ot4-official

[ot4-official]

Gun Terms for Writers

As someone who writes fics with action sequences and the use of guns, I thought maybe it would be helpful to pass some things on. Even though I’ve done lots of research and talked with family members (I live in WI which is a big hunting state and we have lots of guns), I still catch myself making mistakes with specific terms and their usage. Reading more James Bond fics lately, I catch others making mistakes also. So here is a little guide to help writers. 

A ‘clip’ is something that stores multiple rounds of ammunition. It is not what you would insert into a handgun to load it. Clips make loading into a magazine easier because they simply store the rounds. It helps with organization. 

A magazine is what feeds the ammunition into the barrel. Magazines vary in capacity. They, unlike clips, are spring-loaded, which helps the ammunition move in the gun. So, when you want a character to reload, they would use a pre-loaded magazine, NOT a clip. 

A silencer is really a suppressor. ‘Silencer’ is a word that’s used in media to refer to a suppressor that doesn’t exist in real life. Guns that are suppressed will still be loud and have a sound. This is because compressed air will still leak out of the end of the barrel, you can’t silence a bullet moving extremely fast through the air, and you can’t silence the mechanical parts on a gun. There will be a noise, but it just won’t be as loud or more importantly, alert people in a nearby area that a gun was just fired. SO suppressor is a much more accurate term technically speaking. 

There are different kinds of suppressors. One important kind suppresses the muzzle flash. It’s likely a sniper would use this more than they would want to use a sound suppressor, as the muzzle flash more easily enables you to be spotted when you don’t want to be. These are simply referred to as flash suppressors. 

After a handgun runs out of ammunition, the slide will lock back into place and you will know that it is out. There is no ‘click’ signifying an empty weapon that is so dramatized in movies and tv. A more likely scenario that would prevent a gun from firing would be a jam. Or programming the gun to recognize certain palm prints. 

A great place for writers, in particular fanfic writers, who want information on guns is imfdb. You can find out what guns are used in movies and shows, and what guns characters use. You can also just search for guns. 

If you want to get really specific, check out YouTube. There are users who will post reviews of guns on there, which can be really helpful if you want to see how a particular gun looks or how to shoot it. 

So yeah! Here are just a few basic tips if you want to write a fic where a character uses guns. 

[ot4-official]

trying to get your story together like:

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my writer-dudes, if planning a plot outline on your own is too daunting, find a plot worksheet! if one is too detailed, try another. here are some at different levels of detail:

Novel-Factory — The Premise

Novel-Factory — The Skeleton

Writer’s Digest — At-A-Glance Outline

Save the Cat by Blake Snyder — Beat Sheet

Story Engineering by Larry Brooks — Story Structure

Jami Gold — Basic Beat Sheet

Annie Neugebauer — Novel Plotting Worksheet

happy plotting!

[ot4-official]

Ways to find a plot when you have characters and a setting

… but only characters and a setting. 

You have a world. A universe. A setting. Good! Describe what happens in it normally - describe your main character(s)’s daily life. Now, what would destabilize this routine completely? If many things could, write them all down. Pick your favourite idea(s). Plots are born from change: everything was going normally… until it wasn’t.

Make a list with all the goals/motivations of your main characters. Can the plot revolve around your characters going after these goals? 

Which goals are more important? Focus on those. 

Are different characters’ goals in conflict with each other? Conflict is usually what propels a story forward. 

What could go wrong in your character’s pursuit of their goal? Make it go wrong.

If you don’t know your characters’ goals, go back to the drawing board; they probably need more development.

If there’s not enough conflict of different motivations, make a new character who creates conflict!

How do you want your main character to have changed by the end of the story? Do you want them to be less selfish? To have come to terms with a part of themself? To have learned something new? Write down ideas that could accomplish this change. 

If you can’t think of any way your character could be changed (read: improved) by the end of the story, go back to the drawing board. They might be “too perfect”.

Notes: 

The change that triggers your plot can be anything. It doesn’t have to be the start of an epic war that will bring forth the apocalypse, it can be your character meeting a new person who shakes things up in their life, or anything you want!

Motivations can be anything. It doesn’t have to be something grand - if your character’s motivation is to just live a quiet life, you can still come up with a plot that will get in the way of that goal! 

Character development can be anything, as well - you don’t need a cliché moral to the story; your character doesn’t even need to change in a good way, if that’s not what you want for your story!

This is what I’ve found works for me, but if you try it and it doesn’t, or if it sounds way too sententious and strict for you - that’s okay! Take it with a grain of salt! Maybe you think your characters are just fine and don’t need more developing even in the situations in which I recommended you “go back to the drawing board”, or maybe you have better ways of coming up with a plot. That’s fine, the writing process can be very personal!

[ot4-official]

Things to Consider When Writing About Royalty

How is the throne inherited? How strict are the traditions concerning transfers of power? How is the order of succession determined? Can commoners become royalty?

How are heirs trained?

How much, if at all, are marriages for power/political ties favored over marriages for love? How common are arranged marriages

What are the biggest threats to their position?

How good is there relationship with their subjects? 

What is their preferred method of interacting with their subjects? Do they prefer to interact with them directly or indirectly?

How long has the monarchy been in power? How did it originally gain that power?

What special etiquette is required when dealing with royalty? How strict is it?

How are princes and/or princesses that aren’t first in line for the throne handled? Are they given special responsibilities in the hopes of discouraging resentment?

How do they deal with assassination attempts?

How do they spend their wealth? Why do they prioritize certain aspects of their kingdom’s well being over others?

Would they rather inspire love or fear in their subjects?

[ot4-official]

OT4 AU Masterlist

Updated: 11/03/2019

Total Works: 10

Neighbors 

Assassins

Angels & Demons

Jovie Collins 

Soulmate (soulmark)

Teenage Neighbors

Accidental Nudes

Marilyn on Dylan’s phone

Soulmate (thoughts)

Dark Alley

[ot4-official]

Dark Alley AU

In which Jessamine whoops some ass ~

New York might've been a beautiful city in thought, but up close it was dirty.  It smelled bad, there was too much litter, and the people were a tad too aggressive.  That was an understatement.  There were actually quite a few gangs in New York, but you had to know the underground side of New York to know about those.  Jessamine Lovell, of course, knew about the underground side of New York.  She basically lived there, metaphorically, because her penthouse apartment was actually one of the tallest buildings of the city.  

Anyways, I digress.  With the amount of time Jessamine and crew (trademark pending) spent wandering around the city late at night, they were bound to get themselves into a sticky situation at some point.  Oliver and Marilyn always told Jessamine and Dylan to not risk all of their lives by taking "short cuts", but they rarely listened.  By rarely, I mean never.   "Guys!  If we go through here, we'll end up right by the club.  I've been through here before.  It'll take the 15 minute walk to a five minute walk, I promise."  Jessamine had on a tight leather dress, strapless, and sky high black heels.  Her hair was up because the dance floor got sweaty, and she looked like the perfect target for a mugger with her expensive bracelets and rings (she couldn't help her expensive taste).

"That seems like a horrible idea, Jess."  Oliver often appealed to the more rational and logistical side of thinking, a contrast to Jessamine's efficient yet dangerous thinking.  

"Well have you seen these heels?  It's not that I can't walk in them, because I can.  However, the shorter the walk, the more efficient.  The more efficient, the harder I'll be able to dance on the dance floor.  And the more efficient is this alley. What, are you scared?"  She threw in both logic and a challenge to appeal to his decision making.

"Muggers aren't to be taken lightly.  Didn't you hear the news the other day?  Someone got mugged and stabbed, they're in the hospital on life support."  Marilyn of course chimed in, because why be fun when you can be dry?  Jessamine rolled her eyes. 

"Unfortunately I haven't watched the news in several years.  But I'll meet you guys there then because I don't feel like going the long way when I can not take the long way.  Dylan, coming?"  He grinned, he would never back down from a challenge. The eldest and youngest caved, following them into the alley as Jessamine and Dylan began walking down it.  It looked like a scene from a movie--a scene where someone was about to be killed and left for dead.  Two shadows of men appeared at the end of the alley, and Marilyn's heart rate skyrocketed.  Jessamine kept walking confidently.

"Jess!  Jess, stop right now.  Turn around, they look like bad news."  Oliver stopped walking and looked back the other way, about to leave, when he saw two men at the entrance where they had come from.  This was it, this was the day he died.  Oliver's eyes widened as the men closed in on them, Jessamine had stopped but didn't look fearful, or even nervous. Her boldness was going to get her killed someday, if not tonight.

"You look like some nice young fellas."  A man in a ratty sweatshirt with a black beanie and stained jeans pulled something from his pocket.  A knife, it turned out, as the switch blade flicked out. 

"Sorry fellas, we've been run dry by the bars we were just at."  Jessamine's tone had a faux friendly tone to it, one that only her friends could pick up.  There was something scarily cold about it. She knew exactly what gang these men belonged to, and it rivaled the one she almost thought of as friends.  New York was a battleground, and it was quickly heating up.  Of course she wasn't scared, she was pissed that these men thought they owned the place.  At the end of the night, they would know her name--and they would fear it.  Her friends would also have quite the show, but she wasn't going to risk them getting hurt to protect her own anonymity.  

"Well if you don't have any cash, I'm sure that jewelry will go for a pretty penny." They kept taking steps closer, and Jessamine's instincts rose higher, wanting to immediately pummel them, but also wanting to put on a show.  She couldn't help her need for histrionics. 

"Oh it'll go for more than a pretty penny."  She felt Oliver's arm on her shoulder, but she shook it off. 

"Jess, you can't win this one.  Give it to them and let's leave."  He tried to be quiet but Jess knew the men had heard him.  She didn't reply.

"Hand it over, all of you.  All your valuables."  The men closed in, and she could feel all her friends behind her back.  

"Last time I checked, you didn't own this city.  You don't even own this alley. You're nothing.  Why do you think you own the right to threaten us?"  Jessamine took a step forward, and something in the man's eyes flickered.  He was assessing a potential threat.  Jessamine grinned.

"These give us the right-"  They all pulled knives from their pockets.

"Oh my god I'm about to die.  I'm only 22, I'm so young."  Dylan had his arm around Marilyn as if that would protect her from anything.

"If you want my jewelry, come and get it you cowards." Dylan, Oliver, and Marilyn couldn't even comprehend what happened next.  The men in front of Jessamine lunged towards her, knives pointed forward, and Marilyn screamed.  The other two men looked at each other as if they didn't know what to do.  Jessamine ducked as he swung a knife at her, and she dropped to the ground in crouch, sweeping her attacker's legs out from under him.  He fell to the concrete like a sack of potatoes, and that's when the other two realized Jessamine was an actual threat.  They rushed around the other three to fight her.

"Run!"  Jessamine wouldn't let these grimy dragons lay a finger on her friends.  Marilyn and Dylan took off down the alley, but Oliver was not about to leave Jessamine with three men who each easily had at least fifty pounds on her.  He didn't know what Jessamine was capable of.  He backed up a bit, but he didn't leave.  He watched as Jessamine schooled them.  Her elbow bashed into a man's nose, the scrawniest of them, and a spray of blood covered his clothes.  An arm went around her neck in a choke hold, but she stomped back on his foot causing him to loosen his grip, and that's when Jessamine bent his arm straight and flipped him over her own back. The third came at her with a knife, but she ducked.  When he passed her, she swung up and shoved him into the wall, knocking him out cold.  The first man stood up from where he was on the ground, staggering but still holding his wavering knife out. 

"Really?  You're still going to try?  You Dragons don't give up, do you?"  His eyes wavered in understand.  He knew that she knew who they were.  

"Who sent you?"  

"Who sent me?  You dumbasses, you're the ones who attacked us.  But I'll be sending myself if I hear you've been around these parts again.  You're lucky these men are unconscious, I would've-" she remembered Oliver behind her at that point and had to tone it down, "I'd expect Gill to teach you how to be a little more observant."  Jessamine turned towards her assailant, and the moonlight hit her arm, illuminating her tattoos.  Oliver didn't know what was going on, but whatever the man saw on her arm, his eyes widened.  

"No way."  Jessamine smirked, she loved when people knew who she was.  She'd worked hard to make a name for herself Underground.  

"Should I spare you, or do you want to join your friends so you can all crawl back to Gill together?"  He turned on his heel and sprinted away.  Normally she'd chase after him and finish him off, but Oliver had seen enough of her violence for the night.  Police sirens sounded in the distance, and Jessamine figured Dylan and Marilyn had gone to the police station by now.  This would be pretty hard to explain though, so Jessamine wanted to part with the situation.

"You trust me, right?"  Oliver couldn't do much more than nod at this point, so that's what he did, "Marvelous.  In that case, I have to go before the police show up.  Pretend that you fought them off.  You look pretty masculine.  Here, I think I have-" Jessamine pulled mace from her small purse, "Perfect.  If they question you, you used this.  Or someone else showed up to help.  The city's a mess, they shouldn't care too much.  The police will be happy to have these people.  Don't offer up anything that they don't ask.  If possible, don't let Mare and Dyl know what happened.  Just, swing by my apartment tonight please."  The sirens got closer, and Jessamine turned to walk away but stopped.

"Please give me a chance to explain.  Don't let that head of yours come to any conclusions before you talk to me."  She ran back and gave Oliver a kiss on the cheek before taking off down the alley in the same path that the criminal had taken.  Oliver was shocked and couldn't think much of anything, let alone come to any conclusions to how Jessamine, a 5' 7", 140lb women had just taken out four grown men with knives.  He walked the opposite way that Jessamine had gone to wait for the police.

[ot4-official]

Soulmate AU

In which Jessamine and Oliver can hear each other’s thoughts ~

Whatever the lesson was that the teacher was teaching, she didn't care.  She wasn't paying attention.  Of course she'd receive a one hundred percent on the test, but for now she was bored in class. The faux wooden desktop was covered in blue ink from her anxious hands, but at least they were tasteful doodles rather than drawings of dicks or other reproductive organs. 

Thinking of dicks again, huh?  Of course he'd chime in now.  Jessamine's eyes rolled. Does your mind tune out until it hears a keyword that you're looking for?  Did you write a list?  She could feel excitement down the bond.  He was probably excited that she was actually being playful back with him. Wouldn't you like to know?  For the first time since meeting him, she decided she wouldn't mind meeting him.  Jessamine quickly wiped that thought from her head before he could receive it.  She knew he was respecting her wishes, because it would be very easy for him to just shout his name down the bond.  But as long as she didn't, he wouldn't do it. Besides, nothing would ever work between them.  He probably lived in England if his accent was anything to go by. She sighed, not knowing what to say back to him as she tapped her pen against the desk. Are you okay?  Jessamine supposed he probably caught her shift in mood from playful to sad, but she could write that off as anything.  She was usually sad anyways. Yeah, I'm alright.  Just a boring math lecture. She felt a spike of emotion, something between shock, hope, and fear. Yikes, are you okay?  She didn't have anything other to do than have a conversation with him right now. 

I, too, happen to be in a math class currently. Jessamine became confused from that statement.  If he lived in England, they would've been five hours ahead.  He would've been ending his class with math, but it could've been a late class. Taking a late math class?  A pang of sadness was felt down the bond, and Jessamine decided that this conversation was evoking too much emotion from both parties for her liking. So you do live in England?  He was not about to get an answer from her.  She'd think he'd know by now that she wasnt going to tell him anything about herself. That's for me to know. And me to find out? Now, I didn't say that, did I?  She enjoyed toying with him too much.  He seemed like a good guy.  Actually, he seemed like a great guy.  That's what she was afraid of.  All the ones who seemed great turned out to be trash.  ~ She was going to be late to her class, but if she had a nickel for every time she was late, she'd be a millionaire.  Her teachers didn't give her many tardies, if only because she was the only one who ever wrote interesting material for them.  She walked to the double set of doors, but just as she went to pull it open, someone coming from the other side shoved it open hard enough to send Jessamine flying backwards.  Her notebooks skidded to the side of her as her tailbone rattled enough to shock her whole spine. "Fuck." "Oh my god, I am so sorry.  Oh gosh, are you alright?  I'm so sorry.  Here,"  That was the same voice she heard in her head almost every day, there was no doubt about that.  Her eyes grew. "Wh-what, what, the, what the, h-hell.."  As she looked up at him, he looked down to her at the same time and seemed to come to the realization of who he had just run into.  "No... no w-way. No f-fu-fucking w-way."  Jessamine was not about to believe that her British soulmate lived in not only America, but the same city as her, and went to the same school as her. The bell rang through the school signaling that they would both be tardy, and everything that Jessamine knew of her soulmate knew that being late would practically give him hives. "I... I don't even..."  He ran his hands through his hair, and that was when Jessamine realized how hot he was.  Damn, he was perfect.  Tall, slightly tanned, dark hair, and glorious muscles.  His style was amazing too.  Not like he could say the same for her.  She was a mess. She was wearing a Henley shirt with a gray and black flannel over top, and on top of that a black raincoat.  She had ripped black jeans on and a pair of ratty red converse that she had happened to find at Goodwill. "Shouldn't you two get to class?"  Mrs. Taylor walked through a door, finding quite the sight before her with Jessamine still on the ground and her favorite student standing above her. "I- we- yeah. We'll get there." He didn't even look away from Jessamine as he replied to the old woman. She shook her head and left, the clicking of her heels echoing down the hallway. "Do you want to go get coffee? Please?"  If he was willing to skip class from her, then she knew she was important to him. "I'm still on the fucking ground."  She couldn't help the eye roll that happened.  But above that, she couldn't deny that she was excited. This person was handpicked for her, out of everyone in the world, he was hers.  But that could be a load of crap.  She knew they didn't always work.  It could be completely random, a random person selected. "Damnit I'm sorry, what kind of gentleman am I?" He held his hand out for her to take, and she took it, an immediate wave of something going through her mind that felt like everything just snapped into place.  Everything just felt right. She looked to him to see if he had felt something, but he just had a warm smile on his face. With her hand in his, and her eyes locked with his emerald irises, she decided it was too much.  She was only 17 and she had supposedly just met the person she was supposed to spend the rest of her life with. Her hand pulled from his grip, the cold air feeling just a little bit sharper out of his grasp. "I, I don't think I should get coffee. I have to go, go to class." She bent down and grabbed all of her stuff from the tiled floor. "Wait, no.  Please, I finally am meeting you, and we've been so close this whole time.  Please, let's just give it a try."  She tried to walk away but he followed her through the hallways like a wounded puppy. "That doesn't m-mean anything.  Just because some stupid force threw us, us, us together doesn't mean we have to be betrothed."  She thought of her parents, and their relationship despite the fact that they were supposed to be soulmates. Soulmates didn't exist.  Some people had inexplicable bonds between their minds, but that didn't mean they were the perfect pair to be wed and have children. She was not expected to be in a relationship with him, and she could think of more than a few ways to try and get that point across to him.  And most of them involved hurting his emotions.  Maybe if she hurt him hard enough, he'd stop talking to her.  She was trouble.  That's everything anyone ever thought when they looked at her.  And this preppy teenage boy needed to stay out of her path of destruction. "Hey, listen-"  She would not listen. "Looks like th-this is my c-class."  She slipped inside the door, praying that he wouldn't be ballsy enough to enter in after her.  Luckily he didn't, and Jessamine slid into the back of the classroom and put her head down on the desk.  This day was giving her a migraine.

[ot4-official]

Marilyn Snooping AU

In which Dylan’s too plastered to keep Marilyn away from his phone ~

She'd never appreciated poetry, love songs, or things of such taste.  Love was science--chemicals and neurotransmitters and that was all.  However, reading the words on the phone in front of her made her feel the aforementioned chemicals- and she didn't appreciate that. 

Marilyn was a scientist; she was in the world to look for answers, so naturally she was curious. It wasn't Marilyn's fault that Dylan used the same password for everything, and it wasn't her fault that he got too drunk and passed out on Jessamine's couch.  Jessamine and Oliver had gone down to the corner store to replenish the liquor supply.  Jessamine had been utterly disappointed in herself that she ran out, but was about to buy enough to keep them drunk for months. Marilyn was watching Planet Earth, but quickly became bored with the episode she'd already seen. Her phone was almost dead and didn't feel like going and finding Jessamine's spare Apple charger. Dylan's phone chimed then, and Marilyn's interest peaked. 

His wallpaper was a picture of the four of them when they were camping last summer, and it made Marilyn smile. Of course she was in the corner of the image trying to shield herself with a biology book. And his tanned summer skin contrasted his bright eyes so nicely... purely from a scientific standpoint.  It seemed to be what the average person would find attractive when they searched for a partner. He rolled over on the couch and Marilyn threw his phone to the side, but when he just kept on quietly sleeping, she picked it up again. The message on his phone was from his mother; it made Marilyn roll her eyes.  

She slid the screen up and it was opened to a webpage with the search "best presents for science lovers".  Clearly that was meant for her, unless he was friends with another avid biologist. Her heart jumped at that, but she hit the home button. At his home screen wallpaper, Marilyn knew she was right-fucked.  The image, taken with skill, was in Jessamine's kitchen.  Dylan was seated at the island with a grin on his face looking at her, seated at the table and sipping coffee with an eyebrow raised in a picture of perfect annoyance. Whoever had taken it, Jessamine undoubtedly, would've taken it with immense subtley. It was a good picture; it was great actually, but it was a random picture to have for his home screen.  

To stop looking at it, she went to his notes.  She'd expected him to have a grocery list or two, not a folder with 32 notes in it without a title. And locked.  This was the first moment she really thought about her current actions and considered putting the phone down.  But then her thinking was done and she clicked on the folder, typing in the same password that unlocked his phone.  Really it was his fault.

The notes didn't have titles, but that didn't make them any less euphonic.  She hadn't ever enjoyed English or literature, but the way that these words wrapped around themselves to form sentences, paragraphs, and poems was art. She didn't have the ability to read too much into what they meant, but she could tell they were personal, and they were about love.  And it wasn't hard to guess whose chestnut honey hair he was referencing, or the "comforting cocoa eyes". As much as his feelings should have scared her, this boy had been nothing but loyal to her for years. Of course he teased her, he teased everyone; but, he always listened when she spoke and considered her feelings when making decisions. 

She put the phone down with a new view of the world.  She'd never dated anyone before, but maybe Dylan wouldn't be so bad to spend time with.  She already enjoyed it now, despite her annoyance with him and his endless innuendos.  But his endgame had always been her hand. He groaned in his sleep, and Marilyn threw his phone down again, a sense of peace washing over her. 

"Oh God, I feel like I'm dying."  He threw his arm over his head.  He might've been more sober than he had been, but he was still hammered.   Marilyn chuckled before going into the kitchen and grabbing a bowl, water, and ibuprofen.  When she returned, he was leaned against the arm of the couch with sleep-filled eyes. 

"Marilynnnnnn."  He smiled at her before his whole face changed and she could see him heave.   

"Ohhhh no you don't.  Not on Jessamine's couch."  She handed him the bowl she brought, and he threw up into it.  With mild disgust, she asked, "Can you make it to the bathroom?"  He nodded before sitting upright. Dylan stood, swaying, until Marilyn put an arm around his waist to support him.  If he truly was going to fall, she wouldn't do much to stop it being 5' 4" against his 6-foot-something stature. Just then the door opened, and Jessamine and Oliver shuffled in carrying pounds and pounds of liquor. 

"We're stocked again, kids."  But when she saw the scene of Marilyn helping Dylan to the bathroom, or just Marilyn helping Dylan in general, her eyebrows raised and she stopped in the middle of the hallway, "Well this is a welcome development."

[ot4-official]

Accidental Nudes AU

In which Jessamine sends nudes to the wrong person ~

She knew he was in a work meeting right now, and she just loved to tease her boyfriend of three years.  So she put on her best set of red lingerie, and she got her phone ready.  He was probably too much of a rule follower to check his phone, but Jessamine knew he'd get a notification on his Apple Watch for her images she was sending, and he would be too curious to not check them.  She laid herself back on their black silk sheets and propped her back with their throw pillows.  

The first picture she took was from her lips to the bottom of her bra, cleavage on full display.  Her lip was slightly under her teeth and tilted up in a smirk.  She hit the send button, and then began to think of the next pose to send.  She went to the bathroom and stood in the mirror, knowing that she looked damn good.  She didn't put that many hours of work in at the gym to have self confidence issues.

The next image was a full body shot, and she grabbed her breast with her hand, throwing her head back.  The wickedness of her actions was turning her on more than she thought it would.  She sent that, and then checked to see if he had opened them.  At the sent checkmark, she frowned. He had to open them eventually.  She threw her phone down and put her black silk robe on, but then heard a ding on her phone.  Her heart rate skyrocketed as she ran over to her phone, but it was just Dylan asking her about something.  She rolled her eyes--that was a mood killer. She swiped open her phone, deciding to send one last one, but this one would be extra good.  She hit the camera button and slipped her hand down into her lace panties, dipping them into her dripping heat.  She snapped a picture of her hand in her slick heat, basically turning herself on.  

She hit send, wishing she could see Oliver's reaction when he opened it.  Her eyebrows knit as she wondered where the other photos were that she sent, and then her eyes saw the person she actually sent them to.  Jesssamine's eyes widened to saucers as she tried not to scream.  The text from Dylan had been on her screen, and when she swiped to open her phone it brought her to Dylan's message rather than the conversation that had been on her phone with Oliver.  

She froze up, not knowing what to do, when the gray signal turned to seen rather than read.  A blush crept up her chest, and this time it wasn't from arousal.  Three dots appeared from his end, and then they disappeared.  They came back--but again disappeared.  She didn't want to call him at this point because she was too mortified.  Jessamine knew she was gorgeous and had nothing to be ashamed of physically, but Marilyn had finally started to like him and they had been on a few dates.  And Dylan was Jess's closest platonic guy friend.  And she had just sent a picture of her fingers in her pussy to her best friend's boyfriend, and her boyfriend's best friend.   shitface:  that isn't really an answer to the question i asked. Of course he'd be casual about it.  On some levels, she was glad that it was him she accidentally sent that too.  Anyone else in her contacts might have come with drastic effects.   Jessamine: Can you delete that and never think about that again?  If you hadn't of texted me, it wouldn't have accidentally gone to you. shitface:  accidental?  i'm wounded, i thought we had something special. Jessamine: I swear to God, Dylan.  Delete it and I'll let you live. shitface:  and here, ladies and gentlemen, is the example of why we don't sext in the first place. shitface: i'll delete it, but only because i value my life.  you think Marilyn has any lingerie like that? Jessamine read the text and threw her phone down.  That was over, and she was never going to think about it again. 

[ot4-official]

Teenage Neighbors AU

In which Jessamine and Oliver are childhood best friends ~

They'd been friends since Jessamine was adopted by the family next door when she was six.  She'd been too afraid to leave the car, but then saw Oliver playing basketball next door and left to go talk to him.  She'd been blunt and cruel, but he supposed that's what she had been taught thus far from the orphanages she lived in. Shortly after meeting him, she schooled him in basketball before her new parents found her.  After that introduction, they were inseparable.  Their parents thought once high school hit, they'd grow apart, but they were still close as ever through the turmoils of high school. 

Jessamine was sprawled out on Oliver's bed in the square of sun that beamed through his windows.  He had better lighting in his room, so she spent most sunny days at his house.  She had a bigger room in general, but Oliver's was always clean--she couldn't say the same for hers. He was at his desk studying, but he couldn't help sneaking glances at the girl on his bed.

Despite the fact that they had grown up like siblings, he couldn't help the massive crush he had on his best friend.  Of course he couldn't do anything about it because she didn't feel the same, and he didn't want to lose his best friend because he'd fucked it up with feelings. Jessamine didn't date kids like him; she preferred bad boys whose hearts she enjoyed breaking.  So technically, he probably shouldn't have wanted to date her, but he still did.  Sprawled out in the sun like that made her look like an angel, albeit a fallen one.  But an angel nonetheless.  Her dark hair was spread around her head, and she was wearing a black Rolling Stones T-shirt.  Her black shorts were far too short, but she didn't care.  It didn't look like he was about to get any studying done at the moment.

"Can we go get ice cream or something?  I'm bored."  He rolled his eyes; she was always bored. 

"You could be studying or doing your homework."  But he knew the answer to that; Jessamine didn't study.  She had perfect marks in all of her classes, she just didn't need to study for them.  She rolled over onto her stomach to look at him, her shirt falling up her back and exposing the dimples of her back. Oliver looked down to his books before his cheeks turned red. 

"You don't need to study for that.  It's not for two days. C'monnnn."  He sighed before grabbing his car keys.  Jessamine bounced up from the bed and clapped.  

"You're the best." She clapped him on the back before running downstairs before him. He shook his head and chuckled-he was so screwed.

~

She wondered if he was ever going to act on his feelings.  They weren't as secret as he might think, especially when he spent most of his study time staring at her.  He'd become hot over the years, his gangly limbs turning muscular.  Jessamine didn't know if she wanted him or not.  Physically, yes, she'd love to fuck him.  But emotionally?  She wasn't ready for that.  Besides, she planned on leaving after high school, and she didn't want to drag Oliver into the mess that she was going to be as she tried to sort out what to do with her life.  But she didn't want to stay in this small town where no one ever left.  She loved her parents, she did, but she wanted to go and be free. Life without Oliver was going to crush her, but she could get used to it.  He'd leave her at some point anyways, so it was selfish, but maybe her leaving him first would hurt less (at least that's what she told herself).  But for now, she couldn't avoid the way he looked at her when he thought she wasn't paying attention. 

She'd love to be friends with benefits, but she didn't think he'd go for that.  Maybe she could make him snap.  She was a master of the art of manipulation and seduction. Their bedroom windows faced each other and had provided them entertainment ever since she first moved in to the house next door. She felt like Taylor Swift in the "You Belong With Me" music video. It was late at night, and she knew Oliver's desk was centered under his window.  His light was on, and there was no doubt he was studying for their history test tomorrow. Jessamine had just gotten home from her dance practice.  She pulled out a pair of shorts and a sports bra to sleep in, and then she began to change.  If she happened to forget to close her blinds, well, what a tragedy. He saw her lights flicker on and looked up to see Jessamine returning home from her practice.  In the darkness, he could only see her outline for the most part, but then she pulled out clothes and began to change.  It wouldn't have been the first time she forgot to clothes the blinds, but it hadn't happened in a few years. Not since Oliver had begun to love her as more than a friend.  As she peeled off her shirt, her back was to him, but his cheeks heated and he could feel his blood rush south. He shouldn't be watching his best friend change; he was disgusting.  But as she peeled her shorts down her legs, he could see her black lace underwear and felt himself grow completely hard. She began to turn around, and he quickly threw his curtains across his window before locking his bedroom door and laying on the bed, pulling his shorts down to release his hard-on.  He felt dirty and disgusting as he pictured his best friend's lips around his cock and began to masturbate.  It wouldn't have been the first time he got himself off while thinking about Jessamine, but that just made him feel worse.   By the time she changed and turned around, his curtains were closed.  She couldn't help the predatory grin across her face.  Plan A was going according to plan splendidly. She closed her curtains and began to do some of the homework she'd been procrastinating. ~ The next morning, she walked over to his house at 7:15 as always and walked into his house.  She hadn't knocked on his door since she was six years old. His mom was in the kitchen making breakfast for herself before going to work.  Oliver didn't seem to be downstairs yet.

"Morning, dear!  How was your weekend?"  Mrs. Jones was her second mother. The woman considered Jessamine her child just as much as Oliver. 

"It was pretty good, I had a rehearsal for this weekend's competition.  Things went smooth."  Jessamine was the best dancer in her age group at the dance company she had been with since her youth. 

"I can't wait to watch!  Would you like any toast?"  As if on cue, the toaster popped.

"I'm alright, thanks though.  Why is Oliver taking so long? Aren't men supposed to get ready fast?" She spun around on the bar stools at the counter. 

"He must've been up late studying for that test today.  You should probably go make sure he's even awake." Mrs. Jones buttered her toast before sitting down to eat it.  Jessamine chuckled before hopping off the stool.  She ran up the stairs and swung Oliver's door open to a sight that she was not expecting. 

Oliver stood in only his T-shirt facing his mirror. At the sound of his door opening, his eyes flew to the mirror to see Jessamine immediately throw a hand over her eyes.

"Sorry, shit I thought you were still asleep.  Should've knocked. Sorry. Sorry."  Then she slammed the door shut.  His mouth fell open as his cheeks heated yet again.  Karma was a bitch, it seemed.  An ass for an ass. He finished getting dressed quickly and ran downstairs. His mom was in the kitchen watching the news, but Jessamine was nowhere to be seen. 

"She went out to the car with cheeks redder than this ketchup.  When I told her to see if you were awake, I did expect her to knock, my bad."  And then she took a sip of her tea, knowingly. Oliver didn't say anything as he grabbed his backpack and an apple.

"Love you!"  And then he ran out the door. Jessamine was in the car on her phone as he threw his backpack in the back seat and climbed into the driver's seat. For a few minutes the car was quiet in a way that it never had been. "Sorry I was running late, I didn't get much sleep last night."  He couldn't get her out of his head.  

"That's fine, we're not going to be late."  She fiddled with the radio, "Sorry I didn't think to knock."  His cheeks instantly reddened, but Jessamine laughed. "I don't mean to laugh, it's just a funny situation to me.  For what it's worth, you've got a nice ass."  She raised an eyebrow and grinned at him, but he just chuckled and shook his head.  Jessamine was in no way a virgin, so for her an ass was an ass. ~ He knew this was a hard day for her, but yet she still went to school.  It was the anniversary of her mom's death, who had died in a house fire that left Jessamine with burn scars down her back and thighs. Whereas her will was usually an iron fist, today she didn't have any fight in her.  Oliver wished he could be with her for the whole day, but she had a few different classes than him. He was texting her during passing time to walk with her like usual, but she wasn't replying.  He figured she could be in the bathroom, so he waited outside until a group of the blonde bimbos walked out of the bathroom laughing. 

"What a whore.  She always has been, and she always will be."  The leader of them seemed to single in on Oliver at that moment, and with a predatory smile she walked over to him.  He rolled his eyes and braced himself for what was about to come. 

"Ollie!  It's too bad we don't have more classes together this semester. You know, I know you're best friends with her and all, but I don't think Jessamine's a good influence on you."  She put a pouty face on and put her hand on Oliver's shoulder before he shoved it off and stepped away. 

"Too bad you're not the one who gets to decide who I'm friends with.  Shouldn't you go off to class now?" He could see the moment her thoughts turned hostile as a scowl came across her face.

"You two will regret messing with me, well, Jessamine does already hopefully.  Try and save her now loverboy.  You don't want a whore like her, Ollie."  Then she stomped away leaving Oliver wondering where the hell Jessamine was and what they did to her. He checked his phone again to see if she replied before he heard a loud bang from the women's bathroom.  His mind clicked to what Shelby had said before he ran into the bathroom, not caring that it was the women's.  Crouching to the ground, he saw that all the stalls were empty except for the handicapped, where he could see Jessamine's telling black combat boots. 

"Jessamine??"  He heard her whimper and ran over to the stall door. He had to crawl under because it was locked, but Jessamine's hands were tied behind her and there was fabric wrapped around her mouth.  There were no tears down her face, but her eyes had never looked so empty. 

"Oh my god, I'm going to kill them."  He dropped to his knees to untie her hands and take the gag from her mouth. When he finished, he pulled her into a tight hug. They couldn't do that to the girl he loved and get away with it.  He knew they bullied her, but Jessamine always said she could handle it, and she always ignored them.  He didn't realize how bad the situation really was. 

"Thanks, OJ."  But none of her usual playfulness was behind the words.  The bell rang just as he was helping her off the floor. 

"Do you want go home? I'll take you."  The last hour of the day was one they shared, unfortunately Shelby and her band of plastics also had the class. There was no way Jessamine was going to let her win. 

"I'm fine."  And with that, she walked out of the bathroom on her way to fifth hour. Luckily the teacher was one of the coolest they had, so he wouldn't give them crap about being late. They walked into class together quietly, and the moment the door opened he could see Jessamine's demeanor do a 180 degree flip as she put on the usual swaggering attitude she wore. The teacher hadn't even started class yet, but was out in the hall talking to another teacher.  Shelby sat in the front row, while Jessamine and Oliver sat towards the back.  Shelby's face looked outraged at Jessamine's carefree attitude, despite the fact that Oliver knew it was fake. As she passed Shelby, she leaned down and whispered something in her ear which made Shelby's jaw clench. He'd never seen someone look so deadly.  He just grinned at her as he passed after Jessamine and they sat down.  Shelby didn't dare look back at the two of them.  

"What'd you say to her?"  Now that she was sitting down in the back, she was back to having an aura of self-loathing, and he wished he could do anything to combat that. 

"I asked her how she knew that I liked being tied up.  Once a whore, always a whore."  She used the word so loosely, but Oliver cringed when it came from her mouth. He didn't care how many people she'd slept with, he was still hopelessly in love with her. ~ The car ride home was silent as Jessamine looked out the window the entire time. 

"Listen, you're not a whore, Jessamine.  I don't care how many people you've... slept with, but you're not a whore.  Don't let them get in your head."  She let out a self-deprecating laugh after he finished, much to his confusion. He didn't dare ask her why, but she spoke up a minute later.

"I thought you'd know better, Oliver."  That was oddly cryptic and he didn't like that at all, but she quickly explained herself, "You probably won't believe me, but I'm still a virgin.  I've never slept with anyone, Ollie."  It felt like he'd been hit by a ton of bricks.  He ran through everything that led him to believe she wasn't--rumors of her fucking everyone on the soccer team and blowing members of the football team on a regular basis.  Rumors.  It was his best friend, and because he was so jealous, he'd believed every single one and never heard Jessamine's side of it. 

"Wow, I'm... I'm an ass. I'm sorry, I can't believe that I fell for all the rumors." He ran a hand through his hair and pulled into his driveway.  They sat in silence for a moment before Jessamine got out of the car and walked to her house.  If he just ruined their entire relationship, he would never forgive himself. ~ Jae: You want to go to a party with me?  When he heard the tone from his phone, he practically ran to it.  He had a specific one set for Jessamine, and it'd been radio silence all night.  But... a party? That was one of the reasons he'd been led to believe that Jessamine wasn't a virgin. Jae: You don't have to do anything crazy. He really wanted to, but he'd never been to a party before.  That was one aspect of their lives that was very different from each other.  Jessamine was willing to go anywhere and try anything, something that worried him to no end. But he wanted to go with her, if only to keep her from destroying herself. Oliver: Sure. What time should I pick you up? He wondered if she was surprised that he said yes, but it didn't matter.  He needed to get out and live a little, it was his senior year. He didn't have to do anything wild at the party, but at least he can say he went to one. Jae: 8:00.  He had two hours to stress and figure out what to wear.  At that thought he chuckled, that must be what it feels like to be a girl everyday.  But he didn't know what the dress code was.  He debated asking Jessamine and wondered what was worse, showing up in something stupid or having to ask Jessamine. Oliver: If I ask you something, will you not give me shit about it? Jae: Wear your black tight jeans, your checkered Vans, and that grey shirt we got at Pacsun.  That'll be fine. I'm assuming that answers your question. ;) nerd At least she was back to joking again.  It didn't seem as if he'd ruined their relationship by assuming she was whoring herself around, but he still felt bad about it.  He needed to fix what he'd broken, because even if she pretended it was okay, it probably wasn't okay.  Not in his books anyways. Oliver: Yes, yes it does. See you soon. :* He threw his phone on his bed and figured he should do some of his homework that he had so he didn't have to end up doing it all on Sunday.  Jessamine's dance recital was on Sunday anyways, so he wouldn't have time. He was excited to go to that, dancing was one of her biggest hobbies, and from what he'd seen, she was amazing at it. By 7:50, his hands were sweating profusely and he kept trying to fix his hair in the mirror. He didn't know if he should go for a messy look or a reserved look. He figured that he was going to end up running his hands through it so much that night anyways that it'd end up messy one way or another.  His phone chimed with a text from Jessamine, letting him know she was outside. Oliver wondered why she didn't just go inside, but when he ran downstairs and said bye to his parents, going through the front door, he realized why she didn't go in. He immediately cleared his throat and looked anywhere but at Jessamine. 

She was wearing her leather jacket with a red lacey bralette underneath, and that was all. She had on black high waisted shorts, and the rest of her legs were covered with fishnet tights. And her combat boots, of course, were adorned by her feet. She smirked when she saw him. 

"So you went with messy, huh?  I had a bet with myself."  She climbed into the car then, him shortly after.  He took a few deep breaths to try and calm himself before getting in.  It should be illegal to look that sexy. 

"What, my hair?  I mean- it's, I, it'd be messy by the end of the night anyways." He cleared his throat and started the car, "So where is it at?"

"It's at Markus's house."  Markus Smith. He was one of the boys that Jessamine was rumored to have fucked.  He was rich, attractive, and a douche bag.  Not to mention a druggie. He didn't know all the connections that Jessamine had, but he was surprised that she'd go to his house if he had started that rumor about her. Actually, she didn't seem to do much protesting of the rumors anyways.  Did she want to be known as a whore?

"Do you know where that is?"  She had taken his silence as confusion.

"Yeah, yeah. I do."  It was in one of the nicest parts of town.  Jessamine and him lived in a nice part, but they were in old money.  Markus was in the new money sector with all the douchebags and their BMW's that they trashed for fun. 

"Anything I need to know for my first party?"  There was no way she didn't realize how nervous he was.  God, he was a nerd. He just needed to let loose.  

"Don't take anything offered to you that's already been opened.  Though I don't suspect men have as much of an issue with that as women.  Careful of bodily fluids if you have to use the bathroom.  Markus throws some wild parties."  They pulled up to the house which was already lit up with bright lights and loud from music. 

"You ready?"  She gave him a genuine smile, and it made him love her more if that was possible.  Despite her mood and her experience, she still cared about his feelings. 

"As ready as I'll ever be."  They got out of the car and walked into the house.  Immediately Oliver was hit with the stench of cheap alcohol and weed. He'd barely ever had a sip of alcohol let alone get trashed. Jessamine grabbed his hand so she didn't lose him and pulled him to the kitchen. He watched every guy's (and a few girls) eyes turn towards Jessamine as she walked through the mass of people.  It was disgusting, but he didn't blame them. She opened the fridge, and he couldn't help how his eyes widened at the amount of alcohol in it. She grabbed a wine cooler and offered it to him with a grin.  He declined, unsurprisingly. She, however, took it and knicked it on the counter, popping the cap off. He didn't want to stop and think about how good she was at that.  

"Jessamineeee!"  A drunk girl stumbled over to where Jessamine stood and began to giggle. She checked Jessamine out, very obviously, before whistling loudly.

"Lookin' like a snack, as always.  Ohhh, is this that kid you're always talking about?? He is hot. Goddamn.”  

[ot4-official]

Soulmate AU

In which Oliver doesn’t have a soulmark  ~

The thing that you love shows up on your soulmates skin.  That's how it works, that's how it's always worked.  Some people had common things, while others had something so peculiar that when they met, they just knew. Some marks were hidden, but some were in plain sight. 

Oliver just never thought he'd be the broken one.  He'd checked himself countless times, but there was no spot. So he put his thoughts down on paper, the only way he knew how. Writing was his escape whenever things got to be too much.  When his friends teased him about having no mark without realizing what a toll it actually took on him.  He could tell his parents pitied him; they had met in high school and instantly fallen in love. Then his sister got sent to a mental hospital for anorexia. She was too worried about her soulmate, wherever they were, not liking her looks. She was afraid to be fat, but when she was 5' 5" and weighed 80 lbs, she was passing out on a regular basis, and depression was setting in. So she had to go away for a while. He couldn't help but feel it was his fault.  If he wasn't broken, then his sister wouldn't feel pressure to meet her soulmate and fall in love to appease their parents.  But he was going to visit her everyday, because that's what she deserved.  He didn't want to picture her alone in a hospital with white walls, white clothes, and white lights.

He was anxious when he first got to the hospital.  He went through several doors before entering the common room to meet with his sister. When he saw her sitting at a table, he smiled and waved.  She ran over to him and hugged him tightly. "Hey, sis.  How was your first night?"  They sat back down, and Oliver's eyes scanned the room. There were people of various disabilities throughout the room. "Interesting.  I don't like being treated like a toddler."  She stared down at the paper that she'd been drawing on. "That sounds kinda hellish." "I never thought my baby brother would be more put together than me."  She had dark circles under her eyes and her smile didn't reach her eyes. Oliver's eyes landed on a girl with black hair who was staring out the window into the courtyard.  She emanated sadness.  His sister followed his gaze to her. "I've been here for one day, but I've heard scary things about her.  I think she's like, a record holder for suicide attempts."  At least his sister could still get the tea even in a mental hospital. "She's... so young."  As if she could feel herself being watched, she turned towards him, her eyes finding his. He immediately looked away, but not before feeling like some kind of connection was between them. His cheeks heated.  Despite how pale the girl was, she was still gorgeous. "Any more hospital tea for me?" He chuckled and leaned back in his chair.  His eyes flicked back to the girl in the windowsill, but she was back to looking outside. "I don't belong in here, Ollie.  I'm not crazy."  The ribs that showed through her skin begged to differ, but he didn't dare mention it. "You need to eat, Cecy.  I don't want to watch you wither away into nothing. You're my only sister. Okay?"  She looked down to her hands in her lap.  Oliver was so frustrated that he couldn't help in any other way. "I'll try.  But it's not that easy."  He could see tears start to form in her eyes, so he went around to her chair and kneeled beside her, wrapping his arm around her. "I know it's not.  I know it won't be easy, but it's a good thing you're the strongest person I know.  Do it for me, okay?"  He was rubbing her back as she began to cry, and he enveloped her completely in his arms. Unbeknownst to him, the girl in the window watched them intently, trying to figure out the relationship between the dark haired boy and the blonde girl. It wasn't hard to figure out that she was in for anorexia, not with the way her arms were like twigs and she always sat at dinner time alone with an untouched plate. It continued like that for a few weeks.  Oliver would visit, sometimes the whole family would visit, sometimes they'd play games, sometimes she'd cry. But the one constant was the girl in the windowsill.  He wondered if she ever got bored just sitting there and looking out the window. Cecily said she never left that place when they were allowed free time.  In the dining hall, she ate quickly and sat there. Once, Oliver saw a black mark on her upper neck, but he was too far to make out what it was. He wondered if it was a soul mark. It hadn't taken her long to figure out they were siblings. Not when the whole family visited. She considered his beauty and itched to solidify it somehow. She wished she could do art again.  Or anything, for that matter. Eventually his sister would get better.  She'd eat, and then she'd leave.  And she'd never see the mysterious dark haired boy again. As always, his eyes first glanced to Cecily before darting to the window. It was empty for the first time ever. "I heard it was another suicide attempt." She said it quietly so only he could hear. Cecily seemed to know that he was invested in that girl.  He had the type of personality that made him want to save everyone. Another suicide attempt though?  How was they hospital allowing this to happen? "Oh my god, will she be okay?"  His heart rate skyrocketed.  He didn't want to come here and not see her in the window.  He hoped Ces wouldn't be here much longer, but he still wished to see the dark haired girl.  "I don't know.  None of us have heard anything back on her. But she was hoarding all of her pills for the last month and she swallowed all of them at once.  Overdosed."  His sister didn't look amused at the tea for once, something he was grateful for. "That's terrible.  I thought they always checked mouths to make sure they got swallowed."  His sister shrugged. "I don't know.  But after I found out, I went to the cafeteria and had an apple."  She smiled, not wanting to overshadow the near death of a patient, but proud of herself for such a simple task. "Ces!! That's great, I'm so proud!"  He pulled her into a hug, telling her how proud he was of her. "It's just an apple, Ollie.  You don't need to get all worked up about it."  But he could tell she was happy with herself too. "That apple will go down in history, Ces.  In fact, maybe we need to keep the seeds, plant a new tree.  The tree of new beginnings.  You still have the seeds?"  She knew he was joking, but punched him in the shoulder nonetheless. "Go do your homework, nerd. I'll see you back tomorrow."  She ruffled his hair and he stuck his tongue out at her, giving her one last hug before departing. He wanted to help the dark haired girl, but he didn't know how. ~ In three days, she'd resumed her position at the window.  He talked through a plan with Ces quietly that night before arriving the next day with two flowers.  To Ces, he gave a yellow lily.  With sweaty palms and a racing heart, he walked over to the girl at the window.  "Um, excuse me?"  She turned her head at his voice, and he could see how much worse the purple under her eyes had grown, "Sorry to bother you, but I have this for you."  He held the single rose out to her, and she reached out and took it tentatively. "What for?"  Her voice was smooth and crisp, and if he wasn't mistaken, he heard a hint of a British accent. Oliver's cheeks heated. "Flowers make me happy, they make my sister happy, and I was hoping they might do the same for you.  Unless you're allergic, in which case you probably shouldn't be touching it."  He was rambling, and he was aware he was rambling, but was powerless to do anything to stop it. "Well... thank you.  You didn't have to do this."  There was definitely an accent in her voice. And as she turned towards him more, his eyes focused on the mark on her neck to see a pen.  Her soul mark was a pen.  Like one used for writing, the thing he did constantly and non stop when he wasn't with his sister.  His eyes grew before he looked back to the girl. "Of- of course.  I know I didn't have to, but I wanted to.  Hopefully it adds a welcome splash of color to your life."  And he walked away hurriedly, his cheeks matching the color of the rose he'd given her.  There was no chance that she could be his soulmate, right?  He didn't have one, he didn't have a mark.  But he hadn't thought about the fact that if his soulmate didn't love anything, then he wouldn't have a mark.  As sad as it was to think about, he could entertain it as a possibility. But that was jumping to things he didn't need to jump to. He didn't even know her name.  For the rest of visitation, he could feel her eyes on him, but he refused to look over at her. 

The next day he discovered a rash on his neck that wouldn’t go away.  It was a red splotch that was very visible, but it didn’t hurt or itch or burn.  There was no cause, but it wouldn’t go away. He just hoped his teachers and friends didn’t think it was a hickey. 

His sister teased him about it mercilessly even though she knew it wasn’t a hickey.

[ot4-official]

Jovie Collins AU

In which Jessamine’s old friend is in town ~

“So I have a friend coming over from London this weekend.  I don’t know how long she’s staying.”  They were at the bar, each of them holding a different drink; a glass of Chardonnay for Marilyn, a tumbler of rum for Oliver, a beer for Dylan, and a glass of whiskey for Jessamine. They all looked at Jessamine suspiciously; she didn’t really have friends.

“Yeah, yeah. I know what you’re all thinking, but yes, I do have friends other than you guys. I just wanted to let you know, because I’ll probably bring her to the bar with us, and we will probably go clubbing too.”  They nodded, still in shock. Jessamine rolled her eyes, “I need another drink to deal with you all.”

It’d been years since she had seen her.  When she spotted her at the airport, she looked as beautiful as ever. She’d cut her hair, and it looked good. It was going to be difficult to keep her hands off all weekend, or however long she was staying.

“Jess!”  She ran towards Jessamine and held her arms out. She was one of the only people Jessamine would hug.  The minute that they were in each other’s arms, Jessamine was taken back to six years ago when she left.

“Jovie.”  She smelled the same: honey and vanilla.

“It’s been far too long.”  Jovie pulled back first, scanning Jessamine with her eyes, “You look good.” Jessamine blushed, she actually blushed.

“Thanks, you do too.  I like your hair.”  They smiled at each other.  It felt like this was a dream.

“Okay, well.  Let’s get your bags, and then we can go back to my apartment.  I’m sure you’re exhausted.” Jovie nodded and smiled walking next to Jessamine to go to baggage claim.  She felt 18 again next to this woman, and she didn’t know if she liked that.

“So how are you?”  What have you been up to?”  Since she left, hung in the air silently.

“Well, my paintings never really hit, but I got a job in video game design that was fun.  I worked there for a few years. I got fired though…”  Jessamine raised an eyebrow.

“Why? If you don’t mind me asking…” Jovie’s cheeks immediately filled with crimson.

“I was sleeping with my boss’s wife.”  Jessamine grinned and laughed.

“I suppose I rubbed off on you a little too much.”  Jovie just smiled and shook her head.

“Oh! There’s mine!”  It was purple with white polka dots.  Jessamine grabbed it for her. 

“Sweet, let’s get out of here. I can carry this for you.” She smiled at Jovie. Even after an eight hour flight she looked gorgeous. It was going to be a long weekend.

~

“So we can order take out or we can go out and I can show you some of the city. Anything works for me.” Jess had given her a tour of her apartment, and shown her her room.

“If you don’t mind, take out sounds great.  It was a long flight.”  Jessamine nodded and took out all the menus.

“Of course.  Here are all the places to order from. My favorite is Wok Your World.”  Jovie chuckled at that.  Jessamine missed her. She didn’t know how she had survived six years without ever talking to her. 

“Well then I will get some Pad Thai.”  Jessamine picked up her cell and called the place, pretending she didn’t have the phone number memorized. 

“Hi, can I get a plate of Pad Thai and- oh, that’s with chicken,”  Jess looked to Jovie for confirmation and she nodded, “And thennn… how about plate of spicy mooshu chicken?  Wonton soup with both of those, can I get an order of crab cakes as well?  Thank you.”  She hung up several seconds later to see Jovie’s face looking mesmerized.

“What?  Oh, did I get something wrong? I’m sorry… it’s been-” She was cut off.

“Six years. Six years and you still remember my order.”  Her voice was quiet, Jessamine didn’t know what was going to happen next.

“Well, yeah.”  Jovie practically lunged forward, her lips meeting Jessamine’s.  It was like something between them had snapped and they both couldn’t get enough of each other. Jesssamine’s hands dove under the loose graphic tee that Jovie was wearing and up her smooth torso. She stepped back and pulled her own T-shirt off, left in the lacy black bra she had happened to choose that morning.  Jovie’s eyes roamed her skin before she pulled her own shirt off; both girls’ eyes darkened with lust as their lips met again. 

“Bedroom. Now.”  They made it to the dinner table before Jovie’s leggings came off, and the stairs before Jessamine’s jeans came off.  Jovie’s underwear sported a Wonderwoman symbol, and Jessamine had to stop and laugh for a second. It was such a Jovie thing for her to have.  Her laugh quickly turned to a moan as Jovie’s hand palmed her chest.  They stumbled up the stairs before going to Jessa’s bedroom. Jessamine pinned Jovie to the bed and slid down her body.  Just then a knock sounded from downstairs.  That was fast for the delivery guys.

“Your food is way faster than back home.”  Jessamine groaned.

“I’m not finished with you yet.”  She stood up and threw on a black silk robe that fell barely below her hips.  It was more lingerie than a practical thing, but the delivery guys had seen her in worse.

“Just a minute!”  She grabbed her wallet and ran to the door, her robe tie slipping open a bit and displaying her lacy bra.  She opened the door… and it was decidedly not the delivery guy.

“Oh God.”  The conversation that had been going on died as they took in Jessamine’s disheveled state.  Dylan and Oliver’s jaws dropped open, and Marilyn’s face turned red.

“Why are you guys here?”  Dylan seemed to snap out of it at that, and he grinned, scanning her from head to toe.

“We thought your friend was coming in tonight.  We wanted to give her a proper American welcome.” Dylan leaned against the threshold of the door. Oliver blinked a few times before his cheeks started turning as red as Marilyn’s, and he avoided looking anywhere near her.

“Aww! That’s so sweet!”  Jessamine cringed at the voice behind her as she felt Jovie walk up behind her. All of her friends’ eyes grew ever wider when they realized that her friend had arrived.  Jessamine could feel her own cheeks heating, and she quickly needed them to stop.  She didn’t blush. Ever.

“Well, come in, I suppose.”  She stood to the side and opened the door wider.  They all walked in. 

“We ordered take out, but not enough for you because you guys didn’t give me any notice. At all.”  She raised her eyebrows at the three of them; at least they looked guilty.  Well, not Dylan.  Oliver’s eyes widened at something over her shoulder, and she turned to see the litter of clothes that trailed up to her bedroom, including her shirt hanging on a chair in the kitchen and her jeans by the staircase.  She groaned and rolled her eyes, quickly picking both her and Jovie’s clothes up. 

“So you are Jessamine’s friends?”  Jovie was seated on the couch, not looking the slightest bit embarrassed by their exposure. Oliver took a seat in the arm chair, and Dylan and Marilyn sat on the smaller couch. 

“I don’t know why, but we are.”  Dylan earned a smack on the back of the head from Jessamine at the comment.

“Watch it, asshole.  Jovie, these are my friends.  Oliver, Dylan, and Marilyn.  This is Jovie.”  They all smiled at each other as Jessamine took a seat by Jovie.

“So how do you two know each other?”  Dylan kicked back and put his feet up on the coffee table.

“We knew each other while I was living in London.  Get your feet off my table, you neanderthal.”  He removed his feet with a grin on his face. Jessamine hadn’t disclosed much about her past in the three years she had known them.  She felt like she was being laid bare with Jovie here.  At the briefest explanation possible for their… relationship, Jovie looked to Jessamine with a confused expression.  Jessamine just shook her head slightly and looked to Oliver, who still wouldn’t lay his eyes on her barely clothed form.  Jessamine scoffed.

“I’ll go put some clothes on. It’s not my fault we were rudely interrupted.”  She stood up and walked upstairs, Oliver’s eyes not being able to leave her toned and smooth legs.

“How long did you guys date?”  Dylan leaned closer to Jovie, his voice practically a whisper. Jovie didn’t know what Jessamine would allow to be exposed.

“Oh, we didn’t-”  At Dylan’s raised eyebrow, she sighed and caved, “Three years.”  They all looked at her with wide eyes.

“I’ve never known Jessamine to have a boyfriend-or girlfriend-since we’ve known her.  Three years??”  Jovie’s cheeks blushed as she nodded. Jessamine came back downstairs in leggings and a black sweater. Her hair was piled on top of her head in a messy bun with a few tendrils escaping and falling around her face. They all looked at her, she seemed different to them, now that they knew she was actually capable of a relationship. She paused at all of their mesmerized stares. 

“What?”  She narrowed her eyes at Jovie, wondering what she’d told them.  They were saved from answering by another knock at the door. 

“It better be the food this time.”  Indeed, as she opened the door, a small Asian boy stood there with her food.  She paid him and brought the food inside.

“Did you guys already eat?  Or did you come to my place to raid my pantry as well?”  Jovie walked to where Jessamine was unloading the food; it smelled delicious.

“Jessamine, why would we- you never have food. We ate before we came so we didn’t starve.”  Marilyn was still hesitant around Jovie; she was hesitant around any new person.  Jovie snickered at that.

“Glad to see your eating habits haven’t changed.” 

[ot4-official]

Angels & Demons AU

In which Jessamine and Dylan are demons ~

She had one black fingernail swirling the drink in her hand. Her bottom lip was between her teeth as she tried to hold back a grin. The dancers on stage were grinding and dancing to some modern electronic song, and she was thoroughly enjoying the show. Her blonde cohort slid in the booth across from her, a wide grin on his face.

“Tonight’s line up is good.”  Unlike him, modesty came easy to her.

“Good? No, no, it’s perfection.”  She couldn’t help the eye roll; she didn’t expect anything different from him.

“I’ll agree. We make quite the team, do we not?”  Her eyes finally tore from the stage to meet with the man’s across from her. He nodded slowly.

“We do, Luxuria.”  When they were alone, they had no use for their given mundane names: Jessamine Lovell and Dylan Thomas. She stood from the booth and smoothed down her lacy black dress.

“I’m afraid I must depart; I’ve a long awaited date” Her eyes flashed black as her grin became sinister.

The kingdom of white; just like its name would suggest, the entire place was void of color.  There was a peaceful silence everywhere, that was until running footsteps shattered the quiet. Panic was rare, but at the moment it was emanating in waves from a tan woman with fear on her face.

“What is it?”  They were in the throne room, the man on the throne instantly sat up straighter due to the woman’s obvious distress.

“There has been something blocking our scanner for months, but it was just lifted.” She was holding a piece of technology that was unlike any on earth.  The man on the throne waved her closer. 

“I have a feeling I’m not going to like what I see.” The woman shook her head solemnly.  It was a map, or, a holograph of a map.  It showed every country in the world.  Some were white, very few were black, and all the others were various shades of grey.

“Since when are those three black?”  Panic seized the man in control.

“Our last scan was four months ago. Everything was clean at that time.  We suspect that… He has let his favorite pets out to play.” Concern was written all over her features. 

“Well I suppose we will have to combat it with lightness of our own.  Will you please send in Gabriel and Hesediel?”  The woman’s jaw dropped for a moment before she nodded and walked away quickly. 

Fierte.

Yes, Lux?

They got through the wall. Through the bond she could feel the jab of both excitement and fear.

How long do you think we have? 

A week at most. But it won’t be more than a minor inconvenience. I am excited to have a new plaything.  The darkness is alluring. 

[ot4-official]

Assassins AU

In which Jessamine steals Oliver’s target ~

His target had a high price over his head. He was surprised that the man would dare to show his face in public; this was public, right?  Women milled around in outfits that could barely gain the title of “clothing”.  He had been in the back for a while monitoring the situation.  When his target walked through the door, all he could see were price tags over his head. $1 million--he sure had pissed off some powerful people.  He was lead into a private room, followed by a gorgeous woman with long black hair and pale skin.  Red lace was wrapped around her torso, and he couldn’t help but feel that she didn’t belong.  She closed the drapes to the private room with a wicked grin on her face. Minute after minute he felt more and more anxiety.  When he heard an ear piercing scream and hordes of people began running from the building, he shot up and leapt into the private room. There he was, his target.  Only his neck was slit and blood was pouring from his throat. A strip of red lace was tied around the man’s hand, and he instantly knew who had killed him. A string of expletives left his mouth; he had wanted this payday. He took off through the window as sirens approached the building.

Cha-ching! She had left the brothel with a satisfied look written all over her features. It hadn’t been the largest kill she’d ever had, but it was more than her current average. Even so, at this point it wasn’t for the money, it was the thrill of the kill that kept her in the business. The duffel bag of money that sat beside her was just a bonus.  For most people, they only stayed in the business long enough to generate a healthy retirement fund, but Jessamine wasn’t most people.  She had healthy retirement funds in several countries under several more aliases.  She was just a simple girl trying to make a name for herself in the world of… being an assassin.  And she was. Was quickly making a name for herself, that is.  Or as she liked to say, she was on a roller coaster that was only going up. Her latest kill, well, that was basically his fault.  Someone with a brain would find out they had a $1 million target over their head and go somewhere a bit more inconspicuous. The man was asking for it. 

She was currently seated at one of her favorite cafes in France.  It was a quaint diner-style place with the best hot chocolate in the world, and they were open 24 hours a day.  She was exhausted. The high that accompanied taking lives had died off and now she felt the urge to crawl into bed and sleep for months. 

“Rough day at work?”  A pile of fluffy French toast plopped in front of her, and she turned her head to see a beautiful brunette with a sympathetic smile on her face. 

“Something like that.  Are you new here?”  The woman looked around the empty cafe before sitting down across from Jessamine.

“Is it that obvious?”  She chuckled, “I started last week.”  Jessamine smiled softly and pulled out her fork.

“You’re doing a fine job from what I’ve seen.  I’m sort of a regular here, and I would’ve remembered your pretty face.”  Exhaustion could move aside for more… desirable emotions.  The waitress’s face blushed as she looked at the French toast.

“I would’ve remembered you too, beautiful.  My shift ends in 30 minutes.” She left it open for Jessamine to plan, and a smirk flitted onto her face. 

“I can wait.”  She hadn’t had a good one night stand in months, and she deserved a reward for all the bodies she had racked up so far. The woman was beautiful, why not jump on the opportunity, literally. 

[ot4-official]

Top 10 Tips for Actually Writing

for the writer who can’t seem to write.

Buy a pencil and paper. Get a writing program and a keyboard.

Spill all your ideas into a notebook that will never see the light of day. Write down literally every idea you have that even sort of relates to the scene/chapter/book that you want to write until your thoughts converge on a pointed attack.

Quality vs. Quantity? No competition. Quantity all the way. The more you write, the better you will know your story. Worry about Quality LATER.

Think about where the idea came from. Go there. Set up a cardboard box and live there. This is your home now.

What is the coolest, most self-indulgent thing you can think of? That’s what you want to write at this point, until you get some steam.

Short-term goals, my friends. And by short-term, I mean a minute from now, ten seconds from now. What are you going to do to write RIGHT NOW? Stop thinking about an hour from now, stop thinking about a day from now.

This is not a book. This is not a book. You are not writing a book. You are writing a story. A story is much easier to take bites out of than a book. A book is a big, scary, colossal thing. Stories are fun and carefree.

Get yourself a writing friend. A cactus, an old bottle of nail polish, a fish in an appropriately sized tank, etc. Make them hold you accountable.

Set crazy low goals. Promise yourself you will write ten words today. Ten words and you will be the Best Writer in the Entire World to Ever Exist. Accomplishing things is a morale booster and will urge you to write more.

Just keep writing. I believe in you.

[ot4-official]

Things almost every author needs to research

How bodies decompose

Wilderness survival skills

Mob mentality

Other cultures

What it takes for a human to die in a given situation

Common tropes in your genre

Average weather for your setting