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unhitches-similes · 2 years ago

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Miraculous Fic: Reassurances

I wanted to do a little something in honor of @ladrienjune since it's going on, but my brain is also still kinda stuck on my BFF Swap + Reverse Crush AU. So, here's something that IS by definition Ladrien, but the dynamic's a bit different because, well, reverse lovesquare.

Anyhow, enough of me. Please enjoy the story!

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Summary: Adrien wasn’t expecting to find Ladybug outside his house looking for all the world like she’d been carrying the world on her shoulders and somehow dropped it.

Notes: AU Season 1, Best Friend Swap + Reverse Lovesquare

Dialogue Prompt – "It's nothing, I'm just tired." Ladrien June Prompt – 5. Just Friends

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Read on Ao3

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Adrien was pacing around his room as he talked on the phone with his best friend. (His best friend! He was still growing used to the idea, even though Alya often pointed out that they’d already been friends even before going to school together.) His constant movement had more to do with excess energy than any sort of discontent.

The blond was just walking across the cushions of his sofa when movement outside his windows caught his attention. It was hard to see in the dark with his ordinary human vision, and it went by quickly, but Adrien could have sworn he had just seen…

No. They’d just fought an akuma earlier that day, surely there wasn’t another one already? If there was, Alya probably would have been one of the first to know – she kept track of such things – and definitely would have said something rather than continuing her thorough breakdown of the latest battle fought by the United Heroez. But why else would Ladybug be out at this hour?

“Alya, I’ll have to call you back,” Adrien interrupted.

“What? No,” Alya protested. “I was just getting to the best part!”

“I know, but later, okay? I’ve got to do something real quick.”

“Fine, but if you don’t call back soon, I can’t promise I won’t spam you with text messages.”

“I’d expect nothing less.”

Disconnecting the call, Adrien slid the phone into his pocket before bounding over to his windows, trying to see if he could spot (ha!) Ladybug in the darkness. “Plagg, did you see anything?”

The teen turned around when the kwami gave no response. Plagg was sprawled on his back on the bed, in a cheese coma, no doubt. Repressing a sigh, Adrien jogged over to grab the sleepy kwami and slip him into a pocket.

Poking his head out his bedroom door, he glanced both ways before stepping out into the hall. It wouldn’t do for Nathalie or his father to see him sneaking outside the house late at night, even if he wasn’t planning on going far. (Nevermind that he did so all the time as Chat Noir. This situation was different.)

Adrien looked around as he quietly exited through a side door. Whatever he thought he’d seen had appeared to be moving in this direction. Who was he kidding, though? Even if he had seen Ladybug and she had gone by his house, why would she still be nearby? He would have had better luck finding whatever or whoever it was as Chat Noir.

Just as he was about to give up the search and head back inside, he heard a muffled sound from the other side of the wall. Hurrying over to the nearest gate, he took a moment to disable the security on it. Honestly, his father needed to be a little less predictable with his security codes. Adrien then stepped out onto the sidewalk, moving cautiously towards where he thought he heard the sound.

There! Tucked between a shrub and a burnt out streetlight, back against the stone wall and knees folded against her chest was Ladybug, spots only just discernible in the darkness. She seemed so… small, just then. Adrien wasn’t sure what exactly he had been expecting, but it certainly wasn’t to find his partner outside his house looking for all the world like she’d been carrying the world on her shoulders and somehow dropped it.

“Ladybug?” Adrien said softly.

The girl startled, eyes wide with alarm as she looked up at him, before relaxing again a moment later. “Oh, um, hi,” she responded, false cheer in her tone, her hands raising to swipe quickly beneath both eyes before resting atop her knees. “It’s Adrien, right? Shouldn’t you be at home?”

“You’re outside my house.” Adrien gestured to the structure behind her.

“Your house?” Ladybug echoed, turning her head as though to look and getting a face full of shrubbery for her trouble. (Adrien resisted the urge to laugh at the adorable look of consternation that passed over her features.) She raised to her feet and moved away from the wall to actually get a glimpse of the so-called ‘house’ in question. “Gosh, I’m sorry. I guess I must not have been paying attention to where I was going. I didn’t mean to disturb anyone.”

“No, you aren’t bothering me or anything. I just thought I saw something go past my window and came to investigate,” he assured her.

Her blue eyes turned back to him and even in the muted light of the moon, even behind her mask, they appeared red-rimmed and puffy. Like she’d been crying. The idea made Adrien’s stomach churn uncomfortably.

“If you’re sure…” said Ladybug.

“Absolutely.”

It was interesting talking to her this way, as Adrien. She always seemed so flustered around him when he was Chat. He always wished she could just talk to him the way he saw her talk to other people. He still wasn’t sure what he’d done to make her so uncomfortable around him and the times he’d tried to ask only seemed to make it worse.

“Well, I guess I should probably get going,” she announced. “You really should get back inside. It’s probably not very safe to be wandering around outside without shoes.”

Adrien glanced down to find that he was, in fact, only wearing socks. He looked back up quickly as she drew her yoyo from her hip. “No, wait!”

She blinked back at him in surprise. “Did you need something?”

“No! I mean, yes - that is,” Adrien silently berated himself as he tried to put his thoughts into coherent order. “I just… Are you okay?”

Because that was really the crux of the matter, wasn’t it? It was late at night and his partner, a girl he liked to think of as his friend, was alone and crying. And he couldn’t think of a reason why. Sure, the fight with the akuma had gone a little sideways at the start, but they had won, in the end. Everything had been fixed, hadn’t it?

“It’s nothing, I’m just tired,” she told him. She was wearing a camera-smile. Adrien could tell. He had a few of his own.

He was going to just leave it be. He should just leave it be. It wasn’t his business. Nonetheless, despite his intentions, he still blurted out, “You weren’t crying just now?”

Ladybug drew in a sharp breath, shooting him a stricken look. She looked ready to cry again and Adrien could just kick himself. Why did he have to open his big mouth? She could only just hold a conversation with his alter-ego; why would she want to talk to him as Adrien about whatever was upsetting her?

“I…” Ladybug began, expression crumpling and shoulders sagging in a way Adrien just hated to see in someone he already admired. “It’s just—”

She let out a hiccuping breath, visibly trying to fight it back only to have it be followed by another. A high-pitched sound of distress emerged then, her hand raising too slowly to properly muffle it. And then, much to Adrien’s own alarm, it was as though a dam had broken and the words and tears seemed to spill out of her.

“Everything went wrong today! At home and school, and – and then with the akuma, I made like a dozen different mistakes. I made a complete idiot of myself in front of my partner. Again. And my best friend is mad at me because I broke a promise and I can’t even explain why. It has been th-the worst day ever and now I’m just dumping all my problems on you and you don’t even know me. I must be the worst Ladybug tha—”

“Whoa – hey, I-I’m sure that’s not true!” Adrien cut in, his hands fluttering uselessly in the air between them. “You’re an awesome Ladybug! So awesome my best friend spends all her free time doing a blog about you! Have you seen it? It’s called the Ladyblog and if you haven’t visited it, you totally should! There’s a whole section just for people to leave notes to let you know how much they appreciate you and what you do. I mean, it’s for you and Chat Noir both, but you’re a team, right? Chat Noir couldn’t do what he does without you.”

His partner was staring at him again, the moonlight catching her features in a sort of melancholy relief. The sobs that had been wracking her slight frame had quieted, perhaps in surprise at his rather wordy and impassioned interjection, although tears still trickled down her face.

Hesitating just a moment, Adrien reached out to put a hand on Ladybug’s shoulder, giving a reassuring squeeze when she didn’t flinch or pull away. “You had a bad day,” he told her, “that doesn’t mean you’re a bad person or that you aren’t good at what you do. Everyone has off days and everyone makes mistakes.

“You are a good Ladybug,” Adrien asserted, trying to put all of his certainty into the words, “Paris is lucky to have you.”

Ladybug let out another sob and for a split second Adrien was afraid he had said something wrong before she crashed against him, arms going around his waist as she buried her face in his chest. The boy returned the embrace, pressing his cheek against the top of her head and making reassuring noises the way Alya did when she comforted one of her sisters.

They stood there for a moment, Adrien rubbing a hand soothingly along Ladybug’s back. Part of him wanted to ask what she’d meant when she said she’d made an idiot of herself in front of him, but of course, Ladybug didn’t know he was also Chat Noir. He wished once more that she’d been less adamant about keeping their identities a secret. Maybe then there’d be some better way for him to help her. Maybe she wouldn’t be so flustered around Chat if she knew he was just Adrien beneath the mask. Nonetheless, it was obvious he’d have to do something to encourage her more the next time they were both in costume.

“Thanks,” Ladybug finally said, stepping away from him. Her hands brushed over her cheeks again and she was mostly back to the Ladybug the city had come to know. “And sorry for crying all over you.”

“It’s fine. I’m glad to help,” he told her.

She gifted him a smile – a real one, this time – and something about the expression seemed so familiar. “You’re sweet. Who would have known the boy whose face is all over Paris would be such a sweetheart?”

A blush rose to his face unbidden and Adrien scratched the back of his head. “Yeah, well, who’d think Ladybug would tease someone she just met?” he countered with a small grin. Her laughter rang through the air before she leaned up to press a kiss to his cheek.

“Thank you, Adrien.”

“Anytime.”

She turned to leave again and Adrien reached out to put a hand on her arm to delay her departure.

“I mean it, Ladybug,” he told her. “Anytime you need a friend, you know where to find me.”

“I’ll remember that.” She smiled softly and then she was gone, leaving him alone on the sidewalk. As Adrien turned to go back inside, his phone in his pocket started to vibrate with a series of rapid-fire texts. Right on cue.

Pulling his phone out as he went back inside, Adrien hoped that Ladybug would be okay. He also hoped that one day, he’d be able to have a conversation with her as Chat Noir without feeling like he was stressing her out. (He would, but it wouldn’t be for some time yet.)

He nearly got caught heading back to his room. Alya had sent him a meme that made him burst out laughing.

~*~

End.

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shummashum · 1 year ago

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Zeus Brundle Ch10 [1~5]

Previously on Ch9! Liz, who was about to end the day happily after a dokidoki♡ date with Zeus, heard from Al and Cae that that an emergency had occurred! What on earth is the story behind the brooch that makes them act like that?!

is this a case that finally requires reasoning skills first of all, I want to know why losing a brooch is an emergency don't tell me what only you guys know, let me know too

Then Zeus appeared out of nowhere.

I'm okay and she's okay because she didn't do anything wrong! not good at keeping the brooch? that wasn't intentional I'm worried of course, but I'm worried that the situation is getting more serious, not worried about her reputation

seems like he's somewhat overreacting? there's something strange about this being a simple romantic situation something feels off, don't know why though

a singular strike! honestly I kind of like it

oh… the exclamation mark I'm surprised he used that

alright, let's stop chatting for now and go listen to Remb's explanation. I'm really curious to see how this situation plays out

So all of them walked into the Headmaster's office. Season 6 comrades gathered together again

When Liz asked him how he knew she lost the brooch, Klaus began to explain.

eh what that's that that Al said before, that it was so damn hard to get, that they didn't even know it existed in the first place…

what why is such a dangerous thing contained in the brooch oi Remb why…?

Then Cae asked why that kind of thing would be in her crooch. nice assist

is there a chance that the person who spread that rumor will appear later? Devil's Whisper was also used as an important keyword, there's no reason not to use the culprit of the rumor keep doubting ! !

so what he was discussing with Remb saying 'there's no other way' was about putting the herb in a brooch, it was too obvious to hide it somewhere so they appointed someone to carry it around…

but isn't it a bit unstable to store it in the form of a brooch couldn't it have been stored in a safer form, such as a ring or earrings or etc well brooch is the least suspicious though

but how do we find it judging from the emergency call, it doesn't seem like there's a function to track the location of the brooch

the brooch was definitely attached to her there before the lake tour. there was no description of a hole or other damage to the pocket, so 'she thought she put it in her pocket, but it ended up falling on the floor' is plausible (honestly I think this is the case!) it'd be a real crisis if the brooch had fallen into the lake

it makes sense to keep an eye on the person who was last with her, but… it's true that he was with her before she lost the brooch, but he didn't look particularly suspicious to me?

no don't don't scratch him I kind of agree with you but now is not the time

here comes another fight, oh please

but is there any point in discussing the plan I don't think there's any solution other than searching the brooch she dropped would stay in its place unless someone had already taken it, but there was no one else at the lake except the two... probably not a case of theft

Remb asked her if she recalled anything noteworthy about the brooch, and she told him that someone named Luci wanted to take it from her. Are you really saying that in front of Klaus

I knew this would happen, I totally agree though give her a very very firm scolding!!

But fortunately, Remb said he would just overlook her infraction.

#shumma plays wh

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acrosstobear · 2 years ago

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okay confession time: I was obsessed with schulott during the 2020 and 2021 season, I swear I’ve read every fanfic on ao3 in that time. but then the content disappeared from them (obviously) and I sort of let them go because both their career situations hurt me and a lot of fics were angsty which wasn’t helping at all. long story short, I gave yours a go yesterday because I’ve literally been waiting for it for a year and a half (can’t believe it’s been that long. wow) and it gave me butterflies again!!!!!!! I loved reading it and I can’t wait for more. So thank you for creating that spark again (even if the content will still be close to zero this year), I’ve missed them and I’ve missed your fics <3 x

RIP TO THE COMFORT I KNOWWW literally my problem too, I JUST WANT HAPPINESS and all we got was pain. BETRAYAL. disappointment :(

but oh man, this gives me the feels!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! thank you soooooooooo much for sharing this with me and thank YOU so much for reading. i'm so insanely glad you enjoyed it and i hope i can live up to expectations with the rest of the chapters to come 🥰 and seriously, it really means a lot to hear that my writing is appreciated and even missed. i'm carrying this message around in the little pocket of good things in my heart!!!!!!!!! 💙

#amanda answers #anon #im emotional anon this is literally too kind #thank you thank you thank you thank you thank you

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fromthemouthofkings · 2 years ago

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Okay, so for obvious reasons I've seen a lot of modern ofmd au's go for the restaurant au thing, and i love it, but what I'm thinking about (heavily inspired by my love of Leverage) is an art thief au

Stede, the well-off son of a wealthy business owner, has just realized that he is very gay, actually, and so he leaves his ruler-straight Old Money life and fucks off to become a Gentleman Thief. He’s read a bunch of stories about cat burglars and has a whole scrapbook of newspaper clippings covering the Gardiner Museum Heist, the Pink Panthers, and, of course, the famous thief Blackbeard, and he definitely wants to fuck him be just like him.

He hires the crew:

Jim is a trained assassin who prefers knives to guns.

Olu used to be a fence for gems and jewelry at Jackie's polyam thief bar, and now he's just trying to keep Jim alive despite their chronic tendency to hand him all their brain cells and go “yolo."

Lucius is a former pickpocket turned artist/forger.

Pete claims to have been on the famous thief Blackbeard’s crew and may have actually been a low-level goon hired for a few jobs.

Frenchie is a hacker who used to work on the other side (whilst being constantly microagressioned by the snobby military/CEO types/etc) and therefore knows all the ins. He also creates edm music and is active on conspiracy theory boards and is afraid of cats because he believes that they are aliens in disguise studying humanity.

John’s mother does costuming for a theater and he’s consequently very good at makeup and disguises.

Roach went to culinary school and also went through EMT training before turning to crime.

The Swede stole something really valuable from his home country (an orange-shaped gem-encrusted statue known as “The Swedish Faberge Egg”), but due to a lot of bumbling, he was nearly caught like ten times between stealing it and fleeing the country. He gained a reputation because most thieves only heard about the high-profile robbery and not the bumbling, so he is considered something of a legend, known only as “The Swede.” (Stede hires him fully believing the hype.)

And Buttons is a seasoned thief who seems to be able to summon seagulls at will and still longs to make sweet love to the sea and also is known for biting people in fights, which is how he’s escaped law enforcement for so long (he will neither confirm nor deny the rumor that he’s some kind of selkie). He’s also good with safes and locks.

Ed is a famously skilled and ruthless thief who is known for pulling off a huge variety of different jobs. Robbed a casino, stolen art from the Louvre, hit seven banks at once, auctioned off secret government research--you name it, he’s done it. (The truth is, he gets bored.) Just the rumor that he’s planning a heist causes museums to pull all of their displays. His methods tend towards the quick, violent, and brutally effective, and he's tired and disillusioned with them, but he feels stuck maintaining the Blackbeard persona for fear of rivals or law enforcement catching up with him. When he hears that Stede is trying to be a real life Gentleman Thief, like in the movies, he is intrigued.

Izzy, meanwhile, is the actual perpetrator of much of the violence that Blackbeard is credited with. Together, Izzy and Ed are the backbone of the Blackbeard legend: Edward comes up with the brilliant, daring, creative plans, and Izzy carries them out with deadly efficiency. They’ve also been on-again off-again romantic partners/fuckbuddies for years. They live in each other’s pockets, and know each other inside and out, and are able, when pressed, to work together seamlessly. They also make each other miserable a lot of the time, and enable each other’s worst tendencies, and Izzy is hanging all of his identity and self-worth off a job that Ed doesn’t even like anymore.

Ed swoops in and saves Stede from a disastrous robbery, during which all of Ed's crew get arrested besides Izzy, Fang, and Ivan. He decides to stick around and teach Stede how to be a real thief (and maybe kill him to steal his identity. Or maybe fuck him. He hasn’t decided yet).

Izzy is certain that Stede is going to get them all killed.

Also, Mary started painting in earnest after Stede left, but she hasn't heard anything from him, and he hasn't kept up with her at all, so they're both very surprised to meet again at a gallery where Mary is showing some of her work and which Stede is attempting to rob.

#ofmd #art theif au #i think it would be really fun if 'Blackbeard' was not really a person but an amalgamation of both Ed and Izzy #like not only is 'Blackbeard's' legend propped up by both Ed's cleverness and Izzy's violence #but also it's a costume and a persona that they both wear and trade back and forth as needed #i think that meeting stede throws them out of their accustomed binary orbit and forces them to change (for better or worse)#also izzy is trans and has ibs because i said so

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maranull · 3 years ago

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Ranni for the character opinion bingo?

I've written a bunch of rambles about Ranni but I hadn't actually realized that she was my fav character until I had to check the blorbo box. Huh.

I feel some of these choices need explanation, so:

"they got dirty by fans" this is chosen for how almost half of her fanart is her doll body with skin and tits the size of the moon. Like, the only organic part of her is probably the hair, the rest is rope and porcelain, how do you see that and draw her like freaking Gwynevere??

And don't get me wrong, I respect the effort and time that goes to any artwork, but... You're butchering her whole character design. Why.

"i want to carry them in a handbag like a tiny dog" You know how mini-doll Ranni exists? Ye, I want to have her with me at all times cause then my pocket-wife can judge my stupidity in real time.

"they're deeper than they seem" Okay, so: At the surface, Ranni does seem like she's selfish and that she's using everything and everyone to get her way. But!

Her whole character is about freedom and escaping the Golden Order's system. And in her ending, that freedom that she earns, she expends to all creatures in the Lands Between. When she could had just taken control of the world with no problem.

Her story's focus isn't escaping from her Two Fingers. Hers and also Blaidd's stories are about freedom of choice and how far they will go to retain their own will.

I would had never obsessed with her (this much) if she was just a cute dork in a doll body. The reason I'm so invested with her character is how much value she gives into that freedom of choice and it drives me insane how much that fits my IRL values. Seeing that understanding of the world being one of the best endings in such a big franchise... I dunno, it makes me feel real happy.

"they work better as part of a dynamic" Example: literally every interaction of mini-doll Ranni with the Tarnished. I would watch 60+ seasons of a comedy based around them and also Blaidd and Iji.

Ranni on her own likes to play the mysterious witch too much. Give her anyone she cares about in the room and her facade crumbles to pieces and I love that about her so much. It's the cutest and most endearing thing. I. Love. Her.

I like Ranni a very normal amount.

#ranni the witch #elden ring #ty for the ask!#asks #i was gonna write something about freedom of choice and transness #but i hope that cis people also value freedom as much as a trans person does #so no transness X freedom of choice rant #this time

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aphrodite-would-be-proud · 4 years ago

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Anon said: tried to read through all your request rules, but I didnt specifically see which Characters you write for. If you do, could you write for Porco helping his S/o sleep? I have super bad insomnia most days, and I just really want something fluffy with Porco...just cuddles or stories or something. If you dont write for Porco though could you switch it with a AoT character you do write for, I'm not really picky. Thank you so much in advance! 🥺💗

Porco helping you sleep

{Porco x reader | tw:none | sleep help, fluff | canon }

{ "The Night School" C.1660-C.1665 By Gerrit Dou 1613-1675 }

Unmoving shadows cast into the empty white walls, slightly flickering with the flame on the white candle sitting on the nightstand. Half lidded eyes observe their small movements for they're the only interesting thing in this empty hotel room you've been assigned.

Your beige uniform tucked into the small closest with a single hanger inside, the armband hanging on the closest door for easy reach. The squeak of the spring mattress chirping up whenever you moved to flip your too stiff pillow.

Judging by the amount of melted wax collecting on the bottom of the candle, you've been awake for far too long.

This isn't the first time this has happened, you're used to getting acquainted with the room's walls and shadowy furniture.

Sleep has abandoned you long ago, its friend insomnia visiting you daily instead. Only leaving every week or so to remind you of what you could never have, taunting almost.

You've tried to force yourself to sleep really, did every known trick in the book, you even tried mediation like Zeke has been preaching to you about, but to no avail. so you've started making peace with the thing, you know at least using the night time to get things done since you're not getting rest either way.

Books were your first friend, for staring at the walls could only be entertaining for so long, but now with your stash of books miles away back home, you're left with nothing else to do.

The nightstand drawer only contained an emergency gun with several bullets inside, and the pocket knife under your pillow wasn't interesting enough.

Getting up from the bed, you picked up the candle before slowly inching the creaky door open. Maybe a glass of water could help, who cares that this is your third time going for water in the last hour? Well hydration is important after all, or so you tried to bargain for an excuse to stretch your legs.

Attempting your best to glide through the old wooden boards without as much as a squeak, you headed towards the kitchen, passing through several other bedrooms in the process, probably all deep in dream land already.

Everything was too quiet, the sound of water filling the glass was the only thing interrupting the silence, its cool feeling going down your dry throat helped you a bit.

Drinking down what you can, you decided to take the rest with you back, a good excuse for a trip to the bathroom later. Although as you turned, a figure was leaning against the doorframe, arms crossed and staring at you.

"Isn't it too early for breakfast?" Porco said, covering his mouth with his hand as he yawned, "you should get some rest while you can, we're getting thrown in the front trenches tomorrow."

Just the mention of it made your stomach roll at the thought of staying in a muddy hole for days, the smell of gunpowder and yelling of soldiers, not to mention the crowded train rides back home.

"I know, it's just…" you stared at the water moving inside your glass while tilting it, "one of those days, you know?"

eyes narrowing with his eyebrows pulling down in concentration, even Porco's sleep clouded mind could recognise the heavy bags under your eyes. The ride here used all of your energy and now you're too tired to even sleep.

Feeling an unpleasant weight on his chest, he wasn't sure what to say as he approached you, awkwardly leaning against the sink, a heavy sigh left him.

"You know, you should bother me more often, I don't mind it." His gentle tone was followed by a melancholic smile, "let's just...go to bed."

With that his hand wrapped around your wrist, loosely at first like he was reluctant about it, before it got more secure once you didn't pull away.

…

The old door gave out a creek as it closed behind you, the room dimmer than you left it with the candle you're carrying almost burning out.

Looking at the small bed with a single pillow, you wondered how the two grown people would fit in it and judging by the frustrated look Porco was eyeing it with, he must be thinking the same.

Looking at him, your mind wondered back to all the battles you've fought together. For some reason the superiors always seemed more strick and harsh with him, especially after the paradise mission was launched.

Belitting and nagging, carelessly throwing him in risky situations.

Your grip tightened around the water glass, feeling growing thickness in your throat. "Hey...it's okay you can go to your room, you need sleep." You said moving past him to sit on the bed, "I'll be fine."

"Should've thought of that before waking me up, now scoot over." He said, rising an eyebrow and stepping closer.

"I didn't wake you up, you're just a light sleeper." Laying down, you stretched your limbs filling the bed, "there's no room, it won't fit."

Silence filled the room for a while, you could feel his eyes roaming over you, "Oh really? Well…"

One second, you were laying on the mattress while staring at his stubborn expression in confusion, the next a pair of arms was lifting you up as he stole your place before dropping you on him. His arm circled your waist not trusting that you won't pull away

"I made it fit." he looked at you with smugness in his eyes

His warm skin felt comforting against yours, contrasting with the cold room air, you could hear his slowing heartbeat with being so close to his chest, your legs slowly tangling to fit under the blanket covering you.

Apparently that's as far as his genius plan went, because after that an awkward silence filled the room.

"So...you made it fit huh?" You couldn't help but say, a grin slowly spreading on your face.

Porco blinked in response, tilting his head, before his eyes stilled as his ears flushed. "Fucking god, you're such a-" his attempt to scold you was interrupted by a chuckle escaping mid-sentence.

Having a contagious laugh, soon enough you too joined him.

After it died down, the atmosphere was replaced by a much more relaxed one as his hold on you softened, more intimate than the previous one.

"When I was a kid, i used to have trouble sleeping- well more like i was too stubborn to fall asleep." Porco said, trailing his finger up your back soothingly, "and since Marcel was stuck sharing a room with me, he'd tell me stories to get me to fall asleep."

"What kind of stories?"

"...if you tell this to anyone I'm reporting you to the higher ups you for treason, they were flower stories." Clearing his throat, you could feel his heartbeat rising under you,

Closely watching your reaction, Porco continued after some seconds. "now I'm not calling you a kid nor do i think it's as simple, i just think...we should give it a chance."

With the heaviness of the blanket above you and warmth of his body underneath you, it was hard to refuse his request, especially with the way he looked at you so earnestly.

You agreed, and felt his other hand reach to pull up the blanket more, tucking you protectively between his body and the soft fabric.

"This first one is called...well i don't remember what names Marcel gave them, but it's about poppies."

Crimson red bringers of eternal sleep, their crumbled petals and dark centers often found in the ancient tombs of soldiers.

As the mother of nature, Demeter, mourned and grieved from the betrayal of Zeus, it wasn't only the mortal realm in which death loomed at every corner, for her own mind was a tormenting prison of never ending suffering.

And so a droplet of her blood sprang and flourished to create a six petaled flower, easing her heartache if only for a moment as the poppy put her to sleep, numbing the pain.

Following in her trail was a red carpet of poppies, soon enough death and sleep themselves wore the flower, red crowns resting on top of Thanatos's held up head and one almost slipping from Hypnosi's leaning one as he dozed off. for eternal sleep was only another name for visiting the underworld.

A symbol of peace in resting and condolence for the loss of a loved one, became the poppy's role.

"This is why you'd often see them in people's front pockets whenever we return home." Porco said, the light slowly vanishing from the room as the candle burned itself out, the flame snuffed.

You've never questioned why a delivery of poppies would always be on the requirements in each returning celebration, it's just always been there.

Slow and easy breathes flew through you, lazily stretching your arms up till it met something soft. Porco seemed to tense as your fingers loosely combed through his hair, leaning into the touch after a while.

"Don't stop." He murmured, sleep clear in his voice as another yawn left him.

"Do you have any other stories?" Drowsiness sweeping through your mind, you buried your hed deeper against his neck, eyelids fluttering shut.

"Yeah just…" his hand stilled from behind you as he looked into space attempting to recall a memory, soon enough the soft stroking returned. "This one is about peony."

Named after none other than Paeon himself, these flowers lived up to their reputation of healing and honour, for they have their own story to tell.

How the peony came to be declared king of flowers.

During the Tang dynasty, empress Wu Zetian strolled through her garden. Frowning at the empty field of green covered in thick white blankets of snow, the harsh season not showing mercy for the plants.

With a new goal in mind to flip this dreadful looking graveyard of a garden, she set to defy nature for she is the ruler of the land and her word is law.

Per her majesty's order, all flowers shall bloom in the midst of winter's visit.

As the word travelled far, all the fairies in the land couldn't believe their ears, how could such delicate fragile petals grow amidst the storm and snow. For flowers only bloom in spring, how could we go against mother nature?

While merciless mother nature was cruel, she couldn't compare for the empress's strong rule. For the fairies feared for their wings as their knees shook in her presence.

When the sun shined again, it welcomed colourful fields of different flowers in full bloom. The empress was pleased with their sweet smell and proud colours, each one rivaling the other.

And yet, she stood still near one flower bed, eyes wide. The peony deified her words and stubbornly refused to open, only sticks and brittle leaves left in their place.

In a fit of rage, the empress banished the flower to a far away city, striping away their status.

Living up to their stubborn nature, the peony bloomed that spring the most beautiful flowers humans have ever seen, turning the city of Luoyang into a heavenly soft land as their petals danced through the wind.

But their beauty couldn't last long, for a hungry fire swallowed them all, under the order of the empress who turned their green to coal.

And yet to everyone's surprise, when the earth circled the sun again, the peonies were back in bloom. Springing from the ashes were their mesmerising big petals and soft colours.

In their respect, the fairies crowned them for their bravery as the ruler of the flowers, for wasn't it for their sacrifice the flowers wouldn't have been freed.

"They stayed on the right way, even if it meant going against the world." Porco's slurred words were half muffled against the pillow, head buried in it, his eyelids seemed to get too heavy for him to force them open again.

Turning his head to the side, you felt his lips press a light kiss against your forehead before whispering a goodnight, his hold still comfortably secure around you as if you might slip away.

Soon enough, you too drifted into sleep as only his soft snoring filled the room. The moon watching over both of you through the windows as her light barely reached inside.

And at this instant, you didn't think there was anywhere else in the world you'd rather be. Thoughts of what the future holds were pushed to the back of your mind next to the past, for the present is now and what a waste it would be not to bask in these rare moments of peace in this horrible world

#Porco🕯#sleep help🕯#fluff🕯#porco galliard #porco aot #porco x you #porco x reader #porco galliard x you #porco x y/n #aot #snk #aot x y/n #aot x reader #snk x reader #fluff #porco fluff #sleep help #canon aot🕯

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themadauthorshatter · 3 years ago

Text

... This is going to be more triggering than my Sanders Sides Beetlejuice AU, and I deeply apologize.

This is a Happy Tree Friends story I've thought about and it got inspired by a scene in the Asylum season of American Horror Story.

MAJOR TRIGGER WARNING FOR PTSD, AVERSION THERAPY, FORCED/DELIBERATE TRIGGERING OF PTSD AND HALLUCINATIONS, ISOLATION, BEING HELD CAPTIVE/HOSTAGE, ANIMAL DEATH, AND A LOT OF OTHER THINGS!!!!

PROCEED WITH CAUTION!!

Additional note: I'm visualizing the characters as human, so don'tbe caught off guard when I bring up a character's hair or complexion. It makes this story easier for me to picture in my head, that's just how I work. And this is mostly TV perspective, so thought I'd tell you that, too.

We begin with the sun rising and a new day starting, how lovely. No one is fully awake, but two people are and they are having a race.

Who's against who?

Simple.

It's Flippy on his feet and Splendid in the air to see who's faster on which and they're neck and neck in this.

Flippy sees Splendid next to him and asks if he's holding back, because this is not the fastest Flippy can run.

Splendid jokes that maybe it is because this is the SLOWEST he's flown in a long time.

Flippy laughs and kicks it into maximum overdrive, full on sprinting as fast as he can, even faking a turn to throw Splendid off his flight. While he stays on his intended path, and shouts that Splendid fell for it, Splendid calls him a cheating bastard.

Flippy laughs and contunues sprinting until he stops on a sidewalk in the town.

How lovely because Splendid is sitting on the wood of one of the telephone poles and waves at him.

Flippy pants and asks how Splendid both beat him and got up there.

Splendid simply floats down and claims it's just a hop, skip, and leap of faith.

And no cheating, which he points out.

Flippy clarifies that he actually DID NOT cheat. He would've gotten some of kryptonut and put it in his pocket, if he really wanted to.

Splendid gasps that he wouldn't, but Flippy shrugs and says he knows a guy, so don't tempt him.

The two share a laugh, but Flippy freezes as he hears a nearby woodpecker.

Splendid spots it and comments on the lovely avian specimen.

That's when a knife is thrown and (TV perspective) off screen kills the bird.

Splendid sees Flippy threw it and has 'killer instinct' eyes.

Thank goodness it's just them and there's no one else around because just as Flippy readies another knife, Splendid grabs him and flies to a hill, fast enough to get there within a minute or so, but not so fast that Flippy dies from the velocity.

It snowed a little bit, but it's enough for Splendid to toss Flippy into.

The cold instantly snaps him out of it and Flippy quickly looks around and asks where they are.

Splendid shrugs and answers the hill, and the realization sets in as Flippy's face drops, groaning and putting his hands over his face.

Splendid sits next to him as Flippy asks if 'it' happened again.

It did, but there was no one outside, so at least it got stopped before anyone got hurt.

Flippy is still crestfallen and rests his head on his arms, which are on his knees.

Splendid asks if he really can't control when he flips out, and Flippy confirms that as much as he can, but he still can't, mainly because when he feels like there's nothing to worry about, he remembers how he got comfortable and confident before and it ruined everything.

And he can't control the world or what randomly happens.

If his instincts say he's in danger, he's using thise same instuncts to keep himself safe.

Splendid digests those words as Flippy takes a breath and stands up, thanking him for the race and apologizes for talking his ear off and snapping on him.

Splendid stands as well and asks if Flippy needs help getting home, to which Flippy politely declines, not wanting to beat Splendid in another race. Splendid narrows his eyes and dares Flippy to repeat that, but Flippy chuckles and says he'll see him around before leaving.

Splendid watches him go and gets to thinking. He and Flippy have been friends for a while, and this stuff with flipping out and all that has been bothering him for a long time. He'd also been informed that Flippy went to Lumpy for help, but it failed miserably, so he was left to deal with it using the medicine he'd been prescribed. Beyond that, nothing seems to have helped him.

He also remembers how he had once had a doctor friend that helped people with addiction and talked with him about how some people aren't addicted to substances, but to feelings or emotions, as a comfort thing.

We don't get any more thoughts because we return to Flippy as he lets himself inside and leans against the door, very much upset with the fact that he lost it in front of one of his friends, especially one loke Splendid, who he rarely flips out on.

And it doesn't help that he hasn't lost it in a very long time.

Because his instincts are going haywire and he just needs to know HOW bad his episodes get, Flippy gets up, grabs a couple party poppers that were left over from a party he was fashionably late to(he had to do a check-in/catch up call with one of his army higher ups so they knew he was okay), and goes down to a basement, one that has a hatch door in the floor rather than a regular door.

He locks it behind him and goes down to a fully concrete basement that has holes and scratches in the concrete, because he's strong.

Here's where that deliberate triggering of trauma and an additional blackout Trigger Warnings come in, because Flippy sets up a camera, that's recoeding, takes one of the party poppers, and squeezes his eyes shut as he pulls the string and sets it off.

Flippy instantly starts seeing that he's back on the battlefield and not in his own basement, and hyperventilates as he sees an enemy standing over him, smirking and gun ready.

Flippy stares up at this enemy, but that fear melts into anger and throws himself into his enemy, landing next to a gun, which he uses to take this enemy out.

No time to relax because he gets grazed by another enemy soldier.

He smiles and chuckles, readying the gun and a knife from his leg before he races forward.

We don't see anything happen, save for black, but we fade to see Flippy coming to on the floor, sweaty, bruised, and knuckles bloody.

He groans and pushes himself up, rubbing his head for a minute before he finally looks around the basement.

The walls and floor are worse than before, but at least the camera is still intake.

Flippy gets up and stops the camera, sitting down as he reminds it back until plays it.

There's no battlefield, no enemies, no threats at all. In the video, Flippy pops the party popper, and clutches his head as he curls into the ground.

He hyperventilates and looks up backing away from someone that isn't even there. At least before he throws himself into the wall a makes a small shelf of knives fall. He mimes shooting the person before grabbing numerous knives and racing toward and hitting the wall and stabbing the wall, even punching and kicking it.

That explains the busted knuckles and bruises.

We don't see the rest of the video, but we do see Flippy's face grow more distressed and upset as he keeps watching himself fight nothing and just beat himself instead.

It is not easy to watch at all.

The video eventually ends with Flippy passing out on the floor, where we caught up with him.

Flippy puts the camera away and leans against the wall.

Guess he's a lot worse than he thought.

He sighs and rests his head against his knees.

Guess he's not leaving the house today either.

Time jump to a week or so later!

It's bright and sunny, and we're checking in on Flaky now as she struggles with some groceries; it originally started as a trip for shampoo and a new toothbrush, but it became a food run as well because she got hungry. She can't really see where she's going, but is trying her best, okay?

Carrying five bags at once a was huge mistake because she trips on a rock and almost falls down.

Almost, because Flippy catches her and helps her back to her feet.

Flaky shrieks and asks who it is.

Flippy decides to mess with her and lowers his voice, asking for either a hello or her life.

Flaky gasps and says he'll get a shoe to his shin, if he doesn't watch himself.

Flippy chuckles and asks if she skipped breakfast again, seeing all the bags she has. Flaky, turning to look at him, corrects him: she DID eat breakfast, but lunch was calling and she couldn't leave it on voice-mail.

Flippy, following along with the analogy, takes a bag or two and advices she try to learn how to BLOCK those calls when they drain her wallet.

Flaky hums, but thanks him for helping, and for the wallet he got her; it's sleek, but holds a lot of money and cards. Or card, which Flippy mutters as they walk to Flaky's house.

Flaky kicks at him, but they half walk, half run to Flaky's house. Once they arrive, Flaky thanks him again for the help and says she'll have a potatoe, butcher beef, apple soup/curry waiting for him next time he comes over.

Flippy chuckles and agrees, countering he'll bring her a cake SMOTHERED in sugar, cubes, chunks, powered, candy, caramel, all that garbage so that her teeth fall out and he can help her get METAL teeth instead.

Flaky sets down her groceries and stamps her foot, saying Flippy is not her father.

They still hug each other and Flippy leaves, telling her to take care of herself.

He continues on his walk and pays attention to the birds that are singing and wind blowing through the trees.

No time to fully appreciate it because Splendid turns a corner and Flippy waves him over, much to the superhero's delight.

They quickly touch in and ask how the other has been before Flippy interests Splendid for another race, 'the only rule is win' edition.

Splendid has a better idea: coffee. He had just finished some errands and was on his way home when he and Flippy ran into each other.

The invite seems iffy, but Flippy accepts, not wanting to run off like last time.

They walk and Splendid's smile drops a little, which draws Flippy's attention, the ex-soldier asking if everything's okay.

Splendid nods, saying everything's fine. He's just had some stuff on his mind that he can talk about when they get to his house.

Flippy stops for a second and watches Splendid continue walking, following behind more cautiously.

Cut to Splendid's house as the superhero fixes himself and his guest some coffee, though Flippy is slow to drink his because it doesn't smell like black coffee.

When asked, Splendid explains that the grounds were a little stale. He'd bought some that was fresh, but didn't want the old stuff to go to waste.

It calms Flippy enough for him to take a drink of coffee. He also asks what's been eating at Splendid, even apologizing for leaving him hanging last week.

Splendid shakes his head. Water under the bridge, everyone has their moments.

Speaking of moments, Splanedid asks if Flippy's been better since their race.

He shrugs, admitting that he's had worse happen, but that still doesn't make it good or even okay.

Splendid asks if he's ever gotten help for his 'issues' and Flippy asks back if he thinks Lumpy is really as good at everything as he thinks. Splendid supposes not, all things considered.

Done with the interview, and taking a drink of more coffee, because he's tired, Flippy asks what Splendid's deal REALLY is, and why he's so interested in Flippy's personal issues.

Splendid gives it to him straight: he's noticed that Flippy's trauma is bothering him on a pretty big level, and it has him worried for his friend, not because he can hurt people, but because he's seeing how unhappy Flippy is, and how much it tolls on him. He's had SOME experience with people who've had similar problems to Flippy's and there's a sort of therapy that's helped them. Granted, he knows Flippy doesn't enjoy flipping out, but, in a sick sense, his mind and body do. And there's a way to trick his mind into pushing his instincts away and leaving him with a normal life.

Flippy keeps his head propped up on an arm and finishes his coffee, so tired that he's barely listening and is instead asking for a fresh mug, because he doesn't understand either.

Splendid only takes his empty mug and suggests he's probably had enough coffee; he'll be up all night, if he drinks more than one cup and, as he's already said, Lumpy is a terrible doctor and will say he's about to die and overlook that he's just high of caffeine.

Flippy laughs and shakes his head, asking if Splendid is a better doctor and scoffing that he can take Lumpy.

He stops laughing when he sees that Splendid is straight faced and looks a little apologetic.

Yeah. Heavily delayed, 'oh shit!' moment for Flippy, who now realizes that there was something IN his coffee; he knows what stale coffee tastes like because he once suffered through a month of the stuff.

And he can't flip out on Splendid because he's too tired, so he's left to try running for the door.

That fails, too, so he can only pull and push himself away from Splendid, who apologizes for lying and for making Flippy go into such a panic, all the same he's just trying to help him and hopes he both forgives him and understands where he's coming from.

Flippy only keeps trying to get away, weakly telling Splendid to stay away from him.

From Flippy's blurry and world-spinny eyes, Splendid is the General from the Tiger Bomb mission, said General kneeling in front of him and smirking as Flippy knocks out with a sigh/groan.

Flippy doesn't wake up until MUCH later. He's got a splitting headache and, upon seeing all of the white-ish walls around him, sighs that he really must've fucked himself up when he set off that party popper, rubbing his head as he does so.

That's when he notices the handcuff and chain on his wrist, one that keeps him chained to one of the walls. He checks his other hand and sees that there's an identical handcuff on his wrist, also connecting him to the wall.

Not a dream.

Before Flippy can lose it, he sees a door open and Splendid walk in, looking very sheepish despite being the stronger of the two at the moment.

Before he can get any words out, Flippy charges toward him, at least until he's stopped by the chains.

It still makes Splendid jump back; powers be damned, if Flippy's mad at you, your days are numbered.

Splendid, from his place against the opposite wall, asks quite stupidly if Flippy's mad.

No. He's not mad at all. He's having the best damn day of his life, thank you for asking.

Sarcasm. All sarcasm that Splendid misses and is relieved by.

That relief vanished when Flippy charges again, pulling the handcuffs enough to make himself bleed.

Flippy demands to know what the hell is going on and why he's handcuffed in a padded cell.

When Flippy starts pulling a little too hard, like he's pulling hard enough to dent the chain links out of place, Splendid acts fast and aims a spray bottle at Flippy, and sprays water on him.

When Flippy backs down, Splendid repeats what he said upstairs, especially apologizing for not explaining how he was going to help him.

Flippy banks up, stands down, and sits down criss-crossstyle, which makes Splendid let out a sigh of relief, following his friend so they're sitting across from each other.

Flippy asks what EXACTLY Splendid was thinking when he drugged Flippy's coffee and then took Flippy to a loaded cell in his basement.

Splendid explains that he was just thinking and didn't regard what would have happened, even admitting that drugging the coffee wasn't his best or first plan; somehow sneaking up behind him with a nasty was, but that seemed insulting to Flippy's skills, so he thought about just working him out with races and exercise until Flippy passed out. That seemed like the most painful option, and the most tiring because wherever Flippy would fall would be unpredictable, so he just went south putting something in his coffee so he'd go unconscious for a little while.

Flippy takes all of this in and asks why Splendid didn't just ASK him to try this treatment he was babbling about earlier and Splendid admits that it's used for addicts to help them stop using whatever substance they're on. It's a pretty brutal technique, but it has worked.

The brutal part has Flippy concerned, so he asks what that means.

Splendid stops beating around the brush: aversion therapy. Using old war footage and medicine to make Flippy not want to go on a rampage whenever he gets triggeres.

Flippy stares at Splendid for a minute before taking off his boot and throwing it at him, asking if he's out of his damn mind.

That's not how his 'issues' work. Aversion therapy is meant to change another person so they AVERT away from something. Besides, what if they go through the therapy and Flippy's ordered backninto service, but ends up dead because he can't rely on his instincts?

Problem solved already because, as Splendid points out, Flippy's on a paid leave; his job is to stay OUT of the army now.

Flippy readies his other boot and Splendid backs down. Yes, he could've been more open about this to him. Yes, the whole chained to the wall in a basement thing is WAY too far. Yes, he should have told him as soon as he can, and he's sorry he didn't.

Flippy calms down and asks why he thinks it will work. No offense, but this is already working less than anythung Lumpy did, and the fool hypnotized himself into being a chicken.

Splendid admits he isn't sure, but he still wants to try to help.

Flippy asks what he'll do if he refuses to try this therapy. He's already on pills.

Splendid shrugs and says that while he'll be disappointed, he'll understand and won't be mad. Again, he just wants to help his friend and this is something that's worked for other people, not the chaining to the wall thing, but the aversion and sensory friendly environment, hence the padded room that isn't white, just a very light grey mixed with some blue, which is a calming color.

Flippy considers it for a minute before askung Splendid if he absolutely knows what he's doing.

Splendid nods. It took him a little freshing up and some review from a friend of his, yes. He knows what he's doing.

Flippy eyes him for a second before nodding, agreeing. Despite not saying it out loud, he wants to live life without worrying about killing everyone or snapping because his old instincts getting the better of him.

But stipulates that as soon as things get REALLY bad, they're calling this whole thing off and won't have anything to do with each other after that point.

Splendid rightfully agrees to those terms and tells Flippy to follow him to another room.

Flippy holds up his hands, reminding him of the handcuffs.

Those come off and the two leave the room, Flippy hoping Splendid was good on his word that he knew what he was doing.

Splendid shares a similar sentiment, instead hopi g that he can help his friend have a normal life.

#happy tree friends #htf flippy #htf splendid #htf au #fanfic #sort of an au and fanfic #i hope i portrayed Splendid as trying to do the right thing here #ptsd tw #hallucination tw #drugging tw #splendid is both a good friend and terrible friend #deliberate triggering tw

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almostkoo · 4 years ago

Text

pairings: jung hoseok x oc

summary: oc notices something strange about hoseok, their friend who’s normally upbeat and cheerful suddenly things start going left quickly in the middle of using a ouija board for fun with friends things get really weird really quick

word count: 2.0k

warnings: language, mentions of wine, a switchblade is mentioned a few times, demon possession

authors note: fifth story!! of spooktober i hope you guys don’t mind i threw in one of my favorite kpop girlies, i love her so much. this is my first time in general really trying to write something “scary”, i hope i did well i didn’t want to overdo it! i hope you guys enjoy !

link to main masterlist

You, Hoseok, Jungkook and Nayeon stood outside the door leading to the basement of you and Hoseok’s shared house. Anxiety washed over your being and clung to you like a wet blanket. You couldn’t shake the fear that something bad was going to happen. Standing in the back of everything gave you a better view of everyone. Jungkook was dressed in all black (with the exception of his pink bunny slippers on his feet), Hoseok dressed in his pajamas and Nayeon dressed comfortably in an oversized shirt and joggers.

The impromptu “seance” that was about to be performed in the basement interrupted everyone. Nayeon and Hoseok who were in the middle of doing sheet masks and you in the kitchen pouring up refills of wine for everyone while Jungkook had disappeared moments before only to return with a ouija board.

Now here you were Jungkook with the ouija board tucked under one arm and his hand on the door knob waiting for everyone’s approval to open the door.

“Jungkook, why are we doing this?” Nayeon asked.

“Why not? Y/n and Hoseok say their house is haunted. What better time to investigate than at a slumber party with their friends? Especially during spooky season? The more the merrier!” He smiled.

“Our house isn’t haunted. Ghosts don’t exist, you clown. It’s probably old water pipes or some shit making all those weird noises.” You grumbled.

“Water pipes? Okay what about all the moaning Hoseok heard? Or the last time Nayeon was here and someone wrote in her lipstick on the bathroom mirror while she was showering?” Jungkook questioned. You sighed loudly to make a point on how exhausted you were with the back and forth discourse between you and Jungkook on whether or not the house was haunted.

“I feel like you want our house to be haunted.” you said.

“No but if it is you both need to get the hell out of dodge before shit starts getting real. The lipstick on the mirror would’ve been enough to send me flying out the house.”

“Same and I normally stay out of this whole ghost discussion but.. that’s really odd Y/n you can’t even lie.” Nayeon stated. You glanced over at Hoseok who was turned away from you, picking at the hem of his shirt. You and Hoseok had been living in your current home for three months and about two weeks into your stay things started getting extremely weird. From you finding him standing out on the balcony in the pouring rain, the weird arts and crafts figurines he would make and that one time you found him ready to take a bite out of a raw steak out the fridge.

But he passed that last one off as him being drunk.

You didn’t believe in ghosts or demons or really too much supernatural stuff. But the strange behaviors that Hoseok had been portraying alarmed you. You weren’t quite sure what exactly was going on. You hadn’t seen him smile in weeks and it was worrying.

“Fuck it. If we’re doing this can we go on and do it because I really wanna get back to my wine.” you whined. Jungkook opened the door, reaching for the light switch. Only to flick it and realize the light in the basement wasn’t working.

“How much weirder could this shit get.” you heard Jungkook mumble under his breath, fumbling in his pocket for his phone. You all slowly stepped down the stairs. Taking a look around the basement it was fairly empty except a pair of skis and other miscellaneous belongings split between you both.

Jungkook cleared a spot in the middle of the floor. The only light was from the small basement windows lining the walls.

“Do you not owe any candles or a lantern?” Jungkook asked.

“Hoseok has some of those boring non scented ones in the kitchen cabinet above the stove.” You glanced over at Nayeon who quickly started shaking her head and waving her hands.

“No. Hell no. Don’t make me go up there.”

“Nayeon please.”

“What if I run up there and then the spooky ghost haunting you gets me ?”

“It won’t.”

“How do you know?”

“I don’t. But like we haven’t been harmed yet.”

She stomped her feet. “If something happens I’m haunting everyone here.” Nayeon dashed up the steps. Hearing a little bit of shuffling before she came back carrying as many candles as she could.

“You’re lucky I remembered the lighter while I was up there because that trip wasn’t happening again.” You lit all of the candles before settling and sitting down. Hoseok, blank faced had already sat down as soon as you all made it down the steps scooted closer to you all.

“Alright let’s get it.” Jungkook took the ouija board out of its box, putting the planchette on the board. You eyes the box.

“A fucking ouija from mattel is supposed to potentially tell us if this house is haunted?” You questioned.

“Where did you get this from? Target?” Nayeon asked.

Jungkook sighed, scratching at the sides of his hair.

“And if I did? Where else would I get it from? Amazon? Jeff Bezos isn’t seeing a dime of my Starbucks checks” He scoffed “look I'm sure you know how this whole ouija thing is supposed to go. Just like in the movies two fingers on the planchette. We say hello and don’t finish until we say goodbye. No moving the planchette for fun. I will have a heart attack and Jeon Jungkook will no longer exist. Alright?” Jungkook stated. You and Nayeon nodded.

Placing your two fingers on the planchette, followed by everyone else. So it began.

“Hello. Hi spirits we have questions.” Jungkook said, looking around the room. Nayeon hit his arm. Jungkook gave a quizzical look.

“Is that really how you’re gonna ask the higher powers?” she asked.

“I don’t know how the fuck else to address them. Hi spirits. Are you there?” he questioned. You looked around the room, watching your friends facial expressions. The mild drunk feeling that was over you quickly made you sober up as the air seemed to get colder around you.

The planchette slowly started moving towards the top left corner, the small glass hovering above the “yes”.

“Before we continue. Is anyone fucking with me right now?” Jungkook mumbled.

“No I swear I’m not.” Nayeon stated.

“No.” You all looked at Hoseok who was staring at the board blank, as if he wasn’t looking at anything in the first place.

“I think he’s drunk. Maybe he had too much wine. You know he’s a lightweight.” Nayeon cracked, attempting to lighten the mood.

Hoseok lacked the permanent blush he seemed to have when he did drink too much. But the glossy look to his eyes still remained. You shrugged it off but the look he had was eerily similar to the one he had on the night you found him on the balcony.

“Ask another question, Jungkook.” you said.

“Okay umh. Let’s just get to it. Are there any spirits lingering in this house?” The temperature dropped, causing a slight shiver to escape Nayeon. The planchette jerked back and circled back around to “yes”.

“I’m gonna be sick.” Nayeon whispered. “Jungkook are you fucking with us?”

“What? No! I swear to the heavens I wouldn’t fuck with you guys on something like this! I’m not moving it.” he said, both sets of eyes laid on you.

“Now y’all both know good and well I don’t even believe in this shit why would I fuck with you with this?” You said, borderline offended at them.

“Because that’s what non believers always do.” Jungkook stated.

“I’m a non believer not an asshole. Keep asking it questions.” you grumbled.

Jungkook rolled his eyes. “Is there anything you want from this house?” The planchette pushed back, before slowly moving back to yes. You started sweating and the basement getting chillier by the second didn’t help as you tried to resist the full body chill that threatened to shake through you.

“What do you want?” The words left your mouth before you could stop them. The planchette moved slow once again, going from letter to letter. You, Nayeon and Jungkook looked on.

H-O-S-E-O-K

You heard Nayeon gasp from the side of you. While your jaw just parted. Jungkook froze in his spot, a bead of sweat rolling down his temple.

“I don’t think I want to play this anymore.” Your eyes shot up to Hoseok, who looked at Jungkook with a wicked grin on his face.

“Uh Hobi. We can wrap up. But can you stop looking at me like that?” Jungkook said, a shake to his words.

Nayeon stared Hoseok down. “Something’s not right here.”

“What’s the matter, Nayeon? Aren’t we all playing a game?” Hoseok turned in her direction.

“Jungkook, wrap this shit up now.” You instructed, keeping your eyes on Hoseok.

Before Jungkook could open his mouth, he suddenly flung backwards into the wall. The candles went out.

“I said I didn’t want to play anymore.” through the soft moonlight filtering through the windows you could see Hoseok stand up. You and Nayeon shuffled back against the wall. A few feet away from where Jungkook laid unconscious. Nayeon shuffled with her phone, the screen light illuminating her features. You could see the tears streaking her cheeks. The flashlight turned on shining on Hoseok; his soft brown eyes were now cold and empty, a black void.

“What the fuck are you?” Nayeon yelled, struggling to keep her cool.

“What do you think I am?” He questioned, stalking towards you.

“Stay the fuck away from us! I mean it!” You shouted. The fear you felt ran through your veins icy and cold. Making you want to curl up and wish the situation away.

Hoseok reached in his pocket, pulling out a small switchblade.

“I think it’s time to slice, I’m sorry I mean spice things up.”

You threw yourself in front of Nayeon, remaining firm despite her protests asking you to move.

“Aw isn’t this cute? You want to protect your friend.” Hoseok’s lips curved into his signature heart shaped smile. One that normally wanted your heart, filled you with even more dread than possible. That smile didn’t belong to him. It. Whatever was in your best friend.

Hoseok rolled his eyes, the smile dropping from his face as quick as it showed up. “I don’t even remember the last time I had friends.” He walked towards you and Nayeon, who’s hands gripped your shoulders. Preparing for the worst you closed your eyes.

Suddenly another voice filled the basement. You opened your eyes, there stood Jungkook your knight in shining armor. Well more like knight in plaid pajamas but attire was besides the point. You watched as Jungkook held his hands up muttering words in foreign language as Hoseok froze rigid, slowly lifting off the ground. The switchblade falling from his grip. A dark purple smoke escaped his mouth before shattering one of the glass windows. Hoseok’s body slumped to the ground and Jungkook dropped to his knees.

You got up running to Hoseok to check him out. Holding a finger up under his nose to feel soft air leave him. You draped yourself over him as he slowly stirred.

“Jesus fucking Christ, Jung Hoseok never in your life get possessed by a demon again. I’ve never been more fucking scared before.”

Hoseok looked at you confused as he sat up, rubbing at his head.

“I don’t even know what’s going on. Last thing I remember was trying to figure out where to hang my jackets in my closet.” He said. That must mean he was possessed for a while. You frowned at the thought.

Jungkook and Nayeon walked over to you. Jungkook wiping his bloody nose on the back of his sleeve.

“You mind sharing where you learned that neat little trick?” You asked.

“My grandfather is a priest. Stuff like that kinda runs in the family.” Jungkook tilted his head back pinching the bridge of his nose.

“Am I going to be fine?” Hoseok asked, fear laced in his words.

“Yeah you might just not remember the past few months. But that demon is gone. Sent back to where the foul bastard came from.” Jungkook said.

“I am literally never spending the night here ever again. Not even for a million dollars.” Nayeon said.

“That’s a lie you’ll be back.” You chuckled.

“Make it two and maybe I will.” She smiled.

#hoseok drabbles #hoseok fics #bts fanfiction #bts imagines #bts drabbles #hoseok x reader #bts fic recs #hoseok fic recs #bts fanfic #bts reader insert

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donggyul · 5 years ago

Text

Pervert

Member : 이한결 Lee Hangyul

Genre : Fluff/Angst

Note : Not a request, but it popped up in my head so might as well write it!

Warning : Appearance of a pervert (lol I feel like I just spoilt the story)

You were practicing in the practice room for your upcoming competition when your loving boyfriend came in the room. He didn't want to disturb you so he just sat on the couch quietly until you finish practice. It was already 12am, but you wanted to practice more since your competition is in a few days. You suddenly felt a pair of arms around your waist.

"Gyul... I'm sweating..." you said.

"I don't mind... Wanna get something to eat?" he ask.

"Sure... What do you want to eat?" you ask.

"I dont mind... What does my princess wants to eat?" he said.

"Chicken?" you suggested.

"Okay! I'll order it right now..." he said taking his phone out from his pocket still hugging your waist.

"Seasoned or fried?" he ask scrolling through the menu.

"Seasoned!"you said.

"Done!" he said putting his phone back in his pocket.

"Now will you let me practice again?" you ask.

"I don't want to let you go..." he whined.

"Please..." you begged.

"You've been practicing for so long... I know you'll win no matter what..." he said.

"Okay okay fine..." you said giving up, knowing that you can never win against him.

"What did you do today?" you ask.

And that's how you guys started talking about the small and little things that might not matter to others but the both of you like this moment the most because this is the only time you guys can talk without anyone or anything interrupting. Admist his busy schedule, he still made time for you and that's what you love about him.

"Ohh the chicken is here... I'll go get it..." he said receiving a notification on his phone.

You sat on the couch preparing for the meal, waiting for him to get the chicken. Suddenly a man came in, a man you've never seen before.

"Who are you?" you ask.

"A staff." he said.

"But I've never seen you before... Are you new?" you ask again.

"Yes I am..." he said.

"But what are you doing here? New recruits are suppose to be waiting at the office..." you said.

"Ohh really? I might have lost my way..." he said and looked you in the eye.

For some reason, his eyes looks weird and scary.

You turned away and avoided his eyes but he came closer to you.

"What-are you-waiting for? You-should go to the-office right now..." you stuttered.

"Why? You were okay with him but not with me?" he said and pulled your chin to look at him.

You were shaking and you have absolutely no idea what he was talking about. You managed to push his hands away and backed away from him.

You can tell he was furious and you hoped that Hangyul would come back soon.

"Why? You like him more than me?" he said angrily and yanked your hair making you look at him straight in the eye.

Tears starts forming in your eyes.

He started touching you and forced you to kiss him. But you used all your might and kicked him away before he can do anything. You were so scared at that moment. He backed away for a moment and you used this chance to scream.

"OPPAAAAAAAA!!!!" you screamed with all your might, hoping that Hangyul was close by and that he would hear you.

The man covered your mouth with his hand and tried molesting you again but you kept kicking, pushing and punching him away.

Luckily for you, Hangyul rushed into the room and pulled that guy away from you. Hangyul was furious.

"Hands off my girl!" he said angrily and punched him. The man flew super hard and hitted the wall. Both of them was furious. You knew you need to stop Hangyul because you can tell that he would keep punching the man if no one stops him.

"Gyul please stop..." you ran and hugged him behind making him stop in his tracks.

You cried and cried and cried. He hated seeing you cry like this and he felt so sorry. He didn't do anything, thankfully.

"Why? Can't punch me? Weak..." the man said to provoke Hangyul and his anger rose.

He was about to move to punch that man again when you hugged him tighter.

"Gyul... Please... I'm scared..." you said crying non stop. You can't let him punch that man because he may get a warning from the police. And that is enough to ruin his career.

That was all you needed to say to make him stop. You were shaking but still managed to hug him tight to stop him from doing whatever he was about to do to that man.

Luckily, a few staffs including the managers rushed in the room with the police and took that man away. Before Hangyul entered the room, he called his manager and asked him to call the police cause he knew something might have happened.

Hangyul turned around and hugged your shaking body.

"It's okay... Its okay... Its all over now..." he said hugging you tight.

"Gyul... I'm scared..." you said crying non stop.

"I'm sorry... I'm sorry..." he kept whispering in your ear.

You eventually fell asleep in his arms, too exhausted from crying.

Hangyul carried you to the couch and put a blanket over you, wiping your tears.

The police came to interogate you on what happened but Hangyul stopped them. He explained everything to them but the police still wanted to interogate to find out what really happened.

"After she wakes up... She's too shock to say anything right now..." Hangyul said to the police officer.

"Fine by us... But you guys have to come to the police station later..." the police officer said and left.

You didn't know how long you were sleeping for but you woke up and Hangyul was by your side, holding your hand the whole time.

"You okay?" he asked worriedly the moment you woke up.

"I'm okay now... I cried alot didn't I?" you said.

"Your tears can fill the whole sea" he joked.

You laughed at what he said. He never failed to make you smile no matter what the situation is.

You stretch out your hands asking for a hug and he immediately took it.

"I was worried..." he said.

"I'm okay... I have you don't I?" you said.

"But I'm not always gonna be there..." he said.

"What? So you're saying you're gonna break up with me one day?" you said jokingly.

"No.... No way I'm breaking up with you!!" he said.

"I'm touched you said that..." you said.

"What? You think I will leave you?" he said.

"I'm just scared..." you said.

"I'll make sure something like that never happens again..." he said hugging you tighter.

"Thank you my lovely boyfriend..." you said and kissed him.

Turns out the pervert was mentally ill and he thought that you were his long time girlfriend.

#hangyul #이한결 #x1 scenarios #x1 #x1 imagines #seungwoo #seungyeon #wooseok #x1 yohan #한승우 #조승연 #김우석 #김요한

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ethephoenix · 2 years ago

Text

The Sword of Kas: A Stranger Things Story

A season 5, Eddie Munson + reader POV fanfic

By Evin Phoenix (share with attribution/ give credit)

If you’re wondering if the title is a double entendre/ innuendo. Do you really need to ask?

🖤🤘

Content warning: this story is NSFW and contains mature themes.

Ages 18+

Smutty scenes in part 2

Best viewed on wattpad

https://www.wattpad.com/1246974836-stranger-things-season-5-the-sword-of-kas-eddie

Chapter 1: New Scars

Eddie Munson woke up in an ice cold sweat, sticking to his leather jacket. Disoriented in the bright room, he pawed at his abdomen — blood. Dustin, he thought. Where's Dustin?

His vision began to clear into focus, and he panicked. He tore at his shredded Hellfire Club t-shirt, bracing himself for the vicious wounds to his guts where demobats feasted. A piece of his flesh fell into his fingers from his jacket, and he screamed a lonely scream of a boyin terror. Determined to take stock of his injuries, he bit into his bleeding tongue, his tearful doe-eyes wincing.

Nothing.

There was no wound. His tattooed stomach was perfectly healed, though his ink was now adorned with a few nasty scars.

"What?" he said incredulously. His shaking hands were frantic. He had to be sure. His hands and his stomach were covered in dried blood underneath his shredded clothes. There was no wound. Only scars.

A car horn startled him out of himself. He realized he was in his own bedroom. There was Elektra, his beloved B.C. Rich Warlock guitar. Fuck, he thought. I'm dead. I've died. Is this—

The car horn startled him again. He jumped out of his bed to look through the broken bathroom blinds in a paranoid frenzy. It was his uncle. "Eddie, we're gonna be late!" he yelled.

Eddie looked in the mirror. He still had strange ash in his hair from the upside-down, and crystallized purple demo bat blood. His eyes were different. He looked like a ghost.

"Eddie, let's go!" His uncle yelled again.

His muscle memory carried him through a quick shower and he pulled on jeans and a t-shirt from a rumpled ball on the floor. Confused, he hopped into the passenger seat of his van.

"I'm happy to keep driving you until you're fully recovered. You're not doing special K again, are you? You need your health, Eddie." His uncle put the shift in gear and popped the clutch.

"No, not that I'm aware," said Eddie.

"Well, you don't look so good. Here—" his uncle pulled out two crumpled dollars from his back pocket. "When you get to school, get a second breakfast and eat as much as you can. That'll fix you right up."

"Thanks," Eddie replied.

"And Eddie —" his uncle paused, steering them out of their weedy cul- de-sac in the early light. "I'm glad you're okay. I really thought you were gone."

"Yeah—" Eddie replied, "me too."

Eddie was in a daze all morning, unable to eat from either of his plastic breakfast trays.

The Hellfire boys laughed and horsed around at the table, plotting new campaigns and fighting over who would be the next dungeon master when Eddie graduated. The basketball team wrestled each other on the other side of the cafeteria, but he didn't spot Lucas, Patrick, or Jason. Eddie's mind wandered wildly, as if he was disconnected from his limp body. He stared off a thousand yards away, searching a distant darkness for understanding. There was so much he didn't remember. But worse still, no one else remembered. No one remembered anything. It was like nothing ever happened.

"Good morning—" Eddie jumped, intensely startled. "Eddie—" it was a teacher he hadn't met before. "I came to check in. We were supposed to meet at 8:45. Why don't we walk over to my office together? I'm Linda, the new guidance counselor. Come on."

He nodded passively to his friends, wondering where Dustin was. The whole school seemed freakishly... normal. No one seemed to notice how many people were missing. No one seemed to notice that he was supposed to be dead. Or that everyone was supposed to believe he murdered those kids.

"Ms. Johnson said you've missed several days this week," Ms. Linda began. "I know it's been hard since the earthquake, but what's going to really help is getting yourself back into a normal routine. You can't dwell on what happened. You're safe now."

"What about.. the murders?" Eddie asked.

"Murders?" Asked Linda. "Was this another of your dreams?"

A knock on the door startled him again. "Here's Eddie's file." The door closed.

"That reminds me. You're going to have a new peer facilitator. We have so many kids coming in after the quake that we had to bring in some volunteers who are getting their counseling degree. She graduated from Hawkins High last year, getting her psychology degree now. Since she's only a year older than you, we thought we could pair you to talk a little bit more since my schedule is so tight. Why don't you two grab lunch and get acquainted later?"

Eddie shrugs, and his rings clink against the steel armrests.

"What was that you were saying about murders?" Linda asked.

"Yeah," Eddie sighed. "Just more bad dreams." He scratched at his stomach at his new scars.

You tuck a file into Linda's inbox, close the door behind you, and go back to your temporary desk. You'd missed this school, but always felt creeped out in Hawkins. Too many urban legends spooked you away hundreds of miles to the University of Chicago.

That poor kid looked disturbed. You groaned. You didn't know what you were doing or how you were possibly going to be able to help him.

What made you think you had a clue about how to do this? Coming back after the quake was a mistake. You just wanted to help, but you were in way over your head.

The school bell rang, and your first appointment of the day walked in. Here we go, you thought. Just five hours today, and then I can be one day closer to going back home.

Home. Such a funny thing. Hawkins used to be your home. But not anymore. Everyone was so traumatized here. And you were so afraid you didn't know how to help them. One by one for hours, they all talked about how afraid they were after the quake, seeing Hawkins in crisis and disaster.

But a strange phenomenon began to appear: many of the kids had issues with memory. They couldn't remember the quake itself, or very much in the days leading up to it. Linda said it was a symptom of PTSD. But it was peculiar. You listened to her carefully, taking notes in your journals during the appointments, until the lunch bell rang.

You took a quick look at the kid's file. He was way too old to be in school still. Held back twice. For the same reason you were — fucking math. You chuckled to yourself.

Apparently he was involved in some kind of group of troubled boys. You remembered something about them from last year — they listened to some of the same music as you, so you assumed they were just struggling to fit in. You knew a thing or two about being an outcast.

Wait a second — Munson. Eddie Munson. This was the guy who played guitar in Corroded Coffin, the dungeon master from Hellfire Club? He was unrecognizable. You had only caught a quick glimpse of him in Linda's office, but he was a mess. The Eddie you remembered was so alive, passionate, and always smiling. What happened to him?

You took a seat back in your office, and waited to see if he would show. To your surprise, there was a knock at the door. "Right on time," you said.

"Hi. Ms. Linda told me I could find you here," Eddie said. He was hunched over in pain.

"Yeah, please have a seat. Do you want a water or a soda?" You asked him. He perked up a little.

"Shit, yeah I didn't even realize it but I can't remember the last time I ate or drank anything," he said. His big eyes met yours, and caught the light. You realized you'd never spoken before, even though you knew of him last year.

"Here, then you better drink this," you said, handing him a coke.

"So how does this work? I feel like it's kinda weird, to be talking to someone my age like this. Is this supposed to be like a shrink?" Eddie asked.

"It's whatever you want it to be," you said. "I mean," you blushed. "It's not exactly counseling, it's just a space that's supposed to be safe and comfortable. Hopefully you feel like you can trust me and feel like you can open up here. I'm not a counselor, no, but I care."

"Why?" He asked.

This caught you off guard. No one else had asked that. Why wouldn't someone care? "Because what happened here was scary. People died. Homes are gone. Earthquakes aren't a part of life here. But it's a creepy place. Some say it's cursed here." You looked back up at him. His face is shadowed by a dark wavy mane. "What do you think?"

"Do I think it's cursed?" Eddie asked. You nodded. "Oh yes," he said.

"Can you tell me more about that?" You asked him. He opened his mouth, but the fire alarm went off. "Oh no, let me go see if it's a drill. I'll be right back."

Eddie watched you go into the hall, his leg bouncing anxiously. Suddenly, the fire alarm stopped. The hall fell quiet. He didn't hear anything. Not even any footsteps in the hall. Eddie stopped bouncing his leg.

"I don't like this," he muttered, and stood up. He came into the hall. It was empty. "Ms. Linda?" He called out. "Dustin?" Dustin, are you there? Yourname? Lucas? Hello?"

The hall was silent. A clock on the wall ticked discordantly. The second hand was stuck. Every tick, it tried to move forward. But it was pulled back into place on the same second mark. 1:37.

"Hello?" Eddie called. "Anybody?"

The corridor light down the hall shut off. One by one, the lights shut down, the shadow moving closer to Eddie. "Oh fuck this," Eddie said, and ran outside. But he stopped in his tracks.

The sun was gone behind a blanket of thick grey clouds. The shadows on the grass shuddered, an unnatural silvery green. And then he saw them — everyone had gone outside.

"Hey, what's going on?" No one moved. Everyone was standing still, facing away from him. He came around the nearest person. Her eyes were rolled in the back of her head, her arms at her sides. "Hey!" Eddie said. "Hey!"

Eddie ran from person to person, trying to wake them up from the spell. All of them stood up straight, their arms at their sides, eyes white and unresponsive. Suddenly Eddie remembered — just a feeling at first. And then her name. "Just like Chrissy," he said out loud. "No—"

He heard a scream from inside the school.

"Shit. Hold on!" Eddie yelled. He ran in the direction of the scream. "I'm coming. Just hold on!" The lights flickered, and a grandfather clock chimed deeply. "I'm coming!" The screaming continued, and as Eddie turned a corner, he tripped on his shoelaces. The lights cut back on, and people came around the corner, laughing and chewing gum. "It's not due until Friday. Let's sneak out anyway," someone said.

"What's happening? Are you okay?" Eddie stammered. The girls looked at him oddly, popping their gum, and ignored him. People surrounded him on their way to their next class. He leaned against the lockers in frustration, and suspiciously eyed a flickering corridor light.

"Eddie?" You called out. "Are you still here? Shit. He was just here." You looked at your watch. 1:37. "He was literally just here." He couldn't have gone far, you thought. You go out to look for him, and come back to your desk empty-handed.

"Guess I'll finish his coke," you said. It smelled like his cologne. Woodsy, and a hint of rose.

Eddie hopped out of his van, and grabbed his guitar from his uncle's trailer. He threw some cassettes into a duffel bag, some clothes, and another of his leather jackets. He paused in the bathroom, looking at his bloody, shredded clothes on the floor by the shower. He stuffed them in the bag too. There was no way in hell he was gonna stay in that trailer of death.

Eddie turned down his Dio cassette as he slammed on the brakes in front of Dustin Henderson's house. He desperately needed to talk to him. Maybe Dustin had some idea about what was happening to Hawkins — and to him. He knew he had died. It felt so real. So how did he end up back in his bed? And what the fuck happened with the earthquake?

Eddie got out of his van and saw the for sale sign in the yard. "What the hell? Oh please, fuck no—" he ran up to the door and fruitlessly banged on it. No one answered.

"Lookin for somebody?" A voice called out behind him. A neighbor stood in a nearby yard with a rake.

"Yeah, uh, Dustin Henderson. He lives here."

"I'm sorry, they moved out a few days ago. His mom took him out of town right after the quake."

"Do you know where they went?" Eddie asked.

"Out west. Think maybe Salt Lake."

Eddie thanked him and went back to his car. With his uncle out of town for awhile, there were only a couple places left to go. And the light was already fading.

Eddie shuddered, thinking about being out on the roads as night fell in Hawkins. He turned up his mixtape as Guns N Roses' Welcome to the Jungle clicked on. Eddie sighed with some small relief as he heard a familiar favorite tune. He was about to turn it back up when he noticed Dustin's neighbor pause in the street. He dropped his rake, and his arms dropped to his sides.

Eddie leaned forward in his seat.

The neighbor stood still for a moment, while some of the other folks across the street stood up on their patios, facing the same direction. A black cloud passed over the sun.

Eyes wild, Eddie whipped around and saw the street behind his van full of dozens of neighbors, standing still, eyes rolled back in their heads.

"Fuck this," Eddie said, and slammed his foot on the gas.

While Guns N'Roses blared, he weaved his way at top speed through the streets, avoiding some of the people who stood under a spell and overcast skies.

People were in the street all the way back to school, and as he pulled into the parking lot, he heard the clock tome. The skies were dark as twilight, and he had to have his headlights on.

"Yourname! Yourname! Lucas! Harrington! Wheeler!" No one answered. The corridor lights flickered again, as Eddie was chased by a voice that was right behind him.

Edward...

"Leave me alone! What the hell do you want with us? They're just kids! Get the hell away from here!"

Eddie grabbed a mop and broke off the handle into a spear. He drew a serrated fixed blade from his boot. "Show yourself!"

The lights clicked back on, and he hid his knife as students walked past him down the hall, completely unfazed by him or what had apparently just happened.

Chapter 2: A Dark Fog

Eddie found his way back to the theater backstage area where the Hellfire club met for their campaigns. He slumped into an old chair and put his head in his hands.

"Eddie?" He jumped. "I'm so sorry, I didn't mean to scare you," you said.

"God, you really crept up on me there, yourname. It's okay. Are you alright?" He asked you.

"Yeah," you said, confused. "Are you?"

Eddie laughed. "I do not think so, no. Do you know what's going on around here? Did you feel anything weird just now?"

You paused. "Well," you began. "Now that you mention it, yeah."

His dark curls fell into his eyes as he leaned in closer to you. "Please go on." His hair smelled like the woods after the rain.

"I guess just now, in the bathroom, I remember I was washing my hands, and then I blinked... and then all of a sudden, the water was all over the floor. It was flooding the bathroom. That's why my clothes are all wet."

"Oh man, I didn't even notice," he laughed. You realized you really liked it when he smiled. You wanted to make him laugh.

"What else do you remember?" He asked.

You paused. "I think that's it. I was just weirded out. I never noticed it overflowing. It was fine and then I blinked, and it was just everywhere."

"Listen, something is going on here. It doesn't seem like anyone else knows what's going on. But I'm worried. You told me people were having trouble with their memory. And now so are you."

"Until you said that, I didn't realize it, but you're absolutely right. Has this been happening to you?" You asked him.

"No," Eddie starts. "Listen, there's some people we should call. I think they'll know what's going on. Can we use your office phone?"

You opened your mouth to say okay, but something fell down behind you. Eddie jumped up, thrusting out his knife in front of him. "Get behind me," he said to you.

"What's wrong?" You asked. "It's probably just some kids staying late and making out. No one is ever back here except your club this late. Why do you have a knife ... that big?"

Eddie creeps towards the sound. Nothing is there.

He turns around to face you. "I have to show you something."

Eddie threw a pile of bloody rags onto the table. "These were my clothes last night. I'm not supposed to be here, man. Look what happened... to me. I was wearing these. I was attacked."

"Attacked? By who? Last night?" You ask.

"Yes," Eddie continued. "Or at least, I think it was last night. My memory isn't so good right now. It feels like something is living in my brain. A dark fog."

"Yeah," you continued. "For me too. And I think for a lot of the kids who've come to talk to me." You lean in closer to the clothes. "You must have gotten really hurt—" your mouth hung open as Eddie threw off his jacket and ripped off his Black Sabbath shirt.

Stunned, you observed Eddie Munson standing there in front of you half-naked. The sweat on his tattoos caught the backstage color lights. And then you saw the scars. "Ouch! These are insane! But this was from... last night? I don't understand."

"I don't either, man." He replied. "How could I have healed like this? Look at this one on my neck. And I haven't been able to eat anything. And I keep seeing people do things. I really don't even have the words. It's like people are frozen for a minute. And the sky gets all dark,"

"Eddie, whatever you've been through, you've been traumatized. Deeply. It's normal for people to feel... disoriented. Like reality doesn't even make sense anymore."

"No, that's not what this is. Look—" He held up the leather jacket under the rag pile of his shredded clothes. He took your hand and pressed your fingertips to the lining.

"It's wet." You said. "What is that?" You pull your hand away to look, and your fingers are red with blood. "What the hell?"

"The blood isn't even dried," Eddie said. "This was from last night. Not even twenty-four hours ago.

"Eddie, whose blood is this? What did you do?" You said, feeling your heart race with fear.

"It's mine. Listen to what I'm trying to tell you, please. I need your help."

You turn and run. "Eddie, you definitely need help!"

"Please, just listen!" He yelled after you. "You're in danger! Hawkins isn't safe!"

"Sinclair! Man, am I glad to reach you. Do you know how to reach Dustin? I'm sorry, I've been having some weird, foggy memory issues. I can't find his new number." Eddie rubs his eyes, holding the phone with his cheek against his shoulder. His skull rings still have bits of dried blood on them in the grooves of their embossed teeth.

"Yeah Eddie, I'll give it to you. And hey, can you swing by the hospital? Can you bring me some of your DnD dice? I left all mine at the house and have been getting kinda bored reading," Lucas said.

"Are you hurt? Why are you at the hospital? What happened?" Eddie asked.

"Eddie, sorry I thought you knew. It's Max. She's really sick. She's been asleep a long time," Lucas replied.

Eddie's eyes brightened with realization. "How long has she been there?" He asked.

"A couple of weeks," Lucas said.

Eddie leaned against the wall in relieved understanding. He finally had a clue. "Lucas, what happened that night— I didn't come back with Dustin. Something happened to me in the fuckin, weird other side place."

"What other side place?" Asked Lucas. "What happened?"

Eddie lowered the phone. Lucas had no memory of the upside-down. Which meant he didn't know what really happened to Max. Or Eddie. Or Hawkins. Eddie struggled to remember himself. But he was getting closer. And he knew something was terribly wrong.

Randy's place was just as Eddie had left it. A ribbon of police tape fluttered in the wind, still tied to a tree in front. He snuck in to the house from out back, by the boathouse, which had become his home away from home. Whatever home meant anymore.

Hawkins hadn't felt like home in a very long time.

He called Dustin's new number. It made some weird sound he'd never heard. He tried again with the same result, and hung up. He grabbed the white pages and looked up Steve Harrington. Busy. Next he flipped back to the W section. There were several Wheelers. But all of their addresses were way out of town. The address for Ted Wheeler wasn't far. He called it.

"Hello?" It was Nancy.

"Oh my god, Nancy. I need to talk to you. It's Eddie. Can you help me get ahold of Steve or Dustin? Do you know what's going on in Hawkins? I'm having some trouble remembering things. I know we were, we were working on a... a project. Robin and Steve, Dustin, Max, Lucas. Do you remember?"

"Hey Eddie. I'm sorry, I'm struggling to remember some things too. I think it's just all the stress after the earthquake—"

"Nancy, no, just trust me, please." Eddie sat down on the floor, the telephone cord wrapping around him. "I have to talk to you. Can you come out to Randy's boathouse again? Something is happening and we gotta figure it out. Hawkins is in danger. I've been seeing people do things that don't make any sense. I remember being with Dustin after we were all together, and I remember getting really hurt, and I —" he trailed off.

"It's okay, Eddie. I think we were together when the quake happened. That night. I can come out there. Can I bring someone we can trust?"

"Yeah. I mean, yeah, of course, Wheeler, totally fine. We gotta figure this out. I'll — " The line cut off.

"Wheeler?" Eddie asked into the phone. "Wheeler?"

The TV clicked on and off, and started to flash the ant race static.

"Oh please fucking no—" he said. He tried to call Nancy back, but the line was dead. The lights in the house flickered for a moment, and then fully died with a bang.

He looked outside, and it was pitch black except for some distant flickering across the lake in another house. All the street lights and other homes were dark.

Eddie was breathing fast. The hairs on the back of his neck stood up, and something came back to him. A flashing image of the lake, dry as a bone, covered in wet tentacles, and at the center, a gaping red hole.

His eyes adjusted to the light of the full moon, and he saw some of the neighbors standing in their yards. They were all facing the center of the lake. Their arms hung at their sides, and the same grandfather clock tolled.

Terrified, he glanced at the kitchen clock, its second hand struggling against itself, frozen in a loop.

He looked back outside, and everyone was gone. The lights across the lake cut back on, one by one, until the TV and kitchen lights cut back on, and Johnny Carson's voice murmured from the living room.

The phone rang again. Eddie grabbed it. "Nancy?"

"Yeah, it's me. Sorry, we got cut off—"

"Wheeler, you gotta get over here right now. Something is going on in Hawkins. What do you remember happening just now?"

"Um, the phone cut out and then I called you right back."

"That's all you remember? No lights flickering? The power didn't cut off?"

"No, we didn't lose power over here. It's okay, though, Eddie. I can come over. I'll bring someone. See you soon. It's gonna be okay." Click.

Eddie hung up and slumped over, reaching into a box of honey comb cereal. He brought it up to his mouth, and tried to open it. He just couldn't do it, no matter how hard he tried. And he could barely make himself drink water. The only thing he wanted... in fact, he desperately craved a very rare, bloody piece of steak.

Chapter 3: An Impossible Choice

"Hey. It's you," Eddie said. He stood in the doorway with the lake behind, the aroma of spaghetti wafting. "I didn't know you knew Nance."

"Hi again," you said shyly.

"Yeah, we were friends before she graduated. She always used to drive me home from school if my Mom had to pick up Mike from Will's house."

"Cool," Eddie said. The kitchen was warm and inviting compared to the misty night.

Eddie smelled like pasta and his signature woodsy scent. Nancy hugged him hello. "I'm worried about you, Eddie." She said.

Eddie let go and turned to you. For a moment, you thought about hugging him too, but remembered the last thing you said to him, and the strange behavior from backstage at the theater.

Eddie stepped forward like he was going to hug you, but put out his hand instead. "Are we cool?" You hesitated.

"Yeah," you said, holding out your hand. "We're cool." His hand was soft to the touch, and incredibly hot. Eddie smiled again, putting his other hand on yours warmly. Your hand lingered in his.

"Oh, sorry," you said. Fucking blushing. Again. But Eddie saw, and you liked that he saw.

"It's okay." Eddie smirked. His tension softened. "Help yourself to some pasta, ladies."

"I'm starving. Come have some of this, hon." Nancy gave you a plate, and handed one to Eddie.

"No thanks," he said. "I had a few bites of the meat earlier."

"Anyway, I brought her because I think she might be able to help us. She's a great listener. And she told me you had a little... thing earlier. When you called me, she was already with me. So here we are. Now, can you just tell me everything? I'm going to just stuff my face and listen, and then I'll tell you everything I know, and maybe we can figure some of this out," Nancy said, sitting down to eat.

Eddie takes a deep breath. "I know we were working on something. Together. Us, and Dustin, Harrington, Lucas, Max, Robin, Erica. I just can't figure out what it is. I've been getting these headaches — and these cravings—"

You and Nancy glance at each other.

"And I showed her earlier, but look... apparently I got these wounds two weeks ago, but to me, it was just last night. Why don't we remember anything? Something is putting us under like a trance, or a spell. I know it sounds crazy, but man, you wouldn't believe what I've been seeing. The whole town. This bell rings, like a grandfather clock, and then everyone just freezes in the street. And—"

Eddie continues pacing around the room. "The lights flicker like crazy —"

A band starts playing on Johnny Carson in the other room, and Nancy stares at the table, someplace far away.

"Nance?" You ask. "Nancy?"

The singer continues the chorus, highway to the danger zone... take you right into the danger zone...

You put your hand on her shoulder, and she jumps, snapping out of it. "What was that? Were you like, in a trance or something?" You ask.

"Yes. No. I was—- I remember. I remember now. The song. I remembered listening to it over and over before spring break. Before the earthquake. And then it all came back. Everything —"

A tear fell from Nancy's eye. "Do you remember what happened, Eddie? Do you remember what happened to you?"

"Whatever that song did, it jarred your memory or broke you out of the fog or something. But —" Nancy cut Eddie off.

"The song. It brought me back out. You need a song! It's coming back to me now. It's what we did for Max. Quick— whats your favorite song?" Nancy ran over to the record player. "Do you have tapes?"

Eddie went over to the door. "Hey you should come with me. Maybe there's a tape for you in the van. It will help clear your head and free your memories. You probably don't like my taste in music tho."

You laughed. "What makes you say that?"

Eddie scrounged up a few handfuls of tapes. "Here, uh, one sex. Sec. one sec."

It was dark in the van, but he was blushing now. You stifled a laugh. He was so sweet behind that edgy exterior.

You wanted to see what was underneath.

"Here we go. We've got, uh, Metallica, of course, Dio, Sabbath, Iron Maiden..."

You spot your favorite album and grab it. Eddie clawed through his bins. "Nancy said it had to be my favorite song. God, that's hard. How do I choose only one? And the stakes are so high! Shit, man." Eddie became frantic. "I fucking had it. It was right here."

"Oh no. What is it?" You ask. "I can help you look. I'm sure it's here."

"It's, uh," Eddie became coy. "It's Guns N'Roses. Sweet Child O'Mine. I know, it's like, so cheesy, but it's just a really beautiful song. Don't judge me. You probably thought I was gonna say like Judas Priest or something, huh?"

I smiled, and threw my head back in laughter. "Seriously, man? You're laughing at me? Like, really hard, too. Wow. Just totally roasting me right now. Ouch."

"No," you collect yourself. "No, no no--" you try to explain.

"I get it. It's cool. Whatever. Laugh at me. Hey, I'll bet your favorite song is Madonna or something. No, Blondie." Eddie looked smug. He was hurt.

"No, Jesus, Eddie, I already grabbed my favorite." You open your hand and show him, and he pulls your palm up to his face so he can see in the dim light.

His eyes widen and he laughs with you. "Wow. Nice. We have the same favorite song."

"Yeah," you laugh. "We do."

He smiled. "You like Guns N'Roses? Aren't they a little... hard for you?"

"I like it hard," you flirt. "What makes you think I wouldn't like them?"

"I guess I just didn't see that coming. It's not like I have the luxury of having a file on you," Eddie said. His brown eyes, wide as saucers, sparkled in the low light. He carried such a fire in him. Every time you saw him, it burned hotter. Brighter.

The sparks between you crackled.

"Well, you're right about one thing. You don't know me, Eddie Munson."

"I'd like to," he said. He leaned in towards you.

"I'm not supposed to be hanging out with the folks I work with at school," you said.

"Well, I get the feeling that given you're sitting here with me, right now, you're something of a rebel," he said.

"Yeah. Something like that," you said.

"Well now I really wanna know more," Eddie said. "Why'd you get into becoming a shrink, anyway?"

"I went through some shit when I was a kid. I'd like to maybe one day help other kids that are going through stuff too." You said.

"What kind of shit?" He asked. "It's okay, you know, if you don't wanna talk about it. I was just wondering, because I've seen some shit too. And I think that's why, like, I never really fit in."

"Yeah," you reply. "It was the same for me. For me, it was my mom. She wasn't well. And she was high a lot. I was always trying to fix the problems that created. I got her job back for her once. I was nine, begging her boss. Used to clean up her throwup. Pulled her and carried her out of the car. Stuff like that. How about you?"

"Oof. Wow. Yeah, with my Dad, it was drinking. Always. Every single day. My mom, I don't even know what happened. I think she died when I was little. Might have been drugs. My uncle has kept an eye on me, best he can. But I haven't seen my dad in years."

"God, I'm sorry." You said.

"Me too," said Eddie. "I dunno why I'm telling you all this. I haven't told anybody that, like, ever." He bit his pillow lips, and his boyish grin took over his face.

"I'm glad you are," you said. "I have a feeling we have a lot more in common." Your feet were touching his leg, and he put his hand on your calf in a familiar way, like he'd done it many times.

It was so easy to be with him. You left Hawkins because you had always felt like such an outcast, and you still were at your new college in Chicago. But something in you just felt so free, and relaxed, even with everything going on.

"We should probably go back inside," he said. "We need to listen to our favorite song."

Nancy was staring at the table. Kenny Loggins was on repeat on the console. She hadn't touched her food.

"I remember now. I saw him," she said. "When we went through the gate. At your trailer. Where Chrissy died. I remember... what he showed me. Hawkins was on fire. Dead soldiers. A creature with a gaping mouth. And so many monsters. And my mom, and Holly, and Mike. They were all dead. And four gates to Hell, right here in our Hawkins. Our home."

"Jesus," you said.

"Doesn't seem like it," Eddie quipped. "Time for a new song." He popped the tape in the deck "Are you ready?"

You took a deep breath. "I don't know. I'm freaking out."

"It's alright, babe. Here—" Eddie took your hands in his, and the bright guitar riff began to play. "I've got you."

He looked into your eyes, and you felt safe for the first time in days. Maybe longer. Maybe ever.

"Whatever happens, I'm here," he said. "And we're gonna figure this out together. I promise." His rings were cold. Long curls fell about his face, framing a goofy smile. You were scared, but Eddie made you feel strong.

"Whatever happens, I'll be glad I met you here," you said, becoming bolder. "I'm glad you survived all this shit. And if things go sideways, I will fucking kick some ass. Because there is a lot you don't know about me yet, Eddie Munson." You smiled at him.

He couldn't have looked more thrilled. Every time you looked at him, he looked brighter, like something chased the shadows away.

And then it hit you.

Eddie's hands clamped down on yours, and you were sent into a frenzied blur of memory. You could feel him there, but you were lost in a storm of remembering. Hawkins. The news of the quake. The drive from Chicago. The military checkpoints. The destruction. The caravans of cars and cars leaving town.

Eddie was lost in his own torrents of darkness. A hold on his mind broke free, and he saw everything.

The last Dungeons and Dragons game. Feeling so proud of Dustin and Erica. The excitement to see Chrissy after the game. The anxiety that something would happen to this new connection. The longing for a girlfriend, and the butterflies in his stomach over Chrissy Cunningham, the queen of Hawkins High, entrusting herself to his guidance in taking a risk, breaking a law, doing something rebellious.

Then, the terror. The unspeakable horror. The snapping of so many bones. The frantic drive back to the boathouse. Hiding for days, alone in the uncertain, terrifying darkness. The planning with Dustin and the gang. The Watergate. The upside-down. The plan. The RV, going on the run. Resolving to protect Dustin and the gang at all costs. The most metal guitar solo in history. And then...

I died, he thought. I died, right there with Dustin. I remember it. I remember my fear. I was so cold. I wasn't ready. But I didn't want to scare Dustin. I had to make him think it was okay. I had to comfort Dustin, in my own death. Because he's just a kid. And it wasn't fair. And I loved that kid. Loved. Love. I died. Right?

The thrumming, discordant chime of a grandfather clock shattered through your separate visions.

Both you and Eddie were thrown from memory, back into each other's arms. "Where do we go, now?" Echoed the chorus from the song. Over and over... "Where do we go?"

A gulf appeared between you, a volcanic chasm that grew, pushing you both apart as the world around you collapsed into ruin and fire.

"Eddie! Eddie!" You screamed.

"Yourname! Just hold on! Hold on!" He yelled back to you. Nancy clung to the couch, now far away, shredded corners of the lake house falling apart.

Mountains of jagged rock grew between and under you both. You dug your fingers into the shards for balance as the distance to the ground grew, and the two of you rose on stone mountains high into the air.

Crimson lightning crackled, illuminating a blood-red hurricane sky.

"Edward," reverberated a booming voice from all directions. "It's time to say goodbye to your friends. To Hawkins." The voice cackled. "It's time for this war to begin, and to end. It's time for you to become who you were meant to be."

"Vecna!" Eddie yelled. "Kiss my ass, you sticky piece of shit!"

The voice growled. Vecna approached from a towering fortress high above, a stone mountain suspended high in the air.

Nancy screamed from below. You couldn't hear her, but hoped she could somehow reach the rest of their friends. For dear life, you held on to the rock as you flew higher into the air.

"I have a deal for you, Edward," Vecna boomed. "You have something I need. Your friends were too late. You and your friends lost. But I can give you more than you ever dreamed of. Come with me and live forever in a paradise of unimaginable power."

Eddie struggled against the forces of the lightning storm. You could just barely hear him, but he made himself heard.

"I will never join you, asshole. You're a fucking joke. Burn in hell, skin bag." Eddie turned and flung an enormous stone in his direction, which Vecna deftly turned his hand to deflect with his telekinetic powers.

"Then you have a choice," Vecna continued. "Come with me into the shadow lands of night, where I will make you a King. Refuse, and I burn Hawkins into scorched Hell on Earth, with your friends left to burn alive. With their parents, and their little brothers and sisters, and everyone you've ever known."

Vecna flung our stone pillars together, and held us together but just out of reach. Slithering tentacles squeezed life from us.

"Eddie, don't do it," you yelled. "We can beat him. Nancy can get everyone here to help. You said there was someone with powers who can hurt him. Who hurt him before. Don't do this. There's another way. There is another way," you begged. "Listen to me!"

Eddie fought the black vines that held him. "You know I don't really have a choice, right, babe? I don't wanna do it. I have to. I can't let him do this to you and Hawkins. My uncle. Dustin and the kids. Who am I kidding? I won't be that missed, anyway."

"Eddie," tears stung your face in the heat of the storm. "You're wrong. That isn't true—"

"Yes it is. It's okay. I accepted it a long time ago. I'll be okay. Don't you worry about me." Eddie slumped against the stone pillar.

Lightning like dragon scale flashed and burned behind him across the crimson skies.

"You have one day to make your choice," Vecna said. "Or I will bring death to Hawkins, and soon, to the world. I will make war, and terror will reign, until I burn down the walls between realms, and this world is forever transformed into the dark power of my dreams."

Back in each other's arms, in the lake house living room, listening to "Sweet Child O'Mine," you're all thrown from the vision and back into yourselves.

"I'm calling Eleven," Nancy said. "And everyone else."

Chapter 4: Tick, Tock

"The songs are the key," Nancy said into the dirty yellow kitchen phone. "You have to listen to your favorite song to break the hold he has on us. It's some kind of spell, over the whole town! Just trust me. Listen to the songs. And then you all need to get over here ASAP. And Mike — be careful."

Nancy reached over Eddie to hang up the phone, and he collapsed onto the floor, coughing blood.

"Ow, shit!" You said. Something cut your thigh below your cutoffs.

"Oh my god, are you okay? Nancy, what the hell is happening? When will they be here? They have to help us. We can't let Vecna do this."

"I know, sweetie, I know, but listen, we're gonna be okay. We've been through some things and we're gonna be okay."

Eddie's body began to convulse. "Eddie, can you hear me? Eddie?"

"Killed... me," Eddie whispered through his bloody teeth. "Bats... killed me."

He went limp, asleep.

"What the hell was he talking about? Bats? Did this happen last time?" You asked Nancy. "You know, before?"

"No," she said. "It definitely did not. The bats he's talking about... Right before the quake, Dustin said Eddie was hurt really bad by the demobats. They bit him a lot, and, Eddie actually died there. Dustin came back and told his uncle about it. The whole town thought Eddie had done some horrible things. Killed some kids. But he didn't. And no one would ever know. And I don't remember what happened after that, it gets kinda foggy. But somehow, even though Dustin saw him die, he's come back here. I don't understand it."

"Wait, did you say some kind of bats attacked him?" You ask Nancy.

"Yeah," she said. "Why? Oh! Oh, my god. Do you think..."

"It has to be. What else? Do you remember what he said about meat? And not being able to eat? And what would Vecna want with him? You said Vecna had been basically killed, but his body disappeared. What if Vecna needs something Eddie has, like some kind of power after having been bit by the bats? Like... what if he's sort of a vampire now?"

Nancy turned back to Eddie. "It's definitely possible. Which means he may be turning into one little by little. Who knows how much time he may have. And we only have less than a day to stop Vecna. What happened to your thigh?"

"Oh," you waved your hand in the air. "I think Eddie's bracelet sliced open my thigh."

"Ouch! Yeah, you're bleeding pretty bad. Let me go see if I can find a first aid kit. You stay here with him. Steve and Dustin and the others should be here soon."

You sat down on the carpet in the living room, and put Eddie's head onto your lap, taking care to keep his long hair away from your blood dripping down your knee. He was so beautiful like that. So peaceful. It was nice to see him that way. But your heart jolted, thinking about such a horrible choice he was facing. How were a bunch of kids from Hawkins going to stop a demon-god?

"I've got a bad feeling about this, Eddie," you said to him as he slept.

You sighed, exhausted. It was so late it was early. You closed your eyes, and leaned against the couch. You didn't even remember falling asleep.

Something startles you awake. Another grandfather clock discordant chime. The lights flicker.

"Mmmm, yeah, I'll take fries with that..." Eddie said in his sleep.

"Eddie wake up. Eddie. Wake up, something's happening," you said.

His dark eyelashes reveal sleepy earth-colored eyes. "Oh no," he sighed, rubbing his face. "Not again."

"This happened before? Please tell me what the hell this is." You ask.

The lights cut off, and Eddie sits up instantly.

"Shit," he said, and peeked out the blinds towards the lake. "Just stay there. Don't move or anything."

You run over to the window beside him and look. "I don't see anything."

A tense moment passes in the darkness.

"I dunno. It's different this time. This has been happening a few times since I woke up this morning. Which was the last thing I remember before I... Before I thought I died. It's like this with the lights. Flashing, and then they go off. This morning at school, you went to check the fire alarm and it started happening. And the chiming of a clock. And then everyone was just standing, outside, and the sky was all dark."

"Nancy said something about that earlier, about how Vecna taunted his victims. How he did this when he put people into that death trance," you said.

The lights clanged back on, and Eddie closed the curtains. He turned to face you.

"You know, you don't need to be involved in all this. You should go back home in the morning, get the hell out of Hawkins, as far away as you can," he said.

You laugh. "You think I wouldn't love to do that?"

"So why don't you?" His voice was kind. Wavy lengths of his hair brushed your shoulder.

"Because I don't wanna be that person," you replied. "I was raised by that person. I believe in doing the right thing, especially when it's hard, because I know from experience that if something is hard, probably no one is coming to help you. That's how it was my whole life. And that's not how it should be for anybody."

"Yeah. I think I know what you mean. You don't wanna run away," he replied.

"I mean, I do, but I won't. At least, I hope not. I did once."

"Did what?" He asked. He took his jacket off and sank into the couch, motioning for you to sit beside him.

"I ran away," you sat down and looked at the floor. Eddie was quiet. You thought he must have been judging you now. Maybe he was disappointed.

"We've all done things we regret," he said. He took your hand, and you met his gaze. "Things that ...haunt us."

You both left it there for a moment, though you wanted to know more about him, you didn't really want him to know more about you.

Eddie grabbed something from the fridge, and went to the bathroom.

While he was gone, you spotted a guitar in the corner. A nice little Martin. You checked the strings. They were mostly in tune, but the high E was flat. Using the low E string, you turned the peg and brought the guitar into tune, and hit the harmonics on the twelfth fret.

"Sounds like bells," you said. You began to twiddle around, and sat on the floor. It had a capo on the headstock, so you started to play one of your favorite originals. A long instrumental interlude leading into a melody in six-eight time.

"What album is that?" Eddie asked from the hallway.

"Mine," you said, still fingerpicking. You felt him stop behind you. "Wow, I had no idea. You sound amazing. You wrote this?" He asked.

"Few years ago," you said. "Just a little folk song. Know this one?" You started to play another.

"Fuckin' get outta here!" Eddie smiled. "Course I know it. Eddie grabbed the twelve string beside him on the floor and started playing along. "Zeppelin's best. One of the first songs I learned how to play. I'll take the lead. I mean, unless you—"

"No, please go ahead. I only really play rhythm." You kept up with the rhythm part and Eddie started on the beautiful melody bassline. It sounded amazing. And for the first time in awhile, you were actually having fun.

You went into a plucky little medley of Ramble On, Going to California, and ended with Over the Hills and Far Away. Before you knew it, you'd spent hours plucking away, trading original music and even starting to write a song together. Laughing and forgetting everything that needed to be forgotten, even if just for this moment in the grey dark of morning.

You laid down next to your guitars. Your hands found each other's, and he pulled a blanket up onto your legs.

Dawn was breaking.

"Can I lay like that again?" He asked.

"Oh. Yeah. Sure." You smiled, and got cozy in the blankets while he laid his head on your lap.

"You don't have to do this," you sighed. "Just buy us time to help you and win. Nancy said she has a friend named Elven who can help us, right? She should be here soon. Listen to me, Eddie. Sometimes things feel so hopeless and we don't see any way out. But there is always another way. We'll figure it out. Can you just try to buy us some time?"

Eddie was staring at the ceiling. His eyes were tender.

You let yourself touch his face, and he looked at you. "I'll try," he said. He lifted his head from your thighs and rolled over so his head was on your chest.

"You're pretty wild, guitar girl," he said in his warm, melodic voice. His necklace pendants tumbled onto you.

"Here I was thinking I was finally on the straight and narrow," you said, sighing.

"Well, I like every version of you I've seen so far," he said.

Eddie smelled the brass on you from the guitar strings, and kissed your fingertips.

"Nothing like a bit of metal dust on the fingertips from shredding to make a girl really, really, really attractive," he said.

"And something else... Tonight. Thank you for this. Just hangin' out. Jamming a bit with me. It let me almost forget everything for a minute. And since this might be my last night on earth, or at least anything I ever knew, I'm glad it was like this. Just sharing some music with a pretty girl. Sharing some stories. I didn't realize how much I just wanted to have that in life, you know, until now. I guess, like, what it might feel like to have a girlfriend. So, thank you. I mean—" he stammered. "Not that you're my girlfriend. I mean, you're my friend, who's a girl, but I guess what I meant was what it would feel like to have a girlfriend, but like, I know you're not my—"

"I love how you like me," you said. "It's okay. I understand what you mean. I guess I kinda thought this is what it would feel like to have a boyfriend too. You know, aside from the vampires and demon gods and stuff." Eddie flashed his megawatt smile, and your heart jumped. "It just feels so easy to hang out with you. Like I've known you a long time."

"Yeah, it does for me too." Eddie leaned over you, and you felt his hair like curtains around both your faces.

His pillow lips found yours. Something tasted primal, like the bite of a feral animal. Metallic, but sweet.

Eddie's body flooded with warm relief, and forgetting, and passion. Something like happiness, or maybe peace.

Eddie reached out to put his arms around you, but the front door flung open.

"Eddie?!" Steve Harrington stood in the doorway, incredulous.

"Harrington!" Eddie jumped up and embraced Steve in a generous hug.

"Wow, thanks! I just can't believe you're alive. Dustin told us you were dead.

"Yeah, I don't really know what happened. It gets kinda blurry after that. Apparently two weeks later, I woke up in my old bed. Yesterday morning. And then started seeing some crazy shit happening like before Vecna murdered his victims. Whole town, this time though," Eddie said.

"Nancy told us everything," Steve said. "We all did our songs in the car on the way over. Everyone's recovering their memories now. The whole town is in a trance. You're Nancy's friend? I'm Steve." Steve motions at you.

"Yeah, we had a few classes together before I graduated and moved. It's nice to meet you," you said.

"Okay, well, we've got uh, Erica, Robin, Jonathan, Will, Mike. Lucas wanted to stay with Max at the hospital once he realized what's going on. Hopper's there too, with Eleven. Joyce is getting some supplies. Everybody's listened to their songs. Sometimes it's a bit foggy, but we're coming back."

"Eleven said she wasn't affected by the trance. But she said she felt something new. Something... dark," said Mike. "She said this was different from Vecna."

"What the hell happened to you, Eddie?" Erica asked.

Everyone looked at him.

He put his jacket back on, and sat down next to you.

"Like Dustin said. The bats got me. I was gone. And the next thing I knew, I woke up yesterday morning in my bed, and two weeks had passed."

"Two weeks," Nancy said to herself, thinking and pacing.

"You have no idea what happened, literally that entire time? Not even bits or pieces?" Asked Robin.

"That's not the worst part," you said.

"What the hell's the worst part?" Jonathan asked.

"Vecna wants me this time. But not to kill me. At least, I don't think. He said... come with me me into the shadow lands of night, where I will make you a King. Refuse, and I burn Hawkins into..." he trailed off.

"Scorched Hell on Earth, with your friends left to burn alive," you complete the sentence. "With their parents, and their little brothers and sisters, and everyone you've ever known.

"Whoa. What the hell?" Erica asked. "Why does he want you to be his King?"

"Something about those two weeks in the upside-down must have given him some kind of power," Nancy said. "Something that Vecna wants. Something Vecna doesn't have."

"Like what?" Asked Mike.

"What's happening to your nose, Eddie?" You asked.

Eddie looked up. It was bleeding. "Shit, oh shit, oh shit, uh, one sec," he said, running for a tissue.

"Call Eleven," Steve said. "And Dustin," Mike said.

"Okay, I think I have this figured out. We have two lines, and three phones in this house. There's two phone jacks in this room. We can have one of each lines in here," Mike said, "And we'll just leave them turned like this," he flips one of the phones and nests it across from the other, "so they can hear each other and our conversation in the room."

"Jesus," Steve said.

"Jesus," Robin repeated.

"I hope this works," you said. Eddie was quiet. Mike dialed the numbers.

"Wait, you're telling me that you think this guy is a vampire?" Asks Hopper. "But he's like, the key to saving everybody, because we can use him to get at Vecna somehow. Hey, don't you think we need to call Eleven's people and get them involved in this? This needs the military or something."

"It won't work," Eleven said. "Vecna is weak, but we can't trust anyone. It has to be us. And Eddie is the ... thing I've been feeling. Whatever bit him, created something ... evil. I think Vecna wants to use him to turn everyone in Hawkins into a vampire, under his trance. He showed Nancy and I his plan before. He's raising an army."

"And he wants me to lead it," Eddie said. "You guys think if I buy you some time, you can kill this thing? Like, for real this time?" Eddie was slumped over. Demoralized.

"We have to," Dustin said. "We don't have a choice. We can't let you be taken by this asshole, and turned into a freak!"

"Oh, I'm already a freak," Eddie said, fishing in his pocket for a lighter.

"Eddie, that's not what I meant. You have some kind of supernatural strength right now. Vecna is weakened. He wants you to be his general because he is too weak to do it. You can buy us time and figure out if you have some kind of powers. Can you move things with your mind like Eleven?" Dustin asked.

"Uh, I don't... think so. Hold on, lemme try," Eddie said.

Everyone stood still, and the phones were quiet. He squinted his eyes and looked at the television. The volume was low.

"Is he..." Robin started.

"Shh," Nancy said.

"Sorry," Robin replied.

Eddie continued to focus intently. The channel blipped once. Then again. It blipped a few times.

"Ohmygod, I did that! I did that!" Eddie said. "Holy shit. Holy shit!"

"Holy shit!" Dustin said on the phone.

"Wait, you did what?" Hopper asked.

"He made it blip." Eleven said.

"He made it... blip," Steve said.

"Am I the only person who thinks making a tv blip is not enough of a superpower to defeat the evil dark world demon god?" Robin asked.

"Okay, okay, look, it's a start. I dunno what he wants with me. I'm gonna try to hold him off to avert anything, you know, apocalyptic. In the meantime, you guys take your superpowers friend Eleven and figure it out!" Eddie stormed out of the house, lighting a cigarette on the porch.

"I think that went well," said Hopper.

"Crap, did he leave?" Asked Dustin.

"Yes," everyone said.

Eddie takes a long drag from his cigarette when you come out onto the porch. The lake is a crystalline, sparkling aquamarine. He wipes his nose.

"I feel like I'm falling apart," he said, his voice cracking.

"Eddie, I'm so sorry," you hug him and he embraces you deeply, falling into your arms. He cries softly. "I'm gonna hold him off. I don't know how. But I'm not gonna let go. I'm gonna hold on. You're right. There's gotta be another way. I trust you guys."

You took a deep breath and turned your mouth to his ear. "I know I only just met you and your friends, but I think it's gonna be okay. It has to be. And you have such a fire in you. I saw it before. Before all this. Years ago, when we were freshmen. I don't think you remember. But I do. We were in art class together. You used to draw all these amazing dragons. I loved watching you draw. You made everyone laugh. I saw the fire in you then. You were just... so alive. And free. Don't let go of that. You have to hold onto it. Don't let go of who you are, Eddie Munson. Promise me."

"I promise," Eddie said, pulling away to look at you. "I promise to hold on. No one has ever said things like that to me before. I want to believe you're right about me. So I'm gonna try. I promise. I'll hold o—"

Eddie started into a coughing fit, interrupting his thoughts. He stumbled backwards, out of your reach, and collapsed.

Chapter 5 coming soon...

#eddie munson #eddie my beloved #eddie munson fanfic #fanfic #fanfiction #stranger things #stranger things 4 #stranger things fanfiction #eddie munson imagine #eddie munson x reader #eddie munson x female reader #eddie munson x fem!reader smut #eddie munson smut #smut #smutty #SoundCloud #Spotify

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bloodandrosesarenofun · 6 years ago

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Landrymat - The Reincarnation Series

(After a long time out of commission I am back to writing! I thought I'd share the excerpt of the first chapter of my novel, inspired by the last two pictures I posted. Let me know your thoughts. <3

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@luna-evans-writes )

I feel the night air push at my hair and flannel as both stir up at it's touch. The clock on my cellphone says it's only four-thirty but the sun is already on it's way down for the night, early as every winter. It's taken a while for me to actually feel the winter. Strangely enough it's actually just starting to get warm in Jacksonville again but at the same time all of the typical winter shit is just starting to happen. People ringing bells for charity and lighting up random palm trees in an attempt to be festive, and complaining about seeing people's breathe as though breathing doesn't really happen till it's cold out.

The bus thankfully drops me off only maybe a two or three minute walk from my destination so I don't have to deal with it that much. The being outside. I hate this neighborhood, sort of. It's not like it's particularly bad, and I know I grew up better than my mum did, but it is still pretty ghetto and run down. The laundromat is not so cleverly named 'Landrymat' but the word looks cooler to me on the marquee so I chuckle at it, glowing like an old school neon sign in some Tumblr kid's bedroom. I feel my face warm up as I go up to the door, pausing as anxiety creeps it's way up the back of my neck. I doubt anyone'll know what they are, or even care what I'm washing, but I still feel that despite the logical side of my brain arguing against it.

'CLEANERS AND DRY CLEAN

WASHING MACHINES ONLY 50 CENTS PER LOAD

COME IN AND ASK ABOUT OUR SPECIALS'

I question what kind of specials a laundromat could possibly have but I suppose they mean deals on multiple loads? I glance at my backpack's strap and realize I'm not sure if I need to wash anything separate. The idea of asking up at the desk makes my heart go number than all the years of abuse so I decide to just go in and figure it out myself. "I'm only carrying somewhere over a hundred dollars worth of material in my bag, what's ruining a couple of them," I mutter.

Walking into the laundromat the first thing I see are all the washers and dryers so it takes me a secound to find the desk.

I hold my tongue about how stupid I think it is that it's in the back of the room (which it is about the size of a large master bedroom) as I walk up to the counter, I'd never been to a laundromat before and my anxious ass wants to eliminate as much risk of my looking stupid as I possibly can. "Hey," I try and lower my voice, standing straighter than I usually do. It's an effort given I've spent years training my voice to be high when I wanted something from people since mine was too low to be as quickly helped as the prissy tea kettle sounding girls, of course the years of manipulation would bite me eventually. I always hated that voice. "I need to wash, um, two loads of laundry."

"Do you need a dry clean?" Asks the burly desk lady, her hair braided back in a frizzy mess that said she probably didn't care much about work appearances and her tone suggesting she didn't really care about work. I shake my head 'no'. "Then pick a machine and just let me know if you need change."

"Oh. Okay. Thanks." I walk over to the wall that obviously has machines with wet clothes and soap tumbling in them and want to scream at the lack of signs. I survey the room, finding that there aren't really many people in here, thankfully. One woman sits on her phone in a waiting chair, charging it in the wall and speaking about as loudly about her divorce as it takes to let the whole entire room know her life story. A man strikes out with a red head a couple machines down from me, and an Asian lady who might be the manager talks with one of the employees apparently about the detergents. I pick a machine near the end and set my backpack down on a miscellaneous chair at the last machine. All of my binders are bundled up and shoved unceremoniously in the bag. I grab my wallet out and go to figuring out starting up the machine before I take them out, zipping back the backpack.

Living in a house where either your grandma or your father do all of your laundry (mostly because they insist) is feeling much less convenient as the feeling of intimidation from trying to figure out a new basic skill sets in. I stare blankly at the space beside the laundry machine, feeling fog set in, when the beep of the woman on the phone's laundry being done sets me off I jump, my heart thudding erratically in my chest. I don't know why I feel this way, and I can't find a rational way to deal with it. I try to do the breathing and focus thing but with nothing to focus on I panic, I dig my nails into the skin just under my wrist, grabbing my hoodie to try and hide it underneath as I claw at myself. It helps me. I feel dizzy but after a moment I'm back on the ground, almost like getting off something unstable for the first time in a while. My mind felt like it was still thinly veiled but I find myself able to lean against the washers. Shaking my head, I nod at my reflection, fixing my t shirt and going to figuring out the laundry. When I get it together, tossing everything from my backpack and quickly shutting it seems more discreet and I contemplate only doing one load just for the convenience of it, but I decide against it thinking about my lack of a job and money to replace for that. The machine turns on with a loud sound and I shut my eyes against it. Feeling physically sick I hastily take out my headphones again from where I've shoved them into my backpack's pocket and begin playing a song from Quietdrive, thinking the guitar and easily placed sexual lyrics will help me take my mind off my mental breakdown. The seats in the 'Landrymat' are cheap but they aren't as uncomfortable as I thought. I sit with my legs up weirdly crooked in the seat, looking around to see if anybody will care about it. The red haired girl from earlier is looking my way but her expression doesn't look irritated so I ignore it. The air is clean smelling, and the chemicals burn my nose, but it's all something to focus on as I zone out, inconsequentially digging my nails into my skin again, my hoodie wrapped inconsequentially around my hands like I was trying to bide off the cold. I feel alittle less stranded with the music blasting. It drowns out the other sounds. It takes a little while for my darks to be done, and I find myself way too intrigued by the fact you could never tell what the mass of black fabric is. It looks so inconsequential when it feels like if anybody saw it, knowing what it was, it would ruin my life.

I remove the clothes and set them in the dryer, taking a secound to pick the right cycles and having to google it to be sure, then put my lighter binders in for the same cycle. Feeling eyes on me, I turn and glance around the laundromat. The manager is nowhere to be seen and the employee is sweeping, the woman on her phone is talking to the man from earlier, and the red headed girl is staring at me. I turn to glance at the counter, and turn back to find her still watching.

I check my chest, making sure my shirt is on right and you can't see my binder through it or peeking over the top. I haven't said much since I got here and since I know my voice is the least passing thing about me I find it difficult to pinpoint what could be wrong with me. Is she really clocking me? Or trying to figure it out maybe? The girl doesn't seem deterred by the fact I've noticed her staring at me and I can't tell if I find that more unsettling. I get a strange vibe off her, almost like I've met her before, maybe a few times. My head tilts to the side as I study her. She has tan skin, and I can tell she doesn't use as much lightener as most Asian girls. Her face and eyes remind me of a wolf (and I'm not sure if that's crazy to say but) despite her not coming off as intimidating at all to me. Something about her's intriguing, and I find myself wanting to talk to her. She's dressed in all guys clothing, stuff you could probably find after a few minutes of digging through the small grungy punk section of Walmart or the closet of you dad's old teenage bedroom, but she wears it like a model on one of the magazines on the table. Her makeup is carefully done and her eyes are piercing as the stare into mine. "D-Do you need something?" I question, being conscious about my voice as I hear it waiver with nerves. I figure either she'll let me know where I know her from or maybe my saying something first will keep her from outing me, even if there aren't that many people in here. I don't think my heart can currently take being called out as trans* or gay.

Her eyes cut from mine to something behind my head and I turn around with an eyebrow raised in question. In the top right corner to the room is a little TV monitor playing the news on mute. Headlines role over the screen as they talk about the state of the world. I knew things have been bad, but the newscast for the day just seems to be 'The world is fucked pretty well' and I'm shocked at how little I've heard people talk about change despite even the holiday season's passing by. I turn back to find the girl grimacing at the screen. She looks down at me then shakes her head, "No. Nothing at all."

I make a face, closing the washing machine I hit start. She doesn't stare directly but I still catch her looking. "The world's pretty shit for just past the holidays isn't it?" Mentally, I kick myself for talking. If she chose to leave alone why wouldn't I let her?

She looks at me and nods slowly. "Yeah," she says, "Yeah it is. I don't think anyone gives a fuck." Her worlds hold a specific malice and she grits her teeth, looking back at the screen like she's thinking of someone specific. "Did you really think they would? Are you really into rights or something?" I realize that's a stupid question. "I mean, um, like activist work? Specifically."

She shrugs. "Yeah, no, but I guess you could say I work closely with someone-" she stops herself, "who has a pretty good hand in this business."

"You work for weather station?" I ask.

She smiles, shakes her head. "No. Don't worry about it, I'm probably just over reacting as always. Thinking people have more power than they have. Nobody was gonna pay attention to this," she gestures to the screen and crosses her arms, "anyway."

"Well maybe it'll blow over with at least as little damage to people as it can manage."

"Yeah, I doubt it." She goes up to a machine and pulls out her dry clothes, beginning to fold them for a wicker basket.

I look down at my phone, my mum's texted me and I groan inwardly as I text to let her know I'm okay. "What about you?" I hear the girl ask.

My eyebrows furrow. "What about me?"

"What do you care about?" She asks.

It's a strange question. What do I care about? "I guess the environment."

"You guess?" she pauses.

"I mean, yeah."

"That's not a lot of caring." She continues to fold her things into her basket without looking at me, reminding me of an old movie scene. "There's no passion in you guessing."

"I guess-" I stop, then shrug. "I don't care much about a lot of things right now." I admit. Something about the girl's demeanor changes, and I try but I can't read her expression. She seems weirdly different then and I try and find a time when I may've seen her like this. "That's a sad way to live. But I guess I get it."

I shrug awkwardly, shifting my weight on one foot. "I just can't find that passion I suppose."

"You know supposing is just guessing with a different style?"

"I'm surprised someone else does."

"Well. My advice. Find something worth fighting for. Fast." The jokingness fades from her eyes and she suddenly looks very serious, her tone almost a warning.

"Okay." I say. "I'll work on it."

"Good." She smiles, grabbing her basket and heading for the door. "I suppose I'm just not gonna get a name after that." I turn back to my wash and see there's still five minutes to wait for the dryer.

"It's Rosé." I hear a girl say. Turning around, I see the red head walking away without getting an answer from me. "Scorpious," I doubt she heard me.

When I'm done with my laundry I'm happy to fold my binders back into my backpack without incident. The laundromat is only a short walk and an even shorter bus ride from my house, but considering the fact that the next bus is an hour away I take my phone out and do the next best thing.

"Hey, George. You wanna get pizza with me? I'll pay if you drive."

#art #writeblr #my wips #the reincarnation series #wip #excerpts from my writing #stories #my characters #writing #lgbtq

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