Tommy was handed a small flyer in printed in black and white, with the words "POETRY NIGHT - OPEN MIC" splayed across the front in bubbled font. He fumbled with his binder as he took it, eyes wide as he said, "are you sure? I mean, I love poetry and all, but I don't think-I'm not sure-what if I can't write poetry?" Mr. Sam's dark eyes softened, and he reached out to place a hand on Tommy's shoulder, squeezing it gently. "Everyone has to start somewhere; every poet, from me to Rudy Francisco, started off without knowing a clue about what we were doing. Tommy, it's not about if you can or cannot write poetry, it's about if you want to." or: The performance poetry AU in which Tommy joins a slam team and finds a home in the arts.

First story in the 'Mafia' series My hand lowered in horror. I had just hit him. I just fucking hit my "husband", the fucking mafia boss. He glared at me with a passion and I knew I was gonna die, wife or not. *•*•*•*• At the age of ten Emma Russo is chosen as the future wife for thirteen year old Nikolai Ivanov, the future Russian mafia leader, without each others say. So that the Italians and Russian's could unite. They've known each other their whole life but two years before Emma's eighteenth birthday they are forbidden to see each other for unknown reasons. But exactly one week after Emma's birthday they are to be wed. Nikolai is now cold and mean. Emma is still kind and stubborn. As soon as their wed, they immediately neglect each other but they have to stay married for both family's sake. This is, Mrs. And Mr. Mafia