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sweet-evie · 1 year

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I have so many thoughts and headcanons about the Gojo clan... You have no idea. 😭 Also, I'm talking out of my ass and everything I say is fictional and from pure imagination... Don't take it seriously.

The Gojo clan may or may not span 40 generations based off of how long ago Suguwara Michizane lived...

and ummm... That's a lot of generational wealth 🤯.

Imagine if you married into that -- married Satoru Gojo. You're automatically the highest-ranking woman in the family, on top of having access to all that money. 😆

Listen, some of the world's richest families like the Rockefellers currently span 7 generations and they're worth billions of dollars.

Damn I really need a full backstory on the 3 major clans. I need to know how rich they are and how they maintained and/or grew that wealth until the modern day.

There's plenty of drama and info on the Zen'in clan. We get crumbs and pieces about the Kamo clan...

But info on the Gojo clan is close to nada, and I WANT TO KNOW MORE ABOUT THEM DAMMIT! I'm so thirsty for more worldbuilding in JJK, you have no idea.

At this point, just seeing Satoru's parents would make me happy.

I have a headcanon that Gojo's family, apart from being sorcerers and political powers in the jujutsu community, are probably mixed bags of company shareholders, politicians, lawyers, philantropists, etc.

Yeah, it's said that the Gojo clan is a one-man army that consists of Satoru Gojo, but I interpret that as Satoru outshining every other family member -- especially every other practicing sorcerer in the family. (There's simply no surpassing the wielder of the Six Eyes and the Limitless technique).

The Gojo clan is a sorcerer clan first and upper tier members of Japanese society second.

Some of Satoru's male relatives are probably Shinto and Buddhist monks. The point is to have a foothold in influential religions among non-sorcerers.

I like to think that maybe one sorcerer in the clan has Limitless... maybe his grandpa, but the man was never as efficient with it as Satoru Gojo.

Maybe the majority of the sorcerers in the Gojo clan fight with Grade 1 cursed tools and good-old hand-to-hand imbued with cursed energy. Maybe other cursed techniques exist within the Gojo clan too... It's all just overshadowed by Satoru.

I also think the Big 3 actually tend to keep to themselves (e.g., the Zen'ins having their own military unit). Their spawns don't ALL go to Jujutsu High, do they? It's a choice for them rather than a necessity. Like, Jujutsu High was established primarily for sorcerers who come from "somewhat normal" backgrounds, unlike people from the Big 3. Satoru was born into jujutsu sorcery and it's the only life he's ever known, whereas people like Suguru who come from non-sorcerer families are brought into Jujutsu Tech to learn about what it means to be a part of jujutsu society, and to teach them that they're not, you know, mentally ill because they can see curses.

Quick side note, I imagine Jujutsu Tech as the bridge between the branch of the Japanese government that is aware of the existence of curses and the jujutsu society as a whole. It just kind of makes sense that way, especially when you consider where their funds to pay people come from -- not from thin air, that's for sure. I mean, how else do the higher-ups get the funding to pay their actively practicing sorcerers, especially the special-grades? Does jujutsu sorcerer pay roll come from citizens' tax money?

Also... On top of Satoru Gojo having access to his clan's generational wealth and assets, how much is he getting paid as an instructor at Jujutsu Tech? Is that salary separate from his special-grade sorcerer salary? Is he technically working 2 full-time jobs?

Man is rolling in cash...

Anyway, I want to circle back to the point that Satoru Gojo is the most active sorcerer in the Gojo clan when it comes to interacting with the higher-ups and being a constant presence in Jujutsu Tech. Obviously, his fingerprints are all over Jujutsu society politics as well.

I headcanon that Satoru comes from a big family, actually. Satoru is an only child, but I imagine lots of cousins and aunts and uncles and distant relatives, and the Gojo estate is probably one massive compound where most of the family lives. Like, they can live in that huge ass ancestral property if they want too... There's plenty of room.

The clan also likely owns several other properties and probably small temples or shrines across Japan. They have one ancestral seat and other properties. That goes for the Kamo and the Zen'in clans as well.

That real estate portfolio be popping.

As for actual size, think Heian estate in ancient Japan big. It's expansive.

Maybe the sorcerers in the family would be fond of living in the Gojo estate. The others, especially the ones who hold positions in the government or the military or who have public-facing jobs have their own homes registered under their own name, and not... you know... registered under the family with the clan head.

Another headcanon is that the clan head is capable of assigning properties and other clan assets to family members if he chooses to. Satoru Gojo can give away houses if he wants too, like a nobleman or European feudal lord. But for real, the Gojo clan might have been part of the nobility in ancient Japan, only losing their noble titles after the Imperial family changed the rules around the 1940s.

Speaking of, it's probably not a reach to assume, that the clan head has his fingers in many many honey pots. 🍯 That is to say, Satoru Gojo has access to more money than he can spend in a single life time. And after he's passed, maybe the money just goes back to the surviving members of the clan.

I need to know Satoru Gojo's net worth.

I think each of the Big 3 has their own hierarchy and their own family politics. Again, the Zen'ins are a prime example...

For the Gojo clan, I headcanon that there's a small council of elders -- people way older than Satoru. Satoru's own father is probably part of that. Put his grandfather and a couple of uncles and aunts in there too.

How do they work? I imagine it's pretty similar to how the Small Council functions in Game of Thrones. Like, there's someone in charge of managing finances, someone who keeps an ear on clan politics, someone who has a foothold in the national military, etc.

I imagine they have a bi-weekly gathering. They offer counsel, but the final decision in any dilemma they discuss always falls to the clan head -- Satoru Gojo.

I also headcanon that Satoru has a penthouse somewhere in Tokyo -- a place he considers as his own residence, away from clan politics and the rest of his probably snobby family.

But Satoru is always busy, so his penthouse is way too clean. It looks like no one lives there.

This is the vibe of the penthouse... I have his penthouse in my Sims 4 game.

Speaking of snobby... The Gojo's clan general reputation? I would say... They're intellectual people, some of them are likely obsessed with history, and rigid and formal when it comes to observing traditions. I imagine they have a tendency to be really elegant.

Whenever the Zen'ins look at them, the stereotypical thought is, "Look at those pompous, snobby, jackasses."

In the succeeding years since December 7, 1989, the Gojo clan's sense of pride has only grown, because well... The most powerful and strongest sorcerer of the modern age came through their lineage.

Needless to say, Satoru Gojo is the pride and power of the Gojo clan.

Satoru's parents were practicing Grade 1 sorcerers... really active in the field, and Satoru's grandfather was Clan Head for a time.

Satoru's mom retired from fieldwork after she married Satoru's dad and after she got pregnant and became a mom. I love my headcanon that she's a shrewd politician and is all about maintaining good standing with the elders while doing intelligence gathering. The woman maintains a network, so she's always in-the-know.

Satoru doesn't make it easy for his mom especially when he goes around and does what he wants. e.g., Becoming a benefactor to Megumi, saving Yuji and Yuta, etc. She's actively working to cover his tracks wherever she can.

Satoru's mom is actively looking for a wife for him, for obvious reasons. The plan never came to fruition because of the Shibuya incident and Ch #236.

Satoru's father is more politician than actively practicing sorcerer by the time Satoru was studying in Jujutsu Tech. He's all about maintaining solid relations with the other clans, the elders, and collaborating with the branch of Japanese government that knows of the existence of jujutsu sorcery. He probably works with the Japanese government too.

Satoru Gojo visits the family estate once in a while... for other business, but primarily for hearings and clan meetings. It's peculiar to look at during these meetings because Satoru is the only person in that room who isn't wearing traditional clothes. Like, I headcanon that he shows up in casual attire, or his Jujutsu Tech uniform, complete with the blindfold.

His mom probably tried to talk him into wearing traditional clothes for these meetings when he was younger, but it just never stuck. Satoru is Satoru, after all.

After Satoru Gojo passes away, I like to imagine the Gojo clan takes a bit of a backseat. It's probably the wiser course of action too, considering everything that's happened in Japan after October 31, 2018.

[I know some people think he's the only survivor of the Gojo clan, but you gotta think of the fact that he learned about Hollow Purple from some people. Someone taught him FBE as a kid.]

#jujutsu kaisen #jjk imagines #jjk headcanons #jjk #gojo satoru headcanons #satoru gojo #gojo satoru #gojo x reader #gojo x y/n #gojo x you #gojo satoru x y/n #gojo satoru x reader #satoru gojo x reader #wbad blog #wbad fanfiction #gojo clan

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callsign-dexter · 6 months

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A Home in His Heart

Request: You know what would be so cute 👀

A Severide x daughter fic

I feel like he would be the best dad to a foster teen and I know you’d write it so well ❤️

Pairings: Kelly Severide x Foster-Adopted Daughter!Reader

Warnings: fluff, angst, swearing

Masterlist

A/N: I loved this so much that I might consider making this into a universe....

Not many people knew but Kelly Severide was a foster parent. He had been since he turned the legal age to become one. He's had kids of all different ages come and go but none of them stayed, it seemed like once they got there, they were gone. He tried not to get attached but that never was the case especially with his newest foster kid, you, that had just begun to stay with him.

You had been bounced around from foster home to foster home and it really bummed you out. Once you got comfortable in one you were being pushed into another, whether it be that they didn't want to be foster parents anymore or they claimed you were too difficult or they were abusive. You weren't a difficult child, you weren't far from it, until you started being bounced around so you held your emotions back and started acting out.

You had been placed into foster care when you and your parents were in a car accident and it sadly took them away from you. You were the only one to have survived and you had no living grandparents and your aunt on your mom's side couldn't leave her busy life time as a lawyer to actually raise you, her job was more important than you. Your dad didn't have any siblings so that was out of the question so foster care it was. You loved your parents with all your heart and it hurt when you learned that they passed away. That was 4 years ago when you were 8 years old, now you're 12 years old. You just wanted a stable household.

Currently you are in the car being driven to your next foster home. Your social service worker, Zoey, was the one driving. You loved her and she loved you, she has kids of her own and you often asked if she could adopt you but she just gave you a sad smile and explained calmly why that couldn’t happen. She actually loved her job and she loved helping the kids. She felt so sympathetic for you after she heard your story. You were currently stopped at a stoplight and she looked over at you and saw that you were pouting and moody and she sighed this was to be expected. The last foster home practically kicked you out because they didn’t want to be foster parents anymore. “Y/N.” Zoey said in a caring soothing voice and you turned to look at her.

“Yea?” You asked

“This one is going to be different.” She said and you looked at her and rolled your eyes.

“You always say that.” You said and she smiled and moved one hand from the steering wheel and put her hand on yours.

“Yes, I know but this one is going to be so different.” She said and she turned her attention and hand back to the steering wheel as the light turned green.

“How?” You asked

“Well for one his name is Kelly Severide. He’s a firefighter and he loves kids.” She said as she pulled up to his house and it was nice. 2 story brick house with a truck parked outside a garage and a spacious front and backyard. He did have an apartment but when he started to foster, he figured he should invest in an actual house with a yard. You really liked the house. Zoey parked by Kell’s truck and killed the engine and turned to you. “Please give this one a try.” She said and you looked at her and nodded in agreement.

“Ok.” You said and she smiled and leaned over and hugged you. When she released you the both of you got out and you both grabbed your bags and headed to the front door. Zoey rang the doorbell and you stood there with your head down. After a minute the door opened to reveal a nice-looking man, he looked so kind and looked like he cared for everyone.

“Hi.” He said

“Hi, I’m Zoey. We talked on the phone.” Zoey said and he smiled and nodded and this, she said pointing to you, “This is Y/N.” Zoey said and you looked up and he smiled and you actually felt safe with him.

“Hi, I’m Kelly.” He said with a kind voice and you smiled but didn’t say anything and he didn’t push. He stood back from the door and you both walked in. Once in he shut the door and you all walked into the living room and sat down on the couch and he in a chair. “So what hobbies are you into?” He asked looking at you and you looked up at him, that was new, you looked at Zoey and she gave you a nod and an encouraging nod. You turned to look at the man.

“I like taking pictures, hiking, reading, and helping people out, I used to do it with-.” You said but trailed off.

“Hey it’s ok.” He said

“With my parents.” You said and he smiled and nodded.

“Do you play any sports?” He asked and you nodded eagerly.

“Soccer and softball are my favorites and I love playing them.” You said and he smiled.

“I used to play baseball when I was younger.” Kelly said and you looked at him.

“Really?” You asked and he nodded.

“Any foods you dislike or allergic to?” He asked and you thought about it and turned to Zoey for help.

“She’s allergic to nuts and shellfish.” Zoey said as she handed him a file, one you’re used to. He nodded.

“I don’t like most fish but that is probably because I never found one, I liked or it wasn’t cooked right.” You said trying to remember “I’m not really picky.” You said and he nodded and smiled.

“Anything you absolutely love?” He asked

“Sushi, as long as there is no shellfish, pizza, steak, love steak, and the list goes on.” You said with a smile.

“Why don’t I show you your new room and let you settle in while Zoey and I talk?” He asked and you nodded and you all stood and before Zoey or you could grab your bags, he grabbed them all in one go, the other foster homes would’ve made you carry them on your own. You walked up the stairs and two doors down he opened it. “We can paint it whatever color you want and decorate it however you want.” He said and you looked up at him.

“Really?” You asked shocked and he nodded and you ran to hug him. Something that surprised him and Zoey but it wasn’t unwelcomed and he hugged you back. You released him and started unpacking some things.

“We’ll leave you to it.” He said and he and Zoey walked away and back downstairs. “Anything else I need to know?” He asked once they were in the kitchen.

“Her birthday is Y/B/D, which is next month on a Saturday. Also, her parent’s death anniversary is coming up on Friday in 2 weeks, she usually gets moody and acts out during this time.” She said and she watched him take out his phone and program the dates in his phone, something she hadn’t seen any other foster family do before. Just then you came down smiling and they turned when they heard you and smiled.

“All unpacked?” Kelly asked and you nodded “Good. Tonight Firehouse 51 is having a cookout and everyone is looking forward to meeting you and you’re going to love them. They're all just children inside adult bodies.” He said and everyone chuckled.

“With that said I should be going.” Zoey said and you frowned and walked over and hugged her and then quickly released her. She looked at the both of you. “You both have my numbers so don’t hesitate to call day or night.” She and you both nodded. She gave you one more hug and then hugged Kelly and you both walked her to the door and she turned to you both again and mainly spoke to Kelly. “I’ll be back soon to see how everything is going.” She said and you looked at her.

“Will you be here for my birthday?” You asked and she smiled and looked at you.

“Of course, as long as it is ok with Mr. Severide.” She said and you looked at him and he looked at you as you gave him a puppy dog eyed look and he smiled.

“Of course it is ok with me. Also please call me Kelly. Mr. Severide was my father.” He said looking at Zoey and she smiled.

“Of course, Kelly. Well, I better be off. Y/N be good for Kelly and do everything he asks. Ok?” She asked and you nodded. She smiled and then she turned towards the door and opened it and walked out. You and Kelly watched her get in her car and back out she waved and you both waved back and then she was on the street driving away. Kelly turned to look at you.

“So, what do you want to do first?” He asked

“Can you help me rearrange my bedroom?” You asked shyly and he smiled and nodded.

“Of course. Let’s go. We have some time before we have to be at the cookout.” He said as he and you walked back into the house and he shut the door and you both headed upstairs to your room. The both of you had spent time rearranging your bedroom and helped you hang stuff that you wanted hung. Kelly looked at his watch and he smiled and then looked up at you. “Why don’t you go and freshen up and then we can start heading our way to the cookout.” He said and you smiled and nodded at him. “I’ll be downstairs if you need me.” He said and you nodded and gave him a smile. You looked at yourself in the mirror and decided that you desperately needed a shower so you grabbed your clothes. You were quick to take your shower and get changed quickly and headed downstairs, something that was trained in you from bouncing from foster home to foster home and you hated it.

“I’m ready.” You said when you joined Kelly in the kitchen and he turned and smiled.

“That was fast.” He said and you nodded and smiled sadly at him.

“Yea, my other foster homes made us take timed showers…” You said and trailed off not looking at him and that broke his heart. He walked over to you and lifted your head up gently.

“Hey, look at me.” He said and you did and you saw him smiling at you “You can take your time here. I want you to enjoy your time here. My home is your home.” He said and you nodded and he smiled and let go of your face and pulled you into a hug.

“Thank you, Kelly.” You said into his chest and he hugged you just a little bit tighter and kissed your head.

“Anytime kid.” He said into your hair. The two of you broke apart and he nodded and then grabbed his keys and the two of you were off heading to his truck. You started to get in the back but he was quick to shut the door and you looked up at him “You sit up front.” He said and you looked at him surprised, when you were at the other foster homes, they made you sit in the back no matter what. Zoey always had to tell you to sit up front as well.

“Really?” You asked and he smiled and nodded and then you went around the truck and opened the passenger side door and climbed in and settled in like you were meant to be there. He got on the driver’s side and started the engine. You wanted to turn the radio on but was hesitant and he saw this.

“You can turn it on if you want and listen to whatever you want.” He said and again you looked at him surprised, you got yelled at if you tried to turn on the radio and listen to whatever you wanted. You smiled and were quick to turn on the radio and turn it to a country station. “Country is a favorite of mine.” He said and you looked at him with all the love in the world and he loved that he smiled and then put the truck into reverse and started to head to Herrmann’s place.

“Have you always wanted to be a firefighter?” You asked shyly now second guessing if you should have said anything “I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have said anything.” You said after a minute of silence and he shook his head.

“Hey, no. I love when you ask questions, ask away. To answer your question, yes, I have.” He said and your eyes widened.

“That is so cool. I have so much respect for cops, firefighters, EMTs, and doctors. They saved my life and tried to save my parent’s life too.” You said and then got quiet and he was quick to notice that.

“You’re allowed to talk about them and to them. It helps with grieving.” He said again you were practically shut down when you started to talk about your parents. “I’m not trying to replace them and I want you to know that.” He said and you looked at him with tears in your eyes and he looked over at you when he was stopped at a stoplight and he smiled softly at you.

“Really?” You asked in a watery whisper.

“Really, Kiddo.” He said and then you hugged him the best you could.

“Thank you.” You said and he smiled and kissed your head.

“Anytime, Kiddo. Anytime.” He said and then he turned his attention back to the road as the light turned green.

“What is the rest of the firehouse like?” You asked curious.

“They're goofy. Easy to get along with. We have several females on the team so you will most definitely not feel left out.” He said turning into a neighborhood. You nodded taking the information in.

“Are you seeing anyone?” You asked genuinely curious.

“No, I'm not.” He said and you knew he was hiding something.

“Do you like one of the girls?” You asked and he stayed quiet and he was blushing?

“No.” He said in a higher pitched voice.

“You do! You totally do!” You said and he blushed even harder.

“Oh, look we're here!” He said trying to end the conversation as he parked and killed the engine.

“I'm gonna find out who.” You said with a mischievous grin and he looked over and smiled.

“No, you won't.” He said

“Yes, I will.” You said and then got out of the truck and him following your lead. He already loved you; you were perfect and fun to get along with. Kelly was quick to catch up to you and he knocked on the door and after a minute it was opened and a man was standing in the doorway.

“Kelly! Welcome!” He said and then turned to you. “Hi, I'm Christopher Herrmann and you must be Y/N.” He said and you looked down shyly and nodded.

“Hi.” You said and he smiled.

“Come on, give me a hug. You're family now.” Christopher said and pulled you into a hug which you shyly hugged back and then you two broke apart. “Get in here! Stella and the girls are dying to meet you.” He said and turned and you looked at Kelly. You were smiling when Stella’s name was mentioned and you smirked and he looked down at you.

“What?” He asked, “Stop looking at me like that.” He said and you shook your head as he started walking in and you followed suit.

“I'm closer to figuring it out. I already have a name.” You said and he turned to you.

“Don't you say anything.” He said pointing at you but you knew he was being playful.

“My lips are sealed.” You said making the motion and smirking. He shook his head and smiled; he really did like you. You followed him out to the backyard where a lot more people were and you started to get overwhelmed and stopped and he took notice of this especially when you stopped in the doorway.

“Hey,” He said, turning to you and getting serious and getting down to your level “if you start getting overwhelmed or want to go home, just tell me and we'll sort it out or go home. You're in control here.” He said and you nodded and he smiled and stood up and you clung to him. You liked Kelly a lot, he was so different from the last foster homes. You wanted to stay with him forever.

Kelly walked over to someone with you in tow. One of the girls saw him and smiled “Kelly!” She yelled out and hugged him and he hugged back and then they released each other.

“Gabriela, this is Y/N. Y/N this is Gabriela Dawson she is a paramedic on Ambulance 61.” Kelly said and you shyly waved at her and she practically squealed with excitement.

“Kelly has nonstop talked about you and how excited he was. You’re gonna love it here and you’re gonna love it with him.” She said and hugged you and you hesitantly hugged her back.

“It’s nice to meet you.” You said when she released you.

“Come on, the others are dying to meet you!” She said and started ushering you and Kelly to the others. You arrived over to the group and Kelly greeted everyone and then he started to let them introduce themselves to you and you back to them. There were a lot of people and you were overwhelmed at first but throughout the cookout and playing games you slowly started to detach yourself from Kelly and started to hang out with more and more people. Kelly took note of this and was really happy at what he was seeing. One person seemed to be missing in the group and you saw Kelly looking around until you heard a female voice sound from near the house.

“Sorry, I’m late. I had some things that absolutely needed to get done.” She said and you saw Kelly light up like a Christmas tree, so this must be Stella you thought to yourself and smirked you figured it out.

“That’s ok. Herrmann just now started to cook.” Kelly said and hugged her “Oh! I want you to meet someone. Y/N!” He shouted and waved you over and you made your way over after excusing yourself. “Stella meet Y/N. Y/N this is Stella Kidd.” He said and he saw you smile and wave at her and she smiled back.

“Nice to meet you, Kelly has told me so much about you!” She exclaimed and hugged you and you hugged back and then looked at him with a smirk on your face and he knew that you knew that she was the one he liked.

“It’s nice to meet you too. I’ve been hearing a lot of good things about you from Kelly and the others.” You said and she smiled and then she was being called over to someone else and you looked at Kelly.

“Don’t.” He said and you smirked.

“Don’t what?” You asked, still smirking “Now I know who she is. This is gonna be fun.” You said and walked away to join Stella, Sylvie, and Gabriela. Occasionally you would look up at Kelly and smile sweetly at him but he knew what you were doing and he would just smile and shake his head. It was like you really were his kid.

A few hours later and the cookout was dwindling and you were spent and ready to go home. You made your rounds of bidding everyone that was still there a goodbye and then you were walking back to Kelly’s truck and hopped into the passenger side seat. You let out a sigh and relaxed into the seat. “Did you have a good time?” He asked as he turned the engine over and reversed the truck and you nodded.

“A really good time. Everyone is so nice. It was refreshing.” You said and let your eyes slip closed just now feeling how exhausted you were. Kelly put the truck in drive once he was on the road and looked over at you.

“I’m glad you had a good time. Everyone really liked you.” He said and you smiled and cracked your eyes open at him and then let them shut again and you were out before he even started to move. He turned the radio down and started heading home. It didn't take you both to be home, Kelly pulled into the driveway and killed the engine and looked over at you still sleeping away and he smiled. He got out and walked over to the passenger side door and carefully opened it. He undid your seatbelt and took you in his arms and carried you to the house and inside. He quietly shut the door and carried you upstairs to your room, he gently laid you down and took your shoes off and covered you up and made sure you were comfortable and headed out of your room and to the kitchen. It was late when you both got home so he understood why you had fallen asleep. He tidied everything up and then went upstairs and checked on you one more time and got ready for bed himself and in no time, he was asleep with a smile on his face. He was so lucky to have in his life, he knew you were it for him. He even is having thoughts about adopting you and that was rare for him but you just completed him.

The next morning you woke up confused but well rested. You yawned and stretched and then you smelt something that made your mouth water and that had you getting up but not before you changed out of your jeans and into sweats and threw on a hoodie. You walked down the stairs and into the kitchen where Kelly turned when he heard you. “Good morning. Sleep well?” He asked and you nodded.

“I did. Thank you for carrying me in last night.” You said and he smiled at you.

“You were sleeping well; no way was I going to wake you up. I’m strong enough to carry someone.” He said chuckling and that made you chuckle.

“Can I help with anything?” You asked, he shook his head.

“Nope not unless you want to but you’re not obligated to.” He said and you nodded. “You can just sit tight and breakfast will be ready, now.” He said as he turned off the stove and put pancakes and bacon on a plate and walked it over to the table. “Dig in.” He said and smiled and that is what you did. His cooking was delicious, more delicious than the other foster homes you’ve been in.

“This is so good.” You said taking another bite.

“Thank you. I’m so glad you liked it. Just wait until you have food at the firehouse, you’ll fall in love.” He said and you smiled at him.

“I’m so looking forward to it.” You said and he smiled and took a bite of this food.

You really loved it here. Zoey was right, this foster home was different and you were going to give him a chance.

——————————————————————

Throughout the two weeks that you were there you met a lot of people and you had fallen in love with each and every one of them. It was Friday the day your parents had passed away and it was hitting you hard to the point where you were acting out against Kelly but he never once got frustrated with you or threatened to send you back, he was patient with you.

One day you had left school during lunch, you had started school the week before after being signed up by Zoey. Everything was too much and everything was too much, you were a bright intelligent girl and you loved school but you just needed away. You were also quick to make friends, two that you made friends with were named Sam and his boyfriend Cooper. You also made friends with a girl named Aubrey. They saw your look and became worried. “Everything ok, Y/N/N?” Sam asked and you looked at him and shook your head.

“No, today is just a good day.” You said hoping to leave it at that and they sensed that. “Hey I’m gonna go to the bathroom.” You said easily and they nodded and you headed out but instead of heading towards the bathroom you steered towards the entrance of the school and since you were allowed to eat outside nobody thought anything of it. You were quick to take off school grounds and headed your way to the park, thankfully you were from Chicago and knew your way around. Once at the park you sat on a bench with your knees up. Tears slowly started to spill out of your eyes. “Why? Why did you have to leave me?” You asked nobody in particular.

Back at the school lunch had ended and classes resumed but you were nowhere in sight and this worried the teachers and they had called the front office and they were quick to call Kelly.

——————————————————————

Kelly and Stella were confused when they heard his phone ring, he had his ringer on in case it was your school trying to reach him. It rang twice before he picked up.

“Kelly Severide?” Olivia, the front desk receptionist asked.

“This is he.” He answered “Is everything ok?” He asked if he looked at Stella and she could see the panic on his face.

“This is Olivia from Chicago Middle School. We have been notified that your daughter has not been seen since lunch.” Olivia said and his blood ran cold.

“Thank you for letting me know.” He said not really knowing what to say.

“You’re welcome Mr. Severide.” She said and then they hung up the phone and he just stared ahead and then his mind began to race.

“Everything ok?” Stella asked concerned.

“Y/N isn’t at school. Nobody has seen her since lunch.” Kelly said. What if something happened to you? What if you were in danger and needed him? “I need to call Jay.” He said just then his phone rang and he looked at it and saw that it was Jay.

“Jay.” He said “Y/N isn’t at school.” He started to panic.

“I know.” Jay said

“What if something happened? What if she needs medical assistance? What if- wait, how do you know?” He asked just now, hearing what he had said.

“She’s with me. I was on patrol with Hailey looking for someone and found her sitting on a bench in the park. She looked upset.” Jay said and then it hit Kelly.

“It’s the day her parents died. Zoey warned me she would be acting out. Where are you now?” He asked

“Still at the park. She’s in the truck with Hailey in the heat.” Jay said and Kelly nodded.

“Don’t move. I’ll be there soon.” Kelly said

“You got it.” Jay said and they hung up.

Kelly was so relieved; you were with someone he trusted and hopefully you trusted. He sat there for a few minutes. “Jay and Hailey are with her.” He said to Stella and she looked relieved.

“Oh, thank goodness. Go.” She said after she saw him just sitting there and then he got up and went to Boden and told him what was going on and he was quick to give him the keys to the truck and he was on his way to you.

——————————————————————

You were sitting there thinking about how stupid it was that you didn’t contact anyone especially Kelly and you were regretting it but you didn’t move. “Y/N?” You heard someone call your name and you turned around and saw that it was Jay Halstead, a friend of Kelly’s and you really liked him.

“Jay.” You said and turned back around as he came and sat next to you.

“What are you doing out here kid?” He asked

“I walked out of school.” You said not looking at him.

“Why did you do that?” He asked

“I just got overwhelmed. I couldn’t take it. It’s not a good day.” You said and he nodded.

“Why don’t you come back to the truck? Get out of this cold.” He said and you nodded and you let him lead the way. When you got to the truck, he opened the back door and you got in and then noticed Hailey. “Stay here and I’m gonna call Kelly.” He said and you and Hailey nodded.

“Everything ok, Sweetheart?” Hailey asked looking back at you and you shook your head and she left it at that not pushing and you appreciated that. “If you need anything you can come and talk to any of us.” She said and you nodded. Just then Jay opened the driver’s side door and got in.

“Kelly will be here in a few minutes.” He said looking at you and you nodded. Small talk was made and then they started talking about the case and this got you interested.

“Have you thought about why he has been staying around this area?” You asked and they turned to look at you.

“No, we haven’t. What are you thinking?” He asked

“Maybe he has a family here and doesn’t want to leave them although the girlfriend or ex-wife doesn’t want him around and has moved on. Maybe he is killing for revenge.” You said with a shrug of your shoulders and they stared at you.

“We never thought about that. We’ll definitely have to look into it.” He said and then he saw the chief fire truck roll up and Kelly got out and you were quick to get out and run to him.

“I’m so sorry. I’m sorry that I ran away from school. I’ll never do it again. Please don’t hit me.” You said and pleaded and that broke Kelly’s heart.

“I’m not going to hit you. I just want to know why you ran away from school.” He said and kissed your head. You looked up at him from your hugging position and he looked down at you.

“I just got overwhelmed. I couldn’t take it anymore so I left.” You told him and he nodded. He looked up at Jay and Hailey and nodded and Jay flashed his police lights at you both and they were gone.

“Come on. I wanna take you somewhere.” He said and you nodded sniffling. He led you to the truck and you got in and so did he and started to drive. You were confused.

“Where are we going?” You asked

“You’ll see.” He said and you nodded. 5 minutes later he was pulling into the cemetery and he drove around until he got to the spot where he wanted to be. You realized where you were, you were at your parent’s grave. He stopped the truck and put it into park and turned to you.

“Kelly?” You asked with a watery voice and he smiled at you and nodded and you got out and went to them and he was soon following.

“You can come and visit them anytime you would like. Just tell me and we’ll find a time to come.” He said and you started bawling and hugged him.

“Thank you so much. This means so much to me.” You said and he smiled and hugged you back and kissed your head. “Stay as long as you want.” He said and you nodded and then he walked back to the truck and got in leaving you alone and you turned towards the graves.

“Hi mom and dad. I miss you so much. It’s been tough not having you here but I think I found a really great foster home this time. You would really like him. He’s a firefighter and he loves kids. I really like him. He reminds me so much of you dad. I wanna call him dad but I don’t want to feel like I’m replacing you dad. I know it sounds silly.” You said you felt like someone was touching your cheek almost like telling you it’s ok, you shivered “I really hate to cut this short but I’m starting to get cold. I promised to come back and talk to you soon. I love you both.” You added and kissed the headstone. You turned back towards the truck and got in and Kelly turned to look at you.

“You, ok?” He asked and you smiled and nodded.

“Thank you. Nobody has done that for me before.” You said and he smiled.

“Like I said, anytime you want to come out here just tell me.” He said and you nodded “I also called the school and explained everything. You’re coming back to the firehouse with me.” He added and you nodded.

“I’m sorry for doing this to you.” You said and he smiled and ran his fingers through your hair.

“Just please don’t do it again. Next time, call me.” He said and you nodded your head.

“I will.” You said and he smiled.

“Good now let’s go.” He said and headed back towards the firehouse.

Kelly was definitely different and you loved him for that. He didn’t try to push you into anything and he took time to listen to you. You didn’t want to leave him. Ever.

——————————————————————

A month has passed and you and Kelly have truly bonded unbeknownst to you he and Zoey have been talking about him adopting you. Everything was falling into place and he was really happy about it. He had several people back him that he would be a great father to you. He couldn’t wait to give you the news on your birthday as a birthday present.

Y/B/D had finally rolled around and you were excited you had planned for your friends and their parents, Firehouse 51 and families, Intelligence and families including Will, Connor, Zoey, and few others were there. The party was going to be held at Kelly’s house. It was time for the party to start and everyone had shown up and the party was in full swing. There was chit chat around everywhere and everyone had brought presents for you. Everyone was wishing you a happy birthday and all the kids went and played together.

As the night went on you were smiling and having a blast. Food was eaten and then it came time for cake and presents. Everyone sang Happy Birthday to you and you blushed embarrassed and then you blew out the candles. “What did you wish for?” Connor asked and you looked at him.

“If I tell you then it wouldn’t come true.” You said with a smirk and everyone laughed.

“You got me there.” He said and then you started to open presents and you got a lot and you loved every single one of them. You expressed this to everyone. Kelly had gotten you a lot. You looked at him and he looked nervous.

“I have one last gift for you. Y/N when you came into my life a month ago, I knew you were the one I wanted to keep and call my daughter, you complete me. You have been such a great kid and love that about you. Sure, you have had your days but what teenager doesn’t?” He said and everyone laughed and you smiled. “Zoey and I have been in contact with each other over this past month and we finally got confirmation that everything is a go. So, Y/N if it is ok with you, I would like to adopt you and officially call you, my daughter.” He said and handed you an envelope that had the words ‘ADOPTION’. You opened it and pulled out the papers and tears sprung to your eyes and you looked at him and then Zoey and she nodded. “So, what do you say? Is it ok?” He asked, still looking nervous and everyone was waiting for you to answer, you put the papers down and then practically lunged at him and hugged him.

“1000% it is ok.” You said tears falling and soaking his shirt and he smiled and hugged you back and kissed your head.

“I love you kiddo.” He said into your hair.

“I love you too, Dad.” You said and you could’ve sworn you felt tears falling into your hair and then everyone was clapping and hollering. You two broke apart and looked at everyone.

“Here’s to the now Y/N Severide!” Herrmann announced and everyone took a drink and you laughed and snuggled into Kelly and he wrapped his arms around you tighter. This was officially the best day of your life. The night went on and you barely broke away from Kelly’s, now your dad, side.

When everyone left you helped clean up and then you both headed off to bed. “I’ll come check on you in a few minutes.” He said and you nodded and headed upstairs and got ready for bed and laid down just as soon as Kelly came in. He sat down on your bed.

“I had a really great time tonight. Thank you so much, nobody has ever done something like this for me before or even taken me to see my parents. Yet alone give me the option to go and see them whenever I want.” You said and he smiled.

“Anything for my best girl.” He said and you smiled “Now you get a good night’s rest and we can do anything you want tomorrow.” He said and you nodded and he kissed your forehead.

“Oh, so how is it going with Stella?” You asked with a smirk and he blushed.

“Good night, Baby Girl.” He said

“Hey, we’re not done talking about this.” You said with a smile and a chuckle and he shook his head.

“I love you.” He said and then started to head out of your room.

“I love you too, Dad.” You said and he turned to you and smiled then turned over and fell asleep with a smile on your face.

Kelly walked out and shut the light off and shut the door. He stood there for a minute and let a few tears slip. He definitely made the right choice and he couldn’t be happier and neither could you. You both had each other and you both completed each other. Zoey was definitely right; this one was different and you would have to text her thanking her for giving you that push. Without her none of this would have happened.

You found a home in his heart.

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syoddeye · 6 months

Text

useless, part three

Part three (and the finale!) of my submission to @glitterypirateduck's O, Captain! Challenge. As a reminder, I rolled a d100 to select three prompts. I finally used my third prompt.

42. The story spans over a period of 10 or more years

14. Opposites attract

66. Price or Reader is auctioned off for a date as part of a fundraiser

cw: one pregnancy mention (Reader does not get pregnant, has never been pregnant)

Read Part One, Part Two. Tag list: @v1x3n @kiranezra

~4.2k words, Price x f!Reader. This is the most self-indulgent shit I've written in awhile. Please enjoy.

It's past midnight when you limp through the front door of your flat, dropping belongings and articles of clothing alike, shedding both the weight of personhood and your eighteen-hour day. You set your keys down on the end of the counter, ignoring the thin folder for the umpteenth time. James will undoubtedly text about it in the morning, his patronizing messages more reliable than any alarm clock. A half-hour commute home, and you didn't even glance at your phone in fear of accidentally seeing another email from his lawyer. Solicitor. Whatever.

Hamhock slinks out from his lair beneath the bed, weaving between your ankles when you drag yourself into the bathroom.

"Hello Hammy," You whisper, eyeing the newer crop of gray hairs near your roots with a weary neutrality. Definitely the fundraiser's fault. Your hair started to change long before this year's planning began, but this is the longest period you've gone without dyeing it. One thing to thank James for. Not only did his departure give you a crystal clear focus, it freed you from his ridiculous expectations. He'd've commented the moment he spotted the wisps of silver, then casually worked something like anti-aging cream into the conversation.

The prick poisoned the well, and now the only man in the world for you currently lies at your feet. How it should've been from the start, really.

After checking the orange menace's automatic feeder, you slip into bed, allow him to assume his nocturnal throne—your armpit—and plug your phone in one-handed. Your eyes glaze over at the sight of notifications, thumb swiping by muscle memory, and set an alarm. With two weeks left until the big day and more than a hundred unsold tickets, you need every moment you can get. You sigh, counting the tasks of the day ahead instead of sheep.

You'll sign the divorce papers tomorrow.

Naomi practically forces the granola bar into your hands. The assistant stage manager and the props lead—the younger woman is the glue to your glue. A newer fixture at the Bramble Theatre, she was you to an extent, maybe a decade ago: fresh-faced, eager, and optimistic.

"I didn't like how you were looking at the wax fruit."

"We should swap the oranges for plums. Or pears."

"We've been through this. The oranges fit the palette, from the paintings to Dotty's–oh, quit pulling my leg."

You grin, then jut your chin at the stack of slips in her hand. "Are those the waivers? Did all the volunteers sign?"

"Yes, I can post headshots today on socials, so that should boost sales."

"Good. That's one fire extinguished," Rubbing your temple, you lean back in your chair. "I feel gross about it, though. I mean, we run shows that are hundreds of years old, but a date auction? Why don't we raise a guillotine out front and sacrifice effigies to raise money?"

Naomi blinks and whips out her phone. "...Okay, one, I'm noting the effigy idea for next year, but two, the auction won the vote, and everyone participating volunteered."

You grimace. "I know, it's just–"

The sudden opening of the door to your shoebox office interrupts. Theodore, business manager, director, and occasional movement coach, bursts in. Everybody's a multi-hyphenate.

"Terrible news!"

Wonderful. A new fire. You squint, chewing, and watch Naomi try to stifle a laugh valiantly. "Whatever could this be about?"

The older man slams his palms onto your desk, his layered pendants tinkling. "I've punched the numbers, including a best scenario, stars aligning–"

"Teddy. Out with it."

"–we're going to be £40,000 short. Even if we sell out, even if we raffle off the company like cattle, we are circling the drain!"

The tired amusement leaves your body, and in its wake sits a five-digit number and the distant idea to schedule a salon appointment.

The annual fundraiser for the theater, your hard-won home, is a dramatic, demanding, and near-disastrous event every year. The theater has continuously operated a hair above the red, but the laundry list of expenses from the last year cannot be ignored. The new light rig, the stage flooring replacement, the curtain repairs—they never stop. Sponsors and grants only go so far.

Originally, you took this job for its laughable but slightly higher pay and because running around like a madwoman between four gigs at a time wasn't as thrilling or charmingly bohemian as it was in your twenties. Your livelihood depends on the playhouse's success. And the economy. And the general public's attitude toward the arts. All wildly variable. It made you resourceful, and already, you were composing a mental list of people to politely bully for pledges promised in years past. You need time and a phone charger.

"Teddy," you set the half-eaten granola bar down. "Go get ready for afternoon rehearsal. Naomi, cover for me today?"

"'Course."

Theodore swipes his spindly fingers over his brow, nodding fervently at your resolve. "If anyone can pull it off, it's you. Do tell if there is anything yours truly can do." With a flourish, the director departs your office, but Naomi lingers.

"You know if it's donations we need…"

You shake your head, immediately knowing what she intends to suggest. "Out of the question."

"But think of her–"

"I'd rather debase myself and resort to dinner theatre."

"I'm just saying–"

"Naomi," You stress. "I am not calling my mother."

She frowns. "Desperate times call for desperate measures. Are you really so proud you wouldn't leverage your family's connections to save the Bramble?"

It makes you pause. As usual, she's right. Irritatingly so. You could take another salary cut, but you'd need to find a flatshare, a humiliating idea. Hammy wouldn't survive it, the sensitive thing. You sigh and dismiss her with a wave.

"Fine I won't rule it out. But I'm going to shake down half the city first."

An hour later, you've managed to secure a percentage. Not too shabby, but far from the goal. You take a break to read James's team's latest, vaguely threatening missives and entertain the idea of withholding your signature until he makes a donation. What's a little extortion in the name of art?

You know it's wrong to delay this ugly process. How close relief is should you simply sign the papers. But it's another failure, another black spot in your life's ledger. Another dream crushed beneath the boot of reality. With a wave of bitterness, you type out a curt reply, ensuring you will sign the papers and ask them to arrange for a courier tomorrow.

Naomi's suggestion takes advantage of your mind's lethargy, testing the strength of your will and stubbornness. The last time you phoned your mother was months ago, on the anniversary of dad's death. The old man took his last bow five years back, and it destroyed the last bridge between you and your formidable mother. In retirement, she still holds court with major political players stateside…and across the pond.

Before you let your loathing catch up, you pull up her contact card and dial. It's after noon in D.C., the middle of the week. You might get lucky and reach her voice–

"Is everything alright? You're not in the hospital, are you?" Her donnish, sharp voice hurtles you through time and space to your teenage years.

"No," You answer with gritted teeth. A headache waits in the wings. "No, I'm fine, mom."

"Then why are you calling?"

This is why dad handled conversations. You stand, swiftly shutting the door to your office and locking it. "Can't I just call my mom?"

"Of course. Historically, you do not," There's a low murmur of chatter in the background. She's at a luncheon or at the club. "So I assume there is a reason."

Having an ex-ambassador for a mother is a joke. All that practised charm for everyone else in the world, none of it reserved for you. "Okay, yes, there is a reason."

"Thought so. Well, darling, what is it? Is it James? Don't tell me you're pregnant."

You return to your desk and eye the bottle of bourbon on the corner. "No. James and I are divorcing, remember? This is about my work."

There is no acknowledgement of the separation. Instead, your mother pulls the phone away from her mouth, excuses herself from wherever she is, and the background noise dissipates.

"Your work."

"Yes, the Bramble? Look, we're two weeks out from our big annual fundraiser, and–"

"Oh, you need me to write a check." The clicking of her heels halts abruptly, and if you didn't know any better, she wilts. "Fine. How much do you want?"

Your face heats with a mixture of frustration and embarrassment. "I am not asking for money. If you would stop interrupting me…Ugh, mom, I need help contacting some of your old friends here. If there's anyone you know looking for tax deductions or a pet project to brag about, the Bramble is in a bad spot financially."

In the past, whenever the theatre and, by extension, your chosen profession came up, your mother took the opportunity to lecture. She reminded you of the wasted opportunities she afforded you. She brought up your old schoolmates and their current positions. And most insulting of all, she always, always compared you to a certain soldier. Bracing yourself for her monologuing, you reached for the bottle.

"Why didn't you open with that, darling?"

Your fingers close around empty air, and you nearly pitch out of your seat in surprise. "What?"

"Send me the information. I've been meaning to reconnect with some old friends. When is the fundraiser?"

"In two weeks," You repeat, scrambling to pull up your email on the ancient desktop. "Tickets are–"

"Email it. I'll book my flights today and let you know when I'm getting in."

Your hands hover over the keyboard, and your neck protests the angle it bends to keep your phone lodged between ear and shoulder. "Oh, no, mom, you don't need to come."

"Nonsense. I'll, of course, make my own donation, and as a donor, I ought to see where my money is going."

Christ. For the Bramble, you remind yourself and exhale. "Okay. You do that. Listen, I have to get going…but mom?" It kills you to say it. "Thank you."

"You are very welcome. Oh, this will be so much fun. I haven't visited since before your father. You know, on the topic of reconnecting, I happened get an email from the Prices the other day, and John–"

There it is. You kick into fourth gear, rattling off your exit. "I've really got to run. Thanks again mom, send me your flight info. Love you. Bye!"

You feel like you've run a marathon and dodged a bullet. And yet, as you send the email and file the waivers, your mind snags on your mother's words. On a name. His name. It's not the first time your unhelpful brain's waylaid you with a trip down memory lane. Admittedly, it's happened more since James asked for the divorce. Most nights, if it isn't life's stresses hounding you, it's an endless parade of what-ifs behind your eyelids.

What if you studied economics instead? What if you stayed in America? What if you hadn't gone to that stupid New Year's party? What if you hadn't kissed John? If you didn't get on the train?

The people in your circle frequently speak about living life without regrets. It's a romantic notion and a highly unrealistic one.

Your phone buzzes—Naomi. You're needed. Pushing the past where it belongs, back on a dark shelf, and head out to put out another fire.

Three days before the fundraiser, your mother lands in London and hosts you at her hotel for dinner. Playing catch-up is a professional sport with a whirlwind of names you barely remember and memories you remember very differently.

You pick at dessert, listening to another story.

"–and he was so insistent that that school of yours was a breeding ground for monsters, and I told him, isn't that what's needed in today's society? People need thick skin in politics and business. You'll be happy to know, though, he bought four tickets to the fundraiser."

You don't remember who you're talking about but smile and nod. It's a tough pill to swallow, your mother's success at rallying old friends with deep pockets. Teddy's practically in love with her despite having never met her, popping his bald head into your office to sing her praises whenever another pledge arrives.

Your response is rote. "That's wonderful, mom. Thank you."

She prattles on for another half hour before you decide it's time to return home to Hamhock and burn the midnight oil on the fundraiser's date auction. You asked the company for fifty-word bios and actors, bless them, struggle to contain their self-praises. When she finally pauses to take a sip of wine, you rise. "I should head home, lots to do–"

Ignoring you outright, her head turns, and she grins. "There you are!"

Following her gaze, your brow lowers in confusion until you clap eyes on a trio headed in your direction in the company of a server. Very briefly, you consider the melodramatics of matricide. You've been set up.

Mr. and Mrs. Price look well for their age, puttering toward your mother. They are greyer and a little shorter, but the warmth is there.

John, however…

The universe is intent on humbling you.

The hair is the first thing you notice. Short, kempt, and annoyingly a dark shade of brown. It's crept southward onto his face in a beard of a choice style. There is comfort in the finer details that clarify as he nears. He hasn't escaped time's passing with a face marked by crow's feet, frown lines, and forehead furrows. Beneath his shirt, there's a slight suggestion of a belly, though, with his thick arms and the narrowing of his waist, he's clearly a wall of muscle.

The worst part is how infuriatingly kind his smile looks. It's the beard. Softens him. Once an arrogant prick, always an arrogant prick.

John rumbles your name in a whisper, reeling you in for a polite peck on the cheek. "You're a sight for sore eyes."

You're years beyond fifteen and twenty-five, but how swiftly the impulse to snark resurfaces is alarming. Maturity tempers you. "You look good, too."

After a few minutes of greetings, the two of you are tasked with heading to the bar to fetch drinks. Wholly unnecessary what with a server, but it's a clear command to let the 'adults' talk for a spell. Nevermind being shy of forty. John's quick to try conversation when the order's in.

"You haven't changed a bit," He observes, leaning against the bar beside you.

"Now there's something a woman wants to hear after a decade." You huff, casting your eyes across the restaurant, finding it difficult to look at him. The dark blue of his sweater makes his eyes pop.

"Fourteen years, actually," He corrects. "Drinking martinis, actin'…"

You snort. "You're half right. The Martini half."

His elbow gently knocks into yours atop the bar. "Apologies. My mother told me you'd been in My Fair Lady last summer."

That draws your attention. "No. The theater put it on, but I'm the stage manager. I haven't been on stage in ages." Your eyes flicker to the table, then back to him. Heat crawls up your collar. What other information has your mother passed along? Glancing down at your bare ring finger, you turn the conversation. "Not so different from a Captain, I reckon. How's that going?"

John squints a little, and his mouth pulls into a familiar smirk, tugging at old strings in your stomach. "Can't complain."

"Riveting stuff," He chuckles at that, a deep rasping sound, and you find yourself grinning. "Don't suppose that bit of clandestine, secret agent-type shit your mom's talked about?"

"Secret agent?"

"Yeah. Mentioned it in a Christmas card maybe three years ago?" You smile triumphantly into your glass. Seems both your mothers have a penchant for dressing up the truth.

His jaw works a tick, and something heavy passes behind his eyes. "Well, 'm not. Not exactly."

"Let me guess. If you told me, you'd have to kill me?"

He refocuses some, and a short laugh leaves him. "Something like that."

It's all painfully familiar, but it feels different with a little more life under your belt. His mere presence keeps you on your toes, yet you haven't felt this comfortable in months. For all the history and tension, talking to him is easy. A silence passes, the drinks arrive, and you ferry them to the table.

The night passes better than you expected when you first saw the Prices. They express belated condolences over your father, you chat about the fundraiser, and John politely navigates questions about his work. It frightens you when he briefly mentions Piccadilly to know he'd been there in the carnage. Part and parcel of military life, you guess.

"John, be a gentleman and walk her to the station," His mother chides as the five of you congregate in the hotel lobby.

"He doesn't need to do that," You hastily say. Not again.

"'Course."

There is something dreadfully giddy to how your parents wish you both goodnight.

At least you do not need to take his arm this time. Still, there is no way John isn't thinking about that night. Not when that look of quiet desperation he wore is seared within your memory. It's silly, but you peeked at his hands earlier, and like yours, they're naked.

You break the silence to fish. "How long are you on leave?"

"A week. Got in yesterday."

"Do you normally visit your parents?"

"Often."

Doesn't mean there isn't a woman in his life. 'Often' is not 'always'.

"Visit anyone else? Friends?"

He chuckles. "Sometimes."

You roll your eyes. "You know, you haven't changed much either. Aside from the beard and smoker's lung. Still a stunning conversationalist."

John smirks down at you. "Picked it up in the army."

Oh, yes. He remembers.

The conversation lulls, and the walk is short. You figure John's keen on a repeat when he wordlessly escorts you to the platform. But today's not a holiday, and the station is reasonably busy. He watches like a hawk, nonetheless, when you check the time.

"Brings back memories," He quietly comments.

Nodding, your thumb rubs where your wedding band used to rest. "Sure does." You respond and meet his gaze.

You studied theater, moved back to London, went to the party, and kissed John. You didn't regret those choices—only one.

The invitation flies out of you as your train emerges from the tunnel.

"Do you want to meet Hamhock?"

"He's…certainly orange."

"Don't rush to spend all your compliments at once," You glare, arms full of Ham, then coo at the cat. "John's jealous because he's going grey in the beard."

"I am not."

"Saw them on the Tube. Can't those from me," You tease and set the cat down, giving your kitchen a quick glance. A silver lining of work eating up your schedule is that you last cleaned two weeks ago, and it's held.

"What're those on your head then?" He gestures with a finger and toes off his shoes.

"Details of a person ageing gracefully." You play it confidently, but part of you holds a breath.

He hums and sidesteps Hamhock. "Suits you. It's pretty."

Maybe inviting him over is a mistake. The bolt that runs through you from the compliment pokes at something you thought buried. "What a gentleman," You try to inject as much sarcasm as possible, but your voice quivers. "I'll be right back. Sit tight?"

You leave John in the kitchen to retreat to the bathroom to regroup. Come on, you scold yourself over the basin for getting worked up. It's just John.

And yet, what remains of your confidence perches on a cliffside at the sight of John pointedly staring at the folder of your copies of the divorce papers on the counter. Fantastic.

His small smile is genuinely sympathetic. It's enraging.

"Y'know, I knew you were married…When I didn't see a ring at the hotel, though, I wondered."

Your chest tightens, and you shove the folder into a bookshelf. "Yep. Finalized the divorce two-ish weeks ago."

You're not in the mood to be reminded of your failures.

"Sorry it didn't work out," John murmurs.

"That's life. That's how it works sometimes," You exhale, then force a smile. "Want a drink? Bourbon? Wine?"

He lets you change the subject, and you let him have a glass of whiskey.

You sit on opposite ends of your short couch, Hamhock acting as a gentlemanly barrier. The conversation rekindles itself after a few fingers of liquor, and eventually, John migrates to the floor, idly playing with the cat. You confide in him about your worries about the event and whether the funds raised will be enough, and he listens. There is no condescension, no bulldozing. Not a trace of smugness at all when he makes suggestions. You don't realize how you've slipped into an old, practically ancient formation until he peers back, eyes creasing from laughter. You're fifteen again, and it is useless to deny it – you are regrettably in love with John Price.

"Can I confess something?" He suddenly asks as your cat waddles off with a catnip toy in his mouth.

Your heart lurches. "If it's a crime, I'm a terrible conspirator."

"No. Nothin' like that, but I lied earlier." He chuckles, craning his neck to look over his shoulder. "My mother didn't tell me about My Fair Lady."

"What do you mean?"

John turns sheepish. "I came an' saw it when I was on leave last summer. Thought I'd surprise you, but I got to the theater and lost my nerve."

Instantly, you pick through scraps of memories from the production. There is no way you would have known he was in attendance, not with how hellishly busy you are.

"You, Captain John Price, lost your nerve?"

Color blooms high on his cheeks, and he turns on the floor, rubbing his neck. "I knew you're not acting but I didn't know how to mention it without soundin' like a prick." His eyes look soft. Different from how they looked that night in his parent's garden. Steady, unwavering, but soft. "I know I'm not good with words. I seem to have a talent for making you angry. But I really am happy to see you. Didn't think I'd get another chance after how I bungled it all those years ago at the train–"

At your grown ages, the angle of the kiss is inadvisable. The two of you fix it without parting, and his hands cup your face when you're finally standing toe-to-toe.

He touches your foreheads together when breathing becomes necessary. "Change anything?"

You don't answer. You lead him to your bedroom and exile the cat.

The fundraiser goes off with a predictable amount of hitches. The caterer is an hour late and forgets half the hors d'oeuvres. The bar runs out of red wine early. Two actors from the children's company slap-fight on stage. Nothing you, Naomi, and Teddy can't fix with elbow grease and stage magic. The caterers re-course. Naomi calls in a favor from her bartender girlfriend. And the children forget their quarrel when they're called upon to defeat Captain Hook.

What you are not prepared for is one of the actors calling out sick, leaving you one date short for the auction. You waste an hour trying to convince one of your fellow techies to step in.

Naomi corners you when you stress-eat a comically tiny piece of toast swiped from a tray.

"You know, if one person is all we need…"

"Your girlfriend won't be mad?"

"Ha-ha, don't get cheeky. C'mon, isn't it time you got back out there?"

You suppress a smug smile. Naomi has no idea. Nobody does. You've gotten back out there and then some.

"Did I not tell you I was grossed out by the auction?"

She's relentless. "Are you really so proud you wouldn't debase yourself a little for the Bramble?"

"Absolutely not."

You'd said it with such conviction, so it's a puzzle when you find yourself waiting in the stage wing, makeup hurriedly refreshed. It takes all your courage and grace not to stumble to Teddy's side when he calls your name. He improvises an introduction on the fly, and you nearly laugh when you realize this is the first time you've been on the stage, under a spotlight, in years.

The bidding opens, and you hold your breath, letting it go when a few unfamiliar voices call out numbers. A humbling embarrassment clutches you by the throat. But then a paddle raises more confidently in the front row. The light is bright, but you know whose hand hoists it high.

He collects you at the end of the night as you lock up.

"There's my prize."

You can't stop the grin that splits your face. "It's just a date, John."

"Yeah, doin' things a bit out of order, aren't we?" A glimmer of his younger, puffed-up self shines through, and his hand envelops yours.

As you walk, your elbow digs into his ribs, "What will our mothers say?"

"That a big deal to you?"

"To some people."

"Well, love, you're not 'some people'."

#ocaptainchallenge #john price #john price x reader #john price x f!reader #price x reader #price x f!reader #lieutenant john price #cw alcohol #i love love #i love corny shit #i needed to write something soft okay?#lightly edited bc i don't think i'll have time to write tomorrow and the deadline is tomorrow!

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vettelsvee · 23 days

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QUICK UPDATE ON MY WIP (using this tweet i posted today)

HI GUYS! september is finally here so are uni, teacher student practice, english classes to get my final certificates and, hopefully, part time job as an english teacher, which means nothing but i won't have much time to write, but i'll try my best to give you weekly updates (i'm currently struggling with anxiety over some uni stuff but as soon as i get news about that i'll be fine!)

so, as for my wip, this is what i can tell you about the ones i have in mind right now and that i consider that are a priority (you have more information about them before keep reading):

-> GOODBYES ARE BITTERSWEET (ferrari!seb x ex gf singer!reader): most requested one (actually i'm quite impressed tbh). i have lots of parts and smaus planned and, if i have time to, i'm planning on posting four/five parts and one/two smaus (remember that seb and y/n are meeting in the next part, can't wait for you guys to read it!). next part almost written but I need to do some corrections :)

-> HOLD ON TO HOPE (rbr!seb x bff!reader | spider-man au): writing parts 1 and 2 (both of them are already planned and ready to finish writing)

-> OOPS, I DID IT AGAIN (lewis x pregnant!reader): planning on writing parts 1 and 2 this month

-> HISTORY (seb x race engineer wife!reader): i'd love to post the intro of meeting (first volume on this series, based on 2008) + prologue and parts 1 and two (as they're already written and they just need correction because remember this series the first one i posted here and i wasn't comfortable with it)

-> ONE CALL AWAY (oscar x booktoker and librarian!reader) and WAY BACK HOME (george x lawyer!reader): i'd love to post parts 1 and 2 of each series and some smaus :)

in case you wanna now more info about them you know that my messages (anon or dm) are available! thank you to you all! <3

#vee's wip #vee's ted talks #wip #writer #f1 fic #f1 x reader #oscar piastri x reader #sebastian vettel x reader #george russell x reader #lewis hamilton x reader #goodbyes are bittersweet series #history series #one call away series #way back home series #oops i did it again series #hold on to hope series #writers #fic writer

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fatehbaz · 2 years

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In September 2022, the Australian High Court upheld a law that effectively allows “preventative incarceration,” or the imprisonment of people even after their sentence has been served, based on whether or not a court thinks the prisoner might be at risk of committing a future crime.

Indigenous people make up 4% of the population of Western Australia, but 40% of the state’s prisoners are Indigenous.

At Western Australia’s Banksia youth prison, 75% of incarcerated youth are Indigenous.

Australia allows for the imprisonment of children as young as 10 years old.

---

Excerpt:

Casuarina prison is a sprawling, concrete jungle on the southern outskirts of Perth, Western Australia (WA). It is a maximum-security, adult facility, home to people who may never leave its confines. However, on July 20, the penitentiary “welcomed” a new cohort of prisoners: 17 kids under the age of 18, who had been moved from the Banksia Hill Juvenile Detention Center to Casuarina [...].

When current WA Premier Mark McGowan was elected in 2017, his Labor party promised to lower the rate of Indigenous incarceration in the state, which is the highest in the nation. First Nations people are 16 times more likely to be incarcerated in WA than non-Indigenous people, a number that has only risen despite the promise of the government.

Dr. Hannah McGlade, a Noongar academic and human rights lawyer, isn’t surprised by the state’s failure to uphold its promise. “Our government cares little for Aboriginal lives,” McGlade told The Diplomat. [...]

In the past month, the Australian High Court upheld a law designed to keep the worst offenders in prison indefinitely, even after their sentences have been complete.

Known as the High Risk Serious Offenders Act (HRSOA), the legislation was challenged in Australia’s apex court when Peter Garlett, a 23-year-old Noongar man, was imprisoned after stealing AU$20 and a necklace while pretending to be armed. Despite this being his first adult offense, when his sentence was up, the Western Australian government asked the High Court to keep Garlett, now 28, in prison.

The court agreed, effectively paving the way for preventative incarceration in Australia.

Though five of the seven High Court judges upheld the constitutional validity of the HRSOA, many academics, lawyers, and activists who deal with the lives of First Nations people inside the legal system on a regular basis, note that this will only further trap Indigenous Australians in the carceral system. Garlett had been in near-continuous detention since he was 12, and this became the rationale for keeping him in prison beyond his criminal sentence.

One of the judges even hypothesized that the law could “potentially lead to the imprisonment of one seventh of the entire prison population of Western Australia for offenses that they have not committed.” [...]

“This is a crystal-clear example of an indirectly discriminatory law: one that is not discriminatory in its express terms but is discriminatory in its practical effect.” [...]

Though Indigenous people make up less than 4 percent of the state population, nearly 40 percent of Western Australia’s prison population is Indigenous. That is particularly troubling given the horrific record of Australian prisons. Since the Royal Commission into Aboriginal Deaths in Custody in 1991, over 500 First Nations people have died while imprisoned in Australia. In 2020-2021 alone, 13 prisoners died in custody in WA – five of them Aboriginal.

No custodial or police officer has ever been found criminally responsible for any of these deaths.

The structural forces pushing Indigenous people into Australia’s prisons start early. In the Banksia Hill Juvenile Detention Center, three-quarters of the inmates are Indigenous. Despite its mandate to rehabilitate people for their eventual release, reports show some of the prisoners receiving as little as five hours of education a month. In April, the state’s prison watchdog outlined a series of “cruel, inhumane, and degrading” treatments in the facility’s Intensive Support Unit. Children have reportedly made suicide pacts due to their treatment, with some being kept in isolation for 23 hours a day. [...]

Penglis and McGlade point to the age of imprisonment in Australia being only 10 years old as devastating. [...]

---

Text by: Dechlan Brennan. “How Western Australia Criminalizes Indigenous Children.” The Diplomat. 7 October 2022. [Italicized first lines/heading in this post added by me.]

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icyg4l · 7 months

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Pick-A-Meme: How Can I Choose The Right Career Path for Me?

Choose the image that resonates the most with you. In this reading, I will give you details that you can use to get closer to accomplishing to your career goals. I will also give those clarity to those who are confused on where to go from here with the help of the True Heart tarot deck.

Left-to-Right (1-3): Raven Baxter, Brenda Meeks, Kim Parker.

Cards Used: 10 of Cups. The World (RX). Judgment. Knight of Cups. Wheel of Fortune. The Hierophant. 4 of Pents.

Pile 1A: I feel like this is for those who are thinking of going into the traditional career paths like being a nurse, a teacher, a lawyer or doctor. You are very determined when it comes to breaking into this career path. I feel like this is a dream that you’ve had for a long time, since you were a child. But you’ve grown up and you see just how practical this career path is or how much time it would take from all other aspects. Don’t let the money or the amount of time it takes to pursue this career stop you! There will be opportunities that come up for you as you pursue this path that will financially support you. I also see that you’ll receive some recognition early on in your career, for your contributions to this field.

Cards Used: The Moon. 3 of Pents (RX). Strength. Queen of Cups. Ace of Cups. The Hanged Man. Ace of Wands (RX). Queen of Pents. Ace of Swords.

Pile 1B: For those of you that are confused about what career path you should pursue, I say that you should consider some “niche” career paths; something that sticks out to YOU. This will ensure that you’re using your energy towards things that you love. I get the feeling that you’re tired of what you’re being presented with. These are the people that are tired of receiving rejection emails from employers or being ghosted by interviewers. I feel like you’re kind of nosy… perhaps you should consider a career as a private investigator. You have a sharp mind and you call bullshit when you see it. I also think that you should consider something to do with childcare, maybe take up the jobs that nobody wants to take up? If you’re into pets, you should take up the pet care. I feel like this is also the pile that should consider going to trade school to become an electrician or plumber. You would actually benefit from it & would meet some excellent people along the way. Everyone isn’t be a tech geek, a rapper or an aspiring designer and that’s absolutely fine! You got this!

extras: annalise keating. bedtime stories. human design. timestamp. first wives club. worker bees. social justice reform. politics. class action lawsuit. science geek.

Cards Used: The Emperor. 6 of Cups (RX). 2 of Pents. Ace of Wands. The Hierophant. 7 of Pents (RX).

Pile 2A: The people who chose this pile are currently fed up with their career path. I think that you have dedicated so much time to this career path that it has you burnt out. You may be considering switching career paths or adding a new element to your career path. You should! I thought of the storyline from ‘This is Us’ where Beth takes the risk to open up a dance studio after being fired from her job. Her original passion was ballet but her mother forced her into a practical career. She became an urban planner. She had the job for twelve years and loved it but she unfortunately got laid off. I feel like this collective has some resentment towards their career because it’s not what you want to do. What do you really want to do? Examine what really makes you light up. If you decide that you want to have a side gig doing what it is you really want to do, then have at it! But if you decide to start fresh in a “new” (but not really new to you) career path, then also have at it! The ball is in your corner.

Cards Used: 10 of Cups. 3 of Cups. 9 of Cups. Justice. 6 of Swords. The Hermit. The Fool. Prince of Cups.

Pile 2B: If you’ve been considering going into a business with a friend, you should absolutely do it! I saw the banner of a restaurant opening. I feel like this pile is really into the traditionally ‘girly’ things like doing your nails or hair. If this resonates then you should definitely take up cosmetology school. If that’s not what you’re into, consider going to school to become a masseuse or get into holistic medicine! You have a calming aura and people probably open up to you easily. But I get the feeling that you guys don’t always like to talk to people. You enjoy your solitude/quiet time & that’s okay. For those of you that are into poetry, you should consider posting your poems for monetary gain for extra money! In due time, you’ll figure it out. Be patient with yourself, you’ll know what sticks!

extras: aching feet. balloons. graveyard. black jeans. venus in the 11th house. aquarius venus. gemini venus. losing hair ties. the color purple. spoken word. friendship breakup.

Cards Used: King of Swords. 2 of Pents. The Hierophant (RX). Queen of Pents. The High Priestess. The Emperor. 5 of Cups.

Pile 3A: You guys are the people who long to be the boss. You guys strive for greatness & hold yourself to a certain standard. But I think that you’re doing a lot. You’re trying to do everything by yourself and you need some help. This could be a pile full of freelancers, psychics, therapists or entrepreneurs. Perhaps you’ve opened up a new business and everything just feels like it’s falling on top of you. You need an assistant to keep this business running! Hire someone that will keep you on top of your stuff. I think that you should try a new method of organization as well. Maybe you’re a model? If so, take some new headshots. Get some help with your portfolio. Update your resume. Create some new material because you’ve come so far. You really just need to be more proactive when it comes to your career; get on top of things quicker.

Cards Used: The Lovers. 3 of Swords. 5 of Swords. Queen of Swords. 3 of Cups. 9 of Cups (RX). 7 of Cups.

Pile 3B: This is the pile for those that are “inexperienced” but know that they’re going to be in their career field. I don’t think that you are clueless as to what you want to do. You know exactly what you want to do, you just don’t think you fit the criteria. When in reality, you’re rejecting yourself before someone else rejects you. Stop counting yourself out man. I think you want to pursue a career as a model, a baker, an influencer perhaps? I think you have some childhood wounds surrounding your social circle. You were viewed as an outcast and this is why you feel stuck. You know you’re going to be somebody but you need to start acting like it. I think that the route you want to take requires you to be in the spotlight. There is an audience for you but you refuse to put yourself out there. I think the best way for you to get over this is to challenge yourself. Create small tasks that will help you get out of your comfort zone. Therapists would call this rejection therapy. Try it!

extra: ANTM theme song. ADHD meds. kendrick lamar. “simultaneously”. influence. impostor syndrome. what was i made for? gymnast. athlete. being the only non-white person in the room. fitness model. green grass walls.

#law of assumption #manifesting #neville goddard #hoodoo #tarot #tarotreading #astro notes #pick a card #pick a pile #divination #spirituality #tarot deck #tarotcommunity #pick an image #pac reading

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c-e-d-dreamer · 8 months

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Take My Hand, We'll Be Fine (Promise I Won't Let You Down)

A/N: did you really think I could go all of @sjmromanceweek without posting some Nessian? I just think there's no better romantic gesture than telling your hot neighbor to dump her piece of shit boyfriend, ya know? 😉 Special shout-out to @dustjacketmusings for giving me this prompt!

Read on AO3

They’re fighting again.

Cassian swipes up his television remote from his coffee table, muting the game currently playing. He doesn’t even need to prick his ears or listen closely to make out the muffled voices filtering through the wall to his right. Doesn’t need to try hard to recognize the rough, clipped voice and the more feminine, cool tone that answers. He can’t quite make out the words being said, but it’s easy enough to guess. It doesn’t help that this is practically the norm for the apartment next to his.

He still remembers the first time he met his next door neighbor, Nesta Archeron, the day she moved in. Even in that moment, even with her hair messy, her cheeks pink, and a large box hefted in her arms, she had been the most beautiful woman Cassian had ever seen in his life. Her face was all sharp, beautiful lines, high cheekbones and arching eyebrows. Her eyes had been a stormy, piercing blue that had enraptured him as soon as their gazes met. Her pretty pink lips twisting into a scowl had him wanting to drop to his knees right there in the hall, fire blazing through his chest to meet that expression.

Could anyone really blame him for being a goner from that moment on?

He’d found any and every excuse to see her again, to talk to her again. Casual run-ins in the hall, in the lobby. Getting the mail at the same time. Going down to the laundry room at the same time. Anything to see her roll her eyes at him. To see her give that expression that he’s deemed her I Will Slay My Enemies look. Anything for the game of back and forth he built with her full of quips and retorts that always leave him wanting more.

Anything to see her smile. To hear that beautiful breathy melody of her laugh. To watch the way her eyes light up when she talks about something she’s passionate about. To catch that softness that takes over when she talks about her friends or her family. Every tiny piece she hands over Cassian tucks away close to his heart. And every interaction, no matter how small, no matter how much time passes in between, leaves him yearning for more.

And he’s learned a lot about Nesta through those interactions. He learned that she has two sisters, one who lives in the city and another who lives in the countryside. He learned she’s a damn good lawyer and definitely his first call if he ever needs to be bailed out of jail. He learned that she’s a terrible cook and has a serious affinity for ordering takeout most nights. He learned that she has a serious book addiction if the endless bookstore packages are any indication.

And he learned that she has the worst boyfriend Cassian has ever had the misfortune of meeting.

Cassian still isn’t sure how Tomas was able to get a woman as beautiful and as amazing as Nesta to agree to a single date with his sorry ass, let alone agree to be his girlfriend. The bastard clearly doesn’t know what he has, how lucky he is. That a woman like Nesta Archeron is incomparable. And yet, Cassian has seen the way his eyes have wandered to the blonde in 4C’s ass. Has witnessed the unimpressed, bored expression he wears when Nesta is speaking. Has heard the unnecessarily rude and sometimes cruel words he flings carelessly at Nesta.

The last one in particular always has Cassian’s blood boiling, dark tendrils constricting through his chest until he’s glaring daggers at the man in question any time he sees him in the apartment building. He wishes he and Nesta were more than just neighbors just so he could tell her what a piece of shit her boyfriend is. Wishes it wouldn’t be weird if he suggested she dump him.

He wishes he could tell her how he really feels, how he swears he’s already falling for her despite their limited interactions. How he fears that there will never be anyone else for him. Wishes he could show her what it’s like to be with a real man, one who respects her. One who genuinely cares about her and isn’t afraid to show her, to shout it from the rooftops. He’d treat her right, treat her so much better than Tomas ever could.

A door slams next door, and Cassian is on his feet in a moment. He glances around his apartment, looking for something he can quickly grab as an excuse. The last time he had heard a crash come from next door, his worry and concern had consumed him enough to send him propelling out of his own apartment and banging his fist against Nesta’s door. But things had been awkward and tense when Nesta answered the door seemingly alright, and when Tomas demanded to know what he was doing, Cassian had ended up stumbling over his words, too distracted by a pair of icy blue eyes swimming with questions. So this time, Cassian ties off his half full trash bag and hauls it up out of the bin.

“Will you hurry up?” Tomas’s voice reaches Cassian as he yanks open his front door. “You know that I don’t like to be late to Sullivan’s, or else we won’t get the best seats at the bar.”

“Maybe if we went to a proper restaurant where you can make a reservation instead of the same dive bar every week, we wouldn’t have this problem,” Nesta answers him, and even before he lays eyes on her, Cassian can perfectly picture the way she must be rolling her eyes.

“Maybe if you didn’t take so long doing your stupid fucking hair–”

Tomas’s words trail off when he notices Cassian standing in his now open doorway. Already, the man looks annoyed at his presence, jaw clenching with a restraint scowl. The sight has an easy smirk tugging up Cassian’s lips, how fast he’s able to garner such a reaction, but he only has eyes for Nesta.

She has on a short, dark blue dress, black flower lace overlaid on the silky fabric. Black heeled boots further elongate her legs and the skin on display, the tantalizing lines of her collarbones highlighted by the dress’s neckline. Her hair is styled in her preferred braided crown, but a few strands curl around her temples and frame her face, and Cassian knows he’d give anything to curl one of those strands around his finger. With the pink dusted across her cheeks and mascara heightening the icy blue of her eyes, he has to swallow hard and clear his throat before finding his voice again, struck dumb by the beauty of her in front of him.

“Nesta,” Cassian greets, finally flicking his gaze back to the other man in the hall. “Tommy.”

“It’s Tomas,” Tomas snaps back, his sneer only deepening when Cassian shrugs in response. “What are you even doing?”

Cassian’s smile is all mocking and teeth, holding up the trash back in his hands. “Just taking out the trash. Maybe Nesta should consider doing the same.”

Whether Tomas understands the double meaning or not, Cassian doesn’t get a chance to find out. Nesta steps forward, linking her arm with her boyfriend’s with a quiet, murmured reminder that they’re running late. They continue down the hall, Cassian watching them until they vanish around the corner, until he hears the quiet ding of the elevator.

He closes his front door with a soft sigh, glancing consideringly back toward his television still playing the game, but then an idea hits him. It’s a risk, most definitely stupid, but maybe he’s always been a bit reckless. Rushing back toward his living room, Cassian grabs his phone where he left it, opening up the text chain with his family.

Anyone down for drinks tonight? Found a new bar we should try

~ * * * ~

Sullivan’s isn’t much to write home about as far as bars go. Posters and photos litter almost every free inch of space on the walls, a pool table set up to the right, and round high top tables and bar stools arranged around the rest of the space. The bar juts out from the wall in the center of the room, bottles lining the shelves. It may be the nicest dive bar Cassian has ever set foot in, but it’s still a dive bar, the stench of beer and sweat heavy.

“Oh, you’ve got to be kidding me,” Azriel sighs from Cassian’s right.

Cassian turns toward his brother, but Azriel’s attention is elsewhere. When Cassian follows his gaze, he finds Nesta and Tomas sitting at one of the high top tables. Her back is ramrod straight, fingers curled tightly around the glass of wine sitting primly in front of her, but Tomas doesn’t seem to notice. He sips casually from a beer bottle, his attention focused more on the patrons around him.

“Isn’t that your neighbor?” Mor pipes up from Cassian’s left. “The one you’re in love with?”

“Is Nesta here?” Cassian asks innocently, refusing to meet either Azriel or Mor’s gaze. “What are the odds of that?”

“If I’m playing wingman tonight, you owe me so many drinks,” Azriel grumbles with a shake of his head.

“Drinks on Cassian?” Mor teases, looping her arm with Azriel’s and dragging him toward the bar. “I like the sound of that. Let’s order all top shelf.”

Cassian rolls his eyes good naturedly, but he follows behind his family, buying the first round of drinks after all. He lets Azriel and Mor get settled, lets them chat about their respective weeks and jobs, and all the while, he stares across the bar at Nesta and Tomas. He doesn’t understand how anyone can sit across from Nesta Archeron and ignore her. How they can want to do anything other than bask in her presence. How they could care more about a freshly out of college girl clearly working the pool table just for free drinks.

“So, I need a favor,” Cassian begins, interjecting into the conversation swirling around him.

“I’m surprised you waited this long,” Azriel remarks dryly.

“Very funny,” Cassian fires back, turning his attention to Mor and offering the blonde his best, most winning smile. “I need you to go flirt with that guy over there.”

“Seriously, Cass?” Mor huffs, her face exasperated.

“Please? I’ll buy your drinks for the rest of the night. The best wine they have. However many glasses you want. Especially if you can somehow make an accident happen that gets him away from the table.”

Mor narrows her eyes, scrutinizing him, her eyes dancing briefly toward the table across the bar. “This Nesta better be worth it.”

“Trust me,” Cassian assures her quietly, unable to stop from smiling. “She is.”

Cassian isn’t sure what Mor sees on his face, but her expression softens. She rolls her eyes fondly and swipes up her glass of wine, slipping off her bar stool. Flipping her hair over her shoulder, she strides her way over to Nesta and Tomas, plastering on a wide, flirtatious smile. It’s certainly entertaining for Cassian, watching his friend work. She twirls the blonde strands of hair around her fingers, places her hand on Tomas’s arm, makes a big show of laughing loudly at whatever is said. It would almost be comical if Tomas wasn’t eating up every second.

“Come on, Mor,” Cassian mumbles under his breath. “Hurry it up, already.”

“You really need all the help you can get, don’t you?” Azriel sighs, setting his now finished drink on the bartop.

Azriel steps around Cassian and heads toward the table as well. He makes eye contact with Mor, some sort of silent agreement passing between the two, and then Azriel is walking behind her. His arm brushes along her back, Mor’s cue to fake stumbling forward a step, her half full glass of wine spilling right across Tomas’s shirt and pants.

“What the fuck is wrong with you?” Tomas’s voice carries even to where Cassian is sitting. “Do you have any idea how expensive this shirt is?”

Tomas storms off toward the bathrooms, Mor hot on his heels and offering overly innocent apologies. She winks at Cassian as they pass, and Cassian has to stifle a laugh into his hand to keep Tomas from noticing him. One last glance to make sure Tomas is gone and the coast is clear, and Cassian wastes no time cutting his way across the bar and sliding into the now vacated seat across from Nesta.

“Some date, huh?” Cassian jokes lightly, Nesta’s attention snapping to him.

“Cassian… what are you doing here?”

Despite the question, Cassian swears he sees Nesta’s shoulders start to relax from where they’re pitched up near her ears, swears he sees what looks suspiciously like relief flood through her eyes. He lets it fuel the hope swarming and twisting in his gut, the warmth blooming between his ribs and tightening around his heart like a golden thread. He knows he could easily play the whole thing off as a coincidence, shrug the question away with mentions of his family and their drinking habits.

But he knew the gamble he was taking by crashing Nesta’s date tonight, and maybe, this is his chance. His chance to show Nesta just how much she already means to him. To prove to her that he can treat her better.

“Your boyfriend sucks,” Cassian says rather than answer her question.

Nesta blinks a few times in surprise, eyebrows pinching slightly. “What?”

“Tomas. He sucks ass, and you should absolutely dump him. I’m serious, Nes. You deserve so much better than his sorry excuse.”

“You seem quite sure of that, do you?”

“Yeah, I do. I might not have known you very long, but I know that you’re beautiful, and you’re smart, and you’re witty and passionate, and you care so much about your sisters and your friends. And you deserve someone who cherishes you. You can do so much better than that piece of shit.”

Cassian’s words hang in the space between them, the rest of the bar fading away into nothing until it’s just him and her and the sparks and electricity charging the air around them. Nesta stares at him like she’s never seen him before, like no one’s ever said things like that to her before. It sends cracks ricocheting like icy claws through his chest. Especially, when Nesta drops her gaze away from him, fiddling with the stem of her wine glass.

It leaves him wanting to find whoever in her past has her unsure, wanting to go track down where Tomas has vanished to and punch him in the face for making her curl into herself. It makes his determination to show her what it could be like harden even more, makes him want to spend the rest of his life properly cherishing her if she’ll let him.

“I don’t know about all that,” Nesta offers, her voice quiet.

“Do you want to get out of here?” Cassian asks instead, reaching his hand across the table and skating his fingertips across the back of Nesta’s hand, drawing her attention fully back to him.

Nesta sighs softly. “Cassian—”

“Let me prove it to you. Prove what it could be like, should be like. Prove what a good date is. Prove that I’d treat you better.”

Nesta thinks about it for a moment, emotions flitting through those blue eyes faster than Cassian can decipher. But then Nesta is slipping out of her seat and grabbing her purse, turning away from him. Cassian’s heart sinks through his feet and the floor, and it takes all his willpower to keep his disappointment off his face as he watches her.

“One date,” Nesta tells him, looking back at him expectantly.

“One date is all I need, sweetheart,” Cassian assures her, jumping out of his own seat. “Now, let’s get out of here before Tomas realizes what’s hit him.”

Cassian grabs Nesta’s hand in his, lacing their fingers together and leading her out of the bar. Her hand feels right in his, his fingers curled around her own, their palms pressed together, and Cassian knows in that moment that he has no intention of ever letting go again. He uses his free hand to dig his phone out of his pocket, working quickly to get everything ready, to make everything perfect for this opportunity, but he’s still nervous by the time they arrive at their destination.

Nesta’s steps pause as she glances around them. “Our one date is going to be at our apartment complex?”

“Don’t you trust me?” Cassian asks, holding open the door for her.

“You sure are asking a lot for this one date.”

“And the night is still young.”

Cassian offers her a wink for extra good measure, earning a laugh from Nesta in return. The sound is light and easy, the melody wrapping around Cassian’s limbs as surely as it wraps around his heart. It might just be his favorite sound, the way her blue eyes light up along with the reaction his favorite sight, and he can’t wait to draw even more laughs out of her.

He leads the way back up to their floor, all of the paper and plastic bags he expects waiting right outside his apartment door. He sends up a silent prayer to the Mother in thanks that so far everything is going to plan.

“What’s all this?” Nesta asks, eying the bags as well.

“Well, I noticed you order a lot of takeout,” Cassian explains, gathering up the different bags and unlocking his apartment door.

Nesta scoffs even as she steps inside and into his apartment. “Are you judging me for being a terrible cook?”

“Never. I’ll have you know I actually love to cook, so we’re a good pair, but I didn’t really have time to prepare anything tonight, so I figured I’d order everything I’ve worked out to be your favorites based on what you seem to order the most,” Cassian explains, setting all the bags down on his kitchen counter and beginning to pull the different containers out. “Crab rangoon from Bar Bao. Butter chicken and basmati from Urban Tandoor. Garlic breadsticks and ravioli from Tony’s. California rolls from Black Dragon. And triple chocolate cheesecake from the Cheesecake Factory.”

Nesta is silent, staring wide-eyed at all the food, at him, so Cassian turns to grab plates just to give his hands something to do. When she still hasn’t said anything, he clears his throat awkwardly, pushing a hand up and through his hair.

“So…” Cassian starts, handing a plate over to Nesta. “What do you think?”

“I think you might just get a second date after all.”

—

Taglist (let me know if you’d like to be added or removed): @moodymelanist @nesquik-arccheron @sv0430 @talkfantasytome @bookstantrash @eirini-thaleia @ubigaia @fromthelibraryofemilyj @luivagr-blog @lifeisntafantasy @superspiritfestival @hiimheresworld @marigold-morelli @sweet-pea1 @emeriethevalkyriegirl @pyxxie @dustjacketmusings @hallway5 @dongjunma @glowing-stick-generation @melonsfantasyworld @isterofimias @goddess-aelin @melphss @theladystardust @a-trifling-matter @blueunoias @kookskoocie @wolfnesta @blurredlamplight @hereforthenessian @skaixo @jmoonjones @burningsnowleopard @whyisaravenlike-awritingdesk @ofduskanddreams @rarephloxes @thelovelymadone @books-books-books4ever @tenaciousdiplomatloverprune @that-little-red-head @readergalaxy @thesnugglingduck @kale-theteaqueen @tarquindaddy @superflurry @bri-loves-sunflowers @lady-winter-sunrise

#nessian #sjmromanceweek2024 #nesta archeron #cassian #nessian fanfiction #nessian fic #nesta x cassian #acotar #acosf #my fic

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allwormdiet · 18 days

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Agitation 3.11

The problems involving this motherfucking bank are no longer limited to the exterior of said motherfucking bank

It has to be fucking alarming for your power to stop working for you when you're so used to it as a part of yourself. Can't even imagine.

God the tension here is good. Amy's not much of a fighter, sure, not even compared to Taylor, but Taylor's making her feel like she's dying rn

Do people really paint Amy as some kind of suffering angel? Like I get that she's suffered, sure, she's a parahuman and the least-favorite child of New Wave and yadda yadda, but she's fucking mean. And honestly between her and her sister I get the impression that New Wave is uhh, not too big on treating criminals like they have human rights? Which isn't at all concerning when one of them is a lawyer.

...Man how do I get worse vibes off of New Wave than the Protectorate, I'm basically never on the side of government superheroes

You can't fool me Victoria Dallon, I know you practiced that landing

Also Jesus that's a lot of damage, couldn't you have just gone through one of the windows that broke already? Kid Win made that hole for nothing.

I know Amy doesn't do this (yet) but the fact that this is the first thing she threatens to do to a villain with a knife to her throat is fucking insane

Are the Dallons actually trained in hostage negotiation and conflict de-escalation? I hope they're not because otherwise I'd have a lot of really pressing and mean questions for their trainers

Also fucked up that Amy's threats involve destroying Taylor's sense of taste, giving her fatal diseases, or *checks notes* making her really really fat, what the hell girl

Hey Tattletale, love you Tattletale, please for the love of god be careful Tattletale

So people have written Tattletale and Glory Girl punching each other with their lips, right? If I'm picking up on some kismesis vibes there's no way other people haven't picked up kismesis vibes

(Sit. Stay. Good girl. Oh my god.)

Interesting that Tattletale seems willing to call Amy's bluff here, though I'm not sure how safe that is

Tattletale: you should know better than to make me monologue about something that'll help you

Glory Girl: yeah I know

Tattletale: but I'm gonna answer your question anyhow

Glory Girl:

Victoria continues to be a huge fucking nerd

Tattletale continues to be outrageously smug and also, tbh, isn't entirely wrong about the expectations of superpowers. She's lying like a rug of course but how should they know that?

Clever! And fucked up. And remarkably powerful on Amy's part, like holy shit. As if the cancer threat wasn't bad enough.

And all the while Tattletale is fucking up Panacea's play with nothing but a laser pointer, with GG too distracted by proving her wrong to realize it

Victoria what the fuck

I'm gonna try to be generous and chalk this up to being written in 2011, but hollllly shit this doesn't reflect well on the character or author

Current Thoughts

Okay so I'm not gonna dwell on the slur, much as I'd love to, let's just leave that one on the side

I find it fascinating that GG considers New Wave immune to the threat of dirty secrets, especially the part about "full transparency." We just saw her nearly kill a suspect on accident and then guilt trip Panacea into healing her to prevent a black mark on the team's record. Like maybe she theoretically believes that stuff as long as she doesn't think too hard about it, but this is absolutely hypocrisy on her part

Victoria and Amy both are just. Really showing their best selves in this arc. I'm not going to act like they're both monsters, they're not. As previously mentioned, they're teenagers in an extremely high-stress situation. Amy's got a knife to her throat and Victoria is extremely protective of her sister and they're facing down two relatively unknown villains on their own

...which I think just points more to the fact that they shouldn't be in this situation to begin with. Amy obviously didn't have much say about whether she'd be a hostage but she definitely didn't have to pick a fight with the villains who had lethally venomous spiders on all the hostages. Victoria, on the other hand, absolutely did not think about what she was doing before doing it, and punched a hole in the roof of what's probably an expensive-ass building in the doing. Is she gonna pay for that? Her millionaire boyfriend?

Next time: Tattletale proves she's the most dangerous Undersider, and nobody regrets this at all

#parahumans #worm liveblogging #liveblog #worm agitation #wormblr

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lunas-side-anime-blog · 2 years

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Modern College Student/BF Armin Arlert Headcanons

(rewatching aot and damn I forgot how much I love armin. someone pls put me onto some good armin fan fiction? this boy doesn’t get anough attention honestly, lemme know if you guys want me to do anyone else, im thinking eren next?)

Pre law student

I think in the modern world, Armin would only look at his love for the ocean and nature as hobbies. When it comes to investing in his education and making money to support himself and his family, he’d go into a major he’s good at just to be safe. And that’s persuasive arguments, crazy attention to detail and maybe a little manipulation for the greater good so yeah…lawyer it is 🙂

Currently focusing on political science for his BA before law school

Shares a small apartment with Eren and Mikasa cuz they all looked at dorm life and were collectively like “yea, fuck that”

Armin and Mikasa are up first every morning, and they usually share a lil breakfast together before deciding which one should dare try to drag Eren out of bed

Has the best color-coded notes, the type of student to type into the chats links to resources he found helpful when doing the homework, pulls thru with the quizlet right before quizzes

Heavy on that study beats, listens to it even when not studying

Has canva pro and no you cannot use it 🫶🏻

Strict study schedule but he doesn’t go overboard like other honor kids. He gives himself plenty of breaks and plans his workload so he can enjoy his weekends bc he knows he’ll be useless all burnout

His Starbucks order is an iced brown sugar oat milk shaken espresso, sometimes with a blueberry muffin, boy likes his sweets

The Starbucks staff around the corner knows him personally and even have a lil crush on him since he's there so often, polite and always puts something in the tip jar (he may get a few free cake pops here and there)

Loves the sims and doing little legacy challenges, the type to get emotional when his sim gets married or has kids because he fr raised them

Deep into the lore too, has his theories about Bella Goth and hates Don Lothario with a passion

One time Eren deleted his saved family and Armin didn’t speak to that man for two weeks

Secretly loves fanfiction but only found family fanfiction bc it reminds him so much of his relationship with Eren and Mikasa. Soft spot for anything Harry Potter tho (proud ravenclaw)

I don’t think he’d smoke weed bc I feel like he’d be a paranoid high so it’d be more stressful than relaxing tbh

But he always trip sits his friends!

Will go to parties if dragged along but the most he’ll drink is like a twisted tea or white claw and just kinda watch his friends get hammered like 🫣

The type of guy at the party who’ll get dragged into some drunk crying girl’s story about her bf and he’s just sitting there with his one drink, sober asf like, “omfg bestie! you need to dump him, like i’ll help you draft that text rn”

Smells like Johnson and Johnsons baby soap and like he’s so embarrassed about it but his skin is so sensitive he has to use the goo goo gaga stuff

Other than that he kinda smells like fresh laundry? Uses too much detergent and dryer sheets so his clothes smell like extra good and he doesn’t wear cologne so yeah, hope you like Tide bitches✌🏼

Very loyal to the vanilla bean burts bees chapstick

Has a blue hydro flask that he always has with him, also constantly reminding his friends to drink more water

Totally has scared Eren by telling him about kidney stones and how the dumbass might have to just pee out rocks if he doesn’t drink sum fucking water.

Eren now takes hydrating v seriously :)

Most of his friends will go to him more than their actual advisor bc Armin is just much more helpful tbh and he loves telling them which classes or internships they should take.

Actually prefers articles and podcasts over books bc of practicality and he already has to read so fucking much for school

But is lowkey one of the annoying ppl where like any conversation you’ll have will end with him like, “Oh earlier I was listening to this one podcast and-”

Has painted his nails a few times but I think he’s a nail biter so he kinda stopped after unintentionally eating so much nail polish

Secret passion for skin care, may or may not be a skincarebyhyram stan

Tried countless times to get Eren to at least wear spf everyday but yea, that bitch don’t listen

Mikasa does tho and they actually go to sephora together once every month for lil skincare hauls (baddie w her baddie friend)

Calls his grandpa everyday, even if it’s just for a few minutes bc he knows his grandpa is all alone now that he left for school and armin just wants him to know that he’s doing fine and making him proud

As your Bf

You guys probably met thru a friend of a friend, most likely you befriended Mikasa or Eren and they started bringing you over and eventually Armin would meet you

Bc in no way would Armin actively search for something romantic when his main focus rn is getting his degree but like damn you were just-

Wow

Anyway, as your bf expect literally so many forehead kisses

Kinda clingy bc he is indeed a scorpio, once it’s official between you two every night he’s like “so we sleeping at my place or yours?”

Bc why would you guys just sleep apart from each other?

Armin fr forgot how to

Fav cuddle position is you on your back and him with his head on your chest and arms around your waist

Bonus if you play with his hair and whisper sweet nothings by his temple

I’m on team soft dom armin, boy is a ppl pleaser for sure but still a dom

He’s pretty vanilla and heavy on praise, but if you want him to go hard and degrade you or manhandle you, he would as long as you guys set up a safeword first

His post nut clarity would hit hard tho and he would be so afraid you saw him as some sort of sexist pig afterwards

“WOMEN ARE BEAUTIFUL AND STRONG, IN NO WAY DO I CODONE-”

“Babe chill all you did was spank me.”

If you have a vagina, he is like super educated on the anatomy🤓

Fr makes you pee after sex

Washes his hands before fingering you and you’re just sitting there trying to stay in the mood like “😀”

Tbh the only things I think would be off the table for Armin is anything unhygienic or like anything involving other ppl bc boy is too insecure and possessive for anyone else to be seeing you like that

Sex on the beach isn’t happening either.

If you try to convince him he would just be like,”Sand will end up everywhere (y/n)! Honestly, it’s like you WANT a yeast infection!”

Having a pre law bf is literally having your own attorney at your beck and call

If you have a problem with a teacher for example, Armin would fr hop on a call with the college and be like “sweetie, who was the head of your department again?”

Next thing you know the poor teacher is fired lol

Can and will fight all your battles

The perfect study buddy, like he'll make flashcards for you without you even asking or telling him what the next test was about?

You never have to edit or revise your essays again, Armin is just proud that you wrote it all out, he’ll take care of it from there so all you have to do later is submit

Armin made one day of the week your guys’ date night and literally someone would have to die in order for him to reschudle bc the boy takes it sooo seriously

Literally Eren can call from the hospital and Armin will just be like “you know what day it is? Right, it’s Thursday. Which is date night for me and Y/n. So unless that broken arm turns into organ failure, don’t call me!”

Date nights are museums, cafes, planetariums, sometimes you guys will even take a class together

But honestly, the best dates are the ones you guys have at home bc he likes just having you all to himself

Boy is jealous, but more so possessive

Like, it takes a very certain action to piss him off enough to act outwardly bitchy

Boys can make you laugh, they can compliment you, they can try to impress you

But if a boy were to try to protect and care for you?

Armin will snap

Thats literally his job and he sees it as a threat

Will go out of his way to make the dude look really incompentent.

Your study partner brought you a snack bc they know you missed breakfast?

“Y/n doesn’t like that brand, it hurts their tummy. Maybe you should ask before just shoving whatever in their face😒”

Its cold out and some guy offers you their jacket?

“Woah there, prince charming, I don't think your 10 dollar Old Navy hoodie is gonna cut it. Darling, why don’t we head inside and get you a hot drink? 😇”

A guy friend stops by with some medicine bc he heard you were at home sick?

Armin’s there at the door like, “My baby’s immune system is really weak right now, the last thing they need is strangers just coming over and making them sicker. How thoughtless are you?🤬”

Fights don’t really happen bc Armin is so good at de escalating situations, he’s also just such a simp for you that you’ll always gets your way

The only fights he won’t back down from are the ones where he feels like your safety is at risk

Over his dead fucking body would you do anything even remotely dangerous

This is where I see manipulative Armin. He’d use his skills to convince you that you didn’t even care about what you were arguing for in the first place

At first he might feel a little guilty but after realizing you’re objectively safer from his manipulation, he doesn’t feel as bad

Kinda yandere tbh, but really soft and not dangerous

Your location should always be on tho☺️

Fav Nicknames for you: darling, baby, princess/prince

Songs that fit the vibe: Turning Page by Sleeping At Last, Bad Habit by Steve Lacy and As The World Caves In by Mat Maltese

“Yes, it’s you I welcome death with, as the world caves in.”

“Nothing makes me stronger than your fragile heart.”

“Thought you were too good for me my dear, never gave me time of day my dear.”

#armin headcanons #armin arlert #armin aot #aot #attack on titan #modern attack on titan #armin x you #yandere aot #yandere armin #attack on titan headcanons #college armin #anime headcanons #yandere attack on titan #daddy armin #yandere anime #headcanons

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