#why was his adoption fast tracked?

[pinkcowzz]

dick had bruce as a partner. there was a mentorship there yes, but at the end of the day dick & bruce were a team.

jason had bruce as a father. bruce took him and made the extra effort. he actually adopted jay and stayed home when jason was sick.

tim had bruce as a liability.

tim went to bruce- bruce never found him. i just really love the idea that because of the difference in dynamic, tim is one of the few people who can shame bruce into compliance so easily.

dick and bruce will get into shouting matches that neither one of them walk away from being satisfied, bruce is an unmovable object and dick is an unstoppable force. when they meet, its not pretty and there is almost always collateral damage.

jason and bruce are like setting off two firecrackers next to each other when they fight. it's loud, it's bright, but it burns off fast. the anger and righteous fury is there one moment but then gone the next.

tim and bruce fight differently, because a lot of the time, tim understands where bruce is coming from. he saw bruce start on his path to self destruction and managed to get him to switch tracks. bruce was never the same after jason's death (what parent is after seeing their child die) but batman was able to correct himself. after stepping into the role of robin, tim understood. he too lost so many people he cared about because of the weight of the cape he wore.

and i think the first time that damian and bruce go head to head, dick may be the one who comforts damian and assures him of his place in the family, but tim is the one who goes to bruce. it's the first time bruce has ever seen tim this angry. tim is seething with a fury that would put the devil himself to shame. he is so angry that he is shaking and bruce can the restraint that tim is using to keep the discussion from becoming physical. tim tells bruce, or rather lectures him, in all the ways that he has fucked up with dick ('kicking him out, never officially adopting him, forcing him to go through with the spyral mission- you treat him as your partner when its convenient but the moment it's not he is your soldier again. its unfair bruce. he's more of a man, more of a father than you have ever been'), with jason ('do i even need to say it? actually, let me address it. you cannot see the forest past the trees. jason isn't who he was before he died. he never will be. same as you. he lost a lot more than his life when the joker blew him up. he lost his innocence, he lost his faith in you. i'm starting to think he may have been right') and with himself ('i love you bruce. i have always cared so deeply about you and your mission. it's why i came to dick in the first place. but this isn't about me.').

and bruce remembers why his relationship with tim is so different. tim trained overseas, tim got to patrol on his own as robin so much sooner than his other boys did. tim was largely unsupervised during his run with the young justice. tim had made up an entire fake uncle to keep his indepence. tim would never argue with bruce about himself in this way, but he would argue about- ('this is about damian. and i swear to god bruce. if you can't pull that stick out of your ass and find a way to apologize to damian that leaves him feeling properly taken care of. superman himself wouldn't be enough to save you from my wrath.')

and it's only later, after bruce does apologize to damian in a way that leaves dick speechless. when barbra happened upon the cave's security footage that she shares with dick who shares with steph who shares with jason that his family figures out just how fitting of a last name that drake is for tim.

[weirdly-specific-but-ok]

pt IV good omens but all i know is i watched three episodes on a stream with you all

Three hours being in a server with good omens fans in the wild *insert random emojis to sound like optimum clickbait youtuber except this ain't clickbait*

Okay I woke up. Before everything just WASHES out of my brain, I'm gonna describe whatever happened last night best as I can, because that's what I do.

Some of you were unable to attend the stream, and were sad. But don't worry I got you guys here's the rundown:

people joined the server. people were confused. i was afraid. i was assured that i should be, which was meant to comfort me.

people introduced themselves. someone said they had worked in a brothel as a bartender, which was cool, they said they had many stories. they did not elaborate for fear of scaring the newcomers. The newcomers, aka, me, were already scared, and it was not of the brothel stories.

I brought an emotional support orange with me. It looked uncomfortable. I thought it would be rotten. It was not, but we would not know that until later.

@thescholarlystrumpet entered fabulously, and started the stream.

i didn't realise the show had started for a good two minutes because there was a random voice over that was telling us about Earth's star sign (Libra) and somehow that didn't compute in my brain as being part of the episode. I thought we were checking audio.

It turned out, the episode had begun, and everyone was acting like this is a completely normal way for a show to start.

We time-jumped from the fall of man to modern day society so fast that I got whiplash.

There were a lot of orgasmic noises. I asked why. I was told in no uncertain terms that those were screams of labour. I'm sorry to everyone who has given birth ever.

There were three babies. I tried to keep track, it was hard. I thought the Antichrist won prizes for tropical fish. I was wrong.

I fell in love with Crowley and his hips and was very gay on the chat. This was heartily applauded.

I didn't realise an hour had passed when the episode ended, which it seemed was to be a common theme. I said nothing happened which everyone found funny for some reason.

I was very concerned about Armageddon. Everyone assured me that it would take place over the course of the season. I asked why we'd speedrun through millennia in five minutes but eight days took several episodes. I was a naive fool. Time is a social construct and this show cares not for social constructs.

They fucked up the mission. This was also to be a common theme.

I begged for a break and had to shake my head to try and get the brain rot out. I did not succeed.

The second episode commenced. The intro concerned me, because the cartoon Aziraphale looked pregnant or like a chicken. I asked if Crowley had impregnated him. He had not.

The pornography scene had to be replayed because I was so lost and had not relished it properly.

There was a lot of crying on the chat. Every few minutes someone would say a normal sentence in English and everyone would respond with crying emojis. Needless to say, I was concerned. This was also to be a common theme.

I asked why we were talking about random children. I was told it was The Them and they were the Antichrist's friends. I liked the hellhound.

I wanted to adopt the Antichrist, and grew more thirsty for Crowley every time he was a casual accessory to murder. I'm relying on this fandom not to use this as evidence with the cops. The chat was not reassuring, they said maybe.

I thirsted for Crowley more. This was also to be a common theme.

Aziraphale was very cute, I realised. That was nice. It was not nice when he had gay panic and said mean things to Crowley and they broke up. This was also to be a common theme.

I got so gay for Crowley that I ate the emotional support orange. It was gaseous. The chat was concerned, and everyone got excited every time oranges were mentioned after.

The third episode was a fucking roller coaster. Crowley and Aziraphale were your average high school couple but biblical for 6000 years.

Both were casual accessories to murder, and sometimes the cause of the murders, before going out for a date. Crowley got horny and he stopped listening every time Aziraphale ate. This was also to be a common theme.

The chat was keeping count of the husband breakups. This was not nice.

The Bentley was silver in many scenes, and people were forced to concede that they saw it. I was smug.

Crowley was sexy. She served gender, or as some people in the chat said, she served cunt. Her hairstyles got better and better. No one liked the 60s one. I did. I like everything she does. I love him.

Things happened. The fandom infected me. Someone mentioned how the book said Crowley felt lonely. I was near tears.

Crowley walked down the aisle for Aziraphale. We all were happy.

The book case, the thermos, the bandstand. I was broken.

Everyone said very emotional goodbyes.

I made a post on tumblr that was absolutely incomprehensible but accurately conveyed my love for Crowley. I fell asleep.

Same time next week, I believe.

I hope this was an adequate summary of the livestream for everyone, I am broken irreparably and if anyone mentions the bandstand I will have to start drinking and not stop till I get a happy ending. I cannot afford alcohol. I will ferment grapes myself if I have to.

[dilemmaontwolegs]

Not A Verstappen: Sibling Rivalry {2}

Pairing: F1 drivers (platonic) x fem!reader Summary: Alcohol leads to some bad decisions and a big fight threatens to tear the family apart. Warnings: 18+ only, lots of bad language, protective big brother, alcohol, daddy issues, angst WC: 2.9k F1 Masterlist NAV: Sibling Rivalry One || Two || Three NAV: Gridlocked One || Two || Three

Round Twelve - Belgium 2022 A sponged microphone was shoved in your face and you barely stopped yourself from smacking it away out of reflex, but you did startle back a bit before recovering.

“You look a little wound up, Spitfire,” Lando commented with a laugh. “Ready to call a truce.”

“You wish, Norris. You may have won the battle but I’m going to win the war.”

The microphone picked up the exchange and the reporter cast a glance between the two of you. “Is this battling on the track?”

“With his tractor? No way,” you laughed, nudging Lando with your elbow and a smile to ease the blow. “Someone thought it would be funny to wake me up with a fire extinguisher, which I am totally blaming on Charles because I know you couldn’t come up with that on your own.”

“Hey!” Lando whined with a pout. “I…can’t come up with a lie right now.”

“That’s what I thought. Charles, watch your back and you both better sleep with one eye open.” You turned your attention back to the reporter and signalled with your hand for them to do their thing while you dutifully did yours for yet another Media Day.

“We know you and Max have a, some would say, unhealthy amount of competitiveness on the track but outside of that you are very protective of each other…so, how has he reacted to finding out you’re on the dating app Raya?”

You winced at the question and saw the guys get whiplash with how fast their heads turned your way. All along the line the question echoed. Lando, Pierre, Charles, Daniel and finally Max, ten beady eyes staring at you with a mixed array of emotions.

“What? You all get to date, why can’t I?” you asked defensively as you crossed your arms. “Gotta find something to do for summer break.”

“Hiking in the Alps,” Charles offered.

“Or sunbathing in the Maldives,” Pierre suggested.

“Please never refer to dating someone as ‘something to do’,” Max huffed. “Or better yet, never mention dating at all. Adopt some cats.”

You looked at Lando and quirked an eyebrow. “Do you have anything to add? Since everyone else seems to think they actually have a say in what I do.”

His eyes darted around the guys who were expecting him to pitch in but all he had was a squeaky and unsure, “No?” 

“And that’s why you’re my favourite.”

“Why do you want to date anyway?” Daniel asked, and you swore there was more than just curiosity in his tone.

“You guys have girlfriends, and I want one too.”

“A girlfriend?” he asked with far too much enthusiasm.

“Maybe,” you replied with a wink. “I’m not ruling out 50% of the dating pool.”

“So how have you been finding the app,” the reporter asked, “any connections made?”

You huffed and shook your head, a few sighs of relief sounding down the line but you didn’t see who they came from. One was definitely Max.

“I’m an athlete. I train and I sweat so the last thing I want to do when I get home is do the laundry or cook a healthy meal. But my experience so far is that men think it’s the woman’s job to do that, so I need a guy that’s up for sharing responsibility. Is that too much to ask?”

“I’d cook for you!” A man called from the crowd and you sat up straighter trying to see where it came from. 

“What about laundry?” you fired back.

“Security,” Max called with a finger pointed to the good looking man who put his thumbs up in the air. 

“Ignore him. What’s your name?” you asked as you pulled out your phone. It only took ten seconds to find Martin’s social media accounts and you rolled your eyes in annoyance. “This is why I have trust issues. I hope your girlfriend sees this and dumps you.”

Three days later You had failed to finish the GP after an embarrassing pitstop left one of your wheels rolling down the lane. The replay footage kept popping up wherever you went, even at the restaurant before the afterparty, and Max had the audacity to laugh. “Nice trike, zusje.”

“Shut up and get me another drink,” you grumbled as you drowned your sorrows.

He soon returned with two gin and tonics and huffed as you took them both. “I’m not carrying you back to the hotel if you pass out,” he warned before going and getting another drink for himself.

“That’s fine, I can always call my new friend, Martin,” you said with a grimace as he took your phone off the table and shoved it in his pocket. “Bonnie Tyler was onto something. Where have all the good men gone?”

“They aren’t at the bottom of your glass,” Max said as you tipped the drink back. “So you can stop looking there.”

“You’re right. I’ll see you later, bro.” 

“Where are you going?” he asked as he watched you push your chair back and head for the door.

“Taking a page out of P’s favourite book,” you said over your shoulder.

Christian sat back in his chair as you left and asked Max, “What’s P’s favourite book?”

“We’re Going on a Bear Hunt.” Max sighed and rubbed his temples, making Christian laugh with a shake of his head. 

“Should I send someone to keep an eye on her?” 

“It’s fine, we have family share so I can see her location-fuck! I have her phone!” Max leapt from the table and rushed out of the restaurant. He looked up and down the busy street but he couldn’t see you anywhere and combed a hand through his hair, wondering what he should do.

He hardly used his social media accounts, leaving it to his PA to monitor that side of things, but this would be the exception. Opening twitter, he put out the message asking that if anyone spots you to send him the location. Almost immediately he got bombarded with replies of concern and his anxiety spiked when he realised he would waste his night with the time it would take to go through and find any messages that were actually helpful.

A familiar face spotted you on the dancefloor of the club you found yourself in and you grinned when he made his way through the crowd to you. 

“Dance with me, Lando,” you shouted over the music.

“Your brother’s looking for you,” he replied, leaning closer so you could hear him. 

“Please don’t tell him where I am.” You could already feel your mood deflating and he bit his lip as he was torn between loyalties. 

“Okay, I won’t,” Lando promised, earning a bright smile that made him feel better. “But I’ll let him know you’re with me so he can stop freaking out.”

You didn’t bother to correct him, because Max would never stop worrying. He took his role as older brother too seriously, something you often found stifling since you had grown up without it and still struggled to accept it.

“I’m getting a drink, do you want one?” you asked as while he was busy on his phone, messaging Max.

“Uh, yeah, rum and coke, please.”

You slipped away to the bar, stumbling more than you would like to admit, and leaned against the bar top as you waited for some service. You hadn’t been there for more than a minute when an arm draped over your shoulders and you spotted the Forza Ferrari bracelet on the wrist.

“You have got twitter going crazy, chérie,” Charles said with a chuckle. “There’s quite a few people out hunting for you.”

“And I found her first,” Lando said as he brushed the arm off your shoulder and stood at your other side.

“Well,” you chuffed as you draped your arms over their shoulders and pulled them closer, “I’m on a hunt of my own and I could do with some help. A girl has needs and you two are going to be my wingmen.”

They both looked at each other and you could see the mental conversation they were having, each long passing second leading you to pull back. “No, don’t call Max. Lando, you promised.”

“We can’t just let you go off with some random,” Charles said as he caught your hand before you could escape the bar, “what if they are a serial killer?”

You tugged your hand back angrily and struggled to keep your balance when you were suddenly freed. “If I were a guy we wouldn’t be having this argument. Why can’t I have fun too?”

“We just want to keep you safe.”

“Safe?” you laughed bitterly and held your hand out. “Fine, give me a condom, I know you carry them around in your wallet.”

“That’s not what I meant and you know it,” Lando argued as he pushed your hand away. “You’re not sleeping with a stranger.”

“Is that you offering then?” You looked between Charles and Lando, watching their necks turn pink as you crossed your arms. “That's what I thought. I’m going to another bar, this one’s full of assholes. Hasta luego, pendejos.”

“Great, she’s been hanging out with Carlos,” Charles grumbled as you walked away.

“He’s better company than you two,” you shouted over your shoulder before you hit the exit. 

Cold air rushed into your lungs and you realised two things. One; you should have worn more clothes, and two; you were sobering up. There was only one way to solve both problems so you marched your way down the street to find another bar.

Your head was pounding and your stomach turned when you woke up to the first day of summer break. The hotel room was elegant and luxurious, but it wasn’t yours and you didn’t know how you had come to get here.

“Coffee?”

“Oh, thank fuck,” you sighed with relief as Lando walked into the bedroom with two cups in his hands. “Where’s my clothes? Did we have sex? Wait, no, you wouldn’t cheat and I’d definitely remember that.”

“They’re in the dryer, and no we didn’t have sex,” he said as he handed you one of the cups. “You were soaked when we found you.”

You frowned as you tried to remember what happened but came up blank. “We?”

“You went for a swim in the fountain of love in the city centre. It was a ‘part of your hunt’, apparently. Charles helped me get you back here before anyone called the police.”

“Oh, great,” you muttered as you pulled the sheets higher. “Hey, you’re doing my laundry. It’s a shame you’re not single. Then again, you can’t cook for shit.”

“Be glad you’re single. The grass isn’t always greener on this side of the fence,” he said with a sigh.

“Wanna talk about it?”

“I’d rather not.” Lando suddenly looked guilty as he took the half drunk coffee back and placed it on the side table. “I should probably warn you, I called Max after you took off from us last night.”

“I was with you and Charles?” Your brows pinched together as you started to recall being angry at them before embarrassment followed. “Shit, I called you assholes.”

“It’s fine, but the only reason we found you again was because of some clips on Instagram.”

You could imagine another lashing from the Red Bull PR, it wasn’t the first time you were involved in drunk misadventures and it was caught on camera. Usually it was some dare or competition involving Max where neither of you wanted to admit defeat and things just got out of control. He’d probably enjoy hearing you get ripped a new one by Christian while he got a pat on the head for being the golden child.

“What did I do this time?” you asked, knowing it was easier to just rip the bandaid off.

“It isn’t what you did,” he said with a wince. “It’s what you said.”

“Well?” you prompted when he shifted awkwardly on his feet.

“You said Charles’ listens to Nickelback.”

Your head fell back with a laugh and the sheet fell down as you let go of the cotton to clutch your nauseous stomach. “Well at least I wasn’t spouting off a bunch of bullshit.”

“And that there were three drivers you would date if you got the chance.”

“Ah, well…” you cleared your throat and scrunched the bedding into your hands, ignoring the way his eyes trailed over your bra that was on display. “That is a lie. There’s only two. It’s just my luck they are both in relationships. Did I really use the word date?”

“You said fuck but the meaning was there.”

You pulled your knees up to your chest and rested your chin on them with a heavy sigh. “I’m a mess. I’m surprised you didn’t try to prank me while you had the chance. Or is there a dick in permanent marker on my face?”

“You wouldn’t have been coherent enough to appreciate it,” Lando teased as he took a seat at the edge of the bed. “I told you this last night and I know you’re lonely, but you're looking for love in all the wrong places. You’re not going to find someone who will treat you right in a shitty nightclub when you’re too drunk to even give consent.”

Tears of embarrassment stung your eyes and you swallowed the lump in your throat before climbing off the bed and wrapping the sheet around you. “Thanks for the concern, but I’m not going to take dating advice from the guy who clearly isn’t happy in his own relationship.”

There would be no way to erase the image of how hurt he was by the words so you turned your back and left the room, grabbing your damp dress from the dryer and pulling it on. Thankfully your shoes were beside the door so you swiped them up as you left, the heels dangling from your fingers as you pushed through the sickening feeling and left the hotel to break into a run.

People stared in the street, some even pulled out their phones when they recognised you but there would be no autographs. You focused on your breathing, focused on the cold slap of your bare feet on the pavement, focused on anything but the look in Lando’s eyes.

“Where the fuck were you!” Max shouted as you reached your room and found him already there, rising from one of the armchairs like the godfather. “I have been worried sick.”

“Jesus, you sound like Jos when you shout. Relax before you have a heart attack and leave me with no competition.”

“You’re more likely to lose your seat the way you’re going, and leave me without any competition.”

“Dream on, I just had a moment.”

Max cocked an eyebrow up and crossed his arms. “Yeah, and what was last weekend and the one before that?”

You sucked your teeth at the reminder and dropped your shoes to the floor. “That wasn’t my fault, I didn’t start the prank war. And I really didn’t think the smoke bomb would set off all of the sprinklers, just the one in Charles’ room. Plus, I paid for the damages and repairs.”

“Throwing money around doesn’t mean you can act like a spoiled brat,” he said as he fell back into the armchair. 

“I am not a spoiled brat,” you growled. “I didn’t grow up with money like you and Vicky. I was the dirty little secret, just a bi-product of Jos' affair, that had to scrounge around for second hand parts just so I could have a working kart. So, fuck you, I’m allowed to enjoy the money I have earned.”

“And what about your mother? Do you think she doesn’t see those videos going viral of you drunk out of your mind, letting some klootzak take body shots off you? Does that make her proud?”

Fire burned deep in your gut as you felt attacked from all sides and the angry words spilled over before you could stop them, “I hate you.” Your feet stomped across the carpet to swipe your phone up from beside your stunned brother before you grabbed your backpack from the race which still had your passport and wallet inside. "I never needed a big brother, so you can stop fucking trying and just leave me alone."

“Where are you going?” he asked as he watched you head to the door. “The plane doesn’t leave until this afternoon.”

“Fuck you and fuck your plane. I’ll find my own way home.”

There was only one person you knew you could always count on, the first teammate you had when you made it into F1, and you were already dialling his number as you walked out of the hotel in tears.

“Pierre,” you sobbed as he answered. “I need you.”

Click here for part three.

[pedrilcvr]

Cat parents — Pablo Gavi.

Pairing: Pablo Gavi x Fem!Reader

Summary: You’d been begging your boyfriend to adopt the stray outside your house for months, and he each time he repeatedly said no, insisting he ‘hates cats.’ So why did you come home from work one day to see him on the couch.. with the cat.

Disclaimer/s: Gavi is still 19 in this!

A/N: how can anyone ever hate cats they are too adorable sigh

“Please?” Your try and make your best ever yet, puppy dog eyes. Pleading with your boyfriend. “Pleaseee? Cairo would be a good addition! Our house is so quiet and sad without him!”

“No.” Gavi stands his ground, shaking his head firmly. “You know I don’t like cats.”

You gasp, covering the poor black cat’s ears, “she can hear you!” The cat, who you’d named Cairo, purrs quietly in your lap.

Gavi huffs, albeit amused. “Go to work, babe. You’re going to be late.” He points to your car, “and have a good day.” He finishes, pressing a kiss to the top of your head.

Letting out a disappointed breath of air, you mumble a quick ‘goodbye’ to both Gavi and Cairo before climbing inside your car and driving away.

—

You’d just arrived home, tired and weary and just wanting to flop onto the couch and sleep. Tugging off your bag and shoes, setting them aside carefully, you make your way into the living room.

“I’m home!—“ You yell out, stopping in your tracks when you notice who is on the couch. Your boyfriend, smiling, and.. Cairo?

Laid on your boyfriend’s lap, purring comfortably was the stray cat you’d been told ‘no’ to more times than you could count, and your boyfriend. Fast asleep, one hand on Cairo’s skinny back.

You smile at the sight, taking in the scene. Gavi, who apparently ‘hated cat’s’ seemed so comfortable napping with one. Shaking your head with a quiet laugh, you sit down beside him, causing him to stir from his slumber.

Gavi lulls his head to the side, still half asleep, “you’re back late.” He hums, voice raspy.

“Traffic was a nightmare.” You chuckle, leaning forward to press a soft kiss to his lips, to which he greets with a smile.

“Are you forgetting to tell me about how this came to be?” You mumble against his lips, pulling back to look at the sleeping cat.

“He looked so sad..” Gavi trails off, “so I fed him and gave him some water. Then I realized he must be so tired and full so..” He shrugs, “we fell asleep, I guess.”

“How adorable.” You tease, hand reaching out to pat his cheek before it falls to Cairo’s head, gently petting it. “So we’re keeping him?”

Gavi taps his chin, feigning to think, as if he hadn’t been waiting hours for you to come home to tell you. “I suppose.” He finally sighs out, rolling his eyes dramatically.

“We’ll treat you real good, Cairo.” You whisper, placing a kiss on the top of the cat’s head, earning a loud purr from him.

“The best teen parent’s ever?” Gavi chides, which you laugh at, nodding in response.

“The best.” You agree, looking back up to your boyfriend, “thank you.” Gavi only smiles, pressing a kiss to your forehead once again.

DTS , @halfwayhearted ^_^

[monimccoythings]

Alastor x Daughter!Reader III (Platonic)

Yeah, this is going to take place after the end of season 1, just after Sir Pentious has ascended and the hotel has been rebuilt into a bigger better version. I just don't know how to fit Y/N in season 1.

Reminder: Alastor is in Hell for a reason.

TW: This contains a very delicate matter, like PTSD and panic attacks, even though I wanted to keep it brief because I'm not very well versed in these kind of subjects and wanted to be careful and respectful with it, I'm not entirely satisfied with how I wrote it, I researched and looked into my past experiences, but still don't think I truly adapted it as best as I would have liked. Also several mentions of cannibalism. Brief mentions of controlling behavior.

This isn't proof read so sorry for any grammar and/or vocabulary mistakes.

Part I ｜Part II｜Part III (You are here!)

tags: @anonymousewrites, @nonetheartist, @littledolly2345, @sunnyx07, @ouroborostheunholy, @mo-0-o, @sydneyyyya @lbcreations-blog

Soft jazz music enveloped the room, accompained by a strong smell of coffee and magnolias, someone was humming quietly to the music. Somehow, it reminded you of home.

You blinked groggily, trying to get the sleep away from your eyes, and leaned on your elbow. Why was the ground so soft and cushioned?

Yor eyes shot wide open when you remebered the events that led you there. The blood, the laughter, the eyes, the smile, the radio static... Your heart started beating wildly inside your ribcage, and you suddenly found yourself gasping for air. You clutched your old dress, hoping that would alleviate the growing pressure in your chest in some way.

"Well, look who's finally awake!" Alastor left the newspaper on the table and turned towards you, if his grin was supposed to be comforting it was not working. Just the fact that he was acting so casual, as if nothing had happened in the last ninety years made everything a million times worse.

"You are quite the hide and seek champion, ma petite faon. It took several years for my shadows to casually find you and then it took even longer for me to believe you actually had been sent here, ha ha!" His neck bended in an unnatural way as he laughed.

Crap. Did he always know where you were? Was this just a game of cat and mouse for him?

As if he had read your mind, his eyes adopted a more relaxed expression that did nothing to soothe your nerves. "Well, for the last ten years you gave me quite the chase, cher. Always on the move, never stopping, from one part of the ring to the other. And then there's that seven year gap." He muttered to himself that last part.

You still felt on the verge of a panic attack. Your body couldn't and wouldn't stop shaking, and felt like reality was blurring around you. Everything was happening too fast, it brought you back to that night decades ago when you found that your beloved father had actually been a serial killer. It almost felt like it was mere minutes ago.

Alastor knew of your discomfort, your fear. He could see it as clear as a day, he could almost taste it. He had always enjoyed tasting the fear on his victims, but yours only left an aftertaste of bitterness in his mouth. It was rotten, putrid and nauseating. Maybe because it was the only fear he should never had a taste of. Watching you like this also brought him back to the night he lost you.

As he held your unmoving body in his arms, for a couple of seconds his brain stopped functioning, unable to accept what had just happened. The pain he felt was just like someone had ripped his chest open and pulled out his still beating heart, only to crush it, leaving an empty and cold hole in its place.

He had taken you to your room and laid you in the bed, tucking you in. You looked so peaceful, if your face and clothes weren't stained with blood he would have believed you were sleeping. But you would never wake up again.

The next couple of days passed in a blur, tracking down the man who had dared to do this to you and then run away, and giving him his fair punishment. And as he dragged his mutilated body through the forest... Well... the rest is history.

"Anyways! All's well that ends well! Now I found you, and you won't need to worry anymore!" His chirpy radio filtered voice portrayed some genuine happiness that didn't reach you. The bond and trust that used to tie you two together, had been damaged beyond repair. And Alastor knew. That didn't mean he was going to give up, though.

Before he had the chance to make things even more awkward between you two, the door bursted open, revealing several people behind it.

"Oh, you're awake, that's so great! We were all sooo worried since Al suddenly brought you here, and you seemed passed out, we didn't know if you were alive or-" The blonde haired demon kept rambling, but you barely listened to her, way too much in shock. Behind her, there was a bunch of demons: a winged cat who would be rather doing anything else than be there, a tiny cyclops with a psychotic and perky smile; a spider demon who, if anything, looked confused; a taller cyclops demon girl who found the dirt in her nails to be way more interesting than you, and some kind of moth demon girl? You wondered if they all were going to participate in your slaughter or were just going to watch.

"-aaaand who were you again?" The blonde demon asked with an awkward smile.

"I'm very glad you're asking! Because this is no other than my beloved little girl!" Alastor opened his arms widely in a dramatic form of presentation as the sound effect of a studio crowd cheering mixed with his voice.

"Wha- hold the fuck up? Your daughter??? Didn't you sing to Luci-?"

One glare full of murderous intention and loud static was enough for the spider demon to shut up.

"Now, now, how about we let the newest addition to our merry little band have a well deserved rest." Your dad not so gently pushed the uninvited guests back towards the door.

"Addition? Is she our new guest?" The moth-like demon girl asked.

Alastor's face darkened and loud static filled the room. "A҉b҉s҉o҉l҉u҉t҉e҉l҉y҉ ҉n҉o҉t҉.҉". He swapped back to his more charming persona. "She'll be joining our facility as an assistant!" His tone admitted no further questioning, and, quite reluctantly, the staff and guests left the room.

So that's the story about how you ended working in the Hazbin Hotel.

Your work was mainly small chores or helping others. Nifty needed help to clean the rooms? You were there. Someone needed you to take cover at the reception? On it. Whatever tiny task someone needed help with, you had to do it.

You were not allowed to leave the hotel. Alastor made sure of that. Wherever you went, he made sure some of his shadows followed if he was not around, just to keep you controlled; although he'd rather call it, 'lovingly checking on his little baby'. It really was not needed, even if you didn't trust nobody there and your guard was still up, where else would you go? It was literal hell outside.

Years of hiding and living in constant fear of death or something worse had left you extremely mistrustful and fearful of people. There were times were you believed this was all a ruse to lure you into a false sense of security and then hit you were it hurt most.

It's not like you didn't believe in Charlie's dream, it was just you couldn't believe it could be possible, your father had very sincerely stated that he was just sponsoring it because he loved watching doomed souls struggle to achieve something meaningful and then fail spectacularly. Of course he did.

So, at least you had a roof over your head, enough food to eat, and a no-killing rule inside the hotel. Things could be worse.

Yet, there was still something inside you, something that you so desperately tried to let go but were unable to, as it had rooted itself deeply inside your mind and heart.

It started with small things, maybe a loud sound, maybe a bit of blood, it didn't matter because you could already feel yourself breathing heavily and sweating. It was like the entire world vanished around you. You couldn't breath, you couldn't think, your mind was on edge and your heart felt like it was going to burst out of your chest. You were completely paralized with fear, your hands shaking furiously, making you drop whatever you were holding.

These episodes started becoming more and more frequent, the more you tried to fight against them, the stronger they became. Whenever Charlie, Vaggie or any guest tried to ask you about them you always tried to brush them off, not wanting them to see it as a weak spot to exploit.

After several episodes and you refusing to open yourself, Alastor had enough of watching you suffer and decided to take matters into his own hands. So, he took you to Rosie.

If you expected something out of a place called 'Cannibal Town' it certainly wasn't that. It looked so... normal, like any other town you would have found back in your time. Well, if you ignored the people eating an entire corspe on the street. Your father gently moved your face to face front, because apparently it was rude to stare.

Oh Rosie immediately adored you. 100% godmother material. That southern belle couldn't wait to pamper you and dress you up in all kinds of fancy clothes.

Talking to Rosie was surprisingly, easy, if you looked over her cannibalistic tendencies. She kindly offered you some fresh fingers, but quickly backed up when she saw you turning green, jokingly saying "Ah, teenagers and their diets."

Sessions with Rosie always left you crying and drained but in a positive way, you felt like a huge load had been lifted off your shoulders. It may be a long road ahead but it was a great start.

Talking to Vaggie also helped. Turns out being a former exterminator had left not only physical but psychological scars on her. The first months after she had been left to die in hell had also been very struggling for her. She helped you with breathing exercises, held your hands when they started shaking, and even was willing to teach you some self defence. Which your dad opposed to.

Charlie was... Charlie, always positive and upbribing but also respecting your boundaries, you were almost starting to belive she was being genuine.

There was another member of the staff who had not been present when you were first brought there and you had yet to meet. The King of Hell himself, Lucifer. Just knowing he could be there send shivers down your spine, wondering what kind of diabolical entity could he be. When you first saw that 4' overly excited manchild, at first you thought it was a joke.

Lucifer took a liking to you pretty easily, much to the annoyance of Alastor. He was curious about how someone as innocent and young as you could have ended in a place like that and vowed to protect you if someone ever gave you trouble. Your dad is seething. "Here, take this." And he just gives you a toy duck who backflips and makes the cutest rubber ducky noise. You loved it. Your dad is about to break the no-killing rule.

Alastor tried to win back your trust and love, even if he knew it was going to be a long and arduous task. He didn't care. He just got you back he was never letting you go.

He may not believe entirely in Charlie's dream, but he knew that if it was possible the one who had more chances to go straight to Heaven would be you. And he was not having that.

Alastor briefly considered making a deal to own your soul, just to ensure your safety and his control.

Up to this day he still doesn't know how you ended down there, and can't wait for the day when you will trust him enough to tell him.

He will respect your boundaries begrudgingly, he is your dad, he knows best. Will play nice and let you take your time with things. He will quietly show support for your emotional progress and make light physical contact, just enough to be supportive and not freak you out.

He cooks for you, and only you. The old homemade grandma's recipes he used to make back in your living times. At first, you didn't trust it, thinking he could have poisoned it. But the second you tasted his Jambalaya you felt like crying. Not only because after ninety years barely eating you were famished, but because for a couple of seconds, something there in the taste and smell had brought you back to simpler times. (like the Ratatouille guy)

Alastor truly desires to hear you call him 'Dad' again, you had yet to do so. Yes, you recognise him as your father, but after everything it just pains you to address him as such. It's like your dad and Alastor were two separate people. The loving father vs the serial killer, the guardian vs the Radio Demon.

He really loves you very much and it's been hard on him to keep that much distance from his little fawn. So he takes out his frustration on others, don't turn the radio on when he tells you not to.

And with time, his efforts were rewarded. Somewhat. You seemed to have gotten a bit more comfortably around him, at least you didn't flinch or recoil anytime he approached you. But you couldn't forget, you couldn't overlook the fact that he was a murderer and a cannibal and still doubted if anything you two had lived together had been truly genuine.

Honestly, it offended him that you would even think that way. Wasn't he there for you, always? Didn't he protect you from the darkness of the outside world during your living times? Wasn't he, as a father, devoted enough to his fawn?

But of course, actions spoke louder than words, and his actions had left too many cracks in your trust. But he will keep trying to win you back. Alastor's very patient demon, he has all the time in the world.

Y̸̗͉̺̱͂̕o̸̧̯̞̟̰̪̗̱̳̱̎̈̿̄̄͛̅͝͝û̴̦͔̹͈̣̥̾͛͑͗͋̅̏̂̚ͅ ̷̭͋̈͛̽͒̅̀̈́́̚ă̷̢̢̖̦͕̞͚͔̻̳̅̇̃͌̿͐̄̃̕r̵̨̢̺̦͇͚̙̈́̅̽́̊͠ę̶̺̖͋̐͐͌͘͠͝ ̶̖̲͎̜̮͚͉̰̒n̵̢͕̝͖̗̜̣̾̾̇̾̅̽͊͘ǫ̴̼̺̠̱̦̘̒̈̎̿̇́̔̉t̴͙͇̼̱̻̦̦͔̖͙̍͌ ̸̩̂́̎͒͘g̶͔͚̰̺͔͉͓͍͔̈́̽̈́͋͘͜o̵̹͔̫͚̼͚͒͑į̷̧̫͔̹͉̰̘̮̍͋͒̈n̸̢͕̙̙̞͔̓͐̓ͅg̵͖͇̜͚̗͙̤̫̱̝̉̂́̚ ̴̪̂͑̓̊͛a̷̖̞͊̄̈́͑͋̈́̄͘n̶̻̟̙̝̪̩͂̋͗ẏ̸̨̛̱̱͇̱͖̤͕̥͛́̍̂͛̕͠w̸̛̖͎̫̑h̵͔̝̣̀ẹ̵̝͍̳̟͚̪̍̒͋̒̀̊̏r̷̨͉͉̒̑̉̒̄̎̓̎͜͝͠ȅ̸̩͇̳.̵̠̪̖̍͂͠.

[steddieas-shegoes]

Baby formula was expensive, and Eddie knew the fact that half of the container being spilled on the counter would probably cause Steve to have a heart attack.

It was an accident, obviously. He didn’t just decide to dump half of the powdered gold that fed their newborn daughter on the kitchen counter.

And Steve wouldn’t be mad about it. He didn’t get mad about accidents.

But he would definitely spiral about how that was two days’ worth of bottles for Ella and how they had a budget.

Eddie told him many times they were fine. He had more than enough money in savings from the band’s success, and he knew Steve had his own trust fund that he’d guilted his parents into letting him keep as a way to apologize for never being around in his childhood.

Money wasn’t really an issue for them.

But Steve was still careful with it, and Eddie loved that about him.

Other than their house, they’d never made major purchases, and stuck to necessities only with occasional extra spending for birthdays and Christmas for their loved ones.

But after they adopted Ella, Steve turned into a penny pincher. He stocked up on everything from diapers to formula to baby soap any time there was a sale, and refused to buy the “fancy” brand that had the same ingredients and vitamins as the generic store brand.

Eddie loved him.

But he was very worried about Steve finding out about this.

Maybe if he just cleaned it up and then pretended Ella had had a few extra bottles?

No, then he’d panic that her food intake was abnormal and he’d call the pediatrician and Eddie would have to backtrack and then Steve would be mad.

He pulled the trash can in front of the counter, swiping his hand across quickly to get most of it into the trash.

As he moved the trash can back to its usual spot, Steve came around the corner with Ella in his arms, cooing at her.

God, he was born to do this. Eddie was gonna do everything he could to give him the six nuggets he wanted so he could watch him in his element for as long as possible.

“Say hi to Daddy, Ella,” Steve said before looking up at Eddie, who was wiping down the counter furiously.

Not fast enough if Steve’s face was any indication.

“What are you doing?”

Dammit.

“Just cleaning.”

“You’re wiping the counter.”

“Yes.”

“You never do that.”

“I just finished the dishes so I thought I should.”

“You do the dishes all the time and never do that.”

He was so suspicious. Rightfully so.

Eddie knew he was found out, or if he wasn’t quite yet, he would be as soon as Steve saw the trash.

He sighed, letting his head fall down and his chin hit his chest.

“Eds, what is it?”

Steve was walking behind the counter, concern on his face. Concern for Eddie. Concern he didn’t deserve.

“I spilled something, it’s not a big deal.”

“Okay. But you’re being weird about it so it makes me think it is a big deal.”

And then he saw it. He must have, because Eddie watched him freeze in his tracks and stare down at where the trash is.

“Stevie, it’s not a big deal. I’ll go get another can to make up for it.”

“What happened?”

“I was measuring out her nighttime bottle and knocked the can over.”

“That’s a lot of formula.”

“I know.”

And then Steve started laughing.

It startled Ella in his arms and she let out a whimper like she was about to start crying.

Steve handed her to Eddie so he could lean over, hands on his knees, and laugh louder.

“Ella, your dad’s lost it.”

“Sorry,” Steve said as he tried to gasp for air between hysterical laughter. “Just- you were so serious. Why didn’t you just say that?”

Eddie knew he wasn’t seriously asking that.

“Sweetheart, you’re kind of insane about this stuff. In a good way! I love you because you’re a little crazy! But like, that was a lot of formula and it’s wasteful and costs a lot to replace.”

Steve’s face went serious.

“Baby, you don’t think I’d be mad about an accidental spill, do you?”

Oh no, he was hurt.

Eddie hurt his feelings.

“No! No. It’s not that. It’s just you’re so serious about the budget and this would mess it up.”

“It’s just a little. And it’s not like we actually have to live so tight.”

That was suspicious. What the hell did that mean?

Steve wasn’t changing his mind on the budget, was he?

He must’ve done something.

“Oh my god. What did you do?”

“I didn’t do anything.”

“Oh yes you did. Your face is bright red and you look like you committed a felony. I would know what that looks like since we’ve committed at least two together.”

Steve somehow blushed harder.

“It wasn’t a felony.”

“Aha! But it was something!”

The tables turned awful quickly. Eddie didn’t know how, but he’d take it. Anything to get the focus off of him.

Ella was gurgling in his arms, eyes flitting between the two of them like she was watching a tennis match.

“Well, you know how we talked about getting an RV, right? Since we had Ella now and might try to adopt again? Since it’s one of the things I want more than anything?”

“You bought an RV.”

Eddie was smirking at Steve, who probably expected him to be upset, but Eddie was thrilled.

Not only would they be able to travel the way Steve wanted to, Steve had thrown their budget right out the fucking window.

“I put a down payment on an RV. I told them I had to talk to you first.”

“This is gold.”

“We did technically talk about it already.”

“We did.” Eddie bounced Ella in his arms and looked down at her. “Wanna go on a road trip, angel?”

“So you’re not mad?”

“Sweetheart, I’ve been waiting for you to spend my money for years. This is the third best day of my life.”

“You’re ridiculous.”

Eddie walked up to him and kissed the corner of his mouth, then his nose, and finally his lips.

“I love you and your crazy budget.”

“I love you and your ignorance of how money works.”

“That’s why I have you, sweetheart.”

Steve rolled his eyes but nodded.

“We can pick up the RV tomorrow if you want.”

“Did you plan our first trip yet?”

“No.”

Eddie raised a brow at him.

“Yes.”

Eddie jumped up once, making Ella giggle.

“Where are we going?”

“I figured you’d wanna take Wayne to the Smoky Mountains.”

Of course he did. Of course he thought about what Eddie would want and what would make Wayne happy and what he could do to make it happen.

“Are you sure?”

“I’m sure.”

“Then I guess we better make a stop at Wayne’s house tomorrow with the RV.”

[kaeyachi]

I THINK I HAVE A NEW FAVORITE STORY QUEST, AND IT IS CYNO'S STORY QUEST CH 2

Spoilers Below!

Shameless Cynonari shipping up ahead as well folks ✌️

Ok, I'm just gonna bullet point the entire thing coz I don't have much time (i basically speedran the quest a bit as well) so here are my thoughts:

Cyno and Cyrus then Naphis and Tighnari having basically the same hair is a bit funny to me ngl (but it is cute)

Naphis and Cyrus old man yaoi ✌️ I'll get back to this later but I clocked it early on

THIS QUEST IS BASICALLY A DREAM FOR CYNONARI AND KAVETHAM SHIPPERS. THIS WAS UNREAL PLEASE

Cyrus inviting Tighnari for lunch was cute

Cynonari + Collei probably do a lot of camping trips together 🥺

Collei is also more confident lately! You go girl!! WOOHOO

3 tents...1 for us and paimon...a scene where we see tighnari alone in his...and collei in her own tent...then we find out that cyno left for a supply run and tighnari is already awake...should we be connecting some dots here? (Cynonari shippers come get yall juice)

THE KAVETHAM SCENES IN THEIR HOME WERE INSANELY SOFT AND DOMESTIC. Also, Kaveh sitting on the table is *chefs kiss*

Tighnari was so quick to say he'll run after Cyno. I immediately started sobbing coz wow does he have a fast reaction when it concerns Cyno's safety. He probably would have gone after Cyno alone if we weren't there 😭

Kaveh, Alhaitham, Dehya, Candace, and Faruzan repeatedly telling Cyno to ask for help if he needs it makes my heart soft

Tighnari, meanwhile, doesn't even tell Cyno to ask for help. He straight up just rushes to his side, and that's adorable af. I swear it was starting to look like Tighnari has a one-track mind when it comes to Cyno's safety. Some of his braincells fly off! (good thing he has plenty)

SETHOS. MY SON. HE LOOKS SO GOOD. SETHOS SWEETIE IM ADOPTING YOU IN THE NEXT UPDATE (also wow that was not the voice i was expecting for him in EN, but I aint complaining!)

I keep coming back to it, but Tighnari is really quick when it comes to Cyno's safety and really doesn't pause lmao. Bro cut off Cyno's offer to ask Sethos with a hand and just started walking

new area pretty 🥺 I keep taking screenshots and pictures. got me going "omg! a lotus head column!!"

THE LORE WAS SCRUMPTIOUS BY THE WAY

THE ANIMATION FOR THE CYNO VS. SETHOS FIGHT WAS ALSO INCREDIBLE

Sethos downgraded from 5-star to 4-star caught in 4k hd ✌️ from polearm to bow too

look, the cyno lore was expected, BUT THE TIGHNARI LORE AS WELL?

Hermanubis being a Tighnarian and was King Deshret's chosen familiar hundreds of years ago, and now a full vessel of Hermanubis and a descendant of the Valuka Shuna meet and became friends in the Akademiya and are now companions 🥺

"I like that story." Yeah, I bet you do cyno, sethos basically called you and tighnari soulmates/ destined to meet and be together 🙄 also the ears to cyno's head gear actually really does represent tighnari's ears in some way after all lmao. i remember people making jokes about that

um...why is Bamoun buried like a pharoah?

NAPHIS SCOLDING CYRUS SO HARD LMAAOOO. he worries in his own way

Faruzan scolding everyone is so funny to see pls

cyno, tighnari, and collei having codes and gestures to give each other messages 🥺🥺🥺 tighnari and cyno used to say those codes back in the akademiya for each other, and now, in Cyno's own words, it became a family tradition 😭

Kavetham library date 🩷 then them returning to said date after our coffee sesh 🩷🩷🩷

Cyno taking us to his secret base and APPARENTLY ITS A CYNONARI DATING SPOT BACK WHEN THEY WERE STUDENTS. Y'all think they did the "It's beautiful." and "Yeah (looking at the the person instead of the view)" trope? coz the view was fr beautiful

Cyno and Sethos are officially brothers! yipee! (i will fr be pulling for him to complete the family)

THE PICTURES LISA TOOK OF CYRUS AND CYNO WERE SO CUTE 😭😭😭 cyrus and cyno are planning on visiting mond hehe

I need to review the entire quest again coz i bet i forgot some things BUT CYNONARI AND KAVETHAM NATIONS WE ALL WON

[circeyoru]

Gone Too Young _ Part 4 = Collab

[Human & Demon!Alastor x Male BFF!Reader] - Platonic

Part 1 — Part 2 — Part 3 — Part 4 (here)

My collaborator: @blubugg13

As the two of you got older, you had more jobs on your agenda and Alastor was busy with his internship at the local news stations so he could get a feel of being a news reporter, later a radio host, just as you suggested

You knew him well, turns out he does like the thought of being a radio host, he had the idea of you being his co-host or a guest from time to time, even an assistant! That way, your job is stable enough and he would be able to help you finanically whenever you needed without you complaining like you do now

His mother had the better idea. Adoption. While you were off the list, surely you’d make an exception when it was his mother was wanted to do it. He could see as clear day that you had a soft spot for his mother. Hard to reject motherly love, he’ll agree. It was your Christmas gift, you’ll have a family

You never showed up to the secret meet up you two arranged. Alastor waited under the freezing cold, the streets were a buzz, he watched families go up and down. Perhaps you were working a bit later, you did say you might not be able to make it and apologized beforehand. He waited a bit longer. You still didn’t show up. He had to return home

He didn’t know, the ambulance that he passedby carried your deceased body

Christmas day came by, you weren’t there. The orphanage cancelled the adoption plan his mother registered. Before they agreed! They said it would be the perfect surprise even! Everyone was in on it but you

Something in his gut told him, something’s wrong. He ran to the orphanage and asked for you, maybe you were sick and couldn’t tell him. Yeah. When he got there, he wasn’t allowed entry, the director came to the door personally to inform him you leave town for an internship, some wealthy businessman offered you that and you took it and left

“When will he be back?” Alastor recalled asking.

Yet there was no solid answer.

“A few days, I’m sure.” Your sister figure answered without looking at him. He caught her outside while shopping.

“I think like a month. Not sure.” Your coworker shrugged.

“He’s sleeping though.” One of the little ones you take care of spoke when he sneaked into the orphanage to see you.

“Maybe never, you never know.” One of your employer said.

“Stop asking for him! Mind your own business!” The director stopped him in his tracks.

But you were his business. He was your best friend and you were his. Why can’t he know where you went and when you’ll be back? Why does it feel like everyone but his mother and he know something about you?

Then he caught it while listening in on some workers chat while taking a break outside the last factory your worked at. The horrifying truth of your disappearance

“That kid Alastor’s back?”

“Yeah, he’s asking about him again.”

A sigh. “Can’t we just tell him what happened? It was an accident.”

“Are you crazy?! Who would want to know their friend ended up like that?!”

“Besides, the orphanage director already said to keep quiet about it.”

“I mean, it’s brutal.”

“I’ll say. Getting your arm rolled into the machine like a piece of meat, then die from blood loss.”

“I still get nightmares from that day.”

“Christmas day horror. It was even worse for that guy that accidentally bumped into him, right?”

“Yeah, Joe quit his job and just disappeared.”

“But I heard he was a roadkill somewhere.”

“Wow, that’s like karma.”

“Crazy sh*t happens everywhere…”

Alastor never ran that fast in his life. His smile fell and tears rained, the weather seemed to echo with the truth he learned, it rained, poured heavily. He ran into the forest and screamed till his voice gave out

No way… No way. NO WAY. NO WAY! NO WAY IN HELL!

He clenched as he fell to his knees. How could they keep such a secret to him? Everyone. Every one of them lied to him. Because he was some kid. Because you were just an orphan? Why? Why didn’t anyone tell him?

Unlike the others, he told his mother the truth he learned. Those adoption papers that sat on her desk in the study room were put away into a drawer, locked up. His mother soon fell ill from griefing and the shock, passing soon after then

Now when he walked the same roads and saw the people you helped, he saw red. That rage boil within him. Who knew and didn’t care? Who ignored your tragic death?

Without anything to ground him, he only had his job as the new radio host. A grand start!

“Welcome, everyone! I am Alastor, now your new radio host! You might have remembered me from other channels when I was still a young lad, haha! I’m here to stay! But regrettably, I have to start with recording some distrubing and tragic news. There seems to be a killer on the loose. So everyone be sure to lock your doors and windows at all times, you never know when the killer will strike.”

Note: A bit short but... That concludes the parts for the human Alastor and Reader~ Next up are the ones for the demon version and in Hell~

Circe Y. 

My Works: MASTERLIST

Taglist: (those that don't specify to being in all the works' taglist will automatically be assumed to be in whichever series they comment on)

@aconfusedwonderland @crowleysthings @donustellaron @mistpurpl3 @lucifers-silhouette @fluffy-koalala @boredwithlifeatthispoint @mysterypotatoink

[arkhammaid]

— ˚₊‧⁺˖THE LIGHTNING ON TRACK | BEFORE THE FAMILY

fandom. formula one & mcu

about. y/n meets the stark clan

content warnings. written in 3rd person + headcanonish, not edited & proofread!

word count. 0.8k

notes. first 'lore' chapter!! i'm excited and hope you all like it <3 i would love some feedback hehe and any reblogs are ofc greatly appreciated!

before...

TONY STARK

y/n l/n grows up surrounded by motorsports, especially motogp. with her mother being a worldchampion, it's only natural that fast cars and bikes are her every day entertainement.

she's raised as an only child and by a single mother, she doesn't even know who her father is. and if she's honest, she doesn't care about it at all. why would she need a father, when she has already such a cool mother?

while her mother loves her independet daugher, she still thinks she should know about her father and tells her the truth. tony stark, also known as iron man, is her father. they had a short relationship, akin to an affair but it ended with both of them being extremely busy with their lives.

but just because y/n is aware who her father is, doesn't mean he's aware that he has a daughter. and he hasn't been for a long time, not until y/n's career in single seaters properly started. he regrets meeting her so late (in her teenage years) but never holds it against her or her mother.

how do the two meet? well, it's quite tragic... with her mother losing her year long fight against cancer, y/n is left alone, since her mother didn't have any close family. not wanting to end up in forster care and stop her career, she seeks out tony and shows up on his doorstep one random wednesday afternoon.

he's shocked, but pretty much believes her, when she tells him who she is. tony is of course no fool and still does a dna test, but even if it came out wrong, he would've taken care of y/n- he immediately felt a connection.

within the same week, tony gains custody of y/n and she moves to new york, but still goes to a boarding school until she's a candidate for formula 4.

PEPPER POTTS-STARK

y/n meets pepper in the same week she meets tony. not as her step-mother, but as CEO of stark industries and close friend of her father.

they immediately take a liking to each other (they both like to bully tony) and pepper can't help but feel for the lonely teen. y/n doesn't have many friends, especially close ones and with her genius mind, she always felt like an outsider. she only truly fits in with other racers, but then it's more about her talent and they're also all boys and older than her. not somehting everyone likes...

when tony finally ask pepper to marry him, y/n is their biggest supporters. pepper is incredibly touched and makes her maid of honor. she goes even so far, to ask y/n, if she would be alright with pepper adopting her. that evening, many tears were shed.

y/n loves pepper just as much she loved her own mother and sees her as another mother figure in her life. she still doesn't call her like that, but sometime she slips up and calls her 'mama', which leaves pepper flustered and deeply touched.

HARLEY KEENER

it takes a bit for tony to introduce y/n to harley, who she meets first as brother. with harley studing in MIT, he only knew that tony had something very important to talk about and wanted him to come home as soon as he could.

but it still took two months, until harley and y/n met, but luckily they hit off. harley knows what it's like to have a smaller sister, so he stepped up as big brother again, while y/n was a bit unused to no longer being an only child. but with harley being a full-time student, it felt as if she was one.

despite harley acting like an older brother to y/n, it still took a long time for them to actually grow closer. harley lost his family few years ago, but the thought of actually having a younger sister again... well, let's say he had a few things to say to his therapist.

but a few years have passed now and they're close, despite rarely seeing each other, with harley working at SI and y/n having to travel the world for her racing.

PETER PARKER

y/n meets peter as tony's intern very early, so she experiences the process of him getting adopted first hand. with both of them beings so close in age, they're close by default.

but it also helps that they have a similar humor (proud genz) and interests. peter starts focusing on engineering, just because y/n is heavily involved with it and y/n does physics and biochem work with peter, to help him as spider-man.

when peter gets adopted and becomes a proper stark, y/n set the goal to become his favorite sibling (he always talks himself out of the pick with "my favorite sister is you", fully knowing he only has one).

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DO YOU WANT TO JOIN THE SERIES TAGLIST? please leave a comment on this post or send a non anonymous ask!

ARKHAM MAID 2024

[britany1997]

Let’s Motor

I genuinely wasn’t expecting the response to Rev Your Engines that I got, I was feeling very insecure about my writing when I posted it and I’m crying that y’all loved it so much😭 (read part one here)

I’ve also decided on subsequent fics to indicate when I won’t be writing any more parts, so this will be the final part to this series:) hope y’all love it!

Pre-read by my motorcycle expert adopted brother @pixielostboy 🥰

Poly! Lost boys x GN motor expert reader

🦇🦇🦇🦇🦇🦇🦇🦇🦇🦇🦇🦇🦇🦇🦇🦇🦇

You rolled out from under your 1953 Buick wildcat, smearing your hand across your face as you attempted to wipe it clean of oil.

When you’d finished your shift for the night, your boss was kind enough to let you use the shop’s tools to fix up your own ride.

The tune ups were going well, but you still took your Harley to work instead, hopeful you’d run into the strange group of rockers from a few days ago.

You checked your watch and sighed. Lately you’d tended to drag your feet, just in case the biker boys did drop by, but after days of waiting, you’d finally decided they weren’t coming.

That is until you heard the familiar mumbling of four motors pulling up behind you. You chuckled to yourself as you pulled a bandana from your back pocket to wipe your brow and turned around.

Your face fell as you realized the sight in front of you was not the four weirdos you were hoping to meet again, but another group of leather clad bikers.

You sighed and turned back to pack up your things.

“Expectin’ someone?”

You whipped your head around to lock eyes with a smirking Paul, leaning against a broken down truck one of your coworkers had been fixing up.

“Hello again,” you raised an eyebrow as you wiped down your tools, “where ya been?”

“Been busy sugar,” he explained, “didn’t mean we didn’t wanna come.”

Your lips turned up against your will as you shrugged in reply, “maybe I wanted to see you guys too.”

Paul’s face lit up at your words.

“Why didn’t I hear your bike pull up?” you asked.

“Got one of those silent mufflers, bike don’t make a sound,” he told you.

Your brow furrowed in confusion. Silent mufflers? “What?”

“Kidding babe, just didn’t wanna move the bikes from the boardwalk, I uh walked over.”

You scoffed, “isn’t it like a five mile walk?”

Paul rubbed the back of his neck nervously, “yeah I uh, I walk fast.”

You snorted, “whatever Paulie, you want a ride back on my bike?”

“Yes please,” he sing-songed as he practically skipped over to your side.

You mounted your Harley before Paul slid in behind you. “Hold on tight yeah?” you told him.

“Don’t gotta tell me twice sugar,” he said as his arms slid around your middle. He squeezed your sides gently causing you to flinch.

“Maybe not that tight,” you laughed.

Paul moved his hands to rest on your hips as you nudged up your kickstand with your heel before reving your engine and taking off down the road.

The short drive to the boardwalk gave Paul’s hands many opportunities to wander from your hips, but luckily for him you didn’t mind too much.

You parked your bike to the side of Max’s video as both you and Paul slid off and walked toward the three other boys loitering near the pier.

“Well, well, well,” David smirked as he took a drag, “just couldn’t stay away could ya?”

You scoffed in mock offense, “excuse me, but this one,” you jerked your thumb towards Paul, “tracked me down at work for you idiots.”

David threw his cigarette to the ground and stomped it out, “maybe we needed you to fix up one of our bikes again.”

You snorted, “they look fine to me.”

Dwayne rolled his eyes, “sorry about him, we really did just want to see you.”

You blushed as your gaze fell to the gorgeous brunette man’s shoes, “I kinda wanted to see you guys again too.”

“Wanna race?” Marko blurted out, bouncing on his heels in excitement.

Your head snapped up, “race? Race where?” you asked.

“Hudson’s bluff,” David spoke up, “you know it?”

“Yeah I know it,” you paused for a second, “what does the winner get?”

“A kiss from you,” Paul said smirking, as he leaned an elbow on your shoulder.

You rolled your shoulder, causing his elbow to slide right off you, “and what do I get if I win?” you asked.

“Four kisses,” Paul winked.

You rolled your eyes, “if I win I want…” you trailed off as you thought to yourself.

A lightbulb went off in your head, “I want that,” you decided as you pointed at David’s long black trenchcoat.

David’s jaw dropped, not usually one to be caught off guard, “…you want my coat?”

He regained his senses, “absolutely not, no.”

You pouted in mock sympathy, “scared you’re gonna lose Davey?”

He scoffed, “never.”

You shrugged, “then you’ve got nothing to worry about right?”

David bit his lip and weighed his options. There were four of them and only one of you. How could one little human beat four vicious vampires? You didn’t stand a chance.

David smirked and stuck out his hand, “deal.”

You smiled as you shook his hand, “alright then.”

It didn’t take the five of you long to clamor onto your bikes and line up parallel to each other.

“You’re going down,” Marko whispered from the left of you as Dwayne counted down.

You smirked, “we’ll see.”

As soon as Dwayne bellowed “go,” you were off.

You whipped through the beach, kicking up sand as you rode and making a mental note to clean your wheels later. Paul and David had an early lead, with you and Marko not far behind.

Dwayne trailed behind the four of you, but you suspected it wasn’t for lack of ability but more to teach David a lesson. Either way, you appreciated it.

As you turned off into the forest you pulled past Paul, flicking a wave in his direction as you left him in the dust. You smiled as you heard a soft gasp behind you from the shocked blond boy.

You leaned forward, your brow furrowing as you accelerated until you were neck and neck with David.

“Give up? You could still keep your coat,” you taunted him, keeping your eyes trained on the road.

“Not on your life.” he spit through gritted teeth.

“Suit yourself,” you replied as you pushed forward on the throttle, weaving in front of David and pulling up at the edge of the cliff.

David pulled to a stop in disbelief, “you…how did you…” he sputtered as he tried to make sense of what had just happened.

You smiled, “increased the size of my rear sprocket by two teeth awhile back, helps the bike accelerate quicker,” you explained.

“Why didn’t you say anything babe?” Paul inquired as he parked next to the two of you.

You shrugged, “you never asked,”

“Pretty smart if you ask me,” Marko admitted as he joined as well, “I woulda done that too.”

“Looks like you’ve got a jacket to hand over huh David?” Dwayne teased as he came around to David’s side, playing with the hem of the coat.

David’s face flushed red as he realized. He moved to take the coat off when you stopped him, placing a hand on his.

“No need,” you assured him, “the look on your face is a good enough prize for me.”

David grumbled as the other boys dissolved into fits of laughter.

“You’re a good time babe,” Paul nudged you with his elbow, “we live just down there if you’d like to come in for a drink,” he offered smoothly as the others exchanged knowing glances.

“Sure,” you smiled, “I could go for a drink.”

🦇🦇🦇🦇🦇🦇🦇🦇🦇🦇🦇🦇🦇🦇🦇🦇🦇

Taglist❤️:

@pixielostboy @bloodywickedvamp @6lostgirl6 @anna1306 @misslavenderlady @sidefanficaccounttohidemyshame @paulxbathbomd @peachpixiesstuff @ria-coolgirl @flower-crowned-lady @lostboys1987girl @ghoulgeousimmaculate @feardot-com @softchonk @gothamslostboy @arenpath @bitchyexpertprincess @memphiscity69 @kurt-nightcrawler @solobagginses @mickkmaiden333 @arbesa-mind @warrior-616 @consuming-karma @dwaynedelight @vampirefilmlover @its-freaking-bats @dwaynesluscioushair @hallotonia

[bloogers-boogers]

Thinking of an au where Lucifer is still the king of hell but in this world Adam was a mere sinner and not the ‘first man’ but the first ‘willingly fallen angel’. People will say wouldn’t that be untrue bc Lucifer yada yada,, but nah, Lucifer didn’t expect to fall, so willingly he didn’t, at least not in this au ~ so anyways…

Adam was never created as a human, he was an angel and had been friends with Lucifer before his fall. They were both seraphim! Though Adam was made a few ranks below Lucifer, God created him as the embodiment of perfection and beauty ~ so all angels admired him for how he looked and was praised by the creator, even Lucifer.

Lucifer at the time never considered Adam as something more than a brother just like all of the other angels they just saw each other like that? The knowledge of romance was an oddity or some type of supernatural feeling no one experienced at the time but God would mention about when it came in describing the first humans.

And they weren’t entirely close either. They were just connected being very pampered and favored by God.

Fast forward to Lucifer already being casted to hell and married to Lilith. They eventually heard of a fallen angel landed in hell (by a deadly sin, I would like to say it was Satan who informed Lucifer of this bc yk that’s a freaking fallen angel). So Lucifer was shocked of this revelation. After all, it’s been like a century since Lucifer and Lilith gathered angels to go against heaven and then be casted to live in hell for the rest of eternity.

When Lucifer tracked the angel down, it took a while until his eyes landed on Adam. Yup. The Seraphim Adam he once knew as the living perfection of God’s hands turned as a sinner.

Once Lucifer helps Adam, picking his unconscious body and taking him to his castle to get heal. Adam wakes up and was greeted with a bomb of questions by both king and queen of hell of why the hell was he here. In this case Adam refuses to tell them why he fell and flees to never be seen.

Leaving Lucifer and Lilith speechless because why, when, how???

Years pases by and the whole incident is long forgotten, just like Lucifer’s marriage.

So everything is basically the same except Lucifer is more of a king than being shut in his castle depressed. I feel having the influence of Adam back in heaven kinda toughened him up a bit bc he shared a lot of things in common and well, God’s love. So there was some sorts of jealousy involved just like competition. Also having Lucifer near by kinda just softened Adam a ton which made it easier for him to be too vulnerable in hell.

Lucifer is much more colder though. He doesn’t have Charlie in this Au but Adam sorta does? He has Abel who has a similar personality and ambitions. His dream is redemption and thats why nothing much changes aside from that. But without Charlie Lucifer just doesn’t have anyone, and like they say, nothing is more scarier than someone who has nothing to lose.

Adam has a strained relationship with his son because he’s so blinded by Abel’s mother who’s very abusive and who Abel distanced himself from (unaware Adam is actually trapped in her chains/ she owns his soul), so they rarely ever talk or see each other but Adam loves his son more than anything.

Abel isn’t Adam’s only son he has 15 biological children! And 56 adoptive ones (exorcists that in this au are hellborn orphans/ who aren’t necessarily currently living in his area or home but are his nonetheless) Vaggie, Lute, and more. Adam is an overlord! The most powerful in wrath and was allowed to leave pride by a deal he made with Lilith thousands of year before she kinda bailed on hell.

He and Lucifer did cross paths throughout that time which made the whole falling incident more easier to forget considering Lucifer was no longer interested in wanting to know why Adam fell and just respected his privacy. The deal he made with Lilith needed to be reinforced from Lucifer’s power so it was necessary for the king of hell to be involved and grant Adam’s wish to leave pride and join wrath instead (he’s still a pride citizen he just isn’t forced to be there like the rest of the sinners/ is basically the only one allowed to have left his ring).

But getting to the plot. So Lucifer starts getting a bunch of complaints of Abel’s hotel and all the trouble he’s making with heaven. And the angels aka Sera haven’t stopped pestering his ass about it so he goes and seeks for this ‘Abel guy’ he has no idea who’s about (or who’s daddy did this one belonged to) and surprise surprise Lucifer becomes Abel’s Alastor ~ he joins in the hotel (with all the intention on screwing it over) being a sponsor, and ofc to this Abel’s all enthusiastic having the actual king of hell ‘on his side’ giving him ‘support’ of his dreams yk

And you can imagine the rest aksbwksheks Loving the idea of Hell greatest dad being Lucifer taunting Adam for being a better dad than him and Adam feeling challenged (bc he kinda is)

[inthelittlewood]

Since you talked about the Watchers feeding on the negative emotions from the Life Members, and Grian is supposed to be a watcher- do you think it’s possible that Grian himself feeds on the negative emotions as well? Especially when he gets so many kills on the others?

It’s just a theory I created in my head but I find it strange that almost everytime Grian has teammates in the series, he had either accidentally or purposely killed them. So I’m just thinking maybe it’s the Watcher in him and he’s feeding one negative emotions subconsciously.

Negative emotions aren't the only kind they can feed on, it's just the subset they choose to because it tastes 'different'

I see it as a greed that's overcome them, a fast track to feeling satiated but when even that becomes normalized, they have to up the stakes to season their feed and keep things varied

I always imagine it as watcher Grian noticed that shift and as a newer Watcher he wasn't entirely sure why that avenue was necessary to explore at all. But the others have been around A LOT longer and grown bored/hungry

Grian's presence has always been disruptive to the others goals, one candidate less for them to feed on and his chaotic / mischievous nature actually takes the edge off for a lot of players. Helping them revel in the twists and turns, adopting a more 'the games the game' mindset actually sours the soup so to speak. The other watchers, even with their combined strengths can't stop him entirely as we've witnessed..

(as always, me answering these questions is often the first time I've been promoted about them and it's just a gut reaction. So consider it light cannon for now. I'm sure we'll do another post season stream where we discuss it all and decide as a collective some concrete ideas)

[bluewatersfairy]

could’ve been - j.p.

loosely inspired by H.E.R. & Bryson Tillers’ ‘Could’ve been’

synopsis: two exes run into each other at a night club and spend some time catching up

warnings: mature content, MINORS DNI! unprotected sex (carry a condom at all times in cases of emergencies), semi public sex (i guess?)

word count: 5.2k (thank you for your patience) 

p.s. i started writing this during the off-season last year so the timeline is a bit fuzzy.

•••

All-star break had a habit of coming around right when everyone needed it.  Though Jordan was still the same goofy dude he’d always been, he felt like he was walking around with a chip on his shoulder.  He had been stuck in the mindset that he had something to prove all season, and it was starting to affect his mental.

His friend had suggested a night out to try and get his mind right and though it wasn’t exactly what he had in mind, he didn’t see it being a bad thing.  He didn’t think it would be a good idea to drink so he volunteered to be the sober driver.  

He was pressed up against the wall with a glass of lemon water when he caught a glimpse of someone who could’ve been you across the club.  For just a moment, he felt his entire body freeze, pins pressing into the bottoms of his feet and nails dragged down the back of his neck.  He stood up straight and rolled his shoulders back before leaning his head back again.  He couldn’t pull his eyes away now, he was stuck doing this again. 

Again because he’d done the exact same thing in London over the summer.  Someone had slipped past him in a rush and for a split second he thought it was you.  He’d stopped in his tracks and scanned the street.  It wasn’t you, of course, he knew you were in New York for a work conference and still not returning his texts.  Or even opening them to read.  It just happened to be someone who was roughly the same height as you and wore the same perfume or used the same hair products.  It couldn’t have been you. 

San Francisco was a different story.  You could very easily be in his adoptive city without him knowing.  He was sure he’d heard your company’s name in passing a few times in the past two days, and he was sure he’d heard one of your co-workers talking on the phone as they skipped the line outside.  She had a very strong accent, talked very fast and made a habit of yelling to be heard clearly on phone calls.  Somehow she always called you when the two of you were together, and Jordan liked getting in on them.  He could hear the whole conversation and it was too easy for him to do impressions and make you laugh whilst trying to be professional.  

Once while on a video conference she was leading, Jordan had made you burst out into laughter that you’d have to cover with a coughing fit, excusing yourself and muting your mic.  The two of you ended up on the floor laughing at the same thing over and over again until your sides hurt and tears were rolling down your face.  Whenever he thought of your time together, it was a scene like that that stuck out.  You were always laughing, joking, or out of breath in his presence, like you were filled with light.  

It’s part of the reason why he was so blindsided when you showed up at his hotel door to tell him things had to end between the two of you; that this wasn’t what you needed, or wanted anymore.  Jordan swore up and down that he could adjust what you needed to make it work, that he’d pull your weight while you couldn’t but all you could do was shake your head and say no.  

Jordan had to chug his lemon water to make the thoughts stop.  Some of it spilt down his face but he didn’t seem to care, just wiped it off on the back of his hand and continued to stare straight ahead. He kept his gaze slightly higher than the average height to make sure he didn’t catch a glimpse of anyone that could be you.  But then the perfume you wear flushed his senses and forced his eyes shut.  This wasn’t happening.  It was all just wishful thinking.  And it would remain wishful thinking.

“Can I stand here?” an index and middle finger touched just above his hip, the type of touch that he’d recognise anywhere.  Even with his eyes closed and his mind and heart fighting over where they should run to.

“It’s a free country,” Jordan answered as he bravely turned his head to meet your gaze for the first time in close to a year.  

It felt like something had hit his chest while he took you in, tingles spreading from his shoulder blades to his fingertips.  Your cheeks looked slightly fuller than the last time he’d seen you, and there were no longer heavy bags under your eyes, and your lips were smooth, unbitten and shiny.  You looked healthier, happier.  Your smile worked like a key in his chest; things were trying to turn again. 

“Hi Jordan,” you grinned with a glimmer of hope in your eyes, allowing yourself to take him in properly.  You were glad you’d decided to cross the room to see him closer.  You had no idea what you were starting, but you couldn’t stay away from him. 

You weren’t sure if he’d seen you on his way in, he was surrounded by his friends and they seemed deep in conversation.  You noticed him almost instantly.  Ever since you’d gotten off the plane you’d been searching for him in every room.  You couldn’t count on both hands how many times you’d hovered over his contact name over the past 3 days, but you’d somehow managed to stop yourself each time.  Seeing him in the flesh was a different story.  You could only be so strong. 

“Hi,” he breathed out as he dropped his head so you’d be able to hear each other.  

“I don’t think I can say your name, right now.”  He confessed, his heart pounding in his chest.  “I don’t know if you’re really here yet.”

You smiled as you wrapped your arm around his and slid your fingers down his forearm to tangle them in his own.  The action triggered a rush of endorphins and nothing could stop the memories that followed.  At various stages of your relationship, you'd used it as a silent communicator. 

Sometimes it meant that you were ready to go, or that there was someone you wanted to introduce him to, and occasionally that you were dragging him away because he was making too good of an impression on a coworker you did not want to have to invite around for drinks or worse, a meal.  Every now and again, it meant something less innocent, something the two of you rarely let happen outside the comforts of a bedroom.  You’d gotten into the habit of squeezing his hand gently to confirm the message towards the end of the relationship, so when you squeezed his hand in that club, it felt like he’d been hit in the chest.

“I promise,” you said into his ear, “I really am here.”  

He let out a deep breath and you watched as he glanced up for a few moments before relaxing into you.  He seemed to hesitate against your person, his fingers barely grazing the skin of your forearm.  When he did finally lay his hand on your arm, you could tell he was expecting to go straight through you.  

“Here,” you half laughed as you moved so you were standing in front of him, facing him, and wrapped your arms around his waist.  “You can hold me if you need to.”

Jordan half laughed in response but wrapped his arms around you and pulled you closer.  You watched as his eyes scanned the room, his hands pressing into your lower back.  He tucked his head and you were properly connected for the first time in what felt like forever.  

“I was thinking about texting you tonight,” you confessed, “it would’ve been out of the blue but I couldn’t stop thinking about you.”  Being able to look Jordan in the eye and hold him against you again felt a little too comfortable.  You shouldn’t have liked it as much as you did. 

“It’s been like that a lot for me too,” he licked his bottom lip, “there’s a lot I’ve been thinking about.”

“I’m proud of you,” you smiled softly, “I wasn’t sure if a text from me would ruin your celebrations, but I’ve never been more proud of all the work you’ve put in.”  your lips brushed against his ear lobe as he leant in closer with every word you said.  

“Nothing about you would’ve ruined anything,” he shook his head and tightened his grip on your waist, his thumb caressing your right hip, “if anything, it would’ve made things better.”  

He was grinning, cheesing, like you’d said something funny, like he did in some of those pictures you’d seen during the celebrations.  You scanned over his face again, taking time to look into his dopey eyes and cheeks to see if there was any sign of intoxication.  You couldn’t do this if he wasn’t sober, that wouldn’t be fair.

“Have you been drinking?” you asked with your hand instinctively reaching for his neck, “I’m not wasting my breath if you’re not all here with me.”

Another big grin and something of a laugh; he really had a habit of confusing you further when it came to clarifying things.  If it wasn’t for his hand’s grasp on your wrist, you would’ve given his face a little playful shove, and probably would’ve laughed too.  But instead you took a small step back, unwrapping your arm from his waist, and put some space between the two of you.  The desire to touch him remained, and you couldn’t bring yourself to lose his warmth, so your hand found itself resting on his chest.  The vibrations of his heart pounding against his ribcage spread throughout your body.  

“Jordan,” you raised your voice to make sure he could still hear you, “I’m being serious.”  

You couldn’t help but smile, couldn’t help but blush with the way he looked at you.  It was like nothing had changed in his eyes.  They were ever so hooded, sleepy looking, with that sparkle of joy you felt whenever you closed your eyes.  For a second there, you realised that this could’ve been reality if you hadn’t let him go, that this wouldn’t just be a passing moment, but a daily occurrence.  What’s worse is you knew you were looking at him with the same admiration you always had.  He still felt like your goofball guy, you still felt invincible in his arms, endlessly safe in his gaze.  

“I’m sober, I promise,” he laughed as he pulled you closer to him, your fingers entwining, “I’m Ms. Daisy tonight, I’m responsible.” 

“Responsible,” you teased with your head tilted and hands on his shoulders, “I’m not sure I’d use those exact words.”  

“See, I’m grown now baby,” he smirked, “I take care of people, keep them in line, you know, the whole nine yards.”  

Just like that, everything fell back into old patterns.  The two of you were smiling and laughing, joking around and teasing each other like the past few months never occurred.  In each other's embrace, quickly everything disappeared in the background and all you knew was each other.  

Tucked away together, no one could touch or bother you.  You were invisible to the rest of the world.  Except when Jordan cut you off mid-sentence to put a hand out to stop someone from bumping directly into you.  Well, a couple actually, they too seemed pretty caught up in their own world, just instead of catching up, they were making out.  

“Cmon bro,” Jordan clicked as he moved you and them out of the way, “get a stall or something.”  he looked annoyed and rolled his eyes before looking back down at you, barely even realising how he’d pulled you into his chest as if they were a true threat.  

“What?” he asked you in a softer tone, his hand cupping the back of your head, “you got that look on your face.”

“I dunno what you’re on about,” you shrugged your shoulders, “this is the way I always look.”

He rolled his eyes again and shook his head, “I know that look well, you’re thinking dangerous, dangerous thoughts, and I’m not about to comply.”

“I’m thinking nothing of the sort,” but you were, “maybe we should go somewhere more private to talk though.  I did not enjoy being involved in their very intimate moment.”

“Mhm,” he hummed, “sounds like an excuse, if you ask me.”

This time it was your turn to roll your eyes.  You pulled away, grabbing his hand in the process, and started searching for a bathroom.  

It wasn’t necessarily that you were trying to start something, but Jordan hit all your weak spots without meaning too.  He always looked good, but there was something about him that night that was more alluring than before.  It could’ve been that you hadn’t seen him in a while, or maybe that he was starting to fill out as he surpassed his scrawny teenage-like figure.  There was more to him, physically and mentally, and you wanted to get all in it.  

Which is exactly how the two of you ended up in a locked unisex bathroom at the back of the club.  You were sitting on the counter with Jordan between your legs.  His hands ran over your thighs, his fingers applying pressure every now and then.  There was little room between the two of you, heart-to-heart you carried on talking.  It was taking everything in you not to turn to the nasty corner of your mind that painted fantasies of Jordan part-time.  He smelt so good and he made you laugh.  Not to mention the flutter in your chest and the pulsing deep in you every time he looked at you.

It was all too easy, you pressed your lips together as you tilted your chin up to look at his face.  The lines you'd drawn were starting to blur and fade away.

“I’ve missed this,” you sighed as your fingers caressed his neck and shoulders.  

Jordan gave you a shy smile in response and cupped your chin in his right hand.  You kept looking up at him and slowly his hand travelled to your throat.  There was no risk, no added pressure in this gesture; just a reminder of what has passed and what still remained.  The two of you were putty, easily pulled and shaped into whatever the other wanted.  Stress free fun and a whole lot of love.  

“Me too,” he breathed out as your lips brushed against one another.  He was pulling you in with his entire being, but something was stopping him from making the connection.  Every part of your body burnt with anticipation, and you weren’t above begging for it.  

"Don't play games with me," you bit the inside of your lip, "you know what I want."  You could feel your cheeks and chest flush as each word passed through your lips.  

Somewhere between adoration, passion and pain, Jordan stared lasers into your soul.  His breathing deepened while he analysed what you had said and what you were doing.  Like you, he wanted to feel the fire that always came with your love.  The endless burn of lust and greed that dripped from every part of him the second he saw you undress.  He never wanted to lose you, never wanted to forget how good you looked on top of him.  Tonight was no different, except for the tightness in the hole of his chest.  He wanted to drink in the image of you in your little black dress and trace the curves of your body.  

Jordan never wanted to forget this moment.  He wanted you seared into his memory, let it be your silhouette he sees every time he closed his eyes.

The loss of contact surprised you as he took a few steps back.  Your thighs felt cold without him on you.  He crossed his arms and tilted his head at you, observing you, savouring you.  His hooded eyes dragged over every inch of your body and you followed him.  You leant back on your hands and spread your legs apart further.  Your hand fell to spot his eyes seemed to forget and you drew him in.  

Jordan felt like his mind was running 100 thoughts every millisecond that passed.  Memories, wants and needs blended together.  He needed to touch you with every part of him, wanted to drag his mouth over every inch of your skin.  Without a second of warning, echoes of the past rang through his ears, his head between your thighs as you swore to the Heavens.  There was nothing quite like you, nothing that he craved more on his tongue than your sweet pussy juices.  He could eat it for hours and never get bored.  There was always something new to try.  And he loved how he could dig his fingers in your thighs.  The small bruises from the pads of his fingers made him feel proud.  The red handprints and grips on your ass and thighs gave him a spike of confidence.  When he was inside you, he knew he was king.  He never questioned his actions or his success, you were never shy when it came to unholy acts.

"You wanna know something?" Jordan asked as he found your eyes again.

You nodded your head and watched closely as he dragged the tip of his tongue across the soft pink lip of his bottom lip.  

"This feels like the first time I'm seeing you all over again," he smiled shyly as he stepped closer to you again, his hands on your thighs.  "Like it feels like I've never touched you before.  I feel all giddy and nervous."

His tone didn't match his words.  He spoke low and with confidence.  He consistently had a demeanour that could only be described as smooth and it always sent a shiver down your spine when he got close.  He pulled you in mentally and you wanted to melt into him.

"You've always known how to touch me," you reassured him as you reached your hand out to hold his neck.  He tilted his head and smiled at you.

You could tell there were words that were better left unsaid at that moment.  His eyes, though playful, held that glimmer of doubt you'd left him with.  Neither of you could bear to address the elephant in the room.  Instead, you let the wants and needs of your body paint the fantasies the two of you shared.

You felt like Jordan was waiting on you.  So very gently you pressed a kiss to the right and then left side of his neck; just below his pulse points.  His eyes were closed when you guided his face so that you could place your lips to his forehead, then to the tip of his nose.  He hummed his approval of each touch, the sides of his mouth pulled up into a blissful smile.  

You pushed your lips together as you ran your thumb across his.  Jordan’s hands slipped up your body and wrapped around your torso, pulling you even closer to him.  

“Cmon baby,” he mumbled with you flushed against his chest, your lips with barely any space between them again, “you’re allowed to kiss me.  I’d prefer it, actually.”  his eyes flicked from your lips to both your eyes and it started to feel like it was all too much.

You reached out to him and let your lips encase his.  It was like an electric volt was sent down your spine and something switched in both of you.  In a matter of moments, your kisses became sloppy and rushed, the two of you trying to get closer.  You needed to feel Jordan on every inch of your skin and it seemed he felt the same.

The first time your lips separated, Jordan took his glasses off and immediately attached his lips to your neck.  His hand pulled your head back with gentle force and a gasping moan escaped your opened mouth.  The sleeves of your dress were pulled off your shoulders and Jordan’s mouth followed.  His teeth and lips dragged across your hot skin, hissing as he groped your breasts with both hands.  

You pushed your dress further down to expose your chest to him fully.  You were completely out of breath when he wrapped his lips around your left breast, his tongue catching your nipple and flicking it before he began to suck.  

You encouraged him with affirming words and louder moans.  Unconsciously, your hips rolled towards him.  The only thing your body knew was him and the only thing it needed was continuous contact with something warm.  Every inch of you ached for him, begged and pleaded for him.

“Jordan,” you gasped out as you tried to grab at his clothes, “I need you on me baby, take it off.”  

He nodded his head and took a step back to pull his shirt off over his head.  Your eyes fell on the tent he’d pitched in his pants and you couldn’t help but feel pleasure.  You pulled your dress off and slipped your panties off, no longer sitting on the bench.

You kissed Jordan and dragged your hands over his naked chest.  You pushed him against the spot you’d just been sitting and started to kiss down his neck.  You kissed a trail between his pecs and licked a line down his abdomen.  You smiled up at him, now on your knees as you worked to get his pants off.

“Fuck, you know me so well,” he moaned as you palmed him through his pants, “don’t play with me baby, I don’t have much patience tonight.”  he bit down hard on his bottom lip as you freed him.

You kissed the tip of his dick before spitting on it and using your hand to stroke him and spread your saliva.  He threw his head back, the veins of his neck strained and he let out a throaty groan.  With two hands, you stroked him and added more of your spit.  You’d forgotten how much fun it was to have this type of control over him.  You loved seeing him strain to contain himself and the rush it sent through him.  He would only let you do so much but you loved it when he let you decide how things were gonna play out.  

“I don’t have condoms,” you said with one hand reaching under his shaft to play with his balls, “do you care?”

“That depends,” he groaned out with his eyes squeezed shut, “you slept with anyone?”

“No,” you swallowed as your eyes met, “have you?”  his eyes were darker than before – you weren’t sure if it was because you were getting him off or because of what he’d just asked you.  Either way, you felt it down in your stomach.

“I haven’t,” he confirmed and you stood up quickly.  

Jordan grabbed you again, his strong arms lifting you so you were against the counter again.  He kissed you with a sense of urgency, his tongue dipping into your mouth.  Your moans mixed together and your legs wrapped around him, your hand reaching between the two of you.  

“God, I need you inside of me, Jordan,” you said, dripping with sex.  The two of you were focused on the space between you.  You pumped his length a few more times before running his tip through your slit.

“You’re so fucking wet,” he spoke with amazement, his voice breathy.

He grabbed your neck and turned your face so you were looking at him when you put him inside you.  His mind took a mental recording of the look and sound of relief that left your body as he filled you up.  

“My pretty baby,” he cooed with a devilish smirk, “don’t I feel good inside of you?”

You were speechless, nothing more than mewls and moans of joy were able to be expressed.  You felt so tight and you swore you could feel every inch of him.  It was hot, in every way.  You wanted to stay in the moment as long as you could, but there was little you could focus on other than how good it felt.

“You feel so good,” you spoke mindlessly, “fuck me please, give it to me.”

Jordan listened.  His hips pulled back and angled back into you perfectly for the first few strokes.  Each sound you let out egged him on so much so that he very quickly reached an erratic pace.  He was being fuelled by his own needs and unfulfilled desires and your constant confirmations of pleasure.

“Look at me baby,” Jordan found himself saying as he moved your leg so that you were now on your side, your head leaning partially on the mirror to keep yourself up as you fell into pure bliss.

You found his brown eyes as his hand came down hard on your ass cheek.  You gasped and reached for his hand, giggling a little.  He smiled and watched you move it to rest between your thighs.  He read your sign loud and clear and started to stimulate your clit.  You called out his name loudly and threw your head back.

“Oh just like that, yes.”  you felt like you were floating for all of 30 seconds before he moved his hand away.  You were about to protest, open your eyes and speak, but you were still getting fucked in the exact way you loved, and it was hard to concentrate.

“Look me in my eye,” Jordan said roughly, this time with his hand grabbing at your face so you’d actually make eye contact with him.  “Don’t that feel nice?”

“It feels so nice,” you responded loudly, his hand back on your clit before you could fully process it.  “You’re so fucking deep, I need you so badly.”

Jordan groaned in response, feeling your walls grip around him as if you never wanted him to leave.  He wanted to savour the beautiful feeling of you and never let it go.  He may have been caught up in the moment, but he hadn’t forgotten all his troubles.  The way he felt about you hadn’t changed, and seeing how well you fell back into old habits and how perfectly your bodies fit together, he was convinced this all meant something.  Something this good couldn’t get lost.  He wasn’t going to lose you again.

“Baby boy,” the nickname passed through your lips like silk, your hand reaching out to him, “stay here with me, don’t get lost in the other shit.”

Your words practically melted him into you, your bodies moving so his arms could wrap you in a hug.  He filled you to the hilt again and you squeezed your eyes shut, your mouth dropping open in a silent, all consuming moan.

“This better?” Jordan asked smiling, his forehead now resting against yours.  

“Mhm,” you hummed and caught his lips on yours as you pulled him even closer.  The new angle he thrusted into you was sending repeated shots of pleasure up your spine.  It was pure ecstasy and made your verbal reactions even louder.  “This is exactly what I needed.”

In Jordan’s strong grip, you were perfectly in rhythm with one another.  Though the composure of the sex was slipping, you were only growing more needy.  Your lips and teeth dragged over his soft skin and he did the same, his lips attaching to your neck at any chance he could get.  

“You feel so fucking good on me,” Jordan grunted out between thrusts.  

He was close.  The look on his face and the way his hips were starting to move without control or rhythm was enough for you to know.  You were too, ultimately.  When you told your friends you fit together, you never felt like it really sold just how good this could all be.  He could drag his cock over all the best spots inside your pussy, and give you enough friction on your clit to make you dance.  You wanted all of him, and nothing less.  

“Cmon baby,” you moaned, “keep going.  Please don’t stop.”

As if it was a trigger, Jordan’s rhythm was quickly lost and his hips started to move faster, chasing a high to fulfil your pleads.  His groans and thrusts pulled moans and curses out of you, your eyes squeezing shut as you opened up your chest.

“Nah baby,” he spoke roughly as he wrapped his hand around your throat, “you gotta look at me now.”  He grinned as you moaned again.  You opened your mouth to respond but he cut you off with his lips, his tongue licking into you.  

“Fuck,” he groaned as your walls clenched around him, “keep doing that and I’ma cum inside you.”

“God, I want you to,” you gasped as he somehow reached deeper inside of you.  “Cum inside me, please, please, please.”  

Your begging was enough to send him over the edge.  He filled you to the hilt and let out an incoherent string of curses and your name.  Your walls contracted with every twitch of his tip, spurting hot liquid into you.  When he felt he was finished, he pulled his hips back again and kissed you.  He moved with precise strokes that had you calling to a higher place.  He was dragging over your g-spot over and over again and it was exactly what you needed to send you over the edge.  

You threw your head back, your back arching the same way and said his name over and over again, praising him.   He scattered kisses all over your exposed neck and decolletage until he felt your pulsating core begin to subside.  

“I can’t tell you how much I missed seeing you like that,” Jordan cheesed with your hands cupping his face.  You looked him over, the same cheesy grin spreading across your cheeks.

His chest heaved in sync with yours and a layer of sweat covered his beautiful brown skin.  He looked ethereal and the way the light caught his sweat gave him a golden aura.  You couldn’t resist gently pressing kisses to his collarbone along to his shoulder where you rested your chin. 

“There really is no one like you.”

You gazed up at him and felt your heart skip a beat.  It wasn’t easy to accept, but you could see how you could have been wrong.  The best things in life were rarely easy.  And really, the more you thought about it, the more you knew that the difficult things that made you break things off with him were circumstantial and out of your control.  Maybe it wouldn’t be ideal, but you couldn’t see yourself living without him.  Plus, the last time you guys had sex couldn’t be in the uni-sex bathroom of a club you’d probably never return to.

“Hey Jordan,” you said softly after a peaceful silence of you both looking at each other, “I know there’s a lot to be said, but I was wondering,” you trailed off with a smile.

“Yeah?” Jordan encouraged, his smile growing wider.

“Do you wanna give us another go?”

[shisuisui]

Sparring friends?

wc: 1,3k, fluff, Shisui and Y/n are in their feels

Age 15

At the Konoha training grounds, far from the tumult of the village, Y/n and Shisui were face to face, circling each other and ready to lunge at every moment. They both had one of their sparring sessions which usually ended up with one of them giving up to not hurt the other and them both sharing some sweets from a small local shop they visited often.

Both were determined to win. Shisui grinned and activated his Sharingan. “Hey, that´s not fair. No Sharingan!” Y/n shouted at him. “Life´s not fair love. You have improved a lot since our last spar. But are you sure you can keep up with the legendary Uchiha Shisui?" She had blushed at the pet name. For some time Shisui had started calling her pet names and she didn´t know what to make out of it. Love, darling, princess… they did not help her crush on her best friend. She had to focus.

Y/n chuckled, her hair shifting slightly as she adopted a combat-ready stance. "Don't underestimate me, Shisui. I'm not going down without a fight." He only flashed her his beautiful, charming smile, and with a swift, fluid motion, Shisui lunged forward, his kunai flashing in the sunlight. Y/n dodged it, her kunai ready in hand. Their blades clashed, each strike resonating with precision and skill. There was no way she could outsmart him with his Sharingan activated. She had an idea but didn´t know how he would react and if it was going to be effective. As they engaged in different attacks and counters, Y/n let out a flirtatious remark, putting on a slightly suggestive tone to her voice. "Is that all you've got, Shisui? I was expecting a real challenge." He countered all her attacks and managed to get a firm grip on both her forearms holding them in between them, trapping her effectively.

Shisui chuckled, their faces mere inches apart as they sparred. His face inched closer until he was close to her ear. "Oh Y/n, I have so much more to show you, of course only if you think you can handle it.” She blushed furiously and blew some smoke into his face, creating a cloud of dust and lighting it up with a click of her teeth. The cloud erupted in flames. At least she could blame her flushed cheeks on the flames in front of her.

He was gone. She slowly turned around, scanning her surroundings. Where was he? He was called Shisui the Body Flicker for a reason. With her chakra, she slowly created a chakra net on the floor which was spreading further and further. With it, she could track all the movements in her surroundings. They knew each other's techniques and strategies so well that their sparring sessions were as much a test of skill as they were a chance to enjoy each other's company. She found him. While checking her surroundings she sensed his chakra. His chakra signature was engraved in her brain. She would find him anywhere. And he knew it, which is why he was suddenly standing behind her, holding the kunai to her neck. Damn it he was fast! She turned her head, looking up at him and showing him the greatest puppy eyes she could muster while wetting her lips and pouting innocently. His gaze faltered. Y/n took advantage of that momentary opening and swept Shisui off his feet, sending him to the ground with a gentle thud. She stood over him, a playful grin on her face. "Looks like I win this round."

Shisui laughed as he lay on the ground, his gaze fixed on the girl above him. The sun behind her gave the impression of a halo around her head while she was basking in the orange light of the afternoon. He was mesmerized, to say the least. Why did it have to be her? Why did he have to fall in love with his best friend? He couldn´t risk this friendship. The Uchiha´s were already frowned upon by most of the villagers, and he couldn´t lose her. So, he just enjoyed every intimate moment he had with her. Tried to memorize every little mark on her face, everything that made her smile, what she disliked, and tried to not think about pressing his lips against her every time he was on the receiving end of one of those dashing smiles.

She held out her hand to help him up. An olive branch is being handed out. But Shisui, mischievous as he is had other plans. He took her hand in his and made a calculated move, attempting to bring Y/n down to the ground. With a swift motion, he lunged toward her, aiming to pin her to the grass. However, Y/n knew him very well and with her quick reflexes and agility, interjected his plans.

As Shisui moved in to execute his manoeuvre, Y/n expertly countered his attack. She deftly moved her body, using his momentum against him. In a fluid and graceful motion, she flipped them both over, and suddenly, she was on top of Shisui, pinning him to the grass. She was straddling his thighs, pinning his arms to the ground. And he let her. She knew that if he wanted to, he could´ve won easily against her. Now their faces were mere inches apart. Shisui´s Sharingan was still activated but his gaze softened as he met Y/n's eyes. "Impressive move darling, but do not underestimate me.” Sending her a wink he grabbed Y/n and used her own momentum to roll them both down a grassy hillside. They had reached a part of the training grounds that had a slope. Shisui and Y/n tumbled down together, laughter escaping their lips as they lost control. Shisui held on tightly onto her, his arms encircling her waist while she wrapped hers around his neck.

When they finally came to a stop at the bottom of the hill, Y/n found herself on top of Shisui again, but this time their bodies closely intertwined. Their laughter faded, replaced by a silence filled with unspoken emotions. Their eyes met, and for a moment, time seemed to stand still. Shisui's Sharingan was like a swirling pool of mystery, drawing Y/n in. She was always fascinated by his eyes. Many feared the power of the red orbs, but she knew a different side. She knew of these red eyes trying everything to protect others. She knew of these eyes that had saved her countless times. And now she was so close to them. So close that their noses were touching. Y/n's eyes held a warmth and affection that was impossible to ignore.

A blush crept on Shisui´s cheeks mirroring Y/n`s own. The tension between the two friends was electrifying. They found themselves drawing closer and closer until their lips were only an inch apart. Shisui watched her carefully for any sign of discomfort. Seeing none he saw it as his cue to close the gap between them. “NIISAAAAAAAN! Where should we train?” Jumping away Y/n and both scrambled to their feet at the sound of a child´s voice. Faces red as a tomato they both watched how a little Sasuke came into view followed by Itachi. When Sasuke saw them both he immediately ran over. “Shisui-nii, Y/n-nee, look Nii-san will teach me how to throw shuriken today.” They both tried to sound enthusiastic while talking to Sasuke concealing their disappointment of their moment being gone. Shisui and Y/n knew what would´ve happened if the little Uchiha hadn´t disrupted them. They were going to kiss each other. And both wanted to do it.

Itachi the smart person that he is realised what was going on. Only raising an eyebrow while looking between Shisui and Y/n he chose not to say anything to not embarrass them further. Sasuke continued rambling and in the end Y/n and Shisui stayed to watch the lesson and occasionally voice their input. Neither mentioning what nearly happened.

[coochiequeens]

A woman wanted to have a relationship with the child she gave birth to. And the men's response "was to insist that their son had no mother — only a surrogate — and that the child’s identity was as part of a motherless family." But the kid was created from her egg. She is the kids biological mother.

5 June, 2024 By Julie Bindel

This article is taken from the June 2024 issue of The Critic. To get the full magazine why not subscribe? Right now we’re offering five issues for just £10.

There is a contradiction at the heart of the international surrogacy industry. Its participants pretend that surrogates’ feelings for the children in their wombs do not exist, whilst simultaneously trying to prevent them acting on those feelings. Many commissioning parents broker the babies in jurisdictions that allow restrictions on surrogates’ rights.

In the UK, this contradiction was recently laid bare in a Family Court case (citation number: [2024] EWFC 20). A gay male couple were engaged in a long-running legal battle with their son’s surrogate. Rather than vanish after handing over the child, she wanted a role in the boy’s life. The men’s response was to insist that their son had no mother — only a surrogate — and that the child’s identity was as part of a motherless family. There was “no vacancy” for her to occupy in his life, they claimed, and it was prejudicial to gay families to suggest otherwise.

At the start of this story, G, the surrogate in question, was a 36-year-old single mother of a teenager and naive about what surrogacy entailed. The commissioning parents were friends of her sister but not people she knew. Aged 43 and 36 and married, they were members of an agency, Surrogacy UK, and very familiar with its protocols — which included a “getting to know you” period — and support. However rather than go through the agency, the men chose to fast-track the process with an independent arrangement with G.

Following a failed transfer of a donor egg, the trio decided to use G’s own egg. The men agreed that G would have contact with the child, but none of the parties properly considered the implications. The relationship between the three deteriorated during G’s pregnancy. G gave birth to a boy in September 2020.

After the birth, G would not initially consent to the parental order, under which she would lose parental responsibility as she feared being cut out of the child’s life. But during a lengthy online hearing in which she was alone and unrepresented — unlike the men — G was pressured by the judge to agree to the parental order along with a contact agreement called a child arrangements order.

After obtaining parental responsibility, the men quickly reneged on the agreement. When G turned up at their house for a pre-arranged visit they threatened to call the police. She recorded the meeting. The Family Court judge later declared of the recording “what was said has rightly been described as ‘horrendous’”. The men told G she was “harbouring a desire to have an inappropriate relationship” by wanting the boy to recognise her as his mother and accused her of having “rejected the role of surrogate”.

In January 2022, the men refused to allow G to visit her son and applied for the contact agreement to be changed. G then made her own application for the parental order to be overturned. She won her case in November the same year. This restored her parental responsibility for the child and removed it from the man who was not the child’s biological father.

The men redoubled their efforts to remove G as a parent, this time applying for an adoption order. During court proceedings, they claimed their son’s identity was that of a child of same-sex parents being raised within the LGBT community and that he belonged to a “motherless family”.

As a lesbian who came out in the 1970s, I’m only too aware of the history of demonisation of lesbian and gay couples. Parents who conceived children in heterosexual relationships were often denied custody and contact if they came out as gay after separation. Foster and adoption agencies were openly prejudiced. But times have changed, and same-sex parents are now a common sight at the school gates in some parts of the UK.

Claims that the children of same-sex parents are disadvantaged in some way have largely been defeated with an expanding body of evidence (e.g. Zhang Y, Huang H, Wang M, et al., BMJ Global Health, 2023) showing their outcomes are similar to those of heterosexual families. Gay rights are robustly supported in most public institutions and private organisations. For a gay couple to call on historic prejudice to justify excluding a mother from a child’s life is unforgivable.

In any case, the men’s argument was fatally — and obviously — undermined by its own logic. If the boy did not have a mother, there would be no need for the court case.

As the jointly-instructed clinical psychologist in the case recognised, the driver of the men’s case was the “elephant in the room” — G’s existence as the child’s legal and biological mother — and the men’s fear of her maternal bond with her son. The men had difficulties “accepting the reality” of the child’s conception, the psychologist found, and considering what sense the boy might make of the situation as he grew up.

“They have strongly held to the surrogacy agreement and the narrative of [G] being a ‘surrogate’ because in that narrative there are no, or hardly any feelings from the surrogate for the baby,” the psychologist wrote. He described the men as attempting an “erasure of the mother”, which he said was not in the child’s best interest as it did not reflect reality.

Refusing an adoption order that would likely have resulted in cutting G from her son’s life, the court ruled that G should have direct and unsupervised contact with him. The judge criticised the men for blaming G for everything that went wrong. The judgment also raised questions about how an adoption order would be explained to the boy, given it would have been made without his mother’s consent.

To some extent, history repeated itself in this case. There are multiple examples of legal battles involving lesbian couples who created a child with the help of a sperm donor who later inconveniently insisted on contact or on playing the role of father.

As the Court of Appeal ruled in one such case in 2012: “What the adults look forward to before undertaking the hazards of conception, birth and the first experience of parenting may prove to be illusion or fantasy. [The couple] may have had the desire to create a two-parent lesbian nuclear family completely intact and free from fracture resulting from contact with the third parent. But such desires may be essentially selfish and may later insufficiently weigh the welfare and developing rights of the child that they have created.”

What’s concerning in this case is the language used — the “erasure” of the mother

Contested surrogacy cases are little different from these wrangles and, indeed, from any other contact disputes. What’s concerning about G’s case, and what makes it different from the case of the lesbian parents above, is the language used. The psychologist explicitly referred to the men’s attempted “erasure” of the mother. They simply refused to acknowledge G’s existence in any of the forms in which she fulfilled a maternal capacity: legal, genetic and as the person who gave birth. They were supported in this illusion by the professionals who weighed in on their behalf.

In the space of a few years the term “motherless” has moved from an emotive description of absence to a positive identity argued for in court. This shift is entirely consistent with the narrative that surrogacy participants feed to the public.

When celebrity couples introduce their surrogate children on social media, the women who gave birth to them are rarely mentioned. The new babies are “welcomed” as if they have been sent by special delivery. That is in line with the attitude of the international surrogacy industry, which reduces the role of the birth mother to that of a “carrier” or rented womb.

For commissioning parents, it must be very easy to regard the woman who bore their child for nine months as a mere service provider, someone to be gratefully forgotten as soon as the final instalment is paid and the product handed over.

Meanwhile, parts of the NHS are determined to de-gender childbirth, routinely referring to “birthing parents” rather than mothers. As an example (there are multiple) the Royal United Hospital Bath’s “information for families” on labour induction refers to dads, but there is no mention of mothers — only birthing parents.

Feminists have long campaigned for gender-neutral language to reflect roles that are indeed, or can be, gender-neutral. But the uncoupling of sex from the necessarily female processes of pregnancy and childbirth is a step towards a dystopian future. In 2015 Victoria Smith wrote, “Gender-neutral language around reproduction creates the illusion of dismantling a hierarchy — when what you really end up doing is ignoring it.” I would go further. Gender-neutral language around reproduction — just like any language that obscures reality — reinforces and helps establish hierarchies of oppression.

To the men, G was simply a surrogate womb to a motherless child. But to G and to Z, she was his mother. As the psychologist said, “‘Motherlessness’ does not exist. The child was born from two people, biologically, and from three people, psychologically … The mother certainly played a part, biologically and psychologically, in the conception of the child.”

The case — unremarked and unnoticed by the media — will do nothing to change popular opinion of surrogacy. It is likely to encourage intending parents to explore dubious overseas jurisdictions, where surrogates have fewer rights. The surrogacy profiteers will continue to cheerlead wealthy couples in their exploitation of impoverished and naive women.

As for the word “motherless”: in time it may lose its negative connotations and become solidified as an identity. Will it become a badge that straight children can use to signal their connection to LGBTQ+ community? Or an oppression card that can be deployed by the children of wealthy men to explain bad behaviour towards women? Either way, Disney and Dickens are going to need a lot of rewriting.

[afeelgoodblog]

The Best News of Last Week - March 27, 2023

🐢 - Why did the 90-year-old tortoise become a father? Because he finally came out of his shell!

1. New Mexico governor signs bill ending juvenile life sentences without parole

New Mexico Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham has signed a bill into law that prevents juvenile offenders from receiving life sentences without eligibility for parole. The bill, known as the No Life Sentences for Juveniles Act, allows offenders who committed crimes under the age of 18 and received life sentences to be eligible for parole hearings 15 to 25 years into their sentences.

This legislation also applies to juveniles found guilty of first-degree murder, even if they were tried as adults. The move puts New Mexico in a group of at least 24 other states and Washington, DC, that have enacted similar measures following a 2021 Supreme Court ruling.

2. Promising pill completely eliminates cancer in 18 leukaemia patients

An experimental pill called revumenib has shown promise in curing terminal leukemia patients who were not responding to treatment in a long-awaited clinical trial in the United States. The drug works by inhibiting a specific protein called menin, which is involved in the machinery that gets hijacked by leukemia cells and causes normal blood cells to turn into cancerous ones.

The pill targets the most common mutation in acute myeloid leukemia, a gene called NPM1, and a less common fusion called KMT2A. The US Food and Drug Administration granted revumenib "breakthrough therapy designation" to fast-track its development and regulatory review based on the promising results of the trial.

3. Spain passes law against domestic animal abuse

Spain has passed a new law on animal welfare, accompanied by a reform of the penal code that increases prison sentences for those mistreating animals. The law will make compulsory training for dog owners, and will prohibit them from leaving their dogs alone for more than 24 hours.

It also mandates the sterilisation of cats, with exceptions for farms, and increases the penalties for mistreatment of animals to up to two years in prison, or three years in the event of aggravating circumstances.

4. Bravery medals for women who raced into 'rough, crazy' surf to save drowning girls

Elyse Partridge (far left) and Bella Broadley (far right) raced into dangerous surf to save Chloe and Violet from drowning.(ABC North Coast: Hannah Ross)

Bella Broadley and Elyse Partridge saved two 11-year-old girls from drowning at Angels Beach near Ballina, an unpatrolled beach in Australia. The younger girls, Chloe and Violet, became trapped in a rip and overwhelmed by waves and the current. Bella and Elyse jumped into action, using an esky lid as a flotation device to help them swim to the girls. Elyse helped Chloe back to shore while Bella swam further out to help Violet.

Elyse and Bella were on Wednesday named on the Governor General's Australian Bravery Decorations Honours List, which recognised 66 Australians for acts of bravery.

5. Almost every cat featured in viral Tik Tok posted by Kansas City animal shelter adopted

Let's find homes for the rest

6. A 90-year-old tortoise named Mr. Pickles just became a father of 3. It's a big 'dill'

These critically endangered tortoises are native to Madagascar and have seen their numbers decline due to over-collection for illegal sales on the black market. Captive breeding programs have helped produce new radiated tortoises, but the species still faces extinction in the wild.

That's why the arrival of these hatchlings, born to 90-year-old Mr. Pickles and his 53-year-old partner Mrs. Pickles, is such great news. Mr. Pickles is considered the most genetically valuable radiated tortoise in the Association of Zoos and Aquariums' Species Survival Plan, and the births represent a significant contribution to the survival of the species.

7. EU strikes ‘ground-breaking’ deal to cut maritime emissions

The European Parliament and EU ministers have agreed on a new law to cut emissions in the maritime sector. The law aims to reduce ship emissions by 2% as of 2025 and 80% as of 2050, covering greenhouse gas, methane, and nitrous oxide emissions.

The European Commission will review the law in 2028 and will decide whether to place carbon-cutting requirements on smaller ships. The agreement will also require containerships and passenger ships docking at major EU ports to plug into the on-shore power supply as of 2030. Penalties collected from those that fail to meet the targets will be allocated to projects focused on decarbonising the maritime sector.

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