#travers could NEVER

[annyankers]

I've joked that even as late as season 7, the Watcher's Council probably still thought of fax machines as cutting-edge technology.

SDFGSKGHDLKSD I mean it was what? 2003??? that shit was pretty nifty back then but like.... do they even use EMAIL???? Like sfkdlghsdkgld I'm sure they have some pretty high tech shit in SOME areas, like demon stabbing or artifact preservation, but at the same time... they're just so fucking stuck up their own asses if you told me they only corresponded by landline and hand written letter I'd believe you.

They're so self-centered no consideration for adaption and improvement. Sure a stake will dust a vampire but so will a high powered ammunition that blows their head off. Decapitations count and guns keep the evil undead away from your squishy mortal ass. Ex-Watcher Spike uses disposable cellphones and has several sock puppet emails. He knows how to set up conference calls. He has a gameboy. The Council could never.

This is why I also kinda like Wesley more than Giles, he can use a laptop without having a nervous breakdown. Also he's shoots people with guns, more people in the buffyverse should use modern weaponry. Give Dawn a flamethrower.

[astrotruther]

Astro Observations

relationships (ii)

୨ৎ You know that trope of non-celebrity women landing the men everyone wants? One placement they often share is Venus in Aquarius—think Yoko Ono, Amal Clooney. Venus square Moon women too, but with a darker twist: their validation comes from 'pulling' the unattainable. They have the charm to get who they want, but the moment their partner gives in, the illusion of exclusivity shatters—what once felt like a conquest now feels ordinary, leaving them bored.

୨ৎ People with Venus trine Chiron may sometimes find themselves in public romances that people don't approve of or don't understand due to the distorted perception they have of these people. E.g. Kim Kardashian, Timothée Chalamet. Camila Cabello allegedly dating Drake. They could go after problematic people or, are problematic themselves.

୨ৎ Venus-Saturn aspects don’t only imply an attraction to older partners. Saturn rules time so natives with this aspect may be into age-gap relationships with younger people as well. E.g. Shawn Mendes' ex-girlfriend Charlie Travers has Venus Trine Saturn (Shawn is 12 years younger than her).

୨ৎ Neptune in the 7th House in Composite Chart - People may never know specifically what kind of relationship these couples have. They tend to keep their romance private and may even refuse to label it.

୨ৎ North/ South Node square Venus in Synastry may manifest as a relationship that's 'not meant to be'. Some of these couples spend a long time with each other, but simultaneously have this feeling that they're wasting their time. I’ve noticed this in couples that burn bright in the beginning but realize very soon that the other person is not it. It can become obsessive if this realization is one-sided and the other partner doesn’t want to let go.

୨ৎ Venus square Uranus in synastry—beware of abusive dynamics. This often manifests as verbal abuse. Mars square Mars could manifest as physical abuse. Aishwarya Rai & Salman Khan have both these aspects.

୨ৎ If you have Venus square Pluto and keep experiencing short, rocky romances, it likely means you're not incorporating the lessons. Reflect on how you may be sabotaging yourself in relationships. Are you choosing the wrong people?

୨ৎ Some Venus square Pluto celebs tend to have extensive dating histories and their choice of partners is interesting to say the least. They always gravitate toward people who dominate pop culture at that moment. The IT girls/ boys. E.g. Niall Horan has dated Selena Gomez, Ariana Grande, Hailee Steinfeld, Ellie Goulding, Barbara Palvin, Demi Lovato; all during their peak popularity. However, they may eventually break their pattern and find stability. Niall has been with his non-celeb girlfriend since 2020 and still going strong.

୨ৎ Venus is so important in determining the kind of creative pursuits you're drawn to and the ones that'd bring abundance. Half of Game of Thrones' cast has Venus in Scorpio. The show's themes included power struggles, sex, betrayal, and death - key Scorpio motifs. E.g. Emilia Clarke, Lena Heady, Kit Harrington, Alfie Allen, Charles Dance. Also, Penn Badgley portrays Joe in YOU so well; he has a Scorpio stellium (Sun, Moon, Mercury, Venus, and Pluto).

Donate 💌

[suzukiblu]

WIP excerpt for Zepysgirl behind the cut; “the wet nurse omegaverse”. (( chrono || non-chrono ))

“Maybe a little bit,” Lois replies, her mouth quirking wryly. 

“Dad’s the best reporter ever–um, and Mom’s really good too, though,” Jon interjects loyally, and Clark lets out a soft huff of a laugh. 

“Not quite as Pulitzer-worthy, maybe,” he says, a little wry himself. It’s not much, but Bruce will take it compared to Clark holding his tongue on god knows what he’s been holding his tongue on since they walked into the dining room. 

“I thought you lived in Metropolis,” Carl says, looking puzzled. “Like the Daily Planet or whatever, right?” 

“Temporary pack rehoming,” Lois clarifies with a simple shrug. “Clark and I are commuting right now.” 

“Oh,” Carl says, still looking puzzled. “Weird.” 

“Is it?” Lois raises an eyebrow at him, and Carl immediately looks awkward. Which, well–the awkwardness is at least somewhat tempering the flustered fawning in his pheromones, so Bruce isn’t going to dissuade that. 

“Uh, I dunno, I just never met an actual reporter before,” Carl says. “Doesn’t everybody just watch the news now?” 

“Definitely not, but the news also has reporters,” Lois replies, her lip quirking in amusement. Carl looks–

Bruce expects embarrassment at the correction, or maybe more awkwardness. What he sees, though, is a sharp flash of–anxiety, it almost looks like, and an edge of tension. Like making a simple little mistake like that is something to be anxious about. 

Bruce really doesn’t like the things he’s been learning about this kid so far. 

“Yeah, obviously, but like, different vibe or whatever,” Carl says just a little too quickly, his eyes just a little too wide behind his glasses as he flicks them to the side. “I mean you could definitely do TV, man, you’ve got whatever the opposite of a face for radio is, seriously.” 

Bruce notes, clinical and careful: attempted to downplay the mistake, attempted to change the subject to something more strongly centering the other participant in the conversation while discounting own personal experience, attempted to distract from the mistake by complimenting the other participant in the conversation. 

He continues to not like the things he’s learning about this kid so far. 

. . . but also, Carl didn’t react to making mistakes in front of him or Clark or even Travers the same way he is right now, did he.

“I thought you’d look more like ‘em, though, they really take after their mom,” Carl continues–pushing the conversation forward away from the mistake, Bruce notes, except also– “Wait, no, Jon said Chris was adopted, right. Sorry, forgot, he just really looks a lot like–uh, Clark? Like, he looks a lot like him too.” 

Bruce internally marvels at how someone who is so clearly trying to avoid a perceived feeling of getting “in trouble” for making a mistake they could’ve passed off as just misspeaking could somehow manage to pick the most insulting thing they could’ve possibly said to an alpha. If Bruce heard that comment in casual conversation at a gala, he’d be assuming someone was either declaring a social war or committing social suicide. There is almost nothing worse an effective stranger could say to an alpha they’ve just met than something that could be interpreted as implying they weren’t their pup’s actual sire. 

Also, definite confirmation that this kid is completely face blind. Bruce will be surprised if Carl can tell anyone in the manor apart by anything but their scents within the next month. He’d be surprised if Carl could even pick Travers out of a lineup. They also definitely mentioned Metropolis in front of him already, so that’s another mark in the “unreliable witness” column. 

Clark would never let him forget it if he tried to manipulate the wet nurse into doing some memory training sessions, but that’s another one of those things that Bruce will stop doing when the paranoia stops paying off.

[coraniaid]

The thing about Kendra is that ... okay. There is a version of the show in my head in which both meeting and then failing to save Kendra are huge, pivotal moments in Buffy's life. They should both have had a huge impact on her. Kendra is the first other Slayer Buffy ever meets, the embodiment of everything Buffy has been told a Slayer should be, a challenge to Buffy's sense of her self as "the one and only Chosen" [as, of all people, Faith will put it five years later].

Becoming (Part 1) even teases the idea that Kendra's death will be a turning point in Buffy's story. "Even if you see them coming, you're not ready for the big moments," Whistler narrates in voice over as Buffy rushes back to the library. "Nobody asks for their life to change [...] but it does," he says, as Buffy finds Kendra lying dead on the floor and tearfully takes her hand. "It's what you do afterwards that counts," he tells us. The framing here is pretty clear: what are we meant to do but assume that Kendra's death is a "big moment" that will change Buffy's life forever?

I don't think I can imagine writing a version of Buffy who isn't fundamentally changed by this moment. Who isn't thinking about Kendra when she takes the bus out of Sunnydale, or when Angel comes back from hell next season, or when Drusilla comes back to Sunnydale three years later. Who isn't reminded of her almost every time she sees Faith: who isn't thinking about her when she insists to her skeptical Watcher and her friends that, no matter what, this time she's going to find a way to save her fellow Slayer. Who isn't thinking about what Kendra told her about being raised by her Watcher and never having anything resembling a normal life when she confronts Quentin Travers in Helpless or Checkpoint. Who isn't thinking at least a little bit about Kendra when she complains in The Gift how hard it is to live in a world where "everything gets stripped away". Who isn't missing her dead friend all through Season 7, and wondering whether Kendra -- who read the handbook and knew all the rules -- would have done a better job leading the Potentials than she could.

Only, well. Hand on heart, I don't think this is an accurate description of what canonically happens on screen after Season 2. In the version of the show that I like to think about, Kendra is important and her life and her death matter enormously. But in the version of the show that was actually filmed and aired ... well, like Whistler says, it's what you do afterwards that counts. And what the show does after Becoming is to almost immediately forget Kendra ever existed. Nobody but Cordelia ever says her name out loud (and even that's just a single throwaway line to get the audience up to speed about Faith). Buffy never mentions where "Mr Pointy" came from to anyone; she never mentions Kendra to Faith or Dawn or any of the Potentials. Kendra doesn't show up in dreams or prophetic visions; we don't see her alive in the alternate reality of The Wish or trapped in a clinic alongside 'the real' Buffy in Normal Again; the First Evil never bothers to take on her appearance. The closest we ever get to coming back to Buffy finding her body in the library -- that "big moment" that was going to change Buffy's life -- are a couple of lines in Dead Man's Party where Joyce and Oz note that the police no longer suspect Buffy of Kendra's murder ("oh, good," says Buffy, "that was such a drag").

I can't imagine writing a version of the show where Kendra didn't matter, but I don't have to: that's the version that actually got written.

And yeah, that's infuriating -- like so much else about how Kendra was treated by the show -- but I think if you start talking about how much Kendra's death means to Buffy you do need to acknowledge that you're not talking about the version of the show that everybody else actually watched. Kendra really isn't haunting the narrative in any meaningful way. I wouldn't be surprised if most casual fans of the show don't remember she existed. For that matter, I genuinely don't think some of the people writing for the show in its last few seasons remembered she existed. It almost feels like an insult to Bianca Lawson to pretend that the show that treated her and the character she played with so little respect actually always intended her to have this huge posthumous importance (and ... I guess ... just kept forgetting to invite her back?).

Even her last name -- Kendra Young, we were told after the show ended -- feels like a bit of an odd afterthought. One of the few things the show told us about Kendra was that she didn't remember her parents and didn't have a last name. But, well. Why would the writers of the show suddenly start caring about little things like that?

[ganondoodle]

totk cataclysm event wasnt just a great (but utterly missed) opportunity to change the map in techincally little ways that has drastic consequences both in stakes and in gameplay (like i mentioned before, flooding the gerudo desert would have meant devastating consequences for its ecosystem- like imagine little islands of sand still poking out, acting as a sort of last doomed refuge for sandseals- but also cahnged the entire gameplay of it, good chance to introduce some neat new ways to surf on water like a new ridable creature or an ice shield freezing a path while you surf on it, the gerudo being forced to save the city from drowing in various means or now living on the roofs, trying to adapt by building boats ect - also call back to older games?? since totk loves that so much ..-, vah naboris serving as the savest refuge being high above the water, even if non functional; similarly takign away ALL water from the zora region, gaving it all dry out would imemdiately turn into something way different and could mean death for the zora- forcing them to move to the lower parts of akkala for example- maybe vah ruta is still halfway functioning bc the faith the zora have to mipha, dorephan and sidon is, while not enough to keep it fully functional, but enough to generate some water so the most stubborn or brave zora set up around it like a last oasis; i know its somewhat done with death mountain but the gorons dont really suffer from it bc their only problem is a drugged rock that makes them mean and lazy ..- what about collapsing or exploding it, leaving a large crater that over the course of the game could start to grow with plant life since vulcanic earth is so fertile- some never seen before ones that was dormant in the lava and now that its cooled off is springing to life, which might seem good at first but for the area and its wildlife means loss of their habitat; the rito freezing over, but actually having to move, maybe into the tabantha canyon, building their new makeshift homes in between the walls of it- generally just switiching things around a bit would have done so much wihtout having to edit every last detail ((seriously tho, how did this game take so long given that botw took similar but they did that ENTIRE main map as detailed as it is AND made it all coherent with itself and its themes- im ranting again ..)

-but it ALSO would have been the perfect opportunity to introduce new weather types created by the sudden change in environment, somethign like a super strong wind that slows you when walking agaisnt and lets you jump much farther when with it- a darkness thing that clouds the world in utter darkness with only little light getting through anything that is caused by mushrooms from the udnerground invading the surface and their spores snuffs out all light (which could explain the weird darkness in the ruins from botw too!!), or just simply mist! making everything misty changes the entire feel of any environment drastically- you could make vertain enemies spawn only in certain weather conditions, lessening the repetive overuse of them; and that is only on the surface- what if the sky had sunbeams so strong it sets anything on fire if you dare to leave the shadows- to comabt it get a armor with a giant hat!! the underground could have been filled with different environments in the first place, but then of course thered be those dark spores of mushrooms, an entire forest you have to carefully travers other wise making them release their spores and make it all more difficult, glowy mushrooms, MORE glowy mushroms, theres so many weird ass shrooms IRL you could take inspo from!! maybe soemthing like a forest of kelp, long flowy plants obstructing view and making you anxious by any movement- there could be one thats a mimic or infected with miasma, slightly off color and its knobs are malice eyes that open only if it thinks you cant see it

(also for the idea of taking botws stuff and recontextualizing it, the guardians or shrines, now non fucntional, could be infected my miasma sometimes, maybe randomly to keep you guessing- an overgrown shrine suddenly lifting itself up with hands clawing at you when you get too close or do sth wrong to distrub it- similar with guardians tho the effect might be less since you know them as a threat already- or sth i mentioned in another post, a tower being used as a weapon by a gigatic miasma monster- the one in the gerudo region with the bottomless pit for example, perfect for an arena for you to run around in the spiral while its swinging at you etc etc)

JUST taking what botw had and mixing it up, expanding on it, even if technically little change, it could do so much but in the actual game death mountain and rito is the only ones that saw anything of a change like it, and it largely .. didnt change anything or was reversible easily, and had no actual consquences that meant anything, neither stakes nor environmental or narratively (the gerudo felt like it at first but its also largely reversible, its just kinda .. adding a bit of city)

i hhhhhhhhhhhhhh have so many thoughts still, i am just better at holding them back .... also dont wanna annoy lmao

[luveline]

This is very random but could we get something with Joel miller? Maybe reader has hurt her arm or something so he is helping her get dressed and comforting her because she’s really frustrated with herself for getting injured?

ty for your request ♡ fem!reader

"You okay?" Joel asks. 

You spin on your ass to the tent entrance to find him crouched down, watching you struggle with your shirt. You cringe away from his gaze, knowing you're a sight. Contusions stretch like stains up your ribs, under your armpit, and across your shoulder. The pain is nothing compared to the original injury —you dislocated your shoulder, Joel popped it back into the socket. 

The bruise is healing badly. 

"I must'a done something wrong," Joel says, eyeing the bruise. You're glad that he's ignoring your dirty bra, once white, now a mottling of yellow, grey, and blood rusted red. 

"Just bruises," you mutter, trying again to lift your arm. 

"Don't. I'll help." 

"I can do it," you insist, attempting another go quickly as he sets down on his knees in front of you. 

"Stop." His explanation goes unsaid. You're hurting yourself. "You could try listening to me. Every once in a while." 

"I was kind of busy keeping your stupid charge from pinwheeling off of a balcony, in case you forgot." 

"I meant when I told you to stop," Joel says, pulling your arms down gently to your lap. He pulls the back of your shirt over your craned head and quickly pushes your head through the neck.

You wince as he helps your arms through the sleeves. 

"I'm fucking stupid," you mutter. 

You've been thinking about it for a while. You're weak for getting hurt, weaker for saying aloud how you feel. You don't want Joel to think of you like that, and you wish you could take it back as soon as you've said it. His face is impassive as always, the slightest pinch to his brows as he finishes straightening the bottom of your shirt over your stomach. 

"For what?" he asks quietly. 

"Getting hurt." 

"You were getting hurt for a reason. Ellie," —he rests his hands on your hips— "she'd be dead if you didn't catch her. You popped your arm out so she didn't snap her neck. Doesn't make you stupid."

His touch makes you pause, terrified to lose it. It's not often he holds you. Maybe because he doesn't need to be touching someone as much as you want him to be, maybe because Ellie shadows him, a pale silhouette at his back. Your admission hasn't disgusted him as you'd worried. He's offering you reassurance in his way. Quiet, steady. 

"I never should've let her go by herself." 

"I shouldn't have let you," he argues. There's bite there suddenly. "Don't blame yourself for something that's my fault. Mine." 

You slouch, braceleting one of his wrists with the hand that doesn't burn to move. Every ligament in your opposite arm screams to be iced. All you want is half an oxy and a bed to lay in. 

"I should've been faster. Should've seen she was messing around." 

Joel's hands travers unexpectedly to the small of your back. He meets your eyes head on, the heat of his touch trailing up to your agonised shoulder. He smooths his hand over it carefully. It hurts, but you say nothing. 

"It's not your fault," he says. One moment you want it and the next he's holding your cheek in his hand. His skin smells of pine needles, wood and dirt. A fingertip traces under your eye likes he's following a dotted line, before he hooks his fingers behind your ear. "You wanna be mad at someone, you be mad at me." 

"Are you guys being gross in there?" Ellie asks from outside the tent. 

Joel kisses the top of your head and moves away.

"Hello?" Ellie asks, pulling aside the tent door. 

"Privacy," Joel says. 

"She's just sitting here." Ellie says, plopping down on her knees in the entryway. It's a small tent, bursting to capacity with her arrival. 

"She was getting changed." 

"I could've helped," Ellie says. She widens her eyes, eyebrows climbing her forehead with little in the way of subtlety. 

"I got it," Joel says firmly. 

Ellie's smile is smarmy. "I bet you do." 

[hotvintagepoll]

The shadow realm is quiet, at rest, a bountiful dark kingdom in the hollow of the earth. No one disturbs its peaceful slumber. And yet.

Jessica Walters rules as gracious queen and tyrant undisturbed; Vivien Leigh and Anthony Perkins plot and scheme as second-in-commands; Fredric March rots away in his kingly dungeon. Little do these rulers know that a new political alliance, steadily growing in strength and number, has formed that could wrest away their power completely—the Scrungly Little Guys Coalition™, dangerous and feral and free.

Only one scrungle can lead this uprising against the powerful. Who is the intrepid champion, a loser of all losers, to lead the shadow realm into a new day?

This is stage one of the coup. There are three other polls in stage one. The top winner of each poll will go on to compete against the others for ultimate victory.

[50calmadeuce]

EOL - Chapter 7

Disclaimer: This is a work of fan fiction using characters from the Top Gun: Maverick world, trademarked by Paramount Pictures Corporation. I do not claim ownership of the characters and the world that I am borrowing.

The story and situation I am creating are a work of my imagination and I do not ascribe them to official story canon. This work is for entertainment only and is not a part of the storyline.

I am not profiting financially from the creation and publication of this story, but I do hope it gives you happy thoughts.

These stories are my own, so please do not take them and use them for yourself without my permission. If you see them somewhere else, please let me know.

Jake stripped the wet bedding from the bunkhouse, bundling it up before making his way to the laundry room where the ranch hands did their washing. He loaded everything into the washer, started it up, and ran a hand through his hair with a sigh.

With that taken care of, he headed toward the house, climbing the porch steps before rapping his knuckles against the door.

"Come on in, Jake," he heard Mrs. Travers yell from inside.

Jake turned the doorknob and stepped inside, the familiar creak of the hinges greeting him. He kicked off his boots in the mudroom, leaving them by the door before making his way into the kitchen, his eyes scanning the room for any sign of you.

"She left right after waking you up," Mrs. Travers said, glancing at him over her shoulder. "Have a seat. I'll make you some breakfast."

Jake hesitated for a moment before nodding, pulling out a chair and sinking into it with a tired sigh. "Thanks, ma'am," he said, rubbing a hand over his face.

"Coffee is on. Make yourself at home. In my opinion, this was always your second home," she said, giving him a knowing look as she moved around the kitchen.

Jake exhaled, a small, almost wistful smile tugging at his lips. "Appreciate that, ma'am," he said, standing to pour himself a cup. The warmth of the kitchen, the familiar scent of coffee and home-cooked meals—it all felt like a piece of the past he hadn't realized he missed so much.

Mrs. Travers set a plate of eggs, bacon, and toast in front of him with a knowing smile. “I imagine you’ve got a lot on your mind.”

Jake let out a soft chuckle, shaking his head as he picked up his fork. “That obvious, huh?”

She patted his shoulder before taking a seat across from him. “You’ve always been an open book to me, Jake Seresin. And I know my girl well enough to say she’s got her fair share of thoughts rattling around, too.”

He nodded, chewing slowly as he mulled over his words. "Can I ask you a question?"

Mrs. Travers folded her hands on the table, tilting her head slightly. "Of course, Jake. You can ask me anything."

He hesitated for a moment, rolling his fork between his fingers before finally meeting her gaze. "Were you the one who told my mom about Y/N being pregnant?"

Mrs. Travers took a deep breath and let out a slow sigh. "We didn’t tell her at first," she admitted, glancing at Jake. "But you know your momma and I are pretty close. She could tell something was up."

Jake stiffened slightly, his grip tightening around his coffee cup. "Yeah," he muttered, staring into the dark liquid. "She always could."

Mrs. Travers watched him carefully, giving him a moment to process before she continued. "She asked me outright one day, and I couldn’t lie to her, Jake. She deserved to know."

Jake exhaled sharply, running a hand through his hair. "And what did she say?"

Mrs. Travers' expression softened. "She was heartbroken, Jake. Not just for you, but for Y/N, too. She knew how much you two meant to each other, and she knew what losing that baby would do to both of you."

Jake swallowed hard, his throat tightening. "She never said a word to me about it."

Mrs. Travers reached out, covering his hand with hers. "She didn’t want to add to your burden. She figured if you didn’t know, there was a reason for it. And she didn’t want to be the one to take that choice away from either of you."

Jake nodded slowly, his jaw clenched. "I wish I had known. Maybe things would’ve been different."

Mrs. Travers squeezed his hand gently. "Maybe. Or maybe it would’ve just hurt you both in a different way." She sighed, giving him a sad smile. "The past can’t be changed, Jake. But the future? That’s still up to you."

He gazed at her, his voice laced with something unreadable. "I wrote to her every week after I left. Did you know that?"

She met his gaze. "I didn’t know until she mentioned it the other day. I had no clue."

Jake exhaled sharply, rubbing the back of his neck. "I just… I wish I understood why she couldn’t tell me. Why she thought she had to go through all of it alone."

Mrs. Travers watched him carefully, her expression soft with understanding. “Sometimes, when you love someone that much, you think you’re protecting them by keeping them away from the pain. She wasn’t thinking straight, Jake. She was grieving, scared… and she thought she was doing the right thing for you.”

The timer on the stove beeped. She gave his hand a gentle pat before standing up. "Now, eat some breakfast. Hopefully, that will help."

Jake let out a quiet chuckle, though there was no real humor behind it. "Food fixes everything, huh?"

Mrs. Travers shot him a pointed look as she grabbed a pan from the stove. "It sure doesn’t hurt."

As she plated up some biscuits and gravy, she glanced at him over her shoulder. "You know, Jake, no matter how much time has passed, you and Y/N… there’s still something there."

Jake ran a hand down his face. "Yeah. That’s part of the problem."

Mrs. Travers set the plate in front of him with a knowing smile. "Maybe it’s part of the solution, too."

Jake didn’t reply right away. He just stared at the plate, his appetite suddenly lacking. The past had a way of sinking its claws in deep, but maybe—just maybe—it wasn’t too late to make things right.

“Oh, before I forget—the bedding for the single bunkhouse is in the stablehand’s washer,” Jake said.

Mrs. Travers chuckled. “I figured as much.”

As you pulled into the clinic's parking lot, you spotted Dr. Gentry stepping out of his truck. He paused at the front of his vehicle, waiting for you to do the same.

You took a deep breath before pushing open the truck door and stepping out, smoothing your hands over your jeans. Dr. Nolan Gentry offered you a warm smile, his Scottish accent lilting as he greeted you. "Mornin’. Thought I might see you here early."

You returned his smile, feeling a little more at ease. "Yeah, figured I’d get a jump on the day."

He nodded, falling into step beside you as you both headed toward the clinic. "How was your evenin’?"

You hesitated for a fraction of a second, Jake’s presence still lingering in your mind. "Eventful," you admitted, shooting him a sidelong glance. "Yours?"

Dr. Gentry chuckled, holding the door open for you. "Not nearly as interesting as yours, I’d wager."

You rolled your eyes playfully. "Already making bets, are we?"

"Only the safe ones," he teased, his eyes twinkling with amusement. "Shall we get to work?"

You smirked and nodded before the two of you made your way into the clinic.

The familiar scent of antiseptic and hay greeted you as you stepped inside, the quiet hum of the clinic settling over you like a well-worn routine. Dr. Gentry grabbed a clipboard from the front desk, flipping through the day’s appointments.

"Looks like we’ve got a busy mornin'," he mused. "A colicky mare, a check-up on the Johnsons’ border collie, and a few vaccinations for the McAllister herd."

You peeked over his shoulder. "Sounds like a normal day."

He glanced at you, a teasing smirk on his lips. "Aye, but normal's relative, isn’t it?"

You shook your head, grinning as you looked at the clipboard. "Let’s see how normal it stays."

"Ah! There you two are!" Dr. Weiss called out, approaching you both from the stables.

Dr. Gentry turned toward the older veterinarian, his expression shifting into one of professional attentiveness. "Mornin’, Doc. What’s goin’ on?"

Dr. Weiss wiped his hands on a rag, his face lined with mild concern. "That colicky mare? She’s worse than I expected. I need one of you to assist while the other gets started on the Johnsons’ collie."

You and Dr. Gentry exchanged a glance before he nodded toward the stable. "I’ll help with the mare," he offered. "You good with the dog?"

You gave a small smile. "Yeah, I got it."

"Good," Dr. Weiss said, already turning back toward the stable. "And be ready—we might have to make some decisions soon if she doesn’t improve."

Dr. Gentry followed him, rolling up his sleeves as he went, while you exhaled and headed toward the exam room.

You stepped into the room to find Mrs. Johnson standing beside the exam table, where her border collie sat.

"Oh, Y/N! It’s so good to see you," she said, her face lighting up with a warm smile.

You returned the smile, reaching out to give the collie a gentle scratch behind the ears. "Good to see you too, Mrs. Johnson. And you, Bailey."

The dog’s tail thumped against the table, her bright eyes full of trust.

Mrs. Johnson sighed, brushing a strand of gray hair from her face. "She’s been slowing down a little lately. Not eating as much as usual. I figured it was time for a check-up."

You nodded, already slipping into work mode. "That’s a good call. Let’s take a look and see what’s going on."

As you began your examination, Bailey leaned into your touch, her body warm and familiar. You couldn’t help but smile, grateful for the simple moments like these—ones untouched by the past and its complications.

"I heard you were working here," Mrs. Johnson said as you gently began examining her dog.

You glanced up with a small smile.

"I also heard Jake Seresin was back in town. Have you seen him?" she asked.

'And there it is,' you thought to yourself. "I have," you replied.

Mrs. Johnson’s eyebrows rose slightly, her voice lowering with curiosity. "Oh? How’s he doing?"

You paused for a moment, your fingers still gently checking Bailey's heartbeat. "You know Jake," you said, trying to keep your tone neutral.

"Oh, this town knows Jake Seresin," she said with a smile. "We're just surprised he hasn’t put a ring on your finger yet. I mean, we know you got sick and all, but we always thought you two would end up together."

You felt a brief tightness in your chest at the mention of the ring, the weight of old expectations lingering. You forced a small smile, continuing with the exam as if the words hadn't struck quite so deep.

"Yeah, well," you said, trying to brush it off. "Life doesn’t always work out the way people think it will."

Mrs. Johnson nodded, her smile fading into a more understanding expression. "I’m sorry, dear. I didn’t mean to upset you."

You shook your head quickly, offering her a reassuring smile. "It’s okay, really," you said, finishing up with the exam and stepping back. "It’s just… a lot of old feelings tied up in a lot of old expectations. Nothing new."

Just then, the door opened and Dr. Weiss came in. "Mrs. Johnson. How are you?"

Mrs. Johnson turned toward him with a warm smile. "Oh, Dr. Weiss, it’s good to see you. We were just finishing up Bailey’s check-up."

Dr. Weiss nodded, giving you an approving glance before addressing Mrs. Johnson. "That’s great to hear. Everything looking good?"

You glanced at the chart in your hands. "Bailey's in good health, but she has been slowing down a bit. Might be a touch of arthritis starting. I’d recommend some joint supplements and keeping an eye on her activity levels."

Mrs. Johnson sighed, running a gentle hand over Bailey’s fur. "I figured as much. She’s not a pup anymore."

Dr. Weiss smiled kindly. "She’s in good hands, and with a few adjustments, she’ll be comfortable for a long time yet."

You handed Mrs. Johnson a small pamphlet on joint health and supplements. "If you have any questions, just give us a call."

She took it with a grateful smile. "Thank you, Y/N."

You smiled back. "You're welcome."

Mrs. Johnson gave Bailey a final pat before standing up. "Well, I appreciate you both taking the time. It’s always good to see you, Y/N."

"You too, Mrs. Johnson," you replied warmly. "Give Bailey some extra belly rubs from me."

She chuckled, nodding as she led her dog toward the door.

Dr. Weiss looked at you. "On to the next animal," he said, and you followed him out the door.

Jake stepped through the front door of his parents' house.

"Jake Seresin! Is that you?" his mother called from the kitchen. As she walked into view, she stopped abruptly, her eyes narrowing. "How could you?"

He sighed, already regretting underestimating how fast news traveled in a small town. "Momma..."

"Don't you 'Momma' me!" she snapped, marching toward him. "I raised you better than this! This is not the way to fix things!"

Jake let out another sigh, running a hand through his hair. "I know."

His mother folded her arms tightly across her chest, her lips pressing into a thin line. "Do you? Because from where I'm standing, it sure doesn't seem like it."

Jake exhaled sharply, rubbing a hand over his face. "I just... I don’t know what to do, Momma." His voice was quieter now, frustration and something deeper laced in his tone.

She studied him for a moment, her expression softening just a fraction. "Oh, Jake," she sighed. "You can't bulldoze your way through this. Not everything can be fixed by sheer force of will."

"I don't want to bulldoze," he muttered, shaking his head. "I just want a chance to make things right."

His mother’s gaze softened further, but her voice remained firm. "Then you need to listen, really listen—to her, to yourself. And maybe, just maybe, things will work out."

Jake stood there, lost in thought for a moment, and his mother raised a suspicious eyebrow.

"What are you up to now?" she asked, crossing her arms.

"They still have bands play at the rodeo?" he asked.

His mother’s eyes narrowed slightly, suspicion deepening. "They do," she answered slowly. "Why?"

Jake’s lips twitched into something that wasn’t quite a smile but had just enough mischief to make her wary. "Just thinking," he said, shrugging.

"Lord help me," she muttered, shaking her head. "Jake, whatever you're scheming—"

"I'm not scheming," he interrupted, raising his hands in mock innocence. "Just… considering my options."

She sighed, pinching the bridge of her nose. "Do I even want to know?"

He grinned now, full and easy. "Probably not. But you’ll find out soon enough."

With that, he turned and headed to the bathroom for a shower.

Tags:@tylers-twister-gal @smoothdogsgirl @tgmreader @crashingwavesofeuphoria @lunatygerqueen @illisea @findthebeautyinbreakdowns @untitled-document-95 @mrsevans90 @djs8891 @justwaveandsmile @kmc1989 @fanasyfootballchampion @khouse712 @literal-tv-menace @malindacath @jackiehollanderr

[hollowed-theory-hall]

Identification in the Wizarding World

I don't remember how I got to thinking about it, but wizards in Harry Potter don't seem to really have IDs... like no license cards or social security numbers, and that kind of begs the question of how you prove you are who you are. So I went to the books to see if it was ever answered, and to my surprise — it was.

Wands are their IDs

I'm gonna explain where in the books it's written and how it seems to work since I just didn't really see anyone mention it, and I found it curious. I'm not sure if it was just me who was a bit dumb and didn't notice it or what, but I do want to write about it.

“Madam Lestrange!” said the goblin, evidently startled. “Dear me! How- how may I help you today?” “I wish to enter my vault,” said Hermione. The old goblin seemed to recoil a little. Harry glanced around. Not only was Travers hanging back, watching, but several other goblins had looked up from their work to stare at Hermione. “You have . . . identification?” asked the goblin. “Identification? I-I have never been asked for identification before!” said Hermione. “They know!” whispered Griphook in Harry’s ear, “They must have been warned there might be an imposter!” “Your wand will do, madam,” said the goblin. He held out a slightly trembling hand, and in a dreadful blast of realization Harry knew that the goblins of Gringotts were aware that Bellatrix’s wand had been stolen.

(Deathly Hollows, page 452)

So, I'll start with this scene in Deathly Hollows, in which a Gringott's Goblin outright says a wand can be used for identification. The Golden Trio here shows the disadvantage of such an identification method, as wands can be stolen. And besides, how would a wand even work for identification? Like, how does it prove you are who you say you are?

Well, I think I know how wands are supposed to function as identification, and it's not as bad and easily fakable as it may seem. I'm not saying it's perfect, but if implemented correctly it isn't the worst they could come up with.

After all, everyone has a wand (at least in the Western Wizarding World) and everyone carries their wand with them everywhere and at all times. Not only that, but wands are unique enough to work as an ID. Wand description is broken into 6 components of its making: wood, core, flexibility, length, the wandmaker, and how long it's been in use, making each wand unique to the specific individual wielding it. Therefore a wand is something reasonable to use to identify individuals.

So, how is it supposed to work?

“Wand weighing?” Harry repeated nervously. “We have to check that your wands are fully functional, no problems, you know, as they’re your most important tools in the tasks ahead,”

(Goblet of Fire, page 303)

Wand weighing.

In GOF, the wand weighing is shown to tell the characteristics of each wand, and if we jump ahead to Arthur Weasley's and Harry's arrival in the ministry for Harry's trial in OOTP:

“Visitor to the Ministry, you are required to submit to a search and present your wand for registration at the security desk, which is located at the far end of the Atrium.”

(Order of the Phoenix, page 126)

“Wand,” grunted the security wizard at Harry, putting down the golden instrument and holding out his hand. Harry produced his wand. The wizard dropped it onto a strange brass instrument, which looked something like a set of scales with only one dish. It began to vibrate. A narrow strip of parchment came speeding out of a slit in the base. The wizard tore this off and read the writing upon it. “Eleven inches, phoenix-feather core, been in use four years. That correct?” “Yes,” said Harry nervously. “I keep this,” said the wizard, impaling the slip of parchment on a small brass spike. “You get this back,” he added, thrusting the wand at Harry.

(Order of the Phoenix, page 128)

We see exactly how wand weighing (the brass scale Harry describes) is meant to identify. This device prints out the makings of the wand when it was sold, and probably more information than Eric at the security desk reads out. He then asks Harry if it's correct because wands don't have their making and when they were bought written on them. This means only the wand's owner would supposedly remember all the details of the wandmaker, make, and when it was bought, then by asking about it, it can be revealed if the wand was stolen or not.

It's not a great method, but it's something.

It's not any dramatic revelation about the Wizarding World, I just didn't really see wands being used as IDs in the fandom and I found it interesting. I just really am interested in the Wizarding World as a culture and how it works. IDs are just part of it.

[fannedandflawless]

Sirius Black Vs The Wards: Why Death Eaters Weren’t Invited To Tea

We’ve all heard it: “Hogwarts is the safest place in the wizarding world.” But who actually set those protections? How do they work? And more importantly—why do they fail in such spectacular fashion when a certain Animagus wants to drop in for a visit? Let’s take a look at the foundations of these fabled defences—and why they might be more aesthetic than foolproof?

🏰 Who Set the Wards on Hogwarts?

✔️ Hogwarts is protected by centuries-old enchantments laid by the Founders and reinforced by successive Headmasters—currently, Dumbledore.

These wards include:

Anti-Apparition barriers

Muggle-repelling charms

Detection wards for dark magic

Protective enchantments layered into the very stone

Sounds airtight? Hold that thought.

🐺 So How Did Sirius Black Break In?

✔️ He was an unregistered Animagus. The wards don’t detect animals the same way they detect humans. ✔️ He had intimate knowledge of the school grounds from his time as a Marauder. ✔️ He had access to:

The Marauder’s Map (the blueprint of Hogwarts mischief)

Secret passageways hidden even from the staff

Decades of experience evading authority

📌 The Ministry’s Dementors were stationed around Hogwarts—but they couldn’t detect him in his Animagus form. And if they did? They still needed direct proximity.

Sirius snuck in multiple times. Into the castle. Into the Gryffindor dormitories. And what was the school’s response?

“Board up the Fat Lady’s portrait. That’ll fix it.”

🐍 Meanwhile… THE DEATH EATERS

Here’s where the logic falls apart spectacularly:

Death Eaters—many of them former students—can’t get in.

We’re talking Bellatrix, Lucius, Narcissa, Travers, Rookwood, Yaxley, Dolohov, and other former Slytherin alumni—even Voldemort himself. These were witches and wizards with significant magical ability and extensive history at Hogwarts. And yet... not one of them could find a way in without relying on a teenager and a piece of broken furniture? Suspiciously neglected. Strategically nonsensical.

They knew the castle. They lived there. Yet none of them could break in?

So what does Voldemort do?

Assigns Draco Malfoy, a sixteen-year-old schoolboy, the impossible mission of assassinating Dumbledore—as punishment for Lucius' failure at the Ministry.

Under immense pressure and with no adult help, Draco devises his own plan: fix a broken Vanishing Cabinet—which had been rotting in a corner like a half-assembled IKEA wardrobe—to sneak Death Eaters into the castle.

A dusty, half-forgotten wardrobe becomes the cornerstone of a death squad invasion—like someone planned a high-risk coup using magical flat-pack furniture and crossed their fingers it wouldn't collapse mid-assembly.

Let that sink in:

Full-grown Death Eaters couldn’t manage what a teenage fugitive dog animagus did three times over.

And here’s the kicker—Peter Pettigrew, the very Death Eater who faked his own death and lived as a rat for over a decade, knew about the secret tunnel between the Shrieking Shack and Hogwarts via the Whomping Willow. He had used it himself. So why didn’t he lead the Death Eaters through it?

Even if it was partially sealed or risky, surely it could’ve been reinforced faster than restoring a Vanishing Cabinet. Was Voldemort unaware of it? Or did he not trust a path once tied to the Marauders?

If speed and surprise were the goal, the Whomping Willow route seems a baffling omission. Dubious, darling. Deeply dubious.

🤯 THE IMPLICATIONS:

🔥 Sirius Black > Death Eaters in Hogwarts Infiltration

Sirius had deeper magical intuition, resourcefulness, and a working knowledge of the school’s blind spots.

The Marauders, collectively, understood Hogwarts better than most of the staff.

The Death Eaters, despite their power, relied on brute force and bypassing rather than subtlety.

And let’s not forget—his Animagus form was a dog. While it's never explicitly stated how the wards classify Animagi, it’s reasonable to assume that Sirius’ form allowed him to bypass the usual detection spells. Perhaps Hogwarts is accidentally pet-friendly—but not evil-detection efficient. Just ask Rita Skeeter, who snuck into places as a beetle without setting off a single alarm. So maybe the rule is: if you don’t look magical, you’re fine. You can sneak in if you look like a lovable stray—or an unremarkable insect. Good luck if you’re in full Death Eater robes, though.

🤨 Or… The Wards Are Dubiously Selective

Hogwarts’ security flexes depending on plot demands.

If Voldemort needed in, there’s always some reason he couldn’t—until Dumbledore was dead.

Are the wards magically intelligent? Or just wildly inconsistent?

Hogwarts: “No evil may enter—unless it’s disguised as a dog.”

🪞 Lingering Reflections:

This raises a serious (Sirius) question:

Was Sirius Black secretly one of the most magically competent characters in the series?

If so—why didn’t the Order use him better? Why wasn’t he teaching stealth? Why wasn’t he training students?

And perhaps more pressingly—why didn’t Dumbledore clear his name?

He knew Sirius was innocent. He had strong reason to believe the truth about Peter Pettigrew—ever since the events in the Shrieking Shack. Though he claimed he lacked proof after Pettigrew escaped, one must wonder why a wizard of Dumbledore’s stature couldn’t sway the Ministry or rally support. Instead, he let Sirius remain a fugitive, locked in Grimmauld Place, haunted and hunted.

Was it fear of public backlash? Political games? Or simply another case of Dumbledore trusting that “the greater good” would work itself out?

Or was it simply another oversight by the narrative so focused on the Chosen One that they forgot the Black sheep genius in the corner?

⸻

Previously: Hogwarts Security Issues: The Safest Place? Really?

[krazywomenonfire]

Alec Travers Dating Headcanons because no one else does them 𐙚🧸ྀི(Alec x FEM!reader)

aurther note: SO LIKE THIS IS MY VERY FIRST POST SO IF I FUCKED UP THATS WHY :))) hope you enjoy luvs 💋 Yes, I will make a SFW and NSFW headcanons on him later after this :D btw I will come back and add more because I know I messed up and fix things but I’ll also add more too sry!

warnings: fluff, romance, mental health issues, FLUFFFFF 🦇

𐙚 You and Alec will always go out on walks, break into peoples houses, etc, and anything you ask he will try to make it happen just for you

𐙚 When he introduced Mindy to you, you and her became close friends and would most of the time hang out more with her than Alec and which this man has some attachment issue

𐙚 So when you, Alec, and Mindy go hang out in a house yall broke into, expect to be in his lap 24/7, the man needs attention too :(

𐙚 Gets jealous wayyyy to fast, I don’t know any other way to say how jealous he gets. You’ll be hanging out with Mindy and just with her alone with Alec in the room, all the sudden, you feel his cold ass hands wrap around your hips and then get seated down on his lap while he eats his candy..so cute <3

𐙚 This guy never really had gotten in a lot of relationships so he wouldn’t know how to show affection toward you. I can see his love language being quality time and physical touch. With that being said, GIVE THIS MAN SOME CUDDLES

𐙚 When I say he needs quality time, he needs it, he needs you to be with him all the time. Not once has Mindy and others seen you and him not holding hands and leaving each others side

𐙚 If your on your month, he will most likely stay away from you due to your mods swings, the blood, and the mess. He only does that so he doesn’t mess anything up and he don’t want to be in the middle of your situation. He will go to stores and buy you what you need and will buy you and him some snacks so yall can watch a movie together.

𐙚 OMG HE WILL TRY AND WLL SCARE THE SOUL OUT OF YOU IF YOUR IN HOUSE YALL BROKE INTO 100%.

𐙚 you and him will go smoking together and he will let you burn out your cigarette on his hoodie that he doesn’t give two shits about, only if he is in the mood to be nice. Yes, he will constantly blow the smoke into your face, he thinks your reaction is adorable

𐙚 give you nicknames like “doll”, “baby”, “babe”, “froggy”, and “princess”

𐙚 He is a automatically the dominant one, sry luv. That being said, he’s big spoon (he would love to be small spoon but he wants you to know that he’s in control)

𐙚 Got long/medium hair? He will braid your hair, brush it, play with it, and style it (mostly when bored). This man loves your long hair. Got short hair? He will do the same exact thing mostly love to style it and brush it but he will not let you touch his hair in public and if he’s not in the mood but will always allow you to play with his hair when cuddling

𐙚 If you ask nicely, he will give you some of his clothes and hoodies and if he sees you wear one of them he will give comments like “damn I have a good style” “your literally so pretty tiny I could put you in my pocket and carry you around”. Now, if you ever have underwear on and wearing his hoodie or shirt, he will absolutely get turned on and will melt

𐙚 you and him will listen to each others music and he will not hate on your music taste but he will spill out sassy ass comments about it.

𐙚 if your a artist, he will allow you to draw on him. He absolutely loves when you grab his hand and draw on his arm. He will buy you lots of pencils, pens, etc for you to draw

𐙚 when you and him are cuddling, he prefers to wrap his arms around your hips and nuzzle his face into your neck. He absolutely melts when you get on top of him and sleep on his chest

𐙚 Stressed out, yeah this man is no help “babe don’t worry about it alright? Your overthinking” “stop stressing princess” “just chill out”. But once he sees the tears dropping from your eyes, he’s immediately holding you close

𐙚 HE LOVES SEEING YOU GET FLUSTERED AND WILL DO ANYTHING TO MAKE THAT WONDERFUL SENCE HAPPEN

𐙚 You would look at him from a while away then he would look at you and he’ll hold the eye contact with a smirk on his face which makes you meltttttt

𐙚 HE LOVES KISSES ON THE LIPS! He adores your kisses and your affection. Hugs,kisses,arms wrapped around you 48/7. He doesn’t give a fuck who’s looking, he’s the definition of adoring PDA

that is it luvs hoped you enjoyed it, if I missed any or if you have more ideas please heads up me love to hear your thoughts 💕 bye loves🦇

[enbysiriusblack]

autistic marauders battle

submitted propaganda

albus dumbledore:

"- stims with pacing and humming (it's canon that he paces around in his office (J.K. Rowling said she chose the name Dumbledore, which is derived from "bumblebee" because she imagined him walking around humming to himself a lot.)

- special interest: the deathly hallows. this man's obsession with a fairy tale runs DEEP. i would argue it would be his special interest if he were to be autistic

- has "unusual" emotional responses. for example, when the ministry threatens to remove all his orders awards, his biggest worry is that they remove his chocolate frog card... silly sweets lover

- OBSESSED with sweets. man had specific sweets name as his password for years + we see him eating sweets a lot in the books + man LOVESSS his sherbet lemon. i think he feels very safe with his sweets so they might be considered a form of safe food

- bro infodumps a lot to harry lmao

- insanely gifted magically but struggles to find people who understand him. ("DUMBLEDORE is looking at the pictures. These memories are agony. He is full of remorse but, almost worse: nostalgia for the only time in his life he felt fully understood.") He only ever felt truly understood by Grindelwald, who was equal to him in intelligence and power. As an autistic person who is considered "gifted", I relate to this struggle sooooo much.

- (‘Is he – a bit mad?’ he asked Percy uncertainly. ‘Mad?’ said Percy airily. ‘He’s a genius! Best wizard in the world! But he is a bit mad, yes. Potatoes, Harry?’) others view him as eccentric and "different" frequently in the books

- Dumbledore can sometimes seem detached or quirky in social situations. His interactions with others are often unconventional—sometimes lacking typical social cues or emotional responses, which could suggest difficulty with typical social interaction, a trait associated with autism.

- doesnt conform to social norms (how he dresses & his mannerisms). he seems to not place much value on society's expectations and thinking

- gets repeatedly mistreated by the ministry of magic. i think the way torquill travers for example treated him reminded me very much myself lmao

- very black and white thinking about himself. he views himself as an awful person who cannot be trusted with power and cannot be convinced that there is nuance

- Strategic & analytical thinking: Dumbledore is portrayed as highly strategic and analytical, sometimes to the point where he seems detached or overly focused on the "big picture" rather than the emotional needs of those around him.

- how he handles his past trauma. he hyperfixates on specific events of his past and seems to have an intense need for personal order and logic in his decisions

- has an unique communication style. his manner of speaking is often indirect, filled wigh metaphor, and sometimes difficult for others to understand. Many autistic people communicate in ways that might seem unusual to neurotypical people, whether through complex speech patterns, an affinity for precise language, or challenges with verbal communication

- constantly misunderstood by literally anyone

PERSONAL REASONS: -i relate so much to him and his way of existing. i think he fits the 2E very well - (2E= gifted through high IQ & disabled) he is insanely intelligent but also suffers from feelings of not belonging / never being truly understood except by grindelwald and all"

[coraniaid]

Other than a few seconds of dialogue in Season 5's Checkpoint -- in which Buffy demands the Council reappoint Giles as her Watcher and he be "reinstated at fall salary ... to be paid retroactively" -- is there any indication that Giles was being paid to be a Watcher?

I have asked this before, and nobody has provided any, but surely there must be, because the fandom seems convinced that all Watchers are paid despite the fact that almost nothing else in the show supports it.

If Giles is being paid to be a Watcher, why does he repeatedly talk about it as a "duty" and a "calling" comparable to Buffy's calling as a Slayer in the first two seasons of the show? Why did his father feel the need to make "a tiresome speech about responsibility and sacrifice" when he told him he was "destined to be a Watcher" (as Giles describes it in Season 1's Never Kill A Boy On The First Date), if said "sacrifice" came with direct fiscal remuneration? Why does nobody suggest at any point that being fired by the Council might cause him any financial hardship; why doesn't Quentin Travers make any mention of no longer paying him?

Why does he all but explicitly tell Buffy (in Season 2's What's My Line?) that he isn't being paid to be a Watcher? In that episode, Giles reminds Buffy that she [like him] has a calling which is "more than a 'gig', it's a sacred duty ... one that shouldn't prevent you from eventually procuring some more gainful form of employment, such as I did". The reading is very obviously meant to be that Buffy has a calling (as the Slayer) but could still get a paid job later in life, in much the same way that Giles has a calling (as a Watcher) but could still get a paid job as a librarian. If Giles is actually being paid to be a Watcher -- anything more than a pittance, anything that makes school librarian seem like a "more gainful form of employment" --- then this simply doesn't make sense for him to say!

So why has the collective fandom decided it must be canon that not only Giles, but all Watchers ever, are paid to be Watchers? Surely there is far more evidence that they are not, and that that one line of dialogue in Checkpoint is just a continuity error? Do we ever get any further reference to the Council paying Giles, after that episode? What is everybody else seeing that I'm not?

[suzukiblu]

Ko-fi thank-you sentences for Eric; the wet nurse omegaverse.

“That would be very kind of you, Alfred, thank you,” Clark says with a just barely pained smile. 

“Yes, please get Carl settled in, if you could,” Bruce confirms with a nod. He can get Travers and all her damn little comments the fuck out of his den, then. “Tim, Damian, please be good hosts for our new addition to the territory, hm?” 

“You said the pups should go,” Tim says, looking mulish again. Bruce stares blankly at his very-much-still-a-pup pup. Tim’s perfectly aware he’s a late bloomer, and he’s never particularly cared about that before, so what’s the difference now? 

“Yes, I did,” he says finally, not really sure what the issue is there. “Is there a problem?” 

“I–no, that’s not–” Tim reddens, looking embarrassed. Carl smirks at him, then bares his canines and snaps his teeth at him with a grin. 

“I don’t bite, kid,” he says. Tim scowls. 

“I am not a kid,” he says, against all reason and evidence. Bruce continues not to understand what he’s fussed over. He doesn’t get bothered when Steph calls him a pup. He doesn’t even get bothered when Damian calls him a pup. 

“Sure, kid,” Carl laughs. Tim turns even redder and also scowls even darker. 

“Nobody asked you anyway,” he shoots back. Carl laughs again, and Lor lets out an indignant little pup-growl at Tim, probably because Tim is actively scowling at his new favorite person. Carl visibly melts and ducks his head to nuzzle him with an adoring croon, getting the scent of a highly affectionate nursing omega all over the kid. 

Clark doesn’t react to that. Doesn’t react to that in a very telling way, more specifically. Bruce pretends not to notice.

It’s not like Carl is scenting the pup as his own, and they didn’t ask him not to scent anyone. It’d be polite to ask first, obviously, but it’s not technically an overstep. Very bold and a little presumptuous, but not unexpected either, considering both the feral bond and Carl’s nonexistent grasp of pack manners. 

That’s just still not helping Clark deal with any of this, Bruce knows. 

[34to42]

After several more days reflecting on season 2, I’ve decided to write out a list of characters and plot points I wish had been included to make the show as a whole (season 1 and 2 together) feel more coherent.

- more Michelle Travers! I loved her brief appearance at the start of the season and especially the way she defended Peter but her absence in later episodes was glaring and noted. A virus threat that could wipe out lower Manhattan and there’s not even a mention of getting Travers on the phone? I think it would have been really interesting to see Peter have Travers in his corner and still have so many people distrust him and by extension her with the presidential election coming up

- any mention of Diane Farr. Come on, the President’s long-time chief of staff is implicated in the cover-up of an assassination attempt of a foreign leader and an assassination attempt of the president and there’s not even reference to a news story of her trial? Although Peter did go awol at the beginning of the season, I was surprised to see how willing he was to work with Catherine throughout and that he seemingly accepted her as his boss. After Diane’s betrayal, her actions that led to Cisco’s death, and her attempts on Rose’s life I was expecting Peter to be righteously angry for a very long time and find it incredibly hard to work with anyone that closely again. I was expecting more back talk and a lot more attitude from Peter

- news on Gordon Wick. This is the defense contractor who was working with the vice-president to not only attempt to assassinate a foreign leader on US soil but also who had assassins kill the deputy director of the FBI. At the end of season 1, Travers mentioned that night agents were on the case of tracking Gordon Wick but then there was no mention of any of this in season 2.

- ASHLEY REDFIELD. This is probably the biggest one. How was this not mentioned in season 2???? The vice-president worked to assassinate the acting president of the United States and attempted to take over the government and then it’s never talked about again? Even a one-off remark about who the new VP was or whether there was a trial or something would have made this season feel more coherent

- uncle Jim. I know this character doesn’t really fit into the story the creators were trying to tell in season 2 but I loved this storyline in season 1 and would have loved to see him again. Would he be proud of Peter for becoming a night agent? Would he check in with Rose if Peter asked him to? Furthermore, wasn’t he writing a detailed news article about the metro bombing cover-up based on the evidence Peter and Rose brought him? Wouldn’t there be some sort of follow-up from that?

Please let me know if there’s anything I missed or if there’s something specific you all wished to see!

[scrpcntfathcr]

A thing for @shewrittheewithlove

The familiar sound of the Malfoy's cane tapped lightly against the fine marble of the floor, his steps elegant and yet filled with purpose. Lucius had been in the Travers manor countless times for their meetings, however, this was the first time his visit was more personal.

The blond stood tall, his pale, aristocratic features schooled into an expression of polite interest as he regarded the young woman before him. Cairistiona Travers. Her name rang through his mind many a time, her father, of course— had spoken of her often in their private dealings, though never with the sort of fatherly warmth one might expect.

The dark wizard had passed by the child more times than he could count. However, now, she stood before him, a young lady of eighteen; her fair hair framing a delicate face that betrayed little emotion. A Ravenclaw. How quaint. Intelligence was indeed a valuable trait, though he would see for himself just how sharp her mind truly was.

With the practiced ease of a man accustomed to formality, Lucius extended a gloved hand, his cool grey eyes locked onto hers with quiet scrutiny. ❝Miss Travers,❞ he said smoothly, his voice rich with carefully measured courtesy. ❝We meet at last...❞ His lips curved into a half smile, a coolness to it that remained impassive. ❝ It is an honour to officially make your acquaintance.❞

His hand met hers, grasping it gently yet firmly as he lowered his lips toward the back of it with all the grace expected of a Malfoy. His breath ghosted over her skin as he placed a chaste kiss to her knuckles, straightening his posture before releasing her hand with an air of refined detachment.

❝I trust Hogwarts has been treating you well in your final year?❞ he inquired, though his interest was more in assessing her than in pleasantries. Her posture, her expression—what lay beneath the surface? Her father was not known for his kindness and Lucius did not miss the way her sleeves covered just a touch more than necessary. The Death Eater was no stranger to the darker realities of their world, but whether she was fragile or resilient remained to be seen.

For now, he would observe. And she, no doubt, would choose her words carefully when speaking to him.