#“guys please. let's get the whole gang together and we can go to the mall”

[crush-like-that]

(rich) friend with attachment issues: I wanna go to the mall and hang out with you guys 🥺🥺🥺

me + other friend: we're broke 😀👍

(rich) friend: I'm not! I'll pay! Just hang out with me

[heavensmortuary]

🍁🍂🍁🍂Alright, since its mid-September, its time for my annual spooky movie reccomedation list! I include ratings, and I can include trigger warnings for any of these films upon request as well! I'm also looking for horror movies to watch myself, so feel free to comment/ask any as well!! So, here we go, in no particular order...🍁🍂🍁🍂

Fantasy/sci-fi horror:

The Thing 1982 [R]: A group of scientists find a shapeshifting alien underneath the ice in Antarctica, and they just survive as it imitates them. Trust no one. The Thing is one of my favorite movies in general. Its scary, retro, and the special effects are insane. It reminds me of classic Lovecraft, but better. Very terrifying. 10/10

Pan's Labyrinth 2006 [R]: During the Spanish Civil War, a young girl named Ofelia enters a world of twisted fantasy while above, her step-father's brutality causes trouble in the midst of a rebellion. Genuinely a beautiful movie. It's like a fairy-tale, and sometimes you forget it's a horror movie. It's simply magical, but frighteningly real. If you love classic fantasy, monsters, history, and horror, you'll love this movie. 10/10

Alien 1979 [R]: A team on a shipping vessel in soace come in contact with a parasitic alien within the clausterphobic confines of the ship. A classic, and it's still absolutely terrifying. Sharp insight on early 80's consumerism (in more than one sense), and a marvel of alien horror. Its very claustrophobic, tense, and 100% worth watching, especially if you love scifi. 10/10.

Aliens 1986 [R]: Continuing the story of Alien, space marines must investigate a distress signal from a colony, and what they find is more horrifying than they could have imagined. Full of retro action, humorous quips, scares, and plenty of bullet spray, it's a terrifying and fun watch. I enjoyed it just as much as the original, and its just awesome, while being scary at times. 10/10

Annihilation 2018 [R]: After the mysterious death of her husband, a Biologist goes into Area X to discover what horrifying cosmic entity his team found there. Not nearly as good, or accurate as the book (I CANT reccomend the Southern Reach trilogy enough), but this movie genuinely frightened me at points and the setting is simply beautiful. Its clever, creepy, and it's a strange watch. 8/10

Signs 2002 [PG-13]: After strange symbols appear in the cornfields on a family's farm, they must protect each other, and their faith, during the invasion. Love this movie, it's just spooky enough, but outside if the monsters, the people in this movie are what really matter. It's compelling, and a beautiful story. Simply excellent. Plus you'll know where the screaming guy in a closet meme comes from after seeing this one. 10/10

A Quiet Place 2018 [PG-13]: Could you survive a world where making a single sound could spell your death? Monsters decend upon the Abbot family, just as a baby is on the way. One of my favorite movies ever. Its beautiful and ABSOLUTELY horrifying. I think I forgot about eating my popcorn while watching this one. Overall, the desperate survival of the Abbots is heartwarming, but oh so stressful. If you can, PLEASE watch the sequel right after this one. 10/10

A Quiet Place 2 2021 [PG-13]: The Abbots face new challenges as they traverse a devestated landscape, and monsters wait around every dark corner for them. An EXCELLENT sequel. I caught myself actually going "NOOO AAAA" at some points, and its totally a worthy sequel to the scares in the first one. Again, great story, great characters, great cinematography, great message. 10/10.

Coraline 2009 [PG]: Coraline Jones, unhappy with moving to a new house, suddenly finds a whimsical world in a little hidden tunnel inside the house, but she learns the sinister truth behind the candy-colored world beyond the wall. Dont let the stop-motion animation confuse you; this movie is terrifying. A classic from my childhood, and its a treat to watch every Halloween. The Beldam has to be on the list of the most horrifying villains ever. 10/10

Zombies, ghosts, ghouls, and everything in between:

The Haunting 1963 [G]: Based on the novel The Haunting of Hill House, a group of people must stay in a supposedly haunted mansion. Eleanor, one of the women, suddenly believes that the house is talking directly to her. One of the many adaptations of the book, it's spooky, and it's very disturbing, while also having a nice theme. Perfect for setting the mood on a October night. 8/10

Night of The Living Dead 1990 [R]: Survivors take shelter in an abandoned farm house while the undead attack. Can they work together, or let their own prejudices get the best of them? I havent seen the original yet, but I love this movie. Very scary, and its directed by Tom Savini, so lots of good ol zombie gore. Not only that, there's a good bit of social commentary here on racism. The classic was the original zombie film. 9/10.

Dawn of The Dead 1978 [R]: As the undead rise up, survivors take to a shopping mall in order to survive. I don't know how to describe this movie's vibe. It has this weird retro 70's feel, mixed with uncanny horror. It's campy at times, but it doesn't take away the scariness. Very fun in a weird way, and its an on-the-nose satire of american consumerism. 10/10

Train To Busan 2016 [R]: While the world crumbles around them, a small group of survivors must learn to protect each other on a train headed to Busan. Seriously, please watch this one. It's completely unique to any zombie film I've seen. It's scary, but you genuinely care about the characters, and its VERY intense. Love this one. 10/10

Murder and ect:

Scream 1990 [R]: A masked serial killer stalks high school students in middle class suburbia. Its a parody of the modern horror genre, clever and scary all at once. I enjoyed it as a classic and I liked the commentary on how violence with no essence effects people, especially when glorified with horror films. Definitely not for everyone, but its good never the less. 8/10

Wait Until Dark 1967 [NR (I give it a PG-13)]: A gang of criminals looking for heroin attack the home of a blind woman, and it turns into a horrifying game of back and forth between them, until it can go on no longer. Literally one of the best thriller movies ever. Genuinely scary, and genuinely clever. This was actually the first film I saw Audrey Hepburn act in. Super tense near the end, I was biting my nails the whole time. 10/10

The Village 2004 [PG-13]: A rural community is faced with a hard decision as the monsters in the woods leave bloody warnings around their small town. I watch this one every autumn. Its atmospheric, the score is breathtaking, and its a great story. Its beautiful, gently frightening, and its overall a love story. I love this one a lot, even though I know a lot of people didnt like it. Don't go in expecting a great twist at the end, and you'll enjoy it. 10/10

Jane Eyre 2011 [PG-13]: Jane Eyre becomes the governness to an estate, and find a dark secret there. Not necessarily horror, but its gothic and absolutely beautiful. Its the perfect october movie. I love it lots. Nothing hits different than a rainy october day, a cup of chai tea, and this movie playing. 10/10

TV Series:

Stranger Things 2016- [PG-13]: After a child is taken by a supernatural force, the small town community of Hawkins must search for answers and find him before its too late, but as they search, a horrifying conspiracy comes to life before them. I adore this series. Its a love letter to the 80s. Cant reccomend it enough. 10/10

The Twilight Zone 1959-1964 [PG]: A serialized series featuring many different stories ranging from scifi to horror and everything inbetween. Its genius honestly. Each story is compelling, and thought provoking. A great Halloween watch. 10/10

The Walking Dead 2010- (seasons 1 & 2) [R]: A sheriff wakes up from a coma to find himself in a terrifying world of the undead. Its a decent series, at least in the first two seasons! Its pretty scary. Its great if you like zombie movies! 7/10

Over The Garden Wall 2014 [PG]: Two brothers find themselves lost within the world of the Unknown, a place where time is blended together and reality isn't quite right. Ok, real talk here. Its my favorite series of all time. I could go on and on and on about it. If you haven't seen it, please I beg you. Theres nothing like it. Its literally the BEST autumn show to watch. Clever, funny, lightly disturbing, deep, nostalgic...its fantastic. 11/10

So, there you have it. Huge list of horror movies I've enjoyed and actually reccomend. I have seen quite a few more than this (Halloween, Dawn of the Dead 2004, Nightmare on Elm Street, ect), but I specifically picked out the ones I love the most. Enjoy! And have a great autumn.

[anotherbeingsworld]

what are the reasons you love bryce?? give lots and lots of details please

HI ANON, OKAY. I AM SO SORRY FOR TAKING A WHILE ON REPLYING! I was caught up with stuff and I just am quite busy lately but.. here goes!

Disclaimer: This is my opinion, and not my way to bring down other LI’s routes! They have their own touch and, this is what I got from playing Bryce’s route! 

Open Heart was supposed to be a diamond-mine for me from the start, as I just... finished playing other books and I was like...’ medical book’ sounds fun and grey’s anatomy-ish! And, well... I started and holy smokes, book 1 was one of my favourites. And, here comes the fangirling session!

Our first meet with Bryce, was amazing and hilalrious too? I  mean, MC bumped into him at the locker room being half naked lmao, what a sight for sore eyes? When I first saw him, honestly... he was gorgeous? Like.. he is like... so handsome and.. I just.. kinda fall for him for his looks first! I mean, the eyes first than the heart right?

Moving on to the pin-point, the supply closet scene. The fact Bryce came to check in on MC, and well... what came afterwards.. I knew he was a caring guy, and I kinda fell even harder, and.. well... MC took the chance to kinda make a move too quick and well, lets say MC is smitten to Bryce! I mean, besides all that ‘stuff’, I loved how Bryce tooks the time to be there for MC in a way, like.. somehow, made me love him even more as a character! 

ALSO, MAY I POINT OUT? HIS HAIR! THAT PERFECT HAIR? GOODNESS, HOW CAN ONE PULL THAT OUT! and, the fact he looked good in anything is one reason to like him more? 

And, moving on... the bar scene.. I mean, lets just say... I took the chance and well.. it was worth it!  He was a confident guy, and honestly someone who I wanted to be? Someone who doesnt care what others think, and in my fics.. MC was the opposite of him, and somehow... it mirrors it! 

THEIR SMALL MOMENTS WITH EACH OTHER !!! I am sucker for the little things trope, where their small adventures counts and, I loved the small moments as I play his route and, I know other LI’s have that too! Since, I am a bryce fan let’s say I am biased about it lmao! But, their adventures such as the bachelorette party after the common thingy is one of their spontaneous adventures that I enjoyed! And, MC got the chance to tell the party on their feelings towards Bryce somehow, makes it more worth it? The concert afterwards, playing copyrighted mario kart, the fries scene? And, seeing it without all the hook-ups and all, they definitely enjoyed their little adventures either its out or in the hospital! I headcanon MC and Bryce love to take random adventures together, either its just a drink at Donahue or a stroll on the charles? OKAY, AND THEM SINGING ‘ A WHOLE NEW WORLD’ TOGETHER AT KAROEKE AND, THAT IS JUST SO FREAKING PRECIOUS! They enjoyed each other’s company and, I loved them for that! 

Moving on, them being with each other during the dark times too. A parallel I see all too well between them, they are going to be there for each other. DESPITE. EVERYTHING. In Book 1, we see Bryce comforting MC (in my playthrough) after Mr.s Martinez’s death, where in the on-call room, he holds on tight to MC, as they sob. Bryce, being there for MC during the trial, and everything that leads to the end of Book 1, where the whole friend group has been there for MC. Bryce, was there and... I can imagine, those late night moments of reassure from Bryce when MC felt scared, and guilt. And, into Book 2. They are mirroring each other, MC was there for Bryce.  With everything going on, MC stood there to help him with Keiki, and MC had been there every step of the way until they send Keiki to boarding school. The fact, that MC went to his apartment because they saw how distraught Bryce was afterwards, MC being there for Bryce when they go to the mall, and MC helping Bryce with the boarding school thing with Keiki, until the end... and, in those moments I can see Keiki and MC bonding, talking about Bryce, relieving all the childhood memories together and, just laughing hanging out. Besides that, despite MC being the one who faced the trauma, seeing Bryce broke down.. and letting his guard down only with MC, shows how much they trust one another. I remember along the lines where Bryce mentions on his family reputation to MC ONLY! As, the premium scene from chapter 8 where the gang practiced baseball with Raf, he mentions on having an easy road at high school. It shows how much, he trusts MC on his life situations. And, the fact... the iconic scene from chapter 11 where his scalpel shakes, shows how much he worries about MC, despite if you romance him or not, shows that he really cares for MC, and wants to be there during the dark times and good times too. It’s a huge reason why I adore him, and his ability to be there for MC and vice versa.. it shows volume on their relationship.

OK. ALSO, he is an amazing brother. The way he learns to cook for Keiki, as he tries his best to make Keiki comfortable and, the way he wanted to be there despite the gap between them after all these years made me fall in love for him even more. He and Keiki indeed are one of my fav siblings in the choices universe, and seeing how Bryce gets sad on sending Keiki away, shows how much of their relationship had grown since Keiki arrived in Boston. 

HONESTLY, I thought he would be those guys where they would flirt a lot and well... become a playboy in a way? But, he proved me wrong. I know, he is not real but... his personality made me love him even more and, I mean... who wouldnt love one Bryce Lahela? 

And up to this point, Bryce definitely is one of my top fav LI’s in choices because of those reasons above and many more that I couldn’t think of! But, he is someone who i aspire to be in a way? His confidence? I want that in this life, and... seeing him being confident and just... him. I loved him more? And, his quotes.. iconic! ALSO, HE IS A SURGOEN? HE HAS LOOKS, BRAINS AND EVEN AAAAA, HOW COULD YOU NOT LOVE HIM? 

ALSO, I KNOW YOU ASK WHY I LOVE BRYCE and I hope it fulfills the answer eventhough I am definitely focusing on MC X Bryce’s relationship more! But, their relationship growing from book 1 made me love him even more than before! And, he is definitely more than a pretty face! He is Bryce Lahela, and he had left an amazing quote for everyone.

‘Don’t cover up your greatness’ - Bryce Lahela. 

THANK YOU FOR COMING FOR MY TED TALK :))))))  and, thank you anon for letting me fangirl over the surgeon boy! <3

[moonlit-imagines]

Expecting

Steve Harrington x Hopper!reader

warnings: pregnancy

a/n: i added the 2 requests together bc they’re similar <3

prompt: @depressed-comics: “Sweet beans can I request a Steve Harrington x Reader were the reader is Hopper's daughter, and she also happens to be pregnant. Now this is like a couple years after the battle of Startcourt mall and Hopper is still alive. But basically Steve and the reader goes and tells Hopper the good news (which at first he wasn't happy but secretly he was excited), and then they tell there other kids. And Eleven ask them both were do babies come from so they have to explain to her. Then fast forward to him months later the whole party meets Steve and the reader's baby”

anonymous: “could i get a steve harrington x hopper!reader (hop and joyce dating ? possibly ?)where they tell hop joyce and el that they are pregnant over dinner ? please”

You had scheduled a family dinner with the whole Hopper gang. Steve and you had big news! Things in your family’s life had settled down after the last couple of years, but they were about to get a whole lot more interesting now.

Joyce cooked dinner and El helped set the table. Hopper was in charge of staying out of the way because last time they let him cook, he burned the fries and threw the pan out the front door. He ended up tidying the house a little. He had to make it look nice for his babygirl. There was a knock at the door and Hop rushed to answer. The door flung open and you and Steve stood there with a plate of cookies and a bottle of whiskey. You dad pulled you into a giant bear hug.

“It’s good to see you, honey.” He told you.

“You, too. I only saw you two days ago to go bowling. It’s been too long.” You joked sarcastically. Hopper gave Steve a hug and Steve handed him the gifts.

“Oh, perfect! Let’s break this out for dinner.” Your dad walked to the kitchen and got out a few glasses. You greeted El and Joyce with a hug and helped them set out the food. Once everything was in order, you finally got to sit down with your family and have a nice meal. “So, y/n, what’s new?” Hop asked. You hadn’t touched your glass of whiskey, and he was a little suspicious. Steve eyed you, wondering if you were going to break the news.

“Oh, nothing. Work’s good, the dog’s a handful, Steve and I are working on the house.” You told your dad, and he smiled proudly. Steve let a silent sigh of relief escape his lips and you grabbed his hand under the table. He squeezed you hand tight, you could feel his leg bouncing underneath the table.

“How’s the house coming along?” Joyce asked. “I’d love to see it sometime!” She took a bite of her lasagna.

“We’d love for you guys to come over soon, that’d be great. Then we could be the hosts for a change.” Steve laughed nervously, trying to distract himself from the truth bomb about to drop.

“You haven’t touched your glass yet, is something wrong?” Your dad asked. You stared blankly at him.

“Oh, no, I just want to be sober for the drive home.” You explained. Your dad nodded and went back to his plate. “So El, how’s home schooling?”

“Almost done!” She gave a triumphant smile to the table. The five of you finished your plates and sat around the table, talking and joking around with each other. Now was the best time to share the news.

“Ready?” Steve asked, placing a hand on your shoulder. You nodded. “We have an announcement...” Hop, Joyce, and El went silent, staring at the pair of you.

“We’re pregnant!” You told your family. Joyce and El cheered and got up to hug you.

“Congratulations, sweetie!” Joyce cupped your face. “You’re gonna make a wonderful mother.” El was ecstatic, she was going to be an aunt!

“Y/N, where do babies come from?” She asked you innocently. You and Joyce stared at El with your eyebrows furrowed and eyes wide. “I’m kidding, I’m kidding, I just wanted to get a reaction!” You all burst into laughter, but quickly realized you dad hadn’t said a word yet. All he did was grab you glass of whiskey and down it as fast as he could, then stare at the table, hands folded together.

“Steve, can I speak to you outside?” Your dad muttered and got out of his chair. Steve gulped and followed him out the door. You, your sister, and Joyce sat near the TV and talked about all different kinds of details regarding your pregnancy.

“If you need anything at all, come to me. I’ve had two kids, I know a lot about the miracle of birth and all that other stuff. Development and care? Got it. Anything you need.” She assured. You were glad to have her. And your sister was curious to see how this would go, she hadn’t ever held a baby before, so that was her main focus.

Meanwhile, on the porch:

“So you got my daughter knocked up?” Hopper paced back and forth.

“Not—Not exactly, sir. I mean, no, it wasn’t planned, but now we have a plan.” Steve explained to his father-in-law.

“And what is that plan?” Hopper towered over your husband.

“Raise the kid, love the kid, be there for the kid.” He told your father. “That’s what matters to me.” Hopper started pacing again. “Look, Mr. Hopper, you’re gonna be a grandpa! Popper! Grandhop! Whatever you want to be called!” Hopper froze and turned toward Steve. He approached his son-in-law and pulled him into a hug.

“You’re gonna be a great dad, Harrington.” Hop whispered in his ear. Steve hugged back.

“Thank you.” The two of them came back inside and your dad headed straight towards you to congratulate you and give you the biggest hug he could. “Don’t hurt the baby!” Steve joked. Your dad cried, you cried, Joyce cried, Steve cried, El was just super excited. Couldn’t even wipe the smile off her face. You said your goodbyes to your dad and the rest of your family and headed back home. You were happy with the outcome of tonight. “So, we tell the children tomorrow morning and my parents tomorrow night?” He asked.

“Sounds about right.”

—————

You had all the kids gather at Dustin’s house. His mom had basically taken you and Steve in because Dustin was always making you guys come over. Everyone sat together in the living room. Ms. Henderson, Dustin, Lucas, Will, Max, Mike, and El. She wanted to hear the news again and brag about how she got to know first.

“Alright guys, drumroll, please.” Dustin started beating on his legs. “Y/N’s pregnant!” Steve announced. Everyone immediately started losing their shit. El was contently watching the crowd go wild.

“Does that mean I get to be an uncle?” Dustin asked.

“You’re my son, Dustin. You’re the kid’s brother.” Steve explained.

“I’m gonna be an uncle!” Dustin jumped on the couch.

“Dusty! What did I tell you about shoes on the couch?” Ms. Henderson warned.

“Sorry mom!” Dustin sat next to Steve and talked about how excited he was. Max sat next to you and couldn’t contain her excitement.

“You’re not playing a joke on us, right?” She asked and you shook your head. “Good, because this is awesome!” She shook you around playfully. “I can be an aunt, right?”

“Yes, you can be an aunt.” You approved and Max began to cheer.

“Why isn’t El jumping around with us?” She asked.

“We told El last night, she just came here to rub in the fact that she knew first.” Steve grabbed your hand.

“Are you ready to go? We’ve gotta get ready for dinner at my parents place. You know they like to start early.” He told you. You said goodbye to your family of delinquents and got in the car. You quickly started crying. “Hey, hey, what’s wrong?” Steve grabbed your hand and leaned towards you.

“Nothing, I’m just excited. Soon were gonna have an actual child. And it’s gonna grow and be like them. And I love them. I cant wait.”

—————

Everyone was gathered in the hospital, waiting for Steve to come with some news. He finally ran out the double doors and met with the group.

“So? Tell us everything!” Lucas exclaimed. Hopper and Joyce were beaming and getting a little impatient, they wanted to see their grandbaby!

“It’s a girl! Eight pounds, five ounces. Tiny toes, little nose. Guys, I’m gonna cry!” Steve jumped around. Everyone hoarded around him to give him the biggest hug they could muster. “I’ve gotta get back to y/n! You’ll be able to see the baby soon!” He ran back to you and awaited the baby’s return from her checkup. After a while, the baby was back and Steve brought everyone in to see her. They were all in awe of how adorable she was. You knew how much El was wanting to hold her, so you carefully handed her over while Steve helped.

“Does she have a name?” Joyce asked, teary eyed.

“Still haven’t got that figured out yet...”

[reverseblackholeofwords]

Bo and Yancy

Part One Here

(See? See, I am still updating this story! I’m a mess, but I can still update semi-regularly, yeah! *nervous laughter*)

Part Three: Under Pressure

Professor Beauregard cuts on the light hanging over Yancy’s head. It sways from side to side, and he can see the whole room for the first time in its swaying beam. A metal table gleams to his right, and besides that, the room is pretty bare, cracked tile floors and concrete walls all the same neutral blue. A single circular grate in the middle of the floor does make him a bit nervous. What did she need a drain for in this room? A tiny window is fixed into the wall behind him, he guesses, trying to glance over his shoulder. They must be in a sub-level.

Bo places her hands on her hips. “Okay, spill it, anomaly. How did you do this, and how do we fix it?”

Yancy, wrists and ankles zip-tied to the metal chair that he’s sitting in, just shrugs his shoulders. “Sorry, I don’t actually know what youse talkin’ about.” She was pretty, but boy, did she terrify him. He just wanted her to smile at him. Maybe they could be friends, after all.

Bo points at his arm, at the little boxes all tied together by thin lines. “That’s a temporal map, isn’t it? That’s some seriously speculative science right there. So drop this stupid act that you’re putting on, and just tell me the truth already!”

He smiles, actually smiles as if he’s going to somehow talk his way out of this, but he’s mistaken, Bo thinks. Then he tilts his head forward a bit. “Professor, I think youse got the wrong guy. Trust me, the stupid is no act for me.”

“It has to be!” She points a device at him, the same one that she brought the other day to the Warden’s office. Again, it begins to beep wildly. “See? This thing doesn’t lie. I designed it myself to pick up temporal interference, and you’re just blooming with it.”

Yancy blinks. “Um, can you say that again in American?”

Beauregard growls, sets the machine down, and picks up a scalpel off the metal table. She sticks it against Yancy’s abdomen. He squeaks. “What are youse doing?”

“I can and will dissect you.” She trails the blade over a little. “You know, humans really only need one kidney. Do you still have your gal bladder? Funny how we can live with a little less than we’re born with right?” Finally she covers one of his hands with hers, and she thinks maybe his face darkens a shade. “Fingers, fingers aren’t really that necessary either.”

Yancy jerks his body back and forth, trying to scoot his chair away from her. “Youse crazy! Youse is crazier than the Warden! Let me outta here! Let me out!”

She twirls the scalpel around her fingers expertly. “No one can hear you scream down here, so just tell me what I want to know, anomaly!”

“I don’t know nothing! I don’t!” He finally looks up at her again and tries to raise his hands as much as he can with his wrists tied down. “I mean it. I got this tattoo at this super weird place in an old strip mall, yeah? And the very next day I got busted for robbing this Sears, but I hadn’t even actually stolen from the Sears, you know? But I mean, I was definitely stealin’ outta the Target down the road, so...” He shrugs. “But I don’t know about no temporal map, I swear!”

Professor Beauregard sets her jaw and feels her left eye twitch. “Seriously? That’s the story you’re going with?” She looks him over head to toe and then raises a finger. “One moment, please.”

Turning on her heel, she stomped out of the room. Yancy can hear her shoes going clack, clack, clack down the hall, and then silence. He blows a sigh out through his lips and looks around for a way to escape. She didn’t leave the scalpel in the room, sadly, so that’s out. But he wonders if he might be strong enough to break out of the zip-ties. Jimmy had taught him a way once when they were out in the yard with nothing better to do.

But it’s too late by the time he’s decided he might try. There’s the telltale sound of clacking shoes, and Beauregard returns with... a shaving razor. She tilts her head to the side with a sweet smile. He takes it back about wanting her to smile. This is somehow much worse. “How much do you like your hair, anomaly?”

Yancy’s eyes go wide. “No. No. No! Youse is not cutting my hair! Not my precious hair!”

She comes closer, and with each step, Yancy tries to jerk his chair backwards, threatening with every motion to flip himself over completely. By the time Beauregard reaches him, he’s backed the chair all the way up to the wall behind him, and he’s got nowhere else to go.

Bo turns on the razor, and it buzzes angrily in Yancy’s ear. He yelps. “Please, Miss Professor Lady! Honest to God I don’t know nothing about any anomalies or time thingies! I swear on my mother’s grave!”

“You killed your mother if I remember correctly from your files,” Bo spits and grabs his hair to hold his head still. When she does, Yancy cries out, and she immediately notices blood trailing down his face from his scalp. She gasps and pulls her hand back. “What in the name of rocket science?”

Yancy sniffles a little and tries to brush the trail off blood off on his shoulder. “Warden Murder-Slaughter likes to let the guards throw me around a little so long as they don’t leave no visible marks.” He shrugs. “Not so bad as the beatings I used to get from my old gang, you know? So’s I don’t give any lip, just makes my scalp kinda sensitive is all.”

Beauregard suddenly feels sick to her stomach. She turns off the razor, draws the scalpel from her pocket, and cuts him loose. As Yancy rubs at his raw wrists, Bo goes to the door and jerks her head. “Come on, I’ll show you where you’ll be staying while you’re here.”

[cruezins]

       ☣  ;  (  KIM TAEHYUNG  ,  24  ,  HE/HIM  )  coming up next on rebel radio is OPAUL by FREDDIE DREDD  .  this tune goes out to SIWON RYU  .  rumor has it they just rolled into town and are fightin’ for the GHOULS  .  they’re AFFABLE  ,  INQUISITIVE but also AIMLESS  ,  MERCURIAL so watch your backs out there  .  we wish them the best of luck here in our golded city of light  .  stay vigilant  ,  stay dirty rock ‘n rollers and we’ll catch you for the next one  .

𝐎𝐎𝐂  :  hello  !  i’m deni and i don’t know what editing is  .  i use she/her pronouns and live in the gmt+9 timezone  .   i’m terrible with ooc chats and half the time just want to vibe a connection or plot idea  ,  so please don’t hesitate to throw a half-formed thought at me because i swear i’ll do the same  .  my discord is gay fairy#6371  .  anyway  ,  here is siwon  ,  someone i’ve been work-shopping for a while  !  looking forward to writing with you  ♡

                     ☣  ;  𝐏𝐀𝐑𝐀𝐃𝐈𝐒𝐄 𝐈𝐍 𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐋𝐀𝐁𝐘𝐑𝐈𝐍𝐓𝐇  .

cw  :  drug mentions  ;  stop me if you’ve heard this one before------

       his dad’s a junkie and he hasn’t seen his mom since some fatcats bought their restaurant for a steal a few years before  ,  but that’s the way of life for a lot of people in the underground  .  young  ,  bored  ,  and desperate to hear and smell anything that wasn’t the rottenness of his own childhood home  ,  siwon found himself on the streets more nights than not  ,  spray paint in one hand   ,  painting nights in greens and purples until reds and blues chased him away  .  makes his first steal before he can tie his shoes  .  creates alliances with the neighborhood kids  ,  sneaks around to watch how the haves live with their pretty  ,  pretty screens and their ugly  ,  ugly words  .  school isn’t anything special  ,  either  ,  and while siwon can’t remember shit that he reads from a page he can work with his hands  .  fast and efficient  ,  nimble fingers whether they’re flying across a keyboard or fucking around with some screws  .  you can make something of yourself  ,  some of his teachers tell him while others can’t stop bitching about homework or tardiness or the way he falls asleep in the middle of class  .  but what’s siwon supposed to make  ?  he and his ragtag group of weirdos he calls friends  .  when he gets older and nights get hungrier  ,  siwon learns to stop relying on the benevolence of neighbors and finds a job  ---  he’s fast  ,  after all  ,  with a sweet face and wide eyes  ,  makes a helluva getaway after years and years of running  .  

       thieving’s a natural grift  .  he’d been training for this his whole life  .  then he catches the eyes of a boss man who isn’t nearly as mad as he should be catching some kid with his wallet in his hands  .  courier comes next  ,  ferrying messages from a bunch of suits all over the city  .  siwon never opened the packages  ,  never second guesses the credits that start bloating his account  .  desperate  ,  he does what he’s told and does it well ------ and that’s the real kicker  ,  isn’t it  ?  that after a year and some-odd months of dedicated service they leave him high and dry with some bullshit he doesn’t have any involvement with  .  after years of running  ,  boys in blue finally catch him and he’s left to take the fall of some dumb fuckery  ,  man  ,  and he’s pissed  .  steaming in jail  ,  it’s a wonder some other gang didn’t get to him first  .  the longer he sat and talked with that ghoul member  ,  the more he grew to despise the rich  ,  the ones who left him to rot after all the shit he did for them  .  what was even the point anymore  ?  dog eat dog kind of bullshit  ,  no sense of loyalty or shit anywhere  .  the law and all that money was out to get him from the beginning and siwon had enough of it  .  a few months locked up but he learned and leaned and learned  ,  only able to get out on a technicality  .  the second he stepped back out into the sun  ,  siwon followed the map given to him and signed up for the ghouls  .  city of light be damned  .  the only lights he wants to see are flames eating this hellhole alive  .

                    ☣  ;  𝐈 𝐖𝐀𝐍𝐓 𝐓𝐎 𝐓𝐎𝐔𝐂𝐇 𝐓𝐇𝐀𝐓 𝐋𝐈𝐆𝐇𝐓  .

➤  full name.  ryu si-won ➤  date of birth.  january 29th ➤  hometown.  city of light ➤  gender.  cis male ➤  affiliation.  ghouls  ➤  primary occupation.  drug runner  ,  pickpocket  ➤  secondary occupation.  network manager at an internet cafe 

➤  sexual attraction.  pansexual ➤  romantic attraction.  panromantic ➤  character alignment.  chaotic neutral ➤  personality type.  enfp ➤  temperament.  sanguine ➤  wants.  power  ,  family

       stands around 5′11  .  broad shoulders  ,  slim hips  .  floppy  ,  messy hair and sun browned skin  .  half legs  .  a few pieces of silver in his ears and a small hoop on his bottom lip  .  dresses somewhere between a washed up rockstar  ,  your college weed dealer  ,  and a miami vice reject  .  style’s a whim with a closet’s chaotic mix of anything he thrifts or patches together  .  most of the time he’s sporting cuffed jeans  ,  vintage blouse  ,  a denim jacket or tweed blazer and thick ass boots  .  keeps all that hair back with a bandanna or a headband  ,  hair ties on his wrist  .  nothing in his closet’s technically new and he loves looking for a bargain steal —— or simply just a steal  .  likes colors just as much as he likes his neutrals  .  wears a black air filtration mask and fingerless gloves  .  considers his floral button-up shirts fancy material and his trousers cut off at the ankles  .  likes the smell of old leather and the breathing of fringe on a jacket  ,  the weight of heavy rings on his fingers and sunglasses swooped low on his nose  .  wears a monocle because he can’t be fucked with reading glasses  .   his hair’s been every color of the rainbow and he’s always changing it up thanks to temporary dye  .

                    ��               ☣  ;  𝐁𝐋𝐄𝐄𝐃 𝐈𝐍𝐓𝐎 𝐎𝐍𝐄  .

       hustles at arcade halls  ,  scarfs down ramen and burritos like they’re gonna disappear  ,  looks as comfortable in a dark  ,  dirty alley as he does standing under all those lights in the neon district  .  pockets full of candy and a lollipop between his lips  .  likes cheap beer and cigarettes  ,  fast talking and smooth smiles  .  gets up when the sun goes down  .  who knows if he ever gets a full night’s sleep  ,  but you can find him taking a nap just about anywhere  .  seems to live for the dark hours and stays busy as a bee  ,  at the internet cafe one moment and grabbing fried cheese sticks in the next before crossing the bridge to watch the street races and venturing to the tunnels for the fighting rings  .  complains about being broke but puts down bets faster than anyone  .  lives for the feeling of wind in his hair so the window of his top-floor one bedroom shit hole stays open all the time  .  feels the rain on his skin  ,  plays with matches  .   learned how to assemble a gun in less than sixty seconds and stays packing nowadays though he can’t really shoot for shit  .  spray paints boobs on the sides of government buildings and dicks on malls  .  looks like an angel under all those holographic lights  .

       rides a motorbike and his skateboard  .  can do crazy math in his head and spot fake bills with incredible accuracy  .  can barely stand to sit still  ,  always moving except when there’s a computer screen in front of him  .  gets addicted to things so easily it’s scary  ---  people  ,  food  ,  liquor  ,  feelings  .  craves that intimacy  ,  craves that closeness that’s always been denied to him  .  has a loud as fuck laugh and a love for sneaking into places where he doesn’t belong  .  catches extra cash on the side by fixing up broken-down machines and can figure his way around a motor with a bit of elbow grease  .  still sees his family  .  not as much as a good son would  ,  but he sends cash when he can and looks after his younger sister  ,  makes sure she stays well and clean  .  they don’t know half of what he’s gotten up to since he was let out of prison  ,  but they might have some idea --- after all  ,  who’d pay a crooked boy with a record as well as he seems to be  ?  when the sun starts to come up and he crashes into bed  ,  siwon stares out the window and thinks about how in another world  ,  or in another time he probably could’ve been something  .  could’ve made something great  .  but for now he’s just got a whole lot of anger  ,  raw like a fresh wound he can’t stop picking at  .  

                           ☣  ;  𝐈𝐒 𝐈𝐓 𝐑𝐀𝐈𝐍𝐈𝐍𝐆 𝐖𝐈𝐓𝐇 𝐘𝐎𝐔  ?

➤  bonds.  my loyalty to my friends is unwavering  ;   i owe everything to my mentor --- a horrible person who’s rotting in jail somewhere  ;  i fleeced the wrong person and must work to ensure this individual never crosses paths with me  . ➤  flaws.  once i pick a goal  ,  i become obsessed with it to the detriment of everything else in my life  ;  when I see something valuable  ,  i can't think about anything but how to steal it  ;  i have a weakness for the vices of the city  . 

       he’s friendly  ,  but he doesn’t make friends easily --- the ones that he has made  ,  he’d do anything for  .  because that’s how he’s gotten this far  ,  right  ?  all those people who looked after him when others tried to stomp him out  .  he’s still close with his teen friends who threw a few grifts with him  ,  gaming buddies that he knows only through a screen  .  little escapes from all the other bullshit going on in the world  .  even though he isn’t a club guy  ,  he runs into more than a few faces on his rounds  .  maybe they’re bad influences or sweethearts who help that touch starved affliction that comes from living in a city so wired  .  on the flip side  ,  there’s some enemies --- competitors in the runner world  ,  antagonists he meets at the races or rings for whatever reason  (  insane bets make tempers run hot  ,  who knows when they’ll flare for good and siwon’s learning the hard way how to keep his mouth shut  )  .  he’s fixed up a few cars or weapons for people recently because he misses working with his hands  .  y’know  ,  making nice  .  then there’s people he’s caught in a crossfire with  ,  where they’ve met something nasty one too many times before over turf  ,  territory and clients  .  a newer face to the ghouls  ,  he’s bugged someone into mentoring him  ,  and gone on a few runs with someone he loves to call a coworker  .  

       eager to prove himself as more than a green kid with a keyboard and an eye for detail  ,  find him cutting deals and making trades in smokey barbecue houses  ,  hole-in-the wall ramen shops or by taco tents  .  a full bellied class of clients are happy clients in his opinion  ,  and siwon isn’t above not making deals with the other groups who’s names aren’t violent delights  .  speaking of which  ---  there are definitely some skeletons there he aims to confront  ,  some old demons to fight from that class of people that fucked him over  .  there’s an ex lover in there somewhere  ,  probably met in that pre-prison childhood phase when he mingled past class lines more  ( ~1.5-2 years ago )  .  someone he’s healthily fearful of for whatever reason  ,  and maybe a vendetta against the family that scammed his parents out of their business and basically sent his life spiraling  .  there’s someone who isn’t what they seem  --- he doesn’t know who they really are  ,  and maybe they don’t know who he is  ,  either  .  they’ll learn eventually  .  someone he’s protective over  ,  someone who protects him in ways he doesn’t even know  ,  and those he looks after because they grew up on the same side  .  desperate for connection  ,  desperate for a place  ,  he finds it all in heaven and hell  .

[adventures-in-a-world-of-fiction]

Virus watch: The Tribe episode 1

Given the current situation with a global pandemic, I decided to rewatch The Tribe and blog my thoughts. It’s going to get pretty long.

The very first line in this show: “Code one: civil priority. Isolation now in effect. To avoid the risk of contamination, please stay indoors and await further instructions.”

The opening of the series is an official announcement to the general population to stay in their homes to avoid the spread of the virus. Yep, this feels very relevant to rewatch.

What’s with the gas cloud? In the flashback, we see Trudy being evacuated and saying goodbye to her parents who say it’s too late for them, then the shot transitions to this gas cloud. Were the adults all poisoned to stop the virus mutating and affecting kids? Is that what we’re meant to take away from this shot?

“We’ve got to at least try. There isn’t much time.” This line makes so much more sense with the knowledge of what’s going to be revealed in a couple of episodes’ time.

And Trudy’s fear of the Locos and going back also makes more sense. This scene is surprisingly good for foreshadowing.

I love the establishing shots of the city. This newspaper in a pile of rubbish. The cow wandering down an empty street.

Cloe looks both ways before crossing the street! This is adorable. We’ve just had a long wide shot establishing the empty street but she still stands on the pavement at one side, looks in both directions, and then starts to cross.

Kitty!

Really nice use of the sirens to increase dramatic tension.

“She’s a stray.”

“Are we talking about the girl or the cat?”

Zoot gets such a good dramatic intro. All the hints about people being scared of the Locos. Amber and Dal hiding from them. The glimpses and sirens. It’s such a good bad guy introduction for a character who’s barely present in the show.

I guess they hadn’t established Lex’s illiteracy in the first episode.

Why did this meeting fall apart so quickly? Zoot’s laughing ‘cause Lex said something silly, but that didn’t mean that the negotiations weren’t going to work. Lex could have laughed it off and continued the discussions about being in their gang. Why did he suddenly decide that the whole thing was a bust, grab the stuff and run?

Zoot only gave the order to get them after Lex whacked him with the bag and started to run. Everything could have been salvaged before then.

Lex, you asshole. This is such a good character-establishing moment. He’ll happily let Glen get caught to help himself get away.

“We have to save ourselves. Glen would have wanted us to.”

“The tribes have got the city. Let them live on tinned food.”

Dal actually had a pretty good point. Why didn’t the whole tribe just pick up and find an abandoned farm?

Lex, you asshole, part 2. “Maybe Glen sacrificed himself deliberately.” You sleazy slimeball.

“I did find something though. Gum!” Aw, Ryan. Find yourself some better friends.

Here’s a thought: maybe try hiding behind something that isn’t full of holes.

Were the Demon Dogs meant to be more of a thing? They get this big, dramatic face off moment with the Locos but they’re never more than a background threat. They never really do much.

Also, I’m now expecting the silver guy to yell “Witness me!” at the start of the fight.

I find this shot so hilarious. You’ve got Lez, Ryan, and Xandra in their really obvious and ineffectual hiding place...

And then the camera pulls back to the Locos and Demon Dogs charging at each other. There’s just something about these few seconds of camera work that I find really funny.

And they have to cut away from the fight half a second later because it’s so obviously fake. These are just a bunch of kids not stunt fighters so it’s incredibly clear that they’re not actually try to hit each other.

And our first shot of the mall!

Why the hell are there so many of these little fires? Random stuff seems to just spontaneously combust in this world, but never in any way that puts the surrounding buildings at risk.

And who is this mysterious figure?

Looks a lot like my local Co-op the last time I went in.

Lex, you asshole, part 1 billion. All you had to do was walk away and not chase a group with scared little kids in it.

“Do you lip read, Paul?”

“He says he prefers to sign.”

Casual introduction of the deaf character.

“Looks like you’re the one not getting away.”

You don’t have a clue what just happened or why the shutters dropped, Amber, but you’re still acting so confident about it.

Another good entrance. This show did a really good job of introducing all the characters. We know Jack’s there because we’ve seen his hands on the levers, but this is his first full appearance, basically calling Lex out on the futility of making threats. It’s a really fun intro to the character.

“Stay here. You’re safe here.” In this random and uncomfortable tunnel that’s actually really exposed if you’re right in the entrance.

Why not just try one of the buildings around? There must be a million empty rooms she could wait in.

“You won’t find a better place to crash than this.”

What’s with the fairy lights? I know they have solar panels to provide some electricity, but there’s got to be a more energy efficient form of lighting.

Why is everyone so excited about sheets and pillows? There’s got to be a million empty houses with perfectly good beds you could use.

“This is your home. For now at least.”

Aw

Random shot of an owl. Why not?

And yet another random fire.

What’s with the random shots like Bray on the helipad in the credits? Did they just shoot and load of random stuff to throw in there to mix the end credit footage up a bit?

The end credit song is really optimistic.

“We can find a way. Together we’ll make it.”

And you get all the shots of them hugging and dancing and stuff. The message is “Yeah, I know this sucks, but we’ll get through it.” That’s a really hopeful and necessary sentiment right now.

“If we’re gonna survive, the dream must stay alive.”

Overall thoughts: I’m actually really impressed with the editing. There were a lot of moments where you would have a scene of the nice characters talking casually but cut away to shots of Lex and co approaching to build up tension, and little things like the shots of Jacks’ hands and feet before he’s introduced that were nicely done.

There were a few bits of wooden child acting, but on the whole it was pretty good.

As an opening episode goes, it’s really effective at introducing the large cast of characters and showing how they interact with each other.

[zach-the-fox]

Furiends Episode 3: A Bad Idea

A new day has come, and the warthog sits with the cat and blue jay at a small table in a small coffee shop by the name “Pawbucks”. The girls, however, are slouched in their chairs, and have their heads leaning against solid objects as flat-mouthed, half-eyed expressions occupy their faces.

“Ugh, I’m so bored!” Navy exclaims. “What are we supposed to do now?”

“Honestly, I don’t know,” responds Emmy. “Thought it would be a good idea to talk about art, but we constantly see each other’s posts on Furbook.”

“Come on, I’m sure there’s something else to do,” Carly adds. “Maybe we can go to the cartoon festival?” The bird and warthog just look at her. “No? How about-”

“Let’s just get out of here,” Emmy interrupts. She gets out of her seat. “Perhaps, it’ll come to us…” The bird and cat follow without another word. The three exit the coffee shop and walk along the sidewalk.  As they amble down the street, Navy begins a conversation on her interests with a certain character she conjures up. That’s when the pass a display of books in the window pane.

Emmy takes notice of a book on the shelf through the display, forcing her to enter the store. The other girls follow her as she steps toward her target, pulls the book off the shelf, and examines it. The title reads “The Dark Arts for Dummies,” and having a deformed face on the cover. “Interesting…” Emmy opens the book and scans through its contents briefly. “Very interesting…”

Carly stands behind Emmy, glancing over her shoulder to see inside the book. “That book interests you?”

Navy stands and makes her way beside the warthog. “Ooh, a book on dark magic?”

“Looks like it,” Emmy says. “Says everything about how to summon demons and conjure black magic.”

Navy gasps and smiles at the idea. “Oh, can we do this! Please?”

“I don’t know if we should,” Carly adds. “May have some bad outcomes.”

“Or maybe we can raise our very own demon!” Navy utters. “And perhaps wreak havoc on that wolf for taunting Zach.”

“Not sure if that’ll be the case,” utters Emmy. “But you know what, it probably would be a way to kill boredom. Besides, what could go wrong?”

 ***

 Back at the mall, the three girls wander around in search for their items. They split off in different directions as they look around.

Navy picks up a box labeled “dinner candles” on it, taking it for the first item. “These will do.”

“Miss,” calls out a store associate. “We haven’t stocked those yet!” Navy continues walking up to the counter and prepares to pay, leaving the clerk with a look of dismay.

Emmy searches up and down the row of chalkboards, taking the erasers and chalk from the holders. “This will suit our need of chalk dust.” She picks up one eraser, but barely has a grip on it. “Uh oh!” Upon catching it, she hits the chalk boards on either side of her, emitting dust into the air around her. “Oh no…” Emmy’s mouth begins opening wider until, “Achoo!” The dust enters her nose more, causing an uncontrollable sneeze. “I must… achoo! Get out of- Achoo! Here…”

In the floral shop by the corner, Carly looks around for the last item on the list; black rose water. “Hm… If I were rose water, where would I be?” Her eyes are drawn to the bottle on the top shelf near the entrance. “Of course, it’s up there…” She looks around, yet sees no worker in the store. “And no one’s around to help… Guess I’ll just help myself then…” The cat reaches for the bottle, but her paw is only inches away from it. “Hugck! Come on!” She stands on her tippy-toes. “Come on, Carly! You’ve almost got it!” Her paw stretches out more and wraps around the item. “Got it!” Her weight, however, causes the god to lean forward into the shelf. “Uh oh! Whoa!” Carly is knocked into it, causing it to fall over. As the shelf falls, a vase of flower water tips and spills all over her. Carly gets up and sees the damages she’s caused. “Uh, whoops…” She quickly pulls out some cash and leaves it on the counter. “I’ll just be going!” She leaves the scene. “I was never here…”

The girls regroup in the center of the mall.

“All right, everyone got everything from the list?” asks Emmy, rubbing her nose with her finger. The cat and bird nod. “Good. Now, we need a place to perform the ritual.”

“Let’s do it at my place,” says Navy. “We can set up there and-” The bird sniffs the cat. “Hey, why do you smell like fresh roses?”

“Please don’t,” Carly utters. “I need a bath once I get home…”

“You can wash later, when we’ve-” Emmy sniffles. “Oh no… Achoo! Ugh…” She sneezes again.

“Bless you,” Navy tells her.

“Security!” someone shouts. “Security! Someone has destroyed the flower shop!” As the spectator yells, the girls rush out the entrance.

 ***

 The gang gathers at Navy’s studio apartment, where they set up for their “special event”. Carly draws along the floor, making a pentagram with a marker. Emmy takes sand and proceeds to encircle the pentagram, touching the points with perfection. Lastly, Navy places candles beside the points and lights them.

Carly looks into the picture in the book before viewing the shape in reality. She crosses her arms with a smile of pleasure. “Looks about right.”  

“Yeah,” Navy adds. “And it smells nice, too!”

“Okay, let’s get started.” Emmy picks up the book and holds it in her hooves. “All that’s left is to recite the incantation.”

“Wait!” Carly interrupts. “What if whatever comes out of there tries to kill us?”

“Hm, good point. We should suit up and prepare for the worst.” The three girls rummage around Navy’s place for protective equipment and anything that could be used as a weapon. They manage to find gear and tools, preparing in five minutes. Navy holds a shovel close while donning a knight’s helmet, while Carly protects herself with football helmet, wielding a frying pan for her defense. Emmy’s head is covered with a pumpkin as a baseball bat leans up against her for her weapon. The warthog holds the book up. “Everybody ready?” Navy and Carly stand guard behind Emmy, ready to expect the unexpected. Emmy begins the incantation. “For thou who lives trapped in flame and clay, heed this call, rejoice and pray.” Navy’s wings tremble, shaking the shovel in her grip. “Gather upon thy mortal door.” Carly tightens her grip of her frying pan. “Break the gates, and emerge once more!” The candle flames enlarge, brightening the room as a portal opens within the center of the pentagram. One big, round ball shoots out from the entryway, bouncing off the walls of the apartment. The three girls panic as the frenzy continues.

“Whoa!” Carly dives behind the counters in the kitchen to take cover, lying on the floor. “Jeez! How do you stop this thing?!”

“I don’t know!” Emmy dodges as the flame ball flies past her. “This thing’s out of control! Yipe!” She stumbles onto the ground, avoiding the fire sphere as it nearly collides into her.

“Don’t worry!” Navy holds the shovel firmly. “I’ve got it!” As the ball comes her way, she swings and smacks it away. The sphere of flames smashes through the glass window and outside. “Homerun! Woo!” The orb is last seen barreling down the street, burning lampposts and trees along the way. “Um, uh oh…”

Carly stands and looks out the broken window. “Nice going…”

Emmy is quick to her feet as she heads out the door. “Come on! We have to go after it!”

“Are you crazy?!” the cat utters. Navy is already behind the warthog. “Hey, wait for me!” Carly sprints after them.

 ***

 Meanwhile, on the other side of town, Zach, Niji, Eren, and Silus enjoy some time together in the park. The boys each hold ice cream cones in their paws and chat away as they lick their frozen treats.

“Mmm,” Niji spurts after licking his treat. “I love rainbow-flavored ice cream.”

Zach looks to the short deer, who takes a bite out of his swirl. “Eren, thank you very much… You didn’t have to pay for mine… I could’ve just passed on it.”

“No no,” Eren tells him. “It’s fine. Besides, it would’ve been fair if you were left out. You’re our friend after all.”

“Nobody ever thought it was unfair when they left me out of things, the orphanage and Team Rescuers especially…” Zach’s ears start to droop.

“They’re just dumb,” Niji adds in. “The whole town, too. Just because you’re different, doesn’t give them the right to push you out of things. So what if you are the product of some bad animals or have a mental disorder? You look and act normal to us.”

Zach’s eyelids open wide as his ears straighten. “R-really? You think so, Niji?”

“We all do,” Silus implies. “They just don’t know what it’s like to be different. You shouldn’t let people talk you down because they say you have “flaws”. In fact, you shouldn’t assess yourself for your flaws, but of your strengths; the things that make you proud of who you are, no matter what anybody things.”

“Gee, I-” The fox pauses, then turns his head after spotting something glowing in the corner of his eye. “W-what? What is that?” Everyone turns to see where he’s looking. “It looks like a giant-” Zach’s eyelids pull back as far as they can go as he notices a large fireball heading straight for him and his friends. “Holy!” Silus is quick with his reflexes, grabbing the fox, wolf, and deer with his arms and pulling them away to avoid the flames. However, as the ball of flames whooshes past, it manages to touch Zach on his torso, Eren by his shoulder, and Niji on his head, as well as the newt’s arms that grasp the three. The four boys collapse to the ground and scatter as they grudge at their burns, grunting and yelping with pain. The fire sphere then disappears from view, leaving the friends clueless.

Emmy arrives on scene with Navy and Carly beside her. “I think this is where it-” She notices the boys. “Oh my gosh! Niji, Eren, Silus, Zach!” She and the girls aide the four friends to their feet. “You guys okay?!”

“What happened?” asks Carly. “You’ve got burns!”

“Yeah, no kidding!” Niji shouts. “No thanks to that giant fireball that passed by!”

“Wait, you know where the fireball went?!” Navy utters. “Where did it go?!” She searches around frantically. “Is it around here?!”

“Navy, now’s not the time!” Carly calls to her. “We have to help our friends!”

“We don’t even know what’s happening,” grunts Zach. “We were having ice cream when that flaming ball came out of nowhere… Oh, it hurts!”

Eren looks up at the girls. “Um, why are you wearing those outfits?”

“We’ll explain later,” Emmy says. “Why don’t we head back to Navy’s place and get you guys some ice?” The friends agree. The boys stand with ease due to their injuries and follow the girls back. @carlycmarathecat​ @emmy-the-absolute-goof​ @pink-unicorn-blood​ @rainbow-strike​ @ask-choro-mama​

[moonlight-dragon]

FAKE RELATIONSHIP AU (Allurance)

“I just think Lance and Allura are the cutest!” Romelle clapped, smiling brightly to the couple sitting before her. “I never thought pointy chin would master the courage to ask her out!”

Allura’s cheeks flush, her eyes traveling to the boy next to her. Lance looks at her, smiling as he holds her hand in his, giving her a reassuring squeeze. Part of the operation “keep Lotor away from Allura by pretending to be her boyfriend” as Lance had called it. It was not as if she couldn’t do that herself, put Lotor at her reach and she would send him flying, but not now. It still hurt, and she wasn’t sure she could face him without regretting whatever could come after it.

And that was when Lance, sweet-caring Lance had offered to be her fake-boyfriend. At first, she had laughed, punching her best friend lightly in the arm for such silly suggestion. But when he faced her there was nothing but seriousness in his eyes.

*

“This will keep him away from you ‘Lura” he had took her hand between his, his browns furrowed, his voice in a serious tone that was the complete opposite to the lover-boy Lance persona he displayed so often. If only people knew the incredible selfless person he was… “You would be off limits, he is clever enough to not mess with a girl with boyfriend.”

“…Besides I’d get to live my dream. Having gorgeous, strong and amazing Allura as my fake-girlfriend? WOW.”

Allura punched him harder that time, unbelievably happy that lover-boy Lance was back. Thought not for long. Mischief shone in his eyes, making her try to escape to fail miserably at repelling his tickle attack.

*

Spending time together was part of their routine, so they didn’t need to do anything special except being touchier… which Allura found herself realizing that it was already there. It was not as if they did it on purpose, they simply were drawn to each other.

A loose arm around her shoulders every now and then, her head buried against his chest when they escaped a crowded party, overacted hugs with bonus spins whenever he was happy, or she was happy, or they simply felt like doing something extreme… And the thing was that it all felt good, sometimes more than she dared to admit.

Allura couldn’t exactly point out when Lance had passed from being an annoying flirt to the person she trusted the most in the world, her confidant, her best friend. Because stars knew how insufferable he was when they had met -all bravado, cheesy pick up lines and forced smiles that had made her roll her eyes more times than she could remember-. But under all that, well, Allura had found a sweet little boy from Cuba who had done nothing but allow her to see that she was worthy, despite all her mistakes and flaws.

*

-You have greatness within you Lance, I hope you can see it… -she had said in one of their “fake dates” in her room, Netflix and chill, but without the further connotations. Still she found herself hugging his body under the blankets, too distracted by the sound of his heart to care about whatever the film was about. When she had said that phrase, the silence after it made her look up to see her “fake boyfriend” soundly asleep. She had smiled, stars knew why, putting away the laptop and staring at his face, brushing some locks out of it while thinking how long eyelashes he had. He was beautiful. Her cheeks felt warm, but she was too mesmerized to actually realize, putting her whole attention in the way his whole face simply glowed.

That fake relationship, keeping it as platonic as possible, she was sure failing miserably on that. Those hugs, those touches, the way she giggled like a teenager whenever he said something funny… Yes, Allura, way to go, you sure are doing a great job. But the thing is that she didn’t want to do a good job. She craved his lips on her skin, the gazes of pure devotion he gifted her, the way his sole presence made her feel invincible… she wanted all of that to be real. But, did he?

He had always been there when she needed him, even when Lotor was part of her life, she always found herself running to Lance whenever she felt like crying her heart out or cursing the world, or simply feel a warmth that reminded her of home. And he had always been there, with his arms open, listening and making her feel better with the words that escaped his lips… 

She wanted to be selfish and believe herself worthy of his love, that all the lover-boy-Lance’s cheesy pick-up lines still were meant for her.

-Hey Lance, is it too late to accept you travelling across the galaxies to find me?- she whispered, leaning closer to lightly touch his forehead with her lips, hoping her eyes were shinning at least with half of the devotion she always found in those blue gems of his.

*

Lance had arrived at her room one afternoon, saying he had a surprise, to which Allura couldn’t help but smile. He started talking about the mice and saying they needed a bath and her eyes started shinning as she imagined them in the bathroom playing more than actually giving a bath to her pets. But they liked Lance so sure they would forgive her for using them for expending more time with him. She was ready to drag him to the bathroom when two figures appeared behind him. Romelle and Pidge crushed her in a hug, barely giving Allura time to process the situation. When she became aware she turned to Lance, who already had his hands up in surrender and a apologizing smile that was going to be the death of her.

-You haven’t hang out with them in weeks ‘Lura, they were worried- he simply said, stepping closer to her and giving her a peck in the cheek. -Go, have fun. Me and the mice can handle a couple of hours alone.

-Aggggg, please, spare the public displays of affection Lance- Pidge muttered with fake annoyance, turning to Allura with a big smile in her face. -Okay, go pick up your things, we gotta go!

-Already on it! – Romelle appeared with her purse in her hands, Lance handling her a white coat he said looked gorgeous on her. Her “fake boyfriend” had a better fashion sense than her… she wasn’t going to let that get into her, she wasn’t!

Her friends dragged her out of her bedroom, Lance waving her goodbye while Romelle giggled and muttered something about pointy chin being a good partner in crime. Allura snuffled, allowing a smile to form in her face. It was true that after the Lotor thing she had barely got out of her room -except for going to class- and Lance was almost her only contact with the outside world, apart from Shiro, whose presence always made her feel calm, not for coincidence he was the gang’s “dad”… his premature fluff of white hair not helping at all. She hadn’t neglected her other friends on purpose, but she didn’t have the energy to face them, simply that. But she was going to change that today. They met the Garrison girls in the mall, Romelle chattering about Lance’s suggestion of buying something sparkly. Something sparkly was their thing, she wanted to buy it with HIM! Still she had fun,  so the punch her “fake boyfriend”/best friend had deserved at the beginning of the afternoon was turning into a check peek if she felt bold enough. She headed back home a little earlier than the others, saying Lance had been left alone with the mice and she was worried to find a pool instead of a bedroom when she went back.

His voice greeted her in the hallway. Because when he sang, it was for the whole world to listen. She opened the door in complete silence, ready to give him a hug attack from the back when his song stopped, whispers being now the melody escaping from his lips.

-I’m being a complete jerk here… I mean, when on Earth did I thought this was a good idea?! I stepped back when she was going out with Lotor, I decided it was okay, that just being his friend was enough… But I can’t, I can’t touch her and not want to be with her, forever, for as long as she wants me… “Fake boyfriend”? I don’t want us to be fake, fuck, I want to be her boyfriend, her real boyfriend! I love her, I love Allura so much it hurts. She makes me want to be a better person, I feel better when I’m with her… I just, I just… want her to feel better… with me?

-Sorry guys, so much drama… hahahaha, but hey, can’t expect anything else from Lover-Boy-Lance, right? Now let’s leave you guys as clean as ever!

Allura stepped back, picking her things and closing the door behind her. When she felt far enough from her bedroom she started crying, and laughing, and screaming with her head buried in her hands. He loved her. He was still in love with her and wanted to be with her as much as she wanted to be with him.

God Lance you were so dumb. God Allura you were so dumb too.

But that was going to change.

*

-Do you guys even kiss? - Keith’s question made Lance choke, as well as make everyone around him groan and face palm, specially Pidge, who lightly punched him in the arm. -What?!

-Whoa Keith, who knew you were the bold type? -Lance laughed, trying to change the subject. He was mentally trying to come up with something, but Allura’s face buried on his shoulder was not helping… wait, was she crying? He touched her check, finding no trace of tears on it so then, she was laughing? -We do kiss, healthy and in love couple thing, but in private, where we don’t have to watch all your disgusted faces.

-I wouldn’t make a disgusted face… If you kept it casual.

-I would find it super cute guys, you are couple goals!- Hunk was blushing and grinning and he soon found Romelle joining him in making kissing sounds.

-Hey, enough with the bad kissing sound effects… Tough it would be cute all to be said.-Shiro, you weren’t helping!

-Guys, c’mon! ‘Lura say som….

Allura’s lips cut him off mid-sentence, pressing against his own. His eyes widened for a moment before sliding shut. He could feel Allura’s arm around his neck, pulling him closer as the hand we was holding invited him to cup her check. Which he did, feeling the warm of her chocolate skin as their kiss deepened. Only after they both run out of air they pull away, followed by cheers and groans of unbelief. Not that they were paying attention, they were simply too focused in each other’s eyes.

*

“So, that kiss…”

“Yes?”

“We are… a thing?”

“I think so, yes.”

“Cool”

“Hey Allura”

“Yes Lance”

“Can I… can I kiss you again?”

Allura smiled, nodding as she felt his lips crash into hers, her feet leaving the floor as her no-longer-fake-boyfriend held her in his arms

Allurance fic that had been lying around my folders for so long. Finally finished! Sorry for any grammar mistakes, hope they’re not too bad…

@makesitprecious was an amazing proofreader and honestly, her email-reaction was the cuttest thing ever. THANK YOU SO MUCH!

Hope you like it and really, if anyone has any hc, au or something like that for me to write, please send it to me. It’s always nice to have inspiration.

Picture credit: http://cherryandsisters.tumblr.com/post/165446045809/they-love-each-other-and-i-love-them

[btspremiumtrash]

carving your love

⇓ Ship: Incubus!Hoseok x Vampire!Yoongi

⇓ Genre: Fluff, suggestions to smut, Creatures AU

⇓ Summary:  The mortals are throwing a party. A Halloween party. Where they dress up as creatures of the night. But why dress up like them when you can be them? That’s a question that the Bangtan Boys don’t need help answering since they themselves are those things that go bump in the night. But the question that has never dawned any of them was: What would happen if an incubus and vampire were to intermingle?

⇓ Word ct.: 5k

⇓ Warnings: None :)

⇓Prompt:  “I assumed we were both mediocre pumpkin carvers and made a bet saying my pumpkin would be better and you just turned yours around and I’m horrified because you didn’t tell me that you were going to kill it, especially since mine is just our initials and a heart.” (In collaboration with @sunshinebtss ❤)

Masterlist

“I’m not going,” Yoongi said in his famous (or infamous if you will) deadpanned tone to the older man, Seokjin, who was trying to convince him to join him and the rest of the gang to the Halloween party being thrown by the humans not too far away from their place. “We know how the last party went. Why would I waste my time with another incident happening like that again?”

It was a once in a lifetime opportunity. No one would dare throw a party in the most haunted mansion in Seoul. Except for the group of hormonal, ignorant teenagers who didn’t even think twice when persuaded by the shapeshifter Seokjin in hopes that they would fall for it. Thank goodness they were high off their asses when he offered them the deal. Otherwise, it would’ve been just like last year: a solid no.

The last time someone threw a party there, the werewolf Jeongguk took things a little too far. Although it wasn’t his fault for the full moon that just so happened to be on that night, it made his temper skyrocket, making it extremely easy to set off the man with even the slightest thing. Which is exactly what happened. A teenager dressed in a Big Bad Wolf costume called Jeongguk a fake werewolf and that comment ended his life. Ever since then, no one has come back in fear of the werewolf but also the ghost. Fortunately enough though, the only ghost that inhabits the mansion is Taehyung. The other guy was sent to hell for what he’s done during his time on Earth.

So with all this mind, Seokjin couldn’t bear the thought of Yoongi not coming back to the mansion. “Please Yoongi? Jeongguk will be on a tight leash I promise. Jimin can keep him in check or he can go to a spare room and watch anime while the party happens.”

Yoongi cocked an eyebrow as he looked up from his computer to see the pleading Seokjin beg for his appearance at the party. He was currently doing research for a liberal arts assignment for his online university that was due ironically enough on Halloween, AKA tonight. “Is Namjoon going?”

Ah, the man—or rather merman—that stole Seokjin’s heart at first sight. He would go to visit him in the ocean every chance he got, shifting into a merman himself to see him and all he had to offer. Of course, Seokjin never spoke to Namjoon about his true feelings for the merman. Why would he take the chance to ruin the beautiful friendship that he had with him? And so he kept his feelings at bay.

That comment made blood rush to his cheeks, which he shook off and responded, “Yes he is. But so is Hoseok. And you need to be the one who shows him the ropes.”

Yoongi groaned. Hoseok moved from Gwangju to Seoul not that long ago. Taehyung, being the Casper he was, invited him to the party. He thought it would be a great opportunity to meet other creatures like him and befriend them. “What even is that dude anyway?”

“An incubus. I’m assuming you know—”

“Yes, I know what an incubus is.” Yoongi stopped Seokjin from further explaining. The last time he asked Seokjin to explain something, he was met with the most vivid, haunt-inducing, descriptions that he refrained from ever asking Seokjin to ever describe anything for him. It was for anal sex. Something that before Yoongi was curious about until he asked Seokjin about it. Now he feared it more than dying a second time. “But why do I have to be the one that ‘shows him the ropes’?” He used his fingers as quotations marks to emphasize how stupid this situation was.

Seokjin scoffed. “Uh, I hate to be the one to break it to you buddy but you need to work on your social skills. If you didn’t know any of us in your past life then you probably wouldn’t have any friends.”

“Gee, thanks.” Yoongi rolled his eyes. “Why isn’t 5 a sufficient number?”

“Because I said so. Now get your ass up. We’re going to that party whether you like it or not.”

“Spoiler alert: I don’t,” the vampire said with sarcasm dripping in his voice.

Two could play at that game. With Seokjin grabbing Yoongi’s hand to lift him out of the seat, he matched Yoongi’s sarcasm to a T. “Spoiler alert: I don’t give a shit.”

--

Midnight came around pretty quickly. At least for Seokjin. Yoongi on the other hand, dreaded every second of shopping for a stupid costume with his companion. Seokjin got a matching set for him and Namjoon to wear to the party. Yoongi already had an outfit at home, but Seokjin persisted that he upgrade his wardrobe. And so Yoongi put a little effort in dressing up as himself essentially. Or as the human fantasy of a vampire. He got makeup to make his skin paler than the white walls of the mall they went to and black eyeliner to make his eyes stand out. He even got cute purple eye contacts even though his irises naturally turn red. He doesn’t know why mortals think they had purple eyes, but he didn’t have the capacity to ask or care. Maybe Seokjin was right about this whole “antisocial interactions” thing. To put the finishing touches on his look, he got the Dracula costume package. He had to restrain himself from rolling his eyes at how humans depict him.

Despite initially hating the idea of going out to get a new costume, he actually outdid himself. He enjoyed looking at himself through the specially designed mirror that allowed for his vampiric self to show. Seokjin helped him put some red streaks in his jet-black hair. Now he was fully a heartthrob vampire.

The pair walked over to the mansion that was only fifteen minutes away from their cottage in the woods. They didn’t live far from the cave Jeongguk and his 97-line gang slept and were a good walking distance from Namjoon’s ocean—Hence why Seokjin takes every chance he can to see his merman. Jimin and Taehyung lived in the mansion together so that Taehyung had someone to talk to.

“Huh,” Jimin greeted Yoongi at the door with his arms crossed in amazement that he would come. “So Seokjin really did the impossible.”

Yoongi fought the urge to say something smart to the younger demon. “Nice to see you too, Jimin.”

He smirked, enjoying being able to tease Yoongi like this. “How’d he do it?”

“By dragging him out of his self-loathing chair that he never leaves,” Seokjin answered. “Not even when he’s sleeping.”

Jimin giggled and moved out the way to let the two inside. Besides the very real cobwebs, the Halloween decorations were on point. From the plastic pumpkin baskets full of candy at the buffet table to the fog machines placed all around the house. Very spoopy indeed.

There was no mortals insight. Yoongi would’ve smelled them if there were. However, he did get the faint smell of wet dog—

“Yoongi!” He heard his name being called by Jeongguk from the top of the stairs. “You came!”

The vampire was getting irritated with both the demon and now the werewolf not believing he came to this event. “Is it really that big of a deal?”

He heard the echoey sound of Taehyung’s ghostly self lurking around him as he answered his question. “Uh, honestly, yeah. Didn’t think you’d show up, Dracula.”

“Fuck all of you.”

“You mean that?” Jimin asked.

Seokjin immediately shook his head. “Oh, I’d rather not. I’ve seen Yoongi naked too many times to count. Not a pretty sight.”

Yoongi cracked a wicked grin. “Somehow I think it’s for a different reason. A fishy reason.”

The shapeshifter elbowed Yoongi which made Yoongi bite back a laugh. “You aren’t funny.”

“Wasn’t trying to be.”

“Anyways,” Seokjin turned his attention to the very empty mansion. “Where are the humans? They should’ve been here like twenty minutes ago.”

“I think you meant ‘Where’s Namjoon? He should’ve been here like twenty minutes ago.’” Yoongi mumbled to which Seokjin smacked the back of his neck to silence him.

Jimin shrugged. “I don’t know, chief. Maybe when they were sober they realized the mistake they made and—”

Just before Jimin could come up with his grim conclusion, the doorbell rang. A couple of times before Jimin irritatingly rushed over to open it.

With their high off their minds expressions, one human dressed as a Minion greeted Jimin. “Heyyy dude. Is this where the Halloween party is?”

Jimin tried not to look visibly disgusted with the smell of marijuana oozing from their clothes. He couldn’t even believe he agreed to let these creatures into his home. At least last year the only thing the humans did was drink and that’s something Jimin could do all day if he wanted to. He mustered up an eye smile and welcomed the mortals into the haunted house. “Of course! Come on in so we can get this party started!”

Everyone rushed inside while Taehyung got the music going. Seokjin noticed Namjoon the second he stepped into the house. Jimin shook his head as Seokjin passed him to meet the merman and bring him inside, internally agreeing that Seokjin is indeed whipped as cream for Namjoon. Too bad the only people that don’t know they like each other are Seokjin and Namjoon.

That’s more than he could say for his situation though. Although this isn’t how he pictured his date with Jeongguk going, he was more than elated to watch over the young werewolf as he was kept away from society by entertaining himself with video games and anime.

As everyone had something to do or someone to talk to, Yoongi was alone at the kitchen bar, watching from afar. That was until an unfamiliar scent caught his attention. It was intoxicating. He turned his attention to where the smell was coming from and was greeted with what he assumed to be the new incubus in town. Jung Hoseok.

“Mind if I sit here?” His voice was a thing of beauty. He could listen to it all day if Satan would allow it. His features were everything to gawk about. Wearing a stylish police officer costume, it was like he was sculpted by the goddess Aphrodite herself. And that jawline? That could stab him in the heart and he would say thank you.

Yoongi realized that he was staring at him for probably too long so he stuttered over his words. “Uh yeah sure.” Hopefully, he didn’t catch it. That would be so embarrassing.

Wait a second. Since when was Min Yoongi embarrassed? Since the last time he was alive which was about 3,000 years ago. Nowadays it’s been more of secondhand embarrassment with his friends doing something stupid in public. But now? Now he felt… Dare he say he had butterflies in his stomach.

Hoseok took his seat next to the vampire. He could’ve sworn that his heart skipped a beat when he spoke to him. “You don’t wanna mingle with these lowly excuses for humans too huh?”

Despite the comment he made, he still found it funny and chuckled. “I’d rather not, no. Seeing them make a fool out of themselves is my entertainment for the night.”

Hoseok also laughed along with Yoongi. Taehyung watched from the sidelines. Unfortunately, Yoongi sensed the young ghost’s presence. Without looking in the direction of where Taehyung was hiding, he exclaimed his voice to where he could hear it but it wouldn’t draw attention from the humans. “You know, just because you’re called a creep doesn’t mean you have to act like one.”

Taehyung came out of the walls. He snapped his fingers and turned from a ghost to a human. He smiled that famous boxy smile and said, “Sorry. I couldn’t help myself. Do you want any drinks? Jimin had me stock up. Although I can’t help but think it’s for himself for the aftermath of this party…”

“I’m good.”

“Hey, Taehyung!” Hoseok said with a smile as he greeted his first friend he made since he got to Seoul. “I think I’ll have a few shots if you don’t mind.”

Dammit. He probably sounds like that old sober grandpa that you hate sitting next to at family reunions and does nothing but talk your ear off about how this generation is going to shit.

Oh my god. I’m really overthinking it. What the fuck is wrong with me?

While Taehyung made the drinks, Hoseok was the one to keep the conversation between him and Yoongi going. “I’m assuming you’re a vampire, right?”

“Right.”

“Hmm...,” Hoseok studied Yoongi’s features closely and it took everything in Yoongi to not visibly blush with how close this man was to his face. He took a step backed and cocked his head to the side in confusion. “Then why the purple eyes?”

Yoongi took a pregnant pause to go over what he was going to say in his head. He didn’t want to sound stupid. Not yet anyway. “Humans.” Was his simple answer.

“They’re all wasted anyway, I bet you could just take those off and no one would even bat an eye. Eh, but either way you look nice uhh...”

He realized he never told him his name. “Y-Yoongi. Min Yoongi.” He hated the way his voice audibly stuttered.

Hoseok extended his hand for Yoongi to shake. “Jung Hoseok. But I’m pretty sure Taehyung told you that already.”

“Yeah.” Yoongi held onto Hoseok’s hand for probably a tad longer than what the average time length is spent on shaking one’s hand. Regardless, Hoseok either didn’t mind or didn’t notice. And so he kept them there until he broke it off. “I’m actually supposed to be showing you around Seoul.”

“I’ve done my own walk around the neighborhood,” Hoseok joked. “Although, I wouldn’t mind doing it again if you were my tour guide.”

Oh, I can be more than just a tour guide. Just say the words and I’m all yours.

Wait what the fuck?

Stop thinking like that!

As Taehyung placed the drinks on the island bar for Yoongi and Hoseok, the three turned their attention to Seokjin as he got ahold of a microphone. Those two combinations usually never end well. Tonight was no exception for that combination either.

“Attention humans and creatures of the night,” he exclaimed. “We’re about to have a pumpkin carving contest! Whoever is the winner gets the house!”

At hearing this, Taehyung, now visibly reddened with anger, turned back into a ghost and zoomed as fast as he could above the humans’ head to Seokjin. Once he made it he snapped his fingers to turn back into his fleshy self. He pulled Seokjin away from Namjoon and to the kitchen bar. There he went off on the shapeshifter and the decision he made to basically sell his house free of charge. “Are you fucking crazy, Seokjin? This is my house! Not yours! I don’t see you giving away your little cottage to those strangers!”

“Calm down, Taehyu—”

“Calm down? Calm down?!” Taehyung growled as he pushed Seokjin with all his might. “I don’t know about you but Jeongguk’s pack is really mean to me so I can’t go live with them. I can’t breathe underwater so Namjoon’s place is definitely out. Yoongi would honestly kick me out the second I move in. I won’t have any place to go. What about Jimin—”

Before Taehyung could finish his ranting, Seokjin went over to rest his hands on his shoulders. “Relax, Taehyung. I know how much this place means to you.”

“Do you?” Yoongi questioned with just a hint of sarcasm which earned him a delightful giggle from Hoseok.

He didn’t acknowledge the vampire directly, but he did continue with his explanation. “I very much do. Which is why the contestants that are playing are us. Me, Joonie, Hoseok, and Yoongi. The judges are you, Jimin, and Jeongguk. Doesn’t that sound fun?”

Taehyung pouted. He crossed arms and looked down. “Yeah... But you should’ve told me beforehand...”

“Well, that was before I found out there was an entire pumpkin garden outside in the back of the mansion.”

“Wait. For real?”

“Do you—Do you go outside your own place?”

The ghost looked anywhere but in the direction of Seokjin. He mumbled, “No.”

Seokjin shook his head. “Maybe those witches like you after all.”

Taehyung’s face turned into one of utter disgust. “Ugh! Don’t ever bring them up again. I hate those bitches with a passion.”

While Seokjin was laughing (Taehyung was definitely not), Hoseok leaned to Yoongi to whisper, “Who are the witches?”

Yoongi whispered back without stuttering this time. Improvement is key. “Aptly titled ‘The Four Horsewomen of the Apocalypse’. Kim Jisoo, Kim Jennie, Park Chaeyoung, and Lalisa Manoban. They’re the ones that killed Taehyung all those years ago. They gave him a potion that gave him irresistibility since he was going on a date with his girlfriend, Amber. Unfortunately, that potion was actually cyanide. So when the Devil offered him the proposition of making Taehyung into an immortal ghost to haunt the witches, he took the offer. Although he’s been slacking on the haunting part a little. He couldn’t scare anyone even if he tried. He’s too friendly.”

The vampire thought he was speaking too much. If he wasn’t tripping over his own words, he was going off on a tangent. But Hoseok didn’t seem to mind. In fact, Hoseok would love nothing more than to hear the little Dracula in a very different setting...

Hoseok had to suppress his naughty thoughts as they would awaken his own irresistibility powers. It’s been a struggle as he hasn’t had any luck as of recently. His recent partners were all weak humans with little to no power for Hoseok’s inner sexual demon to feed on. Meaning that his demon was all for taking his lovely vampire to his house. But the little humanity Hoseok had left wanted to honestly win him over without using his incubus powers.

If only he knew how well it was working.

They stared at each other for what seemed like forever, getting lost in each other’s eyes. It wasn’t until Seokjin snapped his fingers in front of them to avert their attention from one another to Seokjin’s waiting stance. Arms crossed, tapping his feet impatiently. “If you two lovebirds are done with the cringe lovey-dovey ogling, we have a pumpkin carving contest to win.”

They both blushed, but Yoongi’s was more noticeable with his paler-than-average skin tone due to the makeup. Hoseok wanted to comment on it and call him cute. But he, along with Yoongi, was swept away from their seats to the cleared out buffet table that was replaced with four pumpkins equally spread apart and carving utensils.

Jimin and Jeongguk were brought downstairs by Namjoon. Jimin hated that their “date” was cut short while Jeongguk was thrilled to be invited to join the party albeit to judge a pumpkin carving contest. Taehyung situated himself in between the duo. They all sat at another table directly in front of the buffet table. The humans all sat on opposite ends of the tables, waiting for the battle to begin.

Hoseok once again leaned down to whisper to Yoongi, “Bet I can beat your pumpkin carving.”

Yoongi scoffed, “Challenge accepted.”

“Alright,” Jimin started.

“On your mark,” Jeongguk continued.

“Get set,” Taehyung added.

“Go!” The trio said at the same time. Telepathy had its perks.

The creatures went to work on their pumpkins. Humans left and right was screaming out who was gonna win. So far the majority of the crowd shouted that the sexy part-time police officer full-time incubus was gonna win. Although that was probably because he was emitting some of his lascivious powers to attract the crowd to help him win. He wasn’t trying to. But he’s so goddamn hungry that it’s getting harder to suppress his demonic urges.

Then again, it wasn’t to show off. He could care less if he were to win with or without having an unfair advantage. It was to impress Yoongi. Maybe winning the contest would also earn him at least one night with this vampire. That’s all he wants. But his heart wants more than just one night. It needs the rest of their immortal lives.

“Five-minute warning!” Jimin shouted above the very loud crowd of annoying humans. Oh, how he was going to enjoy having drink upon drink when this is all over.

Yoongi was already done with his creation. It didn’t take long to decide what he was going to carve. His otherwise cold heart actually felt warm for once. It skipped beats. It felt like he was alive again. Like he had a reason for living. And it was all because of the incubus standing right beside him. He couldn’t help passing a goofy grin to Hoseok. Hoseok could feel Yoongi staring at him, and as much as he would love to return the favor, he had a vampire’s heart (and also contest but that came second) to win.

Five minutes passed like a blur. It felt more like five seconds for Hoseok. Fortunately, he did manage to finish his carving just in time.

“Judging time~” Taehyung sang happily. It was almost as if he was all for this idea although he was the main one throwing a fit about it fifteen minutes ago. “Each of you has to explain what you carved. Once everyone is done we’ll tally up the votes and announce the winner. Cool?”

The contestants all nodded and Jeongguk spoke. “Alright. Joonie first.”

The audience went silent as the merman explained his carving. The amount of detail a man can carve into a pumpkin was telling. “So I drew inspiration from the wonderful sea and all it has to offer. From the different fishies I carved here”—he pointed to each tiny fish as he spoke—“to the seaweed and then of course in the middle is my sandcastle that me and my family live and rule the sea.” He gave a dimpled smile to signify that he was done with his explanation. Everyone was in awe as they clapped their hands during Namjoon’s gentlemanly bow.

Next was Hoseok. He took a deep breath, careful to say the right words to win this contest. He had to get Yoongi out of his mind which was nearly impossible. But somehow he was able to do the impossible. “Okay so, I carved my home, Gwangju. It’s a trail that I used to walk on. The path was so beautiful, especially during spring. The cherry blossoms in full bloom and petals falling down into the lake. I would sit down on this red bench just to clear my mind.”

Now while his words depicted what he had in mind, his carving clearly didn’t support what he was saying the slightest. It was as if a kindergartner was given a knife, told it was a crayon, and to color the pumpkin. But the audience didn’t care. No one cared. Welcome to seducing your victims taught by your local incubus, Jung Hoseok. They still cheered him on.

Oddly enough, his powers didn’t work on the immortal creatures, especially Yoongi who couldn’t hold back the pure laughter that escaped his system as the crowd really bought that half-assed job.

After Yoongi finished laughing (AKA Seokjin kicked his knee to shut him up), Seokjin explained his masterpiece, if you could call it that. “What you see in front of you is a beautifully designed man. He is godly and should be treated as such. I call this ‘Worldwide Handsome’.”

With every contestant, it seemed like Yoongi’s chances of winning were slim. Except for Seokjin and maybe Hoseok if he turned his powers off.

While the art of seduction worked for Hoseok, it didn’t work for Seokjin. Instead, it earned him mockery from everyone excluded Namjoon who comforted him while everyone laughed at his own ego.

“Oh my god, Seokjin!” Taehyung laughed uncontrollably. “You couldn’t even bother carving Namjoon’s face?! It just had to be yours?!”

Seokjin was flushed. His ego had never been more damaged than now.  

Amongst the chaos, Hoseok asked Yoongi what he carved into his pumpkin.

Yoongi complied and turned his pumpkin to Hoseok, giving him his explanation. “I assumed we were both mediocre pumpkin carvers and made a bet saying my pumpkin would be better and you just turned yours around and I’m horrified because you didn’t tell me that you were going to kill it, especially since mine is just our initials and a heart.”

“I—”

Yoongi blushed visibly. He attempted to put away his pumpkin “I-I’m sorry. I just—”

“No, no.” Hoseok stopped Yoongi from putting his pumpkin away by covering his hands in his own. “It’s beautiful. I didn’t know you felt that way.”

I didn’t know I could feel until you came into my life.

He kept that part to himself. But he did smile as he felt the warmth of Hoseok’s hands over his own. He loved that feeling and would love nothing more than to have that every day for the rest of eternity.

“I think I love you, Hoseok.”

Hoseok returned the smile back to him. “I know I love you, Yoongi.”

Jimin cleared his throat audibly so as to gain the attention of the pair who haven’t been able to pay anyone else attention than themselves. It did do the job as they unlocked hands and gave their undivided attention to the demon.

Jimin looked down at Yoongi’s pumpkin, then Yoongi, then the pumpkin again. Then he shot the vampire with a telepathic thought. Do you want yours to be included?

Yoongi shrugged but then shook his head. It was made for him. I could care less about the contest. Just make Seokjin the winner if you don’t mind. I really don’t wanna hear how pissed he was that everyone laughed at him tonight.

Jimin raised a haughty eyebrow. So you aren’t going back with the incubus? Odd.

Shut it, Park.

Did I press a button?

He rolled his eyes as Jimin went over to Hoseok’s pumpkin to give it one more look over. It took everything in him to not crack a smirk. He really did fuck that pumpkin’s shit up entirely. Satan curse this child.

“Aaand the winner is,” Taehyung began.

Jeongguk shouted with a smile as bright as the sun and as cute as a bunny, “Kim Seokjin!”

While the crowd was shouting that Hoseok or Namjoon should’ve won, Seokjin took it as an opportunity to tell them to suck it. “I won idiots! Get over it losers!” He blew raspberries at his haters. He could have their heads served on a platter but they didn’t deserve such a swift death.

Namjoon congratulated his destined counterpart with a bearhug. “My family is throwing a party tonight. It’d be great if you could make it. That way I have a familiar face that isn’t my family around. Plus you always manage to make it interesting.”

Seokjin blushed. “O-oh… Okay then. I’d like that.”

Namjoon flashed him a smile and Seokjin returned the gesture. “Glad to hear it.”

Jimin nudged Seokjin’s arm suggestively. “Looks like you got yourself a date huh? I’m proud of you.”

“Don’t push it.”

“You are no fun at all, you know that?” Jimin pouted. “Learn to lighten up.”

“Learn to follow your own advice,” Seokjin said, nodding his head over to Jeongguk. “There’s literally nothing that could go wrong.”

“Uhh, you’re absolutely wrong about that chief. Literally, everything could go wrong. What if I say the wrong thing. Or mayhaps—”

“Thanks for watching over me today,” Jeongguk said to Jimin. He snuck his way over to the two while they were blabbering on. With a hand scratching at the back of his neck, he continued. “I know I can be a handful. But you play games better than I do. I admire that… Anyways, the gang is out tonight for feasting and that means I have no one to play games—”

“I’ll play with you.”

Kinky.

Get the fuck out of my head, Seokjin.

Jeongguk was taken aback by the sudden response. He didn’t know he already knew what he was going to say without him even getting the full thought out. Regardless, he smirked. “Cool. Ready to go now?”

Jimin turned to his ghostly best friend. “You’ll watch over the house while I’m out?”

“You got it!” Taehyung smiled. “By the way, did you know we have a pumpkin garden in the backyard?”

Jimin was confused at hearing this. But then it all came together. He enclosed his face with his hand as he shook his head in disappointment. “The witches must’ve put them there. Hopefully, they aren’t—”

And just before he could finish, humans left and right started dying. They had bitten off the delectably poisonous pumpkins from the contest and they paid with their lives. Hopefully, Jimin’ll see most of them in hell. Satan knows they deserve it.

“Poisonous. Goddammit. Now I have to clean the house and these disgusting bodies. Can this night get any worse?”

Jeongguk was about to say something, but Jimin silenced him before he could. “Don’t answer that. Just—take me away from here before I honestly blow a fucking gasket.”

“You got it.” Jeongguk swept Jimin off his feet and placed him on his back, transforming from human to werewolf and taking off with his super-speed back to his cave.

“We should be heading too don’t you think?” Seokjin persuaded. Namjoon nodded and they left Taehyung alone to at least try to clean up the mess.

And what of our happily in love incubus and vampire duo?

Well, as the ruckus was going on inside the mansion, Hoseok and Yoongi took their business elsewhere outside the mansion. To the pumpkin garden in fact. They sat down on a bench and kissed the night away with their hands ever intertwined.

Thank goodness they didn’t eat the pumpkins. That would’ve been two more bodies for Taehyung to not clean up.

[blizzardfluffykpop]

Bicker With Me

Summary: It’s fun and games teasing, bickering, push and pull until someone tugs too hard, and the other lands in the mud.

Changkyun X Female! Reader

This was requested by @astarlightmonbebe​ btw

Prompt: 5. “All I want for Christmas is for you to leave me alone.“

They say your brother’s friends are likely to become your friends and treat you like their sister. My brother has six friends, and five out of the six treat me like their little sister, always looking out for me, making sure I look good for my first date, threatening to beat the kid up if he pulls anything. Changkyun, my brother’s other friend is the absolute worst, he’s been my enemy since he became Kihyun’s friend. Why? That’s simple, he’s in my grade, and I’ve known him and he’s the one who put gum in my hair, my mother was not pleased after that little stunt. Granted, he’s funny, but he’s also the one who ruined my first relationship, although it only lasted one day… But it was because he shouted, “GIRLS HAVE COOTIES, YOUNGBIN DON’T KISS HER YOU’LL CATCH COOTIES!” Maybe, it’s stupid to hold that grudge for something that small, but it’s a lot more than just that. He got into teasing me, pulling my hair when he would sit behind me in choir. No matter how much I told him to stop, the next day he’d be at it again. Until, I spoke up to the teacher, she thankfully moved me away from the brat. He would tease the daylights out of me.

What does he do now? Tease the daylights out of me! He’s such a brat, nit-picking, no good, rotten egg. I don’t understand why Kihyun hangs around with him, yeah fits the bill for being good looking and funny like the rest of them. They had such great chemistry together, but for some reason we just don’t click. Nowadays we just bicker back and forth, to the point here were Kihyun stopped having the group met over at the house because of our constant bickering.

There always days like today where it’s an exception, where Kihyun brings over the group, and I was supposed to go to be shopping at the mall all day. But Bambam and I cleared all the shops went to bakery and he got call from his mom to go get groceries once he was done shopping with me. I was going to go grocery shopping with him, but I didn't want to intrude into that privacy, and I told him to take me home. Little did I know the boys were over.

If Changkyun wasn't such a brat when we younger and even now. I would have totally dated him, at least once. He's good looking, easy to get along with--I’ve been told at least--funny, and all around charming guy with a witty tongue. I would have fallen for that just because of the description. But with all he's pulled, I'd rather hit his face with my fist than my lips.

I open the door to find seven guys chattering and being loud, doomsday… Maybe I should have gone with Bambam to grocery shop. I kick off my shoes, coat, hat, scarf and mittens, sling my bags back up my arm and go into my room. Texting Bambam and telling him what's happening. He laughs in a recording, that sick son of gun wants to see me suffer. Whatever major loser I shoot back. That's how I thought my night was going to go texting him away and then going to sleep, was plan at least and then to show my brother my new outfits. So he can pick and choose what should go with what, there are three main people I rely on for clothing opinions other than myself, Kihyun, Bambam, and Hyungwon that kid always looks like a fashion model more so than not; even when he’s in sweatpants.

We three even have a group chat called pretty boos even though Hyungwon and Kihyun will go back and forth at it just like Changkyun and I will. But then again, Kihyun liked Hyungwon enough to keep him around unlike Changkyun and I.

[Double B: Hey you know what I was thinking maybe C liked you over the years and teasing was his way of showing it]

[To Double B: BB I love how you're so soft sometimes but this isn't the right time for that-]

[Double B: Just admit if you had the chance you'd date him]

[To Double B: I'd date my reflection before I'd date that]

“Ohh~ Who you talking about” and I look over and it's Changkyun, “Get out of my room, ever heard of privacy peeping Tom”

[Double B: Admit it if you had the chance you'd date Changkyun!]

Why did he type out Changkyun, he never does that we have a rule… unless the trio is plotting against me… I always knew a day would come to this, “So what you going to say? That you'd date me if you had the chance, sweetheart I'd give it a whirl”

[Double B: Long pause? Is someone considering it, or ignoring me? Man if I was in your position and with that much tension I'd cut it with my lips]

[To Double B: Real cute, you know I'd never date him]

“Aw really?” Changkyun asks pouting at me, “Didn't I tell you to get out of my room?” He smirks at me, “Don't worry I'll ask Kihyun to wrap me up for you for Christmas, since I'm what you want” that's when I snap, I'm so sick and tired of this little game we keep playing back and forth, it's gotten old, “All I want for Christmas is for you to leave me alone” I say loudly, and with more ferocity than I've ever felt inside me. For the first time, Changkyun is speechless, quiet, and nods, looking at me like a kicked puppy and slowly goes out shutting the door silently behind him.

Know I've felt bad for stuff in the past but this is a whole nother feeling. It feels even worse, I guess I'll admit to myself now, I may have caught feelings for him. Because even if he did pick on me, when I would come home from a breakup or a bad night in general and he was over, he'd be the first one in my bedroom comforting me and just letting me cry it out, giving me soft encouraging words. That's the part I fell in love with, the other teasing, bickering side I could do without. When he walked out like that all I could feel was like his true spirit leaving the room and feel like it died. Or maybe it was my spirit? Because I, finally, crossed the line. I got what I wanted…

Not what I needed, I didn't even know what to follow up with. The first thing that came to my mind was and apology, I think we both deserve. It's gone on to long, and we've hit the limit. I look under my bed for a second, remembering about my chocolate stash, something Changkyun help me make, for whenever you feel mad or sad, have a bad and I'm not here. If only he were like that all the time, if only I were like that all the time with him.

I rush downstairs, I look around and see he isn't around, “Where's Changkyun?” Kihyun looks at me weird for a second but tells me, “He left, he should be home by now” He lives down the block, cross the street, right there on the corner house. I shoved all my winter gear on and rush out there. Thankfully, all of my neighbors salt and shovel snow--mostly, so they don't get sued--I sprint to Changkyun's house, making it in record time, without getting hit.

I rap on the door and a what sounds to be a frustrated groan, followed by an ‘I'm coming give me a minute’ to my surprise its Changkyun who opens the door, I see him look at me in surprise which turns sour, fast, “I thought if you wanted me to leave you alone, I thought that you and I won't mix-” I don't let him finish his sentence, “I'm sorry, dammit. I've never been more sorry, can we just talk and eat some chocolate?” He raises a brow heaving a sigh before he moves to let me in the house. He shuts the door, locks it sits on the couches with me, a cushion over from me.

“What do you want to talk about so bad?” “I think I like you, and I've been too stupid to realize it, because I thought you teased me because and that's where it all started-” “No, no, I could never hate you. Rather it's the opposite I'd pick on you and make other guys leave you alone when we were younger cause I wanted you all to myself. I realized that was selfish for me to do. When you came home from dates, bawling your eyes put I held you as much as I wanted to go out there and pummel the person that would hurt your precious feelings.” I place the chocolate between us, “I’m sorry for telling you to leave me, you tease me all the time and bicker with me so it made me believe that you hated me, never wanted to talk to me only tease. When you came in and Bambam was messaging me, and I was wrong when I said I’d never date you. I just wanted to cover up the truth that Bambam was trying to expose, it’s like the three of them ganged up on me. Hyungwon and Kihyun telling Bambam to text me about you, so you would come in my room-” His eyes widen in shock, “I thought they wanted me to check up on you, because you came back earlier. They thought you were having a bad day, and I’m pretty good at calming you down-” My jaw drops in shock, “Those conniving bastards, even my own brother.” He opens up a Hershey bar and breaks in half, “This has been an adventurous day”

For a while we’re just quiet, maybe I never realized how much I liked him, because I wanted to force myself to hate him, so I covered it up with anger, and my heart ached for him. Maybe that was a weird way to put it, but I masked my love for Changkyun because I thought that was the only way to go about it; after all, I thought he hated me. “What do we do now?” He asks me softly, breaking up the Hershey into pips. I shrug my shoulders, I eat a pip of the bar, “How about we start over?” He nods, putting his candy bar down and holds out his hand, “I’m Lim Changkyun and you are?” I smile putting my chocolate bar down as well, “I’m (L/n) (Y/n), it’s a pleasure to meet you.” I introduce myself while shaking his hand. “What’s your favorite color?” He asks me, turning to me, “(F/c), yours?” “White” and from then we just kept talking, for hours, moving from the living room to the outdoors, and just laying on the grass looking at the stars and talking about whatever crosses our minds.

I get a call from Kihyun, and I ask Changkyun to give me a second and it’s just Kihyun telling me to be home at a decent time, I laugh at him, so did you try to set us up? I asked him, and he agreed I shook my head, told him bye and hung up leaving my phone in the living room, and see the clock saying 11:47 PM, “What did Kihyun have to say?” I raise my eyebrows, “I just know that’s his ringtone” “Oh, right, he just told me to be home at a decent time” He nods and pats the ground, “Would you want to stay over for the night, 7:00 AM is a decent time to be over” I laugh, “I don’t think that’s what he meant” I mused laying on the ground, “I know” “By the way where’s your mom?” “On a business trip with dad, my little brother is at his friends house” He tells me, gazing at the stars and pointing at a constellation, “Canis Major” he utters out to me, I nod, “I got to go before my brother has a conniption fit.” He nods, “Yeah,...” We get up and solemnly walk to the door, not wanting to bid each other goodbye, I grab my phone when I turn around to him, “Promise me something” He raises a brow, “That tomorrow, we don’t go back to being bickering children” He gives me a small smile, “I promise, maybe tomorrow you want to go out and see where it leads?” He asks tilting his head cutely, I agree to it with a smile playing on my lips my whole way home.  

The whole evening playing in my head like a film reel, only stopping when I open the door to see Kihyun sitting in the kitchen and asks me to tell him everything, I roll my eyes make my way over there and tell him everything, “I knew you secretly liked him!” “Whatever, thanks I know you guys just ganged up on us, nonetheless thank you.” He smiles, “Just treat him right, he’ll treat you right or-” “Yeah, yeah, I get it, thanks for the overprotective brother coming out” I groan and go up to my room, who knew that me blowing up would lead to us starting over, the start we both needed.

[huntressjinsoul]

Girl’s Day

Rating: T, Mentions of drinking and sex

Pairings: FemMC x Estela, Michelle x Quinn, Zahra x Craig, Grace x Aleister, Diego x Raj, Sean x Jake (platonically but could be viewed as romantic)

Summary: The girls of the Endless Summer gang have a girl’s day together (also has a character cameo from a diff book 👀)

Author’s Note: In honor of Endless Summer coming back from war. This takes place when they all eventually get off the island and save the world. No angst bc there’s already enough of that just fun fluff

“I can’t believe I got roped into this.”

“Oh come on, Zahra, it’ll be fun,” Quinn said excitedly.

“Seat belt babe,” Michelle told Quinn sternly but softly. 

“Yeah, Z, it’ll be fun and relaxing,” MC grinned as she turned to face Zahra from her passenger seat. “You have the directions pulled up right?” She directed that question towards Estela. She nods quietly as she pulls off from the driveway. 

“Whatever, at least I have the back row all to myself,” Zahra mumbles as she stretches out. 

“Where are we going first Michelle?” Grace asks the girl beside her. 

“Well, we’re going to the mall to shop for a while, then we’re gonna go for some brunch just like I promised before. We’ll go to the spa afterwards near the mall. Finally, we’re gonna go back to Sean and Craig’s apartment to get dressed for cluuuuuubbbbiiinnnggg,” Michelle answered animatedly while singing the last part. 

“So that’s why you texted us to bring a club dress to their apartment,” Estela said quietly. 

“Ooooo that looks great on you Grace.”

“You really think so, Quinn?” Grace asked timidly. The girls were shopping for dresses in the mini boutique at the mall, minus Estela and Zahra, who looked bored out of their minds. 

“Yes, it looks great. Now can we move along now?” Zahra asked exasperatedly. 

“Hold on, I have to choose between these three outfits,” MC told her, then directed her attention to Estela, “Estela, which one looked better on me?”

Estela looked up from her phone and studied the outfits closely. “The red one,” she replied before going back to her phone. 

MC shrugged then stowed the other two outfits away. “Alright I’m done. Let’s go pay for these.” Grace, Michelle, Quinn, and MC went to pay for the clothes while the other two waited for them. Afterwards, MC and Quinn dragged their blushing girlfriends to Victoria’s Secret with Grace and Zahra silently chuckling at them. 

“You should totally get this for yourself Grace,” Michelle holds up a matching bra and panties set and Grace blushes. “Plus, imagine Aleister’s reaction to it. Poor guy won’t even speak coherently once he sees you.”

“I-I’ll think about it,” Grace replies. 

“Don’t buy it just for Aleister though. You are a strong, intelligent, and sexy woman all on your own. If you want to buy it, buy it because you want to,” Michelle added. Grace’s face changed into a look of confidence and took the set in her arms. 

“Alright let’s go and pay before Zahra dies of boredom in this place,” MC giggles as she glanced over to said person, who’s half asleep on the bench. Estela wakes her up and the girls go to Gamestop, upon Zahra’s request of course. 

“Now this is more my style,” Zahra grins as she quickly enters the store like a kid in a candy shop. “No way! They have the new expansion for Aeternum Chronicles: Legend of the 7 Crystals! Craig’s gonna freak when I buy this for him.”

“Aww that’s so sweet,” Quinn stated, then looked at Michelle, “We should get into playing video games too.”

Michelle and Zahra laugh, as if it’s a joke. “Yeah, I don’t think that’s a good idea, sweets. Me and video games don’t mesh well.”

“I can verify that. She was playing with me and Grace and killed both of us and then herself,” Zahra snorts as Grace giggles and nods, confirming the story. 

On the other side of the store, Estela is browsing the video games with MC behind her. “Isn’t this your favorite one babe?” MC asked Estela as she reached for the game and handed to her. 

“Hmmm. I didn’t realize they released a new Assassin’s Creed game yet,” Estela said as she inspected the game. 

MC took the opportunity to wrap her arms around Estela from behind, holding her close. “Y’know, watching you play that game turns me on a bit. Imagining you as Ezio or Desmond is hot,” she whispered into Estela’s ear. 

Estela blushed a deep red and turned slightly to meet MC’s gaze. “Good to know.” She kissed MC’s cheek. 

“Hey lovebirds, let’s go! We’re all done here,” Michelle said, interrupting them. They all quickly pay for their things and made it out to the parking lot to go to eat brunch. 

“So, Estela, in honor of your first time having brunch, I’m gonna take you to my favorite place ever,” Michelle said as everyone got out of the car. They walked into the restaurant, and Michelle was immediately greeted by the waiter, Daniel. He led them all to their seats and pulled out menus for them all. 

“So what does one eat for brunch?” Estela asked, a bit confused. MC mentally awwed at her face. 

“I usually get something sweet,” Quinn replied, “Like something I would eat for breakfast like a cinnamon roll or a strawberry crepe.”

“I just want a sammich,” Zahra says bluntly. 

“I guess I’ll get the sandwich,” Estela mumbled. “What are you getting MC?”

“I’ll just go with a small salad,” she shrugged. The girls gave their orders to Daniel and carried on with their conversation. 

“But seriously it sucks that we all had to be held back a year because of that trip,” Michelle said. “It already takes long enough to become a neural surgeon regularly, now I have to double down the effort,” she groans. 

“I’m sure you’ll do great,” Quinn replies, kissing her girlfriend’s cheek. “After we graduate, I’m gonna open up a bakery just like I said I would and everyone’s invited for free desserts.”

“Oooo yes! Score!” Zahra exclaimed. Everyone looked at her amusedly. “What? The girl makes good pastries.”

“What are the rest of you girls doing after you graduate?” MC asked the remaining girls. 

“I’ll probably work for my mother’s company or help Aleister rebuild Rourke Industries,” Grace replied happily. “After coming home, I flew out and had a long talk with my mom and we’re finally on good terms again.” The girls gave out congratulations to her while she beamed. 

“I don’t know what I’m doing yet. Maybe start my own tech company or something. Or get into the esports scene,” Zahra shrugged. “What’re your and Estela’s plans?”

“I don’t know. After all the shit we’ve been through on that island, I just want to lay low for a while,” MC answered truthfully. The girls silently agreed on that, knowing that MC experienced a lot more worse things than them. “Maybe become a private investigator or a journalist or something.”

“I think I’m gonna go into law school,” Estela said. “There’s this pro bono firm I’ve been looking to intern in.”

“A PI and badass lawyer? Remember me when you guys become the new legal power couple.” The girls laughed at Zahra’s comment before Daniel came back with all their food. They carried on to less serious conversations while they ate. After they finished, they all went back to the car and drove to the spa place. 

“Now remember, MC, Zahra, no eating the cucumbers,” Michelle told them as they entered the building. The said girls glared at her while the others giggled silently. “Reservations under Nguyen. Party of six please,” she told the hostess. They were all led inside the spa place and went off to do whatever they wanted. 

“Thanks for booking this place, Michelle, I already feel relaxed,” Grace said happily. 

“No problem, Gracie. I wanted to treat all of us like queens for a few hours,” Michelle replied as she wrapped her hair up. “Now if you’ll excuse me, there’s a sauna calling for me with Quinn in it,” she smirked as she walked towards the sauna. 

“Aye no fucking in the sauna!” MC called out, getting the attention from the other customers. They all glared at her while she blushed embarrassingly. “Oops, probably shouldn’t have said that out loud.”

Grace chuckled, “C’mon, let’s go get our nails and hair done before you embarrass yourself further.” She dragged a still flustered MC away from the main room and into the side salon room. 

Meanwhile, Zahra and Estela were getting massages together, getting their muscles relaxed. “Sooo,” Zahra said, trying to start up a conversation. 

“Yes?” Estela replied. 

“Can you like, teach me all your combat moves and stuff? Cause you’re seriously badass and I wanna learn.”

“Sure, if you teach me how to hack. I’ve been wanting to learn… for reasons.”

“Yeah, sweet,” Zahra grinned. Their masseuses looked up at each other and silently made alarmed faces, but shrugged at each other and didn’t say anything before going back to their jobs. 

After a few hours later, the girls finished all their treatments up. MC had lost rocks, papers, scissors between the four of them and had to pull Quinn and Michelle out of the sauna. She looked mortified after they all left and told the other three girls, “I can never unsee what I saw,” and, “you guys owe me so much.” Grace and Zahra doubled over laughing while Estela patted MC’s back comfortably. Michelle blushed as red as a tomato while Quinn looked smug and satisfied. They all piled up in the car again and went back to Sean and Craig’s apartment. The guys were all there playing poker. 

“Hey, you girls want to join in for a few rounds?” Diego grinned as he held out a beer. 

“You might not want to, cause I’m on a winning streak,” Jake smirked. The whole gang was able to clear Jake’s name after returning to the U.S and reunite him with his family. 

“It’s just luck,” Sean grumbled. 

“Well if it’s luck, does that includes getting lucky with you, Steve Rogers?”

Raj does a spit take all over the table, choking out hearing Jake’s statement. Diego is right behind him in a quick stride, patting his boyfriend’s back. “Deep breaths, babe.”

“What did I say about getting a room you two?” Aleister said, annoyed. 

“Annnnyyyyways… we’ll have to take a rain check on this lovely poker night. The girls and I gotta get dressed to go clubbing,” Michelle interrupted. She dragged the girls into Craig’s room and pulled the outfits out of the closet. “Well thank god Craig doesn’t use his closet and just leaves his clothes everywhere.”

“Speak for yourself, you know how hard it is to get it on when you’re tripping over everything?” Zahra snarked. MC laughed as she helped Michelle with the clothes. They laid and handed out the outfits.

“Alright, Quinn and I are on make-up and Grace will do hair. No offense to you girls MC, Estela, and Zahra, but you girls couldn’t tell a make-up brush to a broom,” Michelle stated. While MC looked offended, Estela and Zahra looked at each other and shrugged, silently agreeing. “The bathroom’s across the hall and Sean’s room is the next door. Let’s take turns getting dressed and glammed up and then wow the boys with our looks.”

When they all finished dressing, Michelle and Quinn put the final adjustments on Grace and Zahra while MC and Estela put the final adjustments on each other’s outfits. Estela and Zahra didn’t want to hassle and wear a dress and donned jeans and a bomber jacket for Estela and a leather one for Zahra. Michelle and Quinn wore semi-matching short blue dresses. Grace wore a yellow jumpsuit while MC wore her LBD. “Alright ladies, we are ready so let’s go and give these boys a run for their money,” Michelle said as she clapped her hands.

The girls walked out of Craig’s room and into the living area where the boys were playing Mortal Kombat. Craig was up against Aleister while the others cheered them on until Diego spotted the girls. “Well you girls look muy fuego!” he exclaimed.

Raj turned to look at the girls and Diego, pouting. “Hey, I’m feeling a little jealous here.”

“I’m gay, not blind Raj,” Diego said then pecked him on the lips before getting off of the arm of the sofa. “Have fun ladies, but not too much fun. I don’t want to get a call from MC saying that you’re all in the middle of skinny dipping in a fountain.” Aleister and Craig dropped their controllers and turned around. Once they saw their respective girlfriends, their jaws dropped to the floor.

Craig climbed over the back of the couch- but tripped and face planted- got back up and rushed over to Zahra. “Can boyfriends be invited to clubbing as well? You look frickin great.”

“Keep it in your pants Hsiao. We’ll be back at a reasonable hour so we won’t deprive you of our beauty. C’mon ladies, let’s go have some fun!”

Aleister caught Grace before she left through the door. “Ahem, have fun and be careful, sweetheart.”

Grace kissed him on the cheek, “I will. Have fun with the guys.” She heard a scoff and a faint ‘not likely’ before she smiled and walked out.

“Have fun girls! I’ll be sure to have Steve Rogers and me decent before you come back!” Jake called out. Sean blushed and hit him on the shoulder.

“I want shots!” MC yelled over the booming music. “C’mon Michelle, come get them with me.” MC dragged Michelle off to the bar while the others found a table.

Michelle was trying to keep up with MC, but she ran into someone roughly.

“Excuse you!”  “Watch where you’re going!”

“Wait… Becca! Hey, I haven’t seen you around Hartfeld,” Michelle exclaimed.

“Meech! Oh my god, I haven’t seen you in awhile either! How’s it going? Was your trip fun?” Becca smiled at her.

“Umm, it was very adventurous I’ll say that,” Michelle replied. “I’m doing good, pre-med is still kicking my ass. I heard you left the sorority. What happened?”

“I went through some troubles the past year and my own damn pride made me a total bitch to Madison. I left it because I couldn’t afford the membership but I’m happy to say that everything’s alright now.”

“Well, that’s great. I have to go to help my friend carry the drinks, but we should hang out sometime. I have a new phone so do you mind giving me your number again?” Michelle took out her phone as Becca shook her head. She put her number in the phone and gave it back. Once they exchanged goodbyes, Michelle walked over and helped MC carry the trays of shot glasses.

“So, who was the blonde?”

“An old sister at my sorority. She was one of the few sisters I actually held in high regard for and confided in. We were thought of as total bitches but we didn’t care- we grounded each other.”

“I’m glad she was there for you,” MC said. They walked over to the table where the rest of the girls were and laid out the glasses. “Alright, five glasses for each. Let’s get hammered tonight!” The girls cheered and downed their glasses. Everyone, except for Estela and Zahra, felt slightly buzzed by the time they finished the shots and a drink of their own.

After most of them were tipsy, Quinn dragged all of the girls, Zahra reluctantly, onto the dancefloor. Grace laughed as Quinn attempted to twerk on Michelle, who looked equally happy and embarrassed. Zahra disappeared somewhere amongst the crowd and dragged Grace with her.

MC and Estela were dancing at their own pace until a sensual song played. MC decided to be bold and turned around to grind on Estela. She heard Estela have a sharp intake of breath and smirked. Estela held onto MC’s hips as they continued to dance. After a few seconds, MC felt Estela’s lips on her neck and gasped. They weren’t always the ones who showed PDA, but as of right now, both of them didn’t care.

“If it weren’t for the other girls, we’d be catching a car back to your apartment,” MC said breathlessly.

“Well thank god we are because I am not letting you girls get kicked out for public indecency.” Michelle butted in.

Estela immediately removed her hand from the front of MC’s pants and blushed. MC faced Michelle and Quinn, who were smirking at the blushing couple. “Uhh we got a little carried away?”

“Right,” Quinn giggled, “Meech and I were wondering if you’ve seen Zahra and Grace? We haven’t seen them for awhile now.”

“Eh, we shouldn’t worry about them that much. I mean, how much trouble can they get in?” MC shrugged.

“Apparently a lot since they appear to be getting kicked out,” Estela pointed out in the direction of the door. Sure enough, the bouncers were escorting a smug Zahra and a worrisome Grace out the door.

“Guess we have to cut this girls’ night out short,” Michelle pouted. The girls walked over toward the door and followed Zahra and Grace out. “What happened?”

“We were on our way to the restroom when this dude came onto Grace. He was really drunk and wasn’t taking no for an answer. When he grabbed Grace, I reacted and punched him in the face. Really wished I kicked him in the balls instead because his face hurt my hand,” Zahra explained.

“Oh my god, are you ok, Grace, Zahra?” Quinn asked as she inspected said girls for any bad injuries.

“Yeah, we’re fine. I’m just glad Zahra was there to help me out.”

“Eh, it’s no problem. Support your local girl gang, or whatever the hell Quinn said about sticking together,” Zahra shrugged.

“Well, let’s go back to the guys’ apartment and we can crash in my apartment since it’s right next to theirs,” Grace said. The girls nodded and took two separate Ubers home since all of them couldn’t fit in one. Once they got back to the apartment, Grace ushered them in to hers. “We can raid the guys’ for their food. I was supposed to go shopping for food tomorrow.”

“Sweet, Craig has a cheese puff stash and I know where it is,” Zahra grinned. The girls went over to Sean and Craig’s apartment and found that the guys were already asleep. “Pshh, what a couple of old men.” Diego was on Raj’s lap cuddled into his neck while Craig and Aleister were asleep on the floor. Jake had his head rested on Sean’s shoulder from their place on the couch, whether that it was intentional or not, they’ll never know.

The girls raided their refrigerator while Zahra took the cheese puffs. They quickly dipped out of there and carried out the food back to Grace’s apartment. The girls stayed up watching movies and talking until the wee hours of morning until they all crashed.

The last thing Michelle thought as she looked around the sleeping girls was Best Family Ever.

[everlarkchristmasgifts]

Jars of Paper

Thank you to everyone who pushed me through this today! And Happy December to you, my tumblr family!

For the December 1st Prompt, Advent Calendar. Enjoy! xo, CC

~*~*~

1

“Primrose Everdeen! There are no chocolates in these jars!”

Katniss scowls as she looks down at her sister’s version of the Advent Calendar this year: small, decorated mason jars, numbered 1-25 on the lids, arranged on the table like a Christmas tree. She picks one up and shakes it, hearing nothing but the soft sound of paper bouncing around. “Prim!”

“Calm down, Katniss. You’re 23, not 12,” Prim says, shaking her head as she comes into the kitchen. “Just open the first one.”

Sighing, Katniss grabs the jar marked ‘1’. “Happy December! Treat yourself to something yummy and decadent today!” she reads aloud. “Um, what?”

Prim laughs. “Katniss, you’ve worked SUPER hard all semester, so I’ve decided to ‘force’ you into having a little fun this month now that you’re off – each of these jars contains something you have to do. Because I said so.”

“‘Because I said so’ never works, Little Duck, and you know it,” Katniss smirks, grabbing her keys and her coat. “But, I’ll humor you on this one – Peeta said he was working on something yummy at the bakery today.”

“I’m sure he is,” Prim says quietly, smiling. “Tell your best friend I said ‘hello’”.

2

Hold the door open for someone

Katniss smiles at the piece of paper in her hand and stuffs it into her pocket as she gets out of the car. She holds the door open for the elderly couple leaving the bakery as she enters, and they greet her with a ‘Thank you’ and ‘Happy Holidays, dear’. She watches them leave, hand in hand, and can’t help but smile at them.

She spins around and meets Peeta’s blue eyes. He grins at her.

She grins back.

7

“Hey, you’re off this morning, right?”

“Yeah, I was just about to call you. Did you want to do something?”

Katniss nods, even though he can’t see it. “My Advent thing for today is ‘Pick out a Christmas Tree’. Want to come with me?”

“Sure!” he answers excitedly. “We can take the truck. Scoop you up in 10 minutes?”

“See you soon.”

~

The local Christmas tree lot is magical, she thinks. Even with no decorations, the trees are gorgeous in their deep green colors. She takes in a deep breathe, and savors the smell they create. “This one looks good, Peeta.”

Peeta reaches in and grabs the trunk, standing the tree upright. “Yeah, it does. Good shape, great color. You want this one?”

She nods and flags down a worker, pointing to the tree. “We’d like this one, please.”

“Terrific,” he says. “Do you folks mind if I snap a picture of you with the tree and put it on Facebook? We’re in a new location this year, and the boss wants everyone to know where we are and that people can actually find us,” he chuckles.

“Uh, sure, I don’t mind,” Peeta replies, holding up the tree. “Katniss?”

“Um…okay,” she answers hesitantly, moving to stand next to him.

“Alright, closer together,” the man directs. Katniss moves in closer to Peeta, and he puts his arm around her shoulders, instantly putting her at ease. She looks up at him warmly, and he smiles down at her.

“Perfect, thanks,” the man says as he slips the camera back into his pocket.

“Wait – we weren’t even looking at you,” Katniss says, puzzled.

The man smirks and takes the camera back out, bringing up their picture on the screen. “This one here is just perfect, Miss.” He hands them the camera and takes the tree from Peeta, leaving them behind as he carries it towards the trailer.

Katniss and Peeta stare at the picture together – as suspected, neither of them are looking at the camera, but instead, at each other.  Just the two of them, at ease, smiling happily…at each other.

“He’s right,” Peeta whispers, handing her the camera. “It’s perfect.”

“Yeah,” she replies quietly. “I guess it is.”

They stare at each other for a moment before Peeta clears his throat. “Uh, I’ll go pull the truck around while you check out. Meet you at the front?”

She nods. “At the front.”

12

“Did Prim know you were going to be off today?”

“Um I don’t see how she would…why?”

Katniss scowls. “I feel like she planned this whole Advent Calendar around your schedule. My thing for today is ‘Put on some holiday music and bake cookies’. Prim knows I can’t bake! Maybe I can skip this one…”

“You’re not skipping, Katniss. I know you’ve secretly been enjoying these things your sister is making you do,” Peeta chuckles. “I’ll be there in 20.”

“Sitting in that massage chair at the mall yesterday was pretty relaxing,” she laughs. “But Peeta, you work in a bakery – you shouldn’t have to bake on your day off!”

“Katniss, I’ve been on bread duty for weeks. Trust me, listening to holiday music and baking cookies with my best friend sounds perfect right now.”

Her stomach flutters at this, the memory of their picture at the tree lot coming back to her suddenly. “Okay, if you’re sure…”

“I’m sure.”

~

Peeta arrives in 20 minutes as promised, a bag of cookie ingredients on his arm. Katniss puts on the Charlie Brown Christmas soundtrack and turns on the tree lights. Together, they bake cookies all morning, reminiscing about past Christmases and favorite holiday traditions.

At one point, he reaches up to wipe some flour off her cheek, and she swears the whole world stops in that second. She thinks about this clichéd moment – one that’s probably been played out in dozens of movies and TV shows – and recalls how cheesy it always seemed. There’s no way you can feel anything from someone wiping flour off your cheek…that’s just silly.

Except, she does feel something.

Looking into her best friend’s eyes, and feeling the warmth of his fingers on her face…she definitely feels something. She’s felt something for days now…

…maybe more, if she’s being honest with herself.

beep beep beep

“The cookies are ready,” Peeta says, lowering his hand. “Um, do you mind getting them out of the oven? I need to call the bakery…about something.” 

“Uh, yeah, of course,” she says, blinking. “Take your time.”

He returns after a few minutes, claiming that he’s needed back at the bakery, mumbling something about a flour shortage. She knows that he’s lying – she’s been able to tell that for at least fifteen years now – but she nods anyway, thanks him for coming over, and waves him goodbye. She stands there and listens as the door shuts behind him.

And at the same time, the music stops.

16

It’s Saturday night - Karaoke with friends!

Katniss meets up with the gang at the only karaoke place in town, and they all have a great time. She and Peeta are acting more or less normal (though, he didn’t offer to pick her up like he normally would), and everything seems fine.

Until it’s her turn to sing, and she spends most of Selena Gomez’s Bad Liar staring directly into those blue eyes.

She ends the song to cheers and applause, and isn’t sure what to expect as she descends from the stage, the glare of the bright lights leaving her eyes.

She certainly didn’t expect to see Peeta rushing out without saying goodbye.

20

Katniss grasps the paper in her hand and marches angrily up to her sister’s room. “Did you plan all this?” she asks, holding up the paper.

Prim turns around and laughs. “Uh, of course I did. Do you think elves did it?”

“No, I mean – did you plan for this to end up being about be about me and Peeta?”

“Nooo,” Prim answers. “I have no idea what you’re talking about, Katniss.”

“‘Have courage and do something brave’…what did you mean by that, then?” 

Prim shrugs. “I don’t know. Wear a skirt. Let your hair down. What’s the matter with you?”

“So…you really didn’t plan this?” Katniss asks, sitting down on the bed. “Prim…I feel – I feel like I’m going crazy. I don’t know what I’m doing anymore.”

She sits down next to Katniss, and rubs her back. “Katniss, if you’re talking about what I think you’re talking about – just do what the paper says. ‘Have courage…do something brave’. You have nothing to lose.”

“Or everything to lose,” Katniss whispers.

Prim turns to her, and connects with her sister’s eyes. “Katniss, I’ve been watching you guys my entire life. Trust me. You have nothing to lose.”

~

“Nothing to lose,” Katniss whispers to herself as she walks towards the bakery. Her walk breaks into a jog, and is caught off guard when she sees Peeta burst through the front door. “Hey,” she begins,  “I, uh, wanted to come by and –”

But she doesn’t get to finish her sentence.

Because Peeta is kissing her.

Her best friend is kissing her.

He’s a really good kisser.

“Katniss,” he says, releasing her for a moment. “Is this okay?”

She lifts herself up for another kiss. “More than okay,” she says, smiling. “Though, you kinda stole my thunder.”

“Your thunder?” he asks, wrapping his arms around her waist.

She reaches into her pocket and pulls out the piece of paper, holding it in front of him. “Yes, my thunder.”

Peeta reads the slip in front of him, and grins. “‘Have courage and do something brave’. Were you, maybe, going to do the same thing I just did?”

To answer, Katniss kisses him. Again. And again.

“Maybe.”

24

It’s Christmas Eve! Give a gift early today, and watch that person open it =)

Katniss looks at the box under the tree with Peeta’s name on it – it’s the jacket he was eyeing the other day when they went on a shopping date, per Prim’s instruction for Day 22, ‘Buy something for yourself that’s not school-related’. They walked around the mall, and it actually wasn’t terrible. With Peeta’s arm around her shoulders, or her hand in his, or their stolen kisses…she decided that the mall actually isn’t the worst place in the world.

She looks at the present and shakes her head, deciding to give him the jacket tomorrow. She sits and thinks for a while, staring at the twinkling lights on the Christmas Tree, and after a few minutes, she knows exactly what to do.

~

“Katniss, it’s not Christmas yet!”

She holds up the slip of paper and shrugs. “What can I say? Prim’s orders. Open it.”

Peeta laughs and sits down on her couch, happily tearing into the wrapping paper. He opens the box as Katniss watches excitedly, and she holds her breath when he finally takes the frame out of the box. “Katniss…oh my god…”

“I think that’s when I knew…” she says, sitting next to him. “I just, I had a feeling-”

“I know exactly what you mean,” he interrupts, grinning. “Thank you, I love it.”

Peeta kisses her and places the frame on the coffee table before they sink comfortably into the couch. And they sit there together, her head on his chest and his arm around her waist, staring at the framed picture of them at the Christmas Tree lot. The picture of them just smiling at each other, and the man said it was “perfect”.

He was right.

25

Growing up, Katniss was never crazy about Christmas. It was alright, she guessed, but when your parents can barely afford to put food on the table, it puts the whole Christmas ‘thing’ into a different light, a different perspective.

But after this year, with Prim’s Advent Calendar – it might just be her favorite holiday. Because the gift she got was worth more than money, more than a feast on the table, more than a dozen presents underneath the tree.

Her best friend turned out to be the love of her life. And now, she can’t imagine a world where he is anything but the love of her life.

So, on Christmas Day, she slips the piece of paper into his hand, her final to-do from her final jar of paper.

Merry Christmas! Give and accept love!

He reads it, and looks into her eyes. “Does this mean…”

“I love you, Peeta.”

“I love you, too, Katniss.”

fin

[cdc1345711]

Prime Order:The Truth

(I will tell you the story of one 16 yr old girl who in the night is Dream Maker,Illusionist of Dreams but during the day she is.......)

‘Starla.......Miss Starla Cosmas?’

Starla:Huh?(waking up from daydreaming)”

Mrs. Margarot:Mind telling us the truth behind Edgar Allen Poe’s ‘Tell-Tale Heart’ poem?”

Starla:Well basically it’s mostly about a person wanting something that frightens him to end but in doing so he is consumed by guilt until he eventually couldn’t take it and tells the truth”

Mrs.Margarot:That is correct Starla”

(Everyone cheers her on......except one spoiled rich brat)

(After school Starla and her friends-Trevor,Tamyra,Rachel,Devon and Darrel-walk out together discussing their weekend plans)

Trevor:So we decided to go to the mall later,wanna come with us Star?”

Starla:That sounds wonder.....(her phone rings)hold on for just a second,Hello Grandpa(listens to what he says)really? right now but......Yes I know I have to but......okay fine,i’ll be there soon(hangs up and looks to her friends)sorry guys I gotta do something with my Grandpa,maybe we can hang out next weekend?”

Tamyra:You said that last weekend......”

Rachel:And the week before that......”

Darrel:And before that........”

Devon:Technically you’ve been saying that for the past 11 weekends,counting this one”

Starla:Wow 11-but this will be it-gotta go bye”

Rachel:Mmmm-mmm what is wrong with that girl?”

Trevor:Have you guys ever wonder what she and her Gramps do every weekend?”

Darrel:Whatever it is,it’s not our business”

Trevor:Still,don’t you think it’s total crap she blows us off-her best friends every other day? in fact when was it the last time we were at her place?”

Devon:When we were exactly 8 years of age,well 8 for you Trevor but 7 to me,Rachel,Tamyra,8 for Darrel and 6 for Starla”

Trevor:You know your Identic Memory scares us sometimes Dev but come on,we deserve to know-what do you say?”

(The group looks at each other and come to a conclusion)

Rachel:Okay we’re in”

Trevor:Yes-let’s go”

(The friends catch up to Starla behind the bush and keep a watchful eyes on her)

Starla:I’m here Zella,activate the portal”

(The gang look in confusion as she said ‘Portal’ then in mere seconds a portal opens up)

 Devon:Holy Crows.....(Amazed by the portal’s appearance)”

Trevor:Shhhh-be quiet Dev”

Starla:Activating ‘Dream Maker’ uniform(She presses a button and her Dream Maker costume appears-stupefying her spying friends)entering now(enters the portal)”

Tamyra:Okay-what is going on?......”

Rachel:(Seeing Trevor walking up to the portal)Trev,what are you doing???”

Trevor:(Walking towards the portal)Come on guys,we’re too far to stop now.....”

(The group enters the portal one at a time while Dream Maker meets up with the rest of the Prime Order)

Dream Maker:So where is THE EVIL now?”

Sleep Master:He is currently attacking the ‘CatDog’ universe,we suspect to suck the evil out of the Greasers and Rancid Rabbit”

Repulse:Well what are we waiting for let’s stop us some Implings”

SM:Zella if you please.....”

Zella:On it Sleeps(pushes some buttons on her gloves)one portal to ‘CatDog’”

DM:Yay(in a not fully happy tone)”

Maze:(Noticing she is down)What’s wrong Star?,you usually enjoy going to these different cartoon worlds”

DM:It’s nothing, just......after school my friends asked me to hang out with them at the mall but you called and......”

SM:I understand you’re sad Young one but you must understand we have a duty to maintain order in all universes”

DM:I understand Grandpa it’s just......sometimes I want to have at least one weekend to hangout with them instead of just......(Sleep Master gives her a hug)”

SM:I get it-tell you what if we finish this mission early you can hangout with your friends the whole weekend,how’s that?”

DM:(Over joyed)REALLY?-then what are we doing here? let’s get those Implings”

SM:That’s my little fighter(rubs her head)”

(The team enter the portal and just when they leave Starla’s friends pop up at the base)

Trevor:(Looking at the enormous base)Wow.....look at all of this”

Tamyra:This is some real ‘Star Wars/Star Trek’ stuff right here”

Darrel:Dang-Star’s Grandparents must be rich or work for the government or something”

Devon:(Completely mind-blown)um uh uh uh uh(brings out his inhaler)this is so awesome”

Rachel:Hey Star?-you here?”

Trevor:She must be here somewhere let’s check it out”

Tamyra:I swear if a Xenomorph pops out and eats us off one by one I’m leaving you guys”

(As the wayward stowaways explore the base the Prime Order is fighting EVIL and his Implings trying to stop him from draining the evil out of the Greasers and Rancid Rabbit)

Maze:These shadowy S.O.Bs aren’t going down easily”

Repulse:(Cutting himself so the attacks hit the Implings)Yeah I’m running out of places to cut on me”

Accel:(Inflicting as much pain on the enemies he can)Just as you take one down tons more take it’s place”

Sleep Master:(Taking on EVIL himself)Keep on my Order”

EVIL:You’re out of luck old man-i’ll decimate this world along with countless others”

Sleep Master:Not today-ZELLA,DREAM MAKER NOW!!!!!!!”

(Dream Maker and Zella blast THE EVIL with light canons-which weekends the embodiment of EVIL)

EVIL:GAAAAAAAAH(the Implings stop attacking the PO and retreat to protect their lord)this isn’t over Sleep Master-I will end you”

SM:And we’ll be waiting”

DM:We did(does a victory dance)oh yeah oh yeah oh yeah(checks her phone)and just enough time to catch up to my friends at the mall”

Set Zero:(Noticing a blinking red light on Zella’s gloves)Uh Zell-you’re gloves beeping”

Zella:WHAT????(checks it out)the’re intruders in the base”

DM:(Aggravatingly)OH COME ON SERIOUSLY???????”

(The PO arrive at the base)

SM:Split up everyone,Maze,Repulse you two go to the west wing,Void,Set Zero check the east wing,Accel,Zella second floor,I’ll Check the Basement while Dream Maker stays here,alright move out”

(The group go to their designated places as Dream Maker stays in the Counseling Room)

Dream Maker:This is such bologna,I was this close to hanging out with our friends(phone rings)what is it Repulse?”

Repulse:Those sorry bastards ransacked my room”

Maze:Mine too,turned it into a bigger pig sty than it already was”

DM:Really? that’s odd?”

Accel:Same for me and Zella”

Set Zero:Same with me and Void(checks his room)wait aren’t those my panties?”

Void:(Blushing red)uuuuuh”

DM:I’m checking my room,call you when(hears a loud ‘BANG’)I’ll call you back(goes to investigate)okay Star you got this,you got this(she opens the door and puts her batons to the throat of......)TREVOR??????”

Trevor:Hey Star(waves to her along with Tamyra,Rachel,Darrel and Devon)”

DM:Tamyra,Rachel,Darrel,Devon,how?......What?.......When?.......Huh?”

Rachel:Hey Starla......”

DM:How did you guys get here?”

Darrel:We entered the same portal you went into and then we ended up here”

Tamyra:And what exactly is here?”

Starla:Oh no no no no no-you guys gotta leave before......”

Set zero:(Along with Void,Accel,Zella,Maze and Repulse)DREAM MAKER WHAT’S......(sees her friends)Oh......”

Repulse:(Bringing out his knife and about to cut his chest)AAAH”

Starla:No Repulse don’t.....”

Repulse:Dream Maker-you know these pendehos?(Spanish for ‘Dumb-Ass)”

Starla:They’re my friends”

Darrel:And we’re not ‘pendehos’ scar guy”

Trevor:Wait ‘Dream Maker’? isn’t that your ‘Prime Order’ name?”

Starla:Ah-ha yeah”

Devon:So.......you’re a super hero like the Hulk or Martian Manhunter?

Tamyra:Why didn’t you tell us about this?”

Starla:Uh I told you guys a bajillion times about the Prime Order”

Darrel:But we didn’t think they were true

Trevor:So you’re literally a team of super powered people who fight the bad guys?”

Devon:Wait so you do have powers?......are you like......a mutant?”

Starla:Like from X-Men,not necessarily it’s actually hereditary,like on my Dad’s side,even though Professor X did want to recruit me”

Devon:(About to spasm out)You.....you.....you met Charles Xavier.....Professor X......oh my Goooooood,what about Batman?”

Starla:Which Batman(hearing that made Devon faint)”

Set Zero:Is Nerd Boy okay?”

Starla:Yes he just fainted,he’ll be back soon-But really you guys gotta go now or else my Grandpa will flip his.......”

‘Flip my WHAT??????’

(Sleep Master appears behind the PO-scaring them half to death-and looks at his Granddaughter with angry disappointed eyes)

Starla:Hey Grandpa(rubbing her arm)found the intruders”

Devon:(Waking up to see Sleep Master)Mr.Seriphos? is that you?”

Sleep Master:Hello Devon,Trevor,Rachel,Tamyra and Darrel-Starla may I have a word with you ‘privately’?(Starla just gulps and walks with her Grandpa as everyone looks in depressed confusion as to whats gonna happen to her)”

Devon:So.....exactly what are your powers?(Everyone just looks at him)Just trying to break the silence”

Trevor:Too soon Dev,too soon”

(Starla is alone with Sleep Master)

Starla:You’re probably disappointed in me for allowing none Prime Order members to enter the base or for not closing the portal in time huh?”

Sleep Master:(Just stares at her)”

Starla:Well I’m sorry and yes I know it’s our duty to uphold Order but these guys are my friends and every day I tell them about our adventures knowing they don’t believe them.......until now,so...........what are you gonna do with them and what’s my punishment?”

(But before he could utter a word the gang enters the room)

Trevor:Mr.Seriphos please don’t punish Star,we’re the ones who spied on her and who entered your portal”

Rachel:We just wanted to see what you guys were doing”

Tamyra:It sucks to be left in the dark you know”

Darrel:We didn’t mean to her in trouble”

Devon:Please Mr.Seriphos”

Starla:(Happy her friends are standing up for her)Oh you guys(looking like she might cry)”

Sleep Master:I had no intention on punishing my Granddaughter nor you lot,I merely just wanted to ask her what we should do with the 5 of you”

Devon:Oh please Mr.Seriphos we can keep a secret promise,especially since Starla’s a super hero”

Sleep Master:We’re not superheroes Devon,we’re merely super powered individuals who maintain order in the different Cartoon Worlds”

Devon:Still.......”

Trevor:Anyway what are you gonna do with us?”

Starla:Well........”

(The team drops the group outside of their base)

Rachel:Wow-I can’t believe we’re allowed to go to the PO base”

Devon:This is now the greatest day of my life,say Starla how do you join the team.....”

Starla:You got to have reality warping powers to join,sorry Dev”

Devon:Awe darn it(everyone laughs)”

Starla:Hey it’s not super late-we could still hit the mall,if you guys still want to go?”

Trevor:Okay,but tomorrow we’re going back to that base to get a proper tour”

Starla:Deal”

Trevor:And maybe go on a few missions with you?”

Starla:Don’t push it”

(So Starla the ‘Dream Maker’ and her small band of friends head out to the Mall only to await their next encounter at the Prime Order base)

THE END

[ktrsss1fics]

What was their first time like?

Warning: NSFW because you know, sex.

“Do you want to go to Keith’s this afternoon?” He asked looking up from his phone.

“Do I have to wear actual clothes?” She asking glancing up at him.

“It’s still raining and those joggers are pretty thin so probably.” He mumbled keeping his eyes on his phone.

Georgina sighed as she placed her head back on his chest. She hadn’t left her spot on top of him since the end of the Chelsea game. Her team wasn’t set to start for another hour. The rare rainy weather had put a damper on their plans for the day. They were going to make a trip over to Disneyland to see all of the holiday decorations but didn’t feel like fighting through LA traffic. Californians weren’t the best drivers when the roads turned slick.

Instead of visiting Mickey and the gang, Georgina and Niall decided to spend the morning on the couch catching up on football. The Boxing Day matches were almost near and they had been so busy with work that their favorite teams had lacked support for quite some time.

Niall had been back from tour for almost a month now. They spent as much time together as they could.  Most of their time was spent on the couch catching up on television or watching sports. There were occasional nights out with their friends. That’s when things got a bit tricky. They still hadn’t told anyone about their relationship. They were still trying to figure things out.

Besides there were more important things to deal with – like the group Christmas party. The date was set in stone. The guest list was written. The location was still up in the air.  Jenna offered to host it but her flat was too small for their large group. David and Brittany also offered to host. They had just purchased a small house in the same neighborhood as Jamie and Mags and wanted to show it off. Brittany and Jenna had spent the past week campaigning. A group vote was going to be held later that night at Keith’s.  The White Elephant vs. Secret Santa debate had begun earlier than usual. Secret Santa had won for the third year in a row. Niall picked Keith and Georgina got Brittany. Neither of them had gone shopping for their gifts yet. Instead of scouring the mall for something to purchase, they spent their time trying to figure out a way to get through the group Christmas party without giving anything away. No matter how hard they tried none of their plans seemed probable.

“Is Brittany going?” Georgina asked watching Scout reposition herself on the bed in the corner.

“They are still deciding if it’s a whole group thing or just a lads thing.” Niall explained.

“Then why did you ask if I wanted to go?” She asked confused.

“To see if I need to figure out a lie to ditch it if you weren’t invited.” He mumbled.

“You literally don’t make any sense at all sometimes.” She sighed.

Niall locked her head in his arms placing his phone in front of her face so she could watch the group chat blow up on the screen.

“This isn’t as uncomfortable as you think Horan.” She said squinting up at his phone.

“Girls aren’t invited to the pre-party but are invited still for the dinner portion. Do you wanna go?” He asked once more.

“Who the fuck does Keith think he is? But yeah that’s fine I guess. You aren’t saying yes for me. I’ll wait for the message.” She yawned.

“I’m not an idiot Georgina.” He mumbled dramatically. “I wasn’t gonna text for ya.”

“Do you want to go?” She asked as he set his phone down.

Niall let out a large yawn. “Nothin better to do.”

“True.” Georgina sighed nuzzling into his neck.

“I’m confirming that I’m going.” He mumbled as she watched his fingers move like lightning.

“Good. I finally get a night to myself.” She said quietly.

“What?” He looked down at her confused.

“Don’t think I’m gonna make it. Our friends can babysit you. I need the night off.” She smiled.

“That’s just rude.” Niall said glared at her playfully.

“It might be.” Georgina said placing a few tender kisses across the pale skin of his neck. “But you have to admit that a bath sounds so much better than hanging out with everyone.”

“I mean we could go take one right now.” He said as her lips slipped off his skin.

Georgina sat up. “Who said you were invited?”

“You’re such a fucking brat.” He said squeezing her sides. “You know that Fergie?”

“And you’re a saint?” She asked dryly.

Niall smirked. Before he could speak, she placed her lips onto his. An idea had filled her mind. She doubt it would come to fruition but it was nice to think about. She closed her eyes as his hand caressed her cheek. She slid her tongue into his mouth deepening the tender kiss.

That’s how it had always started –especially since he was home.  Their make out sessions always started with a sweet, tender kiss. But given time, things would change. The heat would get turned up. Hands went exploring under waistbands. Hungry kisses were placed on any piece of skin that was exposed. It wasn’t long before their bodies were set ablaze from the passion.

Georgina and Niall had been exploring that side of their relationship a lot lately. She was starting to learn what made him tick. If she bit his lip in just the right way, he would do whatever she wanted. She knew if she crawled on top of his lap, it was game over.

They had yet to have sex. It wasn’t because they didn’t want to. Every time they got close, something got in the way. Whether it was a poorly timed call from Dave or a long day at the office, something in the universe was keeping them from taking things further.

Today was the day that Georgina was going to fix that. She didn’t have work. Their friends weren’t around. She had on her favorite pair of knickers. It was going to happen. It was just her and Niall in an empty house. Nothing could get in the way.

Or so she thought.

Just as Niall slid his hand down the back of her pants, a song about a wicked ol’ witch blared from across the room. Georgina mentally cursed herself. She knew exactly who it was and knew that the problem could wait. She felt his hand squeeze her bum as he pulled away.

“Just ignore it.” She whispered pressing her forehead to his.

Niall didn’t think twice. He dove back in gripping her hips before kissing her. She wove her fingers through his hair as the noise stopped. His hand found its way underneath her waistband once more.

Georgina eagerly tugged on his lower lip.

His large hand slid beneath her center. He slowly pulled her panties to the side. Just as his fingers were about to stroke her, the sound of a group of obnoxious munchkins started up again across the room.

She let out a frustrated groan before burying her face into his neck.

“Go save the day.” Niall laughed into her hair.

Georgina pulled herself off of him, “Fucking Deborah.”

“Why is she even awake this early?” He asked as a soft yawn slipped out.

“No idea.” She called over her shoulder as she headed out of the room to answer the call.

Niall sat up slowly as the schedule for the rest of the day’s matches appeared on the television screen. A content smile tugged on his lips. He was happy to be home. The past few weeks had been spent catching up with the other members of the group. He always made sure to be home by the time Fergie got off work so they could unwind together. He even took her out to lunch a few times a week.

Most days, he couldn’t believe his life. The past seven years had been a whirlwind. He didn’t know what his favorite moment had been. There were too many to choose from. The first few months of his twenty-fourth year weren’t any different. They had been pretty spectacular so far. He was able to travel the world playing music from his solo album. He was able to play music that he was proud of to groups of people that were more than excited to hear it. Venues were played, albums were sold, and promotion was full of complimentary comments.

On top of becoming a successful solo artist, the girl he had been in love with for the past four years finally felt the same way. That was something he still hadn’t gotten over yet. He’d wake up in the morning and find her cuddled into him using his body for warmth. He’d come home from the studio and find dinner being made while she sang along to some old eighties tune. He’d find himself picking up a pint of ice cream and a bottle of wine on his way to her place knowing it would please her. He could finally do all the little things he had always wanted to do it.

And that’s why Niall had made up his mind. He was ready to take the next step and he knew that she was too. They had planned on waiting until after the holidays but he couldn’t wait anymore. Something needed to be done. He headed to the kitchen to grab a quick snack for them to share during the game. Before he had a chance to think  about his plan, an annoyed woman walked back into the room.

“Everything alright?” He called out from the fridge.

“That woman would lose her fucking head if it wasn’t attached.” She replied following the sound of his voice. “I tried the best I could. If she needs more help, I told her to call Nate.”

“Good.” Niall said. “Your game is about to start soon. Do you want a snack?”

“Fine with whatever you’re making.” She said reaching over his shoulder to grab a water bottle.

“So the lads thing isn’t happening at Keith’s anymore. Just dinner.” He said grabbing a container of grapes from the fridge.

“Why not?” She asked leaning up against the counter.

“Dave has to go into work for a bit and Jamie is going with Mags to look at some wedding venue.” Niall explained.

Georgina opened the bottle before asking, “How early were you guys going over there?”

“He wanted us there at two to start drinking.” Niall said heading to the sink with a cluster of grapes. “Dinner is still at five.”

“Well you could still go.” She said placing the bottle to her lips. “Don’t need the others to have fun with Chief Keef.”

“I don’t know Ferg. What sounds more fun, drinking whiskey alone with Keith or watching football on the couch with me girlfriend?” He said over his shoulder.

Her eyes went wide as she nearly choked on her drink. Girlfriend. Niall Horan just referred to her as his girlfriend. He just said it – flat out. There was no asking. There was no second guessing. He was sure. He viewed her as his girlfriend and that was that.

What kind of parallel universe was she living in?

She watched him take a bowl from the cupboard and fill it with an assortment of fruit. Niall Horan had just defined their relationship in the middle of his kitchen while washing grapes. It didn’t take a thirty minute conversations with a list of pros and cons. It took no less than five seconds and a simple sentence.

She was his girlfriend.

The brown haired boy noticed her silence. He glanced up from his workstation and found her staring. He popped a grape in his mouth before walking over to her.

“What are ya lookin’ at love?” He asked between bites.

“You said girlfriend…” Georgina said softly.

“Oh right, have I not made that clear?” Niall asked with an innocent smile.

“Well um…” She paused not really knowing what to say.

“Ferg, you do realize this was pretty much set in stone when you drove out to San Diego to apologize to me.” He said. “If you weren’t such a pain in the ass, I would’ve done it on the drive home from Vegas.”

Butterflies filled her stomach. She knew he had had those feelings for a while but hearing him say made it real. He wanted her to be his. His feelings were strong and true. She knew she needed to show him that it was worth it. She needed to show him that he meant just as much to her as she did to him.

Her mind started to work while he finished preparing their mid-morning snack. He grabbed some a couple of yogurt containers, a little bit of granola, and a pair of spoons. Without saying a single word, he walked back into the living while she followed behind like a lost puppy.

“So Niall Horan, you’re my boyfriend.” She said watching him plop down on the couch after placing the food on the coffee table.

“Pretty sure that’s how it works Ferg.” He nodded.

She nodded. “Okay. So how long do we have to date until that chair over there is rightfully mine?”

“You’re so annoying.” He mumbled as he grabbed a piece of cantaloupe from the bowl.

“Why’d you make something healthy?” Georgina asked sitting down beside him.

He shrugged. “I plan on drinking tonight.”

“And your point is?” She asked confused.

“I want to keep a balanced diet.” He smiled.

“Okay weirdo.” She teased before crawling onto his lap.

“What are ya doin? The pre-match predictions are coming on.” Niall asked confused by her actions.

“Just want to talk to ya face to face.” She smiled. “Do you think Arsenal will beat Man City?”

“Not in a million years. They could barely beat Swansea last week.” He laughed.

Georgina pushed a few strands of his hair off his forehead. “Do you think we’ll win?”

He shrugged. “Probably not. I mean it is Swansea.”

“That’s just rude.” She glared.

“You think that’s rude? You’re lucky I’m letting you keep this garbage on in me house.” He teased tugging on the sleeve of her Tottenham jersey. “Absolute shit.”

“If you want to take my clothes off, you could just ask Ni.” She mumbled dryly.

Niall’s eyes grew wide. “That’s not what I was meanin’ Fergie. I was just uh I was–”

Georgina kissed his forehead gently. “You’re pretty cute when you’re flustered. And if you want me to take my top off, I will.”

“Babe I wasn’t trying to.” He said shyly.

“What were you trying to do then?” She asked with a cocked eyebrow.

“I-I-I was just teasin ya.” He said unable to read her. This was the moment she had been waiting for.

“So you don’t want me to take my clothes off?” She asked with a playful look in her eye.

“Well I mean I don’t not want that.” He rambled as a certain type of heat rose from his toes.

“Niall Horan.” She said looking him in the eye. “What do you want me to do?”

“T-T-Take your top off.” He stuttered shyly.

Without any hesitation, she reached up and peeled off the Keane jersey she was wearing. She adjusted herself on Niall’s lap. Her eyes slowly met his. All feelings of self-consciousness disappeared as she watched him drink her in. His eyes focused on her nearly bare chest. He swallowed hard before clearing his throat. He wanted to say something but his brain was focusing too hard on keeping his hormones under control.

“Fuck.” He breathed out slowly.

“Just a pair of tits, Horan.” Georgina teased. “You’ve seen me in plenty of bikinis – nothing is different.”

“I know that Georgina!” Niall sassed. “But now I’m actually allowed to touch them.”

She narrowed her eyes at him. “You’re an idiot.”

“Doesn’t change the fact that I can play with your tits love.” He smirked before reaching up and cupping one of her breasts with his hand.

“Better up close, right?” She giggled as he gave it a squeeze.

“Much, much better.” He whispered.

Georgina reached out taking a hold of his shirt collar, “Think you can take this off now. It already helped you win.”

Niall glanced down at the blue Chelsea jersey he had on. “Mmm you have a point.”

“I’d be more than willing to help.” She said under her breath making him laugh.

His hand left her chest. “You’re up to something.”

“What?” She blushed.

“You’re up to something Georgina.” Niall said studying her face. “Just don’t know what it is yet.”

She sighed letting go of his shirt. “Pretty easy to figure out.”

Niall narrowed his eyes. “D’ya wanna keep making out? Is that what it is?”

“Possibly.” She replied shyly.

“Georgina Ferguson, who is my girlfriend by the way, wants to make out with me?” He teased. “Alert the fuckin’ media.”

The blonde haired woman shoved him playfully. “You’re a twat.”

Georgina smirked as she watched a spark ignite within him. Thing picked up right where they had left them. A trail of kisses were painted across her collarbone before his teeth sunk into the crook of her neck. A wave of pleasure shot through her core. He knew exactly what he was doing. His lips had found the weak spot on her neck. If he applied just enough attention to it, she’d melt. With a woman as stubborn as Fergie, he knew that was a great skill set to have.

He snaked his arms around her body. His lips made their way up to her mouth as a hungry make out session began. Georgina gripped the back of his head, sliding her tongue against his lips. She needed to taste him but he wouldn’t let her in. She tried once hoping he’d break.

Frustrated, Georgina pulled back. That split second of freedom gave him the upper hand. His teeth dug into her lower lip causing the softest of moans to escape. It was the sexiest thing he had ever heard.

An urgent need to hear the noise again filled his body. Niall tried his best to make it happen. He peppered her neck with kisses hoping to find the right spot. It didn’t work. He brought his lips back to hers before slipping his fingers beneath the fabric of her bra, teasing her nipple and planning his next move.

Georgina took this opportunity to deepen the kiss. Her brain was trying to anticipate his next move but a blissful haze was starting to set in. She wanted nothing more than for him to be inside her. They had gotten so close so many times since Aruba that the thought of it had been stuck in her mind for months. For anyone who knew Georgina, the fact that she even wanted to have sex was a major step for her.

After everything that went down with Marcus, she refused to date. She hated men. She hated sex. She never saw herself getting into another relationship ever again. She never saw herself getting intimate with anyone ever again. But then she met Niall and everything changed. Niall was the first person since Marcus that she actually wanted to be intimate with. It may have taken her a little while to get to this point but here she was – ready and willing.

Niall quickly worked the clasp of her bra while her teeth sunk into his bottom lip. She tugged gently. He hissed trying to break free. She had him right where she wanted him. She tugged once more pulling him in closer. She adjusted herself on his lap as he broke free from her grip. Much to her surprise, something hard lay beneath her.

Georgina pulled away with her eyes shut tight, “Please tell me I’m not sitting on your phone.”

Niall rolled his eyes before replying, “Georgina, I think it’d be a bit concerning if my penis was the same size and shape as me phone.”

Heat rushed to Fergie’s cheeks as she realized what had happened. She tilted her head to the side confused.

“But I didn’t even do the thing you like,” She said softly.

“Didn’t have to.” Niall blushed.

Georgina smiled shyly. “Oh. Well…um good to know.”

He cleared his throat, “Your game’s going to start soon.”

“Thanks for the heads up.” She said softly.

“Quick question, is this like a magic bra or something?” He asked sticking a finger beneath the clasp.

“Couldn’t figure it out?” She asked unclipping it with ease.

“How the fuck did you do that?” He asked amazed as the fabric fell to the side.

Georgina laughed stroking his cheek, “One day you’ll figure it out.”

Niall didn’t respond. He was too distracted by the sight in front of him. He caressing her breasts in his hands. He couldn’t believe how gorgeous she was. His thumbs ghosted over her nipples.

“Bit nippy in here.” She smiled as goosebumps formed from his touch.

His eyes flicked up to her. “We don’t have to do anything else if you aren’t comfortable.”

“I’m okay.” She replied softly.

“Are you sure?” He asked slightly nervous.

“Yes.” She said with a reassuring smile.

“But your game is going to start.” Niall said softly.

“I’m fine with watching the highlights.” Georgina said placing her hands on his.

“So you’re–you’re sure you want to do this–erm–here on the couch?” He said stumbling through his words.

Georgina nodded as he dropped their hands.

“But–” He blushed.

The topless woman took a hold of his face and looked him in the eyes.

“Niall Horan.” She said lovingly. “I want to have sex with you. Right here, right now. I don’t need the candles or the music or a bed covered in roses.”

His entire body grew warm. He almost couldn’t believe the words coming out of her mouth.

“I just need you and I’m set.” Georgina said causing his heart to race.

That’s when he knew. Their relationship wasn’t just something that was going to fizzle out in a month or two. This was something that could last. He was in love with her and in that moment he knew she felt the same way.

“Let me go get a condom.” He said patting her side gently.

She crawled off of his lap allowing him to head to the guest bathroom.

Georgina took a deep breath before sliding off her joggers. Her mind started to race as she realized this was going to be the first time they saw each other naked. She looked down at the pair of maroon knickers she had on.  They were on sale at Target and were probably the nicest pair she owned. They weren’t anything special – just like her.

A flicker of insecurity filled her mind. Was Niall okay with having sex with a woman that bought bargain bin underwear on her lunch break? Was she going to be fit enough for him? She wasn’t like the others he’d been with. Would he like her large thighs and extra curves? Would he run away as soon as the last bit of clothing came off? Would he even care?

The inner bully that lived inside her brain started to convince her to leave. Niall had never been with and would never want to be with someone as big as her. She was a fool for thinking someone as hot as him would ever want to be with someone like her.

But as she watched the eager Irishman walk back into the room, that voice died out. A goofy smile formed on his face as he waved a few foil packages at her. He tossed them on the coffee table before taking his shirt off.

“You think we are doing this more than once?” She teased trying hide her fear with humor like she always did.

“Figured I’d bring a couple extra.” He shrugged slipping out of his joggers. “Ya know, just in case.”

Georgina just shook her head as she watched him pick their clothes off the floor and place them on a chair across the room. He ran a hand through his hair as he made his way back to her. She laid back and stared at the ceiling. He cleared his throat before crawling on top of her. He placed a quick kiss on her lips before letting out a sigh.

“What’s wrong?” She asked softly.

“Just letting you know that I’m scared shitless right now.” Niall admitted.

A tiny smile formed on her face. “It’s just me.”

He gently nudged her cheek with his nose. “I have dreamt about this moment since we first met.”

“And it’s finally happening.” She whispered. “Congratulations.”

“I just don’t want to fuck it up.” He laughed nervously.

She kissed his cheek. “I’m just as scared as you are.”

Niall popped his head up surprised, “Really?”

Georgina nodded. “Terrified.”

“This is the first time I’m going to see you naked.” He whispered as he leaned down to kiss her.

“I can finally get Jenna to stop guessing how big you are.” She joked as he pulled away.

Niall’s cheeks grew warm. “Fergie.”

“Keep doing the whiny voice.” She smiled.

Niall bit her neck playfully. The noise that left her lips let him know that she was ready. The kisses started out sloppy. He needed to explore every inch of her skin with his mouth. He travelled from her lips to her chest. He started to slowly suck on her breast flicking her nipple with his tongue. His touch was gentle. She didn’t expect anything less from him.

After a few minutes, he nipped at her breast causing her to call out in pain. He flashed a cheeky smile in her direction before working his way down her chest. When he got to spot where she wanted him the most, he paused. His eyes locked with hers. The smile on his face changed. The shy boy was gone. The man who was in love with her had arrived. He pressed a kiss through the thin fabric of her panties. The warmth he had felt set him off. He slowly made his way back to her mouth.

“Ready?” He whispered as he pecked her lips.

“Ready.” She nodded.

Niall sat up pulling down his boxers. He grabbed a condom from the table trying to be as quick as possible. She slid down her panties watching him drop the foil package on the floor. He mumbled a curse word before bending over to pick it up. She couldn’t help but laugh.

Once the rubber was retrieved, he worked it over his hardened member. Georgina waited quietly. She couldn’t help admire the naked man in front of her. Niall Horan really was the perfect specimen. He was the perfect combination of man and boy. He had grown up a lot since they had first met. She liked this version of him so much better. One of the best thing about Niall was the fact that his looks weren’t even the best part about him. He was a genuinely good person and she really couldn’t believe that she was going to have sex with him.

“Jesus Christ, Georgina.” He whispered as he finally took in her naked form.  “You’re killing me. You’ve been hiding this all along?”

“Enough out of you.” She blushed.

“You are way out of my league.” Niall shook his head. “I don’t even know how this is about to happen right now.”

“Oh stop.” She said embarrassed.

“You’re gorgeous.” He said sincerely. “Absolutely gorgeous.”

“Thanks Ni.” She smiled. With those words, those thoughts of insecurity disappeared. She didn’t need to be afraid of what he thought because he loved every inch of her.

He hovered over her placing a kiss to her forehead.

“Ready for some mediocre sex?” He joked trying to lighten the mood.

“If I wanted that, I would’ve gone to Keith’s.” She mumbled dryly.

Niall narrowed his eyes at her. She was going to regret that comment. Without warning, he slid himself inside of her. Her eyes shut and her mouth fell open.

“Y’alright there Ferg?” He asked smugly.

“Fuck you.” She grumbled as he readjusted himself slowly.

“Think that’s what you’re about to do.” He laughed making her shake her head.

She opened her eyes, ready to reprimand him when she felt him settle all the way inside her. His chin dropped to his chest and he let out a noise she’d never heard him make before. He didn’t move right away, holding himself above her, his arms noticeably shaking.

“Niall…wh-what’s wrong?” She asked as a wave of worry washed over her.

He shook his head unable to look her in the eye, “Ya f-feel good….t-tight.”

Georgina’s skin grew warm from his comment. She took his face in her hands forcing him to look at her. She licked her lip before she spoke, “Glad you think so. Really need ya to move.”

He shook his head in disbelief as he moved slowly. Georgina Ferguson was actually letting him have sex with her. His nineteen-year-old self would have an aneurysm at the thought of it. He moved his hips slowly. His lips attached themselves to her neck as a love bite started to form.

An incoherent noise left her lips as his hips fell into a steady rhythm. Niall Horan was going to be the death of her.

It wasn’t long before their bodies were slick with sweat and his living room was filled with moans of satisfaction. Her legs were wrapped around his waist as he thrust into her. She couldn’t believe how good she felt. She had never been with anyone as attentive as Niall. He was doing his best to give her a special moment. The group of love bites strung across her neck were a good indicator of that. The symphony of moans she was producing was the best soundtrack he had ever heard.

“Shit.” She mumbled as he hit her spot. “Right there.”

“Yeah?” He whispered making sure to doing it again. “Feel good baby?”

“Y-Y-Yeah.” She said shakily.

He was close. He had been close for a while but was holding off. He wanted to take care of her. She needed him and he didn’t want the moment to end.

“N-Ni. I’m–” She panted.

“Me too.” He said gripping her hips a little tighter.

Just as he leaned down to kiss her, he the spot that would send her over the edge. Georgina gripped the arm of the couch, arching her back up into him. She almost couldn’t take it. Sentences failed to form as her vision began to blur. She needed him to keep doing what he was doing. The fire in her core was starting to spread. She could feel it in her toes.

He could tell she was about to come undone. That familiar flush crept across her cheeks and down her chest. He had never seen anything more beautiful. He knew one thing that would top it. One thing that would put him over the edge. He didn’t have time to ask for it. He knew if he spoke he’d lose his rhythm and that wasn’t what he needed. He needed to see it. He needed know exactly what she looked like in that moment. He had dreamt about it for years.

Niall silently begged her to read his mind. He needed her to open her eyes. He needed more than he ever anticipated. As if on cue, her lids fluttered open. Their eyes locked on each other. That’s all it took. One look into his eyes and she was done for. Her breath hitched in her throat as a wave of ecstasy washed over her. The look of pure bliss on her face sent him over the edge.

The room fell silent. He buried his head into her neck trying to catch his breath. The sound of her heartbeat echoed in his ear. He did that. He made her heart race. That was all for him.

Her fingers started to trace designs across the skin of his back. “Ni?”

“Hmm.” He mumbled kissing one of the freckles on her neck.

“You’re the first person to make me do that.” Georgina admitted shyly.

He lazily lifted his head up, “Marcus never?”

“Always faked it.” She blushed. “But this time I –”

Niall leaned forward and kissed her deeply. He knew what she was going to say.

There was no faking that.

When he pulled away, he hovered over her taking in her post coital glow.

“So d’ya think the game’s still on?” She asked with a lighthearted smile.

Niall’s infamous cackle filled the room. Just as she started to laugh, he winced forgetting he was still inside of her.

After a quick apology and some readjustment, Niall pulled himself out of her and walked to the bathroom. He tied a knot in the condom before throwing it in the bin. He steadied himself against the counter before looking at his reflection in  the mirror. His hair was a mess, his cheeks were flushed, and a pool of sweat had matted his chest hair together. Never in his twenty-four years of life had he felt this good. His heart was seconds away from bursting out of his chest. He splashed some cold water on his face hoping it’d help him come back to reality.

Once he was back on Earth, Niall headed back into the living room. He froze as he looked at the couch. He couldn’t believe the sight before him. Georgina, in nothing but her knickers, was curled up in a blanket sipping on a bottle of beer. A bowl of favorite crisps and a freshly opened beer were waiting for him on the coffee table. He could get used to this.

Noticing him out of the corner of her eye, Georgina sat up and looked at him. “Everything okay?”

“Just trying to stay calm.” He said clearing his throat.

“Why?” She asked pressing the bottle to her lips.

“The sight of a naked woman on my couch, drinking a beer and watching football is enough to get hard again.” He said walking towards her.

The corners of her mouth pulled up in a grin. “Well it’s a good thing you brought that second condom then.”

[snappedsky]

Fanatics Christmas Special 2017

Happy Holidays, everyone!

Christmas Special 2017

           “…and with this winter being the warmest on record all across the country, experts are firmly stating the truth of climate change.”            Johnny scoffs as he turns off the TV and tosses the remote away. “Oh, sure. The rest of the world has climate change and global warming. Meanwhile we’re all still stuck with -30 degree weather with three feet of snow.”

           Squee walks into the living room decked out in winter gear: coat, mittens, and earmuffs. Even Shmee is wearing a little winter hat.

           “Devi and Tenna will be here soon,” he warns, “you should get ready.”            “I am ready,” Nny shrugs.

           Squee looks him over. He’s just wearing tight black boots, jeans, and his trench coat zipped up.

           “Joooooooohnny,” Squee groans.

           “What? It’s fine,” Nny insists, “we’re gonna be in my car anyway.”            “It’s freezing out,” he points out, “at least put on a thick sweater.”

           “Fine,” he groans and walks to his room. He comes back wearing a fluffy sweater instead of his coat.

           Devi and Tenna suddenly burst through the front door, bundled up and shivering.

           “Fuck, I really need a car,” Devi moans.

           “You guys ready?” Tenna asks.

           “Yeah, let’s get this over with,” Johnny replies as he walks outside. Squee and the girls follow him to his car. They get inside- Nny and Devi in front and Squee and Tenna in the back- and head off.

           Three days before Christmas day, the gang is heading to North Mall- the biggest mall in the city- to take advantage of the sales. Johnny didn’t want to but the girls are making him and Squee’s coming along for the ride.

           With the busy traffic, asshole drivers, and Johnny’s road rage, it’s a long drive to the mall. Of course Devi planned for this and insisted they leave early. So they arrive around noon.

           They get out of the car and hurry through the busy parking lot to the even busier mall. It’s full to busting of hustling, bustling people trying to finish their Christmas shopping. There’s holiday music playing over the speakers that’s barely audible over the mess of incoherent babble. Nobody has courtesy for anyone else as they shove their way through.

           “Alright, mosh pit,” Tenna cheers.

           “Ugh, I already hate this,” Johnny groans.

           “Come on, let’s go shop,” Devi orders and takes the lead. The other three follow after her.

           Squee looks around curiously. He wonders what to give Nny for a gift and how he’s gonna buy it with Nny right here. He could just go off on his own until he finds something, but being alone is incredibly undesirable.

           Fortunately, he thinks of a better option when he hears a familiar squeal as they pass by the Santa Meet-up. Standing in line he spots a crabby Zim with Gir dressed in a big-headed little boy costume. Gir is hopping up and down, clapping his hands excitedly and making loud squealing noises. Everyone near them appears to be really uncomfortable.

           “Zim!” Squee calls and waves at him. Zim looks at him as he approaches. “What are you doing here?”            “Gir wants to meet the Santa Claus,” Zim replies, “he does it every year.”

           “Aw, that’s cute,” Squee smiles.

           “Insufferable is more like it,” he growls, “what about you?”            “Gift shopping,” he replies and subtly points back at Johnny. “I’m trying to find Nny a present. Wanna come?”            “That sounds much more tolerable. Hang on,” he says then shouts, “Skoodge!”

           The little, pudgy, wigged alien suddenly tumbles off the counter of a nearby kiosk and hobbles over. “Yes?”

           “Watch Gir,” Zim orders, “make sure he doesn’t eat any of the children.”            “Ah, okay,” Skoodge nods and takes Gir’s hand. Gir immediately giggles maniacally and swings Skoodge.

           “Okay, let’s go,” Zim nods.

           Squee smiles and looks back at Nny, Devi, and Tenna. “I’m gonna go with Zim. I’ll meet up with you guys later.”            They wave at each other as Squee and Zim take off.

         “Ugh, great,” Johnny grumbles, “Squee’s the only thing that makes this whole trip tolerable.”            “Well, at least this will give you a chance to get his gift,” Tenna points out as they start walking away.

           Zim and Squee squeeze through the sea of people, talking over the racket.

           “So did you guys walk here?” Squee asks.

           “No, Dib drove us,” Zim replies.

           “Oh, he’s here too?”            “Yeah, he went off somewhere with Gaz.”

           “Pepito said he might be coming here too. We should all meet up.”          “I suppose this crowd will be more tolerable if I’m surrounded by people who are bearable,” Zim nods.

           “You’re such a sweet talker, Zim,” Squee comments.

           “Dib followed Gaz to the arcade. Said he didn’t want her being alone,” Zim says.

           “I’m sure Gaz loved that,” he replies sarcastically

           They shove their way through the crowd until they reach the arcade. They step inside and look around.

           “See them?” Zim asks.

           “No but I see where they might be,” Squee replies as he points at a cluster of excited teens. They try to see over top of them but they’re both too short.

           “Curse our small stature,” Zim groans, “hang on.”

           A pair of spider legs extends from his PAK. He slips them gently through the crowd and slides everyone out of the way, creating a pathway between them and the game console. Gaz is standing at it, absolutely annihilating all the enemies on screen while Dib stands next to her.

           “Oh, hey, guys,” he says, mildly surprised.

           “Hi,” Squee waves, “wanna hang out?”

           “Yeah. Gaz?” Dib questions.

           “Sure, let me just beat the high score,” Gaz replies.

           “Gaz, you beat the high score like 100,000 points ago.”

           “Oh. No wonder it got so boring.”

           She lets herself die then types in ‘GAZ’ on the high score screen. Then the four of them leave together while all of the gamer kids swoon.

            Squee types on his cellphone and sticks it back in his pocket. “Pepito said he’ll meet us at the food court. Maddie, Colton, and Carmen are with him.”            “Cool. Can’t wait to tell Maddie I just beat the high scores on like five arcade games in three hours,” Gaz says.

           They push through the food court which is just as busy, but most of the people are sitting down. They walk around until they find Pepito and the others sitting together.

           “Hey, guys,” Pepito chimes as they approach.

           “What are you all doing?” Dib asks.

           “We’re getting new amps,” he replies, “our Christmas presents to ourselves.”            “What are you guys up to?” Carmen asks.

           “I wanna find a present for Nny,” Squee replies.

           “Does he even want presents?” Colton asks.

           “Well, he says he doesn’t but he’s always happy when I get him something,” he responds, “but every year he gets harder to shop for.”

           “I need to find a present for my mom too,” Pepito says as he stands up. “So let’s go shopping.”

           They huddle together and push through the crowds, discussing ideas for gifts.

         “So a present for Johnny,” Pepito muses, “you should get him like a great, big hunting knife.”

           “Or a body bag,” Zim adds.

           “Or a strait jacket,” Dib adds.

           “I know you guys are trying to be funny,” Squee says, “but he would probably love all those.”

           “What do you guys get for your families?” Carmen asks.

           “Dad doesn’t like presents,” Dib replies, “but I give Gaz stuff.”

           “You always give me games I already have,” Gaz points out.

           “How am I supposed to know what you have?” Dib asks sceptically, “you never tell me anything.”            “This year I’m getting Mom a new vase with flowers,” Pepito says, “she loves flower.”

           “My mom does too,” Colton says.

           “My mom likes wine,” Maddie mutters, “I’ve been getting her a bottle of her favourite every year.”            “Huh,” Squee muses, “maybe I’ll get Nny two six packs of Fiz Wiz.”            They continue through the mall, checking out all of the stores, looking for gifts for their loved ones. Up on the second floor, Johnny, Devi, and Tenna are doing the same. Devi and Tenna chat happily while Johnny follows close behind, grumbling about the crowd.

           Outside the wind is picking up, quickly and violently, and the snow is blowing around hard and fast. Anyone outside the mall is hurrying home to escape the storm while everyone inside the mall is completely oblivious to it.

           Suddenly, all the lights in the entire building blink off. Everybody freezes with surprise as the dim emergency lights switch on.

           “What’s happening?” Squee squeaks.

           “A blackout,” Dib states.

           “Should…we leave?” Colton asks uncertainly.

           The intercom comes on, a static-y voice coming through. “Attention, everyone. Please remain calm. The storm has knocked out the power for the mall and neighboring buildings. Also, all the doors have been blocked by the snow.”

           Everyone gasps with surprise and annoyance.

           “The tow truck is unable to arrive for a couple hours,” the announcement continues, “please relax and remain calm.”

           Everyone starts grumbling angrily as they start moving around.

           “We’re trapped?” Squee whimpers and starts tugging at his coat. “Oh, boy. I’m getting claustrophobic.”

           “How?” Gaz asks, “it’s a giant building.”            “Doesn’t matter if I can’t leave when I want to,” he points out as he starts kneeling down, clutching Shmee. “I might as well be back in the mental asylum.”

           They look at him worriedly as his breathing turns shallow.

           “It’ll be okay,” Pepito says reassuringly, “it’ll only be a couple hours.”

           Squee doesn’t respond. He just keeps squishing Shmee.

           “You can’t help, Pepito,” Maddie says, “only someone who is also prone to panic attacks can help him.”            She kneels beside him and squeezes his shoulder. “Squee, what can I do to help you relax?”

           “Um,” he murmurs nervously.

           “Oh, I know,” Colton says excitedly, “let’s go to the book store. Would you like that?”

           Squee smiles uncertainly and nods, “m-maybe.”            “Yeah,” Colton grins as he and Maddie help Squee up. “You guys coming?”            “No, I gotta go find Gir and Skoodge,” Zim replies.

           “I’ll go with you,” Pepito says, “you two take care of Squee.”            “No problem,” Colton smiles. He and Maddie lead Squee away. Zim, Dib, Gaz, Pepito, and Carmen head in the opposite direction.

           On the second floor, Johnny, Devi, and Tenna squeeze through the crowds. Most people are just milling around now.

           Johnny is sucking on a candy cane, which would be normal enough, except he’s incredibly focused on it.

           Finally Devi snaps. “What are you doing?”            “Making a shiv,” he replies plainly.

           She glares at him incredulously.

           “I didn’t bring any of my weapons with me, so when all these people descend into anarchy and resort to cannibalism, I gotta be ready,” Johnny clarifies.

           Devi rolls his eyes. “Are you serious? We’re only gonna be here for a couple hours.”            “That’s all it takes,” he grunts.

           “I want one too,” Tenna mutters.

           Johnny looks around worriedly. “I should find Squee. He’ll probably be freaked out.”

           “We don’t even know where he is,” Devi points out, “and he’s with his friends, he should be fine.”            “Yeah and we’ll meet up with him when we’re able to leave,” Tenna adds.

           “Fine,” Johnny groans, “but can we at least go somewhere quiet. If one more person bumps into me, I’m gonna use my shiv early.”            “Where are we gonna go?” Devi asks sceptically.

           “Oh, I know,” Tenna replies, “follow me.”

           They shove their way through the crowd for a few minutes until they come up to an ‘Employees Only’ door. Tenna glances around suspiciously before cracking it open and slipping through.

           “Come on, guys,” she smiles and waves for them to follow.

           Johnny and Devi glance at each other worriedly before following.

           It leads to two sets of stairs, one going down and one going up. Without the lights, it’s so dark that they can’t see where they lead.

           “Come on, this way,” Tenna says as she trots up the stairs. Johnny and Devi follow quickly.

           “Won’t we get in trouble if we’re in here?” Devi asks.

           “What are they gonna do? They can’t kick us out,” Tenna points out, “besides, I come up here all the time and I’ve never got caught.”

           “Why do you come up here?” Johnny asks.

           “The view from the roof is great for photos,” she replies, “but we won’t go on the roof now. We can just chill in the stairwell.”        

           Devi nods approvingly. “It’s actually nice here.”

           “Yeah,” Johnny agrees, “it’s alright.”            Tenna beams brightly.

           They go all the way up the stairs, aiming to rest at the top. But as they reach the end, they notice it’s getting colder really fast.

           “Without the heat, it’s freezing,” Devi comments.

           “It’s not just the heat, there’s wind,” Johnny points out.

           They reach the top: a doorway leading to the roof. The main reason they know that is because the door is wide open, letting wind and snow blow inside.

           “God, what idiot left this wide open?” Devi grumbles angrily.

           “It’s not open, it’s off its hinges,” Johnny points out as he wiggles the busted door. It’s been ripped off the top hinge and is barely hanging onto the bottom hinge.

           “Damn, you think the wind is really that strong?” Tenna asks.

           Johnny looks closely at the door and sees four thin grooves ripped out of the edge near the knob. He rubs his fingers against them and they line up almost perfectly.      

           “I don’t think the wind did this,” he grunts.

           Devi and Tenna shudder, and not just from the cold.

           “Let’s get out of here,” he orders.

           He starts to back away when the surrounding snow suddenly whips around. It wraps around him like a hand and he yelps with surprise as it yanks him outside.

           “Johnny!” Devi and Tenna cry.

           Back inside, in the bookstore, Squee, Colton, and Maddie use the flashlight on their cellphones to peruse the large selection. They’re all smiling contently, enjoying the silence and books.

           Squee suddenly gets an odd feeling. He lowers the book and looks around.

           “What’s wrong?” Colton asks, “you having another panic attack?”            “No, I just got a bad feeling,” Squee replies, “I wonder where Johnny is.”

           Back on the roof, Devi and Tenna jump out into the doorway and look around nervously. There’s so much snow blowing around, they can’t see two feet ahead of themselves.

           “Johnny?” Devi calls out, but over the wind she can barely hear her own voice.

           “What do we do? What happened?” Tenna asks frantically.

           Something flies through the snow and lands by their feet. It’s a candy cane with a sharpened tip.

           Devi picks it up and growls angrily, “dammit. Johnny!” She races outside without a second thought.

           “Devi, wait up!” Tenna squeaks and chases her.

           They push through the ripping winds and snow, looking around for Johnny. They try calling his name, but their voices don’t carry through the winds.

           “Devi, look!” Tenna calls out and points to the right. Through the snow, they can barely see a hand sticking out of a snow bank. They gasp and race up to it.

           It’s completely frostbitten and frozen, but clearly a woman’s hand.

           “It’s not Johnny,” Devi sighs with relief.          

           “Then…who is it?” Tenna asks fearfully.

           “Let’s not worry about that right now,” she replies.

           They glance around nervously before Devi taps Tenna’s shoulder. “Did you hear that?”            “Hear what?” Tenna asks.

           They strain to hear through the wind and listen carefully. Then they hear it: an angry shout they know quite well.

           “Johnny!” they exclaim.

           “Come on, it came from this way!” Devi orders as she races off to the right, Tenna close behind.

           They push through the wind and snow, calling Johnny’s name but they don’t see him anyway. Until he flies at them from out of here, landing at their feet.

           “Are you okay?” Tenna asks with surprise.

           “No, I’m not fucking okay!” he barks as he jumps to his feet, his eyes wild with panic. “Something’s trying to eat me! We gotta get the fuck out of he-ack!”

           He’s cut off when he’s suddenly blown off his feet and yanked into the air.

           “Johnny!” the girls cry after him as he disappears back into the storm.

           Johnny tries to wrestle with his captor but he can’t get any sort of grip on them because it’s just snow. He stops abruptly, held in the air, face to face with his attacker.

           All he sees amidst the swirling snow is a pair of beady, icy blue eyes and two rows of sharp, jagged icicles arranged like fangs in a large mouth.

           The icicles start to spread apart, like the mouth is opening up, and Johnny gets pulled closer to it.

           “Dammit, not again!” he screams as he disappears into a mass of swirling snow. He falls down a dark tunnel before hitting a hard surface. He quickly scrambles to his feet and leaps into the surrounding wall of swirling snow. He pushes through, the snow and wind tearing into him like knives, until he rips through and falls to his knees on the other side, panting and shivering.

           “Johnny!” Devi and Tenna exclaim and race over to him.

           “That’s the third fucking time!” he barks.

           “What is it?” Devi asks.

           “I don’t know, some sort of snow monster?” he replies, “whatever it is, it’s stubborn and pissed that it’s not killing me.”            Their ears are suddenly bombarded by some sort of roar that seems to flow through them with the wind. Johnny looks back, trying to get a look at the monster, but without a clear view of its face, it just looks like snow.

           “We gotta go!” Johnny barks and shoves the girls back. They start to run away but Johnny is suddenly lifted off his feet again.

           “No!” Devi cries as she and Tenna grab Johnny’s hands and pull him back. The wind and snow doesn’t let him go though and they start playing tug-of-war with Johnny’s body.

           The girls pull on his arms while the wind and snow tugs on his mid-drift. He groans loudly with pain as it feels like he’s going to be ripped in half, when suddenly the girls yank him through the snow.

           They all yelp with surprise as they fall back, tumble across the roof before finally stopping against a large skylight.

           They groan in pain as they sit up, rubbing their heads. They freeze at the sound of the roar again and look back.

           Through the storm they barely make out a pair of blue eyes before seeing a large mass of snow plummet right for them. They scream with fear and surprise before it slams into them.

           The glass smashes beneath and they fall through into the mall. They fall past second floor balconies, straight to the first floor, and land in a giant pile of fake presents behind the Santa chair.

           All of the civilians on the first floor gasp and chatter with surprise at the sight. Among them are Zim, Dib, Gaz, Pepito, and Carmen, as well as Skoodge and Gir. They look at each other with surprise.

           “Was…was that Johnny?” Pepito questionably.

           Answering his question, Johnny suddenly bursts out of the top of the pile and he and the girls tumble down to the floor. They lie there for a second, groaning in pain. Then Johnny curls in on himself, shivering.

           “I…am…so cold…” he moans.

           “Jesus, you’re practically blue!” Devi exclaims, “come on, let’s get you some hot chocolate.”

           They start to help him to his feet as Zim and the others hurry over.

           “What happened?” Gaz asks.

           “Something’s outside! A monster!” Tenna replies.

           “Monster?” Dib questions, his eyes lighting up.

           “It looks like a blizzard and it tried to eat me like three times,” Johnny explains.

           “An abominable snowman!” he exclaims excitedly.

           “Huh?” the others grunt questionably.

           “That must be what it is! It’s a monster that looks like a blizzard!”

           “I thought they were just like yetis,” Carmen says.

           “That’s just what the lore says. But a real abominable snowman is an intangible being made completely of snow and wind,” Dib explains.

           “Like that?” Pepito questions as he points to the sky.

           Dib looks up and sees a swirling mass of snow smash through the rest of the skylight. Amidst it, a pair of beady, blue eyes and two rows of icicles can barely be seen.

           “Yes, just like that,” Dib nods affirmatively before flinching fearfully. “Oh no!”

           The civilians start screaming and racing away as the monster roars, sending a flurry of snowflakes down to the floor. Zim and the others stare at it with surprise.

           “I don’t wanna get eaten again,” Johnny groans, “I’m not sure I can handle a fourth time.”

           “Fourth time?” Dib exclaims, “you should’ve froze to death the first time! That’s how it digests its prey!”

           Johnny just shrugs.

           “I don’t wanna freeze to death,” Zim snaps, “how do we destroy it?”

           “We need to hit it with a large amount of heat to melt it,” Dib replies.

           “Pepito?” Zim questions.

           “I don’t think I can produce that much heat,” Pepito replies.

           “Then that just leaves Squee,” he declares, “maybe with his bombs, we can blow it up.”

           His cellphone pops out of his PAK and he calls Squee on speaker phone.

           In the bookstore, Squee, Colton, and Maddie cower by the doorway as they watch the swirling, sentient blizzard sticking through the skylight. Squee answers his phone when it starts vibrating.

           “Squee!” Zim snaps, “we need you!”

           “To fight the giant snow monster, right?” Squee questions, “can’t you handle it without me? I’d rather hide in terror.”

           “Squee!” Zim, Dib, Gaz, and Pepito bark.

           “Alright, alright,” he groans, “I’m on my way.”

           He hangs up and looks at Colton and Maddie. “You guys stay here.”

           “Yup, you got it,” they nod without hesitation.

           Squee groans as he exits the bookstore. He tries to figure out the quickest route to the Santa chair, but there’s no space with all of the civilians scrambling around in a panic.

           “I’m never gonna get there in this stampede,” he sighs. He grabs his phone and sends a text to Zim.

           Zim receives it and reads it quickly. “Need a lift.”

           “Gir!” he barks, “get Squee!”            Gir salutes before flying off, fire blasting from the bottoms of his feet. It would look pretty concerning to regular people, seeing this big headed child fly off. But everybody’s in too much of a panic to notice.

           “Squee will be here soon,” Zim announces.

           “It won’t be soon enough!” Gaz exclaims.

           A large mass of swirling snow in the shape of an arm shoots down from the ceiling, straight for Johnny. Too slow to dodge, he can only watch hopelessly as it gets closer.

           Pepito whips his arm, unleashing a wave of black energy at the mound of snow before it can strike. It melts instantly. The monster screeches in what can be assumed is pain.

           “Nice, Pepito!” Dib cheers.

           “Yeah,” Pepito smiles shakenly, “but I can only do that so many times.”            “It’s after Johnny,” Carmen states.

           “I said I escaped from it a couple times,” Johnny points out, “but it won’t give up.”            “I doubt it’s ever had anyone escape from it before,” Dib says, “it probably can’t stand to let you live now.”

           “Dammit, Johnny,” Devi snaps, “why you gotta be so hard to kill? You’re like a cockroach.”            “It’s the curse I live with,” Johnny grunts.

           Another arm of snow shoots down. Everyone shouts with surprise and Pepito prepares to blast it again, when Gir and Squee fly through it, destroying it.  

           Gir lets go of Squee’s arm. He rolls as he hits the floor and stops in a crouch.

           “Wow, what a ride,” Squee grunts.

           “Squee, we need your bombs!” Zim orders.

           “Alright, alright,” Squee nods as he digs around in his bag and pulls out a Smiley Bomb.

           “We have to hit the monster, preferably in the face,” Dib says.

           “I can’t throw that far,” Squee points out.

           “Give it here,” Zim orders and yanks it from his hand. A large, metal slingshot extends out of his PAK. He pulls the pin on the bomb and a spider leg loads it.

           He shoots it and the bomb flies straight for the monster’s face. But before it can get close, the strong winds blow it away. It explodes in midair, thankfully to far from anything to cause any damage.

           “No good,” Dib sighs, “the winds are too strong to get close to it.”

           “Then how can we destroy it?” Pepito asks.

           “Get a bomb inside of it,” Johnny suggests, “if you can get a bomb through its mouth, it’ll blow up on the inside.”

           “But we can’t throw a bomb through its mouth, it’ll just blow away,” Zim points out.

           “Our only choice is live bait,” Squee says, “but it’ll have to be somebody who has a chance of surviving the explosion.”            “And somebody expendable in case they don’t,” Gaz adds.

           “But who?” Pepito questions.

           They consider it for a second then simultaneously look back at Skoodge.

           He flinches before scurrying away, but Zim catches him before he gets too far.

           “Oh, no you don’t,” he snaps as he picks him. “This is your chance to shine Skoodge.”            “But-but I don’t wanna blow up!” he cries.              

           “Don’t worry. You can create an energy field with your PAK to protect you from the explosion,” Zim points out.

           “But what if I freeze to death?”

           “We’ll bundle you up to make sure it’s not instant,” Dib says.

           “Yeah! Here, wear this,” Squee says as he puts his earmuffs on him.

           “And this,” Pepito adds as he gives him his beanie.

           The others join in, wrapping him in scarfs, mittens, and coats until he’s practically a sphere.

           “And here,” Squee says as he hands him a Smiley Bomb. “Pull the pin as soon as you’re through the mouth to ensure it blows up inside of it. Okay?”            Skoodge tries to say something, but his voice is muffled beneath the scarfs.

           “Well said, Skoodge,” Zim booms as he loads Skoodge in his giant slingshot.

           He fires and Skoodge’s screams are muffled beneath his clothes as he shoots straight for the monster. He successfully passes through the icicle fangs. The monster seems to jolt, taken aback.

           Everyone watches with anticipation, crossing their fingers hopefully.

           “Come on, Skoodge,” Zim murmurs.

           The monster starts to attack again when all of a sudden an explosion takes up its entire midsection. It screeches in pain as it falls apart, motionless snow plummeting into the mall. And through the powder, a pink ball of energy is spotted falling too.

           “Yeah!” the kids cheer and race down the plaza. It’s empty now that all the civilians are cowering in the stores.

           Skoodge’s energy shield bounces as he lands on the floor. The shield dissipates and he falls onto his back, unable to move because of the bundle of clothes.

           The kids catch up to him. Zim picks up and throws him into the air victoriously while they cheer.

           Beneath his scarfs, Skoodge beams brightly while everyone congratulates him on a job well done.

           After they’ve finished celebrating, everyone relaxes in the food court. Colton and Maddie join them, after learning it’s safe to leave.

           Johnny sits with his legs pulled up to his chest and rubbing his hands up and down his arms, still nearly frozen to his core. Squee sits next to him, smiling.

           “See why it’s a good idea to wear proper winter clothes?” he asks.

           “In case I get attacked by a snow demon?” Johnny questions.

           “Exactly. Got to be prepared for anything,” Squee nods, “good thing I figured out what to get you for your Christmas present before the power went out. I guess I’ll give it to you early.”

           He reaches into his bag, pulling out a gift bag. Out of it, he grabs a striped black and grey winter hat, black gloves, and a black padded jacket. He slips the hat onto Johnny’s head and drapes the jacket over his shoulders.

           Johnny blinks with surprise before chuckling. “Thanks, Squee.”            Squee beams. “Merry Christmas, Nny.”            Everyone chills out in the food court- thankfully not literally. The plow still won’t be here for a while, and the civilians are all still frightened, but they don’t care. They’re together and relaxed and right now, that’s all that matters.