#4) had an afternoon tea planned with mum and her friends and was looking forward to it for a month and only eating out this month

[yukipri]

feelin kinda sad so eating an obscene amount of pasta

[secret-rendezvous1d]

D E C E M B E R  4 T H

REQUEST What if the missus gives Harry a gift on December 1st and it’s like an advent calendar but each day is a new position/place to have sex up until Christmas.

This is quite a short little something; I apologise. 

I didn’t have too much time to write this one properly and I’ve got a few busy days coming up so I need to write a lot of other stories  for Blogmas so that I can post them on a queue without needing to be here - there may a chance that a few more of the stories will be short and sweet but straight to the point in what was requested. 

My mobile masterlist also unlinked all my links so I’ve got that to work on, too, so I’m all a bit rushed around. There will be a new masterlist coming that you will be able to access as soon as possible; you just need to bear with me on that.

Feedback is welcomed, as always - please let me know what you think of my pieces, send me any constructive criticism you think would help out, any ways to make my writing better, anything. It really helps me and keeps me motivated to write and we get to work as a team to make things better, for me to write and for you to read.

Enjoy! x

D e c e m b e r  1 s t  2 0 1 8.

The sweet smell of cinnamon filled the air.

And there was a distinct smell of fragrant dates and fruity currants and a thick scent of rum that had been mixed together in a bowl, baked in the oven and laid to rest underneath a thick and white-fondant marzipan, packing in a tin and ready to be devoured on Christmas Day with cream or custard. Every moment he took a deep inhale, his belly seemed to rumble from just how gorgeous their home smelt.

This time of the year was his favourite time of the year; it always had been, ever since he was a little boy and old enough to understand what the spirit of Christmas was and just who Santa Claus was to the world. He loved when the weather got colder and he could bundle up in warm jumpers and wear woollen socks around the house to keep his toes warm, without someone commenting on why the hell he was dressed so warmly; when the nights got longer and the sun set in the afternoon and gave the atmosphere a certain darkness that was dark enough for people see the Christmas lights decorating the high streets; it made him feel feel so warm and cosy and brought out the best in him; the weather made him feel happy and excited to be able to spoil his loved ones with gifts that showed his affection. And when it came to his wife, he loved that he could spoil her with all of his love and all of his affection and he could give her any length and any type of cuddle during the day and could have all the intimacy, in the world, that always seemed to spike when this time of year came around - the cold always did something to their hormones... but they weren’t complaining. Christmas meant he was surrounded by his friends and his family, Jeffrey gave him weeks off of work to be there in the cold heart of London, and he loved that he could take advantage of that.

Time off meant he could do the things he had always dreamed of doing with a partner, for his own home, to celebrate the holiday that they were planning to spend together. Christmas-tree shopping in garden centres and taking the tube to see the lights of Oxford Street whilst doing some window-shopping along the way, jumping in the car and singing Christmas songs on the drive to a 24-hour drive-thru that they had been craving and hopping on a train to head down to Surrey so they could spend time with the ones they didn’t see so much and could devour a roast with his aunt and uncle, gathering with their friends and hitting Hyde Park’s Winter Wonderland for the night... with a busy schedule all year around, it felt nice to have the end of year to recuperate.

Evie purred on his lap as he nudged the tips of his fingers into the top of her head, rough but gentle enough, as the feline idly smiled with delight. Her tiny, black and white paws pawing at the polyester of his plaid pyjama bottoms and her claws catching the threads as she pushed against his thighs to find a comfier position; her ears twitching every so often when the tinkle of bells filled the silent living room, after having echoed around the kitchen, from a radio station that YN had switched on to use as background noise whilst baking a variety festive goods. Her whiskers tickling the underside of his wrist before she curled up in the dip where his thighs met. Socked feet kicked up on the arm, slippers kicked off and paired together underneath the coffee table, and the blanket, that was previously tucked up around his body to keep him warm, was thrown over the back of the sofa.

“Surprised you’re not out in the kitchen with your mum whilst she’s got all the food out. Forever trying to nick the currants from my porridge in the mornings, little lady,” he hummed, catching Evie’s drowsy face, giving her head a blurring shake before resting her chin on the pudge of his stomach, “did you just fancy a cuddle with daddy, huh? Fancied watching the telly? Or are you here because I give you too much fuss? You’re a spoilt little darling. Spent far too long with your Nana Anne, haven’t you? Whilst mummy and daddy were off travelling the world on tour. Demanding lots of love.”

“Will you stop talking to the cat? She won’t ever respond,” he heard from the room adjacent to him, a hint of a smile in her voice, and he dragged a curled finger down the cheek of Evie’s furry face, “and, now that you’re awake and no longer milking how tired you are, will you come and help me with this? It’s difficult to take photos along the way and I can’t keep switching between mixing and kneading and taking photos. My camera is getting all mucky. You’ll have to buy me a new one for Christmas.”

“Would you be so upset if I said that Elf has just started and that I want to watch it so badly because I’ve been looking forward to December for this exact moment?” His attention drifted to the television screen that brought up a scene of Will Ferrell dressed in a bright green elf-costume, with yellow accents, and looking to be the tallest in a situation that he just he didn’t belong in amongst the other of Santa’s helpers; it had been his favourite film for as long as he could remember. One that he liked to curl up and watch when his school day had finished, eating a fresh batch of muffins that his mother had made during the morning. One that he liked to watch with his sister on Christmas Eve whilst drinking hot chocolates and chucking marshmallows at one another as the quoted the most iconic lines. One that he could recite off by heart and would drive his father insane because he just couldn’t help himself. And it was the one film that he wanted to show off to his children in the future - to sit down with his wife and his own children and eat treats that they made and drink hot chocolates, together and as a whole family, as they snuggled beneath a blanket and sat before the fire... and to know that YN, who was once the girlfriend that he had willingly shared the tiny glimpse of their possible future, loved the film almost as much as he did. “You know how much I love this film.”

“You know how much I love Elf, too,” he heard her huff, “why can’t we record it and then watch it later on? When we’re not doing anything and get to be lazy? We can order in a takeaway pizza and then drink hot chocolates with the tiny marshmallows that I have left over.”

“Can we eat whatever you’re making?”

The house had fallen silent and he only realised once he heard her slippers scuff along the floor, brushing her hands on the front of her, already dusted with flour and the odd flecks of dough, apron. A picture of an elderly lady, with thin-rimmed glasses and grey hair, who identified herself as Mrs Claus, was printed on the front with the words ‘Have Your ‘Elf A Merry Christmas’ - which had made him chuckle when he saw it in the store and had thought of how she would enjoy the pun just as much as he did - in beautiful, candy-cane coloured script that arched above her head. Her upper body leaning over the back of the sofa.

“Not all of what I’ve been,” she grinned, “there is a lot that I’ve made since you’ve been asleep and we don’t need your dicky tummy playing havoc over the next week or two-” she have the side of his belly a pat and got a side-eye from Evie who looked displeased at being woken from her sleep. “-I’ve got one box for us to share and then the rest I’m going to give to my parents when we see them this weekend, your sister and Michal when they come round tomorrow for lunch, your aunt and uncle when we go to their Christmas party next week, and your mum to take home when she comes up in a few days.” She ran a sticky hand over his forehead and brushed his fringe away from his forehead, little amounts of flour catching between the strands. “You look very cosy.”

“I would feel a lot cosier if you took a break from whatever you were doing and came and cuddled with me. It’s cold, I’m tired and me and Evie want you to come and take some time out,” he looked down at the cat, who was now purring and sending tiny vibrations through his belly, “she would agree if she was awake.”

“I’m sure she would,” his wife giggled and brought her hand from Harry’s flushed forehead to Evie’s soft fur. Stroking the patch between her two ears and digging her fingertips into her skull; her purrs sounding so loud and vibrating through her body, toe-beans flexing as her way of showing how pleased she was, “give me a few minutes. I’ll get my last batch in and cool the one that is in the oven and then I’ll be in.”

“Could you make some tea and bring that in, too?” He asked and she scoffed at his cheekiness, pinching his nose as it scrunched up and brought his eyes to a squint, “please? Mine went cold when I fell asleep.”

“Fine,” she sighed, “make some room for me.” She spun around and walked back towards the kitchen, halting abruptly in her path and turning her upper body to look over her shoulder, shooting him one last statement before she went back to her baking. “Oh, I have an important present to give you later, by the way. Don’t let me forget.”

And god, he didn’t forget.

‘An important present’ was all she needed to say to him to make sure that her instruction, on not letting it go forgotten when she didn’t remember, was handled correctly.

Okay, he may have forgotten until later in the evening... but, hey, he still remembered!

Stretched out upon the sofa, his ankles rested on YN’s thighs, crossed and with feet clad in the warmest of socks (that had been a tradition to wear, on the first of December, every year), his attention diverting between the television and the book held in his hands. Glasses on the bridge of his nose. She was busy scrolling through her phone, casually sipping on a glass of wine, his own glass sitting on the coffee table and a distinct difference from the tea he’d been sipping on throughout the afternoon. On the telly, someone had exchanged a gift to another and that was what had prompted him to remind her.

“S’this important present you need to give me?”

She gasped and almost spat her gulp of wine, holding her glass under her chin as she looked him, eyes wide and her hand in a rush to push his feet away from her. The soles hitting the floor as he swung his body around and sat up, closing his book and dog-earing the page, placing it on the shelf beneath the glass top, upon a pile of magazines and newspapers.

“Christ, yes. I forgot,” she muttered, setting her wine glass on the table and standing to her feet, leaving her phone behind on the sofa cushion as she darted in the direction of the stairs, “thanks for reminding me!”

“Couldn’t forget,” he snorted.

Through the floorboards, and the ceiling above him, he could hear her enter their bedroom and have a quick rummage around something - that he presumed to be the vanity drawers... - to find what she had hidden away from him. Skilfully, of course, because he used those vanity drawers and had yet to stumble upon anything that looked out of place. A wrapped present definitely being on that list.

She was quick back down the flight of steps, with something rattling in her hand, and he slipped his glasses back up his nose. A grin, that he tried to diminish but couldn’t because he rather excited to see what she had, sitting on his red-painted lips, teeth having turned purple around the gums from drinking the wine they’d cracked open, as his green eyes watched her every move.

“Someone spoke about this in a problem-page in a magazine I read at the hairdressers the other week. It was a suggestion on how to have better sex, and I know that we have great sex and it’s always adventurous and we get up to a lot, but I liked the idea and I thought it would be something you’d want to try out,” she smiled. A big in length, thin in width box was held in her hands, her eyes holding nerves as he took it from her, “it’s an advent calendar. Just, not the usual kind of advent calendar you would expect. No chocolate in it or anything.”

“An advent calendar that isn’t chocolate?” He gawked in disbelief, the wiggling of his fingers apprehensive as they picked at the flap and pulled it from within the cardboard, “what kind of awful advent calendar did you buy me?”

“It’s not awful!” She cried out.

“It has no chocolate. It’s awful,” he teased. Her body collapsing to the space beside him, with a heavy huff being pushed out powerfully from her lungs, with a frown on her face and her arms folded over her chest. She tried not to watch him as he opened it; it definitely wasn’t an awful present, let alone an awful advent calendar, but he was teasing her and she had to show how ‘frustrated’ that made her. But she couldn’t help but let her vision hide in the corner of her eyes, watching him discreetly as he pushed the cardboard to the floor and set the calendar on his lap. “It’s just... plain?”

“Open number one.”

His finger dragged along each closed door as he read each bold number that his tip passed over, stumbling upon number one and wasting no time in breaking the seal and opening the flap. The word ‘cowgirl’ in black cursive sitting heavy on his tongue; what on earth was this advent calendar and why did YN buy it for him, knowing he would ‘like it’? His green eyes homed a look of confusion as he looked between the white cardboard and her intrigued face, looking curiously as him, watching the cogs turn in his head as he tried to figure out what the hell she had gifted to him.

“Wha-”

“It’s a sex advent calendar,” she clarified, sitting up and leaning forward, elbows resting upon her knees. A cheeky grin on her mouth as he let out a scoff and laughed, cheeks flushing pink and looking back at the word printed on the small, square-shaped door. “You open this up, every day, and it tells us what position we should have sex in. Sometimes we can never decide and,” she reached over and squeezed his knee, “this way, it decides for us.”

“Like some strange magic-8 ball that decides people’s choices?” He snorted.

“Exactly like that, yeah,” she nodded, giggling sweetly as he shook his head from side to side with absolute disbelief, “not such an awful present now, is it, hm?”

He placed it on the coffee table and slung his arm around her shoulder, pulling her to his chest and pressing an open-mouthed kiss to her temple, groaning happily into her ear before falling to the sofa cushion and squeezing her to his body. Her legs curled up and her knees collided with his chest as she hugged him back with a tight grip.

“I take back all that I said. The best early-Christmas present, ever.”

[maraudersmessrs]

Remus Lupin and the Prisoner of Azkaban--- Chapter 22: Waning Storm

Ao3 link

Chapter 1 / Chapter 2 / Chapter 3 / Chapter 4 / Chapter 5 / Chapter 6 / Chapter 7 / Chapter 8 / Chapter 9 / Chapter 10 / Chapter 11 / Chapter 12 / Chapter 13 / Chapter 14 / Chapter 15 / Chapter 16 / Chapter 17 / Chapter 18 / Chapter 19 / Chapter 20 / Chapter 21 / Chapter 22 / Chapter 23 / Chapter 24 / Chapter 25 / Chapter 26 / Chapter 27 / Chapter 28 / Chapter 29 / Chapter 30 / Chapter 31 / Chapter 32 / Chapter 33 / Chapter 34

(Disclaimer: all of the dialogue in the second half is directly from the book)

“Alright.” She straightened and turned a desk chair about, gesturing to it. He made his way over, slowly, and sat while she gave him a quick once over, then she sat on a bed across from him. “What brings you in today, Remus?”

“Lily.” He answered truthfully. It was supposed to come out wry, but he feared his tone was merely dull.

Poppy froze a moment and he could see her looking at him, hard, searching her memory. Then, she relaxed. “Ah. I see.”

Rising, she wove around him and he watched as she bustled around the room, collecting things from shelves, the windowsill in her office. “I believe Miss Evans would be thrilled that she’s compelling you to take care of yourself from beyond the grave. Here,” she dropped a hunk of chocolate the size of a bludger in his hand in passing. “Gnaw on that. I’m not surprised this is happening now, to be honest. There can sometimes be side effects from the Wolfsbane potion that we are not fully aware of, as it’s so new. And I know that this close to the moon tends to catch you in a low mood anyhow.” She put the back of her hand to his forehead. “Is there anything else that might be contributing?”

Remus watched the chocolate as he slowly passed it from hand to hand to keep it from melting. “Sunday was Halloween. With Sirius and…” he trailed off.

“Heavens, it was, wasn’t it?” A look of reluctant enlightenment crossed her face before she shook herself and slowly moved her wand tip around his head, checking her watch. “Well...I’m glad that you’re coming in for help. Eat,” she added, warningly. “It’ll help.”

He almost protested that he hadn’t even been near the Dementors when the memory of Neville doing the same thing in his office surfaced accusatorily and, guiltily, he started in on it.

He left the Hospital Wing an hour later full of chocolate, empty of words, and with a strict order to rest the day of the full moon. Poppy seemed to think that something like a perfect storm had happened with certain side effects of the Wolfsbane potion, the impending Change, the happenings of Halloween, and his own depression. She had packed him off a Cheering Elixir, that he had been convinced to take once she had invoked the reminder of his status--Professor. “And what would you tell one of your students to do, hm?” Yes. He needed to be able to function.

Over the course of the rest of the day, the edge of the nothing pit softened into a slightly more manageable melancholy. The storming rose to a pitch, rattling the windows with the wind and crashes of thunder. The day of the full moon was rough, painful, and nauseating but it always was. He pushed through. The Change was literally bone breaking and soul wrenching, but…it always was. There was nothing else to do but press on. He dutifully took his small armada of potions Madame Pomfrey had assigned him over the course of the year.

Waking up became incrementally easier over the next few days and the presence of other people gradually became more welcome. The storms had cleared after the day of the Change and pale sunlight was seeping in the windows, heralding the cold turnover from autumn to winter. He had been invited to tea with Hagrid again--who assured him that it was tea, this time--and he was slightly pleased with himself that he accepted. Once again, Hagrid managed to make him smile a bit, and fed him some home baking, which proved to be...a task to ingest. But he managed. Mostly. A pity Fang was so afraid of him, he would have bribed him under the table with the food to help him finish it.

He attended the mandatory staff meeting where Dumbledore briefed all who were not present at the Quidditch match that had gone horribly wrong; Dementor invasion, Harry falling off his broom from the sky, his broomstick smashed against the Whomping Willow. How can this boy hope to gain an education when he’s being assaulted constantly? The other Professor’s expressed their concern, confusion and outrage at their strange behavior. Apparently, the Dementors had been itching to come closer to the castle, having been relegated to the entrances and very outskirts of the grounds, far from any sort of joy or human emotion. They were growing impatient. They were growing hungry. The cold, expressionless fury that sat like a chill mirror behind Dumbledore’s normally warm eyes as he relayed the tale shook Remus. He knew that Dumbledore was a great wizard, more powerful even than Voldemort but rarely was he ever reminded quite so blatantly; there was a force to his anger that was undeniable. He almost felt sorry for the Dementors. But not quite.

It tightened his chest to know that the Dementors’ affects overwhelmed Harry so totally. Voldemort, Sirius, the Dementors; he was under attack so consistently that it was a wonder that the boy had any courage or trust at all. But he had seen him laughing with his friends, showing keen attention in classes, resisting digs from bullies. Speaking of….Dumbledore had informed him that Snape had covered his missed day and he had had to contain his grimace at what that would mean for his...opinionated Gryffindor class. He hoped that Neville had fared alright. He hoped that Harry hadn’t had too hard of a time. Longing to support and help the boy was an ache that felt deeper than his bones; he felt it as keenly as he felt the chill after the Change, as he always did. But fear, doubt, and the knowledge that he was not worthy as a guardian to this boy kept him back, at arms length. What could Remus offer him that he did not have in Hogwarts and Dumbledore? He was a stranger, a man who held a fragment of his past that had been...absent. What claim did he have to any hope for the boy’s trust?

Stoutly, he stifled the impending backwards slide into despair and stoked a fire in his office. He returned to his rooms to let the heat collect while he searched for layers to don while he waited for his afternoon class. As he was digging through his clothes, his fingers hooked into something soft and he hesitated, then carefully drew it out. It was a long, faun-colored scarf, slightly pilled and worn, but still thick. Peter had given it to him, long ago, after he had noticed Remus’ tendency to bundle up after the full moon. His round face had flushed a bit as he admitted that he had knit it himself, that his mum had taught him. Remus ran his thumb over it, staring down sightlessly. Peter.

He always seemed to be slightly eclipsed in Remus’ memory; eager, short, quietly kind, but always elbowed back by the powerful personalities of James and Sirius. It had been him that had pushed for them to include Peter more, when he had seen the boy lurking wistfully at the fringes of their group. He knew what it was to be alone. To be outside. He never wanted that for anyone else. Poor Peter. Even his death was slightly over-shadowed by the sudden, shocking tragedy of Lily and James’s murder the previous day. An afterthought. But he of all people had been the one to find Sirius, to confront him, had shown his true courage at last and had been horribly slaughtered for it. Blasted apart with a street full of innocent people. The memory of Peter was always shaded with regret; I should have done more. More time should have been spent with him, spent on his memory, his sacrifice.

You have this opportunity to do something, now, something in him warned. Do not waste it.

No one should be alone. He would talk to Harry.

A few hours later, he reluctantly stopped soaking in the warmth of his fire and set himself up at his desk in the classroom. Happily, something in him seemed to have woken up and shaken off even more of the cloying weight of the previous week, for his smile as the first few students poked their heads in was genuine. Every entrance to the classroom seemed to be preceded by a strange, furtive peeking around the door frame and it took him a while to realize that they might have been expecting Professor Snape again. He then made sure to stay in full view of the doorway, after that. When it seemed everyone had taken their seats, he cast a smile around at them and it was like a bomb detonated, for everyone started to clamor and complain all at once. Through the storm of noise he gathered that Severus had been, well, Severus, and that he had skipped forward to lessons on werewolves.

At that, a cold wash went through him and he felt the smile drop from his face. With a great deal of control, he wrestled the sudden, overwhelming panic that was trying to run rampant through him. He saw only indignance, anger, and relief in the faces across from him. No suspicion, no disgust, no distrust. No one knew. No one guessed. As he was sure was Snape’s plan. I cannot believe…2 rolls of parchment on how to best kill me. And you intended me to have to read them all...give them feedback on their technique…. James and Lily’s son….Frank and Alice….

He shook himself. Pain was nothing if not familiar. With difficulty, he schooled his face into what resembled vague bemusement. “Did you tell Professor Snape we haven’t covered them yet?”

The wave of noise that followed told him what he already knew. Yes, they had, yes he had known, yes, he had done it completely on purpose. Well. Unlike some people, Remus knew how to be a goddamn professional. He smiled around at them. “Don’t worry. I’ll speak to Professor Snape. You don’t have to do the essay.”

He doubted he would, actually. What Severus would want most, besides a student revolt calling for his blood, was to know that he had shaken Remus. And that, he would not give him, not for anything. Best to let him think that he had stoically graded their murder scenarios and handed them back with praise. It was a knowledge that they needed, no doubt, but he needed to steel himself before going over the topic. He would not let that be taken away; he would do this in his own time. As the class progressed, the dread that had taken dark root in him gradually faded and he fell back into the rhythm of teaching. The students were eager and bright, the topic and specimen hinkypunk interesting. He was teaching, he was helping, he was needed.

When the class was over, he almost let Harry slip out, almost shied away from his decision to offer his support, but instead, called out, “Wait a moment, Harry, I’d like a word.”

Dutifully, Harry returned and watched as he began to pack up his things. “I heard about the match, and I’m sorry about your broomstick. Is there any chance of fixing it?”

“No,” Harry said, mournfully. “The tree smashed it to bits.”

Ah, that tree. Yet another way I’ve made life here just that much more unsafe…. Sighing, he said, “They planted the Whomping Willow the same year that I arrived at Hogwarts. People used to play a game, trying to get near enough to touch the trunk. In the end, a boy called Davey Gudgeon nearly lost an eye, and we were forbidden to go near it. No broomstick would have a chance.”

There was a silence from Harry, then he seemed to force himself to say, “Did you hear about the dementors too?”

Lupin turned to him to see the bewilderment, frustration, and shame warring on the boys face. Oh, Harry. “Yes, I did. I don’t think any of us have seen Professor Dumbledore that angry. THey have been growing restless for some time...furious at his refusal to let them inside the grounds….I suppose they were the reason you fell?”

“Yes.” He seemed to second guess himself a moment, then he blurted in frustration. “Why? Why do they affect me like that? Am I just--?”

Remus could see the despair and doubt creeping onto his young face and all at once he was unshakeable in his decision to reach out to the boy. Alone, he was blaming himself, doubting his strength. Not knowing the truth of what it meant. Unthinkable. “It has nothing to do with weakness,” he broke in, firmly. “The Dementors affect you worse than the others because there are horrors in your past that the others don’t have.”

He could see the boy struggling with this, staring at him with a mixture of disbelief and humiliation. The watery sunlight from the high windows fell across his face, shining on his glasses, his green eyes, the scar on his forehead. He needed to know his worth. He needed to know his strength. “Dementors are among the foulest creatures that walk this earth. They infest the darkest, filthiest places, they glory in decay and despair, they drain peace, hope, and happiness out of the air around them. Even Muggles feel their presence, though they can’t see them. Get too near a Dementor and every good feeling, every happy memory will be sucked out of you. If it can, the Dementor will feed on you long enough to reduce you to something like itself...soulless and evil.” The torn scraps of the Fat Lady’s portrait flashed across his mind, the blazing eyes staring at him from the Prophet. “You’ll be left with nothing but the worst experiences of your life.” More memories attempted to blossom but he redirected his mind, looked at Harry. His parents dead, strangers trying to end his young life, betrayal at every turn. Danger where he should be safe. “And the worst that happened to you, Harry, is enough to make anyone fall off their broom. You have nothing to feel ashamed of.”

Harry’s eyes were fastened on the desk next to them. “When they get near me--” He swallowed, and continued, with difficulty, “I can hear Voldemort murdering my mum.”

Pain clenched in his gut out of nowhere, a pain laden with guilt. Not his mother, Harry’s. But...Lily….His hand had came up automatically to...do something. To reach out, to grasp his shoulder, his hand, to comfort but he forced it down. Teacher. You are not to him what he is to you. He rooted through his mind, his heart for what to say to the boy but what does someone say? What does someone say to a boy who can hear his mother dying for him? Oh, Lily. Harry. You deserved so much better. So much more.

Abruptly, Harry’s face twisted, resentful. “Why did they have to come to the match?”

Remus continued packing up to keep his fists from clenching. “They’re getting hungry. Dumbledore won’t let them into the school, so their supply of human prey has dried up….I don’t think they could resist the large crowd around the Quidditch field. All that excitement...emotions running high...it was their idea of a feast.”

“Azkaban must be terrible.”

I have often hoped so. On dark nights. “The fortress is set on a tiny island, way out to sea, but they don’t need walls and water to keep the prisoners in, not when they’re all trapped inside their own heads, incapable of a single cheerful thought. Most of them go mad within weeks.”

Harry studied him, obviously thinking. “But Sirius Black escaped from them. He got away.”

The surge of emotion that welled up in him at the name took him completely by surprise and he had to hasten to catch his suitcase that slid from his grip. The damping weight of numbness that had surrounded him the past week seemed to have altogether weakened his immunity to it. It felt raw. “Yes,” he stood again. “Black must have found a way to fight them. I wouldn’t have believed it possible….Dementors are supposed to drain a wizard of his powers if he is left with them too long….” And yet….

“You made that Dementor on the train back off,” Harry’s sudden voice spun him onto a completely different track and he had to recalibrate a moment.

“There are--certain defenses one can use. But there wa only one Dementor on the train. The more there are, the more difficult it becomes to resist.” And I barely did a passable job at resisting the one….

“What defenses?” Harry sounded eager. “Can you teach me?”

Anything. I would try to give you anything but… “I don’t pretend to be an expert at fighting Dementors, Harry...quite the contrary….”

But he was nothing if not persistent, like his mother. He was nothing if not endearing, like his father. He was nothing if not completely worthy of being able to defend himself against the horrors of this world. Defense Against the Dark Arts--and all other manner of all too human error and hate. Remus agreed. The beginning of next term, of next year. He would finally be able to be of use to Harry.

[chocolatequeennk]

A Day to Remember, 4/5

Walking hand in hand through crisp autumn leaves, drinking hot chocolate and eating warm apple pie, sitting together in front of a fire, and finding each other at a masquerade ball-the Doctor has planned the perfect first date, and it will be a day Rose will always remember.

Ten x Rose

This is my Fall Fic Fest story. I’m doing one chapter per theme, most of them running about 1000 words long. The last few will be a bit longer as they actually get around to talking about their relationship.

For @doctorroseprompts indoor activities week. They’re cuddling in front of the fireplace after the harvest festival was rained out.

AO3 | FF | TSP | Ch 1 | Ch 2 | Ch 3

Back in their hotel room an hour later, the Doctor tossed logs into the fireplace a little more forcefully than was necessary. The festival being rained out had not been part of his plan for the day. Thankfully, busses had been provided to bring everyone back to town and he’d been able to get pyjamas for him and Rose from the hotel’s front desk. He was still struggling to let go of his ideal first date, though.

He heard the shower turn off and knew he didn’t have much time left to think of a way to redeem the afternoon before Rose returned. He flipped the sonic screwdriver in the air, then pointed it at the logs. A moment later, a cheery fire was crackling in the grate, immediately putting out heat.

The Doctor stood up and surveyed the room. His suit was draped over a chair to dry and their outfits for the evening hung in the closet, carefully concealed in opaque garment bags. And absolutely none of that will put the romantic feeling back in the afternoon.

He found what he was looking for in the little kitchenette, and water was soon bubbling in the kettle for tea. When Rose joined him, they could cuddle with hot drinks in front of the fireplace. It might not be what he’d planned, but it was definitely a romantic way to spend the afternoon.

oOoOo

After using the complimentary hair dryer, Rose ran a comb through her hair, fluffing it out a bit. It wasn’t until she stepped back to examine her full reflection in the mirror that she was hit with what she was doing.

She was primping. Like this was a date.  

She bit her lip and stared back at herself. Well, it was, wasn’t it? All his planning, and the hayride, and holding hands…

It had felt like a date, from the moment they’d stepped out of the TARDIS. And the Doctor’s unexpected show of nerves made her pretty certain that had been his intent. But…

He’d never outright said it was a date.

An’ maybe he doesn’t think it needs saying, or maybe he’s waiting for the perfect moment, but I’m tired of everything between us being unsaid.

Rose swayed on her feet and grabbed onto the counter when she realised what she was considering. She’d spent the last two years waiting for the Doctor to make a move, following his lead when it came to their relationship… but it was time for her to speak up.

When she pushed open the door, the Doctor jumped up from the couch to stand by the fireplace. His navy blue pyjamas matched hers, both of them bearing the embroidered logo of the hotel.

“Rose! I started a fire and made us some tea. I thought maybe we could sit together and talk for a bit? Until you need to start getting ready for tonight, that is. And I swear I didn’t peek at your dress.”

The way he tugged on his ear tugged on her heart. His earnest smile further convinced her that today was meant to be special. She was tempted to let her question go, but she grabbed onto her resolve. This was too important to let slide.

“That sounds lovely, Doctor,” she told him as she walked around the couch and sat down.

The Doctor beamed and handed her a mug. “Icotean tea is pretty much what you’re used to, though the flavour is a bit smoother than Earth tea due to the lower tannic content.”

Rose took a sip as the Doctor sat down beside her. “Oh, this is amazing,” she moaned when she tasted the hot, mellow tea. “Can we get some to take with us? And for Mum, for a souvenir?”

He picked up a soft blanket and draped it over their laps. “I think that could be arranged.”

Rose eyed him over the rim of her cup, taking in his pleased expression and the way his eyes closed as he drank his tea. The longer they sat together in front of the fire, the easier it was to convince herself that she didn’t really need to ask the Doctor what today was meant to be. It was obvious, wasn’t it?

But a little voice in the back of her mind told her that the real reason she was hesitating was fear. Fear that she would upset the fragile balance of their relationship, fear of opening herself up to being hurt. If he said no, that this wasn’t a date, that would hurt.

She found her courage in another sip of the alien tea. “This has been a really lovely day,” she said, trying to sound nonchalant.

A wide, happy smile stretched across the Doctor’s face. “I thought so too, at least until it started raining.”

Rose shook her head. “Nah, the rain couldn’t ruin anything.” She didn’t miss the way his shoulders relaxed at that, but she wasn’t done. “An’ really… it was supposed to be the perfect autumn day, yeah? Well, what’s more autumn-y than cuddling together in front of a fire while rain beats down on the windows?”

They turned their heads to watch the raindrops hitting the glass with a steady ‘plop, splat, splish.’

Then Rose wrapped her hands tightly around her mug and looked up at him. “I mean… it feels kinda like a date, even.”

The Doctor’s hearts stopped—he knew Rose too well to not see through her casual tone. He hadn’t planned to talk about this yet, and he almost panicked. Then he realised something else, and his stalled hearts started racing.

The only reason Rose would bring it up was if she wanted it to be a date.

“Wellllll…” He cast her a sidelong glance. “That wasn’t an accident. The feeling like a date bit, I mean.”

Rose set her mug down on the coffee table and turned to face him. Her brown eyes were uncharacteristically serious, and he felt a tiny bead of sweat roll down his neck.

“Is that what you want for us, Doctor? For us to be a proper couple?”

The Doctor tried to reach for his tie, before he remembered he wasn’t wearing his suit. Instead, he ran his hand through his hair.

“Haven’t we been a couple for a while?” he returned. “You know how I take my tea, and I know that you need at least an hour to wake up in the morning. We cuddle together in the evenings while we read or watch telly. We hold hands, all the time.”

To his surprise, Rose’s shoulder slumped a little. “So, nothing’s changed you mean,” she said quietly.

The Doctor blinked, then reviewed what he’d just said. “Oh! No. I mean… yes? I mean…” He let out a loud huff of exasperation, which at least seemed to bring a smile to Rose’s face. “Maybe nothing’s changed, because we haven’t been just friends in… a very long time, Rose. But I don’t want things to go unspoken any longer. So in that sense, yes, things have changed.”

He stared down at Rose nervously, waiting for her reply. She nodded slowly and licked her lips. “And… and you really want this, with me? Even though I’m just human and you know you’ll lose me one day?”

The Doctor smiled down at her as he remembered the emotional confrontation outside a London cafe and the moment he’d realised it was already too late to protect his hearts against Rose Tyler.

He reached out and brushed a strand of hair back over her ear. “Yes.”

He had a mini speech planned, about how his argument with Lumic had reminded him that if he hid from happiness to avoid pain, he was no better than a Cyberman. But Rose turned her head and pressed a kiss to his palm, and his mind went blissfully blank.

Then she looked up at him, her warm smile suddenly turning cheeky. “You know, Doctor,” she drawled. “There’s only one thing left to make this a perfect first date.”

The Doctor raised an eyebrow and waited for her to finish.

Rose rested her hand on his chest and looked at him through her eyelashes. “Tonight, at the masquerade… after we find each other in the crowd, and we spend the whole evening dancing… just before the moment we’re all supposed to reveal ourselves to our chosen partners…” She leaned forward and whispered in his ear. “Kiss me.”  

[misspandalily]

update - PIVOT!

AO3 | FFN

Chapter 4: the one with the uchihas

Rock Lee makes a daily habit of "walking" up the seven flights of stairs to Neji's apartment every morning, several times, before he knocks on Neji's door and invites himself in. By that time, Neji is usually awake and disdainfully staring down at him with a cappuccino in one hand and a grumbling Naruto's t-shirt in the other.

He isn't a morning person, which is why Lee always insists that they handstand up the flights together instead of sleeping in and being passive every morning. Of course, that is when Tenten wakes up and throws a bag of trash at them for being too loud and Naruto pulls him inside for the sake of placating their neighbour.

When asked why exactly Lee consistently strives for physical prowess, he answers that as an aspiring-gym owner and a martial arts instructor, peak physical condition is a definite must if he wants to set an example for his youthful pupils. He loves what he does. Lee loves to train, to feel the adrenaline rushing through his system, to feel himself improving and coping more effectively with the extreme training he and Gai do everyday. He also loves showing up to class every Wednesday and Sunday afternoons to transfer his exuberance to the five disciples who still feel enough flames to show up and train.

They're his little chickens, complete with green jumpsuits and orange leg and arm warmers, and never complain about the cramped, rented space they currently have for lessons. He almost cries from happiness every time they reassure him and tell them how proud they are of their sensei. He's a sensei now.

"How're your lessons coming along, Lee?" Tenten, much friendlier now that her eye-bags have mysteriously disappeared, pours him a cup of his favourite Ten-tea, and beams at him when he tells her about the recent development with him and his students. He doesn't witness Tenten hurling a porcelain tea-cup at Neji, who's rolling his eyes and catching it swiftly, and laments over the upcoming rent for his apartment and the rented lesson space. By nature, he despises concerning himself with financial matters and anything overtly-commercial. Lee prefers to live life to the fullest and enjoy the luxuries afforded to him by kindness and friendship, but sometimes...

"You'll figure it out," Naruto interjects, having woken up from his shower, and ventures over to Tenten's fridge, "You're Rock Lee - you can do anything."

"I can!" Lee agrees vehemently, "But should I start charging my students now?"

"Now?" Neji joins in, shocked, "Now? It's been a whole year - why haven't you been charging them?"

Lee shrinks sheepishly, explaining that he'd rather them learn out of love for martial arts than obligation. Neji whacks the back of Lee's head with a newspaper.

"Fool. If they pay for your lessons, then they'll feel more determined to train harder to make their parents' money worth their time."

"Well, when you put it that way," Lee sits back, rubbing his shiny bowl cut thoughtfully, "That's a good point."

Neji shrugs. "Just make sure you get your finances on track."

"I will! But I have another question." Still balancing on two hands, Lee turns towards Tenten, who gestures for him to proceed, "How was your date?" Immediately, her countenance sours and Lee wonders how Neji manages to find the courage to calm down Tenten every time she's even remotely irate (which is rare, thus earning Tenten the coveted title of Youthful Spring Blossom).

"Just fine," she stabs at a piece of toast and lets the crumbs tumble down to the ground, in front of Lee's face. The room is silent. Tenten sneers and turns towards them. "Is 'I haven't been able to perform for two years because of my divorce' a pick-up line?"

Straight off the bat, Naruto asserts, "Oldest one in the book." He receives a sorrowful look from Tenten, who turns her gaze around again.

"How dishonourable of him," Lee gets back to his feet and gives Tenten a comforting pat on her shoulder. "Doesn't he know that you can dissect him into five million cubes in mere seconds?"

She gives him a watery smile and laughs. "I broke his watch and saw him cry like a baby."

"Atta girl," Neji says with a smirk, "And speaking of babies - I hear Sasuke has one now."

"Really?" Lee and Naruto scream in unison.

"Yup," Tenten's beam practically lights up the kitchen, "I'm going to be an aunt!"

"He didn't tell me shit!"

"Where were you when he was showing us the sonogram yesterday night?"

Naruto scratches his head, a look of dawning realisation popping up. "I thought it was a potato."

"Anyway," Tenten interrupts them as she puts on her coat, "We're heading to work, maybe seeing my precious baby later on. Don't wait up."

Neji joins her and closes the door behind them. "Lock up, Naruto."

Naruto runs to the door and makes sure the sounds of retreating footsteps are indistinguishable before he swears loudly at the door and blows a raspberry. Lee shakes his head. "How very un-youthful."

It's rare that Tenten finds herself graced by the presence of someone she knows at the restaurant.

Usually, her friends steer clear of each other's workplaces - they see each other often enough at Ichiraku's and at her apartment, after all.

But on some occasions, she knows she's cooking for Neji when a take-away order of pickled herrings topped with sesame seeds pops up on the screen, which is when she also knows she's getting picked up from her shift in his BMW. She knows Lee or Naruto are present when there's an uproar in the dining area and a sudden influx of meat is hurried out to a table, along with a few curses thrown about by the wait staff. Alternatively, and on much rarer days, her female co-workers mysteriously vanish and coo over someone who she knows is her broody brother.

Today is different in many ways, yet similar.

She's granted a half-hour break during peak hour for one, as tonight is slower than normal, so for the first time in months Tenten allows herself to settle into a chair (near the kitchen) and savour the grilled meat that she spends most days cooking. And during this half-hour break, she's greeted by a dark figure pushing out the chair across from her and ordering the same dish from Moegi, who's working part-time as a waitress.

The girl practically runs off, beet-red, and squeals with the other waitresses when she reaches the kitchen. Tenten chuckles at her brother.

"You really know how to make an entrance," she wolfs down more of her rice and stuffs a lettuce leaf into her mouth.

"Hm," he sips at his tea and smiles at her kindly. "It's good to see you again."

"Oh, please," she waves her hand in the air, feigning apathy, "You only disappear for fifty years at a time. It's not like I miss you - or Sasuke, for that matter."

"I suppose I am rather absent these days." Itachi smiles at a grumbling Udon, who's no doubt being cursed by a crowd of girls from behind the door. "Thank you. How have you been?"

Tenten shrugs. "So and so. Still cooking, still going to conventions. None have topped last year's Cleaver Show yet - I'm pretty disappointed."

"In due time," he nods in understanding, "I quite enjoyed the one you took me to. '00 Stainless Steel?"

"The birth of my passion. I don't think I would've ditched business for cooking if you hadn't agreed to drive me there."

"You did threaten me with a shuriken."

"It was plastic."

"I know," Itachi starts to elegantly chew at his meat in a way that makes her look completely barbaric. The Uchiha siblings, however, are notorious for being able to devour Mikoto Uchiha's mass production-esque meals at the dinner table, although Tenten gained more sideways while her brothers gained size vertically, so he finishes within ten minutes and orders another bowl. "How's Sasuke doing these days?"

"When did you arrive?" She points her chopsticks at him accusatorily, "That you haven't even talked to Sasuke yet."

"This afternoon. I was planning on meeting him tomorrow morning at the Museum - more opportune for the both of us."

"Does he know?"

"You know me." Tenten takes that as a negative and grins.

"You're in for a treat then."

"I heard the divorce was finalised." At her raised eyebrows, he continued, "Mum and Dad were sobbing to me over the phone about it - they want grandchildren before Dad turns sixty."

"They, or her?"

"They," he emphasises the word with a pointed glance, "And you should really get on that too - they can't just bug us brothers forever, you know."

"I had a date yesterday," she replies defensively. Itachi stares at her for a solid minute. She hears cars move around in the restaurant's parking lot.

"Did you lacerate him?"

"His watch."

"You're getting soft."

She opens her mouth to retort, and then the doorbell chimes as a new customer walks in with the lapels of their black coat upturned. Tenten signals for Moegi to greet the man, then realises it's Neji walking in with a cup of green tea. The momentary pause in her speech is enough for Itachi to turn around slightly.

Neji, bless his soul, has never met the wandering wolf of the Uchiha Family, precisely because he's never around when Itachi deigns to show up, so his eyes immediately narrow and silently ask if she needs him to do anything - something along the scale of interruption to homicide (it depends on their mood, really). She shakes her head.

"Neji! You just get off work?" He turns down his collar and allows his hair to breathe.

"Unfortunately, the boss was feeling particular today." He's in a salty, wine mood, which Tenten is totally amenable to on normal days, but-

"Tenten?" Itachi leans forward and rests his chin on the fold of his hands, the way Sasuke does it when he's feeling frustrated or in the mood for some scrutinising. "What's your name?"

"Neji Hyuga."

"Interesting," Itachi unclasps his fingers and leans back in his chair, fixing a strange look on him. "Have a seat, Neji."

Neji silently lowers himself into the chair beside them.

She chooses this moment to extract herself from the situation. "Well, would you look at the time. I have to work - see you at the dinner tomorrow?"

Itachi smiles warmly. "I'll see you tomorrow."

When she comes back from her escape into the kitchen, her apron is gone, her hair is still locked up in a sweatier rendition of her twin buns, and she wants to collapse. Neji's still sitting in the same position, silent and contemplative.

"Hey," she jolts him out of his thoughts, because as much as Neji likes to have his thinking time, it'Lees midnight and she just wants to go home. "You ready?"

"Of course," he shrugs his coat on and grabs his cup from the table. "Tired?"

"Always," she practically whines and exaggerates a few back stretches, "One of these days, I'm going to be reborn as a goddess. Tenten, Goddess of Cooking."

"Lee's adamant that you're the embodiment of the Springtime of Youth."

Tenten makes a tsk-ing sound and thumps his chest. Neji holds his hand over the left side of his chest, glaring at her in annoyance. "That could be anybody - Lee thinks Gai is the Springtime of Youth."

"Didn't you train with them for a solid year?"

"Good times," she puffs out her cheeks and slowly exhales when smoke effuses from her mouth. "Hey, what happened with Itachi?"

Neji gives her a shrug and a brief look. "Nothing."

"I hate this," Sasuke enters Tenten's apartment with his customary scowl on his face and an eye-roll when he sees her and Itachi chatting amicably over the chicken.

"You're a ray of sunshine," Itachi pokes his forehead with a finger, reminiscent of his earlier - unwelcome surprise - visit that morning, and makes a sweeping gesture at the dining table. "Help set up; you're late."

"You're late," he sticks his tongue out childishly, which earns him a blank stare from his siblings.

"Good one."

"Shut up."

His coat meets the hook next to Tenten's door and exposes half of his stomach the exact moment Sakura emerges from her room. His mouth drops to the floor, because she's in leggings and a hoodie. Rich-girl Sakura is in leggings and hoodie. Rich-girl Sakura is putting her hair up into a messy bun and hollering at Tenten to spare her the leftovers if they have any from dinner. Rich-girl Sakura is greeting his older brother like he's an old, old friend, and Sasuke is effectively snapped out of his daze.

"Hi," he greets her. She perks up and smiles back, notices the state of his clothes, then blushes. His abs are by no means properly formed - divorce plus PhD equals almost no gym sessions. Sasuke pulls his shirt down, mortified.

"Have a great dinner guys - I'll be across the hall if you need me. Bye, Sasuke," she beams at the three of them and skips out with a tub of ice-cream under her arms. He glances up at his siblings and rolls his eyes when the beginnings of a smirk start to form on their lips.

"I'm impressed with her. She cut all her credit cards yesterday night, and now she's job-hunting by day."

"That's great," Itachi sets the plates on the table and checks his phone when it buzzes in his pocket. "That'll be them."

"Kami, help me," Tenten prays skyward and smooths down her dress. The only one who's not at risk of being prodded to death with critique and questions by their parents is Itachi, the Golden Child. Sasuke's fall from grace came when he divorced Temari, whom they adored, so he doubts telling them about her being a lesbian and having his child would make the delicate family situation any better.

Then again, Tenten's having it considerably worse off, with her job, her lack of marriage prospects and her being the 'only Uchiha in history who hasn't made a respectable name for herself'. The door knocks, Sasuke grimaces, and opens the door to find himself being thrown backwards by Mikoto Uchiha's embrace.

"My babies!" She pulls Tenten and Itachi over and snuggles the three of them in her arms. Fugaku spots the chicken on the table and drools. "You look so good, Tennie! Have you lost more weight?"

"A bit," Tenten manages to revive herself from the chokehold and ushers her mother into a seat, "I've been cooking lots, too."

"Aren't you ever going to make use of your degree?" Fugaku joins the matriarch at the table and gives her a stern glance. "You didn't spend all that money for nothing, you know."

"Father, Mother," Itachi interjects, situating himself next to Fugaku and beaming at them. "How have you been?"

Sasuke elbows Tenten into the seat next to Mikoto, which she pushes him for, and surrenders. Mikoto then happily loads food onto Sasuke's plate. "Eat up, Sasuke, you're looking so thin now! We've been fine, Itachi - do visit more?"

"Of course. My trips should be getting more infrequent now that the deal's been settled. I promise I'll make more time to visit you."

Fugaku nods at his eldest son, allowing a small upward flicks of his lip corners to appear.

"The food is gorgeous. Do you have a boyfriend yet, Tenten?" Mikoto reaches over to pour potatoes onto Tenten's plate.

"Uh, not exactly," she kicks Sasuke's shin under the table, "but Sasuke has some news for you."

Sasuke makes sure to scowl at her before responding to his parents' expectant stares. "I'm starting on my thesis."

He catches Itachi's eye-flicker of warning and cringes when his parents pour glasses of wine to celebrate. Tenten proceeds to send him a death-inducing side glance.

"And, also," Sasuke gulps, "You remember Temari?"

"Yes?" Fugaku replies, tone gruff.

"She's-She is. Uh. She's pregnant." The tension is palpable. Mikoto tears up from the news, a mixture of exuberant joy and pure sorrow radiating off her in waves, while Fugaku's jaw clenches. He does not like that jaw-clench. "And, she's also dating a woman named Shikamaru. We'll be raising the baby together."

His father's face purples. Mikoto breaks into minute sobs, then turns to Tenten with the same accusatory glare that they've all mastered. "And you knew this?"

[ggeorgetteh]

THE WEEK I WAS MIA WALLACE

By Grace Halliday.

SCENE 1- MONDAY

INT. Mia’s house in the afternoon, Albury, New South Wales, Australia

MATILDA (MIA’S MUM):

Rory! Rory! I know you can hear me, come here this instant!

  RORY runs down the stairs

  RORY:

  What is it?

  Matilda holds her son by the cheeks.

   MATILDA:

  Please my darling angel; tell me that Goode was lying!

  RORY:

  Mum, what is it?

  MATILDA:

 (Looking deep into Rory’s eyes)

  … have you been taking drugs.

  RORY:

  Mum! No… of course not.

  Rory and Matilda continue to fight in the background. Meanwhile, Lucy sits at the kitchen counter eating an ice-cream sandwich. She is reading a trashy gossip magazine of her mum’s, her ice-cream dripping all over her fingers and the magazine pages. She tries to wipe it off, making it worse. Her mother enters preparing tea.

                       ��                                                                 LUCY:

 (Whispering)

 I thought everyone at school loved him? A few girls definitely do. I heard him on the phone last night, signing off with goodnight kisses to them all.

  MATILDA:

 What are you doing? Don’t you have something better to do? … Your brother is going through a very difficult stage at the moment.

  Her mother in cheap lingerie lights a cigarette and turns on Hank Williams top 40.

  MATILDA:

 Well? Where are all your friends?

  Lucy shrugs.

  EXT. On the street. Lucy walks along the pathway when she is pulled back by Rory. Their mother opens the lacy curtains and watches from the kitchen window.

  RORY:

 Lucy!

  LUCY:

  Hmm?

 RORY:

 I need you to do something for me

  LUCY:

 No, I mean… what are you doing, dealing drugs. I don’t know if you’ve been taking them, honestly I wouldn’t be surprised. You know Mum doesn’t endorse drugs. She just gets stressed sometimes... I know what it does to you, I LOVE YOU!  I know that it -

  RORY:

 Wait!

(Whispers) How do you know?

  LUCY:

 It… it doesn’t matter. I’m sorry but I have to tell mum

  RORY:

And give her another problem child.

  LUCY:

 At this rate, you just as much a problem child as I am, maybe even a little more.

  RORY:

 Well, it’s too late now anyway. That was Woods on the phone. Someone dobbed me in. Snakes.

  LUCY:

Do you know who it was?

  RORY:

  It was Johnny

  LUCY:

 Why would he do that?

  RORY:

  Something… something came up

  LUCY:

 I’m worried about mum… this is probably reminding her of Uncle Dan. You messed up again

  RORY:

 (Rolling his eyes)

 Hey! You’re not as innocent as you seem either! What about mum paying for all those sneaky piano ‘lessons’.

  LUCY:

What are we going to do?

  RORY:

We? Its mum’s problem not ours. You don’t know anything about it anyway

  LUCY:

 What about expulsion? Juvy? Paul said he’s been there. He said there was shit on the walls.

 RORY:

  God, no wonder why no ever calls you Mia Wallace, your nothing like her at all! Maybe you should try some. Don’t have any magic mushrooms on me though

  LUCY:

 It’s cocaine

  Rory sneers at her.

  LUCY:

 Your still holding onto my arm.

  RORY:

  I know.

  LUCY:

 Why?

  RORY:

  I need you to do something for us.

   SCENE 2:

 EXT. Mia and Rory walking to Johnny’s house, Rory pulls his sister along by the arm. They suddenly stop as they notice their mother on Johnny’s porch interrogating Johnny and his mother.

 MATILDA:

Now, I know you don’t think much of me Iracabeth, but I will severe our friendship even further in order to protect my son!

 IRACABETH:

My son had nothing to do with this! Even if he did, it was your son that corrupted him in the first place! He was never the same since that first day of kindy. Devil eyes! And what about that strange daughter of yours! Now she looks like a real stoner… wearing that stupid wig and petting MY cat.

 The mothers notice Mia and Rory.  Johnny smirks at Rory. Rory looks down guiltily.

 MATILDA:

(Running down the veranda steps)

Rory! Did Johnny convince you to take drugs? Tell me the truth sweetie pie.

 IRACABETH:

(Waving a photograph in the air)

I have evidence!

 RORY:

I don’t know who put the drugs there. It was proabably just someone pulling a prank. It was probably Johnny just scaring me, because, well…. Because of our fight.

 MATILDA:

Fight?

 RORY:

Johnny has been making up rumours about me because I’m not letting him date Lucy.

  Johnny tries to hide his chuckle.

  Mum looks at Mia, Johnny, then back to Mia, and then Iracabeth.

  MUM:

 Well! My darlings why didn’t you say so! Young love can be so challenging in our age. Why Iracabeth, you remember when Leonard was dating me and Kylie at once, myself completely oblivious!

  The mother’s chatter fades into the background. Rory steps onto the veranda and whispers something to Johnny. They both smirk and look down on Lucy.

  LUCY:

 I need to think for a moment.

  JOHNNY:

  I’m rescheduling piano practice for four o clock tomorrow.

  LUCY:

  Oh, umm, I think I’m busy tomorrow afternoon…

  JOHHNY + RORY:

 (lLaughing)

 Doing what?

  LUCY:

Me and Paul were going to go for a walk in-

  JOHNNY:

  You are coming to your piano lesson with ME honeycake.

  Johnny + Rory snigger.

  JONNHY (talking to Rory):

 Now let’s go smoke weed.

   SCENE 3- TUESDAY

EXT. THE NEXT DAY. 4:00pm. Mia sits in her tree anxiously, holding on awkwardly. She has her earphones in listening to Fernando by Abba. Keeps on looking up and down the road for Paul. Her wig itches. Walks up to the diner, then the drive in, and walks back, anxious. Climbs back into her tree.

 JOHNNY:

 Pumpkin? Come down its time to play pianoooo.

 Lucy looks down. Then fingers the carving of ‘fox force five’ to distract herself.

 JOHNNY:

Please. Please come down. I want to tell you about this new vinyl I found. Francois Hardy, 1963.

 Lucy makes her way down, when she trips and Johnny catches her. Piggy back rides her back to the house.

 Fast forward to them at the piano. Lucy sits in Johnny’s lap, playing the piano as Johnny kisses her. Lucy kisses him back.

 LUCY:

Wait was it this note? What finger goes on F sharp?

 JOHNNY:

hmmm?

He continues to kiss her.

 LUCY:

Johnny?

 Lucy tries to get out of his hold, accidently hitting the low keys with her arm making a terrible sound.

 Lucy turns to face him, still on his lap.

 LUCY:

I’ve had enough! You promised me piano lessons and all I’ve learnt is ‘Strictly Strauss’.

 JOHHNY:

Darling you don’t have… the proper fingers for piano.

 He strokes her cheek with his fingertips and pulls her chin towards him. Mia pushes his shoulders back. Johnny laughs.

 JOHHNY:

Well, luckily for you, that was our last lesson.

 LUCY:

Why?

 JOHNNY:

I have better things to do of a Thursday afternoon.

 Johnny walks around the living room picking things up and putting them back down, looking at her mother’s collection of Knick knacks.

 LUCY:

Like take drugs.

 JOHNNY:

He sells them.

 LUCY:

Pardon?

 Johnny collapses on couch and rests his chin on the ledge, looking at her.

 JOHNNY:

Rory, he’s selling. I’m his new business partner. You wouldn’t believe how many junkies there are at school. Paul is a regular customer of ours.

 LUCY:

No he’s not.

 Johnny smirks and lies back down.

 Lucy walks to the foot of the couch.

 LUCY:

Does Rory actually take them?

 JOHNNY:

Yep.

 LUCY:

And you do to.

 JOHNNY:

Yep.

 LUCY:

Please, make him stop.

 MIA:

Please. Or I’ll tell mum the truth, and you’ll have to go and live with your dad again.

 JOHNNY:

Listen.

 Johnny looks around to see if anyone is in the room.

 JOHNNY:

Go and close the door.

 Lucy closes the door and kneels next to couch.

 JOHNNY:

Next week, we are getting our biggest sale yet. Everyone in the school knows about us and everyone wants some. Till Friday next week you leave me and Rory to it. During that time we continue the fighting over you charade, and Friday night, I’ve broken up with you and Rory and I finish of the stuff we’ve got and we’re done.

 LUCY:

Why do you have to pretend that you are fighting over me though?

JOHNNY:

One, it eliminates suspicion that the two of us have hatched some plan, i.e. possession of drugs. The parents know that nothing happens without the other involved. And two it explains our stoned behaviour.

 LUCY:

Oh.

 Lucy looks embarrassed.

  JOHNNY:

I’m going to miss your kisses Mia. Thursday afternoons will never be the same.

 Shouting can be heard in the background: “JOHNNY!”

 RORY:

JOHNNY!

 JOHNNY:

Yeah! I’m in here!

 There is movement down the stairs.

 RORY:

Let’s go practice.

 Johnny gets up and walks over to the door.

 RORY:

(whispering)

What did you tell her?

 JOHNNY:

Just explaining what’s happening.

 RORY:

She’ll tell mum.

                                                                            JOHNNY:

Well you’re the favourite child, aren’t you?

 LUCY:

Keep your promise.

 RORY:

What promise?

 JOHNNY:

(Muttering to Rory)

I’ll tell you later.

 Rory and Johnny go upstairs for a band practice. Lucy spreads out on the floor, releasing deep breaths. Spots a cigarette packet that must have fallen out of Johnny’s pocket when he jumped onto the couch. She puts them in her pocket and leaves through the door.

  SCENE 4- WEDNESDAY

EXT. PARK TRAIL, Lucy and Paul.

 PAUL:

Mia? Why do you call yourself that? Like, what about your real name.

 Paul walks across the rocks on the stream, Lucy following behind.

 LUCY:

Well, I guess it’s much more fun being Mia Wallace than Kate. Kate sounds so ordinary you know? I wish I had her confidence. And her hair. Sometimes I think it upsets mum though, that I don’t use my real name.

 Lucy and Paul sit on Pauls jacket on some wet rocks above a stream. Australian rainforest sounds.

 LUCY:

Look what I found in my living room this morning.

 Lucy takes out the packet of cigarettes.

 PAUL:

Awesome.

 LUCY:

Do you smoke?

 PAUL:

Once or twice.

Lucy:

Should I try?

 PAUL:

If you want.

 Lucy watches as he picks a cigarette.

 LUCY:

What If I die though?

 PAUL:

Aww damn! No lighter.

 Lucy giggles.

 LUCY:

Maybe it was a sign from God.

 Their legs dangle over the edge of the rocks.

 LUCY:

I think they are Johnny’s.

 There is silence as Paul’s eyes widen. Paul flicks her leg.

 PAUL:

Hairy.

LUCY:

Hey, I’m going to shave tonight.

 PAUL:

Most girls wax.

 LUCY:

( in a jokingly condescending tone)

What do you know about girls.

 Silence.

 LUCY:

Close your eyes and you can hear the water fairies of the stream harvesting water droplets.

 Paul throws his head back and laughs.

 Paul turns to Mia.

 PAUL:

You’re pretty cute.

 LUCY:

Do you have a lighter at home?

 PAUL:

Why do you ask?

 LUCY:

Maybe I can come over to your house and you can watch as I taint my lungs with my first cigarette.

 Paul laughs, however goes silent when he realises she is serious.

 PAUL:

I dunno… actually I gotta go… do homework

 Paul gets up and pulls the jacket from under them, making Lucy stand up. Paul moves quickly back to his bike, Lucy trying to keep up behind him.

 Paul rides on his bike home. She walks the rest of the trail back by herself, smiling to herself in a melancholy sort of way and stumbling along, picking daisies as she goes. Paul and his gang of boys on bikes zoom past. She goes to the diner and sits staring at nothing for hours with a five dollar shake. She gets a notification on her phone, a text from Paul that reads: “hey, if you run into Johnny, don’t mention us going to the stream, okay? I’m not busy, do you want to go to moonlight?”. She sits and Paul picks her up on his bike and they ride to the drive in movie. They watch the movie and giggle awkwardly. Bloody and gory film plays.

   SCENE 5- THURSDAY

INT. Lucy’s bedroom with the morning light shining in. You can hear drumming and guitars and shouting. Lucy gets out of bed and opens her brother’s door. Inside her brother and Johnny are playing with their band, performing Richard Hell, Love Comes in Spurts. They are red eyed and sweaty, dancing in a deranged fashion. Johnny winks at Lucy in her pyjamas. She slams the door quickly and runs downstairs. She sits by her tree. Paul and his friends ride their bikes past her. Paul pretends not to see her. She walks around the town, sits in the diner for a while, runs across the field that is the moonlight drive in, and pretends to be goldilocks in the woods. She walks around the shopping mall and notices Paul and his friends lazing around in the food court.

 (Approaching cautiously) LUCY:

Hey Paul.

 PAUL:

(Looking up shocked)

“Oh… hey Lucy.”

 His friends look up and smirk.

 LUCY:

I…I am-

 FRIEND #1:

Yeah, we know all about you.

(He laughs under his breath)

 All eyes are on Mia. It is silent.

 PAUL:

C’mon, let’s go do something.

 FRIEND #2 whistles the other friends yell profanities as they walk away.

 PAUL:

They were just messing around.

 LUCY:

Oh.

 A silent tear runs down Lucy’s eye.

 They walk silently around the shop. They find themselves in a chemist.

 PAUL:

Hey Lucy… look at this.

 LUCY:

I don’t know… the colour is perfect… and the outfit will be complete once I finish sewing the pants, but, mum will get angry.

 PAUL:

(In mocking tone)

“I am an anarchist and I hate the establishment but I don’t want to upset my mummy by dying my hair a perfectly normal colour!”

 LUCY:

Alright, let’s get it.

 PAUL:

Hey, I’m kidding, I don’t want to pressure you into it (he winks suggestively).

 LUCY:

No, I want to. But only if we go to the diner tonight.

 PAUL:

Like a date?

 LUCY:

…um… no… I guess it doesn’t have to be.

 PAUL:

Cool. I’ll stop by your house with the bike at 8:00?

 LUCY:

Yep. I’m just going to go pay.

 PAUL:

Its only $12. Just slip it in your bag.

 LUCY:

No, I can’t do that!

 PAUL:

Fine, I’ll do it then.

 LUCY:

Fine, you’ll be sent to the police.

 The scene fast-forwards to them walking towards her home.

 LUCY:

I always think I’m cool and gangster wife like Mia Wallace, but really I’m pathetic at it. I could never steal something and make it look cool.

 PAUL:

It’s a gift from me then. Use that crazy imagination of yours to pretend I paid for it and wrapped it up.

 LUCY:

Cool.

 They continue the walk in silence, awkwardly bumping in to each other.

 LUCY:

You’re my best friend Paul.

 Paul laughs to himself and blushes.

 PAUL:

Cool.

  SCENE 6- FRIDAY

EXT. afternoon. Johnny, Rory and Lucy sit outside under the tree, their mothers chatting on the patio. Lucy’s head is on Johnny’s lap, and Johnny leans against the tree playing with Lucy’s new black hair. Rory lies on his side next to them, blowing daises.

 JOHNNY:

I hate it.

 MIA:

It was for Mia Wallace. It makes me feel good

 JOHNNY:

It’s horrible.

 Johnny tries to make some go in her mouth.

 LUCY:

How much longer do I have to lie here?

 RORY:

Until we say so.

 JOHNNY:

You know, I’m really enjoying this relationship. I get to come over to Rory’s twice as often now without being accused of ‘being up to no good’.

 Johnny laughs to himself.

 Johnny looks towards the mothers.

 JOHNNY:

Look at them, so naïve and peaceful.

 RORY looks up scheming at Johnny.

 RORY:

I don’t know, I think they need some more convincing.

 Rory looks at Lucy.

 JOHNNY:

(Sarcastically)

Why… What were you thinking Rory?

 RORY:

Kiss him. C’mon do it, on the mouth. 10 seconds. In front of Mum.

 LUCY:

No.

 JOHNNY:

Awww don’t be a party-pooper. Nothing to be scared of. I’m sure you’ve had a lot of practice on your little boy toy Paul. Anyway, you used to love my kisses. You should have seen her Rory, the minute I’d sit down to teach her a piece she would jump onto my lap like a little slu---

 LUCY:

(Raising her voice)

Don’t you dare say a bad thing about Paul. He’s my best friend! I’ve had enough of this stupid game. I’m telling mum the truth.

 Later on

 There is knocking at the door.

 JOHNNY:

Knock, knock, knock?

 Lucy lies on her bed crying silently.

 JOHNNY:

Mia? Mi Mi?

 Johnny sits on the edge of the bed and puts his hand on her back.

 JOHNNY:

I’m sorry Mi Mi. I was just trying to make you laugh. You need more laughs honey. Paul doesn’t give you the attention you deserve. Does he make you laugh like I do?

 Johnny lies down next to Lucy, spooning, holding her tight, with his large body encasing her tiny one. Sniffling and whimpers can be heard. Lucy turns her face toward him.

 LUCY:

Johnny?

 JOHNNY:

Oh Lucy. I’m so fucking depressed. All I have is me pills. You’re not going to tell your mum about it are you? I don’t want to ruin our friendship or me and Rory’s friendship. If you told now my mum would be heartbroken. I’ll be taken in. Rory too. Then I won’t even have my pills to comfort me.

 Lucy runs her fingers through his hair.

 LUCY:

You’ve gotten yourself into a lot of trouble.

 Johnny moves his head and kisses her palm against his mouth.

 JOHNNY:

I know. I’ll get rid of it. I’ll never use again. We keep it a secret and I’ll get rid of it. I promise pumpkin.

 Lucy nods and turns around again, and they fall asleep.

   SCENE 7:

INT. Paul runs up the stairs two at a time, and carefully opens Lucy’s door so he doesn’t wake her. He creeps in, ready to surprise her, when he sees Johnny and Lucy lying together, Lucy’s head furrowed in Johnny’s chest.

    SCENE 8: SATURDAY

EXT. Lucy is walking home in the afternoon/ evening when she receives a call.

 LUCY:

Mum?

 MATILDA:

Hello Darling. Just letting you know that Iracabeth and I are having a ladies night out, so I thought it would be lovely of me to invite Johnny to stay the night with you and keep you company, now that you two are so close.

 LUCY:

Why can’t Rory look after me?

 MATILDA:

He has to urgently visit a friend tonight. Now please don’t make trouble! You should be thankful that I am such a modern woman, letting your boyfriend sleep over! Goodbye dearie, and please, do not call me. I don’t want my night interrupted.

 LUCY:

What if the house goes on fire?

 MATILDA:

Then we shall all ‘Unburdened, crawl toward death’.

 Lucy walks forlorn along the street, when she walks past her tree. Stapled to it is a poster of Paul, declared MISSING.

 Later

Upstairs in Lucy’s room, 8:30. Johnny lies in the bed playing with her toy bear and plane, making the bear terrorise the plane.

 LUCY:

He’s not answering.

 Johnny sighs dramatically and turns on his side, facing Mia in the bathroom.

 JOHNNY:

Why do you still give a shit. Now come to bed (patting the bed seductively).

 LUCY:

Stop it! Get out if you’re going to act like that!”

 Johnny collapses back on the bed.

 JOHNNY:

C’mon baby. I’ll tell you what makes a lethal mob wife crack addict? Not caring about anything. You should try not caring. Its makes life so much easier.

 LUCY:

Stop it! He is missing!

 Lucy begins to cry hysterically. Johnny looks up at her.

 LUCY:

We have to go and find him! I can’t leave him out there! I can’t

 JOHNNY:

I thought you had finished with him!

 LUCY:

He’s my best friend

 JOHNNY:

Why would I want to help him? He was the one who snitched.

 LUCY:

Please. You know it’s the right thing to do. Rory is going to get rid of the stuff tonight, isn’t he? He told mum that he was going to a friend’s house. That is what he’s doing right?

 JOHNNY:

…. Yeah, yeah… I um, bumped into him on the way up.

 LUCY:

I’ll be your girlfriend forever.

 JOHNNY:

I don’t want you to my girlfriend forever.

 LUCY:

Why?

 JOHNNY:

Frigid, virgin face.

 Mia holds onto him, hugging him. Johnny is squashed in an uncomfortable position.

 LUCY:

Please help me, I need your help. You don’t have to be depressed anymore, I know you’re a good guy.

 Johnny and Mia stare look at one another deeply. Johnny tries to pull back.

 JOHNNY:

Ok... You said Rory is at someone’s house? Whose house? (siting up very alert)

 LUCY:

Uh I don’t know mum didn’t tell me.

 JOHNNY:

Is it Matthews house?

 LUCY:

I don’t know, I don’t know anyone called Matthew.

 JOHNNY:

Ok, bub I’ll be gone for 5 minutes, I need to check it out.

 LUCY:

Check what out?

 JOHNNY:

Devils food.

Later- 12:30/. INT. Lucy lies in the bath, cold and singing to herself, writing in the condensation on the wall.

   SCENE 9 SUNDAY

INT. Lucy wakes up to le temp la mour by Francois Hardy. The following is a montage. She is in the bathroom putting on eyeliner, red lipstick, wig, shirt and pants, dads army hat and packing her backpack with water, tim tams, torch, phone, lighter and book.

She goes on the train, stopping off at random places, hiking, walking through shopping centres. The wig is sticky with sweat. She has trouble with her train ticket so she decides to detour on a hike in the local parks.

It is 8:00 at night by the time she returns to her town. She stops to rest at the tree, and notices that the missing poster has been torn and is flying in the wind, holding on by a thread.

Johnny’s car stops in front of the tree.

 LUCY:

(Tearing up)

You said you would help me.

 JOHNNY:

Sorry, something came up.

(his eyes and red and tired)

He’s still missing huh?

 JOHHNY:

Are you hungry?

 Lucy doesn’t answer. She cried silently to herself.

JOHNNY:

Come on, get in.

 Lucy doesn’t.

JOHNNY:

Lucy, come on!

Lucy doesn’t listen. Johnny gets out of the car and guides Lucy to the car. He takes her to the moonlight cinema where they watch a cheap horror film.

Johnny rests his head on her shoulder.

 LUCY:

What are drugs like?

 JOHNNY:

I don’t know… there nice I guess.

 LUCY:

I want some. She has so much fun. You’re cooler with drugs.

 Johnny looks at her. Lucy stares at the screen.

 JOHNNY:

You’re really hot… have you had any water today?

 Johnny passes her a plastic bottle of water.

   SCENE 10

 JOHNNY:

We’ve been walking for hours.

 LUCY:

It’s okay, just think, we’ll find Paul soon.

 JOHNNY:

Yay.

 The trees branches magically move away revealing a silver lake.

 LUCY:

Paul? Paul! There he is! Paul! Paul it’s me! Paul! Paul!

 Paul has a ghostly look about him, he is very pale.

 PAUL:

Lucy? No… no its not Lucy.

 Lucy:

I’m right here!

 Johnny stands behind her his hand on her shoulder, looking at Paul.

 There is a whispering noise in the background:

WHISP CREATURE:

(Whispering)

Paul, Paul, its night-time Paul. Time to say goodbye and go to sleep. Into the woods, that’s it.

  A wood creature in the form of a white ghostly girl appears out of the wood, transparent, her dress and crown made of spiderwebs, dew drops and abandoned plastic bags and coke cans.

 LUCY:

Wait, what’s happening?

 WHISP CREATURE:

Leave!

 JOHNNY:

C’mon, C’mon Lucy! Let’s go!

 Lucy stays in the same spot. Paul is just beyond her reach. The whisp creature slowly transforms into a gooey mass, her limbs moulded from soft drink cans and her skin turns a icky swamp green.

 The following occurs in slow-motion, videogame style:

The whisp draws a sword.

Lucy draws a gun.

The whisp is dead.

 Paul moves a little from behind the trees, cautiously.

 LUCY:

I’m dead without you.

SCENE 11

Lucy wakes up in Johnny’s car. She hits her head on the dashboard. Johnny is outside, peeing behind a bush. She sees him and runs out of the car down to home. On the way she passes the diner. Paul is inside, but she doesn’t see him. He looks out, illuminated by the pink diner, his face pressed against the glass. Lucy runs down past her tree; however she sees Paul standing right there with his bike. He is sweating and has a large old Tshirt on, with on it and holes in the knees of his jeans. Mia runs into his arms crying harder. He holds on to her tight.

   SCENE 12

INT. Lucy and Paul sit on Lucy’s window seat, windows open and looking out into the summer night sky.

Lucy’s turn table plays.

Paul wears an old ACDC shirt and Lucy wears a suxie suouix shirt. They smoke cigarettes, and look dreamily out into the sky, awkwardly looking at one another when the other doesn’t see.

Lucy holds Pauls arm out and unfurls his hand; he takes his cigarette out with the other.

 PAUL:

MMmm?

 Lucy says the following, he fingers walking up and down his arm, outlining his veins and random little freckles, the softness of his wrist.

Paul giggles.

The camera zooms out as you hear pots and pans crashing from next door and a flickering street light.

[bucksmusicandevent]

Saving The Best To Last - Creamfields, Daresbury, 2017. 20th Anniversary!

Music and Live Events Management student Lauren Robinson had a fantastic first Summer as a working member of the team at 6 of the UK’s biggest festivals. Here she explains her role at her final - and favourite - event of the year; Creamfields.

Friday 11th August 2017, I set upon the train on my journey back home north. First to spend the weekend back home with my friends and then to move onto my intern at Creamfields, the best one yet. I was first asked to come whilst I was at Wireless and I was slightly torn as I did have a ticket, however, I knew I would be an idiot to turn down such an amazing opportunity, so I sold my ticket and accepted. My job was health and safety intern, pretty much the same as Wireless, although this time I moved around a bit more. 

So, my real Creamfields journey starts Monday 13th. As my mum only lives 10 minutes away from site, she gave me a lift in. This was also handy for getting free food whilst we didn’t have catering! I was greeted by Libby, who I had previously met at Wireless. I was then handed over my little induction cabin and made myself at home. The first couple days were a bit slow, as everyone was at V-Fest and the majority of the site crew didn’t need to arrive until a few days in. I went on a site tour to get a better understanding of where everything was going and it was really weird to drive the site and still be able to remember everything from coming last year as a punter!  I also got to meet everyone on site. 

This was pretty much the same the next day as the build still wasn’t really underway. In the afternoon I moved into the production office and helped the girls in accreditation get a head start on the catering vouchers. It was amazing to see the sheer difference in amounts from Wireless to a camping festival! Once these were finished, I helped the health and safety coordinator put out the fire extinguishers, which helped me to again get a better understanding of the site. The progress of the main stages were starting to take shape, as you can see below!

Wednesday and Thursday were slow again and I helped with the catering vouchers still to try and get ahead to show days. I also helped in the production office to sort out the residents passes to those who lived nearby. Some of the requests which they got for free tickets were funny, someone asked for free tickets because he couldn't walk his dog through one of our fields. Thursday evening we also went out for a family meal which was really nice. I got to meet the head of digital and creative at cream and I loved listening to everything which he had done, especially as Creamfields is my favourite festival! 

Friday again was pretty much the same, more catering vouchers and inductions. Some of the site was starting to get finished off and most the structures were up and nearly ready to be signed off. I went to watch the hospitality tent get signed off which was good as I hadn’t really seen that part of the site yet. 

Saturday and Sunday were more inductions and helping out in the office, with A LOT of laminating! I was soon crowned the laminating queen within the office! On Saturday I got together nearly everything to put in the campsite hub boxes, which were given to Festaff who were manning the campsites. Some of the things included signs, tea and suncream. Sunday involved making up the major incident box, which thankfully didn’t have to be used! This involved getting local taxi numbers from Runcorn and Warrington, 5 close hospitals and what they specialised in and hi-vis vests with titles on so the crowd knew who was who in the case of an emergency. 

After a pretty chilled week, I knew that it was going to get very busy at some point. Monday sure enough was this day. I pretty much didn’t stop all of Monday and left my cabin for all of about an hour I think! Everyone was arriving from V-Fest and all the catering units had arrived, there was around 150 of them! I did struggle slightly as I also had to sort out peoples vehicle passes and people were signing the wrong sheets and not filling in the wrong information, but I soon got a system going to ensure everything ran smoothly. Tuesday was still slightly busy from people arriving from V, but it had calmed down alot. I also had some help from Ellie, the festival directors daughter, which was nice to have the strain taken off, especially when large groups of people came!

1 day to go until show day!

Wednesday I stayed in the induction cabin to ensure that everyone got in safe and knew all the information they needed. In the afternoon I moved across to the production office to help them with little bits. At this point we did have a small problem with the build and break wristbands as we had used all of the original colour and only had overnight load out wristbands left. I ended up having to use 50 of these until the runner went to get some others from the office in Liverpool. 

                                                 SHOW DAY

Thursday 24th.  This was a really weird show day, as although the site was officially open to the public, the arena didn’t open until 5 pm so we had pretty much the whole day to get everything underway. The first night was a silent disco and so at the end of my shift, I went out to meet some of my friends who had tickets. It was really weird being in a silent disco and I thought my headphones were broken as I didn’t realise there were 2 channels on them, slightly embarrassing. During the day I moved into the accreditation office to help keep down the queues, as they were quite behind on accreditation. I really enjoyed being in there and picked up what I was doing really quickly. All I had to do was ask what company they were from, see some ID in exchange for a wristband. We had to write down the number next to their name to ensure we had a record of everyone on site. 

Friday 25th. I was again in accreditation and it was a bit calmer as most people had picked up their wristbands. I went out into the arena a few times throughout the day to get a feeling of the crowd and it did make me abit sad that I sold my ticket, but looking back now, I don’t regret it at all. After a long day in accreditation, I went and met my friends and went to watch The Chainsmokers, who I have wanted to see for so long! It was an amazing performance and I’m already looking forward to when I can see them again! 

Saturday 26th. Again, I was in accreditation. As the majority of people have collected all of their show day accreditation, I was counting out the used meal vouchers to ensure that all the companies had used the amount they asked for, or else they would be charged for them. Whilst waiting around in the office, Tom Zanetti arrived and I was able to meet him whilst be collected what he needed!

After a few more hours in the office data inputting, I was able to leave and left to go into the arena! I was extremely lucky to see Stormzy from the side of the stage! This was such an experience as this was one of the artists I really wanted to see and to be able to see him from the pit was amazing, especially as it was a closed stage! My plan was to go home after this, however I saw some people who I knew that worked as sound techs and so didn’t end up going back until 3:30am! 2 hours sleep for me that night!

Sunday 27th. After a very struggling wake up call, I made it back onto site to a thankfully chilled day. The day pretty much consisted of more data inputting and ensuring that everything was put into the system to pass onto festival management. At 8pm I was finished and went off to watch Chase and Status, who smashed it as always! After this I went to watch half of Martin Garrix and half of Tiesto. It was then time to say goodbye to my friends and went back to safety in production. After 4 very busy days I was looking forward to getting back to some much needed sleep!

On Monday and Tuesday, I started off in the induction cabin for anyone who was just coming for the break. Not many people came and so I went for a drive to see the site. The campsite smelt so badly from all the toilets and it was amazing to see the amounts of rubbish which was left behind! I also couldn’t believe that it only takes them 8 days to get the site back to normal, however the main stage was down within 2 days! It was then time for me to go finish, my last festival of the season was complete! 6/6 shows completed!

I can’t believe that my first ever festival season is now over! I finished it on an amazing show and I would like to thank every single person who I met over the last 3 weeks and made me feel at home. Thank you to the lads at cream, you do an amazing job every year and I’m still so amazed by your work. Thank you to everyone at festival republic for supplying me with such an amazing opportunity and guiding me through my first year. Thank you to my mum for all the free food when catering wasn’t on. And lastly, thank you to my amazing uni lecturers for getting me to this point. It’s been such an amazing year and I’ve made so many amazing new friends who will hopefully stay in touch.

Roll on 2018, more festivals and more friends!

WORK HARD, PLAY HARDER X