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stahlop · 5 years ago

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Once Upon a Time 2x06 “Tallahassee” Review

Reviews 1x01 1x02 1x03 1x04 1x05 1x06 1x07 1x08 1x09 1x10 1x11 1x12 1x13 1x14 1x15 1x16 1x17 1x18 1x19 1x20 1x21 1x22 2x01 2x02 2x03 2x04 2x05

The mystery man from the season premiere is finally revealed and he is Henry’s father! And apparently a complete asshole. As is August. Ugh! I get that forces apparently had to converge together to get Emma pregnant so she could put Henry up for adoption and Regina could adopt him, but did she have to be betrayed by the man she loved to do that? No wonder Emma’s such a tough cookie and doesn’t let people in. Also, Emma in the past will be referred to as young Emma to distinguish the two.

Summary: Emma and Hook climb a beanstalk to find the magic compass that will get her and Mary Margaret back to Storybrooke. In Emma’s past, we meet Henry’s father and how she ended up in jail (and how she acquired the yellow bug).

Opening: Growing beanstalk

New Characters:

Neal: I know he was in new characters previously as Mystery Man, but since we actually know who he is now, I’m putting him in here again. Also, my initial reaction to him was correct, I hate him. We first meet Neal in Portland, OR as he pops up in the backseat of the yellow bug young Emma steals. She thinks he’s the owner, but it turns out he’s also a thief, so, of course, she feels a kinship with him. Now, I’m not sure why, but the costumers did nothing to make him look any younger in this flashback, so he just seems like a creepy, older pervert using a young girl to help him with his stealing exploits. I’m not sure how old he’s supposed to be, but he’s at least 21 since he repeatedly asks young Emma out for a drink and she’s only supposed to be 17. But, I’m guessing he’s more between 23-25, even though he looks his real age which is around 35. Anyway, he gets out of a cop pulling them over by being completely misogynistic with the cop, and they go on their way. We next see him and young Emma in a convenience store and she’s very pregnant, and he refers to her as his wife. Neal distracts the cashier from him and young Emma shoplifting by asking him directions to Eugene on a map. A customer comes in and notices them stealing so young Emma pretends to go into labor. This whole scene is hilarious. They leave and we find out that young Emma is not pregnant and that she was using the bag under her dress to collect the pilfered items. And then they’re kissing in the car. Ew! They go to a motel and grab a room that a family is leaving and happens to not close the door all the way. Well, that’s lucky. Young Emma notices a dreamcatcher and explains what it is to Neal. He calls it flypaper for nightmares. He thinks they should keep it. They’re still living in the bug so young Emma doesn’t find that feasible. Neal suggests getting a real place together. Young Emma is skeptical and even suggests Neverland, which angers Neal slightly. He finds a picture of a map and tells young Emma to point to a place with her eyes closed. She points to Tallahassee, so they decide that’s where they’ll go. Young Emma asks if this is what he really wants and he says what he really wants is her. I really want to believe him, but knowing what we know later, I find it hard to believe. Neal is in a mood the next time we see him. He’s apparently wanted by the FBI and he managed to snag his poster from the post office. He stole some expensive watches when he was in Phoenix. He came to Portland and stashed them in a train locker. He tells her Tallahassee is out, he needs to head to Canada. Young Emma assumes she’ll go with him. He needs to go alone. She doesn’t think so. They argue until she decides that she’ll get the watches out of the locker. They can fence them, use the money to change their identities, and go to Tallahassee. Honestly, I thought that Neal was doing this to set young Emma up even before August came on the scene. But, apparently he really does love her and didn’t plan on being a complete asshole. So young Emma goes and gets the bag out of the locker. I’m still not sure why Neal couldn’t do this. It’s not like anyone knows where he is. Why would security think it odd if he got a bag out of a train station locker? It doesn’t seem as if it’s being watched for any reason. Why did young Emma have to be involved with this whatsoever? It seems like the fencing of the watches would be the more dangerous part of this whole scheme. Anyway, young Emma brings them to Neal and he thinks he can fence them for around $20,000. He’s going to fence the watches and reminds her to meet him at 9:00, and gives her one of the stolen watches so she has the time. Again, seems like this would be some sort of set up, except he hasn’t met with August yet. Neal is walking to meet his fence and feels someone following him. He runs off and the person runs after him. The guy tackles him and Neal thinks it’s a cop, but it turns out to be August! He and Neal argue about who’s doing a better job taking care of young Emma. August realizes Neal actually loves young Emma. He thinks that will make leaving her easier, because he’ll want to do right by her. August asks Neal if he believes in magic. Neal considers this before telling August that he obviously does (you didn’t answer the question Neal). August says he’s going to show Neal something that will make him believe. It’s in his typewriter box. And Neal does believe the minute he sees what’s in the box. August tells him about the curse and that Emma needs to break it, and she can’t do that with Neal in the picture. August asks him if he’ll do the right thing. And the right thing is apparently setting young Emma up for stealing the watches. WTF, Neal? We see Neal meeting with August two months later in Vancouver, Canada. He feels guilty about young Emma (GOOD!) and just wants to know if she’s okay. August informs he she got 11 months. He says it should be him in there. Well, it’s good to know he has feelings about this. Why didn’t he just get himself arrested and not let young Emma know? Why did he have to frame her? Ugh!! Neal wants August to promise he’ll be there for young Emma since he can’t. He does. He gives August the money from the watches and the car (with a clean VIN just like young Emma had suggested) to give to young Emma so she’ll have a fresh start when she gets out of jail. He also asks that August let him know when the curse ends. I’m sorry, I don’t know what could scare Neal so much that he would frame the woman he purports to love for his crime. That is not love.

Character Observations:

Young Emma/Emma: I’m just going to come out and say it. Young Emma is an idiot. She may know how to steal a car, but she clings to Neal because they’re both thieves, and they don’t have any family. We know she’s grown up in the foster system and she was moved around a lot, so she’s clinging to the little bit of stability that she can find. Even if it’s with a much older man that is a thief. So let’s just skip to the part where she’s set up, because this whole thing is absurd. Young Emma goes to meet Neal at the prearranged location after he fences the watches. She calls him up on her flip phone and finds his number has been disconnected. Then a cop comes and tells her that her boy set her up. He called in a tip and is probably off to Canada by now. Why does the cop know all this information? Neal called in a tip to check the surveillance footage at the train station. Ok. What does this prove? She took a bag out of a locker. Unless they have proof that there were watches in that bag, they have nothing. All they have is the one watch young Emma is wearing and there is no proof she stole it. Technically, it was a gift from Neal, so she’s done no wrong there. The cop tells her to give him the watch and then asks if she knows her rights. He doesn’t even say them to her. She just answers yes. Now, while this technically wouldn’t set her free, anything she would say after this would not be admissible in court, so most likely the judge would throw out the case unless there was other evidence that could be used. So when the cop asks where the rest of the watches were and she said ‘Gone, not coming back’ (and yes, she’s actually talking about Neal), that would not be admissible in court as her knowing about the stolen watches. And the wanted poster had Neal’s picture on it of him stealing the watches! Who was young Emma’s public defender? They did a real shit job for her to get 11 months for possession of stolen goods that she a) didn’t steal and b) they never recovered. I seriously cannot figure out how the hell this case even made it to trial, let alone a guilty verdict. The only thing I could even think they’d get her on was being Neal’s accomplice, but she didn’t even know him them, and they could see what foster home she was in and that it wasn’t in Phoenix. But back to young Emma, who is feeling very betrayed, obviously. We next see her in jail. The prison guard has a package for her that she has to open in front of her. It’s car keys to the bug, with the swan keychain. The guard says at least she has a car when she gets out, and apparently a baby, as young Emma is holding a positive pregnancy test.

In the EF, Emma volunteers to climb the beanstalk with Hook, which makes him very happy. He has a magic cuff they need to use to climb the beanstalk as it’s enchanted so no one can climb it. Was this instituted before or after Jack? Mulan gives Emma poppy powder to knock out the giant. She also asks Mulan to cut down the beanstalk after 10 hours. Emma’s story is about trust. Hook asks her to trust him several times, but after the betrayal of Neal, it seems Emma can’t trust anyone. Or at least not flirty, innuendo dripping, hot pirates. They manage to knock the giant out and get to the treasure room (with a lot of flirting from Hook, and a lot of eye rolling from Emma), before the giant wakes up and comes after them. Hook gets trapped under some fallen pieces of the roof while Emma freezes when the giant comes after them. Emma manages to trap the giant in his own cage. The giant shares with her that he is alone and how the dried bean he wears around his neck is a reminder of how all humans are killers. This hits a bit too close to home with Emma and she walks away rather than kill him with Jack’s poisoned sword. The giant frees himself and shows her a way out as a favor for not killing him. Emma starts to leave but negotiates another favor since she could have killed him twice. Turns out she wants him to not let Hook go free for another 10 hours after Emma rescues him from the rubble and then conveniently handcuffs him to a chain that happens to be there. Emma says she can’t take a chance she’s wrong about him as Hook pleads with her not to leave him there. She tells him he’ll be okay, she just needs a head start. Emma manages to get down the beanstalk right after the original 10 hours is up. Mary Margaret is upset that Emma told Mulan to cut the beanstalk down. Emma tries to explain but Mary Margaret makes it clear that they go back to Storybrooke together. Emma hugs her (awww!) and agrees.

Hook: He’s overly flirtatious with all the ladies, but especially Emma. He’s the master of innuendos, and he’s sexy and he knows it. Plus, he can read Emma like an open book. He guesses correctly that she’s an orphan due to the same look in her eyes that the Lost Boys have. He also realizes she’s had little love in her life and asks if she’s ever been in love. She lies and answers no. But after she sees Milah’s tattoo, and deduces that Rumplestiltskin most likely killed her as well as taking Hook’s hand, she confesses that she may have been in love once. This whole conversation is weird. What does having been in love have to do with her perception of Hook? He continues to be flirtatious throughout their whole journey up the beanstalk and once they reach the giant’s lair. And he’s dead sexy when he has to tie Emma’s hand with his scarf. Yummy! Sorry, but that’s just hot!!! He asks Emma to trust him several times but she just can’t do it, which leads to him being handcuffed in the giant’s castle and pleading with Emma not to leave him there. She tells him she just needs a head start, and he screams for her. I think we have an angry pirate now.

August: Ok, I cut August some slack for leaving Emma when he was seven, because he couldn’t handle that kind of responsibility. I get that. But now he’s technically behind her going to jail because he somehow spooked Neal into leaving her? He calls himself young Emma’s guardian angel and he’s trying to make up for leaving her when she was young. Okay, I get that, but to help frame her so she goes to jail? What’s that all about? August admits to Neal that he can’t say no to temptation, that he’s not built that way. This is true, Pinocchio was never good at making the right choice, but it’s such a cop out. And then it gets worse. Neal gives August the car keys and $20,000 to give to Emma so she has a chance to start over once she’s out of jail. Emma gets the car keys, mailed to her from Phuket, where August apparently took the money meant for Emma. August is an even bigger ass than Neal is. Neal at least felt guilty. August only came back to help Emma break the curse because he started turning into wood. That money could have let her keep Henry.

The Giant: We don’t get a lot of backstory. Only that it seems the fairy tale and EF history got his story wrong. That Jack attacked him and killed his family and he’s the only giant left. He’s very angry toward humans because of this. But in the end, he finds an ally in Emma and gives her the compass and agrees to watch Hook for 10 hours so she can get a head start.

Mary Margaret/Aurora: They find some common ground due to both having been under a sleeping curse. Aurora is having nightmares about a burning red room and someone inside it watching her. Mary Margaret seems happy to have a princess to mother, since Emma won’t let Mary Margaret mother her. And Mary Margaret goes all mother bear on Mulan when she tries to cut the beanstalk down. Mary Margaret makes it quite clear to Emma that they are going home together, no matter what.

Henry: He’s apparently having dreams of the burning red room with someone else watching him as well.

Questions:

Was Cora really going to climb the beanstalk with Hook? She doesn’t seem the type to do that.

Has Mulan been to Oz? Poppies are what put Dorothy and her crew to sleep in the movie.

How long have young Emma and Neal been together by the pretend pregnancy scene?

Is Neal having nightmares? Is that why he wanted to keep the dreamcatcher?

The map that Neal has young Emma point to is a map of all the states the motel chain is located.

What does being in love have to do with being perceptive about why Hook wants revenge on Rumplestiltskin? If Emma had never been in love she wouldn’t understand that Rumplestiltskin killed Milah? That would make her a pretty bad bail bonds person if she couldn’t figure things out like that.

Why does young Emma say Neal got away clean with stealing the watches? The wanted poster has a picture of him stealing the watches! Why does Neal have to explain about the security cameras?

Why is Neal running to Canada? They have extradition laws there. He could still be arrested and sent back to the US. Better to go to Mexico instead.

Is Neal not wanted by the FBI anymore? How is he currently living in New York if he’s still wanted by the FBI? Did he change his identity? He would have to if he has an apartment and seems to working somewhere that requires a suit.

How long has Neal had this train station locker? I don’t know what lockers were like in 1999 or 2000, but according to Google, you can only store something in a train locker for a day.

What’s in the box, August?! What’s in the box?!

Neal doesn’t seem to find August talking about curses weird at all? Could he be from the EF?

Why didn’t Neal just leave? Why did he have to set Emma up to go to jail? Just ghost her and run.

What does it matter if Hook steals other things from the giant?

If Neal felt so guilty about what happened to Emma that he wanted to know when the curse broke, why hasn’t he come to Storybrooke to find her? Or is he currently on his way?

Why did the giant have the compass on him? Was he expecting someone to try and steal it? Was it special to him in some way?

Are Aurora and Henry seeing each other in the burning red room? Will they be able to communicate with each other?

Did Emma spend two years in Tallahassee waiting for Neal? Or did she just like the idea of Tallahassee enough to go there after she was free?

Observations:

It’s nice that Emma’s false eyelashes stay on so well throughout this entire journey without bugging her at all.

There are apparently no more magic beans to make portals with, as they were destroyed by the giants after a great war led by Jack the Giant Slayer.

The swan pendant Emma wears around her neck is the keychain Neal stole for her.

Tallahassee is not near a beach. The closest beach is about 90 miles away.

According to the wanted poster, Neal’s birthday is March 23, 1977. That makes him 22-23 at this point.

Now we know why young Emma went to jail in Phoenix; that’s where Neal stole the watches.

The giant’s castle seems to be made pretty shoddily if just walking makes everything shake and pieces of the roof cave in.

Jack’s skeleton is still in the giant’s castle and his sword has his name on it.

Emma has a flower tattoo on her left wrist.

August says that Emma was sent to a minimum security prison in Phoenix. In Desperate Souls Emma says she was in juvie and her records were supposed to be sealed. A juvenile detention center and a minimum security prison are two separate places. Juvie means she’s under 18 and minimum security means she was tried as an adult.

August sent Neal the postcard in Broken.

That’s a pretty big cage considering the giant’s enemy seems to be humans.

Once Upon a Time Firsts:

We actually saw a dreamcatcher hanging in Neal’s apartment in Broken, but this time it’s shoved in our faces and we will be seeing them again throughout the series.

Hook asking Emma to trust him.

Emma’s tattoo.

Names:

Neal Cassidy: Neal Cassady is the name of a beat poet in the 60’s and hung out with Jack Kerouac. Not sure if this was intentional somehow by the writers or if Neal made up his name being that he’s a thief.

So, I’m extremely angry over young Emma’s shoddy frame job, and the fact that Neal and August got away scott free apparently. I love Hook’s flirtiness and his innuendos. All in all, Emma’s backstory was really important to understand why she doesn’t trust real easily, but I don’t see her trusting Hook any time soon, regardless of the circumstances. But she’s finally starting to trust Mary Margaret and hopefully see her as her mother.

Please leave comments and reblog! Let me know if you’d like to be tagged in future reviews.

@searchingwardrobes @thisonesatellite @justbecauseyoubelievesomething @laschatzi @profdanglaisstuff @mariakov81

#once upon a time #once upon a time review #once upon a time rewatch #once upon a time 2x06 #once upon a time tallahassee

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raywritesthings · 5 years ago

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Bird in a Storm 1/17

My Writing Fandom: Arrow Characters: Laurel Lance, Oliver Queen, Quentin Lance, John Diggle, Tommy Merlyn, Lucas Hilton, Thea Queen Pairing: Laurel Lance/Oliver Queen Summary: The confrontation between the Hood and SWAT on the roof of the Winick Building goes differently, altering the course of Laurel's career, relationships and efforts to save her city forever, the shockwaves of such an altered path making themselves felt throughout her family and friends. AU from 1x13 “Betrayal” on. *Can be read on my AO3, link is in bio*

On the island, split second decisions had been the difference between life and death, and there had never been time to worry about the moral implications. That had always come later. But Oliver already hated himself for what he was about to do.

There was only one way off this roof that would ensure his safety and his identity. One way to survive.

Oliver grabbed hold of Laurel with one arm, pulling her back against his chest. She was rigid, and he could feel the hammering of her heart. Fear. He had broken the precarious trust she’d placed in the Arrow once again.

Lance’s eyes burned with rage. “You so much as leave a bruise on her, and I swear I will drag you down to hell myself.”

“Laurel, I’m sorry.”

With a slight shove, he turned with one arm already pointing his bow to shoot a grapple hook arrow — but in the same instant the shot rang out.

Louder to his ears was the punch of air that left Laurel as she staggered back into him with the force of it. Oliver felt his heart stop as his arm came round her once more, this time to hold her up.

There had been the crack of a bone. He couldn’t tell if there was blood. What kind of bullet had Lance let his men use?

“Laurel,” he breathed, watching her eyelids flutter in response.

An anguished wail left Lance, and he teetered forward and back on his feet before whirling around and snarling at his own task force. “Guns down! Who fired?”

Another split second decision, this time with someone else’s life in the balance.

Oliver pushed the consequences to the back of his mind and spun Laurel around, encouraging her to get her good arm around his neck. She clung on as if by instinct. Then he jumped with her in his hold.

The shouting of Lance and the other officers was lost in the wind rushing past his ears. Once he regained his feet, Oliver scooped Laurel’s legs up with his other arm and broke into a run. The pained whimper that left her at the sudden movement tore at his heart. This was all his fault. He should’ve been more careful. What sort of monster was he that he’d been willing to gamble her life?

“I’m sorry,” he said again in the Hood’s voice, hardly a comfort. Oliver frowned and refocused on moving forward.

He could get her to a hospital faster than all of them, and he was loathe to trust any of them with her at the moment.

But they would never let him leave once he relinquished Laurel.

Only a split second to decide.

He changed course, activating his comm and praying that Diggle was listening.

“Get the medical supplies ready.”

“Oliver? What the hell happened to you?”

“It’s not for me.” Laurel’s breathing was growing shallower by the minute. It was possible she was entering shock. He couldn’t stop to treat her for that, not when every cop in the city was bound to be looking for them soon.

But he was unwilling to let it go without trying to reach her and keep her grounded. “You have to remain calm.”

Laurel’s breathing only seemed to pick up, and her face turned from him. Right, he terrified people like this. The Hood was the last person anyone would want at their figurative bedside.

He didn’t think Oliver Queen was much better. But he had to try.

With a soft beep he deactivated the voice modulator. “Stay with me, Laurel. Please.”

There was a hitch in her breath and then her head fell back, looking up at him.

“...Ollie?”

Without the modulator, he couldn’t hope to hide the tremble in his voice. “I’m so sorry.”

He wasn’t really sure if she was seeing him. Her eyes remained wide and shocked as he rounded the final corner into the alley behind the Verdant. Oliver took the last few steps at an even faster run.

“Just a bit farther. It’s gonna be alright.”

Digg was waiting at the exam table, but he looked up as soon as Oliver cleared the stairs.

“Oh, hell.”

“Not now, John. Please.” He laid Laurel on the table and pushed the hood back from his face. “Help me.”

Diggle held his gaze for a long moment. “Pass me the scissors. Need to get at her shoulder.”

---

John did exactly as he had always done in Afghanistan: work quietly and quickly. Oliver was much too tense for conversation as it was, and truthfully he wasn’t much better.

Laurel Lance’s gunshot wound wasn’t a penetration. From what he could feel, she had a clavicle fracture. Rubber bullet, most likely. It wouldn’t need surgery, though she was going to need some work to regain the full use of her left arm. Better that than a few inches to the left and a shot to the face that would have had much more potential to be lethal.

She’d lost consciousness, for which he was a little grateful. Oliver didn’t put much stock in painkillers, so they didn’t have much on hand. They’d want to save it for when she woke up.

But soon enough he was laying down the leftover supplies from the makeshift splint he’d crafted and stripping the gloves off his hands, the silence in the base growing heavier by the minute. He drew in a breath, then asked at last, “Oliver, what were you thinking? What happened?”

There was no immediate answer. Oliver seemed to be taking some time to gather his thoughts. He’d found a jacket to drape over Laurel in her sleep, the closest thing they had to a blanket down here, and John watched him take care not to touch her shoulder as he tucked it around her. Oliver brushed some of her hair back behind her ear, his expression utterly unreadable. Finally he took a step back and looked up.

“It was an ambush. Lance must have figured out how we were meeting, and he brought his whole task force.”

John wiped some of the sweat from his forehead. Sometimes he didn’t know how Oliver got himself into or out of these situations. “And how does that end up with an innocent woman shot? Lance’s daughter shot?”

Something crossed over Oliver’s face, darkening his expression. “The only way to get off the roof was to place her between me and them. But when I pushed her towards Lance someone must have had their finger resting on the trigger, and the sudden movement…” He trailed off, but John could gather the rest.

“So what made you bring her here?”

Oliver looked at him as though he’d just spouted pure insanity. “It was one of Lance’s men who shot her. I couldn’t leave her there. And I wouldn’t have been able to get out of the hospital without being arrested.”

It might not have been impossible, but he could see the difficulty. John looked down at Laurel Lance. They had very few options and very little time to act, but some things needed to be decided now.

“Are we letting her wake up here? Cause if we do, she knows everything,” he pointed out, no doubt needlessly. Oliver crossed his arms tight, as if trying to hold in the rising panic at what his actions had caused. “If you help me get her in the car, I can drive her to a hospital.”

But Oliver was already shaking his head. “There’s no way to explain how you or I would have found her. Lance saw the Hood take her, so that would put me right back in the station.”

“Right, and now he’s got kidnapping to add to his list of charges.”

“I’d like to add reckless endangerment to a list of his crimes,” Oliver growled. “What was he thinking, John? The only daughter he has left could have been killed tonight and all for his obsession.”

“Some people are willing to do whatever it takes when they’re on a mission,” he said, his voice carefully light.

Judging by the look Oliver sent him, the double meaning wasn’t missed.

He plowed ahead anyway. “But seeing as she is his daughter, what’s to stop her from telling him the truth whenever she wakes up? She’s gonna have the power to end this whole thing, Oliver. To end both of us.”

Oliver shook his head. “That’s not something Laurel would do.”

“Yeah, well I’d feel more confident about that if you hadn’t just got her shot.”

He watched Oliver frown and pace away, grabbing up his change of clothes to finally shed the Hood’s suit.

When he returned, he was scrolling through his phone with an even deeper frown.

“Missed calls?”

“Yeah, about twenty. Tommy, mom, Thea — hold on.”

The phone had started buzzing in Oliver’s hand, and he placed it up to his ear. “Hello?”

There was a pause where John thought he could hear the chatter of Oliver’s sister on the other end.

“Speedy, slow down. What?” He glanced down to Laurel and briefly touched her still hand. “That’s… horrible,” Oliver said, seemingly struggling for the right word for a moment. “Of course, I’ll head right down. I’ll be careful. Love you.”

“So what’s going on?” John asked once he’d hung up.

“There’s a search being organized for Laurel. And a manhunt for the Hood. Lance is on the warpath.” He gave Laurel’s hand another squeeze and looked up. “I have to go join the search.”

“Something tells me you’re not planning to be too helpful.”

Oliver gave him a dry look. “Considering I’m trying not to prove I’m the Hood, that would be the idea. Text me the minute she wakes up, please. Or if anything about her condition changes.”

“Right.”

Oliver turned to go, but stopped and looked back. “John, I — thank you.”

John nodded. There wasn’t anything that needed to be said. Whether or not he agreed with what had happened tonight didn’t matter; they were in this together regardless.

He sighed as the door shut behind Oliver, and he settled into the chair in front of the computer. From this position he could keep an eye on their patient without being uncomfortably close. No doubt she’d be disoriented enough upon waking already.

John considered their options going forward. Everything hinged on whether or not Laurel Lance considered the Hood an enemy or still her friend. Or perhaps it mattered how she considered Oliver more.

He had wondered from time to time if it might be better that some of the people in Oliver’s life knew the truth. It would lessen the constant demands on his time, anyway. And he knew the longer he isolated himself, the longer it’d take for him to come back from those years on the island. John himself had only just started feeling like a part of the world again after Afghanistan, and he had Carly in his life. A.J., too, even if his nephew wasn’t quite old enough to fully understand why Andy had never come home from the war.

But none of what John had done was technically illegal...

Laurel was a gamble but she was perhaps still the best option for who could find out first. She’d proved willing to work with the Hood multiple times, unlike the rest of Oliver’s circle who seemed convinced the vigilante was a dangerous lunatic. She was close to Oliver without being an actual family member John knew he couldn’t stand to lose. And with her in the know, perhaps she’d be less of a distraction that led to mistakes like tonight’s events.

Finding himself cautiously optimistic, John leaned back in his chair to wait. It was all they could do now.

---

Quentin was about ready to rip his hair out. How could the night he’d planned to catch that damn vigilante have gone any worse?

He’d had him. He’d had him in his sights. Then the bastard had grabbed Laurel, and he’d felt his heart stop. Only things hadn’t ended there.

One of his officers, one of his own, had shot his daughter. Starling’s supposed finest. He still couldn’t believe it.

It had all felt like some horrible nightmare where things had kept spiraling out of his control. He should’ve never taken his eyes off her. That had been a rookie mistake. As it was, that Hood had had Laurel off the roof and down onto the streets below before Quentin could do so much as turn and run to the edge. They’d disappeared in the shadows between two buildings as he’d screamed her name.

Pike had been about as furious as Lance had ever heard him when he’d called in the botched operation and requested more forces to begin canvassing the area. He’d deal with that later; right now, it was his own rage and fear he had to keep in check.

Pike’s new superior Captain Stein’s first and foremost demand had been to allow the reporters who had swarmed around the scene to believe that it was an arrow Laurel had been hit with and not a bullet. Damage control was always the first thing on the brass’s minds, none of them having learned from Nudocerdo’s mistakes, apparently. It didn’t sit well with Quentin; lying about the facts of a case never did. And he wanted justice for his daughter.

He’d see that officer thrown off the force whether the public knew why or not. As for the vigilante, he was starting to wonder if he should’ve put a bullet in him months ago. If he was willing to abduct Laurel, someone that for whatever reason believed he was some kind of force for good in this city, who knew what else he was capable of?

They’d found nothing in the immediate perimeter that had been set up. Now he stood over a map, outlining where the combined groups of police patrols and volunteers should look next. A couple of Laurel’s colleagues had come out, but nothing compared to the outpouring of aid from the Glades. Whole families had come up to him with stories from their time as Laurel’s clients. If he wasn’t so worried, he might have been proud.

But none were as much of a wreck —outwardly anyway — as Merlyn. He’d come screeching up to the edge of their perimeter and leapt out of his car before the engine was fully off.

“Detective Lance! I just saw the news. Have you found anything?”

He’d tossed his third cup of coffee and shook his head. “Not yet.”

“But why would he shoot her and then take her with him?” Merlyn had finally managed to get one of his gangly legs over the tape they had tied between two telephone poles and jogged the rest of the way to him. “I mean, I know he’s crazy, but that beats about anything yet.”

Quentin had looked him up and down, then stepped closer. “Look, uh, I’m gonna level with you. It was a misfire from an officer.”

Merlyn had reeled back. “The cops shot her?”

“Would you keep it down?” He’d growled. “It was a rubber bullet. Laurel wasn’t the target.”

“What was she even doing there?”

“She’s been talking to him. The Hood.”

Merlyn had frowned. “I told her he was dangerous.” Something had darkened in his expression. “When they catch him—”

“You’ll have to get in line. Now are you here to look or not?”

Merlyn had stuck by his elbow ever since, helping coordinate between the various groups. The organizational aspects seemed to keep him calmer, as calm as he could be given the circumstances.

“Is there a neighborhood he’s been spotted in more often than others? He’s gotta have some kind of home base, right?” Merlyn wondered aloud. “What if he ditched her out in the Glades somewhere? She’s totally defenseless.”

“We’ll comb the whole city if we have to—”

Anything else he’d been planning to say was drowned out by the motorcycle that came roaring down the street before stopping just beyond the police tape. Quentin scowled, though not as much as when he got a look at who the driver was. Oh Christ, and he’d been wondering if it could get worse.

“Queen, what the hell are you doing here?”

“Just saw the news and wanted to help join the search.”

“Yeah, you’re the last kind of help I need.”

Queen frowned, and his tone had a coldness Quentin hadn’t known he possessed as he replied, “Laurel is my friend, and the most important thing to me right now is that she is safe. I would have hoped that’s something we could agree on.”

“I know I can,” Merlyn said before Quentin could answer to that. He embraced his friend for a brief moment. “God, Ollie, you think she’s okay?”

“I have to believe that. But the longer we go without any news it seems less likely.

In this city, money talks.” He turned back towards Quentin. “I would like to pledge ten million dollars to anyone who comes forward with credible information about Laurel or the Hood.”

Quentin was glad he hadn’t been drinking his coffee. As it was, he was still left spluttering. “Ten million! For information?”

Queen’s serious expression never wavered. “Laurel is worth that and more.”

Merlyn gave a nervous laugh. “Yeah, but no one’s asking you to bankrupt yourself.”

“I lived without money for five years, Tommy. But I can’t go back to living without the people I care about.”

He and Merlyn exchanged a look, thrown by the blunt statement. Quentin cleared his throat and said, “Alright, well I can’t stop you. Are you actually gonna join this search or just throw money around?”

“I’d like to,” Queen said, his tone clipped.

“Go talk to Detective Hall, then. She could use another volunteer for her team.” As the younger man turned and left he thought he could feel the air grow less heavy. Quentin shook it off and turned back to his maps.

The hours continued to crawl by, and though calls increased as the news of Queen’s reward spread, none of it turned up anything useful. Slogging through each and every tip however legitimate was more likely to just slow them down.

Hilton approached him with another coffee and pursed lips. He knew his partner had something he wanted to say about everything that had gone down on that roof, but Quentin also knew he didn’t want to hear it.

“No word yet,” he muttered.

“Quentin, I think we gotta be honest with ourselves. He’s not gonna be wandering out on the streets for us to find.”

“I’m not giving up looking, Hilt—”

“I’m not saying you should,” his partner interrupted. “But we need to fix our strategy.”

“Alright. Well, what did you have in mind?”

“There’s been no ransom, no attempt at contact. Laurel has the only phone with a direct line to him,” Hilt said, looking to him for a nod to confirm. “We need to start a dialogue.”

“How do you wanna do that?”

“He’ll probably have an eye on the news to see what our next move is. I think it’d be best for you to address him directly.”

Quentin stood up straight. “You think I’m gonna negotiate with that nut job?”

Hilt’s gaze never wavered. “Your daughter was injured. She needs medical care, and the longer we wait the less likely that’s gonna happen.”

Quentin stared hard at the ground. He knew Hilt was right. No matter how badly he wanted to catch this vigilante, he needed Laurel back. Things had already gone badly enough once.

“The only thing we know for sure makes this guy tick is that he’s got ideas about justice. There’s no justice in taking Laurel. You gotta appeal to that.”

He tried not to scoff. “You think that’s really gonna work?”

“Well, we know he’s been willing to talk to you before. That means a part of him’s got to be willing to listen.”

Hilton got everything arranged. Before Quentin felt remotely ready Green from the nightly news was there with a cameraman, and some woman was pinning a mic to his lapel.

“We are on the scene live for the search both for Dinah Laurel Lance, a lawyer for the nonprofit CNRI, and the infamous Hood, who has — for the first time — taken a hostage,” Green stated to the camera a few paces away. “Detective Quentin Lance, who is leading the search as well as the SCPD’s anti-vigilante task force, has asked our network to broadcast this address to the vigilante himself.”

The woman who’d miced him cued him with the point of a finger.

Quentin squinted into the camera lens. “Alright, I’m gonna make this brief. You are and have always been a criminal since you showed your hood around here. I don’t want anyone thinking otherwise, especially after tonight. You’ve abducted an innocent woman. More than that, you’ve abducted my daughter. There’s not a lot of ways this can end for you.”

He drew in and let out a breath.

“But that’s not what the people of this city have come together for. The people who are out there right now searching and hoping for the safe return of one of our own. So I am asking you to turn Laurel Lance over to the nearest precinct. There will be no ambush. No armed officers. You bring her back and you have one night of immunity. I guarantee it. This is my daughter, and I just want her home.”

This felt all too familiar all of a sudden. Not that he’d ever done this, but he had watched years ago as a different father had pleaded on live television for Barton Mathis not to carry out his sick experiment on the latest woman he’d taken.

It hadn’t done any good. Quentin had found her one night later with Dollmaker’s usual adjustments. He’d broken the news to her family as gently as he knew how, but he remembered to this day the man’s sobs over her body in the morgue.

He could become one of those fathers. He could lose the only daughter he had left.

It felt very hard to breath, and whatever he’d meant to say next completely escaped him. “She’s my daughter,” he heard himself repeat. “I don’t know why you took her, what you want with her. If this is about me, then come after me. But not her.”

He could see it again, the way she’d fallen limply back into that lunatic’s arms.

“She needs a doctor. Please, just let her go. I don’t know if you’ve got a family or not. But she’s all I have. Please. I- I can’t—”

Quentin turned sharply away from the camera and the lights. He ripped the microphone off and shoved it at the assistant as he walked past. “I can’t,” he repeated hoarsely.

Behind him, he could hear Green speak again, but didn’t process the words. He was teetering somewhere on an edge, torn between his need to bury himself in the work and his desire for a stiff drink.

As he exited the ring of camera equipment he could feel a pair of eyes on him. Quentin looked up and somehow wasn’t surprised to see who it was waiting and watching.

“What is it, Queen?”

“I have to go home to arrange the reward with my mother and our bank.”

“Right. Fine.”

Queen hesitated, like he wanted to say something more. Quentin mustered up a glare to make it clear he better not. The billionaire finally gave a small shake of the head and headed back to his bike.

Good riddance. He’d be damned if the man who had gotten Sara killed somehow saved Laurel.

---

Laurel came to cold and stiff, with a dull, throbbing ache in her left shoulder that seemed to only grow worse the longer she lay there. She gave a small groan and could only seem to get one arm to cooperate as she pushed herself up from a metal table. A jacket she swore she’d seen before slipped off her onto her lap, and she stared at it dumbly.

“Try not to touch your left shoulder,” a familiar voice said, and Laurel gave a start as she looked up and met Mr. Diggle’s calm gaze. “The splint should be holding things in place, and the painkillers should be kicking in.”

“Painkillers…”

She noticed the sleeve of her shirt and jacket had been cut away to expose her shoulder, which had an angry red welt from what she could see of it under the splint. Laurel shrugged her way into the jacket for a bit of coverage, more for her own comfort than any mistrust of Mr. Diggle.

It smelled mostly of sweat, but also something familiar that had a strange calming effect considering she was in an unknown place with a man she was only tertiarily familiar with and no idea how any of it had happened.

It was slowly coming back to her; the rooftop, her father’s men pointing their guns at her and the Hood both, the shot and the shock of pain that had followed. Then things got hazier. She remembered being carried somewhere, the Hood’s voice transforming into Oliver’s midway through, and his eyes staring back at her from under the hood.

Slowly her eyes were taking in their surroundings. The tables lined with green-tipped arrows, a computer, a training mat and one of those workout ladders.

The air whooshed out of her in one soft, “Oh.”

Mr. Diggle drew in a breath. “Yeah. You get used to it.”

“Uh-huh.”

Oliver was the Hood. Oliver Queen, former playboy and the man who had broken her heart five years ago, was the vigilante who had been giving people in the city hope. Who had been giving her hope. She… she’d believed in him.

“Do you remember what happened to you?”

She appreciated the question, because it gave her mind something to focus on besides the shock. “I was shot. One of the task force members my father…” Laurel trailed off and shook her head, not wanting to believe it. “How could he?”

“I don’t know,” Mr. Diggle answered softly. “That splint should be enough to put the bone back into place, but it’s gonna take a while to fully heal.”

It occurred to her that he was apologizing. Laurel shook her head.

“That’s okay. Um, do you have some water?”

He nodded and went to get her a cup. Laurel managed to swing her legs over the side of the table to sit up properly by the time he was back, though her left side was throbbing even more in protest. She accepted the drink with a quiet thanks and sipped at it, letting her eyes take in the whole space for a second time.

“Where’s Oliver?”

“Went to go join the search for you,” Mr. Diggle answered. “I let him know you’re awake, though, so he’ll find a reason to come back.”

“The search?”

“Police saw you get taken away by the Hood. They’re saying you’re his hostage.”

Something that didn’t quite sound like a laugh bubbled up and escaped her.

“Here,” Mr. Diggle said, passing her his phone. “You don’t have to take my word for it.”

He’d pulled up a news site running what they were calling a breaking news story. Hood Takes Hostage, the banner at the bottom read. Seeing her own photo displayed along with a hotline number for anyone to call who had information on her whereabouts was bizarre to say the least.

“Oh God.” Laurel set the phone aside and placed her hand on her forehead. “This is a mess.”

He didn’t disagree.

A door somewhere above them opened and Laurel looked around as Oliver entered whatever place they were in. He stopped at the bottom of the steps as he met her eyes.

There was a look in them, an intensity she until now had only been able to guess at. Now she could only wonder how she hadn’t seen it.

Except she had, hadn’t she?

“So… when you said you couldn’t be some vigilante, that was a lie.”

Oliver looked down, then slowly crossed the room to her table. “How are you feeling?”

“About as good as getting shot feels.”

A pained look flickered across his face. “I’m sorry. I never meant for this to happen to you.”

“It’s not your fault,” Laurel replied.

“The police were after me, not you,” he insisted.

She shook her head. “Ollie, the first rule of firearms is you never point at a target unless you’re prepared to take the shot. Even if just with rubber. They were ready and willing to shoot me.”

Out of the corner of her eye, she saw Mr. Diggle nod in agreement.

“Anyway, I knew the risks.”

“I didn’t want to take those risks with you,” said Oliver.

Laurel felt the corner of her mouth lift in a wry smile. “Well, it’s a little late for that. So… what happens now?”

Oliver exchanged a look with Mr. Diggle, then drew in a breath. “You know my secret.”

“Yes.”

There was a long pause.

“I think he’s trying to ask how you’re feeling about it,” Mr. Diggle finally said. She couldn’t quite suppress a smirk while Ollie fidgeted.

“I guess a part of me knew. I would have preferred you just admitted it when I asked you, but here we are.”

“Here we are,” Oliver echoed.

“Ollie, I agreed with what the Hood has been doing. I wouldn’t have worked with you if I didn’t. Knowing it’s you doesn’t change that. If anything — well, it’s nice to know I can contact you as easily as you could me.”

He was staring at her like he couldn’t quite believe she was real. “You want to work with me.”

“Yes,” she said, dragging the word out slightly. “I’ve been working with you, if you haven’t noticed. And you’re my friend. If you needed help, all you had to do was ask.”

“But the Hood’s — I mean I — Laurel, I’ve killed people.” For whatever reason, he seemed frustrated with her. “I’m not a good person.”

“No, you’re a good person trying to do good things who has not always used good methods.” Laurel leaned a bit to the side, as much as her shoulder would allow, to try and catch his eyes which were determinedly stuck to the floor. “If you weren’t a good person, you wouldn’t have returned the money Adam Hunt stole to his victims. Or intervened in Peter Declan’s case. Or helped get justice for Joanna’s brother and the other firefighters. You are more than just a killer, Ollie.”

He finally lifted his gaze, and Laurel felt a pain somewhere in her chest at the doubt that she saw there. This was what he had meant when he’d told her of the damage he didn’t want his loved ones to see. It was not the physical scars from the island he carried, but the things he’d had to learn and to do there to make it back to them. Things he could have chosen to leave behind and live out a comfortable life, but instead was using to make their city a better place for everyone.

“No one can get it right all of the time — not even the cops do,” she remarked with chagrin. Laurel then slid off the table and took a step towards him. “But I believed in the Hood, and I believe in you, too.”

Slowly, she wrapped her good arm around his middle and tucked her head under his chin, the best approximation of a hug she could manage at the moment. Oliver didn’t move away, but he stood still for a long moment. So long it had her holding her breath wondering if she’d done the wrong thing. But then, his arms came around her, one hand cupping the back of her head, and she felt as well as heard the shuddering breath he released in time with her own.

She’d asked the Hood once if the life he’d chosen to lead made him lonely. It was clear to her now that Oliver was.

Laurel stood there as long as she dared, until the throbbing in her shoulder was too much to ignore. She pulled back and couldn’t stop herself from reaching a hand up to touch the spot. When she darted a guilty look in Mr. Diggle’s direction, however, she found him smiling.

Oliver had focused in on her injury. “We really do need to get you to a hospital. Digg’s work is good, but you should have a professional look at it.”

“I know. But can it wait? Just a little,” she added as he frowned. “I just know the minute I’m checked in somewhere my father will show up, and after what happened tonight I’m not sure I can face him right now.”

“Of course,” Oliver said, voice soft. “Laurel, I’m so sorry he did this to you.”

“It’s not your fault,” she repeated. “I just, um, I guess I wish I could be surprised.” Laurel looked up, the smile she attempted wobbly at best, and found Oliver’s eyes swimming with remorse.

“Well, while you’re here, why don’t we give you the tour?” Mr. Diggle suggested.

She turned to him, grateful for the distraction. “Sure. Where even is here?”

“We’re under the club,” said Oliver.

“Wait, really?” They both nodded and she gave a slight shake of the head, trying to reorient herself. “Is that why you’re opening it?”

“More or less.”

“Well, I hope you have somewhere to stash all of this when you get inspected.”

Oliver’s face scrunched up in confusion, and Laurel stared at him. He couldn’t really not realize — but then he asked, “What inspection?”

“The building inspection? Ollie, you have to get everything about your place of business approved by the zoning board before you open. Now I’m sure there’s an inspector or two on the payroll who would take a bribe, but that’ll come back to bite you if anybody bothers looking into your finances.”

She watched Oliver and Mr. Diggle exchange a look.

“We- we’re looking into some options.”

“Right,” she said, unconvinced.

She was shown the basic layout of the place, not that there was too much down here. Even still, it was the Hood’s base. Oliver’s base. His eyes kept going to her shoulder, and Laurel knew she couldn’t delay getting it looked at by a real doctor forever.

Mr. Diggle was the one to help her into the back of a plain black car with tinted windows. He dropped her off at the mouth of an alley just two blocks from the hospital. Laurel walked herself right into the waiting room of the ER and up to the desk.

“Hi, I was hoping someone could look at my shoulder.”

“Alright, if you could fill out this—” the rest of the receptionist’s words died on his lips as he looked up. “Oh my God, it’s you!”

“Um, yeah. I’m not missing anymore.” If she could’ve shrugged, she probably would have. “And I’m not sure I really ever was.”

---

Tommy cursed under his breath as he rounded yet another corner of the parking garage and found no open spaces. He nearly reached the roof before he was able to park and took the stairs rather than wait for the elevator.

There wasn’t a helpful flashing sign pointing out Laurel’s room, so he threw himself at the first help desk he could find.

“I’m here to see Laurel Lance.”

“Are you family?”

“I’m her boyfriend. Please? I haven’t slept all night. And I brought her pajamas and a change of clothes.”

The woman at the desk relented with a sigh. “Down to the left, third room.”

Tommy flashed her as winning of a smile as he could manage while exhausted. “Thank you.”

He should have realized which room was hers from the start judging by the officer stationed outside it. He was allowed past with little fuss and found Laurel sitting up in the bed in a hospital gown and a strange white sling that crossed over both shoulders, her father and a doctor and nurse all standing to the sides.

“Hey.”

Laurel turned to him and managed a brief smile. “Hey. I didn’t know you were coming.”

“Of course I was.” He walked forward and placed the bag in the currently vacant visitor’s chair, then leaned in to press a kiss to her lips. “I was worried sick about you.” Tommy looked back up to the doctor. “How’s she doing?”

“Better than we would have expected. Physical therapy is still highly recommended, of course, but her injury was very competently treated in a short amount of time.”

Tommy didn’t know how that was possible. “By who?”

“The Hood,” Lance said, practically a growl. “He made some sling out of scraps and put it on my daughter.”

“Your daughter who is awake and here and does not like being talked about as if she is not in the room,” Laurel added pointedly.

Lance grimaced. “We’ll, uh, we’ll leave you to get changed, honey.”

They all shuffled out and shut the door behind them. The nurse continued down the corridor, but Lance snagged the doctor’s arm before he could get away.

“Listen, is there anything you can tell me about her injuries or the job he did? I mean what kind of training would somebody have to do one of those splints?”

Tommy felt both his eyebrows raise. He hadn’t even realized there was something to be learned about the Hood from all this, but he guessed that’s why Lance had the badge.

The doctor hesitated. “Well, one thing I suppose you should know, Detective, is that the police report cannot be correct. Your daughter’s wound wasn’t inflicted by an arrow. I’d say it’s likely to have been from a rubber bullet.”

“Alright, alright, but what about him? The Hood? Is there anything we can use to narrow down just who this guy is?”

“Laurel didn’t have anything?” Tommy couldn’t help asking.

Lance scowled. “She’s not talking if she does.”

“She’s still sticking up for this guy? He got her shot,” Tommy said. He couldn’t believe how stubborn Laurel was about this lunatic in their city. He couldn’t believe she’d been meeting him in secret either.

“Yeah, well, that’s why we’ll have to make do with what we can find out on our own. So, doctor—”

The door to Laurel’s room flew open to reveal her standing there fully clothed and seething.

“I cannot believe you two. After what just happened last night?”

Tommy exchanged a panicked look with her father and decided to allow him to try first.

“Laurel—”

“My body is not a crime scene!” She glared at each of them in turn before rounding on the doctor. “I didn’t sign any sort of release of information waiver, and my status as a legal adult means my father is not entitled to it even if he is on the force. So I’d suggest you think real hard about whether you want a lawsuit or not.”

She retreated back into her room with the slam of a door, leaving a very uncomfortable silence in her wake.

“I guess visiting hours are over?” Tommy joked weakly.

“I would suggest that you gentlemen return home for the time being,” said the doctor. “Visitation will reopen later in the morning.”

Lance didn’t look to like that much more than Tommy did, but before either of them could say anything, Laurel’s door was opening again, and this time she had her coat and bag.

“Laurel, what are you doing?” Her father asked.

“I’m discharging myself.”

“That wouldn’t be a course of action I recommend,” the doctor began.

“Well, I don’t really give a damn what any of you think right now.” She strode past them all down the corridor, heading for the elevators.

“Laurel!” Tommy had to jog to catch up with her quick march. “Laurel, wait, please. I brought the car.”

She did have to wait for the elevator, so he was able to catch up. He could tell she wanted to cross her arms but couldn’t due to her bad shoulder.

“Look, I’m sorry. But do you get that we were worried? You were missing for hours. And that Hood, he- he took you.” Something churned unpleasantly in his gut at the thought. He’d never liked the vigilante’s interest in Laurel, and this had been a step way too far in his book.

Laurel relaxed somewhat as they got into the elevator. “I’m sorry you had to go through that, but it doesn’t change the fact that my father went over the line last night and still is. I have four weeks of physical therapy to look forward to because of him, not the Hood.”

Tommy thought he could argue the point that Laurel wouldn’t have even been on that roof without the Hood, but the doors opened out to the level he was parked on and they walked to the car in silence.

As they left the parking garage, Laurel sat up in surprise at all the news crews parked outside the front entrance.

“What are they doing here?”

“Probably hoping to get in for an interview,” he answered, tone clipped. “The whole thing was on TV.”

Laurel seemed to notice his mood and fell silent. They didn’t speak all the way back, not until they’d finally gotten into the apartment.

“So,” Tommy began as he hung up his coat. “Are we going to talk about it?”

“About what?”

He shook his head. “Laurel, you cancelled on me because you said you had work. Next thing I know, you’ve been kidnapped in a standoff with the Hood.”

She winced. “Tommy, I’m sorry. It was about a case. Cyrus Vanch—”

“No, Laurel, the Hood is not work, okay? Vigilantes are not your coworkers. You were hurt, and it could have been so much worse. And as much as you want to blame your dad, you were the one who went to that rooftop!”

He regretted the outburst almost immediately, and the stricken look on Laurel’s face only made matters worse.

“Look, just promise me you’re not gonna put yourself in a position where that lunatic can get to you again, okay?”

“Tommy—”

“Please, Laurel.”

She looked down. “Nothing like that is going to happen again. I promise.”

He felt himself relax and leaned in to kiss her forehead. “Okay, what do we need to do to get you ready for sleep?”

Laurel was able to do most of the work changing her clothes for pajamas. It was just the one sleeve she had trouble with, apparently, and he had a feeling it was only due to her exhaustion that she let him help. Because of the risk of further hurting her shoulder, he was going to be spending his nights the next few weeks in the guest room. A great feeling considering he’d only recently been allowed his own drawer in the bedroom.

The one thing Tommy could console himself with was that it was all over, and Laurel was safe. In time, her shoulder would heal. Maybe now their lives could get back to some kind of normal.

#lauriver #laurel x oliver #laurel lance #oliver queen #arrow #green arrow #black canary #my writing #bird in a storm

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ober-affen-geil · 6 years ago

Text

My Roswell Rewatch liveblog

1x03 AKA Did Anyone Actually Watch The Drive-In Movie ffs

sure liz. the science. right.

yes liz, but max is not the only alien in roswell

liz you are not a “best bet” compared to a gp

“It’s not racing ‘cus I’m scared of you” GOD THAT’S SO CHEESY IT SHOULDN’T MAKE ME FEEL SHIP FEELS DAMMIT

loving that look of utter disgust at jesse kyle keep it up

one of your boys isn’t an airman thoooooooo

“kills pain” yes that gets emphesized a lot

why did she grab him though?

ISOBEL JUDGING FACE YES GO OFF

this is peak sibling interactions tbh and i love it

SIC THE SPACE FORCE ON HIM HAHAHAHA

at least she gives him the credit about having to be provoked

“is it because he’s tall” that line tho hahaha

AND IMMA GO DIE REAL QUICK HOLD UP

goddammit isobel

tbh normally i would just put this down to blatant fanservice but my brother also walks around in front of me with no shirt quite often so i can hand wave it as more good sibling writing (that’s my story and i’m sticking to it)

ISOBEL’S FACE THO LMAO

i love that maria left it there for 10 years, my heart

aw max trying to move on

CAM I LOVE YOU BB YOU DESERVE MORE

real smooth kyle

real talk maria, love you girl

“she’s dead, spill” classic

TEA MICHAEL, SPILL IT BABE

aw noah. i liked you so much before i knew you were fucking trash

NOAH SPILLING TEA TOO

HSJAOOHFKLHGKLDS ALEX MY BABY ASKING HIM ON A DATE PLEASE CAN THEY JUST BE FUCKING HAPPY GODDAMMIT

ok max you went from 0 to 60 real quick buddy

yeah kyle maybe deliberately provoking the guy you just discussed that morning may have killed someone when provoked wasn’t that good of an idea huh

CAM LOOKING FINE AS HELL DESCALETING THE SITUATION LIKE A CHAMP

don’t talk to him alex, don’t do it hun

isobel i hear you putting “women” before “men” and i appreciate you

gotta say i really love the fact that jesse apparently had a whole speech written and we don’t have to listen to a word of it lmao

“i thought we were friends” OOH OK FORESHADOWING THAT EARLY

ok so ironically michael is the only alien we havn’t seen barf interesting

you’re doing cam dirty max and you know it

love this riffing on “chad”. it’s true and they should say it

did we actually establish who ophiecus was? is that isobel for sure

OK I LEGIT LOVE CAM ALRIGHT

i really like this dichotemy between kyle and his mom, they both have a good point

gah i really love this max/liz scene, it might be my fave echo interaction

HIS FACE UGH

GODDAMMIT ALEX IT’S NOT LIKE HES DEALING DRUGS FFS

*cries* THEY WERE SO CLOSE AHHH

this is like really sweet and soft but still a lie so i am conflicted

“that’s what everything is about for me” YET ANOTHER LINE THAT FUCKING KILLS ME GUH

“nothing we can do to change it” NOT LIKE RESURRECTING A DEAD GIRL HUH MAX

again, this would be much more enjoyable if i didn’t know that noah was A PIECE OF SHIT

oh isobel. it was definitely your fault but i still love you ok babe cus it wasnt just you

ALSO I LOVE THAT THE LAND BEFORE TIME IS HER FAVORITE MOVIE BECAUSE IT IS ALSO ABOUT A LITTLE GIRL WHO HATCHES FROM AN EGG AND LOSES HER PARENTS

“that’s a lot” maria mirroring what liz says in 1x13 ok ok ok

“had our differences” LIKE THE FACT THAT YOU KILLED HIM

kyle love this tying the themes you learned tonight together you do good work babe

“now i’m out” bitch thats what you think

oops

#my roswell rewatch #roswell new mexico #rnm #1x03 #a riley special

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once-upon-a-ouat · 7 years ago

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OUAT Rewatch 1x13 “What Happened to Frederick”

The dreaded moment came. The relationship between Mary Margaret and David only goes downhill from here. I’m gonna say it just once here so that I won’t feel the need to repeat it in every other sentence - Kathryn deserved better. From everyone. Now that that’s out of the way, we can dive in.

I absolutely loved David in the flashbacks. He still escaped from George’s castle even though he thought Snow didn’t love him. I absolutely support that because it’s nice to show that you can do things for yourself. I also loved that he immediately wanted to help Abigail. It was really admirable although there was a selfish side to that decision too. I didn’t like the fact that he thought dying would be his happy ending. I know they were trying to show how strong his feelings for Snow are but I’m really not a fan of the mindset that without the one you love, you have nothing to live for. Like I said above, you are allowed to do things for yourself and, in fact, you should. I loved the part with the ‘fearless bravery’ comment and his cockiness at the shrine. I really saw some similarities with James and I thought that was cool because they’re twins. They should be at least a little alike (but, alas, we still fell into the “if there are twins, one of them is 100% evil” cliché). Well, his confidence wasn’t unjustified because he managed to kill the ‘beast’. I have mixed feelings about his decision to go after Snow though. We know that she loves him despite that conversation in George’s castle, but for all David knows she has never loved him. What did he plan on doing? Make her fall in love with him no matter what? That’s creepy. I loved how the friendship between Ruby and David started though. I wish we had seen more of it.

Abigail was awesome in this episode. Until now we had only seen the mask and it was great to find out that what lies underneath is not at all so superficial. I loved how determined and resourceful she was. I think she would’ve made a great queen some day. The ‘until my lips bled’ part though. I also loved how she wanted to go with David because he was doing the whole thing for her but still listened to him when he asked her to go back. Her joy when Frederick was freed was so heartwarming. They were a cute couple.

And in this episode George starts acting like a complete dick all the time although you can still kinda understand him, having in mind why he’s doing it.

I am so done with David in Storybrooke though. His indecisiveness and cowardice is just so. Fucking. Annoying. He deserved to be slapped, not Mary Margaret. “There’s something that’s preventing me from connecting”? Really? I loved how he wanted to wash away the spray-painted ‘tramp’ from Mary Margaret’s car before she could see it though. And I’m glad that he didn’t try to argue when she told him that they shouldn’t be together. Gee, I can’t believe I found something that I liked about him in this episode.

I liked Mary Margaret in this episode. She was trying to do the right thing. She didn’t deserve the treatment she got from the townspeople. They were behaving as if she enchanted David and lured him into that affair. When something like that happens, there’s more than one party involved which means there’s more than one person to blame. I hate that they didn’t show any reaction of Storybrooke against David. All the hate was directed at Mary Margaret because we should always blame the woman of course. Her joy when David lied to her that he had told Kathryn was just heartbreaking. I’m glad she stood up for herself and decided to end things with him. It was obviously very hard for her but she found enough strength in herself to do it and I really admire that. And her interactions with Emma were awesome. I loved the fact that Emma had known all along but let her tell her when she felt ready. She didn’t judge her even for a moment. “I’m not your mother” was one of the best lines in the episode. I loved how Emma just lay down next to Mary Margaret. It was such a powerful moment to see that they’re comfortable enough in their friendship to have that quiet bond.

I loved Kathryn in this episode. I liked the fact that she did something for herself by applying to law school. I can see her as a successful lawyer or maybe even a politician (I now have that headcanon that when Regina decided to stay with Henry at the other Enchanted Forest, Kathryn was elected mayor of Storybrooke). She was so brokenhearted when David left her, and even more so when she learned the real reason why he did it. I loved the fact that the first thing she did was to go see Regina. She saw a true friend in her and that made it all the more horrible for her when she learned that Regina had known about the affair and had lied to her (dammit, Regina). I really couldn’t tell for which parts Regina was honest and for which she wasn’t. Except for the “I want you two together”. That was obviously honest but it was the worst part of that scene. I loved Kathryn’s fierceness in the scene with Mary Margaret but she took it out on the wrong person. That “You two deserve each other” though. Savage. Despite that she still came around and showed understanding (and pretty quickly at that). And she decided to follow her dreams and move to Boston even though alone. She is a cinnamon roll that has to be protected at all costs.

I absolutely adored the scene between Henry and Regina (it was her only redeeming quality in this episode). She finally showed some concern for Henry’s emotional state. I loved the fact that she apologized about destroying the book even though we all know all she wanted was to get rid of it. And when Henry asked to see Emma, she didn’t snap at him. In fact, she looked like a kicked puppy and it broke my heart. That last scene of her though. I liked it even though it showed once again how horrible Regina is. OMG, skeleton keys! I also loved the part with the red spray-paint. I’m just imagining Regina writing ‘tramp’ on Mary Margaret’s car with it and I’m dying of laughter. That last shot of her face tho.

Emma and Henry’s interaction was also pretty adorable (and Henry was enjoying the game Regina bought him). I loved how happy he was when he saw the book but my favorite part of the scene was Emma giving him instructions on the game. It was so cute in a kinda nerdy way. It also showed a more child-like side of Emma and I loved that. We don’t get to see that often so I’m gonna enjoy the hell out of it when we do.

Emma and August’s interactions were cool. I loved the banter between them. We got to see some more of August. They hinted at why he was in Storybrooke and at who he was. “I always tell the truth”? Smooth move, writers. I also want to say that I loved his little ‘speech’ about water and agree at 100% with him on it. Water is magical.

Talking about magic, there was a subtle hint as to how the Curse works. Kathryn said that she always had that irrational fear of leaving Storybrooke. So that is how it prevents them from even trying to leave? Nice.

Favorite scene: The scene between David and the Siren. I love sirens and this one was awesome. Both Ginnifer Goodwin and Aria Pullman pulled it off really well. I loved the part when David dropped his sword (and the music at that moment). And I think it was awesome that her saying ‘I love you’ was what got him out of his trance. It really showed the depth of David’s love for Snow. I think that David finding the dagger was awfully convenient but I’m not complaining that much.

Least favorite scene: Kathryn and Regina’s talk at the end of the episode. It made me sick. Kathryn was a real sweetheart in that scene. Regina is the problem though. The “Better than with people it would seem” was cute but everything else just made my skin crawl. Her lines were cringy and what she didn’t speak out loud was creepy. Now that I know what she did to Kathryn, I just felt the idea growing in her head during that scene and it just turned my stomach. I really wish she had come up with another plan though what she did made sense. She killed her father in order to separate Snow and David. Surely some friendly feelings towards Kathryn wouldn’t stop her from getting her revenge. I still dreaded the scene though.

Favorite line: “True Love isn’t easy. But it must be fought for.” - David to Abigail

Least favorite line: “You should be ashamed of yourself.” - Granny to Mary Margaret

That was so shitty! First, her life is none of your goddamn business. Second, I feel like she wouldn’t have apologized for bumping into her if she had known it was Mary Margaret. So just because it’s her, you can just run over her? That infuriated me so much. Yes, Mary Margaret made a mistake, but that doesn’t mean that you should stop behaving like a decent human being. You look bad, not she.

I liked the episode but I would’ve loved it if David wasn’t pissing me off so much (in Storybrooke). I liked the contrast between his two personalities though. In my opinion the difference between real and cursed personality is best established in David’s case. With just one look at him you can tell which is which and I want to give credit to Josh Dallas for that. His acting really allows you to differentiate the two personalities even easier. I think everyone’s performances were great in this episode. The story progressed a lot and the soundtrack was great as always. What I hate is that the drama between Mary Margaret and David is just gonna get worse in the next episodes but the rest of the story only gets better so I think I’ll manage to survive through it.

#ouat rewatch #once upon a time #ouat #season 1 #1x13 #what happened to frederick #operation end

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wordsonpages1-blog · 8 years ago

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Juxtaposed

so this is my first fanfic on here and I hope you guys like it! Basically takes place around a month after 1x13 and is just some Bughead smut really. My ultimate goal for their first scene in season 2 lol x

So it’s a bit long sorry and like I said smut you have been warned haha

It was a dreary Friday afternoon. The halls of Riverdale High seemed to have transgressed into an even duller shade of grey, rivalling the clouds outside. Betty sighed as her eyes drifted to the clock behind the teacher’s desk, willing the hands to move faster. The usually attentive blonde was barely tuned in; the teacher’s voice a humming in the background fading into a symphony of tapping pens, restless feet, and quiet chatter.

Her eyes scanned the room as she slumped in her seat- a rarity after being raised with indoctrination of the importance of correct posture- taking in the other patrons of the room. Ethel was to her left idly taking notes, while Veronica on her right was texting behind the guise of her text book. Archie was a row in front of her jotting what Betty presumed to be lyrics in a notepad, while Kevin was next to him probably texting Veronica. She sighed again, deflating as her heart ached a little at the missing piece. Jughead was at Southside High, probably staring down hallways greyer than these, softened against the harsh leather that plagued the school but dull none the less.

Betty understood why he went. He didn’t have much of a choice, but she respected that he was content with what had played out. These people, the Serpents and the Southside community had accepted him without a second thought, welcomed him before they knew him and offered unwavering support and protection. A family. It was something the people on this side of town had never done. It was something even his oldest and closest friends had failed to deliver on many times. It was something he had only ever found in her and as much as that warmed her heart and made her feel special, she knew that he needed it in something else too; now more than ever.

The piercing shrill of the bell intruded Betty’s reverie and she jumped slightly in her seat, making a mental note of the homework the teacher was now rattling off for the weekend before hastily gathering her things. Kevin was by her side immediately.

“Is it just me or is everything particularly mundane this Friday?” the sharp tongued boy asked her, shaking his head. Betty laughed lightly nodding in agreement.

“Seriously Betty the most interesting thing that has happened today is Veronica spilling her late’ at lunch,” Kevin sighed exasperatedly and falling in step beside her. The blonde’s eyebrow quirked as her ponytail swished upon her head tilting to scrutinize her friend.

“Isn’t that a good thing Kev?”

He shrugged, a playful smile lighting up his face in mirth causing Betty to laugh once again while she fiddled with the combination of her locker.

“The town’s on the verge of a civil war, what else do you need?”

“Everything.” The look of complete seriousness on Kevin’s face made Betty roll her eyes. She loved his enthusiasm for gossip, finding it mostly endearing and entertaining but when said drama was the source of tension in her relationship and a key instigator of worry as of late she found herself becoming slightly irritated. One hand slung her backpack over her shoulder while the other curled into the material of her cheer skirt, holding onto it tightly as to not break skin. As they walked through the halls, images of angry red letters flashed in her mind spelling insults, followed by Jughead sitting at a cafeteria that wasn’t here, and then Fred Andrews lying in a hospital bed, before a black leather jacket crept its way to the forefront of her mind.

Betty felt sick. Her hand curled tighter fighting for control. It wasn’t that she necessarily disapproved of Jughead’s choice. His need to belong, his desire to feel the embrace of a family, one that stood by through thick and thin and did not judge, resonated with her. She knew this was about protection and survival and loyalty. It was defiance and acceptance. She knew that. She accepted that. But logic and emotion were two very separate entities that could not always be forced to work concurrently.

Her heart still ached at the distance between them. Her chest constricting every time she looked up to find Kevin’s smiling face at the desk across from her own in the Blue and Gold instead of Jughead’s intense gaze or boyish grin. Her stomach still dropped when the spot beside her at lunch remained empty and her walks to school were one person short. Her palms still sweat and her fingers itched to dig in whenever she heard defaming comments and rumours about those people on that side of town. And she couldn’t help waking up some nights in a cold sweat, a scream dying on her lips from the images concocted by bad dreams of bleeding, beanie wearing boys caught in the cross fire.

And then suddenly their mundane Friday afternoon became less so.

As the pair approached the front doors the distinct hum of low whispers amalgamating into a collective murmur could be heard. The wall sea of teenage bodies lurking at the front doors and steps of the school only further ignited the implication that drama was unfolding.

People were pointing fingers and glaring. Asking other’s for details and theorizing about whatever it was causing the commotion.

“What the hell is going on?” Kevin demanded from bystanders, pushing his way to the front of the crowd with Betty-eyebrows furrowed – followed suit.

“A snake slithered in,” an anonymous voice responded over the noise. Kevin turned to her excitedly breathing “yes,” into the air before moving further through the crowd, while Betty felt her stomach twist in knots. Endless possibilities of what was about to occur rushing through her brain as her pace picked up and her hand gripped her skirt a little tighter.

Finally reaching the front of the crowd, standing outside on the steps that led to the doors of the school, Betty cast her gaze into the parking lot waiting for the instigation of the ruckus to reveal itself. It was then that her feet froze in place.

There in the parking lot before her was none other than Jughead Jones.

He leaned casually against the door of his father’s truck, arms crossed over his chest and a cigarette hanging from his lips. His hair fell from his beanie over his forehead in unruly dark waves that she suddenly longed to be running her hands through. His leather jacket, with the embroided snake on the back was snug on his shoulders, and Betty took a moment to collect herself.

He looked so damn good.

And for a second it was easy to forget the crowd of people surrounding her. It was easy to forget that this was a spectacle, that he wasn’t supposed to be here and he sure as hell wasn’t supposed to be here for her. It was easy to forget that he had made himself a target by coming alone to the place that highlighted the segregation in their town as clear as any other. It was easy to forget all the madness for a glorious second and just revel in the fact that he was here and he looked so devastatingly good with his brooding demeanour in place, and that he was hers.

His blue eyes lifted to hers and she instantly felt a pull. It was as if they were magnets that couldn’t help but gravitate toward one another and the tug set her heart alight and her skin on fire. A smile slipped onto her face, bright and real and oh so Betty, while he stomped out his cigarette and offered her a smirk.

And that was all it took, she was practically running into his arms. Because well today had been awful and she missed him and that was home; his arms.

Pushing himself of the car, Jughead’s arms wrapped around her waist while her Betty’s hands settled on his shoulders.

“Hey there Juliet,” he greeted in soft tone, full of amusement and adoration that had her heart beating faster in her chest and her grin growing impossibly brighter. It was as if a piece of her had slipped back into place as soon as she had stepped into his embrace, the world righting itself on its axis and spinning normally again.

“Hi,” she replied, appraising the way his blue eyes bore down on her in a lighter way today, he seemed less bogged down by the weight of everything today and it was something she was more than happy to bask in with him.

“What are you doing here?” she asked wrapping one arm around his neck and playing with the hairs there.

“I wanted to see you.” Jughead said simply, words easy yet laced with an undertone of passion that only their souls could decipher.

Betty bit her lip, butterflies raging at his answer and finally closed the distance between them, capturing his lips in a languid kiss. Jughead angled his head and kissed her a little deeper, showing her how he had missed her and telling her he hated being away from her too.

They broke apart after a short while and Jughead leaned back on the truck, pulling her hips so that she was leaning against him.

“We have an audience,” he whispered in her ear while his hands played with the hem of her cheer skirt. His eyes appraised her legs underneath and then drifted higher to fully appreciate the contrast of the blue and gold against his black. They were juxtaposed completely right now- him all black, brooding and sullen, embodying the darkness of the Southside and exuding it to all those watching on, while she was blue and gold and bright, symbolising the supposed warmth and goodness of this side of town- but on the inside they were the same. Broken, marred and in need of mending. And when they were holding each other like this, they felt the stiches begin to sow into place, pulling them back together and closing the wounds.

Betty lifted her eyes to survey the crowd of peers watching them, eying her in wonderment and accusation and him in distain and… fear?

Her blood boiled but she refrained from snapping at them. Instead she leaned back a bit to look at his face, hands coming up to tighten her pony tail.

“Let’s get out of here.”

Jughead smirked at her again and turned to open the passenger door. Taking her hand and helping her slide in before moving around to climb in on the driver’s side. His touch did not escape her for long though as his hand quickly came to rest on her thigh while the other gripped the wheel. He drew lazy circles on her skin as he drove and Betty sighed in content.

“How was your day?” He asked as they made their way back to the Southside of town.

“Uneventful. Yours?”

“Same.”

They drove the rest of the way in silence, happy to be in the other’s company and revelling in the satisfaction that brought. But then his fingers crept a little higher. Betty gasped as his hand crept under the hem of her skirt and dangerously high up on her inner thigh. Turing her head to her boyfriend she found his eyes still on the road. His smirk was intact though, and she couldn’t help but notice yet again how well the black leather suited him- taking dark, mysterious and brooding to a whole new altitude of attractive. Betty bit her lip to stop the moan that threatened to tear from her throat.

She squirmed in her seat, and his fingers moved a little higher to lightly rub the skin of her groin just where the elastic of her panties rested. Betty gasped again, head falling back onto the seat as his fingers teased her. She felt her cheeks flush and her skin hum with desire for his touch, as a wave of arousal flooded her system.

His fingers kept up their ministrations, idly stroking back and forth over the lacy garment but never trekking further. Betty kept squirming, attempting to move his hand further onto her most intimate area, which was now damp with her need for him. But he refused to give in, playing games with her frazzled nerves that only intensified with a glance at his cocky facial expression.

“Juggie,” she panted out, unsure of what she was saying or asking but just needing something.

“hmm?” One finger moved to ghost between the apex of her thighs causing a mewl to slip from her throat.

“Please,” she whimpered on cue with him putting the truck in park in front of his dad’s trailer.

Jughead turned to her then, eyes darkened with his own desire for her, appraising her now dishevelled state hungrily.

“What do you want Betts?” he asked in a teasing tone, full of sinful promise as his hand ghosted back over the wet patch now fully formed on her underwear.

“You,” the blonde cheerleader moaned out, sounding like the epitome of sin to the raven haired boys ears.

“Inside. Now.” he growled out and Betty nodded frantically, both of them making a mad dash to the front door. As soon as they were inside the trailer Jughead had Betty pushed up against the wall, hands pressed against the plaster on either side of her head boxing her in while their lips met in a heated dance. Betty whined as his tongue beckoned hers, coaxing and teasing in sensuous movements that had her hands gripping the front of his shirt in a deathly manner.

He tasted like cigarettes and cola and she thought maybe she was addicted to the substance from tasting it on his tongue alone; it haunted her, she wanted it always.

Opening her mouth wider, Betty angled her head to consume him better, knees growing weak as one of his strong hands moved to her hip as the other tangled in her hair.

They broke apart for air, and her head hit the wall behind her with a dull thud. Jughead immediately began kissing a trail down her neck, open mouthed and hot, marking her skin and ensuring everyone would know that no perimeters could keep them apart, or from loving each other.

“Jughead,” she gasped in broken syllables as he nipped at her pulse point, soothing it with his tongue before continuing his descent. He smirked into her neck and Betty pressed herself closer to his body.

She could feel his growing excitement pressed into her stomach and it only served to fuel her desire for him. Her leg came up to wrap around his hips as she ground herself into him, hoping to relieve the ache that was building in her core. Jughead moaned and rocked his hips back against hers, reaching for the hem of her shirt and yanking it over her head. Before he could bring his lips back to her flushed skin, she was pushing the jacket from his shoulders and quickly going for his own t-shirt too as the first item hit the floor. Satisfied for the time being, Betty ran her hands over the firm planes of his back began to kiss the line of his jaw, leaving a breathy moan against the skin there as he gripped her thighs and lifted her to wrap her legs around his hips while he leaned her against the wall.

The changed angle aligned their centres perfectly and he ground his hips roughly into hers causing whimpers to slip from her throat and wetness to rush in her panties while he unhooked her bra. His mouth descended upon her breasts, murmuring affirmations of beauty and love into her hot skin as she writhed. His lips encased her rosy peaks and she ran her nails down his back, causing his hips to buck forcefully into hers.

“Fuck Betts,” he groaned, his hand running between them to slip into her underwear. Betty’s back arched at the sudden intrusion and her eyes squeezed shut in pleasure as he began to rub circles over her clit, her passion escalating as he teased the sensitive nerves.

“Juggie please,” she moaned filthily in his ear, to desperate to care what she sounded like in that moment.

They hadn’t seen each other in days and she just needed him. To feel whole and complete and one. And yeah maybe she was desperate to be connected with him again. But that was the price of finding your soul mate and loving them deeply, connecting with them so raw.

Jughead slipped a finger inside her as his lips found hers in a heated exchange once again, tugging at her bottom lip. Her hips flew up and ground against him.

“What do you want Betty?” he whispered in her ear, tone dripping with sexual command and confidence she had so pleasantly been privy to lately.

“You,” she stuttered as his fingers increased their pressure, more arousal dripping down his hand.

“You’ve got me,” he teased back.

“ALL of you,” she amended, revelling in the primal groan that emerged from his chest and the way his blue eyes further fell into a storm of grey and indigo.

His pants were quickly discarded and he was slipping into her before her next thought.

“Oh,” she moaned, feeling whole and complete and so good. He began a steady rhythm, holding her against the wall and thrusting his hips hard and quick, complying to her every demand of “just like that,” and “oh god!” while her nails left scores on his back and his lips left marks on her neck.

It was passionate and fast and they both raced quickly toward the precipice. He hoisted her higher on his hips, hitting a spot deep within her that had her head falling back and her mouth hanging open in a silent scream. He pushed harder, snaking a finger between them to get her there first. And when he felt her muscles clench around him and her lips moaned his name a final time he let himself go, grunting her own name as he fell over the edge with her.

After a moment he let her down, her legs shaking as they slumped against the door frame. Their foreheads rested together and the grins on their faces were unmatched.

“I love you,” Jughead affirmed, dropping a sweet kiss to her collar bone, while she raked her fingers through his unruly locks.

“I love you too.”

And so while the town continued to burn down and divide around them, they found a moment to be teenagers in love, enthralled by their passion.

#bughead #bughead fanfiction

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gleefail · 5 years ago

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Glee Memories: 1x13 SECTIONALS

A long, long time ago, as Glee was approaching graduation in Season 3, I found myself nostalgic with some rare free time on my hands. So I decided to rewatch the series from the beginning and jot down some memories, discrepancies that have arisen since, fave quotes, tally solos - all that good stuff, strictly for shits and giggles.

8 years later (eek!) and once more I find myself with an unexpected abundance of free time. With so many revisiting or being newly introduced to the show between binge watching during Quarantine and all the tragedy that has surrounded the show since it went off the air, I figured I’d finish what I started. And by finish, I mean go through the end of S3. Cause I truly cannot acknowledge what happened after that. Except for 5B.

Kicking this off by reposting the first 15 episodes I already went through. Enjoy!

1x13 SECTIONALS

Ah, memories. I watched this with someone who is now a very close friend of mine when we first started becoming good friends. I think it was the first time we hung out just the two of us outside of our big group of mutual friends or work. All snuggled up on her couch with her dog and wine and stars in our eyes over Matthew Morrison, lol.

Amber Riley looks so different (and so good!) here. Like a new person. I think it’s the hair.

Kurt also looks older and a little less chubby-cheeked. Did they have a filming break before this or something?

Um…toddler or not, Rachel is wearing some SHORT skirts sometimes in these eps. Like in that flashback just now. Yowzah.

Quinn immediately starts yelling at Puck and Finn who try to help her when she falls. I’m telling ya. Hardcore rage there.

“I’ve never told you guys this before, but I’m a little psychic.” I kinda hate RIB for not keeping or exploring that talent of Rachel’s. Seriously. How funny would that shit be with her trying to predict things?

“It’s nothing to be scared of. It’s not like Carrie or anything!”

hahaha. I love this ridiculous cross calling as they all walk down the hall together. Wonderful.

“Sex is not dating.” “If it were, Santana and I would be dating.” Yes. The birth moment of Brittana. :) Also, the pause in response, even in the music. Golden.

Except Artie said Rachel’s a ‘total trout mouth’. No no no. Sam Evans (be still my heart) is the only Trouty Mouth at McKinley. Bite your tongue, Artie!

Rachel manipulating the truth out of Quinn. Ugh. Unnecessary. Yeesh, Rachel. None of your business! Real problems and people’s lives that you’re messing with! My God.

“She’s the one they made me talk to when they found out I was keeping that bird in my locker.”

Mercedes just said she works just as hard as Rachel. And Rachel doesn’t argue. So….when did that change? When did Rachel start working harder than everyone around her? I missed it. Let’s see if I can catch it in my rewatching.

Again, this moment with Mercedes, Mike and Matt. Isn’t she popular? Cause obvs, besides Kurt and Tina, they’re her friends. So…?

I love watching everyone watching Mercedes sing And I Am Telling You. Artie’s so enamored. Kurt’s such a proud papa.

You can’t see me. But I’m giving Mercedes a standing ovation right now. Holy. Fucking. Shit. Amber Riley, ladies and gentlemen. I have no words for that performance.

This is where it started. Rachel has to ‘approve’ of Mercedes getting that solo over her. Even though it’s not necessary, she’s gotta say her piece and give her blessing. It all started here.

Also, this is where Rachel’s “I’m gonna hug you now” thing she does that I hate started. It’s not cute. Stop it. Just hug her. Don’t announce it cause you want praise for it or whatever. Ugh. I need to stop before this all becomes an I hate Rachel Berry rant. (too late?)

“So all that stuff in the hot tub…you just made that up?” #BlessFinnsHeart

“I was selfish when I told him. I wanted to break you two up so that he would wanna be with me.” WHY IS THAT OKAY?!

Quinn’s gonna do this pregnancy thing on her own. Hmm…except…doesn’t she go straight into living with and dating Puck anyways? Or am I forgetting about a step before that? Ugh. Not at all condoning what Quinn did but…just imagine when she had to see Carol to move out of Finn’s. The look of disappointment. God. I can’t even think about it anymore.

Jacob was a member of ND for a hot minute. I forgot!!!

Rachel says that going first or last is best. She learned this in her ‘extensive’ auditioning for community theatre. Her reasoning, as a Musical Theatre major, I completely stand by. However…Kurt asks her if she ever got any of those parts she auditioned for. Her face clearly says ‘not a one’. Besides Glee club and Maria, what on earth is on her resume? #oops.

Mercedes’ face while Jane Adams is singing And I Am Telling You is hiLARious. Omg.

Artie’s face as he watches them do Proud Mary. Aw. I just wanna hug him.

Rachel’s face as she’s trying to console them all and the crowd gives a standing O. Ha!

“I’m reasonably confident that you will be adding ‘revenge’ to the long list of things that you’re no good at right next to being married, running a high school glee club, and finding a hairstyle that doesn’t make you look like a lesbian. Love ya like a sistah.”

“Because sometimes being special sucks.”

“Mr. Schue, you forgot your keys.” “No I didn’t.” Cute. Also…can Finn drive?

“What happened to the white guy with the jerry curl?”

haha – Britany waves hi to the deaf choir as they’re performing as the rest of ND mopes. Hahaha, people are crying watching them.

Aw. Santana just admitted she likes being in glee club. :)

“Perhaps I could improvise some of my def poetry jams” oh Artie. Oh Tina’s response. Oh Artie’s “no?” in response to Tina’s response. You are all that is magical and glorious about this show. Moments like that.

Okay, I’m sorry, but no. It is not true that Rachel is the best SINGER that they’ve got. I get it that Rachel’s their star. I agree with that at this point in the series. But best singer is not accurate. It’s just not. I have a couple folks I’d throw in contention for that title.

Rachel just said she’s been working on Don’t Rain On My Parade since she was 4. Not 2 like she says in Choke. #oops.

I always hated (and still do) that they have all those damn songs they’ve CHOREOGRAPHED and LEARNED already this season and they can’t find a song besides Somebody to Love to complete their set list. Are you shitting me? Um…True Colors, His Name, Keep Holdin’ On, Crazy In Love/Hair, Halo/Walkin’ On Sunshine, It’s My Life/Confessions…no? None of em? …ok then.

I love that Finn non-chalantly mentions that he trashed the Cheerios copier after he used it to make copies of sheet music. Love it. Cause he’s so pissed at the world that I don’t doubt for a second that that copier was reduced to mere dust.

So they got dressed, did hair and make-up, learned that new song musically, rehearsed the other(s), choreographed that new song…in an hour? Riiiight.

Will on the phone with Emma confuses me. Is he not allowed, like the general public, to even be in the building to watch the performance? Really?

Alright, it’s happening so very much, I can’t NOT do it – restarting Don’t Rain On My Parade and counting the number of times Rachel squints/closes her eyes. Here we go: 23. In 2 minutes and 36 seconds. So…that’s a squint every 6.7 seconds. Hmm. I’m making a game of this from now on. “Can I count to 7 while she’s singing without her squinting her eyes shut?” is the name of said game. This will be fun.

OMG. First judge’s room ever. Ad;kfafdsasodi. I love these so much. Back when they were funny. OMGOMGOMGOMG!

“I’m just gonna come right out and say it: this is a singing competition. I dunno how those deaf kids got in. They weren’t singing, they were like, honking, and everyone was crying and I was like “get off the stage, you’re terrible, and you’re making me super uncomfortable”.”

“I have no idea what the hell I am doing here. I’m serious. I don’t understand what a glee club is and I had never even heard the term ‘showchoir’ til about 3 hours ago when my boss told me he had tickets to NASCAR and I had to fill in at this fool event.”

I just love that we see these kids put their hopes and dreams into this and stress and stress…and it comes down to 3 fools who have no idea what they’re doing. I LOVE the irony of this. I LOVE Glee that doesn’t take itself too seriously. Ah, memories.

“Get me the HELL outta HERE”

Terri’s seeing a therapist. Yay. ...at the local community center. Not yay. That can’t be real, right?

Oh. Even if people had come, this is the saddest wedding. There are just meat trays and lollipops and Munchies in a bowl.

I had forgotten until just now that I was a fan of Wemma. Like, it was the only relationship on the show I felt anything for at this point. Wow. That was so long ago.

“I can’t see you without feeling heartbroken” Oh Emma. I’ve been there hun. I feel your pain.

“The setlists were on Cheerios letterhead.” “I didn’t do it.” “They say ‘From the Desk of Sue Sylvester.” “Circumstantial evidence.” “They’re in your handwriting.” “Forgery.”

“(You have) besmirched the name of William McKinley!” “A FAILED PRESIDENT!” “Oh please – the greatest one who ever lived!”

Figgins just fired Sue. Knew she’d be back but thought it’d be awhile. RIB. Oh how little I knew you then and what you are capable of.

“Get ready for the ride of your life, Will Schuester. You are about to board the Sue Sylvester Express. Desination: HORROR.”

“You know you just woke a sleeping giant. Prepare to be crushed.” Silly Will. Didn’t you read the Hogwarts crest?! It warns you and everything!

So….Will was on the phone with Emma as they were performing. And Sectionals were Saturday. And it’s Monday. And he didn’t know until afterschool at Glee Club whether they won or not? Teacher of the Year indeed…

I still love My Life Would Suck Without You and the montage of former choreography and moments from musical numbers thus far in the season. It’s like…choreographed with memories. I love that. I would say I wish they’d do that on Tuesday in the graduation ep, but…I’ve learned not to get my hopes up. ;) This is still one of my favorite Glee moments though. And makes me all nostalgic and emotional watching it now, lol.

haha, towards the end of that, someone did something to fuck with Kurt’s little solo soul train moment cause he’s pissed.

ah, the first Wemma kiss!!! And then the promo was like “see ya in April!” and my friend and I were screaming and like “WHAT?! NOOOO!!!!” And then we continued to drink wine and wish we were Jayma Mays cause she got to kiss Matthew Morrison.

SOLOS: Mercedes (1), Rachel (3), Finn (1) MERCEDES TAKES THE GLORY NOTE: 4th time, 1st time in a competition

#Glee Memories #Glee #lol Glee #Glee Sectionals

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