking a sip from his glass. “And?”

“It’s been a long day and I think we should both go and get some much deserved rest,” I spoke quietly, resuming my nail picking from earlier. 

“Do you really want to leave?” 

It was such a loaded question. Yes, absolutely I wanted to fucking leave. But there was something deep in his eyes, deep in his voice that made me want to stay and explore. My heart was hammering in my chest. I couldn’t keep my eyes off him, no matter how much I wanted to look away. It was impossible. 

“I don’t think you do,” he answered for me. “I told you I was going to help build your confidence.”

You never told me how, jackass, I thought. I swallowed, nothing going down, but I did it anyway. Harvey threw back what was left of his whisky and sat back, knees far apart, fingers drawing patterns on the arm rests of the chair. 

“Come here, Claudia.” What? “You heard me.”

Shit, I must’ve said it out loud. If I thought my heart was racing before, it sure as hell was halfway around the world now. Legs trembling, I rose. Why the fuck did I stand up? It wasn’t too late to make a beeline for the door and pray he didn’t catch up. Then again, it wasn’t like I could escape him, we worked in the same fucking building. On the same floor. 

When I came to a halt, a few feet in front of him, he held out his hand, palm up. As I put my fingers in his grasp, there was nothing I could do. Harvey yanked me to him, other hand catching my hip as I collapsed into him with a yelp. 

“Straddle my thigh,” he ordered. Something about the way his voice went down my spine made me obey. With extreme hesitance, I moved one leg on each side of his, lowering myself. I didn’t dare put all of my weight down. And he knew it because his hands came up to my hips and forced me all the way. 

“Sir, what are you-”

“Do not call me Sir unless you are ready to deal with those consequences.” His fingers dug into the exposed skin on my thigh, eyes full of his pupils. 

“Harvey, what are you doing? We shouldn’t be doing… whatever this is,” I tried to defuse the situation as best I could, but there was such a seriousness written in his features I wasn’t sure I could sway him. Maybe I didn’t want to, either. 

“How does it feel?” He asked.

I blinked, “H-How does what feel, Harvey?”

He smiled at the use of his name on my tongue. I hadn’t really ever called him by his first name.

“To have one of the most powerful men in the city underneath you, bent to your will?”

When I did look away from his face, to where I was seated on his lap, I felt my stomach start to twist and mold into something new. I did have Harvey Specter underneath me. Granted, at his own command, but still…

“And before you even think about it, no. I don’t do this with all the other associates.”

“Then why me?” My voice was a barely there whisper, gaze averted from his until his thumb caught my chin and made me look into his eyes. 

“Because I see something else in you that I don’t think anyone realizes. And I know the world will never see it unless you start believing in yourself and take control of the cards you’ve been dealt.”

I took a moment to steady my breath, and my uncontrollable thoughts. “And you think that whatever this is… you think this is going to help with that?”

Harvey shrugged, “I am in no way forcing you to be here, am I?”

My blush came creeping back. Of course he wasn’t forcing me to be here. I shook my head, my face just inches from his. I felt oddly relaxed under his touch.

“And I am not stopping you from getting up and leaving right now. It’s your choice, Claudia, but I think you want to be here, on my lap. Because if you didn’t, you would’ve already left.”

God dammit I hated this cocky son of a bitch. Was he right? Yes. Of fucking course he was. But the way his mouth curled up was dangerous. This was dangerous, and utterly a horrible idea. Was I really about to sit here, on one of my bosses thighs? He did look pretty good under me, shirt unbuttoned the top three, cologne wafting into the air every time he moved his head. 

Harvey’s hands came back to my hips as he leaned up.

“So, are you going to get up and leave? Or, are you going to ride my thigh while I tell you how pretty you look?” His breath tickled my ear, his lips trailing the space just below. I couldn’t help the shudder that went through my whole body, and I knew Harvey felt it because he cooed.

As I adjusted myself, I couldn’t help the movement, his breath on my skin was making me flutter, Harvey moved my hips back and forth. I felt the air take from my throat. The material of his pants against my core wracked through me. So unexpectedly I found myself pressing closer to him so I wouldn’t fall off. 

“That’s it, Claudia…” His voice was sickly sweet with praise. Harvey moved to fiddle with the front of his pants, and when I went to look, he caught my chin. “Eyes up here, sweetheart.”

“Harvey this… this isn’t the best idea,” I kept trying to reason. Not necessarily with him, but with myself. Obviously he wanted it, so why was I trying to convince myself to go?

“So?”

“This could have some serious implications if we don’t-”

He laughed against my neck, placing a few kisses right over where I always blushed. “Claudia, Claudia, Claudia. This is exactly what I have been talking about. You are wound far too tightly with concern. You need to let go, need to be out of control with something in your life.”

“Let me guess, that something is going to be you?”

“Only if you want it to be,” he said. “Look Claudia, I know we don’t exactly always see eye to eye on things, and we sure as hell haven’t really worked together, but that doesn’t make me less sure about this. About you. If you are having doubts, and this isn’t what you want, then walk away and we never have to talk about it ever again. But I think there is a part of you that really likes seeing me under you. That likes knowing you can make me this way.”

“And what if I do?” Harvey was right. God dammit he was right and he knew it. I looked and saw just what I had been doing to him. 

“Then just let yourself enjoy it because I know I want to.”

Man, he was quite the smooth talker. My resolve crumbled and I gave in. No, I didn’t give in, I made the choice to let this happen. Harvey wanted this too, for some reason known only to the great mother and beyond. This was not going to end well, I don’t know why I thought so, but I just know this is going to cause a problem down the road. Maybe it’ll be a good one, maybe it won’t– Jesus I need to get out of my head before I start thinking into oblivion. 

Harvey rolled his eyes, hand cupping the side of my face before his lips met mine. The gasp I let out… I could feel his smile. He guided my hand into the front of his pants, but did nothing else. Just left it there. 

When I tried to pull away, he bit my lip and pulled me right back in. Finger pressing into the front of my throat. In a commanding, possessive way that made my stomach burn with desire. 

I slowly traced around the outline of him. My fingers were trembling so fiercely that I wasn’t sure they were moving at all. As best I could control them, I made my way up to the waistband of his briefs, just… testing the waters. 

“You’re so close to where I need you,” Harvey purred, eyes looking at my surly swollen lips. “Go on, sweetheart, don’t be shy.”

I guess there really was no turning back. As my hand ventured further, I ducked down and swept my tongue into his mouth. He approved very enthusiastically. Harvey continued to guide my hips back and forth and back and forth across his thigh. All too gently, all too slowly. One of his hands kept working my hip, the other camp up around my throat.

How could he know that was one of my weakest sides? It didn’t prevent any air, but it was a firm reminder. 

His breath broke our searing lips when I moved my thumb over the tip of his cock. Harvey’s grip tightened on my throat and a noise slipped through my mouth. There was little I could do to keep my eyes from lulling back, head going with it. He made an effort to weave his fingers between my locks and pulled. A lot harder than I think he actually meant to. 

“Sorry, sweetheart,” he murmured against my ear, sending goosebumps down my neck and arms. “I can’t help myself when you make such pretty noises. I’ll be gentle.”

I huffed out a laugh, as best I could with the straight against my neck. “I don’t mind.”

“Those are dangerous words, Claudia,” he warned, bringing my head back up. His eyes were dark in a way I couldn’t process in that moment. His lips were red and his hair was a mess from my fingers. 

I tugged at him as emphasis for my earlier words. “I don’t mind you being rough with me.”

His eyes closed, and his jaw clenched. I continued my motions, slow and long, drawing divine noises from him. Even with his hands away from my hips, I still moved them, picking up pace with my hand. I took the liberty to occupy his mouth with my own, hopefully filling him with euphoria. It was fast, and quite messy. My hair was sticking to the back of my neck with sweat, and I could taste it on his skin when I couldn’t help but trail my tongue up his throat. 

Harvey murmured my name, but I didn’t stop. I couldn’t now, not with the constant moans and praise from his tongue. ‘Just like that sweetheart’, ‘I know that pretty mouth of yours will feel so much better wrapped around my cock’, ‘Can’t wait to take you apart’.

With his release, warm and wet over the back of my hand, he stilled my hips. Fingers digging in. At some point my skirt rode up, or he tugged it over my ass, and his nails left long lines of scratches. I hissed, and Harvey was breathing deep.

Harvey’s grin was nothing short of animalistic as he looked at where my hand still connected us. “Look at that, sweetheart. Look how well you’ve done.”

I could do nothing to keep my blood from rushing to my face. When I moved my hand– not entirely sure if I should get up and clean it off– Harvey snatched my wrist. 

“Open.”

I was going to question him, but I watched his eyes flick over my surely swollen lips. I flushed deeper. And deeper again as he moved them into my mouth. Bitter, but not in a bad way. And If I had been thoroughly fucked, I’d undoubtably find it irresistible. 

“Good girl, Claudia.”

There would be no way to recover from hearing that. I shuddered, so hard I clamped his thigh between my own, and whimpered. Like I had never before. And his stare… the way his eyes watched my tongue circle over my fingers. As they watched me swallow him down. 

“I bet you didn’t even realize,” he tilted his head, tucking hair behind my ear, flopping it behind my shoulder. 

“Realize…what?”

“How you took control. How confident you were with your hand… with that wicked tongue of yours. It was like it was second nature for you, wasn’t it? I didn’t even have to tell you to keep moving your hips. You just did it.”

I didn’t even know I was doing most of it… It all just happened. At some point or another. 

“I wouldn’t say that I was confi-”

“Yes,” he interrupted. “You were. And that feeling, of being in control, is what you need to feel when you are in the courtroom. You were able to do it here, with me, to me. It was the most powerful and direct I’ve ever seen you.”

“Sex and being a lawyer aren’t exactly the same thing.”

“No, but you were able to feel safe and let yourself go. To release all that potential and work miracles.”

“You’d consider me giving you an orgasm a miracle?”

He chuckled, leaning so his lips brushed against mine. “Your hands do miraculous things to me, Claudia. I don’t normally give myself to someone the way I did with you. I didn’t have any second thoughts about it because I knew how willing you’d be to please me. And god damn do I love watching you pleasure yourself for me.”

In the minutes that followed, Harvey stood me up and straightened out my skirt. He did give me some hand sanitizer until I could go to the bathroom. I watched as he tucked in his shirt, buttoning his pants and rolling the sleeves back up his arms. 

“Harvey?”

“Yes, Claudia?” His voice was much more mellow. 

“How often is this… you know. Gonna happen?”

He smirked, “Why, already picturing yourself on your knees for me?”

I wasn’t, but I sure as hell was now. One thing that I needed to learn to do was control my facial reactions because judging by the way his stepped closer, he could see that I was, in fact, picturing his hand in my hair while he forced me to take it down my-

“Oh sweet sweet Claudia,” he chuckled, tilting up my chin. “You really are that eager to please me.”

“I was just wondering when you were going to return the favor.”

Harvey seized my throat, tighter than he had before. “Don’t you worry, sweetheart. I will have my name dripping from your tongue for so long you will forget it completely and beg for mercy. And when you beg for it, just know that you won’t get it until I say you do.”

[paint-it-dead]

I googled the Belladonna of Sadness and: “To take revenge, she makes a pact with the Devil himself who appears as an erotic sprite and transforms her into a black-robed vision of madness and desire.” (Femto, the blessed king of longing) “The spirit visits Jeanne once again and rapes her in exchange for more riches“ (Gennon and Griffith) ”the baron offers to make Jeanne the second-highest noble in the land, but she refuses, saying she wishes to take over the entire world.” (Ok Miura HAD to have seen this, right? Wtf…Griffith…)

omg if you havent watched it check it out, check it out, check it out!!!!!

i think i read somewhere that Miura was inspired by it in writing Berserk? but i cant say that with full confidence...

but the parallels!!! the story goes even deeper than what you said! its been almost a year since ive watched it, so my memory of it is not 100%, but ill talk about what i can remember!

(spoilers ofc)

it contains incredible artwork and its set in pre-revolution France(remind you of another manga berserk was inspired by?) and it talks about a beautiful woman- The Most Beautiful Woman Alive!!!- who has just gotten married to the love of her life! but the marriage can only be made legal by the king/ the baron of the lands(an aristocrat of sorts i dont recall properly) who immediately as he sees her, takes her and rapes her. what should have been the happiest night of her life spent with her lover, is spent being defiled, helpless as she is to fight her fate; a poor powerless woman against the all powerful aristocrat. she becomes someone else; traumatised and desperate and her husband cannot look at her the same anymore. but amid all the grief regarding what was taken from her and how she was changed, arises a new emotion: rage. she wants power. she wants vengance. for every petal of hers that was wilted, she wants to birth a new thorn.

now if you're trying to draw parallels, ig this can be a perfect parallel with griffith getting tortured by the king. the helplessness and the toll of it all. the way how it affects his decision-making in the series.

but now as our beautiful woman is stuck in her bottomless desparate anguish, a new character appears before her: a small evil spectre! he looks her straight in the eyes and says. i am you. and you are me. give everything you have to me and i will grant you what you wish for: a chance to make things even. she is poor, she has nothing to give. so the spectre takes her body. defiles her the same way. and she is granted success. she is granted money. her husband and her reap the benefits of her new powers. now the aristocrat is feeling threatened by her status, tries to appease her-offers her lands and riches beyond a simple commoners imagination. but she, unbothered, responds:"money? lands? im not interested in something as small as that, beacuse im going to take over the world." appalled by her ambition, the aristocrat orders she be exiled as a witch, never to return. this whole time the spectre just grows bigger and bigger. stronger and stronger. the more she hates and gains and succeeds, the louder it roars. the more angry and resentful she becomes, the hungrier it grows. its goal: to break her strong spirit piece by piece, little by little. and when she is exiled and thoroughly broken, it reveals himself: he is actually the devil. he asks: what do you crave? he knows what she wants: power. she asks him to make her into a devil, into a wicked, ugly, wrathful woman who will strike fear into the hearts of anybody who crosses her. she doesnt want to be desirable anymore. her beauty was her cage, her curse. and thats what the specter does. transforms her into an all powerful demon.

but as she aweakens from the transformation, she notices that she has become lovlier, more desirable than she ever was before, an otherworldly, overwhelming type of beauty. she anguishes over this. asks for explanations. she wanted to be terrible, scary and full of rage and anger. to this, the devil responds: "who says that anger and rage cannot be beautiful?"

in berserk, this could be a parallel with the godhand offering griffith his option to sacrifice at his lowest point, and griffith's transformation into a devil -femto- and later into an otherworldly beauty - neo-griffith. there is nothing lovely or lovable left in him anymore, but he is the most lovely and beloved character by everyone in the show after his neo-griffith transformation. his power knows no equal and he strikes fear into the hearts of all who dare cross him. nothing will ever touch him again and nothing will ever be taken from him again, unless he wills it.

so she lives in exile, her otherworldly powers making her a diety of sorts, one people love and worship. one day, her husband, mad at himself and sick with love for her, goes to her to ask for her forgiveness. he couldn't save her when she needed him, and he couldn't protect her when she was taken from him, so all he does is ask for forgiveness. and amid her power-hungry, hatered spinning days of rage, she blooms with love for him, everything else thrown aside or forgotten. he was all she had ever wanted once after all. they fall into each other, one last time before tragedy strikes.

the aristocrat, terrified of her, her power, the support people gave her, orders for her to be burned at the stake. as the flames overwhelm her and she cries out one last time, the people witnessing the scene, cry out in uproar. they kill the king, avenge her and become a lingering flame in the calamitous fire of the french revolution. even though she is no longer there, she achieves exactly what she wanted- vengence against those who wronged her, and world domination, as the uproar from her tragedy, is what kickstarts the world to change.

now the whole parallels with griffith i made clear in italics, but there i dont think that thet is where the parallels with berserk end. there is another character, whose case could be argued, might have been inspired by this movie: casca. the unfortunate fate of the woman, the defilement and heartbreak she experiences because of conditions she cannot control, her story is drowning in them. i believe, if Miura was indeed inspired by this movie, that casca's story takes root in this unfortunate fate this character suffers through, but the only element present in casca's story is the heartbreak and pain, the rage and vengeance part is yet to be seen.

this movie seems to overlap both of these characters journeys, emotions and characterisations. if i have made a post about their alikeness before, this movie would be the main thesis for it. they switch roles and imagery within this "belladonna" character to the point where you cant make a case for one without mentioning the other. he becomes a demon, she becomes a witch. he falls in desperation, she falls into her lover's arms. he takes over the world, she gets burned at the stake. he gets the purpose, she gets the tragedy.

overall, berserk or not, belladonna of sadness is a beautiful story and 100% worth the watch. it contains some of my favourite lines of dialogue and scenes ive ever seen in animated media. its experimental and different, but man, isnt it captivating. WATCH IT!!!

[hb-writes]

Update re: Requests/ WIPS

Hi y'all! I'm changing the way I do requests. Unless otherwise specified, they'll be open anytime with the caveat that I'm a human being with real thoughts, feelings, opinions, and responsibilities, meaning that I may not have the interest/ ability/ motivation/ time to write everything received, and requests may take an exorbitant amount of time (think, literal years) to be written because that's just how it is. 🥲

Please just indicate in some way that the ask is a request. Sometimes people send a string of dialogue or a random quote with no other info attached and I’m not quite sure what it’s supposed to be for.

Upcoming:

Fifty (Em & El)

Twilight

TBD

September - LLB Anniversary month & A Discovery of Witches (maybe)

I'm including a list below the cut of everything I have on my request radar and will try to update as new requests are received (I usually only respond to the ask once I complete/ post the request)—updated as of Aug 25, 2024.

Masterlist

Pending Requests:

Peaky Blinders:

Part 2 to Gestures of fairness? Where perhaps Tommy is doing something which warrants Clara to utilize her ‘discovery’. For some reason I’m imagining tipsy, fun Tommy for this, with the other brothers there too, just a sweet family moment in the garrison or the house or something, before everything goes to shit

46 and 32 from the parental writing prompts with Tommy saying them! I just want some soft Tommy with a very scared Clara (note: this one is already written, but is actually going to be included in an upcoming chapter of LLB).

Part 2 for pretty in pink

For an angst one shot could you please do one where clara and grace has a huge fight and it ends up with clara wanting to leave the arrow house but tommy doesn't allow her and it will be a situation where he has to choose between clara and grace

could you write something about tommy and clara having an argument?

clara having huge fight with her family or getting into trouble and getting hurt something along the way

one shot with tommy and clara like a huge fight and fallout.

One-shot where Clara is a teenager and gets called into Tommy’s office to be scolded and she gets punished and it evolves into an angsty fight between Tommy and Clara but with comfort in the end? Like maybe she really pushed his buttons, he’s decided to punish her, she gets upset, they fight, she runs up to his room, he comes up and they talk it out and hugs in the end?

Suits:

Reader is married to Harvey and is also a lawyer and maybe during a big important case the reader gets shot in the middle of court and Harvey has to try to keep her alive and begs her to not leave him and their new little Boy at home. But thankfully the reader survives! 💗

"That's why I didn't tell you in the first place. I knew you'd react like this.", for Charlie and Harvey

Darvey? but like with charlie? maybe they're having a date at home or something & charlie promised to hide away in her room all evening but she goes out of her way to purposefully ruin it (why? for the giggles ofc, & because she loves messing with her big brother)

“I can’t smile at you, I’m mad.” & “It was just a joke!” For Suits

teenage charlie and Harvey notices she hasn’t really been eating breakfast or dinner with him as often and it turns out that she was upset about what someone said to her

teenage charlie (14-15) and mike and harvey are going to meet a client and they catch her skipping school on the street! not really like in a angsty way yk like in a funny way if that makes sense?

I would love one where she has a boyfriend and protective Harvey

Charlie: Marcus said I was his favourite

Can I request a Charlie specter where she gets caught at home with a boy like she skipped school or something and Harvey catches them together!?

Twilight:

"I'm very lucky to know you." For twilight

“I didn’t know they were drugs!” and “Oh my god, it’s so pretty!” With Twilight?

“I prefer not to be disturbed.” & “I don’t feel like it today.” For Twilight

Mia and needing her appendix out? And then after when they’re all taking care of her! A lot of fluff!!

some sort of part two for drifting (but it can also be a new ff) where Mia maybe has depression or a depressed phase (maybe because the family is drifting apart like in your last Carlisle fan fiction) And Carlisle and/or Esme help her through (maybe she dosen’t even has the energy to brush her hair or get out of bed)

mia cullen in eclipse when she and jacob finally meet again

Mia drank Alcohol and used marijuana in new moon

Mia Cullen just doing stupid stuff and (accidentally) pushing Carlisle to his limits, like he’s not angry but more like because it’s stupid?

Fifty Shades:

Elliot & Emma : "You can't lie to me. I can tell when you're lying."

One Tree Hill:

“All I wanted was your honesty.”

The Punisher:

“Something is wrong.” & “Get down on the floor!” For The Punisher

Sherlock:

"Can you shut up for once in your life?" Watson sister with Sherlock? Perhaps during the season 3 premiere where John is kidnapped and they try to think of a way to save him.

Bridgerton:

None

The Family Stone:

None

Marvel:

None

Supernatural:

None

True Blood:

None

White Collar:

None

A Discovery of Witches:

None

[serenit-teas]

This post includes minor spoilers regarding the final boss for Lies of P, please scroll over if you’d rather not take the chance <:)

It’s late and I can just tell that my thought process and writing won’t be coherent but I finally reached the nameless puppet and I felt compelled to share my silly little Lies of P thought of the night💙

So you know how before the game released there was that rumor going around that P was 6’3, but once the game came out and the models could really be analyzed it was revealed that he was much shorter than what people thought he was going to be?? Well idk if it’s just me or the way the angles or camera are working in the fight but the nameless puppet seems to be MUCH taller than P. This could simply be a throwaway design choice by Geppetto, a genuine estimate of Carlos height at this age after so many years, so he’d be at a better advantage when fighting/defending himself, so on and so forth, it could be for a number of reasons, but considering that the nameless puppet is more or less meant to be Carlo reborn adds some interesting thought to it all!

And as a fun little side note, think about the specter as well! If I do remember correctly he’s also taller than P, and while there isn’t confirmation of the identity of the specter the two main theories are that it’s either Carlos spirit or a P from the future! Maybe Carlo really is as tall as the nameless puppet, or maybe after reaching peak humanity and just like with his voice and hair, P continues to grow and become his own person! (Or maybe P just begs Venigni and Eugenie to make adjustments to his body and make him taller idk or care, but the concept is fun!)

It’s just a fun lil random thought that’s been pinging around ever since I made my way to the nameless puppet, and I couldn’t help but want to write a post about it! ^^ <- <-(I am a madwoman rambling I see a sliver of evidence that supports tall 6’3 P and I go lunging for it😳 ofc there is nothing wrong with loving short P he is a sweetie pie no matter what I am just!!! Deranged and ready to gnaw on canon like it’s a jaw breaker)

[gnomeyflamingo]

✯ A Sim-ply Historical House Party ✯

Today Kiry is graduating High School. His absurdly wealthy & famous mothers have bought a TS2 re-creation of the Beaker House to host his themed costume party in. Ofcs, Acco, and Atreo are invited!

Atreo: “Omw, look at it! It’s exactly as described in our history books!”

Acco: “Hiya Kiry!"

Kiry: “Good evening and welcome! I appreciate the effort you put into your costumes, I can very easily tell you are meant to be Don Lothario and Pascal Curious."

Acco: “I’m so excited, congrats again on graduating and with such high grades!”

Kiry: “Thank you!"

Atreo: “I’m in awe, the attention to detail… I never knew your mums were so rich!”

Kiry: “They truly went all out. We even have a DJ and a juice keg for the occasion.”

Atreo: “Juice?! This party is gonna be amazing!"

Acco: “Pascal and Nervous were such a good idea for a couples’ costume by the way.”

Kiry: “I can’t even explain how right this feels. Seeing us both dressed like this is making me happy and highly flirty."

Atreo: “Yes!! Juice, juice, JUICE! Let’s all get dazed!”

Atreo: “Really? Cassandra? Don’s fiancée? Coincidence much?”

Zehra: “It's not. I did my research.”

Atreo: "You went through my trash again, didn't you?"

Zehra: "Ah you got me!"

Atreo: "It's a good thing I like you."

Kiry: "You… do? I need to process this information."

Most of the guests head into the courtyard to dance to the TS2 soundtrack. Everybody seems to be having a blast. It's a hot, sweaty night so the juice is flowing fast.

Acco: “I swear Atreo’s not paying any attention to me at all. I bet he still doesn't know about me and Kiry. I’ve told him like 3 times! I have a feeling he’s not gonna like it…”

Onyx: “Oh who cares what your stupid brother thinks? You’re happy, that’s all that matters."

Acco: “I suppose… great costumes btw guys.”

Onyx: “Who knew dressing as a 40-something Mum would feel this comfortable?”

Acco: “Denise you really look like Olive Specter. It’s scaring me.”

Denise: “Aw thank you Acco. You won’t end up in my garden tonight.”

Derya: “Do you need help?”

Zehra: “Ha! Not from you. I can’t believe you dressed as gold digger Dina.”

Derya: “Esma suggested we be the twins-"

Zehra: “You always leave me out! I wanted to be Nina and dream about hottub woohoo with Atreo.”

Derya: “Go and snipe at Esma then."

Derya: “ Wow Atreo, you totally pull off the Don look.”

Atreo: “Thanks, you make a good Dina.”

Derya: “You up for some roleplay? We could mess around in the shower?"

Atreo: "Oh Dina, we shouldn't. I’m engaged."

Derya: "It'll be our secret. Meet me in the bathroom later."

Atreo: “Hey! Cool costumes… You’re the Burbs right?”

Asmara: “Yup, John and Jennifer. Where’ve you been Atreo? I haven’t seen you in ages, we should really catch up… as friends I mean.”

Atreo: “Yeah… Sorry. Later. So does this mean you’re a couple?”

Asmara: “What? No!”

Aldo: “OMW I’m into guys. I told you this. We both have! Do you listen, like ever?”

Asmara: Yeah this is just a friend thing, we thought it’d be cute.”

Atreo: “Oh thank the Watcher.”

Esma: “If you’re Don Lothario, where’s your beard?”

Atreo: “Ugh I couldn’t grow it and my cheeks are just too silky smooth to glue on a fake one.”

Esma: “Your lack of commitment is disappointing.”

Atreo: “Hey you’re Nina, you’re meant to be into me!”

Atreo: “Are you excited for your birthday tomorrow?”

Zehra: “Not really, but I’m excited about yours! A young adult in two days! I wonder what your rolls will be?”

Atreo: “Yeah well, I’ve been trying not to think about it.”

Atreo: “The Watcher and their friends really don’t like me, so my future is looking bleak… Yeah not gonna dwell on it.”

Zehra: “Don’t worry my love. I will be there to support you every step of the way.”

Derya: “Sooo I’m heading to the bathroom just so you know.”

Zehra: “Uck you’re so weird and gross. I’m gonna hack your social bunny and tell everybody."

Atreo: "And I'm gonna go to set off the fireworks I bought real fast. My bladder bar is very low suddenly."

Atreo quickly heads up the stairs to light the fireworks he set up earlier, looking forward to messing around with Derya. He’s determined to distract himself from all the stuff he doesn’t want to accept is happening and is completely unaware of what he’s about to witness…

(for app) >> Next Page >> Previous Page

❧ Back to the Legacy Archive

[book-place]

Would Have Stayed

Warnings: bad mother, pregnancy, cursing, violence but not violence (??), let me know if I missed any :)

Pairings: Jake Lockley x daughter reader

Request: Ouh if I can still request a moon knight fix then here's one! Steven grant/marc specter/jake lockey x daughter!reader maaajorr angst with fluff at the end ofc..! So Jake had gotten his previous lover preggo and only knew about it when Steven and Marc was already trying to. Mend things with Layla and Jake's lover just kinda started screaming at Steven/marc. Reader must be young! Like.. 5 or 6 years old, really reallllyy angsty please? And if you're not accepting requests anymore then feel free to delete this

Request by: @nixonandelheim

*not my gif*

Summary: While Marc tries to make up with Layla, Jake gets a surprise visiter

A/N: Sorry that this took so long and doesn’t really have the best writing

Please don’t plagiarize my work, you may reblog if you like but I’m asking that you don’t steal my hard work

No one had seen it coming. How could they have? All they wanted was for the day to be perfect, so even thinking about something going wrong seemed illegal at the moment.

With Jake and Steven there to support and back him up, Marc felt like he was finally ready and he wouldn’t do something stupid.

That was a lie. He would definitely do something stupid. But he had already granted both his alters complete permission to take control if he even took so much as one wrong step. They would be there to make sure the day was perfect.

Today had to go according to plan, Marc had to make up with Layla.

After having left her for such a long time, he had a lot of apologizing to do and things to make up for, and what better way to start than by bringing her out to a restaurant?

He arrived about five minutes before she did, probably looking like a crazy man as he sat in his seat and began fidgeting while sweating buckets upon buckets while waiting for her to get there.

When she finally did, he had awkwardly shot to his feet, doing his best to ignore the way his wife was trying to hold in her laughter as he pulled her chair out for her.

“So, Marc.” Layla was the first one to speak after a moment of stiff silence, “Why did you want to talk?”

Before he could even open his mouth to speak, a shrill and scratchy voice cut him off from behind.

“Jake?!” The tone held nothing but outrage.

Marc could just make out the sound of his Spanish speaking altar cursing in the background as both him and Layla whipped around to see who had spoken.

There stood a woman with one hand on her hip and the other grasped in what looked to be a painfully tight grip on a young girl, no older than fives, wrist.

Layla shot Marc a look, a silent question about if he knew what Jake had done.

“You complete and total asshole.” The woman hissed, not bothering to even filter her language around the kid, you.

Jake was yet to make an appearance.

“Listen, ma’am,” The American man tried to sooth her, “I am very sorry for whatever-“

She let out a cold laugh, “Oh, so you’re American now? You leave me pregnant with this,” she shook your arm slightly violently, “And decide to leave and change your whole identity?”

Silence had fallen over the entire restaurant, everybody was listening.

Your eyes had since downcasted to the floor, doing your best to push away any oncoming tears in fear of your mother seeing.

“Pregnant?” Marc whispered out in disbelief, face as pale as Layla’s.

That was definitely something that he did not plan on going wrong tonight.

The man moved to stand up, but when he reached his full height, he was no longer Marc.

“Pregnant?” Jake repeated, eyes locked on your tiny, shaking form, then back up at his ex girlfriend, “You did not tell me that we were having a child.”

Your mother scoffed loudly and rolled her eyes dramatically, “Please! As if you would have cared either way!”

He finally was able to look her in the eyes, “I would have cared. Me habría quedado.”

(I would have stayed)

“Well, you didn’t.” She snapped back, “You broke up with me after four months and took off without ever looking back!”

A slight whimper made Jake once again look down at you, who was wincing at the clearly unnecessary force that she was using to hold you in place.

“Let go.” Jake said softly, “You are hurting her.”

Your mother only glared harder in return, “Don’t you dare tell me what to do with my own child!”

“Our child.” He corrected softly before dropping down into a crouch before you.

“Hola, ¿cómo te llamas?” He asked softly, some part of him wondering if you spoke his native tongue.

(Hi, what’s your name?)

“Mi nombre es Y/n.” You greeted back shyly after a minute.

(My name is…)

“It is very nice to meet you, Y/n.” A small smile tugged on his lips.

Yet another scoff snapped the man out of his daze.

“Oh what now? You left me alone to raise the kid for five years, and now suddenly you’re acting all fatherly?” She dropped your hand harshly, “Well here, you can have her. Cause I don’t want her no more.”

Without another word, she turned on her heel and stormed out the door, leaving a trail of whispering customers behind her.

After hesitating only a second, Jake bent down and scooped you into his arms- only after looking at you for confirmation, of course.

“Layla,” He said softly, turning back to the stunned woman, “Can you reschedule with Marc for another day?”

All she could do was nod slightly, not able to yet form words.

So with that, he too exited the building, staring down at your small form, already curled up to his chest with your arms around his neck.

And even though he had already missed five years of your life, he vowed that he would not miss any more. He would be there for you for as long as you still needed him. Still needed your father.

Like A Bee 🐝- @ip747 @ihatemyselfmorethanmydepression @jvdethirlwall

[thestarrynightslover]

I'll Make It Okay for You - Part 2

Pairing: Harvey Specter x Reader

Word count: 2,765

Warnings: Discussion, yelling, some angst, mentions of drugs, drug abuse, drug withdrawal, rehab facility and insecurities/self-sabotage (very, very slightly, tho). 

Summary: You can read Part 1 here. What happens when (y/n) (y/l/n), Harvey’s secret crush and a junior partner at his firm, openly defies him in front of everyone? 

Disclaimer: I don’t own the show Suits, or its characters, also not associated with it in any way or know anyone involved with it.

A/N: I think that this turned out better than Part 1? As always, I’m not sure, though. Just to make it clear here, I’m still on season 4 of Suits, so didn’t wanna get too much into any canonic details, self-preservation, lol. Anyhow, I hope you like it, and, ofc, feedback is always appreciated.

(y/n) = (your name) (y/l/n) = (your last name) (y/n/n) = (your nickname)

You and Harvey stayed in the embrace for a while, as you sunk in all the comfort emanating from him. He'd even started stroking your hair. The whole situation felt so intimate, that, by the time the two of you finally pulled away from each other, it was almost as if there was this cloud of embarrassment hovering around you both.

"Err… I'm s- sorry, I shouldn't have, um-" You started saying nervously but he cut you off.

"No, it's okay. And, um, I'm really glad you told me what happened… It's definitely a lot to deal with. And I was a complete asshole this morning. So I'm sorry." For a moment both you and Harvey just smiled at each other, sitting there in a comfortable silence. Until he decided to break it: "So, um, did you get her a lawyer? I'm assuming you wouldn't wanna represent her yourself because it could be problematic…"

"No, uh, yeah. It would be problematic.” You corrected him. “But the most I could do was make the cops get her a public defender, cause I called my dad when I was on the way there and he just wouldn't have me paying for anything else. He is a retired cop, so the pension isn't too great, the pride though… And I’m already covering Lisa's treatment because it's her best shot, but this…"

"And he wants to teach her a lesson." He completed what you were trying to explain.

"Yes."

"And you don't agree with him?" Harvey asked, almost reading your mind.

"Well, it's complicated. Because when I see what Kat's doing with her life… I get just as frustrated as my parents, and I really do want what's best for Henry." The fact that your sister wasn't what's best for her son was only implied. "But she's my little sister, you know?" As he nodded in understanding, you went on: "I wanna help her, but, at least for now, I think I'm just gonna wait and see if mom and dad change their minds… Which I think they will do! I mean, my dad was a cop for years. He knows what those places do to people. As much as we all desperately want her to get her shit together, I don't think that prison is where she'll succeed in doing so." You finished, voice filled with concern.

"Well, I don't think I would be as lenient, and compassionate, as you are, but I do see your point." Harvey told with a sympathetic smile. "Besides, she is your sister. And, trust me, I know what it is like to go out of your way to keep a sibling outta trouble." He added with a tired sigh, making you wonder how much you really knew about the man sitting in front of you.

"Either way, now I don't see much that I can do for her at the moment. Gonna try and have her attorney keep me posted, of course, but…" 

"Yeah…"

"I just… I can't help but feel guilty about all of this, you know?" You said, after having stood up and turned your back on him, finally letting on what was bothering you the most to the other lawyer.

"No, not really, I don't." He stated simply while you just looked back at him with a shocked expression on your face. "I mean, there's not a single approach on this that makes me think you're to blame for anything." He explained himself, standing up as well this time.

"Harvey, I-"

"No, (y/n), let me stop you right there. What I see here is a family going through a rough situation with one of its members. Then three of the other members just try to do everything they can to get out of the initial situation, while another one just keeps making more problems for her family. And, right now? Today? You walked out on your bosses, risking a lot, to take care of your nephew. So, tell me again, how is it that any of these things happening to your sister are your fault when you’ve done nothing but help everyone in that goddamn family of yours, huh?" He asked you in a sarcastic tone.

“Well, it is very much my fault because I’m her big sister! I should have been there for her! Advising her, helping her, just, just being her friend…” You confessed your regrets to Harvey. “But, instead, I was too busy making my career.”

“And what the hell’s wrong with that? Look, I’m a big brother too. I get it. Ever since we were kids our parents imbued us with the role of ‘the responsible one’, always telling us to look after the youngest… But, hey! If you just threw all of your work up in the air and left running every time your sister had a run-in with a problem, you wouldn’t have made it this far! Not in this field anyway!” He practically spit the words in your face, going to battle with your self-sabotage, which was a very new side of you for him. “And you’re a freaking great lawyer! One of the best that firm’s ever seen. So don’t be sorry that you didn’t sacrifice all of that for being better than the amazing sister you probably already were!”

“You simply can’t know that.” You stated in a low voice, not really knowing how to respond to everything Harvey had just told you. He really thought all that about you?

“Yes, I can!” He yelled back, stepping closer towards you. “I can know that for a fact, because,” he started again, his face pretty close to yours this time, “because, I’m beginning to finally understand, even if just a little bit, who you really are. And because I always notice all the little things when it comes to you, which, in my experience, is how you actually get to know someone. You know, the details.” He told you in the sweetest tone, giving you a charming-Specter-like smile, he leaned closer, if that was even possible, God, was he gonna kiss you?

You had to pull away slightly, just enough for him to get the message. And, boy, how you regretted it! Sure, normally, you’d have a ton of bad things to say about him, but after that night… It wasn’t really that bad of an idea, the one of Harvey kissing you. No, nuh-uh! What were you thinking?! If much, you and Harvey were beginning a friendship there! And you couldn’t, or wouldn’t, let some ridiculous thoughts about how great he smelled rob you from that opportunity! Your inner struggle was interrupted by him saying:

“Hum, I- I should probably go, right? It’s, um, it’s getting pretty late…” He said nervously. You should be relieved right now. Because this assures that things between you and Harvey (your new friend?) aren’t gonna go too off the railroads anytime soon.

“Yeah, yeah. I’ll, uh, I’ll walk you to the door.” So why is it that you sounded almost disappointed when you said that? “You know what they say, you gotta walk people to the door if you ever want them to come back…” You joked a little, trying to lighten the mood.

“Yeah, right.” He shot back simply, with a small smile on his lips. “Bye, (y/n). Have a good night.”

“Thanks, you too.” You watched him turning around to leave when you remembered there was something else that Harvey deserved to hear from you. “Uh, Harvey!” You called out.

“Yeah?” He asked, turning back around to face you. And before you could even think it through one more time, you were already jumping in his arms, wrapping him in a tight hug.

“Thank you. For tonight. For everything.” You told him, as he slowly put his arms around your waist, hugging you back.

“It was no problem, (y/n), really. That’s what friends are for.” And, just like that, your day ⎼ turned into night ⎼ had gone from Earth to Hell, and, now, to Heaven.

                                                       ---

Around 7:30 in the next morning, as you gathered some of your work stuff, you heard someone knocking on the door. Who could it possibly be this time? You asked yourself while walking there to open it.

Once again you were surprised to be met by none other than Harvey Your-New-Friend Specter standing at your doorstep. With your supposedly locked-up little sister in tow. What the hell?

“Before you say anything,” he started, “this time I come bearing gifts!” He practically beamed at you, as Kat threw herself in your arms.

“Yeah- yeah, um, I can see that.” You stated, still very confused with the whole situation.

“Thank you so much for sending your friend to bail me out, sis!” Your sister squealed out. She looked so pale and thin; winter-like clothes on, even though it was only the beginning of the fall; and she was shaking. Effects of a rushed withdrawal, you guessed. “You’re the best! Now, where’s my little baby?” She asked you, as if everything that had happened was nothing.

“He’s, uh, he’s in a day-care facility. The best in the city, you have nothing to worry about.” You informed her, who seemed rather relieved to hear that news. “Can you, uh, can you please stay here for a minute while I talk to my, uh, my friend in the office, Kat?” You asked her with a calm smile on your lips.

“Yeah, of course. I’m not gonna break anything I promise!” She told you, sounding a lot like a wicked child.

“No, um, I know you won’t. If you want something to eat, please, help yourself.” You assured her, motioning to the kitchen.

“Oh, no! I’m not hungry! Mr.Specter took me to a diner before we came here.” She let you know, which just made you even more surprised, and confused.

“Oh, he did? Well, that was very nice of yours, Harvey. So, come with me?” You asked him in a sort of mockery tone while pointing to the room he’d just been in, the night before.

As soon as the two of you stepped into the office, Harvey started desperately: “(y/n), before you come at me for not running this by you first, just, please, hear me out for a second.” He pleaded with you, to which you just nodded your head. “So, last night. I heard what you said about your dad, and you don’t have to worry about paying me anything. I’m representing your sister as a friend of yours.”

“Wait a second. You mean you’re taking this pro-bono? Harvey, you do that and the whole firm is gonna know. And you promised.” You quickly accused him, even though you were very thankful for the way he just stepped up to solve one of your problems.

“I know! Let me finish, will you?” You nodded again while muttering an apology. “I’m not going to break your trust. And I’m not handling this pro-bono. The only people I’ll have to loop in are Jessica and Donna. And you know they won’t say anything.” He told you, but you were still a bit confused. “And, before you even ask, no, that doesn’t mean that either you or your family will be paying me anything. Also, I got your sister a spot in a top-of-line, very discrete, rehab facility, I have a friend over there, who said we can drop her off at any time. I just, um, figured that it’d be the best if she got professional help this time. Plus, on my talk with her, she agreed to sign papers that make you and your parents Henry’s temporary guardians. I really think that Kat wants to turn her life around this time, (y/n). She was very- Did I do something wrong? Because, err, you know me… I always find it easier to ask for forgiveness instead of permission, but, this time, I really did think that this would make you happy...” He trailed off with a confused look on his face while scratching the back of his neck

“Oh, I am happy.” You told him, still looking absolutely stunned.

“Then why, uh, why don’t you look happy?” He asked, sounding a bit hurt.

“It’s just that… I’m kind of surprised. How did you even think of all those things?”

“I, uh, it’s like I said yesterday, I notice things about you. And I really listened to what you told me last night. So I just started thinking about ways that I could solve this thing for you, ways that I could make you happy again throughout all of this storm.” He told you and it had to be the sweetest thing you’d heard from Harvey (hell, from anyone!) in your entire life. “But I understand that I overstepped, and I’m-” But since he just wouldn’t stop talking anymore, you had to cut him off in order to shut him up.

His eyes were in absolute shock for a moment, as he just stood reactionless in your grip. But then he got the message and pulled you closer, grabbing your waist tightly while your hands stood firmly wrapped around his neck. You were pretty sure that neither one of you was still breathing at that point, but you didn’t care. Because, God, his mouth tasted so good in yours, it was like they’d been made to kiss each other. The despair both of you were investing in the kiss was huge, but it was turning into a calmer kind of fire, as the air started becoming too necessary again. He pulled your mouths apart for a minute, you resting your forehead on his shoulder.

“You know…” He started, still catching his breath. “When I mentioned you coming at me, I hadn’t really envisioned this.” He joked, a victory smile on his lips.

“Ah, well, you know how upset it makes me when you simply won’t shut up.” You shot back with a shrug of your shoulders, smiling at him.

“Huh. Wish you would’ve shut me up like this every other time.” He mocked, earning a smack in the arm from you. “Ouch! Why’d do that?”

“Because you were being a dickhead, ruining our moment.” You gave him a fake irritated glance.

“Oh, c’mon! Tell me you didn’t think about it too!” He challenged, and you didn’t feel like giving him that kind of win at the moment, so you just pulled him back in for another kiss. One that may have lasted a little longer than it should have, considering that you two still needed to take Kat to rehab and, then, go to work so you could try and save your job. But, what could you do if he, and his body, and his mouth, and his eyes, and his everything were the only things that mattered?

As he rested his chin on top of your head ⎼ that was laid on his chest ⎼, you looked up, pulling away a little, him making sure you wouldn’t fall off the small couch. “Thank you, Harvey. For everything you did. For listening. For being here right now. For everything.”

“Don’t thank me, (y/n). You’ll never have to thank me for anything. I just want you to promise me one thing.” He stated seriously.

“What?” You asked, a bit hesitant.

“That, from now on, you’ll tell me all about it, every time you have a problem.” That was easy enough, you thought. But, you being you, simply had to ask.

“So that you can be here for me?” You questioned him with puppy eyes.

He just chuckled lightly. “Well, that too. But, mostly, so that I can make it ⎼ whatever it is ⎼ okay for you.” Your heart was on the edge of not being to take it any longer. What could have you possibly done to deserve that man?

“Okay, I promise.” You said, watching his expression begin to soften already. “But, only if you promise me the same. Because I wanna make it okay for you too.” While you thought Harvey was simply gonna say yes, he started laughing at you.

“Always the kick-ass corporate lawyer, I see.”

“Would you even have me any other way?” You joked back, more relaxed now.

“Yes, of course! I’d have you in any way you came to me. Which is why I promise too.” With that, you didn’t have any other choice but to kiss him again, because crying over the fact that Harvey Surprisingly-Romantic Specter was an absolute cinnamon roll was not an option.

Taglist: @just-a-girl-with-alot-of-issues​

[arcgeminga]

What is the mun's opinion of all the gold saints from TLC?

♚— Oh boi. This is gonna be a mouthful. I know you said "all" , but I can't do saints like Avenir and Sage since I haven't read Shion and the Old Twins' gaiden in English. And I'm not about to act like I know Spanish enough to write a review on those saints.

♚ Aries Shion - Should've been the Hades Arc Shion. Like damn, I really like Shion when he's an angry sheep!! I mean, he yeets the five bronzies in Hades Arc like "Fuck dem kids!". 

I really like Specter/Pope Shion. But TLC Shion I do not hate. In fact, I can understand how and why he becomes Pope. I really like TLC Aries Shion! I just wished he was more angry sheep, but TLC Shion is not bad. I especially loved his Gaiden, at least the part where Avenir was shown. I feel like they should have explained more on his thoughts on becoming pope or exploring him having some sort of survivor's guilt but hey. I don't dislike him!     

♚ Taurus Aldebaran/Hasgard/Rasgado - Honestly, the only thing I can say about Hasgard is that... I don't hate him. I love his English Voice actor (because I'm a really big fan of Jamieson Price since Tales of Vesperia), but for Hasgard himself... I don't really have an opinion or thought on. His teenage years with Sisyphus and Aspros seemed fun, and I'm kinda... hm... sad that their relationship mellowed out? Or at least, we didn't get his and Sisyphus' opinions or reactions to Aspros' death.     

♚ Gemini Defteros & Aspros - OH BOY WHERE DO I START!? ----- Gemini Aspros - I understand why Aspros was the way he was towards everyone and his brother. It's honestly not his fault. I am happy that he doesn't have a "split personality" at all throughout TLC, even though that is something I would never diss Saga for (even if it wasn't really a split personality). He was simply manipulated into behaving cruelly because someone showed him something that he was scared of, and that was akin to his brother not needing him. His Gaiden harks back to that too, during that 'flashback' when he told Defteros that he was going to become pope, Defteros donned the gold cloth and said 'yeah so we can be equals and I won't need you' (paraphrasing). If Aspros is just going to be used and tossed away, might as well harden his own heart before then. And it doesn't help that he saw himself as a Specter and his brother as a Gold Saint when he went to the oracles.

 I feel for Aspros because, in the end, he had no idea that he had been manipulated hard enough that his goodest boy personality changed. And honestly, I can relate to that. I've had my personality take a deep dive some years ago after I had a panic attack. So I don't fault him for his actions. He was just trying to make the best with what he knew, understood, and could do, even if that meant doing terrible things. After all, it is his mindset that the weakest people are the ones that don't do anything.     ----- Gemini Defteros - I also can't fault him for anything. He was dependent on his brother, and there was no way he could understand what was going on in Aspros' tortured mind since Aspros never spoke about his feelings. But I believe that, contrary to what Aspros thinks, Defteros would have been very dependent on him even after Aspros became pope. After all, he didn't have friends, lacked social skills, and couldn't find it in himself to trust anyone aside from his older brother because of how Sanctuary treated him as they were growing up, so he would have been stuck in like a childish headspace of needing a protector and provider, which was Aspros. You can tell that much because he was asking Asmita what should he do when he was possessed by the DEF. 

When Aspros died (or rather, when Defteros killed him [which seriously broke his heart]), it forced Defteros to grow up and look after himself. This isn't a terrible thing--but it was a terrible and such a trauma-inducing way to go about it. But how he died--or rather, the fact that he wanted to sacrifice himself to save his brother... honestly it still makes me cry a lot. You can see in his eyes that he loved his brother even after the very end, and wanted him back. And just IMAGINE how many times Defteros' eyes have shown nothing but the purest love for Aspros, and how Aspros had been manipulated to see those eyes as nothing more than hate. ----- Gemini twins in general - If it wasn't obvious already, I love these two so much. I hate--I ABSOLUTELY HATE--that their brotherhood was RUINED, because these two are so... important to me. I see myself and my sister in the Gemini Twins so much. To the point where it's so personal to me. Even after being manipulated and losing his brother, Aspros still held his little brother very close to his heart and lamented and regretted the fact that he will never get the chance to be the brother he should be. And Defteros... I can't explain why his loyalty and patience for Aspros affect me so much, but it does. It does in a way where it hits me more than just an emotional way. I guess that's because I see my sister in Defteros much more than I should.

I love the twins in such a profound way where I cannot find the right words for it. They obviously still love each other so much, even after all is said and done, and I think that is so important. Having that kind of unconditional love for your sibling is the most important thing in my opinion.

God, look at me, I'm crying over the Gemini twins again for like the 100th time oiwhfowef

     ♚ Cancer Manigoldo - So, Manigoldo... Honestly, I love him, too. But in a different way. When I see Manigoldo, I remember the private threads that a friend and I used to do on Skype, and I am frankly very enamored with him. But also because of that, I do not see him the same way as everyone else too. Besides, he makes up the second half of my OTP, so ofc I'm going to see him differently. Especially since I single ship!

    ♚ Leo Regulus - He's another one that I like a lot! Not only because he's adorable, but I also see him in a different way because I'm a single shipper, and I will never say aloud who I ship Regulus with. I won't say that he's a part of a different OTP (since I only have one OTP in all of Saint Seiya) but I do like Regulus a lot because of a friend's interpretation of him in Private threads a very long time ago. 

Yeah, he might be kinda OP/Gary Sue, but he's not too hateful in my opinion. I wouldn't say he's the best TLC Saint, since my heart is stolen by the twins, but he's a very amiable character when interacting with the characters of the TLC verse, and I wish I can squish his cheeks one day!! He's so adorable! I will say though that he is impressive to replicate a Big Bang(?) by himself... I don't remember if it's the thing that really killed him, but... huh. To be that unafraid of death, I wouldn't be surprised if he has some sort of mental/personality disorder that made him... like that? Something undiagnosed? Hm... thoughts, thoughts.

     ♚ Virgo Asmita - Asmita is one of the gold saints that, I honestly, don't know about. It's different from how I feel about Hasgard. For Hasgard, I don't have an opinion for, but for Asmita, I just don't know. I love how Teshirogi drew his hands. Like damn, bruh, can we switch hands? We're both Virgo, and I think we can make it work out... /kicked

     ♚ Libra Dohko - LOL DOHKOOOO!! My sister's favorite. I feel like he's super impulsive in TLC. I haven't read his gaiden at all, so I can't say much about that, but I do like him! Like with Shion though, I feel like he should have had some sort of heavy Survivor's guilt in the end. I'm also insanely curious about what ability Defteros zonked on him to erase the memory of Athena's blood and cloth. I don't know if it's shown in Dohko's gaiden, but I would love to see how TLC Dohko came across and raised Shiryu.

     ♚ Scorpio Kardia - As a character, I adore him. He's charming, spontaneous, and, like Aspros, wants to live his life to the fullest. And his fullest means just having fun before his short life is ended. Krest might have made him practically immortal, but he's still suffering. However, Kardia also holds a lot of bad memories for me from days before, and his entire character serves as a painful, but a graceful reminder of who I was back then.

      ♚ Sagittarius Sisyphus - Honestly, I don't ever think he was qualified to be a candidate for the papal throne. He's so melodramatic. Yeah, he might treat everyone with kindness and all, but I feel like he doesn't have the knowledge part down. Let alone, he's a brawn brain! Bruh!! Shooting an arrow at "hades" is always a bad idea!! What made you-?! 

Lmfao, if possible, I feel like he and Aspros should have dual-pope'd Sanctuary. One has the brains, but lacks compassion while the other has the compassion but is "shoot first, ask questions and think about that later".

      ♚ Capricorn El Cid - I... should love El Cid, but my mind goes blank a lot around him. He's impressive, I give you that, but I don't think I have an opinion on him. And I've read his gaiden in Spanish a LONG time ago, so I'm not going to pretend that I know him enough to talk about him.

      ♚ Aquarius Degel - hm... I think he's cute. Especially in his gaiden, he's really cute.

     ♚ Pieces Agatha -

[just-the-hiddles]

Fic Teasers | November 11, 2020

Well hello, my happy peppy peeps!  I am excited for this week.  First, I am posting a really fun fic that stars Loki and Stephen Strange.  I am really pleased with how it turned out!  And then on Saturday, the first chapter of my Loki series is posting.  I am so pumped to start sharing.  So pumped.  

Taglists are open!  Let me know if you want to be added to any of my  permanent lists (Everything, Hiddles, Loki) or any individual story.

Anything You Can Do | Loki x Female Reader

“It is no use, Loki. I can’t do it!” you cried out as once again you failed to move the apple from one pedestal to another.

Loki gazed up from his reading. “Not with that attitude.” He closed his book and walked behind you. His hands lighted on your shoulders, sending a shiver up your spine. “You are so tense.” He rubbed his thumbs into the muscles. “I am not your Dr. Strange. I have been spoken to harshly enough in my lifetime to know they do little good in terms of motivation.”

Loki gazed into the distance, remembering his less than idyllic childhood. Odin constantly comparing his prowess with a sword to Thor, while overlooking Loki’s clear talents in diplomacy and magic. Had it not been for his mother, Loki would have gone mad.

“Now relax.” His hands slid down your arms. “Close your eyes and envision the apple moving in your mind as you perform the spell.”

You closed your eyes and focused on seeing the apple moving from one spot to another as you moved your hands.

“Open your eyes.” Loki whispered in your ear.

You peeked one eye open to spy the apple moved.

“I did it!” you squealed with delight. “I did it, Loki!”

Loki grinned from ear to ear at not only your success but your reaction to it. “Yes, you did.” He blushed as you jumped up to kiss his cheek. He cleared his throat. “Now do it again.” His cheek flushing again as you turned around and completed the spell successfully again.

Destiny Has Other Plans | Loki x OFC | Prologue

“Absolutely not. I can not approve of this union.” Odin retorted cooly from his throne to Loki, who stood before him.

“Why not?” he hissed through gritted teeth. “Lady Sigrun is of noble blood. Her family is favored within the palace. I should think it would please you to see me settling down.” Loki lowered his voice. “Unlike Thor.”

“Your brother’s love life has no relevance in this matter. Lady Sigrun is a fine match.” Odin gripped his specter tighter, expecting a fight. “Just not for you.”

“And again I ask, why not?” Loki quickly grew more infuriated by the second.

“You are already betrothed.”

Loki blinked in disbelief. “I don’t recall proposing to another. Tell me, Father, who am I set to…” Loki’s face narrowed in realization. “… It’s Sjofn. What have you done, Father?!”

“Joined two kingdoms. Strengthened our rule.”

“By promising me to a woman I barely know?!”

“Because you choose not to learn anything about her! Sjofn will be your wife when she comes of age. That is the end of the discussion.”

Tears welled in Loki’s eyes. “And I get no say in the matter?! While Thor is allowed to whore around with whoever he chooses?”

“Has anyone stopped you from seeking the comfort of whatever young maiden caught your eye?”

“ Thor may marry for love, I can not?”

“Precisely. Your mother and I were not a love match. I imagine you too can learn to love Sjofn in time. And I expect you to behave on their next trip here in the coming weeks.”

“And if I don’t?” Loki spat out the words. If he dared, he would strike Odin. Hot tears stung his eyes. “If I refuse to marry her?”

Odin sighed. He had hoped Loki would approach the whole matter with a calm and collected manner. “You would be banished. For the good of the Nine Realms.”

Loki huffed before spinning on his heel. “Well, we wouldn’t want something as insignificant as your son’s happiness to interfere with the good of the Realm. Would we?” He slammed the door behind him, stomping off to his chambers.

[artists-ally]

I have a request for you 🤭

Can we have a little something on Harvey’s thoughts about Claudia? How he felt when he first laid eyes on her, and when she solved the mock case? (you can write this after the part 3 if you prefer)

{What It Was Like} OFC x Harvey Specter {H.C.}

So not to spoil anything for the next part this was my EXACT idea 🤭🤭 to do little flashbacks in Harvey’s POV to have him realize what he just did and what he’s lost. I’ll do a little headcanon action for ya

Heres part one and part two for anyone wondering where this series is!

~~~~~

I totally think Harvey has always noticed and admired Claudia

Like he just looks at her and goes “yup she’s something”

But obviously he can’t decipher his own feelings and is a dick about it all

At first he asks Donna who’s like “yeah that’s Claudia Martin and she graduated top of her class and is one of the best damn associates to walk through these doors”

Maybe Harvey even initiated the mock trial to Louis just so he can get her on his team just so he can spend a little time with her

He notices she’s really quite but she puts in twice the effort that any of the other associates do

And when she brought the winning evidence to him? GAH- Harvey is like “hehehehehhehe that’s my girl” internally and starts crushing on her a little

He’s so proud to see her coming out of her bit by bit but he knows he has to be careful because he doesn’t wanna scare her off

And, in typical Harvey fashion, cannot control his desires so he’s thinking of all the ways he can keep her around so he can just look at her because she’s so damn pretty.

Her eyes, her hair is what really does it for him. He just wants to play with it and let it curl around his fingers and pull on it

When he was watching her during their first real car, during the cross examination, he doesn’t even hear what’s going on because he’s too busy watching her kick some serious ass

Of course he’s like “god damn she’s one hell of a lawyer” but he’s also like “I cannot wait to get my hands on you and show you just what you do to me because it’s a lot”

We all know deep down Harvey is a family guy and would do anything to keep them safe. Hopefully he’ll figure it out for part three so she doesn’t walk away forever

[diinofayce]

Shadows on the Horizon - 11

Pairing: Winter Soldier! Bucky Barnes x OFC! Layne Hardin | Word Count: 2k | Warnings: no Bucky this chapter, minor swearing| A/N: This is a sequel to my story Like a Whisper in the Night | Shadows on the Horizon Masterlist

“Why weren’t we told that there was an Amber Alert out for our niece?” Layne asked the room of men.

“It looks like it flew under our radars entirely,” Tony answered, his nose buried in his tablet.

Danny and Layne stood in front of Director Fury, Tony, Natasha, and a hologram of Charles Xavier. Layne watched as a hulking man in a too-tight black shirt and black jeans pace back and forth out of image behind Professor Xavier, his pacing and heavy footfalls made her anxious.

“Logan, you’re making the live feed glitch,” Danny quipped having felt his sister’s underlying distress and the large man looked at the camera, blinked twice in realization, and then moved off screen.

Tony flipped through digital pages on his glass tablet as he read through the reports on Layne and Danny’s seventeen-year-old niece, Madeline. “It looks like she ran away from your brother’s care. He and his ex have seventy-five, twenty-five split custody with him getting the kids every weekend. She and her father got into a disagreement, which the younger kids didn’t know what it was about but reporting quite a bit of fighting, and then she took off in the middle of the night after he grounded her to her room. Apparently.”

Layne and Danny looked at each other with quirked eyebrows. Madeline had only been six when they last saw her and Lucas had to have been two or three, they didn’t even know Michael and Cheryl had a third child - a little girl by the name of Rosaline. Lucas was now fourteen and Rosaline was twelve, so while their reports had been coherent enough they still weren’t much help.

“I already talked to Cheryl,” Layne said with a slight wince. Her ex-sister-in-law had always been much more kind than Michael but having always been almost thirty years her elder, the two women were far from close. “She’s very sorry to hear of your passing,” Layne added with a smirk, looking at Danny.

“That’s very kind of her,” Daniel murmured with a roll of his eyes. To everyone outside of the immediate Avengers Initiative and the X-Men Force, Daniel had died in the line of duty while performing an undercover mission. It made his job of infiltration and espionage much easier. His persona of Specter was kept extremely classified and when he was required to attend briefings outside of the need to knows he wore a full hooded gas mask like covering that had a bit in vocal distorter.

“Apparently,” Layne continued, “When Tony held the press conference confirming my official place with the Avengers she had a bunch of questions. Cheryl made sure to press to not bring any of them to Michael and that she would try to get a hold of me. Cheryl was afraid that Madeline was exhibiting powers but apparently, after the initial round of questions she didn’t have anymore and Cheryl dropped the subject entirely.”

“So, what do we know?” Natasha asked, propping one hip up on Fury’s desk despite his scathing glare and crossing her arms over her chest.

“We know she does, in fact, have powers, powers that hide even from Cerebro,” the Professor spoke up, his fingers laced under his chin as he ran his fingertips back and forth over his bottom lip.

“That doesn’t surprise me seeing as she’s basically a blind spot and a dampener to us,” Daniel quipped, running his fingers through his chocolate curls.

“So how did Hydra find her first?” Layne asked looking between the spy and the genius.

“Well, the two of you threw a major wrench into their operation. Taking out Ava List and a handful of bases. Daniel has a very solid lead on Colonel Stryker,” Natasha listed, ticking the items off on her finger. At the mention of Stryker’s name a low growl was heard from the Professor’s side of the feed just off the view of the camera. Natasha paused, casting a glance at the outburst before continuing. “Even though Daniel is listed as dead I’m sure someone over on Hydra side doesn’t believe it. You’re actively and publicly dating Hydra’s best and favorite weapon, who they got back for all of thirty seconds before you stomped on that again. I’m sure they’ve been watching your families for a very long time.”

“I think, if I may, that if young Madeline was asking for Agent Hardin to begin with that maybe we’ll only get anything further than speculation by having them speak,” the Professor offered carefully.

Layne had known it was the next logical step and she had been fully prepared for having to go and speak to her niece, but there was a niggling habit that she had formed of separating herself from her family. She reminded herself again that Madeline was still just a teenager and that she had been picked up from wherever and then tortured, she was scared and alone and Layne was probably the only one that could make her feel a little better at this point.

“Do you have a room for her, Charles, when we’re done?” Daniel asked the hologram and the elderly man smiled.

“I always have rooms, Specter. I’ll have Rogue set one up for her arrival.” With that, the hologram closed and Fury stood up.

“And who gave you the go-ahead to send her upstate?” Fury asked calmly, staring Daniel dead in the eyes.

“Her mother,” Daniel growled protectively. “She’s still a minor, Fury, it’s not your call. It’ll also be good for you to remember that I don’t work for you, I work for them.” Daniel smirked at Fury’s impassive face, noting the seething hatred in his good eye, before spinning on his heel and exiting the conference room.

“What do you think?” Fury asked rounding on Layne.

Layne shrugged and kept her face neutral. “It’s her and her mother’s choice, not ours. I could have chosen to stay down in the labs full time if I had really wanted, but at the end of the day they’re an academy whose sole focus is teaching and strengthening those kids. When she gets a grip on her powers fully and comes of age, she can decide what she wants to do. I know you think we’re pawns in your chess game, Director, but until you take away our free will you can’t force us to do anything.”

Natasha’s expression glowed with disguised pride, while Tony openly beamed - he loved when the Hardin’s snarked at people that weren’t him.

“You will keep in mind, Agent Hardin, that unlike your brother - you do work for me,” Fury scolded.

Layne quirked her head to the side and furrowed her brows. “Funny. I feel like Ms. Potts signs my paychecks. If that’s all then,” Layne smiled brightly and gave a little wave as she turned and strutted out of the director’s office.

Fury sighed heavily and tilted his head towards Natasha. “She’s around you too much,” he bemoaned as he sunk back down into his chair.

~*~

Twenty minutes later Layne entered interrogation room six with a few sodas and a box of pizza from her favorite pizzeria down the block. Madeline was still sitting stoically at the table and staring at herself in the one way mirror. Layne looked at the glass and frowned, taking her key card and swiping it along the frame causing a set of shutters to slide down and block the reflective surface.

“When Hydra took me, I couldn’t look at myself for months, every time I did I just relived it all,” Layne said softly setting down the pizza and drinks on the table.

Madeline looked slightly relieved as the shutters slid down and looked up at Layne for the first time.

“When?” she asked, her voice thick and raspy.

“A little over a year ago,” Layne answered sitting down across from her niece.

“Did you hurt people?”

“I thought I did, but your Uncle Daniel was protecting me. I didn’t know about it for a while, though.”

“Mom said he died,” Madeline commented, looking up at Layne with fiery amber eyes. “But I see him.”

Layne reached out slowly and wrapped her hand around Madeline’s wrist, rubbing the skin soothingly with her thumb until the girl’s gaze cooled.

“We don’t want to let people know that he isn’t. Did you tell anyone that you could see him?” Layne asked carefully and Madeline shook her head, pulling her wrist out of Layne’s grip.

“No, they were too focused on you and the man that they put in the chair. That’s your boyfriend, right?” Madeline questioned and Layne nodded.

“Yeah, he is.”

“He’s kind of scary.”

Layne smiled softly and folded her hands in her lap. “Sometimes, when he has to be. He’s actually a giant teddy bear though.”

Madeline picked at the broken skin around her fingernails nervously so Layne just sat and watched, not wanting to press her too hard and too quick. “They…they said they were going to make me use my powers to hold you back so that you couldn’t use yours. Then they were going to make him kill you so that he would listen to them again.”

Layne nodded slowly and swallowed a lump that formed in her throat. “Yeah, yeah that sounds like them.”

“Why didn’t you call Mom back?” Madeline asked suddenly.

Layne shook her head slowly, “I never got a call from your mom.”

Madeline pursed her lips and picked at the skin around her nails, Layne ran her hand over her mouth to cover the quirk in her lips at the familiar mannerism.

“Your mom filed a missing person’s report on you. Lucas said in the report that you were fighting with your dad, can you tell me about it?”

Tears swam up and surfaced on the girl's eyes but she blinked them back and swallowed heavily. She stalled momentarily by pulling one of the boxes of pizza to herself and inspecting the inside. Simple five cheese blend which seemed to satisfy the need for distraction as she pulled a piece off of the pie and took a large bite. Layne waited patiently, grabbing one of the diet sodas and cracking it open.

“I told Dad I wanted to call you myself. I saw you on another news conference, it was with the Black Widow, I told him about my powers. I told him I wanted to see if you could teach me how to use them so that I could help save the world too. He got really mad, screamed about how you were a disgrace to the family and how you were dating a monster because of everything,” Madeline’s voice was barely above a whisper as she chewed at her pizza.

Layne nodded and sighed, that definitely sounded like her eldest brother. “Do you remember where they found you?”

Madeline looked up from the soda she had just opened with confusion. “They came and got me from the house. Dad grounded me to my room, but I heard him on the phone calling one of those…conversion camps? The ones where they take your powers away. I tried to call Mom to come and get me, but my phone wasn’t working.”

Layne tried to keep her face neutral despite the burning anger she felt in her gut. Her brother, possibly knowingly, called Hydra to his front door. But whether out of ignorance or not she knew she would have to step in. Fishing her phone out of her pocket she slid it across the table to her niece.

“I told your mom you were safe, you should give her a call and then we’ll get you to a real room so you can get some sleep,” Layne said softly and pushed her chair back to stand up.

“What about Lucas and Rosie? What happens when Dad finds out they have powers too?” Madeline asked playing with the phone in her hands.

Layne froze with her hand on the door handle and looked back down at her niece. “I’m going to take care of them, don’t you worry. Call your mom, eat, and then I’ll have an agent take you to your bedroom, okay?”

Madeline nodded her head. “Thanks, Aunt Layne.”

“Anytime, kiddo. I’m sorry I wasn’t there for you.”

Daniel rocketed out of the observation room when Layne closed the door.

“Go bags, now. Wheels in ten,” Daniel barked and him and Layne both ran to the elevators.

[many-gay-magpies]

mags mags i am abt to scream and i figured i’d tell you bc why not I JUST DYED MY HAIR RED LIKE FUCKING R E D AND IM LOSING MY MIND. i love it but also sO much of my hair fell out during the process which is a MASSIVE YIKES and i will be monitoring/caring for it

anyways i also have to add traveling the world and writing some books to my vampire list. i actually thought about it and . is it weird that if i were immortal and stuff i would just want to buy a maple tree/maple syrup farm up in vermont and live peacefully there? just tend a nice flower garden and see to the syrup production there and be calm? idk i think that would be a lovely way to pass an eternity

i can see that Exact scenario with jaan and heli KDNSJDBDV JUST JAAN VIBRATING IN DISTRESS

levanter does absolutely HIT i will admit, but as a girl who never left her emo phase and also adores noise music i cannot say it’s my personal favorite. i love the louder, more hard-hitting stuff- like thunderous really scratched my brain itch. ofc not everyone’s gonna like that 😅😅 but i’m vibing with skz’s new stuff a lot

uhhh idk what else to say hope u have a nice day and minho loves u too

- vrvr anon

OH NO-- but also oh YES hgsjfhfj i bet it looks great!! i love red hsjffjfbg, take care of it well!! (i cld lowkey never dye my hair hsjdhjfbf im way to attached to how it is now and id be scared of ruining my scalp-- but dyed hair is so cool tho id probably do it in like. an alternate universe where i had bad hair lol)

ahhh the vampire list!! yeah theres literally so much that could go on there. and no yeah that totally makes sense like... in THEORY id want to travel the world but in reality (presuming theres ever a "reality" where i become an immortal in the first place) . id probably just start a savings account or something, fuck off and sleep for a few centuries, then wake up to a bunch of accumulated savings with which i would buy a nice lil plot of land, maybe start my own farm (nothing giant, just a few chickens and maybe a horse) and chill there for the rest of my infinite life. i could have a little cottage! i could write books in the little cottage! i could go sit by a lake and read! i could watch the sun rise! i could make friends with the local townspeople and become known as the mysterious but kind specter that lives in the farm up the hill and only comes into town every other month or so to check in, and also mysteriously has appeared to live on the farm for ages despite not visibly aging whatsoever!

NO JAAN AND HELI. im just thinking about jakah thrown into the scenario too, because he's another one with an actual sense of responsibility and braincells, but hes ALSO not nearly as anxious about it as jaan probably. so while jaan's busy freaking out hes like "man chill out, we're immortal anyway, we cant die until we get stabbed through the heart with a wooden stake. the worst that could happen is the helicopter crashes but WELL still be fine" and jaan just looks at him incredulously and goes. "fucking hell jakah being immortal doesnt mean crashing in an on-fire helicopter wont HURT."

i can admit as far as skz (and also kpop in general) goes that i am not the biggest noise music fan. like i dont hate it or anything and there are a lot of more noisy songs that i love, but its just not my Thing like it is some peoples' (and thats fine! peoples tastes are different! no hard feelings have been had). so a lot of skz's newer music doesnt appeal to me as much HDJFBFJJF (altho maniac was amazing like that shit slapped. no joke). i tend to like more vocal stuff, which is why levanter was It to me and also why i like vrvr's stuff so much-- even some of the "noisier" tracks have almost entirely vocal choruses and it just makes my vocal brain go brrr!!! so yeah :>

i hope u have a nice day/night as well!! and i hope your hair looks nice and stays (relatively at least) healthy :3

[anne-wentworth]

TAGGED BY: @abispencers thank you so much!

NICKNAME: Lee, Liyyah, Nabs

GENDER: female

STAR SIGN: pisces

HEIGHT: 5′4

TIME: 10:50pm

BIRTHDAY: February 21st 

FAVOURITE BANDS: I’m not really that into bands but PVRIS oh my god I love them they own my ass. Also really like All Time Low

FAVOURITE SOLO ARTIST: Lorde!! (am I ever going to get over Melodrama? the answer is no) also like Halsey and I recently discovered Alice Merton 

SONG STUCK IN MY HEAD: Want You Back by 5SOS can you believe they’re sucking me back in again 

LAST MOVIE WATCHED: Avengers I believe

LAST SHOW WATCHED: Suits!!! And I’m still not over it!

WHEN DID I CREATE MY BLOG: created this one in 2013

WHAT DO I POST: my blog is a whole big mess but rn it’s a lot of darvey 

LAST THING I GOOGLED: Rennlist which is this forum for Porsche enthusiasts because we’re doing a Porsche case for marketing class and I was curious lol

DO YOU HAVE OTHER BLOGS: Yeah I have a sort of aesthetic blog but I have’t been on it in forever

DO YOU GET ASKS: ocassionally 

WHY DID YOU CHOOSE YOUR URL: because I love Donna Paulsen and Harvey Specter with my heart and soul (even though Harvey pisses me off sometimes lmao) and I’m darvey trash 

FOLLOWING: 380

FOLLOWERS: 823

FAVOURITE COLOURS: pink and teal

AVERAGE HOURS OF SLEEP: idk around like...5,6 or 7

LUCKY NUMBER: 7? Idk I don’t really have a lucky number lol

INSTRUMENTS: I can’t play shit

WHAT AM I WEARING: pjs

HOW MANY BLANKETS DO I SLEEP WITH: two

DREAM JOB: writer 

DREAM TRIP: man I just want to go everywhere tbh. I don’t think I can just narrow it down to one place. 

FAVOURITE FOOD: ah I love seafood so crab and lobster and all that. Oh and pasta ofc. Specifically cajun shrimp pasta from this one place it’’s so good!

NATIONALITY: Trinidadian

POSTS: 68901

Tagging @machtgabriels @aprilsixteen @paulsensdonna and idk anyone else who wants to do this I’m not good at this stuff lol 

[taco-night-frenzy]

MY FAVE GAMES OF 2017

Wow!! Please allow me to scream into the void!! I saw vinny from vinesauce do it, and I want to DO IT TOO. FEEL FREE TO IGNORE ME I WANT TO MAKE A LIST OF THINGS I LIKED. THESE ARE JUST MY OPINIONS AND GAMES I PLAYED. *wacky voice* TOP 10 GAMES OF 2017 NUMBURRRRR OOOOOOONE

#1: Mario Odyssey

Easily the best game this year, I do not even have to think on it hard. It’s probably my favorite game ever. Mario plays better than he ever has before, the worlds are all so open and amazing to explore, and it’s just good all right.

#2: Sonic Mania

God how long has it been since Sonic has even had a good game. I was SO happy to see Sonic come back in 2D and come with some amazing gameplay, music, and visuals. I hope to see a sequel NOT MADE BY SONIC TEAM, and I hope they go with all original levels soon! It was a treat and it’s a game I don’t think I’ll forget anytime soon, because let’s be honest, we’re probably not going to get another good Sonic game for 10+ years until they give up and say MAKE SONIC MANIA 2.

#3: Hollow Knight

This game was a big surprise for me. I didn’t expect to love it as much as I did, but I REALLY loved it. I can think of almost zero faults with it. It’s a beautifully styled game, great music, great gameplay, and it’s a Metroidvania that I think finally makes the genre look good and realizes it to its fullest potential. I don’t think any other game has nailed Metroidvania’s as well as Hollow Knight. I wrote a longer review for it here.

#4: Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild

This one was a good game. I don’t think it was perfect. I think there were a lotta flaws with it, but despite it all, I had a very good time with it. I loved it, and there was nothing quite like experiencing it all for the first time

#5: Shovel Knight Specter of Torment

This game’s a no brainer. I think it was easily passed up because it’s an expansion to Shovel Knight and it came out early in the year, but it was a great game, and changed up the gameplay style to try out something much more fast paced than the game was used to. The story wasn’t quite as engaging as Plague of Shadows, but the gameplay was smooth and fun, and the new musical remixes were great.

#6: Hat in Time

are you noticing a trend, it seems like its all platformers! Whoops!! Well I like platformers a lot and this year has been CRAZY with good platformers! Hat in Time was a great game that I did not expect to be good! In a world where we had been starved of good 3D platformers for years, Hat in Time was SORELY needed, and it gave life to indies and hopefully will pave the way for future indie/3D platformers on how good they can be. Sadly for it, Mario Odyssey outclasses it in almost every way, but it’s still a VERY good game.

#7: Human Fall Flat

This here is an amazing multiplayer puzzle/platformer game. Grab this with 3 or 4 of your friends and just do WHATEVER you want. It was a very short game, and we only had about a days worth of content, but I intend to come  back to the game with them and play it again. It’s hilarious, it’s fun, and it’s a good game ANYONE can play with friends. You don’t need to be a puzzle fan or a platformer fan to enjoy this one.

#8: Golf Story

Now this one was for sure a hidden gem. It’s a Switch exclusive indie game that has almost no advertisements and it seems barely anyone even knows it exists! It’s ALSO NOT A PLATFORMER CAN YOU BELIEVE IT! But I adored this game. It’s a legitimate good single player golf game, filled with wacky environments and tasks for you to do that are all generally golf related, all while having a really well written world and fun characters. If you want a well written goofy story while playing some relaxing golf, you should for sure pick this game up.

#9: Puyo Puyo Tetris

Hey wow, not a platformer!! Good job me! This is just a good ass puzzle/match game. I think def the best there is hands down. Puyos and tetris together works incredibly well, and it’s a great vs game with a friend or friends too! The writing and voice acting were uh... pretty lame, but the important thing is the GAME itself is just so good. Fast paced puzzle action and so many different ways to play it too.

#10: Deadbolt

All right, this game came out in 2016, so its kind of cheating, sorry. But I played it this year, and it was another one of those really nice surprises. I loved it. ITS ALSO NOT A PLATFORMER! WOW! But it’s a cool game with an amazing noir soundtrack and a great noir-ish world with old-school horror monsters like zombies-bros, skeleton-gangsters, vampire-clubbers, etc. Honorable Mention goes to Dead Cells

It’s still an early access game, and even though I love the gameplay, visuals, and music of it as well!!! It’s not finished yet. It’s a roguelike platformer OFC, CAN’T ESCAPE THOSE PLATFORMERS. But it’s a great game. Very worth it even as is! But I’d like to see it finished and what the complete game will be. It’s been getting updated slowly every month and I hope it keeps going well because I loved it.

[pendulumprince]

You know how some kid shows have episodes that discuss sensitive topics? If Vrains were to do that, what subjects do you think they would cover, and how would they be presented?

Very, very interesting question.

I know you said only what I think Vrains will cover, but I decided to also include elements it isn’t likely to cover. In part for the hell of it, and in part because I think anything is technically possible—the less-likely elements would just appear in coded language.

Sexual Assault - Extremely, extremely unlikely that this would ever be tackled head-on. The only way I could possibly see this being discussed is in veiled language. So for example, someone from the main cast is kidnapped, and when they’re recovered they display signs of PTSD, Rape Trauma Syndrome, can no longer tolerate being touched, don’t want to be left alone, ect. The other characters also display an unusual amount of vitriol towards the person responsible, with even non-vengeful characters wanting retribution.

These elements could, in theory, come up. But they would likely be explained as ‘torture’; the word ‘rape’ would never be used.

Incest - I’ve brought this up in my Aoi and Akira posts, but this is also extremely unlikely to ever come up. Whether it’s Aoi and Akira, or Shoichi and his brother, or another sibling duo: if it by some chance came up, it would be presented in veiled, coded language. For example, if consensual, the siblings in question would be quite possessive over one another, keeping tabs on each other, and warding off any outside romantic interests. It would be a very enmeshed relationship.

If not consensual, that intense jealousy would still be there, but on the part of the coercive sibling. The other sibling could be presented as either deliberately rebelling against this, or as beaten down and unwilling to reach out for fear their sibling’s reaction. But in either case, the relationship would never be explicitly labeled as sexual, or even psychosexual.

Divorce - Arson, murder, and jaywalking at it’s finest. This mainly has to do with precedent. I can’t recall not one divorced couple in YGO, even in cases where it would have been justified on even the strictest of moral grounds. Yoko didn’t divorce Yusho even after the latter disappeared (read: abandoned her) for three years without a word, and it’s implied that Himika goes back to Leo the War Criminal in the finale. So I just don’t think Vrains is going to have it, either.

And to be clear, I’m not saying that silence on these issues is a good thing. I’m just analyzing precedent.

Now, onto things that are more likely to show up:

Suicide - I think this element has a shot—not a particularly good one, but it’s not a near-impossibility like the others. I put suicide in this category because if it is brought up, I think it would either be explicitly mentioned, and/or be accompanied by explicit imagery. For example, someone throwing themselves off the roof of a tall building in the real world. A character in the troughs of despair saying that they don’t want to live anymore, or don’t deserve to live. Or, if we’re looking to symbolism, perhaps someone throwing a serious duel by directing an attack against themselves (bonus points if the penalty for losing is death, in which case it wouldn’t be so symbolic anymore).

Pandemic/Plague - YGO has never really explored this, but it’s neutral enough that I can’t see any reason why it would be avoided. In a futuristic settling like Vrains, it would seem almost archaic—but that’s the beauty of it, no? That no matter how safe you feel, something can still come and turn your world upside down?

And I count this as a sensitive topic because it explicitly deals with disease, just on a mass scale. This would entail things like constant fear of being infected, the death of loved ones (or the main characters themselves), and the breakdown of society. For example, there’s an outbreak of some illness that proves to have a high mortality rate. Several people in the supporting cast die what are depicted to be terrible deaths. The characters have to race against the clock and duel some antagonistic organization into submission in order to get the cure.

Exploitation - This one, I actually count as pretty likely. The whole Charisma Duelist element is practically begging for it. So for example, we could have a popular Charisma Duelist being forced to dress, behave, and act in a certain way by a controlling manager and/or family members, both in Link Vrains and in the real world. They see this character as nothing but a means to an end.

Abandonment - This one is very likely. We already have Aoi’s feelings towards Akira, which seems to have shades of emotional abandonment. If Yusaku truly doesn’t have a family, he may have been abandoned by them. There’s also the potential that Ignis may have been abandoned by the other AIs at some point by virtue of being hated (before the Cyverse was attacked ofc).

And this can be taken further. For example, maybe the Zaizen parents aren’t dead, maybe they just up and left one day. Maybe Shoichi’s younger brother wasn’t taken by the KoH, and he actually he ran away. Maybe Yusaku was the one who ran away from his family in order to find out what happened in his past. Whatever the case may be.

Death - Okay, this is a near certainty. Every YGO series has death, even Arc V had Sergey. But here, I’m talking an explicit, permanent death among someone either neutral or allied with the main characters. Just one would suffice, because one is enough.

I thiiiiink the last time this happened was with Bruno, all the way in the 5Ds era? It’s high time we had another. For example, Shoichi dies trying to bring his brother home. Akira dies trying to protect Aoi from SOL. Revolver is killed by Specter not long after he defects. Ema crashes her D-Wheel. Naoki finally becomes a duelist who fights for justice, and dies fighting the good fight.

And if they wanted to be especially dark and edgy? Kill off Aoi or Go. Delete Ignis. I would say even Yusaku’s up for grabs, but I really can’t see things going that far. Even so, permanently killing off one of the protags besties or partner would be more than enough.