#...and the bus cliff freak out I guess...

[tammyhybrid21]

CONSIDERING My whole mess yesterday with heights and acrophobia coming to remind me I do have it...

I was just sitting here thinking about Emmet and how the fandom loves to characterize him with a fear of heights. Ingo less so, but I've seen it for him to, which not my personal headcanon. I subscribe to Ingo having thalassophobia tbh, which I'll expand later... BUT--

Emmet and heights... and I am going to project SO MUCH of my weirdness about it onto him later(in a more in depth post) but for now.

Emmet has absolutely had some bad days where just like me yesterday... Emmet has stood up, and his hindbrain has gone. "Oh no, THAT'S TOO HIGH, WE ARE DANGER, PANIC! GET BACK DOWN!" vertigo and shaking, and having to slowly sink back down to the ground.

He has also 100% had days where entering Gear Station is a hazard because nope, nope, you are looking at the stairs down into the Subway... and that's... that's a looooong way down. You cannot, not today. That's verrry far down, too far down. You are too high and cannot go down...

He has to rely on Ingo and maybe Eelectross for steadying. Because nope, can't do it alone.

It's not just Planes that are bad man.

Fear is just dumb. And phobias evil. Emmet will have days where he is fine with things and then a day later it'll be like, nope, this is too much. It's worse when he's had big stressers. He probably got stuck in their house for a while after Ingo vanished because that combined to make walking feel like "Oh, I am too high, too high, danger" for a good while.

In other news...

Crawling is good, and thank everything for pets that see free snuggle opportunities.

[drkcnry67]

This...

Title: this...

Pairing: Jensen x reader

A.f.g.d: "love you? Don't make me laugh!"

A.f.g.f: free space (soulmates)

A.f.g.b: enemies to lovers

Spn fluff: enemies to lovers

Spn kink: hand cuffs

H&H: "it's time you got know how it feels to be betrayed"

Rating: 18+ just to be safe

Tags: possibly some sexual mentions, enemies to lovers, rival families, undercover meet ups, secret exchanges, soulmate countdown on your wrist... think that's all for now...

Summery: nope not telling

"on this the 14th of September 2012, a set of numbers appeared on my wrist, 95 days, 19hours, 17 minutes, 25seconds. today i guess i am gonna have to start preparing myself to meet my soulmate, the person im meant to be with for the rest of my life. i will do this the only way i can, by allowing myself to undertake as much responsibility as possible. today will be good, i promise. signed, YN."

that was your morning journal entry, what you wrote you couldnt believe it yourself. the numbers on your wrist, you needed to hide it for as long as possible.

Your line of work was dangerous, being a crime scene investigator certainly made your job interesting.

But a few months ago you found out that a family of vamps resided in your territory. You were walking home one evening and were jumped by one such vamp little did you know that you both would become romanticly involved.

Jensen: how would you like to be eaten?

You turned over and kneed him in the stomach sending him backward...

Yn: I wouldn't, you wouldn't find my blood very appealing...

You flashed him your eyes... he backed up immediately.

Jensen: your a wolf but how...

Yn: I was born into it... but you, are you apart of that vampire family in the outskirts of the city?

Jensen: yes, but I was wondering, a ell I mean I kinda noticed when I had your arms pinned but that countdown on your arm, it matches mine as well...

You put yours next to his and that was the start of your long nights of secrets...

Yn: well what do we do? I'm sure neither of our families will accept this...

Jensen: we will meet in secret every evening up on the cliff over looking this end of town... meet me there tomorrow night...

That was the start of the months now of sneaking around but now we go to your day job...

You arrived at the crime scene, you put on your gloves and began looking around the crime scene.

Jerry: find anything yet?

Yn: not so far... but I'm not leaving here till I do... please tell me he isn't...

Jerry: oh you mean the transfer from upstate, ya he's here... so get this he claims this was done by and i quote, "one of those super powered freaks." He is coming this way do you want me to stay?

Yn: no I got this, thanks Jerry.

Jerry walks away and your new rival shows up... you groan as your senses kick high and mighty as he speaks up from behind you...

Jay: yn, slacking off again?

Yn: Jay still trying to steal my job?

you were not sure if this guy was trying to mess with you Or if he was Just dumb...

Jay: you know what I was taught in the academy?

You continued to collect evidence, ignoring him... on the other hand your watch had been buzzing constantly for almost 15 minutes...

You knew there was trouble elsewhere in the city. You knew you had to transform but you couldn't... not in the middle of a case...

you collected and sorted all your samples, labeling it by the areas you found them in... you also took photos of the location spots and of the placement numbers. you bid adieu to your captain and you walked toward the furthest bus stop...

once you were away from the crime scene and out of eye shot of your fellow officers. you felt the power surge within you... you walked down the dark path, through the woods.

you threw your bag hard enough and far enough that it would or should land close to your ancestral home. where you then turned to the sky and howled...

letting your guardian know you were home... you were a werewolf... one of great power, one of nobility, the next in line for the throne of your ancestral home in Deshaan...

yn: ugh, time to do my work...

Killian: and what about your lessons milady...

YN: ill do them when i feel like it, look my parents sent me here to Sunshinevil to lead a normal life. to have a chance at happiness... they sent you here to look after me even though im a grown ass woman.

killian just laughed as he threw your mail at you..

killian: someone sent you a letter with no return address again...

you threw him a dirty look as you ran your fingers over the letters spelling out your name on the envelope. you took all your mail and your bag heading into your room you shut and locked the door.

you opened that no return address envelope first. you could almost hear his voice as you read the letter.

Jensen: hey beautiful, im excited for our nightly jog... i hope that you are ready to once more escape into our own world, live the parts of our lives that should have been ours already... we have talked many times about this, are you still willing to run away with me like we have been talking about for months now? Meet me at the usual spot tonight all my love Jensen

You laid back on your bed and felt your heart beat blissfully in your chest. you now went to start your work but you now were being interuppted by many bright flashing lights outside and screaming yelling and familiar footsteps and voices..

you continued to do your work as your door was pulled off... you were not paying much attention till a loud booming voice spoke up from behind you...

Henry: YN my dearest daughter, i have some good news... your mother is back home finishing up all the details but she said i would be better suited to come here and tell you the news in person!

you didnt like the tone his voice jumped too... you were not sure where this was going so you put down the test tube you were holding and stepped away from the table...

now facing your father you felt your anger rising slowly as you waited for him to continue...

yn: tell me what...

henry: your going to marry the son of a rich family from Wrothgar... they want this alliance between our countries as much as your mom and i do...

you started to shift but mid shift you felt yourself stiffle a bit as your father reached out his arms around you stopping the shift entirely...

yn: why would you guys do that to me...

you scream the tears spilling quick from your eyes.

henry: because we are trying to secure the benefit of the kingdom! and for your future and the future of the bloodline.

Helen: now Henry be reasonable, she is a woman she can make her own decisions.

you could feel the shift beginning again, you couldnt help it... till your father snapped his fingers and used his alpha tone to force you to stop all together. the reverse shift was painful but it worked... you wrapped up in a sheet and dismissed your father to leave the room.

Your mother stayed with you to help console you about your father's actions and tone while you got ready to go out.

you put on the dress for your excursions that night and your shoes and redid your hair. Once all good you finished setting up your equipment to scan the evidence you collected at the crime scene.

You then grabbed your bag and headed out the door of your room. Your father and guardian both staring at your appearance and making judgmental faces.

Kilian: off to party again milady?

Yn: always... Kilian keep my father on his leash I don't want him here when I get back... my mother can stay but my father either can sleep in the shed or I guess with my mother but keep him in check.

Kilian: yes milady.

You leave out the front door, your dress changing into a jumpsuit... once a bit away from home you break into a run through the Forrest line.

Yn: hold on my love im coming.

Your voice carried on the wind, Jensen who was waiting at the top of the clif on the moonlit hill all the way out of town far away from your pack and his clan...

Oh ya by the way Jensen whose supposed to be your enemy, is also your vampire lover. Think Romeo and juliet except way way way worse.

Your father's would absolutely declare war if they found out. But you arrived and saw him sitting staring at the moon.

Jensen: you gonna just stand there or you gonna come out and sit with me.

Yn: I am coming im just trying stay under control...

Jensen: what's got you so flustered my love.

Yn: my father and mother showed up... out of the blue and unannounced, he used his alphas touch to stop me mid shift... to force me back to normal. My mother sat with me for a bit till I got up and came here...

Jensen: come here my love you won't hurt me I know you won't.

You took a few more deep breathes and let all the stress flow away as you cleared out of the tree line.

You stood for a few seconds in the moonlight... you walked over to sit on Jensens lap. As you both watched over the town...

Jensen: what did your father say or do to make you start to shift.

You felt the tears sting your eyes again.

Yn: he basically told me that I am all but engaged to this other wolf prince bastard thing and that it's necessary to continue the bloodlines yack yack yack...

You were shaking, but jensens arms were around you holding your hands with his own.

Jensen: I could kill him if you want...

Yn: I wish but he would sooner force me to rip you to shreds... I just wish he would leave me alone. I just wish he like my mother understood about my lack of interest to this arranged marriage custom.

Jensen: so you wish you could lets say marry me for example.

Yn: exactly. And I would marry you in a heart beat... perhaps one day that will be possible but if our families weren't sworn enemies, We would have already been married.

Meanwhile, as you and Jensen were snuggling on the hillside, neither of you were aware that someone or something was watching you.

Over the hills on the outskirts of 2 towns over, King John and Queen Mary were watching you and Jensen through the eyes of one of their spies.

Mary: who is that girl...

John analyzes the photo but then takes out his phone and take a close up shot of your signat ring.

John: guards, follow this girl in the shadows over the next few weeks... but be careful not to be seen. Just watch her and learn about this new love interest of our sons. For it would seem he has been lying to us this entire time.

Mary: whose ring is that John?

John: the family ring from Deshaan she's a werewolf.

Meanwhile, Henry your father was scolding Kilian as he escorted him to the nicest hotel close to the forest.

Henry: what is my daughter hiding?

Kilian: nothing my king she just isn't in the mood for anything from you.

Henry: well just tell me this do you know where she goes every time she walks out that door...

Kilian: no I don't, I'm not one to pry, I also learned very early not to get on her bad side.

Henry: she has a temper?

Kilian: yep but she does receive letters with only her name on the envelope. She receives one almost every single day.

Henry: see if she will tell you or if you can find out who it is... my daughter is getting mysterious mail and partying and sounds like she doesn't care about the throne. Follow her next time she goes out I want to know where she goes.

Kilian: I will try sir! Good night sir.

Henry is left in the nicest hotel suite that side of town. Puzzled as to what exactly his daughter does with her time.

Meanwhile, you and Jensen had started making out but a sound startles you both... this made you both get up and scan the tree line.

Yn: what do we do...

Jensen: jump? It can't hurt... and if we are found it will be much worse than a moonlight swim in the harbor.

Yn: ugh I guess its gonna be a new phone for both of us...

Jensen: there are worse fates... 3...

Yn: 2...

Jensen takes your hand as you both step to face the ledge.

Jensen: 1... jump...

You and jensen while holding eachothers hands take a running leap off the ledge. not turning back to see who or what may have been skulking towards you. (*more about this later*)

anyway you both made it to the beach, the sand sticking to your now very wet bodies. you looked around and felt a strange sense like you both were still being watched.

Jensen: well yn i think tonight has been eventful enough, but i dont want my princess to catch a cold. lets give it some time before we meet again. at least while your dad is in town...

Jensen kisses you again, before he gets pulled back and you get thrown to the ground.

Jensen: fredrick stop... thats enough....

fredrick: forgive me my prince i was simply doing my job in protecting you...

jensen: go my love, ill send word when i can...

you take off into a run breaking the speed barrier before you can hit the treeline. you slunk in through the front door. and you are met with the glare of Kilian

kilian: milady why are you all wet...

yn: i had to escape some vampires that followed me out from the club i was at tonight... so i made it to the beach i threw down some come and get me taunt knowing that those yawhoos wouldnt follow that close to sunrise, so i walked into the water, held my breathe and swam from one side of the island to the other, so i could get away.

kilian: shall i make you some hot chocolate or...

yn: no thanks i think im just gonna go take a nice hot bath and warm up, then finish my work and hit the hay...

kilian bows slightly handing you a fuzzy throw blanket and a large towel.

kilian: then ill lock up for the night milady... good night milady.

You go into your bedroom and shut the door, locking it and your window for the night. You stripped out of your wet garments and ran a nice hot bath... bringing your bath tray, and laptop into the bathroom with you.

Yn(to self): I wonder what today will bring. Ugh I hope Jay isn't gonna be there. That self spoiled pretentious pig...

You Crawled into the bath and out your laptop on the tray and checked your lab results. Finishing your report for work and your other duties as well. Then calling it a night.

Meanwhile Jensen walked through his front door and was instantly met with the disapproval of his parents.

John: JENSEN, DO YOU HAVE ANY IDEA WHAT KIND OF TROUBLE YOU ARE IN YOUNG MAN...

Jensen: shouldn't you be in bed father.

john: okay listen here you little ingraite... your mother and i have worked for years to train you and to set you up with a very very eligible marriage, so what i would like to know is who that snout faced twit was that you were with tonight?

jensen was now enraged his worst fears now realized... and thats when his father and mother noticed the countdown on his arm.

mary: john settle down... our son is merely checking out the world and experimenting... im sure he didnt know that she was a wolf... did you my son?

jensen knew he had to lie, he didnt like it but he had to do it.

Jensen: mother is right, i didnt know that she was a wolf. if i had i would have torn her to shreds.

john sighed slightly, Mary just glanced over her sons wet appearance and blew him a kiss.

Mary: Jensen my son, retire to your room for the night. you have work tomorrow. living normal is still on the table for you... as long as you never forget who you truly are.

jensen: then that i shall take my leave, mother father...

jensen walked very calmly to his room, his expression changing instantly upon locking the door. breathing in a sigh of relief, as his mind slipped out of real world and into his dreams where he would find you hopefully...

Both of you slept alone in mind and body that night, but one day maybe that would change... you woke up the next morning, got up dressed and packed for work, upon exiting your rooom you run into your dad in the kitchen sitting at the table like a normal person. Your mom was standing washing the counter.

yn: before any of you say anything, just know im late for work and i have nothing else to say to you father... on a different note, good morning mother!

Helen: good morning my sweet girl! I trust that after your bath you slept well!

Yn: of course, it was pleasant!

You grabbed a piece of toast, and started toward the door.

henry: well i was simply gonna say that whatever you are hiding from me, i have my way of learning the truth... most of them unpleasent...

yn: and exactly what are you implying...

you roared dropping your bag...

henry: kilian tells me you have been recieving secret love letters... i want to know who they are from, and when this little shenanigan started and i want to be there when you kill him and complete your link to the alpha's throne.

yn: i have mentioned this numerous times, ill do things in my own time and it is none of your god damn business who i choose to be with... so cancel this arrangement cause i will not keep to it, i will not go through with it, and i have no desire at this time to spend another moment in this cottage today. ill spend the night at the station, at least there i can count on civil conversation and no one lurking over my future plans. so good bye ill see you guys when i see you... on a more pleasant note bye mom I'll see you later!

you picked up your bag and walked out the door slamming it as you went. kilian and your dad didnt say much after that...

You arrived at the station still in a huff, you walked in and breathed in the smell of coffee and donuts...

Jerry: what's got you all in a huff this morning?

Yn: my father's in town, the jerk wad I told you about... the one who tried to sell me off to some rich pompous dick so he could keep his power.

Jerry: oh shit... I gather you will be pulling an all nighter here...

Yn: yep, would you like to have the briefing now or later and can we do it in the lab I need to work on whatever there is...

Jerry follows you to the lab, that's when a call comes through the wire...

Jerry: saddle up YN we got another weird one...

Yn: weird how?

Jerry looks around to make sure no one else is in ear shot...

Jerry: one of the bodies was torn to shreds almost as though like a wild dog or something larger tore through him like a sack of dirty laundry, while the other body, completely devoid of blood, puncture wounds to the neck, Jay stumbled upon them this morning... that's who called it in...

You were pretty sure you had steam coming out your ears, you were so mad you didn't want to loose out on this case to Jay...

Yn: what are we sitting around for? Let's go...

Jerry: look I know you can do an excellent job at this but you need to calm down before you can leave the office your eyes are red...

You pulled out your mirror and took a look for yourself...

Yn: first of all its blood orange, cross between red and gold and second your right I know your right...

Jerry watched as you brought out your claws and slashed your forearm, he watched you shriek as the pain caused you to shift back to normal...

Yn: damn can you hand me the gauze that I keep over on the desk... your the one whose gonna wrap this and then help me put my sweater back on so we can go...

Jerry carefully grabbed the gauze and the tape and put some antiseptic on your arm before he wrapped it...

Jerry: why would you harm yourself?

Yn: it was the only way to get myself under control quickly. I wish there had been an easier way but I'll be fine in a few days... werewolf healing takes longer when it's self inflicted.

Jerry: makes sense. Alright let's get you up and let's get to this crime scene. I've told the officers to not let the csi on scene till I get there with you so you can have an equal opportunity to collect your samples and do your thing.

You winced trying to use your arm to get off the table but you were not completely ready for that yet...

Yn: Jerry get me off this table we cannot give that weasel any satisfaction... not a word of my injury.

You felt jerry take your good arm and help you off the table. Jerry carried your bag and walked with you out the back entrance to the cruiser lot.

Jerry drove and allowed you to relax as you both arrived on scene. It was like foggy, and unusual unsettling feeling as you and Jerry got out of the car.

Yn: i don't like this...

Jerry: I'll follow your lead but we should have run into someone by now...

Yn: shit Jerry get back to the car now... go..

Jerry goes back wards watching your back as you go further into the fog and thats when you got jumped.

You threw the vamp off of you and you recognized him it was one of the ones from the night before.

Justin: oh goodie look what I found, the wolf bitch whose been seducing our prince perfect you are coming with me either consciously or not. My king and queen would like several words with you... and to use you to well teach their son a lesson.

Yn: in your dreams pal, im not going anywhere with you.

Justin: oh yes you are...

Justin lunged at you, his full weight now holding you in a choke hold. You Sunk your teeth into his arm and in return he knocked you out.

When the fog cleared the knocked out officers were on the ground but you were gone. Jerry went to help the officers off the ground but was sure you could handle yourself.

Meanwhile you began to stir waking up next too a growing patch of very very potent wolfsbane. You tried to move away from it but your body still felt funky from being knocked out.

Yn: ugh what happened to me...

Justin peaks into the cell which holds you and yells...

Justin: guards drag this bitch to the dinning hall, throw her down before the king and queen and the young prince. We don't want her to miss the show.

You were dragged out of the cell, cross the stone cold floor and down a set of stairs to a giant set of doors. The next words you hear are ones that shock you.

Guard: your majesties the entertainment has arrived.

John: nobles of the court a transgression shall be righted here tonight for just outside the door is a beast, one that howls by the light of a full moon, one who has seduced our son. Bring her in, leave the handcuffs on her, I don't want her to break free...

You were dragged into the room and thrown down on the ground the gasps across the room were as loud as the sound of your name falling from the lips of Jensen who was more shocked to see you in chains on the floor.

Jensen: father what is the meaning of this...

John: your punishment is to beat this girl and break the seduction she has put upon you my son.

Jensen: what the fuck? Have you lost your fucking marbles father? That is absurd she did nothing of the sort... it was my idea, I was baiting her to find out what she knows about the wolf royals...

You snarled at Jensen watching his expression turn sour and angry... you were pissed..

Yn: you traitor why would you play with my heart like that after I poured my heart out to you, after I gave you all of me, we were gonna run away together, i thought you loved me...

Jensen: love you, ha don't make me laugh? Get it through your head bitch it was all an act to gain your trust... now I'm gonna torture you and prove my worth to the court.

Jensen grabbed a bat that has been wrapped in wolfsbane... Jensen then proceeds to swing at you. Each hit making you scream in discomfort.

After 30 strikes your blood splattered across the floor, Jensen turns to the court as you struggle to get up...

Jensen: well now it's just getting fun, guards open the moon roof, lets watch this bitch break further as I strike her down.

Your struggle to get out of the way is useless as the roof is opened and your body starts reacting to the moonlight...

Yn: please Jensen let me go, please I won't survive the change if this continues...

Jensen: no, not this time little bitch...

You scream again indicatingthe change beginning, first your spine begins shifting breaking and cracking, your screams slowly turn to growls and roars.

Your voice comes out as a howl in the next moment as your bones continue to break.

Jensen: look at her, she is gonna be dead soon lets see if we can shake up the fun, boys the spears...

In seconds you are flanked and spears dipped in wolfsbane are pierced into your sides. Multiple times.

Jensen and the court just laugh, you stop mid shift. It's got you fuming but you manage to push through the pain, your claws scraped against the floor leaving marks...

You managed to get to one knee feeling the wolfsbane burning inside you but you fought the pain.

You heard the sound of the boots that Jensen wore approaching you as he lifted up the bat and was bringing it down on you you reached up and caught the bat pushing it away from you as you stood up fully.

John: impossible...

Yn: no not impossible especially when my family has just arrived.

John and the courts attention is drawn to the doorway which is now hosting your father and Killian standing there staring at the room.

Henry: John, I can't believe you... sending a boy to torture an innocent girl, my daughter of all things... have you forgotten the treaty...

John: I have not Henry... I was merely teaching a lesson... though it seems there was no need for my son could never ever have true feelings towards a beast..

Helen and Mary both exchange long glances not listening to anything other than the sounds of their own words.

Helen: it seems like our husband's are at it again.

Mary: it would seem so but our children seem to have quite the attraction to eachother as well...

Helen: im sure all will be revealed in a few short minutes

Mary and Helen realized that their children's marks showed the same time... while you were still being beaten...

You were trying to block out the stings of the wolfsbane, as then jensens voice came into your head loud and clear as a bell..

Jensen: lets show them what we have... let's show them our ways... plus the time on our arms is about to expire... we need to stall for 5 more minutes.

All you could do was smirk... as you run up behind your father and hold your claws at his throat...

Yn: listen and listen good all of you... we arranged this... for you see our bond is deeper than anything a mere treaty could do...

Jensen: my love for yn is greater than my love for my species... we have a way to become hybrids this way we don't have to be at war... and we can procreate. The bloodlines will continue just not by anyone you guys choose.

You lean in to whisper at your father's ear...

Yn: listen to what we have to say father do not use your temper to solve these issues... listen to us please. If you ever loved me at all you will listen.

You walk towards Jensen as the countdown expires and a binding chain wraps around you and Jensen.

The entire room is awestruck. They didn't know what kind of sorcery this was...

Henry: holy shit...

Killian: oh my God...

John: sorcery...

Mary: yay, I get a daughter...

Helen: yay, I get a son!

John and Henry were now fuming and pissed off... in seconds guards were surrounding you and Jensen...

Yn: Jensen let's show them what love really means...

Jensen: Do you have it?

You pull out 2 viles from your boob crevice... you hand 1 to jensen... both of you popping off the lids and downing them in seconds you both hold hands and feel the liquid coursing through your veins.

You both fall to the ground, minutes pass as John and Henry are now preparing to engage in combat. But fate had another idea.

For your body began to convulse and you sat straight shot up. Jensens body began to break every bone he began to shift... well it would be a partial shift it was still a shift.

You began to see things differently, you pulled down one of the nearby guards and fed from his neck draining him of blood.

You felt so much better. Jensen sat up and looked at his new form, then looked at you in your new form.

Jensen: my love, how do you feel?

Yn: how do I feel, I feel fantastic, how do you feel?

Jensen: fantastic. Shall we stop our fathers from fighting...

Yn: hmm I dunno I think they both need lessons on what the new order is to the food chain. Who the most dangerous predators actually are.

You and jensen take your father's by the throats and lift them in the air.

Yn: look we don't want to kill you, but how does it feel...

Jensen: to know that your children who you both claim to love so much are soulmates and now more powerful than even you.

John: you both have betrayed us...

At that point you both drop your father's on the ground to allow them to breathe and speak.

Henry and John exchange glances and neither you not Jensen have noticed for neither of you are paying attention.

Mary: John stand down!

Helen: Henry that's enough!

You and jensen turned your attentions to your mom's as they stand side by side facing you, your father's and the court.

Mary: our children are soulmates

Helen: they're bound together and as such now are our 2 houses. If you both continue to resist this

Mary: we will have no choice but to lock you both up for the rest of your days, or at least till the executioners get here...

Helen: or do we betray them like they are ready to betray us...

Yn: wait mother...

You look at Jensen who nods and you proceed to explain yourself.

Yn: mom, queen Mary if I may... we actually have a confession to make. We had done this months ago, but we were scared if you guys found out we would have been exiled or worse. So we hid the truth with cloaking serum.

Jensen: the vile we drank tonight de cloaked us and made us who we have become. We knew that if something good was gonna happen we were gonna end up together one way or another.

Mary and Helen looked at you guys and ordered the guards to bring your father's to kneel before the both of you...

Mary: John, Henry look at your children, tell me and Helen that you guys don't still see them as the strong minded and willed children you both helped to raise. Tell us that these 2 children standing before you are not those children and we will have you both exiled. If you guys say these are still your children we will let them decide your fates...

Helen: the choice is yours gentlemen, but we would hurry if we were you, are you guys ready with your choices?

John: this is an outrage! Mary, Jensen you both have betrayed me, us, our family, our clan! It is now only fit that I exile you both from this kingdom!

Mary: if that's how you feel John then fine! I have already made plans for a case such as this anyway...

Jensen: fine, you don't have to pretend any further that we are family cause we are now not family, we are far from it.

John struggled against the grip of the guards, as Henry now spoke as harsh and as vile as John did...

Henry: alright I have a few things to say, #1 Helen my love you have been by my side through everything but you have fallen behind in the times. You are blinded by our daughters misdeeds... by this insubordination that our child has committed, she betrayed the pack, the kingdom and our teachings. Which brings me to point #2 yn my child you are my only heir, you had chosen your own path when you left the kingdom to pursue a normal life. I'm not as vain as John is right now but I don't want to cause any more of a ruckus as it is now. I Henry renounce my crown to my daughter I name her queen and leader of the pack, she is an alpha in her own right, she was born an alpha and now wears the crown. Now I Henry also request to live in this new kingdom if you will allow this...

Your mother and you looked shocked as your eyes flashed to blood shot red and you let out an uncontrolled alphas roar. Once you got your voice back you spoke.

Yn: dearest father for renouncing your title and basically apologizing you can live in this new kingdom but under 1 condition... you never ever do something so foolish again.

Henry: of course my alpha. Helen my darling wife I apologize wholly for how stubborn and pig headed I became about yn's love life how vain I got, how angry I was a few moments ago and I promise you that for the rest of eternity I'll spend it making it up to you. If you'll have me.

You move to allow your mother to approach your father. You watch your mother and your father share a moment of passion.

But everything and everyone are interrupted by a loud roar from John.

John: this is ridiculous! You are all fools! Our children are abominations and you guys are all choosing to accept them!

Mary: John stand down or we will make you.

Mary, Helen and Henry now between you, Jensen and John!

John: Mary you would dare to stand against me... why Mary why would you side with those who dare to change the natural order.

Mary: cause I've seen the light I've seen what kind of man you truly are I know what kind of man you are... now I let my son speak cause you are no longer my husband no longer my king.

John's rage shon through, John now shifted full vampire.

John: Mary you defy me, you deny me, you reject me. Fine I don't need you I don't need any of you. In fact I'm gonna kill you, your son his half wit brat and her half wit parentals as well.

Yn: Jensen deal with him in such a way that justice will reign Supreme, actually guards put him on the rack!

The guards rolled in a rack usually used to torture prisoners, but in this case it would adhere to a different purpose.

Jensen: ah good thinking babe, attention everyone, what you are about to see is our new kind of justice, those that oppose us will be strapped to a rack and then made into a hybrid like us and forced to stay that way as they desicat in a cell from which they have no means of escape for all eternity.

John: why you insolent brats, I don't accept this, I'm the king, you cannot do this to me!

Jensen roars and steps to stand beside his father.

John: I don't know what changed in your being to think that anything like this would have been okay in the first place. But you stopped being my son a long time ago.

Jensen: I was never your son, I was just some bargaining chip to use whenever you wanted.

Jensen received the extra vile of change formula from you and became as content as rain when he saw the glint of fear in John's eyes.

The guards forced John's mouth to stay open as the viles contents were poured in.

Jensen: now it's time you know how it feels to be betrayed, father... as your body starts to accept the formula you will start to loose consciousness and then your bones will break and then you may or may not black out as well. Either way guards put him on a one way boat trip to the prison in the southern isles and make sure he is secure wouldn't want him escaping.

The guards do just that, and after a few moments of John leaving the room his screams of pain echo through the entire castle.

Jensen: yn, you are the love of my life, the fire in my soul and I wouldn't be who I am without you. I look forward to uniting our 2 kingdoms merging them so that we all may live in peace and harmony!

The crowd cheered, it was the dawn of a new Era in which werewolves and vampires would never again be at war with one another.

While you and Jensen lived happily ever after well for now at least.

~ that's all for now folks~

[yolkyeomie]

Humanity of the Inhuman | Kim Sunwoo

summary — legends are meant for the wild fantasies of the dream world, but when one myth suddenly comes true, you find yourself tangled within its webs of reality.

word count — 7.2k words

pairing — sunwoo x female!reader (ft. x juyeon in a sense?)

genre — college au, gumiho au

disclaimer — !! light mentions of death, blood, and injury !! this is an wip of fic that I did not have the energy to complete, so it leaves off at a pretty big cliff hanger :( but if enough people enjoy it it I’ll make a part 2 or sumn lol (update: it does in fact have a part 2 now, go enjoy it!)

part I | part II | part III | part IV?

I.

“Nine tailed foxes,” the instructor stated, pointing their finger towards the pictures that were projected upon the board. There were three different depictions of the creature from other cultures posted up together, expressing how each of the cultures viewed the mythical being. Mindlessly you began to draw on the notebook set in front of you, taking in each picture and messing different aspects that you liked together.

“Known as the Kitsune in Japan, the Huli Jing in China, and the Gumiho here,” they continued, switching to the next slide that only displayed more old pictures of the fox, “they are a well known part of our folklore today that even western countries have begun to adopt their own version of this creature into their literature.”

“If it’s so popular, why are we learning about it now,” you mumbled, the lead of your pencil snapping as soon as the words had been spoken into existence. You let out a deep sigh at the inconvenience, letting an angry curse come out of your mouth as you leaned over to grab something new to write with.

Though you stopped mid turn as a black pen was placed into your vision. Curiously you glanced up to catch the smiling sight of Juyeon above you, waving around his pen and urging you to take it from his hand. “We’re learning about the Gumiho because it’s an important part of our folklore, just because it’s well known doesn’t mean you shouldn’t teach it.”

He was an acquaintance, nothing more than that, a “school friend” if that made more sense. You had met him the first day you attended the mythology class after picking up the course for fun, seeing as the only available seat in the room was by him. Having no friends who attended the class at the same time as you, he had offered to become one and you gladly took up his request in order to feel a little less only in the room full of strangers.

It was a little odd to see a class so minor like this be jam packed with students, but you did notice the recent influx of people who were interested in the mythologies of their and others cultures.

Plus, you didn’t do very well on your own and were a little more socially dependent than you’d like to admit, so Juyeon’s willingness to befriend you was greatly appreciated.

“Well, I guess you’re right,” you shrug, gratefully taking the pen out of his hands. “But still, what person doesn’t know the wild tales of the nine tailed foxes? They’re like… everywhere now. If I meet someone who didn’t even have a clue what I was talking about, I’d be surprised.”

“You never know,” Juyeon continued, urging you to take a look at the board. Being presented was the Korean version of the nine tailed fox, a few notes typed beside the art describing the details and depictions of what was generally believed about the fox demon. “Maybe one day you’ll need that information to save yourself from a Gumiho one day?”

You snorted at his words, pointing out one of the bullet points to him and quietly reading them to him. “First of all, this is a mythology class. That means everything we learn here is a myth, not real? Secondly, it clearly says that they seduce men and last time I checked, I’m not a man.”

“Well, I guess you’ve got a point there,” he nodded, laying his head in his hands as he half heartedly listened to the teacher speak. “I guess I’m the one who should be paying more attention to the lecture since I’m the man, but I don’t think a Gumiho would ever find interest in me.”

“Why?” You questioned, a teasing smile appearing on your face and you poked the pin cap into his side. “It’s said that gumihos eat human livers, do you have bad livers or something? Do you have some sort of liver disease that would make you undesirable to a fox?”

“If I say yes will you stop poking me?” He innocently asked.

“I’d know you’re lying if you said yes, you’re rather healthy despite some… odd habits you have,” you clarify, giving the boy a skeptical look before turning back towards the board. You were only acquaintances with Juyeon, but there were times you’d catch him in the hallways of the building or dorms when you were looking for Kevin doing skeptical activities. Most of the time he was just smuggling snacks that his roommate would steal out of the room but man did he look crazy while he did so.

“Hey, those aren’t odd habits, it’s me protecting what I paid for,” Juyeon argued, a pout developing on his face as he tried to explain himself, “if you don’t pay for it, you don’t get a bite of it! That’s the rules and you have to respect the rules.”

You only spared Juyeon a quick glance, your eyes full of skepticism for him. He was a nice guy, a decent person to hang around, but awkwardly catching him in the hallways like a criminal running from a crime scene was all you had to see from him to determine whether or not you wanted to hang around him often. “Y/N, seriously! I'm not some freak I promise, my roommates and I just do this often and—“

“Sure, Juyeon,” you nodded, softly patting his back in only slight comfort. “I completely understand what you mean.”

“Y/N!” He complained a little louder this time, earning some sneaking looks from the rest of your peers. The two of you weren’t the biggest troublemakers but you did have a volume problem more often than you’d like to admit. Though, that was mainly because Juyeon doesn’t understand when to keep his mouth shut. “Come on, Y/N, I know you don’t believe what I’m saying but you gotta! I can even show you what we—“

“I really don’t want to walk into that room,” you decline almost immediately, “something tells me I’ll regret it if I do.”

A small chuckle left Juyeon’s mouth at your harsh words, finally taking the response as an end to the conversation. It seemed as though the two of you had stopped just in time though, as a deep sigh left your instructor’s lips. The entire class turned their head towards him in confusion, unsure on what sort of gloom had possessed their mythology teacher.

“I think… I’ll end class early today,” he declared, turning off the board that had projected the day’s lesson. In a flash, your reference for your very own nine tailed fox disappeared in front of your eyes as the instructor continued to speak. “The rain just… throws me off the mood for today.”

Instinctively you turned your head toward the window and lo and behold, the rain was pouring down outdoors. Many students groaned at the sudden change in forecast, not having brought umbrellas to shield them from such weather since the day had called from sunny skies. “Ah… that’s gonna suck going home,” you tell yourself, noting how even you hadn’t brought an umbrella.

“Excuse me!” A student called out, drawing attention to the front of the class where they had seated themselves. “If you don’t mind me asking, are you superstitious? Usually rain is considered a good thing especially on wedding days. It’s supposed to be a good omen for the future of their marriage.”

“Superstitious?” He hummed in response, thinking to himself for a few moments before answering. “Well, in a sense? Not for the reasons you think I am though.”

“Does it have something to do with gumihos?” You couldn’t help but ask, curiosity getting the best of you as you blurted out in front of everyone. The class turned back to look at you expectantly, exchanging confused and bewildered glances with each other. Even Juyeon looked at you as though you were beginning to lose your mind. You don’t really blame them, rain didn’t really have anything to do with gumihos after all.

However, your teacher smiled at you. His eyes crinkled at their sides and his wrinkles from age becoming more prominent as his smile continuously grew larger as he thought about his answer again. “Something my grandparents used to tell me when I was younger,” he began, each student getting left on the edge of their seats as he turned back towards the rainfall, “that when it rained, it meant a gumiho had entered the premise.”

II.

“You don’t actually believe him, do you?” Juyeon asked, holding the borrowed umbrella over your heads. The boy had offered to walk you home in the disastrous, knowing you lived off campus instead of in the dorms. The dorms were a lot closer to the apartment you had rented out, so the two of you had scrambled over to his room first in order to grab an umbrella and begin the trek to your home.

He was only walking you towards the closest bus stop to the campus, not wanting to intrude on your privacy any further than he already was. Juyeon was just your acquaintance from mythology after all, he was just a little too nice to let you go out into the rain and get soaking wet.

“What, about the whole rain and gumiho thing?” You responded, remembering your teacher's statement he had ended the class with. You shrugged after a moment to yourself, “honestly, not really. I mean, come on, gumihos being related to the rain? It doesn’t even make that much sense the more you think about it.”

“I guess you’re right,” he agreed, “but don’t you think it’s a little weird how he seemed to believe it? Whole heartedly too, he ended the whole class over some superstition his grandparents told him!”

“It’s probably an old saying in his family or something,” you ultimately decide, nodding your head to yourself as you come to a conclusion. “Lots of people have things like heirlooms and stories that get passed down from generation to generation, maybe that’s what that was. Maybe his family is really big on nine tailed foxes and rain.”

He shook his head in disagreement, stopping in place and nearly causing you to get soaked by the downpour. “I don’t think so, why would they pass down a saying like that when gumihos aren’t real?”

���How do you know that they aren’t real?” You challenged him.

“Because if they were real, then we wouldn’t be learning about it in a mythology class and calling it folklore,” Juyeon stretched his arm out so that the umbrella was covering the both of you as he kept talking, “Humans are like… cockroaches. We force ourselves into the lives of other beings, I think we would have done something about gumihos by now don’t you think?”

You grinned at him as you rocked back and forth on your feet absentmindedly, nugging his shoulder soft as you teased, “wow, I know the lesson wasn’t long today but did you already forget that we were taught? Once a fox has lived for a thousand years, it becomes a gumiho and can shapeshift! How will you know your face to face with a fearsome nine tailed fox when they look exactly like any normal stranger on the street?”

You didn’t even give the boy a chance to speak as you stood in front of him, your back getting pelted with the rain droplets as you continued to jeer, “anyone could be a gumiho. I could be a gumiho, your roommate could be a gumiho, our teacher could be a gumiho, even you could be a gumiho and we’d never know a thing!”

“I think you're forgetting something,” Juyeon countered, pulling out his phone from his pocket and waving it in your face. “Humans have technology, we’ll just develop more technology to find them if we need to.”

“Gosh, you’re no fun,” you pout.

“And your bus stop is right there,” he pointed behind you, taking note of the metal structure built on the side of the road.

You struggle to decide whether or not you want to steal his umbrella as payback for being the way he was but ultimately ditched the idea. “Fine, I’ll see next week then? That is, if you don’t get eaten by a gumiho that is.” You teased.

You watched as annoyance contorted on his face, wanting to find a reason to be mad at you but unable to keep the grin off his face. “I’m not going to be eaten by a gumiho, Y/N. Did we not just have the conversation that they aren’t real?”

“Gumihos seduce men to absorb their energy!” You argued once more. “You’re a physically fit guy whose kept his livers healthy and you’ve got the looks to draw attention to you, you’re the perfect meal for a nine tailed fox to catch!”

“Go home, Y/N,” he urged, pushing you out from under his umbrella. You whined at his audacity and quickly covered your head with your hands in an attempt to shield yourself from the rain. The boy only laughed at your reaction before waving you off, giving you a small farewell as you rushed over towards the bus stop.

When you glanced back to find him again, Juyeon was gone, turned around the corner with his umbrella in tow and forcing you to sit and wait for the bus stop to come if you didn’t want to be soaked by the time you got home.

“Sheesh he could have waited until the bus actually came,” you complained, sitting back on the bench with a somewhat annoyed frown donning your face once again. Juyeon always seemed like he was in a hurry at times, whether he was sneaking around the dorms on your campus or rushing through the hallways to get to his next destination, he always had somewhere to be. There were times where he’d completely ignore your existence in and outside of your mythology class because of his need for action, too busy with his daily life to even spare you a glance.

You wondered where he so urgently needed to go at times, but ultimately knew that was none of your business. The two of you were nothing but classmates, school friends who helped each other out every so often whenever you got the chance. You had no right to dig into Juyeon’s business, so you never tried to cross the line the two of you set up for each other. You don’t really know if you wanted to cross it in the first place.

Besides, he never even said hello to whenever he was in a rush! Why bother trying to discover something where he has to completely ignore your existence to do it? That wasn’t exactly your type of information and gossip you wanted to gather and indulge in.

You sat at the bus stop for around three or four minutes, unwillingly listening to the pitter patter of the rain on the bus stop glass. Like your superstitious instructor, you weren’t very fond of the rain but not for the same reasons. The weather would always ruin plans you had been looking forward to for weeks and the days that came after it always felt humid and musty, you didn’t enjoy the aftermath of rain like other people did.

Don’t even get you started on the days where a thunderstorm would roll over the city, those were the worst days of your life.

You snap out of your daze for a moment, however, completely forgetting your hatred for the raining weather at the sound of barking floating through the air. You tried to ignore it at first, comfortably leaning against the side of the structure and scrolling across your phone to distract yourself, but you couldn’t help it. The more you tried to pretend like the sound didn’t exist the louder it seemed to become, which was a lot seeing as the downpour was a little louder than normal.

Begrudgingly, you stood up out of your seat and shoved your phone deep into your pockets. “Is the universe trying to tell me something today?” You mumbled, covering your head with your hands and stepping out into the rain. You peered across the street where the barking was coming, checking the side of the road for any oncoming cars before rushing to the other side.

The closer you got to the other sidewalk, the louder and more distinct the barking became, resembling more of a young dog than a fully grown one. The barks were more closely related to squeaky toes than anything if you had to be honest; light, annoying, and young. But there was no one else on the street beside you, and your morals were telling you to involve yourself instead of run away.

“Puppy...or puppies?” You called, not exactly having a name to call out for the animals. You don’t even know if they could hear you over the rainfall, but it was worth a shot. If they didn’t come running to you soon you were going to run right back to the bus stop for shelter and go home. You didn’t want to fall ill from standing out in the rain for too long and you didn’t want to miss your bus stop either. “Come here, boy! Or girl…? Whatever you are, come here! I’ll get you some place warm and out of the rain.”

There was no response, which was to be expected. They were animals, not humans, so they couldn’t exactly reply back even if they really wanted to. The barking was still echoing across the area but there was no sign of the animal making all the commotion, not to mention the fact that the rain was beginning to fall harder with each passing second. You might have to give up early if you didn’t want to get caught in a potential thunderstorm, it hurt your heart but you had to take care of yourself as well.

“Ah, I better hurry up before I miss the bus home… walking is going to be a pain if I do,” you mumble to yourself, turning to sprint across the street.

Though you stopped yourself from moving when you heard the sound of bells echoing against your ears, ringing loud and clear within your head as if it was right in front of you. You cautiously look around you for the source of the bells, the jingling rippling out to the rest of the world like a droplet of water falling into a lake. The bells chimed again in your head, yet this time pulling in a certain direction and urging you to continue on that way.

Glancing between the bus stop and the direction you were being pulled toward, you followed the jingling of the bells. Everything in your body was telling you that chasing after the ringing was a bad idea but nevertheless you pushed forward. The dog barking had completely gone silent and the loudest thing in the area was no longer the rain, but the bells in your ears.

You scurried across the sidewalk like a cat, trying your best to stay dry in the unfortunate weather but ultimately failing as you began to feel your clothes stick to your skin. “Ah, there’s no way I’m not going to be sick after this.” You mumbled, turning the corner to peer down an alleyway where the bell chiming was the strongest.

“I’m wet and cold and I’ve been out here for way too— oh my god!” A scream fell out your mouth as you tumbled to the ground petrified by the sight before you. Slumped up against the wall was a boy, barely clinging onto his life as he took slow ragged breaths to keep himself stable. On his arms was the familiar crimson red creeping down his forehead and splattering to the ground, creating a mixture of water and blood pooling underneath him.

Did you just find the end results of a bloody fight? In the middle of the city and close to your college’s campus no less?

“Excuse me, are you alright?” You called out to him, mentally smacking yourself for asking such a question. Clearly the boy wasn’t okay, he was bleeding out in the middle of the rain!

Despite the stupidity of the question, he slowly turned his head toward you. A majority of his face was covered by his hair being plastered against his head thanks to the rain so you couldn’t exactly see if he was looking directly at you, but the mere fact that he was responsive was enough for you.

You hurry over to him as fast as you could, though careful not to slip and fall on the slippery ground, before crouching down next to him. “Can you move at all? It’s not good to sit out here in the rain and waste away, you need to go to a hospital or something—“

“No,” he declined, forcing himself to sit up against the wall and make an attempt to stand up. The boy struggled to himself up right, leaning against the wall for support and the severity of his wounds being put on display. It didn’t look like he got into a fight, per se, more like he had been attacked by an animal. He had large gashes that covered his body and his clothes were tattered and stained with the red hue they leaked down his arm. He needed any sort of medical attention, right away or he might actually bleed out in the middle of the alleyway.

“Can you not see that you’re hurt?” You hissed, grabbing a hold of his wrist and tugging him down to your height. The boy grimaced at your toughness as you rolled up his sleeve, catching sight of an ugly yet fresh scar that needed to be addressed immediately. “You need to go to a hospital, or you’ll die out here in the rain.”

“No,” he challenged you, his face somewhat akin to an animal’s snarl as he tried to snatch his arm away from you. In that instance you heard the soft of the bells that had led you down the alleyway, much louder than they had been before and nearly drowning at the words that the boy had spoken. It sounded like… the ringing was coming directly from him. “I can’t go there, I won’t go there. They won’t be able to help anyway.”

“Are you an idiot?” You couldn’t help but ask, almost scoffing at his persistence to stay away from medically trained professionals. His lips formed into a pout, appalled by the fact that you had the audacity to call him an idiot. “I’m trying to help you man. It’s raining, you’re bleeding out, and I’ve probably missed my ride to go home. Please don't take my kindness for granted and let me help you.”

III.

You laid down in the middle of your bed, staring at your ceiling as you struggled to recall the events from the day before. It’s not like you to forget things easily or anything, in fact you had a rather decent memory when it came to remembering events that had taken place beforehand. You didn’t have a photographic memory, you just had a habit of remembering little details that have happened throughout your day.

But right now? You couldn’t remember a single thing that had happened yesterday.

Most of what you could remember was leaving your mythology early because your teacher had ended the class early. He didn’t like the rain and it had shifted his mood and everyone was grateful for the extra time off. Juyeon had generously offered to walk you to your bus stop with his umbrella so that you could get home without getting rained on and…. that’s where it ends. You can’t recall anything that happened after that. You don’t even remember ever walking into your house the more that you think about it.

“Alright, this is weird,” you declare, forcing yourself to sit up off of the bed. At least you had no classes to attend, you don’t know how you could pay attention to anything you were being taught if you had to deal with your sudden memory loss. “Why can’t I remember anything? Why does it feel like what u forgot was something really important too…?”

Just when you felt as though you were on the verge of pulling your hair out, your phone began to ring. It was a lot louder than you originally set the volume on and was practically screaming at you to pick it up instead of ignoring it like normal. Frustrated, you snatched the device from underneath the sheets and answered the call with a much more aggressive “hello?” than you had meant to start with.

“Y/N, are you okay?” Juyeon’s voice registered through the speaker.

Juyeon. Why was Juyeon calling you right now? The two of you don’t usually call each other unless it was something class related because you weren’t close enough to each other to hold conversations like that. So the mere fact that he had called you out of the blue like this was…. weird to say the least. “Of course,” you replied, giving your voice a lighter tone than when you had answered. “Why wouldn’t I be?”

“You called me a couple of times yesterday but I didn’t answer because I was busy,” he clarified, giving you a little peek as to what had happened the day before.

You called Juyeon first, why would you do that? You didn’t even call him once, but multiple times given the way he had worded his sentence. You’re not even close to Juyeon, why would you even dare to call him several times yesterday? If you were in trouble you should have just called Kevin like normal! “Are you saying you don’t remember?”

“Yes, actually, I don’t remember anything that happened yesterday.” Maybe you had gone to go get a drink or something before coming home and that’s why your thoughts from yesterday were blurry. But you’re not the type of person to drink that much, at least not alone you wouldn’t. “Listen, Juyeon, I’m sorry about all of this. I didn’t mean to call you, I was just… out of it or something. I don’t know I just can’t remember right now.”

“It’s fine, Y/N, don’t worry I’m just glad you’re alright. I got worried something might have happened to you but hearing you now makes me relieved.” You smiled at his words, letting his caring words for you twirl around in your head like ribbons. Juyeon was just too nice to you, honestly, but he was probably like this with everyone he knew. It made sense if he was, he was kind to almost everyone he met.

Before you could answer, the jingling of bells echoing through your ears, distracting you from any other words that might have come out of the boy’s mouth. You glanced around the room for shunting that could have made the noise, but you don't exactly have anything that could chime like the whimsical clicking of a wind chime. “Do you hear that?” You asked him, cutting off the boy mid sentence as you stood up.

“I’m sorry, I don’t understand,” he answered, “what am I supposed to be hearing? All I hear is you.”

In a flash all of the memories from the day before flooding back to you. The barking, the bell ringing, and the injured boy who refused to go to the hospital to treat his wounds. It all came back to you now, but why had it gone away in the first place. “I’ll… I’ll call you back, Juyeon.”

“Y/N? Y/N, what's wrong? Is something—“ you hung up before he could finish his sentence, cautiously following the ever growing sounds of the bells you had heard earlier. The closer you got to your door, the louder the chiming became, probably signifying the fact that you were going in the right direction.The last time you had followed the bells, they led you straight to the wounded boy. So if your hunch was right, it was most likely leading you straight back to him.

You carefully opened the door to your room, peering through the crack in the door frame to see what was going on. It was eerily silent and for the most the entirety of your apartment showed no signs of inhabiting a second person. “That’s odd…,” you noted, fully stepping out of your room to look around the room for the boy from yesterday. It seemed as though he hadn’t even lived in your house for an hour. “I don’t think he ever left… and I still can hear those bells so he can’t be far.”

Goosebumps ran down your spine as a cold wind blew through your living room. Something was off, you’ve never felt uneasy in your own home before. You had picked this apartment to live in because it felt comfortable and warm like home, but the only thing you were getting from it now was the feeling of being watched. As if a pair of eyes were carefully taking in your every move to determine how you’d react next.

“I know, you’re here,” you stated, rolling your eyes as you began to turn around. “You couldn’t have left in the middle of the night, you were bleeding out and collapsed as soon as you—“

You stopped mid sentence when you stopped the boy in the hallway to your bathroom, frazzled and confused by his surroundings yet still keeping a close eye on you. Now that he wasn’t soaking wet and bleeding (thanks to your amateur bandaging skills) you couldn’t help but notice how much more innocent without the dramatic effect of everything that had happened yesterday. “You really are still here, nice to see you didn’t die while I was asleep.”

“Where am I?” He demanded, not as aggressive as he was the day before but still in a rather rude tone you weren’t expecting from him. “How did I get here and… who are you?”

You slumped onto the small couch of your living room, glancing around the room for a moment before turning back to him with a cheeky smile on your face. “Heaven. You died in your sleep and now you’re in heaven. In the goddess that's going to accompany you through the afterlife.”

“Lies, you just said I didn’t die while I was sleeping,” he quickly pointed out, catching your lie as soon as it came out your mouth.

“Woah, despite all those injuries and passing out in the way here you still have a working brain, that’s good to know,” you tease him, watching as the boy rolled his eyes at your tiny jabs. “I’m Y/N but i guess you can just call me your savior really. Oh, and this is my house. You slept on the couch last night and I appreciate the fact that there is no blood on my cushions. Thanks.”

He nodded his head in understanding, though it seemed like the movements weren't actually correlating to what his mind was thinking. “Wait, you’re my… savior? No that doesn’t make any sense.”

“Why not?” You questioned, “I saw you bleeding out in an alleyway yesterday and I tried to take you to hospital but you kept refusing to go, so I just… took you home. I address your wounds and everything and just hoped that when I woke up there wouldn’t be a corpse in my living room. Luckily, as we see now, there isn’t. I saved your life.”

“No!” He yelled, rolling up his tattered clothes to find messily wrapped bandages all over his body. “Why would you do that?”

“Because you were dying?” You blurted, confused to the boy’s sudden panic. “What would you rather have bled out in public for all to see?”

“Yes, actually, that would have been the better option of the two.” How ungrateful was this boy? You saved his life and all he has to say is that he wished you didn’t? Maybe you should have strayed away from your morals for a second because all that had gotten you so far was a boy with no manners. “I don’t think you realize what you’ve done.”

“I have realized what I’ve done,” you responded, “I’ve saved your life because I’m a good person. Why are we arguing about this, there are no downsides to getting your lives saved. Wait, are you embarrassed because you got attacked by some feral cat and nearly died? Not gonna lie, I’d be embarrassed about something like that too.”

“I wasn’t… attacked by a cat,” he explained, a scoff threatening to spill out of his mouth at your bizarre accusation. “I don’t think a cat could make those types of scars.”

“If it wasn’t a cat…” you began, thinking aloud as you tried to member the wounds that covered the boy’s body. The more you pictured them in your head. The more you realize those weren’t… cat scars. They still seemed as though they were animal scars but a cat didn’t make that big a gash on a person’s body. You should have known, you’ve gone to cat cafes enough to have learned the hard way. “Then what…?”

“Gumihos,” the boy replied, tearing off the bandages you had wrapped around him the night before. You winced as you watched your handwork tumble to the ground, but were more concerned over the fact that the gashes on his arm were healed almost completely overnight. “I was attacked by gumihos.”

“Nine tailed foxes?” You blurted, more for yourself than the boy. Seeing you bewilderment made a smile begin to etch across his lips, childish yet mischievous as you tried to break down what you had learned in your head. “But… those are just folklore, they aren’t real. If they were, one would have been caught by humans at this point.

“Why? Don’t you know that a gumiho can shapeshift? They live among humans as if they were any other mortal in order to get what they want in life,” the boy explained, reminding you of the words you had thrown at Juyeon for making the same excuse. “You really think that they’d let a human catch sight of their existence and get away with it?”

“Okay then answer me this,” you ask, sitting up attentive to the stranger you had brought into your home. “If gumihos are real… then why did one attack you and leave you out to die? Don’t they usually kill humans for their livers and hearts? You should have been devoured by now.”

A hearty laugh left the boy’s mouth, much stronger and louder than the small giggle from earlier. His smile couldn’t stop growing on his face as he blinked his eyes at you, the dark browns of his iris swapping out to a bold amber yellow color. His pupils slowly began to dilate into the familiar small slits of a cat’s as your own eyes widened in pure fright. The boy you had saved had now become your greatest mistake. “What makes you think I’m human?”

IV.

“Juyeon!” You hissed at the boy, urging him to come to you once you had finally caught sight of him. He was walking with a group of his friends, people who hadn’t mingled with and didn’t know whether or not you wanted to in the first place. When the boy had turned his head to you, the entirety of his friend group did as well, displaying their bright and eager smiles as they waved their hands in greeting. Awkwardly you greeted them back, unsure of what to do next as they also whispered and muttered to themselves as they let Juyeon break from their group.

Hopefully it was something nice and not anything that could hurt your feelings. They were still grinning and jeering with each other despite whatever comments they were making, so maybe it was a conversation of their approval. Or at least… you hoped it was, you couldn’t really tell the difference. You acted like you had a tough shell but in reality you were way too soft when it came to a stranger’s perspective of you.

“What’s up Y/N?” He greeted, a fond smile plastered across his face as he stood in front of you with his hands shoved in his pockets. “It’s a rare sight to see you interact with me when we don’t have a class together. It must be serious.”

“Well…” you trailed off, unsure of how to explain to him. “I guess it’s serious? But nothing too serious… I need some advice really, that’s all.”

“Advise?” Juyeon questioned, intrigued by the topic you had brought him. “Wow… of all the people could have chosen, you need my advice! I can’t help but say I’m honored. But what happened to your other friend… Kevin was his name, right? He would come to walk you home after class sometimes, why aren’t you asking him?”

You grimace at the thought of the boy before quickly waving the thought away. “Kevin will just think I’m crazy and make fun of me. Plus, I think you’re probably most equipped to help me out here since we take mythology together and all.”

“Ah… still keeping this as a school oriented friendship right?” He teased, getting a small laugh to leave your mouth. “Alright, what is it? What mythological help do you need this time? I’m all ears.”

You hesitated for a moment, unsure on how to word your sentences without sounding insane. The whole reason you had gone to Juyeon instead of Chanhee was because he would understand you a little better than your friend could. “Gumihos… you know how we’re learning about them currently, right? Is there something that people should know about them in order to protect themselves from one?”

Juyeon raised a brow at your question, staying silent as he thought to himself. “Gumihos? I thought you didn’t want to learn about gumihos because it was pop culture and everyone knows about them?”

“Well, what can I say!” You exclaimed, hoping to cover up your nervousness as much as possible. “I decided to take up a personal essay of sorts on those nine tailed foxes. I got intrigued a few days ago about them and I wanted to get as much information as I could about them, but we don’t go back to our mythology class until I… really can’t wait to get started.”

In reality, you actually had that gumiho boy holed up in your apartment still. In fear of the boy actually attempting to devour your liver you had locked him up in your bathroom and placed a talisman on the door so that he couldn’t escape. You had absolutely no clue on how to deal with a gumiho and you had only recently started your lesson on the fox spirits a few days ago. So needless to say, you wanted to be prepared for whatever might come next while housing him.

“That’s fair,” Juyeon agreed, taking your lie like candy and smiling brightly back at you. “I mean, the concept of nine tailed foxes are pretty cool, so I can’t blame you for looking into them a little further than everyone else.”

“So?” You asked, eagerly awaiting his answer, “Do you have any information I should know?”

“Well… there's this one thing I’ve been told before by my grandparents,” he explained, trying his best to recall past memories that had no use up until now. “Yeah, they would use old myths as stories to tell me before bed when I was a kid. They told me that no matter what fork a gumiho comes in, never let them kiss you.”

“Kiss?” You blurted out, shocked that that was the one thing he decided to share. “What’s kissing got to do with fox spirits?”

“It’s how they take your energy,” Juyeon told you, putting his pointer fingers together as if mimicking a kiss between two people. “When a gumiho kisses you, they absorb your energy. The more energy they absorb the weaker you become until you eventually die! Kinda scary, right? Not only do they feed off of human livers, but our mere life essence.”

“What type of bedtime story is that,” you mumbled, skeptically glancing over Juyeon. If that was the type of stories he was being told as a child, how was he not a little messed up in the head? If you were him, you would be absolutely terrified of everything even approaching you. Who knew when someone would randomly come up and kiss you? Your first and last kiss would be from a fox trying to steal your life away!

“I was very easy to tease as a child,” he shrugged, his smile turning sheepish as he softly scratched the back of his neck. “My grandparents loved telling me stories like that because I was an emotional little kid, ease to scare and quick to try and stuff like that.”

“That makes a little more sense,” you nodded, “no sane person would tell that as a bedtime story, it’s always got to be told to a child that’s easily scared.”

“Yeah, yeah, say what you want. If they hadn’t told them those stories of gumihos, I probably wouldn’t be taking mythology now,” Juyeon explained, glancing back toward the direction your shared class was. “And if I didn’t take mythology, you wouldn’t have any friends in that class.”

You shrug in response, he was right. If Juyeon had decided that he didn’t want to take the mythology course you probably wouldn’t have ever met him in the first place. So that was one good thing that had come out of his grandparents scaring him into the folklore of nine tailed foxes. “If you don’t mind me asking by the way,” the boy continued, switching topics while he still had your attention. “Whatever happened that day? You said you’d call me back but you never did. I can’t lie, I was a little worried for you again.”

“Ah, that,” you stall, struggling to make up a lie off the time of your head. You felt bad for lying to Juyeon more than you already were, you heard what he said! He’s worried about you and you didn’t want to put any more of load onto his back with your supernatural problems. “Well, I think I’ve got spirits in my house. I’ve been hearing weird noises sometimes and I thought you could hear it too, that’s why I asked.”

“Funny how things like this happen to a mythology student, huh? I wonder what kind of spirit has skipped their way into your house then.” Juyeon laughed, shaking his head at the ironic situation you had got yourself in, “well if you ever find yourself needing a home away from home, my dorm room is always open? We’d have to clean up a little bit before you arrive and sneak you in but anything to get away from spirits, right?”

[doomed-corruption-au]

CHAPTER 1: The Return

Steven’s whole world was spinning.

The sky had run green, the lighting reflected off of the massive ship in the sky. It looked like the upper torso of a person, but why it was green was a mystery. The ship itself looked white, actually. But, when it showed up, the gems freaked out anyway.

Lapis had sent them a message. In it, she was really freaked out, bringing the premonition that the Diamonds were leaving the planet and heading to Earth. Steven didn’t know who they were, but the gems had really... changed over the past two days or so they had to prepare. Whoever these “Diamonds” were, they sounded important.

When he saw the gems with his luggage, ready to help him evacuate with Dad, that was when he knew that things were serious. They had finally started letting him come on missions. He was becoming useful, and that meant being out on the field! But, if they thought he couldn’t handle this, then...

He shook his head. No. He was able to do this. He had to help them, protect them. Just like Mom.

Dad had told him that story in the car, about the gem war. The fact that they saved the world, but the punishment for it was, well, the corrupted gems. “If it wasn’t for her shield, man, I don’t know.” Those words bounced around in Steven’s head. Mom was the only reason Garnet and Pearl were okay. She saved them. And now, she wasn’t here. She was gone, and it was now his duty to save them.

He’d left a message to Connie letting her know what was going on. He hoped she stayed safe, too.

Lion opened a warp, and the two leaped in.

It only took a moment to warp to the beach house again. Lion landed hand on his paws, skidding a bit as he slowed. Steven leaped off his back as fast as he could, giving the furry animal a pat on the shoulder.

“Stay here, Lion,” he commanded his friend. “If something happens, Dad’ll need a new son.”

Lion chuffed at him as he turned and ran away. Steven hoped that was an “okay.” Dad had told him that if something happened, he’d “run fresh outta family.” Well, he and Lion got along well, so the replacement seemed good!

Not the time. Steven shook his head. Nothing was going to happen. He had Mom’s shield! He could do this!

The scene was tense. Amethyst and Pearl had fused into Opal, who now had her bow at the ready. Garnet stood nearby, adjusting her glasses every couple of seconds. Then, at Garnet’s command, Opal’s arrow let loose, shooting into the sky towards the ship. There was a flash of light as impact happened, and a few seconds later, a loud boom followed, but the ship looked completely unharmed.

“Hey guys!” Steven ran up to them, waving. If they were struggling, he could help them! Should be easy!

Opal and Garnet spun around, and at the sight of him, the former split apart. Pearl and Amethyst tumbled away from each other.

“You came back!” Amethyst cried in delight.

“What are you doing?!” Pearl’s expression was far more stricken.

Steven opened his mouth to answer, but a bright flash of light in the sky cut him off. The Crystal Gems all whipped around to look at the ship. It was still super far away, and the brightness was making it incredibly difficult to see. It looked like the light was starting at the chest of the ship, getting brighter and brighter.

“What is that?” Steven cocked his head to the side.

Garnet gasped. She turned around, ripping her visor off. “STEVEN! RUN!”

“Wha- WHY?” Steven yelled back. “I wanna help you guys! I have Mom’s-”

“You don’t understand!” Garnet’s head whipped back around to face the flash, which was growing in intensity. “Steven, don’t argue, just GO!”

“No!” Steven ran towards her, towards the oddly beautiful light. You could no longer see the ship behind it. He ran in front of the gems, standing defensively. “I have Mom’s shield! I can DO this!”

He concentrated. His gem didn’t feel any different, no warmth coming from it like what usually happened when his powers began to work. It was silent.

The light grew brighter, starting to pulse a bit. Flashes of yellow and blue traced the edges of the glow, rotating around like a hurricane.

“STEVEN!” Garnet jumped in front of him, meeting his two eyes with her three. She looked panicked, far more so than he’d ever seen her before. “Steven, PLEASE!”

Pearl and Amethyst ran up behind him. “We all have to get out of here!” Pearl yelled. “Garnet, it looks like-”

A loud whirring noise cut her off. Everyone turned to the light, assuming defensive positions. Steven’s eyes widened. It was suddenly coming closer, and FAST.

Please work, he begged with himself. He strained, standing up taller, trying to focus on getting his gem to work. He didn’t know what this attack was, or what it would do, but he didn’t wanna find out. Please work, please work, please work, please work.

“It’s too late to run,” Pearl murmured from his left. “We’re out of time.”

Suddenly, Steven felt hands around his torso. Garnet lifted him into the air, spinning around and crouching down so she was facing away from the beam, with her back exposed.

“Wait, Garnet! I can do it!” Steven struggled in her arms. “I can do it!”

“I’m sorry,” she whispered back, hushed. Steven almost didn’t hear her. He stopped trying to get away, instead trying to turn to look at her. Her three eyes were blown wide, tears starting to come down her cheek. “We failed.”

“Wh-”

Everything went bright.

Garnet vanished from behind Steven, seemingly into thin air. The only thing that marked her disappearance was a short scream, cut off prematurely. Pearl and Amethyst were the same, yelling out in shock and pain for only a second before their voices cut out completely.

With Garnet out of the way, Steven could see why. It BURNED. The light closed around him so brightly, he almost couldn’t see his own hands. It wrapped around him, closing in on his gem. It began to flare up in response, sending fire up his nerves. He was so focused on how much it hurt, that his own voice disappeared around him.

It lasted probably only a few seconds, but it was enough. His gem felt like it was an ignited coal, he had a massive headache, and his body was trembling too much for him to even think about moving anywhere.

He fell on his hands and knees, then collapsed onto his side. His world went from burning white to pitch black in an instant. He heard nothing, not even the waves hitting the shore. His head hurt, so badly, but after a moment, everything... stopped.

- - - - - -

“Hey Connie, it’s Steven.”

Connie Sat on the edge of the counter, nervously watching for her mom to round the corner. If she got caught, she’d probably get yelled at. Her attention was more focused on the recording of her best friend’s voice, though.

“Just seeing what you were up to,” he continued. “Uh, dunno if you knew, but there’s some crazy stuff going on with a giant woman in the sky and we all might die, so um, I guess just give me a call back when you get this, and see you soon!”

What.

Connie leaped off the counter and reached for the phone as fast as she could. She dialed his number, forcing herself to slow down so she didn’t mistype it, and held her breath as his phone rang.

One ring, no answer. Then two. Then three. After the sixth, the call went to voicemail.

Connie shook her head. “No no no,” she said out loud. “No, that can’t be right. H-he’s gotta be exaggerating, right?”

“Who are you talking to, Connie?” Dr. Maheswaran was standing at the bottom of the stairs, eyebrow raised in confusion.

She was very tempted to playback the recording Steven had left for her, but she knew if her mom heard it, she’d stop letting her see Steven altogether. So instead, she swallowed. “Steven,” she replied.

Dr. Maheswaran hummed. “Alright. Is... something going on? You sounded stressed out for a second.”

Shoot! Connie hesitated, wondering what she should do. “Um,” she started shakily, “...yeah. He wants me to go over there so I can help him out. Is, is that okay?”

Mom sighed, her dislike of the boy no secret, but after a moment of thought, she nodded. “Okay. Do you want us to drive you there, or are you going to take a bus?”

“I’ll take the bus,” she answered a little too quickly. “Thank you though!”

Before her mom could get in another word, Connie had slipped into her red boots and vanished out the door, bus card in hand.

The ride itself was an excruciatingly long twenty minutes, but for different reasons that usual. On the way, she pulled out her flip phone and tried again.

Six rings, then voicemail.

She tried two more times; the same results.

When they FINALLY pulled up in Beach City, Connie was the first off of the bus. She ran as fast as she could, hoping to the sun and back that Steven was okay. He had to be. She couldn’t imagine a world without him in it.

The bus dropped her off near the center of town- not the best, but it wasn’t too far away from Steven’s house. Heat be damned, she was not stopping until he was embraced in a hug.

When she rounded the corner of the cliff, she froze, the previous vow undermined immediately.

The sand was stirred up, the water coming further up the beach than normal. It coated the bottom of the house, hiding the bushes beneath waves of yellow. The water splashed violently as well, as if tremoring from an earthquake. The Temple looked mostly unharmed at first, but upon further inspection, the statue of Obsidian looked far more rounded than it should. Far more smooth, like it’d been polished or sandpaper-ed (there had to be a word for that).

Connie saw none of it.

Her eyes were drawn to the little lump on the ground. The lump was half covered in sand, but she would recognize that brown hair anywhere, even if his red shirt was a lighter pink for some reason. Steven was lying on his side, facing away from her. He wasn’t moving.

“STEVEN!” Connie burst into a sprint, nearly tripping over her own feet as she ran up to her friend. She fell on her knees next to him, rapidly swiping sand off of him and uncovering the rest of him slowly. His jeans were now also a shade of sky blue, but only on the behind, she noted. The shirt was red as ever in front, the yellow star completely untouched.

She reached forward, turning his head so that he was facing her. His expression was pinched, twitching ever so slightly as he rested. Thank GOODNESS he was alive. Connie felt tears coming to her eyes as she took him in, both relieved he was breathing, but terrified of what must have happened.

How long had he been laying there? Surely the sun couldn’t bleach his clothing that quickly, right? And he was on his side, not face-down. And besides, it was only just after 8:00, early enough for the sun to be up, but not long enough to bleach his clothes like that. The message had come in late at night.

She moved her hands down to his torso. Grunting, she was able to shift his weight, moving him onto her lap. His face pinched even more with the movement, and he hissed in air between his teeth. She cringed, deciding against moving him more and leaving him positioned above her knees.

His breathing was more audible now, at least, for all that was worth.

“St... Steven?” Connie moved the hand that had been holding his chest and moved it up to his face. “Steven, y-you gotta wake up now, okay? It’s morning. Why...” she huffed a laugh that was more akin to letting air out of your lungs than anything humorous. “Why are you sleeping outside? The sun baked your clothes, silly.”

He wasn’t responding, though at least his breathing was evening out. She felt a tenseness leave his shoulders she hadn’t realized was there.

“No, no no no don’t go back to sleep,” she scolded. She moved her hand again, opting to now shake him. He made a small wounded noise at the action, but she couldn’t wait anymore. “Steven, wake up. Wake up!”

“Hhhhrngggghh...” Steven’s eyes finally opened. “Hurts...”

Connie froze. “Sorry,” she said quickly, “but you’re awake now, so...”

“Wh...” Whatever he was trying to say trailed off as he took in his surroundings. His eyes travelled up to Connie’s face, then along the edge of the beach. Only then did Connie start to notice the damage herself. “...th’ gems,” Steven whispered. “Where are the gems?”

“I...” That was a good question. Connie frowned, looking along the beach on instinct. She couldn’t see them anywhere. Were they in the house?

A glint of sunlight caught her eye. Turning to it, she saw that the beach was littered with gemstones. Or, at the very least, the beach directly surrounding the two of them.

The glinting one had been Amethyst, her purple, six-faceted gem catching the light much better than the others. Pearl was next to her, her light, round shape almost disappearing into the sand. On his other side were two gems she didn’t recognize, a three-faceted blue gem, and a four-faceted red one.

She frowned. “I don’t know where Garnet is, but... Amethyst and Pearl are right next to you.”

Steven strained, trying to turn his head in their direction.

“They got poofed.”

He froze. He let his head fall slack again, and it rolled back to the position Connie had been holding it before. His eyes were blown wide. “Wh... what?”

Connie nodded. “There’s two other gems here I don’t recognize, too.”

Steven shook his head lightly. “But that... we were all just...” His breathing began to quicken again, the tenseness returning to his shoulders. “The light, they were right there, but- no, they all... th-they all-!” He struggled out of Connie’s grasp, trying to fight his way to his feet again, only to cry out in pain. He curled in on himself, one arm holding his stomach, the other supporting him on the sand.

“Steven!” Connie stood up and crouched next to him. “Steven, what’s wrong? What hurt you?”

“The light!” he yelled out. He was looking down, eyes unfocused. “Th-the light was- it came from the ship, and, and then we- but I wanted to help! I have Mom’s shield!” He suddenly turned to look at Connie, and she noted with horror that he was crying. “I had Mom’s shield! I-I shoulda been able to block it, I could have! But I... but I-!” He cut himself off, gasping. He brought a hand up to his mouth, sobbing.

“Steven, stop,” Connie put a hand on his shoulder, not entirely sure how else to react. “You’re not making any sense. Let’s get you inside, we should-”

“I failed.”

Connie froze. Steven’s voice had been near inaudible, painted in shades of anguish. She blinked, trying to get in his line of sight again. “What do you mean?”

“I couldn’t do it.” He hiccuped. “They coulda been fighting back, but I wouldn’t listen. They kept telling me to run. If I did, they would have had a better chance.”

“Wh-what?” Connie shook her head. “Steven, please, let’s call your dad. I think you’re in shock. You’re not making any sense. We can talk about this later.”

“Dad...” Steven nodded slowly, his body starting to tremble again. “Yeah, I want my dad. I... I...” He buried his face in his hands, not trying to hold it back anymore.

Connie took the opportunity. She pulled out her phone and gave Greg a call. Unlike Steven, he picked up on the second ring.

“Hello? This is Greg Universe.”

“Mr. Universe?”

“Connie?” The voice over the receiver softened. “What’s up?”

“Um...” Connie ran a hand through Steven’s curls, letting him lay back down for now. He was still crying openly now and getting louder.

Greg seemed to put two and two together. “Is that Steven?! What happened, is he okay?!”

“I...” Connie looked at Steven again, who’d darted his eyes up to her the second he heard the waver in her voice. The motion made him hiss again, and his expression crunched a bit. “I don’t know!” She grabbed the phone with both hands. “I don’t know! He’s alive, but he’s not making any sense. He’s really freaked out, and in pain, and I can’t figure out what’s wrong, and-”

“Woah woah woah, slow down!” Greg’s voice was barely masking his own panic. “He’s alive?”

Connie nodded, then remembered he couldn’t see her. “Yes, he is.”

“Where is he?”

“On the beach. I found him just... j-just laying in the sand.”

“...And the gems?”

“Poofed.”

Greg sighed. “Alright. Okay. I’m coming up on Beach City right now. I’ll be able to take a look at him in a minute. Can you just stay with him until I get there?”

“I promise.” She looked at Steven again, who had zoned out once again, staring at something only he could see. He looked small in her arms, smaller than normal. It hurt.

Greg hung up first without saying goodbye, so Connie simply put the phone in her pocket. She wrapped both arms around him and hugged him as best as she could from this angle, while minding the pain he was in, too. Steven made a small noise, but she couldn’t figure out what it could mean.

What happened?

[enchantedpendant]

throwback to my closest brush with death

december 2018, i was in that green bus. 

the landslide happened at just a few minutes past 12AM. it was pouring and there had been horrible traffic. i was asleep and at first i just thought “holy fuck what kind of massive pothole did we just drive through?” but when the bus fucking tilted i knew that wasn’t it and that woke me up. the bus, held up by the unfortunate orange truck underneath, was barely hanging on the trees (below was an infinite cliff, not pictured). some people outside helped and smashed one of the windows for us to climb outside, and we had to do that quick bcs the truck and the bus could just roll down the cliff at any moment. i was there with 5 other girls, all barely young adults. my foot got fucking stuck bcs i had the brilliant idea of wrapping my bag straps around my leg before going to sleep like i thought if anyone was gonna grab my bag that would wake me up, but turns out my bag got stuck underneath the seat in front of me and it took some time and fucking effort bending my body to grab it, but i sure as hell wasn’t gonna leave without my bag (my skincare products!). my phone was safe because i had headphones on so the wires kept me aware of where my phone was (i had Joji’s Slow Dancing in the Dark on repeat). i kicked off my shoes before going to sleep so by then they were lost to the tilt of the bus (those were my favorite pair of shoes, gifted to me by my aunt. i still mourn its loss). by the time i freed my leg my friends were fucking gone. i climbed out the window and up the cliff with my wet socks and got some minor wounds on my hands (thankfully none on my feet tho, somehow i managed to not step on any shards in the dark). i remember a boy handing me a bun that had fallen out of my bag, that was nice, though i sure as hell wasn’t going to eat that bun anymore. 

by the time i got up the cliff i was drenched, the traffic had gotten worse as all these vehicles tried to turn away from the landslide but that was just impossible so no one could move. the bus passengers were all running, i’m pretty sure they (like myself) had no idea where to run, it was fucking dark, but we just had to run. there was this woman with me, we stopped by behind a minitruck that had a canopy for some shelter from the rain, until the people on the back of the minitruck (also passengers of the bus, at least some of them, i assume) offered us a spot, so we climbed up. nearly all of them were middle-aged men, some a bit older, and strangely enough, i have never felt as safe in the company of a bunch of unknown men as i did that time (on a fucking random minitruck, as well. they could’ve fucking kidnapped me and sold my organs or what and i could’ve had no way out). i even made some conversation with them! but then i realized “oh shit, i should let my parents know that i’m okay, before they find this out from the news and lose their shit like they could literally get a heart attack,” like that’s not gonna help anyone, so i thought of giving them a call... but then the woman beside me was on a call as well, and she was wailing. and there was no way i could keep my parents calm when they could hear her cries, so i sat there and patted her back and waited for her to calm down. i called my dad first (bcs he was the more easily panicked type who i fear could fall over with a heart attack) but he didn’t pick up. a few times after that i called my mom and she responded (and i remembered that my mom was always the night owl, like myself).

“hi mom, is dad asleep?”

“yeah, why?”

“i called him but he didn’t pick up. anyways, listen. i’m okay.”

“??? yeah?”

“there was a landslide so now we’re on our way back.”

“oh, okay.”

that was the gist of it. tbh i was like “holy shit??” my mom was way calmer than i expected lol but that was good. so i went back to some casual conversations with everyone else on that minitruck (i noticed there were stacks of vegetables there as well). 

some time after that some voices started calling out at me. i might have even missed it if the old man beside me didn’t point it out. with the slowest possible pace, the minitruck had finally driven past my friends who were standing by a quite large wooden shack by the road for shelter (along with many other people who i assume are also the bus passengers). so i climbed down the minitruck and reunited with my friends. they were on the phone with some of the guys in our year and they told them that they had found me (apparently they’ve told the guys that i had gone missing, and like i was always the baby of the group, in a way? like i guess that was to be expected since i was younger than everyone else, but anyways, they got the guys freaked out as well). they handed me the phone and i laughed and told the boys something along the line of “yeah i was on a minitruck filled with vegetables going on a snail pace chatting with some random old men” and one of them kept repeating “??? you’re laughing?? are you nuts???”

then the guys were like “do you want us to go there and pick you all up with our motorcycles?” which was charming, but a very careless idea bcs it was far, a route up the hills, at midnight, with heavy rain, so we said no to that. some time after that (im not sure what happened?) but we got our hands on some saline so we helped everyone to it. a few hours after that they told us they had gotten some vehicles to ride back to our city, including a bus identical to the one we were just on, to which we were like NAH and they offered us a minitruck, though it took more walking to reach. by then my feet were fucking sore bcs the thin wet socks were just sad and not “climbing up hills, walking on rocks” appropriate. and then we were ready to go, but then we found out that a senior had actually driven his way to where we were and we couldn’t just leave him. pretty sure his battery ran out or something so we lost contact with him for a while. pretty sure one of us tried looking for him and we lost her for some time as well. pure confusion pt.2.  by the time we were finally ready to go back, it was 3AM, tbh i thought more time had passed. bcs it was a minitruck and there were some other passengers as well, namely paramedics, only one of us could sit inside - they let me have the seat :( probably felt bad for me and my sore little feet and my smol body and like i said i was always the baby of the group lol. though i lowkey feel like they must’ve had some fun out there, with the splashes of rain and the cold 3AM wind... or maybe not.

anyways then we got back at the city, at the pick up point of the travel service. waited some time before my parents finally came to pick me up. they were confused. “where are your luggages?” “why did you leave your shoes?” i was confused. turns out they didn’t realize that - it wasn’t just “there was a landslide” - our bus got fucking hit by that landslide and got pushed off and nearly rolled down an infinitely deep cliff. turns out i did a better job in sounding calm through the phone than i expected. i kept quiet tho, not gonna give my dad a heart attack while he was driving, though after some time it looked like things started to click in my mom’s mind. by the time we got back, my dad went back to bed soon after, and my mom came into my bedroom and was like “...so.... what actually happened?” and i told her everything. “i knew you losing your shoes was weird. you couldn’t have just left them.” to which i responded “now ik why you sounded totally unbothered on the phone!” i was like “what did you think it was?” she went “well you mentioned that there was a landslide? so i thought it blocked the road? and that was it??” the adrenaline kept me from falling asleep for the rest of that night.

the next morning my dad came up to me and held up his phone and went “?????? this???? this happened???? you were in that bus???? what???” and showed various pictures of the bus (including the one i posted above) “???? that cliff is very deep you know???? look?? your bus is so far down???” like he was grinning but it visibly broke his brain LOOOOL and he asked my mom “did you know??? what??? ?? was it just me?? i didn’t know???” and calls started coming from the family and my parents had to go like “aha yeah that happened but she’s ok lol she sounded totally ok on the phone so we didn’t even realize”

and then i took a picture of my ruined manicure. i had it done literally just the day before smh.

[head-full-of-things]

‘With Great Power...’ teaser, a secret santa gift

Hey guys! I'm in @bazwillendinflames LIS2 Secret Santa.

I got the amazing Stef aka @ladyofthecreed. Your request was for wholesome Daniel and Sean on the road to Karen's comminity after ep 4, but I saw how sad you were after ep 5 and Redemption so I wanted to cheer you up, as well as all of us who got it, with something more fun.  Of course it started as fun and then I actually started writing and it also made me cry haha

The basic premise is 16 year old Daniel post Redemption, who decided to use his powers for good and becomes the superhero of Beaver Creek! This is a scene, a sneak peek if you will, from the fic. I'm posting the sneak peek here for you guys, and when the full fic comes up I'll post it here as well as on AO3.

And @bazwillendinflames thank you so much for organizing this! It's a really cool activity for the fandom. Oh and for giving me a gift fic of course

I hope you'll like it 😊

Note - before this scene Daniel saves his classmate with his powers.

-----

It was the longest, most confusing three days of Daniel’s life, as he had to wait until Tuesday, which is visitation day, to finally talk to Sean and tell him what happened. He spent them doing what he usually did—schoolwork, hanging out with Chris (who kept asking him to repeat every detail of what happened, writing it all down in his notes app), and helping his grandparents. But while usually it was more than enough to fill his days, now he found it couldn’t calm this feeling that was threatening to blow up inside of him. He saved Jason’s life. This brought him back to when he was thirteen at that school trip, when he lifted the school bus enough for it to get away from that cliff. It’s strange, when he first got these powers, on the run with Sean, he used to thinking about them as mostly as a way to destroy or attack. Sure, in his time in Haven Point Lisbeth told him it was a gift, that he was meant to do good in the world, but that woman was badshit crazy so it doesn’t really count. And after he got back to Beaver Creek, he did his best to hide them. But now he used them for good, and he really liked this feeling. 

So yeah, he couldn’t wait to tell Sean, but he also felt terrible fear washing over him every time he thought about actually telling him. How is he supposed to just go there and say: ’Hi bro, remember how you sacrificed the best years of your life so that I wouldn’t be in trouble with the law? Well funny story…’

And so he waited for Tuesday to come but also hoped it’d never come.

Time worked as usual though. The day arrived, and Daniel once again took the bus to prison. When he met Sean he kept quiet. Sean didn’t seem to notice his nervousness though, they spoke for a few minutes, about Daniel’s school life and how the big test went. Then Sean told him a joke that he heard from his cell mate Carl four days ago. He kept laughing as he was trying to tell it. Daniel thought that still laughing about a joke four days later seemed like too much. But who knows, maybe he was just too stressed at the moment to appreciate it.

He sneaked a look at the guard, who again was completely immersed in his game on the phone and not paying attention to anything that went on in front of him. This was his shot. He leaned closer to Sean and spoke quietly: “Listen, I gotta tell you something.”

Sean’s eyes lifted. “Yeah?”

He told him the events of what happened, and as he did a big smile rose on Sean’s face. Daniel expected shock or maybe fear from him, but certainty not the amused look he gave him.

“Wait… You don’t look surprised.”

“Well, we had a TV hour at the cafeteria. ’Local teen saved under mysterious circumstances. Only clue to the identity of his saviour is a drawing of a wolf found at scene.’ Dude that shot with the drawing on the floor was on loop the whole day,” he said with a laugh, keeping his voice low.

Daniel grimaced. “Oh man. So why didn’t you tell me you knew? Let me talk about the Algebra test for an hour like an idiot.”

“Look I just… Didn’t want you to feel you have to tell me. It’s your superpower after all. You’re grown now, and I know I’m not that much a main figure in your life anymore, with me being here, and....”

He frowned. “Don’t. Say. That. Ever. Do you hear me? We’re the wolf brothers remember? It’s forever. Plus you know that if it wasn’t for your help with my power back then, I wouldn’t have a clue how to control them in the first place.”

Sean gave him half a smile.

He smiled too. But he had to ask him a question, and he did, barely getting the words out of his mouth. “Sean, are you disappointed at me?”

Sean’s eyebrows went up. “What? Why?”

“I mean, you practically gave up everything in order for me to have a normal life, and here I am putting it all in danger. I mean look at what happened, I wasn’t careful enough and now I’m all over the news.”

“Why would I be? This is the most publicity a drawing of mine ever got,” he laughed, but stopped when he saw Daniel’s very not amused face. “I’m not disappointed of you Daniel, I’m proud, because you put your secret in risk to protect someone who needed help. You’re a good person.”

He let out the air he was holding.

“You know, when we were on the run and I found out you had this crazy power, I have to say I was terrified. Not of you, but… Of the responsibility, I guess. Remember when you took that hula doll from Brody? I understood then that you were looking to me on how to behave. I was so busy with keeping you alive and well taken care of that I didn’t even realise that with Dad gone, I also need to teach you those kinds of things. And with the… Added flavor of you having a power that could blow up anything in the thirty feet radius, I knew that if I fucked that up, it would have bigger consequences than when other people do a bad job raising their kids. But at the end of the day, I did a pretty good job if I can say so myself.” He smiled and let a small laugh. “And what you did yesterday? It just proves that to me even more. And it also proves to me that I made the right choice that day… At the border.”

That day at the border they almost never spoke about it, and when they did Sean always said it in a hushed, soft tone. Just hearing these words brought back the feeling—the heat on his skin from the bright sun, and the tears on his face. The sound of the sirens that didn’t fucking stop to let them think, or say goodbye properly. And more than anything, the great love he felt for Sean, that his body was almost too small to contain.

It was their last moment together alone, without an annoying person standing a few meters from them to make sure they don’t get too close. 

Sean gave up everything for him, and hearing that he doesn’t regret it… Shit he didn’t realize how much he needed to hear it until now. He felt tears stuck in his throat as he said “All this time I was so afraid Sean, that you…”

“Shh, it’s ok,” Sean said. They leaned forward so that their foreheads touched, and stayed like this for a while. While still being like this, Sean continued speaking softly, making sure the guard still doesn’t hear them. “Daniel I need you to know, that I didn’t do this for you to have a normal life. I did it for you to have your life. I knew you needed a family, a stable environment and school. A friend like Chris. I wanted you to not have to fight anymore, or use your power for me or anyone else. Only if you do it by your own choice.”

He nodded, lifting his head to look at Sean with tears in his eyes.

“I also told you that day to remember who you are. Remember? So don’t try to be what Grandma wants you to be. Don’t even try to be what I want you to be, ok enano? Be yourself.”

He let out a bitter chuckle. “I’m not even sure I know who that is anymore.”

Sean looked him straight in the eyes. “Not anymore. Yet.” When they noticed that the guard saw them being so close and lifted his sight from his phone to watch what they’re doing they separated, Sean’s sending a hand to ruffle Daniel’s hair a bit as he pulled away.

“You guys got 5 more minutes!” the guard called, and they both sighed. There was something else that he had to tell Sean, so he had to say it now. “Sean, I think I liked it. Using my…”—He had to be careful in what he says now—”Skills for good. I want to do it again.” Now that he said that he realised that, In a way, he knew this since the moment he saved Jason, or maybe somehow all these years in Beaver Creek.

Sean leaned forward. “Alright, what do you want to do then?”

“Well I’ve been thinking, maybe I could take a tour around the town once in a while, see if anybody needs help. And if they do, help them in a sneaky way so they won’t see me.”

“Like superhero patrol?” ??

He laughed. “Yeah, or something like that.” He thought about it for a second. “Man, Chris is going to freak out when he hears this. But imagine if Grandma finds out, she won’t let me leave the room for maybe… A whole year.” 

“Don’t worry, it was pretty easy for me because I know about your powers. You can count on one finger really the amount of people who even know about your power,  not to mention that you live here. As long as it stays like that you’re safe. Just… Promise me that whatever superhero shenanigans you’re doing, you’ll be more careful from now on, alright?”

They’ve had their share of promises between them on the year of their journey to Mexico. Every promise Sean made to him he tried to keep, so Daniel was going to take this promise seriously. He nodded. “I promise.”

They stood up and hugged, Daniel once again trying to take as much of Sean as he can, and as Sean went back to his cell, being led by the guard, he turned around and told him “I believe in you enano. I love you.”

“Love you bro,” he yelled back.

On his way out of the facility the sky was black but full of stars. Grandma always said that you can see the stars here in a way you simply can’t in the big city.  Karen said it was true, but you can see a lot more in the desert. But today Daniel focused on something else. As the bus got to the station and he took a seat, he spent the whole ride smiling and looking at the distant lights that he knew came from Beaver Creek, the town he was going to protect.

[lovehugsandcandy]

Eight Days a Week, Eight Seconds a Kiss (Part 3)  (Colt x MC)

A/N: Sorry, y’all. I was writing other things and having a rough week and I definitely didn’t forget about the series, but it was on the back burner (thanks for those who asked about it, it makes me feel so touched!). But now we back! With wingman Colt, oblivious Ellie, and day three of JUST KISS DAMMIT!

Pairing: Colt x MC, ROD

Length: 2320 words

Rating: PG-13 (Swearing, probably, because I swear a lot.)

Summary: Ellie wants to live her life to the fullest, starting with her first kiss. She just needs a little encouragement.

Monday:  I Was Young and I was Selfish

Ellie pulled into the shop, driving her very own freaking car, through the bay doors, carrying her very own license, smiling ear-to-ear. This was amazing! Her time on the bus was over!

She jumped out, spring in her step, and made it five steps before almost walking straight into Logan. “Oof.”

He caught her, strong hands wrapped around her forearms. “Hi, troublemaker.”

She looked up and flushed. He really was impossibly handsome; she definitely wouldn’t mind if he was her first kiss. Maybe Colt was right and she was really getting in her own way. She had just started daydreaming about how soft his lips would be and what it would actually be like to kiss someone when he interrupted her.

“Uhhh...Ellie?”

She snapped to attention. “Yeah?”

“Your car is rolling away.”

She turned and froze. Her car was, indeed, moving, rolling down the slight incline of the shop, headed towards a giant toolbox and the lanky figure digging through shelves in. She started to sprint but knew she wasn’t going to make it in time.

“Toby, MOVE!”

Toby looked up just in time to dive out of the way and her car rolled right into a toolbox. Luckily, it wasn’t going fast, but still; the boom of the collision made her wince, as did the three wrenches that rained down onto her hood.

“Oops....”

Toby stood up, brushing himself off dramatically. “I’m ok! I’m ok!” His grin turned to a frown as he looked at her car. “It’s ok! I can fix that! Just the bumper. And a few dents here. And here.” He caressed the paint with a frown.

“I am so sorry! I could have hurt you.”

“No worries!” He squatted to look over her bumper. “It actually doesn’t look bad at all.”

Logan walked up behind her, putting a comforting hand on her shoulder. “Did you put the e-brake on?”

“Apparently not.” She put her head in her hands.

Logan laughed. “Hey, troublemaker, don’t worry about it. No harm, no foul.” Ellie could feel the eyes of the entire crew on her and her face burned. He pulled her into a hug, squeezing her tight before letting go. It made her feel marginally better, though her cheeks were still hot. “Give me your keys. I’ll move it and start fixing it up with Toby.”

“You’re the best.”  With a wan smile, she turned to head into the shop.

I am such an idiot.

Head down, she didn’t notice where she was going until she felt someone grab her wrist. She looked up and groaned, holding up a hand. “Stop. Don’t say anything. I don’t want to hear whatever insult you have up your sleeve.” Colt studied her silently, so she continued. “I know, I obviously don’t belong here,  I am shooting myself in the foot, blah blah, I don’t need to hear it from you.”

“I wasn’t-”

“Yes, you were.” She rubbed her temple, headache already starting to form. I can’t believe I crashed my car already.

“Come on. Let’s get out of here.”

“What?” Ellie sighed, rubbing her hands over her face. “What, I can’t stay here and embarrass myself anymore?”

“As great as that is for my personal amusement, no.” Colt stood, clutching a spare helmet, unsnapping it and handing it over. “Come on.”

“Are you sure?”

He rolled his eyes. “I don’t know if that look is because you don’t think I can refrain from kicking you when you’re down or because you don’t trust me to get you there safely, but I don’t care. Come on.”

She sighed and took the helmet, looking up at him as he tightened the strap and then brushed her hair away from her neck. “If you kill me....”

“You can haunt the garage all you want. Let’s go.”

~~~~~

Once they stopped, she realized that she could definitely see the appeal. On a motorcycle, everything was more real, the pavement racing by, the air whipping around, the roar of the engine underneath her. She didn’t think she could be converted away from her car, but she could see why Colt liked it as much as he did.

They were outside some bar and Ellie looked around, anxiously, trying to smooth down her hair as much as she could. “Where are we?”

Colt took her helmet from her and put it under his arm. “Just a dive. I was going to head up to the cliff but then I realized that the cliff was not conducive to meeting our two objectives.”

“What do you mean, two objectives?”

“Stop your moping and get you your kiss. Duh.” He held the door open for her and followed her into the dark. The dingy hallway opened up into a bar, exactly as dark and forbidding as it looked from the outside.

There were only a few other patrons here; Ellie would have guessed it was a quiet night but, judging by the exterior of the building and the dinginess of the room, all nights were quiet nights here. At least they could spread out. “Colt, why are we at a bar?”

He shrugged, sitting at a bar stool, putting their helmets on the bar next to him. “I figured a drink would loosen you up.” He laughed when he caught the look on her face. “Relax, relax. It has really good fries and no ones asks any questions.”

“Apparently....” She couldn’t help but look around again. Was it still legal to smoke in bars? She didn’t think so. “How do you know about this place?”

He laughed, bitterly. “What, did you think my parents would ever step foot in a Chuck E. Cheese’s?”

She watched him as he turned to order to a soda and loaded fries from the bartender; what must it have been like, growing up with Kaneko as a father? And Colt never mentioned his mother.

“What do you want to drink?”

“Huh?” Ellie looked up to see both Colt and the bartender staring at her. “Sorry, a soda, please.”

She flushed as Colt raised an eyebrow at her. “You still thinking about your car? Toby will make it just like new, you know.”

“I just feel stupid.”

“You think that’s the worst thing to happen in that shop? Ha.” He tilted his head, thinking. “Once, we were doing electrical work on the lifts and something shorted, dropping two cars straight down, 8 feet to the pavement. I was sweeping glass out of the corners for weeks!”

Ellie chuckled despite herself.

“This other time, Toby had it in his head that he could rig up a NOS system to work both in drive and reverse. If you look closely at my dad’s office, there are still burn marks from when that exploded.”

“Oh crap.”

“But the worst. The WORST.” Colt leaned over the bar, edging closer, eyes sparkling. “Mona was hooking up with this psycho, this absolute nutcase, and, when she finally smartened up and called it off, this girl spray painted the entire exterior of the garage, all f-bomb this and c-word that, with the evil eye thrown in for good measure, all hot pink like your car. My dad flipped his shit.”

Ellie started giggling and could only laugh harder when Colt threw a napkin at her.

“Not funny! Who do you think had to clean it all up?”

She laughed, playing with her straw; when she looked up again, he was watching her. “Colt? Thank you.”

“Yeah, whatever, don’t-”

“Seriously. Thank you.” She caught his eye, holding it, as the bartender worked behind the bar and as the crappy music filled the room and as she wondered why on earth he was actually being so nice to her.

He coughed, breaking the spell, and rubbed the back of his neck. “Don’t thank me yet. Still working on that kiss. Hmmm....slim pickings.” He looked around the bar until his eyes lit up. “How about six o’clock, by the jukebox?”

She groaned. “Are you seriously picking the worst people in the world?” She watched the man stuff another dip of tobacco into this mouth.

“I got the demographic right this time, at least.” He looked around halfheartedly, sipping his soda before focusing on her again. “You know, why are you so hung up on this? It’s like eight seconds out of your life! Why are you so desperate for it to happen?”

Ellie rested her chin on a hand. She never should have said anything to Colt, of all people. “I guess it’s what it represents. I never did anything except what my dad wanted me to do and I think I missed out, on a lot, you know?”

“Your dad sounds like he’s trying to protect you. I mean, you’re sitting at a dive bar, on a school night, trying to kiss someone you don’t even know.”

She rolled her eyes. “Out of all the trouble you and the crew get into, this is what you’re worried about?”

Colt’s eyes flashed, trailing down her face. “If I were your old man, I would be very worried about it.”

Ellie swallowed, grateful for the fries that arrived between them. She wasn’t quite sure what he meant, but she didn’t think she was brave enough to ask. “I don’t know...Maybe he’s going about it the wrong way.”

“He’s doing it out of love, you know.” Colt caught her eye meaningfully. “It sounds like he thinks you’re God’s gift to earth. But it also sounds like he needs to respect who you really are.”

“Yeah.” She studied his face, thinking. “Colt, you know your dad-”

“Stop.” He rubbed his temples. “You don’t even know him.”

“He seems protective of you too.”

Colt looked at her, hands gripping the bar, teeth gnawing his lower lip. “My pop’s never been protective of anyone or anything. Ever.”

She raised an eyebrow at him, watching him eat. “You know, I didn’t think you would care so much about what someone thought of you.”

“I don’t.”

“Then why do you let your dad’s opinion of you rule your life?”

He stopped chewing, mid bite, to gape at her. “Are you seriously giving me family advice? You?!?”

“You know I’m right. You may hate the source, but you know I’m right.”

“Easier said than done.” He looked down at the bar.

“What isn’t?”

He looked over at her, considering her for so long she started to feel uneasy, fidgeting in her seat. He shook his head as the bartender walked over to take their plates, glancing between the two of them. “You know, I don’t mean to intrude, but I heard you were looking for someone willing to kiss you.” He looked meaningfully at Ellie. “I’m single.”

Ellie froze, caught in his gaze. He was cute, surprisingly, for the bar, a little more clean-cut than she was typically attracted to but definitely handsome, especially with the smile he was throwing her way.

Next to her, Colt choked on his drink, sputtering as both she and the bartender gawked. Once he could breathe again, before she could even think of a response, Colt jumped in, voice rough, bar stool dragging across the floor as he stood. “No. We’re actually leaving.”

Ellie stared at him in surprise, watching as he threw some money on the bar, grabbed the helmets, and turned on his heel. Ellie smiled apologetically at the bartender, shrugging, before following, heading out into the warm night.

“The hell, Colt?”

He shrugged. “I thought you wanted them to think you were tolerable.”

“Yeah?”

“Pretty boy didn’t even know you.”

“He would tolerate me enough to kiss me! And neither did chewing tobacco guy!”

Colt stopped next to the bike, leaning over it with a dramatic sigh. “Fine! Just go back in there!”

Ellie stared at him, the crease between his eyebrows, his eyes fixed past her, staring into the distance, avoiding her eyes. She sighed. “You know, you’re right.”

“No shit.”

She rolled her eyes but continued. “You are. I want it to be real, not just some rando you find for me.” She took a deep breath. “So I have a request, an addition to the deal. I want them to think I’m attractive.”

“Wait, what?” Colt did a double take. “What?”

Ellie stared him down, hands on her hips. “I want them to think I’m attractive. Do you think that will be a problem?”

Colt wisely paused before saying anything. Ellie waited, eyes sharp, waiting for the insult. However, she was surprised when he opened his mouth to speak.  “I am just commenting, with no ulterior motive, not insinuating anything so stop looking so exasperated, Christ...it seems like you are adding caveats after the fact. I thought they only had to think you were tolerable?”

“Someone said it was a low bar. Maybe I am trying to raise my standards a little.”

He looked at her and she was taken aback; instead of the usual insolent smirk or fixed glare, he was considering her, eyes almost soft, voice even softer. “Maybe you should.” He looked like he wanted to say more, to continue, but he paused, just looking at her. “Fine. Fine. They will think you are tolerable and attractive. Anything else?”

“Nope. That’s it.” She smiled. She didn’t know why he agreed to help her but at least he wasn’t being a total ass about it. “Thanks for taking me out tonight. I needed it.”

Colt looked away. “Don’t mention it.”

“No, that was really-”

“Stop.” He put up his hand. “Seriously. I told you. I don’t want you to mention it. To anyone. Including me.”

She blinked, watching him turn and put his helmet on, bathed in the streetlight, before he turned and handed her the spare helmet. Their fingers brushed as she took it, yet another thing from tonight that she resolutely was not going to think about.

Tags:  @deimosensblog @alegria1580  @choicesarehard @thefarrari @client-327 @moonlit-girl-wonder @going-down-downtown@soniadotalves@jolietmaraud @hazah@flowerpowell@poeticscolt@brightpinkpeppercorn @zaira-oh-zaira @umiumichan @akrenich @sibella-plays-choices @leelee10898 @maxwellsquidsuit @desiree-0816

[mssjynx]

Number 10 with ohmtoonz, please? (Is it too late?)

ohmtoonz drabble

10. Not being able to speak properly after the kiss ends 

Ryan had to do it. He couldn’t hold it in his chest any longer. It had been months on months of pining and he couldn’t keep it to himself.

It was only convenient for the sky to start crying for him as he waited by the bus stop. The rain was light but constant, a consistent caress of his shoulders and hair. “You’ll be okay,” it said to him. “You’ll get through this,” it reassured. 

He sighed, turning his face to the sky and allowing the raindrops to roll down his cheeks and whisper encouragement to him. 

“Ryan?” Luke’s voice slipped into the moment as the rain ceased, umbrella held over Ryan’s head that stopped the boy from getting any wetter. “You’re gonna catch a cold if you stay out in the rain. Why don’t you have a sweater on?” 

Ryan blinked down at his bare arms, for the first time noticing how the cold made him itch. He hadn’t felt it before. He guessed he had just been too distracted. “I’m okay,” he brushed off, meeting the familiar brown eyes with a smile; the brown eyes he had fallen in love with. 

“You said you needed to talk? It sounded urgent so I came as quick as I could- Is everything alright, Ry?” The worry that laced Luke’s voice exposed his care for the boy but left an ache in his heart. He would lose that care; lose that platonic love. 

He swallowed down the pain. “Yeah, I’m okay, I just-” The words caught in his throat, digging their claws into the airway and refusing to go any further. Luke’s hand was careful against his arm, stepping closer to provide comfort to his nervous friend. He didn’t know what the problem was, but he still cared; he was too good, too perfect. How could Ryan not fall head over heels? 

Luke didn’t speak. He waited for Ryan to catch his breath, keeping the umbrella above them to keep them relatively out of the rain. Ryan was tempted to step back and allow to incoming storm to consume him and take him far far away. 

A deep breath in. It shuddered on the way out. “I need to... tell you something. You might not want to be around me when you know but I- I just can’t keep it in anymore.” The words didn’t sound like his own; voice foreign to his own ears. The panic was starting to set in and he knew he had to get this over with before he freaked out or it would never be done. 

Luke’s gaze was concerned, but firm with care. Open. Honest. Kind. He didn’t push. He didn’t rush. 

Ryan stepped off the edge of the cliff and allowed himself to fall, “I’m in love with you.” Everything else stopped. The rain. The sound. The breeze. It all fell away unnoticed as Luke’s eyes widened from concerned to disbelief. Ryan dropped his gaze to the ground; he didn’t want to see the look of disgust, or hatred. From there, the words tumbled out of his mouth. “I wish I wasn’t but I can’t- I am and there’s nothing I can do to change that so- so I thought I’d just keep it to myself but every time I see you smile and hear you laugh my heart hurts more and more because I know you aren’t smiling for me and I can’t just lean in and kiss you like I want to-” 

He was cut off as Luke reached out and hooked a hand over his hip. His eyes shot up in confusion, seeing not disgust but... adoration and care. Then the southern boy was pulling Ryan two steps closer, leaning down and kissing him. 

Luke. Luke was kissing Ryan. The Luke that Ryan had fallen so deeply in love with and had spent every day thinking of, knowing he couldn’t have him.

The kiss was short, holding for a few moments before Luke pulled away. Ryan didn’t move. He was frozen in place, having not kissed back, having not moved an inch. His eyes were wider than they’d ever been and when his mouth opened, not a single sound came out. 

Luke’s smile blinded him. 

“Y- You j- I- Lu- Luke-” 

A mess of sounds, half-words, unintelligible whispers. Luke shook his head. “I’ve been crushin’ on you for the past year, Ry,” he explained, fingers lifting to brush the wet hair out of Ryan’s face. “I didn’t think you’d ever notice so I didn’t bother with it. I love you too.” 

Still, Ryan’s mind came up blank and his mouth hung open uselessly. How could he respond? How could he even comprehend that this was happening? It was surely a dream, right? It couldn’t be real? 

With flushed cheeks and a panicked mind, he reached up, grabbed a hold of Luke’s shirt and tugged him down into another kiss. He couldn’t speak. He couldn’t think. 

With Luke’s arms around him, maybe he could just enjoy the fact that his best friend and his love didn’t hate him. In fact, they had both been in love with one another for a long, long time. 

[duckball]

episode XXIII: The Bitches Final Conspiracy

  Welcome to another eviction night here on Big Brother where while last I left I was waiting on baited breath for the results of the Field Trip and was feeling giddy about the prospect of Christie going on her BFF Tommy's HOH reign for the ultimate drama my dreams were crushed at the veto ceremony...

But First...Julie says that the past 24 hours have been a buzz with activity in the house with secrets exposed, alliances forming, and votes flip flopping what will happen tonight is anyone's guess as we cycle onto our previously on weekly recap....

It's day 58 in the house but before we get to that like I said lets us revisit the house post veto where Kat was originally Tommy's target from the start but at the end of the day he can't discount Cliff...

Cliff isn't surprised Tommy took Christie off but Kat has a tendency to survive eviction and so Cliff wants to make sure she doesn't survive this one

Kat is more nervous then ever this week then she's ever been

This is Nicole's worst case scenario as she has to choose between her two closest friends plus Sis is dressed as a giant bird and she is afraid of birds so it's a living nightmare

Kat tells Cliff to not throw her under the bus and he promises...next clip she wakes Michie up as she's paranoid...she knows she has Michie and Holly's vote and probably Jess's but she knows she needs 4 votes to stay

Tommy doesn't know who should be target for the week and converses with Christie and Nick to think of strategies for what is best for their game to make it to final three. With their sights set on bringing down Holly and Michie Cliff would be best to stay as he will jump when they ask him to where is Kat is a loose cannon and close to the duo.

Nick tells Cliff that he's leaning on keeping him in the game and pitches a 6 person alliance of the three of them (him/Christie/Tommy) with Sis, Cliff and 

Nicole with aim to pick off Holly, Michie, and Jess once Kat is gone... Cliff is game

Christie doesn't want to go to the final 6 with a couple and so all she needs is Holly and/or Michie out

Nick then pitches things to Nicole saying she's the swing vote as He, Sis, and Christie are voting out Kat and Jess, Michie and Holly more then likly are voting out Cliff which leads to more pressure on Nicole as again both of them are her best friends in the house

Holly and Michie are kind of on the outside in all this...they want Kat to stay in this game... Holly and Kat have a final two however it's a slippery slope as people think that she and Kat know one another outside the house and that the girls/Michie are in a final three

Kat tells Nicole she loves her and respects whatever choice she makes and promises that if she stays that she will protect her and Jess as THEY are her final three (um...and that final two with Holly? we don't want another bitter jury now do we?)

Nicole tells Cliff about how stressed she is and Cliff tells her of the final six that he agreed to with Christie/Nick/Tommy/Sis for him and Nicole however she doesn't feel right with Jess not being a part of this group and she trusts Jess Nicole wants to be honest with Jess and tells her about that final six deal that Cliff agreed to that leaves Jess out...Jess is kind of pissed as they don't seem to include her in anything...Nicole however would rather vote Cliff out then it would be 5 (Nicole, Jess, Holly, Michie, Kat) against 4 (Christie, Tommy, Nick, Sis) for power

It's one thing to blindside your enemies but it's another to blindside her friends as Jess tells Kat about that final 6 deal that Cliff made with the other side of the house...Kat is devastated as the Bitch or rather Bastard was conspiring against her and she goes to ask why Cliff made a deal that doesn't include Jess and Cliff tells her that he's on the block and he'll do whatever it takes and it's the only way any of 'Cliff's Angels' (Cliff, Kat, Nicole, Jess) has a chance of winning you know despite Kat being evicted and Jess being on the outside of the proposed 6 Jess then rats to Holly about the 6 being proposed that doesn't include her, Holly or Michie....Holly then tells Michie and this whole episode is a game of freaking telephone

It's so stressful for Nicole as she knows whoever she goes for it will change the vibe of the game as they know it

It is now time for the live vote and eviction where everyone is already dressed for tonight's HOH however before the competition and vote the nominees say their piece

Kat says it's her third time on the block and she's a bit sad that it's her and her 'dad' against each other. She gives Cliff props for not only fighting his way back from banishment as well as being voted out winning Battle Back and then proceeding to become HOH. His social game is also strong and yet she is the bigger threat...she gives Cliff props for that and congratulates everyone for their immunity from going up though that depends on who wins HOH because Cliff is just going to make more deals along with Nick so conspire away bitches

Cliff loves his family their love keeps him sane in a house that is sometimes filled with insanity. He loves the game that's why he signed up to play the game and to prove that age doesn't matter. He wants to stay. He's sorry that it's come to this point where he's against Kat and tells her the results are in and he's not her father.

As HOH Tommy Can't vote neither are the nominees

Nick votes to evict Kat Christie votes to evict Kat Sis votes to evict Kat Nicole votes to evict Kat

it's official with 4 votes to evict Kat is out

Jess votes to evict Cliff Holly votes to evict Kat Michie votes to evict Kat

The votes are in...by a vote of 6-1 Kat has been evicted

Julie Interview time where she comments about how Kat only hugged Jessica goodbye and about her confronting Cliff the other night. Kat knew she had nothing to loose and everything to gain by that confrontation as she knew she was going home (though she was a bit upset about having to wear the HOH costume instead of a cute dress and heels). She is loyal to a fault and believes Jess has been genuine and it sucks that she was being left out of plans. Julie can't say things as Kat is jury. Julie asks if she would choose Holly or Jess/Nicole if things came to it in the game and she said Jess/Nicole every time. With Michie she was all keep your friends close and your enemies closer and would of put him up as soon as she got the chance.

It's now time for the HOH competition... Tommy as outgoing HOH can't play...today is August 15th AKA Aug-Toberfest. It is a traditional slip and slide where they have to fill up a beer stein to grab a ping pong ball...the first person with the ball wins power

we will see who wins this competition as well as who he or she nominates on Sunday night (or you can watch the competition in real time on the Feeds) Wednesday is POV (and with OTEV last week ZingBot shouldn't be far behind!) Thursday is eviction night where we will see the third member of Jury be chosen

And now for Fantasy.... 1st Heather 26 four active players (Tommy, Michie, Nicole, Jess) 2nd Brandon -9 two active players (Nick & Christie) 3rd Kat -26 one active player (Holly) 4th Patrick -30 two active players (Sis & Cliff)

[skarletterambles]

The Mummy Returns Re(-re-re-re-re-) watch blog

I might be short a few “re-”s there, as I know I saw this four times in the theater, and plenty of times on DVD, but close enough.

Below are my thoughts, typed as I watched (while eating the pizza leftover from last night’s viewing of the first movie)...

[Disclaimers:  Spoilers for both The Mummy (1999) and, obviously, The Mummy Returns (2001)  Expect lots of squeeing and/or crying over Imhotep/Anck-su-namun.]

And here comes The Rock in his first film appearance.  All those big movies he’s been in since owe a debt to this one.  *insert sound clip of “You’re Welcome” from Moana*

Anubis needs to feed his warriors better.  They’re way too skinny.

Got to love the detail where there’s a carving of Anck-su-namun and Nefertiri in ritual combat on the wall Evy and Rick are excavating.  One of those things you don’t notice on first viewing.

“No harm ever came from opening a chest.”  Evy, I know you’re doing a cute callback, but you were there when the Americans suffered the consequences of opening the canopic jar chest in the last movie.

Since Evelyn is actually the reincarnation of the Bracelet’s official guardian, why did her taking it trigger the booby traps?  I guess that kind of role doesn’t carry over.

Oh joy, more scarab beetles.

I know we have to be able to recognize him, but it’s silly that Ardeth was spying on the Hamunaptra digsite with only a hood on.  Someone--especially Meela--would have recognized his face tattoos.  ... Wait, did I just suggest covering up that gorgeous face?  Never mind!

Rick/Ivy = relationship goals

Meela:  “And your point is?” Jonathan:  “My point is I told you so you wouldn’t kill me!” Meela:  “When did we make that arrangement?”

I wonder if she collected her snake before they left.  Otherwise the O’Connells (or their housekeeping staff) will have a nasty surprise later.

I could listen to Rick, Ardeth and Jonathan bicker and banter all day.

Notice how Alex gets annoyed when Rick ruffles his hair.  So it’s not just Imhotep’s head-ruffles he hates.  Heh.

In my drooling over Rick, Ardeth, and Imhotep I had almost forgotten that Lock-Nah is built like a brick shithouse.  Nice.

There’s a camera shot that appears to show the POV of Imhotep inside the hardened goo.  So I guess he could tell what was going on...sort of.

Both Alex and Evy recognize Curator Hafez from their time in the British Museum.  There’s room for some wacky prequel stories there.

I love that little “Eew, whatever,” reaction from Hafez when Imhotep is done declaring his love for Anck-su-Namun.  LOL

I still want to know how Meela managed to snap her fingers with her gloves on.

Imhotep recognizes Rick and roars “YOU!” and Rick clips him in the shoulder with a hail of bullets, knowing full well it won’t hurt him, just as a big “eff you, too.”  Love it.

LOL @ “Honey, whatcha doin’?  These guys don’t use doors” and “Oh, I hate mummies...”  So many funny lines in this part.

That’s twice--no, thrice--the bad guys have drawn blood on Ardeth tonight.  Leave him and his glorious body alone, you big meanies!  :P

Alex has a good point:  props to Jonathan for driving that bus safely through all that mummy battling.  (Well, mostly safely.  Better than I would have done, anyway.)

Ardeth geeking out over his first bus ride is too freaking adorable for words.

I just noticed the parallel between Rick hanging on the edge of the drawbridge, near tears in desperation as he watches the kidnappers driving away with his son, and, well...you know which scene.  Sigh.

I could watch that flashback kiss between Imhotep and Anck-su-namun a dozen times on repeat...if I could manage to time it perfectly so I could rewind before he morphs back into a mummy.  Because eew.  LOL, but eew.

Imhotep tried to be nice to Alex, talking to him as gently as he could (which is still raspy and scary, but he was trying) and explaining how the bracelet works, and in return Alex told him how his dad would kick his ass.  I don’t blame Imhotep for taking off his mask and scaring the kid then.  :p

Then Imhotep takes off his robes before attacking the mercenaries.  Freedom of movement?  The cloth wouldn’t survive the magic regeneration?  He wanted to be naked because he knew his girl was peeking through the door?  All of the above?  Who knows? 

LOL @ Meela squeamishly tip-toeing around the desiccated corpses of the mercenaries.  It’s worth it to get to the now-normal-looking Imhotep, though.  ;)

I want to slap the editors for inter-cutting the big, romantic reunion with Alex tampering with a filthy toilet.

I know Imhotep wanted to stop his minions from shooting Alex, but yeeting those guys into the pillars was totally unnecessary.  I bet he was showing off for Meela.

...  And I was too busy holding my breath and freaking out during the big duel/regicide flashback to type anything.  Oh well.

I did notice one moment where Imhotep is watching the women fight and something goes wrong for Anck-su-namun and he gives this little involuntary gasp.  Subtle, but neat.

What I like to refer to as The Look(tm) is such a great moment, though.  They actually slow down the film as Imhotep and Anck-su-namun make eye contact, drawing out that stolen, subtle moment of intimacy just like it must have felt for them.  *swoon*

Back to modern times... Once again Imhotep watches out for Alex by making Lock-Nah put him down and stop threatening him.  I mean, yeah, he’s also about to try killing the boy’s parents, so he’s not perfect, but still...  I thank that attempted head-ruffle was his way of apology...  *polishes villain-fangirl goggles*

It’s been awhile since I mentioned how breathtakingly good-looking Ardeth is.  But he is.  Just sayin’.

Imhotep looks conflicted and even a little sad when Hafez says they don’t need the boy anymore.  He doesn’t give the order to kill him, either.  Just makes a vague statement about needing the bracelet.  It may be a coincidence, but he even smirks right after someone says “The boy!”  (i.e. Alex is making a run for it).  It could just be my fangirly brain playing tricks, but I really think a case can be made for Imhotep having a soft spot for the kid.

I see Jonathan has learned the “scream at things” technique from Rick.  Alas, it didn’t save the red-robed guy from the pygmy mummies.  (I swear I know that actor from somewhere...  The red-robed guy, not the pygmy mummy.)

I can’t believe I still get a tiny bit misty-eyed at Evy’s death.  I’ve seen this movie at least ten times, and even the FIRST TIME I knew she wasn’t going to stay dead.  But man, the actors sell it.

I just noticed that after he loses his powers, but before he takes off his black robe, Imhotep and Anck-su-namun were holding hands while walking through the pyramid.  Awwwww!

Mighty brave of Rick to attack Imhotep without knowing he had lost his powers.   Luckily Imhotep’s split lip bleeds, tipping Rick off right away...and then the blood disappears in the next shot.  Yay, continuity!

Everyone remembers the Scorpion King himself as being the CGI lowlight of the film, but those Anubis warriors don’t hold up very well, either.

God bless Arnold Vosloo for doing this fight scene in a loincloth.  I’ve read how punishing it was to film without the padding that Brendan Fraser had under his costume, but the eye candy was worth the sacrifice.  Heh.

I was too busy watching to type much during the climax, but that’s just as well, as it’s hard to articulate “YAY NO OMG WOOHOO NO LOL WHAT AAAH YEAH NOOOOOOOOOOO DAMN IT.”

After the Anubis army went poof I was like, “Okay, great, we won, let’s all call a truce and get out of here before anyone else gets killed.”  But did the stupid movie listen to me?  Noooooo.  Instead, there are Rick and Imhotep, hanging onto the cliff for dear life.

Time for the worst experiment in reverse psychology ever: Rick:  “Go!  Save yourself!” Evy:  *does the opposite* Imhotep:  “Help me!” Anck-su-namun:  “does the opposite*

Sigh.

Fight or flight is a deeply ingrained response, and I just can’t bring myself to hate Anck-su-namun for going with the wrong reaction in that moment of panic.  It’s simply another facet of the tragedy that is their love story.  That doesn’t make it hurt any less to watch, though.  There are tears in Imhotep’s eyes right before he lets go.  Actual tears!   Even Rick and Evy look like they feel sorry for him!  Aaah!  I can’t take it!

As he was letting himself fall I maaaay have screamed at the TV, “Don’t make me write fanfic to fix this--oh wait, I already did.”  Heh.

Better luck next reincarnation, you two.

Then the good guys escape and live happily ever after, yada yada yada.  The end.

(And no, we don’t speak of the third movie.  It doesn’t exist.  I saw it once, was amused by Jonathan opening a nightclub called “Imhotep’s,” and found the rest totally frustrating and forgettable.  So nope, there are only two movies in this series.)

[theabominableblogger]

My Reaction to “Doom Patrol” S1E1

Yep.  We’re doin’ this! 

The scheduling for this may be on and off because of stuff going on plus the free trial for DC Universe only lasts a week so.. yeah...

Onward!

This new DC logo is and always will be my jam

I hear the writing so far for this show is pretty great so I’m on the lookout for that.

Jeremy Carver... he’s a writer for “Supernatural!”

There’s the donkey...

Alan Tudyk!

“Our story begins... as most stories do, with a visit to a Nazi.”  *snorts*

Julian Richings!  Freaking Death is a Nazi doctor!

What the frick are they doing with the audio in the experimental cage?

*jaw drops when Mr. Morden splits*

“No, not that ass.”  Pffftt....

*jams out to "Fresh” by Kool & The Gang then abruptly stops when we see Cliff*

*snorts when it smash cuts from Cliff banging the babysitter to a fountain spray*

Oh my gosh, this super saturated racing track!

“Crash and die.”  “I love you too, honey.”  Something’s up.

*jams out to “Fox On the Run” by Sweet*

*jaw drops when one of the racecars in front of Cliff flips up and towards him*

Timothy Dalton!

What the... frick?

*smiles when Cliff moves his head on his own*

“1995?”  Wait, how long has it been since Cliff’s accident?

Wait, these past few minutes have been through Cliff’s perspective?  Dang.

“Everyone deserves the truth.”  So what Chief decide to save Cliff?  He said there wasn’t much left to save except the brain.  So...

Oh my gosh they have one of those older smaller school buses!

Matt Bomer!

[California, 1961]  OK, so everyone’s from other time periods.  Interesting...

Wait, wasn’t that Alan Tudyk as the radio announcer just then?

I love how 60s this flight scene is.  From the space suit to the actual ship, everything looks so extremely sci-fi it seems fake.  It’s all for the aesthetic and it’s pretty cool.

*Cliff struggles to climb up the stairs for therapy*  C’mon Cliff...

Why is Rita so grumpy and rude towards Cliff?

“Critics, what do they know?  They’re gonna hate this show.”  *chuckles*

Gahaha the fake crocodile!

...What did she [Rita] just swallow?

*jaw drops when Rita’s face starts to sag and become gelatinous*

*smiles when Cliff manages to reach the top of the stairs and cheers*

Oh my God, the wife’s dead, isn’t she?

*jaw drops in confusion when Cliff manages to avoid the flipping racecar and wins the race*

*jaw still dropped when Cliff knocks out his manager for sleeping with his wife*

*eyes widen in shock when we see Cliff’s accident*

“I’m afraid you [Cliff] were the only survivor.”  *gasps*

This lighting for this time passing montage is great

*smiles when Rita, Cliff, and Larry set up a giant train set*

“She’s in a moood.”  *chuckles*

“[Expletive] off and die, Rita.”  *can’t help but laugh at Jane’s sudden British accent*

So she [Jane] has... 64 different personalities...

“And life in Dumb Manor proceeded accordingly.”  *chuckles*

Wait a minute, wasn’t that manor in “Hannibal?”

*jaw drops when Jane reveals the newly painted bus*

The actress that plays Rita has such sharp cheekbones that I’m afraid that if I like interact with her, she would just shatter.

Of course Rita goes to the 50s style diner...

*Jane takes Cliff to the toy store*  Aaww...

Lemme guess, Larry is gonna go to a store with a 60ish vibe?

Cliff’s shirt says “HeLLo World”

“I want a beer.”  Well how the heck is Larry supposed to drink that with a bunch of bandages around his face?

So... is Rita’s ability is that whenever she freaks out, she just melts?

*gasps when Cliff crushes Jane’s phone*

*Larry makes out with one of the engineers at the airport*   Ooooohhh...

*jaw drops when Rita turns into a giant blob*

Wait, so is Larry possessed by something?  What is that thing?

This music here is so interesting.  You have this big heroic moment when Cliff saves a school bus but the music is slow and sad.

What’s with the donkey?

So is the daughter alive or what?

Larry constantly groaning at everything is such a mood.

*silently jams out to "People Are Strange” by Echo & The Bunneymen playing when the gang walks back into the town*

*gasps when Mr. Nobody appears in the bus near Chief*

That freaking donkey....

*The donkey farts words into the sky*  Wha...

AND IT JUST WALKS OUT

Alan Tudyk is fabulous here

*gasps when Mr. Nobody creates a whirlpool in the middle of the street*

*End credits roll*  WHAT?!??

[lemoneggzmoved]

Despite the arrival of Spring, the air in Arcadia Bay still holds a lingering winter chill—doubly so in the morning. Max keeps her hands tucked in the front pocket of the slightly too big hoodie she grabbed from Chloe's closet while she waits for the bus, which seems to be taking longer to arrive than normal.

Clouds start to dot the blue morning sky by the time the bus stops and she boards it. At first, they're innocuous. White fluffy clouds, the kind in which children search for the shapes of bunnies or famous faces. Ear buds funnel soothing melodies into her brain as the bus bumps along the road. They do nothing to quell the maelstrom of emotions bubbling within her. What if there is another Max waiting for her at the lighthouse? What if her dreams have been more than just dreams?

One question runs through her head more than the others combined: what does she want?

She practically jumps out of the bus at the stop closest to the lighthouse. It's a bit of a hike away, but it's a path she's taken more times in her life than any other. Before boarding the bus, only a handful of clouds dotted the sky. Now, they encompass it in stormy grey.

"You'll get there and find nothing," Max tells herself as she starts on the dirt path. "Absolutely nothing. Just losing your fucking mind, but no surprise there."

About halfway to the lighthouse, the clouds above her split open and start spilling rain. She expects to see a translucent deer bound out of the trees and guide her again, but Rachel's spirit doesn't show itself this time.

I hope Jefferson's death let her spirit finally go to rest.

As she nears the top of the path, the rain's transformed into a storm with an intensity to rival the one that wiped out Arcadia Bay across multiple timelines.

Chloe screams on the phone, panicked and unable to halt the oncoming storm while Max stares at framed photos on a white wall.

Flash.

She focuses on the picture of Warren and her, trying not to think of Chloe in the junkyard with a bullet hole so clear in her forehead despite Max's hazy mind.

Flash.

She wonders if she should've brought Chloe with her or left more than a little note with a lie written on it, but there are so many uncertainties. It could be nothing, just a wasted trip to the lighthouse. She'll sit and clear her head for a bit, then go home and pretend everything's normal.

For now, she steels herself and tries to prepare for anything while knowing she'll never be prepared for everything.

Chloe wakes up slowly, unwillingly. It's been so long since she was able to sleep without Max thrashing from nightmares beside her that she wants to savor it.

But it's a school day and she drags herself upright, getting ready for class. The section of bed next to her is cold, but she chalks it up to Max waking up early from nightmares. It wouldn't be the first time, but she usually wakes Chloe up as well, even if it's unintentional. I must've really been out for the count if she had nightmares and I didn't wake up.

She ticks off tasks on her mental list of 'things to do before school' and reaches 'brush my teeth' before she notices the sticky note on the bathroom mirror.

Max wrote "Skipping class today for some time to think in my dorm" on it.

Chloe makes her way to the kitchen, where—as she suspects—there's no signs of Max having had breakfast. Unless someone presented food to her in the mornings, Max would forgo eating until lunch. And then she would complain between bites that she's been starving all day—at this point Chloe gets to say, "No shit you're starving. You skipped breakfast."

But Max is still having a hard time, so Chloe grabs her car keys and buys deliciously greasy breakfast from a fast food joint filled with giddiness at her intent to surprise Max. Her girlfriend—a title that still fills her with the same excitement a child feels on Christmas morning waiting to open up presents from Santa, but a title that feels incredibly natural at the same time. Like Max has always been her girlfriend, even if neither of them realized it. She makes her way to Max's dorm room and knocks with a grin wide on her face. "Breakfast is served, Max!" she calls.

She knocks again.

No one answers.

Lightning illuminates the black sky behind her like the flash of a camera as she stares at the water from the cliff by the lighthouse. "You're still there!" she yells above the harsh wind whipping strands of her short hair. "I know because I'm there too. The Dark Room isn't just physical. It's trapped us mentally."

To say it's strange looking at the back of yourself is an understatement, and Max doesn't know if she should approach this duplicate, or even if she could approach her. It feels so different from her dreams.

At this point, she feels capable of writing the novel What to Expect After Discovering You Can Fuck With Time: The Aftereffects.

Her duplicate wears Chloe's faux leather jacket, which she found on top of her satchel in The Dark Room. Max knows this because she grabbed the same jacket the first time she escaped before she set out to find Warren and change time. She knows this because her consciousness used to inhabit the body of the girl standing before her.

"It looks just like it did in our vision, doesn't it?" she asks. "Only there's no tornado this time. It already destroyed my Arcadia Bay, but I guess it feels like sparing yours."

Max doesn't know how to even address this duplicate of herself. "I didn't know that you would be left in my place," she calls above the gusts of wind. "How could I?"

Other Max turns to face her, Chloe's three bullet necklace clutched in her fist. Bullet Necklace. The same Max she's seen in her dreams. "What did you think happened?" she demands. "Did you think the timeline you left would just disappear? Did you think everything there would just stop?"

"Well… yeah. Maybe. I don't know, okay?" Max says. "How was I supposed to know it wouldn't? You would've made the same choice, wouldn't you?"

"I tried to, but it turns out my power doesn't work as well as the original's," she spits. "That's how I ended up here. I tried to save Chloe and Arcadia Bay, but I ended up fucking up the timelines because of my tampering."

"That's why small things have been changing. Your timeline overlapping with mine is applying to our personal objects," Max realizes. "Like when I woke up to find my journal as a pile of ashes on my desk. Because Jefferson burned it while we were in The Dark Room in your timeline."

"He was upset that we kicked that rolling tray and ruined his photos," Bullet Necklace adds.

There's nothing more innocent than a teenage girl's journal.

Flash.

"Is that why he was found dead in his cell?" Max asks. "Did Jefferson from another timeline swap with the Jefferson of this one?"

Bullet Necklace shrugs. "I don't know. I saw the news, too. It's the only thing that makes sense, though."

David looms over Jefferson, his gun still smoking.

Flash.

Max's head starts to feel like it's being crushed in a hydraulic press. Something warm touches the top of her lips and pours over them. She touches the skin under her nose with her fingertips and pulls them back to see blood staining them. "Why are you here?" she asks.

Bullet Necklace looks over her shoulder. "I don't know. I never meant to end up here, and I don't know how to get back," she says. "I don't even know if I want to go back. What's left for me in my timeline? Chloe is dead and my hometown is destroyed."

"Then what do you want?"

Bullet Necklace turns fully to face her. She shrugs and cracks a small smile before stretching her arms to the side and lets herself fall backwards over the cliff.

Chloe knocks a third time on Max's dorm room door. "Max?" she calls out. "Max, you in there? Are you alright?"

A soft creak draws Chloe's attention and she looks behind her to see Kate peeking out of her door. "Chloe? What are you doing here?" she asks, her voice still raspy with sleep.

Chloe holds up the fast food bags and says, "Max left without breakfast, so I thought I'd surprise her with some. Have you seen her?"

Kate steps into the hall and shakes her head. "No, I haven't. She doesn't come to her dorm often anymore. Not that I blame her after everything," Kate says. "I can barely set foot anywhere near Blackwell's pool area because of the Vortex Club. It's too much, but it gets a little better each day."

Chloe nods, not knowing what words could comfort Kate or if Kate even needed comforting based on her calm, even tone. Besides, she has other priorities like a missing Max.

"Why did you think she came here?" Kate asks.

"She left a note saying she needed time to think and was gonna hide out in her dorm instead of going to class today."

"She hasn't done that in a long time," Kate says. "Did she seem okay?"

Chloe shrugs and sets the food down. She pulls out her lock picks from Frank and tries out her minimal skills on the lock of Max's dorm. "She seemed distracted, I guess, but she has been for awhile."

The door swings open to reveal a room devoid of Max's presence, and it feels eerily similar to when Chloe was looking for Max when she was in The Dark Room.

Kate peers from behind her. "Is there anywhere else she would go to clear her mind?" she asked.

"Shit," Chloe murmurs. "Shit. Shit. Shit. Shit. Shit." She paces in the hallway for a minute before she realizes where Max went. The thought bursts into her mind with such clarity and absolution that Chloe can't believe she didn't know where Max has been this entire time.

"She's at the lighthouse," Chloe says. She closes the door to Max's dorm and rushes out of the building, leaving a sleepy, mildly confused Kate behind.

"Of course she's at the lighthouse," Chloe mumbles. She pushes her beat-up truck to go as fast as she dares on city roads. "Those dreams have been freaking her out and they're always at the lighthouse."

Between berating herself and making sure she doesn't get pulled over, Chloe prays to a God she stopped believing in years ago that she would find Max safe and sound.

Max stretches her right arm towards her falling clone and rewinds until she's standing again. "What are you doing?"

"What am I doing? What are you doing?" she counters. Blood is starting to pour from her nose as well. "It's clear that both of us can't exist here. Look around you, time is coming apart. This timeline is being ripped at its seams."

She's right. Max looks around her and sees the webbing that reminds her of pictures of neurons in biology books. It's fleshy with glowing yellow and red patterns pulsating and weaving through it like it weaves through reality. She's seen this before, when she was in her room to tear apart the photo meant for Jefferson's Everyday Heroes Competition, and another time after she woke up from one of her nightmarish visions.

The pain exploding in her head makes it difficult to think, but she wants to save this version of herself. Maybe even try to send her back to her proper timeline. She could still go back to her parents in Seattle. She could still have a relatively normal life and make new friends. Have new adventures. Have a future.

She sees Kate standing on top of the girls' dormitories, arms spread to her sides as she falls forward. But Max stops her before she hits the ground, and weaves her way through the frozen crowd and the dorms to reach the roof.

"What are you doing here, Max?" Kate asks. Her voice is strained and a little surprised.

She's upset. Even though it's raining, Max knows that Kate is shedding tears. Her head feels like it's splitting apart, but she can't give up right now. She needs to save Kate.

"I'm in a nightmare, and I can't wake up," she says. She's pleading for permission to die, like it's a simple decision that can be made with a coin flip.

But the voice isn't Kate's and Max looks up to see herself standing on the ledge, Chloe's faux leather jacket barely protecting her from the rain. A lopsided smile giving empty assurance that everything will be alright. That this is right.

"You don't have to do this," Max says. "I can get you back to your timeline. I can do something, I know I can. You just have to trust me."

Bullet Necklace shakes her head. "Haven't you done enough? It's time to let go. Look at yourself. If I stay here, you're going to die. And I probably will, too. You're covered in your own blood because your nose won't stop bleeding when I'm near. My nose is bleeding, and I'm on my way to being covered in blood as well. You know that we can't both exist in the same timeline, and you know that you can't send me back to where I belong. You don't know how."

"There has to be another way."

"There is no other way. You need to accept that and just let me go. You can't fix everything, Max."

Her mind returns to reality as she sees the copy of herself that she left behind standing on the edge of the cliff. Rachel's see-through visage appears beside Bullet Necklace and nods at Max. Her presence is peaceful like the first time Max saw her in the lighthouse and her somber expression makes her seem like an ancient spirit wondering the woods with a glowing earring to light her way. While she's not at peace like Max hoped, she at least looks to be at a different sort of peace.

She never realized it back then, but Rachel guided her all along. And she's come to guide her again, to tell her to let go of this other Max who's trapped herself in a timeline in which she doesn't belong. They've never truly met in person, but Rachel was always there when Max needed her the most. Maybe it's just the relentless pain assaulting her head that's making her see things.

Max lowers her right arm to her side. The wind whips around their hair and the hems of their clothes, but Rachel stands perfectly still, unfazed and unaffected. "This is what you want?" Max asks.

"This is what I want," Bullet Necklace confirms.

"Why?"

Bullet Necklace shrugs. "It's all that's left for me. I can't take your place here. I can't go back to my timeline. Hell, I never belonged in that timeline either. I was never supposed to exist, Max," she says. Her voice cracks at that.

"And here I've been thinking that you were going to kill me or something," Max says. She laughs, but it comes out strangled by sobs she didn't expect would surface.

Bullet Necklace laughs a bit at that, too. "I wanted to at first. I just felt so much hatred because you left me trapped in a life that was never mine, but I messed up and found myself thrown between timelines. Imagine my surprise when I get here, and you're just as miserable as I am. I thought you'd be living it up, but you weren't."

"Kinda hard. Everyone's trying so hard to help me, but—"

"But you still feel isolated from them. Like there's some invisible wall you just can't pass through and it's keeping you from really connecting to anyone," Bullet Necklace fills in for her. "Yeah, I felt it, too. In my timeline. Even with people I loved gone, it felt like those who remained were gone as well."

"I'm sorry I left you behind," Max says. "I'm sorry I couldn't save you."

"Not everyone can be saved. Just promise me you'll live for the both of us now? Maybe my consciousness will merge with yours once I'm dead, like I'm a piece of you. After all, in a way, I am," She laughs, more bitter than joyful. "Wishful thinking, right? I'm… I'm glad one of us got a happy ending, at least."

She spreads her arms out to the side again—embracing the world around her—closes her eyes, and tips backwards over the edge of the cliff until she's out of sight. Max's feels tears stinging behind her eyes and rushes over to check the bottom of the cliff.

But she finds nothing. There is no body broken at the base. There's no evidence that Bullet Necklace ever existed. Max wonders if the body was sent back to its proper timeline, but the mechanics of time travel seem to be something she'll never fully understand. All of these consequences she never imagined are throwing themselves at her and she doesn't have the answers or the knowledge to deal with them.

Chaos theory and all that, right? Shit happens because it can. Just like Chloe said an eternity ago in another timeline. In another life. Did she say it here, too? It's too difficult for Max to keep the timelines straight, especially after they started overlapping.

She feels a surprising emptiness at Bullet Necklace's absence. All this time, she expected the worst. Instead, she found a lost soul who was never meant to exist, but understood her on a level that no one else would ever be able to. It was a connection that broke through those invisible walls of isolation, but as soon as it developed, it was severed.

She wishes there was something left at the bottom of the cliff. Anything that she could keep as a memento, a reminder that Bullet Necklace existed. That she lived, no matter how short her life ended up being.

The storms dissipates into a sunny sky like it never existed in the first place. Everything is wiped away like it never happened. She's alone next to the lighthouse with a nosebleed that's tapering off, but not before she ended up covering her hands and shirt in blood. Her head feels so light, it may as well not be attached to her body. At the same time, the pain that makes her believe her brain may be tearing itself apart at the seams reminds her that her head is very much still attached.

She falls to her knees. Then to her side. Crumpling like a soda can underfoot. Then her mind plunges into the darkness of unconsciousness with Rachel's sad smile hovering over her being the last thing she sees.

[aceyanaheim]

6 Characters: Seto Kaiba, Tamaki, Charles Xavier, Alexander Hamilton, Wolverine, Ryo Bakura

dOh this one….has all my favorite characters..huh okay.

Push off a cliff: Alexander Hamilton ( I love him bu he does too much dumb shit)

Kiss:…Prolly none. Maybe Tamaki is we’re the same age cause he’s the one I can see being okay with that.

Marry: Charles Xavier if I had to chose. He’s the most financially stable…and possibly the most mentally stable lol. Also he’d totally understand a qpr where we just chill and help/raise all the mutant kids in need.

Set on Fire: Wolverine ( he’s the only one that could heal.)

Wrap a Blanket around: ALL OF THEM. 

Be Roommates with: Oh Gawd they’d all make H O R R I B L E roomates…like

Alexander would be the freaking dude who pulls all-nighters writing ( and keeps YOU up while doing so) and lives on Monster drinks so there’s nothing in the fridge when he’s in charge of groceries….and possibly does drunken-half-asleep commentary on politics which…would actually be fun.

Also “I think I’m about to cheat on my gf/wife” “How bout you don’t do that” “…yeeah I…don’t know how to do that thing you’re sayin…gonna need to crash with you after the thing’s done” “goddamit Alexander Why do you always do this at 3 AM in the morning. Don’t you SLEEP??!!”

But also I do the same thing and we’d both be messy slobs/laptop gremlins and the place would start to resemble the inside of both our heads.

Seto would ….be similar but less shitheadedness ( because he’s responsible with his self-destruction Alexander) and also probably hate me because I’m loud and jump around ( stimming) and he’s not about that and also I deep clean my place every two weeks and sort/light clean every week but in between I’m kinda like “eh it’s fine if I can find it on the floor”

and Seto…he’s pretty straight laced. I feel like after a while he’d just give me a check to cover his half of the rent and move out lol. ( Although he’d come with Mokuba so maybe it’d work out. I’m good with kids)

Tamaki would just make one too many commoner jokes and then much like Haruhi I’d have it with his rich people bullshit. “I’m about to deck the blonde outta you hair boy you want something better you go buy it” “Okay fine expect movers on the third” “THAT IS NOT EVEN REMOTELY WHAT I MEANT?????!!”

But also we’d prob’bly get along after a while because Tamaki’s a sweetheart ( albeit a bit.uh…unhealthily obsessed with how Haruhi presents but we can work on that) and then it’d just be me going “That’s a trick. Bad Tamaki don’t fall for it.” every time he doesn’t realize he’s being tricked and also hug him a lot because this kid goes through so much and someone needs to help him.

umm anyways

Wolverine would just flat out nope outta rooming with me because “I ain’t a babysitter” “Dude I’m 27″ “…right point still stands” He’s only nice to Laura and his x kids but if we were forced to room together I’d….probably WANT to help him work on his issues ( cause GOOD LORD) but just end up asking him to get drunk in his room and clean the bottles every now and then.

Also bribe him with beer and cigars to teach me to fight,

Alternatively, sick him on bad dates/every guy to ever use the word “friendzone” ever.

Although like Seto he’d probably get tired of the loud and jumping and excited “I saw a cat online!” moments I bring and move out…as soon as he can..although that may not happen as easily as with Seto because unlike Seto Logain doesn’t have a fortune at his disposal.

Ryou would probably work okay. We’re both shy and spend time alone and have….family problems ( although his are way worse because what is YGO if not tragic backstories for everyone that gets theirs told) I can see him being okay with my stimming and music and cleaning habits.

But uh…there’s the whole “I’m wearing a killer ghost” thing that I would have a problem with

Like I’m sorry Ryou you wanna room with me creepy killer necklace stays outside…..like far far far away outside. Like in a moving train headed to the opposite end of the world and also we’re changing the locks and I’m bolting my room. Yes it’s necessary. 

I’m not a white person in a horror movie and I don’t intend to play one in real life.

Like I wouldn’t room with Ryou unfortunately just on account he could be possessed. 

I ain’t about to mess with that shit.

Charles would also possibly be an easier person to room with…it would change depending on which Charles we’re talkin bout like.

Comics!Charles is old. He’s old and classy and always speaks proper english and I talk in memes half the time and think an italian sub is acceptable dinner food soooo….I’d probably try to speak like him when he’s around and talk about literature but I’d eventually want someone to play Magic with or to stay up late watching movies and he’d give me That Look. The one he gave the new mutants when they threw a party in Evo.

Now FirstClass!Xavier….would be just as down to have fun as me if not more ( cause I still haven’t been to a college party where as he…it was the first thing he did in the movie) and we’d probably BE the people staying up late and laughing at stupid shit science does. 

Both would be doable but the second one would work better.

So I guess the answer as to who I’d room with is….all of them.

[melissa-diaz]

Trying something newish

I’ve decided to actually update this blog, as a way to get into the swing of writing again, and as a place to vent about things. Nothing crazy, just some thoughts, some stories, anything that seems interesting. This journal format seems a lot more comfortable to me than the quick flash and oblivion of a tweet or an insta. It’s like seeing schools of fish flashing by on their way to swimming in circles over some coral. Journaling feels more like a big blue whale: slow and sleepy, just like me.

So, I was in our bedroom, waiting for the electric kettle to bring some water to a boil or something like that, it was so mundane I forgot what I was even doing. Maybe I was just standing there, drooling and picking my nose, daydreaming about apple pie, when I heard something slam into one of the windows with a hard thunk.

For a second I thought it might be a neighbor that Gene had gotten into a wild Russian argument with the night before, over a car that had been blocking the driveway. Maybe he’d thrown something at the window, trying to lure Gene out again, this time with some Russian friends, who knows. I peek out to see, and there’s this sparrow on it’s little back, beak hanging open, twitching, wings splayed out at weird angles. After it had smacked into the window it had fallen right on the little yellow zinc awning over the front door to the house. I felt my heart go down to my rib cage when I realized it survived. I let Gene know and he went and scooped it up off the awning and cradling it in the palms of his hands brought it into the house.

He examined the bird under the floor lamp of his worktable while I taped up an old beat up white shoebox with duct tape and and plugged holes in with a pocketknife. I padded the inside with an old white hooded sweater that had that weird fuzz on it that makes it look like it’s covered in cottage cheese and we put the little bird inside. He was still alive beak was crooked and some blood was coming out of its mouth, and he was still barely conscious, but that sort of helped us get him in the box safely.

We left the box on the work table while I looked up a nearby animal wildlife rescue that took birds to take it to. I found one near Prospect Part, that was still going to be open for another hour.

Me and Gene got in the car, I held the shoe box on my lap while we listened to the radio and talked. It was warm today, but drizzling and grey. The bird started to come back to its senses and was intermittently bouncing around in the box and then sitting quietly whenever our conversation got too loud. I think feeling that bird fluttering around in my lap, while I wonder if it’s pooping or doing something weird in there, is the closest I’ll get to knowing what pregnancy feels like. Plus it was after 5pm so we had to sit through some traffic and got there in 40 minutes in what should’ve been a 20 minute ride. People forget how to move through space when it rains. It’s like water makes people freak out and act like lurching zombies behind the wheel. Rain makes people drive like they’re trying to find a cliff to fly off of.

We got to the animal rescue place, it had a pet supply store and adoption center sort of bleeding into each other. There was one of those adoption trucks outside where there’s a side of the truck where you can see some dogs and cats laying down in a cubicle through some plexiglas. They bus them around the city I guess every day like they’re a touring rock band. There was some lady standing like a lumberjack in front of the truck who didn’t return my polite hello as we walked by.

We walked into the pet supply store side. I handed the box over to some jaded looking guy with sandy hair and inspected all the cats they had in cages along one wall by the register while Gene filled out a form like some animal police report. Dogs were baying and carrying on on the other side where the animal rescue was. There were some Guinea pigs in the back, and a huge white dove eyeballing me skittishly, which makes sense to be nervous when all of your neighbors are really spry and muscular furry serial killers.

Gene passed the clipboard back to the guy, and that was it. Time to go. Seemed like a lot to go through with a bird to just leave it like that though. I asked if there was any way to get an update on how the bird was doing. The guy looked a little friendlier at the question, but was sorry to say they was not. They would take the bird to their vet, then move it to a wildlife rescue sanctuary or something. So we drove back and put on some socks and worked through some really rudimentary machine learning programs for a few hours. There was more I wanted to write about but I don’t want to overdo it on my first post and scare you away. So I’ll save it for next time.

Bye

[whipplefilter]

(Just need some emotional headcanons right about now): What if Cruz had a small accident when she's training with Lightning one day and she gets amnesia? How would the RS townies (especially Lightning) react and how would they try to regain all her memories?

Oh no, not Cruz!

Fic: Comeback Story

The headlines have a field day with this–Lightning McQueen’s protege getting electrocuted. (And because Guido and Luigi put the hospital on lockdown, after that first shock the press has nothing to occupy themselves with but an overabundance of their own puns.)

At first, it doesn’t seem like there’s anything wrong. The nurses jump her battery and everything comes back online. When her eyes flutter open she sees Lightning and she smiles. She recognizes him. Hamilton needs to be re-installed and–Cruz notes with dismay–her radio pre-sets are scrambled, but that’s not really a problem Lightning can empathize with. She can drive without assistance and and her brakes and transmission all check out. No computer issues. Everything checks out.

“I can’t believe you’re spending so much time with me,” Cruz tells him after the first few days. She bites her lip, looks a little starstruck.

“I mean… Of course,” says Lightning, a little self-conscious. He’s never sure if he’s yet outrun the shadow of who he was his rookie year. Like maybe people still see him as that guy, or maybe when he lets his guard down he is still that guy. “I’m not gonna let you sit in here alone, Cruz.”

“But shouldn’t you be doing your own PT?” she asks.

Lightning cocks a brow.

“That’s why you’re here, isn’t it? At the hospital, I mean. Because of your big crash last week.”

“Cruz, what–” Lightning breaks off. “Cruz, I–”

He stares her down, every bright expectant inch of her. Dread clenches in his heart so hard that it feels like hitting that wall again. “Cruz, it’s–”

His gaze flicks to the doorway, where Luigi and Guido are peering in. “Never mind,” he says tightly. Then he asks Luigi to please go get Cruz’s doctor. 

Now.

–

She doesn’t remember anything. The last eight months are just gone.

It’s lucky, says the doctor. Electrocution can be wild like that–if it doesn’t burn your circuits irreparably to begin with, and kill you outright. In the scheme of things, eight months is very lucky.

The last patient she had in a similar situation? He lost three years. Had an accident working in his garage and woke up to a Lexus he didn’t recognize, thinking it was 2004. Except it wasn’t 2004. It was 2007, and he was in the middle of a divorce and the Lexus–apparently she’s his girlfriend. The girl who broke his marriage and whom he now cannot remember.

“Yeah, but–” Lightning shrugs.

Yeah, but he doesn’t care about that guy. Yeah, but these eight months weren’t like everyone else’s eight months.They were special, they–

“You’re right.” The doctor sighs. “You’re not like everyone else. Because like I said, Ms. Ramirez is lucky.”

She writes Cruz a reference for a number of follow-up appointments with this or that specialist and sends them on their way.

–

“Well, obviously,” says Sally, as she maneuvers a push broom around Wheel Well’s trickier sconces. Lightning is supposed to be washing windows, but he’s even worse at it than usual. He keeps getting lost midway, his thoughts falling back to Cruz and forgetting about the soap suds, which leave aggressive streaks on all the windows.

“Things aren’t the same, so of course acting like they are isn’t going to get you anywhere.”

“I don’t know how else to act!” Lightning exclaims. “I thought maybe if I just acted normal, it’d help her–remember, maybe, or something–I don’t know. Am I just supposed to pretend those eight months never happened? She’s not an idiot. She knows that they happened. Or I mean, she knows I know.”

They can’t just start blank slate. Time, memory, whatever you want to call it–it happened, and none of it can be undone. Even if apparently, it can be forgotten. If Lightning could just meet Cruz all over again and start at square one, he’d do it. In a heartbeat. That’s what it had taken after his crash–long months of learning his body again, learning how to make it move. Really move.

That, Lighting can do.

But memory? He and Cruz, it’s like they had their first shot at getting to know each other. There aren’t do-overs. There’s no room for that.

It’s not really memory loss, Lightning figures. Loss implies emptiness which implies a void that can be filled again.

Forgetting takes up too much space.

“Nice job with the windows,” says Sally.

When Lightning snaps to, he’s parked next to an empty bucket and Sally’s the one with the squeegee. He doesn’t remember her taking it.

–

Cruz makes better friends with the town than she ever was before the accident. Part of it’s they’ve spent so much time here. Tex pulled them from the rest of the Cup season, so they haven’t had anywhere to be. It was the right thing to do–a no-brainer, frankly–but part of Lightning still wanted to shout, No!

No, because if everything is different, then she’ll never remember what it was. Nothing will ever go back to normal.

It’s Mater who reminds him that nothing is ever going to be the same. That’s how time works. Living in a junkyard, he gets real contemplative about stuff like that sometimes, he says. He says it comtem-PLATE-ive.

Cruz is laughing with Flo and Ramone. She’s been interested in painting lately, and Ramone is only too happy to send her out to the junkyard with some of his old paints. She misses her old job at the Center; hasn’t said much at all about racing.

She knows, by know, what those eight months had entailed. Or at least, the public beats of it. Being employed to train Lighting, being in the Florida 500. Racing in the Piston Cup. Lightning hasn’t had the willpower to tell her about the beach, or the school bus of death, or rushing through the Carolina forests, all moon dark.

Cruz is already working on trying not to feel guilty about forgetting. About not caring about that stuff–she can’t; she wasn’t there; her brain now wasn’t there, anyway. The last thing she needs is more guilt.

Maybe it’s better this way, Lightning tells himself. Cruz and Sally are becoming fast friends. It’s not that they hadn’t been pleasant to each other before. But Sally’d always been Lightning’s lawyer, Lightning’s girlfriend. Old Cruz had known Radiator Springs through Lightning, and perhaps by virtue of that had always regarded them at a polite remove. Like he’d been in the way, somehow.

Maybe those memories were roadblocks. Maybe he is a roadblock.

Maybe it’s better this way.

–

Tastes, temperament. The doctor nods, tapping her front tire on the ground as she lists things off.

Yes, all of those things can change after an electrocution. Electrocution is–

“Wild. Yes, you said that,” says Lightning, impatient.

Electrocution is wild, and the mind is wilder. Sometimes it changes in utterly random, unpredictable ways. Silly ways. Cruz likes Pearl Jam now. She’s thinking of painting herself green, because she doesn’t know if yellow really feels “like her.”

Not that it’s any of Lightning’s business what color Cruz is, but it’s this kind of stupid stuff that makes him want to drive off a cliff. In lieu of a cliff, he resolves to go red again. He doesn’t think he can handle this otherwise.

–

Lightning feels himself unspooling. Which is unforgivably selfish, because this is Cruz’s issue, this is Cruz’s journey, and this is not about him. But it’s like even his version of those memories begins to fray and tangle. Like maybe now they were only half as real. Like maybe they belonged to some other universe, and their power dwindled as their home planet receded to its outer orbit. (This is a Mater analogy. Something about UFOs. Lightning’s not really sure, but at the time, and in Mater’s words, it had felt like a lot of sense.)

He can feel himself drawing back. Back through the dread, the threat of failure, the frustration. Back to the four months he’d spent sitting in Doc’s garage–Doc’s garage that was still a garage because Lightning hadn’t let them expand the museum, because Lightning is hopelessly slow to let go of things like that.

As the weeks pass and Cruz’s new memories paper ever-thicker over the old ones, Lightning ties his best to keep to that pace.

But he’d needed her. That Cruz. Old Cruz. He’d needed those moments.

He still has them, he reminds himself.

He’s not the one with freaking amnesia.

Sally tells him it’s okay to feel the way he does. “If you really care about someone, and they go through something terrible, it’s natural to feel wrecked, too. Believe me.”

Lightning looks at her, wants to kiss her. Wishes he’d never met her. Wishes he’d never wished about never meeting her, because he knows he cannot live without her. And he knows exactly why Sally might know how he feels. “Sal, I’m so sorry.”

Sally shakes her head. “Stop. I can see you missing the point,“ she says. “Lightning, you have to be kind to yourself.”

–

Cruz may never recover those memories, says the doctor. If she can build a life without them, then maybe that’s for the best.

“She can,” says Lighting, because he believes that Cruz can do anything. Except, maybe, remember. “She is.”

“So, your doctor is nice,” says Lighting, on the drive home.

“Sure,” says Cruz.

“Nice weather.”

“Lightning, come on.”

Lightning, not Mr. McQueen. Because everyone back home calls him Lightning, so now Cruz does, too. He never imagined his own name could sound so awkward, magically less familiar. He hadn’t even liked being called Mr. McQueen. But he’d liked what they’d had. He can’t help that.

He doesn’t know if he can get over that.

“I’m sorry I don’t talk to you so much,” says Cruz, turning him back to the present. “I guess I just– It feels hard, you know? ‘Cause I know that you and I, we– And I just–”

“I know,” says Lightning.

Maybe if he were older, this wouldn’t be so hard. Eight months weighed against a couple decades–that’s nothing. And they have so much more time to make more memories together. And that’s a positive, right? That’s a bright patch, a silver lining.

It doesn’t make Lightning feel bright, though. It makes him feel old. Now he feels too tired to make friends with Cruz all over again.

He wants what they had.

–

One night, Cruz wakes up screaming. She doesn’t remember her nightmare.

What she cries about afterwards is this: What if she does remember? One day, after all the work she’s done to be okay with forgetting. To make some new life. What if she does remember and her whole life turns into a giant fork in the road?

“I’d explode,” she sniffs. “But like, you’re supposed to want your memories back. In the movies, that’s what makes everyone happy.”

In Lightning’s mind that’s what makes everyone happy.

“But I can’t just sit around, hoping that maybe that happens. I’m here, and I gotta just–be me, and not keep trying to hold on to the past. Like, I don’t even have it–I can’t hold onto it. But every memory I make, at the back of my mind I keep wondering, what if I do? What it it happens? And every day, every memory, I know I’m just going to make it worse if it ever does happen. And I just–”

“Shhh,” Lightning murmurs. He nudges her side gently and taps a pleasant vibration against her front tire with his own.

There’s not really anything he can say to her, and it seems foolish to try. He’s her crew chief, not like, her fairy godmother. Or a psychic. Or a time traveler. Or God.

But he stays with her. They sit in the dark together and it doesn’t feel like old times but it doesn’t feel like less.

“I think you’ll be okay,” he says eventually. “And you’re definitely not going to explode. So, uh, there’s that.”

Cruz does not believe him. At all. “What if I remember, and I regret leaving all those memories behind? What if I’m just like, shoot, I should have just waited for them to catch up? What if those memories just turn into one big fiery ball of regrets? And then I explode? I mean, you can’t scientifically prove that won’t happen.”

“Oh, never wait for anything to catch up,” Lightning says immediately. “You start doing that, and life’s just gonna lap you.”

“That’s very sage, Mr. McQueen,” says Cruz.

“I think I meant that really, really literally,” Lightning admits. “Wait, what did you just call me?”

“I called you Mr. McQueen,” Cruz repeats sleepily. “I dunno. It just felt right.”

–

It’s been eight months and thirteen days since Cruz’s accident. The doctor reminds them, once more, that her memories may never return.

But even if they do, there’s no turning back the clock. There’s no “back to normal.” Normal is already here. It’s Cruz’s paintings hanging in Mater’s yard. It’s her late-night jam sessions with Fillmore. It’s being Sally’s best friend. It’s nightmares, all the time, about nothing. It’s that pang of loneliness Lightning feels sometimes, even when Cruz is bouncing right in front of him, even when he’s surrounded by family and friends. It’s that strangeness that never quite leaves.

Because memory is “–wild, I know, you say that every time we come here,” say Lightning and Cruz in unison. The doctor blushes.

There is no going back to the way things were. But, Lightning figures, that’s not what “comeback story” means.

Never has.

[domhovasse]

Bitches in the Balkans.

The Balkans has been a region of the world that’s been on my radar for a while now. It’s not a region of Europe thats not quite as popular amongst tourists, is therefore less expensive that most other regions in Europe, and has warm weather & beaches, so when I found out that Gaby and Timnit could join me or some travelling, I KNEW this was where we would go. 

After arriving in Belgrade around noon on Saturday, I checked into my hostel and spent the afternoon at the Yugoslavia museum and then wandering around a little, before my friends arrived at 7pm. We just missed a period of non-stop rain so the streets were still quite flooded and it was quite chilly out. That evening we did some bar hopping, and ended off the night at various bars that float along the river, called Splavs. The folllowing day, we took part in a walking tour, learned about the history of Yugoslavia, the relationship between Serbia and Kosovo. The tour took us through most of the historic city center, and ended at the fortress overlooking the confluence of the Danube and Sava rivers. After lunch we spent some time napping in a park, before visiting the Nikola Tesla Museum and eventually eating the most delicious and coupious amount of food possibly that I’ve ever had in my life.

That night, we made our way to Sarajevo, capital city of Bosnia & Herzegovina, which was probably the most eye opening part of the trip. It was quite somber walking through the Museum of Crimes Against Humanity and Genocide and learning about the city’s dark & recent history, then going on a walking tour and being able to actually see physical damage (bullet holes) that was done to a lot of the buildings, which have not been repaired yet due to finances and legal reasons. We got hit with quite a bit of rain the Sarajevo, so we often took some breaks for Bosnian Coffee or a glass of wine at a sky bar. We also made a visit to the Tunnel of Hope (sort of like the Cuchi Tunnels in Saigon) that we’re used during the war for protection and safe transportation of goods. We met the most wonderful people in Sarajevo, notably an elderly man who let us into a museum 30 minutes after closing, (after having walked 15 minutes in the pouring rain), and the owner & employee of a bar we’d found, who spent hours talking to us after closing, telling us about their lives and their country, and offering us a round of drinks.

Mostar was quite touristy, (mostly Chinese tourist on day trips from Croatia), but we made sure to avoid the city center / Bazaar during peak hours. We visited a beautiful cemetery overlooking the city, and took a taxi to Blagaj, an old Muslim dervish house that sits on a cliff and river, where we got completely rained on. In the evening we partook in a walking tour, where we learned about the conflict/separation between the Bosnians and Croats in the city of Mostar. There are 2 of everything : school, hospital, church, mosque, one on each side of the divide. There is only 1 school right on the separation line / ’no man’s land’ where you can find a mix of Bosnians and Serbs, and where all classes are mixed together except for language and history. Mostar was definitely the city where there were the most abandoned/damaged buildings remaining from the war.

What touched us the most about Bosnia was its people and their incredible hospitality & openness, despite their gruesome past.  

The middle chunk of our trip was spent in Croatia & Montenegro, where we got very little sleep, but lots of sun!! After a few hours in Split, grabbing lunch and wandering around the old town and pier, we boarded our ferry to the island of Hvar. Hvar was a really good time - we met a bunch of people, ate some good food and spent lots of time on the beach, hanging out at beach bars and dancing our butts off.

On top of our lack of sleep and terrible hangovers, it was excruciatingly hot in Dubrovnik and very difficult to find shade, so after our respective walking tours in the morning (my friends did the Game of Thrones tour while I just did a regular tour), we spent the rest of the day trying to stay indoors, and eventually took a taxi to this amazing lookout point at the top of the mountain before heading to the bus station to kill time before our bus to Montenegro.

Kotor was one of my favourites. Not only is it breathtakingly beautiful, but we had a really good hostel experience and were so close to extending our stay an extra night! We spent our day wandering the old town, then hopping on a boat which brought us to the picturesque town of Perast and the beautiful island In the middle of the Bay, called Our Lady of the Rocks. Around sundown, Timnit and I ventured up to the fortress for an incredible view of the bay. It was definitely one of the most beautiful views I have ever seen! 

Budva was super chill, since there’s not much to do besides the beach. It kind of felt like a Cancun of the Balkans - very built up city with resorts, casinos and lots of partying. I ended up wandering around the old town on my own for a while because Timnit and Gaby both had work to do on their computers. I walked the city walls and visited the citadel overlooking the water, and then went to the beach with Gaby for a bit before walking along the beach and grabbing diner all together. On our last morning in Montenegro, I made the girls wake up at 5am to squeeze in a visit to Mount Lovcen before making our long journey to Prizren, Kosovo. We got there an hour before it opened (of course none of us thought to look at the opening times ahead of time), but the lovely man running the gate let us in early because there were quite a few people who were waiting there with us. We climbed the 461 steps to the Mausoleum of a famous Serbian/Montenegrin poet and philosopher, behind the mausoleum was a path that led onto a lookout point. Along the way, I lost both of my friends to their fear of heights, and honestly they really missed out cause it was incredible! We got our taxi to drop us off at the bus station in Budva, and then killed some tiime before beginning our long journey to Kosovo.

The last 4 days of my trip were really hot, so we ended up spending alot of time indoors. Gaby and Timnit were both working during our trip so we spent a few hours every day in a cafe, escaping the heat and being productive. Kosovo was really interesting! We spent 1 day in Prizren, 'the cultural capital', and a day in Pristina, the capital city with a population of 210,000, the average age being 25. (65% of the whole country's population is under the age of 35). There’s not a ton to do tourism-wise so we spent a lot of time sitting in cafes and bars, and in Pristina, the capital city, we decided to do a walking tour to get an overview of the city and learn a bit about its history. I’ll never forget getting chased around by a stray dog for 30 minutes, and all the locals laughing at the fact that we were so freaked out.

Overall, I was really impressed with how many western-influenced restaurants/bars there were and how western a lot of the people were dressed. Kosovars are a little obsessed with America, so most speak pretty good English, and there's even a huge statue of Bill Clinton in Pristina. He's considered a hero because he played a huge part in their liberation 20 years ago. During our trip we'd only met one person (right at the end of our trip) who had plans on going to Kosovo, so it was cool to be one of the few to experience this bit of unchartered territory.

From Pristina, we took a short bus ride across the border to the capital city of Macedonia, Skopje. We didn't originally have plans to make it to Macedonia, but the cheapest flights home (by a landslide) were from Skopje, so we decided to spend some time there before flying home. After arriving in the evening and checking into our hostel, we headed to a restaurant which had been recommended to us by a hostel worker. Thank God he recommended it because it we had some of the best food ever, followed by one of the best nights of the entire trip. Long story short, the restaurant had live music and essentially turned into a bar full of locals, singing and dancing, the servers offered us free shots, which essentially turned into bottom-less free shots, and by the end of the night, we were riding around the streets of Skopje in a convertible with a bunch of locals, blasting music and singing at the top of our lungs. We spent most of the next day on a walking tour, then eating, drinking beers and hanging out with some solo travellers we had met on our walking tour. That night, we had a big dinner all together in a fancy restaurant, where we all treated ourselves to the most delicious 10€ steaks, then went to a Karaoke bar before saying goodbye to Gaby and Timnit. They both had very early morning flights that night/morning, and mine wasn't until 6pm, so I spent my last day with one of our new friends, taking a cable car to the top of Vodno mountain, and then visiting a museum before heading to the airport in the late afternoon. 

My journey home was extremely long because my flight was 1 hour and 15 minutes delayed, and then I had to take an hour and a half bus ride to Paris from Beauvais airport, but hey I guess that's what I get for a 15€ flight!  

I’m feeling really appreciative to not only have the opportunity to travel, but also to be able to do it with my friends who I've known for over 17 years! We had so much fun together laughing and learning, just like we did together in elementary school.